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Twelve Dead in Tornado Outbreak; Six Killed in Harrisburg, Illinois Tornado, Two Americans Killed in Afghanistan; Romney Takes Wyoming Caucuses; Six Killed in Harrisburg, Illinois Tornado; Gas Prices Climb Relentlessly; Andrew Breitbart Dies; Infertile Couples Get High Tech Help; Students Meet Counselors after Shootings
Aired March 01, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now we're going to continue to talk about this monster storm that just plowed through the heartland and it spin off an outbreak of tornadoes. And this morning the numbers are telling the story.
At least a dozen people have been and nearly 200 more injured from Kansas to Kentucky. Thousands of people are picking up the pieces and grateful to be alive.
This is Branson, Missouri, the resort town for country music fans. The damage estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Another tornado slammed into the town of Harveyville, Kansas. Homes and churches destroyed there. Residents scrambled to find shelter as the ferocious winds ripped apart their homes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEMMA COLLINS, TORNADO SURVIVOR: Honestly, it sounded like a train was coming through town, and we don't have a train here. As soon I heard the growling, my ears had felt like, you know, when you're in an airplane and all, you know, it just pops, that's all did. And my daughter was by the windows, and she said, momma, look, and my chairs were spinning outside my window. All of the stuff that was right here and then there was on top of me. I was inside that bathtub. I couldn't move. It was really rough.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What was going through your mind?
COLLINS: I swore we were going to die. All I could do was pray.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Half of the death toll centers in one small town. Nine thousand people live in Harrisburg, Illinois, six people died there.
Don Lemon is part of the CNN team in Harrisburg.
So, Don, the National Weather Service actually says the tornado was the second most powerful on the rating scale. How widespread is the damage this morning? DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: EF-4. And it's -- it's huge, Kyra. Take a look around. Just pan around here and look. This is a neighborhood, a fairly new neighborhood. Go left here to show -- if this had happened in the afternoon when it was full of people, there would have been probably much -- many more injuries, many more deaths here. Luckily there were only six, and I'm saying luckily because every single person we've spoken to, even the person who lost his mom said he can't believe that only six people died in all of this.
They say they're going to pick up the pieces. The Red Cross is here. They've got lots of help. They could use more help, they could use more water, they could use more supplies. And of course, they could always use more money.
Let me tell you about where I'm standing now. This is sort of the end of the street here. This guy's name is Jeff Street. He was here with his wife, his youngest daughter, and his two grandkids. He said he was about to run for county board. Getting ready in his bathroom. Right in here. You can see him. He's in the green sweater right here.
Hey, Jeff. Raise your hand so our viewers can see.
He's at home. He survived. He said he was in the bathroom. He kicked in the door -- getting ready for work. He kicked in the door to get out and then to help all of his family and then he said, you know, it was horrific. He was in his bare feet. He tried to help other people. Listen to what he said about his experience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF STREET, TORNADO DESTROYED HIS HOME: Just look at this and wonder how you ever got out. A bedroom on this side, a bedroom on that side, completely destroyed, and the bathroom right there in the middle and that's where I was. And how the bathroom got left good enough for me to survive, only God knows.
LEMON: So you -- when you ran out you had to come around on the street?
STREET: Yes. I came out of that bathroom door that's facing on that side. You can see where I busted it to get out.
LEMON: You want to go --
STREET: And I crawled -- I crawled over all this stuff and came out to here hollering for anybody.
LEMON: When they started coming out one by one, were you like, oh, thank god?
STREET: Yes. Yes. Tears of joy. I didn't -- didn't want to let none of them go, but I knew I had to let the 5-year-old go, too, because he needed medical attention.
LEMON: You were holding on to him. STREET: I was holding on tight. I don't know, I don't even want to think about it. I don't know what I would have done if -- if I would -- if he would have said they didn't make it. I don't know what I would have done. I mean I've got another younger daughter and a granddaughter that I could have leaned on, but if I'd lost my middle daughter and those two boys, I mean, I don't know what I would have done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So this is what Jeff's family and friends are helping him do, pack everything that they can in the back of pickup trucks. Their toys. You see some of the clothing. He's a Cardinals fan, and of course close to St. Louis here. There's a box right here that has paperwork, some bills. And I'm sure information that he's going to need. But that's it, Kyra. He said he was lucky enough to get out in his bare feet to save his family. Some guy, he doesn't know who he is, some guy with long hair said -- came out and helped him not only get his family out but to get other people out as well.
It's devastating but if you talk to the people here, they will say the ones who survived, they are lucky to be alive. They're sad for the ones who did pass but they cannot believe that only six people died in this horrific tornado.
PHILLIPS: Don, thanks so much. You know, we're hearing so many of these harrowing tales of survival and heartbreaking stories of loss.
Soledad O'Brien also has had some pretty gut wrenching conversations today with folks there in Harrisburg.
Hi, Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, ANCHOR, STARTING POINT: Hey, Kyra. You're absolutely right. It absolutely breaks your heart. And I want to show you something behind me. You saw Don Lemon's debris field that he was referring to, all the sort of pieces of homes that have kind of gathered up. But look here where I am across the street from where he is. And there's nothing. I mean a pretty -- it's pretty clean. The homes have been literally wiped off their foundations by the force of the storm, what it did, because it came right from this direction, Kyra, kind of blew this way, the tornado.
And you see here, you know where the homes ended up? There. That's another home pinned against another home. So when you see sort of nothing there, it undercuts how devastating. The people who died died in those homes where they were wiped off of their foundations.
One woman who died was 75-year-old Mary Osman. They found her alive, and conscious, and talking, but eventually when she got to the hospital she did not survive. We talked to her son, Darrell, about what happened to his mom. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DARRELL OSMAN, MOTHER DIED IN TORNADO: The only thing that's getting me through this is knowing she's in heaven with God and Jesus Christ has given me the strength to be a good (INAUDIBLE).
O'BRIEN: I can't imagine. So sad to see.
OSMAN: Forgive me.
O'BRIEN: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We appreciate you talking to us this morning. The house is -- there's nothing there. What will you do today? I don't even think there's things to gather.
OSMAN: Well, we -- yesterday we came out here during the day hours and we were able to find some pictures, some of her children, some of my children. Some actually of each of us, believe it or not. Of all things, I found my birth certificate that she had. I found her marriage license.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: It's pretty remarkable when you realize there is nothing left on these foundations. Sometimes, you know, sort of little pieces of things, but they've been -- they've been finding, Kyra, you know, photographs and some of these pieces of paper that are critical, marriage license, 100 yards more down the way. And sometimes pinned in other people's backyards just to give an indication of just how devastating and how powerful this tornado was with winds estimated right here at 170 miles an hour -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Soledad O'Brien, we'll continue to talk to you obviously throughout the morning and throughout the afternoon.
Soledad, thanks.
And our crews are fanning out across Harrisburg gathering information, collecting people's stories. And we'll have live reports throughout the day with Soledad and Don Lemon.
Well, there's more deadly violence in Afghanistan over the burning of Qurans by the U.S. military. Gunmen have killed two more NATO troops and we're now hearing that the victims were Americans.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is in Kabul.
Nick, what do you know about this Afghan language instructor who was maybe one of the gunmen?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we heard there were two gunmen. One is apparently an Afghan soldier. The other, as you say, an Afghan language instructor. Civilian working on this base in the south of the country in Kandahar where this incident occurred. He apparently had been there for sometime, maybe teaching English to the Afghan soldiers. And that's pretty common. And we understand that it was pretty early this morning Afghan time when this incident did occur. Now one local Afghan official we've spoken to, and I should point out, these details do change a lot from when you first hear the first reports, but the initial indications are that this man had, in fact, been there for a year. And they believe he was a Taliban plot. They found documents under his possession which suggests that he has links to the insurgency.
Now that gives us a couple of things. It suggests that this operation was long planned. So possibly not a response to the Quran burning. But then again, many people are asking with the timing that's happened, perhaps there is some sort of link but really the key thing to remember here is regardless of the tragic details, there have now been six American soldiers shot dead by men in Afghan uniform in the past week or so. And there have been no other ISAF casualties during that period. So real terrifying facts that I think many American soldiers here will be digesting in the days past. Trust between them and the Afghan soldiers they serve, train, and even live sometimes alongside so vital to the training to hand over security and then the withdrawal of American troops in the months and years ahead.
PHILLIPS: Nick, thanks so much.
You know, President Obama had hoped his apology would prevent more violence when he talked to, of course, Americans and also Afghan President Hamid Karzai. He apologized for those Quran burnings. Then he had a chance to talk with ABC News and here's what he said just before the latest attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The reason that it was important is the same reason that the commander on the ground, General Allen, apologized. And that is to save lives and to make sure our troops who are there right now are not placed in further danger.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: It's hard to tell. Do you think it has improved it with that apology?
OBAMA: It calmed things down. We're not out of the woods yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Several dozen Afghans have also died in those protests.
Mitt Romney grabs another state with a win in Wyoming last night.
Our political director Mark Preston is in Washington.
So what's the delegate count look like now, Mark?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, Kyra, you're right. Mitt Romney did score a win in the -- Wyoming, Wyoming caucuses last night. But he didn't get all the spoils of war, so to speak. Let's take a quick look at the delegates, how they were apportioned last night. Mitt Romney came out on top. He got 10 delegates but look this. Even though he won the state, because of the way they're apportioning the delegates, Rick Santorum came in with nine, Ron Paul with six, and Newt Gingrich with one.
Very similar to what happened out in Michigan. Let's take a quick look at those numbers as well. Mitt Romney won this state but when the delegates were divided they came out even, 15-15 between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Rick Santorum himself is saying that it was a victory for him out in Michigan.
So let's take a look at the delegate count to date right now. Let's take a look at these numbers. We're a long way away from 1144, but Mitt Romney clearly in the lead with 181 delegates. Rick Santorum with 61, Newt Gingrich with 39, and Ron Paul with 33. Now heading into Super Tuesday, Kyra, that's where the big enchilada is. That's where about 40 percent of the delegates will be spent out from 10 states -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And it happened again. Mitt Romney's campaign moving in fast to clean up after the candidate.
PRESTON: Yes, you know, again, one of these damage control situations in the afternoon yesterday for Mitt Romney. You know he was asked about this controversial amendment that Congress is considering right now that would allow employers not to offer certain parts of health insurance on moral grounds. He was asked this question about this amendment being put forth by Roy Blunt, one of his big supporters, and this is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM HEATH, OHIO NEWS NETWORK: Mark Rubio is being debated, I believe, later this week that deals with banning or allowing employers to ban providing female contraception. Have you taken a position on it? He said he was for that. And we'll talk about personhood in a second. But he's for that. Have you taken a position?
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not for the bill but, look, the idea of presidential candidates getting into questions about contraception within a relationship between a man and woman, husband and wife, I'm not -- I'm not going there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PRESTON: And there you have it. That was Jim Heath from the Ohio News Network asking Mitt Romney that question in the very critical state of Ohio, which will be voting on Tuesday. A short time after that, though, the Romney campaign and the candidate himself had to clarify and say, in fact, that he did support that very controversial amendment -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: The question was a bit confusing, Mark.
PRESTON: It was a little bit confusing. And that's what the pushback is from the Romney campaign. This is an amendment that is supported by conservatives. And it is, again, being put forth not only by Roy Blunt, by Marco Rubio, and that's what they said. They said that he didn't quite understand the question and that's why he answered it that way.
PHILLIPS: Mark Preston, thanks so much.
And Super Tuesday is just five days away. We've got you covered. Starting with the special edition of "JOHN KING USA" at 6:00 Eastern then complete coverage of all the primary results beginning at 7:00 Eastern with our Wolf Blitzer.
Illinois town is devastated by a tornado. A survivor tells us his story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking stories cross-country now.
Prosecutors have a deadline today to file charges against T.J. Lane, the alleged high school shooter in Ohio. He's accused of killing three students and wounding two others. Classes at Chardon High are scheduled to resume tomorrow.
The FBI is investigating the case of a missing cruise ship passenger. A family member reported the woman missing after the ship's celebration docked in south Florida. The crew searched the ship and couldn't find her.
And a base jumper had to be rescued from this Arizona mountain after he realized his parachute was on backwards. When he jumped, the chute actually dragged him back into the mountain. Rescuers say he's lucky to be alive.
Let's get you back to Harrisburg, Illinois, now devastated. Six people have lost their lives after that powerful tornado ripped the town apart. It touched down just before dawn.
And Blake Wilson is a lifelong resident of Harrisburg. He joins me now.
Blake, your business was actually spared. How close was it?
BLAKE WILSON, HARRISBURG RESIDENT: That's correct. Our business is located about a block or half a block south of the path of where the tornado really started ripping our town apart.
PHILLIPS: And I know you felt really lucky that your business was spared and now you are actually helping out as a volunteer. Tell me what you're doing, what you've seen, and how you're trying to make things better right now for the folks that are truly suffering.
WILSON: Well, right now, I'm working with our church and local churches just trying to prepare meals and get all of the volunteers that are here fed. I mean, we're just doing what we can to accommodate all of the volunteers that have come to town to help. And, you know, the response from local communities and local churches, and the surrounding community has been fantastic.
PHILLIPS: Now, you and your family and the family business, you've been there for years. Have your friends been impacted, your relatives? And tell me just what you're hearing, what they're telling you and how you're responding.
WILSON: Well, I mean, in a community this size, you would be hard-pressed to find somebody that doesn't have a close friend or a family member that hasn't been affected by yesterday's disaster. And like I said, the support and the rebuilding of this community is -- the response time was unbelievable.
It started with being woken by the tornado sirens yesterday, which I don't think they had been installed in our community for that long. But with the tornado hitting at 5:00 a.m., I think that really helped awake a lot of people and do the job, warning them.
The sirens -- I'm sorry, I'm getting flustered here. But --
PHILLIPS: It's all right. It's OK. Go ahead.
WILSON: It's -- I think a lot of people are dealing with the survivor's guilt here and it's -- we live in a very strong community. There's a lot of support. And there's no doubt that we won't rebuild and make what we had better, but right now I just thank God for the lives that were spared and pray for the souls and the family of those that weren't quite so fortunate.
PHILLIPS: Blake, I know it's easy for me to sit here and say, hey, don't feel guilty, because I'm definitely not in your shoes.
But you are showing a lot of heart and a lot of love right now. You could have left that town. Your business was spared, but you're staying and you're helping out and you're giving back, and that's the most important thing right now.
And you should feel a lot of peace about that because you don't have to do that. And you are. You're being dedicated to Harrisburg. We appreciate that. I know everybody around you appreciates that as well, Blake. Thank you.
WILSON: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: You bet. Blake Wilson there in Harrisburg, Illinois, for us.
You can also help those affected by the Midwest tornadoes. All you have to do is go to CNN.com/impact. And there, you'll find all the organizations and ways you can help those in need. That's CNN.com/impact.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Costa Cruise ship in trouble. This one making it to the port, but barely.
CNN's Zain Verjee has that story for us.
Hey, Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hey there, Kyra.
It could have been a lot worse. But the biggest problem that 1,000 people had on that vessel was a lot of them got sunburn, Kyra. I mean, they were out there in the beautiful hot son in the Indian Ocean.
It was a really harrowing experience for so many. There was no electricity. There had been that fire in the kitchen that set the mechanical systems haywire and the ship went totally adrift. It had to be pulled in by a French fishing vessel to Port Victoria in the Seychelles.
There was no electricity. They couldn't have any hot food. They were just eating cheeses and all the cold food. There wasn't even enough water. They were using mineral water to wash themselves.
Listen to how one passenger put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARI-ANNE THON, PASSENGER: Well, I mean, we were up on the deck and it was extremely black smoke. So we knew something was going to happen so -- excuse me. They sounded the alarm. Then we went out to our room to get our life jackets and then we went up to the master station, you know, where we all were standing there for quite a while.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: Fortunately, Kyra, there was no serious injuries for anyone. The Costa group has offered everyone a reimbursement as well as one to two weeks' vacations in the Seychelles.
And I can confirm to you, Kyra, I was on the Mahe Island a few weeks ago and it is absolutely fabulous.
PHILLIPS: Actually, yes, great place to visit. I just am not quite sure if this is the way to go on this cruise ship. I mean, this company not having very much luck lately.
VERJEE: No. I mean, it's a real major problem. In fact, about 35 percent of bookings were down for Costa. They do have a major problem of image.
And this is the second time this company is going through something like this. Now, what people are saying is that they're offering a reimbursement to everyone in order that they don't have to deal with a lawsuit of any kind. But they refuse to comment on it.
PHILLIPS: All right. Zain, you and I will take a biking trip through Ireland. I'll talk to you later.
Gas prices keep on rising -- 23 straight increases and counting. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange.
So, Alison, how bad are things looking?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know what? It feels like ground hog day all over again, doesn't it, with no end in sight. The national average for a gallon of regular sitting at $3.74. And what we're seeing are these small sort of penny increases every day.
But you know what? It really adds up fast. Gas prices are up 14 percent just this year and we're only two months into 2012.
Many areas are already seeing that $4 sticker price at the gas pump. In California and Alaska, Hawaii, around here in New York City as well.
Fed Chief Ben Bernanke was on the Capitol Hill yesterday. He even mentioned it, saying that gas prices could cut into spending, many consumer spending. He thinks that would only be temporary.
The market is also seeing it that way, too. That's why you're seeing some of the gains limited as well. As for today, as for the broader market, it looks like stocks are going to start on a higher note, slightly higher today.
First time jobless claims came in as expected. Also, China's manufacturing sector is expanding. Little good news to give a little bump to stocks in about three minutes -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK. Alison, thanks so much.
Well, remember when the economy and jobs were the biggest topics in the presidential race? Now it seems that social issues are all the rage. We're talking to our political panel about it next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, when the 2012 election season started, it was all about the economy. Now, it seems that social issues are all the rage.
Conan O'Brien noticed it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, COMEDIAN: It's being reported that Snooki is pregnant. Have you heard this? Yes. Yes. When Rick Santorum heard the news, he immediately came out in favor of birth control. Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: That's the word from Conan land. But in real Washington today, the Senate is actually expected to vote on the amendment to let employers opt out of health care coverage that conflicts with moral or religious beliefs. Republicans say this conscious amendment is all about protecting religious freedom. Democrats say it's an assault on women's health.
Robert Zimmerman and Will Cain, the last time we talked, it was in totally different subject, and they decided to go off on contraception. So, OK, here we go, we're back. We're going to talk about the issue because it's on the Hill today.
You know there was push back guys, negotiation, compromise -- why doesn't that just settle the issue right there? Why do we need an amendment? Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, because most people find the suggested compromise totally inadequate -- for these two reasons. And listen, the point of this conversation, I hope, is one of understanding. How we can understand each other's perspective on this. I don't want to do spin and win.
So, here's the deal. There are two main objections to this compromise. One, what do you do about self-insured employers? So, the Catholic institutions out there or religious employers who actually are they're own insurance companies, who don't outsource it to another insurance company -- how will they be treated? That's one.
Number two, and this is more important, you almost have to suspend the laws of economics to think this compromise is workable. Insurance companies don't have magic money. They don't conjure up profits out of nowhere. If you tell them they must offer certain product for free, they're going to back source that on to their employers that they charge through premiums. So everyone that understands any sense of economics, you squeeze the balloon here, it inflates over here. The Catholic Churches are still paying for the birth control.
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, Will --
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Will, I don't want to burst your balloon. But the reason insurance companies are expecting the accommodation that White House proposed, it's also been endorsed by Catholic organizations, by Catholics United and the Catholic Health Association of the United States founded in 1915.
It's because when insurance companies provide health care coverage and contraceptive coverage for women, it saves the insurance companies money because contraceptive coverage is a preventive cost. It helps prevent the diseases spreading. It helps prevent the flow of cervical cancer. It also helps prevent unwanted pregnancies and therefore reduces abortions.
So, that's why this is an important initiative that, in fact, is really not a controversial issue amongst the American people. Every poll shows that.
The bigger issue is here: why the extreme right wing want to hijack this issue and want to engage in just this assault to galvanize the Republican base?
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Robert and Will, guys, hold on a second. We're getting word now that Andrew Breitbart, that well known conservative blogger, has died, 43 years old. We're being told his Web site is saying that he died of natural causes.
Our political director Mark Preston -- not ready yet? OK. Mark Preston -- let me ask you, Will, and Robert, are you still with me while I'm waiting for Mark Preston.
CAIN: Yes.
PHILLIPS: You guys might want to weigh in. We're getting word about this. You know, we learned a lot about Andrew Breitbart with the whole videotape release if you'll remember with Shirley Sherrod and the alleged allegations that she was making racist comments and that's how we really came to know Breitbart. What we're seeing now though is from Anthony Weiner and that press conference when those pictures were released that he was sending out via e-mail.
Will, Robert, hang with me for a second. Mark Preston is ready to go.
Mark, what do you know about Breitbart's death? The Web site, his Web site, says he died of natural causes?
PRESTON: Forty-three years old, died in Los Angeles, story that is just breaking right now, Kyra. We're really trying to find out more of the details. We do know about Andrew Breitbart, as you said, he was very controversial, larger than life in the conservative movement.
He was one of these figures who was not necessarily the old guard. I remember talking to Andrew just a couple of years ago at the CPAC conference, the big gathering of conservatives in Washington. We were talking about social issues. And he seemed so frustrated by the fact that the Republican Party was not the big tent party and, in fact, he was kind of scoffed at those that were not embracing of the idea of same-sex marriage and what-have-you.
But Andrew Breitbart was one of these folks who was helping bring the Republican Party in some ways into the 21st century, trying to bring younger folks in. And he really made his name as being a conservative blogger, you know, before he started his big government Web sites which are very popular among conservatives. He made his way on the Drudge Report which is a huge, huge outlet on the web -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: There was a lot of controversy when we first really heard his name and got to know him around the Shirley Sherrod incident. He was the one that had released those clips of a talk that she had made and it was only snippets that were released. And, of course, later on we found out the whole entire story of what had happened and what she had said.
And, you know, a lot of people said because of him and choosing to release those clips the way he did, it made such an impact on her life, her job. We were talking about it for months.
PRESTON: Became a huge story, not only for us here at CNN but it was a huge story nationally and really was a scar in Andrew Breitbart, the fact that those clips were carefully edited and released. Of course, she had to leave her job and, of course, that wasn't great for Andrew Breitbart.
You know, let's just take a quick look at the statement that has been put out by the president of his company, Breitbart, confirming his death, Kyra. You see it right there. It says, "With a terrible feeling of pain and loss, we announce the passing of Andrew Breitbart."
You know, I got to tell you. This is going to be something that is going to reverberate throughout the blogosphere throughout the day and throughout the conservative movement in this presidential year. Andrew Breitbart was very influential in Republican politics, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK. Mark Preston, thanks so much. We will stay on this story, bring you details as we get them.
Quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Tom Cruise, fallen jeans, and making the Tomcat famous. What's better than the movie "Top Gun?" How about "Top Gun 2"?
A.J. Hammer, my favorite wing man, host of "Showbiz Tonight," has that scoop from New York.
A.J., fill us in.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": It's pretty exciting, Kyra. Looks like Tom Cruise who, of course, played Maverick in the original "Top Gun" will fly again. "The Hollywood Reporter" saying "Top Gun II" is going to be written by Peter Craig.
Now, Peter is best for writing "The Town". That's the movie that starred Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, and Jon Hamm.
You remember now the first "Top Gun" came out 26 years ago. It was in 1986. That film grossed more than 350 million bucks. This sequel has been talked about for more than a year now. Cruise has been telling people he was interested in doing the project if the right script came along. So, the pressure is really on for Mr. Craig.
But, Kyra, it is one of those movies I still love. I'd be flipping around the television on a weekend. I'd come upon it, and you just can't tear yourself away. Kenny Loggins theme song and all.
PHILLIPS: I know. We look at it now. It's so incredibly cheesy. But 26 years later, we still think it's cool.
All right. Something else, I don't know, cool, not so cool, Lindsay Lohan. I guess she's making a bit of a comeback here?
HAMMER: Yes. She is poking a little bit of fun at herself for what's coming up on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend. But she's really also making fun of our obsession with her troubles over the last few years. She is hosting "SNL".
And I've got to show you one of the promotional spots that they've released. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: Hi. I'm Lindsay Lohan and I'm hosting "SNL" this week with musical guest Jack White.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It must feel good to be back in the spotlight.
LOHAN: Yes. I mean, people are probably wondering what I've been up to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's so unfortunate people had not been paying attention to you over the last few weeks.
LOHAN: I know. If only magazines and Web sites would have documented my activities more closely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would have liked to know about your personal life and what you've been mixed up in.
LOHAN: Definitely. I mean, America could have used more information about me and maybe a picture or two.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Pretty funny.
PHILLIPS: It is pretty funny.
HAMMER: Certainly speaking of what we can expect this weekend, but I do think I speak for everyone, Lindsay, when I say we'd rather not be talking about your court appearances and what you're getting mixed up in.
So, it's going to be fun to watch her this weekend. And we wish her all the best.
PHILLIPS: I'm sure you'll follow it. A.J., thanks so much.
And A.J. is going to be back with us next hour with more showbiz headlines. Let's face it, sequels are a Hollywood staple these days and "Showbiz Tonight" has learned you better get ready for the "Hangover 3".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Well, all week we've been taking a hard look at the challenges of infertility. It's a problem that impacts millions of couples around the world but a lot are getting help and becoming parents in non-traditional ways.
Here's CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michelle and Mike Herring now have the family they always wanted. But it wasn't easy. At 30 she had to use hormone therapy to get pregnant. The result was their son Levi who's now seven years old. Two years later they again had a hard time conceiving a second child so they tried hormone therapy and IVF, in vitro fertilization.
MICHELLE HERRING, FERTILITY PATIENT: By the third time I sort of knew, ok, yes it was becoming -- it was stressful.
GUPTA: But after rounds of unsuccessful treatments she learned she had premature ovarian failure. She couldn't produce any viable eggs so she chose to use an egg donor. And May was born.
MICHELLE HERRING: It was just an emotionally taxing journey. I knew that one day I would look back and forget the struggle and -- and I did. I mean, it's hard for me to think about it now, but you know, I mean, we have a wonderful family. And I can't imagine it being any other way.
GUPTA: The decision to use sperm or egg donation is a personal one. Embryologist Dr. Peter Nagy says it's often the best solution since donor egg and sperm can offer higher success rates.
DR. PETER NAGY, EMBRYOLOGIST: The donor actually are coming from women who are donating and those women are typically somewhere around 21 to 28, 29.
GUPTA (on camera): So a 40-year-old woman says I'm not making eggs, good quality eggs anymore, so I'll take a donor egg from a 25- year-old woman. Have that 25-year-old woman's genetic material --
NAGY: Correct.
GUPTA: -- and you combine it with sperm from --
NAGY: From her husband --
GUPTA: From her husband or that person's partner. Is this something that happens a lot?
NAGY: Sure, oh, yes. Absolutely. Here in the United States, about 10 to 15 percent of all IVF cycles, is cycles involving egg donation.
GUPTA: Reproductive Specialist Dr. Mitchell-Leef says more and more families are choosing this route to have a family. DR. DOROTHY MITCHELL-LEEF, REPRODUCTIVE SPECIALIST: They have a baby picture they can choose from and they also know most of their background history, whether -- what their genetic makeup is, their interests, maybe their education.
GUPTA: They get to chose their eggs?
MITCHELL-LEEF: And they get to chose them, yes.
GUPTA: How much does that process cost?
MITCHELL-LEEF: It is $16,500 and that includes everything.
GUPTA: If a woman in her mid 40s is pregnant, has a baby, is it -- is it almost assumed that that woman had an egg donor?
MITCHELL-LEEF: I think I had five women overall in 30 years that got a pregnancy at 45 with their own eggs. That's not a lot.
GUPTA: Michelle and Mike say they plan to share their conception stories with both of their children.
MICHELLE HERRING: It needs to be ok to -- and not be looked at as some weird thing, to use alternate method, non-traditional ways to have a family.
MIKE HERRING, HUSBAND OF FERTILITY PATIENT: If we're describing it in ten years, hopefully it's like describing, you know, a visit to the doctor, that it's become so prevalent that the stigma is gone so that'll help too. It's just -- it's nothing we've worried about.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And you can join me and Sanjay Gupta this weekend for an in depth look at the amazing medical breakthroughs enabling infertile couples who realize their dreams of parenthood. CNN's "BABY QUEST" airs this Saturday afternoon 2:30 Eastern Time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well students at Chardon High in Ohio are meeting with grief counselors today. That's following Monday's deadly shooting on campus. You're looking at brand new pictures we're getting in from our affiliate here.
As you know a prosecutor says that student T.J. Lane has admitted to the shootings which killed three students, wounded two others. And prosecutors have until late this afternoon to file charges. Classes are scheduled to resume at the school tomorrow.
Here are some stories that we're working on for later today in the CNN NEWSROOM.
At 1:00 -- 11:15 Eastern rather House Speaker John Boehner is going to hold his weekly news conference. One likely topic: the battle over birth control and whether the Obama Administration can actually force religious-based organizations to cover contraception in their insurance plans.
Then at 1:15 Obama is going to give a speech on energy in New Hampshire.
Then at 5:00, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is signing the Civil Marriage Protection Act legalizing same-sex marriages in that state.
All right, we're following lots of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with our Don Lemon -- Don.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Kyra this is a vibrant neighborhood until one day ago when a tornado nearly flattened it. Well, what the tornado didn't flatten the bulldozers are going to do it in just a couple of hours. We're going to talk to some of the families who once lived here and own these homes coming up at the top of the hour.
DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Dan Rivers on the Seychelles where finally more than 600 passengers of the stricken cruise liner the "Costa Allegra" are on dry land after three days adrift in the Indian Ocean. More in the next hour.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: I'm Paul Steinhauser at the CNN political desk President Barack Obama makes fund-raising history later today. But he won't be touting it but Republicans are highlighting it. Details next hour.
PHILLIPS: Thanks guys.
Also next hour CNN's Ivan Watson gives us a rare look inside Iran on the eve of that country's parliamentary elections, a live report from Tehran coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Jeff Fischel, who was that masked man?
JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS: Yes, you know, the other night, the all-star game, Kobe Bryant gets a broken nose. He actually had to leave before the rest of the all-star game, but a chop from Miami star, Dwayne Wade. Kobe is not upset. He knows Dwayne Wade -- it was just an accident.
But now look at Kobe last night for the Laker. Looking like Jason or Michael Myers, the mask protected his nose. But one problem, the mask fogged up. Kobe said afterwards it felt like a sauna on his face. And this even better, quite visual, Kobe said quote, "I was drinking my own sweat."
And you know, his nickname is the "black mamba". Right now he's the "masked mamba". He scored 31 points, the Lakers beat the TWolves easily.
Jeremy Lin might need to think about a mask. Look at what happened last night for him against the Cavs. He gets popped right in the nose as well. Will Lin-sanity fans start coming to games with gauze in the nose. I don't know. That's what he had to have, Jeremy Lin last night on the sideline.
It did not stop him. He comes back into the game, fantastic; 19 points, 13 assists. The Knicks cruised past the Cavs and typical Lin, after the game, he was giving credit to his teammates.
How about the U.S. men's soccer team. One of their greatest wins ever yesterday against Italy. This is the only goal. Clint Dempsey, goal. After decades it is USA's first win ever against Italy. We will see if U.S. can use this as a spring board, World Cup qualifying matches start off this summer.
Tiger Woods is playing in the Honda Classic in Florida this weekend. At a tournament news conference he was asked to comment on a claim in a new book by his former swing coach, Hank Haney, wrote that Tiger was considering leaving golf to become a Navy SEAL. Check out an exchange with a reporter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: Writes it all in a book -- is that in the book?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't know.
WOODS: Is it in the book?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't seen the book.
WOODS: Ok. Let's move on, Brian. You're a beauty, you know that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean that's a fair question. You guys are suggesting there's something wrong with the excerpts in the book. I'm just trying to find out if that's true or not.
WOODS: I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brian?
WOODS: Have a good day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FISCHEL: That's the polite way of saying something else, I think.
PHILLIPS: Read between the lines.
FISCHEL: Yes.
I had to finish in our last sports together on the 9:55 hit, had to finish with a Tiger Woods story for you, because I know you love talking Tiger Woods.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Thank you, Jeff Fischel.
FISCHEL: You got it Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Have a fabulous day.
FISCHEL: Thank you.
