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Holiday Travel Weather Report; Barbara Bush on Sarah Palin; TSA on the Defense; Three Ways To Help Dig Out of Debt; Ingmar Guandique Convicted of Killing Chandra Levy; Chandra Levy's Mother Speaks; Cincinnati Zoo's Akilah the Giraffe Dies in 'Freak Accident'; 29 Miners Rescued in China; St. Louis Dubbed Most Dangerous City; Poland Unveils Tallest Statue of Jesus

Aired November 22, 2010 - 13:00   ET

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

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: Nice to see you, too. Thanks Tony. As Tony said, I am Kate Bolduan in for Ali Velshi with you for the next two hours so buckle up, here we go. Here's what's on the rundown today: More Americans will be on the road for the holiday but uh oh, the weather may not cooperate. We will have that for you. And some surprising news; syphilis rates are way up. We will find out why.

And the goal is always to get out and stay out of credit card debt. We have some help for you in this hour. But first, some breaking news; more than nine years after she disappeared, some justice for Chandra Levy. A jury has just handed down a guilty verdict in her murder trial. Ingmar Guandiqu faces life without parole - he's already doing time for attacks on two other women.

Levy was a 24-year old Washington intern who disappeared on a job in May of 2001. Her body wasn't found for more than a year. And another big story making news right now also involving a young woman's disappearance. Five years of questions may end tomorrow for the family of Natalee Holloway. Dutch forensic experts are set to announce

Test results of a jawbone found last week on an Aruba beach. Holloway disappeared on a high school trip to the island. We all know this story so well. She is presumed dead but no remains were ever found. Her mom, Beth, talked about the bones sudden discovery saying, "There is no good answer whether it is Natalee or isn't, but no answer at all is most unbearable." You can only imagine.

And if you are planning, pricing, or packing for Thanksgiving this holiday, if you are not doing that you are probably hosting people who are. We're all involved in this - between now and next weekend, more Americans will travel than at any other time of the year. And guess what?

For all of the fuss we have been hearing about flying and TSA screening in particular, the vast majority of travelers will get to grandmother's house or wherever, by road. And the roads, you can probably guess the answer, the roads will be crowded.

Here's why, take a look at this. AAA expects 42.2 million people will eat turkey more than 50 miles away from their own homes. That's 11 percent more than last year, due mainly to a stronger economy; hey, some good news. 42 million, by the way, is roughly equal to the populations of California and Colorado combined. Those folks are spending on average $425 per trip on travel alone.

And look at this. Only 4 percent, only 4 percent are giving that money to an airline. 94 percent of thanksgiving travelers are driving. 2 percent are taking trains or buses.

And that is a whole lot of gas. And the price of that is on the rise. AAA the average price is of self-serve regular is $2.87 a gallon, up 23 cents from last thanksgiving. And if you live out West or in the Northeast, you are paying North of three bucks a gallon. The states in green that you see there have the cheapest gas, $2.73 or lower. And then there is the weather.

And then there is the time you spend idling in the mountains trying to get up through the passes. Come on in, hello Mrs. How are you?

BOLDUAN: Tell me, tell me. Hello Chad Myers.

SNOW wind & bitter cold for holiday travel.

CHAD MYERS, AMES METEOROLOGIST: We are looking at a big trough in the west which means low pressure which means snowflakes.

BOLDUAN: Uh oh.

MYERS: Lots of them.

BOLDUAN: When?

MYERS: Look at billings right now.

BOLDUAN: This is right now?

MYERS: 1. I wish that was one degree Celsius

BOLDUAN: I know, please be an error in the map.

MYERS: This is when you say, please be centigrade.

BOLDUAN: Right!

MYERS: Let's go to the metric system now. Now, and then look, 74 in Memphis, 78 in Dallas. You can't have that clash without some thunderstorms as well. So we have it all today. Let's get rid of this. Let's just go the first place that's a problem. Anywhere along I-90, I-5. Anywhere through the passes as you go east to west through the northern plains and also the northern Rockies will be snow covered. Today, tomorrow, Wednesday. Not going away.

BOLDUAN: oh no.

MYERS: Yes. So you -- oh no is right. Because I think you said the whole state of California is leaving and going to Colorado?

BOLDUAN: No, no.

MYERS: That was the theory. And if the whole state of California is trying to go anywhere, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and I know the drivers there know how to deal with this but this will be the first big snow of the year. You don't think about putting the chains in the car but you need to think about the winter driving skills. And then flying...

BOLDUAN: Which I lack completely.

MYERS: You do lack those?

BOLDUAN: Yes.

MYERS: You are not the only one. We have pictures. The thing you can't do is keep your foot on the brake the entire time because the car just goes straight. And I have dramatic pictures of people --

BOLDUAN: I can see you're excited.

MYERS: I don't like to see crashes in NASCAR either.

BOLDUAN: You what else I don't like to see? A little bit of this.

MYERS: 5,400 airplanes in the sky. At least they are not that big. Because we would not be able to see the sun shine.

BOLDUAN: Not to scale.

MYERS: Yeah, not to scale. A few of them are delayed, mainly into Chicago. But so far only 15 to 30 minutes, we're good.

BOLDUAN: Chad and I are the bearer of good news.

MYERS: Or just a bear.

BOLDUAN: Or just a bear. We will talk to you in a little bit. So if you run into nasty weather on the road or in the air, or anywhere else. We want you to upload your stories and tell us about it and put your pictures on iReport. Click the tab on our home page or go directly to iReport.CNN.com.

Today's affect...today's sound effect, rather, is a lesson in the art of the back handed compliment. CNN's own Larry king sat down with former President George H.W. Bush and the former First Lady, Barbara Bush and naturally, the conversation turned to the current state of politics and politicians, obviously. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING: What's your read about Sarah Palin?

Well, I sat next to her once. Thought she was beautiful. I think she is very happy in Alaska. And um, I hope she stays there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: She is feisty. You can see that whole interview tonight on "Larry King Live" only on CNN. >

We have heard some seriously horrible stories and seen some viral videos. Still the TSA says it won't be changing its airport security procedures any time soon. The hubbub heading into this holiday week has mostly been about those new personal enhanced as they are called pat-downs. But the TSA points out you don't get those unless you refuse or opt out of the high-tech body imaging or you are randomly selected.

And according to a recent CBS poll, take a look at this. The vast majority of people are fine with it. 81percent are agreeing that airports should use full body x-ray machines. 15 percent said no. So there you have it.

A federal judge has given Oklahoma clearance to substitute one of the drugs in its lethal injection cocktail. Very interesting. A nationwide shortage of an approved anesthetic has had several states scrambling. Oklahoma rewrote the protocol to allow the use of a similar drug called pentobarbital. It's commonly used by vets to unitize animals and in doctor-assisted suicides.

Well, two death row inmates filed challenges saying the use of a drug unproven in capital punishment was cruel and unusual. The judge disagreed and refused to delay their execution.

Also an alarming STD trend. Syphilis rates are sky-rocketing. Why the rates are rising now, after it was nearly eliminated 10 years ago.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: A new report by the Centers for Disease Control reveals syphilis rates are soaring. Just a decade ago doctors said the sexually transmitted disease was on the verge of elimination. What is going on? The study released today said that syphilis rays have increased by 39percent since 2006. Elizabeth Cohen, please explain this. What is behind these numbers?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, really it actually pretty simple. It's men having sex with men behind these numbers. Now, you don't see this increase across every area. Men having sex with men account for 62 percent of the syphilis cases in this country. So that says something right there. And if you drill down deeper, black men ages 15-24, the syphilis rate among that, tripled. So that is -- that is kind of where you are seeing the increases.

BOLDUAN: So, it is skyrocketed again. So how do we solve it?

COHEN: Well, one thing they said they need to do is better screening. And so men who are having sex with men are supposed to have annual screenings for certain diseases, but that doesn't always happen. So first let's talk about the diseases.

Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV. And one of the reasons that the screening doesn't happen is that not all men who have sex with men identify themselves as being gay. So they'll show up at the doctor maybe for an annual physical, and if they don't identify as a man who has sex with men, the doctor doesn't know to screen for those.

BOLDUAN: Oh, to screen for those diseases?

COHEN: Right, because they will not be telling their doctor. Some men are very open about it but the men who aren't really in the end doing themselves a disservice because they don't get screened.

BOLDUAN: exactly. So along with this clearly bad news there is good news about STDs coming from this study as well. Tell me about those.

COHEN: there are. Several diseases are stable, you don't see an increase. In fact, gonorrhea is at an all time low. Which very interesting. And really, another one that is important is that syphilis among women is not going up. Which is important not just for women, but syphilis is a disease women can give to their babies so it is good for moms and their babies that that rate is not going up.

BOLDUAN: So the take away is the same thing we say all the time. You have to be completely transparent with your doctor.

COHEN: Right, be transparent, and also, in case your doctor isn't aware, you should be aware of what you, given your sexual habits, need to be screened for on a regular basis.

BOLDUAN: Alright, Elizabeth Cohen thanks so much.

So coming up, three simple ways to help dig yourself out of $13,000 worth of debt? We have got the tips on the other side.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: My theme song for the day. $13,000 in credit card debt is really quite overwhelming. So how do you get out of the whole? CNN's Christine Romans looks at three simple ways to prioritize that debt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, AUTHOR, "SMART IS THE NEW RICH": You're on the ropes, right?

DAVID FLORES, CREDIT COUNSELOR: Uh-huh.

ROMANS: You've got -- you've got rent or a mortgage.

FLORES: Uh-huh.

ROMANS: You've got a car loan. You've got groceries.

FLORES: Yes.

ROMANS: You've got a student loan. And you can't afford -- you just lost your job. How do you prioritize the basics even?

FLORES: Well --

ROMANS: Student loan, you get a deferment?

FLORES: Yes. I was going to say, you want to take a look at this and say, OK, well, where is there assistance?

ROMANS: Right.

FLORES: Student loan companies typically will help with hardships.

ROMANS: They usually have lower interest rates, too, right?

FLORES: They do. They usually do. But, yes, so putting this into deferment or forbearance can help. So you're eliminating this, even if it's temporarily.

ROMANS: You've got to get tough on the groceries and tighten up --

FLORES: You've got to get tough on the groceries. On the rent or mortgage, long term, is your situation going to -- do you see it changing?

ROMANS: You might need to downsize.

FLORES: Yes. And that -- this is the hardest part. A lot of times, when it comes to rent, you know, downsizing an apartment, people don't want to do that but sometimes it needs to be done if their situation is a long term situation, not a short term.

ROMANS: I mean I think bottom line, $13,000 of credit card bills, credit card debt, at 29 percent interest, if you paid only the minimum, it would take 35 years to pay it off.

FLORES: Thirty-five years.

ROMANS: Most people don't know that.

FLORES: They don't. They don't.

ROMANS: They just don't know it. That is a long time. That's a lifetime.

FLORES: Right. And so that's why, you know, if you can afford to make the minimum payments where you can pay off your debt sooner, great. But if you can't afford to pay the minimum payment, you can't -- that interest rate, 30 percent, that's a lot. Seeking credit counseling will help to try and get those payments manageable, get that interest rate down to, you know, maybe a 10 percent interest rate, a 6 percent interest rate. Something manageable that -- so that you can pay off that debt without shelling out, you know, a ton of extra money.

ROMANS: David Flores says one of the toughest parts of digging out of debt is getting started. Realizing what that number, the balance is. He says once you come to terms with it, start paying down your debt in manageable chunks, little by little. After all, little by little is how most people get themselves in debt to begin with.

Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: And "YOUR MONEY" Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, Sunday's at 3:00. You don't want to miss it. Christine Romans is also the author of "Smart Is The New Rich" on bookshelves right now.

So the jury just a short time ago handed down a guilty verdict in Chandra Levy's murder trial. Ingmar Guandique faces life without parole. He's already doing time for attacks on two other women. Levy was a 24 year old Washington intern who disappeared on a jog in May back in 2001. Her body wasn't found, though, for more than a year after that.

And a look at some other top stories that we're following. Planning on driving this week for Thanksgiving? Many people are. Get ready to pay a little bit more. Gas is 23 cents more than it was last year.

And also, the head of the Marines will fully cooperate with the repeal of the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring openly gay and lesbian soldiers. General James Amos has been an opponent of repealing "don't ask, don't tell," but chairman -- but the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen -- we're going to go straight here -- this is, as I'm told, Chandra Levy's mother speaking to reports and people outside following the verdict.

Let's listen to her.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SUSAN LEVY, CHANDRA LEVY'S MOTHER: That we make a difference -- you the prosecutors, defense, the jury, the police, the public and individual citizens, as well as the media, both the written media and the visual media, we all make a difference. Police officers as well as judges in the courtrooms are going to remember what difference does this make. It makes a difference to find the right person who is responsible for my daughter's death. Or for anybody else's death. It makes a difference when reporters observe a mother's emotion and what might seem a lack of sensitivity and not truly understanding the wounding of victims across the country as some of us who have gone through trauma do not always show their emotions outward. They do it in private.

We are told often not to express our emotions and cry and not to look upset in the process for finding the truth in courtrooms. A lack of emotion does not mean one loves a child less and people could learn more about the sensitivity of woundedness (ph), as I mentioned before. I sometimes understand why my daughter may have given up her press pass.

Enough with that. I want to thank Elaine and Ron Dagoradin (ph) from the Rondo (ph) Foundation. Excuse me, Elaine and Gordon Rondo (ph). They're the founders of the National Coalition of Victims Alliance out of -- I got this mixed up -- out of Atlanta. They have been helpful for me to find the D.C. -- the Maryland D.C. Crime Victims Group. The D.C. American Victims Resource Center, which is primarily based in Maryland, but now, because of my case, there's an extension of a base in D.C. here, which I hope that Pauline Mandel (ph), Jane Roper (ph), who founded the crime center, and also Danny Tillery (ph), who has been my lawyer here representing me, that they can continue on in a very cohesive way with the U.S. prosecutors and their team and including Yvonne Bryant (ph), that we, because of my case, could continue having other very good victim advocacy and support for other unfortunate individuals like myself who have lost loved ones through horrific crimes. I thank you to both prosecutors and defense teams and Judge Fisher (ph) and also to the U.S. marshalls. And to all of you who have been considerate of giving me my time and space.

There continue to be -- there -- many have come to conclusions. I'm sorry. I'm emotional here. But no matter what my family has, in a sentence here, the results of the verdict may be guilty, but I have a lifetime sentence of a lost limb missing from our family tree. It's painful. I live with it every day and so do my son, my mother and other family members. Crime affects more than one person. And when you have a crime, if someone dies of homicide, which there are too many in America, it affects probably 100 other people and their surroundings. Cousins, friends, relatives. It's a lifetime of a broken heart, leaving memories of good times that I did share with my daughter as a family. What difference does it make? You, all of us in America, need to wake up and stop the violence and make a difference.

I would finally like to finish this. I saw this about two blocks from the courthouse. It was written by the poet laurite of Washington D.C. Her name was -- or is Delores Hendricks (ph). We are flesh and blood, skill and skin, struggling within a linear light towards one heartbeat that forges a sacred space. And evidence to our fragile dreams that rise upon a muscle of memory and whim. And thus the holidays are coming and I really appreciate it that you give my family, the Levy family, some time for being together. Give me a little time to find out a new normal because this is very difficult. I am a trauma person. And so is my family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mrs. Levy, (INAUDIBLE) today give you a sense of (INAUDIBLE).

LEVY: I don't know. There's always going to be a feeling of saddens. You know, I like the word that you used, a sense of peace, because I have never heard too many people say that. I am glad to be here and have followed up on what happened to my daughter, no matter how hard it has been for me personally. I am not sure if it's a sense of peace, but I could certainly tell you it ain't closure. There's only closure for buildings and for stores that aren't working any more. But I have a feeling that my daughter is with me and I can speak her voice because I say what difference does it make. Thank you.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) watched you when the verdict was being read. You were looking --

(END OF COVERAGE)

BOLDUAN: That's Susan Levy, Chandra Levy's mother, following the guilty verdict of the man accused of killing her 24-year-old daughter. We'll have more news coming up after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Half past the hour and that means time for your headlines.

Thanksgiving travelers, you know who you are. We're all starting to hit the roads and get to the airport. Some 2 million people are expected to travel tomorrow and another 2 million on Wednesday. Weather could be an issue, though, for folks in the Northwest. TSA security back-ups also have the potential to cause some delays. So have fun out there.

Another big story we've been following. A Salvadorian immigrant has been convicted of killing Washington intern Chandra Levy. She disappeared in 2001 after going out for a jog. Her body was found over a year later in D.C.'s Rock Creek Park. Ingmar Guandique now faces possible life without parole.

And also a mixed result in a new CDC study on STDs. Researchers found that gonorrhea has dropped to a record low across the country -- 301,000 cases reported last year. However, some other sexually transmitted diseases keep climbing. Chlamydia hit a record high with syphilis cases also on the rise.

And here's a question for you. What country has the world's largest statue of Jesus? The Vatican? Brazil? Poland? Italy? Think about it. We'll have the answer after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Time for Globe Trekking, my friends. The 33 Chilean miners left for home after a whirlwind visit to the U.S. They touched down in Atlanta last night on their way home, receiving a water cannon salute. Their experience here a far cry from their struggle to survive for 69 days underground.

Dario was the last man rescued, number 33.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DARIO SEGOVIA, 33RD CHILEAN MINER: I'm not saying, like rock star, but of course my life has changed. I am going back to Chile with one of the best impressions of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BOLDUAN: The men, their families, and five of the rescuers were in L.A. this weekend. The miners were special guests at the CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute. You can see a little bit of that. A star- studded tribute. A salute and an honor and standing ovation. That's great to see.

We turn now to take a look at another mine rescue, this one in southwest China. Twenty-nine miners have been rescued from a flooded mine in Sichuan Province today. They'd been trapped for more than 30 hours but it took rescuers less than an hour to pull them all out. Unfortunately mining accidents are quite common, actually, in China. In April, the country launched a campaign to reexamine safety regulations there.

And a teen from the U.S. State Department rushed to Seoul, South Korea for an urgent visit. Why? Well, the talks come after a U.S. scientist toured and confirmed the existence of a new uranium enriched facility in North Korea. Ambassador Stephen Bosworth and his team met with South Korean foreign minister as well as Chinese and Japanese diplomats in Beijing and Tokyo. Bosworth says he hopes to revive the six-nation talks to end North Korea's nuclear programs.

Going now to Berlin, where there are concerns over a possible terrorist threat. It specifically affects Berlin's parliamentary building. The building's popular glass dome and rooftop terrace are now indefinitely closed to the public. Approved visitors can still access other parts of the building, including its restaurant. This weekend, German police denied reports that terrorists might be planning an attack on the building. But now police acknowledge they are looking for two men in connection with planning attacks on German attractions.

Next up, Ireland. The final details of its bailout are being hammered out right now. Europe and the International Monetary Fund are deciding on the exact amount of the rescue package announced yesterday. They're expected to make an official announcement in Dublin, this week, but the bailout is estimated to be up to 100 billion euros.

And now the answer to that question that I posed before the break about the largest statue of Jesus. The answer? What did you think? Well, it's Poland. A tiny town in western Poland unveiled this 172 foot tall statue of Jesus Christ. Officials claim it's taller than Brazil's famous Christ the Redeemer, named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. So, there you have it.

The annual list of the most dangerous U.S. cities is out. Do you live there? Here's another pop quiz for you. Who do you think took the top spot? Detroit? Camden, New Jersey, St. Louis, Compton, California? Mull it over. We'll have it when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: OK. So we asked you before the break, which of these places tops the latest list of the most dangerous cities in the U.S.? Detroit; Camden, New Jersey; St. Louis; Compton, California? What do you think? A bit of a surprise this year, or maybe not depending on if you live there or not.

St. Louis edged out repeat number one on the list. Camden, New Jersey, the loo (ph), had 2,070 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Compare that to the national average of 429 per 100,000. There you go. Camden was runner up, though, at number two. They're not far behind. Rounding out the top five? Detroit, sorry; Flint, Michigan; sorry guys; and Oakland, California.

A study released over the weekend by the University of Exeter in the U.K. says the global economic slowdown has led to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions around the globe. "USA Today" reported the drop in 2008. And 2009 was the first decline since the late 1990s. The study's author says a drop in emissions of 1.3 percent is directly related to the economic crisis. Pretty fascinating.

This is a sad story we want to tell you about. I hate when I have to tell you sad stories. Cincinnati Zoo is mourning the death of a three-year-old giraffe. Akilah was her name, was just fine at feeding time on Saturday, we're told. But 90 minutes later her keepers found her dead. Apparently her horns got caught in netting around some trees and the shock of that caused cardiovascular collapse. The Cincinnati Zoo is home to three giraffes. We're told Akilah was everyone's favorite.

What else are we looking at today? People get away with murder all the time. I know. I'm talking about some strange things today. In today's Big I, new technology to help catch the bad guys.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at the blood spatter. Look at the patterns. It tells a story. You see this big pond of blood right there? That's from the initial stab. The male victim was standing right here when the killer plunged his knife into the shoulder, severing the corroded artery. Notice the long thick heavy drips?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: That was, of course, the Emmy Award winning Showtime series "Dexter," about a vigilante serial killer that also works as a blood splatter expert.

Today's Big I segment is all about new technology that would have Dexter shaking in his boots. When blood is spilled, most criminals try to wash it away. Well, it actually doesn't completely wash away.

Here to tell us about a new bloodstain camera of all things, University of South Carolina professor Stephen Morgan.

Thank you for joining me, Mr. Morgan. Tell me, what's this all about?

STEPHEN MORGAN, PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA: Well, this is basic research to design a prototype device, a proof of concept instrument for detection of and visualization of blood stains at crime scenes.

You may be familiar with Luminol, which is often seen on the "CSI" shows and sprayed around. It reacts with the blood and produces a light that's visible, much like a Halloween glow stick. Our device is designed to be non-destructive so it doesn't touch the crime scene, it doesn't touch the blood and contaminate it. And we can visualize the blood from a distance.

BOLDUAN: And that's what I was going to ask you. What does this camera offer that the technology and the chemicals that are available today, do not?

MORGAN: Well, Lumoniol has some difficulties. First of all, it does exhibit false positives to many household chemicals like rust, bleach, coffee, and cherry soda. And also, if there is only a little bit of blood present, it may not be able to detect that blood. And it only works in the dark. Our device will work under all sorts of conditions, exhibit some discrimination against possible interferences and is good to very low levels. We are not likely to replace Lumoniol soon as the crime seen gold standard. But our device has some applications, particularly when the blood is very dilute or not visible.

BOLDUAN: So, how does the camera actually work? Clearly this is not your typical camera that you are going around taking pictures of bloodstains. How does the technology actually work?

MORGAN: Well, I understand you have a slide or two to show? Are you showing that?

BOLDUAN: I think we have been showing a couple of those. Keep going.

MORGAN: The first slide actually shows a set up of the camera. At the bottom left, there is a infrared light source about a thousand watts, and it puts out pulses of infrared light toward the target, which is on the left side of the image. The light is reflected back to the infrared camera, which is a commercially available infrared camera, much like what might be used for night vision or monitoring weather from orbit with infrared imaging.

And the -- if you average the signal from the camera over time, you would simply get an image like -- well, you would get an image that is just without distinction, without contrast. However, by pulsing the camera and only looking at the light during the time when it is being pulsed, we are able to deconvolute, we're able to unmix the signal from thermal reemission of the surface where the chemical stain is and detect infrared light reflected back that is dependant upon the chemical nature of the stain.

BOLDUAN: So, in layman's terms -- and I am definitely one of the people who don't understand the science. But in layman's terms, it seems that the advantage of the technology is you are not actually touching or interacting with the bloodstain. It is almost in its purest form, which has to be an asset when you're looking at a crime scene? MORGAN: Right. In the figure I showed there is about a one meter distance between the camera and the object that we're trying to visualize. We can imagine making this a portable device that is handheld, connected to a laptop with a laser pointer so when a suspect area is identified that is suggestive of blood, an investigator can go directly to that spot and take a sample without touching other places in the crime scene.

BOLDUAN: Is this camera commercially available now or where are you in the process?

MORGAN: Well, this is basic research, as I said. Funded by the National Institute of Justice. And there is still many validation tests left to show. I think the second slide, if you have that up right now, shows an image in the top right of a stencil that we used to prepare to spray paint an image of the USC logo on a piece of cloth, and you see a visual light photograph of that image on the top right side. At the bottom left, you see a normal thermal image that shows all of the emission like a normal thermal camera would see. And at the bottom right, you see now you see the invisible stain now made visible by our camera technique.

BOLDUAN: We will keep our eye out there for it, I guess. Stephen Morgan, this is fascinating stuff. Thanks so much for joining me today.

MORGAN: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: All right.

Let's take a look at some of the other top stories developing right now. The jury handed down a guilty verdict in Chandra Levy's murder trial today. Ingmar Quandique faces life without patrol. He's already doing time for attacks on two other women. Levy was a 24- year-old Washington intern who disappeared on a jog in May 2001. Her body wasn't found for more than a year.

Police are investigating the death of a young boy at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. He fell 50 feet from a luxury suite shortly after a Lakers basketball game. Just horrible. The boy was two or three years old. And police have not revealed his name or really the circumstances leading to that fall.

If you suffered losses in the BP Gulf Coast oil disaster, you have until Wednesday to file a question for compensation. BP, you'll remember this, set aside $20 billion in a special fund. So, far about $2 billion has been paid to settle 125,000 claims. Those who reject settlements can then take their chances and take their case to court.

And a new FBI reports says more than 6,600 hate crimes were committed across the country last year. Almost half were motivated by race. Most of the rest were motivated by religion or sexual orientation. The FBI says 62 percent of the offenders were white while 19 percent were black.

Did you hear what former first lady Barbara Bush had to say about Sarah Palin? It definitely turned heads and raised a couple of eyebrows. Our political ticker is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Time now for a CNN political update. Mark Preston, Paul Steinhauser in Washington. The dynamic duo. What's going on, guys?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, Kate. You know Larry King had the opportunity to sit down with Bush 41. Who's Bush 41? He is president George W. Bush's father. Sat down with him and also sat down with the former first lady, Barbara Bush. Let's hear a couple of things of what he had to say specifically about the Tea Party. Larry asked him what do you think about the Tea Party?

And this is what President Bush said. Said, "Some of the ideas make a lot of sense." But he goes on to say, "I don't really know what it is." And you have to empathize with what the former president says because a lot of people don't know what the Tea Party is. It's not the political party. It's not the Democrat party and not like the Republican party. It's really a political movement.

When the first lady was asked what do you think about Sarah Palin? She says, "I sat next to her once, thought she was beautiful and she was very happy in Alaska, and I'll hope she'll stay there." Not exactly very encouraging words, Kate, from the former first lady to tell Sarah Palin to run for president. And speaking of running for president, Paul has some other 2012 news. Paul?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You got it. Kate, never, never too early to look ahead to the next presidential election. So, Quinnipiac University, a brand new poll out today. Simple question, does President Obama deserve to be reelected? Look at these numbers: 43 percent say, yes, he deserves another term in office. Forty-nine percent say, no, he does not.

This is the second poll since the midterm elections where around half or more of Americans who were polled say that the president does not deserve to be reelected. But Kate, Mark and I always warn you here polls are a snapshot how Americans feel now. 2012 is not right now, is it?

BOLDUAN: Gentlemen, two questions. How do you feel about Charlie Sheen? how do you feel about Justin Bieber?

PRESTON: You know, Justin Bieber is a great singer. Charlie Sheen, he needs to get his act together. Paul?

STEINHAUSER: I have no new polls on them. I'm sorry.

BOLDUAN: No polls?

STEINHAUSER: No, sorry!

BOLDUAN: Why do I even come to you?

I'm kidding! Thank you, gentlemen! Paul Steinhauser, Mark Preston. You guys are the best. Talk to you soon.

PRESTON: Thanks, Kate.

BOLDUAN: As I said, more trouble for actor Charlie Sheen. I know you're dying to hear about this. I'll tell you about it next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Now that is time for a few "Odds & Ends," people. You might remember Charlie Sheen's reported meltdown in October. How can we forget? Police responded to an emotionally disturbed person at the Plaza Hotel where they found Charlie Sheen in a room. Adult film star Capri Anderson was locked in the bathroom.

Well, Ms. Anderson is filing a lawsuit against the actor today. She's made claims that he, quote, "put his hands around her neck and that he destroyed her purse." Here she is on this morning's "Good Morning America" giving the details about a phone call between her and Mr. Sheen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPRI ANDERSON, ADULT FILM ACTRESS: I was, I guess, trying to get through to him like do you realize how severe this all is? But I wasn't getting anywhere, nor did I really care to at that point.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, CO-HOST, GOOD MORNING AMERICA: He offered a sum of money. What did he expect in return?

ANDERSON: Just not to talk to anybody about it and just go about my business.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Ms. Anderson and her lawyer did not have comment on whether she was in fact given money by Mr. Sheen.

Another big story. You've got to hear more about this. Teen pop sensation, whatever you want to call him -- Justin Bieber dominated the American Music Awards. I'm so excited I can't even get it out! He won four trophies, including the highest honor Artist of the Year. And voting online shows Bieber fans chose him over Eminem, Keisha, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry for the night's top honor. He also beat out Usher for awards, his mentor who has helped launch and guide his career. Congrats to you.

All right. Let's take a look at some other stuff, some would say a little more important that we're watching. Get an update of the Dow. The Dow is down right now as you can see right there. And also, on the left-hand side of your screen, you're seeing White House secretary Robert Gibbs. We are keeping an ear on that. If any big news comes from it, and it does, we'll make sure to bring it right to you.