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Two Convicted Murderers Escape From Jail in Arkansas; General Motors Expected to Declare Bankruptcy Early Next Week; President Obama and Michelle Head to the Theater in New York City
Aired May 30, 2009 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: That was Anthony Johnson from our affiliate from New York, WABC and we are hoping to speak to prison officials on this story in just a minute to find out what is going with the New York City police officer's story. The manhunt story happening in Arkansas, we are hoping to get some officials on the phone to talk about that.
So what do you think? Is race a factor in the New York City police officer's story or should it even be part of this discussion? Make sure you log on to Twitter, to Facebook, to MySpace or ireport.com and tell us what you are thinking. We're going to you're your comments on the air.
Meantime, now to that story that we have been telling you about, the manhunt that is developing in the South. Two convicted murderers are on the loose right now, busting out of an Arkansas medium security prison south of Little Rock, Arkansas. Thirty two year old Jeffrey Grinder is one of them and the other man is 39-year-old Calvin Adams. They are both serving life without parole.
And we are told that last night after bed check, it was around 10:00, they walked out of their prison wearing guard uniforms and then drove away in a car that apparently had been left for them. Now the manhunt for these two men.
We are going to go now to Dina Tyler. She is from the Arkansas Department of Correction. Dina, thank you very much for getting with us. We know that you are very busy right now, this is developing news. Any sign of these two men?
VOICE OF DINA TYLER, ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: First of all, they actually escaped about 6:18 yesterday evening. As far as signs go, we have had no sign of them in Arkansas, no alleged sightings, no reported sightings.
However we had a couple of reported sightings in Missouri in the Boot Hill area. So right now most of our information-gathering and our searching is concentrated in that area. We are working with authorities in that state as well as the Arkansas State Police and we are hoping that perhaps that some of the information we can develop will lead us in the right direction.
LEMON: What are you telling people in the area?
TYLER: To be on the look out. Arkansas is a small state. There prisons scattered across the state and every once in a while somebody gets out. And in the past, the citizens here have always been real good about keeping their eyes open and often times they have in fact helped us catch him.
LEMON: here is the interesting thing that we were looking at. Why were these, if they are convicted murderers, why are they in a medium security prison?
TYLER: Well, the Cummins Unit actually has more than one area. There are some beds there that are minimum security, some that are medium and some that are maximum. And in the Arkansas system not only is your crime a factor in your housing, but your behavior is as well. For these inmates, they didn't have bad incarceration records. They didn't have a history of escape. And they had been basically unremarkable inmates.
LEMON: Dina Tyler from the Arkansas Department of Corrections. We appreciate it and please update us if you get any more information.
TYLER: Sure thing.
LEMON: Let's turn now to the economy.
And we are talking about General Motors is widely expected to go into bankruptcy on Monday and the company is working overtime this weekend to clean up its books. GM bondholders had until the top of this hour to accept a deal that would give them 10 percent of the company's shares in exchange for wiping out $27 billion in company debt.
Well, here's the updates we have for you. There is nothing (ph) has happened now.
Meantime, Germany's finance minister says the Canadian auto parts maker Maggi International (ph) will invest in GM's Opel unit in Europe. The move to protects Opel from the impact of GM's potential bankruptcy here and the United Auto Workers have approved a round of labor concessions. They are designed to save GM more than $1.3 billion a year.
The troubled U.S. auto industry is a political problem as well as an economic problem. So we're going to turn now to CNN's Kate Bolduan who is standing by for at the White House. What are you hearing today from Washington, Kate?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there, Don. Well, with the June 1 restructuring deadline just around the corner, everyone is bracing for bankruptcy.
Don, and as we have been talking about throughout the day, I don't think that our package is actually quite ready, but the president, he left today for an evening in New York at the same time you mentioned, the negotiations over General Motors and the future of General Motors have been going on and I believe we now have the donut (ph).
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN (voice-over): As President Obama took time Saturday in New York, the White House kept a close eye on last minute negotiations over the future of General Motors.
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president is encouraged that whatever happens at the deadline, that the progress that is being made to restructure General Motors and put it on a path, as I've said, to being a viable auto company.
BOLDUAN: Previously, GM received nearly $20 billion in federal loans to stay afloat and could see another $30 billion as part of the restructuring effort. The automaker is shedding its European brand Opel and the United Auto Workers has agreed to major concessions to reduce labor costs. Two more signs GM is heading toward bankruptcy. Analysts say once it emerges from the process, GM will be a much different company.
PETER VALDES-DAPENA, CNNMONEY.COM SENIOR WRITER: It is going to be a leaner company with fewer brands and employees and they have already announced they are cutting quite a number of dealerships.
BOLDUAN: So what could this mean for GM customers?
VALDES-DAPENA: I wouldn't terribly be nervous about buying a GM product because it's pretty clear this company is going to survive.
BOLDUAN: A sentiment echoed at this Maryland GM dealership just miles from the White House.
MIKE MILAN, CORVETTE OWNER: General Motors is a stalwart part of our history. You don't have a company that has been around for hundreds of years without some bumps in the road.
BOLDUAN: And the White House is banks on the premises those bumps in the road today will mean a stronger more viable GM in the future.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN (on camera): And next week, Obama administration officials including Cabinet members will be fanning out across the Midwest to states hard hit by the floundering auto industry. According to the White House, these officials will be talking about the efforts to help auto communities and auto workers, Don.
LEMON: Nice job, Kate Bolduan. Thank you very much for your reporting tonight.
And tonight on CNN, make sure you watch CNN's Ali Velshi and Christine Romans as they explore the rise and fall of the American auto industry and where it might go from here. How the wheels came off.
The rise and fall of the American auto industry tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. There are new signs that North Korea is preparing yet another missile test. Defense Department officials tell CNN that satellites have spotted new vehicle activity at a ballistic missile facility.
In Singapore today Defense Secretary Robert Gates had strong words for the North Korean regime.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target in the region or on us. At the end of the day, the choice to continue as a destitute international pariah or chart a new course is North Korea's alone to make. The world is waiting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Secretary Gates says the North Korean nuclear program at this point does not represent a direct threat to the U.S. Prince Harry on the run, but it's all in fun. A royal visit to the Big Apple. Plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Poor children gain language about half the rate of middle class kids. By the time they are in the kindergarten, they are already thousands of words behind their peers. And it gets worse year after year after year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: It gets worse but it's time to make it better. What's working for our children? We'll find solutions.
Also here is a chance to be part of our show. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or ireport.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It's date night and the first couple will enjoy it with a night out at the theater. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama left Washington for New York about 90 minutes ago. Tonight and will see "Joe Turner Come and Gone" at the Belasco Theater on Broadway. It is the couple's first trip to the city as president and first lady.
But not everyone is gushing over the president taking his wife on a date. Republican National Committee spokesman Gail Gitcho said today, "As President Obama prepares to wing it into Manhattan's Theater District on Air Force One to take in a Broadway Show, GM is preparing to file bankruptcy and families across America continue to struggle to pay their bills. Have a great Saturday evening even if you are not jetting off somewhere at taxpayer expense."
What do you think about this? Make sure you send me your tweets and we will talk about it a little bit later on tonight on our air. Prince Harry, the youngest son of Princess Diana offered his condolences to 9/11 victims Friday in New York. His first official trip overseas. He also met with victims' families and visited with firefighters many of whom lost their colleagues in the World Trade Center attacks. They spent time, spent time at least at the Harlem Children's Zone. There he is. Looks like he is having some fun, participating in a little field day competition. Looks like a lot of fun to me.
The Harlem Children's Zone is getting a lot of attention these days. Even the president is inspired. And my colleague Soledad O'Brien went inside. Soledad?
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, educators and social scientists have been trying for years to close racial achievement gap without a whole lot of success but we take a visit to a program in Harlem, New York, that is making some real progress all because of the man who absolutely refuses to give up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): The children in this Harlem preschool learned French. And math. And some like four year old Darryl Reaves learn really big words.
DARRYL REAVES SR., FATHER: What is a person who looks for dinosaurs?
DARRYL REAVES JR., SON: paleontologist.
REAVES SR.: Yes.
My son has gained so much out of his program. He comes home speaking French, Spanish, asking me why. His why questions are different. He is more in depth.
O'BRIEN: Like every child in this school, Darryl will go on to kindergarten with all the skills he needs to see, reversing a trend so common in poor communities like Harlem.
GEOFFREY CANADA, HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE: Poor children gain language about half the rate of middle class kids and by the time they are into kindergarten, they are already just thousands of words behind their peers and it gets worse year after year after year.
O'BRIEN: Geoffrey Canada grew up one of those kids in South Bronx. Now he is on a mission to level the playing field for children in Harlem. He is doing it for those lucky enough to live within the 100 block area known as the Harlem Children's Zone.
CANADA: We think part of the problem in poor communities is we come up with a great program and it works with kids for two years. Guess what? That's not going to be sufficient.
O'BRIEN: In the Harlem Children's Zone, kids are surrounded with what Canada calls a conveyor belt of high quality programs and services. He takes me to (ph) parenting classes, pre-schools, charter schools, after school programs and tutoring for college students.
CANADA: That's the pipeline. Get these kids in great programs there and keep them there and don't let them fall out, don't let them fall behind, don't let them fall through the cracks.
What are you learning about?
O'BRIEN: It was hands on learning when we visited Promise Academy, one of three charter schools in the Harlem Children's Zone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are our fourth graders.
O'BRIEN: These fourth graders have been in the Zone's pipeline since birth.
CANADA: This particular class is the smartest class not only at Promise Academy, but probably all of New York State.
O'BRIEN: And he has the numbers to prove it. Math and English score that beat the city and state averages and the Harvard study that concludes these children have closed the black-white achievement gap. The ongoing success caught the attention of then candidate Barack Obama.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When I'm president of the United States of America, the first part of my plan to combat urban poverty will be to replicate the Harlem Children's Zone in 20 cities across the country.
O'BRIEN: His administration requested $10 million in the 2010 budget for planning to community organizations that want to develop what he called promised neighborhoods. But Canada says creating just one promised neighborhood on the same scale as the Harlem Children's Zone will take at least $35 million. A tall order during a tough economy.
CANADA: We think if you look at what the cost is not to do this well, these same communities. It's emergency room, it's special ed, it's jails and incarceration, it's all of the food stamps and the welfare, it's all of that that we end up paying for the same children 10 years later. It just doesn't make any sense.
O'BRIEN: You can front end it or back end it.
CANADA: That is exactly right. You are going to pay one way or the other. At least you have people who give you back more money than you paid in. I mean, this is a plus for society if we get this right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (on camera): The Harlem Children's Zone serves about 10,000 children, thousands of them in the charter schools. Canada says he gets about 60 percent of his funding from private sources. Many of the sources from Wall Street. So as you can imagine as the economy hits hard times, so does Geoff Canada's funding.
In any case, he says he's had to cut staff, but so far no programs for the kids have suffered yet. Don?
LEMON: All right, Soledad. Thank you very much. And while reporters, our reporters cover the stories that are developing every day in the black community, Soledad has been working on stories you will see only on July 22nd and 23rd. July 22nd and 23rd when CNN presents "Black in America 2". Two nights, two prime time documentaries, all new stories right here on CNN.
Should be interesting. Make sure you tune in.
After more than a century in Arizona in a grave marked with just a number, the remains of a buffalo soldier are now buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Corporal Isaiah Mays was born a slave in Virginia in 1858 after joining the Army, he was wounded when his unit was ambushed by bandits. The Buffalo Soldiers were African American troops who fought in the Indian Wars. They were known for their valor.
Well, a lot could be at stake for the next generation when a new Supreme Court justice is named, things like abortion and same-sex marriage. So where does nominee Sonia Sotomayor stand on some of those critical issues? Plus a dramatic helping hand for those who are normally on the other end of a rescue.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: National Guard troops usually do the rescuing but yesterday they needed a rescue. The Columbia River on the Oregon- Washington border, six National Guard troops were on a training mission when their boat capsized. But never fear, because the Coast Guard rappelled to their rescue and I'm trying to look at the video. Trying to help out the folks there. They brought in a lifeboat there to help them.
No injuries there reported but it's certainly interesting video to look at. There have been a spate of these boating accidents in the area over the years. Let's hope they clear that up.
The weather is looking brighter in the U.S. Let me repeat. The weather is looking brighter across the U.S. So Jacqui, you know, we always blame you guys for bad weather. So I'm going to say thank you for the good weather. But I was just looking at the video and that is amazing video.
Can we bring that back to the deck and we can look at that video and talk about it - look at that, Jackie, when you see this capsized, these guys are usually the ones that come to the rescue and they are needing rescue there. And as I said there has been a spate and the weather is not involved in that, it's just.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The latest wire copy that I read said they weren't sure why this happened and they were investigating and so obviously I'm like could weather be involved? There is a big low. LEMON: Rough seas or something.
JERAS: Look at this low out here, it's huge. It's covering much of the eastern Pacific and so there could have been some big waves moving in but it was right at the mouth of the river. Maybe some gusty winds. But overall I'm not seeing anything huge right now that would catch my eye.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much for that Jacqui. Being environmentally responsible can be expensive, but one small company is bringing affordable renewable energy to the developing world. Our Richard Louis has more on a bright idea.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD LUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wales is an unlikely place for a Californian to start a solar power company.
ROBERT HERTZBERG, G24 INNOVATIONS: When people say it rains in Wales, my answer always is, well, it works in the rain. That's the great thing about our technology.
LUI: G24 Innovations produces flexible solar cell that can power lights and charge mobile phones.
HERTZBERG: We designed this for Africa. It's a telephone charger that you can put your phone in here or you can put a light.
LUI: G24I cofounder Bob Hertzberg was the speaker of the California Assembly during the energy crisis of 2001. When he left politics, he followed a passion for renewable energy across the pond. The solar cells made in Wales are sold to people in remote areas of the Third World.
HERTZBERG: In these rural areas, a lot of folks have no access to electricity or power at all.
LUI: The G24I solar cell costs around $50 and could become an important part of developing the economy.
HERTZBERG: The largest market in the world for mobile phones is Africa and India and China. How do you get power? You walk to the next village. All of the sudden you now have a device you can carry with you.
LUI: A sunny opportunity for the world. Starting in rainy Wales.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: The next Supreme Court justice could have a huge impact on issues affecting young Americans. We'll take a look at where Sonia Sotomayor stands on the critical subjects facing the next generation. Plus, it's over. The Brits - "Britain's Got Talent", but we can call it that. The finale, it was tonight. We are going to tell you what happened with Susan Boyle. Did she win?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I want to check some our headlines for you this hour. Two convicted murderers are on the loose. They escape from an Arkansas prison last night wearing guard uniforms. They drove off in a car that apparently had been left for them. There reports that they have been seen in Missouri. We talked to a prison official at the top of the hour and she said they had been seen in Missouri. They're asking people to take precautions. We're going to keep an eye on that story.
Turning overseas now. The Pakistani government is claiming a big victory in its military offensive against the Taliban. Government forces said they have taken Mingora, the largest city in Pakistan's Swat valley.
G.M.'s board of directors are meeting through the weekend and the company is expected to file bankruptcy on Monday. In the meantime, a Canadian parts supplier agreed to invest in G.M.'s operations in Europe. That is a big story that is developing and we're going to follow it for you.
Before the president's night out with the first lady, he made sure to tie up a bit of business, including making it very clear he wants a swift confirmation for his Supreme Court pick. Listen to his weekly address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: No nominee should be seated without rigorous evaluation and hearings. I expect nothing less. But what I hope is that we can avoid the political posturing and ideological brinksmanship that has bogged down this process and Congress in the past. Judge Sotomayor ought to be on the bench when the Supreme Court decides what cases to hear this year. I am calling on Democrats and Republicans to be thorough and timely when dealing with this nomination.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK, we heard what the president had to say there about Sonia Sotomayor. Many individual voices are chiming in on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor. There is a collective voice we haven't heard enough of, so says my next guest, Alexander Heffner.
You're becoming a regular. Thank you for the great ideas. And it's an interesting idea. It is important with young people -- have to say about this. And by the way, you are an editor and chief of Scoop44 and a Harvard under grad. I want to get that out there.
But young people played a big role in the election of this president. This president has nominated someone to the Supreme Court. Does Sonia Sotomayor fit what young people think should be -- a person should be on the Supreme Court? ALEXANDER HEFFNER, EDITOR & CHIEF, SCOOP44: I think she does, Don. I had a chance to interview a series of her former law clerks who worked for her on the Second Circuit and they said she connects to regular voices, regular people and that she will make that concerted effort on the high court to make that direct connection in making law tangible. So we can understand it as citizens and as students.
LEMON: You said making the law more tangible to young people. What do you mean? Are you talking about issues -- what issues are you talking about specifically?
HEFFNER: I think there is a premises that there is not enough transparency or openness on the court and that it's one segment of our government that does not expose itself enough to all Americans. On particular issues that are pertinent to young people, I think freedom of speech on social net working sites like Facebook and the interaction between schools and those sites, that will be a critical issue.
LEMON: That's interesting. Go ahead.
HEFFNER: Obviously, the important issues that we faced in the past that have been hot button topics like abortion and larger reproductive rights questions, affirmative action. But Judge Sotomayor connects with, I think, regular people. She has roots in the Bronx community here in New York.
Rob Carr, interestingly, Don, said to me -- he is a professor at Loyola University in California -- that he sees parallels between her approach and that of former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
LEMON: Sandra Day O'Connor. I've seen that. I've seen in your articles and articles written by young people there comparing her and saying she's more moderate. But we don't know what she is going to have to rule on if she is confirmed, if she is going to have to rule on abortion. There enough conservatives now, if they wanted to do something about abortion, Alexander, they could. We don't know if even same sex marriage -- young people seem to be more open to, if she is evening going to deal with that issue as well.
HEFFNER: Absolutely. We don't know what her docket will contain. We do know that she seems to have superior intellect in every sense. And from her record, she served almost two decades on the district and circuit courts respectively and she seems like an extremely talented person.
LEMON: Alexander, what do you consider her? What are young people considering her? Moderate, conservative or liberal or do they think in those terms?
HEFFENR: I think some young people may still think in those terms, but I think they are part of the old political paradigm, particularly when it comes to jurisprudence, legal issues. They're thinking about someone whom they can associate. I think Judge Sotomayor fits that bill perfectly.
LEMON: I hate to give you short shrift on this but I have to run.
HEFFNER: Sure.
LEMON: But what about on this issue of racism and that she is racist or this whole issue about a Latino woman knowing better?
HEFFENR: I think that's hogwash. She brings an insight we haven't seen to the high court.
LEMON: Are you saying it's hog wash or what you a hearing from folks?
HEFFNER: That's what I'm hearing from folks, the former law clerks and from young people who write for the site and report on issues related to the Supreme Court and justice. So I think a consensus is forming that, yes, she brings a richer perspective on certain affairs because she is a Latino.
LEMON: Thank you very much. Always very interesting, Alexander?
HEFFNER: Always a pressure.
LEMON: We appreciate you coming on and giving a new perspective.
HEFFNER: Thanks.
LEMON: Here's what you guys are saying from Twitter. This is what I found tonight.
Dleverre23 said, "Incompetent is usually more likely than malice in most situations. Why stir the racial pot?"
He's talking about the friendly fire shooting of the New York City police officer.
Stycurlyme2 says, "What is it with the folks and the right wingers. Every time their holler, you folks lap it up. Obama is the president, get over it."
Someone else writes, "Let us be honest. If a black man is seen running down 125th Street with a gun, what would a white cop's first reaction be?"
Someone else writes, "The fact that he was black certainly didn't help."
And therightstuff says, "The race card is used too much by blacks. Not everything is a matter of black and white. Racism cuts both ways."
We appreciate your comments. Keep them coming, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReports.com.
"North Korea's nuclear program and actions constitute a threat to regional peace and security," a direct quote from the defense secretary, Robert Gates. He spoke out earlier about North Korea's nuclear aspirations and missile testing.
Meantime, North Korean officials are blasting the U.N., calling members hypocrites. And they warn they'll consider even stronger self-defense counter measures as the U.N. debates sanction. North Korea set off a global alarm this week with a nuclear test and string of missile firings.
We need a big picture here. It's considered the most fortified spot on earth, but what does it look like and what is going on. We are talking about the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas.
Our Josh Levs here to give us a virtual tour.
That should be interesting. You will take us inside, but virtually.
JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRSPONDENT: It's pretty amazing what you can do now. We have some video at the DMZ. A lot of people don't realize this.
Let's start off in the U.S. and then west. You can see, it's not in a sense all that far, just across the Pacific.
Take a look here. You have both Koreas. This yellow line is what separates North and South Korea. That is where you get to the DMZ, the demilitarized zone. Once we are in this area, one section is right here called the Dorason Observatory. One reason I want you to see this is when you are looking at it, you can tell, if you are standing here, you can see both sides of the DMZ.
And we have a report that our Pauline Chou filed from there. Let's listen to her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAULINE CHOU, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Behind me is the southern boundary fence that runs the length of the DMZ, which is 248 kilometers long and four kilometers wide. In the distance, you can see that the North Korean flag. That is where the North Korean propaganda village sits. It's unclear if anyone lives there. It was built for show several years ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: So you are able to see both sides from there. And there's more at CNN.com.
Take a look at this. We'll go back to this here. I'll zoom back out a little bit and you'll see that line. You when you look at this board, you might think, Don, you know, maybe it's not that close to the major population centers and it's far away. Not true. Zoom north. You will see how close this is to Pyongyang on the north side. That's the North Korean capital. Now we zoom south to Seoul, South Korea, and a major population center on the Southside. In both cases, Don, not at all far from where we are talking about, the DMZ, the demilitarized zone.
Along that line, we have lots of troops that have been building up. You have North Korean troops up at the DMZ. You see some of the video we got from that. You also have South Korean troops that have gone along the DMZ. And you have more and more look out points and more and more military, more and more potential actions.
At the very end of all of this, we can zoom all the way back to the United States. Keep in mind that it's not that far from us. As you take a look at this -- did I get that right? Help me out here. There you go.
You can zoom back east across the Pacific and you are back at the U.S. What I want people to understand is, we here -- Don, down this turn, DMZ, it feels like it's far away and sounds like it's far away, in the end, it's just across the Pacific. You are seeing more and more troops and a lot of people who live right near it. And it could be the source of a lot of tension in the region. So we all need to keep an eye there.
LEMON: You get better at it and that always presents a problem.
LEVS: That's the effort.
LEMON: Thank you very much for that.
LEVS: Jacqui, where's Jacqui?
LEMON: You're a big boy. You can handle it.
LEVS: Yeah. Thank you.
LEMON: He did it in broad daylight. A jewel thief nabs more than $8 million in precious gems. We'll tell you how he pulled it off. Plus, where were you when Jay Leno did his last tonight show? I remember the first one. We will take you on one last laugh.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A lone gunman got away with at least $8 million in loot after a daring hold up in an exclusive Paris jewelry store. Police say a well-dressed man walked into a store this afternoon and threatened employees with a gun. They gave him jewelry from the window display worth anywhere from $8 million to $14 million. He walked out as calmly as he walked in.
The latest now on 13-year-old cancer patient Daniel Houser. We know the Minnesota boy is sick tonight, and his family said he is only getting sicker. They say Daniel is not reacting well to the second round of court-ordered chemotherapy. This is Daniel going through a swarm of media to a court hearing Tuesday following a week-long run away from the law with his mom who opposes traditional cancer treatment. A family spokesman says Daniel has been vomiting after the chemo session and doctors say that is a common side effect. We wish him well. A music producer, Phil Specter, could be spending the rest of his life behind bars. He was sentenced yesterday in Los Angeles to the maximum 19 years to life for the murder of Lana Clarkson. Specter, who is 69, won't be eligible for parole until he's 88. Clarkson was shot to death six years ago in his mansion. Specter's lawyers plan to appeal saying Clarkson was depressed and killed herself.
The world moved far too slowly to save the endangered leatherback sea turtle. Until now. All it takes is one person. You will meet this week's "CNN Hero." Plus, "Britain's Got Talent" ended just a few minutes ago. I like to all it "Brit's Got Talent." And the winner is -- after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Leatherback sea turtles have been around since the age of the T-Rex, but they are endangered worldwide. This week's "CNN Hero" single-handedly launched a drive to protect leatherbacks in Trinidad. She confronted centuries of tradition and even a few machetes to keep these giant creatures alive.
ANNOUNCER: This is "CNN Heroes."
(CNN HEROES)
LEMON: Good for her. And I love her accent. If you would like to help Suzan, you can go to our web site and if you want to help her out, you can find ways to help her out there as well. It's CNN.com/heroes. And remember, all of our "CNN Heroes" are chosen from people you nominate. So go there and nominate some folks. Congratulations to her. We wish her the best.
Well, she almost quit the show a week before the "Britain's Got Talent" finale. I'm going to change it to "Brit's Got Talent." But Susan Boyle changed her mind and she stayed until the end. And did her performance pay off? Remember, she came out of nowhere. The answer, after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You're counting the calories and exercising, but those pounds still don't seem to be dropping. Maybe what you're missing is prayer. Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, reports.
(CNN'S FIT NATION)
LEMON: Thank you Sanjay.
Always leave them laughing. The showbiz mantra, and Jay Leno lives by it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, FORMER HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": People always ask me, what are you going to do after the show? Are you going to go on vacation? Actually, I'm going to go to a secluded spot where nobody can find me, NBC prime time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: One last laugh from "The Tonight Show" host.
Plus, I'm going to answer a Twitter or two making fun of my "Brit's Got Talent."
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LENO: How many kids have been born to "The Tonight Show" staff in 17 years? Here's the answer. Take a look. (APPLAUSE). The answer, 68! We have 68 kids.
Hello.
(LAUGHTER).
So that's why I would like my legacy to be, when these kids grow up, hey, mom and dad, when did you guys meet? They're going to say they met on the stage of "The Tonight Show." (APPLAUSE).
Thank you, everybody, thanks for watching!
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LEMON: Wow, a 17-year legacy, the end of a late-night reign. Jay Leno hosted "The Tonight Show" for the last time, clearing the way for his successor, Conan O'Brien, who takes over on Monday.
She was an overnight sensation, from obscurity to worldwide fame with an appearance on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent," but could Susan Boyle win it all? The finale was last night in London. Drum roll, please. You guys really want to know?
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ANNOUNCER: The winner of "Britain's Got Talent 2009" is -- Diversity!
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LEMON: Oh, that's right, she was the runner up. She came in second. To a dance group called Diversity. But Susan Boyle was gracious in defeat. The best won she said afterwards. Diversity will receive a cash prize of $161,000 and they will perform for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Show.
All right, anyway, let's -- before we go to tell you who we're going to have on tomorrow, you guys were upset about me joking around. "They said stop teasing it already, get to it, get to it." Some of these I can't even show on the air. You guys were really upset.
One says, "Tell us. This is too funny how you're building "Brit's Got Talent up."
And one says, "Twitter is ahead of you. We already know."
Darn it, it's on the Internet.
Redwolf says, "Two "Brit's Got Talent" teasers in a row? Give us the answer already."
I have to build it up a little bit, guys. This story was so fascinating. Everybody wanted to know about it.
There is one we want to tell you. Another overnight sensation from another popular talent show, "America's Got Talent," is about to make a lot of chips in Las Vegas, on the Las Vegas strip. We're talking about a ventriloquist who signed a $500 million deal in Vegas. With his options, he'll be singing for another five years, $100 million. Well, Terry Fator is going to join us in the "NEWSROOM" tonight at 7:00 p.m. We'll see you then, 7:00 p.m.
Wolf Blitzer right now.
