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FBI Hunts For Etan Patz Clues; Zimmerman May Get Out Today; More Agents "Choose To Resign"; Scandal Shakes Secret Service; Woman Charged In Death Of Marine's Wife; Romney Calls For Party Unity; Gingrich Refuses To Give Up Protection; U.S. Airways And American Airlines

Aired April 21, 2012 - 15:00   ET

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

ROB MARCIANO, CNN: Ten million people in the U.S. suffer from a common skin condition known as psoriasis. There's no cure but there are treatments that can help. Here's Elizabeth Cohen and this week's "Health for Her."

(HEALTH FOR HER)

MARCIANO: Time to check out some of the stories making news across the nation.

The remains of the "American Bandstand" creator, Dick Clark, have been cremated according to his representative. Publicist Paul Shefron (ph) said no other plans have been finalized. Clark died of a heart attack Wednesday at the April of 82.

Conservative blogger, Andrew Breitbart, died of heart failure according to a Los Angeles County coroner's report released Friday. Breitbart rose to national notoriety for an edited and misleading video that appeared to show an African-American agriculture employee admitting she discriminated against a white farmer. He later posted sexually explicit photos of former Congressman Anthony Weiner that led to Weiner's resignation. Breitbart died March 1st at the age of 43.

The White House is opening up its gardens and grounds to visitors this weekend. CNN was there for a sneak peek and view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden and the South Lawn and the Kitchen Garden.

A cold case, suddenly hot again in New York City. Police and the FBI are trying to find out if this Soho apartment building is a crime scene. It's a missing person's mystery and a landmark case that investigators have been trying to figure out since the 1970s.

CNN national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, is at the scene.

Susan, we've been seeing the FBI digging in that basement. What exactly are they looking for?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're looking for the remains of Etan Patz. This is a 6-year-old little boy, Rob, that disappeared in May of 1979. He was only 6 years old, and he lived just a half a block away from here, right down the street from where I'm standing. He left his house that day on his way to the bus stop. It was the very first time his parents had allowed him to walk to school, to that bus stop, rather, all by himself, but then he disappeared, vanished from sight. And his family realized something was wrong when he didn't come home from school that day.

Well, authorities have been examining this case for years and really all the clues had gone cold, but then they got some new information and were reviewing old information after reopening the case, and that led them to the basement and this excavation work going on right now.

At this time, they're sifting through dirt and rubble, and going six feet below the surface of the basement to see whether they can find any signs that Etan may have been buried there. This is a basement where a carpenter used to work who was a friend of the family.

And of little Etan's and in fact had been in that basement with him just the day before. So authorities hoped they can find some evidence that Etan was down there. They have a search warrant, and they're trying to see where the evidence will lead them if they find any -- Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: It's been so long, Susan. Was this case kept open in part because the milk carton factor or is it common for a 33-year-old missing person's case to get this much police attention?

CANDIOTTI: Well, certainly the case of Etan Patz was one of the very first, his case, featuring on milk cartons way back when. But as we said, over the years, they've been looking at various people, in connection with this case.

But it was only recently, a couple of years ago when the local district attorney reopened the matter and started looking at old clues with the FBI. They're leading this investigation.

That led them to this point where they are here today. So it's because they had new information that they're taking a look at.

MARCIANO: Who's in charge of this investigation, FBI or is it local authorities?

CANDIOTTI: It's the FBI, and that's because way back in the beginning of the case, there were all kinds of theories that perhaps Etan might even have been kidnapped and taken out of state. That's why the FBI remains in charge of this case.

So they're running the show, and they have told the people that own this building and that basement in particular that when they're through ripping it apart, everything will be put back together.

But obviously, it's very important to get down to the bottom of this and determine whether Etan might have been buried there.

MARCIANO: All right, Susan Candiotti live for us in Lower Manhattan. Thanks for that, Susan.

Another big case that we're following, George Zimmerman, he could get out of jail at any time now. Yesterday, a Florida judge granted his release on $150,000 bond. In that hearing Zimmerman surprised many when he addressed the family of Trayvon Martin for the first time. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, CHARGED WITH TRAYVON MARTIN MURDER: I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am, and I did not know if he was armed or not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: His family needs to post 10 percent of the bond or $15,000 to secure his release while he awaits trial.

A total of six Secret Service agents are now out of work either fired or resigned. They and several others are being investigated for alleged misconduct while on duty in Colombia.

Eleven U.S. military members are being questioned separately. They're all a part of, accused, I should say, of soliciting prostitutes and possibly compromising presidential authority.

What's happening in Washington on this side of the scandal? Well, the other side is here on Colombia's northern coast, the city of Cartagena where CNN's Drew Griffin is today.

Drew, you've been there a little bit. What more can you tell us as far as an update?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): I can tell you the investigation that seemed to be waning down here is actually increasing, Rob, in the last few nights.

In fact, last night the local Cartagena police were out trying to find every single one of 21 girls or so involved. They want to question all of those women to see what their recollections are of this night back on April 11th.

And, in fact, they were contacting some of the places that we went to last night asking about where these women were. We also know that the investigation has expanded to a second hotel, to the Hilton hotel here in Cartagena, which is where President Obama eventually stayed.

Some of the Secret Service agents were staying at that hotel. So we're seeing an expansion actually of the investigation as the investigations continue both here and in Washington.

MARCIANO: Drew, for Americans, there's obviously a big moral issue for the government, a big security issue, but I'm curious in Colombia, you know, how big of a scandal is this considered? GRIFFIN: It's only a scandal in that there are questions about whether or not anything was said or done or exposed that might have compromised the presidential security.

As for Americans coming down here and having sex, with women that they pay, that is no big deal. There's a big sex trade here. It's pretty widely open. The way they even have the names of the women involved is because the hotels have rules that you actually have to sign in your, quote/unquote, "guest," before they were come in the hotel.

So the hotel actually has a list of all of these women who came to this hotel and rules about having them leave in the morning prior to 6:30 in the morning. So that is fairly wide open. There are no moral issues.

The big question and I think it's big in Colombia and even greater in Washington is, what kind of security compromise took place? What, if anything, would the Secret Service and/or military officers tell these women about their role in protecting the president and what kind of exposure that could have created?

MARCIANO: I guess another question, Drew, has this at all damaged the relationship between the U.S. and Colombia?

GRIFFIN: Well, what many people are saying is that it really detracted from the conference that President Obama had come to attend that this kind of took precedence over everything else.

All the other important issues that these South American and Latin- American countries wanted to discuss with the president. Sort of got overshadowed by this and they feel it was pretty much see it as a lost opportunity.

Nobody is talking about the agenda of items. Everybody's talking about what happened the night before.

MARCIANO: OK, Drew Griffin on the ground for us in Cartagena, Colombia with updates on that case. We'll be back to you, Drew. Thanks very much.

In California, a woman there remains in jail charged with the first- degree murder of this woman, Brittany Killgore. Killgore, recently filed for divorce from her Marine husband stationed in Afghanistan disappeared April 13th.

Her body was found days later in a neighboring county. Detectives have not revealed the relationship, if any, between Killgore and the woman charged with murder, Jessica Lynne Lopez. Lopez is being held on $3 million bond.

Mitt Romney is pushing forward to November. He took sort of a victory lap while speaking at the Republican National Committee gathering in Arizona yesterday.

Romney split his message between a call for party unity and attacks on President Obama, and a word for his past and present Republican rivals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me also commend the people who had the courage to run for president on our side of the aisle this year, some still running. Some have gotten out of the race, but each contributed to the process.

Each of them campaigned in an aggressive and dynamic way to spread our message of conservatism and each is going to play a vital role in making sure that we win in November.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: On Monday, Romney will be campaigning in Philadelphia with Florida Senator Marco Rubio. It's been mentioned that Rubio could be his running mate.

But before Rubio makes that campaign stop, you can catch him on "STATE OF THE UNION" right here with Candy Crowley live tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

And when you look at his delegate count and campaign debt, presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich doesn't have much of a chance at becoming the nominee, but he doesn't want to give up the perks of still being in the race.

That includes the Secret Service following him around everywhere. It could be costing taxpayers, get this, more than $40,000 a day. His campaign has come under attack for wasteful spending, as you can imagine.

In spite of his struggling campaign, his chief donor Sheldon Adelson's family gave his "Super PAC" another $5 million last month. That brings their total contribution to more than $20 million so far.

U.S. Airways has stepped toward uniting with its larger competitor, American Airlines. Three of Americans largest unions agreed to support a potential merger with U.S. airways.

While this is not a formal bid just yet, this move is significant in garnering support for. American Airlines filed for bankruptcy last year and earlier this year announced plans to cut 1,000 of its jobs.

OK, the Trayvon Martin case. It's triggering national debate over "Stand Your Ground Laws." Does your state have that law? We have a breakdown for you coming right up.

And a small village in Afghanistan, it's a matter of trust between the U.S. troops and the afghan locals to keep the peace at least for now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Let's take a look at some of the stories making news around the world right now. The United Nations Security Council has approved a measure to expand the observer mission in Syria to 300 monitors. The resolution comes hours after a small group of U.N. observers arrived in the city of Homs. The monitors are trying to get government forces and opposition groups to honor the ceasefire imposed last week.

In a matter of hours voters in France will be going to the polls to cast their presidential vote. Incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy is pitted against nine other candidates in the first round of voting.

And in the three-day Bahrain Grand Prix began today. Opposition groups and protesters, a staged protest leading up to the Formula One race to bring attention to their longstanding fight for reforms.

The opposition reported its first death on Saturday. Witnesses say a young protester was killed on Friday during clashes with security forces. The government says it is investigating the incident.

And with time running out, the U.S. and Afghanistan are relying on the admittedly risky alliance with local tribesmen to keep the peace when they're gone.

From Marzac Village, Nick Paton Walsh brings us a firsthand look at the Afghan local police in action.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We're heading into what was once a key sanctuary of sophisticated insurgence of the Haqqani network from Pakistan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, this is Haqqani territory. They're getting their guns into Afghanistan, absolutely.

WALSH: But now the Americans can safely drive into here mostly because of a deal they struck with the local tribe and they give us a rare glimpse of this local militia called the Afghan Local Police or ALP. Their tribe is mostly opposed to the insurgency so America paid and armed them helping out from a local school.

COL. CURT TAYLOR, U.S. ARMY: One of the dynamics of the Kurd in Marzak is the tribe here was being preyed upon by a nearby tribe. The nearby tribe had a much greater support from the Taliban and could come here, had weapons and everything else to extract resources from this tribe. By this tribe siding with the government of Afghanistan, that gives them the capability to defend their other turf.

WALSH: Since that deal the locals have had it quiet, but peace in Afghanistan is never that simple. On the 26th of March, nearby a member of this ALP shot dead, an American Staff Sergeant William Wilson before being shot dead himself.

Colonel Taylor believes the Taliban persuaded the gunman to do it. Loyalties and power here are complex. The first head of the ALP was fired. The tribe that sided with the Americans clearly also has some insurgence in it. Despite the setbacks, the Americans think it's safe for them to leave the school and the town. Returning occasionally now to this new base named after their fallen colleague. Much has changed, but as much could now change back.

(on camera): In the past behind me a year ago, things was very different. Insurgency had a large encampment and was in fact using the same school and the villages their headquarters.

American Special Forces came and killed over 120 insurgents. But now the Americans are withdrawing. The question is, will the insurgency come back?

(voice-over): Villagers do warmly welcome the Americans whose help the elders here will equally trust the afghan government once they've left. That's not a given if you talk to this local ALP commander.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I know it's true sometimes the government is corrupt, and they're stealing. I know that our salaries are a certain amount, but when we get it, it's less. Still, we don't raise our voice or complain to officials.

WALSH: America here is intervening into tribal rivalries that endured for decades with cash and power. A delicate arrangement, will it last?

(on camera): This deal is fine for a short-term solution. So you guys can leave, but in the long term, you're effectively just weighing up another side way few more weapons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The key has got to be that ALP is an extension of the government of Afghanistan and that the Afghanistan uniformed police is the sponsor and supporter of the ALP program, and it is not a tribal militia.

And the more we can promote that relationship and the dependency between the ALP and Afghan uniformed police the more successful we're going to be.

WALSH: In short, it's a gamble America must take, because its time is up. On this front line village will in the summer ahead learn if its future lies in its own hand with rival tribes and warlords all with a resurgent Taliban. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: Preventing Alzheimer's disease. Could you ward it off by just washing the dishes or gardening? A closer look at a new study, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Keeping busy with household chores can help baby boomers and older folks fight off Alzheimer's that's according to a new study published in the medical journal, "Neurology." Dr. Sujatha Reddy is a physician at Premiere Care for Women in Atlanta, and Doctor, nice to meet you, first off. Tell us a little bit more about this study?

DR. SUJATHA REDDY, PREMIER CARE FOR WOMEN: So this is a study of older Americans was that 700, 70s and 80-year-olds, the average age was 81. They were asked to wear kind of wristwatch device around their risk and do their normal chores and just their normal activities.

Some exercise and they were tested beforehand to make sure they didn't have any signs of impending Alzheimer's. At the end of the study, which is about three years, people who were in the bottom 10 percent of how much was left had twice the risk of Alzheimer's as their more active peers.

MARCIANO: So these were started with people who showed no signs so you could catch it before it happens, basically. What kind of things were they doing or do you encourage people to do?

REDDY: Yes, it's been long known that true formal exercise can decrease risk of Alzheimer's. What was interesting here is some of these people did nothing more than household chores.

They did cooking. They did cleaning, gardening, maybe played cards, but whatever activity they did that helped decrease the risk and the other good thing was it was never too late.

As old as they were, they still got benefits. So even if you haven't been active person up until your 70s, this study shows by being active, you can decrease your risk of Alzheimer's.

MARCIANO: So they didn't explore people who already had Alzheimer's if this improved that condition?

REDDY: Correct. This was looking at ways of possibly decreasing your risk of developing it in the future.

MARCIANO: What's the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?

REDDY: That's a great question. Alzheimer's is actually the most common type of dementia. Dementia is actually the umbrella word. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia.

MARCIANO: OK, thanks for clearing. That was my own personal question. So I'm curious, how doing these things, you always say keep your mind sharp, but more scientifically, how does doing these things prevent Alzheimer's?

REDDY: You're correct. We've known that memory exercises, Suduko, word puzzles, those can help decrease your risk as well, but it's also been known that anything that helps decrease your risk of heart disease, physical activity obviously is a big one.

That can decrease Alzheimer's and the idea, possibly this muscle activity, this movement, helps your brain cells possibly regenerate or be more active. So muscle activity does decrease your risk and, again, it's never too late to be active.

MARCIANO: I guess it goes for all of life. I mean, when you're younger, when you work out you get that endorphin rush. At least, I'm more alert. You think I would do it more often.

Sujatha, thank you very much. It's a great insight on a new study and gives some folks who are getting older a little more hope. Good to see you.

REDDY: Thank you.

MARCIANO: All right, tomorrow is earth day, as you know. How can you go green and also save money?

Up next, we show you how you can help the earth and your pocketbook by just switching out your light bulbs. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Welcome back. Not quite hurricane season, but we got a little something-something in the Gulf there that's affecting Florida.

Bonnie Schneider is in the CNN Severe Weather Center with a look at that. You got a pop at the radar. This isn't anything to worry about as far as tropical system goes I assume?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: No. But you know, it's a reminder that we're getting close to that time of year where we get those heavy downpours in Florida and even the risk of severe weather.

I want to show you what's happening on the radar picture now, lots of thunderstorms pretty much across the entire sunshine state. Not very sunshiny for today. You can see into Jacksonville, Tampa, down from Miami especially South Florida.

The keys are getting hammered with heavy rain. This will persist throughout the day today and bring about quite a bit of threatening weather in terms of flooding. One to three inches expected.

The advisories for flooding actually extend until Sunday morning so that really includes most of the counties of South Florida. We have a live picture to show you of Miami right now.

What we're looking at is the overcast skies certainly. It's going to be a dreary weekend down in Miami unfortunately, but I think it will get better as we approach next week.

We're not only looking at heavy downpours of rain, but there's also the threat of damaging winds and even isolated tornadoes. We could see possibly a water spout, which is a tornado over the water and that could happen on the Gulf side or on the Atlantic side.

So it's really across the entire peninsula that we are looking for that threat of severe weather. Now as this low pushes across Florida as we work our way through the weekend, guess what? It's going to impact the northeast. We've been talking a lot about tropical weather. Well, how about snow? That's right. We are anticipating snow for western New York and western Pennsylvania. Quite a bit of it as you can see into the forecast.

We'll be looking for heavy amounts of snow possibly in some of the higher elevations in parts of western Pennsylvania. We could see six inches or more. So this is a lot of snow to talk about in April.

It's been kind of a quiet winter in this part of country so many folks are happy to get the snow. But look at heavy rains for those of you that are traveling to New York, Philadelphia or Washington. It is going to be a soaker of a weekend.

Not so much right now, but as we go into Sunday and Monday. Look for that heavy rain to build up into the forecast. That's something we're watching.

Just to show you real quick, we do have airport delays impacted by the weather including Tampa, Newark and San Francisco. Ground stops most aren't too bad.

Today will actually be a better day to travel for the northeast than tomorrow, but today and tomorrow not so great for the southeast -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Glad I led into you with talk of, you know, sort of tropical weather and you end this thing with talk of snow.

SCHNEIDER: Cover everything here.

MARCIANO: It's kind of crazy, but I guess that's how April can be.

SCHNEIDER: It is. Definitely we're going to see more of that I think as we wrap up the month in the next week or so.

MARCIANO: All right, Bonnie Schneider, thanks very much.

It is the end of April, which means earth day is tomorrow. Let's get your green on, all right? From incandescent light bulbs to the new LED technology, updating your home's lighting can be one of the easiest way to make you more green.

But is it worth it moneywise? CNN photojournalist, Jerry Moorhead finds out some answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JERRY MOORHEAD, CNN PHOTOJOURNALIST (voice-over): We are at the Fragers Hardware established in 1920, 11 blocks from the U.S. capitol.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like a bag?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would call this energy efficient lamp.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so much. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have traditional incandescent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm looking for one of these light bulbs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Light bulbs are a big factor in the store's success.

RICKEY SILVERSTEIN, FRAGER'S HARDWARE: I'll like ten boxes, put up to 100 or use compact fluorescent in there, too. It's using gases to illuminate the glass using roughly 20 percent to 21 percent of the wattage on a compact fluorescent than you are in a 60-watt soft white incandescent bulb.

My house is converted to all compact flourescent. I have seen an energy savings. It lowers your air conditioning bill because you're emitting less heat. An LED bulb where you get 2.5 to 3 times longer life than you do with the CFL.

A bulb like this is in the $50 range. That's the Cadillac. This should last 46 years. That's longer than I'm going to be around, $1.81 to operate this light bulb.

The 65 watts is going to cost you five to six times more. So we're trying to reduce the consumption in the entire country. It's going to benefit us in, you know, in the long run.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: For more green solutions that are in reach for you and your family, tune into "Green Solutions In Focus" today at 4:30 Eastern time. The day's top stories are next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: A total of six Secret Service agents now out of work either fired or resigned. They and several others investigated for alleged misconduct while on duty in Colombia. Eleven U.S. military members are being questioned separately. They are all accused of soliciting prostitutes and possibly compromising presidential security.

George Zimmerman could get out of jail as early as today. Yesterday, a Florida judge granted release on $150,000 bond. That means his family needs to post $15,000 to get him out while he awaits trial for the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman called it self- defense.

The Trayvon Martin case has thrown the future of the "Stand Your Ground" law in question not just in Florida, but all over the country. Our Josh Levs is here with a look at what the laws are like in your state.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Rob, you know, you and I were talking earlier about the fact that Florida now has a task force that's going to look into their "Stand Your Ground" law and try to decide what should be done about it, give a recommendation.

This case has created a debate across the whole country and all sorts of states. People in various states are looking at their state laws right now and saying, do we have that law? Do we need to change our laws? What should they say?

No matter what ends up happening with that law, even if it's determined whether or not it applies to the Trayvon Martin case. So what we have from folks at hlntv.com right now is a fantastic breakdown of every state and what the "Stand Your Ground" laws are and what the other laws are.

So what we have here first of all are 18 states in which folks have determined that you can reasonably say they have "Stand Your Ground" laws. I won't take time to read every single state, but I will tell you about these, the ones that have these "Stand Your Ground" laws.

You got Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. In each case, you have some different language, but you do have laws that are similar.

And now the basic idea, to stand your ground, now, this is something else that a lot of states out there to have. A lot of states have something called a castle doctrine. As we know, to tell you the difference, stand your ground applies to this idea, but in certain cases it is OK to use force if you feel threatened.

Well, castle doctrine refers to it being on your own property. In some states, authorities determined the judicial system has determined that your own property can be more than your home. Maybe it's your car or maybe its workplace.

But that if you feel threatened, you have the right to meet force with force or to use force when you feel threatened. So castle doctrine in all the states you see here. Then it's interesting, this patchwork we have in this country, different laws in different states.

There are a few states out there that actually require you to retreat if you feel threatened in certain situations. You have a handful of states right there that have those laws. That say even if you feel threatened you must retreat, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Virginia and Vermont.

I'm going to show two more to show you the complexity and diversity of laws in this country. The State of Washington actually doesn't have a statute. But the State Supreme Court has said there's no duty to retreat if you are assaulted where you are legally, lawfully allowed to be.

And one more interesting one here, folks. Take a look at New Mexico. The law there allows justifiable homicide in defense of property, although courts have ruled you cannot use it in the case of trespass.

So what we've got here is a patchwork's complicated laws. Now states all over this country are taking a look at their laws and saying, how could a case like this play out here? Let's take a look at the web site.

I want you all to see. It's interactive. You can see your state. You can click on it and read the actual language of the law in your state. I have linked it for you up at my page on Facebook and Twitter, joshlevscnn, and my blog at cnn.com/josh.

I want to you see your state laws, be empowered with that knowledge as we see the next stage in this debate, Rob, for the whole country.

MARCIANO: Great information. Go to those sites to get more because every state is different and those laws, you need have read thoroughly before you get into situation, right?

LEVS: You got it.

MARCIANO: All right, Josh. Thanks very much.

CNN has just learned that Utah Senator Orrin Hatch will face a primary to get the nomination for his seventh term. Hatch was just shy of that 60 percent delegate vote that he needed at today's State Republican Convention in order to volt him directly to November's general election.

He will go up against former State Senator Dan Lewinquist in the June primary. Hatch is the longest serving politician in Utah history.

Now to today's blue white game where Bill O'Brien is making his debut as a Penn State head coach, but fans still want to honor the team's former coach, Joe Paterno by laying flowers around his life-size statue. The game was the first event at the stadium since Paterno died in January at the age of 85 of lung cancer.

Old files, resumes, bills, time to clean out your computer. We'll have some tips next in gaming and gadgets. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Well, it's that time of year when you do some spring cleaning, right? While you're tidying up the closet, garage and stuff around the house, don't forget to clean out your computer.

Our gaming and gadgets expert, Marc Saltzman joins us live via Skype from Toronto with five tips for whipping our computers back into shape.

Marc, my computer is so dreadfully slow. I can't imagine what's in there that I can get rid of. What's your first tip?

MARC SALTZMAN, TECHNOLOGY ANALYST: Yes, and you're not alone, Rob. So instead of having to run out and buy a whole new computer, a few of these simple plain English tips should help you out.

So number one, back up your important information before you do anything. So it doesn't matter how you do it. You can use a USB thumb drive. You can use an external hard drive. You can burn a disc or you can use a free online service like Windows Live Skydrive of I- Cloud.

The point is take those documents, those photos, those irreplaceable camcorder footage that you've got and upload it or burn it, or back it up just in case you accidentally delete it when trying to spring clean your computers. That's tip number one, back it up.

MARCIANO: I've done that onto a hard drive and the problem is I can't find the hard drive. So I have to be more organized that way. So you get those files off. There's got to be, I mean, what's this maintenance that people talk of? Like programs just you don't use anymore, how do you know which you use and which you don't?

SALTZMAN: Right so the second tip would be to clear the clutter. Take a look in your program files if you're using windows or on your desktop if you're a Mac user and just look at them.

If you haven't played a game that was bundled with your computer four years ago then it's time to delete it so not only are you getting, you know, you're getting more hard drive space back, but you're going to be just cleaning it out.

Getting rid of all those icons, all that wallpaper that you can't see anymore because it's littered with icons, just clean it out, you know, get rid of the programs you don't use.

If you're not sure when in doubt don't uninstall it, of course, and don't just delete the icon either. You need to go, for example, in Windows, to program files, which is built in, in there and you'll be able to see which ones to properly uninstall.

MARCIANO: Your third tip I've actually done, it's called defragging, but I have no idea what that means. What exactly is defragging?

SALTZMAN: You think you need a geek to English dictionary just to figure out what to do. Well, there are built-in system tools both Windows and Macs that will essentially clean up your hard drive for you.

So if you continue to want to go to the extreme and erase a format, your entire hard drive and install a fresh operating system. Defrag is one of those options under system tools that will essentially comb through your hard drive, which again is the drive that stores all of the contents of your computer.

And it will rearrange all those little zeros and 1s in way so that it will be optimized for performance. So it will be faster, you'll retrieve more hard disk space and you just want to let it go.

So maybe before if you're doing this on a home computer, before you go to sleep at night, click that defrag and then walk away, and then in the morning it will be done and good as new.

MARCIANO: Your next tip, Marc, is to update your software that you use regularly. You know, I often say later. Not now, because I'm of the faith that if it's not broke, don't fix it and seemingly updated software and something gets broke in the process. Is that just user error or should you update?

SALTZMAN: Generally speaking, when there are updates available for your software, such as Skype, which is what we're talking on right now, the software engineers have found, you know, mistakes in security vulnerabilities and added new features that you should take advantage of.

So generally speaking, when you ship software, whether it's the entire operating system or a program like Skype or iTunes, they find ways to improve it. So definitely take advantage of that.

If there's an option to have it install automatically, check that off. Otherwise, you need to manually update it. Just go to the about of all your favorite pieces of software and just make sure you update it once in a while.

MARCIANO: OK, your last, we don't have much time left. You have to update your anti-virus software. I've recently joined the Mac World, but now I am reading even Macs need antivirus software?

SALTZMAN: That's right. If you don't want to spend $40 a year for software on your Mac or PC, there are free options. Anti-virus is a must in today's day and age. Go to download.com. Take a look at the top ten list and you'll find lots of free and good options.

MARCIANO: All right, good stuff. Marc Saltzman via Skype from Toronto. Nice to have you join us north of the border and good advice.

SALTZMAN: Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, for more high-tech ideas and reviews go to cnn.com/tech and look for the gaming and gadgets tab or follow Marc Saltzman on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Well, prison inmates are typically just a number. But when they have kids, they're just mom and dad. So how do these families stay connected?

Actress Holly Robinson Peete goes inside a maximum security prison, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: "CNN Hero" Carolyn McCroy was honored in 2008 for helping kids stay connected to their incarcerated parents through video messages. Since then she's expanded her program to four more states.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete was so deeply moved by McCroy's effort, she decided to see her work up close.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE, ACTRESS: When I was involved with "HEROES" in 2008, Carolyn's message project just touched my heart. When you think about the people in this world that need help, the last people on that list are the children of incarcerated parents. That, to me, is why I'm coming out here today.

So what are the total number of messages delivered by the messages project now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're right at 9,000.

PEETE: Wow! That's a lot of children that have this opportunity. Gate, please. So, tell me about this facility.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a maximum security prison and it is the pilot for California.

PEETE: Thanks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning. How are you? I'm Carolyn. Talk from your heart. We're going to give you a signal. Are we ready to roll? Here we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, kids. I know that you're angry with me, and you should be angry with me. The difficulties that you've faced over the years, that's my fault. Hold on a second.

PEETE: You could see that sadness, that guilt that they had for whatever decision they made that has impacted their children their entire lives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you sit these fathers down in front of that camera, they're dad.

PEETE: I can't imagine, with all the things going on in these children's lives what this means to them. On behalf of all of them, thank you so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: All right. And now, to nominate someone making a difference in their community, go to cnnheroes.com.

A need for seed -- speed and a big appetite for fuel. NASCAR may not be known as the most environmentally friendly sport, but it is taking steps to go green. I talk to NASCAR's CEO next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: As people around the world observe Earth Day this weekend, NASCAR is also revving up the efforts to go green. That's right, going green. The sport that burns 6,000 gallons of fuel on the race day and goes through about 430 sets of tires per race is trying to lessen the sport's impact on the environment.

Here's an example. I tell you what, that roar gives me chills. Here's an example of the green movement. At tomorrow's Spring Cup race in Kansas, every time you see that green flag drop, they're gone to plant, donate 10 trees to help replace the ones lost during the devastating tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri.

I recently caught up with the CEO and Chairman of NASCAR, Brian France and asked him about the ongoing effort to be more green.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN FRANCE, NASCAR CEO AND CHAIRMAN: We're in our fourth year headed into our fifth year of doing a number of things that we're quite proud of. We got a long way to go, but switching to a biofuel with ethanol was a big step for us.

We have run 2 million miles with Sunoco E-15 and our partners. We're disproving a lot of things with that particular biofuel. We're now the largest recycler in sports. We're the only ones who have got an entire facility powered by solar. And not just that, it powers much of the region in Pennsylvania.

MARCIANO: You mentioned the solar panels. That's just odd and we've got some cool video highlighting that. It powers not only the Pocono track, but part of the surrounding community.

I suppose each track seems to be wanting to do something different. The E-15 fuel, it took a while for you to go from leaded just to unleaded. Now it's blending a little bit. What kind of advantages does the ethanol blend have?

FRANCE: Well, it burns less carbon emissions. Let's start with that. It's home grown. I believe over time, as standards come up or release from the government, that it can be a much more potent fuel in terms of the mix of ethanol. Fifteen today, it could go way up. We'll disprove a lot of things and validate its effectiveness.

MARCIANO: What happens to the used oil, the tires, the wrecked cars. I mean, they go into a landfill?

FRANCE: No, and that's just part of what we have done whether it's aluminium with Coca-Cola, whether it's, you know, cell phones and batteries with our partner, Spint. Safety clean has added a big effort.

MARCIANO: You do -- either way you slice it, you burn a lot of gas. What kind of things are you doing to offset that? I read somewhere you're planting trees. What are you doing differently in regards to that program this weekend?

FRANCE: I think we have planted more trees than anybody else in sports do that do some part in that area. We'll have the first battery powered car, and Ford has been a pace the field in the pace car here in Richmond coming up in a month or so.

MARCIANO: I assume the electronic pace car is somewhat symbolic unless you see somewhere in our lifetime a NASCAR race powered by electric cars. Do you see that or do we need to hear the hum of the engines and the roar of the cars themselves?

FRANCE: We're an unbelievable validator of things, in particular, energy and technology. So we run all kinds of different cars in every division. It's not inconceivable one day we may have a big position in that and we'll have to see how that plays out. It's symbolic today, but it may me more impactful in the future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: Last year, NASCAR says more than 12 million beverage containers were recycled at the races. We're still trying to imagine an electric car that actually race.

I'm for all for saving the environment, for sure, but the roar of the engine and that spectacle is part of the race, hopefully in the coming years, they'll do better with their gas mileage.

Well, a New Jersey couple says their rental home is haunted, so they left. Now they're suing to get their security deposit back. The home's owner is countersuing. So who is ghost busting who? We'll ask the legal guys coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: You have to love this. A New Jersey couple is suing to get their security deposit back. They say the home that they rented is haunted. They had no choice but to leave.

The home's owner said the real reason they left is simple. They couldn't afford the rent. So earlier I discuss this paranormal activity with some legal guys, criminal defense attorney, Richard Herman, and civil rights attorney, Avery Friedman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, they needed some evidence, so who are you going to call? There's an organization called the New Jersey Paranormal Investigators and they ain't afraid of no ghosts.

So what's going to happen is they're going to try to testify. The problem is the court would never let that kind of evidence in. The plaintiff is Jose Chinchilla.

And Mr. Chinchilla is going to try to prove that ghosts forced him out. I think bottom line, this case is in the valley of the shadow of death. It's finished and he's going to get legally slimed. Case is over.

MARCIANO: Richard, what do you think? They have a case?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Who are you going to call? Ghost busters? No, they're going to call their banker to pay because they're going to get hammered here for legal fees and the rent and the breach of lease and everything else.

This is plain -- and the cost, everything, they're going to be hammered here, Rob. This is not a viable claim. It's not a viable reason to vacate premises. I understand they're having financial issues. Therefore, maybe that's what's motivating them. But, you know, if they could substantiate this, they should write a book. They should write a book.

FRIEDMAN: One of the issues was Chinchilla said someone was holding his arm. He said it was a ghost. It was the landlord looking for the rent.

MARCIANO: So neither of you believe in ghosts? Is that what I'm taking from this? What if they set up cameras --

FRIEDMAN: New Jersey paranormal or paralegal or paregoric, whatever they r and they'll jump on the scene, and Mr. Chinchilla is counting on them to prove his case.

MARCIANO: What if they set up a bunch of cameras? Is the judge going to say you can monkey with that video?

HERMAN: What?

MARCIANO: Yes, set up cameras see if there's a ghost there. I want to believe. I love the movies, I want to believe. All right, Avery Friedman and Richard, thank you for your insight once again this weekend. Guys, enjoy it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: Boo. You can catch our legal guys every Saturday right here at noon Eastern.