Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Search For Missing Teacher; Syria To Allow U.N. Weapons Inspectors; California Wildfire Spreading; 12-Year-Old Dies From Brain-Eating Parasite; Unclaimed $1M Lotto Ticket Expires Today; Remembering The March On Washington; Bernice King On Loss, Life And Legacy; Dolphins Deaths Troubling Scientists; Sarah Murnaghan Is Off Oxygen; Playing Tennis With The Champs; Donald Trump Accused Of Running Phony School

Aired August 25, 2013 - 14:00   ET

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


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, the baffling disappearance of a Pennsylvania schoolteacher. Authorities say he went on a hiking trip a month ago and hasn't been seen since.

As the sound of bombs and accusations of chemical weapons use goes on in Syria. The Syrian government now says it will allow U.N. weapons inspectors access to the site of the alleged chemical attacks but they are also warning the U.S. not to take any military action.

Our Fred Pleitgen is in Damascus and Chris Lawrence is at the Pentagon.

So Fred, let me begin with you. How soon will the weapons inspectors be allowed to begin inspections?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yes, I spoke to Syria's deputy foreign minister right after he came out of the meeting with the United Nations where that deal was struck and he said that the weapons inspectors will be about to wherever they wanted to go and it is strict where this allegedly happen effective immediately.

Now, of course, that doesn't mean that they are actually going to be on the ground that quickly. They still have to sort out logistical things. The United Nations is saying they are going to send the weapons inspectors out on their first mission to these areas starting tomorrow. And I want to listen in to some of the other things that the deputy foreign minister said to me earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: What sort of agreement have you reached with them?

FAISAL AL MEKDAD, SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: We worked for two days. I have adopted the possibility of reaching an agreement.

PLEITGEN: So they have complete access and they can go anywhere they want any time they want?

MEKDAD: Yes.

PLEITGEN: Is that the case in all of these areas?

MEKDAD: Yes.

PLEITGEN: OK. And that can start immediately?

MEKDAD: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: And, Fredricka, the main concern, of course, that the weapons inspectors have is the safety of their team. They do, in fact of course, have to cross the front line to get in the opposition-held territories. The Syrian government will allow them to pass from their side but they have to talk to the rebels to see if they're going to have safety on the ground. And the other big thing is that apparently the Syrian government has given them also the go-ahead and said they are not going to be shelling these areas as long as the U.N. troops are on the ground. But I can tell you from tonight we're hearing and we're seeing major shelling here in the Damascus area and a lot of that seems to be hitting exactly the neighborhoods that the weapons inspectors want to go to tomorrow -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: And then, Fred, all this at a time when we are hearing the governor of Hama province being assassinated.

PLEITGEN: Yes, absolutely. That's news that came earlier today that apparently the governor of Hama province was assassinated in a bomb attack as his convoy was going through the capital which also poll town and it has been a place that seeing a lot of fighting in the -- since the conflict started but seem to have gotten a little quieter in the recent weeks and months. So, this is something that is very significant and shows that the opposition of the rebels are still capable of striking even in area where's the government believes it has control. So certainly, this is a very significant fact. And it shows that while we're talking about the chemical weapons which are the main issue right now, the civil war here still continues and rages on unabated -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Fred. And I'm mentioning Chris Lawrence is at the Pentagon.

So Chris, you know, the president of the United States meeting with the national security team yesterday and likely again over the course of days. What do we know so far that's been discussed?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, basically, it's the fact that they think at this point and their assessment is it's too little too late from the Syrian government. They say if the Syrian government had nothing to hide it would allow those inspectors in five days ago.

Senior administration officials saying basically at this point they have little doubt that this was a chemical weapons attack and that it was perpetrated by the Syrian government. They think that the evidence at that site is corrupted at this point because of all that shelling that Fred just mentioned, consistent shelling over several days may have corrupted some of that evidence. But at this point, they seem to already be very close to making the conclusion.

And I can't stress enough the fact that the president of the United States not only working on Saturday but convening his entire national security team, from the CIA to the director of national intelligence, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., defense secretary Chuck Hagel calling in via videoconference from his trip to Asia. So this was a significant meeting. And it seems to move the ball in terms of the U.S. taking more action in Syria.

WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Lawrence, thank you so much and Fred Pleitgen in Damascus, thank you, as well.

All right, meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has some strong words for Syria. He said, quote "what happened in Syria is both a terrible tragedy and an awful crime." He went on to say, quote, "ours is a responsible finger and, if necessary, it will also be on the trigger. We will always know to defend our people and our state against whoever attacks us, tries to attack us, or has attacked us," end quote.

All right, back in the United States now, California, a huge wildfire still burning in and around western edge of Yosemite National Park. So far, more than 130,000 acres of forest has been scorched, 2600 firefighters are on the front lines right now, and the fire is still only about seven percent contained.

Nick Valencia is just outside Yosemite.

So Nick, there doesn't appear to be much hope that this fire can be put out quickly. What are you hearing there on the ground?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred. Firefighters have made some progress on containment but this fire continues to grow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was cooking. It was moving fast.

VALENCIA: This is the time of year the Yosemite National Park is usually packed with tourists, not firefighters. But on the western boundary of the forest, about 40 miles from the heavily visited Yosemite Valley, fire crews are dealing with this.

BJORN FREDRICKSON, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Yosemite is certainly iconic worldwide so it's on the minds of the public in this area and beyond.

VALENCIA: Fast moving, fierce, and so far unpredictable, the so- called rim fire could potentially be the largest fire in California's state history. Getting a handle on this fire has been difficult. It's being fueled by extremely dry conditions and canyon winds. CNN was escorted through the fire zone by the U.S. forest service. On the tour, the steady march of the fire is evident. Here at Yosemite National Park firefighters are making progress but with limited resources they're dealing with a lot of hot spots like these.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's critical at this time. We have teams out nationwide and we do have to share resources. But because I say we are, number one priority, we're getting what we need.

VALENCIA: But what these firefighters also say they need is for the weather to cooperate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: And, Fred, joining me now is Pam Martin with the U.S. forest service.

Pam, this fire is out of control. It's creating its own weather system. Why is it so difficult to get this under control?

PAM MARTIN, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Well, we are looking at extreme drought here in California. And we are looking at steep topography and with relative low humidity. And today, we're going to have wind gusts from 25 to 30 miles an hour. And all of that combined will increase the fire activity today. They are anticipated.

VALENCIA: We know you're dealing with a lot. We know that there are a lot of firefighters on the frontlines there. We wish them the best and you as well.

Fred, this fire is being unpredictable so far. They have made some progress. Since we have been here, already, it's grown more than 15,000 acres in over a day -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Incredibly fast moving.

All right, thanks so much. Nick Valencia, keep us posted.

All right, now take a look at this picture, a shot of the Yosemite fire taken from a NASA satellite in orbit. You can really see that burned out area and, of course, the smoke. The winds in the fire area have been dying down just a bit but the conditions overall are still feeding the flames, as you heard nick mention there.

Alexandra Steele is in the severe weather center and she explains.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Fred.

I mean, the weather is just not cooperating on myriad fronts -- temperatures, rain, and wind. So in terms of the temperatures, you know, the temperatures in the morning haven't gotten as low or as cool as they have been earlier in the week. So the fire activity has picked up earlier in the day.

Also, this fire is really creating its own weather pattern. It's so ferocious now and so large. And what's happening is that smoke column is building up, it's breaking down and collapsing on itself. And when it collapses it sends these down drafts and wind gusts in op operate and desperate directions. So, it's harder for the firefighters to know the direction from which the wind is coming. All right, so here's what we can expect from the winds. Strongest late this evening and it is the overnight hours. This is sustained winds between about 16 and 20 miles per hour. Gusts will be even stronger than that and you can see that here in this legend when the winds really fire up, really late in the day and overnight. So on so many fronts, the temperature, staying in the 70s, no rain at all to cool things down, and, also, of course, the strong winds and the temperatures during the morning hours. So, on so many fronts this fire is t not getting a break from the weather at all. Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Alexandra Steele.

All right, a 12-year-old boy has lost his fight against a brain-eating parasite. According to the facebook page that was providing updates for Zachary Reyna, he died yesterday afternoon. The site says he's on a ventilator so his organs can be donated. His family says Zachary may have lost his battle but he won the war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAMMY YZAGUIRRE, ZACKARY REYNA'S COUSIN: I look at the big picture and I see like he said how he's affected the world. As a family we stand strong together but the whole world was behind him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Zachary's family believes that he was infected with a rare parasite while knee boarding in a ditch three weeks ago in Florida. Doctors had been treating him with an experimental drug.

Investigators in Louisiana say an 8-year-old boy shot and killed his 87-year-old caregiver after playing a violent video game. Police say the boy was playing Grand Theft Auto 4 just minutes before he grabbed a gun in the home and then shot her. The child told police it was an accident. He will not face any charges. Under Louisiana law the child under 10 is exempt from criminal responsibility.

Amanda Knox will not return to Italy for retrial in the 2007 death of her British roommate. That's what a spokesman for the family says. Italy's Supreme Court plans to retry the case this fall. The court says the jury that acquitted Knox two years ago didn't consider all of the evidence. It is still possible Italy could request Knox's extradition from the U.S.

New York's attorney general is suing Donald Trump for millions, claiming he scammed students at his for-profit investment school. Hear the skating (ph) accusations and the billionaire's angry response.

Plus, U.N. teams are on the ground in Syria investigating chemical weapons allegations.

And President Barack Obama is weighing his options. We will tell you what they are and the potential consequences, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right, we have been bringing you details of accusations of chemical attacks with Syria with Syrian government and the opposition accusing each other of using chemical weapons.

Meanwhile, Syria's deputy foreign minister says U.N. inspectors can begin investigations into the alleged attacks. Syria analyst, Michael Weiss, joins me now live from New York.

Good to see you.

He's a columnist at "Now Lebanon."

So, Michael, so U.N. inspectors being told by the Syrian government that they can see for themselves whether chemical weapons were used but won't they only see what the Syrian government wants them to see?

MICHAEL WEISS, SYRIA ANALYST: Well, exactly. And unfortunately, as your own reporter found out, the regime has been bombarding these sites that have already been hit with chemical weapons around the clock. And the fact that six days will have gone by before the inspectors get on the ground indicates that whatever evidence they might be able to compile will be severely degraded if not destroyed.

I think what the U.S. is now basing its own assessments on, if I may, within hours of these chemical attacks, blood, tissue, soil samples were smuggled out of Damascus by activists and opposition linked groups and sent into Jordan. And I think it was very quick the speed with which western intelligence and regional intelligence agencies concluded it was a chemical attack and no doubt waged by the Assad regime. So, I don't expect much to come from the inspection if indeed it does take place tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: And apparently, Michael, the reason why the government or a reason why the Syrian government is saying, OK, inspectors, you can come in is because Russia said it's time that you allow them in. So if indeed Russia is that influential, how far can Russia go to help bring an end to this crisis? How involved can it be?

WEISS: Look, I think it's important to understand from the very beginning of this conflict Russia has adopted one of two positions on every major massacre. The first position is to deny that any massacre took place. The second is to immediately blame it on the rebels or the opposition. They did this with the Hula massacre last year. They did it indeed with this just -- this chemical attack that took place on Wednesday. The first response from the Russian foreign ministry was to say we need an independent investigation. The second response was to blame the free Syrian army for it.

So, I don't put much stock in Russia's ability to try and negotiate a political solution. I think that they were face with such a preponderance of evidence. All those videos that you have shown, I mean, U.S. intelligence assessments, children and women screaming in the streets. They cannot simply deny that anything bad took place.

WHITFIELD: OK. So now then, what about the U.S.? The president has been meeting this weekend with his team, the national security team. What are the options on the table? How far, how involved can the U.S. be in this?

WEISS: Right. It is an excellent question. I mean, it depends on what the president himself decides to do. Namely, does he want to send a symbolic message to the regime that the use of WMD will simply not be abided by the United States or does he want to get a little further involved in this conflict?

Now, the messaging from the beginning has been we don't want intervention. It would be too costly and too complex. My guess would be what we are going to see if the U.S. does indeed strike Syria, a series of surgical air strikes probably targeting the delivery mechanisms for these chemical warheads. Eyewitness accounts in Damascus, some of the people I spoke to the day of the chemical attacks said that one of the sites that delivered the rockets was just north of Jabar (ph) which is one of the neighborhoods or towns that was hit yet another site was near the Baghdad bridge, that's in southeastern Damascus. That site, by the way, happens to be quite close to a chemical research facility.

So, you know, we could see tomahawk missiles going in to take scud missile delivery systems possibly even targeting some of the key regime installations and air bases, the bulk of which are actually based in and around Damascus. But I don't see this -- I would not expect to see what the United States does get up to anywhere approaching regime change at this point.

WHITFIELD: OK. We know it's going to be driving conversations within the White House this week for sure.

Michael Weiss of "Now Lebanon," thanks so much for your time from New York.

WEISS: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: All right, students in (INAUDIBLE) Pennsylvania have back to school tomorrow. But one of their most popular teachers isn't expected to be there. We will have details on his mysterious disappearance and the latest efforts to find him.

And former boxing champ Mike Tyson makes extremely personal confession. His stunning announcement, straight ahead.

And right after the break, Donald Trump is in legal hot water, accused of running a phony school. Hear the allegations and the billionaire's heated response.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, Donald Trump is facing a huge lawsuit from the state of New York. The attorney general says the billionaire mogul's Trump University committed fraud and scammed students for thousands of dollars.

CNN business correspondent Alison Kosik is joining us now from New York.

So Alison, what is this all about? How much money is the state trying to get out of Donald Trump or recover?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are trying to get $40 million for what the New York state general office's says it wrongly took from people who took these classes at Trump's school.

Now, we know Donald Trump. He hasn't shied away from public dust-ups. But if you look at some of these allegations, they are really shocking considering he is one of the most famous billionaires.

Now, New York State is suing Trump and his investment school what was called Trump University for making false promises about its classes. They are calling it an elaborate bait and switch. The lawsuit says that students were told that they took part in seminars, that they could learn Donald Trump's investing techniques. Now, the lawsuit claims read like a menu of accusations. Saying in part that the university which attorney general Eric Schneiderman says wasn't a licensed university at all, that it was a sham, that it lured prospective students to get into a free 90-minute seminar that really was just a sales pitch to really get them into a three-day $1500 seminar and that once they were in that three-day seminar it became what the lawsuit calls an up-sell to pay for yet another year long seminar that costs $35,000.

One thing interesting that I saw in this lawsuit, Fredericka, is that Schneiderman is alleging that the speakers who were teaching the students urge these students and call their credit card companies during breaks in the sessions to request increases in their credit limits for what the speakers said were real estate transactions. But what the state is saying, the reality was, it was so students could buy even more classes with this Trump University -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my, OK, so what's the response coming from Donald Trump himself?

KOSIK: OK, well, one lawyer talked with CNN saying that the suit has no merit. It's nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt to deflect from Scheiderman's weak job performance, saying that maybe Schneiderman's office, the attorney general's office should focus more of their attention on the use of tax dollars and bringing to justice foes responsible for the financial meltdown, that coming from the lawyer.

And of course, we know Donald Trump for definitely not hesitating to speak out on twitter. He tweeted today saying, lightweight New York state attorney general Eric Schneiderman is trying to extort me with a civil lawsuit. And then you can also see if you go on to Donald Trump's twitter feed. You can see how he's re-tweeting a lot of people who are supporting him as this lawsuit goes back and forth.

WHITFIELD: It is a messy situation, all right. And something tells me it's just the tip of the iceberg. It's going to get uglier.

All right. Thanks so much, Alison Kosik in New York. Appreciate that.

All right, now to that revealing announcement from Mike Tyson. He is admitting that he is a vicious alcoholic, his words.

Joe Carter has that and more in this "Bleacher Report."

JOE CARTER, BLEACHER REPORT: Well, Fredricka, this bombshell of an admission came on the same night that Mike Tyson made his debut as a boxing promoter. He used the news conference following that event to basically come clean. It was an incredibly honest moment about his day-to-day bat with drugs and alcohol.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE TYSON, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: I'm a vicious alcoholic. I haven't drunk in six days. And for me, that's a miracle. I have been lying to everybody I've been sober but I'm not. This is my sixth day. I'm never going use again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARTER: You can watch more of Tyson's very revealing confession on bleacherreport.com.

Well, the first of several lawsuits against Lance Armstrong has reached a settlement. Armstrong has agreed to pay the same British newspaper he once sued back in 2004 for publishing an article about his doping. Now, according to the "Sunday Times" the paper was suing Armstrong for $1.5 million. The exact settlement amount is unknown. But it's being calling, quote, "mutual acceptable final resolution."

And finally, the little leaguers from Chew La Vista, California, ply absolutely crushed West Port, Connecticut, on Saturday, 12-1, to win the American final. Pitcher Nick Mora, that was the hero, he struck out nine batters on the mound and also hit a monster three-run home run. California will play Japan for the world championship at 3:00 p.m. eastern today.

By the way, Fredrick, the last four champions have either come from Japan or California.

That's your bleacher report update, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Go sluggers.

Thanks so much, Joe.

All right, and for the very latest on sports go to bleacherreport.com.

All right, the 11-year-old girl responsible for changing transplant laws in the U.S. speaks out for the first time since her life-saving lung operation, that exclusive interview coming up.

Plus, popular Pennsylvania teacher vanishes during a hiking trip a month ago. We will hear from his family and find out what clues they're hoping could be uncovered in the search.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: In California, authorities are trying to solve a mystery that has a family and a school community on edge. They're looking for a popular Pennsylvania high school math teacher who vanished during a hiking trip to Mammoth Lakes. The 39-year-old Matthew Greene would have started classes tomorrow, but he hasn't been seen or heard from since mid-July after exchanging text messages with a friend. CNN's Brianna Keilar has more on the search and how the family is coping.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIFFANY MINTO, SISTER: I want to be hopeful but yet at this point, it's so hard to be hopeful.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's hard because her brother Matthew Greene is missing. The avid 39-year-old hiker and high school math teacher from Pennsylvania who loved being outdoors vanished more than a month ago while vacationing in the mountains of Mammoth Lakes, California. His family says he had gone there to camp, hike, and climb.

He had been staying at the shady rest camp ground nearby while his car was being repaired. His family says he was supposed to pick up his car then meet some friends. He never picked up his car and his friends say he never showed up.

MINTO: So there's really not a lot of clues to go by and that's kind of the pitfall of the investigation right now is where could he have gone.

KEILAR: Air and ground searches haven't produced many clues. His family and friends have launched a find Matthew Facebook page.

TONY RODGERSON, FRIEND: This is one of my best friends and deserves our best effort. We're focus on the pages that he had missing from his guidebook that he probably had with him. Looking in an area that's probably going 20, 30, 40 acres of mountains.

KEILAR: Police aren't sure what happened to Matthew. It's a missing persons case for now. His family just wants answers.

MINTO: At this point, no matter what the outcome, we just want to find him. You know? We just want him back. We want to know what happened to him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, that was Brianna Keilar reporting. We also have learned that a pair of eye glasses that may belong to Matthew Greene were found by a hiker. Police are still trying to confirm if they are indeed his. And later on this afternoon, we're going to be talking to one of the investigators, one of the detectives on this case.

All right, here, four things crossing the CNN news desk right now. Number one, Syria, the government and the opposition are accusing each other of using chemical weapons. At least 1,300 people reportedly were killed in the attack on Wednesday near Damascus. Now Syria says U.N. inspectors can investigate the alleged attack. Meanwhile, Syrian state TV says the governor of Hama Province has been assassinated.

In California, a large wildfire is still burning around the western edge of Yosemite National Park. The rim fire has already consumed 130,000 acre of forests. The state of emergency has been declared for the San Francisco area 200 miles away. Some of the city's power and water supply actually comes from that area where the fire is burning.

A 12-year-old boy who was infected with a brain-eating parasite has died. According to the Facebook page dedicated to Zachary Reyna he died yesterday afternoon. The site says he's on a ventilator so his organs can be donated. Zachary's family believes he was infected with a rare parasite while knee boarding in a ditch earlier this month in Florida.

And someone is going to miss out on $1 million if they don't come forward today and claim a winning lotto ticket then that money goes away. It was sold in New York a year ago, but no one has come forward to claim that prize. Officials say today it's it. And if no one claims the winning ticket the money will simply go back to the lottery pool for future winners. The winning numbers, reminder, maybe you have one of these tickets, 1, 6, 7, 20, 49, 23 Powerball number.

All right, the youngest child of reverend -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. opens up about the challenge of having a civil rights icon for a father. Bernice King's remarkably candid account of her life, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Fifty years after Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Thousands gather for the anniversary of the march on Washington yesterday. A number of speakers inspired the crowd from the same steps where King once stood, including King's eldest son.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN LUTHER KING III, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S SON: We must embrace love and hold on to that powerful spiritual which inspired my father's generation and inspires us still today. We ain't going to let nobody turn us around. We ain't going to let nobody turn us around. We're going to keep walking. We're going to keep on talking. We're going to keep on voting. We're going to keep on job building. We're going to keep on educating. We're going to keep on mentoring. We're going to keep on community building. We're going to keep on ending violence. We're going to keep on creating peace. We ain't going to let nobody turn us around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And Bernice King is Dr. King's youngest child. She just turned 5 years old when her father was killed. Bernice sat down for a cnn.com red chair interview with Jarrett Bellini.

JARRETT BELLINI, PRODUCER, CNN.COM: Hi, Fred. We recently sat down with Bernice King at Ebenezer Baptist Church here in Atlanta and she told us about learning of her father's death when she was only 5 years old, what it was like growing up as Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter, and about how the darkest time in her life ultimately led her to join the ministry. Here's what she had to say in the CNN red chair.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERNICE KING, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S DAUGHTER: When the assassination occurred I was asleep and the next day or -- my mother had to find a way to explain to me that your father -- when you see him, he's going to be in a cassette and he won't be able to talk with you. Wow. I mean, for a 5-year-old. Wow.

Literally seven days before his assassination was my 5th birthday. We couldn't celebrate it that day because my father was leading the march in Memphis, Tennessee, in fact, and he came back home and it was the next day when we celebrated it. Probably as usual I was happy and joy use to have dad at home.

But the interesting thing, the emotional roller coaster that occurred for me was when we were at the service here at Ebenezer on April 9th, 1968. Mother said, remember, that he won't be able to talk with you. So right in the middle of that service they played the speech from February 2nd, the drum major instinct, played a portion where he talked about his funeral and suddenly his voice is booming forth and I'm looking like, you know, looking for him.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. If you want to say that I was a drum major for peace, I was a drum major for righteousness.

KING: It's much more difficult being the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. as an adult as it was as a kid. You know, I had friends -- one of the schools I went to was as a private school here in Atlanta called the Galloway School. They would say, you're the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and I'm like, and because I didn't understand all of that fully. And so the pressure of what all of that may have represented did not hit me.

When I went to law school, my first year was very difficult. In fact, I had a cousin who died the Friday before I started law school and I ended up that semester on probation. I went through the next semester. I was on probation again. Well, for me that was a lot to swallow because law school for me was like identity, you know? And the thought that I would lose that was devastating. And then, you know, the whole notion of, my God, it's going to be in the papers. I flunk out of law school.

I was already dealing with a lot of anger and so I went home, got a knife, and trying to figure out how to hurt myself so bad that I would not feel the pain and kind of end life. I remember my roommate came down, what are you doing? She went back and called my aunt and my mom and them. In the midst of her doing that I heard a voice saying, put down the knife, people are going to miss you. It was like, whew, something like blew a fresh breath into me. It's like I came to life at that moment. And, you know, my life turned around and I gave my life to Jesus Christ shortly after that and ended up surrendering to this call that was following me into ministry.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Powerful comments there from Bernice King. That interview done by Jarrett Bellini and you can see more about her story on cnn.com.

On Wednesday the nation will commemorate the 50th anniversary on the march in Washington and President Obama will speak as part of the day's events. Stay with CNN for live coverage. That's Wednesday right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The beauty and grace of the dolphin has captured our imagination for centuries, but now government scientists are raising a red flag about a sudden increase of dying dolphins on the east coast. The death rate this summer is seven times higher than normal and scientists are trying to figure out why. Here's Brian Todd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're among the most resilient and beloved creatures to roam the seas. But something in the water is killing bottle-nosed dolphins along the east coast of the U.S. and at the moment it's a mystery.

SUSAN BARCO, VIRGINIA AQUARIUM AND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER: We're seeing lesions. We're not seeing animals feeding normally. A lot of them are thin.

TODD: And dead by the time marine authorities find them. More than 200 dead bottle-nosed dolphins have washed ashore from New York to Virginia this summer. In Virginia the count is around 80 just for this month alone, mostly along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, the average number in Virginia in August, seven. Pollution or bacteria could be possible causes of die off. But at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, I asked top veterinarian about another possibility.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't know exactly what's causing it but wing expect it might be a virus.

TODD: A pathogen that's been deadly before. It killed more than 700 dolphins between New York and Florida in 1987 and '88. It causes measles in humans, but experts say it doesn't spread between humans and dolphins. How do these maladies spread so quickly among dolphins?

(on camera): Experts say part of the problem is that dolphins are very social creatures, they're always swimming each other, touching each other, breathing each other. That's how they transmit illness.

(voice-over): They also feed on the same food at the same time, says Whitaker. At the aquarium, Whitaker and I do a quick exam on Beau, a young male.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Feel his teeth, there Brian. Nice, nice sharp teeth. Look under the tongue. Make sure there's something -- some of the virus cause lesions under the tongue.

TODD: We checked the stomach area, the blowhole.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, now, look at that. We've got mucous and basically spit on the side. We take it to our laboratory, do special stains and we look at the cells which tells us an awful lot about what's going on inside of her.

TODD: That and a nice clear eye tell us Beau is healthy. As for those out in the open water who are infected --

(on camera): Can anything be done to end this or stem it at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reality is a wild population with an extensive disease like this could be very, very difficult for us to help them at all.

TODD: Whitaker says that's because dolphins migrate so fast, by the time they find out what's wrong and catch them, the mortality event might be over. Experts are worried this might spread quickly further south because this is the time of year that Atlantic bottle nosed dolphins are migrating south. Brian Todd, CNN, Annapolis, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: She survived two lung transplants. Now she's getting ready to go home and talks exclusively with CNN to get those operations. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Her fight for new lungs changed the rules for kids desperate for a transplant. Now after undergoing two lung transplant surgeries 11-year-old Sarah Murnaghan is breathing without the help of an oxygen machine. Jason Carroll sat down with her and her family for their first exclusive interview since her transplant.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, Sarah has a very deep understanding in terms of just how sick she has been and for how long. And during her first interview since having not one but two lung transplants, she talked about all that she's had to endure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So many people have said that you're a tough, tough little girl. Do you feel like you're a tough little girl?

SARAH MURNAGHAN: Yes.

CARROLL: You do?

MURNAGHAN: Very much. CARROLL: Can you tell me why?

MURNAGHAN: Because every time I face things that I thought were going to be hard and then I've done them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: It turns out Sarah is due to be released as early as Tuesday, Thursday at the latest. I spoke to Sarah's mother and father about her prognosis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's going to fight and she's going to be okay. I fully plan to watch her graduate from college and watch her get married some day and do whatever it is she wants to do. You know, I believe those things are a reality. I just don't think they're going to be as easy for her to attain those things as anybody else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Fredricka, this puts it into perspective. At one point when I was talking to Sarah, she said, I'm not going for easy. She said, I am going for possible and it looks like this week it will be possible for Sarah and her family -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Wow, Jason, thanks so much. What a mature little girl. You can see Jason's entire interview tomorrow morning on "NEW DAY" right here on CNN.

All right, two defending U.S. Open champs hit the court to volley with some new pint-size tennis players and at the same time help heal wounds from Superstorm Sandy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Last October things looked bleak for two young boys from Howard Beach, New York. Superstorm Sandy wiped out the first floor of their home and destroyed the two family cars. But today things look a lot better. Thanks in part to the game of tennis and two top stars of the game. Alina Cho has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Andy Murray is not used to hitting tennis balls with pint-sized players but on this day, all of his opponents are just that, half his size and less than half his age.

ANDY MURRAY, 2012 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: I remember when I was that age, and I would have loved to get to play with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

CHO: But these aren't just any kids. All of their families were impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Many are still struggling to recover, which is why Murray and Serena Williams, both defending U.S. Open single champs, are spending this precious pre-tournament time leading this clinic.

(on camera): I know that you're very big on getting youth into tennis. Why is that important to you?

SERENE WILLIAMS, 2012 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: For me it was important because it was a clinic, something similar to this that really got me so excited. I met some professional players. I was like, wow, I want to be that.

CHO (voice-over): Until today, 9-year-old and 6-year-old brother Charlie had never picked up a racquet. They lost a home and two cars. Today tennis is providing an escape.

(on camera): How does that feel?

JOSEPH ANDRIANO, HOWARD BEACH, QUEENS: Like the total opposite. It's really cool.

CHO: Total opposite meaning what?

ANDRIANO: Like the total opposite. Like I was worried and scared with the storm and now I feel great and it's cool.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very thankful. This was a very amazing experience for all of us.

CHO: When you play with them, what do they say with you?

WILLIAMS: They're just so cute. I just usually have conversations with them. When they're young, they're like, my mom watch you or you are famous or have I seen you on TV. They're just always so cute.

MURRAY: I was that age once, I remember.

CHO: Do you?

MURRAY: Yes, I remember what it was like. I used to play with my brother a lot when I was that age. You just charge around the court. You try and hit the ball as hard as you can. There's no, you know, there's no thought or pressure.

CHO (voice-over): Like there is now as these two tennis stars at the top of their game go for their next grand slam. While cultivating these tiny stars to be who could be the next ones to play on center court. Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Great inspirations. That's going to do it for me in the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll see you again an hour from now. But first, here's a question. So what does 29-year-old Mark Zuckerberg have planned for his 30s? How is that connecting the entire planet?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARK ZUCKERBERG, CO-FOUNDER, FACEBOOK: They're going to use it to decide what kind of government they want. Getting access to health care for the first time ever, connect with family hundreds of miles away that they haven't seen in decades.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, find out what else. "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.