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School Lunches or Food Stamps; Teens Fight Back Against Bullies; Oktoberfest in Germany

Aired September 29, 2010 - 10:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're just reaching the top of the hour. And we are starting out with healthy lunches for schoolchildren or food for the poor. Some House Democrats say that they don't want to choose between the two. But the pressure is on.

The federal child nutrition program expires tomorrow and it's championed by first lady Michelle Obama. The Senate version of the bill would make more kids eligible for meal programs. It would establish nutrition standards for food in schools and it would give schools a few extra pennies per meal to make that happen.

So White House allies in Congress are threatening not to pass it because it would take away billions of dollars set aside for food stamps.

Here's how the two programs stack up. Nearly 41 million Americans are now on food stamps -- a 50 percent jump from the start of the recession. But 31 million kids participate in the school lunch program. A lot of those kids depending on their school meal as the only food they'll have all day.

Lisa Desjardins is on Capitol Hill. She works for CNN radio and she also joins us on occasion. We're very lucky. This is definitely pitting lawmakers against each other. And it's a shame because we're talking about our kids and our kids' health.

LISA DESJARDINS, CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT, CNNRADIO: Right. All these debates of Congress is having and this is such a huge one for the future of the country. And, yet, here they are at a stand still. This is an intense fight, Kyra, because of the issue at hand and also because many interest groups are involved. I'm talking about the American Heart Association, huge groups across the spectrum. However, this issue is at a stand still now as you just reported because liberal Democrats don't like that the money to help kids in school would come from poor families at home. One of those liberal Democrats we talked to yesterday, Jim McGovern from Massachusetts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JIM MCGOVERN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Look, I want a robust child nutrition re-authorization bill. I want to support the first lady. But I don't want to, you know, rob Peter to pay Paul. I don't want to feed some hungry people by taking away from other hungry people. And that's the choice we're given. It's kind of ironic that the offset for child nutrition is food stamps. You know, I mean you're going to increase nutrition standards for children in school but then you have to take it away from them at home. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DESJARDINS: You saw him talking to our Dana Bash right here yesterday. And, Kyra, you know, this fight, this huge fight over what our kids are eating has landed in the middle of dozens of other fights as Congress is trying to get out of town for the elections, trying to finish up their business today or tomorrow. It's a mad scramble here at the end.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, how hard is the first lady really pushing for this? Obviously, it's so important for our kids. And what happens if it doesn't get approved by tomorrow?

DESJARDINS: Right. Try to peel away the curtain at the White House. People here on Capitol Hill say she is very involved. In fact, some folks in the nutrition arena, some folks who support this bill say it would never have passed the Senate, wouldn't have gotten to the Senate floor without her help. Another sign of Michelle Obama's reach, other powerful figures in the White House are involved. Rahm Emanuel, for example, we know called Representative McGovern who you just heard from last week to try and lobby him on this bill.

So she's very involved. But she's hitting a wall right now. What happens if this bill doesn't pass, if the authorization expires on the 30th? The truth is, Kyra, probably not too much. Congress will pass a continuing resolution we expect in the next day. You can never predict for sure with these guys. But we expect them to pass a continuing resolution that would essentially keep that program and most all other programs in government at the same level they were at last year.

So it will be like a punt. And the next occasion to bring this up would be after Congress returns, after the elections. Right now, Kyra, it looks like that's probably what will happen.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to stay on top of it, that's for sure. Lisa, thanks so much.

And as it stands now, the federal government pays $2.68 per child per free lunch. So what kind of food can you get for that? Take a look at these pictures. They're from a Massachusetts teacher who is blogging anonymously as she sits alongside students in the cafeteria eating their school lunches for a year.

Pretty gross, huh? Well, you're not alone in that feeling. "USA Today" has been investigating school meals for months. And these are just some of the headlines that they found. Fast food standards for meat top those for school lunches. Thousands of cafeterias lack required inspections. And a recall of tainted beef didn't include school lunches.

Let's get to the two reporters who broke a lot of that information while writing the stories. We're bringing them back. Peter Eisler and Blake Morrison joining me live from D.C.. Guys, great to see you again. And just to kind of recap when all of us talked a number of months ago, because I remember when the first story came out, the most appalling thing to me was the fact that you guys discovered our kids were eating meat and chicken that was about to go to compost, stuff that was going to dog food and cat food.

You know, Peter, working on the series, what do you think the most appalling thing was that you discovered?

PETER EISLER, REPORTER "USA TODAY": Well, we were very surprised to find that the standards, the safety standards that most of the major fast food chains use for their beef were up to 10 times more stringent than the standards that the federal government was using for the beef that it buys for 31 million students a day. The meat that the fast food chains buy is tested much more frequently for dangerous pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli 157.

And also the standards for the amount of bacteria in - that they will allow in that meat were much more stringent for the fast food chains. So in some cases up to 10 times more stringent than what the federal government is having.

PHILLIPS: Now, Blake, I remember you guys went after the USDA. Did you get any answers? Do we know where this food is coming from? Do we know if that disgusting food below standards is not getting into the schools now because of the reporting that you guys did? Where do we stand?

BLAKE MORRISON, REPORTER "USA TODAY": Well, as a result of our story, the USDA did tighten its requirements on beef, especially. They have raised the standards now to be equal to or above what you're seeing in the fast food restaurants. What we're trying to find out now from USDA is what is the other food that they're buying for schools?

You had mentioned earlier the issue of these spent hand meat. They had, over 10 years, purchased about 77 million pounds of that meat. Now these are from old egg-laying chickens that don't lay eggs anymore. The meat is pretty tough and grizzly (ph) and the Campbell's soup, for instance, won't even buy it for its soup. So those are the things that we want to try to keep on top of and we want to try to find out as we go forward, does the USDA continue to buy these kinds of products or are they going in a different direction, hopefully a better and more wholesome direction.

PHILLIPS: So Peter, what I'm hearing from Blake is that we still don't know, like, for example, beef, what's being rejected and where it's being purchased from, right?

EISLER: Well, we know that the new standards that USDA put in place are much tougher than the ones than they had previously. And it's the first time in 10 years that they've overhauled those standards. What we're working on now is trying to determine what is the effect of those new standards been? Are they rejecting more meat than they were rejecting previously? Are they using different suppliers than they were using previously? That is something that we're working with USDA right now to sort of pin down.

PHILLIPS: Got it. And now, you know, we all just heard from Lisa Desjardins there on the hill, doesn't look so good with regard to the child nutritional act. At least something happening right now. Blake, why does that concern you? And, you know, what could happen as we continue to wait on that?

MORRISON: Well, one of the things that I think is really important is that no matter what Congress does, there are things out there that the parents can do. And one of the things we highlighted was the ineffectiveness of the government inspecting cafeterias at schools. Cafeterias by law are supposed to be inspected twice a year, just like you would a restaurant. And what's happened at 8,500 or so schools around the country is they haven't gotten inspected at all.

And one of the things we found was that a lot of the sicknesses that we were seeing in schools are caused by a norovirus, that's stomach flu that is passed from person to person. If you have unclean cafeterias with mouse droppings or workers who aren't trained properly, you're going to see the spread of that illness.

The beauty of the law right now is that parents can go to any school in the country and they can ask to see the cafeteria inspection reports. If there isn't one, they can demand that one be done. That's something people can do no matter what Congress does. I think it's something very important.

PHILLIPS: That is such great advice. Because just knowing that we can do that and have the right to have that access, because, as we know, I mean, come on. Remember the lunch ladies? They weren't always very friendly in elementary and junior high. I mean, there were some tough cookies back there.

So Peter, you know, what is another take away from this? You know, you guys have exposed it all. You're still going to stay on top of the proper institutions to make a difference. You know, what else can we do as parents while we wait on better legislation and accountability?

EISLER: Well, a lot of school districts around the country have taken it upon themselves to sort of find ways to insure better safety and better quality in the food that they're providing for their students. You've seen more buy local programs popping up. You see schools starting their own community gardens and trying to teach students about using that kind of food in the meals that they eat every day.

And you know, parents can push for this stuff. They can get in there and they can try to help their schools along those lines. They can also talk to their schools about what they're buying and where they're getting it from. The federal government provides a lot of the meat and a lot of the bigger sort of large volume commodities that the schools get.

But many schools also do a good bit of their buying on their own. And that's where parents can get in there and they can say who are you buying from? What are you getting? They can put on pressure and really make a difference.

PHILLIPS: Peter Eisler and Blake Morrison, great reporting for "USA Today." Such an important subject. Guys, thanks so much. I look forward to your next reports.

MORRISON: Thanks for having us.

PHILLIPS: You bet.

School lunches are the hot topic on our blog today. Here's some of the treats and nightmares that you shared with me so far. Josh says "I distinctly remember purple and poorly breaded chicken fries that tasted like deep fried mayonnaise and the schools' attempts, (I shudder at the thought), fried clam nuggets."

Connie says "In 1974 we moved to very rural Louisiana. The first day of school the cafeteria served flying saucers. It was a piece of fried baloney topped with a scoop of mashed potatoes and a slice of American cheese."

Suzanne said that "our school served salsa, corn chips, sour cream and nacho cheese dip and they called it a healthy meal because the basic food groups were included and vegetables were offered." And this comes from another Connie. "I grew up in Columbus, Georgia, we had the best school lunches. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, peach cobbler and the most delicious yeast rolls and it only cost 35 cents." We love hearing from you. Log on to cnn.com/kyra to share your comments or tweet me at kyra cnn.

Well, we all want fresh breath and mouth wash usually helps. But the FDA says that some manufacturers are making claims that they just can't back up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Take a look at these images, buried cars and destroyed buildings. It's a result of landslides in southern Mexico that Rob Marciano first told us about yesterday. Initial estimates put the dead and missing at 1,000 now. Mexican rescuers cannot confirm that anyone died and lists only about a dozen people as missing.

Days of heavy rain and the remnants of tropical storm Matthew caused those landslides. As bad as it looks though in Mexico now, more rain on the way. We got problems with the upper midwest as well. You're covering the entire country for us and then some.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And then Mexico as well. Good news for that part of Mexico, they're beginning to dry things out just a little bit. But we have been watching tropical depression number 16 which really is just a big old mess. Look at this circulation. I mean, it's huge. The center of it, the National Hurricane Center has had a hard time pinpointing it at one point. They had it here this morning and now it's kind of moved back to just about onshore to Cuba.

Regardless of that, just torrential rains across Cuba, Jamaica and, yes, across Florida. And some of these rains have already made it towards the Carolinas. Here's the forecast track. Still forecasting it to become a tropical storm. It's name would be Nicole. Getting across southern Florida later on this afternoon and tonight. And then getting over towards the Carolinas in some way, shape or form. Likely, a weak tropical storm tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night.

That's going to create some problems. We got tropical storm warnings are up in anticipation for this across parts of southern Florida. And look at the rain. All the way up to Melbourne, Florida. This is steady and in some cases heavy. And it does stretch all the way up into the Carolinas already. So in these areas, we already have some flooding going on. You had over a foot of rain in Wilmington, North Carolina the past two days. They're under flash flood warnings for parts of (INAUDIBLE) county. Four to eight inches of potential more rainfall with this system going up the east coast. It will get all the way up to upstate New York as well. So everybody on the East Coast already water logged. Getting a piece of what could become tropical storm Nicole. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Rob.

Checking top stories now.

A German citizen is giving details about a potential terror plot in Europe. The man was detained in Afghanistan and is now in U.S. custody. A German official says that there were no indications of imminent attacks.

Classes resume today at the University of Texas Austin. The school shut down after a major - or a math major opened fire with an assault rifle. The 19-year-old killed himself. Nobody else was hurt.

Former President Jimmy Carter will be staying in a Cleveland hospital for at least a day or so. Carter who turns 86 on Friday suffered an upset stomach while on a book tour.

Most people take a daily dose of mouth wash and that's a good thing. But the FDA says that three companies that produce mouth wash, Johnson & Johnson, CVS and Walgreen's make claims that they can't back up. It wants to put a stop to it. Among other things, they say that their products help remove plaque or prevent gum disease. The FDA says if so, prove it. If not, they say the companies have 15 days to correct the problem or face civil or criminal penalties.

And they're throwing back more than a couple of beers in Germany.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is the average beer consumption a day at the Oktoberfest?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: As he stumbles through that description. The world's largest beer party. But, believe it or not, it's not all about the beer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, it's one brewsky after another in Germany. People filling their beer tents and filling their beer mugs. It's Oktoberfest. But this year it's something pretty special. It's the 200th anniversary of the festival. CNN's Diana Magnay was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are costumes you wouldn't normally see at Munich's Oktoberfest. But if you've been at the very first festival back in 1810, to celebrate the wedding of the various Crown Prince Ludwig, this is what he might have worn. And here's how you might have danced.

(on camera): And now I need to see the way the girls do it.

(voice-over): There's a special jubilee brew on sale to mark the Oktoberfest's 200th birthday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm drank now (INAUDIBLE) beer.

MAGNAY: How many have you had?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One.

MAGNAY (voice-over): This woman says she likes the fact that it's strong.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gets you higher.

MAGNAY: Gets you higher, she tells me.

Gabrielle Weishaeupl have been running the festival for 25 years. This year she's expecting around six million visitors, 10 percent more than normal. And Oktoberfest is already a gold mine for Munich.

GABRIELLE WEISHAEUPL, OKTOBERFEST MANAGER: We have an economic value up nearly 900 million euro. So everybody in Munich is in this area. It means more than 300 million euro spent here in the festival and the rest in the city, accommodation, shopping and (INAUDIBLE).

MAGNAY: And, of course, the beer. One of these will set you back some $12. And most people don't stop at one.

(on camera): What is your average beer consumption a day at the Oktoberfest?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, 10 of them.

MAGNAY: How many have you had so far?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five.

MAGNAY: Good work. Good work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm getting there.

MAGNAY: Good luck with the rest. Will you be standing on the table at the end?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes! Yes!

MAGNAY (voice-over): But it's not all about the alcohol.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's having all cultures together in one place and everybody celebrating without having trouble or so. So it's really nice.

MAGNAY: Millions of international visitors raising a glass together, celebrating a very Bavarian tradition.

Diana Magnay, CNN, Munich.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to have to put those beer mugs away now and get pretty serious.

Bullying seems to be an epidemic these days. Coming up, we're going to show you how some kids are taking a proactive approach to the people who reject them and the bullies who torment them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: One of the young men accusing mega church leader Eddie Long of sexual coercion has a message for his former pastor. Jamal Parris spoke to an Atlanta TV station, WAGA.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMAL PARRIS, ACCUSER: That man cannot look me in my eye and tell me we did not live this pain. You can sit in front of the church and tell them that you categorically deny it, you can't say that to our face. You know this. You are not a man. You a monster.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Parris and three other men filed lawsuits accusing long of using his power and influence within the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to lure them into sexual situations. Long's attorney released this statement.

"Unfortunately, the plaintiff and counsel are attempting to try their lawsuits in the media. The appropriate place to try lawsuits is in the courtroom. There are rules on how civil litigation is to take place and how counsel should conduct themselves. We intend to follow those rules." Well, all through the past school year we reported on school kids bullied to the point of suicide. Some just tormented for the hell of it. Others bullied for their sexual orientation, real or perceived. Well, sadly, it looks like we're picking up right where we left off. At least two cases already and it's still September.

In Houston, last week, an eighth grader, Asher Brown, went home and shot himself to death. His parents claimed that bullies tormented him for two years. Then there's a Facebook page called Rip Asher Brown. About 1,700 people have stopped there to - or rest in peace, rather, Asher Brown. People have gone there to show their respects and leave their comments.

And in Greensburg, Indiana, earlier this month, 15-year-old Billy (ph) Lucas hanged himself in his family's barn. Others students have said that Billy (ph) was bullied starting in the first grade, tormented because other kids thought he was gay.

Well, the state of Indiana already has bullying laws on the books. But one lawmaker believes that they need to be stronger. So we want to know what else is being done to stop and prevent this very real problem. We found an organization in Hartford, Connecticut, where teachers counselors and kids are learning how to accept gay and lesbian kids with those struggling with gender identity. Kids rejected by their friends and their families. Here's their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are the stereotypes we deal with?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lesbians fall in love after a day and move in two weeks later.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay men can't play sports. They can't play football. They can't do anything that is identified towards masculinity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Men speak in high voices.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay people like every person they see.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay people are the reason why we have HIV.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): If you think your life is difficult, imagine being a gay teen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I get called names. I get called faggot. And sometimes people throw things at me at school. Nobody does anything about it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got hit with a bottle outside. Somebody threw a bottle at me outside of cars.

PHILLIPS: Kamora Harrington (ph), otherwise known as mom or the gay fairy godmother is the daughter of activists. She is bi-racial, gay and never holds back. KAMORA HARRINGTON (ph): Your mother can love the heck out of you. Your father can love the heck out of you. Your aunts, your uncles, your teachers can be there but if they haven't walked the same walk, they don't know what it's like to be discriminated against because of your sexuality.

PHILLIPS: Kamora (ph) is helping these at risk teens identify with being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender.

HARRINGTON: Who you are is not wrong. Who you are is the way that you're supposed to be because that's who you are.

PHILLIPS: This is True Colors, a rare teen mentoring program that gives gay teens who have been abandoned, rejected or discriminated against a sanctuary.

HARRINGTON: For a lot of my kids, they have been so beaten up by the world that they don't know how to put their best face forward.

PHILLIPS: No matter your color, background, and sexual preference, in this place, everyone is treated equally, and taught, as Kamora puts it, to walk their truth.

SHENAE, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: I think it's really the sense of family. When I met Kamora, the first thing she did was say hi and give me a hug.

DAVID, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: True Colors just makes you feel like -- how do you say this? They make you feel like someone. Honestly, I don't want to make anyone feel bad, but they make you feel better than what your family makes you feel.

PHILLIPS (on camera): This is more of a family here than your biological family?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Today a meeting on bullying. Eighteen- year-old Rose is transgender, and was chosen by True Colors to speak to other high school teens. It was liberating.

ROSE, TRUE COLORS SPEAKER: It's gotten to the point where I know who I am and I just don't care what other people think.

PHILLIPS: True Colors supporter and psychologist Richard Stiltson is encouraged by Rose's progress.

DR. RICHARD STILLSON, PH.D, TRUE COLORS SUPPORTER: I love hearing your story because you have moved away from this shameful place of "I have to be hiding and feel fearful and feel terrible about who I am."

You are not at that place anymore. I have been at that place where you are full of shame and you avoid and you live in fear. Because that's what it was like for me when I was in high school, and they called me faggot.

PHILLIPS: Almost all of these teens go from one foster home to the next, products of families that have either disowned them or just can't understand their sexuality.

RISHEBA, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: My parents are very well off. They're very wealthy. My brothers, my two brothers, still live with my parents, and the only reason why I was put into foster care is because my parents were not accepting of my sexuality.

PHILLIPS: Their stories are heart-breaking.

RISHEBA: My mom was like, if you were never born, I would never have this. I would never lupus. It wouldn't have flared up. It would have never been there.

ERICA, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: If I am straight, then I'm good. That's what I kept thinking. I went out with a girl and had sex with her. She got pregnant. And then she was like, I want to marry you and be with you. Blah, blah, blah. I said, "Um, sweetie, I'm gay." And then she punched me in my face, and she then aborted the baby.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is like true confessions here.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): A rare, light-hearted moment in a complex discussion marked more with stories of pain and prejudice.

KYLE, TRUE COLORS ATTENDEE: I don't know if words would hurt me that much, but the looks on people's faces would. My father --

DAVID: I would be really scared to just go outside talk to my friends.

PHILLIPS (on camera): Were you scared to go outside into your community because you were gay?

DAVID: Yes.

PHILLIPS: I was blown away by the backgrounds. These kids have been forced into prostitution, been rejected by their family for religious reasons, lived in all-black neighborhoods and as a black male don't feel comfortable saying they're gay. They've been threatened by family members that they'd be killed for being gay. How do you handle all of that?

HARRINGTON: Because there's a need. Because True Colors exists to create a world where our kids are affirmed and allowed to go off and be who they are. And I get to be here to do this.

As a gay community, we have ostracized from our birth families. So, we've had to created these chosen families. We've had to live and depend on this extended family model. And this is a wonderful place where through a program, I can share that piece of this culture with my kids and say hey, this is who we are.

We have our leaders and honestly, every last one of you in here is a leader. You guys impress the heck out of me. My leaders are here. Loud. Yes, y'all are loud. When we get to stereotypes, loud. Spunky, posh, caring, strong, silly, laughter, we have it all. I don't see gay. I don't see lesbian. I don't see faggot. I don't see dyke. That's not our main identity. That's what other people put on us. But we're way more than that.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Way more empowered --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know he put me on this earth for a reason. I'm here for a reason and also to make a difference.

PHILLIPS: -- far more ready to walk their truth.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's about concentrating on the parts that are not gay. How to develop ourselves and shape ourselves so we become strong, independent people. Then it won't matter if someone says, hey, you're a fag. You're a dyke. Really? Well -- you're straight. Whoop- de-do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And this week, a group is actually suggesting legislation to help protect LGBT kids. We're trying to figure out why kids act the way they do towards the LGBT community.

Stuart Biegel wrote the book, "The Right To Be Out." He teaches at UCLA. He's on that panel, and he will be fighting for legislation. He's joining us now to talk. Hi, Stewart.

STUART BIEGEL, UCLA EDUCATION AND LAW FACULTY: Hi. How are you today?

PHILLIPS: Good to see you. You know, you were a teacher for many years. And you dealt with all types of students. Do you remember these kids being picked on specifically? were there certain moments that really touched you, moved you, to where you wanted to make a difference?

BIEGEL: I think that there's so many examples and so many different ways of students who are being badly mistreated. And faculty complicity, teachers looking the other way. And at the same time, you have so many people and education communities who don't even want to talk about these issues.

PHILLIPS: And why is that? Because some schools are really good at handling this -- these issues and teachers and administrators and other kids. And other schools are just so incredibly insensitive.

BIEGEL: Many schools are doing amazingly wonderful jobs. But in many other places, the culture is such that people are hoping these issues will go away. Of course, when you have problems, you have to be able to talk about them.

PHILLIPS: You write about educators and administrators being nervous about this issue. Why? BIEGEL: I think school culture changes with great difficulty even as society around us is changing. School culture is a little bit slower to change.

PHILLIPS: Tell me about the legislation recommendations that's you're making that you're going to make starting tomorrow once all these heavy hitter come together to talk about this issue.

BIEGEL: We're hoping to have legislation that targets bullying specifically but also targets harassment between and among all students of all races, ethnicities and orientations. We're also hoping to increase the protection against discrimination. So much of the problem has to do with discriminatory discipline where gay and lesbian kids who report mistreatment are treated differently and often blamed at the cost of blaming the victim.

PHILLIPS: And tell me what you're recommending specifically. Is it that every school have a support group? Is it encouraging gay teachers and administrators to come out? Because there are so many different ideas that have been talked about but never implemented.

BIEGEL: We recommend a menu of options. There are many different things that communities can choose from in our list of recommendations. LGBT educators can play a very important role, but too often there is pressure on them to stay closeted.

PHILLIPS: So, are you recommending more organizations, like programs in schools?

BIEGEL: Programs, there are many proven programs. A larger focus on school climate will benefit everybody. It doesn't even have to be LGBT-specific to help gay and lesbian kids, to help gender nonconforming kids, to help prevent the sorts of horrific tragedies that you were just reporting on.

PHILLIPS: Yes. And we are waiting for the day that we don't have to report on those types of stories. That it's way more positive in schools for these kids.

Stuart Biegel, appreciate your time today. We'll follow the conference.

BIEGEL: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Bullying in our schools and now online. Why do kids do it? And what can be done to put an end to it? An "AC 360" special report you can't miss. CNN next Monday night, 10:00 Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Live pictures out of Washington, D.C. A Senate Foreign Relations committee is holding a hearing right now on the circumstances surrounding the release of convicted Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi from a Scottish prison last year.

You know, it's been 22 years since that bombing and that flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. 270 people were killed, most of them Americans. And you know, al-Megrahi cheated those innocent passengers of their lives. And now this terrorist is cheating his own death and justice.

Remember this video? We were appalled when he got this hero's welcome as he landed in Libya. He was released on compassionate grounds to go home and die after being diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. He was supposed to die within months. But doctors say he may live for more than ten years, which brings us to today and this hearing. U.S. senators want more justification for why a terrorist like al-Megrahi should remain free.

Checking top stories now. New information on a terror plot that has officials in U.S. and Europe on alert this morning. Sources say that al Qaeda may be plotting commando-style raids on so- called soft targets. Intelligence officials say a captured German citizen of Afghan decent has given them information about a potential Mumbai-style plot in Europe.

In San Bruno, California, the natural gas pipeline explosion and fire has claimed at life. A 58-year-old man has become the eighth victim now. The investigation into the cause of the blast continues.

And BP is shaking up management following the Gulf oil disaster. The company also launching a new safety and operational risk unit.

We just told you about fight against school bullies. Now I want to talk about what I think about bullying on a different level. Take a listen to this.

In Michigan, you have an assistant attorney general using his blog to slam an openly gay president at the University of Michigan student government. For the past six months, Andrew Shirvell has accused Chris Armstrong things like flagrant sexual promiscuity with another gay - or guy student in government. Seducing and influencing a previously conservative male student to the point where the student morphed into a proponent of the radical homosexual agenda. Hosting a gay orgy in his dorm room and trying to recruit freshmen to join the homosexual lifestyle.

Well, Anderson Cooper challenged the assistant attorney general.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW SHIRVELL, MICHGAN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: I'm doing this as a private citizen off work time as a university of Michigan alum.

We're quibbling over tactics. We're not quibbling over substance. The substance of the matter is, Anderson, Chris Armstrong is a radical homosexual activist who got elected partly funded by the gay and lesbian victory fund to promote a very deeply radical agenda at the University of Michigan.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: First of all, Mr. Shirvell, you're not in school anymore. Second of all, the students elected this guy president. If there are real problems, can't they just handle it? I just think there is something very wrong with a state official beating up on a college kid in a public way like this and harping on his sexuality.

Funny how Michigan's attorney general can't put enough distance between his office and Shirvell. He actually told CNN that Shirvell's personal opinions are his and his alone. But, quote, "his lack of immaturity and lack of judgement outside the office are clear." Well, you bet they are. Maybe he'll be as classy as his boss one day.

Mystery solved about Sarah Palin being booed on "Dancing With the Stars." Our political update reveals the answer, next.

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PHILLIPS: Time now for the latest from The Best Political Team on Television. Our senior political editor Mark Preston in Washington at the desk there. Mark, what's crossing?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, Kyra. Good morning.

Well, fresh off the political ticker, new numbers on the war in Afghanistan. What do Americans think about the war in Afghanistan? Well, CNN has this new poll, Kyra, just out in the last couple hours. Thirty-nine percent of Americans favor -- excuse me, favor the war in Afghanistan, while 58 percent oppose the war in Afghanistan.

Why is it such a big political problem for Democrats and the Obama administration? Well, when you break down along ideological lines, it shows that only 20 percent of Democrats support the war. This is down nine points from a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, Kyra, that was taken earlier this month. At a time when President Obama and Democrats are trying to get that Democratic base really energized and to get them out there and have them show up at the polls in November, this is not very good news.

Let's look at this story right here on the political ticker from our own Molly Levinson. It's the CNN 100. What we're doing is we're looking at the top 100 House races that's could come in play come November 2. This one right here is about a race in Pennsylvania. It is currently held by Republican Charlie Dent. Democrats think they might have a shot at this seat. You know, surprisingly, Democrats don't have many shots across the country. But this is an area that not only did President Obama win in 2008, Al Gore won in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. Public polling right now, shows, though, Kyra, that Charlie Dent has a lead over the Democrat who's Bethlehem mayor John Callahan. Still, Democrats think they can close this in the next few weeks.

And really the big mystery is solved on Dancing with the Stars. There was some booing when Sarah Palin came on here. And some people thought that was the audience booing Sarah Palin. But, in fact, ABC has released some video and we realize that, in fact, they weren't booing Sarah Palin. They were booing the judges, who had given some scores to some dancers right before then. So, for all the Sarah Palin haters who thought that those Dancing with the Stars audience members were mad at Sarah Palin, I'm sorry, they weren't. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Thanks for setting the record straight. Thanks, Mark.

We'll have your next political update in an hour. For all the latest political news go, you can always go to our Web site, CNNpolitics.com.

All right. Let's go cross country. Starting in Nogales, Arizona. Police arrested the mayor there on charges that he took bribes in exchange for city contracts. The FBI says the mayor steered contracts to certain businesses. He is also charged with money laundering, fraud, and conflict of interest.

In Miami, a bizarre sight. Singer Gloria Estefan had to climb out of a window at SunLife Stadium when the door to her luxury box wouldn't open. They had to rush down to the field and introduce Enrique Iglesias, the halftime entertainment at the Miami Dolphins football game Sunday night.

Well, talk about embarrassing. Seconds after the announcer named the winner of Australia's Next Top Model, she has to admit that she got it wrong. Stick around. You'll see what happens.

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PHILLIPS: Every day at this time, we honor the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan for us. We call it "Home and Away." Today, we want to lift up Captain David Anthony Wisniewski (ph) from Mobile, Iowa. He was an Air Force Academy graduate doing combat search and rescue in Afghanistan. He died in July after his helicopter was shot down in Helmand Province. Four other airmen were killed in that crash.

Dave's fiancee, Melissa Ann Samberg, sent in these pictures for us. The couple met on E -Harmony and were to be married this month. Melissa hopes Dave is remembered for his beautiful smile and genuine kindness. She says Dave was so humble about the job that he did and the many lives that he touched and saved. There is nothing more he wanted to do than fly to the rescue of others in need. He truly loved and believed in his job.

If there's a loved one or a comrade that you'd like us to honor, this is all you have to do. Just go to CNN.com/homeandaway, type in the service member's name in the upper right-hand search field, pull up the profile. Send us your thoughts, your pictures. And we promise to keep the memory of your hero alive.

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PHILLIPS: Aww, you know that Abba song. "Winner takes it all." But not always. Imagine the embarrassment when the host of the Australia's Next Top Model names the wrong winner. A gaffe like that on national television, no place to hide. Perfect for our Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You feel like a loser when you blow the "who's the winner" announcement, as we in the media...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We call Florida.

MOOS: ... know all too well.

DAN RATHER, FORMER CBS ANCHOR: Excuse me one second. I'm so sorry to interrupt you. Mike, you know I wouldn't do this if it weren't big. Florida goes for Al Gore.

MOOS: Oh, no, it didn't.

RATHER: Bush wins. Florida goes Bush.

MOOS: Announcing the winner of the presidency is big, but announcing...

SARAH MURDOCH, HOST, "AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP MODEL": And "Australia's Next Top Model" is...

MOOS: ... not so big. Until you get it wrong.

MURDOCH: It's you, Kelsey.

MOOS: The victor, Kelsey Martinovich, and a vanquished Amanda Ware hugged. And then, live on Australia's FOX 8, host Sarah Murdoch heard a voice in her ear. Uh-oh.

MURDOCH: Oh my God. I don't know what to say right now. I'm feeling a bit sick about this. This is not -- this was a complete accident. I'm so sorry. It's Amanda. I'm so sorry. It was fed to me wrong.

MOOS (on camera): The TV folks say there was a miscommunication between the broadcast truck and the stage.

(voice-over) The loser consoled the host.

MURDOCH: It's ridiculous.

KELSEY MARTINOVICH, RUNNER-UP, "AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP MODEL": It's fine. Don't worry. It's OK. It's an honest mistake. It's fine.

MOOS (on camera): The loser did get an apology and $25,000 as a consolation prize. (voice-over) The new winner seemed thrilled.

AMANDA WARE, WINNER, "AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP MODEL": Woo!

MOOS: Talent contests seem especially vulnerable to gaffes like this. At the Eurovision song contest three years ago, it came down to a face-off between a group named Scooch and a performer named Cyndi. And the winner is...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, Cyndi! MOOS: Two announcers simultaneously declared different winners.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cyndi!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Scooch!

MOOS: For Cyndi, victory was fleeting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's Scooch! It is Scooch! Cyndi -- Cyndi, darling, I'm so sorry.

MOOS (on camera): You win some, you lose some. Not usually at the same time.

(voice-over) "Australia's Next Top Model" has been dubbed "Australia's Next Top Mistake."

MURDOCH: It's you, Kelsey.

MOOS: There's no mistaking how big a mistake when it attracts that Internet symbol of failure.

MURDOCH: I'm so sorry.

MOOS: The next top model got played off by the keyboard cat.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, we've been talking this hour about a controversial proposal, healthy lunches for school children or food for the poor? Some House Democrats say they don't want to choose between the two. But the pressure is on right now because the federal Child Nutrition Program expires tomorrow.

A lot of you weighing in on this, sharing your stories of your lunches that you remember from school. Jess said, "I ate free school lunches and just happy to have the food. At times, that would be my only meal. It doesn't make sense that Congress would cut food stamps to fund changes in school food."

Dorigen says, "As a mother and dietician, this is not okay. Cutting SNAP benefits to improve school meals reduces the quality of food for families at home. Cutting SNAP is taking away an apple to give an apple." Hoover says, "I remember my school lunches as a child. Everything prepared each day, nothing packaged. When I began my teaching career in the '70s, the lunches were still delicious. As my career continued, the lunches and choices changed. Now lunch choices are laden with saturated fat."

Remember, we always want to hear from you. Just log on to our Web site, CNN.com/kyra, and share your comments. Sure appreciate it.

Tony is off. T.J. is in. He's going to take it from here.