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Suicide Bomber Kills U.S. Troops in Kabul, Afghanistan; St. Louis Cardinals Win World Series; Financial Consultant Assesses President's Mortgage Relief Program; Mississippi Proposes Law to Eliminate Abortion; Exercise Linked to Decrease in Cancer Risk Among Women; Movie Critic Looks at Recent Box Office Arrivals; Occupy Wall Street Protestors Enduring Cold Weather

Aired October 29, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You're in the CNN Newsroom where the news unfolds live this Saturday, October 29th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

A devastating Saturday for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Thirteen American service members were killed after a suicide bomber rammed his car into their armored bus. The troops were in a NATO convoy traveling through Kabul on their way to another base. A live report in a moment.

And Australia's flagship air career Qantas has grounded all of its planes because of a labor dispute. It involves three different unions representing air and ground staff. The dispute will affect thousands of passengers around the world. Qantas flies to more than 180 destinations.

And a lawyer for missing baby Lisa's parents just got the boot. The parents of the missing 11-month-old girl cut ties with one of their attorneys. It came just hours after the couple cancelled a scheduled police interview with the baby's two half-brothers. Baby Lisa disappeared from her home on October 4th.

The St. Louis Cardinals are the World Series champions. They defeated the Texas rangers sixe to two in game seven of one of the most exciting World Series in years. The Cards third baseman David Freese was named the most valuable player.

More now on our top story, Afghanistan. For U.S. troops it is one of the deadliest days there since the war began 10 years ago. Our Nick Paton Walsh is in Kabul. Nick, what more can you tell us about how this happened?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it appears that this incident was caused by a suicide bomber driving an explosive laden vehicle into a convoy in the center of Kabul. I should point out ISAF issued a clarification of the casualties as a result of this particular incident. They have been specific these were military personnel killed, 13 of them. They have since learned more, and we understand eight civilians and five military personnel were actually among the dead. So changing fluid circumstances on the ground here in this deeply tragic incident where it appears a very large amount of explosive targeted what's referred to as a rhino armored bus. These are very well armored vehicles used to transport significant numbers of U.S. personnel in hostile areas like this, NATO personnel as well. It seems this particular device targeted with great terrifying effectiveness this particular bus.

WHITFIELD: Nick, was this a regular transport route, or does this say something about the person who detonated this bomb knew about the planned travels of this bus?

WALSH: At this point there is no official word as to exactly what route this bus was on or what they were doing. My experience, rhino armored buses are normally used to travel on established routes with very large numbers of people to shuttle them between areas where they have to go with reasonable frequency. We could surmise that this may have been a rather, could have been under observation for some time. NATO changes their routes and tactics to avoid instance like this. I'm sure there will be a lot of questions being asked cane bull how this bomber could be so specific on his target.

WHITFIELD: Nick Paton Walsh, thanks so much from Kabul.

Here in the states it's already snowing, snowing in parts of the northeast this weekend. And this early storm is causing some real headaches for the Occupy Wall Street groups in particular.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hard to believe it is Halloween weekend and already there is snow falling in parts of the mid-Atlantic and northeast. Take a look. We understand that there could be some pretty heavy snowfall in some parts as much a foot maybe. A lot of trees across the region are already -- they got leaves on them but soon covered with snow as well. And so that's a big concern that some of this snowfall will kind of knock down some of the tree limbs that are already very heavy with leaves while some folks have been spending the last couple of days trimming their trees.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just make sure you cut the branches off clean, close to the trunk, the trunk of the tree, and the tree will eventually, it won't kill the tree, it will make it aesthetically unappealing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: People said they listened to warnings they got. But then there are others who feel they have been caught by surprise. Not our Chad Myers. He's right in the middle of a big storm in York, Pennsylvania. But Chad, you were telling me earlier you came across people who were kind of befuddled and surprised. What, snowstorm?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, exactly. They were clueless in some of the places that I was just talking about. Do you know how bad this is going to be? Yes, two to four. No it's going 12 to 14. Snow is already coming down. It changed over to sleet, now back to all snow. It's that heavy snow. This is stuff that you cannot even shovel at this point in time. It's turning into slop. That's like a pancake that doesn't come apart.

This roadway here, Highway 30 in York, kind of on the east side of town. Cars are still moving very good. But I'll tell you what at 4:00 tonight, 5:00 when this sun goes away, and I know you can't see the sun up there and still warming the cloud layer just enough that the ground is staying warm at 5:00 this will be one solid sheet of ice. All of this snow will come down for the rest of the night.

We're in very heavy banding now. Even have a potential today for seeing some thunder and lightning with some of this snow. That's how hard it could come down in places in Pennsylvania, Maryland, parts of West Virginia, western Virginia, all the way up to New York State. We're basically in the Poconos but up to the Catskills, green and white mountains of New Hampshire and Maine under the gun for all of this, avery heavy snow.

I-95 is probably going to see a couple of inches, and it's going to be sloppy. More rain than snow but here in the higher elevations now in the Poconos, Lehigh valley, all snow for the rest of the night. If I stand here I want to will be well up to my knees by tomorrow morning.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness that's incredible. That doesn't happen that often.

MYERS: You know what?

WHITFIELD: Go ahead.

MYERS: This is the 20th anniversary of the perfect storm. So it does happen. The perfect storm we had a hurricane involved as well. No hurricane this time, but snow like this and a perfect storms 20 years ago today.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. That's some spooky stuff this Halloween weekend. Chad Myers, thanks so much.

(WEATHER BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Windy, rainy conditions are causing a lot of headaches for the folks who are die hard. Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in New York. Our Susan Candiotti is with the protesters right now and she will be joining us later on this hour.

And very unusual for all that snow just days before Halloween. We've been talking about that. So when you think Halloween, however, you do think pumpkins, not snow. So here's the ultimate pumpkin patch. Remember "Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin"? Linus would be delirious here in West Virginia. You're looking at, no joke, 3,000 pumpkins each uniquely carved by thousands of volunteers who were simply working around the clock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've met thousands and thousands of people who get involved in this every year and feel part it. And that's the most heartwarming thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That's sweet. The volunteers clean, scoop, carve and light the pumpkins. And when the sun goes down the pumpkins create an incredible glow. Spectacular show as well.

All right, U.S. state debt, it could pass $4 trillion with California owing the most and Vermont owing the least. A nonprofit organization State Budget Solutions, has put together a list of the 10 states with the highest debt per person. Coming in at number 10, Oregon with $2,960 per person debt, Rhode Island with $3,000, Delaware $3,026, Massachusetts $3,040, and California with $3,060 in personal debt per person. What states came in at the very top? The answer just moments away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, before the break we named five of the 10 states with the highest debt per person. Rounding out the top 10, New Mexico has $3,144 in debt per person, North Dakota $3,181, New Jersey with $4,217 debt per person, Hawaii with $4,755 in debt and Connecticut apparently has the highest debt per person at $5,402.

State budget solutions relied on financial reports and income tax rates provided by the Federation of Tax Administrators in determining its rankings.

It is the number one issue in American homes, getting your financial house in order. And today in our weekly financial fix the president's plan to help homeowners who owe more on their mortgage than their house is worth. President Obama unveiled the plan earlier this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Right now some under water homeowners have no choice but to refinance with their original lender. And some lenders frankly just refuse to refinance. So these changes are going to encourage other lend towers compete for that business. By offering better terms and rates and eligible homeowners can shop around for the best rates and the best terms.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Joining us from Dallas is Eric Amado, CEO of Amado Consulting. Good to see you, Eric.

ERIC AMADO, CEO, AMADO CONSULTING: Good to see you, also.

WHITFIELD: This is great news for a lot of folks who, you know, are in their homes. They are paying on their mortgage. But they know that, you know, it's not worth what it was once was. This president's plan it is getting mixed reviews or are people excited about this?

AMADO: Well, it is getting mixed reviews. A lot of people are excited about it, but Republicans right now there are a little bit on edge. They want the markets, the supply and demand to feather out the supply and demand of the housing industry. So right now it's getting mixed reviews right now. But we'll see where it goes.

WHITFIELD: So, how does this help? How do you qualify?

AMADO: Great question because there's a lot of steps you got to go through. First of all your loan must be a Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac customer. Also you must have purchased your house before May 31, 2009. Also you must be current on your mortgage which means you can't have any missed payments for the last six months. And also you cannot have more than one missed payment or late payment in the last 12 months.

Also, this must be your primary living quarters. Can't be a rental property or second or Thursday home. And also your mortgage must be 31 percent or more of your total income. And finally, you must have no more than -- you must have 20 percent equity in your home or you will be ineligible for this program. So a lot of hurdles to jump and a lot of people will not be able to qualify for this program.

WHITFIELD: Wow, so lots of obstacles. So can you underscore some of the highlights of this program then?

AMADO: Absolutely. One of the big highlights of this program is 125 percent loan balance to fair market value ratio. In the past if your loan was above 125 percent of the value of your home you couldn't qualify. They are taking that away and that will happy lot of people. Also they will eliminate some fees, some refinancing fees. They're also going to take away some of the appraisal fees. Also they will extend this program to December 31, 2013.

WHITFIELD: So how much will this new housing plan impact the economy?

AMADO: Very, very minimal. Right now Harvard is saying between 800,000 and a million people may qualify for this program. So that might put a couple billion dollars into the economy. But when you're looking at a $14.5 trillion to $15 trillion economy, I don't want to say it's immaterial but it will have little effect. As far as the overall economy I think it will be very minimal.

WHITFIELD: What areas of the country could really benefit from this? I know some states are, you know, harder hit than others, Nevada, Florida among them, but geographically who do you think will benefit the most?

AMADO: Those three states are the ones that will be affected by it, but all over the country there's a lot of people that can benefit from this program. Those three states are the one you talked about. Everybody can benefit from it. If you qualify and you can meet these hurdles, I think people should try to qualify for this program. It starts around November 15th and we'll see what happens with it. WHITFIELD: Good luck, because nobody wants to lose their home or see the foreclosure rate go up any higher because already we are experiencing just major drops in ownership among Americans. Thank you so much, Eric Amado.

AMADO: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: And you get more information from Eric by going to his website at amadoconsultingllc.com.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 230,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Elizabeth Cohen has more in today's "Health for Her."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Adopting a healthy lifestyle today may help prevent breast cancer in the future. Studies have shown women who exercise 30 minutes at least three times a week are less likely to develop the disease partly because exercise helps boost the immune system. Studies have not shown a specific diet lowers the risk of breast cancer.

DR. SANDHYA PRUTHI, MAYO CLINIC: A healthy diet does obviously play a role in maintaining a healthy weight. And I think that's where women who eat well are at lower risk for breast cancer.

COHEN: And if you are going to consume alcohol, keep it to no more than one drink a day.

PRUTHI: Women who consume two or more alcoholic beverages a day have an increased risk of breast cancer.

COHEN: Alcohol uses up folic acid, an important b vitamin. Some women will develop breast cancer no matter what their lifestyle, but experts say cancer survivors may help prevent a recurrence by adopting these healthy habits.

With this week's "Health for Her," I'm Elizabeth Cohen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Mississippi voters could pass a measure that would stop all abortions in that state. Our legal expert Richard Herman weighs in next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A proposed law in one southern state could make all abortions there illegal. Can it do that? Full details and lots of questions for our legal expert Richard Herman. He's right after this look at the top stories.

Australia's biggest air carrier Qantas has grounded all of its plains because of a labor dispute. It involves three different unions representing air and ground staff. The dispute will affect thousands of passengers around the world. Qantas flies to more than 180 destinations.

Remember that horrifying stage collapse in Indiana in August, that one right there. Seven people died when ferocious winds caused the stage at the Indiana State Fair to tumble to the ground. The band Sugarland was set to perform when the tragedy happened. Two months later they gave an emotional performance before a packed house in Indianapolis last night. Fans say the benefit concert was feeling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA ABCELNOUR, CONCERT GUEST: These are people you become friends with. You stand in line together. I think that helps make this like a group healing experience.

KARIN TYSON, CONCERT GUEST: I want to be here together to experience it together. We also just want to be here for the band.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A puppy survives the gas chamber. This beagle was set to be euthanized at an animal shelter except it didn't work. Now he's at a no kill shelter in New Jersey that saves dogs from death row.

Check out this high-speed police chase in Texas. We're talking more than 125 miles per hour. The suspect is accused of robbing a gas station with a rifle and then speeding off. The police caught up with the man and then arrested him.

We're hearing a number of Americans died today in Afghanistan. It happened when a suicide bomber targeted a NATO convoy in Kabul. The bomb went off near or under what is believed to an armored bus carrying U.S. troops. Let's go live to Kabul now and Nick Paton Walsh. Nick, what have you heard about how this was carried out? And anything more about the casualties?

WALSH: Well, the latest statement from NATO says that eight ISAF civilians, there are not many civilians working for NATO, and five military personnel were killed in this significant explosion. A U.S. official earlier said they were all Americans. That initial reporting appears to be changing.

I think we have a strong indication as to the horrific nature of this blast in which a suicide bomber drove a vehicle laden with explosives into an armored bus known as a rhino. These are large heavily armored vehicles to ferry personnel through hostile environments. So you get the idea of the sheer volume of explosive that would have been needed to overturn this bus and cause that level of casualties.

WHITFIELD: Was this a densely populated, very busy area of downtown Kabul?

WALSH: This is one of the roads heading in and out of the city. Yes, bear in mind, it is densely-populated. Four Afghan civilians caught in this blast, two of them school children. A man on his motor bike and a policeman killed in this incident.

So a huge blast affect this area, one of a slew of attacks that hit Afghanistan a suicide bombing in the northeast of the country as well. And a man in an Afghan army uniform turning his weapon on two ISAF personnel in the south country as well. So really an exceptionally bad day for NATO here, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Nick Paton Walsh, thanks so much, from Kabul.

Voters in Mississippi are being asked whether they believe human life begins at fertilization. That's the central question in a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would more sharply define the word "person." It's fired up both sides of the abortion debate. Here is CNN's Mary Snow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our founding fathers guaranteed all persons life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But who is a person?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Mississippi abortion opponents want voters say a person is defined at the moment of fertilization. Initiative 26, if passed, would ban all abortions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Initiative 26 doesn't make any exceptions for rape or incest. It goes too far. It would be so bad for women and families.

SNOW: Abortion rights supporters say the measure is so broad it could ban some birth control like the morning after pill and IUDs. In vitro fertilization could be affected, says Caitlin Borgmann. Borgmann is a constitutional law professor and abortion rights supporter. She just returned from Mississippi where she took part in a symposium on the measure.

CAITLIN BORGMANN, CUNY SCHOOL OF LAW: The implications for fertility treatments are uncertain and problematic, because if embryos and zygotes are persons, then you have in fertility clinics a bunch of persons who are frozen. You can't leave them there or discard them.

SNOW: Answers to questions like that are unclear. Abortion opponent Rebecca Kiessling is a Michigan attorney and spokeswoman for the personhood movement. She tells the story of her own mother's rape, using it as an example of why there should be no exceptions to abortion laws. She says while any impact on birth control or IVF wouldn't take place immediately she adds this.

SNOW (on camera): What about fertilized embryos that are already created, what would happen to them?

REBECCA KIESSLING, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY: That is something that would have to be determined legislatively. You know, I could foresee that there might be some people who would want to transfer their embryos out of state. That could very well happen for purposes of storage. And certainly there would be nothing to prevent people from doing that.

SNOW: This measure has won support from both of Mississippi's gubernatorial candidates. The Democratic candidate, though, says he does have some concern about ramifications on birth control and IVF. A similar measure was voted on in Colorado, but failed.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Wow, that's fascinating stuff. The vote called Initiative 26 is scheduled for November 8th. That's Election Day for the next governor of Mississippi. Richard Herman is with me. He's a criminal defense attorney. So this proposed amendment goes beyond abortion. It certainly would impact birth control, fertility, treatment as we heard right there from Mary. So this could potentially be precedent- setting if, indeed, it is passed?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don't know what kind of Kool-Aid is being distributed in Mississippi, but here a fertilized egg will be deemed a person. If you're responsible for killing that egg you will be charged with murder. That's how the statute reads.

WHITFIELD: So how did it come to this? People can vote on this. Two other contenders for governor are also in favor of this initiative.

HERMAN: Very political. Both Republican and Democratic candidate running for governor are supporting this proposition obviously for pure political reasons. It's a religiously-based movement here in Mississippi. It's -- even if it passes you want will be struck down immediately. There will appeals.

WHITFIELD: Because the state wouldn't be able to make this kind of amendment or impose this kind of law especially as it pertains to Roe v Wade, which is a federal --

HERMAN: Exactly. We talk all the time about federal laws preempting state. Roe V Wade is the standard. Abortion is legal in the state. This little state amendment will not survive. And what some of the pro-abortionists worry about if this goes to Supreme Court, the Supreme Court may come down with a stricter ruling, stricter than Roe v Wade, and undermine all the actions that have been taking place these past few years to try chip away at Roe v Wade.

WHITFIELD: It seems perennially there's always an effort modify or change Roe v Wade. Is this another approach in doing so because we haven't seen this kind of a proposal before, have we?

HERMAN: No. Well, some states have dabbled in this area. But Mississippi is the first state to put it on for a vote like this. Again bishops in Mississippi are saying this is bad, they don't support it, because they are fearful, again, that the Supreme Court instead of chipping away at Roe v Wade will make it more stronger. And that's their biggest fear because this law is so outrageous.

WHITFIELD: And other states would of course be watching to see what kind of progress or what kind of movement there would be with this initiative 26.

HERMAN: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: If it's passed, if there's an amendment other states potentially would say I want to try our hand at our version too? It would open the door for that?

HERMAN: It would open the door. But I promise you if this gets approved there will be immediate legal challenges filed, legal papers, a federal court will stay this. It will never take place in Mississippi. We're in 2011. It's not happening now or in the near future.

WHITFIELD: All right, Richard Herman, always good to see. Of course, even better, when you're right here in Atlanta, we got a couple of other cases we want you to discuss. We'll invite you back next hour as well. Thanks.

HERMAN: Great, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Join us every Sunday afternoon at 4:00 eastern when we dedicate an entire the hour the presidential contenders in the 2012 election.

All right, the animation team at DreamWorks has a new movie out this week. "Puss 'n Boots." Antonio Banderas is the voice of Puss 'n Boots. He's what he had to say about the character.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO BANDERAS, ACTOR: I love actually to have all the features that the character has. You know, he's just unbelievable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So Richard would you tune in? Would you check out puss in boots?

HERMAN: I'm going have to. Look how cute this little thing is.

BLITZER: And Anthony Banderas, his career has taken off.

HERMAN: That other movie he did is unbelievable, "Shrek."

WHITFIELD: I know. We'll find out what our movie critic has to say about Puss 'n Boots. Matt Atchity is going to be along, and he's going to give us his grade next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

It's the weekend. Movie critic Matt Atchity is joining us from Los Angeles. Lots to talk about, Matt, about the wealth gap in America and now it's on the silver screen. So let's take a quick look that one. Let's check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jimmy Hamilton gave me over a century. He said he didn't need it any more. It was a gift. I'm not a thief. But hey, if you guys are looking for stolen time, maybe you should arrest everyone here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Justin Timberlake now the leading man. It's called "In Time." so much buzz. Is it because of Justin Timberlake or is it a good movie?

MATT ATCHITY, EDITOR IN CHIEF, ROTTENTOMATOES.COM: Justin Timberlake is really good in this and the rest of the cast is great. Kelly Murphy is good. But the movie is really dopey and I was really disappointed.

WHITFIELD: Really?

ATCHITY: It's got this interesting premise in that people have -- people stop ageing at 25 and only got a year to live. But the time they have left is transferrable as some kind of money. So in this world time literally is money, and it starts to become satire about the disparity of wealth and some people have all the time and some have no time.

But the difference is if you go broke you literally drop dead. So it could be this really interesting film. But they start putting all these unnecessary chase scenes and fight scenes. It gets so ham fisted -- too much action, and I hate to say that. The action doesn't serve the story. It gets so ham fisted about the point it's trying to make it loses you, and that's unfortunate, because it could be this really sharp, great subversive satire, something the Occupy Wall Street crowd would love. But it's just dopey.

WHITFIELD: It's very timely this "In Time," however, you're going to give it, I have a feeling, not a very flattering grade.

ATCHITY: I would give it a D.

WHITFIELD: D?

ATCHITY: Unfortunately I give it a D. Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK. Maybe this next movie will be a little bit more uplifting. It's awfully cute. Who doesn't love animation to some degree, right, "Puss 'n Boots," a prequel to the "Shrek" movies.

ATCHITY: Yes, Antonio Banderas returning as Boots. He's fantastic.

WHITFIELD: Let's listen to him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BANDERAS: I'm not looking for trouble. I am but a humble cat in search of his next meal. Perhaps you gentlemen can help me find a simple score.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Perhaps if one of us were to tell the law you're in town we could spread the reward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And Selma Hayek is in this one, too. We'll hear her voice.

ATCHITY: Yes, you know, reuniting them from "Desperado." This is a fun movie. I took my step son to it. He really enjoyed it. Kids in the theater had a great time. The movie starts out strong. It slows down a little bit as kind of they go on their quest an it lost me a little bit. For the most part I thought this was a really good movie and definitely something to take the kids to. If you got kids and have to take them to a movie, you'll be OK sitting through this. It's not so bad.

WHITFIELD: Because it really is adult humor just like in "Shrek"?

ATCHITY: Yes.

WHITFIELD: It's probably more fun for adults than kids.

ATCHITY: They don't overdo it as they did in the last two "Shrek" movies. In fact I'd say this is as good as the first two, but not as heavy handed on the topical references. It's a little bit more timeless, which I think works really well here.

WHITFIELD: So, your grade for that bad kitty.

ATCHITY: My grade, I give at it B. I think it's definitely worth seeing.

WHITFIELD: Nice, a good B movie for the whole family.

ATCHITY: Yes, exactly.

WHITFIELD: Just one time for Halloween weekend. What will it be? With ComiCon, we got to see you dressed up in costume, so what are you going to do for Halloween?

ATCHITY: I haven't decided. I may go easy, grab a sheet and put on a toga, so to speak.

WHITFIELD: Toga always works or a ghost. Interchangeable.

ATCHITY: Exactly.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Happy Halloween.

ATCHITY: You too.

WHITFIELD: All right. Bathroom snobs may find Chicago is their kind of town. A company that sells bathroom supplies did an online poll and the accommodation at Chicago's field museum were rated the finest in all of the land. First of all these bathrooms are huge. That's always great. They are automated and eco-friendly. The women's restroom has a tot area. Kids won't want to leave. Smaller toilets for the little ones and looks playful there too. There's a nursing lounge with a comfy sofa for moms. The museum's rest rooms are cleaned every hour.

All right, you've heard a lot about corporate greed and CEO salaries lately from the Occupy Wall Street protest. So how much money do you think fortune 500 corporate board of directors were making per hour last year. Might it be $154 per hour, $313, or perhaps $934 per hour? We'll have an answer for you after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Before the break we asked you to guess how much money fortune 500 board of directors made last year. Was it $154 per hour, $313, or could it be $934 an hour? The answer, yes, the last one there, $934 per hour.

Time for a CNN = Politics update. We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines at the CNN.politics.com desk. Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is touting his Washington experience. The former House speaker compared himself with rival Herman Cain at a campaign stop in South Carolina. Gingrich told the crowd that he and Cain are in two different worlds when it comes to understanding America.

While most of his rivals have focused on early voting states, Herman Cain is campaigning in Alabama which doesn't hold its primary until March. When asked about his unorthodox strategy, Cain simply said, quote, "Alabama matters."

Another GOP presidential candidate, Michele Bachmann, is pointing the finger at rival Rick Perry. She says Perry's people are behind a Tea Party sponsor's call for her to drop out of the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELE BACHMANN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If Governor Perry has something to say to me, he can come out to the debates and he can say it. But this is egg on the face unfortunately for the Perry campaign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Perry's campaign flatly denies any involvement.

And for the latest political news you know exactly where to go, CNNpolitics.com.

And join us every Sunday afternoon at 4:00 when we dedicate an hour to the presidential contenders in the 2012 election.

All right, the game of fetch usually works with the owner throwing the ball and the dog then bringing it back, right? In our next viral video we will introduce you to a dog who does just the opposite while helping a baby work on her throwing skills. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Usually "viral," Jacqui, means a child or a baby and a little dog.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Or animals.

WHITFIELD: We got a puppy. We got a baby. And one is throwing the other, showing the other how to throw.

JERAS: This is a really cute video. Take a look at this, because what amazes me is how gentle the dog is. It's teaching the baby how to play fetch. Look how patient the dog is and how gentle. He throws the ball back.

WHITFIELD: That's sweet.

JERAS: The baby can barely sit up.

WHITFIELD: That is great. That's little baby Katie. What's the dog's name.

JERAS: We don't know the dog's name. It's a collie and very sweet.

WHITFIELD: Those border collies are all about fetching, throwing, catching. I guess the border collie thing, it's been lonely around here. I need a buddy. Let's play catch.

JERAS: I want to know how many moms are like oh, I love the dog.

WHITFIELD: It has 180 views on YouTube. It's gone viral. I love the baby stuff and poochie stuff. Thanks so much, Jacqui, appreciate that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: For the second time in as many days Tennessee police are cracking down on Occupy Wall Street protesters. They arrested demonstrators who defied a curfew in Nashville overnight. Many were camping near the state capitol. And despite the arrests, a judge refused to jail the protesters, saying he could find no legal authorization for the curfew.

The Occupy Wall Street protesters in Seattle, Washington are getting restless. The group is expected to march from the downtown park that has served as their home base to a nearby community college. Our Patrick Ottman is embedded with the protesters and will report on the march as soon as it happens.

And the Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York are facing a different obstacle, a wintry storm. Fire officials have pulled generators and heaters out of the park due to safety concerns now. And our Susan Candiotti is in New York. Susan, there are a lot of diehards out there anyway. How long are they willing to weather this storm? SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They will tell you as long as it takes. There's no way to sugarcoat this. It is miserable out here. It started off with, of course, the cold overnight, the rain, and the wind. And it's now blowing sideways and then it turned to snow, snow and slush. This is what we're talk about here.

This is just nasty. It is slippery when you walk, when you look down at the slush here on the concrete. Over here when you look over at the tents you see people are trying to tack them down as best they can. But I think you also have some pictures of me walking through there. Hardly see anyone walking around right now because people are trying to stay inside those tents as best they can.

How are they doing it? Some people are telling us it's not so bad inside because they've got the tarp down on the ground and they are managing to stay warm. Some people telling us they even slept in their shorts. I don't know about that, but others are telling us that they are freezing.

We talked to some of the med unit people as well. They said they treat ad few cases of hypothermia between overnight and this morning, but so far no one had to be hospitalized. Here's what one young protester told me a little while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: What was it like all night?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was freezing cold all night.

CANDIOTTI: How did you manage to stay warm?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just kind of huddled together to keep our body heat together and stay warm that way.

CANDIOTTI: The obvious question is how can you bare this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. It's for the cause, I suppose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: You know, Fred, I covered blizzards last winter, let's see, hurricanes during the summer time, and this is just right up there with the worst of them.

And many of these people tell us they are prepared to spend the night. Others were kind of on the fence -

WHITFIELD: Yes.

CANDIOTTI: -- in telling us what their plans were for the evening.

WHITFIELD: Well, I wonder, quickly, you know, Susan, have you seen anyone actually pack up their things and leave yet?

CANDIOTTI: No. Not yet. Not yet. But, as you can see, it's just getting worse. This stuff is going sideways and (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: OK. Die-hard. Die-hard there in Lower Manhattan.

Thanks so much, Susan Candiotti.