Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Tucson Shooting Safeway Reopens; New Interim President of Tunisia Announced Amid Violence; Gun Show Opens Near Site of Arizona Shooting; Surviving Victim of Shooting Interviewed; Chevy To Come Out With New Electric Car; Brisbane, Australia Recovering From Flooding; Dogs Trained To Find Bedbugs
Aired January 15, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Two developing stories this morning.
The scene of Tucson's horrific shooting getting back to business, but people are also getting a chance to pay respects to those shot during last week's attack. We're there with a preview of this morning's emotional ceremony and plans to hold a gun show today just a short distance away.
And in Tunisia reports of a revolution getting bloodier and nastier each hour. More than 40 people are killed when a prison is set afire. The president has fled and unclear who is in charge. The latest inside the country and chaos.
From the CNN center, this is CNN SATURDAY morning. Good morning to you. I'm Martin Savidge, thanks very much for being with us.
Also coming up this hour, surprising revelations from Ronald Reagan Junior's new book, raised the revelation that president Reagan's Alzheimer's may have been evident before he left office. Who knew about the health crisis and when?
Detroit thinks American drivers are finally ready to commit to electric cars. Before you buy, we will answer the most common question to decide if the cars are worth the steep price tag.
But we start this morning with a solemn ceremony in Tucson, Arizona. This was unlike any supermarket opening you have seen in the past, talking about that safe way in Tucson that served as the backdrop to last week's deadly shooting. Thelma Gutierrez is there for us this morning. And Thelma, did they do anything special to honor the victims? I imagine, of course, they did.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Martin, coming up in about two hours, they will hold a moment of silence here in the Safeway store. They're going to announce it over the pa. They will stand out here at this memorial you see at the front door and they will remember the victims of last week's shooting.
What was really interesting, Martin, is that when those doors opened about an hour ago, three employees walked in. They had their arms around each other. I talked to them a short time ago, and they said they still can't get over what they heard, what they saw, just seven days ago right out here where I'm standing. They said it was just a terrible, terrible thing. They said it's time to get back to normal, get back to work for the first time in seven days. At the same time, they say, very, very difficult to get over those emotions, over those sights and sounds that they heard.
SAVIDGE: I understand it would be. Our heart very much goes out to them. I'm wondering, I understand there is a gun show getting under way nearby. Of course, it's legal. But I'm wondering what people are saying about it?
GUTIERREZ: Well, it's interesting, because right after this massacre occurred, the gun show has been in the making for quite a while. It's been planned, a scheduled event. But after the massacre, the organizers came under a good amount of criticism, people wondering whether or not the timing was appropriate to have such a show.
The organizers say they plan to move forward. Thousands of people expected today to come to that gun show, to go buy firearms, this kind of thing. And so once again, this massacre has reignited that national debate on gun control, and Tucson has become ground zero.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: At this firing range in Tucson, Arizona, nearly every lane is full with couples and firearms enthusiasts, like Jim Coniglio, who says he's proud to live in a state where he can carry a concealed weapon on his person and in his vehicle with no permit at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are citizens, not subjects. That's the bottom line.
GUTIERREZ: The law is called "constitutional carry," a new law that just passed last year.
SHERIFF CLARENCE DUPNIK, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA: I think we're the Tombstone of the United States of America.
GUTIERREZ: After the massacre in Tucson, the sheriff of Pima County says things are out of control. He cited proposed legislation which would allow students 21 and over to carry guns on campus.
DUPNIK: I have never been a proponent of letting everybody in this state carry weapons under any circumstances that they want. That's almost where we are.
JOE ZAMUDIO, WITNESS: I carry -- it's -- this is a Ruger P95.
GUTIERREZ: And 24-year-old Joe Zamudio says he carries a concealed weapon to feel safe.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): So this is something that you carry with you where, the store?
ZAMUDIO: Pretty much everywhere I go. GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Last Saturday was no different. Joe said he had his firearm in his jacket when he went to buy cigarettes.
ZAMUDIO: I heard the shots from inside the building. When in turned and squared my shoulders to the breezeway, I saw another gentleman with his right hand lifting the firearm like this only it was locked back. And he brings it around his side. That, to me, he was standing, he was holding a gun.
GUTIERREZ: Joe saw victims in pools of blood. He had to make a split second decision about his gun with no room for errors.
ZAMUDIO: He needed to be taken care of was my immediate problem, address that firearm.
GUTIERREZ: Instead of his gun, which he says he was prepared to use for a moment just like this, Joe reached for the man's wrist instead.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): Did he say anything? Did he say, I'm not the shooter?
ZAMUDIO: Immediately. No, it's him. It's him.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Joe saw Jared Loughner on the ground. Turns out the man with the gun had disarmed Loughner.
ZAMUDIO: I'm just so lucky. I'm just so lucky. We were all blessed he had been there that day. If he hadn't been there, I might not be here right now. I might have gotten shot and gone out that door and got my head blown off.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): Does that go through your mind?
ZAMUDIO: Yes.
GUTIERREZ: Has it affected your life?
ZAMUDIO: It's been horrible, one of the worst thing that ever happened.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Joe believes the gun training that made him an able marksman also helped him to make a sound judgment call.
ZAMUDIO: There was a bunch of people watching and all those people watching see me pull a gun out thinks second shooter. And in Arizona, where people keep guns in their cars, somebody could have shot me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: Joe says the reality of that is just now starting to set in on him. He says he's having such a tough time dealing with what he witnessed, with what he went through here in Tucson, that he actually left town last night to just get away from things for a while. Martin? SAVIDGE: An amazingly powerful story, Thelma. Thank you very much for bringing it to us.
One of the victims in the shooting was federal Judge John Roll. He was laid to rest yesterday. Mourners packed the Tucson church to say their final good-byes. Roll grew up in Tucson. Former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor was among the mourners and three of his grandchildren spoke at his service.
Then nine-year-old Christina green laid to rest Thursday. Our Susan Candiotti spoke to Christina's father yesterday, and he told Susan that some of Christina's organs were donated to a little girl in Boston. He also said he and his wife would like to meet that little girl one day without a doubt. Makes perfect sense, they would love to give her a big hug.
Among those wounded were Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her aid, Pam Simon. Giffords remains in the hospital and her doctors say she's progressing as well as can be hoped. Simon was released on Thursday. Here's a picture of Pam Simon with President Obama during his visit Wednesday, and our Randi Kaye sat down with her to talk about the tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you remember when that shot was fired at the congresswoman?
PAM SIMON, AIDE TO REP. GIFFORDS: It happened, everything happened probably in a matter of seconds. My feeling is that he was whirling his back was to me. I saw the congresswoman go down, I saw Ron go down. And then I think I must have been one of the next people hit, because from that point on, I was laying on the ground.
KAYE: Did you ever actually see the gunman's face?
SIMON: No, no, I did not.
KAYE: What was that moment like for you, when you knew you had been shot?
SIMON: It took a few seconds to actually, for the reality. I think I was on the ground before I thought this is actually happening.
KAYE: Were you scared? Did you understand what had happened?
SIMON: I don't remember the emotion of fear at all, I just remembered kind of survival instincts kicking in. I laid very still and played dead. I didn't know if he was still around.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Simon was shot twice, once in the wrist and once in the chest. That bullet, by the way, traveled through her body and is now lodged in her thigh. We'll have more of this interview later this hour. Startling changes in the African nation of Tunisia. Tunisia's parliament speaker says he is acting as interim president today. Yesterday Tunisia's president fled the country amid over discontent over economic conditions and rampant corruption in government.
And there are reports today of fires of several prisons across Tunisia. At least 42 inmates killed at just one of those prisons. The nation says -- senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman, rather, is descending into chaos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Walking around the capitol this morning, it's clear the army is firmly in control. I watched overnight from my hotel window as young protesters were rounded up by the army and plain-clothed policemen. They were beaten and kicked and hauled away to who knows where. It may have started off as a popular movement but it looks like it may be ending in a military coup d'etat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: The capital city remains under a nighttime curfew.
Now to southern India where a stampede has killed at least 100 people. The stampeded apparently started when a truck overturned into a group of people along a narrow stretch near the temple.
Michael Steele is out as chairman of the Republican National Committee. He was plagued by controversy and criticism even though he presided over the retaking of the House. Wisconsin GOP chairman Reince Priebus was elected as the new chairman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REINCE PREIBUS, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: With the election over, now is the time for the committee to unite. We must come together for our common interests, for the betterment of our party and our country.
With that in mind, I want you to know that I am here to earn the trust and support of each and every one of you. I told you I would serve in humility and work hard and I'm going to start working right now as your chairman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: And first on the agenda will be to raise money for that 2012 election.
In other political news, Ron Reagan, he now says his father may have been showing signs of Alzheimer's disease as early as his first term. He makes the connection in a new book saying he had first the first shivers of concern three years into Ronald Reagan's presidency. He says he believes his father would have stepped down if he had been diagnosed while in office. President Reagan disclosed he had Alzheimer's in 1994, five years after leaving office.
That so-called virtual fence along the U.S. Mexico border, well, it's being scrapped. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano cited technical delays as reasons to end the project. It cost $1 billion to cover just 53 miles of the 2,000 mile border. The network of cameras and sensors already in place will take advantage of unmanned drones and thermal imaging devices.
Zsa Zsa Gabor has lost her right leg to infection. The 93-year- old actress developed a lesion on her leg that turned out to be resistant to drugs. The husband said he didn't tell Zsa Zsa about the amputation before the surgery. Doctors are guarded about her recovery.
So what did Jared Loughner do in the hours before the shooting at the Tucson Safeway? We have the minute by minute breakdown, what police said he did before that horrifying event.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER BREAK)
SAVIDGE: In the car industry, they are all abuzz over electric cars. Are they the right answer, though, for you? We will break down the benefits and the challenges after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can do this. The Volt only needs about 1.50 worth of charge a day. For longer trips it can use gas. So get psyched. It's a big step up from the leaf blower. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt, a step up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: This is the Chevy Volt, the electric vehicle voted the North American car of the year at the annual Detroit auto show last week. But it wasn't the only car to impress automakers last week. For more let's bring in the woman known as the car coach, Lauren Fix, who joins us from Buffalo, New York. Good morning to you.
LAUREN FIX, AUTOMOTIVE ANALYST: Good morning.
SAVIDGE: Was there an increased presence of electric vehicles at the car show this year and why?
FIX: Absolutely. I think part of it is people think there will be a demand and we're looking for something other than fossil fuels. There are lots of options out there and we have been working on that for a while. You see the ford focus, brand-new for 2012, the smart car now electric. We already had the Mini-E and Mitsubishi Leaf and lots of cars and used to just be the Chevy Volt. But the Nissan leaf will be the first mass car production. We will see that as well.
SAVIDGE: Let's discuss the pluses and minuses of these vehicles. What are they?
FIX: First off, the pluses are a wide selection. We used to be thinking if I want a hybrid only the Toyota Prius. Now even the Prius will be available in an electric car. They're recycling plastics to make them lighter. You have to propel this without a gasoline engine, you need electricity. So they're recycling water bottles to make them sleeker to push through the air, about safety and weight as well.
You're getting the same safety features as a gas powered car, a definite positive plugging it into a regular 220 outlet or drier outlet, great. And municipalities are starting to offer discounts the size of the $7,500 federal tax electric cars, available on all electric cars, which means the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf can give you additional discount if your company offers a discount.
One guy was able to get a Nissan Leaf down to the $20,000 range and a $40,000 car. A lot of this is available. You have to do a little bit of homework. It is an option but not for everybody.
SAVIDGE: How accessible are these cars? Some are in limited places you can get them and then the issue of the cost.
FIX: Right. There are a lot of negatives so you have to balance your situation. You can get a Chevy Volt across the country in a few short months. Nissan Leafs will be in restricted markets. Smart cars only bring in 250 cars. The Ford Focus available the latter part of this year will be available across the country. It depends what you're looking at.
Plus, there's a lot of little outskirts of individual companies, such as coda in California only, if you're serious about look for an electric car, there are places to get them even if they're not available in your neighborhood.
Some of the negative is it will cost you more. You have to realize, what's your driving style? Are you OK with range anxiety, which means, my gosh, we will be out of battery power.
SAVIDGE: We're going to run out of time. I want to ask you something. Is now the time to get a vehicle or should I wait? That first year anxiety, let them work out the glitches.
FIX: Right. Please wait if you want a deal. If you absolutely have to have one, spend the full retail. There will be no discounts other than that federal tax credit. If you wait six months, prices will drop and initial demand and excitement, just as it would for any car, dips off six to nine months later and can get a deal.
And you can always buy a certified pre-owned car somebody had so there will be a lot of deals around the corner by the end of the year.
SAVIDGE: Lauren, I love talking cars. Thanks for joining us this morning.
Checking out some of the extreme videos of the week. New Yorkers have an unspoken agreement with subway rats. Tracks are for rodents and trains are for people. Now one rat has gone and broken all the rules. Can you believe it?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Now, for our extremes of the week, the video that made us sits up and say, "what the" -- and that's where you fill in the blank.
We all heard about rats in the subway. This is doggone ridiculous. Yes. The rat is crawling up that guy's leg and right on his shoulder, not the kind of thing you want to have to wake up while you're trying to catch a few winks on the way to work. Amazingly, the guy went right back to sleep. Maybe he thought it was a dream, all a dream.
For us in the south going stir-crazy in the snow, the only way this guy in South Carolina makes any sense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're going to get in? He's going to do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He woke up at 9:30 to do this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it, Steve. Oh, my gosh.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, darn.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Right? Yes, he did it. The polar bear plunge with panache. If it was really that cold, wouldn't it have ice on it?
Let's look at a shot that would make any weekend bowler proud. Watch as this guy gets his strike, although it's in the wrong lane. His name is Josh Scanlon, and he was trying to make his team's the USA's bowling squad. He didn't make it, not even close. He finished 49th overall. We'll all remember that one shining strike. Keep it out of the gutter is what I say.
Piers Morgan tonight premiers Monday. Piers first guest is Oprah Winfrey. After their sit down, Oprah told CNN it was one of her toughest interviews in 20 years. Oprah talks about her long time love.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TV PERSONALITY: I had been betrayed by somebody in my family, who had gone to the tabloids for, you know, $20,000, had sold me out. And Stedman came into the room with tears in his eyes, we knew that it was coming out. Stedman came into the room with tears in his eyes and he said, "The story's out. I have a copy of it if you want to see it. I'm really sorry. You don't deserve this." It was that moment.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST, " PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": And you looked at him and you thought, I love this man?
WINFREY: No. I looked at him and I thought, here's somebody who is willing to stand in and stand up for you. And that's what love is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: After Oprah, Pier's premier week, say that, it's hard -- Howard Stern, Condoleezza Rice, Ricky Gervais, and George Clooney. It all kick off Monday night at 9:00 eastern on "Piers Morgan Tonight."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Its 30 minutes past the hour. Welcome back. I'm Martin Savidge. Thanks for starting your Saturday with us.
Checking the top stories. In Tucson, the Safeway where 19 people were show is back opens for business. A wreath sits in front of the store in honor of the victims. Six people died there one week ago, and 13 people were wounded, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
And 30 years after faking a heart attack and escaping custody, a fugitive, Jackson McDonald is behind bars this morning. That's him on the right 30 years ago, how he looked on the right 30 years ago and on the left, now 71. He was arrested in 1980 drug charges in Canada. Federal marshals found him in central Florida this week.
Rhythm and blues singer Etta James, whose signature song "At Last" is probably one of the most popular wedding songs ever, is reportedly very ill. She's been diagnosed with dementia and being treated for leukemia.
So many questions remain about what drove Jared Loughner to gun down a congresswoman and 18 other people. There is no disputing what he did leading up to the attacks. CNN's Randi Kaye has compiled a timeline.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: The night before the shooting, 11:35 p.m. Friday, investigators tracking Jared Loughner's last steps says he drops off a roll of 35 millimeter film to be developed at Walgreens. Less than an hour later, Loughner checks into this Motel 6, shows an id and pays by credit card, activity on his electronic room key shows he went in and out of the room several times during the night.
At 2:19 a.m., Loughner returns to Walgreens to pick up his developed photos. At 2:34 a.m., Loughner makes a purchase at this chevron station's convenience store, buys a donut, soft drink and energy bars and the security camera catches him on video. Before he leaves, he uses the pay phone.
Less than two hours later, Loughner posts a message on his MySpace page, that reading good-bye friends, and contain a photo developed earlier at Walgreens. And nine minutes later, he's at Circle K to buy something else.
It's now just about three hours before the shooting. At 7:04 a.m. Loughner makes his first attempt to buy ammunition at Wal-Mart. The store clerk keeps him waiting because he's behaving strangely. So at 7:27 a.m., Loughner goes to another Wal-Mart, where he buys ammunition and a buys diaper bag, similar to a backpack.
At 7:34 a.m. Saturday, two and a half hours from the time of the shooting, Jared Loughner is stopped for running a red light, a few miles from the Safeway supermarket. An officer with the Arizona game and fish department checks his license and registration. He sees there are no outstanding warrants and lets Loughner go with a warning.
Around 8:00 a.m., back at Loughner's parents' house, his father confronts him about a black bag he's carrying. Investigators say randy Loughner asks his son what's inside the bag and where he's taking it. They say Loughner multiples mumbles something and takes off to the desert. His father chases him in his truck but doesn't catch him.
At 9:30 a.m., he calls a taxi to pick him up at this convenience store and it takes him to the Safeway supermarket. It is now just minutes before the shooting. At 9:54 a.m., the taxi arrives at the Safeway. The driver and Jared Loughner goes inside the supermarket to get change for the fare.
One minute later, 10:00 a.m., Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords arrives for her Congress on the corner. A few minutes later, Loughner asks a member of the congresswoman's staff to speak with her. He's told to wait in a line of about 20 people. He does so, but then exits the line and walks quickly towards the congresswoman.
At 10:10 a.m., investigators say Jared Loughner opens fire.
Randi Kaye, CNN, Tucson, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: It's being called Australia's Katrina as that country tries to cope with the devastation from epic floods a few players from the NBA are reaching out to their homeland.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Devastating floods have pounded northeast Australia more than a week now. Look at some of these pictures. A yacht would seem like a good place to be during flooding, but that was not the case in Brisbane. It quickly went down taking a small rescue boat with it. Luckily, nobody was injured.
The flooding there has killed at least 16 people so far. More than 50 others are still missing. Floodwaters have started to recede in some areas, leaving behind a whole different set of problems.
(WEATHER BREAK) SAVIDGE: Online magazine "Maxim PC" has come out with technology they think will go the way of the dinosaur by 2020. And they're a little bit surprising, maybe. Take a listen -- stereoscopic 3D televisions. Because? Glasses are a hassle. EBook readers because that's all they do. I just got one! And keys. We already have cars that can start with a button. The next three technologies that seem like they will be extinct, we'll bring those up in a bit.
But now, joining me here, Joe Carter, "Sports Wow" moments.
JOE CARTER, HLN SPORTS ANCHOR: I just slid right in, Martin.
SAVIDGE: You did. Talking about the NBA, and what, giving back to Australia?
CARTER: Yes. Andrew Bogut plays for the Milwaukie Buck from Australia. We just saw the video, huge floods in the area, devastating a lot of that country. In an effort to help, he decided to put together what's called the Bogut experience, a package offered on eBay, including tickets to L.A. to watch his bucks play the Lakers and after the game, dinner with Bogut himself. So far the auction is over $50,000. We're thinking next season, because they play Lakers twice this season. It will have to be next season.
A middle school student in the Seattle area was sent home yesterday when he showed from home wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. Normally the school is a uniform school. Friday was Seahawks appreciation day, everybody excited for the big game. The kids were allowed to wear anything Seahawks related. Brendon clearly not related to anything Seahawks at all. So the school asked him to change, he refused, he was sent home. The school said they told the students if they didn't wear Seahawks related stuff, had to wear a school regulated uniform.
He did get the attention of Lamar Woodley who used to be a linebacker for the Steelers and will send him an autographed picture to say, thanks for defending Steelers' nation.
And can you believe the Super bowl is coming up. Christine Aguilera may perform the national anthem before the game starts. Think it's a good choice?
SAVIDGE: Good choice, very powerful voice.
CARTER: She's an incredible performer. This is the video from 2007, she blew the roof off the place. They would not confirm she will perform the national anthem. The only could confirm the Black Eyed Peas will be performing at halftime. I would assume she's a good choice.
SAVIDGE: We have somebody here who is wearing Steelers garb in the studio. We were going to send him home and realized, that's no punishment at all. Has to stay here and watch the entire rest of the news.
(LAUGHTER) Thanks, Joe. Appreciate it. When we come back, we will check the Political Ticker right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: The online magazine, "Maxim PC," listing technologies that seem like they're on the edge of extinction but will still be around in 2020 -- digital music players. Who wants to go jogging with it clipped to their tank top? Internal combustion car engines, still way cheaper than hybrids. And landline telephones, the ones that still have cords. When was the last time your cell phone worked in a prolonged power outage?
CNN is your home for politics. Let's look at what's crossing the ticker right now.
Tea Party members will have a chance to check in on their senators later this month. The Senate Tea Party caucus set for January 27. Jim DeMint and Rand Paul of Kentucky said they will be there, all elected with the backing of Tea Party supporters.
There is a push for bipartisan in congress, at least as far as seating at the state of the union is concerned. House Republican whip, Kevin McCarthy said it's a nice idea to have Republicans and Democrats sit side by side. That also says that will have to be worked on their own because there will not be directive telling people where to sit.
And a new poll says Barack Obama is running the table in 2012 at least against a host of Republican challengers. In a hypothetical match-up against Sarah Palin, a poll has the president winning by 26 points, 56 percent to 30 percent. He also beats Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. In December the poll had Romney winning by two percent by now President Obama beats Romney by 13 percent.
SAVIDGE: Sniffing out bedbugs, there is no app for that. But instead, if you need to get an especially trained dogs, we'll tell you where to find one and introduce it to you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: These stories are making news across the country. In Sanford, Maine, the governor had blunt language for the NAACP who criticized him for declining an invitation to a Martin Luther King day event. Governor Paul LaPage said, quote, "Tell them they can kiss my butt," unquote. LaPage has an adopted son who is black and he says he refuses to let those leaders play the race card.
Next up, post falls, Idaho. Holly Lahti won a huge lottery jackpot -- sorry, paused too long. But she may have to give half to her estranged husband, Josh, though they have lived apart for years, there is no record of a divorce. Under community property, Josh husband could get up to $40 million.
Last stop, Elgin, Texas, a horse named Texas and mule named Mula are reunited with their owners now. The animals were impounded at a veterinary clinic after their owners were arrested, accused of riding while intoxicated. They couldn't afford to bail out their animals, but three anonymous women donated the money. They're free. Good.
There are bomb sniffing drugs and drug sniffing dogs, and now there is a bedbug sniffing dog. Yes. It's not even in New York City, it's in Nebraska, where they have their own bedbug problems. We get more from Andrew Ozaki , of affiliate KATV in Lancaster County.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW OZAKI, KATV, LANCASTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA: It only takes minutes for spots to find his prey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a hit right there.
OZAKI: The specially trained pup can smell bedbugs three feet away, and on the third floor of the Lancaster County courthouse Thursday night, he found them on boxes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Another hit over here.
OZAKI: Furniture. You can even see one in this file in the plastic sleeve.
DON KILLEEN, BUILDING MAINTENANCE: This appears to be about a stage two.
OZAKI: Much to the dismay of county commissioner Larry Hudkins.
LARRY HUDKINS, COUNTY COMMISSIONER: We found them on the third floor now and that concerns us very deeply.
OZAKI: Last week, the county treated areas on the second floor after the located bedbugs there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was an employee who brought it in, apparently had an infestation in their house.
OZAKI: The bugs present no health concerns but bites can be annoying. That's why building officials want to check the other floors to make sure they don't spread.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just being proactive and getting ahead of it.
OZAKI: That's not easy. Bedbugs have become a problem across the country, including the Midwest.
HUDKINS: You have to remember, they're hitchhikers. It doesn't matter where you work and sleep, they cling on and drop off anywhere.
OZAKI: It allows the county to target areas to treat. These chairs and files are tagged and left in cold storage overnight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The freezing temperature is one of the best defenses against this or heat. OZAKI: Officials hope to have spots return this weekend, hoping the doesn't sniff out any more trouble.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Way to go, spot. That was Andrew Ozaki (ph) of affiliate KATV in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Our thanks to them.
Well, a victim of the Tucson shootings talks with our own Randi Kaye about her experience. And ahead at 11:00 we will look at what you can do if you are caught in the same situation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Tucson, Arizona, and the nation was rocked just one week ago today when Jared Loughner opened fire in a crowd of people. Six people died that day and 13 others were wounded. One of them was Pam Simon, an aide and friend to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Simon is out of the hospital but still has a bullet in her thigh. She sat down with Randi Kaye to talk about the tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE: Do you remember when that shot was fired at the congresswoman?
SIMON: It happened, everything happened probably in a matter of seconds. My feeling is that he was whirling his back was to me. I saw the congresswoman go down, I saw Ron go down. And then I think I must have been one of the next people hit, because from that point on, I was laying on the ground.
KAYE: Did you ever actually see the gunman's face?
SIMON: No, no, I did not.
KAYE: What was that moment like for you, when you knew you had been shot?
SIMON: It took a few seconds to actually, for the reality. I think I was on the ground before I thought this is actually happening.
KAYE: Were you scared? Did you understand what had happened?
SIMON: I don't remember the emotion of fear at all, I just remembered kind of survival instincts kicking in. I laid very still and played dead. I didn't know if he was still around.
KAYE: But you knew you had been shot?
SIMON: Oh, yes.
KAYE: How are your injuries today?
SIMON: My injuries are a miracle story because I have full use of my hand. It went in and out of my wrist without damaging anything. The bullet that went in my chest ended up lodged in my upper thigh and traveled all that distance inside my body and did not touch anything. When I woke up from surgery, the doctor said you are one lucky lady.
KAYE: So the bullet, one of the bullets that hit you entered your chest and went all the way down and lodged in your thigh and it's still there?
SIMON: It's still there, yes.
KAYE: You're holding onto that one?
SIMON: They say often it causes more problems to try to remove them, so my body had gone through quite a bit of trauma that day so they didn't need to do that. Also, the trauma unit was very, very busy. So it will be there. If it doesn't cause me problems, it will be a reminder of work that needs to be done.
KAYE: Can you believe you're OK, I mean, given what happened there?
SIMON: Yes, I feel very blessed. And I just -- I absolutely knew that -- something inside me said, this is no your day to die.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
