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Tornado Shock in Southeast; Red vs. Blue Democrats; Myanmar Aid Suspended

Aired May 09, 2008 - 11:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. You're informed with CNN.
I'm Tony Harris.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

HARRIS: Developments keep coming in to the CNN NEWSROOM on this Friday, the 9th of May.

Here's what's on the rundown.

WHITFIELD: A North Carolina town wakes up bruised and battered. Another round of tornadoes possible today across the South.

HARRIS: The U.N. stops aid shipments to Myanmar. Food meant for hungry cyclone victims seized by the military government.

WHITFIELD: Superdelegate drama. Another one makes a switch to Obama.

Presidential moves -- in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Shocked in the Southeast. More than 20 reported tornadoes touching down in six states. Look at these pictures. Many of them hitting last tonight in the dark.

Video from Greensboro, North Carolina. You are looking at now homes and businesses there damaged. Some severely. Some homes off of foundations.

Cars tossed around. Trees, power lines toppled. Officials say at least one person was killed when his truck flipped over in a storm. At least three other people were hurt.

Four confirmed tornado touchdowns in Mississippi. One was extremely fierce, slamming the city of Tupelo with 140-mile-per-hour winds.

You know what? Let me stop what we are doing right now. Let's get you to Greensboro, North Carolina, so we can get the latest on the damage in that city.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

DAVID DOUGLAS, ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF, GREENSBORO, N.C.: And you find significant damage, or you have damage of -- that you question the integrity of your building, if you will call this number, 708- 5037. Again, that's 708-5037, and tell them who you are and that you have a structural problem at your building. That's all we need to know. They don't need to know the specifics.

We will hook you up with an inspector that will come and look at your building and make a determination at that point. So, again, that's specifically addressed at many of you that will be in the second and third waves that will go back to your businesses, because those had the least amount of damage.

Now, to you folks that will be going back to your business that has been damaged, if you get there and you find yellow banner tape around any part of your building, that area has been deemed to be unsafe to be occupied. So please do not go into that area. To do so would be to risk injury to yourself, and that's the last thing we need.

So far we have been very fortunate in this event. There has been no firefighters or emergency personnel that have been injured in this event. We certainly do no want you guys going back in there and being our first.

There was several questions from you folks that were here last evening when the storm came through. You had folks that sheltered in place, and then subsequent to the weather passing, they left, and then we did not permit them back into this area.

Let me take a minute to explain why.

We knew that as long as those folks sheltered in place and they were all right, we were going to leave them there. Our manpower did not provide the opportunity at that point for us to search each individual building. But once they left and they got out of the quarantine area safely, we did not want to risk their safety, allowing them back into that area.

So, yes, we understood that they were in there. And they got out fine. And we understood that they wanted to go back. But our principal reason for all of this is safety to the community.

The other thing -- the other point I really want to drive home, and it's important that everyone understand, especially in this area, is the interagency cooperation that has existed with all the various agencies that responded last night. And those being agencies from the county, being EMS, emergency management, the sheriff's department, and county fire, Colfax Fire Department, Greensboro Fire, Greensboro Police, our field operations division.

Everything that we had planned for in sessions up to this point seem to have gone off really well. And our critique will bear that out. But our field ops people were able to start clearing roads fairly quickly.

This morning, we were able to assess buildings quickly with some of our USAR (ph) teams this morning. At least enough so that we knew those buildings that were running second and third shifts, that their folks were accounted for.

EMS did not get stretched thin. And I will let Allen (ph) speak a little more to that. But their crews were working in conjunction with ours.

It's important that the folks that pay taxes for this stuff to work know that indeed it worked. And, you know, I guess the one thing that I take away from this, having been here at 1:00 this morning, and looking at it then, I figured we were going to come back to something much worse than what we actually have out there.

We have a lot of infrastructure damage to Duke Power system. We have some buildings that are seriously damaged. But, you know, from a personal perspective and a professional perspective, we really kind of dodged the bullet.

It had come in late in the evening when most of you had already gone home. Our traffic volume was low. Our occupancy in the buildings were low.

This could have easily skipped over the airport, landed around Chance Road, Horse Beam (ph) Creek Road, and then we are into a high- density residential area, and it could have been much worse than what it was. So we are pleased in that respect.

But our assessments and our work is ongoing. We appreciate the patience of the business folks and the response that we got from you. We know that they're anxious to get to your buildings.

So, thank you for a allowing us to do our jobs. We attempted to do them as quickly as possible. So...

HARRIS: Well, how about that? Assistant police chief there in Greensboro, North Carolina, David Douglas, doing a nice job of giving us a reassessment of where things stand in Greensboro.

As you take a look at these pictures from that city, from the storms, the tornadoes that touched down in Greensboro last night and doing all of this damage -- cars tossed, trees, power lines down, homes, as you can see here, and some businesses damaged as well -- the assistant police chief advising people of the number to call if they have damage to report. And also warning people if their home is wrapped in yellow tape, that is not a safe structure right now.

So, good information there from the assistant police chief, David Douglas, Greensboro, North Carolina.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Another superdelegate defecting from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. An Obama campaign aide confirms the switch. Congressman Donald Payne of New Jersey is the third person to leave for Clinton for Barack Obama in the past 72 hours. Obama is campaigning in Oregon today, ahead of the May 20th primary there.

Clinton has campaign stops in Oregon and Kentucky today. She is urging supporters to ignore the calls for her to quit. She promises to keep going. Clinton is counting on a win in Tuesday's West Virginia primary.

On the Republican side, John McCain has a news conference scheduled in New Jersey this hour. He delivered pizzas to a New York fire station yesterday. McCain heads to South Carolina later today.

Divided Democrats. The battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton highlights another split between red and blue Democrats.

Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider with the Election Express in Charleston, West Virginia.

Bill, Hillary Clinton has been pursuing those so-called red Democrats. Very hard there.

What's the impact on her campaign?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, we are seeing a red/blue split in the Democratic Party, and that could create a serious problem as we head towards the general election.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER (voice over): You've heard about the red/blue divide in American politics. Barack Obama condemns Republicans for exploiting it.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... to slice and dice this country into red states and blue states, blue collar and white collar, white, black, brown, young, old, rich, poor.

SCHNEIDER: Well, it's happening already inside the Democratic Party. Barack Obama is winning the blue Democrats, young voters, upscale urban professionals, well-educated liberals and African- Americans.

Hillary Clinton is getting the red Democrats -- seniors, whites, blue collar and rural voters, and more conservative Democrats. The split has gotten bigger since Clinton became a gun-toting, whiskey- drinking, street-fighting, tax-cutting populist.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I know how hard you're working, working for yourselves and working for your families. And I will never stop fighting for you.

SCHNEIDER: In Indiana, nearly half the Democratic primary voters said they have a gun in their household. They voted for Clinton. And the half of Democrats who did not own a gun? They voted for Obama.

Red versus blue means left versus right. In Indiana, lost liberal Democrats to Obama. They are the blue voters. Clinton and Obama split the moderates. Conservatives, or red Democrats, voted heavily for Clinton.

This is the first time this year we have seen such a sharp ideological division among Democratic voters. The deeper that split becomes, the greater the risk to Democrats in the fall if Obama wins the nomination. Among Clinton voters in North Carolina on Tuesday, fewer than half said they would support Obama over McCain, whereas 70 percent of Obama voters said they would vote for Clinton over McCain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER: Red Democrats, older, more blue collar, more conservative, are the most likely to vote for a Republican in the fall. The Clinton...

HARRIS: That was Bill Schneider, part of the best political team on television, from Charleston, West Virginia.

WHITFIELD: All right. Meantime, another big story taking place overseas. Myanmar getting aid to the people who have survived that cyclone still a huge challenge.

One of our correspondents is actually in Myanmar and joins us now from a refugee camp.

Where if you could give us an idea, even for those that are at the refugee camp, are they able to get any sustenance, any food at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, Fredricka, the situation is pretty dire here. I mean, they are able to get food for now. But what the people here at the refugee camp, the ones who are running the refugee camp say, is they are effectively going to have to shut that camp down either today or tomorrow. And the reason, they say, is that they simply do not have any more food, any more water and medication to go on as it is right now.

And one of the things I asked one of the people running the camp is, where are these people going to go?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because what they say they're going to do is they're just going to ask them to leave. And I asked them, you know, where are these people going to go? And he says basically he doesn't know.

He says that they are just going to go back to where they came from. But of course, these are ailing the devastated areas, the ones that were devastated by that cyclone, where these people fled from trying to get aid here.

So one thing that even the aid workers here on the ground are telling us, the ones from Myanmar, is that their country certainly does need help in all of this. You know, people here are very afraid to talk officially to you. But once you sort of get them and corner them, they do say this is a very, very big problem and they do need aid.

And it appears as though this is something they are still waiting for and hoping will arrive. And they are not aware of the international problems that are going on right now getting that aid into their country -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So they're just kind of wondering, wait a minute, does anyone even know that we exist? They are perplexed perhaps about why they are not get something assistance?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I mean, right now, they're having enough to do trying to sort of get on day by day. But certainly they are wondering when that aid is going to come in and why it hasn't come in yet.

And it does not have the impression as though they really know about all the political issues that are going on. But the fact of the matter is, is that there are a lot of people in camps like the one here that we were in where people are waiting desperately for food, for water, and for medication. And they are not getting it.

And really, in a lot of places, it's running out. And this is a situation that they say is very dire. And, you know, they tell us again and again and again, they say, our country really needs help right now. It doesn't appear as though that is trickling down to the people who really need it -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Are tempers flaring, or is it that people are just simply so weak, you know, they have been without a great amount of food and water for so long, that they can't even really be angry about it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I didn't -- at this particular camp I didn't really see the tempers flare, but it did appear as though there were people, a lot of people who are very weak in that camp. I mean, there were a lot of children there as well.

There was one woman who actually had a baby just a couple of days after the storm. Had a baby that was born in that refugee camp.

So certainly these people are thinking about how they are going to manage the next day. So we didn't really see the tempers there, but we see a lot of people in dire need of really the basic necessities of food, of water, and also of medication.

WHITFIELD: Thanks very much to our CNN correspondent there in Myanmar, one of the few, if not the only, western journalists, in that country reporting on this cyclone and the aftermath.

All right. So just to underscore this fact that aid has been suspended, my exclusive interview with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon about the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, what's next, what other neighboring countries can perhaps help out. .

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Mother's Day without mom. That is the painful reality for many U.S. troops overseas. So we have arranged a bit of a hookup, Fred.

Staff Sergeant Helen Ravello is in Iraq on her second tour of duty.

Helen, good to see you this morning, fingers crossed.

STAFF SGT. HELEN RAVELLO, U.S. ARMY: Good to see you.

HARRIS: Oh, great, great. Fingers crossed, because this is always a little tricky.

Her parents, Harold and Angela Ravello, are taking care of her 7- year-old son, Junior, and join us from Philadelphia.

Good to see the family in Philly.

And can you hear me OK?

HAROLD RAVELLO, HELEN'S FATHER: Yes, we can hear you all right.

ANGELA RAVELLO, HELEN'S MOTHER: Yes.

HARRIS: OK, great. Well let's -- fingers crossed, it's working out.

Helen, first of all, Happy Mother's Day to you.

Angela, Happy Mother's Day to you a couple of days early.

Harold, you have a lot of work to do here over the next couple of days.

HELEN RAVELLO: Thank you.

A. RAVELLO: Thank you.

HARRIS: Helen, and here is my first question to you. How many Mother's Days now have you spent away from home because of your two deployments?

HELEN RAVELLO: Basically I spent like two -- no, three Mother's Days away from my son.

HARRIS: Yes. I have to ask you, does it become a bit easier because of the deployments? Or is it still just a very tough day for you because you are away from your family and from your little man?

HELEN RAVELLO: Sometimes. It can vary, because, like, you know, it depends. I have mixed emotions on it, I would say.

HARRIS: Yes. I'm not trying to put you on the analyst's couch here, but I'm wondering, do you feel a bit guilty, a bit torn? There is your decision to serve your country, which we love you for, but you have this young, strapping young man at home. I imagine you must feel the push-pull and it must be tough for you. HELEN RAVELLO: Yes. It's kind of tough for me. But my son is my pride and joy and he knows what I'm doing. And he knows that mommy loves him.

HARRIS: Oh, that's great.

Harold, I have got a question for you. Helen's first deployment was to Germany. This time she is in Iraq. On a scale of one to 10, how much more worried are you about this particular deployment?

HELEN RAVELLO: I would say about, like, a three.

HARRIS: And Harold, go ahead and take that.

HELEN RAVELLO: Oh, OK. I would say like a three, because it had -- you know, I had experience with it before.

You know, I left my son the first time, my first deployment. So when I came back, I kind of bonded with him in a way that when I left the second time, he kind of felt, you know, OK, I know mommy is coming back. And then, you know, the coworkers that I have here has informed me and let my family know that, too. So it's kind of great.

HARRIS: And Harold, how concerned are you about this particular deployment? And what has Angela been to do -- I'm sorry, what has Helen been able to do to sort of ease your concerns?

HAROLD RAVELLO: Well, you know, as a father, I'm really, really concerned. There's no doubt about it. But you know, she has my support. I love her. And I know she will be taken care of.

HARRIS: And Angela, mom, how proud are you of your daughter and what she is doing, serving her country in this way?

ANGELA RAVELLO: Well, I'm very proud of her. All right? I think of her every day and I pray for her every day. And I miss her.

HARRIS: And Harold, if I could -- well, mom, since the camera is with you, let's stay with you.

Has it been a difficult adjustment, transition, caring for the little man? There he is looking into the camera now. Has it been a difficult adjustment for Junior?

HAROLD RAVELLO: Well, you know, I've been around quite a long time, you know. So making the adjustment wasn't really a problem at all. You know what I mean? And for my daughter, adjustment is not a problem at all.

HARRIS: Oh, that's great.

Hey, Helen, for a moment, if you would, pretend most of the world isn't watching you right now. What would you like to say to your son? Have that conversation. We are not watching, we're not listening.

HELEN RAVELLO: OK. Junior, you know that mommy loves you. And I miss you so much. And I can wait until I get back because we have so much plans and we're going to do so much. And I will make up for all the time that we lost.

ANGELA RAVELLO: Talk to your mom. Say I miss you, too, mom.

JUNIOR RAVELLO, HELEN'S SON: I miss you, too, mom.

HARRIS: Oh, that's terrific. That's terrific.

Hey, Junior, why don't you show us the card? And what does it say?

JUNIOR RAVELLO: I have a card for you, mom.

HELEN RAVELLO: Thank you.

JUNIOR RAVELLO: Happy Mother's Day, mom.

HELEN RAVELLO: Thank you so much.

HARRIS: Well, Helen, we thank you so much for your services.

HELEN RAVELLO: Oh, thank you.

HARRIS: Angela, good to see you.

Harold, good to meet you.

Junior, take care. Be strong, little man. Seven years old, holding it down for the family.

And Happy Mother's Day.

HAROLD RAVELLO: Good to meet you. And thank you very much.

ANGELA RAVELLO: Thank you.

HAROLD RAVELLO: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: OK.

WHITFIELD: Well, this story just breaking right in the middle of your conversation there. CNN has confirmed that the U.N.'s World Food Program, which had temporarily suspended its aid, halts flights to Myanmar just within the past 24 hours. Now we understand that the World Food Program will resume its flights tomorrow.

Two scheduled world U.N. program flights are expected to go into Myanmar tomorrow, bringing more aid. This despite the fact that the Myanmar government seized, took control of 38 tons of World Food Program relief that was already on the ground there to be distributed to the many cyclone victims.

We still don't know what has happened to the 38 tons of relief. But the expectations is tomorrow two more flights of World Food Program supplies, whether it be food, water or perhaps even transport material, will be heading back into Myanmar as early as tomorrow.

And straight ahead, deadly battles in Beirut. Hezbollah militants take over a section of the city. A report from the Lebanese capital.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And coming up on the half hour. Welcome back, everyone, to CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Tony Harris.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

With U.N. aid supplies confiscated in Myanmar, how does that country get help to all those cyclone victim survivors? In my exclusive interview with Secretary-General of the U.N. Ban Ki-Moon, I asked him about getting Myanmar's neighbors more involved.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk about the pressure that you might be able to use by the way of the other Asian community members. Say, for instance, China. Can you urge China, can you urge other countries that do have access to Myanmar, to take those U.N. supplies, pieces of aid, into that country by way of these neighboring Asian countries?

BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: That's what I'm also considering, doing it that way. But the most important thing should come directly from the United Nations, including myself. That's what I have been doing and I will continue to do.

WHITFIELD: But there is an urgent need. If we're talking about no longer 40,000 or maybe even 50,000, but possibly a million people who are in peril, they can't afford to wait any longer. We are almost -- we are approaching a week now.

BAN: This is a very tragic moment. This is very crucial for the international community. And people of Myanmar during these first few days are very vital to, first of all, help those affected people, and to prevent any further spread of diseases.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, diseases, that is definitely the problem. The greatest worry, whether it's airborne or even waterborne because of temperatures there. It's warm and of course people are not able to get any kind of medical assistance.

Well, CEO and president of Project Hope, Dr. John Howe, can help explain a little bit more for us now. He is on the phone with us now. Give me a better idea, Dr. Howe -- tell me about the dangers of the airborne, waterborne diseases and illnesses that the secretary-general was underscoring. DR. JOHN HOWE, PRES. & CEO, PROJECT HOPE: Without question, there's a huge area of uncertainty right now. On the one hand, and the degree -- put it another way, the prevalence of these diseases, and secondly, the impact, how people are faring these situations. And it's not unlike Banda Aceh and Indonesia after the tsunami, a chaotic situation. Tens of thousands of people that died. And great uncertainty about the public health in that instance, that province, and in Myanmar right now.

WHITFIELD: And the climate only really compounds the problem, doesn't it? Because of the types of bacteria, and viruses, diseases, they really can multiply, become more virulent.

HOWE: Ye, without question, without question. When you have water-related tragedy and, that's exactly what the world experienced in Banda Aceh. You have these waves, in this instance, 12 feet high, carrying putrid water through the towns and villages, drowning people, and then, in fact, injuring and infecting others.

What we learned, what we learned, from Banda Aceh is what's needed is really care and reaching out in three phases. The first phase is one where we have organizations which are already in country that partner with others like Project Hope. We have 50 years -- this our 50th anniversary -- 50 years of experience in dealing with these situations.

But in this instance, as was with the Aceh province, we didn't have an immediate footprint in the country so we partnered, and then with that partnership, we brought people and we brought products, medicines into help the people. So that early term it was partnership. Midterm it was another partnership with the U.S. Navy in the hospital ship. And then the longer term we're still there today, with training programs for the people throughout the province.

WHITFIELD: And you're there today, there's a relationship that Project Hope has with the Myanmar junta. In fact, the junta is even -- or officials have even consulted with your group, correct? And If so, in what capacity.

HOWE: Actually, as I was using the Indonesia example as a model, Indonesia, and in Myanmar, when the water waves came through, we did not have a presence in the area. We do not have today a physical presence in Myanmar.

In Indonesia and today, what we are choosing to do is instead partner with an existing organization in country to bring our resources to bear.

WHITFIELD: And would that be World Vision?

HOWE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK. And what -- in what way can you assist them actually execute the help needed many of these people who are suffering and dying? HOWE: Well, that prescription is yet to be written, because World Vision and Project Hope are institutions of great reputation and great duration. Why? Because we respond to the needs of the country as articulated by the minister of health. And right now, our World Vision colleagues are in consultation with the country's leadership. And as soon as that -- those needs are specifically ascribed and approved by the leadership, what we will do is spring in action with our World Vision counterparts to do two things. One, is to provide medicines, medical supplies. Last year, for example, Project Hope transported over $130 million of medical supplies around the world. The past 50 years, we've taken $2 billion worth of medicines around world. So that's the kind of collaboration we will have with World Vision, and very possibly that we would provide people as well to complement their cadre of health professionals.

And when I spoke with the secretary-general of the U.N., Secretary General Ban, yesterday asked him about his frustration that there is an international desire to help out, you know, fellow brethren therein Myanmar, but simply cannot get to it. He in his own has expressed he, too, is frustrated. How about you, express your frustrations or what your feelings are about not being able to help out folks in the best way that you know you could?

HOWE: Well, I'm a clinical cardiologist. If I know that someone is having dyspnea, or a shortness of breath climbing stairs, or I know that somebody is on a tennis court having chest pain, you know you want to reach out and make sure that that dyspnea is resolved, want to make sure the patient is without chest pain. And when you see that there is a need and you can't write that prescription for a diuretic or nitroglycerine, it's a concern.

Having said that, again, using Indonesia as an example, when the great white ship, Adversity, arrived in Banda Aceh with volunteers onboard for two days it was in the harbor, in the harbor without the doctors and nurses onboard being able to take care patients there in Banda Aceh. Why? Because the government had not yet given approval. So what we're seeing in Myanmar is not atypical.

WHITFIELD: Yes, it is very typical, that is what we're seeing. Dr. Dr. John Howe, president and CEO of Project Hope, thanks so much for your time, and best of luck in your continued efforts to try to get this desperately needed assistance to the people of Myanmar.

HARRIS: Dramatic development in Lebanon to report. Hezbollah militants seized control of Western Beirut after bloody battles. This morning setting fire to a television station owned by the family of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. At least 11 people have been killed and 44 wounded in the clashes. Our Cal Perry filed this report from Beirut a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We're here in West Beirut, which is really the center of activity right now in Beirut. Hezbollah this morning came through the section of the city and really took it over. As we traveled through west Beirut we came across checkpoints, Hezbollah checkpoints, men with RPGs, men with guns, stopping people, sometimes asking for their I.D.

Behind me is television station Future TV. It is owned by the Hariri family. It's a pro-government television station. Just a few hours ago, Hezbollah militants arrived, they asked everybody to leave. They then burned it down.

We've also seen signs of fighting, things we've been hearing in the past 72 hours. Shell casings on the ground. Things like this, a half a grenade, which explains why we've been hearing such loud explosions in the past 72 hours. To vie the affects of the danger that we're seeing.

Now of course the security forces are trying to get a handle on things. They're trying to keep different factions separated. It is a daunting, of course, as things here continue to be (INAUDIBLE).

Cal Perry, CNN, Beirut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Marijuana, teens and depression. A government report out today calls the three a very dangerous mix.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: To point out an irony, this is a report from the White House, and the irony is that they say that kids use marijuana to self-medicate. They feel depressed and so they smoke pot to sort of make themselves feel better. And the irony is that the pot will actually worsen their depression, and could even lead to worse disorders, such as schizophrenia.

So let's take a look at some of the statistics that came out of this report. Kids who smoked pot once a week had doubled the risk of having depression or anxiety. And kids who smoked pot once a month were three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts. This report also found that pot can trigger some short-term schizophrenia.

WHITFIELD: All right, so on mental health, though, is this really the case of marijuana causing this mental illness? Or does it mean that someone who's already predisposed to some already existing mental health problems, you know, kind of being triggered further by the use of marijuana?

COHEN: Right. Right. Are they smoking the pot because they are depressed? Or are they depressed because they're smoking pot? Right, it's classic chicken/egg scenario. And you know, the answer may be a little bit of both. Kids who smoke pot may be doing it because they are depressed and they are trying to become less depressed, but also smoking the pot itself may be making them more depressed. So You may be seeing suspicious circle going on here.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: And overall, fewer teens are actually smoking marijuana. Government numbers show teen use is down 25 percent since 2001.

So to get your daily dose of health news online, logon to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness.

HARRIS: From an early age.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: North Korea is one of the world's most closed societies, so it is rare to get any reports out of the communist country.

CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour recently traveled there for a Special Investigations Unit report. Here's a preview:

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Devotion to the nation is taught early on. This young teenager is singing about her "Dear leader.

We got a rare invitation to her small apartment, where she lives with her parents and grandmother. The family points with pride to their most cherished possession. Where is your father?

AMANPOUR: Pictures of the grandfather with the country's great and dear leaders.

KIM GEUM, DAUGHTER OF KIM GEUM SUK (through translator): I'll do my best and I'll bring joy to our dear leader. I want to bring a smile to the great leader.

AMANPOUR: She was raised to love her country and hate its enemies.

(on camera): Do you think America is your sworn enemy?

GEUM: Yes.

AMANPOUR: Why?

GEUM (through translator): My family went through the hardship of the Koran war. The U.S. brought suffering to the Korean people.

AMANPOUR: We heard this fear and loathing of America nearly everywhere we went. People here are taught that the Korean War, which divided their country and their families, was launched by the United States.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Christiane's documentary "Notes From North Korea" debuts this Saturday and Sunday night, 8:00 and 11:00 Eastern.

WHITFIELD: A North Carolina town takes a crushing blow. The South on guard for another round of dangerous storms today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

WHITFIELD: Well, it has happened again, in Madisonville, Tennessee, crop circles. What locals are saying about this one.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Hey, Fred, we've got one more story we want to get to before we go to "ISSUE #1," the economy. But Cheryl Potts there.

WHITFIELD: She's a very reluctant guest here on the air.

HARRIS: Twenty-five years here at CNN.

WHITFIELD: Congratulations.

HARRIS: Responsible for crafting so many of the beautiful words we get to read here every day. Oh my goodness, Cheryl, we could have policed the area a little better if we were going to put it on television, water bottles and everything. Oh, don't -- Robert don't -- Cheryl, congratulations, congratulations. Twenty-five years here at CNN.

WHITFIELD: She's a CNN lifer.

HARRIS: Wow! Way to go.

WHITFIELD: I know. Awesome, Cheryl.

All right, well, awesome, too, at least some people seem to think so. Not as awesome as Cheryl, but it's awesome. A mystery in an east Tennessee wheat field. A crop circle in Madisonville, to be exact. And This is not the first one. One appeared a year ago, less than a half mile from this location. The exact pattern has some doubting the circles were actually manmade.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN MERRELL, FIRST SPOTTED CROP CIRCLES: I really don't think it's manmade. I don't believe anybody can do that that quick and get everything so perfect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The property owner says thin lines from the circle were made when the crop was fertilized and are not connected to the circles. Well, neighbors say they didn't see or hear anything the night before the circles appeared.