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Update on Leroy High School Mystery Illness; Washington D.C. Protesters to be Arrested; Suspect in the Canada Murder Convicted
Aired January 29, 2012 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, HOST: Thanks so much, John king.
Here is a look at where the 2012 contenders will be this week. On Monday, Gingrich, Romney and Santorum will all be in Florida. On Tuesday, Ron Paul heads to Colorado and Nevada. And the other candidates will join Paul in Nevada later on this week.
And be sure, of course, to watch the results of the Florida primary Tuesday night here on CNN. And then Saturday night, for the Nevada caucuses, those results.
Alright, thanks so much for tuning in to this special hour of politics. Join us every Sunday at 4:00 eastern time. Now stay right here for the latest news right here in the NEWSROOM.
Classmates have seizures, ticks, unexplained movements. Could a toxic spill from the 1970s be to blame? Now a renowned attorney Erin Brockovich gathers soil samples from the neighborhood.
Eight months after a monster tonight ripped through a Missouri town destroyed homes, lives and even a hospital, today, renewal, hope and healing. All right now in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Alright, big developments in a medical mystery in upstate New York, environmental activist Erin Brockovich is joining others trying to find out what's going on in the town of Leroy. More than a dozen students from the same schools are suffering from uncontrollable verbal outbursts and twitching. Brockovich discussed a possible cause, but Dr. Drew Pinsky Friday night on our sister network HLN.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIN BROCKOVICH, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST: There was a very serious train derailment that caused one ton of cyanide to spill and 45,000 gallons of TCE. The actual location of the site of the derailment is four miles from this school.
DR. DREW PINSKY, HLN HOST, DR. DREW: Four miles from the school, a massive train derailment with spectacular exposure of known carcinogens and toxins. There is a map of where this happen right now. How did that then become an issue for the high school?
BROCKOVICH: Well, this is what we're looking into. And the agencies for toxic substances and disease registry did not get out to this spill site until the '90s as did the EPA. PINSKY: So, it happened and it took them 20 years to go out there and investigate.
BROCKOVICH: 20 years to go out and investigate.
PINSKY: The family reported seeing strange things coming up.
BROCKOVICH: They have reported that there is an orange/yellow substance that almost kind of oozes from the ground.
PINSKY: There is the field now. We're showing the video now.
BROCKOVICH: That it is on the children's clothing, their shoes. I've done a lot of these environmental cases for 2 1 years and I've never seen a case until today that took an agency 20 years to respond.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
WHITFIELD: Erin Brockovich has a team investigating the town right now. They actually collected water samples but were turned away when trying to collect ground samples from the school. Since fall, the case has baffled doctors and infuriated parents and it received a lot of national attention as well.
Oakland, California, now is assessing the damage while police are on standby, waiting to see if occupy protesters will return to the streets.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
WHITFIELD: This is from last night when police say occupy protesters tried to take over a vacant convention center. They say the violence escalated and protesters broke into city hall, damaging displays and burning an American flag. Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke grenades. More than 100 protesters were arrested after they entered a YMCA. Oakland's mayor says there is no excuse for this behavior.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN QUAN, MAYOR, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: It is time, I think, for the occupy movement to take a stand on whether this behavior, this kind of behavior that has nothing to do with the 99 percent movement can be -- should be tolerated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: On the east coast, a Washington, D.C. now occupy protesters there have been warned to stop camping in two parks near the White House or face arrest.
Our Athena Jones joins us from one of the parks, McPherson Square. And looks like you have a smaller crowd behind you than earlier. What's happening?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well certainly you know, earlier today some of the demonstrators spent about three hours trying to meet and then figure out what kind of plan of action they have for tomorrow when the park police are expected to come on or about noon.
This is the notice that park police, national park police put up on Friday. They came back and they have been putting them up on tents all around me today as well. Just a little while ago, about half a dozen park police were here and I asked them, you know, it is interesting that in this notice they say you're not allowed to camp overnight. Anyone in violation tomorrow is subject to arrest and to have their property seized.
So, it says in order to be in compliance, people have to remove all camping material from the park and leave one side of the temporary structures open so the officers can observe what is going on inside and make sure they're in compliance.
And so, I talked to a police officer here saying, you know what does that mean? Does it mean they can have tents up as long as there's no sleeping bag and all he would tell me is if they're in compliance, they're in compliance.
And so, they have been having discussions all day trying to figure out how to respond tomorrow. They feel they have a right to be here and occupiers -- the demonstrators say that they're going to do everything they can to keep up some sort of presence here, some sort of activity here, 24 hours, whether or not they can sleep here, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Are there other parks or places there in the districts of Columbia not so close to the White House where these demonstrators have gathered?
JONES: Well, these have been the two main sites. Here at McPherson Square Park which is really two blocks, you can almost see the White House from here. And also freedom plaza which is a few blocks on the other side of the White House. And this has been the main places where you have seen big encampments. You know, this has been going on since early October. That's when we began to set up shop here, set up tents here overnight. But it wasn't until now, until tomorrow, that these regulations that have been in place are going to be in force. We talked to one demonstrator about his plans to how he'll respond tomorrow. Listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN EISTER, D.C. OCCUPIER: I'm more than happy to go to jail as many times as they would like to take me to jail. Everybody else here is in the same boat. If they come to arrest me for camping, they can take me to jail. I'll be out next day, I'll be right back here and they can come arrest me again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: So you heard from him. He's ready to be arrested. It is unclear, though what the confrontation will look like tomorrow. We know that as among the planning they have been discussing all day, they plan to stay nonviolent, these are acts of civil disobedience. There have been talks of having sleep strikes where people stay up all night and play games in order to not sleep here, which is banned, but still manage to stay here.
There are churches that are discussing whether they'll house some of the protesters so they can take sleep breaks and come back and keep this 24 hour vigil. And there are also talk tomorrow about people doing -- acting like they're sleeping as part of their message of we have dreams of a better country.
So, it will be interesting to see what happens. Certainly, there are people willing to be arrested but there are others who are just waiting to see -- they say it will depend on what the police do, how they respond, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Alright, Athena Jones. Thanks so much. McPherson Square there, in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Alright, he's the richest man in America. So, what does Bill Gates say about the one percent versus 99 percent, that is? And is he willing to pay more in taxes? Our Poppy Harlow sat down with him and she'll tell us later in the hour.
On the northern Florida now, interstate 75 is closed after a string of fatal crashes overnight that left ten dead and 18 more injured. One witness tells CNN, quote, "it was just cars hitting cars and cars." The sheriff's office says visibility was poor because of smoke from a nearby brushfire. Most of the crashes were on i-75, but some happened on a state highway as well.
On the Birmingham, Alabama, this morning, police responding to a robbery call, instead, finding five people dead inside a home. It is now a homicide investigation. The cause of death has not been released nor will any of the victims' identities be released until relatives are notified.
So, it's been eight months since a monster tornado hit Joplin, Missouri. Just an hour ago, demolition crews began tearing down the hospital. In about 20 minutes, I'll talk to someone who knows firsthand the healing process taking place there.
And, on the political trail, the race for the White House, Rick Santorum is not campaigning today, while his 3-year-old child is in the hospital. Santorum's older daughter, however, is filling his shoes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is not in Florida. He rushed home to Pennsylvania after his 3-year-old daughter was admitted to a hospital. She suffers from a genetic disorder. Santorum's daughter Elizabeth filled in for dad at one event, comparing his campaign to the struggle of the founding fathers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH SANTORUM, RICK SANTORUM'S DAUGHTER: They knew that what was happening at that moment was important. The history was being made right before their eyes. And I know that like them you will not sit on the sidelines and let history happen while you stand out. Stand up, Florida. You have three days left. Let's take this all the way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Rick Santorum is running a distant third in Florida polls. Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is ahead of Santorum, but trailing Mitt Romney by double digits in the latest Florida polls. But after a church service today, the former house speaker sought to reverse the tie by casting Romney as a liberal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I think the contrast between the timidity of a Massachusetts moderate who say manager and the boldness of a Reagan conservative who is prepared to be a visionary, prepared to talk about big solutions, prepared to talk about giving every young American a personal Social Security savings account.
So, this will be a campaign that we're going to force back on to fundamental choice about the issues despite every effort of Governor Romney to make it a campaign with negative ads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Yesterday, Gingrich got a big endorse from a former rival. Herman Cain drew his support behind the former house speaker just days before Florida's primary. Cain suspended his campaign back in December.
Meanwhile, front-runner Mitt Romney is coming off what some say, are improve the debate performances in Florida. He and Gingrich had some lively moments in the last two contests. The former Massachusetts governor leveraged those performances in a speech today in Naples.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think for each of us, if we fail somewhere, if we fail at a debate or we fail to get the support of people, it is time to look in the mirror. And my own view is the reason that speaker Gingrich has been having a hard time in Florida is the people of Florida have watched the debates, have listened to the speaker, have listened to the other candidates and said, you know what Mitt Romney is the guy we're going to support.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Two days before the Florida primary and guess what the Sunday morning talk shows were all talking about? Here are the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROMNEY: The idea that I'm anti-immigrant is repulsive. Don't use a term like that.
GINGRICH: I was amazed. I mean, I'm standing next to a guy who is the most blatantly dishonest answers I can remember in any presidential race in my lifetime. I don't know how you debate a person with civility if they're prepared to say things that are just plain factually false.
DAVID GREGORY, NBC HOST, MEET THE PRESS: The real fear as Governor Christie said last week, he's an embarrassment to the Republican Party.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R), ARIZONA: Well, I would not say that. But I would say that we had some rather unpleasant experiences with Newt Gingrich. My problems with Newt had been over earmark spending, billions and billions and billions.
When Newt Gingrich became speaker, they turned earmarks into an art form. And as Tom Coburn says, it is the gateway to corruption. Reason why Mitt has the electability is because of his experiences as governor, as a business person.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you doing? Good to see you.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: If it becomes apparent at some time along the road before the June end to the primary season that you can't get enough delegates to win, do you see yourself dropping out, or you to see yourself going all the way to the convention?
RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, I think we'll continue. And it is a rough road. But the rough road isn't, you know, presenting our case. The rough road is competing with, you know, establishment money, the big money.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hey.
GREGORY: You say to someone who maybe voted for Obama in 2008, and is on the fence now, why he deserves the second term. Not quite the bumper sticker, maybe a little longer answer. What is it?
DAVID AXELROD, BARACK OBAMA'S ADVISER: I think I would say he led the country through a very difficult time. We have a long way to go. We're in a much different place than we were when he got there. And he has a vision of how to build a country.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: They have been trying to pretend like the president just showed up yesterday, just got sworn in and was starting fresh. In fact, he's been in office three years. He got everything he wanted from a completely compliant Congress for two of those three years. You don't hear him mention any of that. So what he's been engaged in since the bus tours began last August is try to convince the American people that somebody else is standing in his way.
REINCE PRIEBUS, RNC CHAIRMAN: I called him captain Schettino, you know, the captain that fled the ship in Italy, that's our own president who is fleeing the American people and not doing his job and running around the country and campaigning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And let's talk about the Olympics straight ahead. The London games almost here. Less than six months until the December games. Opening ceremony, we'll talk about how London is getting ready to welcome the world. Are they ready yet?
Let me give you a little quiz while we're waiting for those answers. Which city in the world has hosted the summer games the most times? Talking about the entire history of the Olympic games. Might it be Paris, Athens, London, or Los Angeles? Think about it. Think. And we'll be right back with an answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A minute ago, I asked you which city in the world hosted the summer Olympic games the most; Paris, Athens, London or Los Angeles? Which one did you guess? If you guessed London, then you would be right. It has had opening ceremonies twice already and then come this year, for the third time, July 27th to be exact is when the games will begin.
London will be first city to play Olympic host three times come this summer. The other years, 1908, 1948, and 2012, this year.
So, Ralitsa Vassileva is here from CNN international to give us an idea just how you ready London is especially, it's hard to believe that four years have passed since the Beijing games.
RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNNI ANCHOR, CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. But you know what, six months left until the games, 95 percent, they are ready. They said their infrastructure is ready. They have the stadium ready, they have their aquatics center. They also have their village dome.
So they're doing pretty good. No last minute thing like 2008, like are they going to make it.
WHITFIELD: That's right. It seems almost every, you know, previous Olympic games, at least in modern times it has been like down to the wire to get everything you know going, get the last seats in place as people were getting off planes.
You know, the pressure is on for London. They have got to try and best that Beijing Olympic games' opening ceremony. Can they do it? The pressure is on.
VASSILEVA: Well, they say they can't match. I mean, they can't keep up with the cost. But they're in good hands. Danny Boyle, director, Oscar winner and director of "Slum Dog Millionaire" fame. He is in charge of the opening ceremonies. He's picking performers of local children. He says it is going to be a little bit of a tribute to Britain. The vision is to call it the Aisles of wonder. He's not giving a lot of details out, but he's going to have a huge bell, which is going to ring in the festivities like a 27-ton bell, they're actually a little nervous about how all this is going to pan out.
WHITFIELD: Yes. They ought to be nervous, you know. It is big. It is a giant world stage.
VASSILEVA: I know. This giant bell and they're also nervous about the cauldron, the lighting of the cauldron, which, you know, I didn't know, but is something that all organizers are very nervous. Is it going to be lit up or not. And when you think about it --
WHITFIELD: Right. Remember Barcelona and it was the bow and arrow?
VASSILEVA: Yes, yes.
WHITFIELD: So, getting it on the first try was so important.
VASSILEVA: They say they have a very exciting cauldron. And so they're very excited about whether it is going to work. But they're going to do their best.
WHITFIELD: I'm sure they have a backup plan, some sort of little, you know, some sort of like little, you know, eternal flame that will kick in just in case their technique doesn't work.
We shall see. Well, a lot of folks are very excited about the games coming up. This is a big one too for the 1948 Olympians. There are some over 70 American, 48 Olympians who will try and make that trip, my dad, among them. So, this will be a pretty significant full circle for a lot of Olympians.
VASSILEVA: I can't wait to see his face. Are you going to go with him and take picture?
WHITFIELD: That's the plan. We'll see. We're looking forward to the games.
VASSILEVA: Love Fred's father.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Ralitsa. Appreciate it.
VASSILEVA: My pleasure.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, you know, this may not surprise you. This is a callout to a lot of ladies out there. Salary disparities, yes they still exist in the American workforce. Why?
In a few minutes, some advice on how you can perhaps get your fair share. How do you demand more?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, time for a check of what's happening in the week ahead. Florida GOP primary is Tuesday. The Republican presidential hopefuls are doing some last minute campaigning there this weekend and early part of the week. And then, later in the week, it is westward to Nevada. GOP caucus day is Saturday. Nevada's largest newspaper, by the way, endorsed Mitt Romney today. And Facebook is going public. One of the highly anticipated IPOS of the year, it is expected to happen in the coming few days. The deal could raise as much as $10 billion for Mark Zuckerberg's social network.
And the first lady gets a late night television audience on Tuesday. That's when Michelle Obama is booked as a guest on "the Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
Alright, women, you heard for most of your career that you're not making as much as the men in your office. So what can you try to do to level the playing field?
Earlier I spoke with Debra Shigley, the author of "the Go-Getter Girl's Guide," she said sometimes it is all in the asking or demanding.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBRA SHIGLEY, AUTHOR, THE GO-GETTER GIRL'S GUIDE: Women are in fact asking for raises or promotions, they're just not getting it. And we don't know why that is. We heard the president talk about equal pay for equal work. There are some things that need to be done in the governmental giggle corporate levels. But, we also want to empower women to make those decisions and ask for the raise and the promotion.
WHITFIELD: So, how do you feel empower? How do you do that because sometimes it is really hard to toot your own horn? Sometimes to demand I deserve more.
SHIGLEY: Exactly. Well, the first thing you want to do is gather your arsenal. You have to know what are other people making that do the same work that you do. Go to sites like glassdoor.com, salary.com, figure out what is the going rate for your job and duties and also you want to quantify your accomplishments. You know, you never get a raise because you think you need it or you think you should get one or -- just because you want it, right?
You have to show what you're doing is contributing directly to the bottom line. You want to show how many customers you're bringing in, how much revenue you're bringing in what you're saving the company money in terms of productivity and efficiency. And those are things to gather before you go into the meeting.
WHITFIELD: And then you need to present that in the form of a pitch and you need to kind a rehearse that maybe even stand say this is what I'm going to say and how I say it?
SHIGLEY: Yes. I would practice at pitch in front of the mirror, maybe as a mentor or a friend and try to anticipate what the counterarguments are going to be and also gain the confidence before when you go into the meeting.
WHITFIELD: OK. Think like a tiger mom. What do you mean? Made famous by the book. SHIGLEY: Yes, exactly. Well, research has shown that women often times feel more comfortable negotiating on behalf of a third party. I don't know if you can relate to this as a mom, but I know as a mom, I was doing everything I possibly could to get my kid into the preschool we wanted to get into, right? And it is very stressful. And it brings out your natural inner negotiator, acting like an agent on behalf of someone else. So, if you can kind of channel that mind set --
WHITFIELD: At all costs. This is going to happen.
SHIGLEY: Yes, channel the mind set in terms of your creativity and also your assertiveness in making that argument as an advocate for yourself as you would for a third party.
WHITFIELD: And then oftentimes you hear the word no, you're very discouraged. You don't want to try it again but you say no. Don't take it as a no. Take it as a not now which means to try it again.
SHIGLEY: Exactly. You know, this is your opportunity. First of all, pat yourself on the back because you got in there and did this. And you know, women who consistently negotiate their salaries earn over $1 million more over the course of their career. So, you're getting that practice right now.
So second, you want to use the opportunity as who, what, when, where, why it didn't happen. What can you do specifically to get yourself to be re-considered for this raise or promotion over the course of the next three, six, nine months?
And finally, have a backup plan of things that maybe it is a new title, maybe it is professional development. Maybe it is working on a coveted project that will actually help you move your career forward. Maybe not in the monetary sense, but you can re-examine that a few months down the road.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Alright, Debra Shigley. They also saying in salary negotiation, women need to develop an inner courage she says and just go for it.
Eight months ago, a massive tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri. A hospital was heavily damaged and today demolition crews began tearing it down. Straight ahead, I'll talk to someone who knows firsthand about the town's healing process.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Aright, on to a high profile murder trial in Canada. And the verdict is guilty involving a family from Afghanistan. It was called an honor murder, three teenage sisters and one of their father's wives. Prosecutors put the father and mother and their son on trial for killing the victims allegedly for being too westernized.
CNN's Paula Newton is in Kingston, Ontario. So Paula, explain more about how this verdict came down.
PAUL NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, quite a case. And they are calling this an honor murder. And these three people, now convicted murderers, will be in prison for a minimum of 25 years, no eligibility for parole. They basically have been convicted of killing the premeditated cold blooded murder of four of their family members because they were seen to be, and this is what the prosecution proved was the motive, seemed to be too liberal, too westernized.
They had boyfriends, Fred. They went out and dressed in certain ways that their parents did not like. And what happened is one family car was used to ram another family car, have a containing the four women into a canal. And the cause of death was definitely drowning. But they don't know exactly when that happened. There is a theory in fact that these family members in some way, shape or form incapacitated or even murdered these people before they hit the water -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And so, was this a difficult trial for the prosecutors to nail down? Was there eyewitness testimony that helped them convince the jurors of the guilty verdict?
NEWTON: Basically, what happened was there was some fairly explosive wiretap information. You know, Fred, there was mostly circumstantial evidence on this case. They didn't know how these people were murdered exactly or precisely when. But they wire tapped the families. These three people, when they were talking, didn't know they were being listened to and really quite damming evidence, Fred.
The father saying if they would come back to life 100 times I would do it again. At one point saying may the devil defecate on their graves, I mean, incredible stuff. And obviously the jury thought, look, with all of this mounting and stories, timelines that the defendants just absolutely could not explain, the jury thought, yes, these three are guilty.
And it, you know, really resonating here in Canada. You know, social workers did go to this home. They knew there was conflict in the home. So, everyone is asking what could be done in these kinds of culturally sensitive times to really try and interject and intervene before this happens.
WHITFIELD: Paula Newton in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Thanks so much.
Another day of street violence and dozens of deaths in Syria. This video showing a man reportedly shot today in Damascus in a clash with government forces. An opposition activist group says at least 64 people were killed today in the capital and other cities. Yesterday, the Arab league stopped its monitoring mission saying it was simply too dangerous.
Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful. U.N. inspectors are there today to see for themselves. A team from the IAEA arrived in Tehran today. The agency's director said two days ago that he's not sure Iran is being completely transparent. The United States and Australia both ramped up sanctions against Iran this week. Occupy protests on both sides of the country, this country in Washington, D.C., protesters have been warned to stop camping in two parks near the White House or face arrest.
On the west coast, police are on standby in Oakland, California, waiting to see if occupy protesters there will return to the streets. More than 100 protesters were arrested yesterday after clashing with police.
And now to Joplin, Missouri where just eight months ago a tornado ripped through the town, killing 161 people. You remember these images, right? Well, today, a new beginning, as crews begin demolishing a building that took a direct hit. Five patients and one visitor died that day at St. John's Mercy hospital.
Shelly Hunter was the hospital's administrator on duty the day that tornado hit. She's joining us right now by phone from Joplin.
So, Shelly, first, eight months ago, but does it feels like it was yesterday?
SHELLY HUNTER, ADMINISTRATOR, ST. JOHN MERCY HOSPITAL (via telephone): Yes, and in some ways it does feel like it is yesterday. And then we have been through so much. It also seems like it has been a really long time ago.
WHITFIELD: Why did this hospital, like, I described it took a direct hit. But why does it seem to symbolize a sort of resilience of that community given that people died there and that building was severely damaged?
HUNTER: I think there are several reasons. For one, it was the largest symbol of the disaster in town, the largest facility hit. It is the hardest impact of the storm. And we started rebuilding immediately, starting with the tent hospital and we're up in providing services in a minimal way in seven days. And I think that shows resilience with all of the community support that we had. And all of the support we had from the sisters of mercy, our health system.
WHITFIELD: So we're looking at images of that day, shortly after the tornado. And that's a pretty significant, sizable hospital. Today they began the demolition. It is going to take some time to flatten it completely, break it down. Were you there to witness it or what are your feelings today knowing that it was being -- it is being partially demolished.
HUNTER: Yes, I was there witnessing it and my feelings, you know, I said it is a dichotomy of feelings. We have the sadness of the campus going away, people spent many years working there. People were born there. Health care had a very sentimental feel to people because of the life events that take place, so, there is sadness. And yet we all want to see it go because it is still a reminder of that night eight months ago.
The wonderful thing is we're also getting to start a ceremonial groundbreaking for our new facility that will be a state of the art facility. So it is kind of a day of good-bye and new beginnings, kind of a perfect day for both.
WHITFIELD: There have been lots of images we have seen, one in particular pretty poignant showing the destruction around a single cross that seemingly was intact. What did that represent to you and do you know whether that cross was kind of removed before the destruction of this building?
HUNTER: Yes, it was. That cross was a very symbolic symbol for all of us in the community and for the hospital. It was the only thing on campus that survived any type of destruction at all and it has been removed from the campus for safekeeping. We are still trying to make the decision if we move it to our new campus or leave it there as part of a memorial park to the tornado victims.
But, I think it symbolized hope and inspiration and really what the ministry and the mission of our health system is build around. So, kind of just resilience for us.
WHITFIELD: Shelly hunter, a CFO of mercy health, of Joplin. Thank you for your time and, of course, all the best as you and the rest of the Joplin community there rebuilds and recovers.
It is the screen actors' guild awards tonight. We'll tell you which movies and actors are vying for the top spots. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, the Hollywood awards season is in full swing. And in just a few hours stars will be on the red carpet for the screen actors' guild awards.
Entertainment correspondent Kareen Wynter joining us live from Los Angeles, looking magnificent in magenta there, Kareen. So, this is a prelude for the Oscars, yes?
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: It is. It is such an exciting show. It is one of those shows out there that everyone loves, Fred. The screen actors guild award because it is a peer award, the peers honor each other in this -- at this show. It is a big deal for those nominated, a big deal for those who win.
You may hear noise behind me. That's because they're still setting the stage, laying the final ground work. You can see all the action. This is the red carpet where the stars will be filing down.
And you know how with the academy awards you have the Oscar, that's the award that goes out. Well, for the screen actors' guild, you have the actor of that magnificent statue behind me. And next to that statue, Fred, take a look at all the people sitting in the heat here in Los Angeles, on this beautiful sunny day. They're waiting for their favorite stars to roll down this red carpet. The big show gets under way a little bit two hours from now. But the stars will be here way before then.
And one of the big category that we going to keep our eyes on tonight, of course, would be best cast in a motion picture. It was a huge weekend this weekend for "the Artists." That's because it won out big at the directors' guild award last night.
And so, you know, a lot of eyes will be on "the Artists." Not just that. But, that film won at the recent golden globes awards and so did "the Descendants" and its respective category. 'The Artist" was in the drama category, "Descendants" on the comedy or musical and so -- or rather the other way around. "The Artist" in comedy or musical, "Descendants" on drama.
And so, we're keeping our eyes out for who will walk away. But also, the very popular movie from last year, "bridesmaids" that grossed about $170 million at the box office, huge film. It shows that women can be funny too, right, Fred? I know you enjoyed it.
WHITFIELD: Hilarious.
WYNTER: So, that could walk away. That could be a spoiler here. And another -- couple other contenders, "the Help" as well as "Midnight in Paris." So, we'll have to see how things shape up on that end. We can't wait for the stars to arrive. We can't wait for the party to get started.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And among those stars, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, once again, good friends, going toe to toe for the same award.
WYNTER: And you know, we have been seeing them. This is a recurring theme where they're up against each other at awards shows. The Golden Globes, they were facing each other. Brad Pitt, star of "Money Ball", George Clooney, "descendants." But George walked away with the big award. They are also going to be squaring off on the big night, the academy awards. I think George is a favorite though going into tonight's show for "the descendants," such a phenomenal role for him, but we will see.
WHITFIELD: Alright, we will be watching. You'll be our eyes. Kareen Wynter, thanks so much.
WYNTER: Thank you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Alright, they're clogging up your e-mail and mailbox. I'm talking about credit card offers, promising zero interest rates, rewards, cash back and all the rest.
In this week's smart is the new rich, Christine Romans shows you what you need to consider before you apply.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: A lot of people are telling me they're trying to get credit card offers again for first time in three or four years. What is your advice to people who are maybe were in trouble in credit card debt before and are now banks are reaching out to them?
GREG MCBRIDE, SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST, BANKRATE.COM: Look. If you've gotten in trouble with credit card debt in the recent past, you need to walk those over to the shredder. It's a one way trip. Now, if for the disciplined consumer who pays the balance in full every month, is not tempted to spend money they don't have. But instead, looks at reward card programs as a way to get paid for transactions are going to make anyway, now is the time to shopping around. These are a lot of very attractive offers. Many of them have introductory bonuses to get you to sign up. So, there is cash available for the taking for that disciplined consumer who is going to refrain from running up the tab.
ROMANS: But, I would say, you know, the credit card companies aren't doing it because they like you.
MCBRIDE: No. It is a business. And so, as a consumer, you have to make a business decision for yourself. This is the time to be shopping around and looking at getting a lower rate on the credit card because it is the consumer that has top notch credit that the card issuers are really drawn to. That's the customer that they want. So if you have strong credit, you're looking to get that debt paid off in 2012, now is the time to shop around for a lower rate.
ROMANS: For smart is the new rich, I'm Christine Romans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Alright, the one percent, the wealthiest people in the nation, are talking about financial inequality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL GATES, COCHAIRMAN, BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION: Well, I think there is no doubt that rich are going to have to bear more of an increase.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Bill Gates and other billionaires talking to our Poppy Harlow next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, the haves versus the have-nots. That was the big, one of the big topics at the world economic forum in Switzerland which ended today.
And Poppy Harlow talked to some business leaders about financial inequality and raising taxes on the rich.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Hi there. Well, you know, we have been here in Davos, Switzerland all week covering the world economic forum. And one thing we really focused on is income and equality, the 99 percent movement and taxes. What burden should the wealthiest in America bear? We talked to everyone from billionaire investors to economists to CEOs to get their take. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GATES: In a capitalistic system, you're always going to have lots of income inequality.
NOURIEL ROUBINI, ECONOMIST: Back to what was, income inequality in 1929 and the onset of the great depression in the first build in age when the cycle built in age.
GEORGE SOROS, SOROS FUND MANAGEMENT: There is a great deal of frustration and anger. And as I say it is understandable and I think it is something ought to be done. So that's why I'm personally very happy to pay more taxes.
HARLOW: Do you support the Buffett rule as the president laid it out in the state of the union?
GATES: I think there is no doubt the rich are going to have to bear more of an increase.
HARLOW: Is it class warfare?
SOROS: Well, that's what my fellow hedge fund managers are saying. But I think it is because they don't like to pay taxes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to get rebuild the middle class, business should be embarrassed that this happened. So should government. How do we work together to get that back and how do we get America back on top? And how do we get America back on top through market (inaudible) in the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: A very interesting debate going on those issues. Very opposite positions from a lot of folks. You can see all of our coverage from here at the world economic forum. We have it all on CNN money. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Alright, thanks so much, Poppy. Always so beautiful there in Davos.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What do they do there?
WHITFIELD: They talk money with a beautiful backdrop. Don Lemon here. You have much more straight ahead in Switzerland with our own very beautiful red, white and blue backdrop.
LEMON: In Atlanta.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
LEMON: In the U.S. I'm going to be talking - I'm doing great. I am going to be talking with Dr. Drew Pinsky. He's very passionate, Fred, about the story in upstate New York where teenage girls are exhibit something odd behavior, Tourettes like symptoms and seizure. You have seen the video.
And earlier this week, environmental activist Erin Brockovich got involved in this particular story. Her team has been testing ground water near a high school and says there could be, could be a possible link to a 1970 train derailment. Dr. Drew's team also investigating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: She found out that in early '70s there was a train derailment where thousands of gallons of TCE was spilled. That's trichloroethylene, a known carcinogen, something that can cause neurological disorders. It was spilled into the ground right there outside of Leroy, just a few miles from the school. And she had discovered that there had been actual bedrock samples from in and around that area showing a plume of this potentially carcinogenic compound heading towards that high school. Now, she has sent up one of her own investigators to Leroy and we have sent a team up there. And what you're going to see on Monday night is just astonishing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, we will be watching that. More on that with Dr. Drew and will see here from the girls as well. And also, the debut of our special Dr. Sanjay Gupta special, it's called "Big Hits, Broken Dreams." It's hosted by our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He's going to join me at 7:00 for his preview of this and I'm going to be talking with hall of famer Fran Tarkington about the helmets, procedure used. Whether it's effective enough in all of sports and whether or not high school football if it's too dangerous to play. That's a question a lot of people are asking. And how had done by Sanjay Gupta.
WHITFIELD: There's also the issue where the discussions that have come from more fortified helmets, that is increasing the propensity of players wanted to have contact because they feel like they have more protection. I know you will talk about more of that, but it really is a dynamic conversation.
LEMON: You have been talking to Fran.
WHITFIELD: I haven't talked to him but I talked to a lot of people and watch those sports channels, you know, so I hear that dialogue. It's really fascinating.
Alright, I'll be watching you tonight this time for that conversation.
LEMON: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Don.
Alright, you never played football, right? I know the answer to that because I have seen him play basketball, too. You never played football. Anyway.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: My God!
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: That was not a slam. I have heard you talk about your own basketball technique.
OK, anyway, keep going. The nation's unemployment number, we're going to talk about that. You know I love you, Don. We are going to talk about that. It's the lowest that it has been in three years. Later this week we'll find out if it will go any lower. I hope not.
Plus fires, rain, and snow. Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras gets you ready for your Monday morning commute. I love that Don Lemon. He's an awesome athlete.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: alright, you're spending apparently is boosting the economy, good news. And the job market might be looking up. Our money team is keeping an eye on all that. Let's start with Felicia Taylor in New York.
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka. The economy picked up steam at the end of 2010. The government said this past week that GDP grew in the fourth quarter at a 2.8 percent annual rate helped by rising consumer spending. That's the fastest in more than a year but Wall Street expected even better.
The economy grew a little bit more in each quarter as 2011 progressed, but the growth rate for the whole year was just 1.7 percent. Analysts are expecting GDP to be a bit better than this year but still far from robust because of Europe's debt crisis. Poppy Harlow has a look at what's coming up in business news. Poppy?
HARLOW: Thanks so much, Felicia. We're coming to this week from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. And looking ahead to next week in the United States, we'll get the January jobs report. It is the first reading of the New Year. 2011 ended on a high note with 200,000 jobs added in December. The unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in nearly three years.
Last week the Federal Reserve said it is more optimistic about the labor market than it was just a few months ago. That's good news. Policymakers expect the jobless rate to average somewhere between 8.2 percent and 8.5 percent this year. We'll track it all for you all week leading up to the jobs report on Friday. You can find it all on CNN Money. Fredricka, back to you.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Jacqui Jeras for our weekend weather, windy.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. A real problem across parts of the great lakes. We have kind of a weak clipper moving through but it's been a windy one producing wind gusts on the range of 30 to 50 miles per hour. In fact, take a look at this video out of Indianapolis. The big super bowl there next weekend. The NFL experience has been going on already this weekend in those tents and they had to close them down because they were concerned about collapsing because of the strong wind gusts.
Now, the week ahead we'll look at warmer weather. All of our storms are going to be tracking across the northern tier. So, a pretty quiet weeks across parts of the south in particular. Those temperatures are going to be as much as 20 degrees above average. Kansas City, 64, 43 in New York City.
Where is the cold air? It's up north. It's in Alaska. You know, yesterday in Fairbanks, Fredricka, it was 50 degrees below zero, right now 42. They've had 15 days of 40 below or colder, and that's a record for the month of January.
WHITFIELD: And that is cold. Alright, thanks so much, Jacqui. Appreciate that. Have a good week.
That's going to do it for me. I'm Fredrick Whitfield. Much more of the NEWSROOM straight ahead with the ever so athletic Don Lemon. There he goes. He's got his helmet. He's ready to play ball. Have a great week.
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