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More Than 150 Feared Dead after a Passenger Plane Crashes in Nigeria; George Zimmerman Back in Jail; Wisconsin Union Battle; US Nuns in Trouble with the Vatican; Fire Crews Trying to Contain a New Mexico Wildfire; Vice President Joe Biden's Daughter Marries; Country Singer Tim McGraw Giving Homes to Vets; Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration

Aired June 03, 2012 - 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: You're in the "CNN Newsroom." I'm Fredricka Whitfield. We're following two big stories right now.

Breaking news from Nigeria, a plane with more than 150 people onboard crashes in Lagos. Our report from the scene in minutes.

Plus, the man accused of killing unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin is back in jail. The sheriff says George Zimmerman was "quiet and cooperative when he turned himself in."

So let's begin in Sanford, Florida. That's where George Zimmerman has reemerged after six weeks in hiding. And is now back in jail. His bond was revoked by the judge in the Trayvon Martin murder case. Martin Savidge is there. So Martin, how did it take place today?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was simple and it was uneventful, Fredricka. That is just the way the authorities wanted it to be. There was always concern about George Zimmerman's safety. That is the case, of course, that his defense team. It's also the case for his family and it certainly was the worry of law enforcement because of the amount of notoriety this case has received over time, and of course, because there's a lot of different opinions on this story.

Let's tell you how the meeting took place. It was rather clandestine as to how George Zimmerman actually got into the hands of authorities. Listen to the sheriff as he described how it went down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF DNAL DESLINGER, SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA: George Zimmerman met two members of the sheriff's office in the area of Lake Mary at I- 4. Was placed into custody, transported to the correctional facility. He is being booked and processed. As per Judge Lester's order, he'll be held on a no-bond status.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: And so it was really kind of a meeting that was set up on the side of the highway in a parking lot there. We do not know where George Zimmerman has been hiding out. That is something his attorney has continued to maintain not to divulge. We do not know how long it took for him to return, other than we were told it took less than 48 hours, because that was the time limit George Zimmerman was under.

Meanwhile, his attorney Mark O'Mara spoke to us, and I asked him what was George Zimmerman's demeanor going back behind bars. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK O'MARA, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S ATTORNEY: Solemn, obviously. He's worried continually about his safety. Having to come out of hiding is a concerned of his. But I think he also realizes the judge's concerns. Now that we have all had, on the defense team, a chance to look at all of the evidence, he understands the court's concerns. He understands the state's concerns. And we're going to address those. And say what I think needs to be said to address them with Judge Lester.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: As for the conditions as to George Zimmerman, how he's being held, they'll remain the way it used to be, the last time he was here. He was being housed by himself in his own cell, kept away from the general population. Mark O'Mara says he plans to file to get a new bond hearing as early as tomorrow. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: And Martin, do we know whether the chances are good, whether the judge would honor that motion?

SAVIDGE: You know, it's a good question. I think at this point the judge is likely not to immediately act on that motion. Even O'Mara doesn't think it's going to be this week, it will probably be sometime after that. And then it is the judge's discretion. He could decide to raise the bond, which is what many people think will happen here. Or he could decide not to give him any bond at all, and that would mean he would have to remain behind bars until his trial. And that's not slated until next year.

WHITFIELD: All right. Martin Savidge, thanks so much from Sanford, Florida.

All right. Now to the other big story we're following today, a major plane crash in Laos, Nigeria. The country's civil aviation chief says none of the 153 people on board, a Dana Air passenger plane survived. The plane went down today in a neighborhood in Lagos. So far nine bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. Earlier today I talked to CNN's Vlad Duthiers who is live at the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VLAD DUTHIERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (ON THE PHONE): It's pandemonium here. There are hundreds upon hundreds of people here. A rescue operation is under way, as far as we can tell. So far, we're fairly close to where the crash happened. I can see orange flames sort of licking at the building. They're about 100 yards from where we're standing. And there are tons of people. But also security personnel, the police are out here. Members of the military. We're told the rescue operation is under way. But so far, what we don't se is a typical rescue team. You see the area cordoned off. You don't see that right now. There are reports of 147 dead on the Dana Air airline that was on its way from the state capital to Lagos. And right now, there are some kind of operations under way. But there are just also tons of people here. Fred.

WHITFIELD: So Vlad (ph) it was close to coming in for a landing there in Lagos?

DUTHIERS: Yes. According to the National Emergency Management Agency, the gentleman we spoke to there said the flight was en route from the (INAUDIBLE) state capital to Lagos. And we are not sure if it was in its final approach. But it did crash into a residential neighborhood where we are right now. We are in this residential neighborhood, which is just packed with houses. So we were originally told that it crashed into two homes. Right now it's really, really hard to tell, just because there are flames everywhere. And the buildings (INAUDIBLE) - it's getting dark here and there are absolutely no lights on. It looks to me to be utter devastation from where we're sitting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. That was CNN's Vlad Duthiers in Lagos, Nigeria. He will join us live in the next hour of the "CNN Newsroom."

All right. New developments out of Egypt today. Prosecutors announce they are bringing money laundering charges against the sons of deposed President Hosni Mubarak. This comes a day after a judge cleared the sons on corruption charges. That same judge sentenced the former Egyptian president to life in prison for ordering the killing of demonstrators last year. Those verdicts are drawing protesters to Cairo's Tahrir Square for a second day. The people showing up there are angry that Mubarak escaped a death sentence. And these are pictures from last night when thousands gathered in Tahrir Square. State TV reports that 60 people were injured during the demonstrations. This is the same site where so many lost their lives during last spring's government crackdown.

Syria's president takes to the airwaves denying his government had anything to do with last week's massacre in Houla. And blaming terrorists for the deaths that included dozens of children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIA (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The political process is moving forward but terrorism is also on the rise. They use the pretext that there were no parties. Terrorism, dear gentlemen, does not care about reform. The terror will not stop unless we force it to end. The terrorists are hitting all sides with no exception.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Reaction was swift. This YouTube video purports to show protests right after Al Assad's speech calling for the Syrian president's execution.

Closer to home now, jury selection starts Tuesday in the trial of former Penn state assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. He's accused of sexually abusing at least 10 boys over a 14-year period.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti reports. Sandusky has already tried to defend himself in the court of public opinion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a riveting moment, 10 days after Jerry Sandusky was arrested on dozens of charges that he raped, sodomized and fondled young boys, he called NBC's Bob Costas. The former Penn State assistant coach denied being a pedophile, and then this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you sexually attracted to underage boys?

JERRY SANDUSKY, FMR. PENN STATE ASSISTANT COACH: Am I sexually attracted to underage boys?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

SANDUSKY: Sexually attracted, no. I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. I - I - but no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys.

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I think there was an intention by his defense attorney (INAUDIBLE) to humanize him, to establish that he's sort of an uncle who kind of likes boys, but not in a sexual way. And sort of a healthy normal way. And I think that interview backfired.

CANDIOTTI: The case sparked shock and outrage on campus. And when the university fired head coach Joe Paterno who has since died, it set off this raucous clash. There are 10 alleged victims who were as young as 10 years old. For now, none has been publicly named. Prosecutors don't know the identities of two of them. Now it's time for Sandusky's accusers to take the witness stand. The defense prepared to attack their credibility.

CALLAN: Any humiliating, embarrassing experience in their past life that has a bearing on their believability potentially may be revealed to all the world in this trial.

CANDIOTTI: Also expected to testify, a key witness to one of the alleged rapes. Pen state assistant coach Mike McQueary, then a graduate student, who says he saw Sandusky in a locker room shower one night with a young boy. Prosecutors say Sandusky met his alleged victims through his charity for disadvantaged children. The Second Mile. Sandusky has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. Will he take the stand to defend himself? And what else might be revealed at trial?

A recent defense motion raises the possibility prosecutors may bring up other allegations of abuse to help establish a pattern.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: Sandusky's lawyers have lost several attempts to delay the start of the trial. Lawyers for the alleged victims describe him as anxious, but ready to go forward. Fred.

WHITFIELD: And Susan, jury selection beginning on Tuesday. Any idea how long that process might take?

CANDIOTTI: Fred, we don't. They've allowed for about a week. But if they're unable to find an impartial jury by then, we'll wait to se what happens. Remember, this is Sandusky's home county, and he wanted the trial there. Prosecutors lost an earlier attempt to move the trial to another county. So we'll have to see how this all plays out.

WHITFIELD: All right. Susan Candiotti, thanks so much in New York.

Kathryn Joosten, the Emmy Award-winning who starred in hit television sitcom and a handful of movies has died. She was 72. Joosten may be best known for her role as Miss mcclusky in "Desperate Housewives." Her family said she died after an 11-year battle with lung cancer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD DAWSON, HOST, "FAMILY FEUD": And the survey says...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And more sad news. Richard Dawson the original host of "Family Feud" has died at the age of 79. His son shared the news on his Facebook page. He said his father passed away due to complications from cancer. Dawson was best known for his acting role in the 1960s sitcom "Hogan's Heroes." But who could forget all the good luck kisses that he was known for giving his female contestants on "Family Feud."

Celebrating a historic event in Great Britain. Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee. A massive turnout to watch a royal parade on water.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Country music superstar Tim McGraw kicks off his summer tour this weekend with a special mission.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

WHITFIELD: Well, this is from his Memorial Day concert for veterans and their families. But beginning this weekend, McGraw is giving away a mortgage-free house to a military family on every tour stop. That's 25 cities. Face-to-face I talked to McGraw about the home giveaway and his personal connection to the military coming up in 40 minutes.

Pomp and pageantry on the River Thames, a huge flotilla sailed up London's famous waterway today to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the throne.

Here's Nick Glass.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK GLASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The queen arrived spotly in white for her diamond jubilee. Prince Philip in the uniform of admiral of the fleet.

Just to remind you, she is 86. He will be 91 next Sunday. In a sentimental gesture, they were ferried across the river in a (INAUDIBLE) once used to take them to the royal yacht Britannia, long since decommissioned and much missed by the queen.

Then it was time for serious rowing in a serious replica of an 18th century rowing barge. It's called Gloriana and has cost over $1 million to make. She is, of course, manpowered. 18 horsemen facing a jolly seven-mile road. They included the Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pensant. It's also time to ring out the bells, leading the flotilla was a belfry on a barge, something that apparently has never been tried on water before.

So here it was, the great armada of boats, all shapes and sizes, flying their way toward Tower Bridge at an average of four to six knots an hour. Absolutely no sense of menace here. Not like the Spanish fleet to another Queen Elizabeth in another time. This was just the British and commonwealth friends messing about on boats, indulging a love of pageant and parades, and their queen.

She stood all the way for some two hours, wrapping herself with a scarf to keep out a chill wind. The banks of the river were packed. She was particularly pleased to see the puppet horse from the play "War Horse Joey." They're old acquaintances.

And so by way of salute, tar bridge opened up. And so did the heavens. Rain, and more rain. They sang on undeterred. You could just about hear snatches of song, "Jerusalem." Then "Land of Hope and Glory." And finally, the national anthem. The Queen and Prince Philip stood stoically and happily, it seemed, through it all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was Nick Glass reporting from London.

So the rainy weather may not have bothered the crowds, but it did force officers to cancel a military flyover. And for all you royal watchers, the festivities last until Tuesday. Tomorrow's events includes a garden party at Buckingham Palace. And a concert on palace grounds, among the performers, Elton John, Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, and Stevie Wonder.

All right. With President Obama on the attack, Mitt Romney is playing down his political experience. Our political panel tells us how that could play with voters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Here's something we'll be hearing a lot about until November. Mitt Romney's experience, he's been playing up his business credentials while playing down his time as governor of Massachusetts. President Obama and his team have been taking shots at Romney for his time at Bain Capital.

Well now they are attacking his record as governor, the White House is. So joining me to talk about all of this, CNN contributor and "Daily Beast" columnist John Avalon who is in New York. Good to see you.

And Republican strategist Anna Navarro who is joining us from Miami. Good to see you as well.

So John, let me begin with you. Because you wrote in a CNN op-ed that you thought Mitt Romney is dismissing his role as Massachusetts governor. He's talking more about his business credentials. Is this a mistake or is this smart strategy?

JOHN AVALON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it's a contradiction in his strategy. He's running for president as an executive, touting his executive credentials as head of Bain Capital. But he's not talking about his one time in government when he was chief executive of the state of Massachusetts. That's in part because he ended up being governor for one term, not running for re-election. And his core legislative achievement was individual mandate driven health care reform, something he didn't want to talk about during the Republican primary for obvious reasons.

And by the end of his term, he was already running for president, running as head of the Republican Governors Association. So something that's core to his central pitch, which is that he's an executive who can get things done, he's focused on one side of his career, the private sector, and ignoring the public sector experience entirely.

WHITFIELD: So Anna, how far away could Romney get from his time as Massachusetts governor, especially when he is criticizing what he has been calling Obama care. If Obama care was modeled after the Massachusetts health care plan, that has Romney's name all over it.

ANNA NAVARRO, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I don't think he can get very far from it. And I don't think the Obama campaign is going to let him get very far from it. And as the Obama campaign starts enforcing the Massachusetts record, you're going to see Mitt Romney defend that record and Mitt Romney talk about that record. And it's not a record that's shabby. When you look at it, and you contrast it with what's going on with the Obama administration, Romney had a 4.7 unemployment at the end of his term. Right now we're at 8.2 unemployment. So if you just contrast those two numbers over and over again, that's a mantra he's got to keep on from now through November.

WHITFIELD: But then that's the quandary. But it's a glowing record, that's the quandary. But the glowing record then why would Romney want to distance himself from that? Why wouldn't he use that to his advantage?

NAVARRO: I don't think he's distancing himself from it. I think what John said is right. And it was a natural course for a Republican primary. What distinguished him from the nine other candidates in the Republican primaries was really his business experience. It's something that sells well, the business experience. It's very well received by a Republican base. I think he was emphasizing that more. That's why we've seen that dominate the narrative, why the Obama campaign has been criticizing that.

But as this shifts into his new stage of the campaign, a general campaign, I think all his record, his personal record, his financial record, his Bain record, all of it will be up for grabs.

WHITFIELD: So John, you've been smiling about this. Why?

AVALON: Well because he still has a fundamental problem. If you're running to say I'm going to be the leader of the United States government, your leadership of when you had your one shot to be chief executive of a state, absolutely matters. And the problem is, because he immediately almost took his eye off that ball in Massachusetts, he didn't try to turn around Massachusetts, he focused primarily on passing that one critical piece of legislation and then running for president.

He was really out of the state around two-thirds of the time once in his last year when he was already the head of the Republican Governors Association. So it's a hard sell to say, "Look, I have experience I know how to turn around the country and here's what I did in Massachusetts, and I can do that in America."

WHITFIELD: All right. Quickly, let's talk about the veep stakes. Whether Romney is looking toward Marco Rubio, his name is being brought up an awful lot, Anna. So if that is indeed the case, does that kind of raise the profile of Mitt Romney particularly in the Latino community? Because many polls will indicate that it's President Obama who has the great advantage over the Hispanic vote. Could this change the game?

NAVARRO: I think it would be a huge game changer with the Latino community. I know Marco Rubio quite well. And I've seen him in his career in Florida. He started the polls - he started at three percent, four percent in the polls when he was running against Charlie Christ, the incumbent governor and went on to beat that incumbent governor, who had all the money, all the endorsements and all the odds are in his favor. So I think underestimating Marco Rubio as some have done is a mistake. I think he could move the needle. Will he make Republicans, will he allow the Republicans to win a majority of the Hispanics? Probably not.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. Let me stop you there. Because we've got about 10 seconds left. John, I'll let you have the last word on that.

We've got 10 seconds, sorry.

AVALON: I think Marco Rubio would be a strong pick for Governor Romney. I think it could move the numbers. But there's a gamble and there's a pound president which means that folks are a little bit less likely this time to go around for someone who hasn't as much experience on the national stage but I think Rubio would be a great pick for Romney.

WHITFIELD: All right. John Avalon, Anna Navarro, good to see both of you. Thanks so much. Have a great rest of the weekend and a good week ahead.

AVALON: You too.

NAVARRO: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. For only the third time in history, one of the nation's governors is facing a recall election. A look at what's taking place in Wisconsin. Just two days before the vote.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: More than 150 people are feared dead after a passenger plane crashed today in Nigeria. These are the latest images from the crash site in Lagos. The data air flight went down in a residential area. So far, nine bodies have been recovered. We'll have a live report from the scene in the next hour.

George Zimmerman is back in jail. The man accused of killing Trayvon Martin met police by a Florida highway to arrange the return. The judge in his murder case revoked his bond. He says Zimmerman lied to him about how much money he had. In a hearing Friday, the judge said Zimmerman was unfairly reaping the benefits of a low bond after being charged with killing Trayvon Martin.

The state of Wisconsin has been getting a lot of national attention, ever since its governor took on unions and essentially ended collective bargaining rights in his state. Now that governor, Scott Walker, faces a recall vote Tuesday. This election is not only drawing national attention, it's drawing a lot of money for outside Wisconsin. Let's bring in CNN's Peter Hamby. Peter, how much money is being spent? And where is it coming from?

PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, this recall election, Fred, has shattered all precedent here in Wisconsin. State spending $60 million so far by both Democrats Tom Barrett and his allies and Governor Scott Walker and his allies. Most of that money has been spent by Walker and his friends outside of the state. Walker's raised about $30 million. Barrett has raised about $4 million.

But only about a quarter of that has come from out of state. For Walker, two-thirds of his money has come from out of state. And beyond both the campaigns, you have money from unions coming in for Barrett, from the Service Employees International Union, from teachers' unions. But they've been far outspent here in the state by outside groups, conservatives, the Chamber of Commerce, a casino owner has contributed, the Republican Governors Association. This money is swamping the TV airwaves here, Fredricka. Tom Barrett said that Walker, this is a sign of Walker just positioning himself to be a national Tea Party star with all this out-of-state money. You can be sure the Democrats would like to have that kind of money in this race, too. WHITFIELD: And so Peter, some polls have given Walker a seven-point lead. Now both sides are saying this actually might be a very close race.

HAMBY: Yes, there hasn't been a ton of reliable polling. A poll had it like seven points. I can tell you that both sides here had internal numbers that showed it a lot closer. Even Governor Walker acknowledges this much today in compare; listen to what he had to say earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SCOTT WALKER, (R) WISCONSIN: I anticipated this would be a close election all the way through. But as I mentioned last fall when they started this process, I looked forward to the opportunity to share what our reforms have done, positively for the people of the state of Wisconsin, to share how reforms that the people in the state want to create jobs. My vision for moving us forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMBY: I think if you talk to a lot of insiders here in Wisconsin, Fredricka, they say they're probably anticipating somewhere within the margin of any error, 1, 2, 3 points. It's going to be very, very tight here. There are only about 3 percent undecided voters at this point.

WHITFIELD: All right. Meantime, you know Peter, some people are seeing some real parallels between the outcomes, the potential outcome of this race and how it might impact the presidential election in November. In what way?

HAMBY: Yes, the Republicans are excited about this state. Which hasn't voted for a Democrat -- excuse me, a Republican on the presidential level since Ronald Reagan. It's been forever since Republicans have won the state. But Republicans are identifying a lot of voters. You don't register by party here in Wisconsin. So the RNC, for example, is using this recall election to target Republicans and conservatives and figure out who they can get to the polls come November.

Walker has about 24 offices open here in the state. With the coordinated Republican campaign. The morning after the election, those are all going to switch to Romney offices, I was told earlier today. They're confident that they can finally flip this state. And that would really throw a wrench in the Obama campaign's electoral map if they flip those ten votes in November.

WHITFIELD: All right. Peter Hamby thanks so much.

U.S. nuns in trouble with the Vatican. Among the names Rome is calling them, quote, radical feminists. Our "Belief Blog" editor is here to help us understand what's behind this controversy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: U.S. nuns are trying to decide how to respond to a Vatican report that accuses them of everything from radical feminism to promoting religious teaching that are out of touch with the Catholic Church. Dan is CNN.com's religion editor. So Dan Gilgoff, what are U.S. nuns doing that has sparked such strong criticism from the Vatican?

DAN GILGOFF, CNN.COM RELIGION EDITOR: This report from the Vatican that was issued in April includes this laundry list of charges against the nuns. It says that they hosted conferences, featuring radical feminist speakers, and did it challenge those views. It says that a lot of American nuns have been so focused on issues like helping the poor and promoting health care, that they've been neglecting the church's conservative stances on issues like gay marriage and opposing abortion. So a whole list of charges here but the crux of it is that the Vatican says the nuns have basically gone rogue. And that a whole variety of issues, they're way to the left of the church and they need to come back.

WHITFIELD: So what's been the reaction to this Vatican's demands?

GILGOFF: Well, this week, the leadership that represents the overwhelming majority of American nuns got together in Washington to figure out how to respond. So on Friday, the meeting concluded, and this is really interesting, the nuns come out swinging against the Vatican. They say that the Vatican chargers are, quote, unsubstantiated, that they are the result of a, quote, flawed process. And that the process lacks transparency. And so they come out very hard against the Vatican, and now in a couple of weeks some of the leaders of the American nuns are going to be flying to Rome to meet with some top Vatican officials to try to chart a course forward. So far, the nuns and the Vatican are really at loggerheads right now.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So in lieu of that face-to-face meeting at the Vatican, what are the other options these U.S. nuns would have?

GILGOFF: Well there are these two kind of extreme options. One is that the nuns just resign en masse. They say, we've gotten too far from the church, or with the church thinks that we should be focusing on. The other extreme is that they fall into line, and say we understand where the Vatican is coming from, we're going to change our ways and reform the community of American nuns.

But I think the more likely option is there's some kind of middle space here that's going to be borne of negotiations. That's what's really going to be fascinating to watch play out. Are the nuns going to dial in some of their activism around issues involving the poor and health care? Will they become more outspoken on something like abortion? We have to wait and see.

WHITFIELD: All right. Fascinating stuff. Dan Gilgoff thanks so much.

So for more on this story, be sure to check out our "Belief Blog" at CNN.com/belief. You can share your own comments there on that blog.

All right. A student is dead; a famed marching band is disgraced. But there's even more to the fallout from Florida A&M's deadly hazing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Right now, police in Toronto are looking for the person who gunned down and killed a man at a crowded shopping mall. It happened in the food court at the Eaton Center yesterday evening. Police say a 25-year-old man was the targeted victim and seven others were injured in the gunfire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He just started firing up in the air and started yelling. Then it was kind of hard to hear what he was saying, because a bunch of people were screaming. Everyone panicked.

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: We started running backwards. There was about 200 people running towards us, away from the food court. So we started running. And then cops came in. They said get down, get down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Police say they're trying to figure out if the shooting was gang related, since one of the victims has gang ties.

Another band member from Florida's A&M University is now being charged with hazing. That brings the total to 14. The famed marching band now faces a second year suspension due to the hazing death of Robert Champion. CNN's George Howell reports that the suspension dashes a lot of students' dreams.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): There's much more to band than just the music for many high school programs. The director of the Tri-City's High Marching Band in Atlanta says keeping a competitive edge also translates to big college scholarships for its students.

TARIK ROWLAND, DIRECTOR OF BANDS: It can mean the parent not having to fork out thousands of dollars for a school year. That could mean money for four years.

HOWELL: And Tarik Rowland has good reason to vote, this year alone his band members grossed about $2.5 million in music scholarships, 37 graduating seniors. Students got offers from a variety of schools around the country. But as seniors here prepare for their last performances as high school students, many admit their top choice for college marching programs is not their first pick. Where did you want to go first?

SHARIFA HARDWICK, BAND MEMBER: I wanted to go to SMU.

HOWELL: Why is that?

HARDWICK: Because they have -- they put on a great show.

LAWRENCE WILLIAMS, BAND MEMBER: It's a great band. Everybody loves them. HOWELL: The famed marching 100 had its last performance November 19th, 2011. The school suspended band activity following the hazing death of 26-year-old Robert Champion. And with more than a dozen former band members now facing criminal charges in connection to Champion's death, Florida A&M suspended the band through the 2013 school year. Leaving students like Danny Oliver out of luck.

DANNY OLIVER, BAND MEMBER: I had a bunch of scholarships to other colleges. I never auditioned because of the suspension.

HOWELL: Were you disappointed about that?

OLIVER: A little bit, yes.

HOWELL: Every year there is great competition among colleges to recruit from high schools like the Tri-City High School Bulldog marching band. With FAMU now out of the picture, we learned that several other colleges are seeing a 10 to 20 percent increase in auditions giving them the opportunity to be more selective.

ROWLAND: Some schools wouldn't seek out the most musically achieving student, because they didn't have a chance. FAMU is known as the most dedicated the best outstanding musicianship in the band program.

HOWELL: Some students worry how the prolonged suspension will affect FAMU, missing out on top talent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They received a lot of talented students.

HOWELL: And in the world of marching bands and everywhere else, it's all about the talent. And the question, will FAMU be able to get the talent back.

George Howell, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Fire crews are trying to contain a monster wildfire in New Mexico. It's the largest fire in the state's history. And it keeps growing.

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WHITFIELD: Over 1,200 firefighters are trying to put out a monster wildfire in New Mexico right now. It's the largest fire in the state's history and it's expected to get bigger. The fire started after two smaller fires merged. It's been burning in the Gila National Forest for nearly a month now. Authorities want families to stay inside because of the fire danger. And New Mexico isn't the only state where wildfires are raging. Huge fires are burning in at least eight other states.

The New Mexico fire, however, is only 17 percent contained. Let's bring in meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. So will the weather conditions cooperate, in trying to put out that fire? BONNIE SCHNEIDER, METEOROLOGIST: What is interesting Fredricka is that lightning strikes actually ignited two fires? That, plus these hot temperatures we've been experiencing and dry conditions, it's so dry across the southwest, that any little spark of flame ignites a huge fire. That's why the fire is only 17 percent contained because it's so large and so massive. It's about 250 miles south west of Albuquerque. So the smoke is just to the south of the city but this is a lot of thick smoke. Unfortunately it might get worse before it gets better.

Because the fire is so widespread and conditions are not favorable in terms of getting a heavy burst of rain, we'll get that in the monsoon season into July; I think the fire will continue to be a big problem over the next couple weeks. You can see very little change in the weather conditions with high temperatures at 91. This is better than last week where we had numbers in the triple digits and even more gusty winds, Fredricka. But definitely not the kind of weather they're looking for. On the positive side, though, without a thunderstorm, you get a little bit less of a risk for lightning. Lightning, again, is what ignited these fires.

WHITFIELD: OK, so the Midwest, they could get hit with a few tornadoes possibly, right? And then some large hail? What's that storm all about?

SCHNEIDER: Well we're watching the threat for severe weather across parts of the plains states. It's been kind of a volatile past couple of days. If you take a closer look you'll see storms are firing up in the south, and into the plains. All the way from Oklahoma down through Alabama. This is our risk area for today. The day's not over yet, so we could still see large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Bonnie Schneider. Appreciate that.

All right. Country music superstar Tim McGraw kicking off a summer concert tour this weekend. And giving thanks to vets with a mortgage- free home.

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WHITFIELD: John Edwards's corruption trial is over. But his ex- mistress is spilling more details about the affair that ended his career. Rielle Hunter is coming out with a tell-all book this month. The books publisher told people that the memoir tells the truth of what really happened between Hunter and Edwards. Hunter is the mother of his 4-year-old daughter.

There's a new edition to our nation's second family. Vice President Joe Biden's daughter Ashley tied the knot in a private ceremony in Delaware. Ashley is a social worker and she is Biden's youngest daughter at 30 years old. Her husband, Dr. Howard Kreen, is a plastic surgeon. She wore a sleeveless Vera Wang gown. The vice president said he's happy to welcome Howard into their family.

All right, this summer, one of country music's brightest stars is helping dreams come true for U.S. military families. Tim McGraw is giving away homes to vets who might never be able to afford one. McGraw's sister and grandfather are all war veterans and I talked with McGraw face to face.

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WHITFIELD: Under his signature black hat, he's one of country music's biggest stars. With more than 37 million albums sold and more than 30 number-one singles. A hugely popular leading man on stage and on the big screen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen that look many times.

WHITFIELD: And he's half of one of country's music's most glamorous couples. All that, spanning a 23-year career. Yet when I caught up with Tim McGraw in Tampa, he says a sense of purpose is now really coming together.

TIM MCGRAW, COUNTRY SINGER: I really feel like I'm just getting started, you know? I feel like I'm sort of learning what I'm doing now.

WHITFIELD: And learning more about the concerns of so many in his audience, including military vets. This month's kickoff of his Brothers of the Sun tour with his good friend Kenny Chesney is unlike any other appearance. In each of the 25 cities they are performing Chase bank, along with three nonprofit military support organizations, are giving away bank-owned homes to military families. Why is this so important to you, to help kick off your tour in 25 cities, 25 cities where mortgage-free homes would go to vets?

MCGRAW: For a soldier to have that, to come back from being wounded and giving everything that he's had, for us to be able to live in our home, to get in our car and drive around and go to our jobs, and to have that sort of sense of freedom and that sense of security for their family, I can't think of anything better for a wounded soldier to have.

WHITFIELD: Wounded vets like Dominic Delucia.

DOMINIC DELUCIA, IRAQ VETERAN: It's something I wanted to do my whole life. Ever since I was a little kid. Every Halloween, I would dress up as a marine.

WHITFIELD: Seven years ago the marine staff sergeant was on personal security patrol in Iraq when his Humvee hit an improvised explosive device.

DELUCIA: It all went up in the air. What happened was the engine block came through into the passenger compartment, so it was pinning my leg down, so I couldn't get out.

WHITFIELD: The left side of his face had to be rebuilt with titanium plates. Other head injuries surfaced later. Now medically retired, living off disability, it's been hard for the couple and their four children. CHRISTINA DELUCIA, WIFE OF DOMINIC: You know, we were just in an unsure phase of our life, trying to figuring out exactly what our next move would be.

WHITFIELD: Six months ago Christina Delucia joined a wounded warrior wives page on facebook for support.

C. DELUCIA: I said, Operation Home Front, Homes on the Home Front Program. They're going to be giving away mortgage-free homes to veterans and disabled veterans.

WHITFIELD: What did you think when you saw that?

C. DELUCIA: It was too good to be true.

WHITFIELD: She applied anyway.

C. DELUCIA: It was like a week later, they said, you got the home. So --

WHITFIELD: What was that moment like?

D. DELUCIA: She was in tears.

WHITFIELD: The Delucias will move into their four bedroom Orlando house later this month, but not before getting over the shock of being selected and meeting the star who helped make this happen.

MCGRAW: This is one of those things, it's the American dream. Who deserves the American dream more than those guys? I can't imagine anybody that does. And I'm proud to be a part of it. I hope we can do more of it.

WHITFIELD: Apparently, while it starts out with 25, the goal is maybe 1,000 homes?

MCGRAW: Yes. That's the talk I'm hearing. And we're excited about it. I hope we can continue to work together.

WHITFIELD: Do you worry that the need is going to be much greater than the supply?

MCGRAW: Well, look, there's always a greater need than you can supply, no matter what you do in life. But you help one person, then you've helped one person. I think that's the ultimate goal is just to help somebody, and try to help as many as you can.

WHITFIELD: A goal country music's Tim McGraw is making possible, one concert and one home at a time.

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WHITFIELD: And right now, Tim McGraw is performing in Atlanta. Another military family here will be getting a mortgage free home. If you or someone you know is a veteran who would like to apply for homes through the military support groups just go to my blog at CNN.com/Fredricka to get more information.