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Day of Mourning, Day of Protest; Four Dead, Two Missing in Gas Fire; Internet, Cable Play Part in Pastor Terry Jones' Fame; Trump Offer to Buy Mosque Site Called PR Stunt; Photographer Documents September 11

Aired September 11, 2010 - 17:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: This hour on CNN, a massive gas explosion took away many of their homes and some of their loved ones and neighbors. Now we have learned that death toll could go up. We're live tonight in San Bruno, California, where people are wondering what is next? The ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks ratcheted up the rhetoric on both sides of the so called Ground Zero mosque issue today. Supporters and opposers hold heated rallies today and we're live.

And Perhaps the clearest voices is on how to survive the aftermath of a terrorist attack coming from young people who lost mothers, fathers and those closest to them nine years ago today. They are called Tuesday's children. And you need to hear their message.

And hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. It has been a day to remember and to look forward with hope on this ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. At Ground Zero in New York at the Pentagon and at a quiet field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Americans paused to remember the day when hijackers come into four airliners and took aim at America's political and financial capitals. That morning changed so much about our lives. How we travel? How we relate to the rest of the world? But today speakers, well, they remind all of us that what hasn't changed, what will never change is America's commitment to its founding ideals of freedom, tolerance and human liberty.

And with each passing year, this day brings back so many memories for so many people. The gathering of families and loved ones in Manhattan still clutching photos and fighting back tears. On a clear morning, reminiscent of the one that dawned nine years ago, New York fell silent at 8:46 a.m., and again at 9:03, the moments when two jets crashed into the twin towers. The area remains a construction site, full of equipment and full of grand plans for a fitting memorial. And what has become an annual custom, the names of the 2,752 people who died at the world trade center site were read aloud and their loved ones listened, mourned and remembered.

And just outside Washington, President Obama travels to the Pentagon, he joined the crowd gathered to honor the 184 people killed when American airlines flight 77 struck that massive building. Mr. Obama talked about the attacks and how Americans continue to respond.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The perpetrators of this evil act didn't simply attack America. They attacked the very idea of America itself. All that we stand for and represent in the world. So the highest honor we can pay those we lost, indeed, our greatest weapon in this ongoing war is to do what our adversaries fear the most -- to stay true to who we are as Americans. To renew our sense of common purpose, to say that we define the character of our country. And we will not let the acts of some small band of murderers who slaughter the innocent and cower in caves distort who we are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, first lady Michelle Obama and her predecessor Laura Bush were among those who gathered at the site of a future memorial to the passengers and crew of united flight 93. They talked about courage and how the people who boarded that plane as strangers came together as one to battle those hijackers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: For them putting others before themselves was nothing new. Because they were veterans and coaches and volunteers of all sorts of causes. And to this day, they remind us not just by how they gave their lives but by how they lived their lives that being a hero is not just a matter of fate. It's a matter of choice.

LAURA BUSH, FORMER FIRST LADY: This peaceful place was not chosen by the terrorists. They had other targets for their violence and hate. This spot was chosen by the passengers of flight 93 who spared our country from even greater horrors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bush met privately with families of the 40 people who died at the Shanksville site. The first phase of a permanent memorial is expected to be completed by next year's anniversary. You know, it's not just a day of mourning for some, but also a day of protest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(singing) And the home of the brave.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And at the center of this controversy, the mosque and community center being proposed two blocks from Ground Zero. Protesters on both sides are trying to make their point on this anniversary.

Our Susan Candiotti has been following it all day for us. Susan, what's happening there now where you are?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, one of the two rallies has yet to wrap up. But you know, Don, those who both either support or protest this proposed Islamic center and mosque say that September 11 in their view is actually the best way to stage rallies because each side in its own way argues that a center like this is about showing respect to 9/11 victims. How is that? Well, for his part Imam Rauf Feisal says that the center would be a way to honor the victims of 9/11 by showing that there is actually harmony and unity among all religions. He has condemned that the attacks of 9/11 and says, they were the works of extremists but that the entire cannot be blamed for it. Those who oppose it say that they do not trust the Imam or his ideas. You are about to hear from both sides.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: My constitution has been hi jacked. I do not believe that all Muslims are terrorists. I believe that these groups of Muslims are terrorists and that's why I'm here today.

We think these solemn days should not be used to whip up bigotry and racism. We should not forget, that it was after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and World War II that that same kind of bigotry was brought up intern hundreds of thousands of Japanese in California. So, that's something that we want to struggle against.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: So Don, an interesting sample of both opinions.

LEMON: Yes, it's certainly and some very strong emotions and thoughts and feelings there, Susan. There is another rally just wrapping up. And it was held just steps from those supporting the Islamic center and mosque, right?

CANDIOTTI: That's right. They oppose it. This group also staged a rally as well as the other side just a few weeks ago. You remember that. And at this rally, I would say it stretched about two and a half blocks long, slightly larger than those who are in favor of the proposal. They argue that this center would be irreverent, a sign of disrespect to the memories of the 9/11 victims. And they say the two blocks from Ground Zero is simply to close. But away from the rallies which quite interesting is that impromptu debates sprung up on sidewalks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We believe in the same document. You just said you believe in the constitution.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I do believe in the constitution.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Then you just said you don't.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: People were disintegrated.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: By terrorists. You can't blame Muslims.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I'm not blaming Muslims. But if they had the respect they claim they have. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Why should they have to apologize for the actions of radicals?

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I would rather see no church than a mosque where people are going to pray to God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: You know, at the end of the day, you always look to see whether you find some signs, for all types can find some common ground, but today there was no such thing that was apparent.

LEMON: Yes. Susan Candiotti. Susan, thank you for your reporting today. A lot of emotion here, as Susan said. And over this next story as well. It is not clear if the leader of a small Florida church will have any influence on the controversy over the proposed Islamic center, what is certain is that Pastor Terry Jones announced this morning, he is not going to burn the Koran today or in the future, that's what he says. He is in New York City hoping to meet with the Imam behind the project and convince him to move the location of that proposed mosque, coming up on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Some of this pipe was laid in 1948. Others in the '50s. It raises a lot of questions that we certainly are going to deal with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: A call for answers. What caused a giant fireball that killed at least four people in California and obliterated an entire neighborhood?

Plus, this soldier risked his life to save a wounded comrade from being captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan. Now, he'll be awarded, the nation's top military honor.

And of course, we don't want you just sit there. We want you to be a part of this show, be a part of the conversation. Makes sure you send us a message on twitter or Facebook. Follow us on twitter as a matter of fact, and check out my blog, cnn.com/don. And look for me on foursquare, too. We want to hear from you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The search for answers is under way in San Bruno, California. Emergency workers are scouring the chard ruins of this neighborhood for two missing people. State leaders want the utility company to explain the cause of a gas line rupture and blaze that left at least four people dead. There were reports that residents smelled gas in the days before the blast but company officials say, they have checked phone records and haven't found a reported complaint.

Well, what's not in doubt is that this once beautiful neighborhood has been reduced to ash with melted cars sitting in front of the blackened skeletons of homes.

Ted Rowlands joins us now live from the suburb there in San Francisco. Ted, I understand that there is a neighborhood meeting that's under way right now which you will be attending a little bit later on.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they're just getting under way at a local church a few blocks from where we are right now. This is a donation center which is also an active scene here where people are coming in to donate. Bottom line here Don in this neighborhood as you can imagine when you look at this picture, is people want to know what happened and why it happened. They know actually what happened because of the devastation that we are now getting even a better look at. There was an opportunity to get our camera in close a few hours ago and what we were able to see is just an extension of the video that's already been shown. And that is complete devastation around this area where this pipe was ruptured or disintegrated or something is happened.

We still don't know exactly what was the ignition. Why did it ignite? PG&E has been facing some tough questions. Senator Barbara Boxer is now into the fray. She took a tour today. And she came out and was talking tough. What we are seeing here is a classic example of how politicians are getting on board here and demanding that we get answers and we get answers fast. And PG&E is really doing a good job in trying to keep everybody informed. But one of a couple of key questions here that have come up, one is that what alluded to is the smell of gas that residents after residents now coming forward and saying, hey, we smelled gas. We smelled gas. Well, PG&E says they have gone back over the records at least for the first nine days in September. And they have no record at all of a report of gas or even going out to the scene. They say they are still poring over those records. There is another story out there that they replaced a liner in that area and they say, they are looking into that. Here's what the PG&E spokesman said earlier today about both these issues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS JOHNS, PRESIDENT, PG&E: We are about two-thirds of the way through reviewing all the phone records. Because, as you can imagine, we serve, you know, five million electric customers, four million gas customers. And so, there are a lot of those calls. As of right now, we have not been able to confirm any calls in that area, in that vicinity happening within the first nine days of September. But we will continue to do that. And I know that the National Transportation Safety Board will look through those same kinds of things and basically audit our records on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: And the NTSB which the PG&E spokesman talked about is the National Transportation Safety Board leading this investigation. They had a briefing yesterday that said they would take 12 to 18 months before they have findings. Well, today some people came out and specifically Barbara Boxer and Abel Maldonado, the acting governor said, that just will not do. We want to know what happened a lot sooner than 18 months from now. And people here are demanding answers. So, there is pressure building here within the community, Don, to figure out what happened and do it quick.

LEMON: I can only imagine. So not sure of a cause yet. But what's being done to help the people who lost their homes in this blast?

ROWLANDS: Well, there are numbers of different things. You see the donations here. The Red Cross is here in force and the state government has basically relaxed some red tape issues for anybody who has been a victim and PG&E has stepped up to the plate. They are taking care of all of the lodging, the temporary housing for any of the victims and they also have a $900 million insurance policy for exactly this scenario. It's got a $10 million deductible. But at least, they do have the resources and they're going to need a lot of them because a lot of these families have had their lives turned upside down.

LEMON: CNN's Ted Rowlands, thank you so much. Just ahead here on CNN, the giant ice island four times larger than New York City has collided with an island in the Atlantic. Plus, a massive fire in Colorado has been burning for nearly a week. Do firefighters finally have it under control?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Want to check some of your top stories right now on CNN. Afghanistan's president marks the 9/11 anniversary by demanding a new approach to fighting terrorism in his country. President Hamid Karzai condemned the attacks today but also called a NATO to do more to stop civilian deaths in the current war. Afghanistan's former Taliban government harbored Al Qaeda leading up to the 9/11 attack. But Karzai pled that insurgents in Pakistan are more of a threat these days.

Army staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta is going to receive the nation's highest award for valor, Giunta is the first living from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to earn Medal of Honor. He also help saved one soldier during a Taliban attack in Afghanistan and saved another as two Taliban fighters were to capture him. The 35 hundred Medals of Honor have been awarded since the civil war.

Four people died this morning when a double decker bus crashed into a railroad overpass in Salinas, New York. The mega bus company says, a dozen others were hurt. Official say, the bus heading to Toronto was not where it was supposed to be when the tragedy happened but did not explain why. Mega bus has launched an investigation into the accident.

Officials in Colorado say a wildfire raging in Boulder County could be contained by Monday. The residents of the burn areas won't be able to return to their homes today. Not sure when. The fire has been burned -- has burned 169 homes, making it the most destructive in Colorado history. The blaze began Monday morning. The cause is still being investigated. Firefighters in Colorado are finally getting some cooperation from the weather though.

And our, Jacqui Jeras is in the weather center. The biggest in history?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's amazing. This thing just went crazy because the winds were so strong early in the week, Don. Then we had another peak with the winds midweek. The good news is that, yes, those winds have calmed down very considerably and high pressure is in place today and tomorrow as well. So they are getting light westerly winds about five to 10 miles per hour. Temperatures are cooler here outside of Boulder, about 72 to 75 degrees here this afternoon. So, that's all good, but this is a very dry air mass, relative humidity is down to maybe 10 to 15 percent. So, that's still critically low and firefighters have been building lines to have the fire trying to stop it as well as doing, you know, dumps from the air with fire retardants as well as water to try to get a handle on it. Fifty six percent contained right now. And they think they will have a handle on it in a couple of days. So, that's certainly some good news there.

All right. From fire to hurricanes. Well, not yet, but soon to be we think. This is tropical storm Igor, that's packing winds around 75 miles per hour. You take a look at that satellite imagery, it looks like it is trying to get an eye there. It is very likely, we're going to see hurricane status before you know it. This is moving westerly, it's in the middle of the Atlantic, won't be bothering anybody for days. But we'll have to watch it. As it has heads into the northern Caribbean Islands about three days from now.

All right. Fire and ice, yes, we've got it all for you today. Your hurricane headquarters. What you're looking at here, this is a huge glacier. Don, you might remember the, remember the glacier we told you about, about a month ago that was four times the size of Manhattan and broke off? Well, this thing now has moved from the NASA strait and it has broken into two pieces. The smallest piece still 60 miles. Sixty square miles, yes. That's the small chunk of it. And to give you an idea where this was, so, we can see Greenland up here. There is the nearest strait and it's somewhere up in that channel where it got stuck in there. So, just kind of interesting. Some scientists will tell you that it's because of global warming. But this also happens to break off all the time and part of the natural process of glaciers as they expand.

LEMON: Yes. Good to see you. Haven't seen you in a while.

JERAS: Good to see you, too. Welcome back. We're both wearing blue. How nice.

LEMON: Yes. We called each other, you know, we'll talk about that later. Thank you, Jacqui Jeras.

You know, there are two of thousands of children who lost parents on 9/11. Now this pair of sisters gives a window into what it's been like growing up in the shadow of defining American tragedy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: So even after nine years, it's difficult to find the right words of condolence for children who lost parents on 9/11. Many of them are now adults themselves, the course of their lives permanently changed, so, that's for sure. But these young people can find support in Tuesday's children, a group created for them in the wake of the attacks.

Joining us now is David Weild, he is a chairman of Tuesday's Children along with Erin and Bridget Fisher, two members of the group who lost their father, John Fisher, in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Thanks to all of you for joining us today, especially on this day, the anniversary. I want to start with you David, tell us what Tuesday's Children is all about.

DAVID WEILD, CHAIRMAN, TUESDAY'S CHILDREN: Well, Tuesday's children was started right in the wake of 9/11 by family members that were actually sitting in the audience of actually the congregation of a funeral service for one of the families. And the priest asked, who's going to stand up for the children of 9/11 and see them through adulthood and people in the congregation stood up. And some of them were the founders of 9/11. So, our mission is to see our children straight through all the way to adulthood. So, with the last, if you will remain charity that is still that's really connected and committed to seeing our kids become fully functioning members of society.

LEMON: So, Erin, you're 25 now, you're the oldest of seven kids. But you were, I believe 16 when the attacks happened. Now, how has Tuesday's Children helped you as you have grown into adulthood?

ERIN FISHER, LOST FATHER IN 9/11 ATTACKS: They have really managed to make it a seamless transition whether or not you're still grieving or ready to move forward. They have provided programs that have helped you whatever stage you are.

LEMON: And Bridget, you were 21 now, but you're only 12 at the time. And how well do you remember your father?

BRIDGET FISHER, LOST FATHER IN 9/11 ATTACKS: That's kind of hard. At 12 years old, you can't remember much. It's been nine years now. So the memories kind of fade. But my family and I like to keep my dad's memory alive by, you know, telling stories about him and just remembering him.

LEMON: Did Tuesday's Children help you through the grieving process?

BRIDGET FISHER: Absolutely. I went through the helping heals program. We went to Costa Rica and did a community service project and basically it's the idea that by doing community service and helping other people you help yourself and help yourself through that grieving process.

LEMON: So, Erin...

BRIDGET FISHER: It really did work.

LEMON: It did. So, Erin, what's your message to children who have lost parents to terrorism? Not just 9/11 but to terrorism.

ERIN FISHER: I would say that this isn't the one event that's going to define your life. So often I would go, you know, day to day thinking that I was stigmatized by the fact that I lost my dad on such a national catastrophe. And I think that I would just say to other children who have lost a loved one in an act of terrorism to say that this isn't what is going to be the most important thing of your life. It will be something that is very important to you, but there are so many other beautiful things that will come to define you.

LEMON: Bridget, I see you're nodding your head. Do you agree?

BRIDGET FISHER: Yes, I agree. My message would be forgive. It's not the end of the world. And you know what, you can't live your life being upset and mad all the time.

LEMON: Talk more about that. Because I think those are words that we all need to hear not only in America, but the world need to hear right now. Why do you say forgive and don't live your life being mad all the time?

BRIDGET FISHER: It just weighs you down. It's not a way to live life. You know, it's something that really can affect you if you let it. In time you need to let yourself forgive what has happened.

LEMON: David, to hear these young women speak like that, especially on such occasion that many would view as somber, what does it do to you?

WEILD: Well, we are incredibly proud of them, Don. I mean, the fact is that these kids are really -- they are emblematic of how terrorism won't win in this country. It won't defeat Americans. And these folks stand up. They are beacons of hope. They're active, contributing members, as you can see, from helping heals program. They went down to Costa Rica to give back. Actually put in plumbing for families that were less fortunate. There has been a number of these programs down, habitat for humanity. Our kids went to build houses.

So, I have to tell you, I am unilaterally proud of these kids, of what they are doing. I mean, obviously, the press is going to search them out for years to come. They are a constructive force for world peace. I

Don't know if you spent time looking at our project Common Bond. But Tuesday's Children has pioneered a program now bringing in kids that lost parents to acts of terrorism throughout the world. It was in Belfast, Northern Ireland this year that we did it, Spain, London. I think the leadership our kids have shown in those programs in bringing together sort of constructive mediation goals, with Harvard and others, bodes well for the future of this country.

LEMON: David, thank you.

And, of course, Bridget and Erin.

I say what David said, we are very proud of you as Americans. Thank you so much for what you do. Best of luck to you.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Until recently, Pastor Terry Jones was little known outside of Gainesville, Florida. In the last week, his name has consistently made Twitter's top-ten topics. An expert on Internet culture will weigh in on how a small-town preacher made big headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, the world had been watching to see if a Florida pastor would burn the Koran today. This morning, Pastor Terry Jones announced he would not do the burning now or in the future, he says. So how does a leader of a fringe church group land in the center of the national spotlight? No doubt the Internet played a role and cable television as well.

To talk more about this Internet and information phenomenon, Professor Steve Jones joins us from Chicago. He's an expert on Internet culture.

Professor, some public school classrooms are bigger than this pastor's following, yet the secretary of defense felt compelled to speak with him to discourage him from burning Korans. Have you ever seen anything like this?

STEVE JONES, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO: No. It's pretty unprecedented. Just as unprecedented is the kind of synchronicity between the Internet conversation about this and the media conversation about it. There's been an interesting sort of feedback loop as this has gone on that's made the story larger and larger in both realms.

LEMON: Explain more. Feedback loop between -- you said the Internet and you said news? The news media?

JONES: Right. News media. Essentially, the news media themselves now participate on the Internet through Twitter, Facebook, their own web sites and blogs and so on. As people have seen stories about this, they perpetuate the stories by posting them on Twitter, posting links, writing about it on blogs, so the public dialogue becomes enmeshed in the media dialogue in a way that I think is unprecedented.

LEMON: Part of news is the national conversation is reporting on what people may be interested in. Is it just that the news is reporting on what people are interested in or is it the tail wagging the dog, so to speak?

JONES: It's a little bit of each. But the issue is that you have to make some judgment about what you're going to report if you're news media, but also have to make judgment about what you're going to post online as an individual. The consequences of one's actions can be real and potentially dangerous in a case like this. But we are very used to posting things quickly and easily and maybe not even thinking about those, which is, I think, part of what's fuelled the frenzy about this as information about it has filtered into places like Afghanistan, for instance.

LEMON: So instead of rushing it on the Internet or on the air, like the old days when you would check and wait and have discussions about it, those days are gone. You think we need more now. Is that what you're saying?

JONES: Well, you know, one thing I try to council my students, for instance, is that there could be some very real consequences to the kinds of things you post on Facebook about yourself or even about others when it comes time to leave school and get a job, for instance. You don't necessarily want pictures of yourself partying and doing crazy things and so on that employers might later see in your profile.

We now have to think beyond that I think, to the degree that as we post about something like a Koran burning, we may be doing something with more far-reaching effects than those on a strictly personal level.

LEMON: Professor Steve Jones is an expert on Internet culture. We appreciate your time, sir.

JONES: Thank you.

LEMON: Coming up --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GUADALUPE DE LA VEGA, CNN HERO: I think people have to have in this moment of despair and crisis, have to have a secure place, a sanctuary of peace and love where healing goes on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Juarez, Mexico, is now the murder capital of the world. But one grandmother ignores the danger to provide a safe haven for patients at a hospital she founded.

And a program note. The search for Osama bin Laden continues. But new leaders have emerged. Who are the men who preach his message of hate? "Bin Laden's New Jihadists," coming up tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time to check some of your top stories.

America remembers 9/11 nine years later. At New York's Ground Zero, at the Pentagon and at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, people gathered to honor the almost 3,000 people who died in the terror attacks. At the Pentagon, President Obama urged Americans not to succumb to fear and to remain true to the nation's values.

Donald Trump's bid to buy the proposed site of the Ground Zero mosque is being called nothing more than a P.R. stunt. A lawyer for one of the land owners said he never thought Trump's offer was for real, calling it was a pathetic publicity move. Trump sent a letter offering 25 percent more than what the current owners paid. The billionaire said he's trying to diffuse the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MAGNATE: I don't think you have seen the worst of it. It's going to get worse and worse. And I really think it's going to be hard to get it built. I think construction workers are going to stop it. I think people are going to try and stop it. And I thought my idea could be a way that, in every way, everybody benefits, except me, because I don't even like the location. You want to know the truth. It's one of the worst locations I'd have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: More on that story later on CNN.

The camera on the dashboard of a police car gives a front-row view to a bus hijacking. Offices in Kansas City, Kansas, say the hijacker forced the driver off the city bus Friday morning. Our affiliate, KSHB reports another six more people escaped before the man took off alone. Officers apprehended him 30 minutes later when a tire on the bus caught fire, ending the chase.

The lawyer for an American hiker detained in Iran says her family's emotions are, quote, "being abused." On Thursday, Iranian authorities said Sarah Shourd would be freed this weekend but they cancelled her release one day later. The hikers were taken for allegedly crossing from Iraq to Iran but haven't been charged yet. Tehran has accused them of being spies.

There have been nearly 2,000 homicides in Juarez, Mexico, this year, including 25 on Thursday, one of the deadliest days since the raging drug war began. Seven of the victims were women and girls. Despite this unending violence, a 74-year-old grandmother crosses the U.S. border into Juarez almost daily to check on patients at a hospital she started. Meet this week's "CNN Hero," Guadalupe de la Vega.

(CNN HERO)

LEMON: Baseball is a year-round sport for a lot of talented young players with their eyes on the big leagues. But this can lead to injury problems, especially for pitchers. Future Hall-of Famer Tom Glavine has advice straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time now for a "CNN Equals Politics" update. We are keeping an eye on the latest headlines on the CNN.com Political Ticker. Here's what's crossing now.

Things are getting testy between California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. During a flight that took him over Alaska, Schwarzenegger tweeted that he couldn't see Russia, as a reference to the line from a "Saturday Night Live" skit that made fun of Palin. Palin responded by saying Schwarzenegger should have landed so she could explain how a state can have a budget surplus, making fun of California's huge budget problems there.

Control of the Senate could shift even before the Congress is seated next January. There are three special elections in November to fill Senate seats in the current Congress. Republican wins in any of the races would weaken the Democrats. Senate majority in the current session of Congress continues its work past election day.

In Connecticut, a Democrat who upset a ten-term Republican in 2008 is hoping to hold on this time around. It's today's featured race in the "CNN 100," our in-depth look at 100 key House races heading into the critical mid-term elections. Check the "CNN 100" and all the latest political news at CNNpolitics.com.

"The Situation Room" deals with politics. It's straight ahead. And Suzanne Malveaux is in for Wolf Blitzer.

Suzanne, what do you have?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN GUEST HOST, THE SITUATION ROON: Thanks, Don.

As President Obama steps up his push for Congress to let the Bush tax cuts expire, we'll talk to White House Economic Advisor Austan Goolsbee about how that could impact the economy.

We'll also talk to a leading critic of the president's economic policies, outspoken Congressman, Republican Congressman Ron Paul.

And would you believe there are leaky pipes, broken toilets, power outages at the White House. We'll tell you about a major renovation that is going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Back to you, Don.

LEMON: All right, Suzanne, thank you very much.

Experts are calling it an epidemic, pitching injuries in youth baseball. How to prevent them is, of course, the big question. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta decided to get advice from one of the best left- handed pitchers ever to play the game, in today's "Fit Nation" report.

(FIT NATION)

LEMON: Coming up, documenting the events at Ground Zero. How one man used his job as the official fire department photographer at Ground Zero to honor the rescuers and those who died on that terrible day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Here's one of my favorite parts of the show. Every weekend, we like to bring you interesting news items you might have missed in the week.

Up first, California made its crackdown on child rapists official this week. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Chelsea's Law into the books. The law requires life without parole for people convicted of forcible sex acts against a child and it mandates life-long tracking of habitual sex offenders. The law is named after Chelsea King. Convicted sex offender, John Gardiner, pleaded guilty in April to sexual assaulting and murdering 14-year-old Chelsea as well as another 14-year-old, Amber Dubay (ph).

Fewer people died in traffic accidents in the last year than at any time since 1950. The total for the year was 33,808, a drop of nearly 10 percent over 2008. Officials say several factors contributed to the decline. 85 percent of people now wear seat belts, the most ever. And during a down economy, trips for entertainment purposes are not as common, cutting down on the number of drunk driving incidents.

I want you to take a close look at this video. A young girl is running after a ball in the street -- or is it? This is part of a traffic safety campaign in Canada designed to make drivers slow down at high-risk intersections. I wanted you to get a good look at that. It's actually a decal on the pavement that creates a 3-D illusion. Reaction is mixed. Some people worry it may cause drivers to swerve and hit something else or eventually become immune to the image and hit an actual child in the roadway. Interesting nonetheless.

Remember Rodney King, the man whose 1992 beating at the hands of Los Angeles police got nationwide attention? He's marrying a jury against the civil trial against the city. Reports say King is engaged to Cynthia Kelly, who was on the jury when King successfully sued the city two years after he was beaten. The jury awarded King $3.8 million. The two reportedly met for pizza shortly after the trial, but only got back together a few months ago.

There's still no memorial or museum at Ground Zero nine years after the attacks. But Gary Marlon Suson is tired of waiting. Susan was the official photographer for the New York firefighters' union in the recovery effort. He pulled together images and artifacts to create his own tribute.

And CNN producer, Dana Garret, takes us inside.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here you go. Put those on.

GARY MARLON SUSON, PHOTOGRAPHER & FOUNDER, GROUND ZERO MUSEUM WORKSHOP: Ground Zero Museum Workshop features 100 images and artifacts from the Ground Zero recovery period. We're arguably the smallest museum in New York City. People come from all over the world to listen to these stories to gain a greater understanding of what life was like inside Ground Zero.

For six months, I was at Ground Zero documenting about 18 hours per day.

The first thought that comes to mind when we think of 9/11 is death, the terrorists. However, the recovery brought out the very best in human beings.

When they come in here, they're getting an insider's perspective on what life was like. And oftentimes, that is met with tears. You didn't have to lose someone on September 11 in order to be affected or to feel the pain of what happened.

Each artifact has its own little story. It can be a door knob. It can be a piece of glass or a piece of steel. The clock stuck at 10:02 and marking the collapse of the first tower.

The Today is the Tuesday, September 11 calendar, that was found in the path train subway. Luckily, was given permission to save the artifacts. My only regret is I didn't save more of them or I didn't ask a little bit sooner.

There was a photograph I shot of a firefighter kneeling in the dirt at Ground Zero. It kind of sums up the emotions of that time period.

I think I will innately know when I've done everything that I can do in form of art, that is, to keep the memory alive of those who died.

But right now, I feel that this is what I'm supposed to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Very nice.

I'm Don Lemon at the CNN Center in Atlanta. "THE SITUATION ROOM" begins right now.