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Mine Collapse in Florida; Overcoming Fear of Flying; First Family's Hawaii Vacation; Business Predictions for 2011; California Starts Cleaning Up; South Korea Wraps Up Military Drill; Italy: Bombs Came from Greece; Taliban Reject U.N. Report; From Gang Leader to Mentor; Buford Wyoming's Solitary Man

Aired December 23, 2010 - 14:00   ET

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

ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: We are looking at pictures there of Sumter County, just off of State Road 50 in Florida, the collapse of a piece of an aggregate mine. Aggregate is the material that's used in making cement, so it's loose around the shore of a waterline, and that's what they're trying to get figured out, because they can't get to the edge of that area that has collapsed.

We're getting pictures courtesy of WESH, our affiliate, as you can see, coming from a helicopter.

You see those cars assembled there. They've got emergency rescuers there, but they cannot actually go in after this person who has fallen into this area that has collapsed because there just isn't enough stability on the shore, as he was describing.

So they're trying to get a crane sort of device that they can put on that solid area where you see all of those vehicles assembled that will extend over into the pit and be able to go in on this rescue. We understand that one man who was inspecting this is the one who has gone into the mine. And as the chief just told us, they do not have contact with this man as of now.

So we will continue to follow that for you. Our producers will monitor that situation. We'll bring you more on it as we learn about it.

It is one minute after the hour.

Finally, a little bit of good news for southern California and three other western states that are swamped by torrential rains all this week. The line of storms which we know as the Pineapple Express because they formed near Hawaii, are now starting to move out of the area.

This picture of a double rainbow was shot by one of our iReporters in Moreno Valley, California, possibly the ray of hope that many people there have been waiting for. But the all-clear hasn't been sounded just yet for southern California and three other areas that have taken a pounding -- western Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah.

With Christmas just two days away, the timing of these storms couldn't be much worse. Take a look at this.

Left in the wake are towns under water. Hundreds of people forced to flee their homes. Roads and bridges torn up.

And adding to the misery, a sea of mud covering streets and cars, plus contaminated water and polluted beaches. Twelve miles from Laguna Beach to San Clemente are off limits because of overflowing sewers.

Take a look at this. That's the flooded Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, site of tonight's Poinsettia Bowl. As of yesterday, the field was covered in 10 inches of muddy water, but crews pumped it out overnight. Officials say the game will go on as planned.

Here's what people in St. George, Utah, are facing -- devastating flooding. Flood watches and warnings are in effect in all four states concerned.

Here is some of the most waterlogged towns just in California. As of yesterday, 26 inches of rain had fallen in Crestline; more than 21 inches in Twin Peaks; 20 inches in Twin Creeks; and 14 inches in Santa Barbara.

(WEATHER REPORT)

VELSHI: All right. This is the time of the year that you find a lot of people singing or playing holiday songs. Two that caught our fancy, the Pittsburgh Steelers football team and, separately, several members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, who are on strike, by the way, but played for free for some of the city's homeless.

First, the Steelers as you've never heard them before.

(MUSIC)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK ROBINSON, BASS PLAYER, DETROIT SYMPHONY: As long as we're out on the street, as it were, we want to spread what joy we have, what gifts we bring, whether it's just a "Drummer Boy" or a little orchestra concert to the people on the street.

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, you have to go somewhere and pay big, big money to see these people. And we got to see them for free. That's awesome.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: The Detroit Symphony, by the way, walked off the job 11 weeks ago in a dispute over a management proposal to cut members' salaries.

Well, some new developments out of Rome to tell you about. Italy's interior minister has just said those mail bombs sent to two foreign embassies came from Greece.

Last month, 14 mail bombs were sent to embassies around Athens and police made several arrests. So far, though, no claim of responsibility in today's attacks.

Now, the first one seriously wounded an employee at the Swiss Embassy in Rome. The package blew up as he opened it. We're told his hands were so badly hurt, he may end up losing one.

Not long after that, an employee at the Chilean Embassy was opening a package when it detonated. His hands and face were hurt, but he's in OK shape.

Bomb threats were also phoned into Rome's City Hall and another government office. No devices were find at either location.

And we hear the curtain is going back up to night on the next performance of the "Spider-Man" musical. The Broadway show has been on hold since a stunt double was seriously injured Monday in a fall. Now, today, cast and crew sat down with lawmakers and safety advocates to talk about training and oversight on productions with lot of aerial stunts.

Well, millions of us will be flying out of town for the holidays. If you're afraid to book a flight because you're scared of flying, we've got something to help you ease your anxiety after the break.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: OK. A lot of us will be traveling today or tomorrow. Look at that. Look at that. Those are all the planes in the sky right now. There will be a lot of them over the next day or so.

And a lot of people who fly are actually scared of doing it. It's one of the most common phobias, the fear of flying.

So how do you overcome that if you actually have to do it, you have to travel somewhere? Well, our senior correspondent, Allan Chernoff, accompanied one woman on a flight from New York to Baltimore while she tried to overcome her fear of flying.

Check this out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's flight day for Laura Edmonds. As she checks in and heads to the gate, she battles thoughts of disaster.

LAURA EDMONDS, AFRAID TO FLY: Plummeting to the earth, crashing in a fiery blaze. There are so many things that just run through my mind.

CHERNOFF: Aviophobia, or fear of flying, has been Laura's debilitating anxiety for 18 years. She even panicked about her honeymoon.

EDMONDS: I couldn't enjoy my wedding day. It was a wonderful wedding, surrounded by love and family. But the only thing I that I could think about was the next day, I had to get on a flight.

CHERNOFF: This month, Laura began watching the SOAR video course developed by retired airline pilot Tom Bunn. It's taught her the mechanics of flying and psychological strategies to fight fear.

Boarding the plane, Laura presents a letter asking to meet the pilot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to be fine. We're going to go take good care of you.

EDMONDS: Thank you.

CHERNOFF: But takeoff is a challenge. Refocusing the mind is the key to the program.

EDMONDS: not crazy about that shake. I'm going to think of my good place. You know, I'm wondering if everything is OK with the plane.

CHERNOFF: Laura fears the engines may fall of and keeps checking to make sure they're still attached. To push away those thoughts, the program advises focusing on the moment.

EDMONDS: I feel my hands. I feel the seat against my arm.

CHERNOFF: Another calming technique, watch water in a glass as proof that the plane is barely shaking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have begun our descent into the Baltimore Area.

EDMONDS: I don't care for the turbulence.

CHERNOFF: But in a few minutes, the plane lands smoothly.

EDMONDS: That's a great feeling.

(LAUGHTER)

CHERNOFF (on camera): A sigh of relief?

EDMONDS: Sigh of relief. Oh.

Yea! I did it!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you feel?

EDMONDS: I feel OK. Yea!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VELSHI: Allan joins me now.

Allan, I fly a lot. You fly a lot. I actually get a bit of a fear, mostly from claustrophobia, when I get on a plane. And she was on one of those little ones, by the way, which never helps you solve the problem.

Was it just these techniques and exercises that she learned that got her through that? Because I know a lot of people prefer to take a little pill that their doctor gives them.

CHERNOFF: Well, she had tried the pill routine. She had tried cocktails on the flight. Those didn't work at all.

It's all about making sure your imagination does not get running, just staying focused on the moment. And she had a very active imagination.

But she made it through. She did OK. I mean, you did see anxiety there, but she put those exercises into practice and they worked. She didn't scream.

VELSHI: The anxiety -- and I feel this sometimes -- is always the battle between the possibility, as unreal and unrealistic as it might be, and unreasonable as it might be, along with the reality that I'm on a flight and chances of something going wrong are actually very small.

How in general does this program, the SOAR program, deal with this concept of dealing with anxiety?

CHERNOFF: Well, the whole idea is, understand the mechanics of flight. Understand how airplanes actually work, that they're not just going to fall out of the sky, that the engines are not just going to fall off.

And then, as I said, just stay in the moment, practice those exercises. Those exercises where she was sitting in the seat saying, "Oh, I feel my hands," et cetera, that's bringing her back into the moment, away from her imagination -- Ali.

VELSHI: Allan, great story. Thanks very much for bringing it to us.

CHERNOFF: Thank you.

VELSHI: Allan Chernoff, our senior correspondent.

President Obama arrived in the middle of the night to start his Hawaiian vacation a few days early. Why do we know that? Because our friend Ed Henry -- those are his feet right there, live on Waikiki Beach -- was there waiting for him when he was supposed to have arrived the other day. Finally, Ed and the president reunited.

I'll tell you about it in "The Stakeout" right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) VELSHI: All right. There he is. If you didn't see him, he's the guy whose shorts match that umbrella on the right of your screen.

Ed Henry is mixing it up on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. He has been there for a few days because the president was supposed to be there, but things got kind of crazy and busy in Washington . The president stayed. He arrived overnight.

Hey, do we still -- Kelly (ph), do we still have that audio? Because even the president has been watching the fact that Ed Henry has been in Hawaii. Before he left Washington, he actually commented without saying Ed's name.

Ed, he commented to the rest of the press corps that they're going to get to join you in Hawaii. Now you are all together.

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's great. You know, I was just talking to somebody who said the president was in a meeting the other day. And it popped up on the screen, "The Stakeout."

And we were bantering, and I think he was sort of rolling his eyes, like, what in the world is going on? Ed is already out there. He and Ali are doing this thing and we're trying to figure out the world's problems.

So I understand. I just wanted the president to know I was trying to get out here, make sure I got the story straight, and got here early enough.

And I wanted to ask you, Ali, because I feel like we have the relationship, we're friendly enough, that I can trust you. You know, I got up at about midnight local time in order to do "AMERICAN MORNING."

VELSHI: Right?

HENRY: And John Roberts and Carol Costello were ragging on this shirt. Now, they didn't see the shorts. I'm breaking them out for you, the board shorts. And maybe you like them, maybe you don't like them. But Carol --

VELSHI: Well, I like that you're getting somewhere --

HENRY: -- started hitting me --

VELSHI: I like that you're getting somewhere with mixing your patterns and colors. That's what I'm -- it's appealing to me.

HENRY: It's a little red, white and blue, a little patriotic.

And so Carol starts hitting me at 6:00 a.m. Eastern, right? And then John Roberts gives me this backhanded compliment and says, "You know what? I actually like your shirt. I had one." But he said that his sweetheart had told him to bring it into Goodwill. And so I think if you're saying this shirt goes to Goodwill, it's not really a compliment. And then I go to bed to get a couple of hours sleep before I'm on with you, and I understand Tony Harris made me the "Random Moment of the Day" and had a montage of some of my greatest hits, or worst hits, I guess, as it were, with different fashion problems and whatnot over the years.

So, you know, all I can say is, you know, maybe it boils down to one word, which is jealousy. And secondly, that might be the last time I get up at midnight, in the middle of the night, to do an early live shot for "AMERICAN MORNING."

What do you think?

VELSHI: I will definitely -- you'll never get that kind of disrespect about your dressing on this show.

Speaking of which, when did the president come in? He got in, in the middle of the night?

HENRY: He got in, in the middle of the night, around midnight local time, around the time I was getting out of bed for "AMERICAN MORNING," not that I'm bitter. And then what happened was our senior photojournalist, Peter Morris (ph), got a really interesting shot where the president had this ceremony.

And I think you can see it. And they put a lei on, and it was a welcome.

And then Peter saw him get into the limo and almost immediately take the lei off. I guess he was kind of tired. He was sort of, all right, I got the lei, done with that.

And then he let out kind of a big yawn. And you can't blame the guy.

I mean, it's been a bruising year. He had some ups -- health care reform, Wall Street reform -- and then a series of victories in the lame duck. But he also had everything from Republicans trying to dismantle that health care reform, a still pretty sour economy, the shellacking in the election, and then he even took an elbow to the mouth and had those 12 stitches in that basketball game. So -- and the oil spill.

I mean, it's very interesting how this year has seen a lot of highs, a lot of lows for this president. And that's why when you talk to anyone on his staff or any of his friends out here, as we have the last couple days, they say he's got plans to do nothing for the next week or so.

I mean, he's going to kick back and enjoy Hawaii. And why not?

VELSHI: Well, hopefully if that happens, you might get to kick back a little bit, too. But we look forward to seeing you on TV.

Fantastic shirt, I think, Ed. Good to see you. Our senior White House correspondent, Ed Henry, on the beaches of Waikiki.

All right. Breaking news from Florida among the top stories that we're following for you right now.

An aggregate mine collapse in Sumpter County, Florida, has trapped a miner under water. Officials say the ground gave way. One worker fell into a pit full of water at the phosphate mine. There's been no word from the miner for the past couple of hours.

We'll keep you updated on this situation as more becomes available.

Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel can officially stay on the ballot in the Chicago mayor's race. There were questions about whether he met residency requirements in Chicago. But just about 90 minutes ago, the Chicago Board of Elections ruled that he is eligible. He's considered the front-runner in the race to replace Richard Daly as mayor.

All right. Coming up, "Q&A" with our buddy Richard Quest.

Today, we are putting our Carnac hats on and predicting the future of business. What will 2011 hold?

Find out next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS," and so do I. We are here together in the CNN NEWSROOM around the world.

Hello, Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, HOST, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": Hello, Ali.

Each Thursday, Ali and I coming to you around the world. We're talking business, travel, innovation. And it wouldn't be "Q&A" if anything was on limits, so everything is off limits today.

VELSHI: More so today than most days. Today, we're tackling the future.

We are playing prognosticator. Everybody else does it. Why not us?

We're going to talk about our big predictions for business and innovation in 2011. We've given ourselves a pretty wide berth. And when you give Richard one, he takes it.

So we will let the amazing Richard go first today.

You have 60 seconds, sir.

QUEST: Sixty seconds starts now. I am a hopeless investor, a dreadful person. I couldn't sell water in the desert even if I use one of these predicting balls. I guarantee you, it will say, oh, I'm just going to have to wait.

So, instead, I asked my team what they thought would be this year's predictions for next year. And here we have it.

This is Annie. Look at Annie with the hat.

Annie's prediction is that gold goes to $2,200 an ounce. And she's wearing that hat. We only had one hat.

Adam had to wear it next. He believes at least two more European bailouts in 2011.

A different hat, obviously, the crown for the queen. That's Gail (ph). She's in charge, my producer. Gail (ph) believes global leaders will pledge to once again make the Doha round back on track by next year. And, of course, they'll fail.

So those are the predictions from me from this side.

(BUZZER)

VELSHI: Wow. What a way to pass that off on to other people. Blame it on your staff. So when I come back a year later and say, none of that came true, you got -- me, I'm taking my responsibility.

Sixty seconds starting now.

What are we concerned about? The world wants economic prosperity back. So let's look at the things that make most people feel prosperous or lack prosperity.

Look, the stock market, the place where we invest our money, or those who give us our money for retirement, we're doing well. We've had two years now. The stock market is up again around the world. So I think we're going to have a strong year in stocks whether you like it or not, soundboard (ph). But the fact is it matters.

Let's look at the economies around the world.

You will see more trouble around the world, but we're going to see a year where things start bifurcating.

Richard, the part of the world that you spend more time in is going to become more prominent in our economies than the part of the world I spend time in. We're going to see some very, very strong economies and very strong opportunities for people to invest and do well in. I actually think people are going to learn to speak the languages of countries like China and India and Brazil to do better in the next year.

But most importantly, Richard, as this becomes a more global and shrunken world, I predict you and I will be spending a lot more time on TV together. And that is a good thing. (BUZZER)

QUEST: Now, that's a prediction we can both agree with, Ali.

Actually, I'll tell you what. I will give $20, Ali, to your favorite charity if you could spell bifurcate for the first time after this program straight off. Before we get -- go on.

VELSHI: B-I-F-U-R-C-A-T-E.

(BELL RINGING)

QUEST: The check is in the mail.

VELSHI: Let's bring "The Voice" in and see which one of us gets to end the year in the top position.

Hello, Voice.

THE VOICE: All right. Now that the spelling bee is over, we can start with the "Q&A."

Question number one for you gentlemen: According to IBIS World Research, which of these industries was the world's most profitable by margin in 2010? Is it A, gold mining; B, mining support; C, marriage counseling; or D, oil drilling?

(BELL RINGING)

THE VOICE: I believe Ali.

VELSHI: Mining support.

(BELL RINGING)

THE VOICE: Mining support. And the home field advantage clearly goes to Ali Velshi. You are correct. Mining support was number one for 2010.

And, believe it or not, marriage counseling, along with psychology work, was actually number two.

Richard, feel free to participate.

Question number two now. Which of these noted prognosticators predicted the widespread use of digital books? Was it A, Nostradamus; B, George Orwell, the author of "1984," of course; C, Stanislaw Lem, the author of the book "Solaris"; or was it D, Gene Roddenberry, who created "Star Trek"?

(BELL RINGING)

THE VOICE: Richard?

QUEST: I'm going for Roddenberry.

(BUZZER)

THE VOICE: How embarrassing for you.

(BELL RINGING)

THE VOICE: Ali Velshi? Give it a shot.

VELSHI: George Orwell.

(BUZZER)

THE VOICE: Embarrassing for you as well.

Gentlemen, the correct answer --

QUEST: It's going to be -- it's got to be C.

VELSHI: Yes, it's got to be C at this point.

(BELL RINGING)

THE VOICE: Congratulations, guys. That was really impressive.

Yes, Stanislaw Lem in his 1961 book "Return from the Stars" -- this was a Polish author -- he wrote about crystals and recorded content that are read and navigated by touch-screen technology.

Question number three.

Richard, this is your chance to even it up and end the year on a high note.

Ali, this is your turn to run away with it. And I am pulling for you, buddy.

Which of these companies know for innovation was incorporated in 1911? Was it A, IBM; B, Kodak; C, Sony; D, Walt Disney?

(BELL RINGING)

Ali V.?

VELSHI: Kodak.

(BUZZER)

THE VOICE: How sad is that?

Richard?

QUEST: All right. Let's go with Big Blue.

VELSHI: You've got to give a letter.

THE VOICE: Can we give him the ding?

(BELL RINGING)

THE VOICE: Yes! There it is!

QUEST: IBM.

THE VOICE: IBM.

Richard, you are correct.

The company was called Computing Tabulating Recording Company, CTR. A few years after, it was incorporated in 1911. The name did therefore change to IBM.

You guys kind of ended on a tie. I apologize. We don't have a bonus round for you. But there you go.

VELSHI: It a tie, Richard, because you made me spell "bifurcate" and I got it right.

QUEST: All right. I'll give you a tie because I got the second one right. You got "bifurcate" right.

I think we can both agree it's been an enormous amount of fun during "Q&A," because that will do it for this week and for this year on the "Q&A" part of our programs.

We'll be here next year, on Thursdays, on "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS," 18:00.

VELSHI: We'll ignore the fact that Richard refused to spell "IBM."

And in the CNN NEWSROOM, 2:00 p.m. Eastern, keep the topics coming in on our blogs CNN.com/QMB, CNN.com/Ali. Tell us each week what you want us to talk about. See you next week, Richard.

QUEST: See you, Ali.

VELSHI: It has been almost three years of mourning and trying to find meaning and doing it in the public eye. Now actress Michelle Williams finally feels ready to talk about her lost love, Heath Ledger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: Happening now, a mine collapse in Sumter County, Florida, has trapped a miner under water. Officials say, the ground gave way and one worker fell into a pit full of water at the phosphate mine. The mine's aggregate used to make cement. There's been no word from the miner for the past couple of hours.

They're starting to clean up in California after a deluge of rain that cause flooding and mudslides. As many as 40 homes were damaged in the hard hit San Bernadino County. Flood warnings and watches remain in effect in parts of California and surrounding states. And South Korea wrapped up controversial live fire military drills today 15 miles from their border with North Korea. North Korea had threatened to attack if the South went ahead with the drills. South Korea's president said he'll respond to any surprise attack by the North with, quote, "merciless counterattack."

Time now to go "Globe Trekking."

In Rome, Italy's interior minister now says a pair of parcel bombs that injured two people today came from Greece. The first explosion today happened at the Swiss Embassy. Police say a package bomb seriously wounded a 53-year-old mailroom worker who opened it. Both of his hands were badly injured. He could lose one of them. The Swiss Foreign Ministry says there was no warning before the attack.

Shortly after that, another bomb exploded at the Chilean Embassy. It also wounded one person who had to be taken to the hospital. No one has claimed responsibility for either attack. Police have launched a citywide inspection of all foreign embassies.

Let's go now to Afghanistan where a new U.N. report sheds light on civilian casualties in that nation. It blames the Taliban for 76 percent of the deaths and injuries in the first 10 months of this year. More than 2,000 people were killed and just over 3,800 wounded, but the Taliban says the report is fabricated and partially influenced by U.S. politics.

The International Committee for the Red Cross is also weighing in on war casualties in Afghanistan. It says a Kandahar Hospital has nearly 1,000 new patients with weapon-related injuries. The ICRC says the situation for aid organizations is the worst it's ever been.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIJAN FARNOUDI, ICRC SPOKESMAN: We feel that the conflict is entering a new and more murky phase. There seem to be more local armed groups active in several different parts of the country. Some of these groups may be affiliated with the government. Some may be affiliated with another position. Others may be affiliated with themselves, may just be criminal groups or groups with shifting alliances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: The aid group provides help to nearly 600,000 Afghans. It's concerned that deteriorating security conditions will prevent them from getting help to those who need them the most.

Well, they fell in love on a movie set. Lived, loved and had a baby together. The relationship between actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams seems scripted for happily ever after.

But suddenly after three years together, they split. Not five months later, he was dead. Bad combination of prescription drugs, tragic accident. Williams kept her mum in mourning and didn't speak publicly about the loss.

But now, coming up on the third anniversary of Ledger's death, the actress opened up on "ABC's Nightline."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CYNTHIA MCFADDEN, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: The notion that your life can change in an instant --

MICHELLE WILLIAMS, LEDGER'S FORMER PARTNER: I know. I've got kind of obsessed with that for a while, before and after. I mean, a lot of things died. There's a line from a book that gave me so much comfort. It said, when you've truly lost everything then at least you can become rich in loss.

MCFADDEN: So I'll give you one. The greatest tragedy is to have the experience and miss the meaning. Have you figured out the meaning yet?

WILLIAMS: Boy, I found meanings around the circumstance, but the actual event itself still doesn't have -- I can't find a -- I can't find it. I can't find a meaning for it. I can find meanings in things and people and relationships that have sprung up and friendships that have strengthened. I can find a lot of meaning in that, but not in why, you know?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: Michelle Williams is raising their daughter on her own. Matilda is 5 years old now.

Seven people killed in six days in New Orleans. A body found in a suitcase in New York and the serial strangler in Philly still on the run. All that right after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: In today's "Crime and Consequence," we start in New Orleans where seven people have been murdered just since Saturday. Twenty-four-year-old Kendall Raines was shot and killed in a car early Sunday morning. Raines was a student at Dillard University's nursing program. His family is devastated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAROLD GORDON, KENDALL RAINES' FATHER: It's unimaginable. This is an experience that you have to feel in order to get the full effect of it. I don't wish it on our worst enemy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: Six other people have also been killed in New Orleans this holiday week. Local rapper, Raneta Low was killed along with another man on Monday afternoon and then later that night three people were shot. Tuesday, a man in his 30s was found dead by a maintenance worker at an apartment complex. Authorities say the murders are not connected.

OK, now in New York, a woman's body was found in a suitcase in east Harlem. Look at the surveillance video from the New York Police Department of what seems to be a man rolling a suitcase in the area.

He's wearing a knit cap, a leather coat, light-colored pants pulling a dark colored suitcase. That suitcase was found yesterday morning just four doors down from a landmark New York Italian restaurant. The woman is described by police as a black woman in her 20s or 30s. One man living in the area said this to one of affiliates about safety in the area.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's very strange. I mean, I guess maybe no one noticed it, but this block is relatively quiet.

VELSHI: So far, no arrests have been made. The cause of the death was described by the medical examiner's office as neck compression, which could result from a number of things. Authorities aren't giving us any information other than that, neck compression.

In Philadelphia, a serial strangler is on the loose. So far, three women have been found strangled to death in the Kensington District of Philly. DNA has linked the death of the three women.

According to Philadelphia police all the victims were involved in prosecution and narcotics. Police are trying to determine if the deaths are connected to three other attacks of women who survived sexual assaults and strangling in the area.

The attacker is likely still in the 10-block radius where the attacks occurred. Police talked to the media about why think this is a serial killer.

CAPT. JAMES CLARKE, PHILADELPHIA POLICE: As a result, this being the third murder in a short period of time in the same area with the same type of victims. We do at this time consider it to be a serial murder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: This is the composite sketch of the accused killer. Police are warning the public against vigilante activity if they see someone looking like the attacker. Grainy surveillance video has also been released by the Philadelphia police.

The assault victims describe the attacker as an African-American male in his early 20s weighing between 160 and 170 pounds. The investigation is limited to Philly, but could be broadened out if police learn about similar crimes elsewhere. Authorities are offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions.

We'll bring you up to speed on the some of the top stories we're covering this hour. Italy's interior minister now says, a pair of parcel bombs that injured two people in Rome today came from Greece. He says, the attacks are similar to a wave of letter bombs sent last month by a Greece-based anarchist group. In today's attack, one person was seriously injured at the Swiss Embassy. Another at the Chilean Embassy.

In Chicago, the Board Of Elections has given the green light to Rahm Emanuel to run for mayor. You'll recall Emanuel resigned as President Obama's chief of staff earlier this year to try to succeed long time Mayor Richard Daly. The board's move came after deciding Emanuel met residency requirements. Voting is set for February of next year.

And if you use Skype, you know it's been a devil of a time. The free Internet phone service is working to get back to normal after crashing and bringing down connections yesterday for millions of people around the world. Skype blames the problem on the failure of super nodes. Those are parts of Skype's peer-to-peer network that facilitate calls between users.

While you may think of boxing as a violent sport, but it's a tool against violence in one Chicago neighborhood. We'll meet a former gang member who is trying to help kids avoid his mistakes.

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LANCE CPL. CORY SZUCS, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Hi, I'm Lance Corporal Cory Szucs, United States Marine Corps, Combat Logistics Battalion 2. I just want to say hi to CLB2 back in Afghanistan, especially Arangoman, you saved my life. I love. I can't wait to see you guys get back. Miss you all and have a merry Christmas.

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VELSHI: All right, now a story that seems particularly appropriate to the season. Derek Brown used to be a leader of one of Chicago's most notorious street gangs. He was known as a fighter, but now that he's turned his life around, he's using his tough-guy reputation to mentor kids.

Here's his story in his own words.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEREK BROWN, FORMER GANG LEADER: I had six blocks that I corrupted.

TEXT: Derek Brown was a leader of a notorious Chicago street gang, the Vice Lords.

BROWN: I was trapped up in a life of selling drugs.

TEXT: On the streets he was known as "Shotgun." BROWN: Shotgun, it came from when I -- I actually stayed across the street. This was a big gambling spot. And one day, they was outside gambling, and I looked out my third-floor window and I see the whole crowd just disburse. And I looked -- I don't know what's going on, I can't hear anything, and I see this car jumps on the sidewalk and run this guy over. And I came off by back porch -- boom, boom, boom, shooting the shotgun.

TEXT: But now Shotgun has a new role -- Coach Derek.

BROWN: The kids right now call me Coach Brown, you know, Coach Derek is what I tell them to call me.

What I'm doing, I'm watching you. Try to hit me right there.

TEXT: Who is trying to "K-O" Chicago's youth violence by teaching street kids to box.

BROWN: It's a big problem in the city. For one, it's not enough programs that's over here. It's not enough community centers.

TEXT: So he started his own.

BROWN: Ready, go. All your punches, straight. There you go. Perfect.

TEXT: On the steps of his old school on the street where he grew up and joined a gang at the age of 13.

BROWN: What's ironic is I went to this school right here. There's bullet holes in this wall that came from me. You can see. There's bullet holes from this wall that came from me. You can see bullet holes in this wall that came from me.

TEXT: Now 34, following a stint in prison, he has been out of the gang for two years and is reveling in his new life as a role model.

BROWN: It's two parents, though. It's your home parents, whether it's your father or mother, and it's the streets. That's something that goes unnoticed. You know, the streets will take your kid and turn into what they is.

When I look at them, I think hope. I think somebody is going to be something in life. Somebody is going to be definitely better than me.

Put some snap to it and keep your hands tucked in.

You don't have to grow into nothing negative. You can see all negative, but he'll know how to handle it. You know, I'm not just teaching them how to box. I'm teaching them to box their way through life.

There you go. Good. That's a champ.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VELSHI: Teaching them to box their way through life. To meet more people like Derek Brown giving back to their communities, be sure to watch "GIVING IN FOCUS." It's an hour-long special hosted by CNN's Tom Foreman. It airs at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Christmas Day here on CNN.

Well, the president's former chief of staff gets some good news in his run for mayor of Chicago. That is ahead in our CNN Political Update when we come back.

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VELSHI: There it is, the beautiful Statue of Liberty off the tip of southern Manhattan looking beautiful. It is cold. There's people lined up there ready to get on that ferry to get back to Manhattan. Cold out there, but that place just never stops being busy.

Another busy city and another cold city, Rahm Emanuel good to go in the Chicago mayoral race. CNN chief national correspondent John King joins me now from Washington with our CNN Political Update.

John, most people thought it was going to go this way, but there certainly was a chance that after quitting as the chief of staff for President Obama and going back to Chicago that they weren't going to let him run for mayor.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There was a big question about his eligibility. There is a state law that says to run for municipal office, you have to live there for a year before the election, and a bunch of people came forward and said, hey, Rahm Emanuel lived in Washington.

But, Ali, what they said was that's service to your country and that's allowed, and he still has a house that he own here anyway. So the Board of Elections decided today that Rahm Emanuel will appear on the ballot. He's been leading in the polls, so that's a big victory for Rahm Emanuel. He had to testify for 12 hours in one of the hearings about that. He's very feisty. If you can't cover politics in Washington, head to Chicago, it gets pretty feisty there. But Rahm will be on the ballot.

Here's another big question about the holidays. We talked last hour, does the stress of the economy, does it make the holidays more stressful this years because of all the troubles? What about charitable giving? Has the economy forced you to cut back on your charitable donations?

Fifty-eight percent of Americans, so nearly six in ten, say yes. And that's up from 51 percent who said that last year. So more evidence, Ali, that even as the economy starts to grow, people are having to hold back a bit because they're still having tough times themselves.

And lastly, the queen of America, you know who I'm talking about, Oprah Winfrey, she's talking about Sarah Palin in the new issue of "Parade" magazine. You might put this one under mixed messages. Would Sarah Palin run for president in 2012? Oprah says this, "It does not scare me because I believe in the intelligence of the American public." Ouch, Oprah doesn't think much of Sarah Palin.

Yet, she thinks highly -- and Oprah knows a lot about television -- she thinks highly of Sarah Palin's show,. "Sarah Palin's Alaska." She says, quote, "I would say America is going to fall in love with her for the reality series. When I saw that first episode, I said, whoa, she's charming and very likable."

So there you have it, Ali. We know Oprah thinks Sarah Palin is charming and very likable, she just doesn't want her to be president.

VELSHI: Hey, John, aside from Ed Henry, who's been on the beach for a few days, are the rest of you in Washington who cover politics sort of exhaling now? You know, the Congress stuff is done, the president is in Hawaii. Are you kind of saying you've got a few days where you can collect yourselves and maybe think about the next year?

KING: Yes. As a guy who was the senior White House correspondent for a long time, boy, he played that card well, didn't he? Getting out to Hawaii, those nice floral shirts.

We're exhaling a little bit, but there is a lot to study. And I know Ed, even with his rum drinks on the beach in Hawaii is studying, too.

You know, what happened? How did we have all of this volatility? The president had a horrible year, right? Well, then he had a great two weeks.

The Republicans are having a great year, right? And now the Right's mad again at what happened in the lame duck.

So there's a lot to sort through, if you will, the ashes of 2010, the clues of 2010, because 2011 is going to be hugely consequential. Big decisions here in Washington, Ali. And before we say happy new year, the 2012 presidential campaign will be underway.

VELSHI: You're absolutely right, John. Great to see you, as always, my friend.

KING: Take care, sir.

VELSHI: "JOHN KING USA," every night, 7:00 Eastern every week night on CNN.

Your next update from "The Best Political Team on Television" is just an hour away.

All right, next up in "Odds & Ends" we'll visit what's got to be the Census worker's favorite town ever. But be warned, pretty sure there's no Starbucks there.

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VELSHI: We love little details here. It's the community at the highest elevation along Interstate 80. It was reportedly once robbed by Butch Cassidy, but that's not why one Wyoming town's true claim to fame.

Today's "Odds & Ends" from Adam Chodak of our affiliate KUSA.

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ADAM CHODAK, KUSA REPORTER (voice-over): The town of Buford as a population of one.

DON SAMMONS, TOWN'S ONLY RESIDENT: The first question they come in is, am I the one. When my manager works, I have to have them a wear a sign that says, "No, I'm not the one."

My name's Don Sammons, and I'm the owner of the Buford Trading Post.

CHODAK: You could also call Don Sammons, zip code 82052.

SAMMONS: People are amazed they can meet the entire town in just a flash.

CHODAK: Sammons moved to Buford from California in 1980.

SAMMONS: I've always been happy here, and I still am.

CHODAK: You should know, Buford wasn't always this tiny.

SAMMONS: It was a good life for all of us.

CHODAK: Not long ago, it had a population of three.

SAMMONS: Well, originally it was myself and my wife. Then we had our son. Then about 15 years ago, the wife passed away.

CHODAK: Which left just father and son.

SAMMONS: My son said it was a dictatorship while he lived here, but I told him when he turned 18 that he would have a right to vote so.

CHODAK: But that right wasn't enough to keep him in town.

SAMMONS: And about three years ago, the son grew up and moved away.

CHODAK: That left Sammons and his store --

SAMMONS: This is not a post office. This is Buford Trading Post.

CHODAK: -- and his own brand of happiness.

SAMMONS: Be careful. Merry Christmas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You, too. Merry Christmas. SAMMONS: Have a safe trip.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VELSHI: Where do I have to go and who do I have to talk to to get my own zip code for Velshiville, T.J.?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: You already have it. We kind of changed things up as soon as you moved to Atlanta not too long ago.

You've got like a minute left in your show. Are you sure you don't want to -- you got something else you want to talk about?

VELSHI: I was going to talk to you about that. I think it's kind of fascinating, a town with one person. I don't know how that actually works. You and I -- I mean, I'd split a town with you.

HOLMES: One town, it's not going to be big enough for the both of us, Ali, and I think you know that.

(LAUGHTER)

VELSHI: You know, in that case, you know what? I cede the remainder of my minute to you, my good friend, T.J. Holmes.

T.J. takes it away with NEWSROOM. Great to see you.

HOLMES: Ali V, good to see you always, buddy. Thanks so much.