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Wildfire Battle in Florida; Labor Talks Threaten NFL Season; How to Avoid Tax Audits; Atlanta's Problem with Water Bills; NFL Introduces New Sideline Test; New Gingrich Looking into 2012 Field
Aired March 01, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux. I want to get you up to speed for Tuesday, March 1st.
Florida has just reopened an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Volusia and Brevard Counties. Flames and choking smoke from brush fires had shut the highway down. The 10,000-acre blazes are threatening several neighborhoods. They are just 10 percent contained right now.
And Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker unveils his new budget today. It will reportedly cut $1 billion for local governments and school districts. Now, the governor says he can also save money if the legislature ends collective bargaining for most state workers, but Democrats left the state to stall a vote.
We are now looking at live pictures there. Activists are at the Ohio State House in Columbus today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no morality for working people lest they have the right and practice that right to bargaining collectively for a fair wage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: They are protesting Senate Bill 5, which would ban or restrict collective bargaining rights for state workers. A Senate vote is possible today. Republican Governor John Kasich says the bill would help ease Ohio's budget deficit.
And in Washington, the House plans to vote today on a bill to fund the government until March 18th. Now, if the Senate goes along, the measure will overt a government shutdown on Friday. At Republican insistence, the bill cuts $4 billion from 2011 spending.
(CHANTING)
MALVEAUX: In Libya today, rebels say Moammar Gadhafi's fighters tried and failed to retake a key town in the capital, Tripoli.
(CHANTING)
MALVEAUX: Libya's leader insists there are no protests against his rule, and he denies aiming his tanks and warplanes at his own people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER: They love me. All my people with me. They love me, all.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, HOST, ABC'S "THIS WEEK WITH CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR": But if they do love you --
GADHAFI: They will die to protect me, my people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Shortly after that interview with Western journalists at a seaside restaurant in Tripoli, U.S. diplomats quickly suggested that Gadhafi has become unhinged.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN RICE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: And when he can laugh in talking to American and international journalists while he is slaughtering his own people, it only underscores how unfit he is to lead and how disconnected he is from reality.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Tripoli has an air of normalcy about it, if you can say that. Traffic is on the streets. Many stores are open again. But one protester tells CNN that the lull does not mean that the fight to bring down Gadhafi is over.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People have been afraid and have been living under his tyrannical regime for too long. You know, we have reached the point of no return. Too much blood has been shed and too many people have been injured for this regime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is chiming in on his friend Moammar Gadhafi's predicament. He says that the United States is exaggerating and distorting the situation in Libya to justify an invasion.
Well, there will be dire consequences that could include layoffs. Now, that is according to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Walker plans to release his new state budget today as these protests continue.
Which brings us to our "Talk Back" question. And our Carol Costello, she's right here in Atlanta. She joins us.
Carol, good to see you again. What do we have?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Things are about to get tense later this afternoon in Wisconsin, I can say that.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has issued an ultimatum or, in Walker's vernacular, a 24-hour notice to those Democratic state senators who fled the state 11 days ago to prevent a vote on the governor's budget repair bill, the bill that guts collective bargaining.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: Come home. There are dire consequences, dire consequences I don't think any of us, Republican or Democrat alike, would like to see happen here in the state of Wisconsin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: As in layoffs, lots of them, including public employees and teachers. Governor Walker says passing the bill would ease the budget crisis and allow time for a $165 million refinancing of the state debt, a step that would avoid layoffs. Besides, says Walker, Democrats already achieved their goal to slow down the process and get the public's attention. And even though two new polls show the public sides with the union protesters on collective bargaining, things are getting ugly in Madison.
A Fox News reporter says he's been harassed and attacked by members of the crowd shouting, "Fox lies!" According to Madison.com, the state house protesters have turned it into a protest village complete with first aid centers, scheduled events, and child care.
The fleeing Democrats who called the bill blatantly anti-union say taxpayers aren't on the hook for their expenses. But Governor Walker has visited her districts and sent patrol officers to their homes in an effort to pressure their return.
And what about those extra security people, those extra police around the state capitol? All of that costs money, taxpayer money.
So, "Talk Back" today: Is it time for Wisconsin Democrats to come home and vote? Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll read some of your comments later on in the hour.
MALVEAUX: Carol, I had a chance to talk to one of those Democrats, the senators, a couple of weeks ago. I had no idea that they would still be out of the state today. They truly believe they are doing the right thing. There's a lot of pressure, a lot of people questioning their strategy about whether or not they should be there or they should come home.
COSTELLO: Well, now they have this idea that they can talk some Republicans into changing their votes on this budget repair bill, but Republicans say that's not likely to happen, although they have one possibility. But he's talking more of a compromise than actually changing his vote.
MALVEAUX: I'm curious to see what people are going to say weighing in on this one.
COSTELLO: Yes, me too.
MALVEAUX: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Some residents in east-central Florida are packed and ready to go if the flames get any closer. Fast-moving wildfires have burned more than 10,000 acres since this time yesterday. Much of it in Volusia and Brevard Counties.
Our John Zarrella, he is in the town of Mims.
And John, what's the situation there? You've just had some rain. Did it help? Did it get any better?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, really good news.
That rain came down, started at about 7:30 this morning, lasted for a good two hours. It was very heavy at times as well, Suzanne, so it really helped the firefighters get a handle on this blaze. They were able to reopen I-95, all of the lanes to that, and so that's good news. And they were able to get out there all night and this morning, and just to cut those fire breaks around the fire so they can try to keep it contained where it is right now.
Now, you know, take a look at this, Suzanne. For the viewers, this is the kind of vegetation that's everywhere out there, and it's all dead from the dry conditions this winter here.
MALVEAUX: Wow.
ZARRELLA: This is the fuel -- yes -- that is really sparking these fires and making them so intense.
You see the flag right there. Now, that's not great news. The flag is starting to really kick up and blow.
MALVEAUX: Oh, I see.
ZARRELLA: And the concern is that as that cold front moves through that brought the rain, it's going to change the direction of the winds, and maybe that will allow the fire to jump the fire breaks and start to move towards the south a little bit, whereas it moved east yesterday.
But last night, a very dangerous situation. Really intense fires. They were battling them all night, trying to get a handle on them. The embers we were told were jumping from the head of the fire a half a mile over the fire line. MALVEAUX: Really?
ZARRELLA: That's how the wind was blowing last night. Yes, so they had some real difficult conditions last night.
The sun is starting to come out now. It's going to heat up again during the day. So they are really racing against time to get a handle on this fire, knock it down as best they can, before the afternoon heating takes over and the winds pick up. But right now they think they have got a good chance of keeping this fire under control -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And John, do we have a sense of whether or not they will have to evacuate in that that period, that lull there, while we wait for this next wind to come through?
ZARRELLA: No, not at this point. You know, in fact, there is only one school in Brevard County that was closed.
The roads are reopened. The traffic is moving. There was one shelter opened over night. Just a handful of people went to that shelter.
So, at this point, no plans for any further evacuations. In fact, it's very likely the people that did evacuate will be able to go back home today.
But we have seen these things in past, and all it's going to take is that wind to pick up, a little of this grass to start to dry out, and then you have got a problem again. So they really are racing to try and get those fire breaks built as quickly as they can.
MALVEAUX: All right, John. Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MALVEAUX: Going "X Country," we start with the cleanup that is happening in the Southeast.
After a day of terrifying storms, one Tennessee man was killed when a tornado hit his home. His daughter and granddaughter crawled out from under the rubble.
Thousands of people across the region are now without power. In the Ohio Valley, entire neighborhoods are under water.
Well, here's something that you don't see very often, a plane and car collide. The pilot was trying for an emergency landing on this road in Alabama. He landed on top of a car instead.
Now, the driver and passenger were just slightly hurt. The pilot and his passengers are OK.
And in metro Atlanta, police are looking for some rooftop burglars. They have been able to elude security alarms by climbing through air ducts, taking whatever they can grab, and leaving the same way.
And a contract dispute could lead to a season without football. I know a lot of folks who are going to be impacted by that. We're going to have details on what that could mean financially as well for the NFL teams.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We're checking CNNMoney.com's lead story now.
As you can see, "Wall Street Reform at Risk." Lawmakers want to cut funding for agencies that would help in averting another financial meltdown. That on CNN.com.
And then also, here, we're taking a look at the Dow Jones. The market here down by 11 points or so. Keeping an eye on that as it fluctuates.
Well, it is late in the fourth quarter for contract talks between the NFL and the players. They're up against a Friday deadline. Now, if the talks fail and the 2011 season is canceled, what does that mean for the NFL teams?
Our Alison Kosik, she joins us from New York.
Alison, I know football fans are going to be really disappointed. But obviously, when you take a look at the teams, are they going to be able to take this financial hit?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know what, Suzanne? I wouldn't worry a thing about the teams.
Standard & Poor's -- that's the rating agency -- looked over the finances and found that some of these NFL teams will do fine even if they don't play a game for two years. That's because a lot of their income is already locked in through contracts, and one of the biggest contracts is through TV networks.
They will continue to pay these teams because that is the biggest source of revenue for the NFL. It's kind of like a loan for the NFL, especially because the NFL would have to wind up giving back a lot of this money once these games resume.
But we also see these contractual agreements with suites, club seats. They're sold well in advance. The same with ads. Advertising is locked in.
And then you have to remember that a lot of these teams have reserve funds set aside. I'm talking about in the hundreds of millions of dollars -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: So what about attendance? If there is this temporary lockout, is it going to be really tough to regain and get those fans back in the stadiums?
KOSIK: You know what? It will be a process, because what winds up happening, you know, the viewer interest, the fan interest, it wanes if the games aren't played.
In fact, S&P says that if you look back at the other lockouts, at the other strikes, attendance actually went down anywhere from four to 11 percent. But that attendance does rebound. In fact, a lot of times ticket prices are cut to lure fans back, and that usually works to get fans back into the stadium, back watching on TV -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. Well, we know there are a lot of football fans out there. So hopefully this will all work out for the best.
Thank you. Appreciate it.
KOSIK: Sure.
MALVEAUX: Well, an IRS audited almost -- if you can believe this -- 11 percent more returns in 2010 than last year. So how do you avoid audits? Good question. How does the IRS target? Also another good question.
We're going to break it all down for you. Our Stephanie Elam talked to an expert about all of those red flags.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Vera, how common are audits?
VERA GIBBONS, CONTRIBUTOR, TURBOTAX: They're not that common. Only about one percent of taxpayers get audited every year, and in large parts because they made a mistake.
ELAM: Who are the types of people then who are getting audited, that one percent of Americans?
GIBBONS: Generally, it's the very wealthy individuals, but it may also be those in cash businesses, waitresses, bartenders. A lot of people are self-employed these days. And one of the reasons they're a target because they tend to merge their business, their personal expenses. They take these crazy write-offs.
ELAM: For those unlucky folks out there, what are they doing to trigger an audit?
GIBBONS: One of the biggest triggers is unreported income. Every year, a trillion dollars goes unreported. Another trigger, when you're taking too many deductions, breaks, write-offs relative to your income bracket. And then there are just random audits that happen every year as well.
ELAM: For the people out there who do get audited, what can they expect?
GIBBONS: There are different types of audits. The most common one is the correspondence audit. The IRS will write to you, you remedy the situation by providing the proper documentation. The next type of audit -- and this is a little bit more troublesome -- would be an office audit. This is when it is requiring you to go to the nearest IRS office and make your case.
The worst type of audit would be the field audit. This is when the guy comes to your house, knock, knock, knock, and it's generally happening because you have hundreds, if not thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars of discrepancy.
ELAM: And that doesn't happen to the majority of people?
GIBBONS: No. The most common type of audit would be the paper audit. You really have to have good records.
ELAM: What are some common mistakes that people make that ends up getting them likely to be audited?
GIBBONS: The IRS found that when you use a software program and you e-file, your return is actually 20 times more accurate than if you just mail in your return and you've done it pen and paper. People make a lot of math mistakes when they're transferring data from one form to the next, they make mistakes with the kids and the dependents, claiming the dependents.
ELAM: Yes. So, if you have a 30-year-old child living at home, you probably can't count them as a dependent.
(LAUGHTER)
GIBBONS: No. And don't even try to do that, because that's an automatic trigger.
ELAM (voice-over): Stephanie Elam, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: For more information on everything taxes, just go to our Web site, CNNMoney.com, and click on the taxes section.
Well, now it is your turn to "Choose the News." We're going to tell you about three stories. You vote by text messaging the one you want to see in detail in our next hour.
First up, celebrity fashion designer John Galliano goes on a racist rant, and it's caught on tape. Actress Natalie Portman, for one, is outraged.
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The winning story will air in the next hour.
Well, a city gets bombarded with complaints about sky-high water bills.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For you to expect us to think that four million gallons of water is leaking somewhere on our property and not showing up is absolutely mind-blowing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Some people say their water bills are more, if you can believe this, than their mortgage payments. Our Kyra Phillips, she is investigating.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Libya appears to be moving closer to civil war. Its ambassador to the United States says about 2,000 people have been killed since anti-government demonstrations began two weeks ago. Both sides are arming civilians.
Now, you're looking here at the aftermath of a battle for an airport in Misurata. It's a city that is now controlled by protesters.
Now, CNN can't confirm the authenticity of any video that is posted on social media sites, but it does find that these images are consistent with correspondent news reports on the ground. The Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi, is denying there are protests that are taking place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GADHAFI: They love me. All of my people with me. They love me, all. They will die to protect me, my people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Want to go live to Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson, who is in Libya's capital.
Nic, what are these areas the Gadhafi government feel that are key for them to control? How are the negotiations going with the opposition?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I spoke a little while ago, a couple hours ago, to Saif Gadhafi, who is leading the negotiations, and he told me it was in chaos. And I asked exactly what he meant by that, and I was told that what he means is that the opposition is in chaos, that they're divided, that there's no particular leader, or no sort of clear agreement between the different elements and the opposition. So the government is not appearing, it seems, to be having a lot of success in the negotiations.
Misurata, the town just on the other side of Tripoli, 40 minutes' drive to the west, Zawiya, are very key towns at the moment. A senior official here told me that what happens in Misurata and Zawiya are very, very important.
Why? Because they have anti-government forces there in the centers of the city. He said the rebels don't control the whole of the cities themselves. In Zawiya, we saw for ourselves the opposition have the center of Zawiya, but not the whole town. In Misurata, we are not able to get there, so it's not clear.
But he said how negotiations go with opposition forces in those towns is very important because he said the stalemate that the government is in right now, or the standoff, rather, that the government is in right now with these opposition groups just cannot go on. And he said it's important that the negotiations are successful. But it appears as if there's not a lot of progress being made at the moment -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And Nic, what is the mood there today in Tripoli?
ROBERTSON: You know, I would say, for the most part, it's -- particularly in the center -- it's sort of relaxed. Relaxed but uncertain. Cautious relaxed, but tense.
I mean, it sounds contradictory, but there are some people here who support the government and take comfort in the fact that they're not seeing big protests on the streets, that some of the shops are opening. And, of course, there are people in other parts of the city who do want to protest against the government but aren't able to because they know that they could face either arrest or violent putdown.
I mean, we heard yesterday, in the east of the city, that some demonstrators were driving through one neighborhood with weapons in a car. We weren't allowed to go in by government officials to see that, but those were the reports coming actually from the government. So there is still some very tense spots here -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. Nic, thank you so much for those developments. Obviously, we'll get back to you as things development there on the ground. Appreciate it.
Libya's deputy U.N. ambassador, he's going to join us live in the next hour from the United Nations. Ibrahim Dabashi predicted early on that thousands would be killed. We're going to talk to him about Gadhafi's mindset. Is he really delusional like the international community is saying? Plus, how to end the turmoil? That in the next hour.
Well, when your water bill is more than your mortgage, if you can believe that, that's a big problem. And that is the situation that is facing thousands of people in one city. Our CNN's Kyra Phillips, she's here with her investigation.
Kyra, so nice to see you. Water bill wars. I just moved to Atlanta.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.
MALVEAUX: What are we dealing with?
PHILLIPS: Well, watch your bill closely, I'll tell you that right now, Suzanne, because Atlanta already has the highest water rates of any major city in the United States. And residents are outraged and they're confused about why they're paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars each month for water.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are mad.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Atlanta residents clearly have had enough.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For you to expect us to think that four million gallons of water is leaking somewhere on our property and not showing up is absolutely mind-blowing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were taking a shower every day. Now we're skipping sometimes because we're trying to save the water.
PHILLIPS: For more than three years, Atlanta, a city of more than a half million residents, has been bombarded with complaints of outrageous water bills. Similar complaints are popping up around the country in places like Cleveland, Charlotte, Tampa and Brockton, Massachusetts. But the water bill war is nothing like in Atlanta.
Just ask Wilda Cobb (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like I'm going crazy.
PHILLIPS: Cobb lives by herself in this 1,800 square foot home. Her water bill averages $30 to $40 a month until it began going up, more than $1,200 in November. Her December bill, nearly $6,900. Cobb now owes more than $10,000. And city inspectors found no leaks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me to have to take the time to do this.
PHILLIPS: Then there's Debbie Scarborough. Her water bill shot up more than $3,000 after two months of huge spikes last summer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is another bill, another month.
PHILLIPS: She even hired two plumbers to prove there was no leak.
Five years ago, the city hired a company to replace its aging water meters with automatic meter reading devices. All city workers have to do is drive by and electronically collect the data. But it hasn't gone as smoothly as it looks.
As early as 2007, problems arose when city auditors found city auditors found they were unable to verify electronic reads for 13 percent of the meters that were tested. Then in 2009, another audit found a high number of accounts that don't get actual meter readings because of meter read errors, equipment failures, or human errors.
PETER AMAN, CITY OF ATLANTA COO: A significant amount of frustration on everybody's part --
PHILLIPS: Peter Aman is the chief operating officer for the city of Atlanta.
AMAN: When these automated meters were put in, obviously the subcontractors to the city that did this work did it just absolutely horrible job in a number of cases.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Baloney.
PHILLIPS: And residents are getting more and more angry. Aman tells us one percent of the meters sampled were not properly installed, a mistake that could cause a water bill to double.
AMAN: At this point, it looks like good old fashioned incompetence.
PHILLIPS: Aman showed us how the meters register, which measures how much water is being used, didn't even fit properly with the meter base.
AMAN: Where there two components don't match and guess what? They're both labeled. This one says three-quarters on it. This one has a one on it. Now, it's small print but it's big enough to see.
PHILLIPS (on camera): You wouldn't get an accurate reading?
AMAN: That would be a totally inaccurate reading.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): We repeatedly tried to interview executives of both Neptune Technologies, which manufactured the meters and Systems and Software, which provided the billing system, but they refused to comment.
Aman says there is no evidence those companies are at fault but he says the company that installed the meters should be held accountable. That company is KHAFRA, based in Atlanta, which teamed up with another firm in Pennsylvania to carry out the $40 million installation contract. Valentino Bates is KHAFRA's president.
VALENTINO BATES, KHAFRA PRESIDENT: For the three years that we worked on the project, we satisfied all concerns with respect to that contract.
PHILLIPS (on camera): So you think a successful contract includes one percent of the meters not operating properly?
BATES: And those one percent were fixed prior to our leaving and turning over the warranty to the city.
PHILLIPS: So you're saying right now all of your meters are installed properly?
BATES: Yes, ma'am.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Bates said repairs were completed last year on 968 meters that had a mismatched base, and said he was not aware of additional meter issues identified by the city.
But with showed him what Aman said about the newly discovered improper installations.
(on camera): He's saying that is still a problem and that's what's causing a number of the bills to double.
BATES: I'm not -- I can't speak to what it is. But all of the ones that we were notified of when we did our own internal audit and the audit that was done by the city, we took care of those problems.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): But residents say there is more to the problem.
"Our water bill would be enough for a large Olympic pool to be filled."
"I'm at my wit's end and ready to have a nervous breakdown."
"This smells like a scam."
(on camera): Do the majority of the people that have complained about high water bills, do they have leaks?
AMAN: The majority of the people who complain about high water bills have some issue that's not associated with the meter. Many, many of them have either leaks or increases in usage through irrigation or pool-filling that they didn't fully understand the impact of.
PHILLIPS: But don't tell that to Debbie Scarborough or Wilda Cobb.
(on camera): You have a $3,000 water bill and no leaks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No leaks and my meter is working fine.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): While it's still unclear what's wrong, the city is now monitoring water usage at her home.
As for Wilda Cobb, the city says something must have happened in a one-month period for her bills to shoot up so dramatically and then go back down to just $34.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I literally just -- this can't be real.
PHILLIPS: Cobb knows something about water issues. Ironically, she's an attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As a person, I know something's wrong here. As an attorney, I just -- what can I do about it? But I don't think it takes a law degree to say, you know, $7,000 for a month's use of water by one person is in a small home is just crazy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Kyra, it's an unbelievable story.
Where do things stand now?
PHILLIPS: Well, class action lawsuits is where it stands. They've been filed by residents and commercial properties -- have been filed against the city and the contractors over these high water bills. And so far there's been no resolution.
And the previous management team at Watershed Management is out. The new administration says it's making progress on the water bill problem. In fact, last year, close to a half million dollars was refunded to residents who appealed their bills.
Suzanne, here's the interesting twist. The city of Atlanta, its own water bill has nearly doubled in the past two years -- $12 million. OK, that's their water bill. And no evidence of leaks and no evidence of broken meters.
MALVEAUX: Wow. An excellent investigation. Thank you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
MALVEAUX: All right. Appreciate it. Good seeing you again.
To learn more about Atlanta's water bill fight, go to CNN.com and while you're there you can see the cost of water in cities across the country. Find tips to lower your bill. Just go to CNN.com for all of the details.
And a reminder about your chance to Choose the News. You vote by texting 22360.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We brought you an in-depth look at what may have led former Chicago Bear David Duerson to kill himself last month. Duerson was part of the fabled 1985 Super Bowl team and later a successful businessman and radio host. Well, he shot himself in the chest because he said in text messages that he wanted his brain to be studied for signs of damage from hits that he took on the football field. Well now the NFL is introducing a new test to evaluate whether a player has been hit too hard to return to the game.
Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, it's important to point out, Suzanne, there have been various sort of sideline tests in the past. But this is something that people are excited about because, in part, it's going to be probably the first attempt to do things consistently. Right now there may be one sort of exam by one team by their doctors. A different sort of exam at another place.
How do you make that more consistent? That was one of the questions the league was challenged with. I actually spoke to co- chairs of the advisory committee about this very issue. There's 32 teams and now the sideline test, which is expected to take about six to eight minutes, is going to focus on three things. Really, the cognitive exam, the neurological exam, the balance exam.
So, you know, think about that. There's obviously going to be questions a person is going to have to answer. There's going to be a physical, hands on part of the exam. And there's going to be an neurological exam, seeing what someone's neurological function is, sort of put those things in combination. And within about six to eight minutes, they say people will be able to give an idea as to whether or not someone has had a concussion and whether or not they can return to the game.
I will tell you this, Suzanne, it is by no means a perfect science still even as it becomes more standardized, more consistent. And it's going to be still a judgment call for a lot of people. They're going to, as they say, have to err on one side of the other and the advising committee erring people to sort of err on the side of caution. That's what they're advising people to do.
Now, one thing I want to point out, and we just got this relatively new information is that this is not a mandatory thing. As much as the culture has changed in NFL, I want you to listen specifically to what a statement says from them.
They say, "The new protocol is not mandatory. This is a matter requiring the clinical judgment of an experienced team physician who knows his or her players and knows when something is wrong. Those guidelines are designed to provide more consistency across the NFL teams."
And I think this is going to continue to be a little bit of a point of contention because no matter how little tolerance there is for concussions, how little tolerance there is for someone returning to the game with a concussion and how much the commissioner has spoken about this, if it's not mandatory and people want to get back in the game and there is that play through it sort of mentality, so a large question mark is to how much of an impact this will make.
But again, new sideline test, six to eight minutes. Look for it incidentally this fall when you watch football games. You'll probably see players going to the sideline and getting that test.
Back to you, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Thank you, Sanjay.
Well, taking sides -- and actually new news that we want to go to, possibly White House candidate in our political update, that after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Well, a possible Republican candidate for president announcing that he's going to take that first step. Our Peter Hamby , he's part of "The Best Political Team on Television," live from the Political Desk in Washington.
Peter, tell us what you know. What's crossing?
PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Hey, Suzanne.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican familiar with his plans tells CNN that he will announce an exploratory committee to look at running for the Republican nomination in 2012. He will make that announcement on Thursday. That makes him probably the first serious Republican contenders to test the waters officially in the presidential race.
As we know, radio host Herman Cane, a lesser-known figure, has also formed an exploratory committee.
So this is big news. We have known that Newt Gingrich was looking seriously at the race. And quite frankly, he's already been testing the waters, traveling around the country, going to Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, a lot of these key states to raise money and meet with activists.
So this will still be big news, though. He is certain to occupy a lot of the oxygen in the room later on this week because we have been so hungry for a candidate to dip their toe in the waters and we finally have one.
MALVEAUX: Well, you know, Peter, that's an excellent point that you bring up, because so many of the Republicans, they are on the sidelines, people are waiting for them to announce something officially. I guess the thinking there in Washington is they're waiting to see what Sarah Palin does.
What do you make of this, now that Newt Gingrich has moved forward.
HAMBY: Yes, there is some of that. I mean, there's a little bit of a Kabuki dance going on between different candidates, you know, eyeing each other. You know, Sarah Palin obviously carries a lot of weight among Republican grassroots activists, so they want to see what she has to do. But, I mean, it's starting so late, quite frankly, because last time it started too early. I mean, people jumped in early. Rudy Giuliani was the front-runner. No one really wants to jump in and take all these barbs from other candidates.
And it's also extremely costly. I mean, like why would you jump in early, burn through your donor's money, you know, just to fade out later?
So I think we'll start to see some more announcements. I think April and May is really going to be a hot spot in the presidential race.
MALVEAUX: All right, Peter, thanks for the breaking news. We're going to turn back to you for any other candidates who might make some announcements soon. Thanks, Peter.
HAMBY: Thanks.
MALVEAUX: For the latest political news, you know where to go, CNNPolitics.com.
Of course, don't forget to "Choose the News. Vote by texting 22360 for the story to see in detail. Here are the choices, a fashion designer John Galliano racist rant caught on tape. Why actress Natalie Portman is outraged and Christian Dior is firing him. Second, how can you make a living, even millions, without living your living room? This is not a cheesy ad, it is a new program, a YouTube program. Or the third choice, homeless to magical. How disadvantaged children are gaining self-confidence by learning the tricks of master magicians.
So all you got to do is vote by texting 22360; vote 1 for the Galliano's racist rant, 2 for YouTube millionaires, or 3 for homeless to magical. The winner story will air in the next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Governor Scott Walker plans to release his new state budget today even as protests enter a third week. Well, here's your chance to "Talk Back" about that. Our Carol Costello joins us here in Atlanta.
Carol, you must be flooded with people weighing in on this thing.
COSTELLO: We have been flooded, actually.
It's do or die time for Wisconsin. The governor says he's going to release his budget with these draconian cuts because the Democrats won't come back and those draconian cuts just may lead to layoffs, something the governor does not want to do.
So the "Talk Back" today: Is it time for Wisconsin Democrats to come home and vote?
This from Kim, she says "No, the Democrats have a responsibility to their constituents."
This from Michael, "Walker has said that's 'it's not open for discussion' like he's someone's parent or school teacher. So, to answer your question simple: No."
This from Chas , "Yes. This is not the way a democratic process should work. They need to fight the good fight and let the process go where it will."
This from Djana, "The Dems (the Democrats) are doing their job right where they are -- standing up to the bully pulpit."
Keep those comments coming. Facebook.com/CarolCNN, Facebook .com/CarolCNN and the conversation will continue.
MALVEAUX: And, Carol, you wonder how long they're going to stay away. I mean, you wonder, you just wonder. Is there a cutoff point? Is there a deadline? Are they paying attention to what people are saying? Clearly, people are telling you they should still stay away for awhile.
COSTELLO: Well, if they're paying attention to national polls, there's a new one that just came out today, I think it was a "New York Times"/CBS poll.
MALVEAUX: Yes.
COSTELLO: And it said that most people are in favor of the unions.
And you have to remember that the Democrats who were staying away in Wisconsin get a lot of campaign money from unions, so --
MALVEAUX: Makes sense.
COSTELLO: -- there's a whole bunch of things at work here.
MALVEAUX: Yes, little politics going on, to say the least.
COSTELLO: A lot of politics going on.
MALVEAUX: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
MALVEAUX: Charlie Sheen, he says that he's clean and sober, and even pulls out a drug test to prove it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Enjoy every moment, that's Charlie Sheen's motto. It' s our trending topic today. Sheen insists he's not an addict, just someone who enjoys life.
Well, he sat down with Piers Morgan for an in-depth interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: I don't believe myself to me an addict. I think that I'm just going to ignore or smash or dismiss a model that I think is rooted in vintage balderdash, you know, for lack of a better word.
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": What would you call yourself, if you're not an addict?
SHEEN: I mean, what's another word?
MORGAN: I mean, do you think it's simply a case of you like to party? Is it as simple as that?
SHEEN: Well, no, as long as I subscribe to the beliefs of others that build these models that don't leave room for individuality or creativity or anything that like -- they say you've got to surrender and get rid of your resentment resentments, you got to sit around and be all lame, you know. I just can't find a label other than just alive. There's this great quote going around, you know, I'm high on a drug, it's called Charlie Sheen.
MORGAN: But you took a drug test to prove that you are currently completely drug free.
SHEEN: The results --
MORGAN: You actually have the results on you?
SHEEN: Well yes, these days, have to carry this stuff with you, right?
MORGAN: And when was this taken?
SHEEN: When was it taken? Yesterday?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. The day before.
SHEEN: The day before, yes.
MORGAN: So assuming this is accurate, which I believe it is --
SHEEN: Oh, yes.
MORGAN: This is completely clean.
So when was the last time you took a drug?
SHEEN: I don't know, because I'm not being you know held hostage by AA anymore. I don't count my days because it puts such a premium on them and then you run around with your days going, oh, god, don't lose your days, don't lose your days. Boom, I lost my days, and then it's like where did my days go?
MORGAN: What about your fellow cast members? Have you talked to any of them? SHEEN: I have not because I don't feel like there's any real support there. No one has issued a statement, have made a phone call. I got a couple angry texts, ignore that. But I'm out here doing this for all of us guys, I'm not here trying to embarrass you or ruin your jobs or ruin the show --
MORGAN: Do they feel -- do they feel you've let them down?
SHEEN: I don't know. I don't know. I'd be speaking for them. But it would have been nice if there was some measure of support from anybody, anybody at this point. That's all right, man. Every great movement begins with one man, and I guess that's me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Tonight on "PIERS MORGAN," Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. Now he talks about his new memoir, which reveals a childhood of abuse. That's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
