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Massive Flooding in West Virginia; Deadly Suicide Bombing in Pakistan; U.S. Woman Arrested in Ireland; Crooks Use Census to Con Americans; Female Condom Battles HIV, AIDS; Husband, Wife Run for Governor, Lt. Governor in Georgia

Aired March 13, 2010 - 17:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: This hour, a developing story. More Americans swept up by accusations of plotting against their own country. Tonight, we explore homegrown terrorism. Is it on the rise? And one small city feeling the economic pinch in the worst way foregoing safety just to pay the bills. Well soon find out what happens when you can no longer afford a police department. It's your town, next.

And we have a story you need to see before you think about having sex again. Male condoms may not be enough anymore to keep you healthy and alive. And in the news happening right now, a state of emergency in 34 counties in West Virginia. Massive flooding is the reason one woman was killed when she was swept away by the flood water. Searchers are looking for a firefighter whose boat capsized during a rescue attempt.

President Barack Obama is sending a strong message to Congress next week, totally overhaul the country's education system. That's the word. The president wants to see major changes in the Bush administration to the "No Child Left Behind Act." He says, he wants to reward schools for their progress rather than punish those that aren't meeting goals.

And a strong of explosions rocked Afghanistan's Kandahar province today killing at least 35 people and wounding 47 others. Afghan police believe two of the attacks were suicide bombings, the other two mortar strikes.

We begin tonight though with a war on terror and a widening tell of international intrigue that spends half the globe. New today, a second American woman has now service in connection with the terror investigation stretches out from Colorado to Ireland.

The "Wall Street Journal" and associated press report a 31-year- old mother from Leadville, Colorado has been arrested in Ireland in connection with an investigation into alleged terror plot. Jamie Pauline Ramirez apparently, was a recent convert to Islam and left her home last September 11. But it's not yet clear if she is connected with another American woman from Philadelphia, who goes by the nickname Jihad Jane and has been in U.S. custody since October.

We start with Jim Spellman in Leadville with what we know about this strange case. What do we know, sir?

JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I got a chance to speak with Jamie Paulin-Ramirez's parents last night and they described to me woman who until about a year ago was just like any other woman living here in Colorado, going outdoors, American kind of woman. She got involved on the internet with people who were, you know, Muslims and she started going with some of their gatherings. Last Easter, she announced to the family that she had converted to Islam, began wearing scarves covering her face and ultimately wearing a hijab around town where she was noted by people spoken here in town where, you know, were only exposing her eyes.

It's a little unusual, her stepfather who she lived with here, Don, and he is a Muslim who converted in the streets of Detroit and served good stretches of time there in prison where he said, he began worried about it. As the summer went on last year, she became, they said obsessed with Islam and with speaking with people on the internet and corresponding with people in the internet. Until September 11th when she was going to visit a friend in Denver, that's the last time they've seen her. They filed a police missing persons report here with the police, they contacted the FBI and let them know that they think her daughter had been radicalize and possibly was dangerous. They say, the FBI didn't follow up on any of that.

LEMON: And Jim...

SPELLMAN: They found he car later at the Denver, Airport. Yes, Don?

LEMON: And Jim, I believe you spoke to the mother. Let's hear from the mother and then let's talk about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE MOTT, MOTHER OF JAMIE PAULIN-RAMIREZ: Now that little boy is in a foreign country with strangers, scared to death and all I can tell us is, you know, come get me. Come get me. You know, I want to come home. And we need to find some way, some help to bring this little boy back here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And she was talking about her grandson, correct, who is 6-year-old?

SPELLMAN: That's right, 6-year-old grandson that Jamie had and he has been traveling with her. They don't know where he is right now. They're very concern about him, they spoke to him last week on telephone and he was in Ireland. That's the last thing we know about him. The very concerned about him and they haven't spoken to their daughter in sometime.

LEMON: All right. Jim Spellman following this story. Jim, thank you very much. We will get back to you. Homegrown terrorism seems to be recurring theme now. Joining me now is Paul Cruickshank of the New York University Center of Law and Security. Thank you for joining us, sir. Jihad Jane had been in custody since October. So, then, why all of this now? What's going on now?

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY CENTER OF LAW AND SECURITY: Well, what's going on in just the last week, you have seen three Americans including two women becoming involved in allegedly Islamist terrorism over the last nine months. We have seen 11 cases of Americans becoming involved with Islamist terrorists and this is a surge in the number of Americans becoming involved with Al-Qaeda's ideology and involved in acts of potential violence. This is something that is causing American counter terrorism officials, Don, great concern.

Now, why is this happening? Well, it's difficult to tell. But American counter terrorism officials believe the internet is playing a very large role, that Al-Qaeda is able to transport the ideology across the ocean here to the United States through the internet, through using social media. These two women it seems, in these cases this week were radicalized on the internet that been many others have been radicalized on the internet. But, also in United States, you see radicalized preachers operating on the streets. For example, here in New York, there is a group called Revolution Muslim.

A pro-Al-Qaeda group, CNN has done some reporting on them. They were trying to encourage young American Muslims to go over seas and fight or even in some cases, some groups are encouraging to launch a tax here in the United States.

LEMON: But, Paul...

CRUICKSHANK: About seven percent -- go ahead.

LEMON: Yes, listen, you can finish your statement. You said, seven percent, what?

CRUICKSHANK: Around seven percent according to the few organizations of American-born Muslims now have sympathy with Al- Qaeda's ideology. Now, that is a very worrying number for American kind of terrorism officials and maybe not as bad as some European countries, but worrying nonetheless, Don.

LEMON: Let's get back to this online thing because a lot of these is happening online and they're hearing about it online, they're reaching people online and that begs the question, is our government or the FBI, do they have the means to monitor these people and the sites?

CRUICKSHANK: Well, absolutely. Absolutely. They are monitoring these sites, a lot of them, sorts of YouTube channels, Facebook accounts, MySpace is being used and they are password protected sites. So, all these sites are being monitored for intelligence purposes. But there is something called the first amendment. Which means, there's a lot even to that site can just function and there is very little that U.S. authorities can do about them, Don.

LEMON: We are hearing, Paul, that...

(CROSSTALK)

CRUICKSHANK: --Counterterrorism officials.

LEMON: We're hearing Paul that this Jihad Jane, this so-called Jihad Jane that she has been dubbed, that she may take a plea bargain. The question is, if she does take a plea bargain, the information that they could possibly learn from this, does in anyway, inhibit the information that they can possibly learn from her either investigators or just Americans, general public?

CRUICKSHANK: Well, every time, you know, investigators, the authorities have a plea bargain. Often, they got a great amount of intelligence from suspects in these cases. They maybe also getting intelligence from this woman Jihad Jane. There's been -- there seems a plea bargain with Najibullah Zazi involves with a very serious Al- Qaeda plot here in September able to get a lot of intelligence from him. So, every time the authorities are able to get these people to talk and to use leverage to get them to talk, that's a very, very good thing for U.S. counter terrorism officials trying to keep this country safe, Don.

LEMON: You mentioned the surge. You said, it's -- we have seen more of this? I would imagine we can expect more of these. Another way of putting this, wannabes in the near future to come with that?

CRUICKSHANK: I think, unfortunately the trend is for more Americans to become involved in extremism. Some of them are sort of completely homegrown that are radicalized here and want to launch attacks over here. The most worrying case is Don, is the people who is going overseas, especially to Pakistan, to Israel and Al-Qaeda's come there, also in Yemen. We are seeing Americans going Yemen and becoming involved with groups linked to Al-Qaeda over there. And these people have the sort of terrorist skills which can make them very, very dangerous and make their plots more likely to succeed, Don. So, those are the ones that American counter terrorism officials are most concerned about.

LEMON: Until move on, Paul. What in the world would make an American want to do something like this, especially women, specially a mother?

CRUICKSHANK: It's very, very, very difficult to tell. To a lot of these people, sometimes they feel lost, sometimes they don't understand the new religion. These radicals can take advantage of that, they can say, this is the true religion. Of course, it's not. Sometimes for them, it's for a sense of belonging, it's a big part of something, it has a purpose. The radicals say, look, you can be great, you can do something to protect your fellow Muslims, they use these sort of, these tactics to recruit these people and to persuade them to do these unconscionable acts, Don.

LEMON: They know what to say how to get these people to come around. Thank you very much, Paul Cruickshank. We really appreciate it.

It seems like the last thing a local government would want to cut but it's really happening. Towns around the country are facing budget melt downs, he says, and some are considering closing their police department. We'll going to tell you about one town right here in Georgia. And this time again, time to stand up and be counted and time to be on the look out for a scams. We will tell you how to avoid them.

And the nation's capital grappling with the epidemic of HIV and Aids tries a new tactic in its ongoing battle distributing the female condom. We'll tell you why. Plus, for you to be of these conversations, look at the screen, that's how you can do it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: If you were paying attention to the news anywhere, you were just living. And out in about, you know that education spending cuts, school closers, making a lot of headlines around the country. You are feeling it in your neighborhood. But, it's not just education that's taking a hit. Consider the small little Georgia town of Monticello hit by the same economic slow down and falling revenues as so many cities. Elected officials there like their counterparts around the country are forced to make tough trade offs, really tough trades offs. And in this town in Georgia, get this, they're are about to shut down the police department. I went there to check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON (voice-over): Detective Roberta Andersen has spent 19 years protecting the small road city of Monticello, Georgia and about 2500 people.

(on camera) This an area that you are more concerned about? What is the area that...

DET. ROBERTA ANDERSEN, MONTICELLO, GEORGIA POLICE DEPARTMENT: Yes. This is Mason Street.

LEMON (voice-over): But soon, she may have to hang up her badge for good.

ANDERSEN: It's just a shock to everybody. Nobody believed it. I couldn't believe it. But, it was said that they have no money. So, they cannot afford to fund the police department. And it was cut.

LEMON: In February, the city council reduced the police force, now there are just three offices. The mayor said barring a miracle, the entire department will probably be gone by July.

(on camera) You don't have enough reserve just to get through this economic downfall to keep a police department?

Mayor Glenn Newsome, Monticello, Georgia: Unfortunately, we have no reserve.

LEMON (voice-over): Mayor Glenn Newsome calls it the perfect economic storm. Just as the city was dealing with nationwide problems like declining tax dollars, the real estate bust and unemployment, it was hit by unusually cold winter and the city runs the area's power, gas, and water systems.

NEWSOME: People came in and said, we keep -- right and the council decided to lower the utility rate for electricity. It's called a power cost adjustment. When they lowered that, that reduced anticipated revenue by $250,000 for the remainder of this year.

LEMON (on camera): And you already had a shortfall.

NEWSOME: We already had a shortfall.

LEMON (voice-over): The city put land up for sale, borrowed money, furloughed employees and cut programs. But even that wasn't enough to save what makes up the biggest part of their budget, the police department.

NEWSOME: I think, the council had no other choice. I mean, I think that was the only place you can't have a deficit. I mean, we just can't do as a federal government. And so, there was no other place to go to get that kind of money.

LEMON: The county sheriff will take over but many here worry about safety.

(on camera) What do you think about the economy, having to get rid of the police department?

DOROTHY PHILLIPS, MONTICELLO, GA, RESIDENT: I don't like it. I live by myself. So, I really don't like it.

LEMON: Why not?

PHILLIPS: I need protection.

NICKI WOMACK, MONTICELLO, GA, RESIDENT: We have been told our crime is low. Of course it's low because we have the presence of the police department. But without the presence of the police department, you are going to see our crime rate go up.

LEMON (voice-over): This week, the city council got an earful from the people of Monticello, demanding they keep the police department. Make other cuts and audit its budget. The council accepted offers by two judges to cut their salaries. It is considering selling laid off police officers their old guns. They will even rent the mayor's office in City Hall, but a motion to save a police department failed. For now, Detective Andersen and her two remaining colleagues are still on patrol, hopeful that somehow, somewhere, the city will find the money to keep them on the beat well past summer and the seemingly unrelenting economic downturn.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: We wish them a lot of luck. They're not the only one closing the police department. It is a drastic move, but it is not unheard of. Byesville, Ohio is the same size as Monticello and its police department will close at the end of the month. Highwood, Illinois will 4500 people are considering the same move as is Auburn, Michigan, population 2,000. Times are tough all over as they'd say. A lost boy and a former teen idol's tragic end. Corey Haim died at the age of 38. Is a massive prescription drug ring linked to him?

Much of West Virginia under water right now. When will the flooding stop? We'll get the very latest from our very own Meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras. And physical transformation, a Florida official with a secret that would shock the nation and ignite a media firestorm. It's CNN's broadcast premier of her name Steven. And you can see it right here at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A part of news happening there. We want to give you a look at some of your top stories. At least 13 people are dead in a suicide bombing in Northwest Pakistan, dozens more are hurt. The Taliban in Pakistan is claiming responsibility. The blast happened at a security checkpoint in an area where the military launched an offensive against the Taliban last year. This comes a day after a pair of attacks in the country killed 44 people. The political alliance led by a program Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is leading in the latest results from last weekend's elections.

About 18 percent of the ballots have been counted and predominantly Shiite coalition which includes followers of an influential radical cleric is in second place. The alliance led by Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is in third place. Final results are expected by the end of the month.

And here in the U.S., California Attorney General Jerry Brown says, the death of Former Teen Idol, Corey Haim is linked to an illegal prescription drug ring. Brown says, his office is investigating what he calls an unauthorized prescription in Haim's name. The coroner has not ruled what killed Corey Haim who battled drug addiction for years. He died Wednesday at the age of 38.

We turn now to the weather happening across the country. And Jacqui Jeras, Jacqui, I see heavy rain and strong wind.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Oh my gosh!

LEMON: What in the world is going on?

JERAS: It's really bad Don, you know, we've got some video that helped tell the story today of the situation going on across the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic and north eastern states. Let's start you out in West Virginia and southwestern parts of the state. Where, they have seen record flooding here. Snow melt combined with heavy rains has brought many area rivers out of their banks and at least one woman has died, a firefighter who is trying to help somebody get out of the floodwaters. The boat capsize and one of the firefighter is missing. The rivers continue to rise as more rain comes down.

In Pennsylvania, not only do you have the flooding, but you got the extreme winds and that's knocking down trees as well as power lines, leaving people in the dark. And tonight it's going to be tough. Because, those winds are going to stick around at least through the early overnight hours. And it's all due to this big culprit right here. This area of low pressure that has just smack dab just pushing offshore now. And we're going to continue to see these conditions throughout the weekend. Let's show you some of the wind reports, because these are just amazing to me. Fifty nine mile per hour wind gusts in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Check out New York City, JFK, 58 miles per hour and 55 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

We're going to see those winds gusting 50 to 60 miles per hour through the evening and overnight. Look at some of those yellows and those reds coming down. That's a good half inch, maybe an inch per hour. There you can see, sustained winds in the 30s and my hope for hour in New York City with the gust of 43 at the top of the hour. And the rainfall totals on top of what we already have which has been anywhere between about one to three inches. We could see an additional probably one to two on top of that.

And that's what we've got flood warnings and watches all across the northeast in quarter. They can see really focusing into coastal areas as we head into tomorrow. If you are trying to travel, you know, here we talked about the roadways. You don't want to drive over any of those roads with water over them, but look at these numbers here, Don, I mean, we are talking, check at Newark, five hours, five hours and 20 minutes, it's going to take you longer than expected to get to Newark today. Incredible.

LEMON: Hey, Jacqui. Was it yesterday or today, we had hail. Yesterday or today, I don't remember we had hail here. And I thought someone was knocking on the front door. And I went to the door and said, who's knocking, I looked outside and it's like this ice is falling. It's amazing.

JERAS: Yes, you know, it's rain, flooding, severe weather. You know, it's changeable conditions. This is that time of the year where we are going to experience it all.

LEMON: Expect more. And that's what I hear. Thank you, Jacqui Jeras.

Earmarks, law makers used them to bring federal dollars to projects back home, but many say, they help fuel out of control spending in Washington. This week, house democrats banned earmarks to for profit companies. And a day later, house republicans one upped them by adopting a ban on all earmarks for the next year.

Our Drew Griffin asked State of the Union's Candy Crowley whether earmarks and lawmakers can really stick to these vows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Candy Crowley, CNN'S state of the union, host: Let's remember that pork is something that other people take home. But, if you take it home, it's bringing home the bacon. A lot of what floats these senators and congress men is that they do bring home bodily needed money in their district. But if it's not your district, it's pork. Do I think that they are going to band earmarks? I don't. My mother told me not to turn cynical when I came to Washington, but really, this looks like that game where you throw the bat up in the air and everybody tries to put their hands on top of the other. I just don't think a ban on earmarks is going to happen.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I got, you know, it's hard to obey mom when you're covering these guys on the hill. And the senate, you know, in the senate, I don't see any call for a band of earmarks there, in fact, I think senator anyway, said, hey, that's not going to happen.

CROWLEY: That's not going to happen. Exactly.

(LAUGHTER)

GRIFFIN: No way. Hey, you have a big show coming up tomorrow. State of the Union and a big guest.

CROWLEY: On Sunday, yes. And I, actually, a couple of big guests. David Axelrod, who is the closest adviser to the president. He will be on and we'll obviously talking about health care and some other issues. But also, John Boehner who is the lead republican on the house side, I actually spoke to him this afternoon because the house likes to go off and go back to their districts. And I asked him the question du jour. And that is, does Nancy Pelosi have the 216 votes she needs to pass the senate's version of health care reform.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), MINORITY LEADER: They can pass it all on their own. The only bipartisanship involved in this town right now with regard to health care is their bipartisan opposition to what they are attempting to do.

CROWLEY: Do you think because you are a good vote count, does she have 216, that's bigger?

BOEHNER: If she had 216 votes, this bill would be long gone. And remember, they tried to do this in June and July of last year. They had the votes then it would be gone. They tried to pass it in September, October, November, December, January, February, but guess what, they don't have the votes.

CROWLEY: But certainly the democrats are banking on the fact that they will have the votes. What the speaker has said is once they have an actual package of fixes to the senate bill, that once those sort of reluctant democrats are able to look at that package, they will climb on board and they will have the 216, Congressman Boehner is perfectly right at this moment, it does not appear that they have the number they need. Otherwise they would be voting on it.

GRIFFIN: You know, just to button that up on that point, that's the way it works. As soon as she gets that number of votes, they're running to the hill and pressing that button, right?

CROWLEY: Right. Because, you don't really know when you are going lose them. So, you have to act, you know, while you have got them. That's for sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: CNN's Drew Griffin with our Host Candy Crowley. Candy has more for you tomorrow starting 9:00 a.m. Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Eastern. White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod will join her and we'll talk about the White House deadline on health care reform and how the president and Congress are getting along lately, if that all.

And that and more. Make sure you tune in to the State of the Union, 9:00 a.m. and then again, at noon Eastern.

The 2010 Census has started. To get yours in the mail? I got mine right here in the mail. Haven't filled it out yet, but how do you tell legitimate census takers from scam artists? We will tell you what you need to know before you start giving out your personal information and the female condom. It never caught on before. Find out, why some people think it might just now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The U.S. Census shifting into high gear right now, over the coming days and weeks. The federal government will count every man, woman, and child living in the United States. It is a ritual mandated every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution. And the final count has far reaching effects from determining congressional districts and government funding. But clever crooks can use the census to prey on the unaware. We always know that they were looking for every opportunity.

There's Christine Durst, the CEO of Staffcentrix and expert on spotting scams. She joins us from Boston.

I just got mine and I opened it right here. This is just really the notice that they are going to get in touch with me. The reason is the correct place. And they are actually the Census Department, because of what?

CHRISTINE DURST, CEO, STAFFCENTRIX: The address that you are showing on that particular envelope, Don, is showing the Census Bureau address. There may be various addresses for different locations. But what's more important is what's in the contents that you are receiving. What you are receiving there I guess is notification that you are going to be receiving a complete census form and encouraging to you fill it out when you do.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: It says in about one week, you will receive a 2010 census. You are right. Here's the thing then. Tell us what we should look for when it comes to doing this. What scam opportunities are people looking for?

DURST: A lot of the scams are happening on the Internet right now. And because of letters like the one you are receiving and public service announcements on television and radio, people are primed to answer questions that come from the census or places that appear to be the census. Things people need to be aware of, Don, is the Internet is not the place where the census is going to be happening. It's going to happen through the mail, by phone, and in person. If you receive any e-mail saying it's part of the census, don't answer that e-mail. Delete it.

Secondly, the census is not going to ask for your Social Security number or credit card or pin numbers or pass words or anything like that.

LEMON: No personal information, right?

DURST: Not personal in that respect. They want personal information like who is living in your home and how many people and do you own or rent, and the race and age of the individuals.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: What are red flags that we should look for? If there are red flags, say, no way, don't do this. What's that?

DURST: Those are the red flags. If I that are asking for information, if it arrives by e-mail, it's not from the Census Bureau. Take a few moments to forward it to the Census Bureau e-mail flashing on your screen. And if you do receive a rogue e-mail like that, take a few moments to forward to the Census Bureau. The e-mail that's flashing on the screen or that's coming across the screen.

LEMON: What are about -- quickly because we're running out of time. What about someone pretending to be a census taker? What should they do if someone does that?

DURST: If you want to be a -- I'm sorry. In recognizing them, the individual who comes to your door, if they are doing door-to-door, they would have a hand-held device, they will have a badge indicating they are with the Census Bureau. And they'll also have a confidentiality agreement that they will show you to indicate they are legitimately part of the census.

LEMON: Christine Durst, good information. Sorry about the delay that caused over talking. Thank you so much. Good information.

Always check I.D.s and don't give passwords or other information, especial Social Security numbers and bank account numbers and those things.

Thank you so much. We appreciate it.

DURST: Thank you.

LEMON: Conducting the census is not cheap. In fact, it's frighteningly expensive, but you would be shocked how much the government is spending to carry out some of those tasks. CNN's Kate Baldwin joins with us tomorrow night with an eye-popping look at where your money is going. Also, an official with the Census Bureau will join us to explain why this is vitally necessary to the country and you. Tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. eastern. Join us then.

Keeping women safe from a killer. We're talking about HIV and AIDS. That is a goal of a major new outreach effort in the nation's capital. Organizers are counting on a revamped female condom that they are giving out for free.

Kate Bolduan has more from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Saturdays at the Lamar Edwards Salon in Washington are a little different these days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many people have heard of the female condom?

BOLDUAN: As part of a new citywide campaign, the first large scale effort of its kind, health officials are trying to promote and distribute female condoms throughout the district.

Salon owner, Gerald Armstrong, jumped at the chance to take part, offering the protection to all of his clients.

GERALD ARMSTRONG, CO-OWNER, LAMAR EDWARDS SALON: It gives the women a sense of empowerment about their own protection. We talk about beauty and we talk about hair and makeup and things to make them feel better. We should start talking about things that help them to live longer.

BOLDUAN: From salon demonstrations to college campus safe sex parties.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the package, there is a lot of directions about how to use it. You see that? All right.

BOLDUAN: These outreach efforts are targeting women with the hope of breaking the ice on an uncomfortable but potentially life- saving issue, protect yourself and slow this startling trend.

HIV-AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women between the ages of 25 and 34 nationwide.

SHANNON HADER, D.C. HIV-AIDS ADMINISTRATION: We are very, very concerned with making sure that women in the district realize that HIV in fact is a woman's disease too.

BOLDUAN: Backed by a half million dollar grant from Mac Cosmetics, they are handing out a half million female condoms, hoping to send a strong message with them.

CELIA MAXWELL, HOWARD UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S HEALTH INSTITUTE: HIV and AIDS has declared war, particularly on African-American women. I feel that we are justified, as health care providers, to look for every single avenue to fight back. BOLDUAN: Dr. Celia Maxwell said the female condom not new, but an earlier version never gained popularity. The newest release, known as FC2, is said to be more affordable and more comfortable.

MAXWELL: And if it's used properly and if it's not damaged, I would see that the effectiveness would be about the same as a male condom.

BOLDUAN: Back at the salon, Elethia Singletary said it's worth trying.

ELETHIA SINGLETARY, SALON CUSTOMER: I definitely think it's worth of investment. You can't risk one night of a time of turmoil and trouble when you could have used the female condom.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Kate joins us now from our nation's capital.

Kate, why the big push now?

BOLDUAN: This newest version of the condom, FC2, did just come out recently. This awareness campaign was really giving heft and strength with the big grant from the Mac Cosmetics.

But Listen to the statistics. The average rate in the U.S. is less than 1 percent. Here, for D.C., the rate of infection is 3 percent. This passes the threshold of what's considered a severe epidemic. Really, that's a real number and health officials are hoping with this campaign even, though it's early on, they hope the message can spread faster than the disease, especially with African- American women.

LEMON: Kate, great reporting. We certainly hope so. Thank you very much.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: As injured American soldiers return to the home front, one grateful American home builder welcomes them in style. He is the "CNN Hero" of the week.

Also ahead, it was deeper than they thought. Three people riding horses got stranded in an Arizona river. We'll tell you what happened to the riders and the horses?

A programming reminder for you. Tonight, a popular local official with a secret ignites a national media storm. A private choice with very public consequences. CNN's broadcast premier of "Her Name Was Steven," tonight at 8:00 eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Now a look at the top stories. Clashes in Somalia's capital killed at least 75 people this week according to medical sources and eyewitnesses. The Islamist rebel group al Shebob (ph) is waging war on Somalia's government. The U.S. government considers al Shebob (ph) a terrorist organization and the group has been linked with al Qaeda. But the U.S. said it won't get directly involved in the conflict.

A terrifying ride for three people on horseback. They were crossing a rain-swollen river in Arizona when flood waters swept them away. They managed to cling to tree branches until rescuers got to them. Two of the horses made it out safely.

A doctor in South Korea said former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is expected to be released from the hospital tomorrow. Kissinger, who is 86, was admitted with a stomach virus. Korean media says Kissinger is in Seoul for a security forum and a meeting with the South Korea's president.

For years, Dan Walworth (ph) built forces for the wealthy in Texas. Now he is building homes, mortgage and tax free, for injured veterans. For that he is one of the heroes of the week.

(CNN HEROES)

LEMON: So far, Dan and his organization have completed homes for four veterans and begun construction on five more. To see how Dan found his inspiration or to nominate someone you think is changing the world, go to CNN.com/heroes.

Good folks.

Also, good folks right there. You see them. He was running for governor of Georgia. No surprise there, since he was a long time legislator. Guess who decided to join him on the political stage? Maybe they are sitting right next to him. We will introduce you to them just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Everybody out there, if you're a feedback, you can stop e-mailing me and tweeting me, sending me things on Facebook because here's the story you asked for. It may not be a first, but it's a political rarity. A husband and wife team running for governor and lieutenant governor, Dubose Porter, the minority leader in the George State House, entered the Democratic race for governor last year. His wife, Carol, was drafted to fill in for him in a debate last month, got favorable reviews, and now she is a Democrat in the race for lieutenant governor.

Thank you so much, both of you, for joining us today. What prompted you to do this, to run?

CAROL PORTER, CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF GEORIGA: One, there was no one in the race.

(LAUGHTER)

I'm the only one on the Democratic side in the race.

LEMON: That's a good reason.

CAROL PORTER: I know the issues. I had been campaigning for Dubose around the state. People are fed up and they need a voice, and I'm the voice for them.

LEMON: How do you respond when people say -- I'll let her talk about it. I want to ask you about, that her candidacy is to boost you, is to help you in your run.

DUBOSE PORTER, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA: If it helps the things we want to get done in education and higher education and move the state forward, let's have more of it. Yes, it's innovative. But this is someone who's a strong mother, a businesswoman, someone who knows policy as good as anybody in the state.

LEMON: So people are saying, in that question comes some thinking it might be a political ploy. How do you respond to that?

CAROL PORTER: If this is a gimmick that will get corruption out of Georgia, I'll take a dozen. It's time for a citizen to get up to the plate. I've got a great opportunity here. I know the issues. And the people need a voice.

LEMON: What about qualifications? Other people say, she's not qualified to do this?

CAROL PORTER: So are we only supposed to have career politicians forever? Not have any citizens' step up to the plate? I've been a general manager. I've raised four Eagle Scout sons. I've volunteered. I've been the president of several organizations. What qualifies you? I'm definitely qualified.

DUBOSE PORTER: Plus, Carol has done the research for me and helped me in my campaigns for 26 years. No one knows the issues, no one knows the people, no one knows the needs of Georgians any better than Carol Porter.

LEMON: When you talked about career politicians, it's interesting, I was having a conversation last night with a friend talking about politics and other things. Sometimes people are so entrenched with what they do, it becomes too inside baseball. Sometimes, if you come from a different perspective, you bring a different outside perspective to that.

CAROL PORTER: That's right. They need a fresh voice. Somebody said, are you going to be the dorm mother over there in the senate? And I said, yes, I am.

(LAUGHTER)

I'm going to call them out on it. And I'm just going to say, no, this is not what would be best for the people.

LEMON: Do you guys disagree on any issues? I'll tell you why I ask. I ask that question because I'm thinking, the only thing that would make your story more intriguing is if one of you was Republican and the other one of you was a Democrat, and your kids were Independent or something. Do you disagree though?

CAROL PORTER: What we do is we both research. We are both kind of policy wonks, this is kind of what we'd like to do. We get as much information as we can. We make pro-and-con sheets. We put the people first. and the answers are there. The solutions are there. It's not rocket science.

LEMON: Carol and Dubose, thank you very much.

Their kids are here, two of their kids are on spring break, on their way back.

So be careful, guys.

We also have two of their other kids are here. She could just be -- if it happens, the dorm mom --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: We shall see.

Thank you. Best of luck to you guys.

CAROL PORTER: Thank you so much.

LEMON: "The Situation Room" straight ahead.

Wolf Blitzer, what do you have for us?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM: Thanks very much. Lots coming up right here at the top of the hour here in "The Situation Room."

My extensive interview with Karl Rove. He's written a new book defending the Bush administration. Stand by for that.

Also what's going on in Iraq? Will the U.S. troops be able to leave as planned? The top U.S. military commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, is here in "The Situation Room."

We also have a major discussion on education here in America. Arne Duncan, the education secretary, and the Reagan education secretary, Bill Bennett, together in "The Situation Room."

Lots coming up right here.

Back to you.

LEMON: Thank you, Wolf. We'll be watching.

A new choice in the lunch line at some schools in Georgia. Vegetarian meals? But is it actually convincing kids to skip the burgers?

And a program reminder for you, tonight on CNN, we have a touching story about a popular official making a life-changing decision that set off a political firestorm and a media frenzy. CNN's broadcast premier of "Her Name Was Steven." It's tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: If you're a parent, you know getting the kids to eat their veggies can be an epic struggle. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta found a school cafeteria in Georgia offering vegetarian options for lunch with surprising success.

(FIT NATION)

Jacqui Jeras we did not have vegetarians when I was a kid. If was all like chips and

(LAUGHTER)

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Meat and potatoes.

LEMON: Do you remember the Manwich?

JERAS: The Manwich?

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: We were all like, oh, today we get Manwiches. That was amazing. Or like hot dog day.

JERAS: They still rock. Yes, we have hot dog day at my kids' schools, too.

LEMON: Manwich can be healthy, right?

JERAS: Ground turkey would be better in the Manwich if you want to be helpful.

LEMON: There you go.

JERAS: Makes me think of my garden. You need those spring showers in order to get the gardens growing. We've got plenty of that, unfortunately too much, becoming a serious situation across the mid-Atlantic and in the northeast.

Our area of low pressure is going to stick with us through the weekend so very strong winds along with the downpours. Travel will be extremely difficult. Use a lot of caution in the northeast on the roadways as well as in the airways. Looking for additional rainfall total here somewhere between one and three inches, real easily.

And I wanted to end it with a pretty shot of Atlanta. We're seeing a rainbow on occasion in that shot, so end it on a happy note -- Don?

LEMON: Very nice. Thank you very much, Jacqui.

Listen, coming up tonight at 7:00, a doctor will be taking your questions about autism and a study that says there is no link between that and a vaccine.

I'm Don Lemon. See you back here at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.