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Sunday School Teacher Arrested; Murder in New Orleans; Pirates Holding American Captain; Interview With Steve Harvey

Aired April 11, 2009 - 10:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: A 23-month-old, a 6-year-old and a 19- year-old all shot dead. That is our breaking news out of Jefferson Parish this morning, that's just outside of New Orleans. We also know that an 11-year-old is in critical condition and police say a gunman broke into their home early this morning. The victims all found in their bed. We will hear from an officer who was just on the scene. That's coming up in just a moment.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: In California, an arrest has been made in the death of an 8-year-old, that being Sandra Cantu. The suspect? Listen to this. A Sunday school teacher. We have those details straight ahead.

From the CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM. It is Saturday, April 11th. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HOLMES: And hello to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes today. I'm here in Atlanta, Georgia -- 9:00 a.m. in New Orleans this morning. And we will get to that story. Two children among the victims of that deadly shooting there. Again, a 23-month-old, 6-year-old, both found shot in the head in their bed.

Also a 19-year-old woman has died. She was found shot in the back in the front door of that home. A fourth victim, an 11-year-old girl in critical condition now with several gunshot wounds.

NGUYEN: And police say they have no leads on a suspect as of yet. Now, I spoke with Colonel John Fortunato from Jefferson Parish just last hour. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLONEL JOHN FORTUNATO, JEFFERSON PARISH POLICE (via telephone): Just around 3:43 a.m. this morning in an address in Tarrytown, Louisiana here in Jefferson Parish, officers responded to reports of multiple victims who were shot at 945 East Monterey Court. When the first responding officers arrived on the scene, they located a 19- year-old black female lying on the floor in the living room, suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

A second victim, black female, 11 years of age was found in one of the bedrooms suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to University Hospital where she remains in critical condition. Victim three is the black male, 23-months-old, along with victim four, which is a black male, 6-years-old. Both brothers who are lying in the rear bedroom, both suffering from gunshot wounds to the head. The 23-month-old was pronounced dead on the scene. The 6-year-old was transported to University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.

NGUYEN: John, these are children. Any idea what happened, why? I don't know, a suspect, a motive?

FORTUNATO: We absolutely remain in the fact-finding stages of this investigation at this point. We haven't been able to establish a motive and the only suspect information we have is two unidentified black males, both wearing dark clothing. One was wearing a red bandana on his face, a black hoodie and a black baseball cap. Both were armed with handguns and we have not been able to establish a motive at the time.

Again, we're in a process of conducting interviews, talking to witnesses, canvassing the area, in hopes of locating someone who can provide us some details. We're asking anyone with information to call our homicide division at 504-364-5300. Or the local number for crime stoppers here in the metropolitan New Orleans area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And we continue to follow that story.

Also this one. Breaking news out of Tracy, California, this morning. Police say they have made an arrest in the death of an 8- year-old girl -- 28-year-old Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby, you see her right there, was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Sandra Cantu. Cantu's body was found earlier this week stuffed inside a suitcase.

Joining us now live from Tracy, California, with more details on this is David Begnaud of affiliate KOVR. David, help us understand the connection between the suspect and the victim?

DAVID BEGNAUD, KOVR CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, it's interesting. We're told that Melissa Huckaby's daughter was best friends with little Sandra Cantu. And not only was the suspect a Sunday school teacher at a church that is just but 200 yards from the mobile home park behind me, this is where little Sandra disappeared. Not only did she teach Sunday school and her daughter play with her, but she also lived just a few doors down from Sandra Cantu.

This Melissa Huckaby is an interesting woman. She's been questioned throughout the week by local police and FBI as to her whereabouts at the time Sandra disappeared. Here's where it gets interesting. On the day Sandra disappeared, and in fact, the very hour, Melissa Huckaby said that she had a black oversized large suitcase stolen from her.

What's interesting is that little Sandra's body was found in a black, large, oversized suitcase at the bottom of an irrigation pond. Now, Melissa Huckaby was in the hospital for most of this week. What she didn't know is that police were keeping a very watchful eye on her.

They had talked to her, Betty, several times over this week. When she got out of the hospital, she decided that she wanted to talk to local media. So yesterday she started giving interviews to the local paper, to the local media stations telling them, hey look, I had a black piece of luggage stolen. I saw it on television. I don't think it looks like mine, but it sure is interesting to note.

Well of course, the media outlets started reporting this and yesterday police started denying anything. They didn't know who the bag belonged to. They were talking to Miss Huckaby, but they would not have any comment. Well about two hours after that press conference, they called Huckaby and said why don't you come down and talk to us at the police station.

So, she got in her own car and left the trailer park right here, went down to the Tracy Police Department and talked to authorities for about five hours. And what we are told is that at some point during that interview, she said something that led them to believe that she not only kidnapped but also murdered little eight-year-old Sandra Cantu.

We've not gotten much reaction from the Cantu family. We do know her aunt told the "Associated Press" I want to know why she did it -- Betty?

NGUYEN: All right, let me ask you this. She said something, are we talking about a confession here?

BEGNAUD: Well, police didn't say a confession. But here's what they said. When she walked in yesterday, the spokesman said she walked in very relaxed and during the course of the interview, she got very antsy, very defensive. Then he said she started to accept what was happening. That is a direct quote from what happened.

A five-hour interrogation that had happened. They had talked to her several times during the week. And it was so interesting to hear her talk to the media, giving interviews to anyone, very articulate, well-spoken woman. Talking fondly of little Sandra Cantu and, in fact, saying, hey, look I saw the suitcase on television, and you know, I don't think it belonged to me.

Police saying it belonged to her all right. They believe it's the same suitcase she used to conceal the little girl's body.

NGUYEN: And very quickly, is there another connection as well. Because we're getting word that Cantu actually went to Melissa Huckaby's home the day she went missing, is that true?

BEGNAUD: That is correct. The afternoon when her grandfather picked her up at school, brought her back home to the trailer park, she went inside, asked her mother if she could play, kissed her, said I love you, walked outside, went actually to Huckaby's home, played with Huckaby's daughter and then is seen on surveillance video skipping along right past her home.

And it's interesting Betty, she sort of turns as if someone is calling her name. Who that person may have been? Was somebody calling her name? We're not sure. But police say they have the right woman they believe in custody and they do not expect to make any further arrests.

NGUYEN: All right, David Begnaud of our affiliate. Thank you so much for that information. An arrest has been made. We will continue to follow it.

OK, so let's get to the hostage drama off the coast of Somalia. We do have a lot of news to tell you about. Pirates holding an American cargo ship captain, Richard Phillips, inside a lifeboat.

HOLMES: Yes, a second U.S. Navy warship has arrived now on the scene. Ships are keeping an eye on that lifeboat. They are also watching out for any more pirates. The third navy ship we understand is also on the way. That's the USS Boxer. Now the hijacked ship that started the whole standoff is moving closer to port. The Maersk Alabama is its name. It's expected to arrive in Kenya, in Mombasa, sometime today.

We want to remind you that this is not the only hostage situation that is going on in that region right now. Somali pirates holding at least a dozen ships and their crews hostage. Oftentimes we see these hostage standoffs, these pirates in the last days and weeks and, in fact, they have gone into months sometimes.

But we want to get back to the American hostage, that American captain right now. Pentagon officials tell us it looks like the pirates tied him up after he tried to escape. CNN's Stephanie Elam joins us now from Underhill, Vermont. That is Captain Richard Phillips' home town. You've been talking to folks who know this guy, and from what we can tell, hearing that he tried to escape, it sounds like him. He's out there if you will fighting. It sounds like a very strong-willed guy.

So, I guess what's the mood out there? Everyone expects him to make it through this OK?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS NEWS CORRESPONDENT: T.J., everyone here is still holding out hope. They're optimistic. They're sure that he will be able to get out of this. We've been told several times that he's the kind of guy who stays cool under pressure. And that one thing is definitely for sure about Captain Phillips, that's he's as devoted to his family when he's on land as he is to his crew when he's at sea.

So the fact that he gave himself up to save his crew, goes in line with everyone, what they've said here about him. In fact, we had a chance to speak with one of the neighbors. He's known the Phillips for about 15 years or so, living near them, to get an idea of just how the Phillips family is doing at this point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TOM WALSH, NEIGHBOR: Just whatever they need. If they need us to help them with anything, that's kind of the way it is in these communities. Just showing that we're concerned and we want to do whatever she needs to help her. Whether it's providing food or support in any way. She has a lot of her family there which is certainly doing all of that for her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: He's talking about specifically Andrea Phillips who is the wife of Captain Phillips there. She's in her home with her family around her. Yellow ribbons all along the white picket fence in front of their home and flowers, yellow flowers and a ribbon around the tree as everyone here is hoping for their son, their native son, to make their way home, T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Stephanie Elam for us in Underhill, the hometown of that American hostage. Stephanie, we appreciate you this morning.

Now most of the hostage situations we've seen off the horn of Africa have ended with the hostages being released unharmed, and ransom being paid. However, just yesterday, one of these standoffs had a deadly outcome. French hostages who were freed yesterday after being held for almost a week. Now most were free. It was four adults and a child. They'd been held aboard their yacht as it was seized in the Gulf of Aden Saturday.

Now one of those hostages and two pirates died during the rescue operation. Three pirates, in fact, were captured. The French military made its move after the pirates refused several offers, including one to swap an officer for the mother and child who were being held on board. The pirates had also threatened to execute the hostages one by one. It's unclear if the hostage who died was caught in the cross fire or if the pirates actually killed him. Now it's possible that the pirates could take their hostages ashore. Now that possibility is what prompted the French to take action this mission.

Tonight at 8:00, a CNN "SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Somali Pirates: Can They Be Stopped?" CNN takes you inside a story that has captured the world's attention. That is tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.

NGUYEN: You know, a whole lot of clean up throughout the Southeast to talk about this weekend. Tornadoes killed five people within the past 48 hours in Arkansas and Tennessee. Also, bad weather ripped through Alabama, halting traffic and wrecking property. Thousands lost power when storms rolled through upstate South Carolina.

And Central Tennessee, look at this, caught some of the worst of it yesterday. A mother and her baby died when a tornado ripped through Murfreesboro. Dozens more were hurt. Crews searched through the evening for others. Some were spared. Others, like the Lane family, lost almost everything.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) WILLIAM LANE, MURFREESBORO RESIDENT: It wasn't too bad. It was just a big shake, really, a bunch of stuff crashing and breaking. And then it was over.

KAROLYN LANE, MURFREESBORO RESIDENT: The electricity went out, and then my brother forced us to go into the bathroom and about a couple seconds after he lay down on top of us, there was just this big crash. And so after it was all clear, we came out and our house was demolished.

KIM LANE, MURFREESBORO RESIDENT: I'm just glad they were OK. We can replace the house. We just can't replace them. So, I'm just glad they were OK.

DORIS COADY, MURFREESBORO RESIDENT: When I see what it did down here, it's a miracle that we didn't get hit.

ALTON PRUITT, MURFREESBORO RESIDENT: The house you go in, it's completely gone. Everything's gone. Everything we've worked for all of our lives. But it happens. I mean, it's really sad, but we're just trying to bear with it. All we can do. We've done real good so far. Probably after the shock, it will probably be worse, but we're going to try to make it. Just we hated to lose everything we had.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Officials say the storms destroyed or damaged at least 250 homes in the area.

HOLMES: Well another possible tornado to tell you about in northeast Alabama. I say possible because investigators have to go out and survey the damage and they decide if one really did touch down. High winds ripped off the roof of homes, snapped trees, downed some power lines. Reports of trees falling onto cars and also bringing traffic to a standstill in some areas.

Also it looks like there's not much threat of thunderstorms off the Carolinas anymore at least. With CNN affiliate WYFF reports that thousands lost power yesterday when storms rolled through upstate South Carolina. A lot of cleanup ahead. Not hearing any reports of injuries so far.

NGUYEN: Let's get the latest on the weather today, where it's headed and if anyone's in the storm's path. Reynolds Wolf has been watching it for us. You're at the magic wall. A little toy that we have just recently acquired here in Atlanta.

Show us how it works, Reynolds.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: Well, we have been finding new heroes who are trying to win their struggle against this faltering economy.

NGUYEN: And we've been bringing you their survivor stories over the past weeks and months. And today, we are going to meet a chef with a special recipe for recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIMOTHY TUCKER, CHEF: The philosophy of this kitchen is taking this food and healing the body with this food. Cooking from scratch as much as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, he is a master chef. For years, you could find Timothy Tucker creating magic at some of the best restaurants in the country. I want to show you a photo from his days at the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, smiling there in the chef's hat. Well, Tucker has not given that up. He's now on the payroll at the Salvation Army in Louisville, Kentucky. And he joins us now live.

Boy, that's quite a difference. You know, five-star, five- diamond restaurant like the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, to working in the Salvation Army providing food for the homeless. What made you decide to have this career change?

TUCKER: Well, it was time to do other things, you know? I loved my time at the Mansion. Dean Fearing is one of the best chefs I've ever worked with. But, you know, it was time to give back to the community.

NGUYEN: And you're doing more than just providing meals there. You have started this culinary program which teaches people how to become chefs themselves. Explain how that works.

TUCKER: It's a -- it's a 10-week program that is designed to get people's basic culinary skills up, through knife skills, soups, sauces, and really just to prepare them to get them ready to go out and work in the community, to -- with other great chefs.

NGUYEN: And these are people who have been down on their luck. They have lost their jobs. They've ended up on the streets, homeless, and found their way to the Salvation Army. And once they get there, how do you, I guess, entice them to pick themselves up from where they are and decide to learn a new skill that they have may never thought about?

TUCKER: Well, food is fun, you know? And we do a lot of different food that maybe they've never seen before. Different fruits, vegetables. And it's exciting for people who have a passion for cooking, like myself, it's just a natural fit.

NGUYEN: You've had over 40 graduates from this program. How many of them have gone on to actually become chefs in kitchens around the nation?

TUCKER: Well, we've had dozens, and honestly, I'm working to find a publisher for my book called "Healing From the Garden of Hope" because I've got so many great stories that I want to share with you guys.

NGUYEN: We are looking forward to it. But we want to tell our viewers this, not only are you helping with this program, but at the same time, you're feeding some 400 people a day at the Salvation Army. So you are juggling many things and it's really having a wonderful effect on the people you come across every day. Thanks so much for this survivor story and just this wonderful idea and this program that you're sharing with us. We appreciate it.

TUCKER: Thank you for letting me share my story.

NGUYEN: Sure.

And CNN i-Reporters have been sending us their economic survivor stories, some touching and enlightening, all can be found at ireport.com/survive. I just really enjoy these stories because in these tough economic times, you need a pick-me-up and that's one way to do it.

HOLMES: And anytime we can get some good news on, we love to do so.

Here's a little something you might enjoy. Men and women wounded fighting for our country, but now a former navy captain is using fly fishing to help them heal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In our "CNN Heroes" segment this week, a former Navy captain is using a popular pastime to help rehabilitate wounded veterans.

HOLMES: He's teaching them to regain their mobility by adapting some of the same skills people use when they go fly fishing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is "CNN Heroes."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in Afghanistan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I broke vertebrae.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got hit by the blast. Blew up about 20 feet in the air.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My teeth were just shredded up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I lost my right eye.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mouth was blasted out.

NAVY CAPT. ED NICHOLSON, CNN HERO: The demons of war, you just don't set them aside. But once you get out on the river, the serenity is incredibly healing. My name is Ed Nicholson, and I founded a program that helps wounded servicemen and veterans to fly fishing. I spent 30 years in the Navy. More recently, I was down at Walter Reed. It was impossible not to see the service men and women of missing limbs and serious wounds, and I thought many of them probably would love to get out of the hospital and go fishing.

Instead of cranking it in, you strip, strip. You become more independent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My injuries are to my right arm. It really helped me to start using that right hand and adapt to skills of everyday living.

NICHOLSON: I've heard from other participants when I'm out there fishing, I don't think about the pain.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The doctors can't heal the heart and soul. Being out in nature does that. What it shows you is that life is not over. It's only beginning.

NICHOLSON: OK. Here we go.

I'm not a psychologist. I'm just an old naval officer, but I can tell you this that the individuals that work with our program, they get a great deal out of it. That's what keeps me going.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. Some of you may love this idea. How would you like to print your own money?

HOLMES: Hey, the government does it.

NGUYEN: Well, one community is doing it as well. Find out where and how it's working for them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Two children, among three dead in an early morning shooting outside of New Orleans. Police say two men kicked the door in of a suburban home and started shooting. A 23-month-old baby, 6- year-old boy, both died. They were shot in the head according to police. Also a 19-year-old woman shot in the back. A fourth victim, an 11-year-old girl, is in critical condition with several gunshot wounds. Neighbors want swift action to find out who did this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It don't make sense at all. Especially when you killing children now. The person who did this, they need to -- they need to get them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It shouldn't have happened. It was just babies. And whoever did this, they need to be caught.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Police say it was two black males who busted in and did the shooting, but at this point say they have no suspects.

NGUYEN: California police have a suspect in custody for the murder of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu. And they have arrested 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby. You see her right there. She is a Sunday school teacher. She spoke to an officer from the Tracy Police Department in California on our show this morning, actually. We did. And he said they had enough information to take Huckaby into custody.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've considered -- we'd talked to a lot of people, and we'd looked at a lot of people. We had information that it was narrowing the focus, as I had mentioned before, but I couldn't release that information, and I can't give you why we were headed in that direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Well, the little girl's body was found stuffed in a suitcase at the bottom of a pond in a dairy farm earlier this week. It ended a massive search that included hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement officials.

HOLMES: The USS Maersk Alabama expected to arrive in Mombasa, Kenya today. That's where it was going when it was intercepted by pirates. It will arrive, however, without its captain. The pirates are still holding him captive in a lifeboat out there off the horn of Africa. A second U.S. Navy warship has arrived in the area. Helicopters are keeping an eye on the situation. Also there are coordinated efforts under way by other pirates to try to reach the lifeboat. Also reports that pirates now demanding a ransom for the captain's release.

This is what we know about that captain. His name, Richard Phillips, 53-years-old. He's an experienced seaman, he's from Vermont. "Associated Press" reporting that Phillips surrendered to the pirates in exchange for his crew's safety.

NGUYEN: Well, Captain Phillips is being held by the pirates in a covered lifeboat taken from the Maersk Alabama cargo ship. And our Jason Carroll had a chance to got a closer look at one of those lifeboats to see what the captain is dealing with.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wanted to give a firsthand look at the type of lifeboat vessel that Captain Richard Phillips is in right now.

It's one very much like this one. It's about 30 feet long. You can see it's covered on the top. There's a sliding door here on the front to keep the water out. Once you step down inside, you can get a sense of just how tight their quarters are. You can see very low ceiling here. You can see there are seat belts that line the inside of the lifeboat vessel, so passengers can sit down and strap themselves in.

This over here is the back section of the lifeboat vessel, and even though it's covered, there is a seat back here that is elevated where someone could sit and steer the boat from this particular vantage point.

Also, up above, there are several little windows here, where you can see out and see exactly what's happening above you. Want to give you another vantage point from the other side of the lifeboat vessel, as I crawl through here.

There's another sliding door here on my left, more seat belts here for passengers to strap themselves into. Now moving my way to the front of the lifeboat vessel, there is a hatch above me. You can push out, look out and see above you. You can escape from this hatch, as well, if need be.

Once again, just a quick look at the conditions, at the lifeboat vessel that Captain Richard Phillips finds himself in right now.

Jason Carroll, CNN, Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And tonight at 8:00, a CNN "SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Somali Pirates: Can They Be Stopped?" Who are the Somali pirates hijacking ships and capturing Americans? And how can they be stopped? CNN takes you inside a story that captured the world's attention tonight at 8:00 Eastern.

HOLMES: Six days strapped in rubble from the earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy. Rescue crews now trying to reach someone who may still be alive. They already pulled nine people from that same pile near the historic town's center. The quake on Monday killed 291 people, left tens of thousands without homes.

NGUYEN: Wildfires in Texas have killed three people and scorched more than 145,000 acres. An elderly couple burned to death as they were packing their truck to evacuate their home. At least 115 structures have been destroyed and many of them homes in small towns. The governor of Texas has asked FEMA to issue an emergency declaration for 199 counties. Officials say they expect rain to provide some kind of relief a little bit later today.

Well, Oklahoma's governor declared a state of emergency Friday for 30 counties, and this is why. You saw it right there. Wildfires tore across the central and southern parts of that state. More than 60 fire-related injuries reported. About 20 -- or 200 homes and other buildings have been destroyed. Some people who evacuated returned to find entire communities charred by the flames. Officials say at least one of the fires was intentionally set. Though, they still don't have any suspects. HOLMES: President Obama calling for a global effort to combat the recession, terrorism and other problems that are facing many nations. In his weekly Internet and radio address, the president says these are challenges no single nation can confront alone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But our best chance to solve these unprecedented problems comes from acting in concert with other nations. That's why I met with leaders of the G-20 nations to ensure that the world's largest economies takes strong and unified action in the face of the global economic crisis.

Together, we've taken steps to stimulate growth, restore the flow of credit, open up markets and dramatically reform our financial, regulatory system to prevent such crises from occurring again, steps that will lead to job creation at home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The president also said only by working with other nations can we defeat threats like al Qaeda or stop the spread of the world's most dangerous weapons.

NGUYEN: In the Republican Web and radio address, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty applauded the president's proposal to eliminate the capital gains tax for small businesses and lower taxes for middle- class Americans. But he says the budget that Congress is considering does not provide tax relief.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. TIM PAWLENTY (R), MINNESOTA: The president eliminates capital gains taxes for small businesses immediately, so they can create jobs right now. Their budget keeps those taxes high until after President Obama's term in office. And most concerning, this budget creates mountains of new debt that will ultimately require higher taxes on all of us and our children.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Pawlenty says families are hurting now, and should be allowed to keep more of their money.

HOLMES: Well, a book about relationships, and this one is all the buzz. And the author, he has been on "Oprah" twice in a month.

NGUYEN: Yes, but guess who had him first?

HOLMES: We had him first.

NGUYEN: We did right here. Radio talk show host Steve Harvey has advice about how to put a ring on it. Listen up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Several communities across this country finding unique ways to stretch the dollar. How? They're printing their own money. This might sound like it's unheard of, but not really. It's a move right out of the Depression era. Let's find out how this thing is working in Berkshire, Massachusetts. Susan Witt, the co-founder of a group called BerkShares, Incorporated, and Nancy Fitzpatrick, a business owner, who takes part in the program. Ladies, thank you so much for being here.

And I want to make sure I can explain this correctly to my viewers. I'll start with you here, Susan. This is your idea here. But essentially you get, I guess, for every 95 cents, you get a dollar in BerkShares. Is that correct?

SUSAN WITT, CO-FOUNDER, BERKSHARES: Correct. At any of the 12 participating banks, Citizens, put down 95 federal, get 100 BerkShares, which they can spend at any of the 400 local businesses that accept BerkShares.

HOLMES: All right and the thing there is essentially people can go in to a place like yours, Nancy, and they can get a 5 percent discount because you do accept BerkShares. Now people may sound like so wait, when you go turn in your BerkShares, then you would be losing money. But the idea here is to maybe get people to use all of that money locally. Has it been working, Nancy, and helping your business?

NANCY FITZPATRICK, BUSINESS OWNER: It works wonderfully for us. We never take a BerkShare back to the bank for the 5 percent discount. We have dozens of our vendors, our local vendors, who take BerkShares. We try to use them thoughtfully. We know they can't pay their electric bill with them, so we also pay a portion of our bill with BerkShares. Farmers, local farmers, a local printer, our lawyer takes BerkShares.

HOLMES: Wow.

FITZPATRICK: Many of our contractors take BerkShares.

HOLMES: So, Susan, why did you want to go this route? Why did you think this was necessary? What was happening in the community there? Was it getting to such a point that you thought something needs to be done?

WITT: Well, it's one tool that citizens can use to support their local economy, and make sure they're not dependent on changing global economy. It's a tool for creating greater local self-reliance.

HOLMES: And Susan, how successful would you say it has been in that community? I understand it's been around a couple years.

WITT: It's been a couple of years. We now since the global financial collapse, more businesses are signing on, so there's an increased participation from businesses because of it.

FITZPATRICK: I'd just like to add here.

HOLMES: Yes, Nancy, go ahead.

FITZPATRICK: I'd like to add that, we -- the second year that we took BerkShares, we took in twice as much as the first year. And the this past year, we doubled the amount of BerkShares that we have received from customers. And this year we should increase at least 50 percent over last year, probably more.

So, we think it's really, really successful. People are getting used to using them. There's a tremendous amount of pride among local people in having our own currency. It really sets our region apart from other areas.

HOLMES: And, you know, Nancy and Susan, you both should be proud of what you've been able to do there. Again, you all have had it in place the past few years, but certainly during an economic downturn like we've had now, it's certainly good to already have it in place. Thank you, both, again Susan Witt is the co-founder of the group called BerkShares, Incorporated, came up with this idea. And Nancy, just one of several businesses taking part in it. Thank you very much for spending the time. Good luck to you all.

WITT: Thank you, T.J.

FITZPATRICK: Thank you, T.J.

HOLMES: And they're not the only ones. Several communities around the country, not very many, but some are doing there. You can't go out there and just start -- don't go home this afternoon, Betty, and start to print your own money.

NGUYEN: Oh, come on. It sounds like such a good idea.

HOLMES: It can't look like federal dollars. There are certain rules about doing stuff like this. But it is working. It keeps the money there and you get the discount.

NGUYEN: In the community. Yes, I talked to a lady in North Carolina, actually and they're doing it. And like they say, you get a discount for exchanging your federal currency into the local dollars, so it kind of makes sense especially for the towns that are trying to...

HOLMES: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: ...lots of projects. You know, everyone needs a little money these days.

HOLMES: It can stay right there and help a community thrive. That is a wonderful idea.

NGUYEN: Do you know what's another great idea? Something that's free of charge.

HOLMES: Free of charge.

NGUYEN: That being good advice from, guess who, radio talk show host Steve Harvey. He's giving relationship advice, ladies, and you know what, he says it's all very simple. You don't want to miss it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. We got some new government figures that are telling us that a record number of single women are having children.

NGUYEN: A record number.

HOLMES: However -- however, actor, comedian, radio personality, Steve Harvey, is telling women to get the ring before you get the children. He has a book out, it's been out for a little while now. It's called "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man." The No. 1 advice book on "The New York Times" best seller list.

NGUYEN: It really has a lot of good stuff in there, interesting stuff. Especially coming from Steve Harvey. You know, you know him as a comedian but he gets serious in this book, and you've seen him on "Oprah" and the "Tyra Banks Show." Well, T.J. and I, we had him long ago, before he even made it to those shows. He spoke with us about advice. And you know what? It's really worth revisiting.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Steve, in your book you talk about there are five things that women need to know about men. What are those five things?

STEVE HARVEY, ACTOR, COMEDIAN: It's five questions that a woman should ask a man when they meet. You know, because a lot of women have been sold a bad bill of goods, you know. We have created this thing that if you ask us too many questions, if you're too inquisitive, that you're encroaching on our privacy. And then we won't have anything to do with you. Well, that's not the truth. You have every right to know what you're getting into.

NGUYEN: So stop messing around and just find out what you need out know to either keep him or let him go.

HARVEY: You know, it's in your best interest. You know what I'm saying? You have got go stop -- women have got to empower themselves. That's what the book is for. So you can empower yourself. You've got to be -- you've got to stop being at a man's beckon and call. You have every right to know whether he wants to marry you or not. You have every right to know when the marriage is going to occur. This is your future we're talking about. You really need to know if he's into your kids.

HOLMES: A lot of guys, a lot of people follow you. And the fellows might say, why are you not talking to us? Why are you not giving us some relationship advice?

HARVEY: That would be great, but they don't buy books.

(LAUGHTER)

HARVEY: Let's just tell the truth. So I really don't care what you think.

Not really. But you know the first three chapters in the book, what drives a man, what a man needs, and how a man loves is absolutely the best part of the book, because it actually helps a man in his relationship. Because a lot of women just really don't know, as the title of the book, they don't know how we think. Our love is different. We don't love the same.

You all are great communicators, you're very nurturing. You encompass a lot of things in your love. A man's love is shown in three ways. I call it the three Ps. We profess it, we provide, and we protect.

HOLMES: We sit here and we're laughing, we're cracking up having a good time, and what not. But are people going to be disappointed? Maybe you even got some reaction already? People pick up the book, they see your face, they see your name, they expect to open this book and laugh.

NGUYEN: Right.

HOLMES: This ain't funny.

HARVEY: No, it's not. And I mean, you know, I'm sorry. But I've got enough stuff out there on tape that's funny. This book isn't a clinical study. You know, most women aren't married to Dr. Phil anyway. You're married to a regular guy. You're dating a guy that's got a job somewhere that you are trying to figure it out.

I took all of my talks with T.J., who is a friend of mine, guys that play ball, guys that are TV stars, guys that drive trucks, guys that I worked in the factory with. I put all of this -- and I'm 52. I put all of this information together of how we really think. And it's done purely to just empower women.

NGUYEN: So for all the ladies out there, answer me this one question. Why do men cheat?

HARVEY: Well, that's a million-dollar question and no matter how I answer, it's going to be a $10 answer. But I'll tell you this. Number one, I try to teach women to release themselves from blame.

You know, as soon as the guy cheats, a woman tries to find out what's wrong with her. And it has nothing to do with you, oftentimes. It's just an inadequacy in your man, that makes us go outside because we're constantly trying to feed our ego, trying to feel better about ourselves.

HOLMES: Now, a lot of this in the book can be applied to all men and women. But speaking, particularly, to black men and women here, is there a new standard and a new example for all black men and women and couples to follow given what we see in the White House now?

HARVEY: The book is written for everybody. But there is a new mandate here. Obama is the president. We got to do better than this. And that's just the tone that's out there in the country, for a lot of people. There have been other beautiful families in the White House. Nobody is knocking that.

I think George Bush -- I liked the guy personally. I thought he was a good family man, a good father. But this is special for a lot of people, especially in the African-American community. Everybody has got to kind of understand that.

NGUYEN: We appreciate your time, Steve. Thank you so much.

HARVEY: Best interview I've ever done.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Ah, he tells that to everybody. But, you know, it's really good advice in the sense that it's very simple.

HOLMES: Simple. Stuff we know, you just need to practice it. Everybody knows, and he talks about you have the right -- it's your life. You can say what you want. If this guy doesn't want to do it, then you go your own way.

NGUYEN: Take control, absolutely. If that is what you need and that's important to your life, to your marriage, to your future and he can't fulfill it, then maybe he's not the one for you. But you have to be able to find that information to make a decision.

HOLMES: But Steve, we gave him a hard time here. And that was his first interview. It was the best, because it got him on the best sellers list. Congratulations, he's gotten some good praise and a lot of good sales out of it. So congratulations, Steve.

We'll turn now to the masters golf tournament. It's going on in Augusta, Georgia, where else, right now. And who is the big name always?

NGUYEN: Tiger Woods in the limelight. But so is his niece. Yeah, we're going to introduce you to her after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right. So, as you know, the masters golf tournament is under way in Augusta, Georgia, right now. The third round teed off just moments ago.

HOLMES: Yes, all eyes have been on, who else, Tiger Woods. He's playing in his first major championship since his major knee surgery last year. But his niece getting a lot of attention as well.

Our Larry Smith, who's enjoying Augusta right now, he explains this story for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cheyenne Woods isn't just another collegiate golfer. There's the name, Woods, that cool demeanor that seems familiar and she can get in touch with the world's best golfer.

CHEYENNE WOODS, GOLFER: I just call him Tiger. I guess Uncle Tiger, yeah. I don't know about Uncle Eldrick, that doesn't sound right.

SMITH: You see, Cheyenne's dad is Tiger's older half brother. She won't shake her famous relative anytime soon, but she's trying to make a name for herself as a freshman on the Wake Forest University golf team.

NANNETTE HILL, CHEYENNE'S TEAMMATE: She definitely isn't the type that wants more attention or special privileges because she's Tiger Woods' niece or she never even, like, says it. Sometimes we'll be in the airport and, you know, we might want to throw it out, like, you know, name drop, but, you know, she's never -- she's not like that.

WOODS: That's the hardest thing growing up with a name of Woods, it is having that expectation and having that -- or growing up in that shadow of Tiger Woods. But I've kind of learned to just kind of play my own game.

SMITH: Cheyenne dreams of joining her famous uncle one day as a professional golfer. Her late grandfather, Earl Woods, started her in the game, the same way he launched Tiger's career.

WOODS: The first club I ever picked up was one of Tiger's old, cutdown clubs. When I was about 3-years-old, I think, my grandpa had a net in his garage and I just started hitting balls. When I was about six, I got my first set of clubs and started hitting and played my first tournament when I was eight and I've just been playing ever since then.

SMITH: Cheyenne's teammates and coach have already noticed at least one similarity between her and Tiger.

HILL: She's playing bad or if she's playing good, like, you'll never know. Like, she's very just -- she doesn't get too up, too down.

DIANNE DAILEY, WAKE FOREST GOLF COACH: I think she's very, very competitive. She wants to win. I don't think she at this point has the extreme competitiveness that he has. But I think she's getting there.

SMITH: And for the 18-year-old Woods, playing before the cameras brings out her best.

WOODS: Ever since I started playing, like, really big tournaments, I've had, like, cameras following me. So, I've gotten used to it. But I guess, I kind of like it sometimes. I feel like I play better under pressure and with cameras there, it kind of brings the pressure of having the, I don't know, like show off, I don't know.

SMITH: It would seem, like uncle, like niece.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SMITH: Well, here live in Augusta, everyone's watching her famous uncle. Tiger Woods stands at two under par, nine shots behind the leaders, Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry. Woods tees off at 1:05 Eastern Time here at Augusta.

Let's go back to you.

NGUYEN: All right Larry, we do appreciate it. Great story there, thank you.

HOLMES: Wall Street rallied 250 points on Thursday. That was the closing day of the week at least, remember it was closed for Good Friday.

NGUYEN: Yes, so is the economy actually turning around? We're going to talk with a financial expert about that, next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: There is some free tax help out there for you, folks, who haven't filed just yet. For families that earn $42,000 a year or less, contact the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Call the number on the screen for the nearest office.