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Verizon to Refund 15M Customers; State Department Issues Travel Advisory for Americans Traveling in Europe; Father of In-Vitro Fertilization Wins Nobel Prize for Medicine; Funeral Service for Tony Curtis Held in Vegas; Democrats Hope to Bridge Enthusiasm Gap With Weekend Rally in Washington; Possible Brain Cancer Vaccine; Vigil, Silence for Rutgers' Student; Challenging Childhood Obesity

Aired October 04, 2010 - 09:00   ET

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

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: Hi, guys. Good show. Good morning for you. Good morning everybody else.

I'm Drew Griffin, in for Kyra Phillips this morning.

And this hour we're going to talk about the travel alert for the Americans visiting Europe. We're also going to find out how serious this really is and what it's all about.

The pounding rain has stopped, the damage done. People in North Carolina, take a look. This is the worst flooding they have had in years.

And if you are a Verizon customer, used to be one, hey, you might have some money coming to you.

It is Monday, 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. out west and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We begin with a travel alert for Americans in Europe amid concerns of a possible terror threat. The State Department not exactly telling people to cancel their flights or change their plans, but the advisory is telling Americans to take common sense safety precautions.

Britain is telling its citizens of a high threat for travel to France and Germany. And thousands of U.S. troops in Germany have been ordered not to wear their uniforms off base.

We're covering this story from all angles. Nic Robertson is in Germany, Atika Shubert in London.

We are going to begin in Germany where European intelligence officials believe a group of extremists are behind the plot to launch coordinated attacks. One suspect has been captured but others are still unaccounted for.

CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson picks up the story from Hamburg, Germany -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Drew. What's really interesting right now is that we just heard from Germany's interior minister and he says that there's no reason to be alarmist about this. Germany doesn't see an immediate threat to the country at the moment.

He says they take this very seriously. But these barred doors you see behind me right there are the mosque where this group of radical Islamists left Germany about a year and a half ago and it's one of them who's in captivity in Kabul, who's been talking about these Mumbai-style plots.

And what's interesting on top of that, this is the same mosque that Mohammed Atta, one of the 9/11 hijackers, attended. We talked to sources here, they say they were watching all the radicals in this mosque, they there was a radical problem here. And when this group formed then went off to Pakistan it happened too quickly for them to stop.

Now they are concerned what some of the others might be doing -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Nic, I just want to dig down a little because we have so many names we're throwing out here. Mohammed Atta being one of them that we all remember in this country.

The other one that you're reporting on is Osama bin Laden and the fact that he may have had something to do or blessed some kind of attack.

Is that why maybe not Germany but other counterterrorism officials are saying look, we got to be really -- really careful here.

ROBERTSON: Yes, the Germans are saying that, too. And I'll just throw another name out, Ahmed Siddiqui. He is the guy who's in captivity. He's -- he's the one who was attending the mosque here.

What he has told U.S. authorities who have imprisoned him at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, is that Osama bin Laden signed off on this. What we also know about some of the people who went with him from this mosque here, some of them actually have firm connection and ties with al Qaeda.

So this is not beyond the realm of imagination. What German authorities a little skittish about when you talk to them, privately, off the record -- off the record if you will, they really want to talk directly with this guy Ahmed Siddiqui himself because they want to it hear from him.

Because they're worried, is he playing this up, is he telling the entire truth? So the Germans themselves have issues about him. And perhaps that's why they're saying that they see no imminent threat. They hope to be able to talk to him directly soon -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right. Nic Robertson in Germany. Thanks, Nic.

Britain has not raised its threat level. It is already at a severe level meaning an attack highly likely.

CNN's Atika Shubert joins us live from London.

Atika, we just heard from Nic, somewhat putting a little water on this fire but I guess what people in London and in Britain are worried about, obviously, is groups of people gathering anywhere could be a target.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is certainly a concern. And what the British Foreign Office has put out is an updating of their travel advice for Britains traveling especially to France and Germany, just asking them to be alert, to be vigilant, keep a watch for those areas where they could become targets.

But overall, the terror threat level, you know, remains the same. It remains at severe. We were able to catch up with a few American tourists here near Buckingham Palace to ask them how this affected their travel plans. Here's what they said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm probably more cautious and I look around a little more maybe. But we always try to be cautious. I refuse to let terrorists do what they think they are doing which is to terrorize me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It did cross my mind when we were coming here because we knew it would be crowded. But Susan said we're not going to get terrorists scare us away and we're going to -- we will be cautious and kind of check things out but --

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

SHUBERT: Now another set of Americans that are here at the moment are actually two basketball teams, the L.A. Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. They will be playing here tonight.

They do have their usual security with them, but we also understand from them that they are going ahead with their schedules as planned.

GRIFFIN: All right, Atika, from London, thank you so much.

Beside those NBA exhibition games there is also six NHL teams, hockey teams, opening their regular season in Europe this week. Many hockey fans making the trip from North America.

The schedule is this. Phoenix and Boston are playing in Prague, San Jose and Columbus in Stockholm, and Carolina and Minnesota in Helsinki. No reports of any changes or extra security precautions connected to those games.

The State Department has tips for travelers to cut their risk of being targeted overseas. They include trying to spend less time in public areas of airports, the front sides of the security checkpoints before you go through.

Try to avoid having luggage tags identifying you as a tourist. And look for and report unattended parcels at an airport. Identifying visitors before opening your hotel room door. Again, common sense kind of security issues there.

The Pakistani Taliban says its special hit squad focusing on NATO supply routes is right on target. And they are taking responsibility for the latest attack, a fourth attack, just happened a few hours ago.

The fourth attack in four days. This one outside the capital of Islamabad. That is where militants opened fire on a fleet of coalition oil tankers bound for Afghanistan. More than 20 of the trucks set afire, three people killed, five wounded according to police there.

And the Pakistani Taliban say these tanker attacks are payback for a record number of drone strikes carried out last month by the U.S.

Verizon's mistake means millions of customers are about to get a refund. Christine Romans is going to fill us in next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: This is a real mess. It's happening in the port of Houston where that barge has struck that electrical tower. What it means? It means for the next three days, 75 percent of this port is going to be shut down.

It's a huge port, it handles 60 ships a day. $322 million of cargo coming through this port. Because of this accident, it's going to take them three days to clean it up.

Again, these pictures coming in from KHOU in Houston where a barge -- you can see a rather large barge, looks like it steered right into one of these huge electrical towers that crosses over that canal.

We'll keep you apprised of that as we get more developments. But a lot of people off work in Houston this morning at the port.

And if you are a Verizon customer, used to be one, you might have some money coming to you. It is payback for a mistake Verizon made.

Christine Romans here to explain.

Christine, a lot of people want to know, hey, just how much am I going to get?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You're going to get between maybe $2 to $6. But you paid for that money.

GRIFFIN: Yes.

ROMANS: That's money that came out of your bill, Verizon wireless customers. And you didn't maybe noticed it. In some cases you might have noticed it and even fighting about it for a couple of years now.

Here's what we know. We know that Verizon overcharged some customers for a period of months for access to their data network. You might not even have had that data plan and you were being charged for it. Or in some cases you were being erroneously charged for accessing the Web when you shouldn't have been. So look in your bills in October and November for a credit of anywhere from $2 to $6 per customer.

If you used to be a Verizon wireless customer and you aren't any more you're going to get a check in the mail. So make sure the company has your current address so you can get that money. Again, this is money that you were overcharged.

The FCC says it's been investigating this matter, that customers have been complaining for about 10 months. The FCC calls it Verizon Wireless mystery fee, and in fact the FCC is saying they're glad that Verizon has finally decided to pay back its customers, but they want to know why it took Verizon two years to come forward here and reimburse its customers. And why, quote, "greater disclosures" and other corrective actions have not come much, much sooner.

So the FCC clearly not keen about this whole situation. A spokeswoman for Verizon tells us that this has to do with a glitch in their software, and that they have taken measures to make sure it doesn't happen again and they will be paying people back.

So look in the October and November bills. All in all, it could be up to maybe $50 to $90 million right out of your pocket into the Verizon bills that shouldn't have gone there -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: OK. And you don't have to do anything? You don't have to fill any form, nothing. Just --

ROMANS: You do not have to do anything. And if you think that you are owed some money by all means check the October and November bills. And a couple of people messaging me this morning on twitter and Facebook saying they think this has been going on for them for upwards of two years and they're scrutinizing all of their old bills online right now. One customer telling me he thinks he's owed much, much more than $6, so watch this space.

GRIFFIN: All right. Christine, thank you so much.

ROMANS: Sure.

GRIFFIN: OK. Well, after days of rain and damaging floods, waterlogged eastern North Carolina trying to dry out. Governor Beverly Perdue toured this flood-damaged area. This is the town of Windsor and Vanceboro yesterday. Trying to assure residents the communities will be eligible for federal disaster funds.

The governor says the flood's aftermath reminiscent of 1999's high water mark of Hurricane Floyd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. BEVERLY PERDUE (D), NORTH CAROLINA: These people have just really bounced back and started to make money and live their lives again. Now to have the same thing happen, it sends a message to all of us that you just got to be prepared for the worst. (END OF VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Boy, that's -- that is the worst. In all, five to 23 inches of rain fell last week.

Flooding in North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and New England actually killed at least eight people.

Still raining in the northeast. Rob Marciano tracking that at the CNN Severe Weather Center.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, they talk about the floods and comparing it to 1999 with Hurricane Floyd. They had more rain with this system than what -- with that hurricane.

GRIFFIN: Wow.

MARCIANO: Really, a combination of things coming together to make that North Carolina flood just a big old mess.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: "One Nation Working Together." That was the message behind a weekend rally in Washington. Democrats hoping it was the Tea Party antidote, that's going to give them a boost, help them keep their majorities in Congress. Jim Acosta's going to tell us how it all turned out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Here's our top stories at CNN. Americans in Europe warned to be alert, avoid popular tourist destinations. The concern, a potential terrorist attack similar to the 2008 attacks on two hotels and a Jewish center in Mumbai, India. Intelligence officials say a group of jihadists in Hamburg, Germany behind the alleged plot. The advisory is to encourage precaution, not to tell Americans to avoid travel altogether.

The man known as the father of the test tube baby, Robert Edwards, won the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Edwards pioneered in-vitro fertilization. The Nobel panel says his contributions represent a milestone in the development of modern medicine.

And funeral services held in Las Vegas later this morning for actor Tony Curtis. Curtis starred in more than 150 movies, including the big one, "Some Like It Hot," with Marilyn Monroe. Curtis died Wednesday, 85 years old.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Wow. Just 29 days until the midterm elections. Democrats hoping that a weekend rally right there in DC lit a fire under some supporters. Think of it as a rally for voters who aren't wild about tea. Jim Acosta live in Washington. Jim, how did this turn out? JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a distinctly different brew on the National Mall, you could say, Drew. The experts are predicting a huge wave of victories for Republicans in November. Democrats know they have an enthusiasm gap to overcome between now and election day. So, progressives tried to throw a Tea Party of their own over the weekend, except there weren't any teabags in sight.

The One Nation event, as it was dubbed, drew thousands of liberal activists down to the National Mall in Washington. It was put together by the nation's biggest unions and civil rights groups, and organizers say the event was to fire up the progressive base.

One of the event's organizers, the former presidential candidate and reverend Al Sharpton. He warned the crowd Republicans would try to undo many of the laws Democrats have passed in the last 18 months. He wants his party to start focusing on creating jobs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AL SHARPTON, POLITICAL ACTIVIST: We need America to deal with the issue of jobs. Our young people need education, but we need jobs. We bailed out the banks, we bailed out the insurance companies, now it's time to bail out the American people. We need to rebuild the infrastructure and provide jobs and training for American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: There was a big difference between what happened over the weekend and these Tea Party rallies that we've seen all over the country. Unlike the Tea Party rallies, which generally call for small government and low taxes, demonstrators at the One Nation event were after more assistance for the unemployed, jobs as you heard Reverend Sharpton say, and a boost in spending on education.

You could say there were some similarities, though, between these two events. While Glenn Beck was not on hand, the crowd did have liberal talk show host Ed Schultz on stage. And there were many of those provocative, hand-written signs out in the crowd. One of those signs, Drew, read, quote here, "Axis of Ignorance -- Tea Party, Republicans, and Fox News." So, not a Fox-friendly crowd down on the Mall over the weekend, Drew.

GRIFFIN: Let me ask you about that, Jim. Schultz gets nowhere near the radio audience that Glenn Beck does. Does he also get nowhere near the rally audience that Beck did?

ACOSTA: It was a -- you know, it was definitely a distinctly smaller crowd down on the Mall. But you have to at least give the Tea Party some credit. They've had 18 months to build this movement here. They have candidates on the playing field right now running in these midterm elections, some of them favored to win those races even though they have very conservative platforms.

This is just sort of the beginning of the progressive base trying to get fired up. As you said, only 29 days to go, so it might be late. That's why you saw the president out in Madison, Wisconsin, last week trying to get college students fired up. And then later on this week, he'll be at Buoy State University in suburban Maryland outside of Washington, trying to fire up African-American voters. It's a historically black college.

So you see these core constituencies of the Democratic Party trying to get organized, trying to rally, because they know there's not much time left, Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right, Jim Acosta in Washington. Thanks, Jim

ACOSTA: You bet.

GRIFFIN: The State Department has a security advisory out for Americans traveling in Europe. We're going to update you on the terror threat that's behind that alert.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: It may not feel like it, but last month was fantastic for stocks. The best September in 71 years. October starting out with a gain as well. Are we all just dreaming? Can it continue? Carter Evans at the New York Stock Exchange. Carter, pretty good stuff.

CARTER EVANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: September was great, Drew. It was a big relief for a lot of people. In fact, a lot of analysts are saying that's exactly what it was, a relief rally. So don't necessarily expect another big month like that in the near term.

Also, we're getting a new wave of economic uncertainty, that's going to setting in this week, partly because the upcoming earning season and the midterm elections. But today, we could get some insight into the state of the economy.

At the top of the hour, we're going to get readings on manufacturing and housing. Those are two sectors that have been slowly improving. We're going to hopefully see continued improvement there.

We're also keeping an eye on shares of Sara Lee today. Did you see this? This is the company, by the way, that makes everything from coffee to shoe polish to sausage to bakery items. It is surging 17 percent. "The New York Post" says Sara Lee turned down a $12 billion buy-out offer from investment firm KKR.

You can hear them behind me, they're getting ready to ring the opening bell here. And while they do, Drew, I wanted to mention a name to you to see if you remember this. Michaele Salahi. You remember here, right?

GRIFFIN: Yes. White House crasher?

EVANS: Yes.

GRIFFIN: Yes.

EVANS: So. Remember that sarong that she was wearing?

GRIFFIN: I do.

EVANS: I guess it would be kind of a sari. She just auctioned that off for $7,000. Expert had valued that around $2,000 or $3,000. Of course, all the profits went to charity.

The opening numbers right now, things are looking pretty good. Hopefully we'll be able to start the week on a positive note.

Drew, back to you.

GRIFFIN: All right, Carter. We'll be tracking it. Thanks a lot.

The Supreme Court open as new term this morning. There's no lack of controversial issues, either. One of the first up, free speech. This involves a father of a Marine killed in Iraq. He sued a church a church -- Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, and its pastor. Why? Because that church is known for protesting at the funerals of U.S. service members with signs saying "America is Doomed," and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," at the funeral. Arguments are Wednesday. Also before the court, whether a federal official override state effort to crack down on illegal immigrants.

Back to our top story now. A possible terror threat to European cities has triggered a security advisory for Americans traveling abroad. The State Department wants Americans in Europe to take common sense safety precautions. Intelligence officials believe a group of Hamburg Germany jihadists are at the center of the plot to hit European cities with coordinated attacks. The group traveled to Pakistan last year. One member, Ahmed Sidiqi is now in custody in the U.S. Military in Afghanistan. He is being questioned but not charged.

Let's go deeper into this terror plot. International terrorism expert Paul Cruickshank joins me live from Hamburg, Germany.

Paul, I guess it's this Sidiqi's interrogation that's led to much of the information that we're now kind of acting on. Is that right?

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, TERRORISM EXPERT: Well, here in Hamburg, Drew, a lot of the information came from a German citizen who was from Hamburg, he went over to the tribal areas. He joined al Qaeda there. He became involved with this plot and then he's provided a lot of this intelligence to American authorities, Drew, about a Mumbai-style attack against at least three European countries.

GRIFFIN: When we talk about Mumbai-style attacks, some remember what happened back in 2008, some may not. What was interesting and quite frankly, frightening about it was it was very low tech and it happened all across that city.

CRUICKSHANK: It was a very frightening attack. Almost 200 people were killed. There were teams of suicide attackers, skilled in armed combat, going to Mumbai, launching these attacks, going to hotels, going to train stations, going to hospitals, opening fire using urban combat skills, which they'd learned in the training camps in Pakistan.

The fear is that this sort of attack could come to western countries. The counterterrorism sources we've been speaking to on both sides of the Atlantic, Drew, are very, very concerned about this scenario. And the Germans, we understand, who went over there, received this sort of training. They would have been familiar with weapons, with how to fire them, how to be in that sort of situation, Drew.

GRIFFIN: And how easy would it be, Paul, for a group to acquire weapons within Germany, or within a European country, as opposed to U.S. or certainly Afghanistan or Pakistan?

CRUICKSHANK: Well, that's a great question, Drew. It would be more difficult in South Asia, that's for sure. But the intelligence officials we're speaking to here say it's not impossible to get these sorts of things on the black market. Of course in the United States, it's easier than in Europe to buy weapons. That's why U.S. counterterrorism officials are so concerned about this particular scenario, Drew.

GRIFFIN: Yes. Let me ask you this, Paul, because it is very frightening to talk about, you really don't know what to do, you know, be on the alert, look out for some guy running down the street with a gun, that seems obvious. But I guess what counterterrorism officials are hoping for, and what they've relied on in the past, and quite frankly had been successful at, is getting that one piece of intelligence, the neighbor who sees somebody put a gun in a trunk or somebody acting suspicious, that could possibly break apart this plot if it does exist.

CRUICKSHANK: Well, there's a great of uncertainty what exactly this plot is. Is it imminent? Or is it only at the planning stage in Pakistan? We're trying to unravel that. It's not clear at this point. The officials we're speaking to here in Germany say it was not imminent as far as they are aware. But they haven't had access to this suspect in Afghanistan, Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right. Paul Cruickshank, joining us live from Hamburg, Germany.

Thanks, Paul. We'll wait for more details as you get them from your sources.

CRUICKSHANK: Thank you.

GRIFFIN: Nearly 4 in 10 school kids in New York are considered obese. Now the Big Apple trying to get that under control. Teaching the ABC's of healthy eating, 20 minutes away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: These are our top stories. European intelligence officials say a group of jihadists from the German city of Hamburg are allegedly at the heart of an al Qaeda terrorist plot to strike targets in Europe. The new intelligence has prompted the State Department to issue travel advisory for Americans over the weekend. The British followed with their own terror warning today.

Jurors expected to begin deliberations as early as today in the death penalty trial of Steven Hayes. He's accused in that gruesome killing of three members of a Connecticut family in a 2007 home invasion. An accomplice is going to be tried separately.

Dangerous weather hammering the East Coast again. Parts of North Carolina reeling from a nightmare of rain and flooding caused by the remnants of tropical storm Nicole last week. Over 20 inches of rain fell in some parts of the East Coast and eight people were killed.

There is a showdown in Connecticut. Former pro wrestling exec Linda McMahon entering the ring with Richard Blumenthal. Our political ticker, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Rahm Emanuel kicking off his campaign for Chicago mayor this morning. The former White House chief of staff started visiting communities and neighborhoods. Emanuel officially announced the beginning of his "Tell It Like It Is" tour in this web video.

(VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Mayor Richard Daley decided not to seek another term after 21 years running City Hall. Rahm Emanuel gave up his White House job on Friday.

Time now for our political update. Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser in Washington, at the CNNpolitics.com desk -- Paul.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, Drew. How are you?

GRIFFIN: Good.

STEINHAUSER: Listen, a lot of stuff going on today. Let's talk about some top surrogates on the campaign trail today. Let's talk about Joe Biden, who today, is going to be helping out in Democratic candidates in Ohio. He's going to be campaigning with the governor of Ohio. He's not the only one. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who's really become kind of a rock star on the Republican side, Chris Christine is going to be campaigning today with Republican candidates, as well, helping them out.

We're going to keep an eye on this because remember, surrogates bring in media attention, they bring in money. And so really help out candidates. We're only 29 days away now from the big election.

Drew, check this out right here on the CNN political ticker. Brand new this morning. In Connecticut, a kind of showdown as well. This is the first debate tonight in the Senate battle up there between on the left, that is Richard Blumenthal, the long-time Attorney General of the state. On the right, that's Linda McMahon. She used to be the CEO, the chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment. This is a battle for a Democratic-held seat. Chris Dodd has had it for 30 years and this is one of the places if -- and it's a big if -- if the Democrats retake sorry, if the Republicans retake the Senate, one of those places could be Connecticut. We're going to keep an eye on this debate. Blumenthal had a huge lead but polls suggest that McMahon now has basically almost tied it up. It is a dead heat in Connecticut, the first debate tonight.

Finally, I want to talk about campaign cash. This is also a big deal. Remember, the parties that raise more money can spend that money on commercials and get-out-the-vote efforts. Well, the Democratic National Committee today announced they raised $16 million last month. They say that's the most they have raised this cycle. This election cycle. That is a lot of money.

The Democrats, you know, Drew, have been out-raising Republicans big time when it comes to the party committees. But when you throw in these independent groups, these outside groups that are not aligned with the parties or the candidates, the Republican side has been raising a lot of money. So it could even out, in fact, the Republicans may have an advantage when it's all over after the election.

Drew, that's a couple of the things that are going on right now on the political ticker. Back to you.

GRIFFIN: Well, speaking of money and politics what about this Trump poll that mysteriously is roaming around New Hampshire? Donald Trump running for president?

STEINHAUSER: This is an eye-grabber isn't it? "TIME" Magazine our sister publication, coming out yesterday with articles saying that there was a poll in New Hampshire, and, of course, New Hampshire plays such a big role in presidential primary politics. Their primary kicks it off. They had a story saying that there was a poll up there asking people about Donald Trump, about maybe Donald Trump in 2012.

Well, he was just on "AMERICAN MORNING" and Ali Velshi and Kiran Chetry asked him about that and he said, listen, guys, I don't know a darned thing about this poll. He didn't say he wouldn't run for president though. He didn't put any Sherman-eqsue, I will not run in 2012. I guess there's another chapter to be written maybe in this Donald Trump for President story, Drew.

GRIFFIN: Yes, it's hard to tell what's going on there.

All right. Paul, thanks a lot.

Our next political update in one hour. But anytime you want politics around here, you go to our web site. CNNPolitics.com. Thanks, Paul.

STEINHAUSER: Thanks, Drew.

GRIFFIN: Time to head cross country now. Our first stop, Georgia's Early County in a deadly single vehicle accident there. This involved a church van we're being told. The van is from the Tabernacle of Prayer and Deliverance Church in Columbus, Georgia. It was heading to Florida when a tire blew and the van rolled over. Four people, including the pastor killed. 13 others in that van injured.

Firefighters in Grand County, Colorado, battling a wild fire in the Sheep Mountains. Authorities say there is zero containment, it's a 300-acre fire right now. The sheriff though says no homes in the immediate area. But cautioning some residents in the area should be ready to evacuate.

Next up Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. We're going to show you a T-shirt. Enough said. That sums it up for the nine-year-old boy who had to be rescued from a Wal-Mart vending machine. He climbed through the one foot by one foot opening and was sitting with stuffed animals inside when firefighters cut off the machine's lock. Enough said. The youngster went home with two of the stuffed animals.

It was a somber homecoming weekend at Rutgers. The university community pausing to mourn a student who killed himself after his sexual encounter was put on the internet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: The world of cancer, brain cancer in particular buzzing a bit because of a study that's expected out later today. It involves a new treatment, a type of vaccine and when preliminary results were made public in June the benefits were dramatic.

Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been following this trial for a while. He actually met with the patients and doctors nearly two years ago now. And he says it is pretty remarkable.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard you also volunteered to do a spinal tap today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Karen Vaneman. She's bracing for another painful procedure. You see, she's got cancer. Brain cancer, a killer tumor called glioblastoma.

(on camera): Glioblastoma -- glioblastoma multiforme GBM, this is -- this typically thought of as the worst type of tumor. Why?

DR. ALLAN FRIEDMAN, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, PRESTON ROBERT TISCH BRAIN TUMOR CENTER: Oh, because left untreated, the patient succumbs to the disease very quickly.

GUPTA (voice-over): Even with aggressive treatment, average survival is barely a year.

VANEMAN: Oh good to meet you.

GUPTA (on camera): How are you? VANEMAN: I'm fine. Thank you.

GUPTA: Are you ok today?

(voice-over): But here at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center Karen found hope, an experimental vaccine. The vaccine has a futuristic name. It's called CDX-110. It uses the body's own immune system to attack tumor cells. It won't work on every GBM patient, just the 40 percent or so whose tumors make one particular protein.

In those patients it goes off like a smart bomb. Now, Karen gets a shot, a painful one, every month. But look at the results. We were able to pay her another visit, a full year later. Remember, most patients don't even live that long.

VANEMAN: It's been about a year and a half. As long as the vaccine works, then I'll be getting the monthly shots. And when it doesn't work, then I'm in trouble.

GUPTA (voice-over): Dr. John Sampson helped develop the experimental treatment.

(on camera): What can we say about this vaccine now? In terms of educating a patient about it, what do you tell them in terms of what it promises?

DR. JOHN SAMPSON, PRESTON ROBERT TISCH BRAIN TUMOR CENTER: We're always careful not to overpromise what something can deliver. And this is still in an experimental stage. But patients are living two to three times longer with the vaccine than we would have expected.

GUPTA (voice-over): Preliminary study results made public in June were slightly less dramatic, but still, on average, compared to standard therapy, the vaccine nearly doubled survival time. As much as six years in some cases with no signs of returning cancer.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: So here's what's happening. Later today they're going to be reporting more longer-term study results; to be sure this is a long way from a cure.

Glioblastoma is still a terrible diagnosis to hear. Even the big success reported in June, average survival is only a few months longer than two years and this only works in about 40 percent of the patients, those who have a certain type of tumor.

A sad story here: candles and silence last night on the Rutgers campus in New Jersey. These are hundreds of people mourning the death of a freshman. Most of them didn't know him. Tyler Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his sexual encounter with another male was put on the Internet.

Organizers of this vigil called for more understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and for an end to bullying.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Him and everyone else should be able to live the life that they want to live, without fear of things like this happening.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the thought that someone -- two people could be so cruel to him, I just -- it's just really upsetting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four kids around the country in three weeks committed suicide. It's not a Rutgers thing -- it's a teenage thing on where hate is an American value at this point.

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GRIFFIN: There was a moment of silence, too, before Rutgers' homecoming football game Saturday, the score board reading "In Memory of Tyler Clementi".

Two students have been charged with invasion of privacy in his death.

A CNN Opinion Research Poll done in conjunction with Rosalyn Wiseman takes a broader look at bullying. We asked teenagers, have you ever been ridiculed, humiliated, verbally or physically threatened by another teenager, either in person or online: 63 percent say no; 37 percent, more than a third said they had been targets of bullies.

We also asked how many of your friends have ever been humiliated or threatened by another child? 42 percent, only a few; 29 percent, none; 26 percent said most or some of their friends have.

If you have a bully story, go to CNN.com/Kyra and tell us about it. If a kid picked on you, how did you handle it or if you were the bully, tell us why.

And Anderson Cooper takes a broader look at bullying in our schools and now online. Why do kids do this, and what can be done to stop it? It's an "AC360" special report beginning tonight at 10:00 Eastern here on CNN.

Well, let's take a look ahead and see what we're working on for the next hour in the CNN NEWSROOM, beginning with homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve, live in Washington -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Drew, Americans being urged to keep their wits about them if they're traveling in Europe because of the terror threat. I'll have that story at the top of the hour.

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: And you know it seems like Detroit just can't get a break: sky-high unemployment, massive foreclosures. They are not the only problems facing this city.

Also, a food crisis in Detroit -- what experts call a food desert. We'll tell who is trying to fix the problem coming up in the next hour.

GRIFFIN: All right, thanks, guys.

Also coming up at the top of the hour, issues that affect us all: among them, immigration and free speech before the Supreme Court. We're going to detail the most high-profile cases.

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GRIFFIN: CNN is taking a cross-country food journey. We have sent reporting teams to every corner of America and beyond, and our mission is to get fresh answers about how our food is grown, how choices we make impact our health, our state of mind, our budgets and the pure joy of eating.

We have teamed up with the new CNN.com food destination, Eatocracy.com to bring you "Eatocracy: Mind, Body, Wallet". Right now let's focus on efforts to curb childhood obesity.

Our Stephanie Elam takes us to schools in New York to learn the ABC's of eating.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why do you think we like to tell kids to eat the rainbow?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These second graders in East Harlem are being quizzed but not in basic reading, writing or arithmetic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Which is more healthy? An apple or a Big Mac?

ELAM: They're learning the ABCs of healthy eating.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is fun? When you go to the cart, what do you look to get?

Grapes, that's what you go for?

ELAM: It's a green cart installed by the city to offer healthier options and part of New York City's effort to get its soaring childhood obesity rates under control.

LINDA GIBBS, DEPUTY MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY: We're way higher than we need to be -- 39 percent of the kids, obese. That is just unacceptably high.

ELAM: that number is higher than the national average for children, which is at 17 percent.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's red?

ELAM: Teaching kids about nutrition is one thing. But what happens when they get home? Is there any way that you can see if what they're learning is actually making it home?

CATHY NONAS, NEW YORK HEALTH DEPARTMENT: What they're learning here is beginning to get into the home, because the kids are asking for money for the farmer's markets, they're bringing their parents to the green carts.

ELAM: Nutrition is just one part of the equation. Also in place in some city public schools --

NONAS: That's right, good job, Andy.

ELAM: Programs that get kids moving inside the classroom, like at this public school on the lower east side of Manhattan.

MEME ROTH, FOUNDER, ACTIONAGAINSTOBESITY.COM: I know it's doing enough but --

ELAM: Meme Roth, founder and head of the organization actionagainstobesity.com, says it's not enough.

ROTH: The Department of Agriculture says that 40 percent of the foods served to children -- 40 percent are calories of no or low nutritional value. Forty percent of what we feed kids is garbage. Don't tell me we care about childhood obesity.

ELAM: According to a recent report by the Department of Health, obesity rates in New York stayed the same over the past few years, something the city sees as a moderate success.

GIBBS: The first drop in the bucket, stabilizing and that's a good thing.

ELAM: But perhaps a bigger success, stories like Oscar's.

OSCAR: When I get home, I tell my mom for lunch when I come to school, I want to eat apples and peaches. I feel good to be losing weight, because everybody, when I was in first grade, they kept on laughing at me. And I said, watch, I'm going to get better.

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GRIFFIN: And he did.

Hey, remember CNN.com/eatocracy for more stories on healthy eating. It's also where you can learn more about how to unlock the CNN healthy eater badge on Four Square.

It's the first Monday in October. And that means it is a time for justice to be served. Right now, the Supreme Court gathering to discuss issues that affect just about all of us. The court's newest justice, Elena Kagan joining her eight colleagues on the bench, and among the more high profile cases before the court: free speech versus the right to privacy.