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Parent Report Cards?; Gabrielle Giffords Moves to Texas Rehab Center; Mrs. Obama Surprises White House Guests; Surgery Restores Woman's Voice; Bin Laden Threatens France; Honeymoon Murder Case; Iran Hostages Reunite
Aired January 21, 2011 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Now, watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE (voice-over): Schools are graded, parents are graded, so should parents get report cards, too? There's a big-time measure that could change how schools work. I'm Randi Kaye. The news starts right now.
A crowd of angry protesters attacking a world leader's car. Fighting breaks out. Eggs and shoes fly. And not one police officer is on the scene. I'll show you what happens next.
Think you're paying a lot for your cell phone now? You may soon see a big surprise on your bill.
Plus, a woman goes to the mall, sends a text message, trips, falls into a fountain. Now she's mad and wants to sue the mall.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you kidding me?
KAYE: But will her interesting past hurt her argument? We're on the case.
And it's easy for this armed robber to walk into a Subway restaurant, but making his escape is apparently a lot harder. Now the hunt is on for this clumsy crook.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: I'm Randi Kaye. A lot of news happening right now. Let's go.
We're awaiting a live news conference from Houston. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords just arrived at the trauma center there. She is expected to receive additional treatment before starting rehab nearly two weeks after the shooting rampage in Tucson. Her medical team is scheduled to speak live. They will talk about her condition and the transfer. We are monitoring the scene, and we will bring it to you live as soon as it happens.
Next, an update on the woman who reunited with her biological family after discovering she was stolen as a baby. The FBI is looking for the woman who allegedly raised Carlina White. This is a mug shot of Ann Pettway. "The New York Post" reports Pettway may be in North Carolina, where she's on probation until next year on an embezzlement conviction. For now she's nowhere to be found.
Next, Tony Blair on the hot seat against, the former British prime minister defending his decision to go to war in Iraq. It's the second time he's appeared before the British panel investigating the lead-up. Today, he said the world must continue to confront Islamic extremism. Protesters in London blasting Blair, calling him a liar and demanding his arrest.
Next, a 13-year-old Arizona boy is being called a hero. Police say his sister wandered into the street and was hit by a truck. The boy picked up the 5-year-old and carried her home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT JEREZ, RESCUED SISTER: I saw my sister under a car and then the guy tried to pick her up. And I dropped my stuff and ran after her. And then he tried to pick her up. And I said, leave her alone, don't touch her. So I picked her up in my hands and I just ran home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Amazing. She is being treated for a broken leg and other injuries. The driver stayed on the scene to speak with police. It's uncertain if he will face any charges.
Next, remember this guy, Daniel Dale Goodwin, also known as Spider-Dan? Well, he was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors back in September for scaling a skyscraper in San Francisco. Goodwin is on trial and pleaded not guilty to trespassing and public nuisance charges. He told reporters he's making a statement about the need for better skyscraper safety and escape planning.
Next, staying off the road in icy weather is a great idea, and here's why. Take a look at this icy accident in Oklahoma. The jeep hits a patch of ice, spins out and flips on its side. Yikes. The driver apparently OK. In fact, he drives off after other motorists helped him turn that jeep upright.
Next, iPads are replacing schoolbooks. That's the case at one private school in Tennessee. Starting next year, students in the fourth grade all the way up to seniors in high school will be required to have one, and if they can't buy an iPad, well, they can lease one from the school.
Next, a U.S. soldier in South Korea is celebrating the birth of his baby boy after watching it live on the Internet. The hospital in New York where the boy was born had wired up a Skype connection. So much for the stork. The laptop greeted this new arrival, and an early arrival at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KIM TENNANT, MOTHER: It was a little awkward having a laptop right next to you, but, you know, for the fact that he was able to be a part of it and to experience it and to see his son being born, it was really wonderful. He claimed that he probably would have been a nervous wreck if he was actually here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: The father is now on a 60-day mission without Internet access, so very good timing.
Next, taxi drivers in New York are getting a new dress code. The city's taxi and limo commission voting on a rule requiring drivers to dress -- quote -- "professionally." We're told there won't be any fashion police, but cabbies must look neat and clean.
Next, speaking of dress codes, no more jeans or spaghetti straps in the Massachusetts House of Representatives -- state lawmakers approving a measure requiring all members to wear proper attire. Also banned, track suits and Bruins jerseys.
Next, a new front in the war on bedbugs. Residents and health workers joining forces met Thursday in Washington. Experts say education and prevention is the key. D.C. is seeing a resurgence in the creepy crawlies. The bloodsuckers are infesting apartments, hotels, dorms, and even cruise ships.
Next, a golf world record is in the books. A Texas man swinging his way into history played 611 games, that's 56 holes a day, if you're counting, for an entire year, including playing in the rain, snow and even tornadoes. He shattered the previous record of 600 rounds.
(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)
KAYE: You have heard of America's dumbest criminals. Well, today, we have got the country's clumsiest. See what happens after this guy robs a Subway. The video ahead.
Plus, teachers already give students grades, so should they be responsible for grading parents as well? One lawmaker pushing for parent report cards, but will it work? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: We're keeping an eye on live pictures out of Houston for you. We're awaiting a live news conference on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' condition. Her medical team is expected to speak about her first hours at a trauma center there. It is scheduled to start any minute now, and we will bring it to you live.
But, first, let this next story serve as a lesson. If you're not athletic, don't go all gymnastic during a robbery attempt. Case in point, watch the customer in this surveillance video from Tulsa, Oklahoma. You can see him jump the counter, wave a gun. Police say he demanded cash. The problem came when he tried to jump back over the counter to make his getaway. Yes, he couldn't quite make it, had to try again. Clumsy or not, though, he got away.
A would-be robber got more than he bargained at a North Carolina convenience store. Check out the surveillance tape. He pulled a gun on the shop clerk and threatened to kill her yesterday, but she wrestled it away. The gun looked like a semiautomatic, but it was actually a BB gun, it turned out.
The would-be robber ran off. Police arrested a suspect late yesterday afternoon.
Should parents be held accountable for how involved they are in their kids' education? A Florida lawmaker has drafted a bill that could require teachers to grade parents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. KELLI STARGEL (R), FLORIDA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: The teachers are being held accountable. You have got the students are held accountable, the administration. This is basically the missing link. We want to make sure we hold parents more accountable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: We reached out to Florida State Representative Kelly Stargel, but she wasn't available to chat with us.
And when we saw the story, we knew it needed to be part of a conversation with CNN education contributor Steve Perry.
Steve, let me just ask you right off the bat here, what do you think of this proposed bill?
DR. STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: I think it's absurd.
Earlier in the week, we were talking about giving kids tickets for cussing and now we're talking about giving parents grade. There are so many of my parents that maybe come from another country and don't necessarily feel comfortable coming into the school, yet their kids are beating the pants off our kids. Are they better parents?
How do we know what a good parent is just by giving them a grade? The teachers are not trained to give adults grades. Let's get the teachers teaching. How about that?
KAYE: Well, what should a parent's role be? You deal with kids every day, so what should parents be doing that maybe they are not doing?
PERRY: Well, what a parent can do when they can is they can create a structure at home that supports learning. We can say to parents that they should do an audit of their home and time, which means what do you spend your resources doing? If you spend more of your resources on play, then your child is going to value play. Likewise, if you spend more on education, they will value education. However, from a school's perspective, it's very difficult for me to tell whether or not a parent actually values that, because a parent -- I often have boys who come into school the next day without their homework.
And the mother will call, especially if she's a single mom. She will call and she will say, I gave it to him. He put it in his bag and somewhere between home and school, it evaporated. Is that a bad parent?
We're going in the wrong direction, folks. We need to focus on what works. We know what works in public education. We have seen it. We know what works in private education, schools that are small and focused on high expectations, schools that engage parents in a meaningful way.
If we want parents to be part of our discussion, stop having events during the day, when they can't make it. Have it in the evening. Have it at more convenient times for them.
KAYE: And, so, you know, if a child gets a D, he knows, oh, wow, I better work a little harder and try and improve that grade. But if parents are graded and maybe they get a bad grade or an unsatisfactory, do you think that something like this could actually change a parent's behavior?
PERRY: No.
I think that in order for a parent to do what they do, each parent is going to be within their own capacity to parent. There are no licenses, as we have often been told, for parenting. What happens to make you a parent doesn't take that much thought.
So when parents are parents, we sometimes expect more of them than they are capable of. We are the professionals. Let us do what we do, which is to educate children. Let us focus on making children more successful in developing their own gifts. If we want to help parents, let's help them. Let's offer workshops, not grades.
KAYE: So what if this does end up going through? I mean, if you ended up grading your parents, what do you think their reaction would be?
PERRY: Well, what it should be. They should tell me I'm out of my mind. They should tell me to focus on what I'm being paid to do, which is to educate their kids.
I'm not here to judge them. In fact, that's one of the reasons why so many parents don't want to participate in education , because they already feel like they are being judged. Let's find ways to engage them, to sit them down.
Nothing frustrates me more, Randi, than having to look up into the stands at a basketball game and see no parents there. It really bothers me. It hurts me when I have to take children home, and because a parent hasn't come to pick them up. I'm not suggesting that I enjoy parents not doing what they are supposed to do, but that's not what I'm here to do.
Embedded in the American fiber is that you send us your children, and we will educate them. No matter from where you come, we will educate them, because it's not just about poverty. There are parents like me who spend a lot of time working, like now, and I'm not home with my kids.
There's a snow day. So am I a bad parent today because I'm here with my kids and actually in the other room have a meeting going on with parents? It's not the way we need to do it. We need to focus on what makes us -- the ties that bind us. Let's find ways to engage the parents, as opposed to finding ways to drive another wedge between us and them.
KAYE: All right.
See, that's why we bring you on, because we know you will have an opinion about that. So, very interesting conversation. Steve Perry, thank you so much.
PERRY: Thank you so much, Randi.
KAYE: He is the new governor of California, and now Jerry Brown is dealing with a very serious death threat. The message tells him when he's going to die. That's ahead.
Plus, we told you how Michelle Obama surprised tourists at the White House yesterday, but we missed something. Did you hear what one guy actually asked the first lady? Brianna Keilar has the political pop. She's next.
Also, we're keeping an eye on the scene in Houston. We're awaiting a live news conference on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' condition. Her medical team is expected to speak about her first hours at a trauma center there, and it's scheduled to start any minute so stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: The new governor of California getting a very specific death threat, and police are not only calling it very real, but they are considering it a terror threat. Jerry Brown hasn't even been in office for a month, but somebody reported seeing some pretty disturbing graffiti.
Take a look. The first message, "We're gonna kill Gov. Brown on 2/14/11." We're told it was on a wall in one residential neighborhood. Somebody also found a second message in another neighborhood, this one includes a countdown. Quote, "26 more days 4 Brown."
Police are investigating. We're told city crews have painted over that graffiti. A fun "Political Pop" today. White House tourists got a special surprise yesterday. Brianna Keilar tells us what that's all about.
Good to see you, Brianna.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, Randi.
I don't know if you've ever been on the White House tour, but it normally does not include a run-in with the first lady, although yesterday it did. Michelle Obama was hanging out in the Blue Room. She was just kind of kicking it there with Bo the dog while tourists came through, quite surprised, as can you imagine, Randi, to see her just standing there waiting to greet them
KAYE: Yes, I think we'd all be surprised.
KEILAR: I know, can you even -- they had -- it was the funniest reactions that these people had. But this was the two-year anniversary of President Obama's inauguration of the first family coming to the White House, and so the White House put this on. This came from whitehouse.gov, and they live streamed this saying that this was part of the Obama's commitment to making the White House more open and accessible, or that's what the press release said, Randi.
KAYE: I love to see those folks coming through. When I was at the White House as a kid, but never got inside. Certainly, never met the first lady on a tour.
But I know there were some pretty funny moments. As you watch these people come through, can you tell us what happened?
KEILAR: Yes, I mean, they are going through the White House, which is pretty amazing in itself. So they are going through the Green Room, as you can see there on the right, into the Blue Room which is where Mrs. Obama was. And a lot of them would just kind of stop in the door sort of surprised at what they were seeing.
There were a number of responses. They were very varied, I guess you say, but this one in particular was kind of funny. One of them asked Mrs. Obama how to get to really what's a D.C. Institution, a restaurant that the Obamas have made more famous by visiting.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where would I find Ben's Chili Bowl?
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Oh, where is Ben's? OK, Ben's Chili Bowl. These guys will know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: OK, of all the things, Randi, that you could ask the first lady and you ask her how to get to Ben's Chili Bowl. Because of that, we actually --
KAYE: Forget about health care -- you know, forget about health care, forget about the economy.
KEILAR: I mean, right? No, no. Where is Ben's Chili Bowl, which, of course, has some of the finest half smokes and chili in D.C. And we've actually prepared a map for people, should they have to run into the first lady, they can ask her a different question. It's up there on U Street north of the White House.
Well, I thought we had a map. I'm not sure --
KAYE: Maybe you can still tell us because people will be going there now.
KEILAR: Very delicious. There you go. From the White House to Ben's Chili Bowl. And I went there actually for the first time in five years, in the five years I've been in D.C., it's very delicious.
KAYE: You didn't see the president there though, did you?
KEILAR: No. Although, there's a sign that says, "Only the Obamas and Bill Cosby eat for free." That's sort of a famous sign.
But as you can imagine, Randi, there was a whole lot of joking during this time period where she spent almost an hour there in the Blue Room. There is even some one-on-one conversations between Mrs. Obama and Bo the first dog. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
M. OBAMA: I'm Michelle Obama. You are in my home.
I know. Are you bored?
That way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know that you're a Beaver fan.
M. OBAMA: Oh, you're a Duck. I'm surrounded by Ducks and Packers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: So very strange, almost like the tourists thought they were on "Candid Camera." They just didn't know what to do about it all, Randi.
KAYE: I love that she was talking to Bo though to, I guess, kill some time.
KEILAR: Yes, because those were in between tour groups and she was kind of waiting for people and it was live streaming, so she's just kind of standing there trying to fill time.
KAYE: Bo was very well behaved though it looked like. KEILAR: That said, he did a lick a little boy's face and he got a slight reprimand from the first lady for that.
(LAUGHTER)
KAYE: Oh well, I'm sure the little boy thought it was cute.
I got to say though on that guy, the one who asked for the directions to the chili place, I don't even think he said hello. If you play that back, he just went right up to her and said, where's Ben's Chili. I don't think the guy even said hello and greeted the first lady.
KEILAR: This is what was shocking to me. It's like some sort of sociological experience because people just didn't know what to do with themselves.
KAYE: We're going to play that back actually. Let's play that back, cause I do want to know if he said hello. It seemed to me he didn't, but let's listen one more time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where would I find Ben's Chili Bowl?
M. OBAMA: Oh, where is Ben's? OK, Ben's Chili Bowl. These guys will know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: OK, I didn't hear him say hello.
KEILAR: No.
KAYE: I mean, wow. That man was on a mission.
KEILAR: Good chili, I don't know.
KAYE: All right. Brianna Keilar, that was fun. Thank you.
KEILAR: Happy Friday to you, Randi.
KAYE: Go get some chili now.
(LAUGHTER)
KAYE: Pirates hijack a ship in the Indian Ocean. They take hostages, but navy commandos fight back. We'll show you this very dramatic rescue.
Also, a brand new message believed to be from the world's most wanted terrorist, and Osama bin Laden's warning is very specific. Hala Gorani joins me live and she is next.
And just a reminder, we will soon hear from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' medical team. They should be coming out any second. You will see it live, so stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: It is time for "Trending," and we have exciting news coming from the medical world.
A California woman has a voice for the first time in more than a decade. In the late '90s, a breathing tube permanently damaged Brenda Jenson's airway during surgery. She's had to breathe through a tracheotomy tube since then and communicate with an electronic device. She also lost her sense of taste and her smell.
Well, that change last October when Jenson became the second person in the U.S. to undergo a larynx transplant. Yesterday, Brenda reunited with her surgeons.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDA JENSEN, LARYNX TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: This was my 80th operation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eightieth, right?
JENSEN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eight zero.
JENSEN: And every time you have surgery there's always a risk, but after 12 years of putting up with a lot of humiliation, a lot of teasing, not only from the kids but from adults staring because I talked with a mechanical machine and I sounded like a robot, and everywhere I was people turned their heads, and it was frustrating but I had to live with it.
But when this opportunity came up, I wanted to do it. I was game to go. I wanted to talk again, and I'm doing it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Amazing stuff. Brenda still sounds a bit raspy, as you can hear there, but doctors hope the natural tones of her voice will return in just a few months.
It is time to take you "Globe Trekking" with stories from overseas. Hala Gorani, CNNi anchor and international correspondent, is here.
Hala, good to see you.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you. Nice to meet you in person for the first time, but I told you, I've been watching you for years.
KAYE: Well, thank you. I know that one thing that I wanted to talk about is this tape, apparently from Osama bin Laden to France.
GORANI: Right, attributed to leader Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader. Specifically referencing hostages held by al Qaeda and its affiliates in Afghanistan and North Africa. In the case of Afghanistan, by the Taliban, Two of our French colleagues have been held in Afghanistan for more than a year.
This message attribute to Osama bin Laden is warning that the fate of these French hostages hinges on France's involvement in Afghanistan. France has 3,700 troops in Afghanistan, but it has come out since this purported message and reaffirmed its commitment to that effort.
KAYE: And speaking of France, the French foreign minister --
GORANI: Right.
KAYE: -- getting into a scuffle with a mob.
GORANI: Right, in Gaza. So she visited Israel. She visited with the father of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who has been held in Gaza since 2006, whose capture, in fact, sparked the Hezbollah/Israel war of 2006.
This is what happened. She was both mobbed at the Erez crossing, which is the entry point into Gaza, and after a visit to the hospital; pelted with eggs and shoes. These demonstrators were angry, many of whom have relatives in Israeli jails, because they believe she said something that was attributed to her in wire articles that the dissention of Gilad Shalit was a crime -- was a war crime. But in fact it was Gilad Shalit's father who said. So they were extremely angry and a very hostile reception for Michele Alliot-Marie in Gaza today.
KAYE: Clearly. It certainly looks very hostile.
One of the stories that has a lot of people talking is this showdown between South Korea and -- taking on the Somali pirates.
GORANI: Apparently they had been trailing this ship for a week, Somali pirates. Of course, piracy is a huge issue in the Gulf of Aden in the Arabian Sea.
So South Korean commandos stormed a ship, you see some of the still images there from the operation, in the Arabian Sea. They managed to rescue 21 crewmembers that was on a ship that was headed to Sri Lanka originally carrying chemicals. Eight pirates were killed, five were captured; not sure where the five captured pirates are.
The South Korean Navy, as I said there, very well prepared operation apparently because they had been trailing them for a week. And the reason they were able to get on this ship is because apparently, according to reports, some of these pirates on this ship had left the ship, so it was a little weakened because the staffing -- the pirate staffing was lower, to go attack another ship.
KAYE: That's when you want to go in.
(LAUGHTER)
GORANI: That's when you want to go in.
So, you know, it had been a few months of holding the crew hostage on that particular ship, and I guess a subsection of the pirates on that ship kind of left and tried to attack another one and that's when the South Korean Navy commandos moved in.
KAYE: And they did pretty well, apparently, cause from what I understand, there was only one serious injury, but other than that not much.
GORANI: And the crew members rescued.
KAYE: Incredible.
GORANI: I'm sure that's a great relief to them because it had been months. So yes, it is a big issue. Of course, it always raises the question, how do you, as you know, how do you deal with this piracy issue? Does each individual navy mount commando operations that are extremely dangerous or do something in Somalia directly?
KAYE: Right.
GORANI: It is an open question. In this case, it's a success that could have gone wrong as well.
KAYE: And if they're making demands and how do you deal with that as well.
GORANI: Exactly.
KAYE: So, all right. Hala, thank you so much.
GORANI: Thank you. Good to see you.
KAYE: Now to a murder case unfolding now. A young woman dies on her honeymoon. She just a married a famous athlete and another person is behind bars suspected in her murder. This is Michaela Hard. She's a teacher and former beauty queen. Her husband is a football star in Ireland. Here's what police say happened. The couple were at a restaurant in their lavish hotel two weeks after they walked down the aisle.
When she went back up to the room to get something, apparently, but never returned. She never came back. Her husband later found her body strangled. Now, police have arrested a fifth person, a guard at the hotel. Another hotel security officer and a room attendant are already charged with conspiracy. Two other hotel workers face murder charges.
I want to show you a picture just posted on Twitter by CNN producer in Haiti. Remember we told you that we were waiting to hear from Baby Doc Duvalier this afternoon? Well, our producer on the ground in Port-au-Prince, Kim Siegel, shared this with us. The caption reads press trying to get indoor at third location. We were sent for Duvalier's statement. Our colleague John Zarrella who is also there had told us it was chaotic, and they kept moving this press conference around. Well, Kim captured it, and we'll let you know if that statement ever actually happens.
Two cities stopped everything to watch a congresswoman's ambulance pass by. Gabby Giffords is now in Houston nearly two weeks after the rampage in Tucson. We're awaiting a live news conference. Her medical team is expected during that news conference to speak about her condition and her treatment there. We're expecting that just any second now, so be sure to stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: As promised, we are keeping an eye on live pictures coming out of Houston this afternoon. We're awaiting a live news conference on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' condition. It is scheduled to start just any second, and we will bring it to you live, but first, famous hostages reunite, and the northeast prepares for another huge pile of snow. Time to play "Reporter Roulette."
We begin with Mary Snow in West Point, New York, where an emotional reunion is happening. Can't believe it's been 30 years since those hostages were released from Iran -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and the former hostages, Randi, are also saying they cannot believe it's been 30 years. Imagine, more than 4,000 cadets here at West Point lining up to greet 15 of those former hostages as they reunited here. Why West Point? It's because when they were freed back in 1981 on January 20th, they first went to Stewart Air Force Base which is nearby here, and then, they were brought to West Point where they had a rousing homecoming, and this is very emotional moment. One of the former hostages said, you know, he was just overwhelmed by the show support that he saw here today.
KAYE: All right. Mary Snow, thank you.
And next on "Reporter Roulette," Karen Maginnis in the Severe Weather Center.
Karen, who is going to get the worst wallop this weekend?
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It looks like pretty much the eastern half of the United States with bitterly cold temperatures. We've looked at wind chill factors in the double digits below zero. Fargo has been around 20 to 28 degrees below zero, but it was international falls, Minnesota, that during the early morning hours, the temperature was minus 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Not a wind-chill factor.
That was the actual outside air temperature, and I spoke with a news manager at one of the TV stations up there, she said we're pretty hearty here. There were folks out jogging this morning in that, so good luck to them
KAYE: Well, you know, I lived in Minnesota for seven years, lived and worked there, and I'll tell you, it is darn cold.
(LAUGHTER)
MAGINNIS: It really is.
KAYE: I miss those 20 below days. All right. Thank you, Karen. That is today's "Report Roulette."
Rudy Giuliani ran for president in 2008, so will he run again next year? Apparently, his decision involves Sarah Palin. Mark Preston is standing by. The CNN Political Ticker is next.
But first, if you love clipping coupons from the Sunday paper or online, you are not alone. Coupons.com released its list of the most frugal cities in the U.S. Coming in at number ten, Raleigh. Number nine, Pittsburgh. Number eight, Cleveland. Number seven on the list of most frugal cities is Nashville and number six, Charlotte. What are the top five money-saving coupon clipping cities in the U.S.? Well, that is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Coupons.com has been keeping track of those of you who love to save money, and we've got the list of the most frugal cities in the U.S. Rounding out the top five, Minneapolis. Number four, St. Louis. Coming in at number three, Cincy, Cincinnati. Number two, Tampa, and the honor of the number one most frugal city in the country goes to, well, I'll give you a hint, it's right where I am right now. It is Atlanta.
I want to keep you in the loop now. We are awaiting a live news conference on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' condition scheduled to start right there. It's been scheduled to start now for about an hour or so, and there it is just beginning, so let's listen in.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Her family and her staff arrived here at Memorial Hermann, and we completed a successful transfer of care. I had the privilege of greeting them and can tell you that they have looked forward to this day as Gabby takes the next step on the road to recovery.
We are honored that Memorial Hermann was asked to play such an important role in this next step. Before I introduce the physicians, I'd like to recognize Craig Cordola, who is the CEO of our Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center Operations.
Craig, stand and be recognized. Thank you.
I'd also like to introduce to you Carl Josehart who is the CEO of the TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital. Also here, seated next to them is my colleague and good friend, Dr. Larry Kaiser, who is the president of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston or we call UT Health. Larry is instrumental in the physician care.
All the physicians that will be treating Congresswoman Giffords are faculty members at the University of Texas and under Larry's school out there. With that, our first speaker -- I'm sorry, I missed one other. It's not on my list. I want to introduce T.J. T.J. is a member of the Congresswoman's staff, and I believe T.J. --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: C.J.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: C.J., I'm sorry. We just met. We're trying to get all names. C.J., I apologize for that.
C.J., I believe, is the staff person that has a relationship with the media and will be working with you all, and we're very pleased to have C.J. with us today. Our first speaker accompanied Gabby here from Arizona.
I'd like to introduce Dr. Randall Friese, he's an associate professor of surgery and the associate medical director at UMC Trauma Center and the director of the Acute Care Surgery.
Dr. Friese, I'll turn it over to you.
DR. RANDALL FRIESE, ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT UMC TRAUMA CENTER: Thank you.
Good afternoon. I am very pleased to bring the news that the transfer of Gabby from University Medical Center in Tucson here to Memorial Hermann in Houston went flawlessly. The trip was well planned, and I asked Mark if I could share with you when we were traveling through the streets of Tucson, there were several times we could hear applause in the ambulance with Gabby, and she responded very well to that, smiling, and in fact even tearing a little bit.
It was very emotional and very special. The -- the plane trip went very well, very smooth. Absolutely, no difficulties, and getting her here to this facility was streamlined and well planned. I'm very pleased at the entire process, and I'm very, very happy to turn her care over to her new team of physicians, Dr. Holcomb, Dr. Kim, Dr. Oh and Dr. Aisiku.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Dr. Friese.
The rest of the team is coming into the room from the Memorial Hermann side, and we'll introduce here in a second, but before we get to the physicians and a question and answer, let me call up Dr. John Holcomb who is the trauma surgeon here at Memorial Hermann. Dr. Holcomb is also the chief of the division of acute care surgery at UT Health Medical School, and he is the principal physician leading the transition team today -- Dr. Holcomb.
DR. JOHN HOLCOMB, TRAUMA SURGEON, MHT MEDICAL CENTER: Thanks, Dan (ph).
Good afternoon, everybody.
You know, I would just reiterate what Randy said. This transition which we -- as we discussed in some detail yesterday, transfers are always a little shaky. It went flawlessly.
The team there prepared her well. The aircraft landed, got her loaded her up, landed here in Houston, helicoptered in, and did great. We were very concerned about that, actually, and we're very happy that it went as well as it did, and it's a real testament to the team from Tucson, the life flight crew that accompanied her, and got her safely into the neurotrauma ICU.
We've all done a pretty complete assessment. We've had a good handoff from doctors and nurses, from Randy and Tracy, and to the nurses and docs at the bedside.
We had a good exam. She's doing great. She's really done very well with this transfer. I think that's one of the main things we want to emphasize, is that transfer across country has done great. She's going to start her rehabilitation at 4:30 this afternoon with -- physical therapists and rehab specialists from Tirr will come into the ICU at 4:30 and start her rehabilitation, which is one of the main goals that everybody has.
I just -- again, I'm impressed, having come out of the military and seen a lot of logistics and a lot of movements of patients all over the world. This was done very, very well. It could not have gone better.
We have a great team of folks. Dr. Aisiku is a neurointensivist. Dr. Francisco is a rehabilitation specialist. Dr. Dong Kim is chairman of neurosurgery, an expert in brain surgery. We've met Dr. Friese already from Tucson. Dr. Bryan Oh is a neurotrauma surgeon, one of the few neurosurgeons who, that's all he does all day long, every day in the United States.
This is the team that will be taking care of the congresswoman.
At this point I think we can open things up to questions.
QUESTIONS: Dr. Oh, you've see a lot of gunshot wounds. How usual is it (OFF-MIKE)
DR. BRYAN OH, MEMORIAL HERMANN-TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER: You know, we actually discussed that upstairs, off in the side of the room, looking at CAT scans. And nobody ever knows the trajectory of the bullet for real, right/ You never really know. But you've got to look at this and say she was -- it certainly could have been a lot worse.
She's actually doing very well. This was a tangential gunshot wound. Fortunately, it didn't go crosswise or right down through the center. It could have been a whole lot worse, and clearly did not portion large portions of her brain. It did damage some portions. Yes?
QUESTION: Dr. Friese, I was with you in Tucson and I talked to you at the time. You said the only thing you did during the initial surgery was hold the congresswoman's hand.
FRIESE: Well, that wasn't the only thing, but it was an important thing.
QUESTION: You said it was a major thing. So, emotionally, for you, what was it like to hear that applause and come here with her today?
FRIESE: Oh, it was very heart-wrenching. It was very -- just so -- so wonderful to see the support that Tucsonans and Arizonans have for Gabby. We love her, and we're going to miss her while she's here, but this is where she needs to be.
QUESTION: Doctor Friese, , talk about the flight, if you could. And I guess with her husband aboard, with everyone aboard, talk about that.
FRIESE: It couldn't have gone more smoothly. From the minute we talk off to the minute we landed, she was napping. She was interacting with her mother and her husband, as she did every day at the hospital in Tucson. Her monitor -- her monitors registered no abnormalities whatsoever. It was a pleasant, smooth and flawless transfer.
Back of the room.
QUESTION: Doctor, you said you couldn't comment until you saw her. You've now seen her. The team has seen her.
What do you think her condition and prospects are?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. So we have had a great assessment. And I'm going to kind of go down the line here and let some of the other guys comment.
I would just say that the care in Tucson, number one, has been outstanding. We've had several video teleconferences over the last couple of days sharing information, looking at scans and x-rays, et cetera. Everything we heard the last couple of days were confirmed today. These guys did a great job with physician and nursing care.
And I just want to emphasize, there's a little bit more than hand-holding done in the emergency department with airway control, and up to the operating room within minutes, operating room within minutes in Tucson, which I think is really exemplary and is an important part of her status that we saw today.
Dr. Kim, comments?
DR. DONG KIM, DIRECTOR, MMHT NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE: Yes. I would like to say, first of all, that she looks spectacular, and always.
From a neurological point of view first, she came into the ICU and she was alert, awake, calm. She looked comfortable. I think we were already feeling some interaction, which is important.
She's got very good movement on the left side of her body, and was very purposeful. And we were testing her vision, and she didn't like us shining the light in her eye and wanted to keep them closed, and these are all very good signs.
She also had pretty good tone in her leg, and that's often a precursor to much more functional recovery. So it was -- as I said, she just looked spectacular.
Yes?
QUESTION: You said there's very good movement on the left side of the body. What about the right side of the body?
KIM: There's varying stages of what we would call either paralysis or weakness, and right now she has maybe some movements of her legs, you know. And there's what we call tone. She might be able to support herself, but she may not be able to move it when she wants. On her arm at this point, we're not seeing much tone, and we're not seeing any movements, but that's only over about 30 minutes, and some of her nurses have reported, and we've heard that, that she's had some movements in Tucson.
QUESTION: Doctor, you were saying at 4:30 the physical therapy will start. What sorts of things will happen? Like, what will it be initially (OFF-MIKE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, first, let me say that she has great rehabilitation potential. I think those three words will sum it up, "great rehabilitation potential," "great rehabilitation candidate." She will keep us busy, and we will keep her busy as well. And we will start that the moment we finish this press conference. I'll be joined by a couple of my members of my team to start the assessment and the intervention.
QUESTION: What will you do at 4:30?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will do the brain check motion exercises, we will look at positioning. We will attempt to get her up.
QUESTION: There were reports that she was not ready to enter into rehabilitation. You said she's going in at 4:30. What has changed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, you know, on the assessment today, she's ready to start rehab in the ICU. Several days ago in Tucson, after discussing back and forth on Tuesday, I think, there was a little fluid collection that the docs there put a drain into around her brain, and that drain is still in place.
With that drain in place, she can't leave the ICU. So rather than, as has been discussed in various places, stopping for a day or so and then going to rehab, she's going to stay in the hospital for a little bit longer. We sort out this drain business, figure out what needs to happen next, worry about infection, and then continue her rehab like the guys in Tucson were doing in the ICU.
QUESTION: Is there a timetable on that drain?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Doctor Aisiku, what do you think?
DR. IMOIGELE AISIKU, DIRECTOR, NEUROCRITICAL CARE, MISCHER NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE: I think it's still a little early to tell, but hopefully as we make sure that she doesn't have any evidence of infection and all of her other medical issues are addressed, early next week we'll start to get together as a team and say, OK, at what point do we think we have all the things addressed and it's safe for her? Which actually has to be the most optimal we consider when we decide to do something like that.
So when it's safe we'll move forward with that. But I still say it's a little too early to tell when we will actually do that.
QUESTION: Dr. Friese, immediately before surgery you said that a portion of the skull had been removed and preserved, will be replaced once there is no more pressure inside the skull. Has that portion of the skull? And if not, (OFF-MIKE)?
FRIESE: No. She still has a craniectomy, so portions of her skull are still not present. We need to wait weeks, if not months -- and Dr. Kim can also comment on this -- before a cranioplasty is considered, meaning reshaping her skull.
QUESTION: So how do you transfer the portions of her skull where (OFF-MIKE)?
FRIESE: That's not really that important because it can be manufactured.
Dr. Kim, maybe you can talk about that.
KIM: You know, when a bone is taken out, it's taken out sterilely, put into a sterile bag, and frozen. So the transfer of that, if that's necessary, is not a big deal. OK?
QUESTION: I understand she had to wear some sort of helmet, almost like a bicycle helmet on the flight over. Is that correct?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, whenever someone has had a craniectomy, we always fit them for a specially-measured helmet to protect their brain. It's exposed. This is a really an interesting story.
We had -- we had one fitted for her, and the first thing that Mark asked us was, hey, can you make us another one with the Arizona flag on it? Because that's what she would want. And we immediately got one the next day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go.
QUESTION: Can you assess her neurological functions (OFF-MIKE)?
KIM: Yes. We've started that process, and it's for somebody with a gunshot wound, excellent. Really in the top five percent of what we would expect.
She's clearly aware of her surroundings. She's interacting with us and her family.
What we're talking about is specifically language, and that's what we're trying to assess. But there are many ways that we interact with gestures and so on, and that is already happening.
And we've also reviewed the CT scans today, and, again, for the kind of injury she had, really minimal injury from what it could have been. And so we look at this and think that over the next few months, she's going to do remarkably well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to just add that when she squeezed my hand the first day, the most encouraging thing that I could have seen. And when I drove with her in the ambulance today and saw her reaction to the cheering in the streets, it just confirmed to me that she knows what's going on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, ma'am?
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
KIM: Well, her husband relayed to me that, you know, there are times when she's kind of rubbing his shoulder and neck to kind of calm him down, so that's a very clear interaction.
Today, when we were trying to do parts of the exam, if there were things that she didn't like, she was pushing us away or, you know, directing us to do something different. So, you know, that is -- there is no question that she's aware of what's happening.
QUESTION: Is she speaking?
KIM: You know, with a tracheostomy in, that can be very difficult to say. She's clearly, you know, moving her lips. We've already seen that. Whether she's going to try to mouth words or not, we're going to have to wait a little longer to see.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
KIM: I think she may be trying to form words, if I had to guess.
Yes, ma'am?
QUESTION: You said you're going to be looking at the drain in the brain. Is there anything else medically that you're going to be watching to improve on (OFF-MIKE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have to say that in the ICU, what we do is try and anticipate problems and keep people from having those problems. Right? And that's kind of what our job is in ICU, so that you don't react to problems, you prevent them from happening.
The drain issue is a big deal. We want to make sure that that doesn't get infected. There will be tests that are done routinely on that.
Everything else looks pretty good, actually. And we're all, I would just say, happy with our assessment of Gabby right now.
Again, you guys did a great job. Tracy, the nurse that took care of her back there, did an outstanding job.
QUESTION: What are the biggest complications and concerns going forward deep vein thrombosis, sort of seizures, things of that nature?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those are right on, man. I might put you to work.
So, deep vein thrombosis, pneumonia, infections, et cetera. The things that happen to people who have been in the ICU for two or three or four weeks. She's been in the ICU now 13 days, and these things happen. We want to keep her from getting those.
QUESTION: Do you think she'll ever be a Congressperson again if she wants to?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So her rehab potential is outstanding, to quote the expert there, and we'll see.
KIM: I've seen amazing things from brain-injured patients.
QUESTION: Can you describe exactly how she reacted to the applause in the streets? If she reacted -- what did she do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was amazing to see. It was also very emotional. She smiled, and then she actually began to tear a little bit. And I think she understood the immense support that our city has for her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I could add sort of a story just from when she was initially here along the lines that you're referring to, and our initial assessment, Tracy, her nurse from Arizona, was interacting and helping us with the transition, so she had some familiarity. And she actually had Tracy ring in her fingers.
And I went to take it off, and I was trying to figure out which finger it was, and she goes, "Oh, that's my ring." And Tracy went to take it off, and she smiled, almost, to sort of hold back that she wants it. So that's sort of -- to give you an idea of the awareness that she has of the situation and the familiarity that she has with the care team that has been with her.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't worry, I didn't understand it either through the process. So it was actually Tracy ring on Gabby's finger, and Gabby was trying to hold on to it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tracy Culbert is the nurse from UMC who traveled with Gabby and her family and myself in the plane.
QUESTION: Why was Tracy ring on Gabby's finger?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just -- Tracy gave it to her.
TRACY CULBERT, UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER NURSE: She was taking it off my hand, and I asked if she wanted to see it. And so I gave it to her, and she was looking at it.
QUESTION: Can you step up to the mike, please, and say this?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, Tracy.
CULBERT: She was taking it of my hand, and I -- it was fitting tightly. So I took it off for her and asked her if she wanted to see it. And she took it into her hand, and she was looking at it and turning it to see all sides of the ring. And then she put it on her finger to hold on to it.
QUESTION: Tracy, can you talk about how emotional this is for you?
You've been with her over the last two weeks. Talk about --
CULBERT: Do you want me to cry?
It's very emotional.
I'm going to miss her a lot. I mean she's a very gentle person and her personality is coming out with her touches -- the way that she touches us, the way that she looks at us. And I am very lucky to know her. And (AUDIO GAP) wonderful.
QUESTION: Can we get your full name?
CULBERT: Tracy Culbert.
QUESTION: OK.
How do you spell your name?
CULBERT: It's C-U-L-B-E-R-T --
QUESTION: OK.
CULBERT: With a Y.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) How long will you be staying with Representative Giffords?
CULBERT: I'm sorry, can you --
QUESTION: How long will you be staying with her, Representative Giffords?
CULBERT: We have -- we are leaving today to go back to Tucson.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)?
CULBERT: I know she's in really good hands. And we had a very good transition, as they said. And they're going to keep in touch with us and let us know how she's doing. Mark is going to e-mail us and let us know.
I -- I have a lot of hope for her. And I know she's going to do great. She's a very strong woman. And you can just see it.
QUESTION: What will you tell her before you leave?
CULBERT: We already said our good-byes. And it's -- it's kind of personal. You know, I have a very good bond with her, as well as the other staff members at my hospital. And it was very difficult for everyone to see her leave, as well as her family so.
HOLCOMB: I'm happy to share with you that my exact words were, "Gabby, I'm proud to say I voted for before and I will vote for you again."
CULBERT: And she smiled really big that time. Yes, she did. It was great.
QUESTION: Do you -- do you both just look forward to the day she walks back through those doors?
CULBERT: Yes.
HOLCOMB: Absolutely.
CULBERT: Yes. We can't wait, actually.
QUESTION: Could you tell us what the next couple of days will be like (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brian?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brian, what do you -- oh, there's -- there you are.
KIM: I think the goal over the next few days is -- is twofold.
First of all, she's just going to get going with the rehab right away. And that was one of the main reasons that she was brought here. And that's going to get started right -- right away. The second thing is just some of the housekeeping issues -- make sure she doesn't have any of the infections that you guys talked about, deep vein thrombosis, just some of the things that -- that people who are in the ICU for -- for 13, 14 days have to deal with.
QUESTION: How was Mark on the plane, her husband?
HOLCOMB: Very relaxed. Very -- he -- he's very focused, very optimistic. That -- that is one thing that has, I think, helped her do so well, is his optimism.
QUESTION: Can I ask you, where did you land?
(INAUDIBLE)?
Will her husband be able to actually stay in her room with her (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So her -- her husband is going to spend a lot of time with her. There's -- there are multiple different arrangements right now. There -- he has lots of options open to him.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe he does have a --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- an area where a family member can stay overnight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're with him right now. QUESTION: How long do you expect her to be in the ICU before she can be transferred to the rehab clinic?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to try to deal with that?
AISIKU: Sure. Once again, it's still really early to tell. It all depends on how things go with managing the drain and any other potential complications. So, hopefully, not many complications will arise and it won't be a long stay. But we'll plan for whatever comes down the road.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE), days (INAUDIBLE)?
AISIKU: Days to weeks, but, you know, tough to say.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry?
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) early next week? AISIKU: Right because we'll be reassessing what the next steps are with the drain early next week and then we'll take it from there.
QUESTION: So these first -- first few days, do you anticipate hours of rehab every day (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it all depends on, also, on how much she is going to tolerate. But we're ready to give her at least three hours of therapy. So that's part of the assessment that we're going to conduct today and tomorrow and Sunday. And as her overall condition improves, we are going to upgrade not just the hours of therapy, but the type of exercises and therapies that we are going to provide.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I cannot tell you what specific exercises yet. It will be tailored to what her needs are. So my team will develop the program over the course of the next few days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think were about ready to wrap up.
Are there any last minute burning questions?
Yes, sir?
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) you've seen a patient (INAUDIBLE) to a layman and a lot of (INAUDIBLE), a lot (INAUDIBLE) very quickly. And I'm just curious about what you expect based on what you've seen with respect to (INAUDIBLE) and previous patients.
What do you expect, that that sort of pace will continue or will it slow?
What -- what sort of a future (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She will continue to make dramatic progress. We're talking about a four to six month progress -- process, regardless of how quickly somebody recovers, because it's a -- a lot to do. And Gerard (ph) will verify that.
I think there's still issues, over the next week or two, that we're going to be addressing. And so I think, overall, we're looking at months.
QUESTION: Months here in the hospital?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In -- either on the acute side or on the rehab side. It may not be that long in the hospital. But at some point, some patients can continue their rehab on an -- as an outpatient setting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, guys. Thank you very much.
We really appreciate you guys.
