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Prescription for Change; The War Against Stress; Texas Tormented by Drought; Struggling to Survive

Aired July 29, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama is in between town halls. Neither of which is actually in a town hall. Last hour we wrapped up a health care rally at a high school in Raleigh, North Carolina. About two hours from now, he's going to speak at a supermarket in Bristol, Virginia, right on the Tennessee line. CNN's Ed Henry is there.

Ed, what's new in the president's speech today and how do we expect it to be received there?

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, what we really saw in North Carolina was a president trying to sharpen this argument that this whole debate is not just about the 46 million people without health insurance, but that it's about also the millions of people who have insurance and need -- they're concerned about what's going to happen with them. They need some reassuring that they might be able to keep their doctor, they might be able to keep their plan if they're happy right now.

And the president trying to make the case that it will actually make your health insurance more secure with reform by specifically spelling out, for example, getting in personal terms talking about how when his mother was drying with cancer many years ago, she was very worried that the insurance company was not going to cover those vast, vast expenses because of a pre-existing condition. He's saying now, on this kind of insurance reform he is talking about, insurance companies won't be able to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. So he's going to spell that kind of details out.

I can tell you, I spoke to a lot of employees here at the Kroger in Virginia. They want those kind of details. They're telling me, both Democrats and Republicans, who voted for Obama or voted for McCain, they're saying they want the president to spell out more specifics.

But what I also learned that I thought was interesting outside the beltway here is that people on both sides are also saying, they're willing, even though they've got generous benefits here, they have health insurance, they're willing to pay more taxes if the president asked them because they do want to try to help. They do think there's a crisis. And they think they're willing to pay more, kick more in, if you will, and step up to help cover more people. And I think that's kind of interesting because a lot of the president's critics believe that people don't want to pay more in taxes.

Kyra. PHILLIPS: Well, they didn't just pick Bristol by accident. Let's talk more about the significance.

HENRY: That's right. Well, this is the birth place of country music, as you know, in Bristol, Virginia. They tout that. And it's also the place where maybe there was a little bit of rebirth of the Obama campaign. This was -- Bristol, Virginia, was when he finally finish off those long Democratic primaries with Hillary Clinton, he launched his general election campaign right here in Bristol, Virginia.

Of course, Democrats carried the commonwealth for the first time in 44 years. And so maybe he's thinking about a rebirth in this health reform fight as well. Maybe he'll get a victory there again.

Kyra.

PHILLIPS: I was trying to track down your favorite country song before we revved up the live shot, Ed, but I don't think Otis, did you come to? I think it was to last minute. We'll work on that for the end of the hour. Yes, and maybe you can two-step for us, Ed. That will just add a little touch to the . . .

HENRY: I don't know if I can do that.

PHILLIPS: OK.

HENRY: But the Tennessee state line is right there. You know, it's funny, half of this supermarket, which is here, I'm in the parking lot right now, basically half the supermarket, including the pharmacy, is in Tennessee. The rest of it's in Virginia, including the cashiers. And I'm told that's because Tennessee was trying to get the sales tax. So they made sure and put the actual cash registers in Virginia. That's how serious it got. There's a dividing line in this store.

PHILLIPS: Hey, yes, not a bad move. OK. They enterprise. All right, Ed.

HENRY: Got to get that tax revenue wherever you can.

PHILLIPS: There you go. All right. We'll talk to you later. Thanks, Ed.

HENRY: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, don't forget, President Obama live from the produce section there of the Bristol, Virginia, Kroger. Who knows, maybe they'll play him that country music. 4:10 p.m Eastern Time. You'll see it live right here on CNN.

Well, we're also pushing forward against an invisible enemy. U.S. troops, fighting two wars, are falling prey to something all of us have to deal with on a much smaller scale every single day, psychological stress. In big enough doses, stress can and does cause death, suicide, homicide, and Washington is now on alert. A House Armed Services Subcommittee is opening a hearing right now on battlefield stress and the Pentagon's response. Among the witnesses, Army Vice Chief of Staff Peter Chiarelli, who's leading a study on military suicides, and Lieutenant General Rick Lynch, who's starting a stress management program at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Now, troops don't have to suffer physical injuries to come home with crippling, emotional traumas, but sometimes the two are connected as in the life and untimely death of Ray Rivas. CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Heartbroken family and friends gather for the funeral of Lieutenant Colonel Ray Rivas. A soldier whose invisible wounds finally became too much for him to bear. The 53-year-old soldier had dedicated his career to rebuilding war-torn countries. But war tore his own life apart. Earlier this year, Ray made a difficult journey to Capitol Hill.

LT. COL. RAYMOND RIVAS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): I didn't choose to get blown up.

STARR: Remember those words. Ray had served several tours of duty, mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan, and had been in repeated bomb attacks. The blast waves of each incident causing injury to his brain. Yet, he kept getting sent back to war, over and over. Doctors finally realized his brain was being slowly destroyed.

The final blast, Iraq, October, 2006. Ray was medivaced to Germany but then convinced doctors he was OK. Once again, he was sent back to the combat zone. A week later, ill and confused, he was finally diagnosed with an initial traumatic brain injury and shipped home for good. He was sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where the full extent of his injuries still seemed to allude doctors. Some thought he was just experiencing combat stress, one of his colleagues tells CNN. But it finally became clear, Ray was a soldier with a serious traumatic brain injury.

ADRIAN ATIZABO, DISABLED VETERANS OF AMERICA: This happens when a soldier has multiple -- is exposed to multiple blasts. And their brain physically changes.

STARR: At that Senate hearing, his wife, Colleen, did most of the talking, explaining the devastation of Ray's brain injury.

COLLEEN RIVAS, LT. COL. RIVAS' WIFE: He couldn't do simple things. And just getting dressed, just feeding himself. And he stuttered terribly.

STARR: In his written testimony to Congress, Ray said, even when he was finally sent to Brook Army Medical Center in Texas, "I was pretty much on my own for two, three months." Ray said the only help he got with his personal needs was from other soldiers.

C. RIVAS: When he first arrived at BAMC, he just sat there in a room.

STARR: Finally, the military assigned a case worker and Ray got massive amounts of therapy. He seemed to improve. But on July 15th, he lost his battle. He died, alone, in his car here at Brook, an apparent suicide. There were prescription pills and notes he wrote to his family according to colleagues.

STARR (on camera): Ray's family declined an interview request. The military would not discuss Rivas' medical condition due to privacy issues. But CNN was given an internal military message written by those directly familiar with his case. It says, at the time of his death, "Ray was severely debilitated from his repetitive brain injuries. He showed signs of a patient with rapidly progressing Alzheimer's."

STARR (voice-over): According to the Army, perhaps as many as a third of wounded troops experience some level of traumatic brain injury from being in bomb attacks.

ATIZABO: If a soldier falls through the cracks and doesn't get the care they need, if they're not diagnosed, they're not treated for traumatic brain injury, their outlook on life is going to be -- it's going to be terrible.

STARR: Ray was also upset that after everything he had been through, three decades of military service in both the active duty and reserve, he still didn't qualify for a full military and VA pension.

R. RIVAS: I didn't choose to get blown up before I'd made sure and had 20 years of active duty.

STARR: Friends say Ray knew his condition would only worsen over time.

STARR (on camera): It's not certain what happened in his final hours or how Ray Rivas got so many prescription pills. But Revis' war ended here, steps from the front door of the hospital where he had been treated. A colleague says his friends believe Ray simply was in pain and tired of fighting those wounds that so many thought were invisible.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And we're just getting any kind of care -- just getting any kind of care, rather, can be a long slog for vets. The V.A. is super backlogged on disability claims, almost reaching a million now. Some vets who have filed wait more than a year to be processed and approved and get that first check. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has been looking into it. And it's actually holding a hearing today. They heard a mixed review from the GAO, the government's watchdog. More initial claims now completed annually, but more pending claims at year's end. We're going to talk more about this tomorrow. And it's bone dry and getting worse by the day. Parts of Texas coping with the worst drought there in more than half a century. We're going to find out what the situation is in hard-hit Austin, Texas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: In parts of Texas, even a few drops of rain would be a welcome sight. The central and southern parts of the state are coping with the worst drought in half a century. And it's not looking like there's any relief in sight. CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in one of the hardest hit areas, Austin.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, it really is extreme here in Texas. And the drought situation is just intensifying with triple digit temperatures and literally no rain in months for many people.

Behind me, you can see this is Lake Travis in Austin. The lake level is down about 50 percent to where it should be. So the water is just evaporating.

The agricultural community is in a state of crisis. Farmers are having to sell off their cattle because they can't afford to feed them and crops are at a near loss or just producing a very small yield of what they normally would.

About $4 billion has already been lost in this state alone. And, unfortunately, they think those numbers are going to get worst. State agriculture officials say that you're going to feel it in your pocketbook.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD STAPLES, TEXAS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER: The real consequence is not just today, but it's long term. It means a reduction in farming families when that's one of the biggest threats to domestic food supply today is having our farmers and ranchers sustainable in the agricultural business. And that's what really all American consumers should be worried about today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JERAS: Farmers are hoping that they're going to get some help with insurance and also government subsidies.

Recreation is suffering too. Take a look at this boat behind me here. This thing is dry-docked. Normally, we're looking at very high lake levels in this area. Some of the marinas have had to close.

And if you look over here, you can see there's a boat ramp that leads to nowhere. There's only one open now on this late. The lake level's about 54 percent of what it should be. And about a million people in Austin get their drinking water from here.

Water restrictions are in place here, as well as Dallas and Houston and San Antonio. And they expect those to stay in place for quite some time. But right now they're saying that they should have enough for the water supplies.

One other consequence is that, you know, there are a lot of interesting things. This is a lake bed. This should be under water. So all kinds of weird things are being unearthed. You can see some sea shells in here. We found some golf balls. You see ropes and bottles are just scattered all over the place.

One other huge concern in this state is the threat of wildfires. With dry grass everywhere, that just provides fuel for those fires and, unfortunately, they're very concerned about what's going to happen in the coming months.

The sky behind me turning a little gray. Perhaps a little tease. But they're certainly hoping and praying for rain in Texas.

Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jacqui Jeras, thanks so much.

And in the Pacific Northwest, another brutally hot day. In Seattle, the temps climbed past 100 degrees. It's going to be the city's hottest day on record today. And in Portland Oregon, well, it's sizzling. Can you believe the high there yesterday was 106. Feels more like Phoenix, Arizona.

Across the region, they're setting up cooling centers. Fans are selling out. Cold drinks, shaved ice. Of course, that's a big sellers, Chad, in times like this. Snow cones in New Orleans. I remember that in the city park.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Well, the employee who went rogue and broke company policy to chase down a purse snatcher. Remember his reward? A big fat pink slip. Yes, life handed the produce clerk a big sack of rotten lemons. But, guess what? Today, we're helping him make lemonade.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, it's a story that really got us erked yesterday. We told you about Troy Schafer yesterday. The former military man turned produce manager. And then a crook snatched a customer's purse. Well, Troy sprang into action, chased down the culprit. And instead of praising him as a hero, the manager at the Randalls Food Market in Round Rock, Texas, fired him.

Well, this hero needs a job. So we've brought him on today to do our 30-second pitch.

I'll tell you what, Troy, it's been pretty awesome, you know, just reading about all the people that have reached out to you about a job. I mean this is great. We're going to be able to give you a forum. But a lot of people responded to your incredible act of kindness, right?

TROY SCHAFER, HERO, JOB SEEKER: Yes, they sure did. The support here in Austin has been overwhelming.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Well, let's just go back, if you don't mind, to that moment. You know, Randalls' Safeway has a policy -- a no-chase policy because they say it's dangerous to do that. Yet, you know, here you are coming off your break, from what I understand. You hear this woman screaming. Tell me what happened and why did you react the way you did?

SCHAFER: Well, I was coming back in from lunch and I noticed a commotion over in our Starbucks and a lady was screaming for help and saying to call 911. And I just ran over there and asked what was going on and she was screaming, call 911. So I yelled for someone to call 911 and they said that somebody had stolen her purse and that he had headed out the door. He had probably about a 30 to 45-sercond lead on me. I didn't really know who I was chasing. So I just ran out the door and towards the back of the building. And there's a field back there. And I thought there was another customer that had also given chase that was in the field looking, but the grass and stuff, I mean it was so tall you couldn't see anything. So I kind of, using my military instinct, I wanted to get ahead of this person. So I cut through an apartment complex and came across some steps that led down to the field. And I sat there for about a good 20 seconds hoping that he would pop up. And, sure enough, his head popped up in the tree lines. I yelled over to the customer who was about 200 yards away, does he have black hair? And he said, that's him. And I jumped in and the chase began.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Why did you do that? Why did you even respond?

SCHAFER: Because the lady needed my help. I was brought up right by my parents. My mom and dad always taught me that when someone's in need, and then also being in the military, that when someone's in need of your help, you don't shy away from it. You help that person. And that's what I tried to do. And, unfortunately, it cost me and my family a lot, but that's all right. I, you know, I helped the person. And I can look at myself in the mirror and feel pretty proud of myself.

PHILLIPS: Darn right you should. And you actually told me that when you got this woman's purse back, she hugged you and she was crying. And it sort of -- tell me why it reminded you of your mom that you lost just a few years ago?

SCHAFER: Yes, I lost my mom six years ago to cancer. And, actually, looking at a picture of my mother, her and Anne (ph) kind of resembled each other. And just her -- the way she gave me a hug, it was like my own mother was hugging me. And it just made me feel 150 percent that I know I did the right thing.

PHILLIPS: Oh, Troy, well I think your mom's spirit was working through you, that's for sure. She'd be so darn proud.

Well, I'll tell you what, we've got 30 seconds here . . .

SCHAFER: She's watching over me. I know she's proud. PHILLIPS: Yes, she is. She's going to be even more proud now as you give your 30-second pitch here on CNN. As you know, we want you just to tell us all about yourself. We want you to talk to us like you're talking to potential employers. And we've got your e-mail up on the screen right now. So are you ready to go?

SCHAFER: Sure I am. Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Go for it, Troy.

SCHAFER: Yes, my name is Troy Schafer. I'm 36 years old. I live here in Texas. I've got over nine years of experience in retail and retail management. If a company out there that is strong and stable is looking for an employee who's honest and dedicated and shows up to work every day, then I would love for somebody to contact me. Me and my family are looking for a job. And I'll give 110 percent on any position that I take. Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Oh, Troy, I think we've got a picture of your family as well. You've got, is it two kids you have, right?

SCHAFER: Yes. I have two sons and a beautiful wife that is 100 percent behind me.

PHILLIPS: Yes, she is. You have a beautiful family and I know they're all extremely proud of you. And, one more time, your e-mail is jobsfortroy@yahoo.com. Troy, I want you to keep us updated because we really take this one personally and we want to throw all our support behind you and make sure that you get something even better. You're going to look at Randall's Safeway in the rear-view mirror and be very happy with what comes along because you'll be treated really well -- even better at that next position. And we're just very glad that you were able to join us today, Troy.

SCHAFER: Well, I'd like to thank you for doing this for me and all the support of the Austin community. Whether you're on either side of the fence, I appreciate all your comments and thank you very much. From the bottom of my heart, from me and my family, thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, we appreciate you, Troy. We'll be in touch.

SCHAFER: OK.

PHILLIPS: All right.

In all fairness, the president of Randalls Food Market, Tom Schwilke, did send us a statement today. He says, he understands the impulse to help, however, the company could not encourage behavior that could lead to a customer or employee getting hurt. But we'll let you know what happens with Troy Schafer and what the next job is that he receives.

Now, if you want to see Troy's pitch again, we're going to have that and his e-mail address on our blog, cnnnewsroom/kyra. Also, if you want to be a part of the pitch, get in touch with us there. Or you can tweet me at kyracnn. We'd love to support you too. Get ready for Microhoo. Rival Internet giants Microsoft and Yahoo! have actually teamed to battle Google. They announced a 10- year partnership deal today. Microsoft will be able to introduce Bing, it's new search engine, to Yahoo!'s followers. Yahoo! will reap some of the serious advertising dollars from all the searches and be able to place ads on Microsoft's sites. There's still a big hurdle, though, approval from federal anti-trust regulators.

Now, the unemployment rate is at 9.5 percent and rising. As it does, more and more people are struggling to buy basic necessities. And to cope, they're relying on food stamps from the government and stores all across the country are responding in kind. Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stoke Exchange with more.

Susan, what are the retailers doing exactly?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, they're accepting food stamps in larger numbers. Why is that? Because there are larger numbers of Americans who are receiving food stamps. Thirty-four million people, in fact, in April received food stamps. That's up 20 percent from a year earlier. The average benefit, $133.

So who's taking food stamps? Who's new to the game? Well, Target last month started taking food stamps at all of its stores because it's seeing an increase in its customers who are receiving them. CVS says more of its stores will be taking food stamps to meet the needs of its customers. Costco is reportedly testing technology to prepare for food stamp acceptance because more of its customers have been asking for food stamps. So it's responding to this need, Kyra. It's plain and simple.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, let's be clear, though, this isn't just a good will effort. Stores are struggling these days too.

LISOVICZ: No question about it. Look, we are pulling back on our spending. Meanwhile, the competition is as fierce as ever in the retail space, which is why we've seen some of these really high profile bankruptcies. Think about it, Kyra, Circuit City, Linens & Things, Steve and Barry's.

So by accepting these food stamps, they're also making sales. Family Dollar, in fact, this month reported its quarterly profit. Its sales were up more than 6 percent. What were some of the biggest areas of gains? Food and beverages. And, in fact, Family Dollar says it's spending money on systems that will let more stores accept food stamps because it sees an opportunity here. But it's an opportunity that's bittersweet I think for all parties.

Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Definitely. Susan, thanks.

LISOVICZ: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: Terrorists or just a good ole boy, never meaning no harm. The wife of alleged terrorist mastermind, Daniel Boyd, defends her husband and lashes out at the feds who took him away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, a dire warning from the nation's Homeland Security chief. Janet Napolitano says that almost eight years after 9/11, the country needs a lot more public involvement to fight terrorism. And she says the federal government needs to do a better job of sharing information. Her comments during a visit today to New York City. Among her stops, Ground Zero and a meeting with the Council on Foreign Relations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: While the terror threat is ever-changing, it is critical to reiterate that the threat remains. The consensus view of the intelligence community, of which DHS is a member, is that the terror threat to the homeland is, quote, "persistent and evolving." In my daily briefings and as a member of the president's National and Homeland Security Councils, this is something I discuss with the president and the rest of the security team on a regular basis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Napolitano plans to expand a pilot program that trains police on reporting suspicious activity.

Federal agents are searching for an eighth terror suspect believed to be in Pakistan, these men among seven alleged accomplices locked up in North Carolina. Prosecutors accuse the men of plotting attacks in Pakistan. An indictment claims the group's alleged ringleader, Raleigh drywall contractor Daniel Boyd, trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

His wife told CNN the public shouldn't rush to judgment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SABRINA BOYD, HUSBAND CHARGED WITH TERRORISM: I know that my husband and my sons are free of guilt, and I'm hopeful that the truth will come to light.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Sabrina Boyd says that trips to the Middle East were religious pilgrimages, and she explained an alleged training site prosecutors say her husband used this way, just a father helping his Boy Scout sons with marksmanship.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOYD: We feel that we do have -- we do own guns in our homes, as our constitutional right allows us. And I don't think there's a crime in that.

(END VIDEOTAPE) PHILLIPS: Homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano didn't discuss the North Carolina case in a speech today, but she did say privatized terrorism was growing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NAPOLITANO: We face a networked enemy. We must meet it with a networked response. The job of securing our nation against the threat of terrorism is a large one, and it may never be totally completed. But we have a much larger chance at success if we strengthen our own networks by enlisting the talents and energies of Americans. Countering the terrorist threat is not just the effort of one agency, it is one -- or one element of society. Nor is countering terrorism the consequence of one tactic. Rather, it requires a holistic, unrelenting approach at all levels, with all tactics and all elements of society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Napolitano announced new measures to boost communicate between federal, state and local law enforcement.

A delay on the release of the Michael Jackson toxicology report, so we still don't know what killed him, but the law is spending an awful lot of time at his doctor's office.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, police and DEA agents hauling boxes of stuff from the office of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal MD. They spent nine hours going through his papers and another three hours searching Dr. Murray's Las Vegas home. The warrants are sealed this time, unlike last week's raid on his Houston office, but Murray's lawyer says that cops were after more of the singer's medical records.

A source close to the investigation telling CNN on Monday Dr. Murray did administer Diprivan to Michael Jackson, the drug police think caused his death.

Diprivan is the brand name. The generic name is propofol. Call it what you like, it's potentially dangerous, and by all accounts, should only be used under tight supervision.

Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us inside the OR to show us all how it works.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: There's been a lot of discussion regarding propofol, how exactly to use it and is it considered safe in any setting except a hospital or a medical setting? So I decided pictures are worth a thousand words. I'm going to take you inside my operating room to show you firsthand what really happens. Come on in.

So we are here inside the operating room with Dr. Gershon. He's the chief of anesthesiology here. Propofol is a medication he uses all the time.

Is this it right over here?

DR. RAPHAEL GERSHON, CHIEF OF ANESTHESIOLOGY, GRADY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: Yes.

GUPTA: It looks like -- "milk of amnesia," they call it.

GERSHON: Milk of amnesia.

Vincent, you OK?

We have to monitor his EKG. We have to monitor his (INAUDIBLE) CO2. We have to make sure that he's breathing. We have to see his saturation. We have to make sure he's ventilating.

GUPTA: So these are all -- that's all typical stuff any time you use...

GERSHON: Yes. Standard of care, yes.

GUPTA: OK, so the propofol...

GERSHON: I'm going to start infusing this. You're going to get a little sleepy, Vincent, OK? Give me some good, deep breaths.

GUPTA: Why don't you just go and take a look at his eyes, how (INAUDIBLE)

GERSHON: Deep breath, Vincent. Doing great. May feel a little burning, OK?

GUPTA: Ten, nine, eight...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Deep breath!

GUPTA: ... seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

GERSHON: There's a reason for his heart rate increase (INAUDIBLE). You see, his eyes have closed.

GUPTA: His eyes closed. And what else are you (INAUDIBLE)?

GERSHON: (INAUDIBLE) up here, and he's stopped breathing. So this is watching his (INAUDIBLE) CO2, and he's not breathing anymore. And my wonderful message (ph) is going to help him breath.

GUPTA: We'll take a look over here. All the breathing right now is taking place with this bag and this mask. With that medication, he wouldn't be able to breath on his own without those things.

Well, there you can see part of the problem, just with that much Propofol there, he stopped breathing and he's going to need a breathing tube.

GERSHON: Easy? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Easy.

GUPTA: What's so attractive about this medication?

GERSHON: Well (INAUDIBLE) it's really been in the advent the last 10 or so, even more, 15 years. And it's just basically a quick on, quick off. And that may answer why people may think that this is something they could do at home because if it gets out of hand, it goes away quickly. But the problem is, it gets out of hand and there's nobody there to resuscitate you, then nobody could bring you back.

GUPTA: So that was pretty quick. You just gave same of the medication. You're going to (INAUDIBLE)

GERSHON: Five, ten minutes.

GUPTA: Five, ten minutes, he's gone from being completely awake to completely asleep.

GERSHON: He's not breathing. I'm breathing for him.

GUPTA: One thing that's worth pointing out is that this is a hospital that uses this medication thousands and thousands of times a year. But they do use this medication in non-hospital settings, like outpatient clinics. The doctors here will tell you they've never heard of it being used in a home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, the patient that you saw gave us permission to videotape him, by the way. He came out of surgery without any complications and is doing fine today.

Right now, women should pay special a attention to a new swine flu study from the CDC. Researchers found that expectant moms are hit so hard by the H1N1 virus that they're four times as likely to end up in the hospital. Out of the 266 deaths from the virus in the U.S., 15 of the victims were pregnant. Doctors are pushing for pregnant women to get top priority for the vaccine. And there's good news about the vaccination campaign. Mass inoculations could begin by October.

Lawmakers are seizing upon a new study about the dangers of texting and driving. New York senator Chuck Schumer and others are pushing for a nationwide ban on it. A new Virginia Tech study found that texting truck drivers are 23 times more likely to have an accident.

Schumer outlined details of the ban just a short while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The combination of this very important device and driving creates all kinds of safety problems. So texting while driving is not just a bad habit, it's a deadly one. And that's why we're announcing today that the four of us will be introducing a bill that will require the states to ban all use of texting while driving. Our bill is called the Avoiding Life- Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act. Now, that sounds like a mouthful, but if you do the acronym, it's called the Alert Drivers Act. It will make it illegal to write, send or read a text message while operating a moving vehicle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, right now, 14 states and the District of Columbia have texting bans. And when this new bill passes, states will have two years to adopt it or risk losing federal highway funding.

It ain't easy running for mayor of Toledo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're here today at Arcwood (ph) Avenue...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a situation in Toledo where there's...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boo, boo, boo, boo! Boo!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Nice free speech! I think the Founding Fathers would love it!

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right, Rick Sanchez -- what's he doing right now, Drew, while you're filling in for him, do you know?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, he's doing that crazy thing where he talks Spanish and English at the exact same time out of two sides of his mouth.

(LAUGHTER)

GRIFFIN: I'm not. But I'm going to try to fill in for him.

PHILLIPS: All right. You do speak good Spanish, though, I have to admit.

(LAUGHTER)

GRIFFIN: No. No, no.

PHILLIPS: Actually, I know -- I think Rick is working on sort of a town hall discussion with...

GRIFFIN: Oh, yes. That's right.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Right. OK.

GRIFFIN: Yes. He'll be back tomorrow for that.

PHILLIPS: We won't slam him too hard! What are you working on in the meantime?

(LAUGHTER)

GRIFFIN: You know, it was just a matter of time before this whole Michael Jackson...

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes.

GRIFFIN: ... money thing and how much money Michael Jackson's going to make dead got ugly. Well, it did get ugly. We're going to have a lot of report on that. Who wants the money? The same person who has the kids. And we're going to tell you all about that and break it down for you.

Also, you know, the lady who started this whole fruckus (SIC) over the Gates, Obama, Cambridge cops...

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes.

GRIFFIN: She's the one person not going to have a beer tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: Well, I don't blame her. I mean, she makes this 911 call. Everyone...

GRIFFIN: Kyra, Kyra...

PHILLIPS: All right, hold on. She says she's (INAUDIBLE) everyone's calling her a racist, that she made this call saying two black men are breaking into this house. Then you hear the 911 call, and she never even said that.

GRIFFIN: It's a lie!

PHILLIPS: And everyone's hounding here...

GRIFFIN: Here's a sweet lady. She comes out to defend herself today. But I'm saying, after you see what we're going to show you, she needs to go to the White House and have that beer!

PHILLIPS: Really?

GRIFFIN: Why not?

PHILLIPS: Can I see?

(CROSSTALK)

GRIFFIN: That's coming up.

PHILLIPS: So what happened? GRIFFIN: But I'm just telling you, she really needs to be the one who should get a beer after all this because I think she's the one who's harmed the most!

PHILLIPS: OK. Now I get it. All right, now I got it.

GRIFFIN: I'm on her side. Lucia Whalen, we're going to have her for you, a whole hour ahead. And all you people that have hated my stories can tweet and yell at me and call at me and all these things that Rick Sanchez has on his show. Now's your opportunity for an hour to just chew me out.

PHILLIPS: No, everyone loves you because you're always on the side of the consumer, OK, your investigations. Put people in their place. All right, we'll see you in a little bit.

GRIFFIN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: All right. I know you love this story, too. I noticed a bunch of co-workers this morning. Their headphones were on. They were deep in thought because they were watching and listening to the glory of free speech in action, just like we do every morning in our editorial meeting. So check out the wonderful intellectual discourse that Thomas Jefferson would have just loved.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're here today at Arcwood (ph) Avenue for...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boo! (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a situation in Toledo where there's...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boo, boo, boo (INAUDIBLE) Boo! Boo!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be quiet!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're here again to...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boo, boo, liar (ph), boo!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to just move?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, why don't we just move.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean (INAUDIBLE) these guys -- I feel bad for you guys, but...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that all right? Does that make it easier for you?

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: (INAUDIBLE) running for the mayor of Toledo! And Joe, the heckler, by the way, refused to talk when given the chance. We'll keep you updated on this poor guy and his lack of platform there and if, indeed, he wins the mayoral campaign.

President Obama's choice of words coming back to haunt him. When he weighed in on the Professor Gates arrest, one word stood out, and now he can't seem to escape it. Here is CNN's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After being endlessly mocked as being perfect...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (SINGING): He's Barack Obama, he's come to save the day!

MOOS: ... now he's got to save himself.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Cambridge police...

MOOS: ... from himself.

OBAMA: ... acted stupidly...

-- stupidly...

-- stupidly...

-- stupidly...

MOOS: Even after the president admitted he could have recalibrated his words, that one word reoccurred.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... acted stupidly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... acted stupidly...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They acted stupidly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Cambridge Police were acting...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... stupidly...

MOOS: Or as the English say...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly.

MOOS: Next thing you know, it went from the president's mouth to T-shirts -- "I'm with stupidly" to bumper stickers, "Stupid is as stupidly says," to hats, "Who looks stupidly now?" Even the professor's words have been featured, the words Professor Gates reportedly said to Officer Crowley, "I'll speak with your mama outside." The celebrity Web site TMZ chased down the professor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, do you have any good "your mama" jokes?

MOOS: If only President Obama hadn't commented. Now he's being portrayed with his foot in his mouth, in a "teachable moment" with Vice President Biden, who advises, "I like it with salt." Jon Stewart joked about trying to save the president.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What does this say about race relations in America?

JON STEWART, "THE DAILY SHOW": No! Don't answer!

OBAMA: ... acted stupidly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the president's stupid or the cop's stupid or Gates is stupid or we're all stupid...

MOOS: Of course, we've all said things stupidly. For instance, the time I called former president Nixon President Reagan.

Sorry, President Nixon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been called worse than that.

MOOS: And President Bush has said worse than that.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their -- their love with women all across this country!

MOOS: And living forever on the Web, there's that beaut from the beauty queen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... like such as in South Africa and Iraq, everywhere like such as.

MOOS: America's a free country, where everyone's free to act...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly...

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... stupidly...

MOOS: ... New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: When you hear about a child being sexually assaulted, gang raped, in fact, the natural reaction is horror. But in Phoenix, cultural realities are an unexpected factor for police working such a case.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Detective Jerry Oliver has investigated crimes in Phoenix for 20 years. As a father, he told us, this one really moved him.

DETECTIVE JERRY OLIVER, PHOENIX, ARIZONA, POLICE DEPARTMENT: This was a tough case.

GUTIERREZ (on camera): So you get the call that an 8-year-old girl has been gang raped. You're called in to assist.

OLIVER: Yes, we had two issues we had to deal with. One was the 8-year-old victim of a sexual assault, and the other was the victim and the suspect actually being from the same refugee community, which was a Liberian community.

GUTIERREZ (voice-over): A small tight-knit community of refugees from West Africa thrust into the spotlight by the alleged rape of a girl by four young boys, children now in police custody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to see my son! I want to see my son!

GUTIERREZ: The mother cries for 14-year-old Steven Tuopeh. Police say Tuopeh and three other boys, 13, 10 and 9, lured the 8- year-old girl across the complex with chewing gum to a vacant storage shed behind a wall, where police allege the 8-year-old was restrained while the boys took turns assaulting her.

Witnesses say she screamed hysterically as she ran from the storage shed partially clothed. All four boys were arrested. Three are charged with sexual assault and kidnapping. Steven Tuopeh is being charged with the same crimes but as an adult. CNN reached out to the public defenders' office for comment, but they have not yet returned our call.

Police say what was most perplexing about this case was the response by the girl's family. Police say, despite physical and medical evidence, her mother wasn't convinced a crime even happened. And because she's close to the boy's family, she said she wants the boys to be released.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing has happened to my daughter. And nobody not touched my daughter!

GUTIERREZ: The alleged victim's older sister blames the 8-year- old.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I came to her and said, It's not good for you to be following guys because you are still little. She always brings trouble. She always brings trouble.

GUTIERREZ: And police say the father doesn't want his daughter back because of the shame it would bring the family. He denies it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want her back!

GUTIERREZ: Is this a case of culture versus crime? Detective Oliver and his partner, Dotty Conroy (ph) from the Community Response Unit, who work with diverse communities, were called in to help.

OLIVER: You've got to become a quick study in this case.

GUTIERREZ: Police departments across the country have started their own units to deal with sensitive cultural issues like this.

OLIVER: The impression from the family that was given was that shame was brought onto this particular family for what had occurred to their daughter, for the rape of their daughter.

GUTIERREZ (on camera): And yet, that's so hard for us to understand because you would think there would be outrage, there might be empathy, but certainly not blaming the victim.

OLIVER: Yes. I mean, that's what you would normally think.

GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Lasana Kamara agrees. He's Liberian and works with a refugee organization. He says while rape was outlawed in that country only three years ago, there is no cultural excuse for rape.

LASANA KAMARA, ARIZONA MANDINGO ASSOCIATION: If it is true, it is against the rules. It is against the rules here. It is against the rules in Liberia.

GUTIERREZ: While the community, the family and lawyers argue about exactly what happened in this shed, the little girl is in foster care, removed from her home, her parents and all she knows by child protective services, because trauma experts say the girl needs all the moral support she can get and they're are not sure she'll get it at home.

Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Phoenix, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And we're going to make it our mission to follow up on that story and the condition of that 8-year-old girl. That does it for us. Drew Griffin in for Rick Sanchez, and he takes it from here.