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Travel Advisory Released By The U.S. Department On Terror Attack; Amanda Knox To Make An Appeal Today; Conrad Murray Trial To Resume This Week; A Boy Saved His Mother's Life;>
Aired October 02, 2011 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREN LEE, KARENLEEANDASSOCIATES.COM: No, actually if you do this in advance, it alleviates all the stress. Now I want you to start checking the advertisements, the Sunday paper, go online.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: See if you can find them on sale.
LEE: Absolutely. And I want you to space out your shopping over the next three months. So you're not going to blow your budget all in the month of December.
WHITFIELD: As we know what happens when you wait until the last minute or a couple weeks, you end up spending more. You panic. This isn't what I wanted to get them but this is what we're going to get anyway because this is all I have time to find.
LEE: Exactly right. We've all been racing down the aisles. The next thing I want to tell you, really important. Save all your receipts. Don't take tags off. You're not going to start wrapping anything.
WHITFIELD: But wait a minute. If you find something three months in advance, are you giving that receiver an option to actually -?
LEE: You know what you're going to do is you're going to watch the prices. And when those prices come down as they get closer to the holiday, you're going to go back to the store or the online vendor -
WHITFIELD: This is a job.
LEE: And ask for a price adjustment. And they do it.
WHITFIELD: Really?
LEE: They'd rather you still buy it at the lower price than return it completely.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: You can catch "FINANCIAL FIX" every Saturday 2:00 Eastern time on Sundays at 4:00 right here on CNN. Alright, we begin this hour with a travel advisory. The U.S. state department issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans living or travelling abroad. It warns that followers of al Qaeda figures killed on Friday could stage revenge attacks. Read the entire warning on the U.S. state department's Web site.
And in a matter of hours, Amanda Knox is expected to speak directly to the jurors hearing her appeal. The American exchange student will have about 15 minutes to convince them to overturn her murder conviction and set her free. She is serving 26 years for the killing of her British roommate.
And back in this country, the jury in Doctor Conrad Murray's trial returns to court tomorrow. Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death. Beth Karas with "IN SESSION" from our sister network truTV previews what's ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETH KARAS, IN SESSION CORRESPONDENT: Doctor Richelle Cooper will be back on the stand to complete her toast testimony. She was the emergency room doctor on duty the day Michael Jackson was brought to the hospital. Now, she had given the paramedics to pronounce him dead based on the information she had when he was still home. Nonetheless, Conrad Murray wanted him brought to the hospital. She was there standing by with a team she assembled of 14 people to assist her. They tried for more than an hour to revive him before pronouncing him dead.
Now, after Doctor Cooper, we could hear from another member of that team she had assembled. One of the residents had briefly spoken to Doctor Murray to get some of the history of Michael Jackson. We could hear from her. Also detectives were coming to the hospital. Some of whom spoke briefly to Doctor Murray. We could hear from the detectives.
Coming up in the days to come will be the coroner and the coroner's investigator. We'll hear what their investigation and their testing and the autopsy showed. In Los Angeles, I'm Beth Karas for "in session" at the downtown courthouse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Turning to health news now. The nationwide death toll from a Listeria (ph) outbreak has risen to 15. The CDC traced the bacteria from cantaloupes from Colorado based Jensen farms. Dozens of people have gotten sick. More could follow. There's a lag time between eating the contaminated cantaloupes and then becoming ill.
And take a look right here, live picture of the Washington monument in our nation's capital. No work done there again today to locate damage caused by the earthquake in August. For a second day the weather is keeping crews away.
But take a look at when the weather is good and what they're able to do. Spectacular pictures from last week showing, how dangerous this inspection really is. The only way for crews to get a close look is to go to the very top, 555 feet up high and repel down the steep side.
All right, not far from the monument is the U.S. Supreme Court where the nine justices will reconvene tomorrow for their new term. CNN's Athena Jones joins us live now outside the high courts.
So Athena, how full is the docket right now?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's shaping up to be a really busy term for the Supreme Court with decisions expected on several big and politically important issues.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONES (voice-over): Monday kicks off a new term for the Supreme Court. And health care tops the lists of big issues the nine justices could take on. The Obama administration has asked the nation's highest court to rule on the constitutionality of the patient protection and affordable care act. The health care overhaul signed into law last year.
Lawsuits brought by 28 states and dozens of individuals and groups have challenged the federal government's right to require people to purchase health insurance, the key provision in the law. Analysts say the court will almost certainly address this hot button issue this term with a decision coming just months before the presidential election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The law, itself, is obviously really important whether you like it or not. It has tremendous consequences for President Obama's re-election because it's a signature achievement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The politics of health care aside, this is the central issue. This could change the way the government and people interact you know going forward in our country.
JONES: Among cases already on the court's docket, an electronic surveillance case that asks whether police can attack a GPS tracker to a suspect's car without a warrant. The central question, do motorists have any right to privacy on public roads? Another about whether prisons can subject people arrested even for minor offenses to suspicion less strip searches. And a case about whether the federal communication indecency rules violate broadcast network free speech rights.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It seems inevitable this term that they're going to have to describe what the free speech rights of broadcasters are to put profanity and some nudity on the air.
JONES: Other politically charged issues that could come up include immigration, gay marriage, affirmative action and aboard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Supreme Court term so far is shaping up to be pretty interesting but it could become absolutely explosive and enthralling. It could be the most interesting one in a century.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JONES: Now, one important point I want to reiterate here, Fred, is that the Supreme Court only takes on about one out of every ten cases it's petitioned to review. The justices haven't decided whether they're going to tackle this health care overhaul.
Still nearly every legal analyst you speak with say the court is going to have to wait until this debate. So it's going to be an interesting term here.
WHITFIELD: Interesting to say the very least. Thanks so much, Athena Jones at the high court.
JONES: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: Let's go to New York now. Protesters known as occupy Wall Street are gathering again for another day of protests. Let's head to the Wall Street area where CNN's Susan Candiotti is there in the thick of it all. And how's it looking right now?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred, it's been a busy day in terms of how crowded this park is. Of course, you have to keep in mind it's Sunday so oftentimes some people who working during the week who are unable to come can come out here this day.
But just to give you an idea of how large this park is, it's about the size of a city block. And as you can see, it's filled with people, people who are here to protest. And not just one thing, a lot of things. Everyone here seems to have a different message and they're still trying to pull it all together. And a lot of the people are here for the duration. If you look around here now, some people catching 40 winks. We even have a sign here that's offering free hugs if you can make that out.
But you see a lot of mattresses here. There are food lines set up to take care of everyone. We're starting to feel a bit of a drizzle here. But o one's going home. Everyone here, as we said, is complaining about different things. High price of gas, better health insurance and to stop cuts to education. There is no one person who is leading this protest, and a lot of people like that. So every day they hold general assemblies where they talk about different things and try to organize.
The question is will they be able to do it? For example, big protest at the Brooklyn Bridge last night, why? They told me because they wanted to try to bring a lot of focus. If they brought a big crowd out there, a lot of people from the news media would take pictures and their movement might grow. Will it work? Hard to say, but we're three weeks into it and still no organized message admittedly on the part of the protesters here. But they hope that it will come and apparently for now people are willing to wait for it, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Susan, hopefully you can hear me. I know it's crowded there. So, this crowd, is it central to that park? Or is there concern that the crowd may interfere with business, traffic, come the workweek tomorrow? Starting tomorrow?
CANDIOTTI: Well, every day there are large crowds, I would say, on the weekends. It has tied down during the weekdays. And so there isn't much interference with traffic. But they are planning a larger protest in the middle of the week and they hope there will be a large turnout for that. Oftentimes the crowd estimates have not lived up to those estimations. But we'll see what happens this week.
WHITFIELD: Alright, Susan Candiotti thanks so much, in lower Manhattan.
Alright, the reality show bug bites another famous family. These young women you're about to see are letting the camera into almost every part of their lives, but are their lives interesting enough to hold a television audience? And you will recognize the family name. That's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: High water misery in the Philippines. Two typhoons in one week slammed into the northern islands flooding entire towns and causing millions of people to flee for higher ground. More than 50 people are dead from the storms.
The same severe weather slammed into southern coastal China pushing rivers out of their banks and toppling thousands of homes.
And then, on to Mexico City where lawmakers are considering a new way of entering into marriage. If the law passes instead of a lifetime commitment, newlyweds would be armed with an exit strategy, a temporary marriage license. Under the proposal, when the first two years are up and the couple isn't happy, well the contract ends. If they are happy, the contract is renewed. Simple as that.
All right, to Denmark now. And that has become the first country in the world to put in place a Fat tax. Beginning this weekend, foods like burgers and fries will cost more. An extra fee that the Danish government hopes will make people think twice about when eating junk food. Example, a pack of butter could cost up to 30 percent more depending on its saturated fat content. Denmark, by the way, has a lower obesity rate than most of Europe, but officials say they want to improve the average life expectancy.
All right, young women, wealthy, famous and attractive, stars of a reality TV show with cameras peer into every corner of their lives. For better, worse, that formula is wildly successful on television these days. So here are the latest celebrity relatives looking into break into the show business, banking on their famous name, two sisters and their cousins in Johannesburg, South Africa. You want to guess now on what the last name may be?
All right, I was going to give you a heartbeat or two. There you go. So, the grandfather, the name is Nelson Mandela. So, they are ready for reality TV. Ralitsa Vassileva here from CNN international here with more on this and why they said yes.
Yes. Why they say yes to reality TV.
Well, they are just interested in putting together a show. They think they can be good role models. They can present the image of a contemporary South African woman. Successful. Middle class. Going about her life as mothers, as career women and set a positive role model. However, the grandfather is beloved, respected around the world -
WHITFIELD: Does he like this idea?
VASSILEVA: We don't know, they won't say. He's 93 years old, failing health. So, we don't know if he's even aware about their plans. The show hasn't been picked up by any network. They're hoping it will be picked up. They don't know when it's going to launch. So, everything is very preliminary. They're working with a U.S. producer of reality TV show and two South African companies.
WHITFIELD: So, they wanted to air not just only in South Africa, maybe abroad, maybe in the U.S. as well.
VASSILEVA: In the U.S. as well. Actually, they grew up in Boston in the United States. They grew up and they were educated in the U.S. They went back they say for family reasons and business reasons back to South Africa. So, that's where they're living right now. It's very tough to really know what the show is going to be about. But CNN interviewed one of the granddaughters and here is how she described it. So let's see, in her, own words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SWATI DLAMINI, NELSON MANDELA'S GRANDDAUGHTER: It's about us being independent women and us being independent African women, South African women. We've grown up having cameras around here or there, so I'm not too worried about it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you like the camera?
DLAMINI: I wouldn't say I like the camera. I wouldn't say I don't like the camera. The camera is just there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And they're just used to it.
VASSILEVA: Didn't quite answer the question and her name is Swati Dlamini. She is a single mom with a 3-year-old daughter. And she is interested in setting up a foundation for housing, education, and things like that. But there are a lot of concerns that, you know, no matter how much they try to respect their grandfather's legacy, reality TV shows are about you know what makes them interesting. They're about quarrels and contention. How are they going to keep up and live up to Nelson Mandela's name? WHITFIELD: Is that one of the concerns that you know that's kind of pervasive? In South Africa, that people feel like they want to be protective of the Mandela name?
VASSILEVA: Very protective.
WHITFIELD: So they're a little worried about just how real these young ladies could be?
VASSILEVA: And what impact it would have on their name. Some people even outright saying they're cashing in on their grandfather's legacy.
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy.
VASSILEVA: And that they're denying this. They're saying this is just the way they're expressing themselves and that they're very mindful and it's not about the name.
WHITFIELD: So, what's the timetable? They are kind of test driving the shooting right now, shopping it around? You know shopping and around. Are they hoping to get this, you know, in people's homes in a matter of months or a year?
VASSILEVA: Well -
WHITFIELD: Do they know?
VASSILEVA: One of them is pregnant and expecting her third baby in January. They're hoping that January, on the beginning of the year, there's a network that will pick up the show and that they can start the show.
WHITFIELD: The birth of a baby and birth of a TV show.
VASSILEVA: The birth of a baby and birth of a TV show. The oldest one, yes.
WHITFIELD: I can see the promo now.
VASSILEVA: She has an interesting U.S. connection, Atlanta connection, in fact. She met her husband while she was studying psychology at Clark University here in Atlanta. She's the one who's expecting a baby.
WHITFIELD: You're going to have to give us the follow-up.
VASSILEVA: Yes. However, people you know are saying that they might be seeking also to cash in because the oldest one wants to set up a luxury clothing line. And so, we'll see what happens.
WHITFIELD: OK.
VASSILEVA: They might surprise us.
WHITFIELD: We're going to see what happens and you're going to let us know.
VASSILEVA: I will be on the story.
WHITFIELD: All right. Ralitsa Vassileva thanks so much.
VASSILEVA: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: All right, straight ahead, standing out in a very tough job market. Tips on how to get noticed and the benefits of being likable at work and knowing how to create your brand.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Top stories are straight ahead.
Plus this, a brave 4-year-old boy calls 911 after finding his mother unconscious. The child talks with the emergency operator for more than 14 minutes and stays very calm. Just take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you hear the sirens?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A bad guy is coming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, the good guys are coming. They're going to come and help your mommy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Coming up, we'll listen to more of that 911 call and find out how the boy's mother is doing.
But first, every week we focus on ways to get a jump-start in the workforce. And in Today's reclaim your career; I talked with Valorie Burton about the importance of bran branding yourself.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALORIE BURTON, LIFE COACH: A personal brand has to be it and it's about what makes you a little bit different. And so, there are people amazingly that I come across all the time that are getting two, three job offers even in this market. So what is it that they're doing differently? And for many of them it's the fact that the company sees their value and their brand a lot differently.
WHITFIELD: And how do you do that? I mean it's more than just telling people, this is what I do, this is my specialty. But there has to be something else to really back it up.
BURTON: Yes. So, one of the things that's really important is there's something that makes you different. There's something you're known for. So for example, one woman I know was known for doing things very quickly so she went through her career in her 20s doing things fast. Her process got picked up by her company and they actually saved thousands of dollars. That's what she became known for and got promoted as a result of being the person that's known for that. It might be that you're known for your energy. You're a bridge builder. You get things done quickly. And obviously, you want to be known as the person who's going to get the job done.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. And along the way, people have to like you. You say that likability factor is huge.
BURTON: Yes. Being likable, I know that sounds almost cliche. But it's true. If you're drama free, if you're the person people are able to get along with that they trust, you become a leader even if you don't have the title that goes along with being a leader. So, this really is about not just having your career as something that your company tells you, oh, here are the steps you need to take, but instead managing your career like a business. And most people unfortunately don't manage their careers that way.
WHITFIELD: Really. You could have these great things going for you and known for something, but if you're the queen of mean or something, you know, people are not going to appreciate all those great attributes that will, I guess your personality will kind of undermine your abilities?
BURTON: But you know what, you know what's interesting, there are those people out there that we can say has terrible personalities and yet they get promoted.
WHITFIELD: Or be the king of mean.
BURTON: Be the king of mean, of course.
WHITFIELD: Yes, I know.
BURTON: But those are still usually people that are known for something. There's something they bring of value to the company that someone else doesn't bring, even if they have the same experience and same education and background.
WHITFIELD: How do you become, like, one who's in demand?
BURTON: Well, number one, like I said, manage your career like a business. That means even in taking, having your own database. Every company has a database. Every company reaches out in a methodical way. You need to do that with your own personal brand. And to begin expanding your network very intentionally, how often do you reach out? What are your goals on a weekly basis for meeting new people and making sure you touch back with those executives or people within the company that are decision makers? What are you doing to expand and build your network?
WHITFIELD: And then you need to take advantage of the opportunities. At least you want to take advantage of the opportunities but you know if a company says we're looking your "x" and you bring "y" how do you make that transferable? BURTON: Well you know what, sometimes that means getting insight from other people. And I think it's really important to have mentors and people around you that have been there and done that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Valorie Burton, Every Sunday 2:00 Eastern time, reclaiming your career.
All right, another presidential candidate is having a sit-down with Donald Trump. Find out who that is, after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Time for a check of what's happening. In the week ahead, Britain's Prince Harry is heading to the U.S. to polish his helicopter flying skills. He's enrolled in Crimson Eagle, an eight week advance training course on apache helicopters. The prince is a captain in Britain's army air corps. When he completes his training at locations in Arizona and California the young royal could return to duty in Afghanistan.
The 2011 Nobel peace prize winner is expected to be announced on Friday. Last year's winner was Chinese pro democracy activist, Liu Xiaobo. The buss this year is that the winner could come from the Arab spring uprisings. The pro democracy protest which swept across Arab countries in North Africa and in the Middle East.
And 1985 super ball champs, the Chicago bears are finally getting their day at the White House. More than 25 years ago, their visit was canceled due to the "challenger" space shuttle disaster.
It's a busy week ahead for Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. The former CEO of godfather's pizza is planning a lot of meet and greets including one with a fellow business mogul.
Joining us live now from Washington, CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.
So Paul, what's on Cain's agenda? Who is he meeting with?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLOTICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. The business mogul, that somebody a lot of people knows who is also a reality TV star Donald Trump. Herman Cain will be there tomorrow meeting with Donald Trump in New York City. And I guess, meeting with trump is like a must do if you're running for the Republican presidential nomination.
Last month the two front-runners in the race, Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Michigan's governor Mitt Romney, both separately met with trump. Herman Cain does it tomorrow.
Then on Tuesday his book comes out. Fred, the name of the book "this is Herman Cain my journey to the White House" and we'll see Herman Cain kind a making the talk show circuit as he's new book comes out. He's been in the spot light for about a week now. He won that much watch straw poll in Florida offsetting Perry about a week ago. Since then he's been nonstop everywhere. One thing though, this is interesting. His top press person resigned over the weekend. Kind of interesting timing there, Fred.
WHITFIELD: What does that mean?
STEINHAUSER: I don't know yet. We're looking into that one.
WHITFIELD: OK. Alright, let's talk about Chris Christie. He hasn't said he's going to run. But there's a lot of pressure on him to make up his mind again. So, is it too late or is he seriously considering?
STEINHAUSER: He's considering. Remember, because he kept saying no, no, no. The New Jersey governor said no, no, all year. And then at the big speech a week ago at the Reagan library, he didn't say yes, didn't say no. What's going on right now, his top political advisers are just trying to figure out just what you said, is it too late for him to jump in if he really wants to, which he don't know.
Remember with the primary calendar moving up a month, for people like you know Christie or Sarah Palin or Giuliani, if any of the people want to run, they have a lot less time though. One less month to see if they can raise money, get on the ballot in the early states. The deadline in New Hampshire is less than four weeks alone.
WHITFIELD: My goodness.
STEINHAUSER: Stay tuned to see what's going on in Trenton, New Jersey.
WHITFIELD: That's amazing. Time's a flying.
Alright, so Rick Perry's strategy to fight Mexican drug cartels is generating a whole lot of talk lately. What did he say exactly?
STEINHAUSER: Yes. Yesterday he was campaign in New Hampshire, the Texas governor said that he would consider maybe putting troops into Mexico and also talked about if he won the election one of the first thing he would do is to be sit down with the Mexican leader and discuss how to combat the illegal drug wars and trades crossing over the border sometimes.
So, controversial comments, sending U.S. troops to Mexico but you know listen, Perry has been under the attack by the other Republican candidates for maybe being too soft on immigration, for the dream act in Texas and for not wanting to build a wall along the entire border with U.S. and Mexico. Maybe this is his way to try to beef up his stance on illegal immigration. It's very important, of course, with primary caucus voters, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Alright Paul, thanks so much from Washington.
Rick Perry is also at the center of a new controversy. We'll have more on that straight ahead. And friends and family of Amanda Knox are not the only ones waiting to see how her appeal turns out. So is an entire town outside London where Knox's former roommate, the girl who was killed, grew up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories. The U.S. state department issued a worldwide travel alert for American living or travelling abroad. A warning that followers of al Qaeda figures killed on Friday could stage revenge attacks. Read the entire warning on the U.S. state department's Web site.
And Andy Rooney may soon have a lot of idle time on his hands. "The 60 minutes" commentator delivers his final regular broadcast on tonight's show. The 92-year-old Rooney has written 1,097 essays. And you'll get to hear the last one tonight.
John Hinckley Junior who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of trying to kill President Ronald Reagan might be released from a mental hospital. The government facility where Hinckley has spent much of the last 30 years is asking a federal court to let him live with his aging mother in Virginia or at least or at least close by.
And testimony resumes tomorrow in the trial of Doctor Conrad Murray. Doctors from the UCLA Medical Center where Michael Jackson was declared dead are expected to take the stand. Also on the witness stand, representatives from Murray's cell phone providers. They are expected to testify about the calls Murray made on the morning that Jackson died.
And Amanda Knox could find out tomorrow as well if she is going to get out of prison in Italy any time soon. Just hours from now, the American exchange student is expected to make a personal plea directly to the jurors hearing her appeal. She has about 15 minutes to convince them to overturn her conviction in the killing of her British roommate and set her free.
And what about that former roommate? How do those closest to Meredith Kercher feel about the appeals trial? CNN's Dan Rivers takes us to her hometown south of London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid the near constant coverage of Amanda Knox's appeal, it's easy to overlook the victim of the murder.
Meredith Kercher was Knox's flat mate, a bright 21-year-old student studying language here at Leads University. But during a one- year placement in the Italian town of Perugia, she was stabbed and sexually assaulted in 2007, a crime of which Amanda Knox and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were convicted. A drifter from the Ivory Coast, Rudy Guede, was also convicted of her murder in a separate trial. This is the house where Meredith grew up in Coulsdon, a leafy, quiet town south of London. The Kercher family has always maintained they thought the trial was fair. Meredith's father, John, wrote in one newspaper that Amanda Knox is being convicted of taking our precious Meredith's life in the most hideous and bloody way. The prospect of Amanda now being released will clearly be very upsetting to the Kercher family.
The Kercher's neighbour, Maureen Levy, says the appeal put Meredith's family under enormous strain.
MAUREEN LEVY, KERCHER FAMILY NEIGHBOR: This has been going on for four years. I mean, there was the initial murder and then, of course, there was the trial and since then it always seems to be in the news. And as they say, Meredith seems to be forgotten in it. She was beautiful. She was friendly. She was nice. She was clever. And there are not enough metaphors to say how nice she was. She looked after my grandchildren. And it was just a tragedy.
RIVERS: Local politician Richard Ottaway attended Meredith's funeral.
RICHARD OTTAWAY, BRITISH PARLIAMENT MEMBER: It was packed and overflowing. The - it was quite clear that Meredith was a popular girl. So many friends there. It was probably one of the most moving services that I've ever been to.
RIVERS: Croydon Minister was packed with 500 to 600 friends and family, a sign of Meredith's popularity. The Vicar that took the service told me how Meredith's parents dealt with that emotionally charged day.
REV. COLIN BOSWELL, VICAR OF CROYDON: They were very, very courageous. They had great dignity. A calm sort of dignity which I think they've maintained right up until now.
RIVERS: Which must now be under immense strain as they wait to find out, if Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito will be set free.
Dan Rivers, CNN, Coulsdon, England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: A 4-year-old makes a dramatic call to 911. The young boy had just found his mother unconscious. He remained remarkably calm during the call. Just take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911 DISPATCHER: What color house do you have?
BOY: It's white.
911 DISPATCHER: What color door does your house have?
BOY: I'll go check if it's brown, OK? I'll be right back. 911 DISPATCHER: Well, don't hang up. Don't hang up.
BOY: I'll come out there and see if it's brown. OK?
911 DISPATCHER: OK. You go but you can take the phone with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So the good news, the mother actually will be OK. The family had just moved to Iowa from another state and the boy used a cell phone to call 911. Authorities used cell phone tracking to locate the boy and his mother.
And controversy surrounding a GOP presidential hopeful. We hit the political trail next.
And haunted. Haunted houses are already pretty scary. Wait until you see the immense scaly creature that's waiting for visitors at a haunted house in Kansas City. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: OK. Tick Tack, Tick Tack. Get all that orange and black out. Because Halloween is fast approaching.
JAQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You have your fall colors on.
WHITFIELD: I pulled out the fall stuff. It's feeling fall.
JERAS: It is.
WHITFIELD: I like Halloween, don't you?
JERAS: It's fun.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
JERAS: I like pumpkins better than, you know scary things.
WHITFIELD: Do you go trick-or-treating with the kids?
JERAS: I'm usually the one that hands out the candy.
WHITFIELD: OK, very good. So, would you go to a haunted house?
JERAS: Not so much.
WHITFIELD: Really? What about this one? Maybe this one you'll check out.
JERAS: Yes?
WHITFIELD: It's semi scary.
JERAS: OK.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Take a look. This one is semi scary because of this one right here, that big old seven foot snake that's almost knocking him out right there.
JERAS: He's a rascal.
WHITFIELD: It's actually in a haunted house, no kidding.
JERAS: Look at how many people are holding it.
WHITFIELD: This is in Kansas City. People like to go into this haunting house because they are hoping they can encounter m Medusa. No thank you to me.
JERAS: It weighs 300 pounds. I will not forget. No.
WHITFIELD: OK. Let's move on to something now, maybe something else that we will go visit. This is the Bronx Zoo. Let's check out what happens at the Bronx Zoo when you throw pumpkins into the pen with some big old bears.
JERAS: Look at them.
WHITFIELD: They're so excited about it. Chomping on them. Carving their pumpkins.
JERAS: Look at how they use their claws to get in there. Pumpkins are a super food.
WHITFIELD: Did you know that?
JERAS: That's great.
WHITFIELD: Really healthy for you.
JERAS: I'm sure for bears, too.
WHITFIELD: They're digging it. Get it, they're digging it? So, you want to check in the bears in action, for real?
JERAS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: In October every weekend go to the Bronx Zoo and you will see this action taking place.
JERAS: They look so happy.
WHITFIELD: Happy Halloween. Lots of treats, no tricks. That's our viral for today. OK? Thanks so much, Jacqui.
We're going to talk politics straight ahead because there is controversy surrounding a GOP presidential hopeful. Find out what's going on and how that candidate is now responding.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry is at the center of a controversy surrounding the name of a hunting camp once leased by his family. The "Washington Post" reports a rock at the entrance of the Texas camp was painted with the name that included the "N" word.
Perry's communications director says Governor Perry's father painted over the offensive language soon after leasing the property in the early 1980s. The candidate's communications director also said this," a number of claims made in the story are incorrect and consistent and anonymous including the implication that Rick Perry brought groups to the lease when the word on the rock was still visible."
Earlier today, political blogger Danielle Belton weighed in on the controversy. I asked her whether this story will prove to be a big distraction for Perry on the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANIELLE BELTON, POLITICAL BLOGGER: I think it will. I think it has a lot to do with our uncomfortable-ness with a lot of America's past and with racial problems we continue have to this very day. The incident isn't that surprising to me. It's rather disappointing but not surprising considering there are a lot of historic places, a lot of communities that have problematic names like this named after derogatory terms for African-Americans or other ethnicities.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And except just for the record, Perry camp is saying that when that discovery was made they painted over it and that it wasn't a mainstay and something they were proud of existing at that camp. Meantime, one of the other Republican candidates, Herman Cain, his reaction to it saying "that's very insensitive." Do you see Perry's competitors try to seize upon this?
BETON: Well, it's simple. They're trying to differentiate themselves from them. He's weak coming off the poor debate performance. So it's natural. I mean you see a volley you're going to jump up and spike it. That's all Herman Cain is doing here, taking advantage of the situation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Alright, some perspective from our blogger there, Danielle Belton. Rick Perry's communication director responded to Cain's criticism saying that he is right to call the word written by others long ago insensitive and offensive. He goes on to say that, I'm going to quote this now, "that is why the Perry's took quick action to cover and obscure it."
Alright, much more straight ahead in the newsroom, with our Don Lemon.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We're going to be talking about that as well. I think Danielle had a pretty good perspective. What we're going to be asking is can you ever recover, even if it's just an allegation, if you had nothing to do with it, can you recover from using a word like that? It's so, it's tough you know. And as she said, there are lots of names like that historically in America. So, yes.
So, we're going to be talking about that, Fred. As you know, I was out in Los Angeles all week covering the Conrad Murray trial. Man, man oh man. We're going to be looking ahead in just a little bit at the week that was and the week ahead with our legal expert. Here's some of my reporting. Check it out real quick.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A lot of people think because of what happened that it's a slam dunk, open shut case. It's not. You shouldn't count these people out because Conrad Murray has put together a very, very smart team of attorneys.
The audiotape of Michael Jackson, they had to play it twice because the first time you couldn't hear it. It was heart wrenching. And everyone just sort to look at each other like, is that Michael Jackson? Conrad Murray had recorded Michael Jackson's either a conversation or something he was taping him doing and that's what the prosecution found.
Of course, you saw it on television. He started to tear up. We could see the back of his head. We saw him reach for a tissue. And then we saw the jury. The jury saw it all. The jury saw him doing that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Fred, it was just unbelievable. Because I was sitting this close to the Jackson family as this was all going down. To just watch -
WHITFIELD: What have been their reactions when, say, Conrad Murray was tearing up or when they were hearing testimony from the first responders?
LEMON: You could hear them sort solve groaning for certain things and they were crying. And you could see them lean. They would lean in at certain points. So, it was just very interesting to watch that and to be that close. So, we'll be talking about that. I'll be going back for closing arguments.
Also, we are going to be talking with the author of a book about hall of famer Walter Payton. The book is called "Sweetness." Yes. And it's a look at the troubled life behind the football legend and it's drawing to controversy again. Because it talks - it makes him human. So, he's had this sort of iconic type of -
WHITFIELD: Yes. OK. Congratulations to you because you received a big award last night from G.L.A.D., Outstanding Citizen Award for being you.
LEMON: For being me. WHITFIELD: And for the release of your book, "Transparent." and just really telling your story and being transparent.
LEMON: Thank you. That's all I'll say.
WHITFIELD: Congratulations. It's a big honor. It's their biggest honor and you got it. Well deserved.
LEMON: It's a little bit embarrassing, but thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well deserved. Don't be embarrassed. Be proud.
LEMON: You're the best.
WHITFIELD: No, you are. Go ahead. Now you say, no, I am.
LEMON: No, you are. You are.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: All right. Don, we'll see much more of you at the top of the hour in the newsroom. OK.
All of us love free stuff, right? Coming up in our gaming and gadgets, we have apps for your smart phone and tablet that will keep money in your pockets. I know you are going to be downloading them all, don. He's a big you know techie guy.
LEMON: I will.
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, time for the gaming and gadgets segment with our tech expert, Marc Saltzman who has been in Syndicated technology columnist, has five amazing free apps to down load for Smart phones and tablets.
(BEIGN VIDEOTAPE)
MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: Skype is one of the best free apps for iphone and android. It gives you, of course, real time video calling. So, instead of spending money on a long distance call to friends and family around the world you can chat as we are right now for free with video. So you know it is more meaningful, a lot more emotional when you are connecting with family overseas and it's completely free. Skype uses Wi-Fi. So you can do it for free over your wireless network. It will cost you a little bit if you do it over 3G or cellular kind an activity. But definitely Skype is a great one and the similar one Face time for iphone is also a good one but only lets you connect with other apple devices.
WHITFIELD: That's cool stuff.
Alright, tell me about this dragon dictation. Why is this a must have if you have an iphone or ipad?
SALTZMAN: Yes. So, Dragon dictation is another free app that lets you basically transcribes everything you say in to text. So, let's say you are out on the go somewhere and you want to send a message to somebody. Instead of typing, talking is more natural and usually faster. So, everything you say you'll see the words appear in real time on your screen. It is incredibly accurate. It blows people away when I show it to them.
And then, once it is on your screen you can then text it. You can e-mail it, tweet it or upload it to facebook. So, it is a very handy tool. As a journalist, I use it when I do interviews and it transcribes everything you say or the person I'm interview is saying in real time.
WHITFIELD: That's amazing. I will be down loading that one ASAP. OK.
So, for android users out there, you say use Google maps with navigation. Why?
SALTZMAN: That's right. So, Google maps is a free app for many different kinds of Smart phones but Google maps with navigation is exclusive to android devices like this ACER Iconia Tab I have here. And this is a GPS-based device that you know, app rather, that does a number of things. You can see satellite views like this is where I live here. You can get an overview. You can get direction with audio. So, turn-by-turn directions to where you are going.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All cool stuff. Thanks Marc.
Alright, all eyes are on the bottom line. New fees from a mega bank and jobs or a lack of them, we are keeping tabs on all of it starting with Alison Kosik.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Fredricka. The nation's biggest bank is rolling out a controversial new fee. Next year, Bank of America will begin charging customers $5 a month when they use debit card to buy something at a store. It doesn't matter if you swipe it at one store or 20 you will be charged no matter what. ATM withdrawals will still be free. Wells cargo and chase are testing the fees as well. But be abased the first major bank to actually do it. It is response to new regulations that are hitting banks' bottom lines. Felicia has a look at of what's coming next on Wall Street. Felicia?
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDET: Thanks Alison. The focus next week on Wall Street will be the job market. The government releases the September jobs report and the numbers from August will likely be revised. That is particularly important this time around because the August report came in at zero. No jobs added. No jobs were lost. That could be revised and if it is a loss it will be the first since September of 2010. Fredricka, back to you.
WHITFIELD: Alright. Thanks so much, ladies.
And remember, you can get your financial fix every day on CNNmoney.com.
Alright, let's check in with Jacqui Jeras. How workweek weather looks like?
JERAS: Yes. Wet for folks across the land. We have got a huge storm Fredricka. This is really the first of its kind of the season and it's the first in a series of storms. So, it's going to be an active week for a change for the west coast. Look at that swirl out there in the ocean. Amazing picture out there.
Not only are we going to see rain, it is going to be heavy. Again, in the foothills, we could be talking about three to six inches of rain but in the Sierras, 12 to 18 inches of snow by the middle of the week. Of course, that's you know up in the high country. Certainly, not so much in the low country.
Here's the big picture for tomorrow then showing you the coast of the country getting hit are upper low still here in the northeast. So, that's certainly going to impact your travel. Make sure you check your flights ahead of time tomorrow if you are going to the northeastern corridor and the nation's mid section. Beautiful fall weather. High [pressures in place, temperatures above average. It's going to be feeling great.
WHITFIELD: Alright, beautiful stuff. Alright, thanks so much Jaqui. We will see you throughout the evening. You are going to be joining Don Lemon who is coming up next with much more of the News Room.
I'm Fredicka Whitfield. Have a great week. I'll see you next weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
