Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Ohio Deputy Killed in Line of Duty; Memorable 'Face to Face' Interviews; Security Tight Around Bombed Egyptian Church; Longest- Serving Female Senator; New Governors Taking Office; Steele Up for Re- Election; New Congress Convenes Wednesday; Report: Iran Shot Down Two Spy Drones; Deputy Killed in Line of Duty; U.S. Navy Probes Raunchy Videos; Taking Care of Your Computer; President Obama to Return to Washington Tuesday

Aired January 02, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

SUSAN HENDRICKS, CNN ANCHOR: A sheriff's deputy and mother of two ambushed in Ohio. This hour, we will have the details of the troubling case, plus shocking statistics on the number of officers killed in the line of duty.

And at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, a skinhead couple committed to hating Jews finds out they are Jewish. Finds out what they did next and why the truth about who they were was hidden for so long.

Then, political puppets and their humorous take on the events of 2010. JibJab jokes in our "Viral Video Rewind" at 5:00 p.m.

You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Susan Hendricks, in today for Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin today with an Ohio sheriff's department making plans to honor one of its own. Deputy Suzanne Hopper, a mother of two, was gunned down yesterday answering a call at a trailer park outside of Springfield. Investigators she was taking photos of footprints when a man came out of his trailer and shot her. A gun battle followed; a police officer wounded.

You are about to see it as it happens, images that are graphic and disturbing. Here is the sheriff describing what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF GENE A. KELLY, CLARK COUNTY, OHIO: The suspect inside opened fire and struck a German Township police officer. He's currently in Miami Valley, and it appears to me right now that he's in serious condition. But they tell me that he's believed to be -- he will be OK.

And it appears that the door of the trailer opened and the person inside fired one shotgun blast, striking the deputy and fatally wounding a deputy. When we entered the trailer, the suspect was deceased, apparently from the exchange of gunfire with deputies.

Our deputy never had the opportunity to return fire or take cover. The deputy was an outstanding deputy and is married and a parent of two children. This is the worst day in my 24 years as a sheriff of Clark County.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENDRICKS: No word yet on funeral arrangements for Deputy Suzanne Hopper. She had been with the Clark County Sheriff's Department for 12 years.

Jeremy Bloom (ph) is the officer wounded in that shootout. He remains in serious condition in the hospital. The name of the suspect has not been released yet.

And sadly, this does happen. And last year, the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty was way up.

Our Josh Levs is here to break it down for us.

Shocking numbers, Josh.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are. They're shocking. They're never what you want to see.

You know, we had a story like this days ago out of Georgia. And I have a picture for you here.

This was a state trooper, also, Chadwick Lecroy (ph), who has been mourned over the past week, was shot and killed on Monday. And it capped a year of just awful statistics of killings of law enforcement officers in this country.

And what I'm going to do now is give you a picture of how much worse 2010 was over 2009. And let's come to the screen right here.

When you're looking at officer killings, they're on the rise in this country. Look here.

2010, 162 law enforcement officers killed while in the line of duty. Back in 2009, it was 117. There's a very big jump. But let's break it down a little bit here.

When you're looking at killings by gunfire, fatalities by gunfire, 61 in 2010; 49 in 2009. So there was a big jump there.

More of the deaths that you hear about are actually in traffic incidents, and they include accidents in that total. Take a look here.

Law enforcement fatalities in traffic incidents, 73 in 2010; 51 back in 2009. So we're seeing it get a lot worse in that way.

But I also want to tell you all that it's actually the opposite of what's going on in America in general, which is that violent crime is actually going down. We just got this from the FBI the other day.

Violent crime in this country has dropped 6.2 percent in the first half of 2010 versus first half of 2009. So what we're seeing is unusual -- less crime in general, but more killings of officers. Property crime, by the way, has been dropping as well.

And this is a really unusual thing that we're seeing here, Susan, for officers to be killed at a higher rate while homicide in general and violent crimes in this country are going down. Experts are not clear on why that's happening, but it's something they're looking into right now. The last thing anyone wants to see -- Susan.

HENDRICKS: Yes. When you think of Suzanne Hopper and her two young kids, it is heartbreaking.

LEVS: Heartbreaking.

HENDRICKS: Josh, thank you.

LEVS: You got it.

HENDRICKS: Overseas now, violent clashes between police and protesters in southeastern China. It happened a week to the day after a popular local leader in the village was killed. Some say the leader died in a traffic accident, others claim he was murdered. Many say anger over his death fueled the conflict. Witnesses say police beat some protesters and arrested others.

Iran says it has shot down two unmanned recognizance drones in the Persian Gulf. Media reports describe them as western spy planes which are capable of taking surveillance photos. U.S. officials have not commented on the incident, but the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, which is near the strategic Strait of Hormuz that links the Gulf to the Indian Ocean.

The Navy is investigating raunchy videos produced and shown to the crew of the USS Enterprise. The videos first published yesterday by the "Virginian Pilot" newspaper are filled with sexual innuendo and anti-gay references. They were shown to the aircraft carrier's crew in 2006 and 2007.

Now, the tapes feature a man identified by the paper and two Navy officials as Captain Owen Honors. Honors was the Enterprise's second in command at the time. In the tapes, he is shown cursing, along with other staff members, in an attempt to be funny. Navy officials call the videos "unacceptable."

The 9/11 health bill will become the first bill to be signed into law this year. President Obama plans to sign it today, during his vacation in Hawaii.

Now, the legislation provides health coverage to the first responders of the terrorist attacks. They've been fighting for almost 10 years for federal help with health issues resulting from 9/11. Congress finally approved it last month.

Memorable characters, Hollywood starlets, gifted writers, they are just some of the intriguing people we have gone "Face to Face" with in the last year. We will look back at the best of those chats.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HENDRICKS: Welcome back.

They are some of the most familiar and iconic figures in the world today. And you get to know them "Face to Face" with CNN's Fredricka Whitfield. She looks back at some of the more memorable interviews of the past 12 months.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As we ring in this New Year we look forward to more poignant and powerful moments "Face to Face" with remarkable people on the public stage. 2010 was a fabulous year, with a variety of people as diverse, impactful and far-reaching as you see here, from CNN founder Ted Turner, who shared with us "Face to Face" some of his big dreams and big defeats, to author Steve Harvey, who said good things could can from failures, to business mogul Russell Simmons, who redefines success without ever having a business plan.

Then, there was author Catherine Schwarzenegger, trying to help young women and men rock what they've got, and author Salman Rushdie on both his memoirs about living with a year's long death threat and his latest projects inspired by his children. Author Terry McMillan helped us get to happy while icon Pam Greer found many ways to make us laugh.

A look back at "Face to Face" 2010.

TED TURNER, FOUNDER, CNN: My biggest regret, though, would be in losing my association with Turner Broadcasting and CNN.

I would have liked to have been Captain Planet. I would have liked to have been the ecological superhero. I think at my age I'm probably too old to be an anchor, but I did, during the second -- at the beginning of the second Gulf War, I volunteered to go over there and cover the war, because they didn't have anybody that would cover it, the second one, at that time, and I would have been happy to do it. Well, they said well, you don't have enough experience. I said, all you have to do is be able to duck and say, wow, that one was close.

WHITFIELD: You've got to be kidding me.

TUNER: No. I'm serious. Anybody could do it

PAM GREER, ACTRESS: When I stepped in the room, you hear "wacca- wacca-wacca-wacca," you knew it was me. You knew a black person stepped into the scene. It didn't feel good. It made people feel uncomfortable if you show the problem as opposed to ignore it and keep it under the rug, then you can heal.

WHITFIELD: Did you ever realize your reach would be global to this degree?

RUSSELL SIMMONS, DEF JAM: You just do what's in front of you and of course, I didn't have a business plan. I had never written a business plan. When I invest in a companies, these days, they write them, I don't read them. But I know what they are. The plan is to do well and focus every day and give as much as you can.

WHITFIELD: Have you had a failed business?

SIMMONS: You can't fail until you quit.

ANDREW YOUNG, FMR U.N. AMBASSADOR: Well, there has been violence against us, but there had been violence against us all over. John Lewis had been beaten up 20, 30 times, by then. It happened to be a first for me, but, you know, it was my turn.

KATHERINE SCHWARZENEGGER, AUTHOR: My dad's just my dad. And he's not, you know, the "Terminator" to me. He's not, you know, Mr. Olympia to me. I know I see the pictures in my house of him being, you know, very muscular, obviously.

He never pressured me and my siblings to kind of go down that path or be extra fit because of that. I think we, as women, we look in the mirror and we don't see what other people see. We automatically jump and only focus on the flaws, the things we wish we could change about ourselves.

And I think that is true of women of all ages. And, you know, I was in fourth grade and I was doing exactly that. And I think, you know, to me, my mom wasn't Maria Shriver, the beautiful journalist, she was just my mom, to me. And so, when she told me, you know, you're beautiful, Katherine, I was like, yes, sure, whatever, you have to say that. And I think that's what a lot of young girls think.

CHRIS GARDNER, PHILANTHROPIST AND ENTREPRENEUR: My daughter, eight years, old runs up to me at the front door and says, "Papa, tell Chris I'm going to get your Ferrari when you die."

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh.

(LAUGHTER)

GARDNER: Right there, whacking up the goods, man. She's eight and he's 12.

Can't nobody (sic) even drive. Right? Who going to get my Ferrari. Oh.

At that same time they both decided to bring home report cards that started with the back end of the alphabet. And that's where I said, no. It was Christmas.

I'll never forget this. The tree is up, the presents are wrapped and I said don't touch nothing. We're not going to open a single present until the next report card comes out, which was in March.

WHITFIELD: Oh. That was a very delayed Christmas.

GARDNER: And all their little friends had to come to the house and wondering, why you all still got the tree up? (LAUGHTER)

KERRY WASHINGTON, ACTRESS: She actually got gray hairs playing the character because her body was caught up in the reality of the role she was playing.

KIMBERLY ELISE, ACTRESS: It's true. I went with about five gray hairs and came home with 50, seriously, in a matter of weeks. It was that intense and gratifying. I wear them proudly, now. WHITFIELD: You still have them and it is OK?

ELISE: Yes, I was introduced to the dye bottle. It's my friend now.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: How does one do that, go into seclusion or --

SALMAN RUSHDIE, WRITER: Most difficult.

WHITFIELD: Go into hiding for a period of time and then eventually emerge?

RUSHDIE: Yes, well, it was tough. I wouldn't recommend it. I mean, if, on the whole, if you can avoid be sentenced to death by a tyrannical leader of a foreign country, then you know, avoid it if you can.

And how's Terry McMillan feeling these days? Are you breathing?

TERRY MCMILLAN, AUTHOR: I am feeling --

WHITFIELD: At a comfortable place?

MCMILLAN: Yes. I feel like -- I feel like I'm floating in my own sky, sort of, and that I'm -- that I got my center back, because I had lost it, I was lopsided, and it is a horrible way to live. And so I basically wrote myself to happy.

STEVE HARVEY, ENTERTAINER: It makes no sense for you to go to Las Vegas and play a game and not know the rules and lose your money. You're sitting there going, what the heck happened to me just now. That's what a lot of women do in life. You know, they just go through relationship, relationship -- what the heck just happened to me?

WHITFIELD: In 2011, "Face to Face" promises even more surprises from people you thought you knew. Perhaps there is someone in particular you'd love for me to talk to, face to face. Send your suggestions to me at CNN.com/Fredricka, or my Facebook page, and we'll try our best to profile someone who intrigues you "Face to Face" on CNN weekends, in 2011.

Happy New Year.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENDRICKS: Great job in 2010, Fredricka. Thank you. Just ahead, targeting Christians. Officials ramp up security on places of worship after a deadly bomb blast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: An emotional scene today at the Egyptian church targeted in a deadly New Year's Day bombing.

Tearful worshipers lit candles to honor those killed. The attack happened in the northern city of Alexandria. There are still a lot of questions about who carried about the bombing and how many people were killed.

Here's CNN Senior International Correspondent Ben Wedeman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The attack took place just 10 minutes into the new year just around the corner at the Church of El Havasin (ph), the Two Saints.

Now, at the moment, there's no way to get near the church because there is an intense Egyptian security presence around it. But many people here, eyewitnesses I spoke to, complain that the night of the attack, security simply was inadequate, that the Egyptian police were allowing people to park cars in front of the church.

The Egyptian authorities say they believe that the attack was the work of a suicide bomber, but eyewitnesses, several of whom I spoke with in hospital just up the street from here, they say that they are positive that they saw that it was a car bomb and not a suicide bomber. And, of course, that raises worries about if it was a car bomb, that means there's a whole logistical network that supported this attack.

Now, at this point, it's not clear what the final death toll is. Initially, the Egyptian authorities were putting it at 21. But now they say they're saying they can only identify 18 of the bodies. The rest are body parts they simply cannot identify.

Now, the atmosphere here in Alexandria is very tense. Throughout the afternoon there have been running battles between Egyptian security and Coptic Christian youth, some of whom were throwing rocks at the police. Police responding with tear gas, rubber bullets, and using their batons.

We're also hearing there are clashes in Cairo as well between riders and the police on the main road going by the Nile. So, throughout Egypt, in the aftermath of these attacks, the atmosphere is indeed very tense.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Alexandria.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENDRICKS: Now for a check of the other top stories we're following.

An Ohio sheriff's deputy and mother of two is gunned down on New Year's Day. Here's a picture of her.

The Clark County sheriff says Suzanne Hopper was at a trailer park taking pictures of footprints when a man came out of his trailer and started shooting. Hopper was 40 years old. Again, two kids. The suspect died in a gun battle with other officers.

A popular ride at a Florida amusement park shut down by a New Year's Day fire. The water flume ride at the Islands of Adventure park in Orlando will be closed indefinitely. No one was hurt. The rest of the park is still open.

A lot of cleanup in the new year for hundreds of people in the South and Midwest. Parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi were pounded by deadly tornadoes on New Year's Eve. At least seven deaths were reported. Some of the worst damage is in a small town of Cincinnati, Arkansas.

And our thoughts are with people there still trying to clean up and assess what happened.

Today, a lot of the activity on the West Coast. Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras joins us for the latest.

(WEATHER REPOT)

HENDRICKS: You've got to see this out of Tennessee.

It's been a year like no other for this couple. Derek and Kathleen Hunter welcomed home two adopted children from Russia after waiting a lot longer than they ever anticipated. Russia put all U.S. adoptions on hold last April.

You may remember this one. An American woman who adopted a Russian boy sent the child back to his orphanage with a note saying she no longer wanted him. Well, that held things up. The Hunters couldn't hide their emotions when their 1-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son finally arrived in Nashville.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHLEEN HUNTER, ADOPTIVE MOM: With all the hurdles and everything, God was with us the whole step of the way.

DEREK HUNTER, ADOPTIVE DAD: To have kids that are just needing somebody to love them, and parents that just want to love kids and bring them together, it's perfect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENDRICKS: I love that. He's getting choked up. It was also a reunion between the children. They are siblings, but were in separate orphanages. Love that story.

You don't hear about this very often, twins born minutes apart but in different years. We will fill you in on their unusual arrival.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: Congress goes back to work this week, and one lawmaker is poised to mark a Capitol Hill milestone.

On Wednesday, when the lawmakers are sworn in, Barbara Mikulski will become the longest serving woman ever in the U.S. Senate.

CNN's Dana Bash talked with the Maryland Democrat about the Senate's glass ceiling.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Barbara Mikulski remembers what a man's world the Senate was when she came 24 years ago.

SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI (D), MARYLAND: There's this place called the Senate gym, the locker room, but that just couldn't accommodate me and I'm not much of a jock any way.

BASH: And a lot of business was done there, right?

MIKULSKI: That's where they networked and that's where they bonded.

BASH (voice-over): The first female Democratic senator elected in her own right, Mikulski was only one of two Senate women in 1996.

MIKULSKI: What you wore became a very big deal.

BASH (on camera): In what way?

MIKULSKI: I'm most comfortable in slacks. Well, for a woman to come on the floor in trousers was viewed as seismographic event. I had to alert Senator Byrd that I was going to do it.

The Senate parliamentarian looked at the rules to make sure it was OK and I kind of walked on that day and you would have thought I was walking on the moon. It caused a big stir.

BASH (voice-over): The girl who dreamed of being a scientist not a senator became the first woman on key Senate committees and in leadership by showing she's as smart and tough as the man.

MIKULSKI: That's a question you needed to know from day one, Ms. Jackson. When I came it was clear that I was going to work twice as hard, do my homework.

BASH: Mikulski is about to become the longest serving female senator ever. She's known as the dean of Senate women.

MIKULSKI: I take it very seriously. I see that it's my job to be able to organize the women in the way where their talents are served.

BASH: When four more Senate women were elected in 1992, Mikulski took upon herself to show them the ropes. Something she still does for new female senators in both parties. MIKULSKI: There is no training program when you arrive here. Usually it's been every man for himself, but I'm going to be every woman each one teach one so I organized the power workshop. The media said are you having the tea? I said. No, it's about power.

BASH: She's quite proud of this pen.

MIKULSKI: It was the first bill that President Obama signed.

BASH: A bill she pushed through the Senate giving women equal pay for equal work.

MIKULSKI: He said this pen is yours. So I had the very first pen of the very first piece of legislation signed by the very first African- American president of the United States. It is indeed a national treasure.

BASH: She shows us other prized possessions, pictures with fellow female senators now 17 in all, who still meet monthly for off the record dinners.

MIKULSKI: There are more women sitting on this chair than had served in all of American history when I arrived.

BASH: She calls that a stunning accomplishment in contrast to a stunning statistic. There had only been 38 female senators in history. Mikulski now becomes the woman to stay the longest. Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN HENDRICKS, CNN ANCHOR: She certainly paved the way, didn't she? Our thanks to Dana Bash. You know, the New Year also brings some big political changes. Here's CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser with the look of what's coming in the week ahead.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Susan, the first week of the New Year is jam packed with political events.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER (voice-over): New York's new governor didn't waste a minute getting sworn in right at the start of 2011 as did the new governors in Michigan and New Mexico where Susana Martinez became the nation's first Hispanic female governor.

Tomorrow Jerry Brown is inaugurated as California's governor. It's back to the future for the golden state as Brown served two terms in California in the 1970s and '80s.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nevada also swear in their new governors the same day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER (voice-over): Also Monday, a showdown for Michael Steele as he tries to keep his job as head of the Republican National Committee.

The often outspoken RNC chief is up for re-election later this month and tomorrow he faces off in a debate against the five candidates challenging him for his job.

Wednesday new faces on Capitol Hill as the 112th Congress gets sworn in. Thanks to big GOP victories in the midterm elections, Republicans take over control of the House of the Representatives and will have a larger and stronger minority in the Senate, Susan.

HENDRICKS: All right, Paul. Thank you. Time to go "Cross Country" with a look at some of the stories our affiliates are covering today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HENDRICKS (voice-over): In Raleigh, North Carolina, twins born just a couple minutes apart, but in different years. Christi Austin gave birth to a baby boy, Ashton at 11:58 p.m. as 2010 drew to a close. Then his twin sister, Alisha followed two minutes later right at midnight as 2011 began. Pretty amazing.

In San Diego, a new take on graffiti. A local artist has set up a workshop where he is teaching the finer points of the art form. The classes attracting all sorts of people from working professionals to students.

In Brooklyn, New York, a frigid way to start the New Year right. Take a look. Members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club took the plunge into icy waters to usher in 2011. It's something the club does every year. It's difficult to look at every year. Makes you cold just looking at them. Pretty brave.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENDRICKS: You had made your New Year's resolutions. Now it's time to make sure what you do is secure. Marc Saltzman joins us with ways to protect your computer and all of its contents in 2011. Don't miss it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: Getting your computer in shape for 2011, our tech guru joins us in just a moment, but first, a check of the headlines for you.

Iran says it shot down two unmanned western spy planes over the Persian Gulf. U.S. officials have not commented on the incident. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain to protect the strategic of Strait of Hormuz.

Suzanne Hopper is being remembered as an outstanding deputy. She was gunned down yesterday while investigating reports of gunfire at a trailer park. She was 40 years old. She is the mother of two. The man suspected of killing her died in a gun battle with other deputies and police. One officer was seriously wounded.

The crew of the "USS Enterprise" is under increased scrutiny today. The U.S. Navy is investigating how a series of inappropriate videos was produced and shown to the sailors and airmen about four years ago. The videos were full of sexual and anti-gay remarks. The aircraft carrier was on deployment supporting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when the videos were made.

All right, in the New Year, many of us vow to take better care of ourselves, but what about our computers? Our technology analyst, syndicated writer, Marc Saltzman joins us via Skype from Toronto. Resolutions for your computer, Mark, this is a new one here. Fill us in.

MARC SALTZMAN, TECHNOLOGY ANALYST: All right. Thanks, Susan. Well, number one is to back up your important files on a regular basis. We all know we should do it, but rarely do we do it often enough.

This includes your irreplaceable photos, videos, documents, e-mail addresses, just in case something happens to your computer. Be it a nasty virus, theft, water or fire damage, you need to back it up. You can do it very inexpensively with one of those little USB thumb drives.

You can back it up online. There are a number of free services. If you have a lot of files invest in a relatively inexpensive external hard drive that can store many hundreds of gigabytes.

HENDRICKS: The next one is to serve and protect your computer so to speak. Tell us about this one.

SALTZMAN: Sure, the second tip to keeping your computer safe in 2011 is to make sure you install and regularly update internet security software. Just as you wouldn't leave your front door wide open when you leave your home, you should protect your computer even when you're not there.

There's inexpensive and in some cases free anti-virus software that will protect your PC from malicious types in cyberspace and to stick with the analogy of your home, you should also not leave your back door unlocked when you leave the home because there's spyware.

You can inadvertently download this software that can monitor your web surfing behavior and cause all kinds of nasty pop-up ads and tool bars that you don't want. So you can also get free anti-spyware software at places like download.com.

HENDRICKS: And peaking of your home, you are supposed to keep that clean as is your laptop computer, right?

SALTZMAN: That's right. Spring cleaning may be a few months away for us, but for your computers there's no time like now to do it for 2011. Get rid of those icons. If you have so many icons on your desktop that you can't even see the photo behind it, it's time to do some spring cleaning. But instead of just deleting the icon, which is just a shortcut to launch the program, go to your add/remove applications area of your control panel and take out the programs in full. The ones you don't need any more of course.

It's also a good time to do something called defragging your computer. You don't have to understand what it does, but it's in the accessories part of your control panel. It essentially sweeps through your hard drive and fixes common errors that can impact performance. So keep your computer clean in 2011 as well.

HENDRICKS: I'm going to use that walk up to someone say are you defragging?

SALTZMAN: Yes.

HENDRICKS: All right. We also have to talk about passwords. It's recommended by you to change your password a couple times a year, right?

SALTZMAN: Right, our fourth tip is keep good passwords in 2011. Many of us use the word password. We use 12345 or our pet or child's name. These are easy to guess if someone wants to hack into your Facebook account or read Gmail or access files on your computer including your Wi-Fi password if you have a wireless network at home.

So make sure you create and change often strong passwords. Seven characters in length minimum is recommended and use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.

HENDRICKS: And 12345 obviously not good. Maybe use a sentence or two, I don't know. Also don't be gullible. Don't fall for scams out there in 2011.

SALTZMAN: Yes, there's some software that can protect you from malicious types out there to steal your identity for financial gain. I'm referring to what we call phishing attacks.

This is when you get an e-mail that looks legitimate and it might look it comes from your bank or other financial institution asking you to verify your information. However, you're taken to a spoof website and voluntarily giving out your personal and confidential information.

Don't fall for these. There's no software that will protect you from being naive or gullible. So make sure you just hit the delete button. If your bank needs to verify your phone number, they won't do it through an e-mail. Just be web wise as I like to call it.

HENDRICKS: When in doubt, Marc, don't fall for it. Let's talk about resolutions. Do you have one? How can folks at home follow through with theirs?

SALTZMAN: Right, to round off our tips on taking better care of your computer, there are also apps or applications for your Smartphone or tablet that can help you maintain your own personal resolutions. Mine is to shed a few pounds in 2011. Now that I'm the big 4-0, I have to do something. There is an app such as called lose it that's free for your Smartphone that works with iPhone and Android devices that helps you maintain your weight, it counts your calories for you.

There are ones that help you quit smoking. Ones that help you consume less alcohol. Ones that help you manage your money better. There's no shortage of apps. As the expression goes, there's an app for that.

So if you are a Smartphone or tablet user, go to your favorite app store and type in some key words that relate to the resolution you want to keep this year and chances are you'll find some inexpensive or free apps that can help you reach your goals.

HENDRICKS: All right, Marc Saltzman. Happy New Year to you. Thank you so much. Great tips.

SALTZMAN: Thanks, Susan and to you. Cheers.

HENDRICKS: Well, he came into office promising reform, but is leaving with plenty of scrutiny. We will take a look at the legacy of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: We're keeping an eye on all of the latest headlines on the CNNPolitics.com desk. Here's what's we're crossing right now. Let's take a look right here.

A showdown ahead for Michael Steele as he tries to remain head of the Republican National Committee. The often outspoken RNC chief is up for re-election later this month and tomorrow he faces off in a debate against five candidates challenging him for his post.

President Obama is wrapping up his holiday family vacation in Hawaii. The president is expected to return to Washington on Tuesday. A day later the 112th Congress convenes for the year with a new Republican dominated House.

Democrat Jerry Brown is preparing to return to a job he held nearly three decades ago, the governor of California. His inauguration will be held tomorrow.

The man Brown will be replacing, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, says he is leaving happy that he, quote, "became the former governor." Nanette Miranda with our affiliate KGL looks at his legacy as California's chief executive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NANNETTE MIRANDA, REPORTER, KGO TV (voice-over): Arnold Schwarzenegger rode into office on a wave of optimism in 2003.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congratulations, Governor Schwarzenegger.

MIRANDA: With California voters hoping the political outsider could fix Sacramento.

GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, (R) CALIFORNIA: Every governor proposes moving boxes around to reorganize government. I don't want to move boxes around. I want to blow them up.

MIRANDA: At first the actor turned politician brought Hollywood with him using stunts to get his point across like the flood of red ink to illustrate Sacramento's pension to overspend and smashing a car to show how much he hated the car tax.

His popularity paved the way to early victories that included bringing down workers comp cost and getting approval for his economic recovery bonds, but then things turned south when lawmakers missed the deadline for Schwarzenegger's first state budget. He resorted to name calling.

SCHWARZENEGGER: If they don't have guts, I call them girly men who should go back to the table and fix the budget.

MIRANDA: Most budgets since then also missed the mark. Breaking the record twice for the latest spending plans ever, which led to more name calling.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Kindergarten. They pointed fingers at each other --

MIRANDA: But in the spirit of compromise when it was clear the recession wasn't going away, to end one of the longest budget stalemates Schwarzenegger broke a campaign promise to never raise taxes agreeing to the largest tax hike in California history.

SCHWARZENEGGER: If you think that you can do this budget without increase in revenues then you have a big math problem.

MIRANDA: Some of the biggest cuts ever to public schools and social programs were also part of that package making him unpopular. Bipartisanship was short lived when attempts to rebalance the budget failed and the state had to pay its bills with IOUs the third time in state history.

SCHWARZENEGGER: It's a sad story. They have known for months now that the deadline is June 30th.

MIRANDA: Schwarzenegger's relationship with voters was just as hot and cold as it was with lawmakers. In his early days, he offended nurses who protested proposed changes to job regulations.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Special interest just don't like me in Sacramento because I'm always kicking their butt.

MIRANDA: That led to a huge rejection of his first attempt in 2005 to reform government through his favorite avenue, the ballot box. Rather than working with the legislature.

SCHWARZENEGGER: If I would do another "Terminator" movie, I would have terminated to travel back in time to tell Arnold not to have a special election. MIRANDA: Voters forgave him enough to not only re-elect him, but also help him cement his legacy. They approved a $50 billion bond package to improve infrastructure and jump-start high-speed rail. Schwarzenegger was the only governor in decades to be able to hammer out an agreement to address the state's water needs.

SCHWARZENEGGER: We set forth a bold vision for the future.

MIRANDA: And Californians approved the political reforms he says will help elect more centrist politicians through open primaries and district lines drawn by ordinary citizens.

SCHWARZENEGGER: I had no idea it would be as difficult and that it would take that many years to do and you have to go through all kinds of battles and minefields and debates.

MIRANDA: The governor though believes his biggest victory during his tenure was signing a landmark global warming law that dramatically cuts greenhouse gas emissions in California.

SCHWARZENEGGER: One of the things I'm most proud of is AB-32. Now, of course, AB-32 is controversial. Some people don't like it.

MIRANDA (on camera): In the end Schwarzenegger didn't blow up the boxes. California's bond debt tripled since 2003. The state workforce jumped by 10 percent and Californians paid almost $1,000 more in taxes last year.

(voice-over): When Schwarzenegger hands the reigns over to Jerry Brown, he's indicated he may write a book and continue efforts to fight global warming and could end up with a position in the Obama administration.

In Sacramento, Nannette Miranda, ABC-7 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENDRICKS: Well, Jacqui and I were just talking saying, you know what, the younger generation may not even remember Arnold Schwarzenegger as an actor. I think he'll go back to acting. We have some Hollywood hook-ups we want to talk about. How about Valerie Bertinelli?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Lots of marriages this weekend starting out the New Year as a new couple I guess.

HENDRICKS: Yes, congrats to Valerie Bertinelli, 50 years old. Looks amazing. We were also talking about that. She finally tied the knot with her boyfriend of several years.

JERAS: He's a financial planner, Tom Vitel. They've been dating seven years. Congratulations. She looks great.

HENDRICKS: She does. Valerie Bertinelli married to Eddie Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen was at the wedding.

JERAS: That's what I heard.

HENDRICKS: With their son that they have together.

JERAS: Pretty amazing. Congrats to her.

HENDRICKS: Something of a bit more messy you could say with a happy ending.

JERAS: Yes.

HENDRICKS: Fill us in on this one.

JERAS: The other wedding of the weekend I guess is country music superstar Shania Twain is married again according to "People" magazine. She married Frederick Tibbo I hope I'm saying that right. He's the executive of Nestle Swiss Company. They met because their spouses were cheating on them. So they were both married and their spouses hooked up and they met each other and have gotten married.

HENDRICKS: Her former husband, is he with the woman?

JERAS: I don't know if they're still together or not, but kind of a strange way to get together, but, you know, I guess they had common hurts and it worked out for them.

HENDRICKS: Jacqui and I are going to do some research on the commercial and get back to you on that one. Jacqui, thank you.

Stunt performers face dangers every time they do their jobs, right? Well, it's getting more dangerous. We will hear what some of those performers are saying about the risks involved.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: One of the stunt acrobats who suffered a serious injury while performing in "Spiderman" is expected to leave rehab this week. Such accidents are raising concerns about the overall safety of stunt performers. CNN's Susan Candiotti talks with a group of performers about the risks they take on the job every day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Their flowing moves and dazzling artistry are both stunningly beautiful and a bit frightening to watch.

GUINEVERE DIPIAZZA, AERIAL ACROBAT: When you perform a trick and something that's a little bit sudden or quick or swift and you get a gasp from the crowd, it's really exciting.

CANDIOTTI: But there are risks. Will the knots hold? Will the rigging bear the acrobat's weight?

VIRGINIA LOGAN, STUDENT AERIALIST: If you forget a liner, if you forget a step, it's one thing, but - if you fall, game over.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Beautiful.

CANDIOTTI: An actor in "Spiderman" who plunged more than 20 feet during a recent stunt is the fourth performer injured in the $65 million Broadway play still in previews.

(on camera): How dangerous is this profession?

DIPIAZZA: OK. Well, danger is kind of part of the game.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): More than a game. It's serious work. Guinevere Dipiazza is an aerial acrobat who runs her own small group performing throughout New York.

DIPIAZZA: Rotate a little bit more so - not faces you.

CANDIOTTI: "Spiderman's" accidents are the talk of the aerial community.

ELIE VENESKY, PERFORMER: One person getting hurt then it's not necessarily the show's fault. But for people --

LOGAN: If I was in that show, it's hard. That's a big machine to be a little tiny cog in. I don't envy those performers.

DIPIAZZA: Reach your right arm out to the side.

CANDIOTTI: Barely dangling of the floor, they gave me a small taste of their techniques.

DIPIAZZA: There you go. So even just sitting is a bit difficult.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): It is to keep your upper body straight without falling.

(voice-over): These aerialist are self-regulated. They watch out for their own safety.

(on camera): And each time you perform how do you deal with the risk?

VENESKY: I never perform anything that I haven't done in practice at least 100 times. I'm always sure that my rigging is secure.

CANDIOTTI: For Dipiazza, there are no shortcuts. A close friend fell to his death two years ago working for another company. Since then for her safety is paramount.

DIPIAZZA: I felt like this was a really good way to keep his memory alive and, you know, inspire others.

CANDIOTTI: To make her art safe or at least safe as it can be. Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENDRICKS: And that is it for this hour of NEWSROOM. During our 4 4:00 p.m. Eastern hour, we are going to run a special called "Secret Jew," which centers around a young couple who were skinheads until they learned they were Jewish. Now they lived their lives as orthodox Jews.

At 5:00 p.m. Eastern as usual too, we will have our viral videos with Josh Levs. "YOUR MONEY" is up next.