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Prostitution Scandal Hits Secret Service; U.N. Votes to Send Monitors to Syria; Robin Gibb In Coma; High Risk Of Tornado Outbreak; TSA Tests New Technology; Apple Fires Back At DOJ, Amazon; Slash's Signature Sound; High Tech Masks For Firefighters; Former Pitching Star Goes to Court

Aired April 14, 2012 - 15:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: A major scandal with the U.S. Secret Service is overshadowing President Barack Obama's appearance at the Summit of the Americas. Roughly a dozen American Secret Service personnel sent to Colombia for the president's trip have been relieved of duty and sent home. Two U.S. government sources tell CNN they are being investigated for misconduct allegedly involving prostitution.

CNN's Dan Lothian is traveling with the president and joins us live from Cartagena, Colombia.

What more, Dan, is being said about this?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly that there is internal investigation, that is ongoing. I'm told that that process will involve trying to figure out exactly who was involved, what happened and then they will be continuing to have additional interviews.

As you pointed out, though, two U.S. government officials confirming to CNN that, in fact, several prostitutes were brought back to the hotel with Secret Service personnel. We're told that it's a combination of Secret Service, undercover agents and uniform officers.

Now, what officials are telling us is that at no point was the president's security compromised. These are individuals, according to these sources, who were part of the broader security team and not part of the president's security personal detail. This, of course, is taking place even before President Obama came here to Cartagena, Colombia.

Now, a couple of things: President Obama has been updated on this investigation. In addition to that, homeland security secretary also has been updated on this investigation.

This incident, I'm told by one U.S. government source, took place on Wednesday, and then on Thursday was when about a dozen of these Secret Service personnel were relieved of duty and sent back home and this investigation got under way -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And you mention the president has been informed, has it been a distraction? I mean, clearly, it is an embarrassment for the Secret Service. But what about for the White House overall? LOTHIAN: Well, I think, you know, it really has been a distraction, because most of the people, at lease the U.S. press, has really been focused on this story. Locally, I can tell you that one of the big papers here in Colombia had it buried on page seven. It was just a small item, not a lot being said about this.

But international press, and certainly American press, really focused on this story. And this is a time when the Obama administration really wanted to focus on some of the major issues that they share with their Latin American partners, such as energy, trade, a job creation. Today, the president meeting at a CEO summit, talking about a public/private partnership, looking to this region which has really rebounded quite well from the economic downturn as an area for growth for U.S. companies.

So that is very much what the White House wants the focus to be on. But this very much has been a distraction.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Dan Lothian.

Of course, we'll be hearing more from the White House, from Cartagena, Colombia, 4:00 Eastern Time, now is going to be a briefing from the White House on this matter and, of course, on other issues that the White House would like to take center stage.

But this is the story, the U.S. Secret Service now investigation which is now front and center, in terms of what's happening in Colombia.

All right. We're also keeping a close look out for what could be a long night of violent weather across the Plain States.

Jacqui Jeras in the severe weather center with more on what's ahead potentially -- Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, it's unfolding, as we speak, Fredricka, and the dangerous situation unfolding in the parts of the Plains right now. We're talking about Kansas as well as into Nebraska where two tornado watches have been issued, watching these situations are favorable for tornadoes to occur.

And when we say a PDS watch, that means this is a different kind of animal today, particularly dangerous situation. We're expecting large, violent, long-track tornadoes that can be damaging. And that's the concern at this hour.

And we're focusing in on the state of Kansas, we're talking especially to the north of I-70. This one we've been tracking here from Mitchell and Osborne County, a tornado is on it right now, and there have been some reports just southwest of here around the town of Russell. We don't know if that's tornado damage or straight line wind damage, but there are storm spotters on the cell and other two other possible tornadoes near Dodge City at this time.

Now, the atmosphere is very explosive today. All of the elements have been coming together and there are about 5 million people in this high-risk area that could see tornado. In fact, your chance of a tornado if you live especially live right in here is about one in three that a tornado is going to come within 25 miles of your home.

So, the way to stay safe is to have that plan now. If you live in a mobile home, get out of it and go to a safe place, preferably underground if you can do that. And so, take these warnings very, very seriously.

We're in touch with a bunch of storm chasers. Check out this picture. This is from a company called iMap, Fredricka. And all of these green cars, all these blobs that you can see, all of those are storm chasers out there.

So, each of them are live-streaming. We're in contact with them. And as we get any tornado damage reports or tornadoes on the ground, of course, we'll break in and bring those along to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jacqui, thanks so much. Appreciate that.

All right. Now, I need to tell you about the health warning, the CDC says at least 116 people in 20 states and the nation's capital are infected with a strain of salmonella. They think the outbreak was caused by people either raw yellow fin tuna products. The product isn't sold to individual consumers but it is used to make sushi and sashimi available in restaurants and grocery stores.

And one of the accused Tulsa shooters says he is not a racist despite being charged on the state level with a hate crime. Nineteen-year-old Jake England, seen here in a jailhouse interview, is accused of killing three people on April 6th because they were black. On the tape, England said he had grown up in a large African-American community in north Tulsa and, quote, "got along with everybody."

The Los Angeles Dodgers should be under new management by the end of this month. A bankruptcy court judge approved the baseball team's reorganization plan on Friday. The deal allows Dodger's owner Frank McCourt to sell the team for $2 billion to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson.

For the first time during the crisis in Syria, the U.N. Security Council comes to a unanimous decision. Details on the historic vote, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Taking a look at news-making headlines around the world now.

Iran is discussing its nuclear program with members of the U.N. Security Council today. And Iran's top negotiator says he's bringing new initiatives to the table. The U.N. hopes to convince the country to give up its nuclear program which it believes to be for military purposes.

And a century after the Titanic hit an iceberg, a cruise ship will make a special journey to the spot where the iconic ship sank. A memorial service is planned tomorrow at the exact same time the Titanic went down. Passengers are wearing period costumes and enjoying food from that era.

For the first time, the U.N. Security Council is speaking with one voice on Syria. Russia and China joined a unanimous vote earlier today allowing international observers into Syria to monitor a shaky ceasefire.

Well, for more on that and the U.N. observers and what might they face once they get there, Jim Clancy joins us now from CNN International.

So, let's talk about this ceasefire in Syria. Is it holding? Is that a legitimate label that it's a ceasefire?

JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL: You know, it held a little bit on Thursday. We saw things calm down. But today, I've got to say, Fredricka, it got worse. They're using mortars, they're using tank fire, artillery fire, they're shelling the neighborhoods in cities like Homs in order to force the residents down into their cellars.

This is something from the second largest city in Syria, Aleppo. Demonstrators came out on the streets. Just take a listen to what's happening here.

Now, that is not a ceasefire. There's no doubt about it. And so, what the U.N. Security Council was saying, all the optimistic words there, they didn't ring true back in Syria.

WHITFIELD: So, what do they do now with this unanimous decision when you look at images like this?

CLANCY: Well, here's the irony in all of this. And that is, the international community really doesn't want to intervene. They don't want to put troops on the ground. They see quagmire written all over it. They see higher numbers of civilian casualties written all over it. They want this problem to go away. They want things to calm down.

WHITFIELD: How is it supposed to go away? What does anybody think?

(CROSSTALK)

CLANCY: Well, that's what they're trying to do with this plan, you know? But you are right, you ask the right question. How do you expect this to work? The Syrian opposition, they don't want to negotiate with Bashar al Assad, he's killed anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 of them. They are bitter, they are being armed, the government is saying armed groups responsible for those attacks. But they're funding those armed groups.

WHITFIELD: So, what is Bashar al Assad's government saying? What about him? Where is he right now? What is he saying? Who is the direct conduit, you know, to bend his ear to talk to him, to convey his sentiment, et cetera?

CLANCY: He's stalling for time in Damascus, so he can remain in Damascus. I think you saw Russia and China go along with this today because they know he's stalling for time. His tanks have not been withdrawn from the cities. His troops have not been withdrawn from the cities. The demonstrators have not been able to gather and demonstrate freely.

WHITFIELD: It's more of the same.

CLANCY: It is more of the same. And I'm afraid, Fredricka, it's going to get worst. What we saw in the U.N. Security Council --

WHITFIELD: That's hard to believe that it can be any worse than this, when you hear about the numbers that we had today, in terms of 6,000, some 6,000 people who have been killed in a short period of time.

CLANCY: We're talking more than that. I talked to the activists today in Homs, as well as in Idlib province. They're putting the number at 13,000.

WHITFIELD: My goodness

CLANCY: -- in the last one year. And they're saying, look, we're tired of these games from the international community. We're sick and tired of talk. We want military intervention. They're going to get --

WHITFIELD: People just want him to be pulled out since he's at the controls of this.

CLANCY: They want to calm down. That's what the West wants. The people in Syria want the regime changed.

WHITFIELD: Jim Clancy, thanks so much. Always good to see you.

CLANCY: Great to see you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Coming up, if you still need to finish your taxes -- have you finished your taxes yet, Jim?

CLANCY: Yes, I did.

WHITFIELD: OK. You did, good for you.

CLANCY: Filed electronically.

WHITFIELD: Good. Actually, we've got a list of frequently overlooked deductions if perhaps you haven't, even if you already field. It's not too late to take advantage of them. Maybe for next year, just planning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Just a few days left to get in those taxes. But even if you've already filed, you might still be able to take advantage of some ways to save.

Josh Levs has a left of frequently overlooked deductions.

OK. What's at the top of that list?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, I always want to point these out, because obviously you got to pay your taxes. But you shouldn't be paying more than you absolutely have to. And every year, it's interesting to kind of comb through what's out there about deductions that a lot of people are missing. From our partners at TIME.com, there's a really helpful list of some of the most overlooked deductions in America.

Now, I want to talk to your through some of these. And the first one is higher education. I can't even count the number of times I've talked to you all on the air about how in this economy, more and more people have decided to go back and get degrees. Well, a lot of people miss that there are series of potential deductions that could come with accredited tuition at all sorts of schools.

The next one, we know this, we've reported on this -- a lot of teachers in this country are having to buy school supplies for their classrooms. Well, $250 of that, even if you don't itemize, can be tax deductable. So, especially if you're an educator, take advantage of that. Get those dollars back.

Natural disaster losses, this one strikes me, because today, we're keeping an eye out for potential tornadoes in parts of the country. Often when you're dealing with the losses that have come from a natural disaster, taxes are the last thing you think about. This time of year, however, if you suffered from one in 2011, make sure to cash those dollars as well. They're deductions attached to your losses.

House purchasing expenses, a lot of people know the basics if you buy a house which you can deduct. But there's some specific lines that are also buried in the tax code that show you sometimes there's even more you can deduct, and the details of that I'm going to show you where you can get online in just a minute.

A couple more here. If you're itemizing your taxes, make sure you can get your state income taxes from the previous year taken off from there.

And child care, a lot of people know, not every one realizes the number of deductions that are available for the cost that are associated with child care.

And one more that people don't start to think about, caring for an ailing parent. In this case, if you are putting money toward the care of a parent, or if your parent is staying with you, you can actually come up with the associated cost, figure out how to deduct those and save those dollars.

Folks, I've listed all of this for you on my pages, this stuff, at Facebook and Twitter, which is JoshLevsCNN, along with more.

And, Fred, I've got a story there to some of the craziest deductions that people have tried to deduct, including carrier pigeons and certain magazines that I won't specifically name. You've got to see that. WHITIFELD: People will try anything. But that is great to know because we know, this weekend, a lot of people are hunkered down and they could use that advice, Josh.

LEVS: I've finished (ph) mine on Thursday.

WHITFIELD: Good for you. All right. Thank you, I still haven't done mine.

LEVS: Oh, boy.

WHITFIELD: I'll get there. All right. Thanks, so much, Josh.

All right. The future of manufacturing in America and how to bring jobs back, or create them here at home has become a focus in this election season.

Chief business correspondent Ali Velshi takes a look at just how U.S. manufacturing can stay competitive in this week's "Fortune Brainstorm".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALI VELSHI, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Scott Paul joins us now. He's the executive director at the Alliance for American manufacturing.

Let's take a look at how the United States compares to the rest of the world when it comes to manufacturing as a share of GDP.

China has established itself as the world's factory floor. They produce everything, from clothing, to computer -- 1/3 of all of China's economic output comes from manufacturing.

Germany, 21 percent. The country has found its niche in high end of manufacturing China is trying to get out of the lowest end of its manufacturing but it's still there.

The U.S. is a distant third with 13 percent -- 13 percent of the U.S. economy coming from manufacturing.

Scott, are policy failures to blame for the U.S. losing this race, or some would argue it's policy successes? We earn more money and as a result, it's not economical to build some of the things that other countries build.

SCOTT PAUL, EXECUTIVE DIR., ALLIANCE FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURING: I don't think that's the case, Ali, and I do think it's policy that's at fault. I think too much of our economic policy has been focused on the financial sector and the latest greatest thing, like the tech bubble in the '90s, the housing bubble. We've chased these bubbles.

Other economies have shown the steadier path to growth and sustainability. And we can actually learn a lot from Germany.

We shouldn't become Germany, but listen to this Ali -- manufacturing workers in Germany make an average of $48 an hour compared to $32 in the United States. There is heavy trade union involvement.

But what Germany has in place that we don't is a system of patient capital, a system of vocational training and reinvestment into that high-end manufacturing so that they can keep manufacturing study.

VELSHI: Great conversation, thank you.

I'm Ali Velshi with this week's "Fortune Brainstorm".

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. A possible link between dental x-rays and a type of brain tumor a lot of people are trying to figure out the risk and going to get some answers from a doctor.

Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Top stories straight ahead, including a nationwide salmonella outbreak. The CDC issues a new warning for consumers. We'll have details on that, straight ahead.

Meantime, a new study this week suggests there could be a link between older forms of dental x-rays and the most common type of brain tumor. The study was published in the journal "Cancer" and looked at people with tumors and how frequently they were actually exposed to full mouth x-rays.

Dr. Sujatha Reddy is a doctor at Premier Healthcare for Women in Atlanta.

The study suggests that this is really about how much exposure of this type of radiation that people, you know, have encountered, but alarming nonetheless.

DR. SUJATHA REDDY, PREMIER CARE FOR WOMEN: It really is, and we're talking here are about meningiomas, which were type of benign brain tumor. If they get big enough, you can have some significant symptoms, they may need to be treated. And the study proved that people who have meningiomas remembered getting x-rayed in the past. They were twice as likely to have tumor than people that didn't get dental x-rays.

WHITFIELD: My goodness. So, now, when we say in the past, what are we talking about? Because x-ray technology has changed tremendously over the years. Are we talking about x-rays of the past and people who are of a certain age bracket now?

REDDY: You're exactly right. Older x-ray equipment released more radiation. Equipment now is probably a lot safer. But some dentists have older equipment. But these people remember having them often when they were much younger. So, you're exactly right. I do think what we're exposed to probably in the environment is more now than it used to be. But medical procedures have become safer. WHITFIELD: Are we at a point where we need to ask our dentist, you know, how current is your technology, your x-ray machine, or is it an issue of, you know what? I don't want to have one a year anymore. Let's, you know, scale it back to once every two or three years. Do you have that option as a patient? Should you engage in that?

REDDY: Yes, I think you're exactly right. I thought about how often I had x-rays when I was reading the study, and I trust my dentist. I've been going to him for years.

WHITFIELD: Sure.

REDDY: And I hope most people do. And I think it's a fair conversation to have.

My dentist has pretty new looking equipment, I think it's also fair to ask how old it is. But I think it's also fair to say, do I really need these, when did I get in the last time?

But I think it's a good conversation to have. The study should no way scare people into not going to the dentist.

WHITFIELD: So, now, is it also an issue of children -- you know, should children only be of a certain age or should you be of a certain age before you're exposed to your first x-ray or what comes after that?

REDDY: Yes. Here's a little bit of a trick. Children, actually, the ADA recommends that they get x-rays a little more often, because they've got baby teeth and adult teeth and they are prone to cavities, they may not let the dentist do a good exam. So they actually recommend that children get x-rays every one to two years, where adults every two to three years, maybe four years in some case.

So kids are more vulnerable, they probably need x-rays more. So, again, it's a balance thing. You have to talk to your dentist and trust your dentist.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. And ask the questions, because a lot of times patients are afraid to ask their doctors or dentists, questions they feel like they're undermining them by asking questions. But you've got to be a smart patient.

REDDY: You do. And you should have that kind of rapport. If you live in a big city, you have the luxury of lots of doctors, lots of dentists. You should have a relationship where you can have an open dialogue with any of your health care providers.

WHITFIELD: And there isn't anything protective that you can cloak, you know, on a person when you get these x-rays to cut down your chances of a meningioma?

REDDY: Not a meningioma. But most, the ADA also recommends that dentists use protective aprons and neck protection for your thyroid, because that's vulnerable to radiation. But you're right, for meningioma, there's nothing that they put you on to protect you. WHITFIELD: Wow, it's alarming. But keep going to the dentist, got to get those teeth checked out, right? And just be vigilant and ask those questions.

Dr. Sujatha Reddy, thanks so much. Good to see you.

REDDY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Five and a half million people are on high alert right now, bracing for thunderstorms that are ripe to create an outbreak of life-threatening tornadoes. We're monitoring and we'll have a report from the target zone in just a few moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We're learning more details about a scandal involving the U.S. Secret Service. Personnel assigned to President Obama's trip to Colombia have been relieved of duty and sent home. This came after they allegedly had contact with prostitutes in Colombia.

Government sources say about a dozen personnel, agents, and Secret Service police officers were involved. None were part of the president's protective detail.

But earlier, I spoke with Dan Emmett, a retired Secret Service agent and author of "Within Arm's Length." I asked him how this incident would be investigated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN EMMETT, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT (via telephone): Initially, it's going to be looked into the Office of Inspection, which is the Secret Service version of internal affairs that you would have in a police department. And, of course, investigations can escalate up to the inspector general's level. But, generally speaking, something like this would be handled internally.

WHITFIELD: The White House has said, and again they're going to have a press conference later on today, 5:00 Eastern Time, we're going to cover that, and that coming from Colombia, those in the White House have said reportedly that this has not compromised the security of the president.

But do you question that? I mean, that this kind of conduct could indeed have compromised the security of the president?

EMMETT: Personally, I don't see that as being an issue. I don't think for a minute, looking at the circumstances that are known right now, that would be an issue, no.

WHITFIELD: That anyone who would be a visitor would put anything, plant anything in a hotel that the president was soon to be staying. Wouldn't that be a concern?

EMMETT: No, it would not be. And that the president's area, where he is going to be staying, I think is pretty well-known that that area is going to be swept and ensure that there's not going to be anything there.

None of these women, I can assure, you would have had any proximity whatsoever to the presidential area where he's going to be staying.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. And again, there is now going to be a White House briefing coming from Cartagena, Colombia, later on today. Now, it's been moved to 4:00 Eastern Time. We'll cover that live.

And there is a new health warning for those of you who eat fish. The CDC says at least 116 people in 20 states and the nation's capital are infected with a strain of salmonella. They think it was caused by raw yellow fin tuna product. The product has been sold to individual consumers, but it is used to make sushi and sashimi available in restaurants and grocery stores.

All right. Bee Gees star Robin Gibb has fallen into a coma at a London hospital. Gibb also has pneumonia and was recently diagnosed with colon and liver cancer. According to a representative, doctors believe the singer has developed a secondary tumor. His family is keeping vigil at his bed side.

A Baltimore man is locked up and accused in a violent videotape robbery that left a tourist beaten up and stripped off his clothes. Cell phone videos of the crime went viral after it happened on St. Patricks Day.

You can hear onlookers laughing at the victim as the criminal stole his clothes. According to the "Baltimore Sun," the 20-year-old suspect is being held on a million dollar bond.

Apple facing serious allegations of price fixing. How the case could end up saving you some money? Next on gaming and gadgets.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A warning from the Storm Prediction Center is about as strong as it gets. Forecasters there say we are hours away now from what they are describing as a life threatening outbreak of tornadoes across the plains states.

Five and a half million people are being told to be hyper vigilant over the next several hours. CNN's Susan Candiotti is joining us now from Norman, Oklahoma. Susan, give me an idea of what activity is taking place there right now.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, these people are bracing for very serious weather and tornadic activity, and that's because they were hit as early as Friday afternoon. Fortunately, that tornado did not cause any serious damage, but there was some damage.

Property got knocked around a bit, but only minor injuries. Right now, we're on I-35 heading north from Norman, Oklahoma, towards Kansas and on to Nebraska. Because those are some of the key areas that NOAA's storm prediction is saying is extremely high risk. You've been hearing same thing from Jacqui Jeras.

Of course, Oklahoma is of course in that same danger zone. And we spent the day, Fredricka, as you know, at that storm prediction center and talked to a lot of experiments who were putting together their forecast right now.

They have all the latest technology and are able to put out these warnings, for the first time in two years, earlier than they normally would have. Why?

Because they have better technology and they want to get that information out there to as many people as possible because of what the next 24 to 48 hours could be like.

So looking ahead here, you can see that we're seeing very cloudy skies, saw the sun peek through a bit earlier in the day. But now it's becoming much more overcast and certain we don't expect conditions to improve, we expect them to get worse as the hours go on.

WHITFIELD: So, Susan, here you are talking to us as while you're driving there on the interstate. You're making me nervous. Keep your eyes on the road please.

However, I'm also noticing in that wide shot there an awful lot of people who are on the road. Are they heading in a direction that is marked as an emergency route, anything of the like?

CANDIOTTI: Well, I think at this point people are still able to use time -- when the tornado -- clear right now, too, Fredricka that I'm not driving. My producer is driving so things are safe. You can be assured of that.

But right now is the best time for people to get whatever provisions they might need, for example, if a tornado hits and it's serious enough. Make sure that they have enough food and non-perishable goods, water in the house standing by.

So that they are in place, because the most dangerous thing about this storm is that it is going to be hitting more likely than not, once the sun goes down.

And meteorologists and forecasters want to be sure because of that, that people still are listening to the forecast, that they have their weatherband radios, that they are listening to the sirens and emergency calls that might be made, to make sure that you check on your neighbors and that you have a safe place to go.

Time and again, we've been outed as you know for the last couple of months. We had some early tornadic activity this spring. We've learned time and again that people have to stay on top of these predictions.

Because even though a tornado might not have a very good chance of hitting you, you never know when it might take a twist or turn that will put you in the direct path. WHITFIELD: Also very unpredictable. Thank you so much, Susan Candiotti. Stay safe while on the road there in the Norman, Oklahoma area. Thank you so much. Keep us posted.

All right, the TSA is testing new technology that could soon end up in your airport. Machines will scan and verify traveler's boarding passes and ID's and here is how it works.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK BIANCHINI, DIRECTOR OF CHECKPOINT TECHNOLOGY, TSA: For the passengers, they'll hand their ID and their boarding pass. They'll hand the ID to the officer and then that boarding pass themselves will scan on to the barcode scanner.

Once the barcode scanner is complete, the passenger will hand the boarding pass to the officer. The system itself will only require a few seconds to make a determination if in fact all the information is in order.

And if it is, the passengers will proceed to the checkpoint. If we do get an alert, we may request additional information from the passenger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So right now, the machines are only operating at Dulles Airport outside of Washington in the next two weeks. They'll be installed at airports in Houston and San Juan, and after several months the TSA will decide whether to expand the program.

All right, Apple is firing back at the U.S. Justice Department. The technology giant is disputing a lawsuit from the DOJ claiming they conspired with major publishers to raise the price on digital books.

Apple spokesman, Tom Newmar, says the accusations in the lawsuit are simply not true. Filling in for our Marc Saltzman, HLN digital lifestyle analyst, Mario Armstrong, joining us live from Baltimore. Always good to see you, Mario.

MARIO ARMSTRONG, HLN DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: Good to see you too, Fredricka. I'll try to do Marc justice. I know he's in the DR so a little I'm jealous about that.

WHITFIELD: I'm jealous, too. This is getting pretty serious involving Apple and digital books.

ARMSTRONG: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Where does it go from here?

ARMSTRONG: Well, it could go a number of ways. I mean, right now, we really don't know what could happen, but what the allegation states from the Department of Justice was that there was some price fixing on electronic books. We know right now at this point there were five publishers that were named in this allegation. Three of those publishers have since settled with the Department of Justice almost immediately. Only two other publishers are standing beside Apple saying, wait a minute, this is not true.

We allow publishers to set their own prices. If this does continue to move forward, we may see e-book prices roll back down, which may sound like a good thing for consumers.

But it may be a bad thing for the industry because I worry about e- books being devalued or almost, I don't say the word, Wal-Martized, but deeply discounted, can almost tend to make it seem like the e- books don't have as much value as the traditional paperback --

WHITFIELD: Really? Even if people keep snatching them up and letting the industry know how much they love them? How much they have modified their habits of reading as a result?

ARMSTRONG: Yes. I mean, you're looking at 21 percent of U.S. adults so you're absolutely right, have had a chance to be exposed to and have read an e-book.

We've talked (inaudible) the research says, look, this is a billion industry by 2015. So this is clearly not going away and you're right, there's a bunch of middlemen stuff that's unnecessary.

You need an author. You need to write. You need a reader and then you need an electronic means to get it there. So there is a lot middle room, but a lot of people I think feel that the e-book industry doesn't cost money to make these books.

It does cost them money, but they don't have inventory. They don't have shipping so they do have some places where they can compete.

WHITFIELD: OK, all right, before you go, you also have a new app for us that cell phone companies may not like for us to actually have. Tell us.

ARMSTRONG: Yes. It's called carrier compare and it does exactly what it says. It enables you on your iPhone -- this is just released yesterday, Fredricka.

You're standing around. You download this app for free. You can see exactly in about 15 seconds who has a better signal connection in that particular area. Is it the service that you're on or is it your competitor?

So a lot of people that get dropped calls and if you have dropped calls that happen in consistent areas where you travel a lot of, you want to use this app to find out what service would be less stressful for you and would work more satisfying for you.

WHITFIELD: Good for the consumer, not so for the carrier.

ARMSTRONG: They know there's data though, they just won't tell us.

WHITFIELD: They know it. They don't want to share. That's supposed to be like an industry secret, until now.

ARMSTRONG: That's right. This app is letting it all out.

WHITFIELD: All right, Mario Armstrong, always good to see you. Thanks so much from Baltimore.

ARMSTRONG: Thank you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, for more high tech ideas and reviews, just go to cnn.com/tech and look for the gaming and gadgets tab.

All right, adopting can be a pretty tough process for any parent. We'll meet a man who helps gay Americans fulfill their dreams.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, straight ahead, we'll take a look at former Major League baseball player, Roger Clemons perjury re-trial.

But first, more than 100,000 foster children are waiting to be adopted in the U.S. and this week's "CNN HERO" is fighting to find each one a family.

After finally winning his 10-year battle to become a parent himself, David Wing-Kovarik is uniquely qualified to help other gay Americans fulfill their dreams of becoming a family. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID WING-KOVARIK, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: I was adopted and I felt that I wanted to adopt a kid who needed a home. My son was in foster care for four years, and I was his 12th home.

But from the minute, Michael and I met I knew right away we were going to be a family. I thought everything was going great, after a month he was removed for my house I was cut off from him.

Finding that family for that child, it's nothing short of a miracle. And sometimes families are faced with barriers because of a myth or a misunderstanding causing the kids to stay in the foster care system longer.

Being a gay or lesbian individual couple makes it much harder. My name is David Wing-Kovarik. I adopted from the foster system and now I hope other gay and lesbian, individuals realize their dream of becoming parents.

We ear working together with you on that. I want to make sure you've got that family to family kind of support. I've worked hundreds of cases, side by side social workers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We covered a lot of information last week.

KOVARIK: I've trained thousands of foster parents. It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, and we do it for free. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He figured out how to us over the finish line. Our family wouldn't have adopted each other if it hadn't been for David.

KOVARIK: I'm fighting for the right of that child to have a family. It's why I keep doing it every single day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So remember, "CNN HERO" are all chosen from people you tell us about, nominate someone who's making a difference in their community. Go to cnn.com, your nomination could help them help others.

All right, riffing with a guitar legend before he's inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. The iconic slash talks about his best known music and just how he got that nickname "Slash."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Seven years and six kids later, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are making it official. Pitt's rep says, yes, the two are engaged. You're looking at the sparkling proof, right there, zoom in.

The designer of the jewelry says Pitt collaborated with him for a year. The massive diamond ring was apparently designed and shaped to suit Angelina's long, slender, ring finger.

The "Rock and Roll" Hall of Fame will induct its new class tonight honoring some of music's biggest starts. One of them will noticeably be missing, Axl Rose, front man and co-founder of "Guns N Roses" is skipping the event.

In a letter to the Hall, Rose said he didn't want any part of the event and asked that he not be included. He cited his long time feud with his band mates.

Rose's former band mate, the iconic guitarist, "Slash" will attend the ceremony tonight. "Slash" sat down with CNN's Becky Anderson to talk about his signature sound and the origins of his name.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What is your most favorite riff ever?

SLASH, GUITARIST: That's a really tough -- I don't think I actually have one? That I wrote? You know, I mean, "Sweet Child Of Mine" is really, really popular, but it's not. I think maybe "Paradise City," you know or the intro to welcome to the jungle.

ANDERSON: Many consider you one of the greatest players of all time, some of the most recognizable riffs in the past two decades. Do you recognize that so about yourself?

SLASH: No. I think the only time I ever think along those lines is only because somebody is telling me that. And then I don't know how to accept that. I definitely don't see myself as someone who has arrived at that point as being that influential.

ANDERSON: Where does the nickname "Slash" come from?

SLASH: When I was a kid, my best friend, his dad used to call me "Slash." And I didn't know why for the longest time and at some point, I don't know, maybe 10 years later, I had a chance to have dinner with him.

And you know I finally got to ask him and he just said basically because I was always hustling something up and never had time to talk.

And so it was always in passing and he started calling me "Slash." But it made sense because I guess I am like that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: He's clever. Becky spoke Slash in the United Kingdom where he was born and spent his early childhood. He's going on a tour next month to promote his second solo album.

All right, new high tech equipment will give firefighters bionic vision on the job. Brooke Baldwin has a closer look at the new mask in technovasions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Raging flames, rooms full of smoke, working conditions of firefighters.

CAPTAIN STEVEN FLOYD, SAVANNAH FIRE DEPARTMENT: You can't see anything. You can only hear things, but it's still very confusing, complete blackout.

BALDWIN: It's hazardous situations like this that they train for, but thanks to some new technology, firefighters will be able to see the world in an entirely new way.

This new high tech mask gives first responders data about their surroundings. It's the vision of the future inventor, Joseph Juhnke is trying to finally bring to life.

JOSEPH JUHNKE, TANAGRAM PARTNERS: I didn't see it. A whole bunch of great authors saw it. Science fictions authors are fabulous and that they have to -- they get to make this stuff up and we get to make it happen.

BALDWIN: Giving firefighters information everywhere they look.

JUHNKE: Our job was really to kind of them back their senses. All they have to do is put it on and display it.

BALDWIN: Firefighters will be able to see oxygen levels, temperatures and exit pass. It will even allow them to see what's happening with the rest of their team. FLOYD: They'll be able to see and then be able to also not only see around that, but to communicate with my team members. That's a big relief.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Our legal guys are talking about this hot case. Former Major League baseball player, Roger Clemens perjury re-trial. Stay right here. This conversation gets pretty real.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Former pitching great Roger Clemens is headed back to court for a perjury retrial, but will prosecutors get a conviction this time? They're taking another swing at it. I asked our legal guys, Avery Friedman and Richard Herman earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Getting that mistrial, Fred, the government was embarrassed. You don't like to embarrass the government. So they're going to streamline the case. They're going to be watching their Ps and Qs this time.

But you know, at the end of the day, Fred, at the end of the day, a pitcher who throws faster at the end of his career than he did when he was younger, you know, something's up here.

And Andy Petite is going to come in, and this was his former BFF. He's going to get on the witness stand, Fred, and he's going to give it to them in spades, that Roger acknowledged taking HGH.

Now you can cross-examine as much as you want, but the jury is going to see it. I think it's going to be very powerful.

WHITFIELD: And so Avery, that has to be revealed? I mean, this is almost as if it's going to be a trial about steroid use, enhanced performance, enhancing drugs in order to prove that he perjured himself?

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, it's actually even better for the government in that respect because the last time around before the pre-trial, fredricka, the government only had transcripts.

Now they have Roger Petite's actual testimony, the recordings that the Justice Department (inaudible) the House of Representatives to get. So it is increased, and I agree. I think Roger Clemens is in a world of trouble. I can't believe he testified before Congress in the first place.

WHITFIELD: Because he didn't have to.

FRIEDMAN: He was put under oath. He didn't have to do it.

WHITFIELD: He like voluntarily put himself in a bad position?

FRIEDMAN: Yes, and there's six charges he's looking at here.

WHITFIELD: Boy. So last time, there was evidence that the prosecutors brought forth that the judge had already ruled was inadmissible.

But clearly the prosecutors felt like they really need the evidence even that was inadmissible to kind of throw it in there or taint the jury pool or something, or was that an indicator of the strength or weakness of their case, even the second time around, Avery?

FRIEDMAN: No, it was a mistake. The Judge Reggie Walton, had already knocked out Andy Petite's wife's affidavit. It wound up in a video on the second day of trial. They're going to do it again and do it better and I think Roger Clemens and I think I'm the first one saying it. We're looking at a conviction.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, our legal guys, always calling it as they see it. You can catch them every Saturday, noon Eastern Time.