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Study Says Oil Spreading East on Gulf Floor; Ex-Soldier Posts Disturbing Pictures; Taliban Making Most of Epic Flooding; US Bureau of Land Management Investigating Deaths at Mohave Desert Race; Dearborn Michigan High School Football Team Holds Night Practices to Allow Muslim Students to Observe Ramadan Fasting
Aired August 17, 2010 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You guys are so young. I remember 10 cent pay phone calls. Where have you guys been?
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Wait a second --
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Where are the pay phones now?
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: Do they still have those?
PHILLIPS: They're in the Smithsonian.
ROBERTS: There are still a couple of those -- there are still a couple of those on the streets in New York. I rarely see anybody using them.
PHILLIPS: Yes. I know. I just see them pulling them off and running down the street. All right, guys, have a good day.
Good morning, everybody. Here's what we're working on this morning.
An airline flight from hell. A baby screams, a mother snaps, and a flight attendant steps in. We're going to tell what you happened after the plane landed.
Ninety-two years old and killed by cops in a botched drug raid. Some of those officers are going to prison. And millions of dollars will now go to the woman's family.
And the birds, the bees, and the books. Teenage sex may keep parents awake at night but a new report says it's not so bad for school performance.
It's 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. out West. I'm Kyra Phillips. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
You know talk about mixed messages. It's day 120 of the Gulf oil disaster. And we're still not getting clear messages on how safe our food is. How the oil is destroying the sea.
Well, an alarming survey is now telling us that oil from the ruptured well has moved east settling on the sea floor and entering the food chain.
CNN's Ed Lavandera joins us live from St. Petersburg, Florida -- Ed?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we caught up with the scientists who've just returned from a 10-day mission into the Gulf waters from the University of South Florida.
One of the interest things about what they told us is that they are finding for the first time toxicity levels in a small marine life that is the basis for the bigger fish and shrimp and tuna and snapper that we love to eat so much from the Gulf waters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA (on camera): This is the Weatherbird II. A research vessel that has been used by the University of South Florida for the last 10 days investigating the oil spill. Some 13 scientists have been onboard and they are just now coming home to St. Petersburg.
So what's in these containers right here?
DAVID HOLLANDER, CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHER, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: Water in here. It has been -- was collected from 50 meters.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): David Hollander was one of the lead researchers on the mission.
(On camera): Did you feel like you're kind of -- on the verge of really getting a better understanding of what's going on underneath the water?
HOLLANDER: I think we're adding to the puzzle. We're adding to the pieces of the puzzle.
This is where we found the sedimentary oil.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Hollander and another expert on the journey, John Paul, sat down with CNN for an exclusive review of their findings.
The USF scientists say they found toxic levels of oil and dispersants infecting marine organisms just 40 miles south of Panama City, Florida. The organisms called phytoplankton and other microscopic bacteria in the ocean are the foundation of the food chain.
PROF. JOHN PAUL, MARINE MICROBIOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: What feeds and fuels the ecology of the ocean and if those guys were in trouble, then the ocean is in trouble.
LAVANDERA: So far federal governor scientists have downplayed the impact of microscopic oil making its way up the food chain.
This is what the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said earlier this month.
DR. JANE LUBCHENCO, NOAA ADMINISTRATOR: Fish will degrade that oil and process it naturally. And so it doesn't bio-accumulate. So it's not a situation where we need to be concerned about that. Over time, it will be broken down.
LAVANDERA: USF scientists tell CNN that is a short-sided view of the danger. NOAA officials haven't responded to these latest scientific findings.
The 10-day mission in the Gulf of Mexico was a rocky voyage. The scientists were battered with 12-foot seas and strong storms. Taking them within 25 miles of the Deepwater Horizon spill site.
All along the way they found microscopic droplets of oil on the ocean floor.
HOLLANDER: Here is a sedimentary record from an area that's 1500 meters water depth.
LAVANDERA (on camera): OK.
HOLLANDER: Right adjacent to the Deepwater Horizon.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Using UV light on the sediment the microscopic oil stands out easily.
PAUL: You can see them all spread out all over. There's no reflections. Some of those weren't -- but this is all speckled. And when you turn off the light completely, it looks like the southern sky.
LAVANDERA (on camera): It looks a constellation of stars.
PAUL: Looks like a constellation of stars.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): But most troubling to David Hollander is evidence that the submerged oil is making its way through a region of the Gulf of Mexico known as the Desoto Canyon. The canyon stretches from just on east of the Deepwater Horizon spill site to an area south of Panama City.
(On camera): So the concern is not only that you found the droplets of oil, widespread, is -- but where you found it.
HOLLANDER: Yes. Becoming now into these areas that are critical marine protected areas, critical habitats for commercial recreational fish.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA: BP officials haven't seen the studies findings so far but they tell us they want to know everything everyone wants to know about the conditions of the water that they are valuing some $500 million to continue to research, the ongoing research, in the years to come of the Gulf waters.
Meanwhile, these University of South Florida scientists, Kyra, will continue -- we saw them there unloading the evidence and all of the -- their equipment from that boat here in St. Petersburg last night.
They will continue in-depth analysis of that in the coming weeks and they're planning another trip out in the Gulf waters in September -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ed Lavandera, thanks.
There's a major development in the battle over same-sex marriages. Just days before those unions were about to resume in California, a federal appeals court blocked them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really sad about that. And I thought that they would have done something, you know, by now to give us our equal rights and our equality and everything like the straights have.
ANDY PUGNO, GENERAL COUNSEL, PROP 8 PROPONENTS: To see the vote of the people actually upheld, even though it's not the final word yet, we still have appeals to go through.
But for the time being, the vote of the people has been upheld and we don't always see that. People often get frustrated to see their votes struck down. But today they should be happy.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: As you may remember, California voters narrowly passed Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage. And the legal opinions are as divided as the public's.
Earlier this month the federal judge ruled that it was unconstitutional. Yesterday a federal appeals court put the issue on ice until it considers the case later this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: They will hear the case in December probably decide it in early part of 2011. Then presumably the losing side, whichever side it is, will appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
I think the Supreme Court is almost certainly going to take this case. That means it will probably be argued around the first Monday in October of 2011. A ruling sometime probably in the spring of 2012.
But I really do think we are heading towards a ruling in the United States Supreme Court about whether there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage in this country. A huge, huge issue.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Same-sex marriage is currently legal in five states and in the District of Columbia.
Hard to believe but Karl Rove and Harry Reid actually agree on something. Neither man thinks that the Islamic center and mosque planned a couple of blocks from Ground Zero is a good idea.
Rove thinks the proposal is insensitive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARL ROVE, FMR. ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT BUSH: It's incredibly insensitive. And I think we have every reason to question the motivations of those who are attempting to do this.
If -- look. In a question of we are a country that prizes the First Amendment, the free expression of religion, we're also a country based upon sensitivity and mutual respect.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And the Senate majority leader thinks the developers could have chosen a less sensitive spot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID (D), MAJORITY LEADER: The Constitution gives us freedom of religion. I think that it's very obvious that the mosque should be built someplace else.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The president hasn't gone that far. He won't say if the location of the center is a good idea.
Expect to hear a lot more about this leading up to November. A senior Republican strategist told CNN that GOP candidates are being encouraged to talk about the issue as much as possible.
A controversy in Israel reminds us of the Abu Ghraib scandal here in the U.S. This will definitely make you shake your head.
An ex-soldier posts pictures of herself, rather, smiling with blindfolded Palestinians. That story is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Scanning the morning passport.
We can't forget the demeaning photos of American troops posing with prisoners in Abu Ghraib. Now it appears Israel is facing the same shameful display from its soldiers.
She left the military but before her exit "Eden from Ashdod" posed with Palestinian prisoners. She put the photos on Facebook, writing, quote, "IDF. Best time of my life."
IDF is the Israeli Defense Forces. CNN blurred the faces which were shown on Facebook.
CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us live with the story.
So, Paula, people see this and automatically think Abu Ghraib. Is it provoking that same type of outrage in Israel?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it's not on the same scale as Abu Ghraib. But there's certainly shock in Israel and many people are very disappointed in this particular soldier. Not least the military. They've called her shameful.
Now we have seen it not on the front pages but certainly in the newspapers. It's been on the television and people are very surprised. And not least because of her response. She did do one interview now with Israel Army Radio and she said, "This was just a military experience. The military service experience. The media does the same thing. I really don't understand what is wrong."
Now obviously the media does not pose in front of blindfolded Palestinians although they may film blindfolded Palestinians for news purposes.
But this response has really grated against the -- much of the Israeli public even more. One commentator on Israel's Channel 2 saying, "I deeply regret she doesn't even understand what is wrong with this. It is unfitting, wrong and ethical."
And according to the Israeli media she is now getting an awful lot of threats and hasn't actually left the house since -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: She's no longer in the military as well so can she be punished for this?
HANCOCKS: No. She can't. Not by the military. She left a year ago. And once you're in the military there are very strict rules. But now she's left, there's really very little that the military can actually do.
They can come out publicly and they did come out very, very quickly yesterday, saying that they regretted what she has done. They thought it was shameful behavior, ugly behavior. And callous behavior.
So very strong words. But they can't physically do anything to her. But as I say she is getting death threats, according to Israeli media, and there is a possibility now she may even ask for the police to protect her.
PHILLIPS: Well, Paula, this isn't the first time that the Israeli military has had problem with troops online activities. You remember that dancing video from YouTube. I believe we have some of that video. Here it is right there.
You know, has there been any discussion of limiting their activities online? Or have they had limits put forth and they're just not paying attention?
HANCOCKS: They have limits and there are some strict rules. But it's -- if you're in the military itself. Once you leave the military and once you've done your two-year military service or three-year military service, then you can pretty much do what you want. But there are quite strict rules once you're in the military circle itself. You can't post pictures of yourself in these kinds of situations, obviously. But in many situations, once you're wearing a uniform on Facebook.
So they are quite strict about it. Of course the problem now they're finding is once you've left the military you can do what you want -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Paula Hancocks, thanks.
When you hear teens and all-nighters you probably think party. But for these players, it means practice. They are sweating it out at 3:00 a.m. all four faith during their holy time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: We are expecting to hear from the sheriff of Orangeburg County, South Carolina a little later this morning with more about the death of a one- and two-year-old boy, both of whom were found in a car submerged in a nearby river yesterday. Early this morning on another network, Sheriff Larry Williams said that the 29-year-old mother is accused of leaving the scene of this accident and will be -- the charge, rather, will be upgraded to murder. We're going to take you live to that news conference. It is slated to get under way at the top of the hour.
California's highway patrol says that they will not charge the Denver -- or the driver, rather, involved in Saturday's deadly off-road crash because the race was a sanctioned event. The CHP spokesperson says that any potential safety violations would have to be investigated by the US Bureau of Land Management. The crash in the Mojave Desert killed eight people, including 20-year-old Danica Frantzrich. Miraculously, her 15-year-old sister, who was next to her at that time, survived.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD FRANTZRICH, VICTIMS' FATHER: My youngest one, she was kind of in and out of consciousness. But when she looked up, she saw her sister laying there, just like she was sleeping. Blood all around her head, so she knew she was -- She said, "Daddy, I knew she was dead at that point."
They were standing right by each other. To have one go and one left, I just thank God he left me one. I couldn't handle two.
I want safety. I want safety for these races. If they can't have the safety, don't have them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Frantzrich says that he's considering legal action. The US Bureau of Land Management says it's reviewing the incident and other off-road racing events held on government-owned property. Checking top stories. The UN and aid agencies say that the world has fallen short in its response to Pakistan flooding. The clean water and medical supplies are in great demand. Up to three and a half million children are at high risk of deadly water-borne diseases.
At least 48 people were killed today by a suicide bomber in Baghdad outside of an Iraqi recruitment center. That bombing comes as US combat troops prepare to leave Iraq in just two weeks.
And a study says oil from the ruptured BP well has moved further east than first thought. Researchers say that dispersants may have sent oil droplets to the Gulf floor, where they're being eaten by small fish.
Muslims are now observing a time of fasting called Ramadan. No food or drink all day can be tough on the body, especially if you're an athlete in training. So one high school coach, Dearborn, Michigan, is deliberately is keeping his players up late so they can keep the faith safely, and safely do his drills. Our affiliate WDIV has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: For Muslims this is the holy month of Ramadan. We just finished breaking our fast. We're getting out here on the field. We'll be out on the field about 11:00.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: It's like Friday nights right now, under the lights here, and that's why we're so excited to be out here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: The sooner we get on the line, the sooner we start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: Let's go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: The majority are Muslim kids.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: What we do at this time is we are fasting from sunrise to sundown.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: Break down! Break down! Break down!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: Coach Walks came up to me, and he's like, "What do you think? We might be practicing around 11:00 until 6:00 in the morning."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: And I thought it was going to be not a smart idea, but it was the best idea he's ever thought of.
WALKER ZABAN, FOOTBALL COACH, FORDSON HIGH: I just kind of figured, let's try this, let's see how it works.
Ultimately this is what we are trying to do. It's for the health and the safety of our student athletes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: I was excited from the get-go to begin with with this. UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: This is beautiful right here. The weather, everything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And WDIV reports it's not just football. Fordson High's cross-country and volleyball teams also make adjustments to their practice times to accommodate Ramadan.
They say they did what any soldier would do in the heat of battle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHON CLOUSE, SERGEANT FIRST CLASS, SPECIAL FORCES/SLIVER STAR RECIPENT: There were guys who were dying. And if I didn't run to them, they would have died. There wasn't a lot of thought at the time of the danger. There was just -- they called -- guys called me, they needed me. And so, I went to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Honoring those for their gallantry in service. We'll introduce you to some of the military's latest Silver Star recipients.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Honoring the most uncommon valor and bravery of America's fighting men. That's exactly what the US Army did yesterday in awarding Silver Stars to seven members of the Special Forces. CNN's Barbara Starr has more now from Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ordinary soldiers, extraordinary men. These Special Forces troops each receiving a Silver Star here at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
JULIO BOCANEGRA, MASTER SERGEANT, SPECIAL FORCES/SILVER STAR RECPIENT: I just did my job.
CLOUSE: I'm a guy who on one day in June of 2008 earned my paycheck.
STARR: The Army begs to differ.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: For gallantry in action in Afghanistan on June 11, 2007, signed Secretary of the Army.
STARR (voice-over): They all survived deadly Taliban ambushes. All ran into fields of fire to save each other, to save other wounded Americans, and even to save Afghans. Staff Sergeant Daniel Gould and Sergeant First Class Mario Pinilla were ambushed by Taliban, who literally jumped out right in front of them.
DANIEL GOULD, STAFF SERGEANT, SPECIAL FORCES/SILVER STAR RECIPIENT: I got hit in the helmet, and then my helmet went flying off my head.
STARR: Pinilla ran into the gunfire to put his body between the enemy and his friend. He was hit.
MARIO PINILLA, SERGEANT FIRST CLASS, SPECIAL FORCES/SILVER STAR RECIPIENT: I immediately dropped down to the ground, because I couldn't feel my legs anymore. They were numb. I dragged myself -- I was trying to look for some cover. Then he grabbed my weapon and continued to fire into the enemy.
STARR (voice-over): The army calls it gallantry in action. But for these men, an unbreakable bond from risking it all, risking it together.
GOULD: I look at Mario, not just as a friend, but this guy came to save my life and in turn, I helped save his life.
STARR: The Chief Warrant Officer Mark Roland and Sergeant First Class Antonio Gonzalez also pinned down in an ambush, ran to save Afghan troops, trapped by heavy Taliban gunfire.
ANTONIO GONZALEZ, SERGEANT FIRST CLASS, SPECIAL FORCES/SILVER STAR RECIPIENT: It's the right thing to do.
STARR (on camera): But what makes somebody repeatedly run across an open field of fire to go save other men you don't even know?
MARK ROLAND, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, SPECIAL FORCES/SILVER STAR RECIPIENT: We spent countless hours, days, weeks, into months, out on patrol with them. And so the -- the bond is not just nation to nation. But it's person to person.
GONZALEZ: We grow so close that we build that brotherhood bond.
STARR: Sergeant First Class Jonathon Clouse, another soldier determined to do the right thing when his patrol was ambushed. He ran repeatedly into the line of fire to drag other American troops to safety. He refuses to be called hero.
CLOUSE: There were guys that were dying. If I didn't run to them, they would have died. There wasn't a lot of thought at the time of the danger. It was just, they called -- guys called me, they needed me, and so I went to them.
STARR: These highly decorated soldiers may be sent to Afghanistan for yet another tour of duty, another tour they will tell you when they are just doing their job. Barbara Starr, CNN, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Also honored during Monday's ceremony posthumously, Army Sergeant First Class David Nunez. He died in May of 2008 in Afghanistan trying to save his comrades during an ambush. His military record will be upgraded to reflect his heroism.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Losses on Wall Street just keep piling up. The Dow is riding a five-session losing streak. So can the markets get their groove back today? Patricia Wu at the New York Stock Exchange hopefully to tell us. What do you think, Patricia?
PATRICIA WU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, I think that we are looking for a lift today. The question just remains how big that bounce will be. Stocks are set for a higher open. One big reason why, Home Depot shares are up two percent. The retailer's quarterly profit rose seven percent, beating expectations. Home Depot benefited from more customer traffic, and that's no wonder, we also learned this morning that home sales inched higher last month.
And there goes the opening bell. So we'll just see how those stocks open this morning. Rival Lowe's, now, also posted up the earnings yesterday. A good sign for the economy.
But the outlook still remains uncertain. Home Depot says it's worried about future sales, and so is Walmart, another important retailer. Now, Walmart posted higher second quarter earnings, but the company says it expects Americans to remain cautious about spending.
So, lets take a look at how that's playing out. Right now, we'll take a look at the big board. The Dow is up, up about 37 at 10,340, and the Nasdaq is up about 15.
And Wal-Mart right now is trading at about 5082, just up fractionally. And finally, Kyra, remember that $50 billion bailout that we gave GM? The automaker will soon take a big step towards paying that money back to us, the taxpayers. There's been a lot of talk about GM's filing its initial public offering, and the buzz here is that it could happen today. The once mighty GM was actually D-listed from the New York Stock Exchange when it went bankrupt last year.
So, the big question for the taxpayers is how many shares and how high they'll be priced? Will it be enough to pay back GM's total debt? -- Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Patricia, thanks.
The Pakistan's epic disaster might be just the beginning. Flooding there has killed more than 1400 people. Wiped out entire villages and plunged about 20 percent of the country under water. Now, humanitarian workers say all that polluted flood water can bring typhoid, dysentery, cholera, and hepatitis to millions of children. The international aid, trickling in.
And if the world or even Pakistan's own government doesn't help these people, guess who will. The Taliban. Time for our "A.M. extra," and John, it's true, we even talked about this last week as it was getting worse. A lot of people coming forward saying this is the perfect opportunity for the Taliban to move in and bond with the victims.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is a real vacuum in those areas that are so devastated in Pakistan. The government can't get in there. The U.S. military is trying to help, getting some helicopters in there, but the Taliban because it held some of the high ground along the border with Afghanistan is by and large out of the flood zone and may have the resources to go down in there and say hey, we can help you out where the government can't and while you're accepting this assistance, why don't you side with us.
Akbar Ahmed who is the chair of Islamic studies at American University, also the former Pakistani ambassador to Britain, came on the program this morning and talked about his fears that the Taliban could use this as an opportunity to expand its influence in that particularly sensitive area of Pakistan. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AKBAR AHMED, PROF. OF ISLAMIC STUDIES, AMERICAN UNIV.: The focus on the flood is the frontier province and northern province, that's the hardest hit. And that was the contested area between the militants, the Taliban, and government forces that's been fiercely contested. So, the people of Pakistan have really been hit twice over. Thousands died in those battles between the militants and the army. Millions were displaced and then the floods and victims.
And a lot of religious leaders are actually saying this. They're saying, you people need to be much more Islamic, much more orthodox in your practice. You are falling prey to these foreign influences, so we can see that this could go either way, and it could have an impact immediately on what's happening over in Afghanistan involving American forces, because this is the sanctuary for a lot of the Taliban slipping across from Afghanistan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Yes. And here's where the rubber meets the road with this. General David Petraeus says Ambassador Ahmed has based his war fighting strategy on a stable Pakistan. Now, Pakistan's very much in danger, Kyra, of becoming unstable at this point. The economy is, of course, teetering on the brink.
The president, Asif Ali Zardari, might even be toppled because of this, and you could revert back to military control. So, he's very, very fearful that this is a moment in history where a failure to act could lead to severe consequences down the line.
PHILLIPS: Talk about the perfect situation to build up on terrorist activity, you know, what can the U.S. do to prevent the Taliban from gaining influence and a government that could completely crumble?
ROBERTS: Ambassador Ahmed says now is the time for the United States as it did in Haiti as it's done in so many other areas to go over there. It's time for the cavalry to come in with lots of airlift, helicopters, food stops, and supplies. You know, there was an investment that was put into Haiti because of its proximity to the United States and as well the human suffering there. But Pakistan is so important strategically that Ambassador Ahmed says this is an opportunity that the United States cannot miss.
And in addition to helping people that could also win hearts and minds. And he says the U.S. shouldn't stop just with relief supplies, tents, helicopters, and cargo planes to get everything in there, but there needs to be symbolic gesture as well. He remembers back when Jackie Kennedy visited one of the North West provinces in the 1960s. She was a rock star there. Princess Diana, one of the iconic photographs of her was taken of her in the 1990s when you probably remember she was holding a child who was afflicted with AIDS.
He suggested Michelle Obama should get on the plane and go over there and beyond the ground, helping people out. He says that is an image that could go a long way towards restoring America's image there in Pakistan, particularly, at such a sensitive time with the seesaw back and forth between the Pakistani government and the Taliban.
PHILLIPS: We'll see if, indeed, that happens and if we do see someone like Michelle Obama going over there. John, thanks.
Let's take a look at news across the country. From New England and Nashville, but we're going to start in Atlanta. The city will pay nearly $5 million to the family of a woman killed in a botched drug raid. She was 92 years old and thought the cops were robbing her and breaking into her house. They were actually serving what's called a no-knock warrant. She shot at them with a pistol. They shot back killing her. It turned out the raid was based on falsified paperwork.
Lawrence, Massachusetts, police there say a man tried but failed to rape a woman in her home. She is 5'1" and 100 pounds but still managed to kick him down a flight of steps, punch him over the head and in the face and beat him with a trash barrel. It turns out the accused is already a level 2 sex offender. He's back in jail with a lot of bruises.
And some good news in Nashville. Opryland Hotel and Convention Center has started to rehire employees. They had to lay off several months ago. More than 1,700 people got pink slips after flooding shut that complex down.
Surviving a lightning strike, well, fine. It happened to this commercial flight in Colombia, and all but one person survived. Just how the dangerous when lightning strikes? We're going to hear from a veteran flight the first-hand experience.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories. The oil may not be where we think it is. University of South Florida researchers say it's at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Some of it in an under water canyon and small fish are eating it. That could affect our food chain. This counters BP's statements that the dispersants broke up the oil from microbes to eat.
California cannot perform any same-sex marriages for now. An appeals court set aside an earlier ruling and will take up the challenge against gay marriages in December.
President Obama heads to Seattle today to talk to small business owners. The White House says the roundtable discussion will include three company owners who have benefited from the president's recovery act. He's approval ratings have dipped and ability to bring in the cash has not. The commander in chief proving to be the Democrats' big money man at a critical time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It's primary election day in a couple of western states. In Washington, the Senate contest has drawn a crowded field, five Democrats, six Republicans, a centrist, and two independents. Democratic Senator, Patty Murray and Republican Dino Rossi are expected to emerge as winners.
Then in Wyoming, Republicans are hoping to reclaim the governor's seat. That's also a crowded field, seven Republicans and five Democrats.
President Obama hopes to give a boost to Murray's campaign. He's attending two fund-raisers for the senator in Seattle. And as we learn more, from CNN White House correspondent, Dan Lothian, despite the lowest approval ratings of his presidency, Mr. Obama is proving to be a key fund-raiser at a critical time for Democrats.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Obama is like the Democratic Party's ATM machine, and DNC chairman, Tim Kaine is doing the math.
Are you amazed how effective he has been in raising funds in the short period of time?
TIM KAINE, CHMN. DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE: I would say grateful. Not amazed.
LOTHIAN: But not all voters are grateful for this fund-raising frenzy.
DAVE LEVINTHAL, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: He is going to fund- raisers instead of working on jobs bills or energy bills.
LOTHIAN: While it's part of a president's portfolio to also be fund- raiser in chief, Mr. Obama is on an ambitious pace. Since January, he's headlined 36 events across the country, raising more than $22 million. In two separate trips to Boston and Miami in April, the president tapped a total of about $5 million.
KAINE: We'll be able to put more money into the midterms by far than we've ever put in, probably north of $50 million. And the presidential events are huge.
LOTHIAN: At the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that follows the money trail, Dave Levinthal says expanded election seasons and more competitive races required this kind of presidential muscle, but with the war and a battered economy, some voters see these trips as a distraction. LEVINTHAL: I'm sure he would argue that he's -- enough time do both. But some people do have concerns that he is one man, and he can't be everywhere at once. They would rather have him in Washington doing the business of the people than going out and fund-raising for his political brethren.
LOTHIAN: Especially when they see glitzy affairs at the homes of the rich and famous where guests sometimes pony up the limit of $30,400 each. Kaine understands the optics but says small donations like $50 play a big role in a race that's about more than just cash.
KAINE: Raising money is never just about raising money. You're also finding supporters. You know, you're delivering a message.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Dan joins us now live from the White House. So, Dan, why this rapid pace of fund-raising?
LOTHIAN (on-camera): I think, you know, it's an admission by the Democratic Party and certainly the White House that there are key races across the country that they really want to hang on. The dems (ph) want to hang on to, and so, that's why they're sending the president out there because even though, as you pointed out at the top of the piece, that his poll numbers are down, people aren't happy about the economy. They're not happy about the war -- what's going on in Afghanistan.
The president still remains a major draw. He can bring people out to deliver that message and can also collect the money as well. So, that's why you see the president headed out to Washington State to campaign, hold two fund-raisers for Senator Patty Murray. It is a tough race out there. They want on make sure that she hangs on to her seat. They believe the president can deliver.
PHILLIPS: OK. Dan Lothian from the White House. Dan, thanks.
We've all been on that plane, the plane where a crying baby is just another of the many stresses. But the way the mom handled it and the way the airline handled her is something I want to talk to you about.
(SINGING)
PHILLIPS: Remember that song? Come on, we all sang it as kids. It was on this day, 1786, that the King of the Wild Frontier, Davy Crockett was memorialized in this Walt Disney song. He's born in what would soon become Green County, Tennessee. Crockett's trademark coonskin cap was an American frontiersman, folk hero and congressman who ultimately died in Texas defending the Alamo. May best be remembered by our generation, thanks in part, to the wonderful world of Disney's move and that song. Go ahead and sing along.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Traveling on a plane just isn't what it used to be. Fewer flights, paying for checked bags, even carry-on in some cases, paying for those dinky snacks that used to be free, waiting on the tarmac. You get the picture. It is stressful.
And sitting near a crying baby just adds to it. We've all been there. Right?
But here's a case -- I want to get your opinion. Watch this story from KRQE's Jim Winchester and think about this question, did the mom or the flight attendant go too far?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM WINCHESTER, REPORTER KRQE (voice-over): As the Southwest Airliner rolled into the Sunport around 4:30 this afternoon, airport and Albuquerque police knew they had a possible child abuse case on their hands. Authorities on the ground were contacted while the plane was en route after a flight attendant and passengers say they witnessed a distraught mother trying to calm her screaming 1-year-old child.
MARSHALL KATZ, SUNPORT POLICE CHIEF: At some point, it appears to be so frustrating the mom may have yelled and may have even slapped the baby.
WINCHESTER: A Southwest flight attendant immediately grabbed the baby away from its parents.
KATZ: I think it was a solid move on the part of the flight attendant to take custody of the child. It neutralized the situation and calmed everybody down.
WINCHESTER: The flight attendant did return the child to its parents before the plane landed. The police took the child into their custody at the gate. Performed a welfare check and determined there were no signs of any physical abuse. After police questioned the couple, the flight attendant and witnesses, the child was returned to the parents who were not cited.
Travelers we spoke with at Sunport were split on what the flight attendant did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean I guess that was the right thing do. Because in case, you know, if they lost their cool that time it could have happened before. So I guess that's a good caution to take.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would just maybe, you know, can we help you or something -- be more courteous and understand the mother was tired.
WINCHESTER: Authorities said the incident didn't call for charges.
KATZ: We felt that it was an isolated incident.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, you just heard from Sunport police Chief there Marshall Katz.
And we actually have him on the phone. So Chief there are a couple of things that we're not sure of here. With regard to this mother slapping her child was it startling to everybody because it seemed abusive?
KATZ (via telephone): I'd have to say, yes. It got their attention, and as a result, this included the attention of the flight attendant, who took, I think, the appropriate action to stop the activity from re-occurring or continuing.
PHILLIPS: So -- so could this mother be charged with child abuse, then?
KATZ: This is a judgment call. I mean, there was no -- there were no marks on the baby physically. Based on the contact the mother had with the child with the concurrence of the parents, the paramedics on scene, we verified that the baby had no bruises anywhere else, on her torso.
It was a long conversation with the parents, with the flight attendant and crew, and some passengers, we felt based on the totality of circumstances, we permitted them to continue to their destination.
PHILLIPS: And tell me about the totality of the circumstances, what led up to this? And what kind of slap are we talking about? Did she knock the baby down, knock the child down and how old was the child by the way?
KATZ: The female child was 13 months old.
PHILLIPS: Oh gosh.
KATZ: The child was crying a rather high tone. It appears the mom was frustrated. According to the mom, she slapped the baby on her legs and at least one witness said it appeared to be on her face. There were no marks per se on the face or the legs.
But someone at least heard one slap take place. In today's society, things have changed. People want action to stop no matter what it is. It was inappropriate, the flight attendant intervened and stopped the action.
PHILLIPS: So did the flight attendant go and take the child away from the mom or did the mom say, here, take the baby, I can't handle this?
KATZ: The flight attendant in my opinion made contact with the parents to take temporary custody of the child, help the child calm down, even fall asleep with the assistance of the dad.
PHILLIPS: Well, sir and you thought the flight attendant made the right decision?
KATZ: I think kudos for her and the airline.
PHILLIPS: Do you think this mother needs some help with her mothering skills?
KATZ: A lot of parents do. I don't think she's alone but I think there's a lesson to be learned by her based on what happened.
PHILLIPS: Sunport Police Chief, Marshall Katz. Chief, thanks for your time.
KATZ: My pleasure. Be safe.
PHILLIPS: I want you to weigh in on this. Do you think the flight attendant did the right thing or went too far? You heard the facts right there from the chief.
Let me know on my blog, CNN.com/kyra.
Here's some other stories that we're working on for the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Josh Levs what do you have for us?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there Kyra. We've got this morning a whole new way to look at schools in America, particularly the racial gap that is troubling our schools and says a lot about the future of our country. I'll have that for you at the top of the hour.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam in New York. Taxpayers have sunk $150 billion into Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac so far. When is it going to end? Well, the administration is holding a conference right now about fixing the housing giants and affordable mortgages for all of us could be at stake. I'll have that in the next hour.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey and I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Finally a pattern change and finally some relief from the heat; but our pattern is shifting to become a little more wet. We'll tell you who is going to get the rain and who may see some floods coming up in just a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: You can look at the video of that 737 that crashed in Colombia and wonder how could anyone survive that? But they did. There was speculation that lightning may have split that plane in two, but as our Brian Todd reports, lightning hitting a plane is not as dangerous as it sounds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Devastating impact, but when this Aires Airline 737 crashed on San Andres Island on Colombia, almost all of the passengers survived. We dissected this accident with veteran airline pilot Mark Weiss.
(on camera): Why weren't there more people killed in this accident?
MARK WEISS, FORMER AIRLINE PILOT: I think what you're going to see, if you take a look over here, the chute, the escape slide was deployed. What you also see over here is that a pretty clean break on the fuselage. I think what you're going to determine is that this aircraft impacted the ground, split apart because of the severity of the impact. There was no fire. TODD (voice-over): But there were thunderstorms in the area as the plane approached in the overnight darkness. And --
(on camera): -- it was reported there were about 11 lightning strikes within a six-mile range. They were happening all over the place near the airport. What effect did that have, do you think?
WEISS: I think what you see from -- the lightning strikes are not necessarily the reason that this accident happened. What you're going to really focus on is going to be probably the convective activity all around the airport. What happens is with the terrain over here, you're going to look for downbursts from the thunderstorm, micro burst activity, lightning flashes that may have blinded the pilot.
TODD (voice-over): Something that Weiss says might have happened just seconds before impact. Weiss and other pilots tell us planes often get hit by lightning but not brought down by it. Those incidents are common enough that some have been posted on YouTube.
Pilots say the lightning can knock out radios and other instruments but often simply goes through the metal skin on the fuselage and out the other side and doesn't threaten the cabin. As for the pilots --
(on camera): -- you have been in the cockpit when a plane is hit by lightning. What does it feel like?
WEISS: Well, often times you'll get an explosive feeling but it lasts for just a second or so. And it's certainly unnerving but with this type of weather you're almost prepared for something like that.
TODD (voice-over): We've seen reports that each commercial aircraft is hit by lightning on the average of at least once per year, but the last time a commercial plane over the U.S. was brought down because of a lightning strike, according to the Web site weatherimagery.com that was nearly 50 years ago.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: We've got breaking news for you right now. 16 years after the notorious Susan Smith murder case, South Carolina authorities are now dealing with another investigation, we're told, with similar circumstances involving kids found dead in a submerged car.
Apparently the children's mother is now facing charges along with serious doubts of her account of what exactly happened. We're going to take you live to a news conference from the sheriff of Orangeburg County, South Carolina any moment now regarding the deaths of a 1- and 2-year-old boy, both of whom were found in the car submerged in the Edisto River yesterday.
Their mother was initially charged with leaving the scene of the accident but now earlier this morning we're being told the sheriff said that 29-year-old Shaquan Duley will be facing murder charges in the deaths of both her kids. Once that news conference starts, we will take that live.
