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Wildfires Intensify in Arizona; Storm Bears Down on Carolinas; Obama Hosts World Leaders at G8 Summit; Three NATO Protesters Charged with Domestic Terrorism; Blind Chinese Activist Heads to U.S.; Man Aims Rifle at School Bus; One Dead in Bombing Near School; Transgender Beauty Hits the Stage; Social Websites to Boost Business; Storing Your Data in the Cloud; Uncle Charlie Wilson's Crusade; Review of Sacha Baron Cohen's "The Dictator"

Aired May 19, 2012 - 15:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. You're in the NEWSROOM.

We begin with a growing danger out west. Take a look at what nearly 900 firefighters are facing right now in Arizona. The wildfires burning across the state are intensifying and they are being intensified by those stiff winds, and they continue to pick up those flames.

And then for a second they die down and within minutes the flames are now moving towards the Prescott National Forest. The biggest fire called gladiator threatens the historic mining town of Crown King.

Troy Waskey is a fire information officer on the scene is joining us right now with an update. So give me an idea how difficult this plays is to battle.

TROY WASKEY, FIRE INFORMATION OFFICER (via telephone): Well, good afternoon, Fredricka. You know, crews have been fighting this fire for just about a week now, and the last couple of days have been really intense.

We have experienced really high winds, sustained winds, 25, 30, gusts up to 40, 45 miles an hour. But, you know, today, we finally got a little bit of a break with it calming down.

We're really in the 10 to 15 mile an hour range that's giving the crews a real good opportunity to go in and kind of re-assess our strategy. We're able to get our hand crews in today. Also a lot of air resources committed.

WHITFIELD: And people are being evacuated to what extent?

WASKEY: Yes, we got three towns under evacuation right now. The town of Crown King, it's been evacuated all week. Just late yesterday afternoon, the sheriff's department issued an evacuation order for Pine Flats and Turkey Creek. There are some small communities that have second homes, vacation home, and there are few full-time residents here as well. So we got Red Cross shelters in place and those folks are out of there. A couple folks have decided to weather it out, though.

WHITFIELD: Just looking at the images here and looking at the terrain, it looks like your aerial assaults are really going to be key here in trying to control this fire?

WASKEY: Yes. They sure are. I mean, today it's been a big air show, as early as 8:00, when conditions have been favorable to get up in the air, and we got helicopters committed to this.

We have four tankers committed to it, and all day long, the radio has just been firing away with folks calling in, retardant drops and bucket drops from the helicopters. We also have been able to fly in hot shot crews and hand crews.

We got them into areas that, you know, really we haven't been able to get them into because of the uncertainty of the wind and the spread of the fire.

So we've got some crews that will be spiked out for a couple days now starting today, and most crews will be able to go direct with the fire, and that's a change from what we've been doing, which has been a very indirect defense strategy.

WHITFIELD: Troy Waskey, thanks so much for the information. All the best as you continue to fight that wildfire.

So we heard from Troy. Wind is certainly a big problem creating real challenges out there. Let's check in with our Bonnie Schneider. What kind of forecast can they expect? How might that help or perhaps even hamper their efforts?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, Fredricka, wind is one factor and hot temperatures unfortunately are another. This is the way it shapes up now in Arizona. Not far from the Phoenix, Arizona, the temperature is 94.

So we are seeing a warm-up and will see a gradual warm-up as we go towards Monday, but notice temperatures get a little milder as we go towards the beginning of next week. The winds, however, also are looking at an improvement.

This is the way it's shaping up right now. We have fairly calm winds din the vicinity of the fire. Notice another fire we're monitoring in Colorado where the winds are stronger in advance of the front.

Overall, the winds are better today than they've been the past couple of days. Another big area of weather we're watching here is activity in the tropics. I know hurricane season for this part of the world doesn't begin until June 1st.

An area of disturbed weather we're watching just off the coast of South Carolina producing heavy thunderstorms. Mostly offshore at this time, but if this system does get more organized and the National Hurricane Center anticipates it will by sometime tomorrow, we could be looking at the first tropical storm of the season before the season starts. The first name, letter A that would Alberto.

WHITFIELD: All right, keep us posted on that. Bonnie Schneider, thanks so much.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Meantime, the U.S. playing host to two international summits this weekend. World leaders gather at Camp David for the G8 Summit, U.S. military aircraft were intercepting two small planes that entered the restricted flight zone surrounding the compound. Authorities are now interviewing both the pilots.

And in Chicago, where President Obama heads next for the NATO Summit, three alleged anti-NATO protesters appearing in court charged with domestic terrorism.

Prosecutors say the men planned to target President Obama's campaign headquarters as well as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's home while they're in Chicago and several other law enforcement and financial sites as well.

The attorney for the men calls the arrest a setup.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL DEUTSCH, SUSPECTS' ATTORNEY: You know, we don't know all the evidence, but from what our clients have told us and from what our investigation tells us, this is a setup by the Chicago police and whoever else is working this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Bail set has been at $1.5 million each. The three suspects are due back in court Tuesday.

And a dramatic development in the saga of Chinese blind activist Chen Guangcheng. Chen, as seen here in a wheel at the Beijing airport and his family are scheduled to arrive in New York in a matter of hours.

Chen ignited a political firestorm when he escaped house arrest in China and sought refuge at the U.S. embassy there. China AID, a U.S.- based human rights organization says Chinese authorities told Chen and his family today to pack up and leave right away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB FU, CHINA AID ASSOCIATION: And I talked with him six times before he boarded his flight today. He sounded very upbeat and although I can tell he's very concerned about his extended family members that he will leave behind who are facing some real serious retribution by local authorities.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: Chen was able to get a passport and a Visa after being invited by a New York university to carry out a fellowship.

All right, the school year, well, it's over, but police in a suburban Atlanta neighborhood are still searching for a suspect who aimed a rifle as a passing school bus earlier this week.

With more on this story, George Howell joining me now. Very frightening moments for the families, you know, their kids going off to school, finalizing the school year, but then now they are worried about the summer break?

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, this is something know parent would want to see at a school bus stop. But certainly, parents were relieved to know that police were there.

That this much police presence was in their neighborhood given what happened just last Monday. Again, witnesses saw this person crouched down behind a backyard pointing a rifle at a school bus.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

HOWELL: Yes, so --

WHITFIELD: Did anybody get a good look at this person?

HOWELL: These two witnesses did, though they are still trying to reconcile their descriptions of the perp. Police are still trying to come up with composite sketch of who they're looking for.

One of the witnesses saw the guy, yelled at him, and this, the sniper, the suspect, took off running, dropped his rifle and a note pad with information in it. Another witness chased him, but the suspect pulled a gun, fired a shot but missed.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And then there have been witnesses that are talking?

HOWELL: There are several people talking. In fact, neighbors, just given the police presence in this neighborhood, helicopters overhead, dozens of police cars on the streets. People are relieved that there's so much presence given what happened. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISHA ASTROID, PARENT: So when they're here, it's OK to come outside, but you never know when he's going to come back. So it's like, you're kind of scared. You know what I'm saying buses or no buses.

HOWELL: Are you any closer to finding this person?

TIM ROBINSON, DEPUTY CHIEF CLAYTON COUNTY: Well, we've had a lot of information come in. We're working several leads. And we're hoping that that will lead to a suspect, but right now we don't have a suspect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: One of the witnesses described this suspect as possibly African-American, later described the person as possibly Hispanic. So again, they're trying to reconcile those descriptions coming out with a composite sketch soon of this person they're looking for.

WHITFIELD: And wasn't there some initial claim that it might be a student that someone thought that person was young enough to appear to be a student.

HOWELL: And I talked to the investigators about that. They looked into that possibility, but they determined not likely. It's more likely, Fred, that this person is 18 to 23 years old. They're quite certain of that.

And given the amount of police presence in that neighborhood, you just get the idea that this is where they're focused. This is the neighborhood that they're trying to focus on.

WHITFIELD: All right, frightening and sad. George Howell, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

All right, a beauty queen that could make history tonight. She is the first transgender, competitor to seek the Miss Universe candidate title. So why are gender rights groups furious with her? I'll tell you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A bombs outside a school in Brindisi, Italy kills one teen and wounds at least six others. Look at the crime scene. There are children's notebooks and backpacks lying in the streets.

Investigators say found three gas cylinders near the school entrance that had been detonated with a remote control. Officials say it's not clear why the school was targeted.

And a sign today that Pakistan-U.S. relations are getting better. For the last six months, supplies for NATO forces have been sitting idle after Pakistan closed supply routes to Afghanistan.

It was Pakistan's reaction to NATO air strikes that killed 24 of its troops in November. But today, Pakistan allowed four trucks with diplomatic supplies to pass through headed to the U.S. embassy. Officially, though, the blockade of military supplies is still in effect.

And a Canadian beauty contestant, rather, will soon find out if she'll make history and become the first transgender woman to compete for the Miss Universe title. Jenna Telackova hits the stage today at the Miss Universe Canada contest.

A win would ensure her a spot at the international competition come December. She has fought hard to be there, but some gender rights advocates say she's fighting the wrong battle. CNN's Paula Newton is live in Toronto where the pageant is taking place. Paula, you would think gender rights groups would be supporting her?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are seeing editorials that point to the obvious. At the end of the day, about a beauty pageant, something that objectifies women, but I want you now, Fred, to hear from Jenna Telackova herself when I had a chance to ask her why she wanted to enter a beauty pageant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNA TALACKOVA, "MISS UNIVERSE CANADA" CONTESTANT: The power you get from having the crown, you can inspire so many people with that power. So if I have to walk in a bikini for that, I will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: You know, walk in a bikini, in heels, and Fred, she did. I think people on the other side of the equation, people who embrace all forms of feminism are saying, look, she is advancing civil rights.

That's what Gloria Allred her celebrity lawyer said and at the same time, they're saying we may not be for beauty pageants, but what she's doing is coming, allowing people to come around to the fact that she deserves a shot at this and that she a woman.

That's what it says on her passport. Still a lot of controversy around this issue and pageant officials have been blunt saying, look, they do think there will be some kind of a backlash.

Other than that, look, this pageant will be completely fair and have 62 contestants all vying for the same title.

WHITFIELD: Wow. There is some fear of backlash. Meantime what does she believe her chances are or what are those who are kind of experts on the pageant seeing, what do they feel like her chances are of actually winning?

NEWTON: Well, I think we have to address the controversy and say that a lot of people believe this has been a huge publicity stunt and the benefactor has been Donald Trump.

He is the co-owner of the rights to this Miss Universe pageant all over the world and of course, this event has gotten so much media attention because of a gender rights Issue.

At the same time, again, pageant organizers tell me, look, there are more than 60 contestants here. We have an impartial panel of judges. Again, not to put too fine a point on it, Fred, but Jenna says, win or lose, she'll be making the most of her appearance and quite frankly, making a career of it.

WHITFIELD: All right, Paula Newton, thanks so much, in Toronto. Keep us posted. The pageant's tonight. All right, the Olympic torch has begun its journey across Britain on its way to London. The flame started its 70-day British trek and lands in Cornwall today and three-time Olympic gold medal winner for sailing was the first to carry the torch. It will travel 8,000 miles around Britain before it reaches its final destination of London.

All right, get ready to up your tech game. We'll get a closer look at two new digital technologies that can actually boost your business.

If you have to go out today, just a reminder, you can continue to watch CNN from your mobile phone. You can also watch CNN live from your desktop, just go to cnn.com/tv.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In today's "Fortune" brainstorm, if you're a business owner and accustomed to using classified or ads to market your business, there are two newer technologies that could boost your business profile.

Quick Response or QR codes, it's a bar code that your potential customers use to unlock special promotions and deals and then Four Square, an app that directs potential clients to your business and unlocks discounts nearby as well.

So business strategist, Lili Gil Valletta, co-founder of XL Alliance, a cultural marketing firm. Good to see you.

LILI GIL VALLETTA, MARKETING STRATEGIST: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: So what makes these QR codes and Four Square so promising?

VALLETA: You know, it's very cryptic sometimes with technology, because it seems like every week there's a new one to learn from, but you know, don't worry.

This are two tools that can help people connect the physical world with the digital world and that's the easiest way to kind of decipher what they mean and that's exactly what the QR codes do as well as Four Square.

WHITFIELD: Do a lot of businesses, business owners, kind of feel like you have to engage in this now to really be competitive and that potential clients are really relying on these tools in order to find out where you are?

VALLETTA: You know, it's becoming a little bit of peer pressure. When see the QR codes popping up everywhere. You're walking by a window display and there it is. You open a magazine, there it is.

Sometimes they're getting printed even in cups for, you know, promotions that link into a web site, a Facebook, a video, some piece of information.

So don't feel like you're falling behind if you're not implementing it yet, but certainly the adoption and penetration of QR codes and smartphone in general is something that has people paying attention and kind of playing with the technology a little more than they ever, ever did before. So it is important to learn and put them to good work.

WHITFIELD: So you could personalize these QR codes. What are the applications available to kind of scan and personalize them and do that?

VALLETA: You know, it's easier than you think. There's actually three I'm going to share with you all today. Scanlife.com, one you can download the application to rate the codes. That's the most basic app that you've got to have.

The next one is called scan scanme.com. That maybe more to cater to businesses or brands of people that want to create their own personalized codes or even mobile sites where you can have people redirect to and teach them more about who you are, what you're offering.

And bitly.com is also another site that gives a little bit more of a sophisticated experience with metrics and things like that. You can do it yourself do it at home and try it for your kid's birthday card, next time you print it.

WHITFIELD: So, ultimately, these newer technologies, are they going to phase out the magazine ads or make billboards obsolete?

VALLETTA: You know, I don't think so. It's just a different screen or a different place for engagement. At the end of the day, marketing and communications is all about connecting with your customers, and if you have millions of people that are adopting smartphones and that are checking in on Four Square or scanning codes, then leverage it as a new place where you can get that engagement and that two-way communication.

What's different here? A billboard in a magazine is a flat experience, in this case, with these kinds of technologies, you as a brand as a business as a person, get the two-way communication, which is engagement and what most people want to grow their business.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lili Gil, thanks so much. Always good to see you, appreciate t. Thank you.

All right, one of our lucky seven viewers, talking about overcoming a tremendous obstacle to train for a marathon. Hear her inspiring story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: If you want to get in shape, but can't get off the couch, well, here's an inspiration. One of CNN's lucky seven viewers chosen to train for a triathlon with Dr. Sanjay Gupta would have thought the idea impossible years ago. Here's her story in today's "Fit Nation."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm about to introduce to you now to one of the most inspiring people you may ever meet and a member of our lucky seven. Denise, how's it going?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Life is great right now.

GUPTA: Beautiful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is.

GUPTA: Denise, people see you right away that you are missing below the knee on your right leg.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

GUPTA: Tell us what happened.

DENISE CASTELLI, FIT NATION PARTICIPANT: In 2008, while I was a senior in college I was sliding into second base and I broke my leg and from that day I just had an infection, and there were problems with surgeries after that so I ended up an amputee.

GUPTA: At that time, so many things that were going through your mind, one of which was, I may never be an athlete again?

CASTELLI: Yes. I remember very clearly being, laying in the hospital and right after the amputation and thinking, OK. You need to pick up the covers and you need to take look at your life now, and, you know it took a lot of courage, but I decided I had to face it head-on and try to regain my life back.

GUPTA: You are going to be competing in this triathlon with everyone else?

CASTELLI: Of course, yes.

GUPTA: Is this a wholesale change in your life? Meaning, obviously this is an event in Malibu in September, but how much of an impact for the rest of on Denise' life has this made?

CASTELLI: Mow that I'm doing this I know that I can do absolutely anything. I mean, the possibilities are, you know, it's limitless now.

GUPTA: Appreciate that. It's a real inspiring thing, a real honor to know you.

CASTELLI: Thank you very much.

GUPTA: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, all the best and good luck. So what should the top issues be in this election? We have your chance to decide and to get your questions to the presidential candidates. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Security disruptions during two international summits held this weekend in the U.S. The first happened last night while world leaders gathered at Camp David for the G8 summit. U.S. military aircraft intercepted two small planes that had entered the restricted flight zone surrounding the compound. Authorities are interviewing both pilots.

And to Chicago, where President Obama heads next for the NATO summit. Just over an hour ago, three alleged anti-NATO protesters appeared in court charged with domestic terrorism. Prosecutors say the men planned to target Obama's campaign headquarters, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel's home and several law enforcement and financial sites, all there in Chicago. The attorney for the men calls the arrests, quote, "a police setup." Bail has been set at $1.5 million each.

And the man who ignited a political firestorm between the U.S. and China will soon have a new home. Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng left the Beijing airport early on Saturday and will arrive in Newark in just a few hours. In April, he escaped from house arrest, taking refuge in the U.S. embassy.

All right, which issues will determine this election? We want to hear from you in a new way. Josh Levs is here to show you how.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, Fred, this is an interactive feature. And before I jump into it, I want to set it up for everybody.

Here's the deal. You all know, folks, that sometimes, during a presidential race, there are moments in which things get steered away a little from the actual issues that are most important to you, right? Sometimes that happens, and instead, you end up hearing certain other things about comments that were once made, that kind of thing.

So what we want to do is give you a voice, give you an opportunity say, These are the issues that are most important to me in this election, and ultimately, to get some of your questions to the candidates.

So let's zoom in here. This is from our iReport team, and there are only days left for you to take part, so I want you to know what this is and how it works. Let's zoom in. This is the way that you can stack (ph) what the most important issues are of this entire election season.

So let's say that you think the economy is one of the most important issues. Boom. You slide it over. You make it number one. Let's say you think immigration is a critical issue. You want to make it the third most important issue. You slide it over. Usually, it works. There you go.

And now, you get the chance to look at all of these issues that we have laid out for you here, and then you stack (ph) them, 1 through 10, what you think the most important ones are. Everyone taking part in this along with it now has a voice. And on iReport, you can send a video, the kind of thing you see here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's important to me in this general election...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The debt that I've gotten into the last four years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To maintain this momentum in our economic growth and recovery.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Immigration...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: OK, these are just some examples that we're taking a look at here on videos that people sent along. Now, here's what's going to happen. We are going to take the results of what you all say are the most important issues, the five most important issues. Based on that, we're going to invite you to send in questions, and then we're going to post those questions on line.

The candidates, the campaigns will see the whole myriad of them. And we are going to choose some questions on each of those five top issues. And we're telling you right now we're going to bring them to the campaigns, and we expect to get those questions, Fred, directly to the candidates, to President Obama and Mitt Romney, a way of empowering all of you to bring the focus on the issues you care about and get your questions answered.

WHITFIELD: OK, so how many questions do we think, in the end, will be taken to the candidates?

LEVS: Right. So ultimately, we'll take a look at the top five issues, and we will choose one question for each of those issues, and we will bring those directly to the candidates.

And I got information for you, how to do it, the step-by-step is all up on my pages (ph). It's at Joshlevscnn on FaceBook and Twitter, the blog CNN.com/josh. Take a look there, and make sure that you get your questions in. This ends Wednesday, so we want you to take part right now.

WHITFIELD: Oh, so. So when people think they cannot make an impact, that they don't make a difference, here's a great example...

LEVS: Doing what we can.

WHITFIELD: ... in which you really can make direct contact.

LEVS: That's the goal.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Josh. Appreciate it.

LEVS: Thanks, Fred. You got it. WHITFIELD: All right, an easier way to store your computer files. It's called cloud computing. We show you how it works.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, you may have heard of the term "cloud computing," but do you know what it is? And what is this trend all about? Our tech expert, Marc Saltzman, is here via Skype from Toronto to break it all down for us.

So hey, Marc, good to see you. So what exactly is cloud computing?

MARC SALTZMAN, TECHNOLOGY ANALYST: "Cloud" is another word for the Internet. And in this respect, cloud computing for consumers -- because there's a business side of it, as well, but for you and me, it basically means uploading and accessing your files on the Internet and perhaps sharing them or collaborating on them with others.

And there's a number of advantages to cloud computing compared to storing your files locally. I mean, I would recommend a little bit of both, but some of the advantages to cloud computing, Fred, are, number one, the ability to protect your files from local threats, things like fire and flood, theft. There's power surges, viruses, things that can happen to your files in your home or office. So by uploading them to a password-protected cloud service, you are protecting them from local damage.

WHITFIELD: Good.

SALTZMAN: Another advantage is the ability to access those files from anywhere in the world on virtually any device. You can be on a smartphone in the U.S., you can be on a tablet in Europe, or on a computer in Asia, and access all your files remotely and securely.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

SALTZMAN: And third is -- yes. And the third cool thing is sharing your files. I can -- instead of e-mailing you a bunch of photos and videos from my recent vacation, Fred, I can just e-mail you a link to download it -- to download all those files or to watch them on line from a secure cloud service that I use.

WHITFIELD: That's incredible! Lots of up sides, but then there always has to be at least one down side.

SALTZMAN: Yes. Real quick, you need an Internet connection. No Internet, no cloud service. Number two, there's still data breaches and people trying to guess your passwords. There are still risks in trusting someone with your files on the Internet. So someone could try to guess your password. There's data breaches, so still risks, you know, and -- those are some of the down sides. And then also, they don't typically store as many files as an external hard drive. So not for those digital packrats who have a lot of content.

WHITFIELD: OK, and there are a number of players that offer cloud storage, from Microsoft, Apple, Google, you know, to Dropbox and now LG, as well. How do you, you know, measure the pros and cons of each one?

SALTZMAN: Yes. Well, very quickly, many of these services are comparable. Google Cloud and LG are fairly new. Microsoft has had Sky Drive for a while. So you know, they basically give you, on average, 5 gigabytes of free storage. And that's a lot for most people. That's thousands of documents and many hundreds of photos.

Some are a little more. Microsoft gives 7 gigabytes. Some are smaller. Dropbox gives you only 2 gigabytes for free.

If you want to pay for more, then it can be a couple of dollars a month, or about $30 or $30 for a year for about 20 or 30 gigabytes of data, if you're more of a power user.

So not -- so if you take advantage of the free portion, then it's enough for most people. But if you're a power user, I would -- you know, it's going to -- you're going to -- it's going to cost you a little bit more, and you should also have an external hard drive, as well.

WHITFIELD: All right. All cool stuff. Thanks so much. Marc Saltzman, good to see you, in Toronto.

SALTZMAN: You, too. Thanks.

WHITFIELD: And course, for more high-tech ideas and reviews just go to CNN.com/tech or follow Marc Saltzman on FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

All right, imagine you're a child and you're responsible for caring for your mom. Well, meet a "CNN Hero" who's trying to help children just like that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Across the country, more than a million children are caring for ill or disabled family members, and nearly a third of them are under the age of 12. So this week's "CNN Hero" is helping them stay in school and hold onto their childhood.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mom has been sick for as long as I can remember. We need more methadone. Helping her out is a bigger priority than going to school because I don't know what I would do if something happened to her. I wouldn't be able to really live.

CONNIE SISKOWSKI, CNN HERO OF THE WEEK: In the United States there are at least 1.3 million children caring for someone who is ill or injured or elderly or disabled. They can become isolated. There are physical effects and the stresses of it and the worry.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, baby. Thank you so much.

SISKOWSKI: But these children suffer silently. People don't know they exist. I'm Connie Siskowski. I am bringing this precious population into the light to transform their lives so that they can stay in school.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good to see you.

SISKOWSKI: We offer each child a home visit.

Has the ramp been helpful?

We look at what we can provide to meet the need. We go into the schools with a peer support group, and we offer out-of-school activities that give the child a break.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is so relaxing.

SISKOWSKI: So they know that they're not alone. We give them hope for their future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now I'm getting As and Basically, and I feel more confident.

SISKOWSKI: But we have a long way to go. There are so many more children that really need this help and support.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow, what an incredible inspiration. Remember, "CNN Heroes" are all chosen from people that you actually tell us about. So to nominate someone who is making a difference, go to CNNHeroes.com. Your nomination could help them help others.

And remembering Donna Summer. We all know the disco queen's songs and a lot of us just love them. So why wasn't she inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Remembering the legacy of Donna Summer. The disco queen gave the world so many mega-hits and a reason to dance. Her family says that although she died from lung cancer, she was not a smoker. Summer was nominated several times for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but why wasn't she ever chosen?

I asked Danyel Smith about this. She's an author and a former editor at both "Billboard" and "Vibe" magazine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANYEL SMITH, FMR. EDITOR, "BILLBOARD" AND "VIBE" MAGAZINES: Disco gets no respect. My colleague, Mr. Tannenbaum, Rob Tannenbaum, said on Twitter the other day, "DISCO IS ART," in all caps, and it is. And you know, it gets tarred and feathered with this brush of not being creative. And it really changed the course of music. It really did, and in a good way.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: The chairman of the Hall of Fame nominating committee says there is no doubt Donna Summer should have been inducted.

All right, Charlie Wilson is an R&B artist known for his '80s soul funk, but success has had its pitfalls. In this week's "Human Factor," chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us how Wilson turned tragedy into triumph.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Charlie Wilson is best known as "Uncle Charlie" as a member of the '80s funk group the Gap Band, and now a solo artist. But celebrity status has also had its ups and downs.

"UNCLE" CHARLIE WILSON, THE GAP BAND: The ride got wild, of course, you know, with success. Of course, alcohol and drugs -- and it just got unbearable.

GUPTA: At one point, Wilson lost everything.

WILSON: I became homeless, didn't have anywhere to go.

GUPTA: He did eventually get sober, went back into the studio as a solo artist and made eight more hit singles. But then in 2008, life dropped another bomb on Uncle Charlie. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

WILSON: My life was devastated. And I thought my career was over because the word "cancer" just scared me to death.

GUPTA: With surgery and radiation, he was able to overcome the disease, and he quickly realized that talking about prostate cancer was his new life's work.

WILSON: I wanted to educate people about this disease. I didn't know what I was going to say. I just knew that, what I had went through was very scary, and I -- I wanted to share it with someone.

GUPTA: So he's partnered with the pharmaceutical company Janssen Biotech and as a paid spokesman is helping educate black men about the disease.

WILSON: We're two time likely to die from this disease than any other ethnic group, and that scares me.

GUPTA: For Uncle Charlie, the future continues to look bright.

WILSON: I'm 18 years clean and sober, and I thank God for my life and I thank God for my wife. So here I am, ready to take on the world.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Three weeks in a row at number one. What movie will finally take "The Avengers" down? Our movie critic will give her predictions.

Plus, Will Smith is making news today, but not for his new movie.

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WHITFIELD: All right, "The Avengers" has a tight hold on the number one box office spot for the third week in a row, and it looks like they won't be letting go anytime soon. This weekend's big new release, "Battleship," has made just over $9 million so far in its opening weekend, while "The Avengers" -- well, it's holding strong at $15 million in its third weekend.

And "The Dictator," another Sacha Baron Cohen creation, is also out, and it's not giving "The Avengers" any competition, either. It made $4 million when it opened on Wednesday. So could "Men in Black 3" be the movie to finally beat "The Avengers" next weekend?

Well, just yesterday, Will Smith was in Moscow to promote the movie at a premier, but he had a little bit of a run-in on the red carpet, maybe a little too much love.

Oh, my gosh! I wish we could have read his lips there. But you know, you could he gave him a little tap, like, Are you kidding me? Back off, buddy -- a little too much TLC there.

OK, our movie critic, Grae Drake from Fandango and Movies.com, joining us now from Los Angeles. Wow, what a moment! That could have gone really, really wrong, but fortunately, the guy just wanted to give a lot of love.

GRAE DRAKE, FILM CRITIC, FANDANGO & MOVIES.COM: Boy, Will Smith, I guess, is not into the whole European greeting thing, but...

(CROSSTALK)

DRAKE: Oh, I don't even know. I hope that's what it was. But yes, personal space.

WHITFIELD: I know!

DRAKE: And Will Smith is such a nice, wonderful guy. He's my new best friend, by the way, and I can't imagine him smacking anybody in the face.

WHITFIELD: I just can't get over his expression! Hilarious! OK, so "Men in Black 3," that is what this was all about, even though that kind of -- that moment kind of upstaged it all. So do you think that's the movie that is really going to compete, as in numbers, with "The Avengers"?

DRAKE: Well, I think that the superheroes' only weakness is the law of diminishing returns. So if you look at it from a math perspective -- now, I'm a movie critic, but I can do some addition and subtraction. And every week, this movie is making 50 percent less than it did the weekend before.

WHITFIELD: Wow!

DRAKE: That means that, technically -- now, that's normal in the movie industry. But technically, next week, it's going probably to pull in about $25 million. And I think that "Men in Black 3" can beat it.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness! OK, well, highly anticipated. We all can't wait to see it. OK, so meantime, you went to "The Dictator," and you had a little, you know, one-on-one time with Sacha Baron Cohen. I saw some pictures earlier. I didn't see any kind of, like, you know, kissy-kiss and slapping and all that.

DRAKE: No.

WHITFIELD: So this was a lot more amicable. Tell me about your...

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: How'd it go?

DRAKE: No, he did actually get very, very close to my face, which was not something I was prepared for. So we could have had that moment. Maybe it would have been me slapping him.

But Sacha Baron Cohen, I think, is one of the most interesting comedians working today. And "The Dictator" -- like, he shows up in costume. He is the character. And that's one of my favorite things about him as a performer. Like, I got to speak to General Aladeen and we negotiated the terms of my surrender. It was great!

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: OK, let's watch a little clip of the movie "The Dictator."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Over four decades, the people have lived under the rule of a tyrant who denies them their most basic human rights.

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: The time has come for him to step aside.

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We must keep on with the NATO mission and bring him to justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK, so "The Dictator," did you like it? I know you enjoyed the London experience, but did you like the movie itself?

DRAKE: I actually did. Now, I personally am a huge fan of his first film, "Borat," and "The Dictator" is different. It's his first scripted movie, where he's not just accosting people on the street by surprise. And I think that it wears a little bit thin by the end of 82 minutes, but there are plenty of laughs in it because he's a genius at saying what everybody is thinking but is too polite to actually say.

WHITFIELD: Aha! And so your grade?

DRAKE: I would give this one a solid B because, once again, I love his edgy humor. But I think, ultimately, I really like seeing him, you know, accost people who don't know that he's coming. I think he's too famous to do that at this point. Everybody would recognize him. But "The Dictator" is a terrorist (ph) good time.

WHITFIELD: OK, and then quickly, your best or most memorable moment while there in London at that premiere and with Sacha Baron Cohen.

DRAKE: Well, now that I think about it, a gentleman just before me on the red carpet tugged on his beard.

WHITFIELD: Oh, really?

DRAKE: Yes, and that is not taken lightly. He had all of his security guards, like, go get them.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness!

(CROSSTALK)

DRAKE: Exactly, a little bit of drama on the red carpet. But he still got right up in my face. So apparently, I was no threat.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness! OK. All right, well, you were there front and center with all the stars there, lots of fun. Grae Drake, all right, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

All right, an Oregon woman is being sued by her former church. Our legal guys weigh in on why her former pastor is suing her.

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