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Giffords Shows Positive Signs; Fighting Erupts in Tunis; Where is My Daughter?; Flooding in Pacific Northwest, Overseas, Connected Due to la Nina; College Releases Jared Loughner Video; Arizona Shooting Survivor Mavy Stoddard Discusses Husband, Shooter; Live from the Golden Globe Awards

Aired January 16, 2011 - 18:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Right now on CNN:

Vanished. Have you seen this teenager? She has been missing since three days after Christmas. Police have some tough questions for the media about covering her disappearance.

Her mother has even tougher ones for the cops. She's live with me just minutes away.

If you thought the images of devastation from Hurricane Katrina were bad, wait until we take you live to Brazil. Hundreds are dead, and it is far from over.

At this moment, the stars are getting all gussied up. The red carpet is rolled out. The Klieg lights are set. One of the most anticipated awards shows is about to get underway in Hollywood. You're looking at live pictures. And we're going to take you live to find out who will bring home the gold.

And a mystery guest, one of the biggest names in football ever. A hall of fame Q.B. here live in the studio with me. If anyone knows who will face off in the Super Bowl, he does.

(MUSIC)

LEMON: But we begin this broadcast in Arizona with another positive sign of recovery for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She is now moving both sides of her bodies, and she is able to communicate. That's what her friend, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, tells CBS.

Now, Giffords is also breathing on her own through a tracheotomy tube. She is still in critical condition after the shooting that left six people dead and another 13 wounded last weekend.

Meanwhile, funeral services were held earlier for a man who died a hero on that day. Witnesses say 76-year-old Dorwin Stoddard was killed while he was trying to shield his wife from the bullet. She was wounded but is expected to recover. More on the Stoddard's' life together straight ahead this hour.

And a walk for peace in the streets of Tucson today. Hundreds turned out in honor of the shooting victims. The finish line was Giffords' congressional district office.

Meantime, Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner is in federal custody. The discussion over what could have prevented this tragedy dominated the Sunday talk shows. In case you missed them, there were some interesting comments about mental health, gun control, and the overall tone of the nation's political debate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUBTITLE: After Arizona: Changing the Tone.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Violent discourse in political life, right, left, or center, is wrong and should be rejected. But I do think that we as elected officials have an obligation to try and tone that down.

My colleague, Senator Mark Udall, called for Democrats and Republicans to sit together at the State of the Union. I called up Tom after he did that. And he graciously agreed, we're going to sit together Wednesday night at the State of the Union. And we hope that many other will follow us.

SEN. TOM COBURN (R), OKLAHOMA: What we can't question is our president's love for our country, Chuck Schumer's love for our country. And where we get in trouble is when we start looking at motives rather than differences of ideology.

SUBTITLE: After Arizona: Addressing Mental Illness.

REP. GRACE NAPOLITANO (D), CALIFORNIA: You do diabetes, you do asthma, you do heart disease, but you do not do mental health. And, unfortunately, that has been the case for many, many decades. And I think we need to begin to impress upon both the state and federal governments the urgency of this, because every time there's a tragedy, there's a lot of hoopla for a month, two months, dies down, goes away. Everybody forgets about it. And we're on to the next thing.

REP. TIM MURPHY (R), PENNSYLVANIA: I believe this issue has touched the hearts of so many members of Congress who are constantly stopping me saying, "Is there something else we could have done? Is there something else we can do?"

I believe so by looking at some of the laws here and looking at some of the ways we do have health care spending, and we are looking at the aspects of mental illness as a treatable thing, but if we have to pay attention to these things.

SUBTITLE: After Arizona: Gun Control Debate.

RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: There are people that would argue that if more people had guns, this may not have happened because somebody might have been able to take action immediately and stop him before he inflicted either damage or as much damage as he did. We've got a very strong debate on guns. We're going to need a level of civility to discuss it. GOV. ED RENDELL (D), PENNSYLVANIA: I also think we need a rational discussion on guns, where we put aside the pressure from interest groups, and we take a look and say, does any citizen protecting themselves or their home, or using a handgun to hunt, do they need a clip that has 33 bullets in it? The answer is, of course, not.

SUBTITLE: After Arizona: Lasting Impressions.

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D), FLORIDA: My lasting impression is that out of an evil act, we have had an opportunity to see the overwhelming goodness that exists in this country. And that as horrific as this act and tragedy has been, the opportunity that we have had this week to see how many incredible people there are in our country and having been here a number of times to campaign for Gabby, and having talked to Gabby about the pride that she has in representing Tucson and the eighth congressional district, every ounce of that pride was evident and warranted this week.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Let me turn now to a developing story. Gun battles today in the capital of Tunisia. The North African nation has been in turmoil for weeks over poor living conditions. On Saturday, its long-time ruler fled to Saudi Arabia.

Today's fighting appears to be taking place near the presidential palace between government troops, armed gangs, and loyalists of the ex-president.

CNN's Rima Maktabi is live in Tunis for us.

So, Rima, can you still hear gunfire?

RIMA MAKTABI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's gone right now. But let me explain, Don, where we are. We are in a hotel room, not because we're lazy or something, but we're stuck here. For five hours, there were gun battles around this hotel in downtown Tunis, next to the ministry of interior and with a lot of headquarters for the opposition parties around us.

Behind me, CNN team working nonstop, and we were asking by the police and security forces to even close the curtains and not come close to that because there are snipers from militiamen and from the army, and we will be shot at -- Don.

LEMON: Can you take us outside and tell us just how dangerous it is? And what it is that you saw and other reporters and people who were working for the media are seeing, as well? How dangerous is it?

MAKTABI: Well, it's quite dangerous. It's a country that's going through major changes. It's total anarchy.

This country, Tunisia, has had the same president for the past 23 years. There wasn't freedom of speech or media, opposing political parties were not given major roles. And people were not used to expressing themselves. Since mid-December, demonstrations erupted in the streets, calling for change and opposing poverty, unemployment, and needed political reforms. This has led to an amount -- a big amount of pressure on the Tunisian president, and he fled the country. So, it's pretty much dangerous, Don.

LEMON: So, Rima, how's this going to affect other countries in the Middle East?

MAKTABI: This is the question that everyone is asking in the region. Arab writers and newspapers and Arab media are talking about this. I've spoken tonight some government officials in the region, in the Middle East, and they are observing Tunisia quite closely.

This place has witnessed a revolution, a kind of revolution, social revolution by the people. It wasn't motivated by political parties or unions or even outside forces like other countries. It happens spontaneously and natural. Some Arab writers said it's the first revolution in the Arab world of its kind. This will alert other governments to probably fight corruption, poverty, and take good notice of the young population in the Arab world -- Don.

LEMON: Rima Maktabi, thank you so much for your reporting.

Also, tonight on CNN, a teenager vanishes while visiting relatives. And some people believe there's been a lack of media attention because she is African-American. You will hear from police, and the girl's mother will join me live to talk about the missing person case that has turned cold.

Also, dangers and deadly flooding around the globe. Brazil and the Philippines seen here hoping for relief as the waters continue to rise. And don't forget about Australia. We're live from -- live amid the devastation in Brazil.

Plus, we're live from the red carpet. Ahead of tonight's Golden Globe Awards. Who are we going to see? There are some stars right there live on the red carpet. Stick around and find out.

And I'm online and I know you are, too. So, make sure you check out my social media accounts. Let's connect. My blog, CNN.com/Don.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A lot of you have been e-mailing me, sending me messages on social media about this story. So, please pay attention to this. Please.

Phylicia Barnes turned 17 on Wednesday, but she wasn't home in North Carolina to celebrate the milestone with her family. No one knows where she is. She disappeared three days after Christmas while visiting her half-sister in Baltimore.

Baltimore police say they tried to get the word out far and wide as soon as possible, but without much success. That's what they say. And I spoke with the chief of public affairs with the Baltimore police about whether he thinks the slow response might have been due to her being African-American. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY GUGLIELMI, PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHIEF, BALTIMORE POLICE: Don, I think the question has to be asked. I mean, here we are 17 days later, and today, we're on CNN. But day two, day three, when we were putting information out about Phylicia's disappearance, we were talking about birds falling out of the sky in Arkansas and fish coming up dead in Maryland's harbor, and this girl's in danger and she needs help. And it was frustrating for my office to see an anemic response from our national media partners.

LEMON: I'm glad you said that. So, first 48 hours are critical. So chances are, it doesn't look good, does it?

GUGLIELMI: It doesn't look good. But I guess the flip side of that is we don't have any evidence as of now to say it looks bad. But given the amount of time -- see, here's the key, Don. We're monitoring everything that the government has capabilities to monitor. At some point, if you're a runaway or whatever, you're going to pop up on the grid. And we're going like 17 days now without a single blip on the radar.

So, it's frustrating for us because last year, we had 350 missing persons cases. We solved all of them before. So, usually in these types of things, you find that, you know, there's drug activity involved or there's a nexus of something else.

Phylicia's the perfect girl. I mean, she's a perfect student, graduated high school early, doesn't fit the character at all of a runaway, never associated with violence. It's frustrating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Anyone, please, with any information about Phylicia, is urged to contact Baltimore police. There's a number at the bottom of the screen. We're going to read it to you slowly. It is 855-223-0033. Again, 855-223-0033.

Janice Sallis is Phylicia's mother. She joins us here in Atlanta right now.

Are you satisfied with what police are doing to find your daughter so far, Ms. Sallis?

JANICE SALLIS, MOTHER OF MISSING GIRL: I am. Now, they're doing all that they can do. Like I mentioned and stated, the first 48 hours were crucial, and they were ignored, from my perspective, from a mother's point of view.

LEMON: Before we go into this, my first question to you should have been: how are you holding up? How are you even able to walk and get into a car and come here today? SALLIS: It's funny that you ask because it seems like some days are worse than others, but bottom line, God is who's responsible for holding me up and being my rock and sending me the pillars of strength for me to lean on during this time of crisis that has struck my family.

LEMON: You have a lot of people who support you out there, and I've been hearing from a lot of people. Listen, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, she went to see her stepsister for Christmas, and you trusted, you trusted --

SALLIS: Not step, her half.

LEMON: Half-sister. And you trusted this older person. I think her name is Deena? Yes.

SALLIS: Yes.

LEMON: And you trusted her. And you said that there -- for you, there were odd circumstances on the evening that your daughter disappeared that you're concerned about?

SALLIS: Well, from what I read from the typed itinerary, it was very disturbing of what I read. And still, a lot of loose ties that -- and a lot of dead fish that's continued to smell that makes sense to me.

LEMON: Like? You want to talk about it?

SALLIS: The time frames and that she had fallen asleep on the couch, and wonders if she fell asleep because she was doped up, because that's not her character to get dressed just to fall asleep. No, when she gets dressed, she's anxious to go to where she's planning on going.

LEMON: This is completely out of character for her?

SALLIS: Completely out of character that I know.

LEMON: OK. We talked about that. Some of the criticism we got and emails, social media, even the police said that he felt that some of the national media, that it was anemic. They're calling this -- Baltimore police say it's their Natalee Holloway but they're not seeing it all over the media. Do you care to comment on that?

SALLIS: Not really because that's not important to me. The issues that -- racial and social issues, that's not important to me.

LEMON: You want your daughter back.

SALLIS: I want my baby back. And if -- even if I had her back, the racial and social issues still wouldn't be important to me because, to me, it's raceless. And I don't focus on wasteful situations.

LEMON: I'm so glad you said that so I don't have to respond to everyone who wrote me a letter and asked about that. Do you have -- do you have some idea of what you believe happened? SALLIS: I can't honestly answer that because all type of ideas go through my head on what happened and what could have happened, what may have happened.

LEMON: And I have to ask you this question: are you prepared for the worst?

SALLIS: For reality? As best as -- well, you really can't prepare for tragedy. You have to deal with it as it comes. It's -- there's no way to prepare.

LEMON: Yes.

SALLIS: You just have to keep asking God for the strength.

LEMON: Do you believe she's still with us?

SALLIS: I don't feel that she's disconnected from me.

LEMON: Alive?

SALLIS: I feel that she's still out there. However, I feel that she's being terribly mistreated, inhumanely so.

LEMON: We hope she is alive. Thank you very much. And we admire your courage, and we're going to continue to follow the story and put her picture out there. And thank you for being so honest. Best of luck, our thoughts and prayers, OK?

SALLIS: I need to say something to anyone who knows any information or the people who may have her.

LEMON: Yes?

SALLIS: Each and every day, I feel that I am having labor pains because my daughter is not with me. I'm going to plead all shut lips who knows about it, the perpetrators who have been involved in her disappearance, I'm going to ask you to please let my baby go.

However, if you choose not to listen to what I'm begging of you, I have already went to God and have written down in black and white the punishment that I've requested for each and every individual who's involved. And it's not very nice, and it's going to be way, way far than what you think you can bear. However, first come, first serve would get the least punishment from God.

LEMON: And thank you so much --

SALLIS: Thank you.

LEMON: -- for that. Thank you.

And we're going to leave with this. Anyone information about Phylicia is urged to contact Baltimore police. Here's the number again: 855- 223-0033 -- 855-223-0033.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We have news just in to CNN. Again, this is just in to CNN.

We're hearing from doctors at University Hospital in Tucson. They have just upgraded the condition of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords from serious to critical because she is no longer on a ventilator.

Let's make sure we got that. Her condition has been upgraded, we are told, upgraded to serious condition from critical, again because she is no longer on a ventilator. This information is coming to us from doctors at University Hospital in Tucson. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' condition upgraded. Very good news.

We're going to check your other top stories right now on CNN. New Jersey police have arrested the man they believe shot and killed a Lakewood police officer Friday at pointblank range. Nineteen-year-old Jahmell Crockham was taken into custody earlier this morning. Police found him at a Camden, New Jersey, apartment complex. Crockham was the subject of a huge police manhunt after he allegedly shot and killed Officer Christopher Matlosz in his patrol car on Friday.

American congratulations today for an African country that could be splitting into two. President Barack Obama commended the peaceful week-long referendum in Southern Sudan that ended yesterday. More than 3 million people cast ballots to decide if the southern part of the country should become independent of the North. The results won't be known for a couple of weeks. But if the South decides to break from the North, the new nation could begin governing in July

One of the astronauts set for the final shuttle mission has been injured in a bicycle accident. NASA says mission specialist Tim Kopra is going to be OK. That's a quote, "going to be OK." But is looking into whether yesterday's accident will have any impact on his shuttle duties. He's schedule to be on the Friday, the 24th of February, I should say, the mission to the International Space Station.

Let's check the very latest now from the CNN Political Ticker. Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma says he hopes a renewed debate over health care reform will be good for the country. On today's "Meet the Press," Coburn said that until now, health care reform has focused too much on expanded coverage and not enough on rising costs.

The House is expected to approve a repeal of the health care reform law this week. But a similar bill is not expected to pass a Democratic-controlled Senate.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says he wasn't criticizing Sarah Palin when he told "The New York Times" she, quote, "rightfully has been criticized for relying on scripted appearances." Now, Christie tells "FOX News Sunday" that it wasn't a criticism, it was an observation.

Governor Christie says he believes voters learn the most about political candidates who aren't being handled or told what to say.

Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter of California is drafting a bill that would require the four military service chiefs to sign off on the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. If implemented, Hunter's bill could derail the policy's planned removal since three of the four military chiefs have expressed concern about a repeal. The measure faces long odds, however, since it's unlikely to pass a Democratic Senate.

Congressman Hunter will join me tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM, to talk about his proposal.

A dangerous and deadly situation getting worse by the day. Torrential rains not letting up in Brazil where the death toll is climbing, not by double digits but by triple digits. We're live amid the devastation.

Plus, are Americans buying houses and building new ones again? Key economic reports among the stories that will be making news this week. We'll tell you what to expect in your week ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: For the past several days, we have been reporting on catastrophic flooding in Brazil and Australia. Now, there's new trouble at the spot down under. The Philippines -- the Philippines, nearly 50 people are dead from weeks of monsoon rains, 1.5 million people have been affected across 25 provinces.

In Brazil, outside Rio de Janeiro, the death toll just keeps climbing. Massive flooding and mudslides in the mountains have claimed at least 631 lives now.

And in Australia, at least 18 people are confirmed dead in widespread flooding that engulfed much of the northeastern part of the country. Officials say damage to infrastructure is so severe it will take months and even years to fix it.

Let's go right to Brazil and CNN's Helena de Moura joins us now live from one of the worst-hit areas, just north of Rio de Janeiro.

So, Helena, what's happening there right now? What are you seeing?

HELENA DE MOURA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, a scene of complete destruction. I cannot believe it myself because this is such a beautiful tourist town. Nova Friburgo is known to be a great vacation spot, not just in Brazil but internationally. And it looks like a war scene, a war zone.

Today, we spent some time at the 11th battalion where it's an army headquarters that serves sort of a base for volunteers for the navy and also for, of course, every kind of aid that's arriving because the only way to get up the hill is through -- is by the use of these helicopters, you know, to get uphill -- Don.

LEMON: Yes. So, listen, the flooding -- the flooding is terrible. But really the mud, the mud, that's going to cause health problems and then just cleaning up from that is going to be unbelievable, Helena.

DE MOURA: Oh, yes. It's really hard to imagine what the work is going to be like. Right now, people are doing the work themselves. So, I was walking through the streets of Nova Friburgo today, and we saw people sweep -- trying to sweep the mud of their homes. And what was interesting is just to see the volunteering spirit, you know, the neighborly spirit taking over, since there isn't, you know, quite enough of the other kind of help, of course.

But, you know, people have lost everything. I've seen televisions and sofas and all kinds of things. These areas are already -- you know, poor people live in these hillish areas. and they've lost everything, everything they have -- Don?

LEMON: Thank you very much, Helena.

Just yesterday, we were reporting, I think it was 549 people were killed. Now we're hearing it's up to 631 and it's still climbing. Unbelievable.

Thank you.

DE MOURA: All right.

LEMON: We'll continue to check back with you.

People in the Pacific Northwest are seeing flooding and mudslides as parts of a nasty weather system, of course, probably nothing like that. And we're wondering if this extreme weather has anything to do with the flooding we're seeing in Australia, Brazil, the Philippines, and overseas.

Let's find out from Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider in the CNN Weather Center.

Is there a connection?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Don.

LEMON: Yes?

SCHNEIDER: And the connection is la nina. It's the weather pattern we're in right now. If you're wondering what is la nina and how does it relate, well, la nina means that the child, the female version, and you've probably heard of el nino, the male version. Where it comes from is here, off the coast of south America, off the coast of Peru. At around the time of Christmas, Peruvian fishermen noticed the water temperature was either cooler or normal, or warmer than normal. And that's where the name comes from. What it mean, on a larger global scale, is when you have the colder water here in this part of the country, this part of the world, it does affect the wind patterns, and the jet stream. The jet stream is where we get our weather systems, almost like a conveyor belt, where they're traveling along. When the jet stream's set up during the la nina pattern, it can mean a lot of things. It means wet weather for places like the Philippines, Brazil, Australia. Here in the U.S., the jet lifts all the way to the north and it gets a steady stream of tropical moisture from the pacific. That is what's impacting the northwest right now.

What's interesting, though, is that we're not getting a classic la nina winter, for example, here in the south. Typically, it means drier conditions in the south. But as you know, it's been very stormy with an ice storm just this past week. The reason we're get some changes in the pattern is the north oscillation pattern. That is bringing about colder air. With the colder conditions, we're getting more snowstorms, more ice storms in areas in the south where we don't normally see them.

So two phenomenons, one's kind of overriding the other. But it really is impacting the world on a global level in extreme weather -- Don?

LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, Bonnie Schneider. We'll check back with you, as well.

The accused Arizona shooter in his own words. Jared Loughner's diatribe against authority. It's one of the most talked about stories of the weekend. You'll hear part of it. And this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAVY STODDARD, SHOOTING SURVIVOR: He saved my life and gave his for it. And you can't ask for much more. And he would have protected me with his dying breath, same way he loved me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Widowed in last week's shooting, Mavy Stoddard, alive, today because her husband put his life ahead of her own. Next, she shares their love story, the marriage that came decades after their first kiss, and how she feels about Jared Loughner.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: As I reported moments ago, we have developing news to tell you about. We have just learned that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' condition has been upgraded from critical to serious. The hospital says she is continuing to do well, and she is no longer on a ventilator.

And for those of you just catching up, we're finally hearing from alleged shooter, Jared Loughner, in his own words this weekend. His former school, Pima Community College, released a video that Loughner reportedly shot and narrated. It is a rambling rant-filled tour through the campus. and it's one of the reasons the school booted him in September. Here's part of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED LOUGHNER, ALLEGED SHOOTER: We are looking at students who have been tortured. Their low-income pay in two wars -- the war that we are in right now is currently illegal. It's impossible for (INAUDIBLE). It's mind control.

How's it going? Thanks for the B. I'm pissed off. UNIDENTIFIED TEACHER: What's that?

(LAUGHTER)

LOUGHNER: This is the police station. This is where the whole shaboozy goes down with illegal activity.

If the student is unable to locate the external universe, then the student is unable to locate the internal universe. where are all my subjects? I could say something sound right now, but I don't feel like it.

This is genocide in America.

(MUSIC)

LOUGHNER: Thank you. This is Jared from Pima College.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: There's also this detail from a law enforcement source. There's reportedly a picture that Loughner took of himself wearing a G-string, posing with a .9-millimeter gun over his crotch. We're told it was on a roll he had developed in the hours before the rampage.

Our own Thelma Gutierrez sat down with one of Loughner's long-time friends. Hear more about the Jared Loughner she knew, well before this all went down, when Thelma joins us in a live report next hour here on CNN.

And at the top of the show, we showed you funeral services for Dorwin Stoddard, one of the victims of the Arizona rampage. The 76-year-old died a hero, giving his life to protect his wife.

Our Ted Rowlands spoke with her as she recovers from the wounds she suffered that day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 76-year-old Mavy Stoddard says she and her husband, Dori, were living a fairytale.

MAVY STODDARD, SHOOTING SURVIVOR: We had as good a marriage as I believe anyone in this world could have.

ROWLANDS: They were classmates who shared a first kiss in school but didn't marry until they were in their 60s. Both were widowed. Both had raised four children.

For the past 15 years, Mavy says she and Dori had a ball.

Last Saturday, the couple decided to go meet their Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords.

ROWLANDS: Tell her how we admired her for going in person out among the people. ROWLANDS: When the shooting started, Mavy says Dori put himself between her and the bullets.

STODDARD: He put himself over me. I don't know whether he threw me down or whether -- my first thought was get down, when I saw what was happening. I think it was the last -- last shots that killed him.

ROWLANDS: Dori was pronounced dead at the scene.

STODDARD: He died on my arms -- on my leg actually. On the side of my leg, with me talking to him and telling him I loved him, and kissing him. So he saved my life and gave his for it. And you can't ask for much more. And he would have protected me with his dying breaths, same way he loved me.

ROWLANDS: Mavy says she feels sorry for everyone involved including the man responsible.

STODDARD: It's a horrible thing that happened. It touched so many lives. It hurt so many people. That's why I feel no real animosity. I do forgive the young man. I hate what he did, but I don't hate him.

ROWLANDS: Mavy was shot three times in the leg. She'll make a full recovery, but she'll be without the love of her life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That's CNN's Ted Rowlands, reporting.

One of the world's most powerful leaders is headed to Washington. And that's one of the stories that will be making news in the week ahead. We'll tell you what else you can expect.

And the best from movies and television being recognized tonight in Hollywood at the Golden Globe Awards. We are celebrity watching, live on the red carpet right now. We're going to take you there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time to check your top stories on CNN.

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' condition has been upgraded from critical to serious. The hospital made the change because she is breathing on her own through a tracheotomy tube without using a ventilator. Giffords' friend, New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand, tells CBS that Giffords is now moving both sides of her body. That's good news.

Tunisia is in turmoil now. The long-time ruler of the North African nation fled on Saturday. Ordinary Tunisians are having to fend for themselves as best they can. Gun battles erupted today near the presidential palace between government troops, armed gangs, and loyalists of the ex-president.

An invited group of international dignitaries got a guided tour of an Iranian nuclear facility this weekend. State-run media report Iran's acting foreign minister says the tour shows Iran has nothing to hide. He called it a sign of Iran's goodwill and transparency. The United Nations, the U.S., and several other nations have accused Iran of developing a nuclear program in order to create nuclear weapons.

It is Sunday night and it is time to get you ready for the week ahead. We begin with President Obama's high-profile summit in Washington.

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Henry at the White House, where there will be a huge state visit this Wednesday by the Chinese President Hu Jintao. President Obama has some big issues on the agenda he wants to talk about, including reforming China's currency, fixing trade imbalances between these two vast powers, but also human rights and trying to defuse tensions in North Korea.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Brianna Keilar covering Capitol Hill where, after a week-long postponement following the shooting of one of their own members, the vote to repeal health care reform is back on in the House of Representatives. Tuesday, debate begins. Wednesday is the vote to repeal the health care reform law. and Thursday we'll see a vote instructing committees to begin working on legislation that would replace the health care reform package.

POPPY HARLOW, HOST, CNN MONEY: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. The stock market is closed on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King day. It reopens Tuesday morning. And the housing markets will be front and center this week. We'll get reports on December home sales and also construction. Sales rose in November, so let's hope the same holds true for December.

And we'll also get a lot of earnings this week. We'll hear from Apple, Google, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and a host of other companies. We'll see how the market responds to all of that. And we'll track it for you on "CNN Money."

A.J. HAMMER, HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: I'm "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer. And here's what we're watching this week, Golden Globes shockers. We'll be live with the very latest reaction to the big winners and, of course, the biggest snobs.

Plus, get ready for "Showbiz" newsmaker interview with former "Girl Next Door," Holly Madison. I'm sure she has a lot to say about her ex, Hugh Hefner's, recent engagement. "Showbiz Tonight" is live on 5:00 p.m. eastern on HLN. And we're still TV's most provocative entertainment news show at 11:00 p.m. eastern and pacific.

LEMON: A lot happening overseas, too.

CNN'S international desk editor, Azadeh Ansari, is here to tell us what you're going to be following. And we start in Tunisia.

AZADEH ANSARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK EDITOR: We already know what's going on there now. We have a popular protest that happened, that toppled the president on. What we're looking into next is what other countries are going to demonstrate. and what -- we've already seen demonstrations in Cairo. We've already seen them in Gaza City, Libya, Yemen. So the Arab countries are going to be looking at this very closely to see who's going to follow Tunisia's lead.

LEMON: Depending what happens, it's important for the stability of that region.

ANSARI: Absolutely.

LEMON: Also, Azadeh, I know we're going to be following this. We were consumed by the news out of Arizona this week. People may have missed what's happening with the flooding in Australia and now the Philippines and Brazil.

ANSARI: Devastating. Absolutely devastating. In Brazil, we've had -- 631 people have died so far. Rescuers have had a hard time getting to the locations because they're in the mountain slopes and riversides. Thousands are still there. Out of Australia, same thing. We have a situation where the infrastructure is completely destroyed in northeast Australia. In the Philippines, again, 15 million people across 25 provinces.

LEMON: Unprecedented flooding.

ANSARI: Unprecedented, yes.

LEMON: It's an anniversary that you're going to talk about next that we mark but we don't celebrate.

ANSARI: That's right. It's the 20th anniversary of Operation Desert storm. Can you believe it?

LEMON: I can't believe.

ANSARI: It's been 20 years.

LEMON: Yes.

ANSARI: It was actually the 500,000 troops were deployed. The war lasted, what, 38 days. And over that course, it really set a new precedent going forward in politics and also economics. It changed the world.

LEMON: That was the first Gulf War. And then we went to Iraq and Afghanistan. So there was more after that, for 20 years.

Azadeh Ansari, thank you very much.

ANSARI: Thank you.

LEMON: A lot happening overseas, as we said. And we'll be following that.

But also, we want to tell you about this. have you heard about the kid who just missed a perfect SAT score? I know that's not unheard of. But how often is the student in seventh grade?

And we're live from the red carpet ahead of tonight's Golden Globe Awards. Who are we going to see? That's what we want to know. What big names? Stick around, you'll find out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Tonight, the foreign press weighs in on who and what was the best Hollywood in Hollywood last year. It's the Golden Globe Awards.

Entertainment correspondent, Kareen Wynter joins us now live from the red carpet. She's in Beverly hills with a live preview.

You're looking stunning there. So have the stars arrived, Kareen?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Don. We are having such a blast. Of course, the stars are making their way in, and it's so exciting. Just peek over my shoulder. We saw the cast of "Glee."

We have another huge surprise for you. Joining me, one of the big stars of "Glee." He is looking quite dapper this evening, Mark Salling.

Congratulations, and all the success from the show.

MARK SALLING, ACTOR: (INAUDIBLE)

WYNTER: Now, we are talking to Don Lemon in Atlanta. How did it feel looking over your shoulder, and seeing your colleagues and looking forward to the big night?

SALLING: This is our second Golden Globe Awards show. It's no less glamorous. Intimidating, to be honest. but it's still cool to be here. We worked really hard and this is the icing on the cake.

WYNTER: And it's really one big party. "Glee" took home top honors last year in the TV series comedy category. and a little bit of competition with "Modern Family." What is your prediction?

SALLING: I won't put money on it, but --

(LAUGHTER)

You know, it's a great show, "Modern Family." If they take it home, that's good. maybe we will get it next year. But I think we might have a little bit of the edge.

WYNTER: Don, he's being really, really humble, by the way. Such a huge show. All this success.

Now, you have to let us in on a secret, OK, for our audience. You play a bad boy on "Glee" and you sing and are a musician in real life. And so you wanted to do a little thing with the hair.

Now turn around.

Check out this full mohawk we have going here.

(CROSSTALK) LEMON: I was going to ask about that.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: I was going to ask you about that. Why is he shorting that?

WYNTER: Yes, let's hear from him. So --

SALLING: The mohawk actually makes me go faster.

WYNTER: Don wants to know why you are sporting that lovely do.

SALLING: It's for the character on my show "Glee." But, here, I will take it off for you.

(LAUGHTER)

WYNTER: Don, we wanted him to sing a little -- a little something, a little number for you, but poor thing, he's a little under the weather. He's lost his voice. That's the excuse he is giving us.

We will let you off easy. Congratulations on your big nomination. Have a fantastic night.

It's a huge party and they are waiting behind me, so why don't you get it started.

SALLING: I appreciate the --

WYNTER: Thanks so much.

Don?

LEMON: And, Kareen, we are looking at some video. I just want to tell our viewers -- hey, don't go anywhere, Kareen. There is Jimmy Fallon right there arriving at the Golden Globes among all of the Hollywood stars.

Hey, I have to ask you, does some of the glamour, though, Kareen, of the awards, it's been a bit tarnished by a recent lawsuit against the group behind the Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Tell us about that.

WYNTER: Absolutely. I just asked Mark about that, and so many stars we've been asking on the red carpet, they have just been shocked. Jaws dropped. They hadn't heard of it. But in a nut shell, two former publicists are suing the Hollywood Foreign Press. They used to work for the Globes. The Hollywood Foreign Press was one of their clients. they are suing because of unethical conduct. People accepting payola, what's in the organization. And they were not falling in line with that, so they're filing a suit. They're demanding $2 million.

And our Brooke Anderson spoke with president of the Hollywood Foreign Press, Phillip Burke, a short time ago, and he said these claims are baseless, that this is just sour grapes from the two former publicists who, again, had filed suit. and he said this is all about money. They want their $2 million. So you have one side giving one story, the other side giving the other.

And again, some of the stars we've spoken to, they have been in the dark about this other. They're saying, you know what, this is our big party. We will have to see what happens. We will not let it shed a negative light on tonight. This is our night and we'll deal with it afterwards -- Don?

LEMON: Thank you, Kareen Wynter, live at the red carpet. The best job at CNN today. She has the best gig.

And that was Natalie Portman that you saw there in the pink dress in those live pictures arriving at the Golden Globes. She looks stunning. All of our stars look dashing tonight. And we will be watching and following this.

We want to move on and talk about a change in leadership for the Republican party. Michael Steele is out. What does it mean for the future of the grand old party?

And the accused Arizona shooter, Jared Loughner. We're talking with one of his long-time friends to learn more about him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's take you across the country right now and check out what our affiliates are covering.

In Kansas city, Missouri, KSHB reports, the old George Brett Bridge went out with a bang. Crews imploded the bridge after spending Friday night wiring it with explosives. The bridge, which spans Interstate 70, was named for the Baseball Hall of Famer, and connects the interstate with the stadium complex. A new bridge is under construction and should be done in about two months.

Some people are making the best of the snowy weather we have been getting. 350 people came together in Salt Lake City on Saturday to try to set a world record for building snowmen to land in the Guinness Book of Records, they're hoping. They had to build the snowmen in just one hour, and all had to be at least four feet high. Mission accomplished. 1,300 snowmen magically appeared. Each had a carrot nose and Oreo cookie eyes.

A middle school student in Lakeland, Florida, is getting rock star treatment for being so smart. He's won a whole bunch of academic awards. And as a seventh grader last year, he had the highest SAT scores in the entire state of Florida. He scored a perfect 800 in English and 790 out of 800 in math.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT: I was kind of like mad because I was trying to think back, what did I miss? What did I do wrong? (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The secret to his academic success? He says his parents push him to do well, but he actually enjoys a challenge.