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Maersk Alabama Press Conference; Rescue Attempt of Pirate's Hostage Fails; Troubled Detroit Schools Look at School Closures, Teacher Lay Offs; Alleged Liverpool Terror Plot Suspects to be Held Longer; Tiger Wood's Niece, Cheyenne, Could be the Next Tiger Woods.
Aired April 11, 2009 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAPT. JOSEPH MURPHY, FATHER OF SHIP'S NEW CAPTAIN: This is my opinion. I think the comments that I've heard from Secretary Clinton are most appropriate, that it's going to take a worldwide unification of forces under a single command to provide coverage over a major portion of the ocean or major portion of the Indian Ocean.
QUESTION: How do you feel as a father knowing that training to deal with pirates and also taught other mariners how to deal with pirates and now he was in that situation himself. How do you feel as a father just knowing that he was going to able to face them and do so well in this situation?
MURPHY: Well I think I've said it before, but that's Murphy's law. It's a prime example of it. I will say this though -- Shane clearly knew what the risks were and I believe that they were -- that crew was well trained, they were drilled, they were practiced, they were prepared. And they've met the challenge certainly better than most.
QUESTION: Must have been frustrating for them to leave the area.
MURPHY: Yes, it was, Ron. It was very upsetting for them. They didn't want to go.
QUESTION: It's one thing to hear your son is safe. But then to first hear his voice, can you help us understand that moment?
MURPHY: It's a thousand Christmas gifts. You know, it's that connection to your child, somebody that you've reared, when you know that they're out of harm's way. It's -- there's no expression to tell you that relief as a parent.
QUESTION: What would you like to see happen? We understand that more shots were fired and the word is that Captain Phillips is ok. When navy ships attempted to approach the lifeboat.
MURPHY: Well, first of all, my primary concern is the safety of Captain Phillips. At this point, I would like to see him recovered with the least amount of force possible. If there's -- whatever kind of an exchange can be done, that's fine with me. I just want to see him home safely.
QUESTION: Can anything be (INAUDIBLE) when Shane gets back, a bi party or dinner, what are you guys going to do when you first see him? MURPHY: He's got two young sons and a beautiful young wife and we're going to have a private family gathering with his (INAUDIBLE) and so forth. His younger brother is in the Far East so he's on a ship in the Far East. But there will be a special time for our family. It's going to be a special Easter.
QUESTION: Are you (INAUDIBLE)
MURPHY: We probably have to pay him this time.
QUESTION: Captain, how is it affecting her. (INAUDIBLE)
MURPHY: Well you know, with a class -- as you know I had to cancel class on Thursday and then Friday I had the class. And I spoke with both my cargo class an my security class and the young men and women, of course, met Shane just two weeks ago. They expressed their concerns and they said that they felt intimately involved in this situation because they knew some of the parties involved. But it just really rekindled in them the desire to go to sea and to really give it a heave ahead.
QUESTION: Have you been in contact with Captain Phillips' family? And if so, what kind of correspondence?
MURPHY: The answer to that is no. I've tried to respect the privacy of the Phillips family. I have made an effort to get contact information to them. I know what Mrs. Phillips is going through and we just would like her to, if there's anything we could possibly do, we'd be happy to do it. That's from the standpoint of my family. Certainly the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She knows the resources at her disposal. If she needs help, we're ready to do it. We're going to stand by her.
QUESTION: Thank you very much.
MURPHY: Can we all say good-bye and this is it? Ok.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: You can see a press conference just wrapping up there with Captain Joseph Murphy whose son Shane Murphy was on the ship. He was originally the first officer and then all of a sudden became in control of that ship once Captain Rich Phillips was taken hostage by those Somali pirates. Holding a press conference just a short time ago saying Shane has two young sons, he has a wife, and they would have a private gathering as soon as he got home, as soon as he gets back from Africa where he is. They would have a private family get-together. And it was going to be a great Easter for him. He said while his family is relieved, his heart goes out to Captain Richard Phillips' family who is waiting for their son to come home.
Hello everyone. I'm Don Lemon. We're following the breaking news tonight that you have seen here. We're talking about those Somali pirates.
This time also there is gunfire in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Somali pirates holding an American sea captain hostage fired on the U.S. navy.
We're also told the tiny lifeboat they're in is getting very close to the Somali coast and that is not good news. We want to start with CNN pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr, she joins us live from Bahrain with the very latest on this. Barbara, we saw the -- I think it was a French -- the people from France yesterday who had been taken hostage because their boat was getting close to the coast, it presented some problems and they had to end up intervening.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, at this point what the U.S. navy is doing is continuing, of course, to keep right on that lifeboat. A U.S. official familiar with this situation tells us now that lifeboat over the last several days had moved considerably closer to the coastline of Somalia. That is a matter of concern. But the warship that the U.S. Navy has sent is right on it and is going to take measures to try and make sure, of course, that that lifeboat does not go back into Somalia and any other pirate ships in the region keep their distance. They don't want any additional trouble. They want no intervention and they do not want that little lifeboat to go back into Somalia.
Now, earlier today what we have learned is the U.S. Navy off the "Bainbridge," that warship, did send a small naval party on a very small boat over to try and approach the lifeboat, and to engage in some sort of communication with the pirates. Apparently what happened is the pirates didn't like that and they fired their weapons. The U.S. navy retreated very quickly, with no further incident. They didn't want to do anything to antagonize the situation we're told. Primary sole goal is to keep Captain Phillips safe and get him out of there. This all was an effort that simply stopped very quickly, we are told. U.S. navy continuing to keep an around-the-clock vigil trying to get Captain Phillips free. Don?
LEMON: All right, CNN's Barbara Starr, Barbara we appreciate it.
The freighter that Phillips was piloting when it was hijacked on Wednesday arrived in Mombasa, Kenya, did that just a few hours ago. The "Maersk Alabama" is loaded with African relief aid and the ship's owner held a news conference just about 90 minutes ago. I want to tell you what happens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN REINHART, PRES. & CEO, MAERSK LINE LTD.: Because of the pirate attack, the FBI has informed us that this ship is a crime scene. Therefore, we have to allow the FBI to begin the process to investigate the crime of the pirate attack. Therefore, the crew members will have to stay on board the vessel. We will make sure they are safe. We know what food they want, we'll get the food to them, but they will not be able to have -- you will not be able to have access to the crew during the investigation.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: An Italian tugboat in the Gulf of Aden was also seized by pirates today taking a crew of 16. It underscores the piracy epidemic now infecting that part of the world. CNN correspondents are really all over the place. We're deployed at key locations around the world to bring you the very latest on this situation. The standoff with the pirates in the Indian Ocean is now four days old and so far no public comment from President Obama. We're going to start now with CNN's Kate Bolduan, she's at the White House. Kate, why hasn't the president spoken out about this?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is what we're hearing. This is the latest from the White House, Don. Administration officials telling me that the president has received "multiple updates on the situation, both on the phone and on paper." This is very similar to what we heard yesterday, senior administration officials telling CNN the president is getting continuous updates from his national security team. But as you mentioned, since first learning of the situation early Wednesday morning, upon returning from his trip, his European trip, the president has not commented publicly. When asked by a reporter if the extent of the president's involvement goes beyond staying apprised of the situation, this is what press secretary Robert Gibbs had to say Thursday. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: At this point he's staying apprised of the situation and obviously the inner agency maritime group has been -- has had a number of meetings and conference calls about this. Obviously the navy an the FBI are, to some degree, on the scene with their resources. So the resources of our government are deployed in ensuring the safety and security of the captain and the crew.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: While we haven't heard directly from the president, we have heard from other members, other top members of his administration, vice president Biden coming out to say, "we are working on this around the clock." The secretaries of defense and state both saying separately that they are considering all options out there, looking at what they can do in order to protect American life, American interests, as well as bring the pirates to justice. Don?
LEMON: All right Kate, thank you very much for that.
Our Stan Grant was in the port of Mombasa when the "Maersk Alabama" docked. He had a chance to speak briefly with a couple of crew members before they were whisked away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Here you can see behind me, this is the crew of the "Maersk Alabama." They have come to the side of the ship here which is now docked here in Mombasa, Kenya. An extraordinary situation that they've been through. You can see them just trying to speak to members of the media here behind us. Let me try to make out what they're actually saying.
(INAUDIBLE) (END OF VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: CNN's Stan Grant joins us now from Mombasa. Stan, you heard the guys and you may want to -- because it was hard to hear. What question was asked of them and then what did they answer? What were they saying there in that little exchange?
GRANT: Yeah Don. The crew very much being kept off-limits to the media. The only opportunity we had to actually speak to them was in those snatched conversations, those questions we managed to shout at them. I asked one of the crew members what happened when the pirates came aboard. He said he was woken at 7:00 a.m. he said the pirates were armed and he said he was, frankly, scared when this was taking place.
I said, how did you manage to actually regain control of the ship? He said that some of the crew members were able to hide in a secure part of the ship. Then speaking to another crew member, he indicated there was some type of a scuffle, a tussle, between the pirates and the crew members. He said that a couple of the crew members managed to jump the pirates and one of the crew actually stabbed one of the pirates through the hand and that's how they were able to get control of the ship.
Now an investigation is continuing here, Don. Behind me the "Maersk Alabama" is in dock. The crew remain on board the ship. It's been declared a crime scene. The FBI is debriefing the crew at the moment. They will not be able to return home until that debriefing, until that investigation is complete. Don?
LEMON: CNN's Stan Grant in Mombasa, Stan we appreciate it, thank you very much. And tonight at 8:00 eastern, a CNN special investigation, Somali pirates, can they be stopped. Who are the Somali pirates hijacking ships and capturing Americans. We want to tell you who they are and answer some questions for you. The biggest question though really is how can they be stopped? CNN takes you inside a story that has captured the world's attention tonight, 8:00 p.m. eastern only here on CNN.
In Tracy, California people are reeling after a Sunday school teacher is accused in the murder of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu. Details straight ahead for you.
Also, of course we want to know what's on your mind tonight. Make sure you become part of our conversation, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, iReport.com. We'll get your responses on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: In Tracy, California, people are reeling. A Sunday school teacher is accused in the murder of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu whose body was found Monday stuffed in a suitcase and submerged in a pond. 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby, a local minister's granddaughter is in jail now. She faces charges of kidnapping and murder. Get this -- Huckaby knew Sandra Cantu very well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. TONY SHENEMAN, TRACY, CALIF. POLICE: Sandra was very close friends with Melissa's daughter. They used to play together frequently at Melissa's home.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: If you are just plugging in, there is a shocking development to tell you about in Tracy, California. A Sunday school teacher, 28- year-old Melissa Huckaby is suspected of kidnapping and murdering 8- year-old Sandra Cantu. The girl went missing March 27th. Take a look at this surveillance video. It shows her leaving home on her way to a playmate's house. Her body was found in a suitcase in a nearby pond earlier this week. There was a news conference a short time ago with new developments. And on the phone joining us now is Jen Wadsworth, she's a reporter for the "Tracy Press." Jen, what do you know? I think it was you who sort of led police -- made police think that maybe there was some discrepancy about this suitcase?
JEN WADSWORTH, "TRACY PRESS" (via telephone): Well, exactly because for days now there had been rumors circulating around town about where this suitcase had come from. This is a key part of the case. They had to figure out whose black suitcase it was. And so when I called Melissa Huckaby, I called her at her grandparents' home which is where she lived. She picked up the phone and I asked her to tell me -- I told her about all these rumors I'd heard. I told her I heard the suitcase had come from her family, she said, yeah, that's my suitcase. Then she told me the story. I asked her to get into detail about what happened, how she claimed it was reported missing. So I asked her to explain how that happened and she just went into detail and gave her side of the story and evidently that conflicted with what she had told police earlier.
LEMON: How did you realize that it was a conflict with police? Did you share that information with police, how did this come about?
WADSWORTH: I didn't share anything with the police and the police didn't call me. I didn't even know -- because there was an investigation going on, I had no idea what she told police. So I do know that there were a few discrepancies between what she told me and what she told other reporters. And even some holes in the story she gave me. So I actually didn't find out until later that police decided to question her again because of the story.
LEMON: Many times that there's sort of an undercurrent that you know you hear rumors, you hear people talking. Did people talk about Melissa Huckaby at all? Was it suspected in that area that she might be looked at as a person of interest?
WADSWORTH: Well her name didn't come up until I think it was Wednesday, some time earlier this week when police towed her car and so another reporter actually ran the license plate number and found it was registered to Melissa Huckaby. They'd towed several cars and questioned hundreds of people. I was actually looking for women's names and wanted to do background checks on all the women's names who came up because I had heard rumors that there was someone under police watch in the hospital. That's what I was looking for and I ran a background check on her and something came up.
LEMON: Being a reporter, local reporter, you never know so you check everything because you never know where it's going to come from. Hey, so listen, what is the motivation here, do they know.
WADSWORTH: They don't know. Police actually -- police said today that they have no idea what the motivation could have been. I do know that she has a history of mental health problems. A court psychiatrist interviewed her -- two court psychiatrists interviewed her some time between November and January in relation to some felony charge of burglary and misdemeanor petty theft.
LEMON: I'm sure -- I got to let you go because we've got some other news but I'm sure you know that this has been the talk of the country and even on cnn.com, this is I think the number one story.
WADSWORTH: Oh, is it?
LEMON: So in that area, I imagine everyone was captivated with this, Jennifer.
WADSWORTH: Yeah, it's heartbreaking.
LEMON: Jennifer Wadsworth, "Tracy Press," we appreciate you joining us on CNN.
It has been drama on the high seas, and it's not the first time we have seen it. But the pirate standoff that is unfolding off the Somali coast tonight it is somewhat unique. We are going to dive deeper into this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Boy, oh, boy, damage. Look at these pictures! As far as you can see, this is Murfreesboro, Tennessee, that city near Nashville got hammered by up to five reported tornadoes. The storms were all part of a vicious weather system that also caused damage in several other southern states. Murfreesboro, one of the twisters killed a woman and her 9-week-old daughter. They were at home at the time. The husband was seriously hurt as well. The baby was found in a car seat where her parents had put her. Wow. Thinking that it would be safer. Man, it's hard to even read that story.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: Time for some feedback here. I love this theme. This is from twitter I believe. Tweedledum, "Do they have sensing cameras to see who is a pirate and who is not and just shoot the hull, piercing shells through the ship?" I don't know. We'll have to check on that for you. Maybe we'll answer that for you tonight at 8:00 when we do our special on the pirates.
Cless55 says, "Those pirates need to be given a severe punishment. They need to know that they cannot meddle with American citizens." Absolutely right, they can't meddle with anyone. Shouldn't be doing it at least. Another one, puncture holes in this boat and wait it out until it's enveloped by water. These guys do not want to die, they will produce the captain. Well, we want to make sure the captain is safe. We can't pierce the boat, the captain is in there. We want him to be safe as well. Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, iReport.com. That's how you can get in touch with us.
Still ahead here, running the gauntlet. If the Somalia coast is so dangerous, why do ships risk it anyway?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DON LEMON, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: We want to get you the very latest on the standoff with the pirates in the Indian Ocean. Sources say the Somali pirates holding Captain Richard Phillips captive on a live boat fired on U.S. sailors trying to reach the boat today. The sailors, who did not return fire, retreated. The captain's boat, the "Maersk Alabama," docked safely in Kenya today with the remaining crew members. FBI agents plan to interview the crew members as efforts continue to free the ship's captain. We'll follow this story very closely.
The first officer of the "Maersk Alabama" is Shane Murphy. He was in charge, as a ship's dean, to Kenya. His father, Joe Murphy, is an instructor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
We heard from Joe just a couple moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE MURPHY, INSTRUCTOR, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY: We know the difficulties that the Phillips family is going through and we continue to support them. We believe that Captain Phillips will survive this situation. We want him to know that he has the support of all of us, the American people and people around the world. We appreciate his courage. We know that he will survive because he will never give up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: We certainly hope that holds true there. The family of Captain Richard Phillips is watching and they are waiting, also, a lot of hoping there.
We've received a statement from the captain's wife, Andrea. She says, "My family and I would like to thank our neighbors, our community and the nation for the outpouring of support that we've getting. We have felt the compassion of the world through your concern for Richard. My husband is a strong man and we will remain strong for him. We ask that you do the same."
The family lives in Underhill, Vermont. Stephanie Elam is there. She talked with a family friend today.
Stephanie, it's a very sad story. One family is happy that their son is home. We were talking about the first officer there. Then another family just watching and waiting. Who knows what's going to happen. STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN NEWS CORRESPODNENT: So true, Don. Really moving to hear the Murphy family thanking the Phillips family, telling them they'd do anything they them need to at this point as they wait for their loved one to get home.
In Underhill, Vermont, overall, everyone is staying optimistic. They're holding out for good news to come here. They do believe he's got the right kind of personality, Captain Phillips that is, to make it all work out and to get back here safely to Vermont.
That one neighbor that we spoke to, he's lived near the Phillips family for 15 years or so. He gave us an idea of what kind of a person Captain Phillips is but also how Andrea Phillips is holding up under these very, very tense circumstances.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM WALSH, NEIGHBOR: He is a great guy, warm, friendly fellow. He is gregarious. he's got a joke, a story for all occasions. He's a person that everybody loves. You know? He's got more stories than you can imagine. It's fun to go to parties or go golfing with him. He's a great guy. Great family man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: As you can see, everyone really feeling the pain for the Phillips family here and believing in Captain Phillips' ability to come out of this alive and OK and get back here to Vermont -- Don?
LEMON: Stephanie Elam, we appreciate it. Stephanie, if you get some information, please get back to us. All right? Thanks for that.
Merchant ships know the Somali coast is thick with pirates, but most have no choice but to just run the gauntlet. Getting caught by pirates sets off a whole chain of ooh vents usually ending with a hefty ransom being paid.
Recently, I spoke with CNN's brain Todd about one incident in particular. Listen.
BRIAN TODD, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Don, one shipping company's CEO describes the experience as surreal, like living out a movie. He says it only takes one or two small pirate boats to capture a massive tanker. Then, he says, the company's nightmare begins.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): A tanker crew taking on their captors. High drama on the high seas, but not how it usually plays out when a cargo ship's been captured.
JAMES CHRISTODOUOLOU, INDUSTRIAL SHIPPING ENTERPRISES: It's a very, very long cycle incident.
TODD: For 56 days, the crew of the "Visgaglia" (ph), owned by James Christodouolou's Industrial Shipping Enterprises was held hostage. Christodouolou was in what he calls a turkey coma last Thanksgiving night when he got an overnight call that the "Visgaglia" (ph) had been hijacked by pirates 50 miles off the coast of Somalia.
Experts say before they strike, hijacker skiffs often blend in with shipping boats.
TOM FUENTES, FORMER FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Hundreds of boats. It is hard to tell if one will break away and attack.
TODD: Christodouolou says his tanker had nonlethal security on- board.
CHRISTODOUOLOU: Barbed wire, flares, and very loud loud speakers to deter pirates.
TODD: Still about ten pirates with AK-47s and rocket propelled grenades overtook the 600-foot "Visgaglia" while it was moving. Pirates like this do evasive maneuvers but hijackers are agile.
CHRISTODOUOLOU: They come alongside the boats, in row boats with outboard motors or little zodiac boats. They throw either grappling hooks or aluminum ladders up on the railing of the ships and they scale the ship.
TODD: Christodouolou says he negotiated directly with the pirates with only a translator as go-between. He says the final transaction is often primitive.
CHRISTODOUOLOU: The cash is dropped out of a plane in a plastic tube with a parachute on the end of it and it's picked up by the pirate skiffs. They count the cash on-board the vessel. They get off the vessel and the ship steams away, back to a safe port.
TODD: In the end, all 28 crew members were returned safely to their families.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(on camera): Christodouolou won't say how much he paid in ransom money. But in the case of one vessel called "The Serious Star," a Saudi super tanker that was released back in January, set the high- water mark for ransoms at about $3 million -- Don?
LEMON: Thank you for that Brian.
The executive you just saw in that story will join us live at 8:00 p.m. eastern for our special called "Somali Pirates: Can They be Stopped." We're digging deeper into the who the Somali pirates are and how we can take them on. CNN takes you inside the story that's captured the world's attention tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern only here on CNN.
This week the city of Detroit has proposed closing 23 schools and laying off 600 teachers. What kind of ripple effect could this have? And what's in store for other troubled cities? (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: How do you heal the wounds of war? Sure, there is surgery and there's therapy. But what about fishing? Yes, fishing. And, no, I'm not baiting you. I'm really talking about fishing. Ed Nichols found a way to make all of that happen. That's why he's our "CNN Hero."
(CNN HERO)
LEMON: If you would like to get involved or you know someone else doing something extraordinary, nominate them. CNN.com/heroes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Officials in Oklahoma say at least one of the devastating wildfires that ripped across the state this week was intentionally set. But authorities stopped short of calling the case arson, saying it's unclear if malice was involved. No arrests have been made. Dozens of homes and businesses burned down in the series of Oklahoma fires. And more than 60 people were injured. Wildfires in neighboring Texas are being blamed for three deaths there.
In the Chicago area, health officials are offering tuberculosis tests to hundreds of patients and staff members at three hospitals. There's fear there may be -- they have been exposed by a doctor who was recently diagnosed with that disease. Preliminary tests show the doctor does not have a drug resistant form of the bacteria.
Everybody knows -- or everybody in Detroit is worried about this, because the school system there is troubled. And this week parents and students found out just how much trouble they're in. 23 schools are on the potential chopping block, along with 600 teachers as the district deals with the projected $303 million deficit and shrinking enrollment.
To come up with their proposed closure list, officials looked at enrollment, conditions of buildings and academic achievement. Here's what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT BOBB, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL MANAGER, DETROIT SCHOOLS: The bottom line is that we have too many buildings for too few students. And so we -- the reality is that schoolhouse buildings will have to be closed and consolidated. Following a series of input from the community, I will make my final decision on each round of closings by May 8.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Now that that list is out, some parents are vowing to fight the proposed closings.
Let's go to Alexander Heffner now. He's a graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and an undergraduate at Harvard University. He's also the president of Scoop Media and the editor-in- chief of his own magazine, scoop44.
Alexander, thank you very much. You're the voice of your generation. At least one of the voices who have been speaking out, especially about politics, education, and so on. Tell us about Detroit, because you said that you're worried about that. Aren't you?
ALEXANDER HEFFNER, PRESIDENT, SCOOP MEDIA: It's worrisome. And there's massive corruption in the school district across Detroit. And so the consequences you mentioned earlier in the segment is a potential ripple effect, the closures of schools across the country. But this is a special instance because there is a projected enormous deficit that needs to be addressed. And in the sound bite you played, that was the emergency finance director who's instituting new reforms. But most urgent, I think, in shutting down these schools is then getting down to the basics which is curriculum and teachers.
LEMON: They are looking into the possibility there is some sort of corruption. They haven't really come up with it yet. Because they were saying some people were on the payroll but didn't show up on the books, that they were concerned about that.
I'm not sure if that's a problem that the administration can address because that's a local issue, but definitely the money as it goes towards education, especially public education, is a concern for young people.
HEFFNER: It is a concern. From the reports that we've read at scoop44, there have been some documented instances where funds were used inappropriately. It might have been on the verge of illegal. But the important part is, allowing young people and students to have a sense of identity in the classroom, and that will propel them to further study in more difficult fields like chemistry and biology and across the mathematical spectrum. So...
LEMON: So Alexander, I think I asked -- did you say you were 19?
HEFFNER: 19.
LEMON: So if you're for young people, does it disturb you when you see -- we've seen numbers go up -- for young people who are becoming homeless and living in these tent cities now? What's your concern about that and what do you plan to do about it?
HEFFNER: We're continuing to report on scoop44. We have one of our national correspondents stationed in Sacramento who's gone across the coast of California and found very young families struggling, isolated from the world. Ad their children are unable to attend school, develop a partnership with school districts, teachers, potential mentors. It's extremely troublesome. And the fact of the matter is according to multiple reports, one of every 50 young people is homeless.
LEMON: Yeah. Alexander, we appreciate it.
I want to get you back to talk about solutions so when you come ennui can have some solutions for young people. You can figure that out, get back with me and we'll get you back on.
HEFFNER: Thanks, Don. A new paradigm, new solutions. You are absolutely right.
LEMON: Thank you very much, Alexander Heffner.
"The Situation Room," straight ahead.
Wolf Blitzer, what do you have for us?
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Don, thanks very much.
We've got a special "Situation Room" coming up right at the top of the hour. Our exclusive interview of the vice president of the united states, Joe Biden. He minces no words in going after his predecessor, the former Vice President Dick Cheney.
And we have Dick Cheney's former national security advisor, John Hanna, here as well to respond.
The editor in chief of "Essence" magazine on the very special relationship between Michelle Obama and her mom.
All that and a lot more coming up right here in "The Situation Room."
Don, back to you.
LEMON: See you then, Wolf. Thank you very much for that.
The search is still on in Britain for two suspected al Qaeda terrorists. They're believed to have been connected with a cell exposed this week. We'll have the very latest for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: President Barack Obama is praising NATO for standing firm with America's initiatives in Pakistan and Afghanistan. NATO made the announcement during a 60th anniversary summit in Europe.
Today Mr. Obama called the news heartening in his weekly address. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's only by working together that we will finally defeat 21st century security threats like al Qaeda. So it was heartening that our NATO allies united in Strasbourg behind our strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan and contributed important resources to support our efforts there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Most of the Pakistanis arrested in northwest England, in connection with an alleged terror plot, will be held a bit longer.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Liverpool with the latest on that investigation.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Day four of the police investigation and they're still searching, here in Liverpool, two apartments in the building behind me. Police say they have released one of the 12 men arrested, an 18 year old. But he's not released, free to go. He's been released to the custody of the British border authorities. That leaves open the possibility that he will be either deported or could face questioning on immigration issues.
Police say that the other 11 men they have, their ages range from 22 to 41. They also say that they have applied to a judge and received permission to hold those 11 men for another seven days of questioning.
LEMON: Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson.
British authorities believe the foiled terror plot was al Qaeda driven. It's also believed there was a link between al Qaeda commanders in Pakistan and the suspects held in the U.K. Pakistan says it will cooperate in the probe.
She says she learned to play her own game even though she's Tiger Woods niece. We'll tee off with Cheyenne Woods.
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LEMON: We have some sad news to tell you about. One of the creators of the so-called Sound of Philadelphia, he has died, Randy Cane who was the founding member of the Delfonics died Thursday at the age of 63. The cause of death wasn't revealed. Cane formed the Delfonics with brothers William and Grover Hart while attending high school in the 1960s. Their hits include this classic.
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LEMON: Randy Cane, 63 years old. Man. Good stuff there, good stuff. They don't do it like that anymore. They don't make them like that anymore.
A hard turn here. Larry Smith standing by at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia.
The Delfonics, again, they don't make them anymore, one of a kind. And also, one of a kind too, Tiger Woods. And his niece is trying to make it two of a kind, right?
LARRY SMITH, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We know what Tiger Woods has done. It's been 12 years since he won his first Masters and broke on to the world stage and really changed golf on a global perspective. But at the same time, we have been asking who's the next Tiger Woods. Maybe he actually is a she.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH (voice-over): Cheyenne Woods isn't just another collegiate golfer. There's that name, Woods. That cool demeanor that seems familiar. And she can get in touch with the world's best golfer.
CHEYENNE WOODS, NEICE OF TIGER WOODS: I just call him Tiger. Uncle Tiger, I guess. I don't know about Uncle Edrick (ph). It doesn't sound as good.
SMITH: You see, Cheyenne's dad is Tiger's older half-brother. She won't shake her famous relative any time 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 TEAM MATE: She's definitely isn't the type that wants more attention or special privileges because she's Tiger Woods's niece. She never even says it. Sometimes we'll be in the airport and we might want to throw it out, you know, name drop. But she's not like that.
WOODS: That's the hardest thing growing up with the name of Woods, growing up in that shadow of Tiger Woods. But I have kind of learned to just 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 cut down clubs. I was about 3 years old and my grandpa had a net in his garage and I just started hitting balls. When I was 6, I got my first set of clubs and started hitting and I played in my first tournament at 8. I've just been playing ever since then.
SMITH: Cheyenne's team mates and coach have already noticed at least one similarity between her and Tiger.
HILL: If she's playing bad or good, you'll never know. She doesn't get too up or down.
DIANNE DAILEY, WAKE FOREST GOLF COACH: I think she's very competitive. She wants to win. I don't think she, at this point, has the extreme competiveness 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 really big tournaments, I have had cameras following me, so I have gotten used to it. I guess I kind of like it sometimes. I feel like I play better under pressure and, with cameras there, it brings the pressure, I don't know, like show off. I don't know.
SMITH: It would seem like uncle, like niece.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Such a wonderful young lady. As for that famous uncle, Tiger, he finishes four under par for the tournament. Currently, seven shots behind the lead here at the Masters.
Let's go back to you.
LEMON: Can I tell you how jealous that I am that you're there and I'm here?
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: Sure, go ahead.
LEMON: I know, it must be great, Larry. Thank you, we really appreciate it.
Larry Smith in Augusta, where I wish I was.
Tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern, a CNN special investigation. It's called "Somali Pirates: Can They be Stopped." Who are the pirates hijacking ships and capturing Americans? And how can they be stopped? CNN takes you into a story that's captivated the attention of the world, tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern.
I'll see you then. I'm Don Lemon.