Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Proposed Mosque Stirs Passions; Half a Billion Eggs Recalled; FDA on Safety of Gulf Seafood; First Muslim College in U.S.; First U.S. Muslim College Founded; Trapped Chilean Miners Alive; "New Orleans Rising"

Aired August 22, 2010 -   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It is the top of the hour everyone and this is the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for joining us.

Eggs are the staple of the American diet. Most of us take them for granted. Now hundreds of millions of them are being taken off store shelves because of concerns about salmonella. Two of the nation's largest egg producers are recalling more than half a billion eggs, sold under more than the dozen brand names around the country.

More than a thousand people have gotten sick and those who have battled the symptoms say it made their lives miserable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD DANIELSON, ATE TAINTED EGGS: Everybody had diarrhea. That was kind of a first thing and then headaches and then throwing up and then it was body aches. I couldn't even move. I mean, it was in your joints. It hurt so bad. I mean, it's -- it was worse than any flu I've had.

BRITTANY DANIELSON, ATE TAINTED EGGS: We thought we had this flu. But then we saw the egg recall and we figured that's what it was. Because my dad read all the symptoms from the computer and all the symptoms were what we had.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And just a short time ago we received this statement from Hillandale Farms one of the two companies involved in this huge recall. I want to read it for you now.

It says in part, "We are devastated that our eggs have been implicated in making people sick. In cooperation with the FDA we look forward to diligently examining every phase of our operation and effectively addressing any issues found."

Well, some perspective now on this issue, according to the egg industry, estimates 75 billion eggs are produced every year in the U.S. So the recalled eggs account for less than one percent. And for the most healthy people, the risk from salmonella is very low.

However, infants, older people and people with weak immune systems are more susceptible. Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. The symptoms start 12 to 72 hours -- 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. The illness lasts four to seven days.

And some reminders for you from the Food and Drug Administration, if you have recalled eggs in your refrigerator, throw them away or take them back to the store for a full refund. If you think you might have gotten sick from eating eggs consult your doctor. And if you're not sure whether your eggs are tainted, don't eat them. Throw them away anyway.

For more information on the egg recall, including packaging numbers, go to CNN.com/health -- again, CNN.com/health.

And coming up in just a few minutes here on CNN, expert advice from the FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg herself. Dr. Margaret Hamburg is going to join us. I'm going to ask her about the egg recall as well as the safety of seafood in the Gulf of Mexico and other issues as well.

Again, coming in about five minutes right here on CNN.

I want to turn our attention now to New York. That proposed Islamic community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan had really stirred passions on both sides today. Supporters and opponents rally about a block from each other not far from Ground Zero.

The Islamic cleric behind the proposed building is in the Middle East right now on a good will tour sponsored by the U.S. State department in a newspaper interview in Bahrain, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf says he feels the controversy has been a positive thing and will lead to a better understands of Islam.

That interview will be published tomorrow but the Associated Press has seen it. And according to the AP here is what Imam Rauf said to Al Waset (ph) newspaper. "American Muslims have the right to practice their religion in accordance with the Constitution of the United States. I see the article of independence as more compliant with the principles of Islam than what is what available in many of the current Muslim countries."

CNN"s Susan Candiotti is live now for us. Susan, this is becoming a hot button issue on both sides. Now we're hearing about it from half way around the world.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's true, Don. You know, it's a controversy really with no end in sight and certainly no shortage of anger and exasperation. Both sides were kept quite a distance from each other as you said so, there was no interaction.

About 450 people showed up to protest the proposed Islamic center and mosque saying a location two blocks away and around the corner is still too close to Ground Zero.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are not doing this because of religion. This is totally in your face an insult to show supremacy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, after the protestors' rally they marched past Ground Zero and certainly about to keep on fighting.

On the other hand, organizers of the proposed $100 million center and mosque say they have nothing up their sleeves except promoting better understanding and tolerance. About half as many people, about 250 supporters showed up to a rally in support of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are many Muslims who lost Muslim family members at Ground Zero. So when they come to visit Ground Zero as a memorial they should be able to walk two blocks down and pray for their loved ones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, Susan, here's the question. We heard from the Imam where, as we said, he is on a trip now, supposedly a goodwill trip. But for the first time since her husband left for the Middle East on a State Department sponsored trip we heard from the wife of the Imam at the center of this. What did she have to say, Susan?

CANDIOTTI: That's right, her name is Daisy Khan. And she talked to ABC's Christiane Amanpour this morning. She says their group is not backing down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAISY KHAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MUSLIM ADVANCEMENT: We first want to meet with all the stakeholders who matter who are the New Yorkers. The community board has overwhelmingly supported this. So have all the politicians, Scott Stringer and Mayor Bloomberg.

And we have to be cognizant that we also have a constitutional right. We have the Muslim community around the nation that we have to be concerned about. And we have to worry about the extremists as well because they are seizing this moment.

And so we have to be very careful and -- and deliberate when we make any major decision like this.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, ABC NEWS: I'll pursue that in a second but -- so it's moving on the table still?

KHAN: We -- right now it's not until we consult with all our stakeholders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: So as you can see, Don, there are certainly strong feelings on all sides. We did see some heated arguments, but no arrests. And the question of course is can both sides find some common ground -- Don. LEMON: We'll see in the coming weeks and months. Thank you, Susan Candiotti.

Right now a massive recall has people across the nation steering clear of eggs. Up next, I sit down with the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Margaret Hamburg for some expert advice.

And don't just sit there, be a part of the conversation. You can send your comments or questions via Twitter or Facebook or check out our blog. You can send your -- your comments there as well at CNN.com/don. And look for us on FourSquare. We want to hear from you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Ok. As we have been reporting here on CNN, more than a half billion eggs have been recalled. And for the latest on the situation we have one of the prime people responsible for food safety in this country. She is the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Margaret Hamburg. Doctor, thank you for joining us.

DR. MARGARET HAMBURG, COMMISSIONER, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION: My pleasure to be here.

LEMON: So I have to ask you and I'm being quite honest, what did you have for breakfast this morning?

HAMBURG: Well, I had toast for breakfast. But I do eat eggs and I encourage people to eat eggs. But I do encourage people to pay attention to the recall information that's available and to take very seriously the precautions for how consumers can make their egg-eating safer.

LEMON: So you have eaten eggs since this recall took effect?

HAMBURG: I have. I have.

LEMON: Ok, give us the latest on the recall? How many people got sick? How many eggs and how many egg producers involved, Doctor?

HAMBURG: Well, it's been about a thousand people sick. And the recall is over half a billion eggs. And it so far involves seven different farms.

We're continuing the investigation and of course there may be further recalls. But I think that -- while it is the biggest recall in recent history, that's for sure. The good news is that overall in the past decades the number of problems and outbreaks associated with salmonella and eggs has actually have been declining. And the FDA had just put in place new regulations unfortunately not in time for this outbreak that I think will further increase the safety of eggs available to consumers in the marketplace.

LEMON: So regulations but not connected to this particular recall?

HAMBURG: Well, unfortunately these -- these eggs just went into place a little bit after the cases started to appear from -- from this particular outbreak. But it will make a difference going forward and that's really important.

LEMON: I'm sure you wished they have come sooner and it may have taken care of these --

HAMBURG: I sure do, I sure do -- and it's a reminder about the importance of having serious oversight of food safety risks. These new -- these new regulations that have gone into place put specific standards on the industry in terms of how they produce, handle, and -- and disseminate eggs for consumers.

And that will put in place measures that will really further reduce risks from contamination, such as we're seeing in this, you know, really quite large outbreak.

LEMON: Ok, Dr. Hamburg I have a whole lists of questions since we have you here.

HAMBURG: Ok.

LEMON: I want to -- I want to go through them and we're going to talk about that and talk about the distribution --

HAMBURG: Ok.

LEMON: -- and the distributors as well involved. Are you expecting to get a larger recall there? Is there a possibility of that?

HAMBURG: We're continuing the investigation. And as we find problems, we of course will respond. So the recalls may extend. The companies involved have been cooperative. And we are working closely with them. And we are, of course, working closely with our colleagues at the federal level, the Centers for Disease Control, and at the state level.

So we are tracking cases. We're continuing the investigation and we will take the public health measures necessary to protect the public.

LEMON: I had a doctor on yesterday. And he said much of this can be avoided if you cook your eggs properly and not undercook them. And also make sure you clean them and store them separately. Do you have any other advice for consumers?

HAMBURG: Well, that is good advice. I would say, first of all, in the context of a recall, people should pay attention. They should go on our FDA.gov Web site to identify the products that are being recalled. Check that with what's in their refrigerator. And if they have contaminated product or products that's part of the recall, they should either throw it out or take it back to the store where they purchased it for a reimbursement.

But there are ways to reduce the risk of contamination. You should keep your eggs refrigerated and you should buy your eggs from a place that keeps them refrigerated as well --

LEMON: Yes.

HAMBURG: -- of course. You should wash your hands before and after handling eggs. And you should cook your eggs thoroughly. That means making sure that they are not runny egg yolks with your -- your fried eggs. And it does mean, you know that Caesar salad made with raw egg in the dressing --

LEMON: Go over easy, yes and don't break the yolks.

(CROSS TALKING)

HAMBURG: Yes, yes you have to be careful.

LEMON: That kind of thing.

HAMBURG: Right, you know the good news is that, Salmonella is a self- limited disease in almost all cases. It causes as you heard in the earlier segment, bad diarrhea, headache, weakness, nausea and it lasts a couple days. And it's -- it's unpleasant. But it is self-limited in most cases but we should not underestimate that it can be a serious disease, including a lethal disease in some vulnerable populations.

LEMON: Yes.

HAMBURG: In the very young, the very old and those with immune compromise.

LEMON: When we -- when we hear about these sorts of recalls especially with meat and all that, it affects farming and it affects, you know, the industries. Are you concerned about the produce and about the egg industry here? Half a billion sounds like a lot. But it's a very small percent.

HAMBURG: Yes, well it is a relatively small percentage of the overall eggs sold and consumed in this country. But we need to make sure that people are fully aware that there is a problem with some eggs. The recall is necessary. And people need to be informed about the recall and how they can protect themselves and their families.

But we also want to remind people that not all eggs are contaminated. So it's important to get the information out. And it's important for consumers to pay attention. And it is important always to follow those consumer safety procedures that we just talked about in terms of safe handling of eggs.

LEMON: Yes. And I just want to say -- because it's a really tough time with the economy right now. And it's not always easy as we know for farmers as well and people who grow and produce foods. I just want to make that sure -- get that point across.

HAMBURG: Right.

LEMON: Can I talk to you now about the big picture here.

HAMBURG: Sure. LEMON: And I want to ask you. In the United States, do we have enough food inspectors to keep our food supply safe? Is that a concern for the FDA?

HAMBURG: You know, it is really important that as a nation we continue to invest in food safety and to strengthen our food safety programs. That has been a priority for the Obama administration since the very beginning and for more me since I took on this role. We are working closely with Congress to try to get new food safety legislation in place that will give FDA new authorities and resources so that we can do our job better.

It is important to do inspections. It's also important to make sure that preventive measures are in place. That companies that produce and distribute food are following the best science-based practices to enhance food safety and to reduce risks. So we're working very hard.

LEMON: Do you have the resources you need? You talk about resources but do you have the money you need in order to get those?

HAMBURG: We need to continue to expand our program. There's no question about it. We have made some real progress and we're very proud of those accomplishments. But we need to continue to stand and we need to think not just about domestic suppliers of food, but also we live in a globalized world.

And a lot more of our food is coming in from overseas. And that requires a new level of oversight inspection at the borders; inspection on sight in those other countries and working with the companies that produce those foods and the importers who bring them in.

LEMON: Yes. That is a very good point, Commissioner.

Let's talk a little bit about the investigation now. The man who leads one of the egg suppliers, Right County Eggs, has been in trouble before for unclean conditions at his egg facility. His name is Jack Decoster (ph).

Have you seen any indications of negligence or some -- any kind wrong doing? And what can the FDA do in terms of penalties if so?

HAMBURG: Well, of course, we are focused on the food safety issues and I know that there have been a lot of other issues raised and violations and other domains including occupational safety and health issues, et cetera.

In the food safety domain there is no question that these farms that are involved in the recall were not operating with the standards of practice that we consider responsible. And it's very, very important that those practices be cleaned up and that we work with this company and with others to make sure that they have the preventive controls in place and the responsible measures in place that will enable the safest food supply possible.

LEMON: One more question on the egg recall, Commissioner. Hamburg: Sure.

LEMON: A salmonella victim is suing a restaurant in Wisconsin because she says it served her a contaminated egg. Is there any way to make sure that you're not getting contaminated eggs from restaurants, from food carts of any other places that cook and serve food with eggs, using eggs?

HAMBURG: Well, the best guide is making sure that the eggs you need are fully cooked. If the eggs are in a baked good, you can be pretty sure that they're adequately cooked. If the eggs are being served as eggs sunny side up or over easy -- then I need you think you need to pay some attention and send them back. Soft boiled eggs also can be a real concern.

LEMON: Ok. Thank you commissioner for talking about that part of the investigation -- originally, we intend full transparency. We wanted to bring you in to talk about safety of seafood in the Gulf of Mexico, and then this happened.

HAMBURG: Right.

LEMON: So thank you for being -- for answering our questions on that.

Hamburg: This is so important.

LEMON: Let's talk about seafood now from the Gulf of Mexico.

HAMBURG: Yes.

LEMON: More than 200 million gallons of oil spilled into the water. Would you eat shrimps, would you eat scallop, would you eat food right from the Gulf of Mexico right now?

HAMBURG: Well, I was down in New Orleans not too long ago and I enjoyed some barbecued shrimp and grits. And it was really delicious.

You know, we've been working very hard. As you note, this was an unprecedented crisis in terms of the volume of oil that leaked into the Gulf and we know fragile ecosystems -- you know, really a tragedy. But we have been working very, very hard to oversee the issues around seafood safety; working with our colleagues at NOAA and the authorities in the Gulf States. And have developed a protocol for reopening the water (INAUDIBLE) that it's very science based.

We are systematically going through these protocols for reopening the waters. And the waters that have been reopened at the federal level and by state -- I think one can have quite a lot of confidence that seafood being harvested are safe for people to eat and to enjoy.

LEMON: You have to have some concern though when it comes to seafood in the Gulf. What is your biggest concern if you do have one? I would imagine that you do.

HAMBURG: Well, I think it's very, very important that we not become complacent. It's been very encouraging. We've been doing a lot of testing, as I said, in a very systematic way. The levels of oil residues and the dispersant also have been looked for. The levels have been much lower than what would be an acceptable level. So that's very encouraging.

(CROSS TALK)

LEMON: I have to say and you know, it may sound a little odd, but I was watching Steven Colbert. He says it doesn't reach the levels -- something -- it doesn't reach levels that you find disturbing. He goes, mm, that sounds appetizing.

He kind of does have a point there. You're not saying, hey, everything is great. Go and eat it. You're saying it doesn't reach a level of concern which for some people is like --

HAMBURG: Well, the levels are no higher than they were before the spill. As one measure of comfort with (INAUDIBLE). We will not be complacent as I said and we're going to have ongoing monitoring.

We have a protocol that requires that the oil, that the waters be free of oil that would pose a health risk. We then developed a sampling plan with the states around the fish species that would be harvested from those waters. Then the fish that are sampled undergo screening both with sensory screening and chemical screening before we say that those waters are safe for reopening.

So where the waters have been reopened, for commercial and recreational fishing, we do have a very high level of confidence in the safety of that seafood in terms of the terrible oil spill that occurred there and all of the concerns that that has.

LEMON: The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Margaret Hamburg. Thank you so much. We appreciate it.

HAMBURG: Sure.

LEMON: Christian and Jewish colleges have been options for American students for years, but how about a Muslim college? Coming up, we'll meet a man who founded a school that wants to be the first Muslim institution for higher learning in the United States.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time to check your top stories, Iran has added an unmanned bomber to its military capabilities. The drone was unveiled today by the Iranian president. The disclosure comes as the country begins fueling a nuclear reactor. Security analysts say Iran is publicly flexing its military muscle to discourage a possible air strike.

President Barack Obama will address the nation on Iraq next week after he returns from vacation. All U.S. combat forces are scheduled to be out of Iraq by August 31st. 50,000 troops will stay behind and serve in noncombat roles. But the dangers persist.

Just today one U.S. soldier was killed in southern Iraq and two mortars landed inside Baghdad's green zone which houses Iraqi government offices and the U.S. embassy.

The last thing China needs right now is more heavy rain. But that's exactly what it is getting. A flooded river along China's border with North Korea has forced the evacuation of more than a quarter of a million people. Thousands of Chinese soldiers have been mobilized to help rescue stranded residents.

And in southern China all the passengers on board this train got out alive. Floods caused the bridge here s to collapse and two passenger carriages to fall into the river. Can you believe everyone got out alive?

What started as an Islamic seminary now wants to become a four-year college. In just a few days Zaytuna University opens for the fall. It wants to be the first accredited Muslim college in the U.S. Up next, I will talk to the founder.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Ok. So listen. Tuesday is first day of class at Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. Christian and Jewish colleges have long been a part of the American education system but Zaytuna wants to become the very first accredited Muslim college in the United States.

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is the founder of Zaytuna College; thank you for joining us. So Hamza, Zaytuna has been around in some form since 1996. You've had seminary programs. But what are you adding to make this a true college?

SHAYKH HAMZA YUSUF, FOUNDER, ZAYTUNA COLLEGE: Well, I would say, first of all we've set out to be accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. We've started that process.

It takes four to eight years and hopefully, we'll become a full- fledged accredited college in the United States.

LEMON: What you have been hearing and the world has been hearing about this proposed Islamic center, community center and mosque near Ground Zero and all of the uproar about Muslim Americans in the country. Have you gotten any criticism over the college? Have you seen any protests? Do you have any concerns about that?

YUSUF: Well, I think the same people that are criticizing the Ground Zero or mosque or nearby or whatever it is, I mean, the same people vocal in the media are also criticizing us and other organizations. I think it's just par for the course right now. Islam is an acceptable target. To be prejudicial towards Islam is really politically correct still but I think it's going to change.

And I think a lot of good Americans are waking up and realizing a lot of the (INAUDIBLE) the xenophobia. Muslims have been in the United States from the start. They were here at the founding of this country. And there are many books that have proven that fact. So Islam is here. It's here to stay. And I think we need to make the best of the pluralism of our nation.

LEMON: You're only offering two majors. What are those majors?

YUSUF: Right now, we're offering Islamic law in Theology as a major and the Arabic language as a major. We have a very good curriculum. It's been developed and worked on.

LEMON: How do you plan to expand your curriculum beyond these two majors? I'm sure that's part of what you'd like to do.

YUSUF: Well, we hope, yes, as time progresses we hope that we get the type of support that's necessary. The type of endowments. It takes a lot of money to really create a full fledged college. But every college in the United States started out very small, generally, with the rare exception of some of the major philanthropists that started colleges, the University of Chicago with Rockefeller money, Stanford with Stanford railroad money. So but we hope, I think our community is realizing the importance of having our own academic institutions in the United States. So this is a growing pain for our community but it's also a step in the right direction.

LEMON: I'm looking at the video here. Your classes are going to be co-ed because we know what people think about the Muslim world and the treatment of women. But your classes are co-ed, right?

YUSUF: Well, the Muslim world is a vast world. And the treatment of women differs. There's places where women, in Morocco, West Africa, it's very different from say other places. So I wouldn't make a blanket about treatment of women anywhere. There's bad treatment of women in the United States and some places and some families. But no, we have a co-ed institution. We actually have more women in the incoming class than we have men.

LEMON: OK. So again, it opens this fall. So far only two majors. And you're not concerned about criticism or any of that? You're going forward and this is a positive thing for the community.

YUSUF: I think it's a positive thing also for the United States. We have a worldwide reputation. Our university is very aware of what we're doing, the (INAUDIBLE) of Egypt said it's a step in the right direction. I think that we can be a real beacon of conviviality and really showing the zealots and the people out there that would like to see this kind of war between the west and between the Muslim world, to show this small vocal minority that they're failing and that we're here, we're Americans, we're Muslims. We love this country and we're thriving as a community.

LEMON: All right. The college is Zaytuna College. It's in Berkeley, California. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is the founder of Zaytuna College. Thank you, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.

YUSUF: One of the founders. Thank you very much, Don. I appreciate it.

LEMON: Appreciate it.

You know, we can all agree on this. The president deserves a vacation at some point. But with millions of Americans out of work and millions more who can't afford a vacation, is now the right time for the Obama family to head off to Martha's Vineyard? We'll ask our senior political editor Mark Preston, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Democrats score a huge political victory. But Republicans are using it against them in the November election. How does that happen? Let's head to the nation's capital and bring in our senior political editor, Mr. Mark Preston. Hey, Mark. How you doing?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, Don. How are you?

LEMON: All right. I'm doing well. Mark, you wrote a fascinating piece in the CNN "Political Ticker," outlining how Republicans are using the new health care law against Democrats on the campaign trail. So tell us about that. If that's a political victory, then how are Republicans going to use it against Democrats.

PRESTON: Yes, I just found it fascinating, Don, that Democrats for years had been campaigning on this whole idea of bringing health care reform to the nation and when they did back in March and as you and I have talked about over the past year, a year and a half how hard a victory that was, when they finally did in March, they didn't want to talk about it.

So I looked at this analysis that was done on television advertising, done for CNN, Don. And what I discovered is that $24 million was spent on health care ads since March. This $24 million spent on anti- health care ads that are all geared towards the midterm election. So while we have Republicans who are against the bill and talking about the health care bill. We have Democrats who voted for the bill who don't want to talk about it.

LEMON: OK. So let's talk now about Martha's Vineyard, Mark. Nice place. Very nice place. But you know, no one begrudges the president and the first family for a vacation. No one begrudges anyone for a vacation. But is it the right place, right now, the right time for President Obama to be vacationing?

PRESTON: Well, you know, really, I think you're right. I think the president deserves a vacation. I think President Bush was unfairly criticized when he would go down to Crawford, when he would go to the ranch. The fact of the matter is a president works 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

However, and me being from Massachusetts. I'll probably have some people out there who would be angry at me. I'm not sure if the vineyard is the right message that you want to send right now. This is the playground for the rich and the famous. Not everybody can go over there. It's actually expensive to go over on the boat. You know, Don, it would be interesting and it would be quite a message that President Obama would have sent if he spent his whole vacation down in the gulf states. You just had the commissioner on talking about gulf seafood. While there's been a lot of talk on the tourism industry that's been hit really hard down in the gulf. So. LEMON: Absolutely. Mark, Tuesday is primary day in two states. We know Marco Rubio is headed for, and speaking of Florida, you're talking about down the gulf. He's headed as the Florida GOP Senate candidate. And Governor Charlie Crist will run as the independent candidate in November. So we've heard all about that. But what about the democratic side of this race?

PRESTON: Yes, Don. You know, really kind of the forgotten race. Although if you were in Florida you would see lots of commercials from a gentleman by the name of Jeff Green. Right now, heading in to Tuesday, Jeff Green, is trying to take the nomination away from Representative Kendrick Meek who is the establishment candidate. Kendrick Meek, of course, serves in Congress right here behind me.

Polls show that Kendrick Meek right now is likely to win. But this has been a very nasty contest. And whoever comes out of this Tuesday primary, Don, is really going to be battered and bruised heading into November.

LEMON: We know it's Sunday when we see Mark Preston right here with me on CNN. All right. I'll see you right back here at 10:00 p.m.. Thank you, Mark.

PRESTON: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: An amazing story of survival has renewed hope in Chile. 33 miners trapped underground for two weeks are alive.

Today a handwritten note from them was pulled up to the surface. We'll tell you what was on it. So what's next for the rescue efforts here?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: More than two weeks after a mine caved in Chile, all 33 miners reportedly are still alive and safe. That announcement was made today by the country's president. He said the trapped miners got a written message to the surface saying they're all alive and they're in a shelter. Patricio Martinez is a correspondent from CNN Chile and he joins us now on the phone. Patricio, explain to us how the miners got this message out.

VOICE OF PATRICIO MARTINEZ, CNN CHILE: Yes. Well, I can tell you that there are about nine drilling machines working at the Mina San Jose. They are digging so they can get to a point that trying to get a point that this rescue of the mine. No communication was made until today. So no one knew if they were really at that point. If they were alive or if they were fine.

After many tries, finally the search of these machines (INAUDIBLE) and the miners attached that message to the feet of one of those drilling machines. The message as you said, "we are fine. We are alive." But they also sent some letters. Those letters said that they were fine. And they always felt that those drilling machines that they always knew that people was looking for them.

But this is just the first part of this rescue because the hole that was dug. It has only 20 centimeters, diameter and you can only send food, medicine, water and some survival supplies. But the miners, to rescue the miners, it is necessary to dig another tunnel. A big tunnel. So they can, so this can take them out of the mine. That will take at least a month, authorities said.

LEMON: Patricio, standby. I believe, were these the first live pictures of the people there alive who are trying - ? OK. These are first live pictures that you're looking at. Again, we're talking to a reporter from CNN. CNN Chile. We're talking about these workers who have been down in here for about two weeks now.

Here is the concern, the concern is how long it's going to for them to get out. It could take a month or two, we are told by the president of Chile. But also, they sent down, the workers, the miners inside the mine sent up a note so that people at the surface, saying everyone was inside. Everyone was OK. 33 miners. But again, the time that's going to take to get to them.

Hey, Patricio, how long can they last in here without food or without water in the safety structure they have, this shelter that they're in? Is there food or water? And is there a concern about the month or two that it's going to take to possibly get them out?

MARTINEZ: No. That's not a big concern right now. Because through this hold, they are already getting water, some medicine and everything that they need to maintain their (INAUDIBLE) and to keep them alive.

So this could take two months. And they could be able to assist (INAUDIBLE). This was the first and the main step to get through that they are alive. And right now, at this time, they're going to be getting all this medicine and food. And That's why we believe that there will be no problem.

LEMON: OK. Patricio Martinez is a correspondent for CNN Chile. And again, those pictures that you saw, the first live pictures you saw from that mine in Chile where 33 workers are below ground there, trapped, but they're all alive. They got a note today to the surface saying they are in a shelter and they're trying to get them to safety. They're also getting water and medicine. So we'll continue to follow up the story. Make sure you stay tune right here to CNN.

You know, you can call this the power of the paint brush, right? A non-profit group uses color to brighten up neighborhoods and to make a difference in the lives of children who can use a helping hand. CNN education contributor Steve Perry explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): Thierno Diallo had no idea a paintbrush would change his life. He moved from Guinea (ph) in West Africa to New York City when he was 10.

(on camera): What is the reason you came to the U.S.? THIERNO DIALLO, STAFF MEMBER, PUBLICOLOR: Better education. My mother thought that I would have better opportunity to just succeed in life.

PERRY (voice-over): Thierno had a hard time fitting in in school. He didn't speak English and kept to himself and eventually started hanging out with the wrong crowd. But then he found Publicolor.

DIALLO: I basically came every day.

PERRY: The non-profit puts paintbrushes in the hands of students to brighten up schools, neighborhoods and low income areas across New York City.

RUTH LANDE SHUMAN, FOUNDER, PUBLICOLOR: Color has huge power.

PERRY: Ruth Lande Shuman founded Publicolor 14 years ago with the idea that color can positively affect attitudes and behaviors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The colors that we choose, they're very bright. They brighten up a person's mood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything, like your whole perception of the place changes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I finish a project, I just look back and say, wow, I really helped the community.

SHUMAN: I think society is letting kids get away with not caring. These kids - they'll become what we help them become.

PERRY: Publicolor provides tutoring, mentoring, college scholarships and career workshops.

SHUMAN: 100 percent of our students went on to college.

PERRY: Last year, Thierno graduated from college with the help of a Publicolor scholarship. Today, he's one of the organization's site staff leaders with plans to open his own business in Guinea.

DIALLO: Publicolor was always around to make me, you know, come back to who I truly am and stay on my path and try to reach success.

PERRY: Steve Perry, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Steve.

Fans at a bullfight in Spain definitely got more than they bargained for. Take a look at this. Wow. Right? A bull jumps into the stands, and fans start running for their lives. You'll see it all play out right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Coming up at the top of the hour here on CNN, CNN's Soledad O'Brien returns to New Orleans. Five years ago the black middle-class neighborhood of Pontchartrain Park was among the parts of the city underwater and in ruins. Many residents saw no possibility of rebuilding and were ready to walk away forever. But not actor Wendell Pierce. He grew up in Pontchartrain Park and now has a starring role in an HBO series, "The Wire." Here's a preview of the documentary, "New Orleans Rising."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): You've been left essentially with nothing from your home.

(voice-over): Two weeks after Katrina, actor Wendell Pierce told me about the impact of seeing pictures of his hometown under water.

WENDELL PIERCE, ACTOR: There's so many people and events in my life that is associated with New Orleans that just reminds you that you are intimately connected to the city. Because, you know, your home is your soul. It's the center of who you are.

O'BRIEN: His elderly parents might have stayed behind in their Pontchartrain Park home if Wendell hadn't flown in to take them out.

PIERCE: It was three months before we could even get back. When we pulled up to the house. I'll never forget my father say "Well, maybe it's not that bad. Maybe it's not that bad." And then he got out of the car and he broke down. Because he knew it was.

This is my childhood home. Totally wiped out. Jesus.

O'BRIEN: Being a witness to this grand-scale disaster would years later propel Wendell to play perhaps his most challenging role, fighting to rebuild the neighborhood he and his parents loved.

PIERCE: It's hard to see a neighborhood that you've known so well, so full of life, without any life in it anymore.

O'BRIEN: For Wendell Pierce, the floodwaters were replaced by his sea of tears.

PIERCE: Five years earlier, we lost my older brother. That changed my parents forever. It was like a one-two punch. You know, it was a death in the family to see them walk in the house.

O'BRIEN; It was a total loss. But it crystallized his sense of Pontchartrain Park's unique place in history.

PIERCE: Pontchartrain Park was not something that just happened. It was by dogged fight by these young parents who had this opportunity to build a life for their families. In one of the most difficult times in modern history. Jim Crowe, segregation, deep south New Orleans.

O'BRIEN: Pontchartrain Park was born out of the racial politics of the 1950s. The park, as a subdivision, with over 1,000 homes, came to be known was the separate but equal answer to white middle-class suburbia. One of the boundary lines, a drainage ditch.

PIERCE: I call it the DMZ. This separated Pontchartrain Park to my right.

O'BRIEN (on camera): Right. Your neighborhood over here.

PIERCE: Right. And the woods on my left.

O'BRIEN:: Is that the white neighborhood?

PIERCE: This was the white neighborhood.

O'BRIEN:: So it was literally segregation.

PIERCE: Literal segregation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Our documentary "New Orleans Rising" begins at the top of the hour right here on CNN.

In Spain bullfights are a huge hit, right? Spectators love their bulls. Check out a bull who wanted to get up close and personal with - whoa! With those spectators. I can't believe that bull just leaped up there. We'll see how this all played out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. Time to show you some of the news you might have missed throughout the week and this video continues to be just unbelievable. Take a look at this bull. It suddenly turns the tables on bullfighting fans in northern Spain. The 1,100 pound bull easily cleared the barricade and charged through the crowds in the stands. At least 30 people were reportedly hurt. Two of them badly enough to be sent to the hospital. Workers had to kill the bull to end that rampage.

A life-size Elvis statue, a neon Governor Blagojevich sign and boxes of the former governor's documents were among the items up for bid in Illinois. They were in a suburban Chicago storage facility. The company auctioned off the mementos for roughly $30,000 since Blagojevich didn't pay his bill. All the money raised is going to charity, however. Blago, big Elvis fan. And now you know.

I'm Don Lemon. I'll see you back here at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Stay tuned to Soledad O'Brien's documentary. It's called "New Orleans Rising." It begins right now on CNN. See you at 10:00 p.m.