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Three Contests, Three Winners; At Least Two Dead In Alabama Storms; U.N. Inspections To Visit Iran; Two More Bodies Recovered From Ship; Pennsylvania Honors Paterno; Giffords Returns To Scene Of Shooting; Child Kidnapped Gets Free; Mississippi's Pardon Outrage; Alaska Opens Door To Bear Hunting

Aired January 23, 2012 - 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. It's 1:00, we've got a busy hour ahead, let's get straight to the news.

Nothing like an embarrassing defeat. (INAUDIBLE) in the candidates' mind on the next election instead of, say, an election 10 months from now. Mitt Romney is coming off his second place finish in South Carolina with nonstop attacks on the GOP rival who beat him, Newt Gingrich. Until now, Romney rarely talked about his primary challengers. But with the biggest contest to date just eight days away, I'm talking Florida, of course, Gingrich's politics, his business ties, even his temperament are talking points for Mitt Romney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's gone from pillar to post, almost like a pinball machine, from item to item in a way which is highly erratic and does not suggest a stable, thoughtful course which is normally associated with leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: So far, three Republican contests have picked three different winners. All three, plus Ron Paul, will take part in yet another debate tonight in Tampa.

A state of emergency is in effect in Alabama after storms more suited to April than late January. Two people are known dead in the Birmingham area, dozens of people are hurt in what appears to have been one or more tornadoes. Many homes are damaged or destroyed, many thousands that aren't don't have power. A possible tornado touchdown in Arkansas as well. The storms are moving east and we'll get a live report from our Reynolds Wolf just moments from now.

Overseas now, Europe tightening the screws on Iran. E.U. foreign ministers agree their nations won't sign any new contracts to buy Iranian oil and won't sell Iran key petro-chemical equipment. They are also freezing European assets of Iran's central bank all to protest a nuclear program that Iran insists is peaceful, but the west, the U.N. and Israel believe it's not. U.N. nuclear inspectors plan to visit Iran next week in hopes of resolving and, quote, "all outstanding substantive issues." Iran exports more than two million barrels of oil a day, 18 percent of it, give or take, to Europe. It's threatened to close the vital Strait of Hormuz if oil sanctions hit, but the U.S. vows to keep that channel open.

The bodies of two women have been recovered from that capsized cruise ship off the coast of Italy. That raises the number of confirmed dead now to 15. Search operations continue for about 17 people still listed as missing. Divers, today, blasted new underwater holes in the hull of the ship to open up additional access points to help in the search for bodies. Officials say the crucial operation of pumping 2,400 tons of fuel from the ship could begin today. The ship now appears to be stable with no risk of sliding off the rocks where it ran aground.

Flags across Pennsylvania are at half staff in honor of Joe Paterno. The winningest (ph) major football coach of all time passed away yesterday at 85, less than three months after coaching his final game. Paterno's beloved Penn State is mourning a legend who's final thought - final months were marred by child molestation charges against one of his former assistants. Soon after Paterno was fired, his family announced he had lung cancer. Funeral arrangements were announced just moments ago. A private ceremony will be held on Wednesday afternoon, after two days after public viewing. A public service will take place on Thursday.

Gabriel Giffords is finishing one more important job before she leaves Congress. The Democratic representative from Arizona is in Tucson today wrapping up the meet and greet event that exploded in a deadly shooting spree one year ago. You'll recall that's when a gunman opened fire killing six people, wounding 13 others, including Giffords. She's meeting privately with some of those wounded and others who helped overpower the attacker. Her office released this picture of her with Daniel Hernandez, the former intern credited with saving her life. Giffords announced yesterday that she's resigning this week to focus on her recovery.

Senator Rand Paul had a run-in today with TSA agents at the Nashville airport. He went through a scanner and set off an alarm. His spokesman says he requested to go through the scan again instead of getting a pat down, TSA officers refused. According to TSA regulations, when there's an irregularity, passengers must go to a secure area and complete the screening process. A TSA official says Paul was not detained and left the checkpoint voluntarily. Paul is the son of Republican presidential candidate Congressman Ron Paul of Texas.

A key Supreme Court ruling to tell you about. Justices ruled unanimously today that police violated the Constitution when they placed a GPS tracking device on a drunk suspects car without obtaining a search warrant. This video, right here, shows how a GPS device can be placed on a car to tract it. The Supreme Court case concerned Antwan Jones, co-owner of a Washington nightclub, when he was suspected of trafficking cocaine. The court ruled that such cohort surveillance violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizure. Jones was sentenced to life in prison, but an appeals court overturned his conviction. Two people are dead, more feared trapped right now after severe storms ripped across Alabama today. Now, a state of emergency as crews race to find survivors. CNN's Reynolds Wolf just arrived on the ground outside Birmingham, we'll go live to him next.

But first, we've done too many child abduction stories to know that too many end tragically. But not for nine-year-old Calysta Cordova. Her alleged kidnapper clearly didn't realize who he was messing with. Police say, when his getaway truck broke down and a good Samaritan gave them a lift to a nearby convenience store, Calysta made her move, called 911 and refused to leave that store.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did you find the strength to do what you did?

CALYSTA CORDOVA: I got my fight from daddy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fight from daddy, huh? What did he teach you?

CORDOVA: How to stand up for myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: For that, Calysta, you are today's Rock Star.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: When it comes to rough weather in January, we expect to see snow drifts, whiteouts, ice-covered trees, not this. These are neighborhoods ripped to shreds by violent thunderstorms and very possibly tornadoes near Birmingham, Alabama. At least two people are known dead and rescue teams are looking for people who may be trapped. CNN's Reynolds Wolf has just made his way to the community of Clay. Chad Myers is upstairs in our weather center. Reynolds, let me start with you here, what are you seeing? How widespread is the damage?

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST (via telephone): Well, what we're seeing here in our view - we're actually situated on a small hill overlooking part of the subdivision. And Randi, as far as I can see, you've got homes or what's left of these homes just demolished. A lot of the trees -- I know there's been conjecture as to whether or not these were actual tornadoes or straight line winds, I can tell you for being in television and televic meteorology for almost 20 years, what I'm seeing is definitely signature marks of tornadoes, tornadic activity. The second event like this we've had in Alabama, my home state, in less than a year's time.

One thing we're seeing, not only the damage, but we're also hearing something. The sirens songs (INAUDIBLE), that often happens with a tornado aftermath. You can hear some of the chainsaws behind me, they're actually helping to clear some of the roadways which is one of the - one of the big issues we have in this part of the world. What we have in Clay, in Center Point, and Trussville, and Oak Grove, in fact, across seven counties here in Alabama is plenty of damage.

So, they're trying to clear out these roads, a lot of these back streets so that emergency vehicles can get back and not only begin the cleanup but of course to also look for possibly more people. We've got two fatalities. Earlier today, we were telling you about a 6- year-old boy who lost his life in Clay, and 82-year-old man lost his life in Oak Grove. Widespread power outages which you would expect across the state. Schools here in Jefferson County all closed today, understandably, it's all just began last night at 3:30 (INAUDIBLE) this is just a tremendous mess.

You know, we talk about the two fatalities, Randi, there are two - let's see, actually 100 injuries reported by the Jefferson County sheriff's department, scrapes and bruises for many people, but quite a few of those are also a bit more serious. But just a mass of people here just trying to clean up and it's going to be something that's going to take quite some while.

KAYE: Have you had a chance, Reynolds, to talk to any of the people there on the ground who may be missing loved ones? I'm just curious how active the search is for those who may be missing.

REYNOLDS: To tell you the truth, right now, we've just been trying to fight our way just through some of the rubble (ph). They've got checkpoints everywhere, as you might imagine. Law enforcement, a line of emergency personnel are just trying to wave people through. In terms of trying to speak to people who are directly affected by this, I tell you, most of the people here, it's almost like a - they're just fixed (ph) by the damage everywhere, they're pretty much stunned at this point. But yes, we're definitely going to get out, we're going to mingle with these people and certainly share with the rest of the world their story, and I know they have plenty of them - Randi.

KAYE: All right, Reynolds, thank you very much. Let's turn to Chad now. Chad, a lot of people watching this and probably are wondering where these storms are right now. So, what's the answer?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, the last tornado watch of the day was just canceled. This all started, Randi, on Saturday in Arkansas, then moved into Mississippi and Alabama and then overnight last night regenerated into central Alabama proper. And that was the problem. 3:30 in the morning, these tornadoes were touching down north of Birmingham. There's the city of Birmingham right there.

And these tornadoes were north up into Clay, Center Point, up into Gardendale. Birmingham, Alabama, right here, big through downtown. No damage through downtown other than just maybe a little bit of wind damage. No damage in Mountain Brooke, very old trees, very old subdivision there. A lot of trees came down here with the wind, but up here, this is where this thing kind of skipped along up towards Center Point. Keep on going, Dave, one more spot for you, this would be the airport right here.

There's the dog track, Birmingham race course there, and then up towards Grayson Valley and then finally into Clay. And this is the area that he's actually trying to get his way into because those are very the latest pictures out of Clay. Storm that was on the ground for a very long time. It looks like it's a skipping tornado, but I'm telling you, this was probably on the ground almost the entire time. And I concur, with what I can see and what Reynolds was saying about this was at least an F-2, maybe F-3 tornado, no chance that this was only wind damage. No wind can't destroy the top half of a house like this tornado did.

KAYE: Yes, it sure is a terrible scene there on the ground. Chad Myers, thank you.

MYERS: You're welcome.

KAYE: They were set free by Mississippi's outgoing governor, in a controversial move but these four convicted murderers could soon be headed back to prison. That story is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The freedom of four convicted murders pardoned earlier this month by former Mississippi governor, Hayley Barbour, could be short-lived. In just a few hours, the judge could reverse those pardons. The four are among the nearly 200 people Barbour pardoned. The state attorney general says some of the pardons violate the state constitution, but Barbour still defended them during an interview on a Sunday talk show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAYLEY BARBOUR, FMR. MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR: Well, sure, we could have done it better because we had no idea that the reporting of it and particularly some of the misstatements by political opponents would let the public think we were letting 200 and some people out of the penitentiary. We let 26 out of the penitentiary. And as you mentioned, half of them for health reasons. One hundred and eighty-nine of these people had been out -- most of them had been out for years and years and years. They're no more a threat to the people of Mississippi now than they were the week before they got their pardon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: CNN's Ed Lavandera joining us now from Jackson, Mississippi.

Hi there, Ed. So, tell me, what's expected to happen during the proceeding this afternoon? How might this play out?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, exactly how this will play out, it will be very interesting to see. And what we're -- we've been focusing on, you heard the governor -- the former governor there talk about the vast majority of these people having already been -- served their sentences, already out of prison.

But there were five people in particular, four of them murders, that have garnered the most attention, that had gotten these high-profile pardons. We expect to see at least three of the hour murders, we're told by the Attorney General's office here in Mississippi, that the fourth person, a man by the name of Joseph Ozment, they believe to be on the run. They haven't been getting any help from his family to give him the news that they need to be -- that he needs to show up here at the court in Jackson, Mississippi, today. So we anticipate to see those three men here.

And what the judge will do is it will -- is still very much up in the air. Will the judge send these people back to prison, arrest them right here on the spot, or will they be able to appeal and stay out while the appeal process continues if the judge decides to do that. Or will the judge just rule in favor of these pardoned former inmates and let them walk free again? So it will be interesting to see what happens here in a couple of hours, Randi.

KAYE: Yes, let's talk about options, because I think that's on a lot of people's minds wondering, do these guys, these murders who, after all, were pardoned, do they have any legal recourse at all?

LAVANDERA: Well, you know, we anticipate that several of them will show up. And, you know, obviously the four -- those four murderers that we've talked about, who worked as trustees on the governor's mansion grounds, those are the ones who have gotten the most attention.

But there are many others who had already served their sentences, who have those pardon papers in their hands and they're the ones that are anxiously waiting to see, will they be all lumped in together and have all of these pardons revoked.

The attorneys general's office says that there are about a couple dozen that were properly notified. They're hanging their hat on that they had to have put out these notices for 30 days leading up to the pardon. And the attorney general's office says that in the vast majority of those, that full 30 days wasn't reached and, in many cases, they only got to 28 days. So will the judge see that and say, look, that wasn't enough, all of these pardons get thrown out?

KAYE: All right, Ed Lavandera for us there in Jackson, Mississippi, watching it all play out. Ed, thank you.

And still ahead today, bear cubs being shot in their dens. Grizzlies being tracked down and killed while hibernating? Just some of the questionable hunting practices currently legal in the state of Alaska. And if one group has its way, they are practices that will only become even more common. But one man's trying to put a stop to what he calls a war on Alaska's bears. He'll join me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Hunting is a big part of life in Alaska, but controversy is brewing right now over bear hunting. I want to show you video that Defenders of Wildlife provided us for a story that I did a few years back on a similar issue in Alaska. I need to warn you, though, the images are graphic and bloody. You're looking at state wildlife officials chasing, hunting and killing wolves from a small plane. It's called aerial hunting. This is legal in certain parts of Alaska. But now, for the first time in Alaska's history, this will soon be legal for bears as well. According to "The Los Angeles Times," the Alaska Board of Game is pushing to expand the sport as a -- part of the state's intensive management of predators. The Board of Game has put new policies on the table. It has also removed a historic blanket ban against aerial bear hunting. It's a story we think deserves some attention because it's been "Under Covered."

A lot of conservationists are concerned, including Jim Stratton, who is the regional director for Alaska's National Parks Conservation Association.

Jim, welcome to the program. Let's talk about this historic prohibition on aerial bear hunting. This is completely new turf now. By lifting this ban, state game agents are now allowed to aerial hunt bears along what's called that Dalton Highway corridor. It is the red line there on the map for those of you watching at home. But does this open the door to other areas, Jim?

JIM STRATTON, NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: Yes, I think it -- eventually it probably will, Randi. I mean the way that the state of Alaska has tried to increase the killing of wolves and bears historically, you know, they started by making the bag limits bigger and the seasons longer. And when that didn't kill enough wolves and bears, then they went to things like, you know, shooting cubs and shooting sows with cubs in their dens, snaring bears.

And when that didn't kill enough, along the Dalton Highway, they've taken the one step further and now they say they're going to start shooting bears from airplanes. You've been to Alaska. You've seen what they've done with wolves. And they started that in one small area and that has grown to more areas over time. And I anticipate the same thing will probably happen with bears unless people really scream and yell about it.

KAYE: And just to be clear, for our viewers at home, snaring is when they get caught in a trap? Is that correct?

STRATTON: Well, snaring is actually -- the bear will put their paw into a bucket with bait in it and as they pull the paw out, a wire will wraps around its paw and hold it there until the trapper comes along and then shoots it. And the problem with snars is, they're indiscriminate, because it doesn't just get big bears. It gets, you know, mama bears with babies and it gets young adults and --

KAYE: Right. And they could be waiting there for days, too, if the people don't come and suffering as well.

STRATTON: They could be waiting there for (INAUDIBLE).

KAYE: But let me ask you about what the state's saying, because the state says it's just trying to control the predators from depleting food sources for moose and caribou, which we know are very, very important there. I've spoken with Alaskans there who say that they live on a moose for a month. They feed their family for a month. So I get why it's so important. But the Alaska legislature, we should point out, passed a law in 1994 that orders state officials to adopt this intensive management in key parts of the state. So, really, aren't these game officials just doing their job? I'd like you to react to that.

STRATTON: Sure. Well, I think it's just a matter of degrees, Randi. I mean the primary purpose of the intensive management law is to grow more moose and caribou. But it's not the only purpose. And they're interpreting the intensive management law as the only thing they can do is to kill wolves and bears to grow as many moose and caribou as the land can provide for. And I just don't think that that's was the intention of the law was. I mean there's a big difference between the primary purpose and an only purpose. And I think that's a discrepancy we've got going on right now.

KAYE: How much of a problem are the bears, would you say?

STRATTON: Well, it depends on what part of the state you're in. In some parts of the state, you know, they're not a problem at all. There's so much salmon to eat that they really don't go after the, you know, the younger moose and the younger caribou. And in other parts of the state, you know, young moose and young caribou are a very important part of a bear's diet, you know, earlier in the summer when those animals are first born.

But, you know, bears have every right to be out there on the tundra, along with the other animals. And the indiscriminate war that the state of Alaska has on bears is just wiping the populations out and that's going to end up putting the entire balance of nature out of whack because you're going to get too many moose and caribou in some places by reducing the predators.

KAYE: If you were in charge of this and this was up to you, I mean are there more human ways of saving the moose and the caribou and moving the bears out of the area?

STRATTON: I think the question isn't saving the moose and caribou and moving the bears out of the area. I think that the answer is to understand that the moose and caribou and the bears all need to live together and bears are going to eat some moose and caribou babies. And that's just the way it's been for, you know, a millennium -- millenniums. And so I think we just need to understand that if you're going to have bears in Alaska, they are going to kill some moose and caribou calves and we should say that that's OK and get on with it.

KAYE: Is there a more humane way to hunt the bears if that is the way they're going to go?

STRATTON: Well, I think the most human way is hunt a bear is to shoot a bear rather than to snare it. And that was the big controversy at our last Board of Game meeting was over this snaring practice because of its indiscriminate nature. So if you're going to kill a bear, the most humane was it to shoot it.

KAYE: All right, Jim Stratton, appreciate your time on this. And so keep us up to date on exactly what happens there with this. Thank you. STRATTON: OK. We'll do. Thanks, Randi.

KAYE: No more Mr. Nice Guy for Mitt Romney. The now former front- running is slamming Newt Gingrich down in the sunshine state, calling Gingrich a failed leader and erratic. Will this tougher tactic work and what will we learn from Romney's big revelation tomorrow? All that next in "Fair Game."

And now our political junkie question. Who are the only two candidates who won the Florida primary but failed to get their party's presidential nomination? You can tweet me the answer @randikayecnn. And if you're first with the right answer, I'll give you a shout-out right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Before the break I asked you, who are the only two candidates who won the Florida primary but failed to get their party's presidential nomination? The answer is Gary Hart in 1980 and Hillary Clinton in 1988 (sic). And we don't have a winner. We were waiting to the very last second. But nobody got it right. Keep them coming though. We'll have one more "Political Junkie" question coming up later in the show.

This is the part of the show where we get right to the heart of the campaign where all sides are "Fair Game."

The debate has moved to Florida. And with apologies to Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, it is setting up as a pitched battle between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

Joining me now is Gentry Collins, former political director for the Republican National Committee; and Democratic strategist, Robert Zimmerman.

Welcome to both of you.

After Gingrich's double-digit win in South Carolina over the weekend, I think we're seeing a different tone for Mitt Romney. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He was a leader for four years as speaker of the House and, at the end of four years, it was proved that he was a failed leader and he had to resign in disgrace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Romney on the attack. Good move? What do you think, Gentry?

GENTRY COLLINS, FORMER POLITICAL DIRECTOR, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: I think it's a great move for Governor Romney. I think the lesson from Iowa is that negative ads work. One of the big contrasts between Romney's result in Iowa and his result in South Carolina is that Romney's super PAC was not as aggressive with Newt Gingrich in South Carolina as it was in Iowa. I think a great lesson of the first three contests is that negative ads work.

(CROSSTALK)

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Gentry, if I could say, here's the problem. In many ways the Republican parties become the victims of their own rhetoric. You've got a climate where the right hand doesn't know what the extreme right hand is doing because the rhetoric has become so intense and so personal that it's not just going on the attack, it's the way you go on the attack. Obviously, going after Newt Gingrich for being -- with his record as an insider, a lobbyist, and certainly with his ethics problems, isn't going to work. The challenge for Romney is capturing that revolutionary spirit the Republican Party feels or that radical spirit that you're seeing from the Republican base.

KAYE: Let's talk about Mitt Romney releasing his taxes tomorrow. He's announced that. Is this a good move, is it too late, or does it look like he's almost giving in to Newt Gingrich, who has been demanding this the loudest, Gentry?

COLLINS: I think it's a little too late and I fear for Governor Romney that it's a little too little as well. I think he would have been better served if he rolled out four or five years of tax returns and, to put this issue to bed, go all the way back to the last campaign and cover that entire period. It doesn't look like that's what we'll get out of Governor Romney. We'll see if it's enough. I certainly hope it is.

There are bigger issues in this campaign to be talking about, like how to get the economy growing again and create jobs again. I think that's the message he needs to be on. We'll see if this releases enough. I fear for him that it's not enough.

KAYE: Robert, I want you to hear what he said about his taxes today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: The speaker was very animated about my releasing tax records. I am. I think it's an appropriate observation that people should know if there is going to be an October surprise. And in the case of the speaker, he's got some records that could represent an October surprise. We could see an October surprise today from Newt Gingrich.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Robert, your take?

ZIMMERMAN: Well, look, obviously, no matter what he releases, Gingrich and his super PAC are going to claim that it's not enough. They are going to find issues in his taxes and try to exploit and dramatize. It just keeps the process going. Gentry, to his credit, said let's talk about creating jobs and moving the economy forward. Unfortunately, his candidates are not there because they are piling on each other. It's too little, too late in many respects for Romney.

KAYE: When you look at Florida, is the Florida race closer to Iowa or New Hampshire or South Carolina? How unique is Florida, Gentry?

COLLINS: It's a -- I don't think it's particularly close to any of those. I think it's a unique race for a variety of reasons. First, it's a closed primary. Secondly, we've seen up to a quarter of a million votes already cast. That's better than 10 percent of total expected turn out already cast. That's not something we've seen yet. And it's a very large state with big and expensive media markets. Retail on-the-ground kind of campaign like we saw for Rick Santorum in Iowa or Mitt Romney into New Hampshire, I think it's very difficult to put together in Florida. It's a unique contest, a much bigger contest, and it features some election law components that we haven't seen in the first three contests.

KAYE: Robert?

ZIMMERMAN: You know, what I think is interesting, it's almost like Republican voters speed dating. In each of those contests, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, the voter found a different suitor each contest. Florida is different. In 2008, 1.9 voters turned out in the Republican primary. That's more than double the voting that's already taken place this year. It's a very serious media market and it requires a very serious campaign with an electorate that, while conservative, can't be a written off as just one constituency or another. It will be real test as to whether either candidate can go the distance for the nomination.

KAYE: We have two more debates this week. And 88 percent of people in South Carolina said that debates played a part in their decision. Does that give Gingrich an advantage because he's been coming out strong on those?

GENTRY: I don't think he has the same opportunity that he had last week. He used the debate last week to respond to the story from his first wife -- or his second wife about marital infidelity. He responded in a strong fashion, standing ovation and a lot of support. I think on the basis of having a moment of strength, and people wanted to see a fighter and someone that would stand up and take the election to the Democrats. They saw that spirit in Newt Gingrich. I think this week's debate is going to be more about the back and forth between Mitt Romney.

(CROSSTALK)

GENTRY: Were there enough tax years released? Has Gingrich released the appropriate materials? I think that's what these debates are going to be about.

(CROSSTALK) ZIMMERMAN: Gentry, I think there's a bigger issue here. I think the Republicans are going to have to decide, do they want revenge or are they going to focus on winning? Because when all is said and done, they can attack the media, scapegoat the elite or however the tactic they want to pursue, but they've got to come up with agendas and ideas for the future. Neither Newt Gingrich nor Rick Santorum nor Ron Paul has really stepped up. You know something, that's the way the election is going to litigate. We see the Republicans in action and all they are busy doing is attacking each other and the media. Ultimately, revenge isn't going to really provide leadership for this country.

KAYE: Robert Zimmerman, Gentry Collins.

That's "Fair Game."

Thank you for seeing both of you. Nice to see you.

Remember, CNN is hosting the Florida Republican Presidential Debate on Thursday night. Join moderator, Wolf Blitzer, from the campus of North Florida University in Jacksonville at 8:00 p.m. eastern.

Still ahead, if you're a yogi like me, you probably heard that controversial article about the possible dangers of yoga, with warnings of nerve damage, cracked ribs and even strokes. Should folks be concerned or was it a bit of a stretch, shall we say? I'm on the assignment for you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: A recent study found that 20 million Americans study yoga but is it safe? That was raised in a recent "New York Times" article titled "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body. The author is "New York Times" senior science writer, William J. Broad. He has a new book called "The Science of Yoga, the Risks and the Rewards." The article sent shockwaves through the yoga community. Is the author off the mark? We went to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As you breathe in --

KAYE (voice-over): All it took was this article in "The New York Times" to mark the Zen out of the yoga community. The headline, "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body.

(on camera): When you first read the article, what did you think about it?

GINA MINYARD, YOGA INSTRUCTOR: I was shocked a little bit. Kind of alarmed at the extremity, it seemed, of the talk on how yoga can wreck your body. I thought that was a very extreme argument.

KAYE: While the article angered yoga instructor, Gina Minyard, at first, she told us she's the poster child for it. (on camera): Have you ever been injured doing yoga?

MINYARD: I have. When I first started doing yoga 12 years ago I came into the yoga studio with a lot of imbalance. My body was sort of twisted and unaddressed imbalances were there.

KAYE (voice-over): One year into practicing, she injured her hamstring and shoulder but it wasn't all bad, she says.

MINYARD: The same poses where I hurt myself, I was able to create healing and then the issues that I had from my badly broken leg from my accident has healed through yoga.

KAYE: In the article, "New York Times" senior writer, William J. Broad, says that it can cause serious injury such as nerve damage, stocks, muscle damage, torn cartilage and even broken ribs.

(on camera): What really stands out to you? What do you think the article really got wrong?

MINYARD: Pulling these studies from the '70s with what sounded to me like people doing yoga were on their own in their dorm room, for instance, and without the guidance of a teacher.

KAYE: You question their example.

MINYARD: Clearly, they are legitimate. They are documented, but I just think it was to support the side of the article about how it can wreck your body but it was too specific and to almost unusual to show what really often happens.

KAYE: I'm one of the tens and millions of Americans who practice yoga and while anyone can get into oppose, the yoga instructors we spoke to said the best way to avoid injury is to find a studio with qualified experienced teachers.

(voice-over): In the 14 years Joe Palese has been teaching yoga, he has never had any injuries in his classes but he says they do happen if students don't use proper technique.

JOE PALESE, YOGA TEACHER: I think a lot of the injuries that this gentleman was describing in the article could possibly have been created through doing something over and over incorrectly out of alignment and or pushing way to hard in oppose.

DAVIS PASION, PHYSICAL THERAPIST: You're a little bit tight there.

KAYE: Physical therapist, David Pasion, agrees with Broad's claims, that injuries are possible, but he agrees with the outraged fanatics who feel that the article was alarmist and didn't provide the proper context in the examples used.

PASION: Reading that article, if somebody wasn't familiar with yoga or let's say that they were planning on doing yoga, if they read that article they would say, let me find something else to do. And so in that aspect, no, I don't think it was fair. There was too many negatives thrown out. Obviously with more people doing a form of exercise, you're going to have more injury, whether it's softball, football, baseball, whatever. So when they pick and choose these specific injuries, yes, some injuries like that do happen.

KAYE: Broad told us he's glad that his book and the excerpt in the paper are, quote, "stirring a debate on the safety." In a statement to CNN he said, quote, "The evidence suggests that smart changes in personal routines can help prevent injuries and even save lives. This may seem surprising given yoga's perception for gentleness but, as the book shows, decades of scientific studies have revealed many ways that the practice of yoga can be improved."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bend your knees until your ankles touch.

KAYE: If that's true, it's going to take a lot more than tales of injuries from long ago to convince yogis that they may be wrecking their body.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: I cannot emphasize how critical it is to find a certified yoga teacher. We did research and found how easy it is to get certified on line. One company offers yoga teacher training in a box. A simple kit to get you certified to teach yoga. If you practice yoga, be sure you are in good hands.

A historic use of stem cells in humans to tell you about. For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been used to treat the eye disease macular disease. The British medical journal, "The Lancet," reports the two patients involved had severe vision loss. Four hours after the procedure, the implants appear safe. and both have improvement in vision. Experts say it was just a clinical trial and it will be years before the treatments are proven.

The maternity ward was just half the battle. Wait until you hear what happened to her once she got inside. That's next.

But, first, Heidi Klum and Seal are separating. Many celebrity marriages seem to end before they finish unwrapping their wedding gifts. Seven years of marriage, all those renewed wedding vows, four beautiful children and a lot of TBA (ph) later, we hoped theirs would work forever. It appears their marriage is over and their 15 minutes of married bliss is up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Welcome back. Time now to check the stories making news at "Street Level."

Let's start in Miami. A rough ride for 143 passengers aboard an American airlines flight. The plane hit some major turbulence. According to our affiliate, WFOR, six people were taken to the hospital and the crew members appear to have the worst injuries. Luckily, there was an E.R. doctor on board who helped some of the injured people. In Los Angeles, today is the deadline to submit a bid to buy the Dodgers. So far, there is a star-studded list of potential buyers, including Mark Cuban and former Dodgers owner, Mark Torre.

Into in Tacoma, Washington, parents have quite a story to tell about the birth of their son. Katie got stuck in the hospital elevator for two hours on the way to the maternity ward. Luckily, her midwife and were with her when she went into labor. They named their baby boy, Otis, after the elevator company. Very clever.

A rare car from the JFK car collection, a hearse, sold for $160,000. A man from Colorado bought it and said it will be part of his collection, which includes a limousine once owned by John Lennon.

We now go to University Park where a memorial has been held in honor of Joe Paterno. He died yesterday from lung cancer. Paterno's family has announced he'll be buried Wednesday in a private service with a public memorial service the next day. It's a somber day on Penn State's campus.

Mike, how is the campus dealing with Paterno's death?

MIKE GALANOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The word, you just nailed it, Randi, somber. The feeling is, it wasn't supposed to end this way for a man who gave so much to a university, a school, obviously a football team, for his rein to end like this. I think that's what people are still coming to grips with. Randi, there was a vigil last night where literally thousands of students turned out, candlelight vigil, to pay homage. The tears were shed. And it continued at the statue of Joe Paterno. They continued the shrine there with candles, photos. I was shocked to see the tears flowing. I almost got more from those who were older, the alumni. There was a college girl who didn't want the light to go out and kept lighting candles. A son who went there.

Here's some of his emotions on the set.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's awe inspiring to see all these people and see just how much he meant to this university.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me, he was the glue who kept the fraternity together. We had ball games together as students, as alumni. We would also have a drink for Joepa. Joepa was the glue that kept everything together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GALANOS: And Randi, that's it. The people here want everyone to remember the six decades and not the 78 days that ended his career, ending with Joe Paterno's passing away.

KAYE: Have you had a chance to hear from any of the players? Are they speaking out? GALANOS: Some of the players spoke at last night's vigil. Very emotional. From the time his death was announced, so many players have talked, and they don't even talk about football, they talk about what Joe Paterno did for them as men, building them as men. Basically he taught more about life than about football, and that's what's lasting with these guys.

Mike Galanos there.

Mike, thank you very much.

Live pictures now from Tampa. These are not live pictures. We'll still take you to Tampa where Newt Gingrich will be speaking to crowds at a rally in a few minutes. Then we'll be live. Will he hit back at Mitt Romney? We'll take you there next.

And here's a "Political Junkie" question for you. What non- incumbent captured the highest percentage of the vote in the Florida primary? Answer to me at Randikaye@CNN. If you get it right, I'll give you a shout-out, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Before the break, I asked you which non-incumbent captured the highest percentage of the vote in the Florida primary. The answer is al gore with 82 percent in the 2000 primary. He beat Bill Bradley. I'd like to say congratulations to swurngs but nobody got the right answer. So I will tell you, we will blame my producer, Doug Fernaud. You can feel free to tweet him and let him know what you think of these tough questions, @dougfernaud.

Let's show you some more pictures from the River Church event in Tampa, Florida, the sight of Newt Gingrich's first campaign stop in Florida after winning the primary in South Carolina over the weekend. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum were both in Florida yesterday trying to get a head start. The Florida primary is eight days away. Let's check in with our Shannon Travis. She's at this event where Newt Gingrich is expected to speak very shortly here.

Set the scene for us, Shannon.

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's like a coronation for Mitt Romney heading into Florida. But not so fast after the South Carolina result. It's turning into a real dogfight. And as you mentioned, Newt Gingrich's first public stop after his win in South Carolina. There is a crowd accumulating. People kind of coming in, the music piping in right now.

I found one of Gingrich's supporters. Her name is Marcia Saddler.

And, Marcia, why are you out here today?

MARCIA SADDLER, NEWT GINGRICH SUPPORTER: We're honored to be able to help Newt in any way we can. We're supporters and have been for years. I always thought he was extraordinary in what he can accomplish against all the adversaries, and I don't think Obama has a chance against him.

TRAVIS: Earlier, we were talking about South Carolina, that we were both a little surprised about that win.

SADDLER: Actually -- well, of course, since we were rooting for Newt, we were thinking he might win, but the way it turned around this last week is phenomenal. I think that just shows to people that he has the ability to bring other people into his way of thinking, which is what we need. We have to be able to -- I'm not saying work together, but he needs to bring people who have another opinion or adverse opinion over to his side and our side.

TRAVIS: And I asked you also your opinion of the claims from the ex-wife last week in that ABC interview.

SADDLER: I really was not impressed with her interview at all. I just feel like she would some kind of an ax to grind, and it really didn't impress me at all, her opinion. And, besides, what we want Newt for is his work and his ability to get things accomplished. I had no interested in his personal life.

TRAVIS: Thank you, Marcia, for joining us. Good luck out here.

Randi, there you go, at least one Newt Gingrich supporter out here giving her opinion of the former House speaker.

We've heard, obviously, some harsh words from Mitt Romney today, calling the speaker erratic, saying he's like a pinball machine, demanding him, urging him to release his records and dealings with the mortgage giant Freddie Mac. We'll probably hear some equally strong pushback from Newt Gingrich once this gets under way -- Randi?

KAYE: Very quickly, Shannon, do you feel the momentum there? Do his supporters feel the momentum there coming from South Carolina?

TRAVIS: I'm sorry, Randi, repeat that.

KAYE: Do his supporters feel the momentum there coming of Newt's win in South Carolina?

TRAVIS: A lot of them I have spoken with have said they feel a little bit of momentum, again, because they were surprised he did so well in South Carolina and heading into Florida. Obviously, we know the campaign says they raised a million dollars right after South Carolina in a money bomb. So that's partly momentum. They've been touting that they have organization to match Romney's. And, of course, there's that word that we keep hearing, Newt-mentum -- Randi?

KAYE: Right.

All right, Shannon Travis, thank you very much.

And thank you, everyone, for watching. You can always contact me and continue the conversation on Facebook or Twitter @randikayecnn. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Brooke Baldwin. Hi, Brooke.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey Randi, thank you so much.