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Murder Confession Revealed; Botox Behind Bars?; American Marriages in Trouble?; Turning Up Heat on Egypt's Government
Aired February 08, 2011 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Be careful what you do on your cell phone. There's a new bill targeting sexting, and your kids are the targets. I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
(voice-over): Many politicians like hearing themselves talk. We know that. But who spends the most time chatting it up on the floor of Congress? You're about to find out.
He confessed to three killings, including a mother and his son, who he stuffed in a tree. Now, his chilling confession -- how he targeted this family, how he kidnapped one of them, a little girl, and then kept her alive.
Plus, she's known as the queen of a major drug gang. How is she getting Botox behind bars? Wait until you hear about the bribes, the beauty treatments, and the secret visits.
Also, are American marriages in trouble? Find out what's causing many couples to split or work harder to survive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Hello and welcome back. I'm Brooke Baldwin. If it's interesting, if it's happening right now, you're about to see it. Let's begin with this developing story. Want to take to you Texas.
A plant still on fire, still burning three hours later in Mont Belvieu. This is 35 miles east of Houston. Apparently, the explosion happened right around noon Central time. This facility stores natural gas liquids.
And the personnel on site, according to the company spokesperson, they're on site. They're trained to deal with this kind of situation, trying to control this fire. According to the spokesperson from Enterprise Solutions, one person has not been accounted for, but at least that individual was seen leaving the facility. One school in the area though has been to told shelter in place. As soon as we get any more details, I will pass them along.
Now to Egypt. This is the center of Cairo, and this was actually just a couple of hours ago before it got dark today. A wave of renewed enthusiasm crested over anti-government demonstrators there in Liberation Square when a newly freed activist showed up and took the microphone. The crowd chanted, long live Egypt.
California, watch this with me here. Want you to keep a close eye on the white pickup truck. And this is terrifying. Now, it's speeding down the interstate going the wrong way. The driver is going southbound on northbound Interstate 5 near Oceanside. So you're thinking there's no way this could possibly end well.
Well, watch what happens. We're going to slow it down. The truck smashes into this concrete abutment. There it went. Now, you can't see what happens next, but the truck was then hit again by more cars, even an 18-wheeler, but here's the amazing part, the driver of that truck not badly hurt. Our affiliate there says the driver was this 83-year-old man who got a ticket for driving the wrong way. Whew.
To more flames in Texas, investigators trying to figure out how this huge warehouse fire got started. It got so hot that part of the roof totally blew off, ended up in a neighborhood about two miles away. Fire officials tell us there are two businesses inside the warehouse. All of those employees got out safely.
And if you try to mail a puppy, folks, look, you're going to lose custody of the dog. It seems like a no-brainer, right? Well, a Minnesota woman lost custody after an official said she tried to mail the puppy to her son in Atlanta. This was in a box, no air holes, no water, no food. And if this woman doesn't come up with enough money for bond and money to cover the cost of sheltering for the dog, that poor puppy will be going up for adoption.
Should students be required to learn Arabic? Some parents say it's happening in a school district in Texas. Think about this. How do you feel? The program part of this federally funded grant. The government has called Arabic the language of the future. The school district is now saying the classes are not mandatory, but critics and parents say that's not the point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The school does not teach Christianity, so I don't want them teaching the Islam.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was surprising, but I think it's OK. And I think it will be fine, because, that way, you will come down on the stereotype.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Mansfield is one of five school districts in the U.S. to get the grant.
To Alabama. Try this on, sex toys for guns. I'm not kidding. Here's the story. The owner of an adult novelty store trading toys for firearms this Valentine's Day. Alas, the timing. She says she wants to get 300 guns off the street. Customers, you bring in a gun in any condition and you walk out with an adult novelty.
Guns used for crimes turned over to police, the rest of them are auctioned to benefit violent crime victims.
Let's go to Colorado. A pharmacy accidentally gives a pregnant woman an abortion pill. Mareena Silva is six weeks pregnant, may lose the child. She felt a little sick after taking this medication, then to realize the wrong name was on the bottle. The pharmacy has since apologized. Doctors say it's too soon to tell whether she would or could miscarry or have a healthy baby or one with birth defects.
To Florida, a boat found turned over near Miami Beach, no one near it. There it is right in the middle of the ocean. We're told someone stripped the electronic equipment from that boat. The Coast Guard, you saw them out there, they are investigating.
And a lesson to be learned here, folks. Watch this lady. She swipes her neighbor's snow shovel in Chicago. Folks, that's a no-no. She doesn't know that she's on home surveillance camera. That's the fun part. It would be cool if she actually returned the shovel. But she does not. So how do you get someone back for that? That's what we call revenge Chicago style, baby.
David Welles used his snowblower to bury his shovel-swiping neighbor's car. Look at her go. Took her four hours to dig the car out. Listen. Here is David Welles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID WELLES, CHICAGO RESIDENT: I got a little, I guess, passive aggressive. And, you know, I got a new snowblower, so I was kind of excited to bury her car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: David posted all those videos online, so if you're not getting enough of that, you can see it online. But here's the moral of the story. If you're going to, and I say this loosely here, borrow your neighbor's shovel, for goodness' sakes, return it when you're done.
Speaking of burials, this story is a bit more serious in this New Hampshire town. No more graves will be dug until spring. That's because the workers who keep all those roads plowed in snow are the same guys and gals who take care of the cemetery and there's only so many hours in a day. Besides, they would have to jackhammer through the rock-solid frozen ground to even begin a fresh grave. Burials are on hold in this town until spring.
And the next time you check in at Delta Air Lines, you might have a new seating option. Here's the deal. The airline is adding a premium economy section to some of its international flights. Premium economy will give you up to four more inches of leg room, which would be pretty nice. The seats recline 50 percent further than your regular economy seats, but it will, of course, cost you a little bit extra. We're talking about $80 to $160 each way. And it's one of the great stories of love in our time, Ken and Barbie, Barbie and Ken. But they broke up seven years ago, but now Ken, he wants his blonde back. Toymaker Mattel launching a worldwide campaign over this. Do you believe this? I'm serious, including this billboard in Los Angeles, and, some guys, they are saying, go, Ken.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He should go after her. She's hot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go out with Barbie, but make sure that you have like an agreement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Did he just say that with a straight face? I think he did, a prenuptial agreement, of course. No word on whether Barbie is interested. We will keep you posted -- maybe.
I want to get back to the developing situation in Texas, Mont Belvieu, that fire raging out of control at a plant.
I want to bring in Greg Poole. He is the superintendent of the Barbers Hill School District.
And, tell me, sir, is it your school that's had a shelter in place, and what's the status of these kids?
GREG POOLE, BARBERS HILL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: Well, yes, Brooke, it is.
We're about five miles from the site. We do not think that the fumes are toxic. We have not been told there's any toxicity, but just to be cautious, we have got kids inside. And we have eliminated all outside activities. We're hoping to have a normal bus dismissal.
BALDWIN: OK. So, it's, what, 3:00 your time. What do you want parents to know?
POOLE: That the kids are safe, that we -- and we have hopefully done an adequate job, a good job of communicating that with computerized messages and our Web site, and to be in thoughtful prayer and consideration.
BALDWIN: Yes.
POOLE: Because most of all of our folks have parents or spouses or relatives that work in these plants. We're a blue-collar neighborhood.
BALDWIN: Sure.
(CROSSTALK)
About Everyone knows everyone, and everyone makes -- wants to make sure these kids are OK. And, Greg Poole, we're grateful that the kids are your number-one priority. Thank you, sir, for passing that note along. We appreciate that.
A fight breaks out at a high school basketball game. A player even goes into the stands. Look at this. Well, wait until you see what happened before the punches and the pepper spray. We will show you more of that video, explain this thing. That is ahead.
And she is known as the alleged queen of a major drug gang, but while she's away in prison, she's apparently getting secret injections of Botox. But there's even more to this story. It seems her life behind bars is pretty sweet. Stay right here. We're on that for you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: OK. Let's be honest. Everyone loves a good game with the opposing teams fans and you taunt and you tease and you mock one another. But no one likes it when it really gets out of control like this. And here's what happened. Just listen, back and forth. Look at the crowd.
Your usual innocuous, friendly heckling turned into a frightening fiasco between these two rival Baltimore high school basketball teams, the fans really, Friday night. Apparently, the teasing started between fans early on in the game, continued right up until the end, when this whole fight, this whole melee broke out. A couple of players allegedly involved were suspended.
In fact, police had to step in. They had to use pepper spray to just clear the stands where you saw the crowd which reportedly left people just fighting for air.
And this next story, this is pretty outrageous as well. There is a woman, she is in prison right now. Here name is Sandra Avila. She's the alleged queen of a major drug cartel. She has even been the inspiration behind a song, if you can believe it. And apparently Avila has been getting secret injections of Botox behind bars.
But you can imagine there's a lot more to this case.
Rafael Romo joins me now.
And, first, the obvious question, other than the fact that I didn't realize there were queens to Sinaloa cartels, for example, is how does she get Botox in prison?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Well, apparently, personnel at the prison was being bribed by her or her people somehow. And they falsified a request for a doctor.
Apparently, they said that they wanted to -- that she needed an ECG, an electrocardiogram, when in reality the doctor was coming in to check her up and see if they could do a Botox injection, which actually happened in prison in early January. BALDWIN: So, she wanted to maintain her smile and her uplifting -- the answer that.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: What's the latest in the investigation here into this woman?
ROMO: Well, the director of the prison and the director of the medical wing of the prison have both been released of their duties. When it comes to her, they are not really going to prosecute her. They are going to really focus on the bigger charges of the case.
And she was actually acquitted of drug trafficking charges and money laundering charges, but she was convicted of a lesser charge of -- relating to weapons. However -- and this is where the United States comes in -- there's a pending request for her extradition to the United States, and that's the reason why she's still in jail.
BALDWIN: You did say there was, of course, bribery involved here.
ROMO: Yes. That's the investigation that's going on right now. I spoke with the prosecutor in charge of the case. And at this point, two people are involved, at least, but they say there may be more people than that because it's just incredible that a doctor, a beauty doctor, can actually enter inside a prison cell and do the tests, apply the injection and nobody really knows about it.
BALDWIN: Yes, I don't really understand that. Don't really understand why you need Botox in prison -- but that's beside the point.
Rafael Romo, thank you for the update there out of Mexico.
It has been more than two weeks since that suicide bomber attacked a crowded airport in Moscow. Now, we know who is behind it, and he's warning there will be more attacks. That is ahead.
Plus, if you're planning a robbery. Forget the police. Watch out for grandma. This one takes her purse and attacks, and that is where there's video of granny fighting.
And, of course, who do we turn to when we're talking purses and grandmas. This guy. Where's your purse, Michael Holmes?
He's next. "Globe Trekking."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: This is the part of the show where we go "Globe Trekking," looking at news happening overseas. Got Michael Holmes here in the studios with CNN International.
A couple of stories on our docket. First, let's begin with, we showed that video from Moscow, from that airport explosion, what was, it a couple weeks. Thirty-six people died and now, someone has claimed responsibility.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL: Oh, that's right. The Chechen rebels were long sort of suspected, the Caucasus Region of Russia. This was long suspected as being the cause behind it and what we've got is the leader, rebel leader. You see him there.
Now, his name is Doku Umarov. He's the number one enemy in Russia, the man who sort of given the separatist rebellion legs in the north Caucasus Region. In fact, it's widened out for being, you know, freedom for Chechnya to the whole region. He wants to create basically an Islamist state there. One of his goals is to expel non- Muslims, create Sharia law, and basically then export the jihad behind the Caucasus, a guy the Russians very much want and cannot find.
He's claimed responsibility for a bunch of attacks.
BALDWIN: Claimed responsibility for a bunch attacks in the past and he's also giving a warning that I'm not done.
HOLMES: That's right. He said blood and tears will flow in Russia if it refuses to abandon these Caucasus Regions, which, you know, mostly Muslim regions. So, a man that the Russians desperately want to find, cannot.
BALDWIN: The second story that we talked a lot about before the referendum was Sudan, and now, the world has its newest nation.
HOLMES: Yes, not yet. July, but, yes, you're right. The votes are taken.
BALDWIN: The votes are in, yes.
HOLMES: Ninety-nine percent or 98-something percent voted for secession in the south. This is a desperately poor area, you know? They haven't yet decided on a name yet, by the way. But it's probably going to --
BALDWIN: They will change -- I was curious. They will change the name.
HOLMES: Yes, they haven't decided. The theory is it might be the "Republic of Southern Sudan." My top source, David McKenzie, our man in Nairobi, I was talking to him earlier about this. The biggest challenge for the south when they do eventually become independent in July is whether they can really set up a country that has a massive land area but virtually no infrastructure, very little development.
BALDWIN: But isn't part of the issue, one is the tribal feuding. They have the civil war. But, two, it's the massive resource in the south, being oil.
HOLMES: Yes, they have all the oil. But guess what? They don't have (ph) road, this is an area the size of Texas, 25 miles of paved road. So, it's hugely underdeveloped and in terms of infrastructure. So, they're going to get that sorted out. They're going to work out citizenship, things, currency, all that sort of stuff, and also how to split up the oil.
There's an agreement in place now to split it with the north. That expires conveniently in July. So, they got a lot to work out yet.
BALDWIN: OK. So, July. We'll look for July.
HOLMES: Yes.
BALDWIN: And, finally, it's the video that all of us have been talking about.
HOLMES: This is great. This is brilliant.
BALDWIN: Granny with the beat-down with the purse.
HOLMES: Yes, this happened in Northampton, in England. You can there, well, they've highlighted granny running along there.
What's happening is that six guys trying to do this smash-and- grab on a jewelry store. They do this (INAUDIBLE). It's not the first time.
You see the motorcycle there waiting for the getaway.
BALDWIN: Yes.
HOLMES: They're beating on the doors, the people inside are trying to lower the (INAUDIBLE).
Granny comes up and starts wielding the handbag, 70-year-old woman, unidentified at the moment. She thought someone was getting beaten up and she wasn't going to stand around for that.
BALDWIN: I love it.
HOLMES: She starts swinging her handbag.
BALDWIN: Watch out for granny and the purse.
HOLMES: And you see one of the motorcycles at the very end, just to the right of the screen, the guy jumps on the back and they fall off, and it's coming up. And they fall over, and the crowd then came in and pounce. They caught for you of these guys. Still looking for two others.
One of the questions that was asked was, hang on. This picture looks all very set up, doesn't it? You know, the photo is very steady.
BALDWIN: Right.
HOLMES: It turns out the cops were saying it was a film crew just happened to be there doing a --
BALDWIN: Total serendipity.
HOLMES: Total coincidence. They were there. They heard the commotion. They thought, well, here's a good shot. It turned out they filmed the whole thing.
Granny, as I said, unidentified, unheard, but she came in for a bit of a kicking, didn't she?
BALDWIN: She did. Go granny. Thank you, Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: I'm stealing your highlighter. I like this one.
BALDWIN: Appreciate it. No, I'm not OK with that.
There's a developing news out of Washington. We are getting word that the vice president has just made a phone call, and it may mean the White House is turning up the heat on the Egyptian government. Wolf Blitzer is standing by with that. That news, that development is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Got a developing story for you on the Political Ticker now.
I want to bring in Wolf Blitzer -- with the latest news here, Wolf, about the vice presidential phone call. What are you learning?
WOLF BLITZER, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Well, the White House just issued a statement, a read-out as they call, it on the Vice President Joe Biden's phone conversation with the Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman, and it's very detailed, very specific. I think in part it's responding to some of the disappointment, if not outright anger that's emerging on the streets of Cairo, Tahrir Square and elsewhere over the Obama administration's stance.
They are confused out there -- a lot of folks -- saying they are not happy if -- at least the protesters are not happy -- if the U.S. position is that President Mubarak should stay in office until the next scheduled elections in September. But this is a pretty tough statement. Biden calling Suleiman, saying the interior ministry in Egypt, which is in charge of the police, the secret police and all of the security, except for the military, they must immediately end the arrests, harassment, beatings and detention of journalists, political and civil society activists, and by allowing freedom of assembly and expression.
They also say that Biden told Suleiman, Egypt must immediately rescind the 19 -- I think it was '81, emergency law which has been in business ever since -- for some 30 years, restricting civil rights, civil liberties, human rights in Egypt; broaden the participation and the national dialogue to include what Biden calls a wide range of opposition members; and invite the opposition to participate in a partner to develop a road map and a timetable for a transition.
So, it's a pretty specific statement.
They also go on to say that Biden told the vice president in Egypt no reprisals to those who were involved in these protests. You've got to move on.
That's a big story. We're going to have a lot more on this coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM" at top of the hour.
Brooke, as you know, Roger Cohen, the "New York Times" columnist, who is in Tahrir Square, he's in Cairo right now, he's going to be joining us. You might her he was in Tehran during the demonstrations there. I'm going to ask him to compare and contrast what happened in Iran a couple of years ago and what's happening in Egypt right now.
A couple of political items I want to mention going across our Political Ticker at CNNPolitics.com.
The governor of Iowa is now say together Republicans don't mess around with the Iowa caucuses. Keep them where they are. If you are a Republican who wants to win the Republican presidential nomination, you better participate in the Iowa caucuses, he's saying, at your own peril if you avoid Iowa. I think his comments were sparked in part because Illinois wants to have a non-binding straw poll three months earlier in November. That could compete with Iowa, if you will, for an early showing of who's up, who's down among the Republicans. That's one item.
Finally, among the potential Republican presidential candidates, we're now getting word that Congressman Ron Paul, not his son Rand Paul, the new senator from Kentucky, but congressman from Texas, Ron Paul, he's seriously thinking of running for the Republican presidential nomination again. His spokesman is saying Congressman Paul is very pleased with his strong national organization and flattered by his growing national profile. He's strongly considering a presidential run and is assessing all of his political prospects.
So, a little presidential politics. Always fun and exciting to go over that as well.
BALDWIN: Wolf, thank you so much, though, for the big news on the read-out from the White House. We'll look to you in "THE SITUATION ROOM" for more on that. Thank you.
And now, to this: forget about going to confession. There is a new way to confess your sins. But first, more married couples are apparently having trouble staying together, but there is a silver lining, if we can find that.
Alison Kosik live at the New York Stock Exchange.
Alison, what is going on? I mean, it sounds like the recession is a bit of a home wrecker.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, it kind of was and it kind of wasn't. There's a study out of the University of Virginia, Brooke, that shows that the recession hurt some marriages and actually helped others. Of the 29 percent who said the recession hurt their marriages, they said, sure, it put financial stress on them. They were worried about paying bills, their mortgages, dealing with unemployment.
But then a third of the couples said actually the recession got them to work harder to save their marriage. It really deepened their commitment to marriage, kind of formed that bond, you know, in times of trouble.
And then, of course, there was another third who were considering divorce before the recession, but decided to put it off. It does show that divorce rates have fallen since the recession started. You know what? I guess they just couldn't afford it -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Well, maybe for some of the people and half of the couples need the next app we're about to talk about because when you thought there was an app for everything, think again. There is now an app for confessions? Do explain.
KOSIK: Oh, yes. Yes. This is -- it's unbelievable, yes. It's called Confession. You can buy it for a buck 99 out of iTunes. What this does is walks you through making a confession. I'm talking about where Catholics admit their wrongdoings. Plus, it even helps you track your sins.
I don't know. Maybe can you put them on a chart or a flow chart or a graph chart. I'm making this part up, no -- but what this also does it helps you examine your conscience based on your age, your gender, your marital status.
One thing though, this isn't intended to replace traditional confession. Basically encourages people to understand their actions, then go and visit their priest, you know, have that one-on-one interaction.
BALDWIN: The Catholic Church of America is backing this. They are on board.
KOSIK: Yes. They are. Yes. They gave their blessing for this. They said you know what? Virtual contact, though, Brooke, cannot replace human contact. And that goes for everything else, too, you know. You know, we've gotten so reliant upon our Twitter and our Facebook, why not, right?
BALDWIN: Need the face-to-face. Need the face-to-face. Alison Kosik, just what I thought I'd heard it all. Thank you so much.
One city wants to sell homes for as low as $1,000. Did you hear that? $1,000, but the offer only good for a certain group of people. That is ahead.
Plus, a Republican just made some news on the GOP's fight against the health care law. They are ling up with now ""Reporter Roulette"" times four. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A couple of stories for you here. The White House turns up the heat on the Egyptian government. A money battle is brewing over health care reform. The city of Detroit wants to sell some really cheap homes, but, of course, there's a little bit of a catch. And the government releasing results of its investigation into sudden acceleration into Toyotas.
There's a lot going on today. Let's begin ""Reporter Roulette"" with Dan Lothian at the White House. Dan, really a sense of urgency now coming from the White House. Tell me about this read-out that you're learning about.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Well, this is a readout that you talked about a few minutes ago with Wolf Blitzer from Vice President Biden, and it basically some strong language here from vice president to vice president. The vice president of Egypt, of course, Mr. Suleiman.
A lot of concern here at the White House about some comments that were recently made by Mr. Suleiman just yesterday. Robert Gibbs saying that those comments were, quote, "unhelpful." What did he say? Well, he pointed out that he did not think that Egypt was ready for a democracy and that the emergency laws should remain in place. Robert Gibbs saying that that does not square what the people were seeking, more opportunities and greater freedoms are talking about there.
BALDWIN: What about also, there's a lot of talk about the transition process, and there were also some strong words exchanged between vice president to vice president on that?
LOTHIAN: That's right, and in that readout that you were talking about, Vice President Biden saying that this transition process needs to be, quote, "prompt and immediate and meaningful and peaceful." These are some words that we have not heard in terms of prompt, we've not heard from this administration.
I talked to one official a short time ago wanting to know if they are essentially frustrated and turning up the heat. And he said what they are doing now is just being more direct, that this process needs to be moved forward.
BALDWIN: yes.
LOTHIAN: There needs to be progress, and that is what they are pointing out now.
BALDWIN: Dan Lothian at the White House, Dan, thank you.
Not too far away to Capitol Hill. House majority leader Eric Cantor just made news about the Republican fight against the health care reform law. Next on "Reporter Roulette," Dana Bash on the Hill. Dana what, just happened?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Eric Cantor told reporters, including our own Deirdre Walsh, that house Republicans plan to move ahead to try to choke off funding for the health care law next week, Brooke, next week. Now, we've known for some time that Republicans that don't ultimately have the votes to repeal the health care law will try to chip away at it by using the power of the purse, by cutting off its funding.
But this is the first time we've heard officially that Republicans at least in the House are going to start to do that so soon. Now, Republicans in the house do have a spending bill next week, Brooke, that they already had planned, so now we know that they are going to try to use that bill to try to address this health care funding issue.
BALDWIN: We also know, Dana, most of the provisions in the health care law, they don't kick in until 2014, right?
BASH: That's exactly right, but some of them are actually beginning to be implemented, now. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services, they are starting to get things in the works to -- to implement this health care law already. That requires money for them to do that, so if Republicans can be successful in cutting off that money, that would stop the HHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, from doing that. And that could slow or even perhaps stop the health care law from being implemented, even at the beginning stages right now.
BALDWIN: Dana bash on the Hill for me. Dana, thank you.
And a house, imagine this, a house for as little as a thousand bucks. That's the offer Detroit is making, but there's a bit of a catch. Next on "Reporter Roulette," here is Jason Carroll for me in New York. Jason?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, the question is how do you revitalize a city when you can't get people to live there? Well, in Detroit the mayor is starting with its police officers. More than half of the force live outside the city. The mayor is offering an incentive to move them back for as little as $1,000. Police officers can buy an abandoned home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVE BING, MAYOR OF DETRIOT: Police officers living in their neighborhoods have the potential to deter crime, increase public safety, and improve relations between the community and our sworn officers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Well, not only is the mayor David Bing offering low-cost housing. He's willing to put federal stimulus dollars, as much as $150,000, towards fixing up the homes. The incentive is being offered to fill some 200 abandoned houses currently owned by the city in Detroit's Boston-Edison and East english Village neighborhoods. As for Detroit police who are already living in the city, they can also get in the deal. The mayor says he will offer these officers the opportunity, albeit a smaller one, to improve their existing homes with some of those stimulus dollars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got to reward the ones that did stay. I never left. I never had a plan to leave. I make Detroit work for me. It's my home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Well, the mayor's office tells us that 50 calls have already come in from officers wanting to participate. Eventually, the incentive will also be offered to Detroit's firefighters. The mayor's office also told us they hope this might catch on with some of Detroit's large corporations, hopefully offering employees incentives to live where they work.
Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Jason, thanks. And heads up if you drive a Toyota. We now have results that federal investigation into the sudden acceleration issues in those cars. Next on "Reporter Roulette," want to go live to Deb Feyerick in New York. Deb, what is the conclusion here?
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the conclusion really is what Toyota was saying all along is that it wasn't the electronics. It was in fact sticky gas pedals and floor mats that were trapping those gas pedals. The NASA study basically saying we tried to repeat it. We received looked at 280,000 lines of computer code, and it's just not there. It's not the electronics.
So that is a pretty big win for Toyota. Remember, they had to recall 8 million cars in the United States alone and have already paid out some $49 million in civil penalties, Brooke.
BALDWIN: So, they say it's not the electronics, but do trial lawyers suing Toyota, do they buy that?
FEYERICK: No, not at all, and I spoke to a number of them. One of them says it flies in the face of reality. Another said that this is a disservice to the American public, and a third basically said, you know what? It simply is not right. The door is not closed. Clearly, these class action lawsuits going on all over the country are going to continue because there is other information, other evidence, trial lawyers say they have, that will show in fact that there is a major question as far as the electronics and why Toyota never implemented a brake override system in the very beginning. Brooke.
A lot of questions still, Deb Feyerick. Thank you, and that is today's "Reporter Roulette". Next, we all know politicians like to talk, right? But now there are actual statistics, talking hard numbers, to back up which ones actually tend to talk the most. And you may be surprised actually which ones are the chattiest.
Joe Johns has that "Political Pop." He is next, but first this.
But first, this. If you are single and you're looking for love, listen up. Nice. Cue the music. The daily Beast has a list for you. The best cities to find love, rounding out the top five. You have San Diego, California. Number four on the beach, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
How can I do this with a straight face?
The third best city to find love, Austin, Texas. But which are the top two cities for singles? Could you guess? You may be surprised actually. Those answers right after the break. Cue the music.
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BALDWIN: Okay. Cue the Barry White. Let's continue this together. If you're single and looking for love this Valentine's Day, may want to consider looking in one of The Daily Beast's list of best cities for love. We brought you the top three of the top five cities before break. Which cities could be topping the list, you ask?
Coming in at number two, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the number one city for love is home of the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas. Take a little stroll with the sweetie along the Riverwalk. Makes perfect sense.
Just keeping to a little Barry White.
Time now for some "Political Pop" though. And who do you think has the biggest mouth in Congress? Who talks the most on the floor? We have a list based on the number of days congressmen and women have talked on the floor, and it's from C-SPAN, so on the Senate side, go with me here.
The gold medal goes to Harry Reid, obviously no surprise there, Senate leader. Silver, Mitch McConnell, bronze, Dick Durbin.
Joe Johns joining me. Not part of the list. He's our guy we'll go to in D.C. You know, were they talking to full chambers each time here or just those C-SPAN cameras always set up at the Capitol?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's a little bit of everything. But the thing about the senators that's interesting is, look, the leaders always talk. The leaders have to talk. So that's Harry Reid. And that's McConnell. Those are two guys who have got to be out there sort of setting the agenda and responding to the agenda, and that's what those two guys. They even get what's called leader time. So it sort of makes sense, but what's going on over on the House side is what's a lot more interesting, quite frankly -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: So who do we have on the list? Run down the members of the House who are the talkers.
JOHNS: Yes. Well, first of all, where does this all this come from? It comes from C-SPAN. They're had this function on the Web site for quite a while now where you sort of add up the number of days these members are on the floor.
And there you go. The gold medal goes to Ted Poe, Republican of Texas. Followed by Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat, also of Texas. And Joe Wilson of South Carolina.
Those two at the top are very interesting. So just start with Ted Poe.
This is a guy who basically tells me -- his office tells me -- he tries to go out every single day on the floor and say something. And he thinks it's a real important way to communicate with his constituents, and he also has this sort of signature line when he wraps up a speech on the floor.
Let's listen to what he says.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. TED POE (R), TEXAS: And that's just the way it is.
And that's just the way it is.
And that's just the way it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Yes. You know who used to say that all the time? Walter Cronkite.
BALDWIN: Maybe he took it from him. Who knows?
JOHNS: Yes. You know? But anyway, that's his point.
Now, the other one is Sheila Jackson Lee. I actually talked to her, herself, and very interesting. She's the number two talker in the House of Representatives.
She says she doesn't try like Poe to go out on the floor every single day. She only goes out when she has something important to say, to talk about legislation, current events.
For example, today she says she wants to go to the floor to talk about something we haven't talked about much here on CNN, the controversial Super Bowl ad that's got a lot of buzz right now.
BALDWIN: I heard about it earlier. So she wants to go talk about this ad on the floor?
JOHNS: Absolutely. This is the Pepsi Max ad that's becoming controversial because it depicts, some say, an angry black woman in a less than flattering way. And we have a little bit of that ad, I hope. Can we just show it, or should we just talk over it?
JOHNS: Let's show it.
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JOHNS: Oh, man. Here it comes. Here it comes.
BALDWIN: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pepsi Max, zero calories.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maximum taste.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Honey! Honey!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Ooh!
JOHNS: Ooh! It was supposed to be funny, right? And it is.
BALDWIN: I mean, kind of funny. But what is she saying?
JOHNS: Well, she's saying that it's stereotypical, that it sort of depicts African-American women and an African-American couple in a less than positive light. And it's troubling to her. At least that's the gist of what I get from her.
Now, you know we had to go back and talk to Pepsi.
BALDWIN: So what did they say?
JOHNS: Well, they say, look, this was a consumer-generated ad, it was supposed to be humorous. It was actually for a contest, and the winners got to see their work unveiled on the TV on the Super Bowl.
It wasn't an ad, in other words, that Pepsi generated in house. They did -- they say they ran it by their ethics committee and community leader types, and pretty much vetted. Also, the ad was made by a guy who said it was inspired by the relationship between his grandparents. So --
BALDWIN: OK.
JOHNS: -- there you go. BALDWIN: Well, we'll let the viewers be the judge --
JOHNS: Absolutely.
BALDWIN: -- if they're offended or not.
Joe Johns, talking about the talkers today.
Appreciate it, Joe.
And several lawmakers are trying to crack down on sexting. So they are actually introducing this new bill that targets your own kids. We're "On the Case."
Plus, whenever we talk Michael Vick, the subject, same subject, always pushes some buttons. Well, he just got a big honor for making people cry. That's next.
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BALDWIN: Let's talk about what's trending today. And it's a he. He is trending.
Michael Vick has gotten a lot of things over the last couple of years -- handcuffs for dogfighting, prison time, a second chance. Well, now he is getting a key to the city, and that is trending.
Vick is no stranger to mentoring kids to stay in school, stay away from drugs. As seen here, he made an appearance at the Super Teen Saturday event sponsored by TV Textbook in Dallas.
Now, his speech there apparently moved the mayor pro tem so much so, he decided to give Vick a key to the city. Watch this.
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DWAINE CARAWAY, DALLAS MAYOR PRO TEM: I would like to personally present to Michael Vick the key to the city of Dallas, Texas.
Michael, you deserve it, you've earned it. And we appreciate you. That is the key.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So he hands him the key, but here's the odd twist to the story. It's that Michael Vick plays for the cowboys most hated rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the actual mayor of Dallas says he did not sanction giving the key to Vick, and distanced himself from that key presentation.
Also trending right now, Keith Olbermann has a new job. The former MSNBC anchor says he is headed to Current TV. That is Al Gore's network. Olbermann, slated to be the host and executive producer for a primetime nightly news and commentary show.
A cold-blooded killer confesses to murdering a child, two women, and their dog before stuffing their bodies in a tree. He talks about why he targeted this particular family. And we're also seeing chilling video of his trip to Wal-Mart hours after those murders.
Sunny Hostin is "On the Case." She is next.
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BALDWIN: A bizarre murder case gets stranger still with the release of the killer's four-page confession. And in it, it graphically details how Matthew Hoffman killed an Ohio mother and then her son, 10 years of age, and then her best friend, and then stuffed their bodies into this hollow tree. He also kidnapped the woman's 13- year-old daughter. She was found alive, tied up in a bed in his basement.
Sunny Hostin is "On the Case."
And Sunny, it's so gruesome to read this thing. I mean, this man pretty much wiped out this family. But he claims in this confession that he only meant to steal from their home. So then what made him snap?
SUNNY HOSTIN, "IN SESSION," TRUTV: You know, it's just a burglary gone bad. He was in there, he says, just to burglarize the home. He targeted the home because the garage door didn't go all the way down.
And when he was in there, they surprised him by showing up. He waited until both of the cars left, but they came back early, and he says he just panicked, and it was -- it just spiraled out of control.
BALDWIN: He talks about how he panicked, but then, when you read this confession -- and we're seeing these faces of those he killed -- I mean, it's very gruesome, the detail.
HOSTIN: You know, it really is gruesome, but I will say, Brooke, maybe it's because I've seen so many of these confessions and have been involved in these types of cases. It didn't seem as gruesome to me, the details, but the way that he said it, it was just so matter of fact, very cold, very calculated. That's what I think was the most chilling about it.
BALDWIN: Very cold, as we'll see in that Wal-Mart surveillance video in a second.
But I want to talk about one of the more disturbing issues in this confession. It's how he describes how he treated this 13-year- old girl, the daughter of this mother he killed, while he was holding her captive in his basement.
I mean, why did he spare her life?
HOSTIN: You know, it's really the miracle of this story, Brooke. No one really knows. He says he saw her, and he could not bring himself to kill her, even though he had killed everyone else in the family. And so, who knows? No one really ever understands the mind of a killer. But this, I think, was just sort of the miracle here in this case.
BALDWIN: They made -- cooked hamburgers and played Nintendo Wii and watched movies, according to his confession.
HOSTIN: Yes.
BALDWIN: I don't get it.
How did police finally catch the guy?
HOSTIN: Well, he also sexually assaulted her.
BALDWIN: He did. That's why we're not naming her.
How did he catch her?
HOSTIN: You know, it's just good old-fashioned police work. Apparently, he had left some Wal-Mart bags containing a tarp and heavy trash bags in the home. The product codes on the items in the score records were used to determine the date and time of the purchase.
Police go to Wal-Mart and they basically identify him as the purchaser through this store surveillance video. What's so interesting is they also found -- they got video of the license plate that he drove away in, and they matched the license plate and tags through the state DMV records, and they nabbed him. Unbelievable police work here.
BALDWIN: Where is he now? He's in prison, is he not?
HOSTIN: He is in prison. He pled guilty, and he's in prison for life without the possibility of parole.
And I think that, again, is one of the good things about this case. He pled guilty, and he confessed because they took the death penalty off the table, because certainly, Brooke, after hearing these chilling details, we know that this would have been a death penalty case.
BALDWIN: So it would have been a death penalty case had he not written out this whole entire confession.
And a final note -- and I just can't help but thinking about this 13-year-old girl, the survivor of this horrific story -- do we know how she is today?
HOSTIN: You know, she's doing OK. She read a statement at his sentencing. She seemed strong.
She said, "I'm no longer afraid of you." And I think that that was really a big step for her, because she got to see him sentenced, you know, to prison for life. And she said, "I'm getting over this and I'm feeling strong." And so I think that that was one -- another good thing that came out of the story --
BALDWIN: Yes.
HOSTIN: -- if you could say it's a good thing. She's doing OK.
BALDWIN: He said in the confession he meant her no harm, but apparently her father not buying it.
By the way, Sunny, we tried yesterday, we tried today, the new sexting law in Texas. We're going to get to it tomorrow. The third time's the charm.
HOSTIN: Yes.
BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin, thank you so much.
HOSTIN: Thank you.
BALDWIN: We're out of time.
Wolf Blitzer, to you in Washington.
