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Norway Mourns Attack Victims; Debt Ceiling Talks Continues; New York's First Same-Sex Marriage; No Official Word on How Singer Amy Winehouse Died; Somalia's Famine Crisis Descends Even Deeper; House Speaker John Boehner Holds a Conference Call with House Republicans; Thousands of Same-Sex Couples Are Tying the Knot Today in New York

Aired July 24, 2011 - 16:00   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. Welcome to the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Debt talks are in overdrive as lawmakers scramble to reach a deal to raise the debt limit today. House Speaker John Boehner is holding a conference call with House Republicans in a half an hour from now. Lawmakers want to come up with a plan today to avoid a negative reaction from Asia's financial markets which open in about four hours from now. A live report from Capitol Hill in just two minutes.

A historic day for gay couples in New York. Hundreds are getting married legally today. This couple, the first in New York City to say their vows. New York passed its marriage equality act last month. A state set up a lottery to handle a crush of requests for marriages today. We will have a live report from New York City in a few minutes.

And six people shot dead at this skating rink near Dallas, Texas. A man opened fire during a family birthday party last night. He killed five members of his wife's family and then himself. Four other people were hurt, also family members. Police say a fight between the man and his wife escalated until he began shooting.

The King and Queen of Norway openly weeping led their nation in mourning. The 93 people killed in Friday's bomb and shooting terror attacks. Most of the victims were teenagers attending a summer camp. Police say the man they have in custody has confessed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SVEINUNG SPONHEIM, ACTING OSLO CHIEF OF POLICE (through translator): There's no progress on the question of what the motive was for the bomb explosion and the shootings. He has admitted and not made any changes to what he said. He insists that he was alone. But the police are still looking to verify what he has said.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Investigators are also combing a long manifesto reportedly written by the suspect to try and determine his motivations.

Reaction to the death of singer Amy Winehouse continues to pour in. An autopsy is set to begin tomorrow in London. But already people are jumping to conclusions that the troubled singer died of a drug overdose. Here's actor Val Kilmer who plays the doomed Jim Morrison in the movie "The Doors."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAL KILMER, ACTOR: The thing about addiction that I learned from playing a bunch of these guys that are addicts is that it's not wrong or bad to want to get out of the pain of mortality. That's what we're trying to do. And a lot of artists are just too sensitive for the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment yesterday. Police say it could be several days before they have results from that autopsy.

All right. Back in Washington, D.C., it is crunch time as lawmakers rush to reach a debt deal today. House Speaker John Boehner is holding a conference call with House Republicans in less than 30 minutes from now. CNN congressional correspondent Kate Bolduan is live on Capitol Hill. So Kate, Boehner has been holding negotiations with lawmakers after walking away from talks with the president on Friday over tax hikes. What can we expect to come out of this conference call?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it seems at the very least Speaker Boehner and other House Republican leaders are looking to update their Republican members in the House on the status of negotiations. We know that talks are continuing today. We also know that yesterday Speaker Boehner, when he held a conference call yesterday with House members, he said - he told members that he was pushing for a debt ceiling increase in two steps that would come - that would equal some $3 trillion to $4 trillion in cuts.

And that - excuse me. And that two-step process seems to be key right now as both the administration as well as Republican as well as Democratic leaders have said they are opposed to any sort-term extension. If that means, Fredricka, and this is key, if it means that the country would end up in a similar debt ceiling impasse in just a few months as we are really in this impasse right now, and that second step, how that is structured, seems to be key to democratic support right now.

Now, Speaker Boehner this morning on Fox News, he said that a two-step process to raise the debt ceiling is inevitable and he said House Republicans are ready to go it alone. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: I would prefer to have a bipartisan approach to solve this problem. If that's not possible, I and my Republican colleagues in the House are prepared to move on our own.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today?

BOEHNER: Today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Now while Boehner says that they're ready to move on their own today, it's not clear if whatever kind of a House Republican go it alone plan would look like if it could pass the democratic controlled Senate. So it's a bit of a waiting game right now in terms of where things go from here as negotiations continue behind closed doors, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so Kate, if they don't reach a deal by that deadline, what would be the consequences?

BOLDUAN: Well, politically speaking, it seems like there would be political consequences in that everyone up here as well as at the White House could be ready to face the blame. You can be sure that both sides would be pointing the finger at each other, that they would be that the other is to blame for the fact that they couldn't reach an agreement.

But at this point they're not talking about the what if, really. Everyone involved seems to be very much focused on trying to reach this agreement as many have said and we've confirmed, congressional leaders in the room are trying to reach an agreement before Asian markets were opened this evening for the week. We've also heard that they're working towards unveiling something in order to get the legislative ball rolling come tomorrow, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kate Bolduan, thanks so much, in Washington.

So in New York City today hundreds of same-sex couples were allowed to waive the standard 24-hour waiting period and get married right away. CNN's Susan Candiotti caught up with one of the lucky couples.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're the first male couple to say "I do" as cameras rolled at the city clerk's office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Till death do us part.

MARCOS CHALJUB, MARRYING SAME-SEX PARTNER: When I heard the words I just started to cry and I couldn't stop it at that point.

CANDIOTTI: Freddy Zambrano and Marcos Chaljub exchanged vows in front of a handful of witnesses. They met online, fell in love at first sight and have been fighting for same-sex marriage ever since.

FREDDY ZAMBRANO, MARRYING SAME-SEX PARTNER: It's the moment we've been waiting for for years.

CHALJUB: It's a dream come true for us. A dream come true. To say this is my husband now, Freddy, as opposed to my boyfriend or my partner.

CANDIOTTI: Becoming among the first same-sex couples to marry in New York, the significance hasn't escape them. Or what they hope to proudly tell their children one day.

CHALJUB: I guess we'll be telling them when we were young, you know, there's no such thing as us being able to get married. We were part of that day. We were part of the people who were there when it did happen in New York, at least.

CANDIOTTI: They plan on saving the e-mail that told them they won a city hall lottery allowing them to marry this morning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And as soon as I read this line, congratulations -

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Did you scream?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did I scream? I'm amazed you guys didn't hear me on the other end of the city.

CANDIOTTI: Freddy works for an insurance company. Marcos, a law firm. Together they supported the same-sex marriage movement.

ZAMBRANO: I have certain people in my life that they're not totally OK with it, but they accept it. And just the fact that they respect us because of that, it's really the most that I can ask for.

CANDIOTTI: They've already been wearing their rings for five years.

CHALJUB: We're just going to polish them up and exchange them again. Because we weren't able to do so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this ring.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this ring.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thee wed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thee wed.

CANDIOTTI: But now they have something they did not have before. A wedding certificate with the words.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're married.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Susan is live for us outside of Gracie Mansion where a special ceremony is set to take place. Susan, what's about to happen?

CANDIOTTI: That's right. For people who don't know Gracie Mansion is the official home of New York City's mayor. And tonight a rare event for New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg because he is going to be officiating at the wedding of two staffers. His chief policy adviser and the - OK. We've got someone who's joined us momentarily. Thanks. But he's walked away now. Sorry about that folks.

WHITFIELD: OK, Susan. We'll get back with you. Thanks so much on what life would be on another historic occasion later on this evening at Gracie Mansion.

All right. Now back to Norway and the aftermath of Friday's bomb and shooting attacks in Norway. At least 93 people were killed, many of them teenagers.

CNN's Michael Holmes is digging up more information. So Michael, are we learning anything more about the suspect?

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: About the suspect, well, Anders Behring Breivik, is going to be appearing in court tomorrow, Fredricka. It will be his first appearance in court since these horrific events that took place on Friday and of which he is accused. We're told by his lawyers that he's going to be pleading not guilty to the charges that he is facing.

However, police say that he has confessed fully to what he did. Why will that happen? Well, because we understand he wants to get his message out which is, of course, a message of hatred and fear and rants against Muslims. So he will be appearing in court.

Now, the other thing that we're hearing is he has told police he did this on his own. There was suspicion initially in some of the witness statements were leading police to think that maybe someone else was involved. They have carried out raids. They have done more investigation. They have found no evidence to support any theory he did not act alone. He did, apparently.

So that's the latest on the suspect in this horrible, horrible case that has stunned this nation. Fred?

WHITFIELD: This was a very tough day with this Sunday and the king and queen being at that ceremony tearfully. How has this community been able to kind of help support one another?

HOLMES: Yes. It has. You're right. There was -- that ceremony was really emotional. There was another one here, actually, as well at which the Prince and Princess attended. The king and queen were at the one in Oslo. The people are pulling together. This place that we're at here, this is a hotel that's been turned into a crisis center, a welfare center if you like for the parents, the survivors.

There's been dozens and dozens of people here over the last couple of days. Many of them have gone home to begin the process of healing at home. But there are still some here and even new arrivals coming for the grief counseling. We've seen the prime minister here. We've seen the prince and princess. We've seen five or six government ministers. The government really trying to gather around the families of the survivors and the victims to help them through this.

Inside there, Fred, there are still four parents, four sets of parents who are awaiting news of their children. Despite the dead that we know about, there are four still missing out there in the waters near this island. I was out there today and we saw half a dozen, eight boats out there looking over the edges of these boats essentially looking for bodies. These are the kids who are among those who jumped into the water to try to get away from Breivik when he started shooting.

And four of them are still missing. I was out there because I was with a good Samaritan, one of several, who went to the island when the shooting began and managed to get dozens of kids off the island. Very brave stuck. This is while it was all unfolding. And this man, Kaspar Ilgaud, he told us several stories. This is what one girl said to him when he got her on the boat. Have a listen, Fred.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KASPAR ILGAUD, RESCUER: When (INAUDIBLE) the girl starts crying. And she looked at me and asked "Are you police?" And I said, "No, I'm just a local resident." She got a little relief by that. She looked at me and said, "You know, it was a policeman with a uniform with a bald head who started shooting us."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Of course, this was Breivik who went dressed as a policeman when he got on to the island and called the kids together and then started shooting. You know, Kaspar did an amazing job. He got 25 or 30 kids off in three trips which is extraordinary on that small boat. He said one of the more emotional moments was when he looked over on one of the trips and saw three kids huddled together. He yelled out to them. He said they didn't respond. He said I'll get back to them later. He took other kids off, went back again and realized those three kids on that shoreline were dead. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Terribly sad. All right. Thanks so much. Michael Holmes for that report.

All right. Back in this country, there's a major civil war re- enactment taking place this weekend. But it's about more than history. We'll tell you how it's paying off for a Virginia city.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Thousand of re-enactors are braving blistering heat in Virginia this weekend to commemorate a civil war milestone, the Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas took place on July 21st, 1861.

CNN's Brianna Keilar reports a re-enactment this weekend is pumping badly needed dollars into the local economy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cannon blasts have jolted the town of Manassas, Virginia, this week where they're commemorating the 150 year anniversary of the Battle of Bull Run, the first major battle of the Civil War. Politicians and business owners are hoping a whole series of battle-related events and attractions provide a different kind of jolt.

MAYOR HARRY "HAL" PARRISH, MANASSAS, VIRGINIA: And any time you have an influx of people, heritage and tourism kinds of issues, those people are going to spend money. They're going to come here. This is a once in a lifetime kind of event for many people. So they'll spend money.

KEILAR: City leaders are expecting about 25,000 people to attend the event. Pumping an estimated $25 million into the local economy. And Christine Finney, a shop owner, couldn't be happier about it.

CHRISTINE FINNEY, OWNER "WHIMSICAL GALERIE": It has created a ton of business. Earlier I read after the parade was done, the place was standing room only. People buying commemorative things and other merchandise from the store. So it's been wonderful.

KEILAR: Many small towns in America are having a rough time of it during this economic downturn. Manassas officials say they're no different than anyone else.

PARRISH: We're watching expenditures very closely. We're watching our revenues very closely. And so when something happens like this, it's a tremendous help.

KEILAR: Charles Gilliam runs Okra's Cajun Restaurant in Manassas. He says he's managed to adjust his business strategy, but he says he knows many were feeling it.

CHARLES GILLIAM, OWNER "OKRA'S CAJUN RESTAURANT: Many do feel the pinch. It is a rough economy. In northern Virginia we're much luckier than a lot of other places in the country. But the pinch is there and people are having to get leaner.

KEILAR: The big draw this week is the battle re-enactment. Despite triple digit temperatures, huge crowds are coming out to watch and the surrounding businesses in Manassas are waiting for them.

ROBERT BAROLIN, OWNER, CITY SQUARE CAFE: It's going to be a big jolt for us as very independent, small businesses. Something that normally probably some extra type of money that you're going to get, that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

KEILAR: On this day, remembering the Battle of Bull Run serves a dual purpose. Learning more about our nation's history while providing some welcome revenue for a small town Manassas' future.

Brianna Keilar, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And what are your options if having a boss younger than you is a problem? Some answers after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Every week we focus on ways to get a jump start in the workforce. In today's "Reclaim your Career," we're talking about generational conflicts. When baby boomers, Generation X, millennials and even Generation Z all come together in the workplace. So Valorie Burton is the author of "Where Do You Go From Here?" She has some strategies to help you cope some real advise because it's bound to happen. Your boss is going to be, you know, younger than you or perhaps there's some real cultural differences that come with the generational differences.

VALORIE BURTON, AUTHOR "WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?": Sometimes it's just less experience. People get frustrated when people get promoted over them.

WHITFIELD: Yes, it can really play some serious mind game. OK. So what do you need to do besides acknowledge, "OK, this is what we've got in front of us. Now what?"

BURTON: Yes, for so many people it's a few things. You really need to make sure you do what you can do. So there are times when there's ageism. And if that's the case, you want to, you know, take the right precautions, go to the right people. But other times it's about your own attitude. So I think it's really, really important for people, number one, to be sure that they are not focused on what the other person is doing, not focused on the age, but instead focused on the position. And I think even if we look at our culture, a lot of times we tear down our leader. So just focus on the position, not the age. Make sure you're respecting that position.

WHITFIELD: So somehow you need to find some real common ground.

BURTON: Yes. Yes.

WHITFIELD: You all are in it, you know, together.

BURTON: That's right.

WHITFIELD: You're hopefully moving towards the same goal. Maybe of that, you know, that business.

BURTON: Yes. I think it's easy to just focus on age. You're more than a number. It's really important to say, you know what? What are the strengths here? What are some likes and dislikes, some things that we can kind of come together around, we're working on a project together, and focus on those more than you're focusing on the fact that the person is younger than you are.

WHITFIELD: See the position, not the age and kind of learn from the past. Don't get stuck in that. What do you mean by that?

BURTON: OK. So if you've been in the job for a pretty long time, there are things you've seen. Perhaps there are changes that have been made. Ten years ago we did this. Twenty years ago we did that. Make sure you don't get stuck in the past. Learn from it. You've got a lot of wisdom to share, but be willing to change. And for a lot of older workers they're afraid that maybe they're not going to learn the new technology well. Take that extra step to learn what you need to learn to change with the times. WHITFIELD: Interesting and you say don't look to your job for appreciation. What do you mean? Meaning some folks are, you know, looking for that instant gratification by the work that they do?

BURTON: Yes. So the viewers that talked about this frustration with the generations, someone being younger, a lot of times we're talking about not feeling appreciated. It's smart for a boss to appreciate your people. You get a lot more productivity.

WHITFIELD: At least say you're doing a great job, that kind of stuff, encourage them?

BURTON: To be encouraging. However, you cannot expect that at work. You know, expect the job. Expect to have a decent income. Expect to be treated with respect and whatever benefits you were promised.

WHITFIELD: Don't look for a pat on the back that comes you're doing a great job, thank you. No, forget it.

BURTON: At home, your friends, do your work but don't look for the appreciation network.

WHITFIELD: OK. And refuse to judge. Meaning refusing to judge, you know, boss the boss that's younger than you, trying to compare the whole life experience, how is it you can be my boss and, you know, I could change your diaper back in the day, that kind of thing?

BURTON: You don't want to be judged for being older. Don't judge the other person for being younger. Don't assume that they can't do the job. You want to make sure that you're not judging other people. Treat other people the way you want to be treated.

WHITFIELD: And be friendly. Show kindness.

BURTON: So simple. But you know, smile at people. Say hello. Be helpful. I mean those things break down and transcend age. And it's really important to just do the simple things. A smile can go a long way.

WHITFIELD: And we laugh but this really is a big issue in many offices. You know, work environments.

BURTON: Well, you've got baby boomers, you got people older than that, you got Generation X, you got Y. Everybody together. And you have to remember everybody's coming from a different life experience. It doesn't make anyone wrong. It just means we all think differently and we're all trying to work in there together.

WHITFIELD: All right. Valorie Burton, thanks so much. I tell you it's always like going to church for something like that.

BURTON: (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: I know it feels like it.

BURTON: It's Sunday. WHITFIELD: I like it. Thanks so much.

BURTON: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. The heat wave. Well, it's kind of loosening its grip. That's a little good news we've got for you. We'll find out where the weather is starting to cool.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now.

The King and Queen of Norway in tears leading their nation in mourning. The now 93 people who died in Friday's bomb and shooting terror attacks. Most of the victims were teenagers attending a summer camp. Police say the man they have in custody has confessed and told them he did it alone. They're also combing a long manifesto written by the suspect to try to determine his motivations.

Debt negotiations are heating up in Washington, D.C.. In just a few minutes House Speaker John Boehner is expected to hold a conference call with Republican House members. He and other congressional leaders are trying to come up with a plan to raise the debt ceiling before Asia's financial markets open at 8:00 this evening U.S. time. If a deal is reached, we'll let you know the details as soon as we get them.

And celebrations in New York as gay couples legally tie the knot for the first time. Kitty Lambert and Sheryl Rudd got married just after midnight at Niagara Falls. They are the first gay couple in the state of New York to legally wed. New York legalized same-sex marriage last month. Today is the first day ceremonies can take place.

Parts of the U.S. are getting a break from the brutal heat wave. But it's still sizzling hot in a lot of other places. New York is one of the states that has seen triple digit temperatures this week. The heat buckled highways there including this interstate in Amherst and across the country the heat wave is blamed for at least two dozen deaths.

Let's check in with our Jacqui Jeras. OK. So a little cool front on the way? Where?

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Wow! Well, New York as you mentioned, what a difference a couple of days make, right? So they were 104 on Friday. 100 yesterday in Central Park. Today, 91. Tomorrow, yes, hopefully almost 10 degrees you should drop.

WHITFIELD: With the humidity it feels a lot hotter.

JERAS: It feels warmer than that, yes. But it's definitely a big break compared to what they have been seeing. Unfortunately not everybody's getting it. Let's talk about who's still in the thick of this today. Notice that those heat advisories have spread a little farther to the south. Dallas, you've been over 100 for the last 23 days. Today you're in a heat advisory so that humidity is starting to build up and unfortunately, especially the southern plain states in here, we're going to watch that heat start to build up especially by the middle of the week. So we drop down to maybe 100, 101. We're going to start popping back up to 105 degrees.

Now let's go ahead and show you about the northeast, yes, much better, New York City and Boston, but Philly is still in it as well as D.C. and everybody down towards the south and east. Here's the current heat index. Feeling good in Boston. Let's just take a second. Yae for you, Boston! 75 and it is gorgeous out there. So there's a few of you getting a break.

Here are a couple of the records yesterday. Atlantic City, New Jersey, 105. You know yesterday we had 193 record highs. 380 record-high minimums. That's a total of 573 records that were broken or tied yesterday. Just amazing. Showers and thunderstorms in the nation's midsection trying to break some of this heat. But those downpours have been heavy, too. Fred, lot of people have to watch out for some flooding rain catching you a little bit off guard. These storms are putting down a lot in a short time.

WHITFIELD: That flash flooding, right?

All right. Thanks so much, Jacqui. Appreciate it. See you later. Especially in the "Chat Room." Lots to talk about. Lots to giggle about. Crazy stuff out there. Thanks so much.

All right. With the current state of the economy, the biggest concern is jobs. So here's a question for you. What percent of people work retail jobs, 32.7 percent, 17.6 percent, 45.6 percent or 24.1 percent You guess. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Before the break we asked you about the job market, what percent of people work retail jobs? The answer, 24.1 percent. According to the National Retail Federation providing 42 million jobs.

In our "Financial Fix" today, we're focusing on how you can save money just by changing a few habits at the office. Yesterday I talked to financial planner Karen Lee and her first tip to saving money at the office, cutting back on that specialty coffee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN LEE, FNANCIAL PLANNER: Let's say you go get a specialty coffee five days a week when you go to work. That's four bucks a day. That's $960 a year.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh.

LEE: If you just go by the gas station, you are probably looking about $1.50. If you just make it at home or drink it at work, free to pennies. So right there you got over $800. Next, you're going for a bottle of water. You stop at that gas station. You grab one at the gas station. It's at least a buck a day, $240 a year. Buy a case of them at the grocery store; get it down to 13 cents a bottle or maybe $30 bucks every year. Like you just said, Fred, bring your own thermos and fill it up yourself. It's free.

WHITFIELD: I'm adding it up. Now, bagging it for lunch.

LEE: You know I always say the number one place people overspend is eating out. Let's do the math. A lot of times people tell me you can never eat out for ten bucks. Ten bucks a day. For your workdays, $2,400 a year.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness.

LEE: Go through a drive-in window. I just go to wherever, $5 bucks a day. That's $1,200 a year. If you brown bag it, you can probably do that for $1, $1.50 a day. That's $360 bucks. Right now you can buy summer items off the clearance rack. Please don't pay more than 50 percent off retail, 50 to 80 percent right now.

WHITFIELD: Man.

LEE: And then some people like thrift stores. I'm not a big one on that. We said it last week, many people get great bargains at thrift stores.

WHITFIELD: Oh absolutely, I'm still very inspired by your $12 -- then the commute. You've got to drive or you got to catch the bus or something.

LEE: We don't realize when we drive our self how much it's costing. We've got gas; we've got maintenance on the car. Depending on where you work you might have parking. Right? One thing would be get a car pool. I know it might not be as fun and independent as having your own car. Car pools will cut your cost in half. But public transport. Of course, all these things we're talking about are good for the environment. Also very good things. Fred, before we finish, I just want to say. Here's the number one reason people don't do most of these things?

WHITFIELD: Convenience.

LEE: I'm exhausted. I'm too exhausted. I'm not organized enough. If you're struggling with money, these are things that would make a huge difference in your lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: At least $3,000 savings a year with her advice there. You can catch "Financial Fix" every Saturday 2:00 Eastern and on Sundays right here, 4:00 Eastern on CNN.

All right. London police say singer Amy Winehouse's death is unexplained.

We'll head to London for the latest in the investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: In London today, still no official word on how singer Amy Winehouse died. The troubled performer's body was found in her London apartment yesterday. An autopsy is expected to begin tomorrow. CNN's Nina Dos Santos is outside Winehouse's London home.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here outside Amy Winehouse's North London town house, the police are standing guard as her death remains unexplained. We've also got hundreds of fans of all age groups who've been converging upon this site throughout the course of the last 24 hours to lay floral tributes and also cards saying "Rest in peace, Amy."

A number of cards also carrying those ever so poignant lyrics that made her so famous and talks of rehab. Drugs and alcohol addiction has formed as much as of Amy Winehouse's persona as did her music. Even though she died at only 27 years old, she won five Grammy Awards in just one night with that album "Back to Black." Many music industry insiders say that now, even though she's dead, her music will live on.

Nina Dos Santos, CNN, London.

WHITFIELD: Celebrities reaction is flooding into social media. Here are just a few comments posted on twitter. Lady Gaga tweets Amy changed pop music forever. I remember knowing there was hope and feeling not alone because of her. She lived jazz. She lived the blues.

And singer Josh Groban tweeted; drugs took her gift, her soul, her light long before they took her life. Rest in peace, Amy.

And singer Demi Lovato tweets, so sad. Unfortunately the world lost an incredibly talented woman to such a powerful disease. Addiction. Rest in peace.

And this tweet comes from "Rolling Stone" Magazine, it reads, you too dedicated "Stuck in a Moment" to Amy Winehouse at their Minneapolis concert last night. The Rolling Stone tweet includes a video link to the concert dedication.

Still overseas now, Somalia's famine crisis descends even deeper. The militant group that controls most of Somalia has announced it will no longer allow international food donations into the country claiming U.N. aid agencies are enemies of Islam. That is while an estimated 1,000 desperate people a day arrive in Mogadishu in need of food, water and medicine.

And in China, one high-speed train smashed into another one yesterday, killing 35 people and injuring more than 200. Witnesses say the first train had lost power and was stopped on the tracks.

And Evans supporting the yellow jersey becomes the first Australian to win the Tour de France. At 34 he is also the oldest rider to win the race since World War II.

The U.S. military moves a step closer to ending the ban on gays in the military. We'll get reaction from a former air force major who was outed and then ousted from the service. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Time for a CNN equals politics update. We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines on the CNNpolitics.com desk. House speaker John Boehner is holding a conference call with House Republicans right now on debt negotiations. Lawmakers want to agree on a plan before 8:00 tonight when Asia's financial markets open. But the hard deadline is August 2nd. That's when the U.S. Treasury Department says the U.S. will risk defaulting on its loan if the debt ceiling is not raised.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIMOTHY GEITHNER, TREASURY SECRETARY: What we cannot do, this is very important, we cannot do because it would be irresponsible, is to leave the threat of default hanging over the American economy for a longer period of time.

Look, back in January, more than seven months ago, we started this process of working with the Congress to get them to raise the debt limit so we could avoid a default crisis. It's taken us seven months to get where we are now. We cannot put the American economy through this periodic --

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: I don't know.

GEITHNER: It's a no.

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WHITFIELD: And now to presidential politics, it's just three weeks Iowa holds the Ames Straw Poll that's a key political test and the first in the nation. Not every big named Republican will be on it. Sarah Palin and Texas Governor Rick Perry have been left off the ballot. Neither have announced a presidential bid yet. But Straw Poll voters can write their names on the ballot if they choose.

And presidential candidate Michele Bachmann says she's ready to get more Republicans elected to Congress if she wins the Republican nomination. The Minnesota congresswoman vows to campaign for GOP senatorial candidates and help raise money for them. She says, quote, this isn't about me and vanity. This is about making the country better.

For the latest political news you know exactly where to go, CNNpolitics.com.

While the ban on gays in the military is ending, the policy has already cut short a lot of promising careers. Mike Almy was a major in the air force. He served 13 years. He says he was forced out of the military after someone got access to his private e-mails and revealed that he is gay. I talked with him Friday and asked him if he would re- enlist now that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is being repealed. Here's his response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MIKE ALMY, FORMER AIR FORCE MAJOR: I really hope to. As you said earlier, I did 13 years. My father retired as an officer from the air force as well. I grew up in the military. This is my calling. This is what I was born to do. I really can't wait to get back in and finish my career as an officer and a leader in the air force. What we need right now in the military are role models. Officers and leaders alike, gay and lesbians, who can serve right alongside their straight counterparts equally and openly with zero detriments to the mission.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A law legalizing same-sex marriage in New York State is now in effect. But what happens to those couples' rights when they travel or move? Our legal guys explain, next.

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WHITFIELD: Thousands of same-sex couples are tying the knot today in New York. And they're taking advantage of the state's new law legalizing same-sex marriage which took effect today. Well, what happens when gay and lesbian couples travel to states where their marriages are not recognized? Our legal guys, Avery Friedman and Richard Herman weighed in earlier.

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RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENCE ATTORNEY: From 800 newlyweds are going to tie the knot in New York City. It's going to be quite festive and gay in New York City tomorrow. That's all I can tell you. But they can do it in the state of New York. Like you're talking, Fred, many, many states do not recognize this. The federal government does not recognize this. You know what happens when there's a conflict between federal law and state law. Federal law always wins. They cannot file joint tax returns. They cannot get spousal benefits. There's a lot of, lot of, lot of problems. There's a lot of litigation that's going to arise as a result of this.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

FRIEDMAN: Fredricka, is Fredricka asking if a minister has to perform it?

WHITFIELD: Right. Because I thought there was some institutions that have already said that we are not going to perform a marriage even though the state law says that it is allowed in New York.

FRIEDMAN: Yes. The answer is that -- what? They're not compelled. The only thing that gay people are entitled to do if they want same-sex marriage is to go to a government official. There's nothing in the law that compels a priest or a minister or clergyman to perform the ceremony. They can't. It would be unconstitutional. There's no way New York could pass a law forcing clergy to perform a marriage. It's only governmental overseeing, for example, by a judge.

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WHITFIELD: You can catch our legal guys every Saturday at noon Eastern Time right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

All right. One of the entertainment community's loudest advocates for same-sex marriage is comedian and actress Margaret Cho. She and I talked face to face just a few hours after the law passed. Face to face, listen to why she says New York is the perfect place to usher in this era.

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MARGARET CHO, ACTRESS, COMEDIAN, ACTIVIST: I've been working on it personally as an actress since 2004. Like every day. Doing things and really working towards it. So I feel like these events really -- there's this connection there that can't be denied. That's really powerful.

WHITFIELD: Why do you suppose this happened in New York?

CHO: I think it's time. I think it's time that people realize -- people realize now, I think conservatives realize that they cannot legislate morality. And they cannot continue to discriminate against a group of people in order to kind of fulfill their political agenda. That discrimination can no longer be part of your political agenda. I think this is what conservatives now are getting. And that's why things are changing.

WHITFIELD: And do you suppose that with gay marriage, with same-sex marriage being allowed in New York, being the sixth state now, that this is going to be much more impactful than the previous five and the District of Columbia's acceptance of same-sex marriage has ever been?

CHO: Mm-hmm.

WHITFIELD: In what way?

CHO: I mean, I feel like New York is -- New York culturally, politically, it's really -- it's really something that affects the rest of the world, not just the rest of the country. But this -- it's a major -- it's a major win culturally for the gay community because New York in so many people's minds is the capital of the world. In my mind it really is. That's going to change everything, I think.

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WHITFIELD: Face to face, Margaret Cho. I also talked about her own sexual identity which she jokingly calls hetero phobia. She explains to me about how she balances her bisexuality in an open marriage.

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WHITFIELD: For a very long time you have been an advocate of gay rights, women's rights. You just mentioned as being a member of the gay community, however, at the same time you are married to a heterosexual man. CHO: Yes. But I'm bisexual. I have different aspects of my life that seem contradictory, but they're not. Because that's who I am.

WHITFIELD: You kind of made a funny of that, in the past in your tour, I'm the one that I want. Saying that you were hetero phobic, actually.

CHO: Yes, I'm kind of hetero phobic, I'm kind of somewhat scared of straight people. I have a lot of straight friends. No. It's just a funny juxtaposition. Because in my world everything is gay, everything is queer. And so to move outside of that is always sort of a strange experience.

WHITFIELD: How do you help people kind of understand, then, the dynamic of, you know, you being bisexual, living with a man who is heterosexual and how you make plans going forward? Is it like an open marriage?

CHO: Well, yes. Yes.

WHITFIELD: Do you guys see other people?

CHO: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Does he?

CHO: Yes, yes. We don't really live together either. So it's really --

WHITFIELD: Now I'm confused. It's not a committed relationship.

CHO: It is committed. We're married. We're married forever. That's something that I'm so grateful for and so happy for. But I also know that I cannot be monogamous. I'm just slutty.

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WHITFIELD: All right. A battle of budget plans on Capitol Hill. Let's go to our Kate Bolduan with this breaking news.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Fredricka. Well I'll tell you that we are learning, my colleague Ted Barrett has learned from a Senate Democratic aide that right now we're learning that Harry Reid, this top Democrat in the Senate, he is now working on his own proposal to raise the debt ceiling. This according to the Senate Democratic aide. That would include at least $2.5 trillion in debt reduction. According to this aide would also meet some of the principles or requirements that we've heard so much about from House Republicans.

This requirement that it be an equal amount of spending cuts to -- to the debt ceiling increase and also that there be no tax increases. According to this Senate Democratic aide, this new proposal would not include any revenue and also I should note, it would raise the debt ceiling according to this aide until 2013. So through 2012 as we've been talking so much about, that the White House and Democrats have been pushing for, this is quite interesting.

Especially now in light of these negotiations that we've been hearing ongoing, Fredricka. But also we've also learned from the White House that President Obama will be meeting with the Democratic leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi, and the Democratic leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, at the White House this evening.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kate Bolduan thanks so much. We'll check back with you. So interesting. Lots of different plans that are being worked upon now. We know that earlier House speaker John Boehner was leading a conference call with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Now we're hearing that Harry Reid is coming up or trying to draft his own type of proposal to try to address this issue.