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Burmese Political Activist And Nobel Peace Prize Winner Released From House Arrest; Votes Still Being Counted In Alaska; Groups Urging Airline Passengers To Decline Full Body Scan; President Winds Up Asian Trip; Father Of College Football Star Accused Of Corruption

Aired November 13, 2010 - 10:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And thanks to my dear friend Stephanie Elam. Good morning to you all.

Pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi is free. After spending 15 of the past 21 years in detention, you're going to hear reaction from Myanmar and around the world to her release.

Also, 11 days after the election here in the U.S., they are still counting in Alaska. But they're not just counting. They're having to use spell check as well on those ballots. And now there's a lawsuit in the mix. We'll explain the latest drama coming out of Alaska.

But hello to you all from the CNN center. This is your CNN Saturday morning, 10:00 a.m. here. Glad you're starting your day here. Let me tell you what else is coming up over the 60 minutes here on the CNN Saturday morning.

Beware the next time you fly. There's pretty much a revolt going on against body scanners. Pilots, flight attendants, and travel groups are urging passengers to refuse those full body scanners. But that could make for long lines. We'll explain that. And are you going to join in this protest?

Also, honey, the feds are at the door, could you flush that $100,000 check down the toilet? And can you stuff that $80,000 in cash somewhere in your underwear? That is what authorities say happen as they arrested a prominent D.C. area official. You'll have to hear details.

Also this morning there's this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. All right. All right. All right. It'd unreal how beautiful that is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: You're going to want to see this story, introducing you to a member of one of the nation's greatest generation as he visits memorials. A great story we're excited to share with you this morning. But first this hour, a developing story we've been watching out of the several hours out of Myanmar where this pro-democracy icon has been freed now after spending 15 of past 21 years under house arrest.

This is Aung San Suu Kyi. She won the Nobel Peace prize in 1991. She won the elections back in Myanmar in 1990. But at that point the ruling military junta annulled the results, did not let them take place, and she has been in house detention for 15 of the past 21 years.

A lot of people speculated after the detention expired today, people wondered if they would follow through and release her. We got word in fact, she has been released. And she looks like she might be picking up where she left off with her push for democracy in Myanmar.

We're getting reaction from all over the world, including from president Obama. You'll hear that in a second. Hear now what the Dalai Lama had to say about the release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DALAI LAMA, TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER: If she's released, more welcome, very good. Then this is not only just freedom of one individual, but I think freedom of a lot of people in Burma who really dedicate for democracy. And then also, I think, the government improve, so immense benefit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: You heard him not just freedom for one person but maybe for a lot of people there in Myanmar. The White House also reacting. The president put out a statement. He's on his tour of the Asian continent. But the president said, I'm quoting here, "While the Burmese regime has gone to extraordinary lengths to isolate and silence Aung San Suu Kyi, she has continued her brave fight for democracy, peace, and change in Burma.

She is a hero of mine and a source of inspiration for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world. The United States welcomes her long overdue release."

Here's some background on Aung San Suu Kyi. She was born in the Burmese capital back in June of 1945 to very influential parents. She's been widowed since 1999. She has two children. And in 1991 she won the human rights prize from the European Union. Months later she won the Nobel Peace prize.

She has spent the past two decades in Myanmar under house arrest as the military-led government tried to suppress her pro- democracy efforts. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the story, but the eyes of the world right now on Aung San Suu Kyi and what's happening in Myanmar.

Let's turn back to this country and security and privacy. They're on a collision course at the airport. Critics of those new full body scanners, they take an image of you, they want to send a message to the government.

November 24th, date before thanksgiving, the busiest travel day of the year they want to send the message. That day, grassroots groups want passengers to refuse scanners and choose the pat-downs. Those pat-downs take a whole lot more time. And you could see a logjam at the airport security line.

The Pilots' Association calling the scanners an invasion of privacy and a long-term threat to health because of the radiation involved. The TSA says, however, they work and they're not a security threat. Here now is our Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The TSA says over the past year more than 60 prohibited or illegal items have been discovered through use of full body scanners like this at U.S. airports. Acting TSA administrator uses this simulation to show how imaging has uncovered concealed knives, razor blades and bottles of liquid, all prohibited from aircraft.

GALE ROSSIDES, ACTING ADMINISTRATOR, TSA: It is an excellent piece of technology that will significantly improve our detection capabilities.

MESERVE: But not every item the machines reveal poses a security threat.

ROSSIDES: I have a very small baggy that is a replica of some drugs that we found concealed in a sensitive part of a passenger's body.

JOHN PERRY BARLOW, ACTIVIST: I can't imagine an explosive that is powerful enough in that quantity to endanger an aircraft.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Whatever the danger is, some groups like EPIC, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, says the government should not use these scanners. The executive director talked about it with John Roberts on yesterday's "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC ROTENBERG, ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER: A lot of objections here, the health concerns, privacy concerns. We're working with religious groups that think the whole thing is offensive and I think the American public has become increasingly frustrated. We can't let the TSA decide what its legal authority is. That's a decision that has to be made by a court.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: There's some question, too, mark, how effective the machines are. And could they have detected the explosive that Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to employed on Christmas Day last year.

ROTENBERG: I think that's one of the reasons we feel strongly about the need to suspend the program. If we thought it was effective and that it would guarantee the safety of travelers, we'd have a very different view.

But you see, before we filed this light, we filed another lawsuit under the freedom of information act and we actually obtained the technical specifications for the devices. And we looked at the specifications and talked to experts and reached the same conclusion. These devices are not designed to detect the powder explosive the PETN, used by others.

In other words, they're not even right technology to deal with the current threats. And that, I think, is one of the most important points about this program.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Meanwhile, President Obama nearing the end of his ten- day Asian trip. He's in Japan, involved in trade talks. The president took part in a working dinner meeting with other leaders from APEC, the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Group. Earlier he met with several dignitaries and attended a retreat session.

The president is encouraging APEC members to work together on trade matters as well as security. The president held talks with leaders of Australia and Japan. Following the meeting with Japan's prime minister he commented on Washington's close relationship with that country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: As allies for half a century, the partnership between Japan and the United States has been the foundation for our security and prosperity, not only for our two countries, but also for the region.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, a lot argued that the president started out the ten-day trip to Asia on a good note, with trade deal his negotiated with India. But in the end, President Obama failed to accomplish everything he set out to do on this ten-day trip to Asia.

Our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is joining us now live from Washington. Paul, it's no doubt, you open any newspaper, you get on any one of the websites, and a lot of people not giving rave reviews for what the president's able to bring back with him.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, you're right. He's not getting two thumbs up, new doubt about that.

T.J., you mentioned off the bat the trip did start on a good note to India and Indonesia. But when he got to South Korea, met with the G-20, he didn't get the trade agreement with South Korea, thinking that was going to happen, didn't get any currency agreement with China. That was a tough one, as well. They really wanted and didn't get any kind of strong consensus among the G-20 nations on currency problems and tackling the global economic downturn.

So you know, in a way he was batting zero for three in South Korea at G-20, coming back to the United States, now, with all of that. One of the questions was, well, was the president weakened because of his defeat or his party's defeat in the midterm elections? Our Dan Lothian asked the president just that at a news conference in Korea, and the president said, no, he did not feel that way. But I think others back here in the U.S. will.

Remember, T.J., when he gets back here, I think the real topic for him will be tax cuts. That's what's going to dominate everything when he gets home.

HOLMES: And there's been a lot of back and forth lately, including from something that David Axelrod said, one of the president's closest advisers, debating whether or not, and some suggested maybe there is wiggle room with the president, compromise he could reach with Republicans on the tax cuts.

STEINHAUSER: Yes, those comments from Axelrod kind of started a storm back here in the U.S. The president talked about them at that the news conference, saying we're not giving in.

Here's where the president and Republicans don't see eye to eye. And it's over extending tax cuts for the wealthiest, American families making more than $250,000 a year. What the presidents and Democrats want to do is decouple things, extend the tax cuts for most Americans but separately not do it for the wealthiest Americans, or if you do it, just do it for a year or two.

Republicans they want to keep it altogether. It's kind of like all or nothing for them. They want to either not extend tax cuts or really what they want to do is extend tax cuts for everybody, the middle class, also the wealthiest Americans. So both sides are not seeing eye to eye.

Remember, T.J., this is almost like a political game of chicken. You've got the lame duck Congress coming back, the president coming back. They've got to get something done by the end of the year. That is when the tax cuts expire.

HOLMES: We know what those two sides think. What do the American people think about the tax cuts and what should be done?

STEINHAUSER: A pew poll just came out done after the election, and we asked -- they asked just that. Americans are, again, divided on the issue. About one-third say keep the tax cuts for everybody, the middle class, but also wealthiest Americans. And three out of 10 say, no, tax cuts for lower class but not the wealthiest Americans.

And 28 percent say repeal them all. We cannot afford this. The deficit is way too big.

Go to the next screen. An obvious thing here, but hammer it home, Republicans and Democrats do not see eye to eye on this issue at all. We're seeing that play out, of course, here in Washington. HOLMES: We can't say it and stress this enough -- the lame duck session until the end of the year to get this done. What they've got two big holiday breaks in there. The take a pretty decent sized Thanksgiving and Christmas break, don't they?

STEINHAUSER: They do. So I think we'll be talking about this well into December, but that's just my guess.

HOLMES: Paul, we'll continue to check in with you.

Here we are 11 days after the midterm elections, still, still, we've got some undecided races out there. One you heard a lot about, but we'll get you updated on a few others dangling out there. We'll have a live report on the biggest one in Alaska as well.

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(WEATHER BREAK)

HOLMES: Flying cars, jet packs, lasers, those are some of the year's best inventions. What else makes the cut? Josh Levs coming up with a list next.

But before we go, you know we had Veterans Day this week, a lot of celebrations across the country in honor of that. A quiz for you -- what is the oldest component of the U.S. armed forces? Is it, a, U.S. army, b, the National Guard, or the National Colony Militia? The answer for you after the break.

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HOLMES: Before the break, we asked what is the oldest component of the U.S. armed forces, the U.S. army, National Guard, or the National Colony Militia? The answer is, b, the National Guard. Formed in the 17th century as the militia of the colonists in North America, those soldiers have fought in every U.S. war since 1637.

So what would you think of the best inventions of the year? Time.com ranks the best of the best, and that is in today's live "Levs on the Lookout."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The list is out, the 50 best inventions of 2010. It's from our partners at Time.com. Now, the first one they're pointing to, probably the most obvious one, the iPad. Here you go. One of the folks at "TIME" asks how does Apple keep out- inventing the rest of the tech industry? They says it's often by reinventing a category inventors have given up on.

Here's something on the list you're less likely to own, a flying car. Time says it could redefine the convertible designed by a team of MIT aeronautic engineers. It's $200,000, priced less than a Lamborghini. The first model expected to be delivered next year.

Speaking of cool and new ways to fly, the list includes this. The martin jet pack, positions itself as the first practical jet pack. Now there are inventions on here that are all about medical breakthroughs that can help people. Take a look here. They talk about the malaria proof mosquito and the mosquito laser and the exoskeleton, which reads the intelligence to simulate a natural human walk and could help paraplegic patients.

In fact we showed it to you in the newsroom with Ali Velshi as a woman in a wheelchair for years tried it out.

AMANDA BOXTEL, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER: I never believed in my lifetime I'd be able to walk and here I am walking with you side by side, eye to eye, and it's the most beautiful thing that, you know, it just triggers emotion in me to this day.

LEVS: Some amazing inventions. I posted a whole list at Facebook and twitter. Here's my page, JoshlevsCNN.com. Let us know if there's cool inventions that were left out of the list. I'd love to hear from you. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Coming up, a story you've got to see, and I have to explain. Essentially what happened is that something that happened in a porn shop is going to now benefit a church. I'll have to explain. It's 24 minutes after the hour.

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HOLMES: It's 25 minutes past the hour. I want to get you caught up on news pulse. This gives us the most popular stories on CNN.com.

Number one on the list is the backlash that continues to grow against the TSA over these body scans. Just as the nation's airports are getting ready for the busy holiday travel season now, there's pretty much a revolt right now.

Grassroots groups urging travelers to not fly or opt out of the full body scans and the intrusive pat-downs. These concerns prompted the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to meet with travel industry leaders on Friday.

Of course, you can opt out of the body scans but then you have to go for the pat-down which of course, a few weeks ago the TSA changed to more of a rub down and they're much more intrusive than they were before.

Also on news pulse this hour, the search for a 10-year-old North Carolina girl is over. Police believe they have found remains of Zahra Baker. Detectives recovered Baker's prosthetic leg in the same area last month. Investigators say DNA found on one of the bones is consistent with Baker's but they are not confirming until tests are all completed.

Also popular on CNN.com, friends buy a winning Powerball ticket at a Detroit porn shop, the uptown bookstore. Mike Greer, he's one that claimed the $128.6 million prize for a group, that's him there. They'll get a lump sum of $70 million. The friend says they plan to give some of the money to a local church. At the same time, another Michigan man hit a bigger Mega-Million jackpot, he won $141 million.

We've got another strange story, I'll let you guess where this one's out of. Buy a truck, they'll throw in a gun. We did not make this one up.

Also this morning, two weeks after the midterm elections they're still counting votes in Alaska. They're not just counting, they're spell checking. A state the Tea Party is watching very closely. We'll explain why. Stick with us.

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HOLMES: Good morning. It's a beautiful morning here in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the CNN world headquarters. As you look out over downtown, looking back over into midtown Atlanta, it's a beautiful day here, clear skies. Not the case in a lot of places, Minneapolis in particular is getting nasty snow, going to cause problems for folks who have to travel through Minneapolis.

The big story is breaking over the past several hours is the release of the longtime political activist, this pro-democracy activist in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. She was released a few hours ago. This is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who spent 15 of 21 years under house arrest. You're seeing pictures here a lot of supporters right now.

The military junta has had her under house arrest, like I said, 15 of the past 21 years, but she was released. She has already come out and is starting to address a lot of her supporters there. We're keeping a close eye on that story.

Also this morning, you know it's been more than a week and a half since the midterm elections. Still some undecided races out there. One of the more high-profile ones, of course, in Alaska, where the Republican senator and the incumbent, Lisa Murkowski, is battling tea party candidate Joe Miller.

There's also the governor's contest still in Minnesota and house races in these states still up grabs, two each in California and New York, one in Illinois, another in Texas, all those seats held by Democrats, but too close to call still. Kentucky's sixth district race was decided yesterday when the Republican Andy Barr conceded to Democratic Candidate Ben Chandler.

Let's get back to Murkowski and Miller in Alaska. That's been filled with back and forth accusations during the campaign. Now post- campaign, there's still a lot of back and forth going on.

Our CNN political producer Shannon Travis is in Seattle for us right now making his way back from Alaska where he's been. You know, I don't know if we can call it a recount you're covering or a spelling bee. What's going on in Alaska?

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: It's a lot of drama is what it is. It's definitely not a recount but feels look a recount, T.J. They're not recounting anything. They're actually trying to finish counting outstanding ballots.

But in terms of the spelling bee part what they're doing, these are write-in ballots. Lisa Murkowski, as you said, she ran as a write-in candidate, a Republican where you had to write in her name. So they have to physically count ballots and say, is Lisa Murkowski's name written in and an oval filled in next her name so that qualifies as a vote for her.

But there's a little bit of drama about spellings and misspelling, should a misspelling if one letter's off qualify for her?

But we're also seeing something strange, man. We're seeing perfectly spelled ballots that have her name spelled correctly were being challenged there in Juneau over the week. The Miller camp was say, maybe there's a smudge, maybe the handwriting wasn't quite clear. So we're seeing that, too.

HOLMES: Wait, what is the challenge? You're trying to explain if it's spelled perfectly and there's a smudge? We're getting to smudges now?

TRAVIS: Yes. The Miller campaign, and I presses them and said, what you just said, what is the complaint here? Some of the ballots are being spelled perfectly correctly.

And again, their contention is, you know, maybe there was a smudge, maybe the handwriting was written in cursive and we didn't understand what one letter looked like. The Murkowski campaign says that this is an act of desperation from Miller's side.

HOLMES: And I know we've gotten to court with this, but more court challenges possibly coming?

TRAVIS: Yes. We've got two so far. We've got one filed in federal court where they wanted to actually kind of throw out all of the misspelled ballots being counted. Another one was filed yesterday in a state court where they're saying, look, we want to check the voter rolls, we want to make sure say in a certain precinct if only a thousand people were registered to vote we don't have 2,000 votes coming out of the precinct.

They filed that suit in a state court yesterday. And we could see more lawsuits coming up. I mean, this is a pitched battle. This is a Senate seat, she's the incumbent. He's the upstart. He beat her in the primary. She conceded and then wrote in. It's a lot of drama. And this thing won't be wrapped up for a lot of weeks.

HOLMES: Last thing, Shannon, tell us clearly what standard are they using, because apparently state law says it has to at least have the last name spelled out. But you have state officials saying if the intent of the voter seems clear, we'll accept that. What standard are they using?

TRAVIS: Well, that's what's frustrating the Miller side so much, there isn't a clear standard. They're saying, you know, follow the law, that the law says that if her name, only if her name is spelled perfectly correctly, should a vote be counted.

But like you said, there's precedents in Alaska elections that say, hey if a voter came in and they spelled her name with a "y" at the end as opposed to an "i" that should count for Lisa Murkowski. The voter intended to vote for the senator.

So some votes are being counted, some misspelled, some are not if it's too far off of a misspelling. There isn't a clear standard and that's what's frustrating the Miller side.

HOLMES: Shannon Travis for us, we appreciate you being on this story from the beginning, making your way back I know now just a stop in Seattle. Appreciate you hopping on Skype for us.

TRAVIS: No problem, T.J.

HOLMES: The FBI, they had to call in a plumber to help in its investigation of a Maryland government official. Agents say the wife of Prince George's county executive Jack Johnson raced to find $100,000 check for an alleged kickback so she could flush it down the toilet.

They also say she stuffed about $80,000 in her underwear. She was doing all of this when the agents came knocking at the door, they say. The two now, the couple, they have been charged with tampering with evidence and destruction of records.

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JACK JOHNSON, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY EXECUTIVE: I'm innocent of these charges. And I just can't wait for the facts to come out. And when they come out, I am absolutely convinced that I'm going to be -- we will be vindicated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And Jack Johnson, you see there, has been the chief executive of Prince George's county since 2002.

At Auburn University, they are riding high, or they have been this year. Their quarterback is the frontrunner by all accounts for the Heisman trophy. The team, number two in the country. If they win out, they'll play for a national championship. But their superstar quarterback, cam Newton, being investigated by the FBI. How is the student body reacting?

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HOLMES: We will show you reaction later. But first, let me give you another U.S. military quiz. Deborah Sampson became the first woman to enter combat for the military. She joined the army as a man using a different name. But what war was it? Was it the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, or the war of 1812? That answer for you after the break.

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HOLMES: New York City, hello to you at 42 after the hour. A beautiful shot of what has been great weather in New York the past couple of days. Bonnie Schneider told me a moment ago, 65 degrees yesterday in New York this time of year. That is unheard of. But they are enjoying it now.

But before the break we told you that Deborah Sampson the first woman to serve in combat for the U.S. military, but what war did she serve? Revolutionary War, Civil War, or the war of 1812? It was actually, a, Revolutionary War.

She was a teacher during the war but in May, 1782 she disguised herself as a man and joined the Massachusetts light infantry company. She was wounded in battle but treated her own wounds so she would not be discovered. She served a year and a half before her secret discovered about she was discharged.

Have you ever received a holiday gift that just wasn't for you? After you say thank you, of course, what's the proper etiquette for handling this thing? Do you return it? Ask for cash? Ask for a gift card? And what about the re-gifting thing?

We spoke to folks about their own gift getting dilemma and what gift do they think will be most popular this season.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would think that an older generation probably likes to give gifts, sweaters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People don't usually get what I want, I like the gift card.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mom if she would give me a gift card, easier than guess what I like and it's wrong.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My preference, an old fashioned homemade gift. I like to get things made by people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An uncle of mine, actually, I wish he would give me gift cards.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd rather receive a gift card and I can get whatever I want.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would ask someone for cash, especially my cousin.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cash to use anywhere but may be tempted to spend it for something I may not want them to spend it on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't ask anybody for cash.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sentimental people don't like the gift cards but I'm not sentimental. I like cash. Can I have cash?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll accept everything graciously. It's rude to tell people what to buy you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: We're going to be talking, as I bring in Joe Carter here, but we're going to be talking over the next few weeks about etiquette when it comes to gift giving. You ever ask for cash?

JOE CARTER, CNN SPORTS: I don't ask for cash, but I love it.

HOLMES: Don't mind it when you get it. Joe Carter coming out of the shadows, Joe is with CNN Sports. We've got big stuff happening in the sporting world these days. Nothing bigger in college football than Cam Newton. I think by all accounts he's a frontrunner for the Heisman.

CARTER: Yes, a frontrunner for the Heisman and the biggest star in college football this year, but now surrounded by major controversy. News broke earlier last week that his father Cecil is being accused of asking for some big-time money from Mississippi State University.

Now this is just after Cam had finished playing junior college in Texas and was basically opening his ideas to go to different schools.

HOLMES: He was a big-time recruit, everybody wanted him.

CARTER: Big-time recruit. The accusations being made here his father was asking for money between $100,000 and $180,000, big-time money for a student athlete.

Cam didn't sign with Mississippi State University. He went to auburn, where since they've won ten games. They're in position to win the SEC and be in position to win a national title.

So big news coming out of Auburn, a lot of people wondering, you know, you to be naive to think this type of thing doesn't happen in big-time college sports, but to this degree and to that amount of money is what surprised me.

Now Auburn would face big-time punishment if he gets deemed ineligible because they can't play an ineligible player, so they'd have possibly face more punishment down the line.

HOLMES: But you have to keep playing him. If they go on and win a national championship, he wins the Heisman, and then it's proven that some wrong doing, this wipes out an entire season, a Heisman trophy, and national championship.

CARTER: I agree. You have to keep playing him. The NCAA doesn't do anything fast when it comes to investigations, so this could take years for them to find the facts to this. And reports keep changing every hour, a lot of rumors out there. We'll try to stick to the facts. But big night in basketball. Are you a basketball fan? HOLMES: Are you kidding me? I love what's happening in the NBA. Everybody is talking about NBA because of LeBron and the big three in Miami. But it's good to see cool stuff. I like this kid.

CARTER: Kevin Love making big noise because for the first time in a long time somebody scored more than 30 points and pulled down more than 30 rebounds. Last night he had 31 points and 31 rebounds. He said afterwards he picked up the cell phone and had 70-plus voicemails. He hit the twitter sphere and the social media and Internet and everybody started talking about it.

The game wasn't broadcast on local TV in Minneapolis, but 15,000 that got a chance to watch him do this, very lucky. Hasn't happened since 1982, Moses Malone the last person to score 30 points and 30 rebounds.

And in college basketball, special moment for the UCLA Bruins honoring legendary coach John Wooden. Of course, John Wooden won ten national titles with UCLA over a course of many years. They decided to keep his seat vacant. After his coaching days were over, you could see him sitting in that seat day after day after day. They've decided since he passed this June, at 99, they're going to keep it have a can for the season.

HOLMES: Nice honor for the wizard. Joe Carter, appreciate you being with us. Thanks so much, my man. Quick break here, and we're right back.

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HOLMES: In the wake of Veterans Day, 80-year-old Chris Maurer tops the list of someone you should know. When the U.S. entered World War II in December of 1941, he was only 15 years old. But with the help of mom he lied his way into the army and shipped off to Europe.

When World War II National Memorial finally opened in 2004, he didn't think he'd be able to make the trip but found out about a program called honor flight that flies veterans to see the memorial for free. We followed him on the trip.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome on board honor flight one. It is an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure to have you on board with us today.

CHRIS MAURER, U.S. ARMY (RET.): I'm going to see World War II memorial and Korean and Vietnam and whatever they got up there. All right. All right. All right. All right. It's unreal that -- how beautiful that is. I'm telling you what, that stands out from everything.

World War II, I was 15. You're supposed to be 18 years old or older. I said I'm ready to go. Guy says you look too young. I said my mama said I could go. He said sign here for him. And that was it. I was gone.

Man if this ain't fabulous. That is plum beautiful. You can't fathom in your mind how many people that represents defending our country. It's got me flabbergasted. That's where I was raised at, up there, in Louisiana. It's an honor to be up here and still be alive. I can't express no words to describe everything. It's something I will take to my grave.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: After World War II, Maurer shipped off to the Korean War when he was 19 years old. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service there.

I want to take a look at news across the country. First stop, Denver, Colorado. Gorgonzola cheese being recalled for possible e. Coli contamination. Health officials are concerned about Maori gorgonzola cheese with sell by dates of January 13th and 14th of 2011 distributed only to Costco scores in Colorado in one-pound wedges.

In Sanford, Florida, a truck dealership is offering free AK-47s if you buy a truck. The sales manager says customers receive $400 voucher to a local gun store. Customers have to apply and qualify under state and federal laws. Those who don't want a gun, you can get cash.

Out west in San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsome vetoed a city ordinance that banned most McDonald's happy meals with toys as a way to fight -- help fight childhood obesity. The ban is likely, though, to become law anyway despite his veto. The board of supervisors passed the ordinance first time around with a veto proof majority. So they'll have to go back and vote once again to overturn his veto, but it looks like they have the votes to do it.

City officials expect legal challenges from McDonald's. McDonald's declined to comment. This ordinance applies to any restaurant who includes toys in meals for children that do not meet certain nutritional standards.

Conan O'Brien, did you know he's got a new show? It's been all over the place. He's wrapping up his first week of his new show on TBS. But did his return to late night live up to all of the hype? We'll check in on that.

Plus, just ahead from the CNN Newsroom, something that I was embarrassed to admit but I did admit it and done something about it. I had not been to the doctor for a checkup in more than ten years. I'll show you what I went through in trying to get you or maybe your man, ladies, to get to the doctor as well.

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CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": A lot of people are talking about the show today. A lot of reactions and it's all playing out on television. Take a look.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was great to see Conan back on the air.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I squirmed a lot in my seat. But, no, I didn't pass out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pretty gory.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very gory.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's out of control, drunk, cursing, naked.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The impulse was to turn away, but I stuck with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He reminds me of Barbara Bush a bit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He reminds me of my husband who is no longer alive, so I keep coming back.

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O'BRIEN: Some varied perspectives.

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HOLMES: Conan is back. A lot of people are watching his new late night show as well. In his first week on the air Conan averaged 1.5 million viewers ages 18 to 34. Overall the show had nearly 3 million viewers a night. Conan's getting more younger viewers than Jay Leno and David Letterman. Conan airs on TBS, which is owned by our parent company here at CNN.

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(THE SIMPSONS THEME)

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T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know the music. Even if you don't know the show, don't watch the show, if you will, everybody knows that music. Why would you not? They've been around for 23 years now. And Fox says it will, in fact, renew "The Simpsons" for what's coming up on their 23rd season. And it's already the longest-running comedy series in history. And will hit 515 episodes by the end of next season.