Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Texas Sorority Sisters Targeted by Rapist; Redoing Refis; Hurricane Rina; Quake Rocks Turkey; Twin Teens Locked in Room; Wal- Mart's Christmas Guarantee; FedEx Plans to Hire 20,000 Temps; Muslims Fired Over Prayer Breaks; Perry to Unveil "Flat Tax" Tomorrow; Steve Forbes Endorses Perry for President; Former Governor Sununu Endorses Romney; Student Shot at North Carolina High School

Aired October 24, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed, I will. Randi Kaye, thank you so much.

Hello to all of you. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Let's get you caught up on everything making news this hour rapidfire. Let's go. Beginning with this just in to us here at CNN, two reports of two large explosions in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenyan television station KTN is reporting two loud blasts at a bus station. This is the second explosion of the day in Nairobi. This comes just two days after the U.S. embassy warned of imminent terror attacks on targets in that country specifically.

In fact, early this morning, at least 14 people were hurt in a grenade attack at a Nairobi nightclub. Kenyan troops recently crossed into neighboring Somalia in pursuit of Islamist militants, and the militants have threatened to launch terror attacks in response. Obviously, we'll keep track of this story, bring you any new details as they come in to us here at CNN.

Meantime, President Obama has a plan to help a million home owners pay their mortgages, and he's revealing that plan in just a couple of hours from now. The president is en route to Las Vegas, where -- we're talking Nevada -- that's the foreclosure crisis -- really, it's the worst in the entire country, if you look at the numbers there. The president will be announcing changes to the National Home Refinancing Plan. The changes would make it easier for home owners who owe more than their homes are worth to refinance.

And a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hitting Turkey. Take a look at some of this video here. Hundreds are dead, more than a thousand are injured. Rescuers desperately searching right now for survivors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There were knocking sounds and then there were two screams. We tried to pull the rubble ourselves, but what can human power do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: We are going to take you to the ground to a small town there in Turkey coming up a little later this hour. Also, a manhunt under way in Florida this hour for two men police consider extremely dangerous. Rondell Reed -- that's the guy on the left side of your screen -- was awaiting trial for murder, and Leviticus Taylor, his cellmate, had already been convicted of murder. They disappeared early this morning from the Indian River County jail. No word yet on how they escaped.

Murky surveillance video surfacing in that search for little baby Lisa Irwin. This video -- it shows a man -- I know it's tough to make out, but it shows this man walking past a gas station less than two miles from the Irwin home. Here he is spotlighted. This was around 2:15 in the morning the day 11-month-old Lisa was reported missing from her crib.

As the video surfaced Sunday, Lisa's parents attended an emotional candlelight vigil just outside their home.

Tunisia's leading secularist party has reportedly conceded defeat in the first national election since that country kicked off the "Arab spring" early this year. Reuters is reporting unofficial results showing an Islamist party winning the most votes there. Registered voter turnout was huge, estimated at more than 80 percent. Lines were very, very long, with waits lasting hours, we're told. But in the words of one man, and I'm quoting, "We have waited 50 years for this."

In court today, one of two men implicated in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador -- Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S. pleading not guilty. Manssor Arbabsiar is accused in this alleged scheme, which involved hiring hitmen from a Mexican drug cartel to set off this bomb at a Washington, D.C., area restaurant. A second man indicted in the alleged plot still on the loose.

And now to something that I saw this morning and I immediately thought I have to share this with you. You know I love guitars. Some people, like this guy, apparently, loves guitars. This is his mansion, Birmingham, Alabama. So you'd think the owner was a musician or something, right? Wrong. He's actually a CEO in the medical field. And he came up with the guitar idea himself. He is now selling his property for $18 million.

Got a lot more to cover for you in the next two hours. Take a look at this.

This very second, police say a serial rapist is on the loose, and his victims have one thing in common.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

The targets of a suspected rapist all belong to the same sorority. And what he apparently knows about these women may further prove these attacks aren't random.

The search is on for survivors of a devastating earthquake. See what crews are finding amidst the rubble and the ruin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK Obama, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm calling on Congress to pass the American Jobs Act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: But since Congress isn't budging, President Obama declares he's going at it alone, and his new plan affects mortgages and college loans.

Plus, the dangerous chase for a great white killer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was our brother and we loved him!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: How crews are hunting the shark believed to have attacked an American diver.

Pink slips for praying?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I perform my prayer daily, they sending me home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: A fight is escalating between Muslim drivers and a giant rental car business. Sunny Hostin is "On the Case."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Have you heard about this crime wave near Dallas, Texas, that's threatening to shatter a sisterhood? Take a look at this map here, and I can tell you that four different rapes in three suburbs have happened in less than a year, the last attack happening just 10 days ago. And police say the suspect is going after women from the same sorority, and members are being warned not to tell anyone now that they belong to this particular group.

I want to bring in Scott Goldstein. He's following the case for "The Dallas Morning News." And Scott, you know, we were talking about the story this morning in our meeting. And when you think about a rapist going after sorority sisters, you think of, you know, parents rushing out and buying, you know, pepper spray for their daughters so they can protect themselves. But we're not talking about -- we're not talking about kids in their teens or early 20s, are we.

SCOTT GOLDSTEIN, "DALLAS MORNING NEWS": No, not at all. This is Delta Sigma Theta, and the majority of the members -- it's mostly black women and it's mostly alumnae members. And so the -- it's a national organization, and in this particular case, it's been women in their 50s or 60s. And we're not sure if they all live alone, but they've all been alone at the time of the attacks. So no, it may -- very well may not have anything to do with anything during their college days at all.

BALDWIN: We don't know. Police, I guess, don't know yet. But I mean, they're 50s, they're 60s. But also, police have this surveillance video of a man they're linking to one of these attacks. And while we watch that, tell me what exactly is it he's accused of doing to these women?

GOLDSTEIN: Well, from what we understand, the video is somehow connected to the second of the four attacks. It happened sometime in April in Plano, which is north of Dallas. They're not even telling us exactly what the video is from. It's -- but what they are telling us, the Plano police believe this is very likely their suspect, and he matches the description that all four of the women have given. And the women have also said that during the attacks, during the sexual assaults, he indicates he knows something about them and about their group.

BALDWIN: Scott, what does that mean, he knows something about them? Like what?

GOLDSTEIN: Well, they're not -- well, clearly, all four of these women, the common thread is that they're a member of that sorority. But, you know, as far as details of what exactly he said, cops are being pretty tight-lipped on giving us those details. But they are saying that at this point, they really don't think it's a coincidence anymore that these four victims are all part of the same sorority alumnae group. It's just too much to be a coincidence. And so they decided to put that out on Friday, and as you might expect, a lot of anxiety among the members of the group.

BALDWIN: Sure. And then when you talk about these victims here, we're talking, as you mentioned, 50s and 60s, but this suspect is described as much, much younger.

GOLDSTEIN: Yes. He could be. It's kind of a vague description of a heavyset black man, I believe in his 30s. But again, it's kind of unclear what his connection or motive is. If they know of a possible motive, they haven't shared it with us. You know, it's kind of pure speculation, talking to experts, that you know, maybe this guy has something against this particular organization.

But really, like I said, that's speculation at this point. You know, I think they're appealing to the public because they need tips. They need help identifying him. And hopefully, somebody can recognize those videos and photos they've released.

BALDWIN: So bizarre. Like you said, you know, no one knows a significant motive yet. Could it be revenge? We don't know. I guess that's a possibility. But what is this rapist's M.O.? From what I read, he's attacking these women, you know, between late evening hours and early morning in their own homes.

GOLDSTEIN: Yes, that's right. We know that there was forced entry, I believe, in the most recent attack. It's unclear if that was also the case in the others. But like I said, they've all been home alone at the time, and so it kind of would indicate that he kind of knows, you know, something about them. Obviously, he knows that they're members of this group, most likely, and so there is an indication that he knows that they were alone when he did attack them.

BALDWIN: OK, Scott Goldstein, "Dallas Morning News," we're going to keep this story. And here's hoping they catch this guy. Thank you so much, for us out of Dallas.

GOLDSTEIN: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Let me get this to you now. Just in to us here at CNN, the prosecution has rested in the case -- in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray. Michael Jackson's doctor has been on trial, as you know, for involuntary manslaughter. We know that Michael Jackson's sister, Janet, has canceled shows, her music shows, to be with her family for what could be this final phase in that Los Angeles courtroom.

Less than two hours from now, President Obama is expected to announce big, big changes involving mortgages and college loans. And get this, he won't need Congress to do this. Find out how it will affect you.

Plus: They lined up in Libya to see what's left of Moammar Gadhafi. But here's the question. What happens to his body? His family has an idea.

And Wal-Mart announcing a new strategy ahead of the holiday season, and they're hoping this move will get shoppers just like you to flock to their stores. Stay right there. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Try to process this. In the state of Nevada, home prices have fallen by 53 percent since their high before the meltdown -- 53 percent. That's painful. Nevada has -- really has gotten it the worst, but it's probably not pretty on your street, either.

So the president has flown to Vegas with a plan to help home owners shackled with big mortgage payments and virtually no chance at all of selling their properties. Key word here -- responsible home owners. that is what they're saying.

Let's go to Jessica Yellin, chief White House correspondent for us. And you know, look, we've got historically low interest rates, but a lot of struggling home owners can't get to them. So how is the president going to make that easier, Jess?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF White House CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. And you nailed it. First, let me say, Brooke, that this is the latest in a long line of attempted fixes to improve the situation for borrowers, struggling with underwater homes or crazy mortgages. This administration has tried a lot of things that have failed to meet expectations.

Now, in this new effort, it says if you have good credit and you have a good payment history but your home is just underwater -- because, like in Nevada, the home prices have crashed -- well, they've rearranged the rules to ease the terms so that you can refinance. And they're going to cut down the hassle. So no new appraisal is required, no new credit check, and there's going to be less cost because you won't get those typical risk-based fees that these kinds of borrowers usually have to pay.

And also, given the bad economy, they'll even consider you a responsible home owner and eligible for this if you've missed one payment this year. So that's the general terms.

BALDWIN: So that's the gist of what he will be announcing. And while we're talking, you know, Nevada, what about politics? Politics at play here, Ms. Yellin?

YELLIN: No!

(LAUGHTER)

YELLIN: Yes. So look, he has to win Nevada to win the White House. I mean, it's part of their plan. It's a must for him, essentially. He won it comfortably in 2008, but the bottom has fallen out of the economy there. It's a very large population of newcomers, people who've just moved to Nevada who have to still be won over. And so he has to, you know, start again with them.

There's this terrible housing market that we've talked about, and a big Latino population who -- in that town who are a little let down that the president hasn't made good on getting immigration reform done. So he has to sell. And he's coming to town with something that could particularly help home owners there, where so many home owners are under water. So I would say, yes, there's policy here...

BALDWIN: Politics at play.

YELLIN: ... but there's also politics, too.

BALDWIN: Yes, ma'am. All right, Jessica Yellin, thank you very much.

Want to talk a little bit more about this for home owners and want to bring in Poppy Harlow with CNNMoney.com. So my quick question to you, Poppy -- will this help? Will this help revive housing prices, or is this strictly a matter, you know, of preventing future home foreclosures and putting a little extra money in people's pockets?

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: It's a great question. So the initial analysis out from some independent analysts on this is that, yes, it could help, but it's not the panacea that we need to fix the overall housing crisis.

It's going to do two things, if it is effective. First of all, you keep more homes out of foreclosure so you don't add to the glut of homes that are on the market. You don't make the situation worse.

Secondly, the argument is that you stimulate the economy. If people pay less in their mortgage, if this works as Jessica described it, they're going to have more money to spend just out in the broader economy. Morgan Stanley came out and said it might be a $7 billion boost to the overall economy. Now, the folks that issue this, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, said today it could kick in as soon as December 1st. So this is a near-term plan. Again, the president does not need congressional approval to do this. It's not a whole new plan. And what they're predicting is that with these changes, by the end of 2013, we could see double the current amount of homes refinanced.

So far, you've seen about 900,000 homes that have been refinanced to a more effective mortgage rate under this plan. This could be double that. These are all "coulds." These are all big questions, Brooke. So yes, the goal is to put more money in consumers' pockets to stimulate the economy and just to keep more homes off the already -- the market that already has such a glut of homes.

BALDWIN: But again, we're talking Nevada, and glancing down at the number again, it's 53 percent, home prices down an average of 53 percent since the meltdown nationally.

HARLOW: Right.

BALDWIN: Tell me that we've seen the bottom.

HARLOW: No one knows. So we've gotten better, right? You look at the Realtytrac numbers, they say one in every 213 homes is in foreclosure. It sounds very bad, but it's actually 38 percent better, if you will, than it was a year ago.

There's some signs that it could get a little worse, though. But take a look at this map because what this is showing you is the cities that are hit hardest by foreclosure. It speaks exactly to the point of why the president is making this announcement in Las Vegas. Topping the list of foreclosures, Las Vegas, Brooke, 1 in every 39 homes is at some stage of foreclosure in Las Vegas.

This the number two home (SIC) on that list, Vallejo, California, Stockton, California, Modesto, California, Riverside, California. Fifteen of the top twenty-five cities hit hardest in this country by foreclosure -- 15 of them are in California alone. So you see why he's out west where he is making this announcement.

Bottom line, foreclosures hurt the entire economy. If this plan works, the money -- extra money home owners have is going to help stimulate the economy, and it's going to keep homes that would have fallen into foreclosure, the argument is, off the market.

But as Jessica said -- I think it's a very important point -- this administration has struggled for years to deal with the housing crisis. They've been heavily criticized that their housing plans have not being aggressive enough. This is another step, but it's not a whole new program because he would need Congress to get on board for that. We'll see if (INAUDIBLE)

BALDWIN: Not a panacea. Not a panacea, as you appropriately mentioned. Fifty-three percent down in Nevada alone. It's a stunning number. Poppy Harlow, thank you so much. Also right now, the search is on for survivors after that earthquake rocked Turkey yesterday. You're going to see this dramatic rescue effort there of a toddler. We're live on the ground for you next.

Also, just in, word that Tropical Storm Rina has just gotten more serious. Brand-new update coming at you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right, a couple of breaking stories here to pass along to you. First let's talk weather. Let me bring in Jacqui Jeras, as we've been talking a little bit about Tropical Storm Rina, now a hurricane.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Now a hurricane, yes. It it's intensifying. This thing developed over the weekend. If you tuned out a little bit, tune back in because it's really been intensifying very significantly since then. And now we've got a Category 1 hurricane over here into the western Caribbean, winds 75 miles per hour.

This was a special statement just issued here from the National Hurricane Center as they're flying into this thing, as we speak. And here you can see the data from the hurricane hunters, just recording a wind speed at 76 miles per hour.

Now, we are concerned about this definitely for Mexico, especially because this thing is going to get stronger. In fact, sometime on Tuesday into Wednesday, we're probably going to see this become a major hurricane, and then approaching, getting near the land, possibly making landfall sometime on Thursday.

So this is a very powerful storm. The water's still very, very warm, so there's a good chance for this thing to grow. You know, we haven't seen a hurricane hit the Yucatan since Hurricane Wilma. So it's been quite some time. And of course, the big tourist and resort areas here in Cancun and Cozumel, these areas could be threatened by this storm, so something we'll continue to be watching very closely in the next couple of days.

If you're just joining us, again, Rita (SIC) becomes -- Rina, excuse me -- becomes a hurricane, Category 1, with winds of 75 miles per hour.

BALDWIN: OK, Jacqui, thank you very much.

Second story breaking now, as well, here as I'm glancing down at my e- mail. CNN has now confirmed two schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina, are on lockdown. Let's see -- this because of some sort of incident, police incident, outside of Cape Fear High School. One student has been injured. This is according to, I'm presuming -- Dr. Teresa Perry (ph) is with the North Carolina schools district. Doesn't know if that student was shot.

We have not been able to confirm that, although our affiliate, WTVD, is providing this aerial footage here, is reporting that there was a shooting outside two of these schools. We're talking Cape Fear High School and we're talking Mack William School. This is Cumberland County, allegedly happening just about an hour ago. And according to our affiliate, our ABC affiliate down there in North Carolina, a school spokesperson is only saying the student was, quote, unquote, "injured" outside that building.

But again, CNN has confirmed these two schools are on lockdown at this hour. We're going to keep making phone calls, and as soon as we get any more updates, we'll bring them to you live here on CNN.

Meantime, coming up next, a horrific story we need to tell you about. This pertains to these two adopted teenagers kept as prisoners without food, without electricity, and then beaten. Find out what else investigators say these parents did in this case and what the neighbors did -- did not tell, I should say -- what they did not tell police. Back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The earthquake in Turkey now is being blamed for at least 279 deaths. Take a look at this here. This is a toddler being carried feet first from the rubble in extreme eastern Turkey.

The government is now saying the quake demolished nearly a thousand buildings and survivors are battling near-freezing temperatures just to make matters worse.

As we said, the quake was centered in extreme eastern Turkey that is near Iran. We have Diana Magnay on the ground for us in one of these towns where this quake hit.

Diana, if you can, just bring us up to speed. How many people have been injured and how are the rescues going?

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Turkey's disaster agency says that around 1,300 people have been injured, as you said around 279 the death toll now and something that the interior minister saying that the death toll rising less than they had expected at first, which is one good thing.

Also at the site where I am here in the city of Van, which is one of the two cities very badly affected by the quake, head of search and rescue here says he has indications there are signs of life in the rubble.

So they are trying to dig down to what he thinks are two people still alive down there. So we will, of course, be monitoring progress from that front. And that is the situation that is replicated in the city where I spent most of the day where search and rescue continues to pick through the rubble.

As you said, it is a very cold night here. Last night, many people stayed out on the street warming themselves with fire, not really wanting to go back into their homes for aftershocks. There have been tent cities set up for them now where they're at least getting shelter, warmth and warm food -- Brooke. BALDWIN: Diana, can I just ask you here live on TV if you wouldn't mind asking your photographer to maybe zoom in and show us what's happening behind you. It looks like there's some sort of rubble behind you, a bit of hustle and bustle. Show us what's happening.

MAGNAY: Yes, sure. Hopefully you can see it. Joe, can you zoom in to what's going on. I hope you'll be able to make it out over our technology. But basically there's a huge digger and you can see the search and rescue teams dressed in orange with the fluorescent white and they've been working on this site, which is a multi-story apartment building, for the last 24 hours.

The quake struck at 2:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon. They've been going ever since and they are hoping that they'll be able to pick two people out of the rubble there -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Wow. We can see perfectly, and so it looks like they're combing through you with some heavy machinery through you some of the rubble. Are they listening for cries? How is the process working?

MAGNAY: Well, they said that it wasn't through the human ear that they heard -- that they got indication. I haven't been able to narrow down what exactly the technology is that they've been using.

I know that they've been using sniffer dogs on a lot of these sites because obviously the sort of easiest phase is to do these sound checks where basically everyone is just completely quiet and you listen out for any knocks or any cries.

And then you bring in the sniffer dogs and then you use some of the sophisticated technology. But I haven't seen that being deployed as we -- we need to find out a little bit more about what exactly it is.

BALDWIN: Sure. Can you also -- we're looking at what looks to be perhaps electric cords. I mean, I imagine, Diana, electricity is an issue given this tremendous earthquake there and rescue effort.

MAGNAY: It is. Electricity and water are both issues right now. The government says that they're working as hard as they can to bring both of those things back to these two cities. There have been a lot of water brought in to the tent cities and all the survivors on these sites where I am now are being floodlit by massive generators.

It is a difficult part of turkey to bring this kind of equipment down to in the deep southeast, a very poor and quite rural part. But I suppose one benefit of the fact is it's a sparsely populated rural area is the earthquake would cause a dangerous earthquake.

A 7.2 on the Richter scale, which is the worst that Turkey has experienced in a decade, at least it wasn't in a more densely populated part of the country -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Diana Magnay, thank you so much. And thanks to your photographer as well for zooming in on those pictures. Tremendous there in Turkey, thank you. And now this. Back here at home, this is a story quite honestly I'm disgusted, angry about it. Here's the story. According to these court documents, 16-year-old adopted twins out of Vancouver, Washington were the victims of horrific abuse.

Let me paint the picture for you. The teenage twins say they were locked in their bedroom without electricity. In fact, the doorknob was removed from inside their door, and if they ever tried to force it open, an alarm would go off.

These teens were fed usually just once a day. And when they did get food it was very, very little. There were four other children in this home including two of the parents' biological children, sometimes those other kids would try to pass these twins food through a small hole in the wall.

The 16-year-old twins had to steal food to survive. According to these court documents, if they were caught stealing food, the twins were forced to strip naked and be beaten with a wooden stick. Police later found that stick encrusted with dried blood.

The parents who adopted these twins when they were just 2 years of age, they were arrested last week. Jeff and Sandra Weller are charged with second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal mistreatment.

As for these twins, they were homeschooled, they say, and abused for as long as they can remember. They say they were not allowed to touch their adopted parents. Apparently, hugs and pats on the back were out of question in this household.

They couldn't sit with the adults. They couldn't use the same forks or knives or spoons as their parents. The Wellers are denying all of these allegations. They told police the children were hoarding food and that's why they had to put locks on the refrigerator and cabinets.

As for the neighbors, they told reporters they suspected something was going on inside that home, but they didn't want to get involved.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The girl was always kind of shy and seemed like everybody was picking on her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, very skinny. The other ones looked pretty well taken care of.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I have four kids myself so it's just kind of nice to see something's going to happen, hopefully.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The neighbors in fact said they heard yelling coming from this house and bizarre behavior from teenagers in the middle of the, night, and someone, we don't know who, did finally call police. That brings me to the reason we share these sorts of stories with you. If you hear something strange coming from your neighbor's house, follow your gut. Ask questions. I'm not suggesting you put yourself or your own family in danger. But when it comes to kids, folks, these things should not end up here on the afternoon news. We can do better.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: So Wal-Mart might be paying you this Christmas and FedEx gets ready to hire a lot of help for the holidays. Karina Huber is live for us at the New York Stock Exchange. Karina, let's start with Wal-Mart with the story.

KARINA HUBER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, OK, let's start with the world's largest retailer. The deal with them is they'll be launching a price matching program over the holidays.

And how it works is you buy something in Wal-Mart then you find that same item somewhere else for cheaper, you just bring in the receipt and the ad from the competitor and Wal-Mart will give you a gift card for the difference.

So it's not a cash refund, but rather store credit, which is a pretty smart move because as you know say the difference is $5, $10, we usually spend more of the value of the gift card so they could boost sale that's way.

But overall, Brooke, this move just illustrates the kind of competition retailers are going to be facing over the holiday season to track consumers who, of course, are struggling right now with high levels of unemployment.

BALDWIN: So given the competition though, it makes me kind of think, OK, if Wal-Mart is doing it, might others follow?

HUBER: Well, the truth is that many of them are already offering price matching and some of these deals are better than Wal-Mart. If you look at Best Buy, they have price match for 60 days from purchase.

Bed, Bath and Beyond doesn't have a limit on its price match time frame. We're also seeing longer return policies right now, more layaways, deeper discounts and lengthier price matches. Of course, all of this is designed to lure those customers back into their stores.

You know, according to a recent report, the deciding factor on consumers this holiday season will be pricing. So the question is, how low will those prices go for all of us potential shoppers?

BALDWIN: I know a lot of people are getting nervous because they're thinking they can't afford the holiday gifts. Some people are out of work. So FedEx is hiring. Who is FedEx looking for?

HUBER: OK, well, his is good news in this struggling economy. What FedEx is doing is they're hiring 20,000 seasonal workers. Now that's an 18 percent jump since last year. Essentially what's happening with the company is they're expecting a double-digit jump in holiday shipments.

And that's thanks to, yes, a largely improving economy, but also thanks to the fact that we're doing more of our shopping online, which means shipping is at play there.

And of course, this is it a good sign for the economy, uptick in shipping activities, a good indication. The demand for goods is picking up.

Now we'll also be hearing from UPS within the next month as to what their plans are for the holidays and Macy's and Kohl's have also boosted their holiday hiring this year. So there are some jobs out there, but they are temporary.

BALDWIN: All right, Karina Huber, thank you very much.

Coming up next, Rick Perry has been sinking in the polls. If you've been following the numbers, you know that. But he just picked up a pretty high-profile endorsement and it comes one day before the Texas governor is making a huge, huge announcement. We're back in 60 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A dispute over prayer breaks is costing more than two dozen Muslim drivers their jobs. Hertz has fired 26 people who shuttled the rental cars to and from Sea-TAC airport to be cleaned between rentals.

So these drivers refused to clock out before prayers and clock back in when they are finished. The drivers pray at least twice during their work shift.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ILEYS OMAR, FORMER HERTZ EMPLOYEE: We feel like we're being punished for what we believe in. It's five minutes. It's not as big deal as the company makes it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Now, the union representing these drivers contends Hertz used to let drivers take short breaks for prayer without punching the clock, but a union spokeswoman says the company suddenly changed its break policy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRACEY THOMPSON, UNION SPOKESWOMAN: The company unilaterally implemented this policy to clock in and out and specifically identified prayer breaks in their policy. They have not applied the policy to people who take smoke breaks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Hertz tells our affiliate KOMO in Seattle that some drivers had been abusing their prayer privileges to the point it was unfair for other employees and Hertz says it is now requiring all workers to clock out for any and all breaks.

Let's go to Washington, shall we, talk to Paul Steinhauser with America's choice 2012 politics update. Paul, two words -- flat tax. Talk to me.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You're going to hear a lot about that tomorrow, Brooke. Why? Because Rick Perry, the Texas governor who you know is running for the White House in South Carolina tomorrow, he's going to announce his plan for a flat tax, basically a flat or even rate for both corporations and for personal income.

So a big announcement tomorrow from Rick Perry on that maybe he's hoping for some of that 9-9-9 magic that Herman Cain had when Cain announced his tax plan. It really kind of boosted him in the polls.

Now, today, one day before the big announcement, Perry got an endorsement from Steve Forbes, the head of "Forbes" Magazine, Forbes Incorporated. Somebody who back in 1996 and 2000 ran for the Republican nomination on the flat tax.

Today, Forbes endorsing Perry for the nomination. So stay tuned. More details tomorrow. Everybody putting out their competing tax plans -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, so Perry got that endorsement. Also Mitt Romney got a pretty high-profile endorsement as well.

STEINHAUSER: He did. He was up in New Hampshire today. He went to the state house in Concord, New Hampshire to officially file and get on the ballot in the first in the country primary. And guess who he got endorsement?

A guy called John Sununu, former governor, three term Republican governor, still pretty popular in the state. Most recently, he was the Republican Party chairman in the state. So both guys, two of the top candidates getting two major endorsements today, Brooke, as the march goes on. Just over two months away from the first votes in Iowa -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Here we go. Paul Steinhauser, thank you very much.

Coming up, Moammar Gadhafi's body right now on the floor of a meat locker. So what should happen to his remains? His family has a suggestion.

Also -- CNN is now learning just how many billions, with a "b" Gadhafi had stashed away. We'll share that number with you.

Also back home breaking news, as we mentioned a moment ago, two schools on lockdown in North Carolina. Reports of a shooting. Back in 70 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Real quickly, I want to give you an update on the two schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on lockdown right now. According to our affiliate out of Raleigh, WRAL, a female student was shot in her neck during lunch at Cape Fear High School.

So both the high school and Mack Williams Middle School -- all this is in Fayetteville. It's Cumberland County in North Carolina on code red lockdown. We'll get you more information as soon as we get it here.

Meantime, "In Depth" today, to Libya where Moammar Gadhafi died rich, extremely rich. CNN has learned the dead Libyan leader was sitting on $20 billion in cash. Just in one account.

He owned shares in GE, also in Germany's Siemens, all told, this man controlled an estimated $160 billion. Exactly how much was his, though, and what belonged to Libya, who knows?

In case you missed it, this video here surfaced Saturday. It showed Libyans mobbing a man purported to be the one who shot Gadhafi dead. The guy with the beard says he witnessed the deed himself. Dan Rivers has the latest on Libya's dead tyrant.

DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, all day today more people have been allowed in to see the body of Moammar Gadhafi. That process has now stopped with the last group of some 50 people being allowed into this market facility behind me where his body is lying next to his son.

We're told that no more people will be allowed in on orders from the Misrata military council. What happens next we're not sure. We assume that means they may be preparing to bury the former dictator or hand him over to the Gadhafi tribe as has been requested by his family. But officials are not giving much away.

They say they want to do this process in secret. But this has attracted a lot of criticism internationally for the way that they have handled this. They said they would treat his body with dignity and bury it in accordance with Muslim traditions, but that's clearly not what has happened here.

He's been here now for some four days on public display with hundreds of people cueing up at this gateway to see the man who ruled Libya for 42 years. Dan Rivers, CNN, Misrata, Libya.

BALDWIN: All right, Dan, thank you. And now this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's more than just a quick news spot, you know. He was our brother, and we loved him. And he will be missed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: An American diver found dead. The suspected killer? A great white shark and now crews are hunting this particular shark so it can't attack again.

Coming up, I'll speak live with an expert from the Discovery Channel on what goes down during one of these shark hunt searches.

Also, it is music Monday, which means I show you an up-close-and- personal look at some of the industry's hottest stars, some of my favorites. So who's on tap today?

Here is a hint -- she just performed at the White House state dinner. Find out, that's next

But first this, public restrooms. So apparently, they're not all disgusting. We have a list that proves that thought wrong. The top five bathrooms in America, yes, indeed, this is in fact a list based on good hygiene, style, public access in an online contest sponsored by Sintus.

So number five, the Snow Basin Ski Resort in Huntsville, Utah. Apparently, this thing has Italian marble, crystal chandeliers. It's pretty fancy. Number four, Don's Johns Presidential Luxury restroom trailer in Chantilly, Virginia. Set up for President Obama's inauguration.

Third, the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona, with glass-tiled walls in multi-colored lights making your bathroom experience certainly one to remember.

So who could have the top two public restrooms in all of America? I know you're waiting for it. Find out after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You've been thinking about it over the break. You want to know what is top two best public restrooms in all of America are? Well, here you go.

Number two, the Renaissance Arlington Capital View where the water comes out red if it's hot and blue if it's cold. That's kind of cool. Number one place to get the best bathroom break is the Field Museum in Chicago where you can enjoy looking at artwork, a beautiful night sky on the ceiling.

I guess if you like to look up and these restrooms are cleaned every hour. There you go, America's best bathrooms.

So it it's Monday and on the show because I love music we call it "Music Monday," this next segment where I take you backstage with the music industry's biggest and brightest stars. People I'm definitely listening to.

So this week, say hello to the new face of R & B, Janelle Monae, performing at the White House state dinner and slated to perform at this Nobel Peace Prize concert. This sash little lady with a big (inaudible) for her, it's more about where she's been than where she's going.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANELLE MONAE, SINGER: Hi, I am Janelle Monae. I'm a mugician that's a musician and magician. I'm born in Kansas City, Kansas. I'm born into a hardworking class family, you know, who made something from nothing.

Both of my parents were janitors at one point in their lives. I started off wearing my uniform, which is black and white as you can see, in honor of them and in honor everyone who's working hard.

It's inspiring my music because I really want to create music that is an experience for people who, again, are working hard each and every day. I want my music to be their choice of drug.

I think when I decided that I wanted to be an independent artist I was just moving back from New York, I was a young playwright and I decided, though, that I had more to say as an artist.

I started to fall in love with artists like Stevie Wonder and David Bowie. I loved knowing that I didn't have to just be an actor. I didn't have to just sing.

I could create this concept album that could possibly one day be a Broadway musical and I'd be in control of it, versus being someone's typecast character for a role that has been played for thousands of years.

So I started to write stories that I felt were inspirational, not just to me but to, again, all of the people that I'm thinking about in my community.

Metropolis, which was suite one before I released the album in four suites, we've only gotten up to suites two and three, it deals with an android.

And you can mirror that to I guess the other, whoever you think is the other in our society today, whether gay, whether African-American, the minority and the majority.

This deals with someone again, Cindy Mayweather, who's very special and she's bringing people together, the haves and have nots, very similar to what I've always wanted to be looked at as, a uniter, someone who brings people together.

You know, not catering to just a red or blue state but creating this purple state where we can all live and breathe and love and just really unite.

I think music is that common denominator and the concept album has brought so many people together. I'm just honored to be the narrator of it all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Janelle Monae. I'm always out and about going to shows so you can always watch my "Music Monday" interviews, on my blog. Let me know who you like, love discovering new music.