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Arizona Legislature Moves to Protect Funerals; Winter Storm Heads North

Aired January 11, 2011 - 15:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Marty, thank you.

A major development expected this afternoon in Arizona. Here's what we know. Leaders in the state legislature, they're waiving the rules in order to get this bill passed ASAP to block funeral protesters in Tucson. You know what I'm talking about. It's this group that shows up at high profile memorial services with hateful, hateful messages.

Now, Tucson says they don't want their kind around when they bury the victims this week. So, we're following that situation for you, with the vote expected as early as this afternoon, could be as soon as the bottom of this hour. So, we're getting some new information.

Also today from the hospital where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims are being treated, and we also today heard from family members of the victims for the very first time. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL HEILMAN, HUSBAND OF SHOOTING VICTIM: I hear her in her semi-conscious ramblings screaming out: "Christina, Christina, let's get out of here. Let's get out of here." And she keeps talking about the holding of hands and then the realization that she was on the ground and the bleeding was profuse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Back to the breaking news, though, out of Arizona, as I said, the state legislature moving very, very quickly here to safeguard the funerals of these victims from Saturday's shootings.

And there's one organization in particular that has a habit of pushing an extremist agenda at high-profile events such as these. And that group has signaled it intends to have a presence at the funeral for 9-year-old Christina Green, the youngest of those six slain victims. That funeral is scheduled to happen this Thursday.

Jessica Yellin is live for me in Tucson.

And , Jessica, let's talk a little bit here about what the state legislature -- they appear to be moving really with unusual warp speed to get this done.

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brooke.

Leaders here are calling it Arizona's first show of bipartisan unity in the wake of this tragedy. A bill will come before the House and the Senate today, one introduced by a Democrat, one introduced by a Republican, that would model itself after bills that have been upheld by the courts in other states, essentially blocking protesters from within 300 feet of a funeral for an hour before and an hour after, really designed to protect Christina Green's funeral from these Westboro Baptist Church protesters.

And, as you say, they're expediting it, waiving all sorts -- usually this sort of thing would happen in a matter of days, even weeks. Today, it's expected today to pass the House twice, the Senate twice, and get signed by the governor within perhaps five hours, Brooke.

BALDWIN: We did get a statement here at CNN from Westboro. I will share that with our viewers here momentarily.

But -- but back to the point about the state legislature, they have expedited it, as you said, to get this legislature moving here possibly as soon as the bottom of the hour.

Jess, my question is, is there a sense of shock perhaps among some of these lawmakers or just simply a sense to -- to get out in front of these funerals first?

YELLIN: Absolutely.

The Democratic and Republican county organizations here in Pima County have organized and come together to themselves create a human sort of peaceful blockade if the Westboro protesters do show up, that they would do what others have done in other states, just to stand there and create distance between the funeral procession and these Westboro protesters, so, again, another show of bipartisan unity.

And, as well, there's a woman who's organized what they're calling an angel action, where organizers are building what they say are massive angel wings, so that protesters can -- not protesters, but individuals can stand with those wings also as a barrier between the mourners and any of these protesters.

And all of this sort of speaks to the forward-looking unity moment that people are experiencing here in Tucson. One thing that came out of yesterday's state of the state speech, when the governor spoke, was, I heard so many Republicans and Democrats commenting on the speaker of the House, a Republican, who they said gave the most moving speech, talking about how Arizona can lead the way in respecting each other as humans, even if you disagree on politics.

I spoke to him earlier about what he'd like to see Arizona lead on, Brooke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRK ADAMS (R), ARIZONA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I happen to believe that Arizona can -- can lead the way for the country in many different areas.

And, certainly, when we -- when this tragedy has struck our state, the way that we react to, the way we respond, how we move forward, I think, can have a positive effect on the entire country.

This is something that has personally impacted me, personally impacted really everybody in the state of Arizona. And what it does is, you learn -- I think what we ought to learn is to value each other more and value those relationships more, even when we don't always agree.

This, I think, is a lesson that you don't always get that second chance to repair relationships and mend fences.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YELLIN: And, finally, Brooke, he said, personally, he vows to make this in the legislature a conflict in the future of ideas, not a conflict of people, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Hmm.

I think I also -- you know, you mentioned the angel action. One of the leaders of the group talked about how you don't mess with Tucson. So we will be speaking with her about how this works and how they will be putting these wings on to shield -- to shield members of the funeral from these protesters -- that in a moment.

But, before I let you go, Jess, obviously huge news looking ahead to tomorrow, President Obama coming to Arizona to attend this memorial. What are the feelings in Tucson about his visit?

YELLIN: Well, first, this is the newspaper here. So, clearly, they welcome President Obama's visit, right?

BALDWIN: Oh, wow.

YELLIN: And I have spoken to Democrats and Republicans all morning. Little bit of a disagreement on whether he should talk about political tone.

Kirk Adams, the man -- speaker of the House, said that's perfectly reasonable, that we should all sort of appeal to our better selves. But I did speak to a Republican Pima County chairman, who said, you know, if you talk about political tone, that's assuming that the shooter had some sort of political motive.

And this fellow, this Republican, said, we don't know that, so it doesn't belong in the conversation. So, still some disagreement on that topic, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Jessica Yellin, I will be checking back in with you, doing amazing work out there for us in Tucson. We will see you throughout these next two hours.

(CROSSTALK) BALDWIN: Thank you, ma'am.

Also, the surgeon leading the team that is caring for Congresswoman Giffords says she is still making progress. If fact, today, he told reporters that, despite having had a bullet pierce her brain, she has begun to breathe on her own.

Let's hear what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. G. MICHAEL LEMOLE JR., CHIEF OF NEUROSURGERY, UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: I'm happy to say that she's holding her own. Her status is the same as it was yesterday. She's still following those simple commands.

We have been able to back off on some of that sedation. And, in fact, she's able to generate her own breaths. She's breathing on her own. In fact, the only reason we keep that breathing tube in is to protect her airway, so she that doesn't have complications like pneumonia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And here's something else that really made us sit up. We're learning more about the tragedy's youngest victim here. This is 9-year-old Christina Green.

And I want you to listen to Bill Heilman. He is the husband of Suzie Heilman, the woman who took little Christina Green to that event Saturday hosted by Congresswoman Giffords.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEILMAN: Suzie and Christina were holding hands in line waiting to shake Gabby's hand. They were there because my wife is very active in the -- any community that she lives in.

And she had become -- when the Greens came to town about a year after we did, Roxanna reached out to the community for help with baby- sitters and yard workers and other such things. And Suzie was one that answered the e-mail. And they have linked up and became quite good friends.

And, in that process, the Green children have been at our house. And we're aspiring grandchildren with kids that aren't married yet, so we tend to enjoy little kids when we get a chance. And Suzie and Christina -- Christina are generationally apart, but very much birds of a feather.

When Christina was elected to her student council and started to express interest in government and the notion of helping people, my wife had been a social worker in New York and Chicago and is, again, of that ilk.

And Suzie started looking for an event that she could share, as they have done any number of other things. And Gabby's event made all kinds of sense, both from my wife's personal political preferences, as well as the fact it was a magnificent chance to provide a positive public female role model for little Christina.

So, the two of them were together -- together holding hands. And most of what Suzie has shared with me about the specifics are on the edges of a morphine-induced haze, so there hasn't yet been a clear, precise discussion.

From time to time, in moments of discomfort, things come out. She's recalling and remembering and having flashbacks of uncomfortable moments. I don't feel prepared today to put together a cogent timeline of exactly what occurred.

I hear her in her semi-conscious ramblings screaming out: "Christina, Christina, let's get out of here. Let's get out of here." And she keeps talking about the holding of hands and then the realization that she was on the ground and the bleeding was profuse. Her memory seems to end there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Breaks your heart, doesn't it?

Again, that was Bill Heilman, husband of the woman who took the late Christina Green to meet Congresswoman Giffords. He says his wife, in that morphine-induced haze, he was speaking with Suzie. She was shot three times. Her biggest medical issue is a fractured hip.

Also -- Jessica and I were talking about this -- there's this woman. She's organizing a group of angels. And they plan to block any protesters at the funerals of the Arizona shooting victims. I will be speaking with her. That is next.

Also, a message from the parents of the accused Arizona shooter -- we are now hearing from a neighbor who recently spoke with them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE SMITH, NEIGHBOR OF LOUGHNERS: They're not going to come out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're not going to come out?

SMITH: You guys can stay here until Hades freezes over. He's not going to come out.

He did tell me to tell that -- to you guys that, when he gets to where he can -- right now, he can't talk, guys. He just -- he can't get out three words without crying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: We're going to hear more from that neighbor as well -- a lot more to come here in the CNN NEWSROOM. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: In just two days, the family of a slain little girl will be laying her to rest. Christina Green was just 9 years old, 9, killed in Saturday morning's shooting spree in Tucson.

And among those who plan to attend her funeral is this religious group. They're based in Kansas, notorious for picketing the -- the funerals of service members, AIDS patients.

And that is why I'm going to bring in Christin Gilmer right now in Tucson.

Christin, I understand you're heading up a bit of an angel action, which I want to get to in just a moment here. But, first, when you heard about this church picketing, plans to picket this funeral of little Christina Green, what did you say? Just -- just enough is enough?

CHRISTIN GILMER, ORGANIZER, "ANGEL ACTION": Well, obviously, we're all shocked by the tragedies. It's horrible that this happened in this town, which is such a peaceful haven and such a gentle place for people to live.

So, all day on Saturday, everyone was in shock. We were mourning. We attended vigils. And when we attended Sunday -- excuse me -- on Sunday morning, when we woke up and saw things posted on Facebook and on CNN and read the press release that Westboro released, we were disgusted. I was literally sick to my stomach.

And the reason is, we're talking about victims who did nothing. And in politics, it should be a dialogue. It shouldn't be actions. It should be speaking and compromise. And, at this point, it's -- it's definitely gone too far.

And that's the whole point of this counterprotest is to show you can say more with silence and positive actions within a supportive a community than you can with hateful words and terrible actions.

BALDWIN: So, Christin, as you stand there in silence and sort of try to -- to -- to stand there and peacefully, perhaps, be in the way of some of these protesters, you're also planning on wearing, correct me if I'm wrong, wings, like angels.

GILMER: That's right.

It's basically a Matthew Shepard project. A lady named Romaine Patterson did this. And she was Matthew's best friend. When he passed away, people were protesting his funeral because he was gay. And so these people wore angel wings that were about eight- to 10-feet tall, so that they could completely block the protesters' signs and the funeral attendees' view of them.

So, they have done this at several funerals since and, basically, any memorials that Westboro has been at. They want to take any negative energy from there and let people mourn in peace and let the community share our loss together. So, we're doing everything we can to protect that. And we will have 30 people. We have had a huge amount of people offer to do this, but 30 people will be wearing those angel wings that are eight-by-10- feet. They will be covered in white. And it will be a non-silent protest. We will just be around them and cover them, and that's if they still show up.

BALDWIN: Christin, is this for -- is this for Christina's funeral Thursday? Or will you be at other funerals as well?

GILMER: If Westboro threatens to be there, we will be there. You don't come to Tucson and come through our community, which is such a loving, accepting, compassionate place, and try to bring messages of hate.

So, if they're going to be at any place, we will be there, and we will be there in numbers and strong and have a very peaceful, nonviolent, silent counterprotest, and showing the family all of our support, letting them know that we will protect them. We will protect them from any hate that comes -- tries to come and devastate our community more.

It's actually pretty overwhelming to see the amount of unity and compassion and how much people are working together right now. It's pretty beautiful. And it's -- today is the first day that I haven't cried from only sadness. I cried because I was overwhelmed how much people were willing to give and help. And it's a really beautiful thing in lieu of the tragedies on Saturday.

BALDWIN: Christin Gilmer, I read you said, nobody messes with Tucson. And I know that's what you're hoping will happen.

GILMER: Nobody messes with our city.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: Don't mess with your city.

GILMER: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Christin Gilmer, thank you so much with the angel action planned for some of these funerals.

Christin, thank you.

And, finally, though, something I want to share with you. CNN did reach out to Westboro Baptist Church today. And they gave us a detailed statement in reply. And I'm not going to share their entire statement, out of respect for the dead and the injured.

Westboro Baptist Church says God sent the shooter in response to disobedience.

Suffice to say that the rest of the statement is filled with ugly, despicable allegations against Congresswoman Giffords, also against Judge Roll, and against 9-year-old Christina Green, who were murdered Saturday.

These people's actions and words seem the most un-Christian-like anyone can imagine.

We still have not heard anything yet official from the parents of the accused Arizona shooter, but we are hearing from this neighbor who did speak with him, went inside their home, in fact. We are going to hear from him next.

Plus, the winter storm that caused this mess here in the Southeast heading northward. So how bad will it be for you up and down the Northeast here. We're going to check the forecast. That is ahead as well.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back.

"The Arizona Republic" is reporting that shooting suspect Jared Loughner will be held in a federal prison facility. It's just north of Tucson.

Just yesterday, our Ted Rowlands brought us live reports of Loughner's initial court appearance, I remember, in Phoenix.

I want to bring Ted back in live here.

And, Ted, are we learning anything new today about the suspect?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, only through a neighbor, a little bit about not necessarily the suspect -- the suspect's parents, who are going through as you might imagine a very difficult time here. A neighbor went over there to help them with their mail, et cetera, and check on them.

And he came out, and he said that they are just wiped out, crying in their house, and basically barricading themselves in the house. We were told that they might make a statement, but we haven't seen that yet, either a written statement, or we were told there was a possibility that they would come out and address the media, address the world, really, about what their son allegedly did. We haven't seen that yet.

As for the shooter himself, we have not gotten any information, more than what we got yesterday in court. And that was that he seems like he understands things that are going on around him. He absolutely understood the proceedings in yesterday's hearing, although he still apparently is not helping authorities with the investigation.

BALDWIN: Ted, let me interrupt, because I know you mentioned one of the neighbors going into the Loughners' home. We actually have a piece of that. It's an interview from a CNN affiliate.

And he said he was summoned to -- to the Loughner home by Loughner's father just yesterday. I want to play just a portion of that interview. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Thirty minutes ago was the first time I have ever been in his house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What were you doing inside?

SMITH: He called me to bring the mail in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's he?

SMITH: Randy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that the father?

SMITH: The father.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Randy Loughner.

What's the mother's name?

SMITH: Amy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amy Loughner.

And can you tell you, when he asked you to bring in the mail, did you ask him how he was doing?

SMITH: He was crying. It was obvious.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me a little more. What was...

(CROSSTALK)

SMITH: And he said, I need your help. And then I said, what do you need? And he said, I need you to bring my mail in. And I said, it will be right there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did Randy and Amy ever talk to you about concerns they had about Jared?

SMITH: No, they wouldn't do that. You've got -- they're just -- what reminds me of, to try to explain it, is, they're like mountain men. They want to be alone. And -- and they didn't bother me. I mean, he...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole family wanted to be alone, or just Jared?

SMITH: The whole family.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're all reclusive?

SMITH: Nobody would talk to you. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you tell me what other sense you got from them when you spoke to them on the phone?

SMITH: When he called over to the house just now? That he needed help. It was a loud, "Help me."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did he say anything about the incident, anything about Jared?

SMITH: No. I -- I said something about Jared, or, do you need to know what's happening to Jared? I seen it on the news. He said, I know everything, and started crying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, you asked him, you said, do you know everything about Jared, your own son?

SMITH: Yes. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he said, no, I saw it on the news?

SMITH: No, he said he knew it. He didn't say how.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And do you have any idea what the family's doing now? Obviously, clearly, they're not home.

SMITH: She's in -- yes, they're home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

SMITH: She's in bed, and she's just broke down, this nervous wreck. And he's in there crying, just walking around.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Randy is?

SMITH: Randy is, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And so why did they need help getting the mail? Because they didn't want to come out to get it?

SMITH: They're not going to come out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're not going to come out?

SMITH: You guys can stay here until Hades freezes over. He's not going to come out.

He did tell me to tell that -- to you guys that, when he gets to where he can -- right now, he can't talk, guys. He just -- he can't get out three words without crying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Broken down, crying.

Ted, I can only imagine that -- the media presence out of the Loughners' home waiting for one of them to come out, either Randy or Amy.

Again, any indication we could be hearing from them, even if it's through a statement? And also remind me the next time we're going to be seeing Jared Loughner in court.

ROWLANDS: We will see Loughner in court at the end of the month in Phoenix. That's where the proceeding, the next proceeding will take place. It will have a different judge. All the judges in Arizona have been recused. It will be a judge that the United States will bring in from another state. We don't know who that judge will be yet. That will be at the end of the month.

As to when the parents will talk, who knows. But I tell you, they're really the key to -- a lot of people are so interested in, how could this young man have done something so horrific? And the fact that he's not cooperating with authorities, the parents, I think a lot of people think, are the next -- the only way in, gateway into -- to what could have happened here.

So they say they're going to talk at some point. And obviously as you heard there, they are in a lot of pain themselves. So, when that happens, who knows.

BALDWIN: Ted, just to clarify, when you say he's not cooperating with authorities, you simply mean he's not speaking to authorities, still invoking that Fifth Amendment right, correct?

ROWLANDS: Absolutely, yes...

BALDWIN: Got it.

ROWLANDS: -- not helping in that he's not speaking.

BALDWIN: Got it. Got it.

Ted Rowlands for us there in Arizona -- Ted, appreciate it.

Also, want to remind you, we're monitoring what's happening in the Arizona state legislature, this afternoon, possibly any minute now, where lawmakers, they are about to vote on whether to ban protesters from these funerals, these shooting victims' funerals. So, as soon as anything happens there, we're going to update that for you immediately.

And, also, another huge story we have been watching the past couple of days and it sounds like a couple of days to come here. Talk about a travel nightmare, thousands of flights already canceled in the Southeast. And now the storm that has caused all this mess making its way northward. We're going to tell you what you can expect, where, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: So, how exactly bad is it here in the South?

Case in point, look at this picture. These are big rigs, you know, 18-wheelers brought to a grinding halt by ice, just ice covering the Atlanta Freeway. A truck in the front of the pack jackknifed, so several sections of the interstate look pretty much like -- like this today. Part of Interstate 285, that's Atlanta's Beltway, it's totally shut down. It's covered by at least an inch of ice.

Some of I-20 was blocked by tractor trailers as well. In fact, there is so much ice, so many cars and so many accidents, Transportation Department trucks are having a tough time just getting out there to work on clearing the roads for drivers.

And, in Alabama, look at this, this is Birmingham, got a little guidance driving on icy roads. Parts of Alabama got up to 10 inches of snow. Transportation crews there working around the clock to try to clear that stuff out of the roadway.

Driving not so much a good idea in Knoxville, Tennessee, as well. Check out this truck. It slid on top, on top of a highway guardrail. Roads were so slick, wheels locked up on big rigs trying to navigate uphill. Up to six inches of snow fell around Knoxville.

And, as for air travel, not too fun either, the world's busiest airport not nearly as busy as usual today, airlines canceling flights at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

And, you know, when that happens, there is the ripple effect.

David Mattingly there keeping an eye on the runways there at Hartsfield.

David, I'm afraid to ask. Is it better today, or is it worse?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that just depends on who you ask.

There are so many people here that have been stranded since Sunday. There have been two days of massive cancellations. Delta, the largest carrier out of this airport, canceled 1,900 flights on Friday, 1,400 flights today. There's a couple of hundred flights getting in the air today from Delta, we're told.

So, this being the world's busiest airport, it's all on the ground, not so much in the air today. So there are so many crowds here, a lot of people standing in very long lines trying to get new tickets, their flights canceled. Now they have to try and make other arrangements.

And, you know, that weather system that came through here is now moving up north and causing problems up there, some of these passengers getting hit on both ends, not just here at their connection, but at their destination now as well.

And what we're hearing from Delta is, they don't know when that they're going to get all this cleaned up, because it took two days of massive cancellations to bring us all this that you see behind me right now. They're not exactly sure, with that weather system still in play, how long it's going to take to get everything back to normal -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Oh, we all feel for them. We feel for them in that airport, stuck, stuck, stuck.

David Mattingly, thank you.

And, you know, you talked about all this Northeast weather -- the Northeast most definitely bracing for the next big hit of winter weather.

And, Chad Myers, I know we got a couple of inches here down South. I have a bad feeling that, up North, we're not talking inches; we're talking feet.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It could be, could be a couple feet in some spots, like Berkshire, Springfield maybe. But I think New York City gets about eight inches. It starts after dark tonight and is over by tomorrow morning. Literally it's that fast. Snow could come down at 2 inches per hour for a time.

Here's a look at all the planes we have out of Atlanta right now. There should be about 160, 170 planes. There are 33 in the air right now that have left Atlanta. So you can imagine that there should be another 140, which means there's a lot of people that thought they were going to get on an airplane today then they're not.

Here's the snow forecast for what's going on. The big storm is going to run up the east coast. It will affect D.C. a little bit. Maybe a couple inches in D.C., maybe four in Philadelphia. The snow starts to pile up in New England after it gets by New York. I would say a good number for New York would be eight inches.

But the purple here for Connecticut, Rhode Island, parts of Massachusetts, up into New Hampshire and parts of down east Maine, you could see a foot. That's where the foot possibility could be for tonight.

And this is all over. In 24 hours it's all done, this storm is completely all over. So although it's still in the Midwest now, it's going to run in with moisture and these are going to connect and collide almost like a perfect storm. Forget about that book that was written there.

It is going to be just like this. Here's Atlanta, Georgia DOT now. See cars are moving. This is great news. You know what, you want to be off the roads in Atlanta by sunset. Everything that looks like slush is now, but in about two hours it will be a big ice chunk.

BALDWIN: Off the roads as in with or without your ice skates?

MYERS: Did you see that?

BALDWIN: Let's -- do we have that? We have that video, don't we? Let's look at this video. Do you remember the guy on Park Avenue in New York with the skis? I guess this guy says, we'll take your skis and raise you ice skates. I think this is Peachtree. MYERS: One of four Peachtree streets in Atlanta.

BALDWIN: Whatever it is, this guy or gal rocking the skates.

MYERS: He comes back in here and makes a hockey stop at the very end. This is what -- look at the shine. You could drive a zamboni down the streets of Atlanta.

BALDWIN: Look at that nice stop. I'm being told this guy is from Indiana. So this is nothing for him.

MYERS: He's going to have to sharpen those skates because probably a bunch of rocks got on there.

BALDWIN: I know. This is the video seen all around CNN today. Chad, thank you.

And I want to remind you from ice skating there in Atlanta to what's happening in Arizona, big story developing this hour. The Arizona state house is about to vote on whether to ban protesters from funerals for those Tucson shooting victims. When we come back, we're going to talk more about it with an Arizona state lawmaker who's also a good friend of Congresswoman Giffords.

Also, will North Korea pose a direct threat to the U.S. in the next five years? According to the U.S. defense secretary that answer is "yes." We're going to tell you more about that story coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We are going to take our eyes off Tucson for just a moment here. I want to let you know about other stories happening in the world today, that including Vice President Joe Biden dropping in unannounced to visit U.S. troops there in Afghanistan. He promised American forces, not necessarily combat troops, will remain in Afghanistan for as long as they are asked to stay.

What does that mean? That means even beyond the year 2014, President Obama's deadline for removing all combat units from Afghanistan.

Next, also out of the country today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, he is in Beijing talking cooperation, military technology, and North Korea with Chinese military officials. He has pulled no punches about North Korea saying Pyongyang's nuclear missile program is a, quote, "direct threat to the United States," his words. Gates is on a four-country tour of Asia.

Next, move over AT&T. You're no longer the only iPhone service provider here. Verizon Wireless, huge news today, announcing the date will be February 10th. That is when they will start selling the iPhone. So existing Verizon customers will be able to preorder. AT&T has been the exclusive carrier of the iPhone for four years.

And we've been talking a lot about this movement within the Arizona state legislature to try to safeguard the funerals of some of the shooting victims. We reported for you that nine-year-old Christina Green is to be buried Thursday. And an organization with an extremist agenda is planning some sort of protest.

So joining me now from Tucson, State Representative Matt Heinz. Matt by the way is also a friend of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. We're going to get to him momentarily.

But I also just want to remind you here, we are watching the state legislature in Arizona and as is Jessica Yellin who is out there for me in Tucson. And we're waiting and watching this hour. Jessica, from what I understand, they're talking about this funeral protection zone bill. So the state legislature sort of expediting the process, the crossing of the t's, the dotting of the i's to try to get this possibly through. I know they need two-thirds majority in the house then it goes on to the state Senate to try to, I guess, what would it do? Make it illegal for some of these protesters to get there or keep them at a safe distance? What's the language? Do we know yet?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The language of the bill says that, Brooke, it would require that protesters trying to protest any funeral at a synagogue, at a church, it lists a whole different kind of facilities, have to stay 300 feet away from funeral proceedings beginning an hour before to an hour after the funeral.

I'm told by state legislatures that that is the same language that has been upheld by courts when it's been passed in other states. And they're doing it specifically to protect the funerals of these victims from the Westborough Baptist church protesters, who, as you might recall have protested military, fallen heroes funerals, even showed up at Elizabeth Edwards' funeral. And they represent all sorts of views, but it's essentially to call attention to their own causes.

And those who are in mourning right now obviously would like to be able to pay attention to their own grief and the remembrances at hand. So you said that this is an expedited -- the speaker of the House said it's unprecedented. They expect this bill to be introduced and over with within five hours. Usually takes weeks, Brooke. I should say they just convened.

BALDWIN: They just convened. We don't know yet if it will be the top or bottom of the session. We'll be watching and waiting. We're going to continue that conversation and wait to see if it passes.

Let me ask you this, though, Jessica. I know within the House it needs the two-thirds majority to pass. Obviously meaning it will need bipartisan support. Do you know, you know, working your contacts there on the ground in Tucson, if there is any resistance to this particular bill?

YELLIN: I haven't found it. The sponsor in the House says, look, somebody's going to stand up and say this is a First Amendment issue raised. They expect enormous bipartisan support, two-thirds in each body. They don't expect significant resistance. I'll let you know if there is any, Brooke. BALDWIN: Jessica Yellin, thank you. We're waiting for Matt Heinz, a member of a state house, about this particular bill, about why both Republicans and Democrats find it important enough to expedite this process and get this done before these funerals, including nine-year-old Christina Green's on Thursday. We'll be talking to Matt who's also a good friend of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Stay right here. More CNN Newsroom, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back. Did you know that one pirate attack on international waters can actually affect how you and I pay for gas and groceries? I know we report on all these types of events every year, and right now the water is warm and the shipping industry is braced for pirates.

A half a dozen ships have been hijacked just since Christmas. But do you really know what a pirate is? In a rare one-on-one interview Zain Verjee introduces us to a young pirate. This is all part of her special week of coverage. We're calling it "High Stakes on the High Seas."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look into the eyes of a real pirate. That's all he let us see, his eyes. His name is Gedi Mohammed Abdi. He's from Somalia, and becoming a pirate he says was his best career option.

"There are no jobs and no money in Somalia," he tells us. "That leaves no options," says Gedi. "You either join the Al Shabaab militia or government forces, or if you have relatives, you become a pirate."

Gedi says his uncle, a pirate leader, phoned him one day, told him to visit the coastal town of Hardahere (ph), one of many pirate bases. Like the young men in these pictures, he said "I was taught to handle a gun, ammunition, how to swim, survive, and how to attack ships."

There's no shortage of men like Gedi. According to one security consultant, more than 400 hostages are now being held from roughly 50 different hijackings since January, 2010. British Captain Colin Darch was once a hostage.

CAPT. COLIN DARCH, FORMER HOSTAGE: They were a sort of rugged bunch with rags around their heads, and they were all aged between about 30 and 40. Some were nasty looking. Some smiled a bit and were semi-pleasant. And they all chew this narcotic weed all the time.

VERJEE: In Nairobi, Gedi tells me he quit the piracy business after three years because of the danger. "I asked my uncle to free me so I could have a better life," he says. Gedi says he got $60,000 from his cut of the ransom from a Spanish ship hijack in 2009. More money than most hijackers get. His uncle was generous with him. "I used the money to send my sister to Britain and my brothers to the U.S.," he tells me. As for Gedi, "I'm waiting for a visa to Mexico," he says, then cross the border into a country he believes will offer him the best life, the United States.

Zain Verjee, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: And tomorrow Zain actually talked to a man who was kidnapped by pirates, lived to tell about it, and is making it his mission to fight piracy and the businesses they run on the high seas. That is tomorrow in the 3:00 eastern hour.

Coming up, what is trending today? One story, actor Owen Wilson about to be a bad. We're going to tell you what else people are talking about, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I wanted to show you this live picture. This is Tucson, Arizona. This is just outside the home of Jared Lee Loughner's parents. He's the accused shooter in Saturday's shootings in Tucson. We just noticed a sudden uptick in activity. It looks like perhaps reporters getting microphones ready.

Will his parents Randy and Amy come forward today and speak? We don't know. But we're watching very, very closely, and as soon as someone does stand up and speak, perhaps even a member of the family giving some sort of statement, we will bring that to you live here on CNN.

It is now time for what you're talking about, what you're tweeting about, what's trending. And first up today, Michael Douglas has some great news to share. Also Owen Wilson and his girlfriend do as well. Finally Miss Britney Spears -- gosh, do I have to say this? She has done it again. HLN "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" host Brooke Anderson.

(LAUGHTER)

I know. I see people in the studio shaking their heads at me, Brooke Anderson.

BROOKE ANDERSON, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Oops, she did it again.

BALDWIN: But first, let's get to some awesome news, hopefully, from Michael Douglas. I woke up and watched this interview this morning on "The Today Show." He has this throat cancer and he says he's got it beat.

ANDERSON: Yes, this is terrific, Brooke. Michael Douglas is saying that he's cancer free, that his tumor has been completely eradicated. So it's fantastic. You know, just last August, Michael was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer. The 66- year-old actor underwent intense chemo, intense radiation. The overall survival rate for patients with the later stages of throat cancer is said to be about 50 to 60 percent. Douglas sounded upbeat. He sounded hopeful when he spoke with "Today's" Matt Lauer about his recovery. And let's listen to a little bit of what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL DOUGLAS, ACTOR: I feel good, relieved. The tumor is gone. But I have to check out on a monthly basis now to maintain. I guess that total euphoria, probably take a couple of months of getting checked out to feel -- but it's been a wild six-month ride.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Oh, I'm sure it has been. And Douglas has said that he's been eating like a pig, trying to gain back the 32 pounds that he lost from radiation treatments. He's been able to gain back about 12 of those 32 pounds so far, got about 20 more to go.

But Brooke, Michael also revealed that he wasn't just fighting cancer, that he was also battling the paparazzi and their intrusion. He mentioned that he was not happy with the photos, the tabloid photos of him when he was really gaunt, suggesting those pictures could have been touched up.

And this is really interesting. Michael said that those pictures concerned his father, Kirk Douglas, so much that Kirk, who is 94 years old, traveled to New York to see him, check on him, make sure that he's OK.

But, Brooke, it looks like now Michael is doing really well. He's feeling great. He's cautiously optimistic, he's hopeful. So fingers crossed that he and his doctors can remain optimistic.

BALDWIN: Gosh, it's one thing to have to deal with, you know, I think you said, stage 4 throat cancer, and then quite another to deal with the paparazzi chasing you around town. It's awful. But, of course, best wishes to him and his family.

Secondly, Owen Wilson, funny guy, Owen Wilson, a dad.

ANDERSON: Yes, about to start changing diapers on a regular basis. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" can confirm that Owen Wilson and his girlfriend of more than a year Jade Duell are having a baby. Reports say that the baby is due any day now. That Jade is in Hawaii and they want to do everything as naturally as possible. So, good luck, God speed. I'm sure it's going to be a beautiful experience. Brooke, Owen has previously dated Kate Hudson, also one of his high-profile relationships.

BALDWIN: And finally, let's go there, Miss Anderson. Britney Spears, she's out with a new single, and according to my AP extraordinaire, troy, he says the single is off the chain. Do you agree?

ANDERSON: Off the chain, I love that, Troy. It's a big day for Britney Spears. Her much anticipated new single, "hold it against me," is finally out. It's an upbeat dance song, which is Britney Spears' bread and butter, of course. And here's a quick listen so you can decide what you think about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I've got people in the studio --

ANDERSON: I like it. And this is the first single Britney has released.

BALDWIN: It's been a while, right?

ANDERSON: First single in over two years since her sixth album, "Circus." Brooke, it's already shot to number one on iTunes. It was released early because it was leaked, but it looks like she's got another hit on her hands, and that's great and remarkable considering everything that she's been through with her career.

BALDWIN: Might have to add it to the old running mix on the iPod. Brooke Anderson, thank you for that.

ANDERSON: Sounds good.

BALDWIN: We are also monitoring what is happening, of course, today, this afternoon, there in Arizona. The state house, we are watching and waiting this vote to essentially ban protesters from funerals. They would have to stay -- they would have to stay 300 feet from the funerals of the victims of the Tucson shootings. So we'll have more on that.

Also coming up, I'll be checking in with Wolf Blitzer in Washington about the big political stories of the day. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: CNN = Politics. Wolf Blitzer joins me now from Washington with the latest on the CNN Political Ticker. Wolf, before you get to the Ticker, I'm just getting news, we know about that memorial service tomorrow in Tucson, Arizona, and we know that the president will be there. We're also now learning that the former Arizona governor and now homeland security secretary Janet NHapolitano will be in attendance as well.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": And she knew, obviously, the judge, the federal judge, John Roll, who was killed in that assassination attempt on Saturday. So she has good reason to go back. And as you pointed out, she's a former governor of Arizona.

This has been a hard, a very tough battle for her as well, because she knows all these people. She obviously knows the congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, as well, who's struggling to survive in that hospital.

The doctors are saying she's doing better than they originally thought and that she's off that respirator, she's breathing on her own to a certain degree. So that's all very encouraging.

Even as this goes forward, though, Brooke, politics is going forward as well. And there's some spillover from what happened in Arizona on the political campaign trail. One of the likely Republican presidential contenders, Tim Pawlenty, now the former governor of Minnesota, he's disagreeing to a certain degree with Sarah Palin, who might be running for president herself that whole ad that she ran on her Web site targeting some of these Congressional Democrats, including Gabrielle Giffords, it's a device Pawlenty now says to "The New York Times," "I would not have chosen to do," showing the crosshairs of a gunshot, in effect, targeting the Democratic candidates whom she wanted defeated.

"Everyone has their own style," Pawlenty says," and their own choices, but I don't want to have anyone infer that there's evidence in this case that it caused or was a contributing factor. We do not know that." Tim Pawlenty sort of distancing himself from some of the style of the way that Sarah Palin campaigned for tea party favorites during the course of the recent campaign. But it's just one element. Some other Republicans think there may be an opening for them.

By the way, he's busy out there in Iowa, New Hampshire, but other Republican potential presidential candidates are pretty busy themselves. Newt Gingrich is heading to Iowa pretty soon. He said he'll announce in the early spring whether he's seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

Rick Santorum, he's heading to New Hampshire. He's the former senator from Pennsylvania who was defeated there, but now he's thinking of running for president. He's a conservative. He's heading to New Hampshire.

And Michele Bachmann, the conservative congresswoman, the Republican from Minnesota, she's heading to Iowa herself. So there's a lot of activity out there on the campaign trail. Today, at least, Sarah Palin's been relatively low-key and not speaking out. I assume that will change in the coming days. It always does. Brooke?

BALDWIN: Wolf Blitzer, thank you. We'll check in with you in this hour to see what you have coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM." Also, we'll get another political update for you in half an hour. You can always get online and check out CNN.com/politics.com, or get on twitter and to go @political ticker.

And now top of the hour. Watch this.