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Former Prince of the Mafia Shares His Story; Giffords Set to Head to Texas; North Korea Offers to Return Remains of Fallen U.S. Soldiers
Aired January 21, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. It's 10:00 a.m. now on the East Coast, 7:00 a.m. out west. Here are some of the stories that have us talking this morning besides football.
We have an update on the woman who reunited with her biological family after discovering she was stolen as a baby. Police are not naming a suspect in the 1987 abduction but "The New York Post" says the FBI is looking for Ann Pettway. She is the woman who raised Carlina White. This is a mug shot of Pettway from another arrest of an unrelated case.
China's president on the last stop of his U.S. visit. Today he is in Chicago, he'll visit Chinese-owned businesses and a Chinese cultural center at a local prep school.
And long-time film critic Roger Ebert showing off his new face. It's actually a silicone prosthesis that took two years to make. Ebert lost much of his jaw to cancer. He'll wear that prosthesis on his new PBS show which premieres this weekend.
Well, the FBI said it was a very bad day to be a good fella. Agents carried out one of the largest single-day strikes against the mafia in FBI history. Those raids hold in more than 120 people from New Jersey to Italy, names read like an episode of "The Sopranos" -- Tony Bagels, Vinny Carwash, Junior Lollipops -- and the charges range from bookmaking to murder.
The feds say, don't believe Hollywood, the mafia is as powerful and ruthless as ever.
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ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The reality is, it's an ongoing threat, a major threat to the economic well-being of this country in addition to being the violent organization that it is.
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PHILLIPS: Our next guest knows just how violent of an organization it is. In fact, Michael Franzese was once called the prince of the mafia. He was considered a rising star of the Colombo crime family before going to prison, he then turned his mob life into a new livelihood. He shares his experiences in print and in person. And he's joining us today by phone. So Michael, it used to be that no one walked away from the mob and lived. Does it say something about today's state of the mafia, just the fact that you're speaking out publicly?
MICHAEL FRANZESE, FMR. MAFIA MEMBER (via telephone): Well, I don't know. You know, there were so many circumstances involving my walking away and - so I don't know if you can judge the strength of the mob based upon my leaving. You know, one of the things that saved me, I did have a rough time for several years when they thought that I was going to be testifying against people.
When that didn't happen, things kind of relaxed and, you know, a lot of guys that are either dead or in prison that I ran with during that time. So I just got very fortunate. I don't want you to look at that as any kind of sign of weakness in the life.
PHILLIPS: Well, the feds say the mob is as ruthless and powerful as ever. I mean, how ruthless were you?
FRANZESE: Well, you know, I got to tell you this, the feds say that but you know, over the past 25 years they have learned to use the laws that they've been given, the racketeering law, that they'll reform at. They've used these laws very effectively to really develop so many informants on the street. You I tell people back in my day, just before these laws came into effect, if you got 10 or 15 years you made parole in seven or eight, any mob guy can do that. You do that standing on your head.
But today when you have a racketeering indictment that can go back to crimes that were committed 20, 25 years ago, you lock a guy up, and you say "hey, get comfortable, you're going to spend the rest of your life here unless you want to cooperate with us." That became a very, very powerful tool. It's really the informants that have hurt the life.
It's not so much the work of the feds, it's the laws they've had at their disposal that have really turned this thing around. And you know, no matter how many wiretaps they have or anything else, the way you defeat this life is from within. You got to develop informants from within. The government has been effective in doing that based upon the laws that they have now.
PHILLIPS: Interesting. So you're saying the government has become more effective by utilizing the laws, doing well with informants. But when you look at a bust like this, is the mafia getting sloppy?
FRANZESE: Well, you know, it's not a question of getting sloppy. It's just that everywhere they turn there's somebody there. You know, again, I don't think people realized the arsenal of laws that government has at their disposal. For some reason, there's a perception out there that they're not effective or that people get away with these crimes.
Organized crime guys don't get away with anything. I mean, they've got everything against them and the government has used it effectively. And I'll tell you this, as ruthless, as powerful as ever, I don't believe so. In the last 25 years the government has taken major control of the unions which was a very big strong point for us. They've really devastated the mob in areas that we really had strength.
PHILLIPS: Go ahead, Michael.
FRANZESE: I don't think we'll see its demise in my lifetime but if they keep up this kind of onslaught, they're going to seriously jeopardize the existence of that life.
PHILLIPS: Really? Now, there's reports that members of the Colombo family were arrested. Is that your family?
FRANZESE: Yes, that was my family.
PHILLIPS: Really? Do you - can you give us any specifics, have you been able to talk to any other family members or do you not go there? Are you able to talk to them?
FRANZESE: Well, I've been in touch. Obviously my dad, I don't know if you're aware of it, but my dad at the age of 94 was sentenced to eight years in prison last Friday on a racketeering indictment that he got. As a matter of fact I was joking with people, while my father won't be lonely after today, in prison because I'm sure there will be a lot of guys there.
Andrew Russo, who is the acting boss of that family, he was my first captain when I was made and came into the life in '75. I was made around the time that two of his sons were made. So one of them has passed away now. But I know Andrew very well. I know his family very well. And you know, I still have guys there I would say. I'm not active. I don't get involved and I'm certainly away from that life but you know, I grew up there. Some of the people I still know.
PHILLIPS: So bottom line, when you talk with your family members and you know who has been arrested now, do they feel, do you feel, that this bust is actually going to make a dent in mafia crime?
FRANZESE: Well, yes, because you know, you've got to understand. There's a big difference today with the people that are running that life. They don't even have time to develop into effective leaders. You know, back in my day we had - I don't want to mention Gotti. Because she didn't do a great job, obviously, brought a lot of attention but guys like Joe Colombo and Carlo Gambino and even my dad at that time, Vincent Gigante, these men developed into real strong leaders and they were effective in leading their families in the right direction.
Today these younger guys, they don't have experience. They didn't grow up with that tradition and by the time - the minute they get in the life they're targeted. They don't have time to develop into effective leaders. And I think that's a major, major problem. You know, to run a crime family and to be as effective as they have been over the past hundred years, because remember the mob, they prospered and they thrived on very difficult conditions, and that's all because of the leadership.
You just don't have that today. These young people cannot develop into effective leaders to run a crime family. It's not an easy job.
PHILLIPS: Michael Franzese, it's always interesting interviewing you. That's for sure. Appreciate you calling in, Michael.
FRANZESE: OK. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
Young woman, Carlina White solves her own kidnapping, finds the real family she hasn't seen since she was about three weeks old. The focus of this remarkable story now, finding the woman who snatched baby Carlina from a New York hospital in 1987. Here she is.
This is the woman the FBI is believed to be looking for right now, Ann Pettway. The woman, Carlina, says raised her. "The New York Post" reporting that Pettway lives in North Carolina. This is a mug shot from another arrest not related to the kidnapping case.
We've talked a lot about Carlina's reunion with her shocked and overjoyed birth parents, the one so distraught and so haunted for all these years. What about the other family members and friends, the ones who had no idea, that their niece, their friend wasn't who they thought?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAPELL PETTWAY, THOUGHT HE WAS CARLINA'S UNCLE: I'm mad and fed up, I'm hurt. I'm disappointed. Simple as that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have mixed emotions. It was shock, it was anger. It was fear that someone could do this and then go on for so many years as if this didn't happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Authorities aren't making any official comments about the investigation at this point.
Less than two weeks after suffering a gunshot to the head, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords enters the next phase of her recovery. About an hour from now, she will actually leave her Tucson hospital and travel to Texas. Her first stop will be a new hospital in Houston for more treatment and evaluation. Then she'll be transferred yet again. A rehabilitation center that specializes in severe head injuries.
Now, yesterday, another milestone. Her medical team was able to take her outside of the hospital for the first time so she could actually do her physical therapy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARK KELLY, GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' HUSBAND: I'm extremely hopeful that Gabby is going to make a full recovery. I've told her that. She recognizes it. She's a strong person, a fighter. I mean, she is a fighter like you know, nobody else that I know. So I am extremely confident that she's going to be back here and back at work soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, doctors say that Giffords is making remarkable progress but they warn of the tough fight ahead.
CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen in Houston. Elizabeth, let's begin with the positive. What signs of progress is Gabby showing?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: She's really showing pretty incredible signs considering it's less than two weeks, Kyra, since she had that bullet go through her head. For example, doctors say that she's scrolling through an iPad. They say when they give her a sheet with colors and point to blue, that she can, you know, point to the right colors. And a doctor here in Houston told me something really interesting that she did. She reached out and adjusted her husband's tie.
Now, Kyra, to you and me that doesn't really sound like much. But think about the cognitive process that goes through that. You have to think oh I see something I want to change. You have to direct your hand to change it. You have to move it. That actually takes a fairly high level of thinking.
So doctors are quite excited about the progress they're seeing. Here's her trauma surgeon from Arizona, Dr. Rhee who spoke to reporters yesterday.
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DR. PETER RHEE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, UMC TRAUMA CENTER: We were able to take her to the helicopter pad today, outside, and show her, give her some fresh air and also give her some sunshine. She was able to see the Arizona mountains, so hopefully before she comes back from Houston. But we did the physical activity out there. We did a physical rehab out there where we assisted her in her standing and help her get her balance and so on like that. She's able to stand now with assistance. She's not independent at this stage. She can't walk at this point. But we feel that she'll be able to do some of those activities in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Now, Dr. Rhee also mentioned, Kyra, that seeing those mountains really lifted Giffords' spirits and talking to neurosurgeons and rehabilitative medicine specialists they say your spirits are so important. That's a crucial part of recovery, if your spirits are high, your chances of making a full recovery go way, way up -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: I tell you what, her husband is right there telling her every single second she's going to do better and better. It doesn't get much better than that. So when is she actually expected to arrive, Elizabeth?
COHEN: She's expected to arrive here local time in Houston at around 1:15. I have to say that her doctors when I talked to them yesterday, they're really quite cautious, they're pretty conservative when they talk about her recovery. For example, her office, Giffords' office said she was going to be brought to the hospital behind me which is a rehabilitation hospital.
It's a hospital where you go when basically you're doing OK and what you need to be able to do is learn how to walk and dress yourself again and what not. But then the doctors here said no, that's not true, she's not coming to the rehabilitation hospital. She's actually going to the main hospital because she's got medical issues that need to be addressed.
I spoke yesterday with her doctor, Don King.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Why isn't she going right to the rehabilitation hospital?
DR. DONG H. KIM, CHIEF OF NEUROSURGERY: Well, there are concerns about ongoing medical issues. I don't want to be more specific about that. But she's not quite ready for rehabilitation yet. So we're going to be coming here, doing a thorough assessment. Once we then able to do that, we'll be able to tell you more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Now Dr. Kim will be her neurosurgeon when she gets to Houston. He really wouldn't specify as you heard what medical issues need to be addressed before she starts rehab. But he said in general, at this stage, they worry about infection and swelling of the brain -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Elizabeth Cohen live from Houston. Elizabeth, thanks.
President Obama announcing a new effort to get Americans back to work. He's setting on the president's council on jobs and competitiveness. Jeffrey Immelt, the CEO and chairman of General Electric will head up the new board. The council will focus on new ways to attract the best jobs and businesses to the U.S.
The council replace the economic recovery advisory board.
Well, the Midwest digging out from some more snow. Check out these pictures. Indianapolis got hit pretty hard yesterday. Three inches. It seems more like five inches in some places, blowing snow and frozen roads, causing hundreds of accidents in that area. Also a deep freeze has locked itself in over Chicago and Wisconsin. And then New England is about to get it again. There's another winter storm headed that way. Jacqui Jeras over at the Severe Weather Center with all the details -- Jacqui. JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, we got a lot going on out there today. We start out with the shocking. How about that? Which is just the cold that's been out there, across the upper Midwest. These are the low temperatures this morning from places like International Falls, Minnesota, 46 degrees below zero. That was a record for you. The old record was 41 below. Grand Rapids, minus 34, minus 33 in Brainerd, Superior, Wisconsin, 26 degrees below zero.
And Duluth at 24 degrees below zero. Now, your skin can freeze in 10 minutes or less in those kind of conditions. And it's still wicked out there, minus 36 in Fargo, as it feels like temperature. And you can see minus 18 there in Chicago and high temperatures today going to be tough to recover. Other weather story is the storm system into the northeast which, you know, was very high impact but short- lived for you in places like Philly, into D.C. as well as New York City. It's done now.
But you're getting the heavier snow up towards Providence, Boston and Portland. And snowfall totals here are going to be about four to seven in Boston. We can see more than that as we head into Providence and even up to a foot in east Maine. There you can see how much we've had in the New York City area, about four inches.
So travel issues out there because of this storm, Kyra. And you mentioned the other big storm which is going to be headed probably starting in the south, and then moving up the coast, toward the middle of the week. So that is going to be an ugly storm. Everybody enjoy your weekend because things are going to be changing.
PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Jacqui.
Well, a new team show that might be too hot for MTV or heck, it might be too hot for U.S. child porn laws. We're talking about the new show "Skins" in 20 minutes. Keep your shirt on.
Well, it isn't exactly Shakespeare but you can add Snook" from that other MTV show, the "Jersey Shore" to the list of, can you believe this, best-selling authors?
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PHILLIPS: What could Beyonce and Clint Eastwood be working together? An official from Warner Brothers confirmed that the singer may team up with Eastwood for a remake of the film "A Star is Born," which Eastwood is set to direct. The movie has been made three times before, most recently, you may remember, Barbra Streisand, 1976. And Beyonce played Etta James in the 2008 "Cadillac Records." So standby for that.
Fans of the TV show "Jersey Shore" apparently like to snuggle up with a good book just as much as the next person. Nicole Polizzi better known as Snooki has written ad book called "A Shore Thing" and now it's become a bestseller. "The New York Times" has confirmed that it's going to be on its extended list for the end of January. It will come in at number 24.
"PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT", 9:00 Eastern, watch it, DVR it, love it. George Clooney and his dad on tonight. George talks about the little souvenir that he brought back from Sudan, a case of malaria.
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PIERS MORGAN, HOST, "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": I mean, you're looking slightly overheated. I thought it was down to me. It turns out it's actually this - you do get malaria flare-ups quite regularly, do you?
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: No, I've had it twice. I guess the mosquito in Juba looked at me and thought I was the bar.
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PHILLIPS: Well, Piers joked that Clooney had about 24,000 women offering to nurse him back to health. Seems kind of low, doesn't it?
Catch the full interview tonight, 9:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.
Twin brothers go to war in Korea, but only one comes back. The survivor hoping that the North makes good on an offer to send his brother home.
Oklahoma got a blast of wintry weather yesterday. This jeep driver got the worst of it. You won't believe what the driver was able to do after this spinout.
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PHILLIPS: All right. Let's head cross-country starting Oklahoma City. Things got a little dicey yesterday for this driver. Roads were pretty slick from a coating of snow and ice. And he just spun out, flipped over and there he was in his jeep. Word is though once that jeep got upright, the driver just brushed himself off and drove away. That's remarkable.
All right. Let's head over to Key Biscayne, Florida. Meet "Butterball" and "Petri." Two green sea turtles released back into the wild after being rehabilitated at the Miami Sea Aquarium. Butterball was found on a Florida beach with a hook in his mouth. Petri was rescued after a run-in with a motorboat.
And in Arizona, an eighth grader watched as his five-year-old sister got hit by a truck after getting off her school bus. She was struck under the truck but this brave boy just ran over, pulled her out and carried her home. The little girl was later flown to the hospital and is being treated for a broken leg. The Pentagon is watching North Korea. The world is watching for that matter since nuclear ambitions with ties to Iran, it's on-going conflict with South Korea, the North Koreans have the international spotlight on them.
A top North Korean official recently offered to return the remains of hundreds of American soldiers killed during the Korean War. A sincere offer or are the North Koreans just trying to deflect attention? It doesn't matter to the families of those American troops. They want their loved ones brought home.
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PHILLIPS (voice-over): Twin brothers, Vincent and Richard Krepps, enlisted in the army on September 2nd in 1949. They were just 19 years old.
VINCENT KREPPS, KOREAN WAR VETERAN: We were both in the 2nd Infantry Division, a branch of the Army. We were in the same unit, same battery, same platoon.
PHILLIPS: During a vicious battle against the North Koreans, the Krepps brothers and their platoon were given the other, stand or die. Vincent survived. Richard vanished.
KREPPS: By this time I was - I guess I had tears running down my face, and I knew the worst probably had happened.
PHILLIPS: Richard was captured by the enemy and later died in captivity.
KREPPS: Richard lives through me. And I live through Richard. Richard was very quiet. He loved being home.
PHILLIPS: Vincent Krepps has spent the last 60 years trying to have his brothers remains brought home. He's encouraged by North Korea's recent offer to return the remains of several hundred American soldiers, encouraged but guarded.
KREPPS: I know there's a lot of families out there thrilled to death over this. But there's some caution in my mind.
PHILLIPS: Krepps has heard this tune before. So has Congressman Charles Rangel of New York. Also a veteran of the Korean war. The congressman even takes it one step further.
REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: I don't pay too much attention to the North Koreans as we didn't pay too much attention in 1950 when we drove them to the river. It's the Chinese communists that are pulling the strings there. Everyone knows it.
PHILLIPS: Krepps doesn't know if the North Koreans are sincere or if they're trying to deflect the international spotlight off themselves. But he says the offer represents movement and perhaps a chance to finally say good-bye to Richard. KREPPS: I miss sitting around with him, having a beer or something and talking about those days in Korea. Talking about all our days as youngsters, we played together, we played baseball together. We did everything together. Every day of our life. I miss that part of it. As much as anything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: More than 54,000 U.S. troops died in the Korean war. An estimated 8,000 Americans are still unaccounted for, nearly 60 years later.
Former Iran hostages are getting a big welcome at West Point Academy in New York. 15 of the former hostages are gathering at the military academy to mark the 30th anniversary of their release. West point is first place they were brought after flying to the U.S., the hostages are welcomed this morning by more than 4,000 cadets.
When we come back, companies going out of their way to reward and keep employees. They're offering some amazing business perks you may find hard to believe. We'll continue to innovate.
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PHILLIPS: Well do you ever feel overworked and underappreciated on your job, like you're not paid what you're worth. Well, you may be thinking this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show me the money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show me the money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't even feel you, Jerry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show me the money!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You better yell.
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PHILLIPS: Oh, such a great movie. Companies are taking notice. They're going beyond paychecks and actually offering some unusual perks. We'll get the lowdown from Stephanie Elam who loves her job. She's so well paid. I think she loved that movie, too.
Show me the money, Jerry!
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I love my job. You know what, that's the thing though. Sometimes it's not about the money. Sometimes it's about the other perks that are out there. That's what these companies, I guess, realized. If they're going to keep their employee happy and keep them from getting (INAUDIBLE) they got to do some unusual thing. So we figure we'd highlight a few of some of the most unusual for you, Kyra.
Let's take a look at Chesapeake Energy. This company, you know, they have parent yoga classes. That's cool. Parent and children. But you can also while you're there at their full medical center you can get maybe some Botox, maybe tanning bed as well. Make sure you're looking real hot. They want to be really pretty at Chesapeake Energy.
At Cisco you can bring your car in and have it serviced while you work. They bring a car company in to service your car. Twice a week they're there and available for you.
If you look at Microsoft, an on-site shopping mall, it's called the Commons, It's about a year old, 23 shops and restaurants that are actually on the property. There's a spa there, a bicycle repair shop. They're also a pub and this is all in the Redmond Washington campus for Microsoft.
And then New Star - New Star is an energy company. Their corporate jet, they say, hey, in times of crisis, you can use it. We'll fly you where you need to go. If you need to fly to be with somebody who may have lost somebody, we'll let the corporate jet be available, we'll help you out in any way we can. Which is also pretty cool. But definitely some different ways companies are going about it.
A few more to tell you about. How about summer Fridays? A lot of companies have summer Fridays. I think people within CNN have some summer Fridays. But at Hasbro and also at Mattel? They have summer Fridays every Friday of the year. Every Friday is a half day, which is pretty cool.
And then DPR construction, they have a wine bar installed in all 17 of their offices except for in Texas, where they have a saloon. This is how you can toast big accomplishments there. And then Alston and Bird, a fertility benefit of $25,000. That's huge for a lot of people dealing with that. And then Zappos, of course you need a life coach. I mean, if you're selling shoes online, you need a life coach who's on staff full-time to help you out there. She's called the goals coach to discover a, quote, "higher purpose and higher self." Selling shoes and elevating.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Listen to all these perks. I don't know anything about --
ELAM: Those are some pretty big perks.
PHILLIPS: Do you have Fridays off? Do you have summer Friday? Or whatever it's called?
ELAM: No, we don't. But I think the people who aren't TV people - because news, you never know. News can break at 3:00 p.m. We have to be here.
PHILLIPS: That's true. Yes, that's right.
ELAM: Other parts of the company get those. That's pretty cool. PHILLIPS: My perk is working with you. Have a great weekend, Steph.
ELAM: I'm pretty down with working with you, too, Kyra. You too!
PHILLIPS: All right.
10:30 here in the East, 7:30 out West. Here's a quick look at some of the headlines we're following. With the unemployment rate hovering between 9 percent and 10 percent, President Obama is expected to name GE's chairman, Jeffrey Immelt, to head his new council on jobs and competitiveness. The council will focus on ways to speed up economic growth.
The FBI has carried out one of the largest-single day strikes against the Mafia in FBI history. Those raids hauled in more than 120 people from New Jersey to Italy. Charges range from book-making to murder.
And long-time film critic Roger Ebert, he's showing of his new face. It's actually a silicone prosthesis that took two years to make. He lost much of his jaw due to cancer, but he's going to wear this prosthesis on his new PBS show which premieres, by the way, this weekend.
Now the hit show that might be just to hot for MTV to handle. It's a new show called "Skins." Take a look at some of the still pictures from the show, and you'll see why it's raising some eyebrows. It's not a reality show. It has actors and scripts, but some of these thespians are underage. The Parents' Television Council wants Congress and the Justice Department to investigate the show for child pornography and exploitation. Too hot and spicy for Taco Bell, too. It actually pulled its ads and MTV, never known to be squeamish about anything, reportedly wants the people behind the show to tame it down.
Brian Stelter has reported on this show for "The New York Times." And Brian, this reminds me of the fuss over those Abercrombie and Fitch ads. So, what's your take on this and the message that it's sending?
BRIAN STELTER, MEDIA REPORTER, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": It's true, from time to time, there are advertising campaigns or TV shows that crop up that come under scrutiny for the sexualization of children, or people that appear to be children. And a lot of the people on MTV feature young people. "Jersey Shore" being the most popular one of them. But on shows like that, all of the actors, all of the reality show stars are over the age of 18. And the concern on "Skins" is that some of the actors are 15, 16, 17 years old.
PHILLIPS: And we'll talk about the whole breaking the law issue in just a second. But let's be realistic here. Teens are dealing with sex, drugs, alcohol as young as 15, even younger. So, much of this is reality TV, even though it is actors. You know, it's something we don't necessarily want to see and admit, but let's face it. STELTER: You know, a critic for "Newsweek" said this might be the most realistic show on television about teens. I know growing up, a show I really adored was "My So-Called Life," which dealt with some of the same issues on MTV.
The real issue for MTV is whether they filmed sexually stimulated children. That's the legal issue they're grappling with. And no one is saying that officially they've done that. It's simply a question that's being asked internally. I think they'll be editing some parts of the show as a result to make sure they don't cross that line. They want to walk right up to the line, but not cross it.
PHILLIPS: We even had to edit and bleep, et cetera, to show you this one clip. Let's roll it.
STELTER: Yes.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, nips.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop calling me nips.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a funny name. I've seen your nipples, Nips, and gosh golly, yours are hilarious.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My nipples aren't funny, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, get used to it, kid. Anyway, you promised to help out Stanley today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With what?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You remember! The virgin thing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. You are not serious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. He's got to (EXPLETIVE DELETED). And I nominated you to, you know, help out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do I have to?
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PHILLIPS: All right. You can use your imagination, probably figure out what we bleeped out. But these actors are between 15 and 19 years old. And this is a tame scene, Brian, obviously. That's where the talk is sort of building with regard to possibly breaking the law, federal child porn statutes here, and even execs, right, have been talking about this and may be concerned about this.
STELTER: That's right. The concern is that some of the upcoming episodes may go too far. We know, of course, we haven't seen them on the air yet. But TV critics have seen some of episodes. In episode 103 in particular, you see an actor who's 17 years old who is using Viagra who is experiencing something like Viagra for much of the episode.
You also see his bare backside running down the street for several seconds at a time. And that's the kind of content that they may be toning down to make sure that they don't run afoul of any issues here.
PHILLIPS: We'll see how it all plays out. Brian Stelter, thanks for weighing in with us today.
STELTER: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right. More from the CNN NEWSROOM, straight ahead.
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PHILLIPS: We're used to having summits in the nation's capital but the D.C. Department of Health's bedbug summit may have been the first of its kind of its kind. Experts actually informed residents about how the bugs migrate, and they addressed health concerns. One expert said the pests don't carry disease but they can still affect people physically and mentally.
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LARRY PINTO, ENTOMOLOGIST: Some people have no reaction, some people have very strong reaction to the bites. Scratch their bites, they'll bleed, they'll get infected, they'll end up with scarring.
LALA SEIDENSTICKER, BEDBUG VICTIM: Almost worse than the itch is the way your life goes into disarray with the treatment. I lived in a tiny studio. I had extreme depression during that time.
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PHILLIPS: All right. So, how do you keep the critters away? Experts say be careful when buying used furniture or beds. And when staying in a hotel room, keep your luggage closed and off beds and floors. When you get home, wash everything right away.
There's a big buzz over representative Michele Bachmann's speech in Iowa tonight. We have a preview.
But first, we all complain about being stuck in traffic. Everyone thinks it's worse in their city, right? Well, here's the evidence. This is the survey of the worst commutes in the country. In the bottom five, you have Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, New York, Miami. If you're in one of these cities, you spend an unbelievable 42 to 48 hours a year stuck in traffic. And it gets worse. I'll tell you who's in the top five.
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PHILLIPS: All right. So you want to know the worst cities in America for traffic? Here you go. Dallas, Houston, San Francisco. Actually, Dallas, Houston and San Francisco. They get honorable mention. Chicago and Washington, D.C. tied on the top of the list, followed closely by L.A. And if you're one of the worst cities, you can expect to spend -- ready for this -- a whopping 70 hours a year sitting in traffic, going nutso for your commute.
Apparently, Americans may be feeling better about the jobs outlook in 2011. Our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser here with some new poll numbers. You ever get stuck in D.C. traffic, Paul?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Uh, yes, when I drive, but I walk sometimes. And you know, well, not a problem there.
But Kyra, let's talk about the economy. And yes, kind of a mixed bag here. Check this out, brand new poll numbers out just a few hours ago. Look at this, only about a quarter of Americans say the economy is good right now. Well, that doesn't sound very good, does it? But look at that. That is up from 18 percent in November. So, a little more optimism there. Three out of four say things are poor. But Kyra, that is down from November. So I guess a mixed bag.
The economy obviously, Kyra, will be the top issue you would assume in the next presidential election. We'll ask Jamie (INAUDIBLE), our cameraman, to zoom right in. Over here, trending on the CNN political ticker, the president's election plans. Yes, we learned that yesterday. They'll be beefing up out in Chicago. That's where he'll have the re-election team and maybe as early as April, we'll have some official announcements there. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All right. Michele Bachmann, Iowa, what's up?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, a lot of buzz on this one. Michele Bachmann, the congresswoman from Minnesota, a darling of the Tea Party movement. She helped co-found that Tea Party caucus in the House. She gives a big speech tonight in Iowa to Iownas for Tax Relief, a fiscally conservative group. And of course, Iowa kicks off the primary presidential calendar with its caucuses. So, a lot of buzz over Michele Bachmann tonight, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Paul, thanks. And your next political update in an hour. Remember, for all the latest political news, you can always go to our Web site, 24/7, CNNpolitics.com.
Little hearts with a big dream. School kids pitch in to raise money for a disabled boy who need a new home. They did chores, they raised money. And they raised the spirits of an entire community.
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PHILLIPS: Well, I couldn't think of a better way to wrap up our week of news. School kids giving back in a way that will no doubt inspire you and your own children.
Students at Countryside Elementary School in New Jersey began collecting coins by doing chores for their parents. Their goal was to raise money for a young boy with cerebral palsy. The idea was to raise enough money for Dominick Stratton so his family could buy a new home. For their hard work, Dominick's family's home was a 617-square foot converted chicken coop without clean water. And with nowhere for Dominick to perform the physical therapy that he needs every single day.
Pam Machulsky and Hannah O'Hare, who is just nine years old, by the way, joining us from Philadelphia. We're so glad you could join us and tell us about how you got involved in helping Dominick.
Pam, you used to drive by their house and you would see how people would honk at them while they were trying to get Dominick in the car and they were so rude. And they had a hard time getting out of their home and in and out of the car. You just finally decided to leave them a letter. What did it say, and why did you do it?
PAM MACHULSKY, LED FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR NEW HOME: Well, I have the letter with me. Do you want me to read it?
PHILLIPS: Yes. Well, how long is it? Is it short and sweet?
MACHULSKY: It's short --
PHILLIPS: We only have a certain amount of time.
MACHULSKY: It's short and sweet. Real quick.
PHILLIPS: OK! Read it! Good, good, good!
MACHULSKY: I put, "Hi, my name is Pam Machulsky. I stopped by your home twice. However, even though I didn't see any cars in the driveway, I knocked but no one has been home. I don't know if you remember me but I met you about two years ago when I delivered a gift for your son. My children also left the gift this past Christmas between your doors.
"Anyway, I wanted to see if you could give me a call when you get a moment. I want to present an idea to you. We want to begin a new program in the Mount Laurel area, Mount Laurel Cares. And I wanted to see if you would be willing to be our first participant. The program that we want to create is based somewhat along the lines of "Extreme Makeover." I hope to hear from you and hope all is well. Pam Machulsky."
Here's my little letter.
PHILLIPS: And they called you, right?
MACHULSKY: Yes. Joanne called me that night, and she thought it was a joke. And I assured her it was not a joke, that I'm the one that has been leaving the gifts in her door the past few years.
PHILLIPS: And what's amazing is that how this project has expanded. And seeing pictures, I believe we have them, of Dominick's home now, which are just incredible. And Hanna, that's when you got involved. You and all your classmates, you guys fell in love with Dominick. You wanted to help out. Tell me why you personally wanted to help this little boy.
HANNAH O'HARE, RAISED FUNDS VIA CHORES: Well, I was always -- it was always helpful, and I always wanted to meet him. So, I raised money for him, and I loved him the first time I seen him. He was a cute little boy and I just wanted to help him.
PHILLIPS: Aww! And so tell me what you did, Hannah. You collected all kinds of coins. Tell me what you did exactly and how you collected the money.
O'HARE: Well, everyone in my class went to classes, and we just collected penny, dimes and nickels, dollars, it didn't really matter. And then we brought them back. And then we had them in Ziploc baggies and we just gave them to someone.
PHILLIPS: Aww! And how did that make you feel, Hannah?
O'HARE: It made me feel really proud that we raised enough money for his house.
PHILLIPS: Oh! And you know what, you and your classmates raised $3,400 in coins. That's just amazing! And then, Pam, you know, just from where this started and what it turned into, how did it affect the family? How did it affect Dominick? What's life now for them? What's it like now for them?
MACHULSKY: A lot less stressful. It's funny because Joanne told us the other day, we were over there, and she said that Dominick likes to go into the bathroom now and he shuts the door and he doesn't -- he tries to hide in the house. Before they never -- they could always find him. Now, it's like they have to go look for him. He likes to play a little game and, you know, scoot in little places.
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MACHULSKY: Like I said, we were over there the other day, and it's just incredible what the community did. If it wasn't for the community, we never would have been able to build this house for the Stratton family. We are just -- even looking at Dominick the other day when we were over there, he is becoming a stronger person. He's getting more vocal.
I think all this attention, I think it's done a lot -- I think it's helped him. This home definitely will be able to help him achieve his goals as far as therapy. And he can now use his walker and his wheelchair and get around the home, whereas before he couldn't.
PHILLIPS: That's incredible. Finally, Hannah, why is it so important to help little boys like Dominick?
O'HARE: Well, he's just one little boy in a whole entire world that we need to help because he had cerebral palsy. He lived in a chicken coop. So, we wanted to raise money so it would be better for him.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it's important to give back. Hannah O'Hare, you did that ten-fold with all your classmates. What a fabulous young lady you are. You're going to no doubt grow up to be a terrific woman.
Pam Machulsky, I'm so glad you stopped by and left that note. You have changed the lives of a pretty special family. Thanks so much to both of you for sharing the story with us.
MACHULSKY: Thank you very much.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys. Thanks, Hannah.
O'HARE: Bye.
And you can read more about Dominick's story and the efforts of these great kids and this amazing community that really rallied together. Just go to www.dominicshouse.com. And if you want to help support this young boy and help him meet his therapy goals, he still needs it. Just head to www.wishuponahero.com and search for Dominic's House Foundation. Get involved.
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PHILLIPS: Well, in fairness to the woman who fell into the mall fountain as she was texting, that fountain came out of nowhere. The whole episode has cost a mall security guard his job. Guess he took one for the YouTube watching team. Here's Jeanne Moos.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We now have a face to go with the fall.
CATHY CRUZ MARRERO, TEXTER WHO FELL IN FOUNTAIN: It's funny when it's not you.
MOOS: At times, her interview was nearly as wet as the mall fountain she walked into while texting.
MARRERO: When it's you, it's a totally different feeling. It's a totally, totally different feeling.
MOOS: Cathy Cruz Marrero says she was texting her and her husband's birth dates when she ran into the fountain.
MARRERO: The next thing I know I'm seeing pennies and coins in front of my face.
MOOS: Soon millions were seeing her as the security camera video made its way to the Web.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check this out, a girl falls in a mall fountain --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- while texting. You ignorant human being.
MOOS: The mishap was put to music and replayed mercilessly. It took Cathy two days to discover she'd become an Internet star.
MARRERO: I'm like are you're kidding me. My nephew is like, no, you're on YouTube. And I was like, I can't believe this, and I start crying.
MOOS: Believe me, we empathize. We know how dumb but easy it is to text your way into a tree, into a pole. There was that open manhole a texting teenager once fell into.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like, there was no warning of a big open hole.
MOOS: No one caught that on tape. It's the mall surveillance video that has Cathy mad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have to show you the other angle.
MOOS: You can hear laughter as someone shoots the tape.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
MOOS: Cathy said she told a security manager that putting the video on YouTube was wrong. He says he said --
MARRERO: The good thing is that they didn't see your face. Then nobody knows who you are. I said, I know who I am.
MOOS: She said others at the furniture store where she works recognized her. Now, the security company says it's fired the guard that shared the video, and Cathy's got a lawyer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you want the lawyer to do?
MARRERO: What needs to be done.
MOOS: Not necessarily to sue. Maybe to get an apology. At least she resifted answering her phone when it rang during the interview.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I was going to ask you, so when you left -
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MOOS: The bruise on her leg is healing but not her bruised feelings.
MARRERO: It's not over. It's not going to be over. I said, you don't know how many people are laughing at me.
MOOS: She's got that right. Walking into a fountain is kids' stuff.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": She's lucky she wasn't at the Grand Canyon, this girl.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
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PHILLIPS: Leave it to Joy Behar with the best one-liner.
That does it for us. We'll see you back here on Monday -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: That woman who fell in the fountain needs to get a sense of humor. She's taking this all too seriously.
PHILLIPS: Yes, indeed. I mean, you know, you've got to pay the price if you're not paying attention.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
PHILLIPS: Free shower.
COSTELLO: And she's going to sue. Give me a break.
PHILLIPS: See you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Have a great day, Kyra.
