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Wall Street Gets a Big Boost; Tiger's Return to the Game; Being Addicted in Hollywood

Aired April 05, 2010 - 10:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with the most powerful earthquake in California since 1922. Finally relieving tectonic pressure or is the big one yet to come? We're going to get to that in just a minute. But first it was major, 7.2 and it struck Mexico's Baja, California, less than 15 hours ago. Aftershocks still being felt.

The quake was centered about 110 miles southeast of the border city of Tijuana, splitting roads and knocking out all of the power in Mexicali, Mexico. Shaking was felt across southern California all the way to Arizona. At least two people are dead in Mexicali, Mexico, another 140 injured.

CNN's Ted Rowlands make a quick run to Mexico.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are in Mexicali, Mexico. And the biggest problem is the fact that it is pitch-dark here. The power is out throughout the city.

To get the idea of the damage, this is what we're seeing. Basically, most of the buildings are standings but you can see the destruction in terms of the glass everywhere and you can see that -- this is a furniture store. And there is significant damage here.

These folks are outside the furniture store. They work here. And they want to make sure that nobody comes and loots anything. This is something we're seeing throughout the city here.

Meanwhile, there are issues because there is no power with medical care. The hospitals are functioning but they are treating people outside.

RIGABERTO LASOYA, MEDICAL COORDINATOR, STATE OF BAJA: We haven't stopped giving the assistance, humanitarian assistance. We have two clinics working right now in Mexicali, two clinics. And we have some resources from all state of Baja deployed to this special part of the state so to reinforce the medical attention, the medical assistance and these clinics.

We're helping the people on the outside. There is no electricity and there's no water on the inside. So, we are doing it on the outside. But we are keeping on working. ROWLANDS: This is the clinic and they are working off generators, mainly. There is a physician here on staff. We talked to them earlier. They said they've seen about 100 people here alone -- injuries ranging from broken legs and scraped arms and legs because of falling debris.

This woman back here is pregnant. She is concerned for her baby -- one of the many people that have come for medical attention.

The big problem here at this point is power. There's no power, no water, and no fuel. They are hoping that they can restore power as soon as possible.

We'll get more of an idea of what they're dealing with when the sun comes up in a few hours.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Let's talk more about these aftershocks. CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano has been following up. We had what, about 100 an hour ago. Where are we now?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: They just keep rattling off, but most of the ones have been less than three in magnitude, so between 2.5 and three magnitude. Here they are. The big one right here happening yesterday afternoon, the big dot, 7.2 and all these subsequent orange dots means they happened in the last day. Any time you see a red dot, that means it's happened in the last hour. We're seeing those mostly north of the epicenter, kind of working their way along the spine of this fault.

By the way, it's not to San Andreas fault. It's very close to it. It runs parallel to it. Right now seismologists think it's along these (INAUDIBLE) fault. But you can see kind of frequent -- these aftershocks are creeping north of the border. That's the border here and into parts of southern California.

All of this is along the same fault line or same major plate boundary where you've got the Pacific boundary and going across the North American boundary and that's where we're getting some of that instability for sure. All right, I want to show what we saw yesterday as far as the amount of shaking. Most of it was south of the border, but some of it did creep north of the border. This map shows the orange and red. That's where you saw moderate to strong shaking and it did creep up into parts of the (INAUDIBLE) there and also the Cachella (ph) Valley and that's what we saw as far as people reporting in and this is a USGS graphic that showed people that actually reported, yes, I felt it shake and again, mostly south of the Cachella Valley and just north of the Mexican border.

We do expect these aftershocks to continue. I mean just like in Haiti, just like in Chile, when you get the earth to move this much, you start to -- you get a slippage basically in these plates. Well there are going to be some settling for sure and that's what we've been seeing. But most of the aftershocks thankfully Kyra have been less than four. We've probably had three or four that were in the four to five range and we expect them to continue for the next few days if not a few weeks. Hopefully, we won't see large aftershocks, but as you know, especially in Chile, we saw a number of large aftershocks even weeks after the main one. So we'll have to monitor that carefully and folks in southern California certainly will be on edge for that one.

PHILLIPS: They're still on edge, wondering OK, is this relieving the pressure or is the big one coming. We're actually going to talk to a seismologist coming up right after the break. Rob, thanks so much. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Pakistan under attack, a series of explosions rocking the U.S. ally. What you just heard is a suicide bomb at the U.S. consulate. It detonates, attackers move in with gunfire and grenades. Two Pakistani security guards among those killed. It's a developing story that rumbles all the way to Washington.

CNN international security correspondent Paula Newton joining us now from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. So Paula, who was the target?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: U.S. employees in the U.S. consulate building. U.S. officials here telling us that all U.S. personnel are safe and accounted for. This was quite a bold attack Kyra. I mean as you just explained, the suicide bomb actually went off first. It was a car laden with explosives, really trying to get the big impact explosion in order to deal -- disorient those people at that exterior checkpoint. What they did after that -- gunfire. They started lobbing in grenades as well, perhaps even a suicide vest was used.

What happened next was that security officials then really had an open street battle. Six people at least dead now, 18 injured, but they were unable to penetrate that inner wall of security in the U.S. consulate. Safe to say though, in terms of the explosion, it really rattled people at the U.S. consulate. They went into lock down. We are told everyone is fine.

This comes on the heels just a few hours before that, not too far away from there, 30 people killed, 50 injured in another suicide attack. We're seeing a lot of fallout right now from Pakistani authorities here taking on the Taliban quite seriously in their own country. While they say they're making a lot of headway, the Taliban still looking to those targets. A spokesperson telling CNN they take responsibility for these attacks. They say they will continue to target the United States and its allies wherever they are in Pakistan.

PHILLIPS: And do we know who is responsible, anyone claiming responsible (sic) at this point Paula?

NEWTON: The Taliban, Pakistan has claimed responsibility Kyra and they continue to say that they will hit any U.S. targets within this country and they deny that the Pakistani military's assault on them recently has had any effect whatsoever. PHILLIPS: Got it, OK, Paula, thanks so much.

January 2nd, 2006, dateline, Upshur County, West Virginia. Do you remember this? It was the Sago mine disaster and it gripped the nation for 40 hours as rescuers tried saving the dozen coal miners trapped underground. The only one to survive though Randall McCloy (ph) and let's not forget the (INAUDIBLE) Creek mine rescue in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Remember this? And that was just a few months after the 9/11 tragedy. It gave Americans new reason to smile again. Nine waterlogged miners pulled one by one from the flooded mine shaft after three days of living in an air pocket and faith that rescued crews would finally get to them.

Now flash forward, a flooded coal mine, but this time it's more than 100 miners trapped underground. For more than a week before they're pulled to safety as a nation watches, sound familiar? Yep, we thought so. CNN's Emily Chang live in Beijing this morning with the latest on this rescue. Emily, what do we know right now?

EMILY CHANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we have been hearing some incredible stories of survival. One group of miners said they used their mining belts to attach to the wall. They hung there suspended for three straight days until they managed to crawl into an abandoned mining cart as it floated by. It has been a very emotional day, watching these rescue efforts unfold. We have seen family members waiting desperately, hoping that their loved one would be pulled out next. We have seen rescue workers moved to tears of joy and government officials say nothing short of a miracle happened today.

Now earlier in the day, we were hearing about these rescues happening by the minute. But we haven't heard any new news for the last several hours and that does not bode well for the 38 miners who remain trapped below ground. Rescuers are saying they haven't been able to pinpoint their exact location. They can't say anything about their condition whether they are dead or alive. So that is certainly overshadowing what has always, also been a miraculous day so far.

PHILLIPS: And Emily, when we watched these rescues here in the states, it was just miraculous to watch people come out alive. Why did it take so long to reach these trapped miners?

CHANG: Well, Kyra, a couple of possibilities. One is that here on the local level, it can take a long time to get directive from the central government. We don't know if that particular reason caused a delay in this case. What we do know that this was a very complicated, very difficult, very risky rescue process. There were thousands of crews involved in this. A lot of them, what they had to do was pump water, massive amounts of water out of the mine. They had to send dive teams in but what was happening is that the gas levels within the mine were fluctuating and that as soon as water was taken out, more water would flood in. So this was also a very difficult situation for rescuers as well which is possibly why it took eight long days to reach this first group of miners.

PHILLIPS: Emily, final question. You know, China's mine industry notoriously deadly. Is the government doing anything to make life safer for these hard workers?

CHANG: Well, the government is certainly trying. We hear about these mining accidents almost every day. There have been five separate mining accidents in just the last week. In the last year more than 2600 people have been killed in mining accidents. And the bottom line is, there is a massive demand for coal in this country. Coal accounts for 70 percent of China's energy. This is a rapidly developing economy. It seems that some producers are willing to cut corners to meet that demand. In this particular case, a preliminary investigation is showing that the mine managers may have ignored water leaks. But had they heeded those warning signals, this could have been prevented before it happened.

Now what the government is trying to do is consolidate the industry. More than 90 percent of the mines in China are actually small mines. They're trying to close some of those smaller, unregulated mines and streamline the process. But certainly a lot more needs to be done before this industry is seriously reformed -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Emily Chang and the crew working overtime for us. Emily, thanks so much.

The importance of breast feeding, it could save hundreds of babies' lives every year and billions of dollars. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Back in court later today, the last doctor who cared for the late Michael Jackson, California medical board wants Dr. Conrad Murray's license to practice medicine suspended while he's tried on a charge of involuntarily manslaughter in connection to Jackson's death. Today's hearing begins around 1:30 local time in LA and we'll be there.

Termites may have struck again in Paris. That's what police are calling gang members who are digging their way into banks. Last week, they made off with around $30 million in a heist. Yesterday, thieves dung their way again into another bank from a metro station. They left empty-handed. They tripped an alarm.

Speculation abounds surrounding the future plans of long-time liberal Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. He told a couple of newspapers last week that he's nearing the end of his tenure on the bench and is weighing retirement at age 89. Stevens departure would mean a second Supreme Court nomination for President Obama and the expected showdown with Republicans during that confirmation process.

Let's talk about that most powerful earthquake in California since get this, 1922. So, finally relieving tectonic pressure or is the big one yet to come? Well, this definitely was a major one, 7.2 and it struck Mexico's Baja, California less than 15 hours ago. Aftershocks are still being felt.

The quake was centered about 110 miles southeast of the border city of Tijuana, splitting roads and knocking out all the power in Mexicali, Mexico. Shaking was felt across southern California, Arizona. At least two people are dead now in Mexicali, Mexico, another 140 have been injured.

Amy Vaughan is a geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake information center in Colorado. She's joining us on the phone from Boulder. So Amy, 7.2 is a major quake. How long will these aftershocks last and how powerful can they be?

AMY VAUGHAN, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (via telephone): Well, as we've seen overnight, those major aftershocks have been in the lower five, not to say that we couldn't have worse than that. Typically, what usually happens during events (ph) such as this, the main event which in this case is a 7.2 is usually the largest, but we can't say for sure that that would in fact be true. As things adjust, it's possible that other earthquakes can be set up along the same fault as things continue to settle and move. And larger earthquakes could happen, but typically we're going to see things probably going into the five and four range and then probably tapering off in the next weeks and perhaps even months to come with a magnitude this size, you could definitely expect smaller earthquakes to continue for several months.

PHILLIPS: So as a lot of people in California have -- it's interesting to get the reaction because I grew up there. A lot of us actually that work here grew up there Amy and I'm hearing both theories, oh, great this relieved the pressure. Everything's going to be OK. We don't have to worry about the big one coming any time soon. Others are scared to death, thinking, our time is near. What's your take?

VAUGHAN: Well, the truth be told here, it could be either or. In certain cases as something like this adjusts, it does create a series of events that sets other things in motion. Usually that's either maybe a lessening of the pressure or perhaps (INAUDIBLE) increase in pressure and so depending on what happens on various fault lines, we don't really know what to say could happen in the future. This happens (INAUDIBLE) anything major like this happens, a lot of things are affected nearby and you certainly have several other major faults including the San Andreas fault that is nearby this (INAUDIBLE) on that one.

PHILLIPS: Got it, Amy Vaughan, always appreciate you calling in and weighing in for us, really appreciate your time.

VAUGHAN: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well we have committed so much time and resources in telling you about the tragic suicide of Massachusetts teenager Phoebe Prince, we thought it was only right to tell you about a school that actually gets it and it's actually taken a proactive approach to the problem of school bullying and in fact is using the Phoebe Prince tragedy as a teachable moment.

CNN's Kate Bolduan has the story now from Frederick County, Maryland (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bullying isn't a new problem facing our nation's schools, but the tragedy of a 15-year old Massachusetts girl killing herself after allegedly being taunted for months has forced the problem back into the spotlight.

MEREDITH WELTY, TEACHER: What happened with Phoebe up in Massachusetts, it may have been in Massachusetts, but is it that far removed from what we go through all the time?

BOLDUAN: Students, parents and teachers left asking why, but also how? How can this be prevented in the future? That's a question Urbana Middle School in Maryland has been tackling for two years, by adding a school line of research-based anti-bullying program to the curriculum.

WELTY: What it does really is to encourage kids to step up, take control of any situation that they might see and really make them feel empowered to make a change in their lives, in their peers' lives.

BOLDUAN: The program involves ongoing training for faculty and administrators, but probably most importantly, weekly classes focused entirely on reducing bullying behavior. We sat in on one such class with eighth graders.

WELTY: Who's involved in the cycle of bullying? Tray (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is the person that's activating the bullying and then there's the bystanders and then there's people that support him, like his friends.

BRYSON ZACHARY, 8TH GRADE STUDENT: I understand like how it feels to be like tormented by what people say and that feeling kind of really strikes true with a lot of people my age.

BOLDUAN: Fourteen year old Bryson Zachary says the classes have helped by keeping students' attention on respecting and standing up for one another.

ZACHARY: It's really shown me that to be like a good human being that you really need to respect other peoples' values and who they are, because everyone has -- they want to be successful and make it in life, just as much as you do so you shouldn't bring someone else down.

BOLDUAN: Teacher Meredith Welty says she's most worried about social media.

WELTY: It tends to -- behind the keyboard and not be responsible and not held accountable. Not only are you bullying that person, you've now made the other 300 people who are friends on your Facebook also be witness to that bullying.

BOLDUAN: Welty says she sees the program helping at Urbana Middle School, helping to change the school culture in dealing with bullying. That is a lesson author Rosalind Wiseman says many more schools, households and communities need.

ROSALIND WISEMAN, AUTHOR, "QUEEN BEES & WANNABEES": Every community can have this happen. Every community is (INAUDIBLE) Every community is vulnerable to these things.

BOLDUAN (on-camera): Most states -- more than 40, have some sort of law against bullying, but in the latest government statistics, almost one third of students aged 12 to 18 years old reported having been bullied at school, so clearly there's more work to be done. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And here's a story that every mother and mother to be will want to hear, a new study making remarkable claims about the benefits of breast feeding. According to the findings published today in the journal "Pediatrics," the lives of more than 900 babies would be saved each year if 90 percent of U.S. women breast fed them for the first six months and billions of dollars could also be saved by helping to prevent viruses, ear infections, asthma, even childhood leukemia.

The long-awaited return is here. Tiger Woods back on the greens at Augusta, but will he really find sanctuary there? We're talking to a golfing hall of famer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I know, we've had to play the cheesy song, sorry. Tiger Woods is holding a press conference this afternoon. Let's see if there's likely to be a Tiger effect on Wall Street. Felicia Taylor at the New York Stock Exchange. That was just so obvious, right.

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know.

PHILLIPS: I honestly didn't know that was coming and I cringed. Sorry Felicia.

TAYLOR: I couldn't stop laughing, really.

PHILLIPS: Well as you know, the markets -- I mean stocks when he held his first news conference. I mean I remember the trading floor was frozen in time.

TAYLOR: Well, you're absolutely right, it happened then and you know what, it may very well happen this afternoon. When Tiger spoke back in February, it was during the trading day obviously and it was carried on a wide range of networks including this one and streamed live. Traders wanted to hear what Tiger had to say, along with everybody else. Volume slowed down for the exact 13 minutes that he spoke that day and then it picked up again when he finished. But that's how it is here at the exchange. Traders will stop if breaking news -- they stopped to watch the NCAA tournament and they even watch car chases. So you know, it's a male-dominated floor here at the exchange and you know, men get a little distracted sometimes. But the truth is -- PHILLIPS: You think -- now you've just given me some ideas how to pull in more male viewers. If we had car chases, golfer scandals and what was the other thing -- oh basketball (INAUDIBLE) breaking news, whatever it may be. But listen, I don't want to dissuade anybody because the truth is, trades still do go through because they're done electronically. So it's not things come to a halt here on Wall Street. They just take a pause.

TAYLOR: Whatever it may be, but listen. I don't dissuade anybody, because the truth is, trades still do go through because they're done electronically. So, it's not like things come to a halt here on Wall Street. They just take a pause.

PHILLIPS: Got it. All right. Well, how about the markets? Another positive day? What do you think?

TAYLOR: Yes. Things are actually off to a good start. We're up about a half a percent on the Dow, inching ever closer to that 1,100 mark. It's the first day that traders had to react to Friday's jobs report because the markets were obviously closed for Good Friday. So, not only did we see a gain of about 162,000 jobs last month, the results weren't padded by too much hiring for the census, and a lot of it was in the private sector, which is great.

Wall Street is also getting a boost from a big jump in pending home sales. They rose more than 8 percent, and Wall Street was actually expecting a decline, so there's more good news. Pending home sales are a good indicator of future home sales. So, overall, the market is up across the board. Like I said, up a half of a percent on the Dow, up almost one percent on the NASDAQ. And up just over a half a percent on the S&P.

PHILLIPS: Felicia, thanks.

TAYLOR: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Tiger Woods has made a career feeding off of pressure. Thirty-foot putts, chips for birdie. On the course, he's quite a force. Off the course, well, he's a wreck. Just check the tabloids. So, what should we expect at the Masters this week?

CNN's Samantha Hayes live in Augusta, Georgia. She's sort of getting a feel for it. Samantha?

SAMANTHA HAYES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, hi, good morning, Kyra. The pressure of the tournament hasn't started -- that's on Thursday. But Tiger Woods is already getting a sense of how this might go. He's started a practice round early this morning with friend and fellow golfer Fred Couples. A few hundred people were there to see him, and they welcomed him and cheered him on. And in a different sort of look for Tiger, he acknowledged the fans. He smiled. He waved. He seemed to be relaxed.

Now, that might change later on. He's got a news conference later on this afternoon which certainly is not as much fun for Tiger Woods. But this is one of the reasons he chose Augusta National. He likes the tightly controlled atmosphere.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAYES (voice-over): While the glory of a fifth green jacket is Tiger Woods primary focus, he may have other reasons for his much anticipated return to the game of golf in Augusta, a city full of southern charm and southern manners. Golf pro Chris Verdery says Woods appreciates the respectful tone and tightly controlled atmosphere.

CHRIS VERDERY, GOLF PRO: This makes sense. People really love him here in Augusta. He's been wonderful for the Masters, for the city of Augusta. And everybody is excited to have him back.

HAYES: While Augusta is accustomed to hosting one of the biggest events in sports every April, the sort of drama now associated with Woods is new. The four-time Masters champion recently admitted to multiple extramarital affairs. Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver says the spotlight is less on the sport and more on the spectacle.

DEKE COPENHAVER, AUGUSTA MAYOR: "TMZ," "Entertainment Weekly" and "People" magazine, along with "Extra" are once again just typical calls that I don't get come Masters week.

HAYES: As a star athlete, Tiger Woods' is supported in Augusta. Lots of folks are rooting for him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like his golf, and that's what we're here for. That's what I like to see and I really don't care about his personal life.

HAYES: But ask about his personal life and at least off the course you get a different answer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That kind of humiliation is very hurtful and I'm sure that he, you know, he wakes up and wonders, "What the hell was I doing?".

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAYES: Kyra, the other golfers seem to be welcoming Tiger back as well. He's snuck in another practice round, an unannounced one, on Augusta National Sunday. And we hear that when he walked on the course, he got a hug from Marco Mirra (ph), who's a longtime friend, someone who actually mentored Tiger when he was a rookie. They played together for a short time. And Tiger also went to the new multimillion-dollar driving range on the Augusta National, where, according to folks who watched him, he's looking good. He's looking like he's going to be a contender.

And Kyra, you can only imagine, if he does really well this week, if perhaps he does win a fifth green jacket, I don't think it would be overstating it to say this could be one of the biggest events in golf.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Indeed. All eyes are on it, that's for sure. Samantha, thanks so much. Well, Augusta National is a sanctuary. It's a haven for golfers and a piece of history for fans. The green jacket, Amen Corner, Tiger getting booed -- oh, wait a minute. That hasn't happened yet. And it might not, especially after what we heard from Samantha.

But we know he's thinking about it. Amy Alcott knows the game and the course, and I got to brag for a minute because she never does. She actually nailed a hole in one at Augusta. She's also a member of the LPGA's Hall of Fame. She joins me live from Los Angeles.

Amy, good to see you.

AMY ALCOTT, LPGA HALL OF FAMER: Good to see you too, Kyra. Thanks.

PHILLIPS: I kind of want to talk about your hole in one. That's actually more exciting --

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: -- in some ways than Tiger Woods. I mean, the all- man's club, and there you were, sinking it in the cup.

ALCOTT: Yes. Well, I had a beautiful six-iron that feathered it in there on number 16. So, it's a highlight of my career, that's for sure.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. And of course, I love to brag about it.

All right, let's talk Tiger. All the distractions, his absence from the game. As a golfer, how do you prepare mentally for such a big week, considering what's happened to him in the past few months?

ALCOTT: Well, you know, being inside the ropes is what it's all about. I mean, he wants to come back, obviously, and he thinks he's ready to play. And as an artist, as a great athlete, once you get inside the ropes, then you can start creating and drawing the pictures.

And I think he wants this. I've said all along, he wouldn't miss the Masters. It's kind of his middle name. But you know, with all of the distractions that have gone on, maybe he'll appreciate it even more, just being there.

PHILLIPS: Now, we just got the first bit of video in, Amy, and apparently, everyone was extremely friendly. The crowd cheered, nothing negative was said, there weren't any boos. I mean, there are very, very strict rules at the Masters. I mean, you do anything slightly wrong, you get the boot, and you're never allowed to come back.

You know, kind of explain to our viewers the discipline there. And are you surprised, not surprised, that the fans actually cheered him?

ALCOTT: Well, you know, Augusta has people who really love the sport. You know how far in advance they buy their tickets. It's a limited crowd that participates there. It's part of the pageantry of the event. These people really know golf.

But you know, there's always the unexpected that could happen there. He's really made a hiccup in his career. And now he's going to go out and play. But he can only be as prepared as he can be as far as being the golfer that he is.

And getting ready -- showing up and not playing an event beforehand and being -- playing in a major championship. He can do that. You know, as a great a player as Tiger is, he can just show up and probably play well if he doesn't feel like he has any expectations. But -- he's obviously done his preparation, and he's doing his preparation. And he's, you know -- I don't know -- you know, nobody knows what's going to happen.

I think people are happy to have him back. I think the fraternity of golfers out there, the guys that are out there, are probably happy that this finally happened so they don't have to answer all the questions. And the public just wants to see him perform and see how he can do.

But he's doing his homework now, and there's nothing greater than being prepared. I mean --

PHILLIPS: And let's --

ALCOTT: The golf gods (INAUDIBLE) have to shine brightly on him.

PHILLIPS: There's other gods that have held him accountable, that's for sure, in the past couple of months.

ALCOTT: That's for sure.

PHILLIPS: Now, you mention that the guys are glad to see him back. But do you think there are some out there that -- that won't make it so comfortable for him? And in addition to that -- I can see where the guys would want him back. I mean , he creates a bigger purse. He brings more people to the game, more attention to the game. I mean, the other guys can't lose when he shows up. We already know how big of news he's making things right now just by showing up to play at Augusta.

ALCOTT: Well, yes. I mean, they say they want him back because it kind of calms the air and all of a sudden now, he's back and he's performing. But you know, being a professional athlete, if I was, you know, in the field right now, I would want him back, that's great.

But I wouldn't want him taking money out of my pocket. You know, there's that other side that he brings a lot to the sport. And he's -- has made the gentlemen on the PGA tour -- he's created a lot of wealth for all of them. But he's still now -- now he's back in the field, and it's kind of like "Tiger's back" --

PHILLIPS: Competition. Right. All right. We're going to be watching it all week. And hopefully, we can bring you back, Amy, and see what you think about how he plays on Thursday. So, shall we talk again on Friday?

ALCOTT: Definitely. It will be interesting to see how he does.

PHILLIPS: All right. Hall of Famer Amy Alcott. Great to see you, Amy.

ALCOTT: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Tiger Woods is going to hold a news conference today. Two p.m. Eastern. CNN will bring that live coverage to you. And if you're away from a television, you can also watch it live on CNN.com and on your CNN iPhone app.

Rob Marciano tracking some severe weather there in the Midwest. Looks like it's going to be beautiful for the Masters, though. Man, what a day already.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I-reporter Mindy Nichols sent us this surveillance video from a convenience store in Palms Springs, California, where that 7.2 earthquake was felt, knocking out power to parts of California near the Mexico border, but most has been restored. Several aftershocks have been felt as well, the most powerful ones between 5.0 and 5.4 magnitude.

Now that's the view from one of our iReporters, let's get back out to Southern California for a look at what's going on right now. Sharon Chen of affiliate XETV is in El Centro right now.

So, Sharon, can you show us some of the damage there?

SHARON CHEN, XETV CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kyra.

We're here, right now, at this apartment complex in El Centro that just probably suffered the worst damage in this quake. Just go ahead and walk with me. You can see right here, this pile of bricks right here, this used to be the walkway to this apartment. You can still see the frame right here. And if we come further in, it's just ruble and shattered glass everywhere. If you look along the walls, you can see the cracks. They pretty much just stretch from one end of the building to the next. This side, too. This window right here shattered, and you can see this table right here that Rollo (ph) is showing you in pieces.

This is pretty much the story in this apartment complex all along. And about 19 people live in this complex, as we're told, everyone got out safely. Amazing, despite all the damage that you see here -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Well, we'll continue to follow what happens from all parts of California there.

Sharon Chen with our affiliate XETV with a bit of a show-and-tell in El Centro. Sharon, thanks so much.

Now the severe weather worries are out there for the Midwestern Plains.

(WEATHER REPORT)

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Nothing like a rocket launch, especially the predawn hours mission, 131 carrying three women up into space. There's going to be four total -- you go, girls. Have at it. There it is delivering spare parts and a bunch of tools up there, going to do some maintenance as well. Thirteen-day mission. That's gorgeous stuff.

PHILLIPS: I love that. You go, girls. That's right. You need to get that interview when they're back.

MARCIANO: Yes, you do.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, see you.

PHILLIPS: President having fun with some little constituents. It's the annual Egg Roll at the White House and we're waiting for President Obama to make remarks any minute now. We'll bring the big event to you live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, Michael Jackson's doctor is heading to court today and the singer's family is vowing to be there. In fact, more than a dozen members of M.J.'s plan to be in Los Angeles at the courtroom. The judge is expected to hear arguments on whether Dr. Conrad Murray can continue to see patients. His lawyers say that he needs that income to defend himself against a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Friends say actor Corey Haim was trying to get clean before his sudden death last month. But California investigators linked his name to a massive illegal prescription drug ring and his desire to be drug free may have been no match for the line of doctors that were more than willing to keep him hooked.

Our Kareen Wynter is taking a look at who is supplying Hollywood in our new series, "Addicted."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, Corey Haim, Anna Nicole Smith -- their deaths raised questions about one of Hollywood's dirty little secrets, prescription drug abuse that in recent months has dominated the headlines. JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HLN ANCHOR: Two doctors charged with conspiring to furnish Anna.

WYNTER: Smith's doctors pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to supply her with controlled substances. At the time of her death, at least four different sedatives were found in her system, including Klonopin and Valium, drugs made readily available to celebrities says actress Mackenzie Phillips.

(on camera): Is it as easy as just picking up the phone saying, I need that prescription, I need that medication?

MACKENZIE PHILLIPS, ACTRESS: Well, I mean, I have been to doctors who never even touched my body or took my blood pressure, and I walked out with a prescription for 130 Hydrocodone tablets. I mean, yes, I guess it's easier for famous people.

WYNTER (voice-over): A teen star and the daughter of a famous musician, Phillips writes in her book, "High On Arrival," about her long-time battle with drug addiction and how some doctors willingly overprescribed pills despite her history as an addict. She says she has been clean for a year and a half now.

(on camera): There are some doctors out there, many doctors perhaps, who may be enamored by a star and they are trying to please their clients. But come on, you have to have stars on the other end who may be using their fame to get these drugs.

PHILLIPS: Well, I am sure that that is definitely something that helps them to get the doctor to give them whatever they want. And I know I have been in that position myself.

WYNTER (voice-over): Addiction specialist, Dr. Drew Pinsky has worked with stars like Phillips and says the power of celebrity addicts can present unique challenges for doctors.

DR. DREW PINSKY, ADDICTION SPECIALIST: I tell my peers that are trying to take care of celebrities, do not go there alone. You must have a team. It is too seductive. Addiction is too powerful. You will get sucked right into it.

WYNTER (on camera): How does it work? You have a celebrity with so much power and they want to get their hands on these drugs, they are addicts?

PINSKY: They would not be consciously thinking that way. It is not like, I have to get my Vicodin. They are thinking, I hear Dr. Smith is pretty good; translated, gives lots of good medication. So they go see Dr. Smith and they offer Dr. Smith a lot of money and they tell Dr. Smith, you are the best doctor. You made me feel so great. I have lots of important friends. I am going to tell them all how great you are and I am going to pay you a lot of money. That patient starts getting out of control with their medicine.

JERRY BROWN, CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: When you get the high anxiety that celebrity, as temporary as it is, that then feeds the addictive propensity. And then on top of that, if someone is a celebrity, then these obscure doctors get a bit of a contact high, if I can call it that, by prescribing and being part of the mix.

WYNTER (voice-over): California's Attorney General Jerry Brown says it is a problem that goes beyond Tinseltown. His office has launched investigations into more than 200 prescription drug cases involving addict patients and physicians who helped them cross the line. An underground drug world Mackenzie Philips says she is glad she has left behind, and cautions --

PHILLIPS: We have become this society that just takes, I am sad, take a pill. I'm in pain, take a pill. Take a pill, take a pill. And really it is just so dangerous. People are dying.

WYNTER: Kareen Wynter, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Get a paddling or get expelled from high school for what you wore to prom, which punishment would you rather have? Your comments from my blog next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: So, what would you ask Tiger Woods if you had the chance to talk to him? That's what they're asking in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Keep it right here for Tony Harris at the top of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(AUDIO GAP)

PHILLIPS: All right, what's a good punishment for high schoolers -- suspension, detention? Take away the X Box? How about a paddling? Yes, a good whack on the backside.

That's just what happened to some students at a Birmingham, Alabama school. Punishment for their prom dresses. Seems they broke the dress code.

That brings us to today's blog question. We asked you what you think of these students getting paddled for their prom dress.

Brian says, "Paddled? Are you kidding me? This is still going on in our country? Over a prom dress? If anyone tried to touch my child with a paddle, a hand, a finger, I would make it my job in life to make sure they understand this is 2010 and not 1810."

This coming from Patty. "As a former high school English teacher, I wish that more schools would paddle kids. It's hard to educate students in an environment with no discipline."

From Mark, "Does anybody take a stand on young men wearing their parents half off their bottom? What's the policy at that school for that?" Yes, Tony's with me on this. "Her dress covered more of her body than what most girls wear every day."

Remember, we want to hear from you . Just log on to share your comments at CNN.com/Kyra to share your comments. See, I'm all about that, Tony Harris.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, yes! The pants on the ground thing, right?

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: We're together on that one.

PHILLIPS: How do they walk? They're like penguins. They think they're so cool. They ought to smack them with the paddle. Boom.

HARRIS: I think they've figured it out. But I can't -- I've got my son - it's so cinched up, he looked like Urkel.

(LAUGHTER)

HARRIS: All right, Kyra, you have a great day.

PHILLIPS: OK, see you, Tony!

HARRIS: It's wrong!