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Healthier School Lunches; Remembering Christina Green

Aired January 13, 2011 - 10:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Ten a.m. on the East Coast, 7:00 a.m. out west, I'm Kyra Phillips.

Here are some of the stories that have us talking this morning:

New England digging out and shrugging off a winter storm that dumped as much as two feet of snow. Boston's Logan Airport canceled hundreds of flights, schools there are closed as well, but the city is expected to lift its snow emergency this morning.

In Australia's third most populated city, more than 20,000 homes are underwater. Authorities say it could take months to repair the damages left by the worst flooding in decades. The weeks of relentless rains left at least 15 people dead and another 70 still missing from that flooding.

The death toll is far greater in Brazil where heavy rains unleashed flooding and mudslides. Hundreds of people confirmed dead. Forecasters say the rains could continue for a few more days.

Well, cafeteria workers at public schools across the country could soon be dishing out a different kind of meal, a healthy one. The USDA is calling for a serious overhaul of the federal school meal program. It wants to raise nutrition standards for the first time in 15 years.

That means that trays filled with foods like chicken McNuggets or chicken nuggets, rather, tater tots, chocolate milk and popsicles would be replaced with something that may look a little more like this -- baked fish nuggets, broccoli, skim milk and a peach.

Agriculture Chief Tom Vilsack says it's part of the plan to address childhood obesity. About one in three children in adolescence are overweight.

Dora Rivas, the immediate past president of the School Nutrition Association joining us live via Skype from Dallas, Texas.

So, Dora, the USDA wants to scale back sodium and trans fats, get in more whole grains, cut back on the desserts. It sounds fantastic. But how do you get kids to eat this?

DORA RIVAS, SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOC., PAST PRESIDENT: Well, actually, schools across the country have already been working on some of these recommendations for quite a number of years. And it is a challenge for students to try some of these new items, but we hope that incorporating some of these new recommendations, along with nutrition education and the whole school coming together and promoting physical activity, that we will be able to achieve these goals.

PHILLIPS: I don't know. They might need some sort of reward for finishing their plate, Dora, kind of like what our parents did with us when we were younger because the kids might not eat it. They might just dump it right into the trash. We've seen that in the past.

RIVAS: Well, and that is a challenge, and that's why a nutrition education and marketing of the healthier foods is very important. When the students go through the line, making the food look more attractive, telling them the benefits of these new items -- and really they're not new to a lot of school districts. We've been offering in many school districts salad bars, more salad choices, and the students are really, I have found, looking for healthier options as well.

PHILLIPS: Well, that's good to hear. Well, critics say, hey, it's not the government's place to dictate what our kids eat. What do you think about that?

RIVAS: Well, I think as an educational facility, just like we model other types of positive behaviors, child nutrition -- why shouldn't we model good nutrition? And I think it's also good for the students to take some of the message home to the parents. I think offering healthier meals at schools with more whole grains, more fresh fruits and vegetables, is going to also teach our students and take some of these messages home to where the whole family can learn from it as well.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let me -- let me ask you about costs, because right now, schools get $2.72 from Uncle Sam for every kid on the free lunch program. All right. And according to this, schools that meet the new standards will get another 6 cents per meal. But can you even buy healthy food, Dora, for $2.78 per student?

RIVAS: I think that's, you know, going to be our biggest challenge, and school districts across the country are faced with different challenges, different food costs, different labor costs, and so, that is our biggest challenge. That 6 cents additional for school meals is very important. And there's going to have to be additional training and, you know, more efficiencies in the program.

PHILLIPS: Yes. And cafeteria workers are going to have to learn how to make the healthier food as well. Dora Rivas, thanks for weighing in today. Appreciate it.

I'll tell you what, some good news this morning -- there's some optimism from that deadly shooting rampage in Tucson. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, the target of that attack, has opened her eyes. It shows remarkable progress from the head wound that she suffered just five days ago. Those who were in the hospital room say it felt like a miracle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), CALIFORNIA (via telephone): It was, as you can just imagine, a glorious moment of my colleagues, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and I were invited by the family to visit Gabby, which we considered a big honor, being there with her parents and her husband Mark Kelly. It was a girl power moment because we were trying to be amusing and reminder of things that she was going to come back to when she came to the Congress and then she opened her eyes and her husband -- looked at her husband and responded to comments that he made. And it was like a miracle, really. It was something so spectacular.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And when President Obama actually told everybody at the memorial service that happened less than an hour later, it totally electrified the crowd. He also paid special attention to the youngest of the six people that were killed in that massacre. Cristina Green was born on September 11th, 2001, the day of the terrorist attacks. She grew up a patriot and an optimist. Details we didn't know.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she imagined it. All of us, we should do everything we can do to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And a funeral is scheduled today for Christina Green. It will celebrate her life, mourn her family's loss, and underline the senselessness of the killings.

CNN's Ted Rowlands is in Tucson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In a few hours, Tucson will be remembering 9-year-old Christina Green at a private funeral service at Catholic Church here in Tucson. The family has requested there will be no cameras inside the church.

There is a camera outside the church and we will be able to see a number of things leading up to the actual ceremony. The first thing that we're going to see coming up in just a few hours, is a special ceremony involving a 9/11 flag.

Remember that little Christina was born on 9/11 and the New York Fire Department has sent out the actual flag that was found in the World Trade Center rubble. You remember that dramatic unveiling of that flag. Well, that actual flag will be part of this ceremony. They're going to put it in between two fire trucks outside the church. Last night, Anderson Cooper talked to the Green family about everything in terms of support they have felt around the country. They also mentioned that flag ceremony and the fact that flag was coming for their daughter's funeral.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN GREEEN, FATHER OF CHRISTINA GREEN: Roxanne and I both let out a gasp really, I mean of emotion, because, you know, that meant a lot to us and for them to extend the courtesy to our daughter. Again, it's just another one of those things that will help for us, we feel like, the country won't forget her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: And again that funeral for 9-year-old Christina Green set to get underway in just a few hours here in Tucson.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Tucson.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Parts of New England are hammered by much of three feet of snow. The National Guard has been mobilized in Massachusetts. Governor Deval Patrick is calling on troops to help dig people out. More than 4,000 homes across that state are without power now. And Boston's Logan International Airport is canceling its morning flights.

And iced over roads looked like skating rinks in Connecticut after that storm slammed the state.

And in Rhode Island, neither rain nor sleet nor snow could actually keep this mail carrier from making her rounds. She hoofed it delivering letters to about 600 homes in Providence. Good for her.

It was a near whiteout near New Hampshire where the flakes fell fast and furious. Streets nearly abandoned. Just a few stragglers were bold enough to step out into that storm.

Boy, I don't know, the mail carriers didn't hoof it around Atlanta yesterday.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: No, no. I'm waiting for my "Better Homes and Gardens" subscription to come in.

PHILLIPS: Your mail is going to be backed up for four days. What are you going to do?

MARCIANO: I'm getting convulsions from lack of having that addiction fulfilled.

All right. Listen, here's your storm cranking across the Northeast and moving out to sea, hitting the Canadian Maritimes right now. This thing blew up in intensity and, boy, I tell you, it's got some cold air coming in behind it for sure. But as far as the intensity of snow goes yesterday, look at some of these numbers. My goodness. And keep in mind, when you see North Haven, Connecticut, 29.5 inches, Savoy, Massachusetts, over three feet, three feet in Vermont -- Wilmington, Vermont, I mean, that -- most of this came down in about a 12 to 18 hours when the most intense snowfall came.

So, it was -- it must have been amazing to be in that and watch it piled up. There's no way you can keep up on that. But they did a great job of keeping up with the roadways across parts of the Northeast, that's for sure.

All right. Temperatures with this system are certainly chilly. We're looking at 23 in Atlanta -- colder in Atlanta than it is in D.C. and New York and Boston. And we're iced over down here. It's probably not going to get above freezing. So, temperatures are certainly below average here and the high temperature expected in Atlanta, 32 degrees. So, day four of this city for the most part being shut down.

Seventy-two meanwhile in Phoenix, 71 glorious degrees in Los Angeles. That's where all the above-average temperatures are, west of the continental divide for the most part. Very much below average, 10, 15, 20 degrees below average across parts of the Southeast, and that's going to continue for another couple days.

We'll get above freezing it looks like, Kyra, tomorrow afternoon. But until then, we are slip sliding away and no more mail probably for another day.

PHILLIPS: OK. Thanks, Rob. You have to hold off on that magazine, pal.

MARCIANO: I'll pick something else up.

PHILLIPS: I bet you will.

MARCIANO: See you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ted Williams, the homeless golden voice Internet sensation, he got some bad news. He's checked into rehab.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED WILLIAMS, INTERNET SENSATION: When you're listening to nothing but the best of oldies, you're listening to Magic 98.9.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now, you remember, he gained national attention for that voice after a reporter videotaped him panhandling in Ohio. In recent days, reports of erratic behavior have surfaced, including talk of an altercation with his daughter that actually involved the police. Well, following a chat on "The Dr. Phil show," he's entered a drug and alcohol treatment center. That's good news. William's third appearance with Dr. Phil airs today. We sure hope he gets it together.

Actress Natalie Portman is posing topless. We're going to see what prompted that decision by the well-known actress coming up in our showbiz update.

And the healing power of music well known to Romel Joseph, a blind violinist and a Haiti earthquake survivor.

You're going to love this. One year after the quake, he's playing a duet with his daughter. We're helping Romel celebrate with what he calls his "re-birthday."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We are waiting for Robert Gibbs to step up to the mike at the White House briefing. Reporters are standing by, including our own. We'll take it live once it starts.

Actor John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston letting the world see their new baby boy.

"Showbiz Tonight" host A.J. Hammer has that and rest of the showbiz news, gossip and everything else.

A.J., how great is that cover on "People" magazine?

A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" HOST: It's terrific, Kyra. Let's put that up right now. I just think this is such a cute and wonderful picture of really happy family. It's John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston and their new son Benjamin right there on the cover of "People."

In the article, the couple revealed they tried to have a baby for three years and were, as they put it, blown away when Preston found out she was pregnant. Fifty-six-year-old Travolta and 48-year-old Preston are calling their son a miracle and Travolta tells "People" the baby has given their house a renewed spirit and purpose. The couple have 10-year-old daughter but, of course, sadly, Kyra, they did lose their first born when their 16-year-old Jett died after a seizure. That's two years ago already.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Nobody will ever replace him, but it's great to see the family is expanding. That's terrific.

All right. Natalie Portman -- she's in this new series of ads that people think maybe a little racy.

HAMMER: Yes. Some people are saying that. I'm hearing that. I've been reading a bit of that online. I'm not sure how racy it is.

Let's take a look at it. It's the new Miss Dior perfume ad with Portman in it. And, yes, obviously, she looks very sexy.

I don't know. This ad doesn't really seem too out there for me. This is the first time the actress has put her face on an ad campaign for a cosmetics company. And Portman is generating a whole lot of buzz these days, not just the ad. Of course, she's getting a lot of recognition for her terrific role in "The Black Swan." That film has gotten her a Golden Globe nomination. She recently announced that she's engaged and pregnant.

Plus, Kyra, she's got this romantic comedy "No Strings Attached" that just premiered in Los Angeles. Natalie Portman is one busy woman.

PHILLIPS: Wow. She's got it all going on there.

HAMMER: For sure.

PHILLIPS: All right. "Forbes" is saying that Lady Gaga is going to have a very good 2011. You know, we were talking about this morning in our meeting. You know, she went from having absolutely nothing to just dressing crazy, making some fun music, and she's loaded.

HAMMER: Yes. And I think it's great. More power to her.

I think she's doing -- look, she's making people happy. She's putting out some great tunes, and she's even making a difference in the world with the things she's going out and getting behind.

Now, according to "Forbes," Lady Gaga could make more than $100 million this year, only two acts broke the $100 million mark last year, U2 and AC/DC. So, that's some pretty exclusive company to be in.

But 2010 not chopped liver for Gaga. "Forbes" estimates she made $64 million last year. But the magazine says she'll make more on tour this year than last, and she's got this album that is scheduled to be released in June. They say it will do very well. I think there's a little doubt about that.

Of course, these are estimates so there's no guarantee she'll do this well. But I don't think she's going to be searching for loose change on the couch any time soon.

And one other little bit of news for Lady Gaga, Kiran, we just learned she will be performing at the Grammy Awards next month. I think perhaps people are more interested not in what she'll be singing, but what she'll be wearing.

PHILLIPS: So, what do you think? If you start dressing real crazy, do you think you might get up to 100-mil?

HAMMER: I will start working on that. It will not involve any meat products, though. It just doesn't feel like it would be a good look for me in particular. It works for different people. For Gaga, it got her a lot of attention.

PHILLIPS: Yes, you're handsome enough. But you deserve 100-mil. A.J., thanks. HAMMER: You bet.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's take you straight to the White House, Robert Gibbs starting his news conference there with reporters. Let's go ahead and listen in.

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: -- as the press charter was in the -- a little bit later.

Let me do one quick announcement before we go forward. President Obama will meet with President Zardari of Pakistan here at the White House tomorrow. The two leaders will discuss aspects of U.S./Pakistan strategic partnership, including our mutual commitment to economic reform, support for democracy and good governance, and joint efforts to combat terrorism. The meeting is closed press and we're going to do some still stuff out of it.

With that, take us away.

How are you?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Why is that meeting closed press tomorrow?

GIBBS: That's just -- that's just the way we've decided to do it. He's in town for Holbrooke's service, and we thought it was a good opportunity to add a meeting with President Zardari.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you think with the speech last night, the president accomplished what he wanted to accomplish with the speech?

GIBBS: Look, I think -- I talked a little bit about this on the plane on the way back. I think the president had thought about this on many different levels since we all got the news Saturday of the horrific and senseless events.

I think he thought of this as the president of the United States. I think he thought of this as a friend of the congresswoman. I think he thought -- as you all heard him talk about in the Oval Office on Monday -- I think he thought of this as a parent.

And I think we've all probably gone through -- many in this country have gone through thinking about this at many different levels.

I think what the president had hoped to do last night was to speak both to the community of Tucson and to the nation. And I think his message of insuring that our enduring way of government moves forward in a way that best honors the memories of those that were victims of this tragedy as well as those that we look forward to seeing recover.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: When he called for better discourse last night, did he specifically have Sarah Palin in mind and her comments about -- GIBBS: Look, I think -- I would -- I would point you to many things in the president's -- in venues that the president has discussed this, the notion of civility and our public discourse dates back to his time in the State Senate in Springfield, at the University of Michigan, at the commencement last year. I have heard him say for as long as I've been with him, the notion of disagreeing without being disagreeable, those are aspects I think that he has tried to live his public life by.

And, obviously, the speech, the president added a pretty hefty notion of empathy in the speech that, again, I think he's spoken on on many different occasions.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Robert, what is your view on Sarah Palin's choice of words with the --

GIBBS: You know, I'm -- I'm -- I think there are plenty of people that can -- that can render opinions on that. I'm not going to do that. And I think I'm happy to talk about what the president said last night. I think that's the role I best play in this.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Shifting gears to the China visit next week, what does the president hope to accomplish? And can you talk about the format for the press conference? I know that you pushed hard for that. Are there going to be more than one question each side or --

GIBBS: I'm -- I will admit, I'm a tad behind. I believe there will be more than one question, but I will double-check on that. Obviously, there will be an opportunity for question.

I think the issues that you're -- you will -- that the president wants to discuss are many of the issues that you have heard us as an administration talk about for the length of our tenure here. It's an important bilateral relationship. Obviously, there will be discussion on global economic issues, as well as security issues like North Korea and Iran, and important issues of political reform and human rights.

Our hope is, and again I'm still working out some of the details on this, but we will have likely be joined in some manner tomorrow by our national security adviser, Tom Donilon, to walk through what you'll se next week and some of additional things that we hope to discuss and cover.

Yes, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Back on last night and the idea of unity -- the president has talked about and campaigned about bringing the country together in 2004 and 2008. In what way has he not been able -- why has he not been able to bring the country together in the two years that he's been president? And is there some way in which his behavior is going to change after Tucson?

GIBBS: I think what the president would tell you on that answer is that, I think -- I think this is conveyed in his speech last night, that we are not going it to remove disagreement from our democracy and we shouldn't. That's the -- that's the underpinning of the notion of our self government.

But the tone and the approach that we take in those debates, I think is what we all hope changes because of -- both the events of the past few days, but I think anybody would say that -- again, I think you see it in the president's remarks that our civil discourse has become more and more polarized and I think -- I think the president hopes that, again, we can have disagreements without disparaging and being disagreeable towards others.

And again, I think you're going to see plenty of opportunities in the next few years where you have those disagreements. I think that, again, the tone and approach on both sides -- this isn't just a one- way street, it's for us too, to ensure that we're doing this in a way as I think the president so eloquently said last night, is befitting the memory of those in Tucson.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Governor Palin's message yesterday, the overall message, headed in the wrong direction, was that --

GIBBS: I'm, again, I think there are plenty that can --

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: She's a public figure. The White House could have an opinion on her overall message.

GIBBS: And again, I'm happy to speak to what the president said and how he came about saying it. But I'll let -- I'll let others opine on that.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Your own presence here, have you decided how --

GIBBS: Have I or has he? I don't know the answer to that.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Your own presence here, have you decided on a departure date?

GIBBS: I have not. I don't have any news on that.

Yes, sir?

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Follow up on Ann's first question about (AUDIO BREAK) last State of the Union, he talked about reaching out more to Republicans and going to have regular meetings with them. And he seemed to be honest and frank after the midterm elections and telling them the Republican leaders, look, I need to do a better job on this. He was upfront.

So, my question is -- with the new State of the Union coming up, there's been some speculation that maybe the president will use the State of the Union to build on last night. How do you see him, you know, whether or not he really is going to build on last night in the State of the Union? Will there be the similar tone and approach?

And then how does he actually take the action to follow up on what he said in last year's State of the Union about reaching out? Like how does it become a reality instead of both sides saying they're going to do it? How does he --

GIBBS: Well, a couple things. I think you're very correct, Ed, in -- obviously, elements of what you heard last night and improvements in our civil discourse and how we debate issues will certainly play a role in this year's State of the Union. I think, again, this is something I think if you go back and -- whether it's in the campaign or, you know, you certainly can see it visibly in the 2004 convention address, but obviously speeches throughout his career where he talks about this.

And I think you're right, the president was very candid with those Republican and Democratic leaders after the election that he had to do better. And I think, quite frankly, we were the country was successful in getting things done in the lame duck session because -- because of that very notion.

And I think you'll see -- I think you'll see a greater effort on our part, in a much more systematic way, to do the types of meetings that we had here before.

Again, I don't -- I don't think anybody wants to take -- or I don't think anybody believes that we're going to simply remove the disagreement from our democracy. That's the very definition of - of it.

But I think the way in which we do it, the tone, our approach, is something I think we will all -- we all should be much more mindful of. And I think that's -- I think that was in large part...

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: So it seems that that will be a big part of the State of the Union, in some way.

GIBBS: I, you know, I have not, obviously, looked through a ton of the drafts at this point, but I think there's no question that it will play a role.

QUESTION: Just a quick follow then. How does Bill Daley play into that? Since we haven't had a chance to talk to you to brief this week, in terms of he's taken over officially. There's been a lot of talk about his ability to work with Republicans. The Chamber of Commerce and others immediately said this is a great pick.

Moving forward, what kind of impact do you think Bill Daley will have in terms of that relationship with Republicans, but also moving the president's agenda, et cetera?

GIBBS: Well, look, I think obviously Bill is somebody who brings vast experience working with both sides of the aisles. I think that was true when he was -- when he was commerce secretary. I think that's been true in his endeavors in business.

And I think, as you said, it's reflected in -- in the statements that were made upon the announcement last week that he would assume the job of chief of staff.

And as you said, I was not -- I was in Tucson yesterday, so I was not here yesterday, but he -- he began yesterday at the 7:30 senior staff meeting.

And look, I think that -- again, I think he brings a vast amount of experience in working with -- with others. But look, I think it also, for all of us, has to -- the truth is, it's all of us. It's -- it is -- it's everybody that works here, it's everybody that works in government and public service, and it includes the leaders of - of our country.

QUESTION: Keeping with that, on a much lighter note, given the solemn times, have you decided not to put toilet paper on the White House because of your wonderful Auburn victory?

GIBBS: I -- I think it is a wonderful tradition, probably best reserved for Toomer's Corner in Auburn, where -- where there's -- there are many rolls currently hanging in a beautiful tree there now.

QUESTION: How about in front of your house?

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Robert Gibbs at the White House there holding the briefing. We'll continue to monitor it for you.

Thieves break into a man's house and take the one thing that cannot be replaced. On top of the dresser where his wife's ashes were. He was saving them until the day his and hers could be joined together forever in their garden. Well, looks like he's going to be alone in that garden unless the crooks man up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, some thieves in Colorado might have had no idea what they've got when they broke into Bob Hurley's house over the weekend. They snatched a pretty box right off his dresser. Maybe they thought it had jewelry in it. There's something a lot more precious that's inside that box. It's the ashes of Bob's wife of 50 years, Teri. Irreplaceable. Unless those crooks do the right thing.

Bob's joining us from Colorado Springs, just near where he and Teri retired after his long career in the Air Force and academia.

Bob, we're so glad you're with us. We read about this story, as I was telling you, and our hearts just broke. So, we want to do everything we can to get your wife's ashes back. Tell me what happened when you came home on Sunday? How did you know that something had gone horribly wrong there at the house?

BOB HURLEY, THEIVES STOLE WIFE'S ASHES FROM HIS HOME: When I opened the garage door for my car, I noticed that the door to the laundry room -- or the kitchen door had been knocked down. When I went inside the house, I noticed things were taken -- PHILLIPS: And I know they took a lot of electronics, right? The television. When did you first notice they had taken your wife's ashes?

HURLEY: Not until I and the deputies went upstairs and I walked in my upstairs bedroom where the box was on the chess of drawers. I couldn't believe what I saw. It was very shocking.

PHILLIPS: And, you know, let's talk about what it's been so heartbreaking for you. You lost your wife only a couple of years ago from ovarian cancer. And you two just had this amazing relationship. You met in 1957. And tell me about the love you two shared and what made your wife such an amazing woman?

HURLEY: She probably was the better half, really. She took care of me in 1982 when the tumor first occurred and the brief surgery was accomplished. And she was very outgoing, very friendly, very capable. And her love was never in doubt.

PHILLIPS: And we should point out that tumor has affected the right side of your face, and she actually quit her job to care for you. It just --

HURLEY: Yes.

PHILLIPS: But it doesn't -- after reading about her and learning about her, it doesn't surprise any of us that she would do that. Boy, she loved you so much.

What kept you going through all that? What was it about you that just inspired you, Bob?

HURLEY: I think it was her attitude. Her ability to get things done, to look on the bright side of things, and to work so hard.

PHILLIPS: Well, I understand --

HURLEY: And her love.

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. And your kids have talked about how amazing of a mom she was.

Now, I understand the community has rallied behind you now. They heard about her ashes being stolen. Tell me what they're doing and how that's made you feel, just to see so much support, Bob?

HURLEY: It's kind of overwhelming because the four major stations we have here in town, TV stations, have interviewed me. And they're constantly broadcasting the network with the news. Right now, there is no update. We don't really know where we stand yet.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know your -- yes, go ahead.

HURLEY: They have been very kind and very, very thorough.

PHILLIPS: I know your ultimate goal is to get those ashes back so the two of you can be scattered together in your garden, right? She loved working on that garden.

HURLEY: Oh, yes. Very much so.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to do our best to help you as well. I know your community is very involved.

And Bob, we're going to just plug right now, if you've got any information about what happened there at Bob Hurley's home in El Paso, if you know who the thieves might be, we're please asking you to call the El Paso County, Colorado sheriff's office. Here's the number. It's 719-390-5555. This story has caught a lot of people's attention in the Colorado Springs area. The sheriff said that urn may be taken to a fire station or any other public place. Just turn it in, no questions asked.

And Bob, will you keep us updated and let us know if anything happens? Because we'd sure love to see a happy ending here for you?

HURLEY: I sure will. I really appreciate what you're doing.

PHILLIPS: Well, we appreciate you. And what a beautiful marriage the two of you had. We'll do all our best to rally behind you. Bob Hurley, thanks so much.

HURLEY: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Jobless claims jumped by 35,000 last week. Just two weeks earlier we hit a two-and-a-half -year low for the first time. Living on unemployment, it's a bit of a roller coaster ride. Just ask Lenore Herrea. Her "30-Second Pitch" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: 445,000 first-time jobless claims last week. The Department of Labor says that number is up 35,000 from the week before. A little bit of good news. Government says that continuing claims actually fell. That's the number of those who have been receiving benefits for a week or more. Still, though, that clock at a 3.8 million -- or that clocks in, rather, at 3.8 million.

All right. Losing confidence, gaining stress. These are common character traits for many Americans out of work and looking. Just ask Lenore Herera (sic). She's one of those looking and worried about the impact of her unemployment and what it's doing to her family. Recently, her husband is bringing in less money, too. Hoping to trade some of the stress for confidence.

Lenore is joining me for today's "30-Second Pitch." And Lenore, how long have you been out of work and how tough has it been to get a new gig?

LYNOR PEREIRA, JOB SEEKER: Well, I've been out of work, Kyra, now for a year-and-a-half, and it's been extremely difficult. Much more than I expected it to be. And it's been very difficult on my family. We're a family of five. I have three children. Two in college, one in California, one in Chicago. Myself, I went back it to school to keep my skills very sharp and I am in a dual masters degree program right now.

We value education, but it's extremely expensive. Keeping a roof over our head and making ends each month meet is just challenging and it's very stressful.

PHILLIPS: Yes, and you want to keep those kids in college. And then your husband making less now, too. What happened there?

PEREIRA: Well, at one point, both my husband and I were laid off around the same time. I was THE senior events marketing manager for Kmart Corperation, and he had a sales position. He was downsized. I was downsized from Kmart. We've been going through a lot of downsizing in the last year-and-a-half. And then he was able fortunately to get a position last year making half of what he's making.

So, we're very fortunate, we're very grateful about that -- with benefits, but it's been extremely tough. You do everything you're supposed to do. You save your money, 401(k), but then when you don't have that anymore, you know, you just have to keep the faith. Because you could easily dip into panic and be stressful, and you send out constant resumes and everything. But you don't get call backs, you don't hear from anyone.

So, it's very discouraging, I should say, to say the least.

PHILLIPS: We don't want you to be discouraged. We want to do everything we can to help. So, you ready for your "30-Second Pitch?

PEREIRA: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: OK. We're going to start the clock and we'll be thinking about those kids in college, so give it your all. Go ahead, Lynor. Take it away.

PEREIRA: Thank you. Hi. My name is Lynor Pereira, and I'm a 20-year seasoned professional with marketing. I have a very diverse background with brand management, licensing promotions with consumer products. I've won the award for best brand and licensing with Kmart promotions. I have a background in merchandising, event planning and media relations. If you're looking for a seasoned marketing professional, please contact me at Lynor - L-Y-N-O-R - underscore Pererira - P like in Peter - E-R-E-I-R-A @comcast.net.

PHILLIPS: OK. You were it telling me you were nervous. That was beautiful. You couldn't have done it any better, Lynor. All right You keep us updated.

PEREIRA: Thank you so much, Kyra. I appreciate it!

PHILLIPS: We appreciate you. If you're out of work, want to sell yourself to perspective employers, just let us know. Send us your resume just like Lynor did and a letter, to 30SecondPitch@CNN.com. Also, if you want to hire our "30 Second Pitchers" like Lynor, come on! How terrific was she? Just go to our blog, CNN.com/kyra. All the information will be there, their e-mails, everything. So, please, help them out.

The heartbreak of the Haiti earthquake summed up with sweet somber notes from the fingers of a blind violinist.

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PHILLIPS: We're going to check in with Romel Joseph, the survivor whose story captured our hearts one year ago today.

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PHILLIPS: Well, it's been one year since a powerful earthquake shook Haiti. Buildings caved, streets crumpled and a nation was changed forever. But out of the rubble, out of all that destruction, there were amazing stories of perseverance.

Romel Joseph is one of those survivors.

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PHILLIPS: That's right. That's him, the Julliard-trained violinist with his daughter. He's also a music teacher. He was trapped inside his school for 18 hours, his legs broken, his left hand crushed. He recited concertos in his mind to pass the time until he recovered.

Now his music is inspiring others, including another blind musician. Remember when Stevie Wonder came on our show and brought him a keyboard?

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STEVIE WONDER, MUSICIAN: (SINGING) Romel, I am hoping you enjoy this keyboard that I'm giving you. I used it on the last project that I did.

ROMEL JOSEPH, BLIND MUSICIAN WHO SURVIVED HAITI EARTHQUAKE: I'll play something.

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PHILLIPS: Oh. Romel Joseph joining us again live from Miami. I cannot believe it's been a year since the quake, and a year since that moment happened with Stevie sending you his keyboard. Have you been playing his keyboard?

JOSEPH: Yes. I've been playing it since I got it, and it really helped. It's a good therapy. And it helps, you know, to help me perform, to start playing the violin once again. And I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who had prayers, to Stevie Wonder for the keyboard. And I'm really happy I'm playing again. Even though I have the plates in my finger and they have not quite healed yet, but hey, it's a great beginning.

PHILLIPS: Well, and you actually played yesterday for all your doctors there in Miami who helped to heal you. And you want to still build that performing arts center in Haiti, right? Do you think that's going to be able to happen?

JOSEPH: Well, that is my dream. I want this performing arts center. Last year, I remember I requested the keyboard so I could practice. And Stevie Wonder heard my request and made it happen.

This year, at the new beginning, my dream is to have -- make sure Haiti has a performing arts center where we all can perform because at this time, there is no music hall to perform in Haiti. So, if anyone wants to really help out, I would really appreciate it.

I wrote a book called "The Miracle of Music," which is very inspiring from what everyone said who read it. And that's one of the ways anyone can help. It's at Barnes & Noble and amazon.com. They could get a copy. It's a really interesting story on how music can make a positive difference in anyone's life.

PHILLIPS: I'll tell you, it kept you holding on as you recited those concertos when you were trapped underneath that rubble. You're right. Music has amazing, mystical powers, doesn't it?

An you thought you would never be able to play again, Romel. What was it like to play that duet with your daughter at the hospital a year later?

JOSEPH: Well, my daughter started to play the violin since she was three when I started working with her. We've been very close. We always played together. And performing with her yesterday in the hospital was really an inspiration. She's excellent.

It's like, she actually should be my teacher now. She plays so -- she's excellent. Really incredible.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's because she's got an incredible father. And it's so fantastic just to look at a year ago and see that you could barely move that hand. I know you've still got pins in there. But to see you playing the violin with your daughter, -- I understand, I've been told, you actually brought your violin. Do you feel comfortable playing for me, and we'll go to break with you playing the violin live?

JOSEPH: Sure. I'll play a very special little, tiny song that, again, the miracle of music -- this little song changed my life forever that I heard for the first time on the violin when I was 10 years old.

PHILLIPS: What's the name of the song? JOSEPH: It's called (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) or "Haiti, My Darling," and it's a little song that I want to dedicate to everyone who loves Haiti, and to all Haitians because we all cannot give up. And we have to work hard so Haiti can become once again what it used to be when this little song was written.

PHILLIPS: Let's do it. Romel Joseph, play us to break. And so, so fabulous to have you with us again.

JOSEPH: Thank you.

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PHILLIPS: All right. Time now to "Fast Forward." Check some of the stories on our radar.

The USS Enterprise deploys to the Middle East without the man who was commanding it just a few weeks ago. You may remember Captain Owen Honors was relieved of his command after appearing prominently in raunchy videos that were shows to the crews.

And next hour, man versus machine, Jeopardy-style. The TV show will tape a showdown between and IMB supercomputer and its two most successful contestants, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.

We'll see you back here tomorrow. Carol Costello now with the next two hours of CNN NEWSROOM.