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Firefighters In Colorado Getting Better Handle On Massive Wildfire; Cleric Hassan Rowhani New Elected President Of Iran; Facebook and Microsoft Confirm Government's Request Of Information; Sarah Palin Speaks At Faith And Freedom Conference Here In Washington

Aired June 15, 2013 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM. A look at our top stories right now.

Firefighters in Colorado are getting a better handle on a massive wildfire. But it comes too late for hundreds of families whose homes have already been destroyed.

And also in the U.S., the NSA scandal, some of the big tech companies are going public about how often they give your private information to the government.

And a charity to help people with cancer get millions, but it apparently gives very little to the victims. We'll investigate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: This is CNN breaking news.

WHITFIELD: This breaking news out of Indianapolis, a huge fire at an industrial complex has multiple departments working on it right now to contain it. No word on what caused this blaze. Officials say a large number of pallets are inside that building. Crews have blocked off the area. They are also, of course, asking him to stay away.

And authorities in Colorado say they now have close to half of a dangerous wildfire contained. Crews just gave an update in the last hour. We know that this fire has destroyed more than 470 homes already. The firefighters say no other houses were lost today.

George Howell is live for us in Colorado Springs.

So George, what else was revealed at that press conference?

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, that press conference happening right now. You can still see that. And what we learned a few minutes ago, really good news when you think about it. This fire, now 45 percent contained. It was 30 percent contained a day ago. So, that is proof that firefighters are gaining ground on this fire. They say they didn't lose any homes overnight. They didn't lose any ground either.

And think about what a difference a day or two makes. Because just a few days ago, if you looked out over the horizon, you saw big plumes of smoke out here, that's not the case. You see blue skies right now with puppy clouds. That could also be good news, Fredricka because that means we could see thunderstorms again tonight like we saw the other day. Thunderstorms are sort of a positive and a negative because it brings a lot of rainfall to the area that's need. It could also bring lightning, which could start other fires. So we have yet to see what these thunderstorms could do to this area yet.

WHITFIELD: And then George, are there some folks who are getting a chance to go back to their homes or at least go back to their communities to see if their homes are still standing?

HOWELL: Yes. They are starting to do that. In fact, a couple of areas lifted that mandatory evacuation. We know that they lifted that in Colorado Springs and a few other areas. We went into one neighborhood and talked to a gentleman who got back to his regular routine after leaving for the mandatory evacuation. He was just happy to be home. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: What's it like to be back?

MIKE BOSSERT, EVACUATED IN WILDFIRE: It is good to be home. We were out for just a couple of nights. We left during the voluntary on Wednesday. Then, they put a mandatory on Thursday night, which was a little nerve-racking. But you know, our boys and my wife, we were able to pack things up and take things out. So, we felt pretty comfortable with leaving when we did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: So right now, really, all eyes are to the skies. We are seeing these clouds move in. A lot of people are hoping to see another round of rainfall like we saw the other day. That rainfall had a big impact, according to officials on this fire knocking it down in several places. They hope again if we get another round of rainfall it could help to do the same.

WHITFIELD: All right, George Howell. Thanks so much in Colorado Springs. Keep us posted.

The human toll of the recent disasters, of course, is devastating. And now, we are learning the monetary cost at record levels topping $110 billion.

CNN's Alina Cho reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods. 2012 was the second costliest year ever in terms of damage according to the national climatic data center, more than $110 billion spread out over 11 major weather disasters, each costing more than one billion.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's just a number you can't put your head around. Weather is becoming more extreme. CHO: The most extreme of 2012, SUPERSTORM sandy, $65 billion in damage and let's not forget the human cost, more than 130 lives. Perhaps lost in the coverage, washed away by news of Sandy was the year-long drought, the longest since the dust bowl days of the 1930s, affecting more than half the country for most of the year and costing $30 billion. And remember, the drought leads to wildfires which last year burned nine million acres across the country. So what's being done?

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK CITY: This is urgent work. It must begin now.

CHO: Just this week, New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, proposed a $20 billion plan to build flood walls, levees and upgrade the city's building codes. New York City suffered $19 billion in damage caused Sandy. And Bloomberg says the forecast by mid-century is that a similar storm could cost nearly five times that, $90 billion.

BLOOMBERG: We can do nothing and expose ourselves to an increasing frequency of Sandy-like storms. We could abandon the waterfront or we can make the investments necessary to build a stronger, more resilient New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: Here in seaside heights, New Jersey, which was devastated after superstorm Sandy, a lot has happened in more than seven months, the entire boardwalk has been rebuilt, 85 to 90 percent of the businesses are back open, and we are told some of the kiddy rides will be back on line come July 4th. The rebuilding cost six to $7 million, which is actually half of the annual budget of seaside heights, but it is also their life line. Seventy-five percent of their annual revenue comes from this boardwalk, so, rebuilding it was priority number one -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Alina, thanks so much.

A deadly hostage situation at a hospital in southwestern Pakistan is now over. Twenty-three people were killed in the siege.

And also, from a separate bus blast, the dead include four militants. They had been holding hundreds hostage at that hospital where 20 students were being treated following the bus blast. All victims of the blast were women, teachers and students.

In Istanbul, Turkey, new clashes between police and protesters. Police have been firing teargas and water cannon at demonstrators in two mains squares. Protesters oppose a plan to replace. One of them park with a shopping mall. Turkey's prime minister had warned the area would be cleared for a ruling party rally tomorrow.

And there is a new president in Iran. Voters newly elected moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani. The interior ministry has confirmed the results.

Our Reza Sayah has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, this is an outcome that surprising people inside Iran, outside Iran including Washington. A few weeks ago, very few people thought centrist cleric, Hassan Rowhani could win the presidential election. Now only did he win, he trounced his rivals at a 36 million votes cast, he secured more than half and ran away with the victory.

Coming into this campaign, many regime critics thought this election was a sham engineered for one of the regime's loyalists to win. But Hassan Rowhani ran a surprising campaign where he subtly and tactually criticized the regime and called for reform, also called for better relations with the west. He prodded the opposition. Iran's prodemocracy activists to come out and vote and the number show they did. They came out and supported him in mass.

Now, the question, can he accomplish anything? Can he have an impact on Iran's nuclear standoff with the west? Can he improve Iran's economy? Can he free Iran's political prisoners? A lot are watching Iran's new president-elect to see what he does. But for now, his supporters celebrating -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Reza Sayah. Thanks so much.

And a first of its kind disclosure, the justice department is allowing tech giants to reveal the number of inquiries they get from law enforcement including the national security agency. A justice spokesperson said the numbers will, quote, "show that an extraordinarily small number of accounts are subject to legal process."

It is all in response to reports that the U.S. government directly accesses the servers of facebook and Microsoft. The companies deny that.

CNN Money's Laurie Segall has the numbers and the industry reaction -- Laurie.

LAURIE SEGALL, CNN MONEY TECHNOLOGY REPORTER: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, we have more developments in the National Security Agency surveillance of American citizens. With the government's permission, we should mention that Facebook and Microsoft are coming forward with their roles in those national security requests. This is the first time we are learning about specific government requests for information and the leak in the wake of the NSA leaker.

Now, according to lawyers from both companies, in the last six months of 2012, facebook received between nine and 10,000 request for information. And Microsoft says it has received between six and 7,000 requests during the same time period.

So, what exactly were these requests? Well, (INAUDIBLE) we are all trying to answer. According to Facebook's log, there are requests for all types of information. A local sheriff is trying to find a missing child. A national security official investigating a terrorist threat. But Fredricka, what we are really seeing here is just how invaluable the digital footprint has come when it comes to these kind of investigations.

Now, these are the first company to actually come out with these types of reports. Google has previously published government requests and transparency reports. But, they haven't contained information related to these types of requests. Transparency is really the word we just keep hearing. And we are hearing from Silicon Valley companies who are coming out and requesting a conversation surrounding government requests for this type of information.

I actually spoke to a big Silicon Valley founder, Alexis Ohanian. He talked about the implications for entrepreneurs in the valley. Let's listen in what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXIS OHANIAN, FOUNDER, REDDIT: You will come up a lot sooner for founders. And founders maybe who were thinking, you know, move fast and break things are now going to be thinking well move fast to break things but, you know, don't break the constitution. And I think this is opportunity for us as citizens to really start to draw a line in the sand for what is off limits, what is still private even in this digital age.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEGALL: Obviously, an ongoing conversation. And what we are really seeing is some of these major tech companies involved pushing for that transparency when it come to the government really being able to access our data -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Laurie Segall. Thanks so much from New York.

All right, get ready for a new look in the morning. In just two days, our all new morning show, "NEW DAY" begins with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira. "NEW DAY" starts Monday morning, 6:00 eastern time. You don't want to miss it.

Also, straight ahead, a CNN investigation into where your charity dollars really go. We uncovered lavish salaries for charity owners while the children supposedly being held gets very little.

And fears of the man who leaked NSA secrets about spying on American may reveal America's secrets to China.

Also, a college baseball player paralyzed during a head-first slide fulfilled his major league dream. You will hear from him straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A government contractor with access to state secrets decides to out the government. Sound familiar? But, we're not talking about NSA leaker, Edward Snowden. This is the story of Chris Boyce. In 1977 at the age of 22, Boyce was arrested and later convicted for selling classified information to the Soviet Union. His saga was the subject of the 1985 film "the falcon and the snowman." Well today, Boyce spoke to CNN, his first television interview in about 30 years. And he says he fears for Edward Snowden's future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS BOYCE, CONVICTED U.S. SPY: I assume he is feeling a whole lot of fear, annoying fear, tension, stress. I read the other day that he had disappeared out of his hotel but he certainly hasn't disappeared from the Chinese police. They will be watching his every move. If I was him, I wouldn't trust the Chinese. And I would not be surprised if at some point, they didn't extradite him back to the United States, sell him in effect for some political concession. And when and if that happens, his life, if he thinks it is stressful now, it will just go further and further down the drain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Edward Snowden is reportedly hiding out in Hong Kong. He told a paper there that he intends to stay in the city. Today, people there held a small rally supporting him as his ties overseas tighten. Some question if Snowden will defect.

Here is CNN's Brian Todd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Top U.S. officials are now openly worried, will Edward Snowden defect?

REP. MIKE ROGERS (R), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Does he have a relationship with a foreign government and is there more to this story?

Clearly, there is. We are going to make sure there is a thorough scrub of what his China connections are.

TODD: A former senior NSA official and a former CIA officer told me the Chinese government has likely at least made contact with Edward Snowden. One analyst says over the past few days, it has looked more and more like someone is shaping Snowden's behavior, possibly "the Guardian" newspaper, maybe the Chinese.

So, what kind of information does he have to hear him brag about it to "the Guardian" besides the NSA's telephone surveillance and internet monitoring programs?

EDWARD SNOWDEN, NSA LEAKER: I had access to, you know, the full rosters of everyone working at the NSA, the entire intelligence community and undercover assets all around the world. The locations of every station we have, what their missions are and so forth.

TODD: Senior U.S. officials say they doubt Snowden really has all that information. Snowden has said his intent was not to harm the U.S. But former CIA officer, Robert Bear, says there is no doubt he is being closely watch.

ROBERT BAER, FORMER CIA OPERATIVE: You and I cannot hide in Hong Kong. It is impossible. Chinese intelligence has that place riddled, resources, cooperative police. The rest of it, it is impossible to hide in Hong Kong.

TODD: Baer says because of that, there is little chance the CIA could capture Snowden through some secret rendition or other method even if they wanted to. Snowden told the Hong Kong newspaper that the U.S. government has been hacking into computers in China for years. If he Snowden were to detect, what would the Chinese want most from him?

JAMES LEWIS, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: What the Chinese don't have is they don't have knowledge of where we have been successful, whose phone has been hacked, whose computer has been hacked? They don't know that. And so, if he can tell them places, specific places, that have been hacked, they can go and close off the source.

TODD: We called and e-mailed the Chinese embassy in Washington asking if their government has made contact with Snowden and if he wanted asylum, would they grant it? They didn't respond.

Brian Todd, CNN Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Sarah Palin, back on stage rallying conservatives. But is she running in 2016? Hear what she has to say.

Also, Russia is blasting U.S. plans to arm rebels in Syria. We'll got details on that.

And a charity gets millions to help people with cancer, but who is benefiting really? A CNN investigation straight ahead from the NEWSROOM."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: U.S. secretary of state, John Kerry, is speaking out on Syria. He says the use of chemical weapons and the involvement of Hezbollah quote "threaten to put a political settlement out of reach," end quote. Meantime, Russia opposes the U.S. plan to send small arms, ammunition, and anti-tank weapons to Syria's rebels.

Our Barbara Starr reports.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the president has made the decision to take action. The question now, what comes next?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): The Obama administration is now confirming what was feared, that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons multiple times. BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus.

STARR: Pressure is growing on the president's decision to act.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: So, I applaud the president's decision and I appreciate it. But, the president of the United States better understand that justifying weapons is not going to change the equation on the ground at the balance of power.

STARR: The White House says it will boost military support for the rebels but won't say exactly how. A leading option, arming the rebels, that could include desperately need ammunition for rifles and machine guns as well as new shipments of machine guns, shoulder-fired weapons to attack tanks, artillery, helicopters, and jets and mortars and rockets. The White House does not plan to put U.S. troops on the ground in Russia and is far from ready to commit to a no fly zone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The question is, what is going to make a decisive difference now and is the administration willing to do that? Or is this kind of a throw some guns that way and pretend you are doing something when it is not going to make a difference.

STARR: The stakes couldn't be higher.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is important to us because of the tremendous number of chemical weapons that are there. And if these weapons get in the hands of the Al Qaeda-related terrorist groups, they will certainly be used against Europe and against us.

STARR: The White House announcement comes after word that former president, Bill Clinton, is now signing with McCain calling for tougher action. According to "Politico," Clinton said at a private event was McCain quote "some people say, stay out. I think that's a big mistake."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: BUT, is there really such a thing as limited military support. A lot of experts say, once you are in, you are all in --Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much Barbara Starr.

A shocking investigation into cancer charities, some of them promise to help sick people. We'll tell you where most of the money may be going.

And shocking surveillance video showing a car running over a baby stroller, oh my God, and amazingly, the baby is fine.

And 34th round pick in the major league baseball draft changed a young man's life. Details of his story of triumph next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Firefighters in Colorado are gaining more ground on a major wildfire. As they said today, it is 45 percent contained and they have not lost any home since yesterday. But the fire had already burned down 473 homes. Authorities say it is hard to tell if burned rubble used to be a home because things have been so badly destroyed.

Facebook and Microsoft are going public about how often they get government requests from your private data. Facebook says it has received 9,000 to 10,000 requests in the last half of 2012. Microsoft says it got 6,000 to 7,000. Company officials are trying to be more transparent after reports linking them to government surveillance.

A deadly hostage situation at a hospital in southwestern Pakistan is now over. In all, 23 people were killed both in the siege and a separate bus blast today. They had been holding hundreds of patients, physicians and nurses at the hospital where 20 students wounded in the bus blast were being treated.

And in this country, conservatives have wrapped up their road to the majority conference in Washington. Sarah Palin delivered today's keynote address. So, what are her political plans?

CNN's political editor, Paul Steinhauser, reports from the conference.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: The former Alaska governor in 2008, Republican vice presidential nominee talking to this crowd of social conservatives at the faith and freedom conference here in Washington. She talks a lot about the Obama administration, about the White House and about these controversies that President Obama is dealing with right now. Here is a little taste of what she said in her speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Officials lied and government spied and in Benghazi, government lied and Americans died. But finally, around here, those scandals around here are being rebuild, finally, you know, people are waking up to what's going on and these scandals are coming at us so fast and furious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Palin is still very influential with social conservatives. And after her speech, she spent about 45 minutes signing autographs and talking to people here in the audience. I was able to ask her about her political future and whether we will see her involved in the mid-term elections of 2014. Here is what she told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PALIN: Absolutely, more than ever we will be out there because as I said in my speech, no time to wasting. Things are moving really quickly. And if we don't get out there and defend this republic, then America will be transformed into something we do not recognize. So, we will do all we can to help make a positive difference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Palin hinted with running for the White House in this last presidential cycle. No hints from this speech about whether she wants to make a run in 2016 -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK.

Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much in Washington. Appreciate that.

Corey Hahn's baseball dream seem to come to an end back in 2011 when the Arizona state outfielder broke his spine during a nasty head-burst slide where he ended up paralyzed from the chest down. But a dream was revived with this announcement from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We proudly and humbly select, redraft I.D. number 9577 Hahn, Corey, center fielder, Arizona State University, hometown, Verona, California. We are proud to make him a part of the Diamondbacks family.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. Team officials stressed that this isn't just a ceremonial pick. They want to make him a real part of their organization. You heard them say, make him a part of the Diamondbacks family. Corey Hahn joining me now from Corona, California. Oh, Corey, good to see you. Congratulations.

COREY HAHN, PARALYZED BASEBALL PLAYER: Thank you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh. So give me an idea. What was that like to hear the Diamondbacks wanted to make you part of the family? Did they give you a call? How did you learn of the news?

HAHN: Yes, it was definitely a very humbling and surreal moment for me and my family. I was actually on an airplane. And I was about to take off, and I received a phone call from the Diamondbacks and they had asked me would I be interested or be okay with them taking me in the 34th round? Obviously, I agreed and they said, okay, good, so we're going to do it. It definitely brought a big smile to my family and my face. It was just one of those moments that we will never forget.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness. So yes, not for a second did you have to think about your response? It was an easy yes. What will your role be? What kind of questions did you have for them?

HAHN: No questions at the moment. I mean, I only talked to them the last couple days. I have just been able to take in the moments I have had to experience this last week and just enjoy a little bit. I plan on going out to Arizona next week to actually iron out all the details of what they kind of have in store for me. I know he they want me to be a part of the organization and to be able to work for them and to be a part of the Diamondback organization.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. I mean, what a dream to be part of the Diamondback family. Being in the Major Leagues, being a baseball player, has been a longtime dream of yours. I mean, how important is the game? How important has the game of baseball been to you in your life? HAHN: The game has definitely been probably one of the more important things I have had going on in my life since I was introduced as a little kid. With the injury that happened a couple years ago, it was one of those dreams that was taken away from me. It was a rough experience to go through and very, you know, tough to deal with.

But the fact that the Diamondbacks had thought about this and wanted to do this for me, it was just a really important thing. It really made me love the game even more just because throughout the injury the fact that the baseball community has stuck with me throughout the whole process, and now I'm being able to realize a dream of being part of a professional organization, it is something that goes a long way for me and my family. It is the love for the game has grown even more.

WHITFIELD: Incredible. Cory, you were an Arizona State outfielder when that accident took place in 2011 with that head-first slide. How often do you think about that moment or replay that moment?

HAHN: I replay it every once in a while. I try to avoid thinking about it too much and more focus on progressing forward and achieving the goals that I have set for myself since the injury. But yes, there are times I go through the moment that it happened and the what-if type stuff. You know, at least at some point of every single day, it is hard not to keep that from your mind when you are reminded about it constantly.

WHTIFIELD: Now, how do you envision being part of the Major Leagues? How do you envision it to be?

HAHN: I definitely envision it to be something that's going to be very enjoyable and hopefully a very successful story for me. To be a part of the baseball atmosphere and be a part in the professional rings is something I will thoroughly enjoy. And I know I am going to work really hard to achieve whatever the Diamondbacks want me to achieve.

WHTIFIELD: Oh, fantastic! Cory Hahn, thanks so much. All the best, and a big congratulations to you. Fantastic achievement.

HAHN: Thank you. Thanks for having me on.

WHITFIELD: All right. And we are just two days away now from the premier of our all new morning show right here on CNN. It's called New Day, and it begins Monday morning, 6 a.m. Eastern time. Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira will start your day with everything you need to know. Monday morning, 6:00, Eastern time. You don't want to miss it.

All right, a mom is walking her baby in a stroller. The video that is hard to watch but suddenly that happened. The car careening there right into the sidewalk. But it's what happened after the accident that will surprise you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. A young mother rushes to the rescue after a car careens out of control. It is pretty incredible. The mom is walking her baby girl on a New York City sidewalk when that happens. Out of nowhere, this car jumps the curb after the driver apparently suffered a fatal heart attack. The mom is hit as you saw and the stroller is pinned under the vehicle. But the mom jumps up and then actually pulls her baby to safety. Both are home. Both are doing okay. Amazing.

Here is another story involving a car kind of careening into the sidewalk. This time it is was a guide dog in training that becomes a lifesaver. Alerting trainers to a potentially deadly situation in San Rafael, California. Whoa, right there! Surveillance cameras capturing the scene as the dog and the two handlers just barely escaped. That out-of-control car, which came barreling down the street in reverse, no less.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD JUREK, GUIDE DOG TRAINER: I think the dog looked before I did, and I don't know what the dog would have done if I didn't grab Danielle. So, that's just something you will never know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In my mind, it seemed like forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow, how does this stuff happen? Well, in this case, the driver was a 93-year-old woman. Police believe she accidentally put the car in reverse. The driver, her passenger, the trainers and the dog, all of them walking away without injuries. Remarkable. All right.

All right, if you've ever donated money to a charity, you'll want to see this special investigation into cancer charities. You will be shocked to find out where millions of your dollars may be going.

Also, the Dutchess of Cambridge makes her last public appearance before the royal baby is born. See right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, this breaking story overseas now. Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has announced his country is cutting all diplomatic ties with Syria and will also be closing down the Syrian embassy in Cairo. Of course, we'll continue to give you more information on this situation and other late developments involving Syria.

All right. Now changing gears. If you donate your hard-earned money to charity, you need to hear these startling details in this next story. CNN investigative correspondent Drew Griffin along with "The Tampa Bay Times" investigated a Tennessee family that controls five cancer-related charities here in the U.S. they promise to use all of the money you donate to help people with cancer. But we found otherwise. Here is Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Drive down these country roads outside Knoxville, Tennessee, and into this small industrial park, and you will find the headquarters of a family conglomerate of cancer charities that return lavish salaries to their owners, but according to their own tax records, donate very little to dying cancer patients, and the last thing the people running this charity want to do is answer questions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't -- don't turn your camera on me. OK?

GRIFFIN: Across the country, in Mesa, Arizona, another outpost of the conglomerate, it's called the Breast Cancer Society. Its CEO and executive director, the man escaping in the truck, James Reynolds Jr.

(on camera): Excuse me, sir, Mr. Reynolds. Hey, excuse me, Mr. Reynolds, right here, buddy, Mr. Reynolds. Hi, hi, can you stop for a second? No, where you going Mr. Reynolds? Mr. Reynolds.

(voice-over): Back in Knoxville, there is another cancer charity, the Children's Cancer Fund of America, and this one run by yet another member of the family, Rose Perkins.

(on camera): Hi. Is Rose Perkins in?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's not available and she's not doing any interviews.

GRIFFIN (on camera): Why wouldn't she do us any interviews? She's running a charity here for kids with cancer. Right? That seems like a good idea.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is. That's what I have been just told to tell you she's not doing interviews.

GRIFFIN: Can you tell us what you guys do, any positive things you do with the money you collect?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can send your questions to her e-mail.

GRIFFIN: OK. What is that e-mail?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we will answer it.

GRIFFIN: If you were asking us for money, what would you say you did with your money?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We help children with cancer.

GRIFFIN: How do you do that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you mean how do we do that? We help children with cancer.

GRIFFIN: Yes, how? In what way?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We provide them a financial assistance. GRIFFIN: Financial assistance?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you have any questions, please send them to her e-mail.

GRIFFIN: OK. My question...

(voice-over): Rose Perkins did e-mail us and tell us her charity has a clear conscience "because we feel we are making a good difference in people's lives," but also told us an interview is "not something we can consider."

That may be because of the questions we'd like to ask her and the other members of her extended family, who are essentially making a living on your donations.

Rose Perkins, the CEO of the Children's Cancer Fund, is paid $227,442 a year. Her ex-husband, James Reynolds Sr., is president and CEO of Cancer Fund of America. He gets paid $236,815. And James Reynolds Jr., president and CEO of the Breast Cancer Society, has a salary of $261,609.

It's money that comes from donors like you who in 2011 sent these three charities $26 million in cash. How much of those donations actually went to helping cancer patients? According to the charity's own tax records, about 2 percent in cash.

Example, the Cancer Fund of America raised $6 million through its fund-raising campaign in 2011 and gave away just $14,940 in cash. But that is not what you would hear from the telemarketers hired by the Cancer Fund of America run by James Reynolds Sr.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. How much of my $10 will go -- who is this to?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cancer Fund of America support services.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One hundred percent of your donation goes into the fund where we purchase medical supplies for these cancer patients. We also do the hospice care for the terminally ill and we supply over 600 hospice offices with medical supplies all over the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. But how much of my $10 will go...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It goes 100 percent towards the charity itself. I'm calling directly from the charity, and not a telemarketing agency.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, well, that's great, then. GRIFFIN: According to the Iowa Attorney General's Office, which gave us these recordings, those phone call statements are one great big lie. The callers were telemarketers being paid to make the call. The state of Iowa fined the telemarketing company $35,000 for making false representations.

As for donations to other charities, the Cancer Fund of America claimed on its 2011 tax filings it sent $761,000 in so-called "gifts in kind," not actually cash, to churches, some hospitals and other programs around the country.

When we called or e-mailed those other charities to check, many of them said they did get something, things like these supplies. But several of the groups told us they never heard of the Cancer Fund of America or don't remember getting a thing.

The cancer fund also takes credit for serving as a middleman, brokering transfer of another $16 million worth of gifts in kind to individuals and other charities, many of them overseas. Those contributions double up both as revenue and donations on the same tax forms.

Back at the Cancer Fund of America's corporate office, even the chief financial officer, who by the way, has a salary of $121,000, couldn't explain what was happening.

(on camera): We just have all these -- Mississippi North Medical Center, never heard of you. Yolanda Barco Oncology Institute, nothing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if that's one of the ones we looked up, but again, you would have to talk to him.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): The "him" is James Reynolds Senior, the founder, who finally told us in an e-mail, his boy thought it unwise to talk to CNN. Even though in a different e-mail he called the news of phantom donations, quote, "most disturbing."

As for his son, James Reynolds Jr. and his charity in Arizona.

(on camera): Hey, how are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The camera needs to stay outside.

GRIFFIN: Can he stay right there? Is Mr. Reynolds here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry, he's not in right now.

GRIFFIN: The public relations officer for the Breast Cancer Society, Kristina Hixson, who by the way, is married to James Reynolds Jr., sent us e-mails telling us the Breast Cancer Society's "guiding mission is to provide relief to those who suffer from the effects of breast cancer" and that "we've made a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of men and women." But declined our request for an on- camera interview.

And when our camera found James Reynolds Jr., he made sure we got the message with a single-finger salute.

Drew Griffin, CNN, Knoxville, Tennessee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And a traumatic brain injury nearly killed Ryan Boyle. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has his remarkable story in this week's "Human Factor."

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like a lot of 9-year-old boys Ryan Boyle loved to ride around and pop wheelies on his bike.

RYAN BOYLE, AUTHOR, "WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT": I would always ride my mountain bike.

GUPTA: He was riding a friend's big wheel when a freak accident turned his life upside down.

BOYLE: I slid down the driveway backwards into the road and into the path of a speeding pickup truck. It hit me in the back of the head at 30 miles per hour.

GUPTA: Boyle's injuries were catastrophic, broken arm, pelvis, femur, shoulder, six broken ribs, and a devastating traumatic brain injury. Doctors doubted he'd even live through the emergency surgery.

BOYLE: My neurosurgeon said to my parents when I came out of surgery that, I operated on him as if he had a chance.

GUPTA: Boyle did have a chance. Two months later, he woke up from a coma.

BOYLE: My neurologist took a look at me. He said, I am optimistic that Ryan will regain enough strength in his right hand to type. My parents just shot back, no. He'll be running and riding his bike.

GUPTA: Obviously, his parents knew best. Boyle went from being unable to speak or walk to eventually riding a stationary bike during his therapy sessions. As he struggled to understand what had happened to him, being able to ride became Boyle's salvation. That was then. This is now. Boyle's thriving as a college freshman. Just like when he was growing up, his bike is always nearby.

BOYLE: I'm on my own bike team. It's actually the first para-cycling team in the country.

GUPTA: And he's not done yet. Boyle hopes to represent Team USA in the 2016 Paralympics.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow. Incredible inspiration. All right. And she's been in the spotlight for at least two years now. But the Duchess of Cambridge made her final public appearance before the royal baby and heir to the British throne arrives. See that next.

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WHITFIELD: Hey! The Duchess of Cambridge attended the queen's birthday celebrations in London today. It is possibly her last public appearance before the birth of her first child. She smiled and waved there as she traveled in a carriage and was present at the trooping of the color parade.

Nearly 500 homes destroyed in a huge wildfire. Families in Colorado are hoping theirs survived. We go live to the fire zone to get an update next.

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