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Next Steps for Occupy Movement; Drug Test Required for Welfare; Book on Air France 447; Discussion of the Repulican Nomination Race; Preview of Special on Connecticut Murders; Occupy Protesters See Delay as Victory; Big Rise in Air Traffic Control Errors; Chinese Fighter Jet Crashes; iPhone 4S on Sale Today

Aired October 14, 2011 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Randi Kaye. Glad you are with us.

Like it or not, agree or disagree, the Occupy movement is standing its ground and the stakes are getting higher. Occupy protests are now global. Protests in London, in Frankfurt, even New Zealand are expected this weekend. The calls for more protests are coming in from around the world. Facebook pages like these are popping up everywhere.

And here in the U.S., these are just some of the cities where protests have taken place. As demonstrations enter their fifth week, you cannot deny these simple facts, it is power in numbers. Just look at the scenes here playing out all over the country. But as this continues, protesters are increasingly being ordered out of public parks by city leaders who say they have rules to enforce, but protesters say it's a ruse to end their protest.

In Atlanta, Occupy protesters have been camping out in a downtown park for the past week but have been ordered to leave by Monday. In New York, protesters barely escaped a stand-off with police after being ordered to leave Manhattan's Zuccotti Park. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the company that owns the park called off its decision to clean the park after it was bombarded with calls from public officials who threatened them. Occupy Wall Street protesters seeing this as a big victory.

Susan Candiotti is in New York City in the middle of it all. Susan, how are the protesters reacting to this delayed cleaning of the park?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're thrilled. They are saying this is a check off the box victory for them because throughout the day they've been saying we've been trying to keep this park clean and the effort to evict us under the guys, as they put it, of cleaning the park was simply an effort to shut down this protest. And they've said time and again, if we can't occupy this park there is no Occupy Wall Street. And so, that's why they're pleased to find out that they can stay at least for now. Here's what some protesters told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AARON HIGHFILL: It was awesome, absolutely awesome to see the people support this in such a way that says to the city, no, we're occupying this park and we're really not going to move until we're ready to move.

GARLAND ROBERTS: They're really catching on and the more the city pushes back, the more the park pushes back, the more the people will come.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't expect people to be here on this cold ground with no type of covering, no type of sleeping bags and possibly survive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, the question is, Randi, will this victory last? That's because the people who own this park, Brookfield Properties, has said that they still would like to get together some kind of a negotiation with the group here to work something out in hopes of getting them to leave permanently or temporarily, that much is unclear.

We also heard that a number of public officials allegedly called the people who own this park overnight and allegedly threatened them with some sort of future action if they didn't back down. The people who own this park won't say who those officials are but the mayor says he's looking into it -- Randi.

KAYE: And Susan, I mean, I'm looking at the crowd there behind you. They look pretty peaceful but from what I understand, 14 protesters were arrested today. Are -- is this still a peaceful protest?

CANDIOTTI: Yes, about 14 people were arrested, there were some scuffles early on when people started to march around here. For the most part, it's been peaceful. However, there have been some, you know, run-ins between some of the marchers and some of the police and some difficulties between them, but for the most part, everything here is peaceful. It still is a very active, busy park. I'd say as busy as it is on a normal day and certainly on the weekends when a lot more people can come out, but certainly more people appear to be here than there have been in the past.

KAYE: And if they're not kick out, how long can they stay? How long will they stay?

CANDIOTTI: Oh, Randi, they will tell that you that they're not going anywhere. They're prepared to dig in for the winter months. So, of course, it will be much colder and the conditions will change but these are people who say that they want this movement to stick, and they're not going anywhere.

KAYE: Certainly sounds like they're pretty committed to this. Susan Candiotti in lower Manhattan. Susan, thank you.

Well, if you fly, listen to this. You may not be as safe up there as you think. Air traffic control mistakes, up 166 percent within 40 miles from the airport. Get within five miles, errors are up 53 percent. This is scary information coming to us from the Government Accountability Office. They tell us they have seen a steep increase in the last three years. The FAA says it's due to a new reporting system encouraging controllers to voluntarily report errors.

In northwest China, a search is underway for a pilot missing after his fighter jet crashed during an air show. The plane went down in Shaanxi Province. National broadcasters, CCTV, captured this video of the Chinese-made JH-7 plunging into a nosedive before slamming into the ground. Witnesses report seeing one of the two pilots eject from the plane, but they say his parachute failed to fully open due to that low altitude. That pilot was taken to a nearby hospital. No one on the ground was hurt.

People are lining up across the country today to be the first to buy the iPhone 4S. Doors opened at 8:00 a.m. at apple stores in the U.S. and worldwide. Apple sold one million of the phones in the first 24 hours via its Web site. And carriers, AT&T, Verizon and for the first time Sprint. Company unveiled the iPhone 4S last week one day before founder, Steve Jobs, died of pancreatic cancer.

They were told to clean up and ship out, but their eviction, as you just heard, has been postponed. What is next for the Occupy Wall Street movement? A protester will join us live next.

But first, a shout-out to a true survivor. 33-year-old Josh Lash of Kendallville, Indiana, he was diagnosed with liver and pancreatic cancer before age five and diabetes at age 11 and suffered a long list of side effects. But listen to this, eight weeks ago, doctors gave him a new pancreas, a new liver, kidney, stomach, and intestines. Five transplants in a seven-hour operation. Josh is home now, he's recovering, that's very good news. And for that, Josh, you and your doctors at Indiana University Medical Center are today's rock stars.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The Obama administration is trying to block a tough new immigration law in Alabama saying it invites immigration. It has been making the state anything but a sweet home for illegal immigrants. CNN's David Mattingly gives us a firsthand look at the law's impact.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right there?

ROMAN LOVERA, ALABAMA: Yes.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): He was just two months away from graduation but now Alabama high school student Roman Lovera is afraid to go to school.

(on camera): As we drive down this road, what are you thinking?

LOVERA: How I was so close. One little piece of paper kept me from graduating. MATTINGLY (voice-over): That piece of paper is the new Alabama immigration law that supporters and opponents alike call the toughest in the country. For the undocumented, a simple traffic stop could lead to deportation. Roman Lovera's family immigrated to Alabama illegally 10 years ago. Today, he likes hunting, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alabama football.

(on camera): If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a good old boy.

LOVERA: Yes, I've grown up with southerners my whole life. Some people even call me a Mexican redneck.

MATTINGLY: And yet, Lovera and hundreds of other Hispanic students are fleeing Alabama schools, their families making plans to flee the state, others feel trapped.

(on camera): If you could speak to the people who passed this law, what would you say to them?

ARELI, ALABAMA (translator): Don't be selfish. We all have and want an opportunity.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): 27-year-old Areli immigrated to Alabama illegally from Mexico 11 years ago. She and her husband say they can't move because she's almost seven months into a high-risk pregnancy and every day they stay they risk deportation. They ask that their full names and faces not be revealed.

ARELI (translator): We are not stealing anything from them, simply asking them to let us work.

MATTINGLY (on camera): Families living in fear, children being pulled out of schools, was this the intent of this law?

SCOTT BEESON, STATE SENATOR, ALABAMA: There's no intent for families to live in fear.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): State senator Scott Beason led passage of the Alabama law in the state legislature. He tells me the focus is on jobs.

BEASON: Our responsibility is to the people of Alabama. If there are other states out there who want to welcome an illegal workforce and displace their own workers, they should invite them there.

MATTINGLY: In the meantime, Roman Lovera says his dreams of graduation and college are fading. In his family's two-bedroom apartment, the blinds are drawn and bags are packed ready to run, if needed, at a moment's notice.

LOVERA: My parents gave me the option to stay, and I told them we came as a family, and we'll leave as a family.

MATTINGLY: David Mattingly, CNN, Birmingham.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And David Mattingly joins us right now, he has some breaking news on this story that you just filed. Hi, David.

MATTINGLY: Hi. Just got this from the 11th circuit court of appeals. They were looking at the Alabama law. They were looking at -- sorry about that, a little out of breath, I ran into the studio.

KAYE: I know you were running with breaking news, hey, that's how it works here at CNN.

MATTINGLY: The justice department was seeking to enjoin portions of this law because they believe it is unconstitutional. Well, the 11th circuit has decided to put a hold to enjoin certain parts of the Alabama law, including the part that requires that proof citizenship be presented when a child is enrolled in school, that has been blocked. One thing that was not blocked, police still have the right to talk to people to stop people if they suspect that they are in the country illegally. So, that very large portion of the law that is causing -- excuse me, so much concern for families in Alabama, that is still in place, but the provision regarding the schools is not going to be in place at least for the near future.

KAYE: Well, I appreciate you running up all those flights of stairs to bring us that breaking news, David. I know you're out of breath, I'll let you catch your breath and we appreciate it.

MATTINGLY: You bet, thanks.

KAYE: Thank you.

Well, right now, we could have been telling you about a major confrontation or stand-off between New York City police and Occupy Wall Street protesters. But instead, protesters in Manhattan are celebrating what they say is a victory. Rather than clean-up crews sweeping through a vacated park in Manhattan, this was the scene this morning.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the company that owns the park backed down from their protests to push the protesters out after they were slammed with calls from public officials threatening them. If nothing more, it's a clear sign. The Occupy Wall Street movement is gaining influence. Among those protesting and spending time down at Wall Street, business mogul Russell Simmons, he joins us now.

Russell, thank you so much for coming on the show. There are still critics who dismiss what's going on down there as a, quote, "growing mob." They're calling them shiftless with vague demands. I'm curious what you're seeing.

RUSSELL SIMMONS, BUSINESS MOGUL: You know, inspirational, creative, idealistic young people who want this country to be better. They're patriots who are working very hard to make a difference. And the truth is -- the truth is, they want one thing, they want the money out of Washington. They want this country to be controlled by -- they want this country to be controlled by the people and not the corporations and special interests. It's crystal clear.

KAYE: And Russell, I know that you actually offered to pay for the clean-up. There was some concern that these people might be kicked out of this park, and they were trying to clean the park themselves actually yesterday. But what made you want to offer to pay for the clean-up so they could stay there?

SIMMONS: Because one thing, this protest has been completely non- violent -- it had been completely non-violent and I want it to remain that way. And I think that the people here that are protesting, they are exercising their right as Americans, and I want to make sure that everything remained non-violent and remained non-confrontational. And so I offered -- but I came here last night and they were cleaning the parks themselves.

KAYE: And what have they been telling you? When you talk to them, I mean, how long do they plan to stay there?

SIMMONS: Well, I think we all want to stay here until we -- whether it's legislation or maybe even a constitutional amendment that says the money is going to leave Washington. We want the people to control the government, not the corporations and special interests. It's simple. Every sign up here, whether it's about a prison, industrial complex or disbanding of unions, or no matter what it is, it all goes back. It all goes back to the fact that the corporations are controlling our government.

My tax loopholes. The hedge fund loopholes. All the money that could be going to education. Even the war profiteers should not have influence over our government. They should not. The people who elect them should be -- this is a democracy. The people should control this government. It's pretty simple. The reason they're at Wall Street.

KAYE: Do you feel as though -- I mean some of the early criticism about this protest was that there wasn't any clear message. There wasn't any one leader. Do you think that's important and has that evolved?

SIMMONS: I think -- I think coming every day -- I'm part of the 100 percent. I'm part of the 100 percent. And I believe that these people are sick or suffering or if they don't have education, they don't have health care, they don't have -- or if I'm not paying enough taxes, I want to support them in an effort to make it more fair and a better -- a more fair -- a fair country and better union.

KAYE: Russell Simmons, really appreciate your time. I know it's a difficult situation there trying to do our interview. So I certainly appreciate you hanging with us. Thank you so much.

SIMMONS: Well, it's my pleasure. And thank you for having me.

KAYE: Airline pilots, truck drivers and even members of the military all subject to regular drug tests for their jobs. But one group of people may be required to pass a drug test just to survive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: This next story deserves some attention. We think it's been under covered, which is why we're sharing it with you today. If you need government help, like welfare or unemployment, well, get ready to provide a urine sample for a drug test. That's what lawmakers in three dozen states have proposed this year, making drug testing mandatory for people in need. Civil liberties groups call it unreasonable search and seizure. Supporters say it's a way to make sure our tax dollars aren't wasted. Joining us for more on this is Kimberly Davis, director of social services for Operation Breakthrough, an organization that helps low-income mothers. She joins us from Kansas City, Missouri. And senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is in New York on the phone with us.

Kimberly, let me start with you. How does a proposal like this affect the women that you work with who are struggling?

KIMBERLY DAVIS, DIR. OF SOCIAL SERVICES, OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH: Well, it's just another indignity that I believe that the families that I work with have to suffer. They are subject to all sorts of scrutiny for every program that they're in. And this is just another indignity. It's another way that we can disenfranchise these people and make them think that they're a criminal.

KAYE: You say that this program -- you have said that this program sends a bad message. How so?

DAVIS: Well, it just sort of panders to the notion that some people have that people who are on TANF are drug addicts and they're lazy and if they just quit using drugs and pick themselves up by their boot straps that they could get into mainstream society. And that's just not true. A TANF benefit for a mother and two children in the state of Missouri is $292 a month.

KAYE: When you --

DAVIS: And if they get -- if they get sanctioned, they'll lose $58 of that if they test positive for drugs.

KAYE: I want to ask our legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.

Jeffrey, dozens of states are considering this. Three states have already passed it. I mean the ACLU, as we mentioned, is fighting this. I mean is there a legal precedent here? Can this happen?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST (via telephone): Well, the question of is it constitutional is a very separate question of is it a good idea. And in terms of, is it constitutional, you know, there isn't a definitive ruling yet. But my sense is, it is, because the government is free, usually, to attach strings when it gives a benefit. It can say, we want you to do certain things, fill out a form, to give you a benefit.

Now, the question is, is a drug test so intrusive and so unreasonable that it is an unconstitutional strain. And since the government does have an interest in not wasting money and not subsidizing drug use, I think they could come up -- the government could come up with a reason that the courts would approve.

KAYE: And, Kimberly, I mean in terms of why these states want to do this, many of these states say that, you know what, their budget -- they're just -- they're in trouble financially. They have to make some cuts. Their budget is tight. And this is one way that they believe that they can save money. So they have to cut somewhere. So what do you say to those people? What's wrong with cutting here?

DAVIS: TANF for the state of Missouri is $124 million, which is one- half of 1 percent of the state's $23 billion budget. And so if we run 2 percent, like Florida is, how much do you think that's going to save? And if you sank a mother, the money doesn't go back to the state. That TANF money is federal money and it has to go for TANF. And so the states are using all these general revenue dollars to catch these people -- and there aren't that many out there as most states have found -- and the general revenue dollars are costing taxpayers money. The TANF savings will not go back into the general revenue. It's restricted. It's federal TANF money.

KAYE: Jeff, is there anything that these folks can do to say, you know what, I'm not going to get tested and I expect to get my welfare check?

TOOBIN: Probably not, except go to court. And I, you know, I don't think that's successful. They could elect representatives who change the law. But in terms of going to court, the state has a lot of power in how it doles out money. And even if it's financially not a very good deal for the taxpayers, if they wind up paying more money in drug tests and litigation, that's a decision that the state can make usually and courts basically leave it to elected officials, not intervening themselves.

KAYE: Many thanks to our Jeffrey Toobin and Kimberly Davis. Thank you both.

Cockpit confusion. The frightening final moments before Air France 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

But first, eight years ago today, the Chicago Cubs were five outs away from advancing to the World Series when a foul ball was hit near this man, Steve Bartman. Now usually this would be a thrill, but not this day. All right, we don't have that video for you. But he was blamed for disrupting a potential catch which some fans say triggered the Cubs' collapse. The guy was vilified for trying to catch a foul ball in foul territory. Now that's a shame in history.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Chilling new details now in the crash of a plane that literally fell from the sky. Air France Flight 447 plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil in June 2009 killing all 228 people on board. Now a new book investigating that crash points to pilot error. Author Jean- Pierre Otelli includes transcripts of the pilot's voice recordings that show confusion and lack of coordination in the cockpit before that plane went down. At one point, a crew member can be heard saying, quote, "damn it, we're going to crash." Our Richard Quest has been following this investigation. He joins us live now from London.

Richard, I understand that you actually spoke with the author of this book just moments ago. What stood out in that interview?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He basically makes no apology for printing the final parts of the cockpit voice recording. He wouldn't tell me where he'd got it from. He said he'll never release that information. Even though he has been strongly condemned by Air France, who say they have their complete disapproval and the BEA, that's the French equivalent of the NTSB, the BEA says they strongly condemn the disclosure which shows a lack of respect for the memory.

He makes no apology. Otelli told me that understanding this crash and giving a full picture of what happened was essential and that's why he did it.

KAYE: Did he seem at all concerned? I mean we know that the French investigators are upset that he's releasing this, but what about the families? Did he seem at all concerned about how this might affect them?

QUEST: No, we haven't heard from the families on this. And, frankly, I suspect the families have known a lot of what this is all about. You know, we've actually known what happened in the cockpit in the most general terms. The important terms of what the pilot actually did. The input they did to the controls. Pulling back when they perhaps should have pushed forward. All those sort of things. We've known that for some months now since the recordings.

What this does is add certainly a lot more understanding to it. But what it really does is give us an indication of the confusion that took place during those crucial moments that they'll be looking at.

KAYE: So it doesn't really change the investigation. Then how would you sum up really what this is all about?

QUEST: Well, that's the point. It doesn't change what happened and knowing what happened. But what it will change, this cockpit voice recorder, along with other crashes, is how -- if the investigation is going to focus on how men and women fly modern airliners. The so- called CRM (ph). The relationship between the crew, the relationship between the crew and aircraft, are they being bombarded with too much information. When things happen, they happen fast. How do they react? What are they trained to deal with? That's where this is going to go.

And if you read this transcript, what comes clear is that confusion. Basic flying skills is what this will come down to, so a long way of saying basically a rethink in many ways about the way pilots are trained.

KAYE: Yes, it is just chilling to read some of those quotes from those pilots. I can only imagine what they were going through.

Richard Quest, appreciate your time and look forward to your interview with the author. Thank you.

Well, if you were watching morning television, chances you are heard this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANITA PERRY, WIFE OF RICK PERRY: It's been a rough month. I have to tell you, we have been brutalized and beaten up and chewed up in the press. We are being brutalized by our opponents in our own party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: All is "Fair Game" in politics and publicity. That is next.

But, first, let's talk about the White House. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the presidential mansion. Do you know if solar panels are still on the White House?

And if you think you know the answer, stick around, because you may just be surprised.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Before the break, we asked you if the White House has solar panels. In 1979, President Carter installed White House solar panels. President Reagan took office two years later and one of his first moves was to order those solar panels removed.

Now in 2010, President Obama promised to install them some time that year, but as of now, the White House remains panel-free.

In July, CNN polling showed that 50 percent of Republicans wanted Texas Governor Rick Perry to run for president. A month later, he joined the race and jumped quickly to the top of the polls. But a funny thing happened on the way to his potential nomination. Shaky debate performances and the unexpected rise of Herman Cain have led to a slide.

Take a look at this CNN poll of polls. It averages the four national polls taken in October. Perry's now the choice of only 14 percent of Republicans, putting him a distant third. What caused Rick Perry to slide and what can he do to recover? It is all "Fair Game."

Joining me, Christopher Metzler is associate dean of the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. He's a Republican joining us from Baltimore. Democratic strategist Maria Cardona is in Washington with us today.

Maria, let me start with you here. What has caused Perry to drop in the polls, do you think? Is it as simple as blaming these debate performances?

MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think it is more of a cumulative effect, Randi.

I think the weak debate performances certainly have solidified in voters' minds and especially in conservative Republican voters' minds two things. The first one is that he's perhaps not ready for prime time. He was not well-prepared. And even physically, he didn't even seem like he wanted to be at these debates, especially the last one.

But, number two, I think it also solidified in their minds that he perhaps wasn't the conservative knight in shining armor that they were looking for, especially on issues that are so important to them in terms of immigration and the HPV vaccine and others.

In their minds, he is not the conservative standard bearer. So I think that Cain's rise has more to do hi their desperate search of the Romney alternative than it does with anything else.

KAYE: Christopher, you want to weigh in there?

CHRISTOPHER METZLER, ASSOCIATE DEAN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES: Yes. Well, a couple of things.

I think in terms of Perry, there are a couple of problems relative to Perry. I think he should absolutely go after Cain. The tagline here is 999, are you out of your mind? I mean, that's really the tagline really because what's going to happen is that that is going to be a tax increase. But as it relates to Perry, a couple of quick things that he needs to do.

First of all, move away from any of this discussion about religion. I heard what his wife said. Not a winning issue. Second of all, as it relates to the debate performances, I have just kind of one piece of advice there for his team. On the debate performances, call me, guys. I can help you out.

On the third piece of this relative to his whole conversation, he has to now make sure that Romney is not seen as the presumptive winner. And I think he's started to do that with all Perry all the time this morning.

KAYE: Yes. Well, yes. In fact he made some news today by coming out with his energy plan. Take a look at this. We have a description of exactly what the plan looks like, what are some points that he wants to make with it?

And when you look at that, Maria, do you see anything new here in this plan or is this just more drill, baby, drill?

CARDONA: Yes, exactly, Randi.

I came up with two -- with three things actually when I heard about his plan. The first one is it is not based in reality. You have a report from the energy industry itself saying that the supposed 1.2 million jobs that will be created will not surface until seven years from now.

I'm sorry, but Americans can't wait seven years for a real job creation plan. So where's your job creation plan to create jobs now, Governor Perry? Because this is not it.

The second one is, to your point, this could have been written by Sarah Palin. It is absolutely a modern-day drill, baby, drill.

KAYE: Ouch.

CARDONA: And, thirdly, this, it shouldn't surprise anyone because this is coming from a candidate who's almost a fully-owned subsidiary of the oil and gas industry.

KAYE: Christopher, I know you want to respond to this one, for sure.

(LAUGHTER)

METZLER: Well, couple of things. I don't think it could have been written by Sarah Palin, but for different reasons.

But in any event, I think relative to Perry, I think Maria's partially right in the sense that what he has to do is, he has to have a conversation about jobs. He is the job creator in the state of Texas. At least that's the way that he's branding himself.

So let's have these conversations about jobs. Let's focus on jobs and, by the way, use his wife as a very effective tool on the campaign. Let's do that. Those are some of the things that he needs to do. But from a substantive standpoint, he has got to hit hard on jobs and the economy and he simply isn't doing that.

KAYE: Well, he certainly seemed like he was attempting to do that a little bit today, to get out there at least.

But thank you both, Maria Cardona, Christopher Metzler. Appreciate it.

(CROSSTALK)

KAYE: That is "Fair Game" today.

And just a reminder: Tuesday night, live right here on CNN, the Republican candidates for president gather in Las Vegas to debate the issues and sway voters, the Western Republican presidential debate on CNN, Tuesday night at 8:00 Eastern.

The victims of America's Killer Clown are being dug up -- how new technology may help investigators finally identify all his victims -- a look at this real CSI next in "Crime & Consequence."

But, first, a look at one of "Money" magazine's top jobs in America.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NARRATOR: Being a tech geek can boot up a solid career. With all the smartphones, iPads and apps out there, there's a big need for software developers, which is why it's the fastest growing job on "Money"'s best jobs list.

Software developers make an average of $82,000 a year. And getting a bachelor's degree with some programming courses can get you connected to this booming field and a big paycheck. (END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: He is one of the world's most bizarre and infamous serial killers.

John Wayne Gacy, the Killer Clown, took the lives of 32 young men between 1972 and 1978. He buried them under his house, in his yard, even tossed them in a nearby river. He was put to death in 1984. But eight of his victims were never identified. Hopefully that all changes now. The Cook County Sheriff's Office hopes the latest DNA technology will put names and faces to the unknown remains.

For today's "Crime & Consequence," Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart joining us.

So, Tom, why were these eight bodies never identified in the first place?

THOMAS DART, COOK COUNTY SHERIFF: You know, Randi, it's hard for a lot of us to fully remember that there was a time before computers, before DNA. And back in 1978, they had none of that.

And so the only way to identify people back then was through dental records. And what we're already finding out was one of the things we assume might be the problem was that there were people that came forward back then thinking that maybe it was one of their loved ones. But in the one scenario we have already had play out, he had perfect teeth. He had never gone to a dentist, so there were no dental records.

In another case we have had pop up, too, the dentist retired and he destroyed all his dental records. So in those cases, you're left with nothing and those families at the time were told there's nothing we can do for you. Well, now we can.

KAYE: So have you exhumed some of these remains or are you in the process of doing that? And then how does that work? What's the next step with the families?

DART: Well, Randi, what we did was is we exhumed the remains of the victims about a month-and-a-half ago -- two months ago. We sent them down to the University of North Texas, where they have been very kind to us. For free they had done the DNA analysis.

So we have the DNA right now as we speak on all eight of the unknown victims. What we need now is the match, the families to come forward so we can match them to their loved one. And talking to the media, it's been very helpful. Just yesterday I was on CNN and I got called by my office on my way back out from the studio saying right after we got done with the CNN segment, we had six people call in. And we got two good leads off of those.

And we have been out actively investigating. We have met with some families. We have at least two cases we think are very, very promising that we feel we might have the families already.

(CROSSTALK)

DART: ... 48 hours after this.

KAYE: I know there was a stigma -- earlier on, there was a stigma I think you felt related to this case. Do you think that's changed?

DART: It has. It's one of those things, Randi, when people are asking me isn't this going to be problematic that it's 30-some years later?

I said it is actually somewhat the converse, that because things have changed so much since -- in the last 30 years, the stigmas that would have kept people from wanting to know what happened to their loved ones have fallen away. So whether it was drug addiction, alcohol addiction, there was questions about homosexuality, those are not stigmas that they were back in '78.

So it's I think opened up a lot of people to come forward who wouldn't before and we have been getting a lot of hits. And on some of the ones they specifically have said mom did not want to pursue this, mom did not want to go down this road, and mom's either passed away and the siblings are now coming forward to us or mom has now changed her opinion on this.

KAYE: I bet it would mean so much to these families if you can try and help identify these victims.

Thomas Dart with the Cook County Sheriff's Office, Tom, thank you so much.

DART: Thank you.

KAYE: And those interested in giving a DNA sample can contact the Cook County Sheriff's Office at 1-800-942-1950 or just go to cookcountysheriff.com.

In another crime case, the second suspect now guilty, a look at the brutal home invasion that shocked a nation and tore apart a family.

But first, on a lighter note, what's up with all these remakes of classic films? There's talk of a remake of "Grease" and even "Dirty Dancing." But after the remake of "Footloose," well, they may want to think twice. For '80s purists, this is absurd, which is why the remake's 15 minutes are up before they even began.

And to drive this all home for you, I leave you with a clip of the original Kevin Bacon "Footloose."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Before getting into this next story, I need to warn you, you are about to hear the graphic and emotional details of a horrific crime that drew worldwide attention and sparked a broader discussion about safety in the home. After a three-week trial, Joshua Komisarjevsky has been found guilty on all counts for his role in the murders of three innocent women, Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 17-year-old Hayley Petit and 11-year-old Michaela Petit. Michaela, the youngest, was molested before being killed.

Steven Hayes, the other defendant to stand trial for the time, was sentenced to death in December 2010. Here's more on what took place in that Connecticut home four years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE (voice-over): It's the middle of the night, July 23, 2007. Suspect Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky are inside the Petit home. Police say Komisarjevsky goes upstairs, surprises the girls and their mother, tying them to their beds. They then search the house for money.

Around 7:00 a.m., four hours after they entered the house, Steven Hayes leaves to buy a few jugs of gasoline. That's him paying for it, captured on this security camera video at this gas station about four miles from the house."In Session" reporter, Beth Karas, a former New York City prosecutor followed the case.

BETH KARAS, TRUTV: They had already planned to do something with the gasoline or Hayes wouldn't have been sent out to get four gallons of gasoline. KAYE: When Hayes returns, police say both men find a checkbook reportedly showing more than a $20,000 balance. With threats, they force Mrs. Hawke-Petit to drive to the bank. You're watching a wife, a mother, in a desperate attempt to save her family. That's Jennifer Hawke-Petit on this bank security camera video in the small town of Cheshire, Connecticut.

Her husband, beaten, bound and gagged, is being held hostage, along with her two daughters, Michaela, 11, and Hayley, 17. Mrs. Hawke- Petit tells the bank teller she needs to withdraw $15,000, ransom money.

It is 9:17 a.m., she tries to remain calm. One of the two suspects, Steven Hayes, is waiting outside. The teller alerts the bank manager who quietly calls 911.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a lady who is in our bank right now, who says that her husband and children are being held at their house. The people are in a car outside the bank. She is getting $15,000 -- that if the police are told they will kill her children and the husband. She is petrified.

KAYE: Minutes later, Mrs. Hawke-Petit leaves the bank with the ransom money.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They told her that they wouldn't hurt anybody if she got back there with the money. She believes them. I think she is walking out now. She's walking out now.

KAYE: Police are dispatched to surround the house. They're ordered not to approach the house. It's protocol in a hostage situation, police will explain later. They'll also say they had no reason to believe anyone was in immediate danger.

LUTHER TURMELLE, "NEW HAVEN REGISTER": I think they get criticized either way. And I know that this is something that's going to haunt them for the rest of their lives.

KAYE: What police don't know is that Joshua Komisarjevsky has already sexually assaulted the youngest daughter, Michaela."True Crime" author Brian McDonald received letters from Komisarjevsky after the attack.

BRIAN MCDONALD, AUTHOR, "TRUE CRIME": He said that he masturbated on her. He said that he took her clothes off and masturbated on her. And then he made her take a shower.

TURMELLE: Of the two men, Hayes and Komisarjevsky, the picture has been painted based on the evidence that we know about that Komisarjevsky was the one who did it more for a thrill.

KAYE: When Hayes returns from the bank with Michaela's mother, investigators say Komisarjevsky insists Hayes, quote, "Get his hands dirty by sexually assaulting Mrs. Hawke-Petit." While police are outside, he rapes and strangles her.

By now, it's nearly 10:00 a.m., seven hours of terror.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Joshua Komisarjevsky will be sentenced for his crime on October 24. He could receive the death penalty.

And for much more on this story, watch my special tomorrow night at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time right here on CNN.

On a much lighter note, every day on this show, we call out someone who has done someone to make us all shake out heads. And today it's a couple of California skydivers who give a whole new meaning to the mile-high club.

Alex Torres is a skydiving instructor, but he's also a porn star whose latest stunt has captured the attention of the FAA. You see, Torres had sex while skydiving -- his partner, the skydiving school's receptionist. I will spare you the video of the act. Yes, they taped it. They reportedly started having sex in the airplane in full view of the pilot, then jumped out in tandem and it continued in the air.

The FAA is investigating to make sure the pilot wasn't distracted, but police say no criminal charges are expected, because everyone is of age in the video and nobody complained about public nudity. The instructor/porn star has been fired. The receptionist's future is still up in the air.

For your not-so-sexy skydiving stunt, it is time for you both to face the music.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: Welcome back.

Let's check in with our friend Mark Preston, our senior political reporter. He is in Las Vegas today.

Mark, nice town for you to be visiting, but let's talk politics. So, what is this about another candidate about talking about skipping the debate?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, no doubt.

Just hours ago, shockwaves here in Las Vegas. Jon Huntsman, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, has announced he will not come here on Tuesday night to participate in the Western Republican presidential debate. Huntsman, instead, is going to spend all of his time, Randi, up in New Hampshire, a state that he admits is crucial to him winning the nomination, if he does win it.

Now, Huntsman, instead of appearing on stage with his seven other rivals, is going to instead hold a town hall up in New Hampshire. Clearly, Huntsman is putting it all on the line, Randi. He moved his national campaign headquarters out of Florida recently, moved them up to New Hampshire. He is skipping this debate. Jon Huntsman putting it all on the line now in New Hampshire -- Randi.

KAYE: And is that the only reason he's skipping the debate, just to spend more time there in New Hampshire? Or did it have anything to do with the primary calender or anything that we have talked so much about?

PRESTON: And what he's hanging it on, Randi, is the fact that there is a dispute between the state of New Hampshire and the state of Nevada about who and when they can hold their presidential nominating contests.

New Hampshire right now would like Nevada to move their contest up probably to January 17. However, they're not going to happen -- it's not going to happen. Right now, Nevada is going to keep it on the 14th. Jon Huntsman says that he wants to preserve New Hampshire's unique role in the presidential nominating process, and that's why he says he's saying up there, Randi.

KAYE: Huntsman was a guy, Mark, who got a whole lot of attention when there was all this about him even announcing that he would enter this race.

But it doesn't seem as though he's really broken through. So is this part of what he's trying to do here?

PRESTON: Yes, there's no doubt.

Look, in the national polls, Jon Huntsman, Randi, is at about 1, 2, 3 percent, depending on what poll and what day it is. He's doing a little bit better in the New Hampshire polls. And when you look at the nominating calendar, Jon Huntsman thinks that he can appeal to the type of conservatives that will vote in the New Hampshire primary. He's a centrist Republican. He certainly can't win Iowa. He's given up here in Nevada, which a lot of people think that Mitt Romney has a lock on. So he is putting all his cards on the table. He won't be here at the Venetian Resort. Instead, he's going to be in New Hampshire, Randi.

KAYE: Mark Preston, appreciate it. Thank you.

And just a reminder -- Tuesday night live on CNN, the Republican candidates for president gather in Las Vegas to debate the issues and sway voters. The Western Republican presidential debate, CNN, Tuesday night, don't miss, 8:00 Eastern.

That will do it for me. Have a great weekend, everyone.

CNN NEWSROOM with Brooke Baldwin picks it up from here.

Hi, Brooke.