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Manhunt for Accused Auburn Killer; Victim #1 vs. Sandusky; Sen. Rand Paul Says Stop Using Domestic Drones; "Swatting" Targets Blogger; Students Survival Story; Camden Yards 20th Anniversary: L.A. Kings Win Stanley Cup
Aired June 12, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Christine.
Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM, hunting the Auburn killer. Police surrounded this home in Montgomery, Alabama, flood the attic with teargas and go in but they left this morning with no one in handcuffs. So where is Desmonte Leonard?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERICA KLINTWORTH, SURVIVOR: If we can get through this, we can get through anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Yes. Nine days. That's how long they were trapped by a devastating blizzard in the New Zealand wilderness. What they did to survive. You'll have to hear it for yourself.
Senator Rand Paul claims our own government is using drones to spy on you, and he wants it to stop. The government says it only does it to stop criminal activity, but the senator says it doesn't matter. No warrant, no spying. I'll talk to him as he makes his case.
And happy birthday to Camden Yards. It's celebrating 20 years of housing the Baltimore Orioles. I'll tell you how the stadium became the gold standard in sports.
And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. We begin this hour with a manhunt for the triple murder suspect. Alabama police thought they'd picked up the trail of 22-year-old Desmonte Leonard when they converged on a house in Montgomery. But after six hours and a round of teargas, they abruptly left the scene without comment.
David Mattingly has been following these latest developments. So was he ever inside that house?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a really good question. Everyone left the scene late last night without any kind of explanation. Throughout the night, we heard from officials in Montgomery who said that as they were throwing the teargas in there, searching the attic, that they heard someone coughing, someone sneezing as if they were in distress from the teargas.
So they felt pretty good that there was someone in that house and they got what they call some credible information that Desmonte Leonard was in that house. So they converged on it. You saw how many resources -- you can look at the video and see how many people were out there.
This is a very dangerous guy, and they want to catch him very badly. And apparently they walked away very disappointed last night.
COSTELLO: So they're going to hold some kind of press conference later on this morning. What do you suppose they'll say?
MATTINGLY: Well, hopefully they'll explain exactly what they found or didn't find in that house and about the tips they might have gotten because they got a call on 911. I talked to the sheriff of Montgomery County this morning who is in charge of 911. And he was saying that this woman called in and said the suspect, Desmonte Leonard, is in my house. I saw him. He's in my house.
Plus they had a couple of other tips that said he was in the neighborhood. So they felt pretty confident when they went into that house last night that they were going to get this man.
COSTELLO: Police believe he's still armed and dangerous?
MATTINGLY: Yes. As long as he's out there, they are going to say he is absolutely dangerous. They want this guy caught very quickly. That one shooting at that one party in Auburn left three people dead and three people wounded.
COSTELLO: I'm sure you'll be continuing to follow the story and monitor that news conference as well.
David Mattingly, thanks so much.
A legal fight brewing between the federal government and Florida over the state's efforts to remove more than 100,000 people from voter rolls. The Justice Department says it will file a lawsuit claiming the purge violates voting rights laws. Critics say the plan is flawed and unfairly targets minorities.
Last hour on CNN, Florida's governor said he's merely protecting the integrity of elections by booting ineligible voters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: If there's credible evidence that somebody is registered to vote that's not, they get sent a letter. They've got 30 days to respond. If they don't respond, then there's a notice filed in the paper. If they don't respond then, they are taken off the rolls. But if they show up to vote, they get to vote provisionally and then we make sure. Because we don't want anybody that has -- we want all U.S. citizens to vote. We don't want non-U.S. citizens to vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Scott says Florida will file its own lawsuit demanding that the Department of Homeland Security share its database to help identify who is a legal U.S. citizen and who's not.
At the top of the hour, the nation's top law enforcement official appears on Capitol Hill to face some tough questions. Two biggest issues for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder -- the recent leaks of classified intelligence and the bungled "fast and furious gun smuggling sting.
Yesterday, a House panel announced it will vote on whether Holder is in contempt of Congress for failing to produce documents in the fast and furious investigation.
Also today, voters in Arizona will choose the successor to Gabby Giffords' congressional seat. The special election pits a former Giffords' challenger against a former Giffords' aide who was also critically wounded in last year's shooting rampage.
Giffords, who suffered a brain injury in the attack, is campaigning for her former colleague.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK KELLY, GABBY GIFFORDS' HUSBAND: She's doing great. You know, we've been here in Tucson for a few days. Going around. Gabby has been thanking Ron's supporters and volunteers. And motivating them to get out the vote here for the election.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The race is considered too close to call. The winner will serve the remainder of Giffords' term but face re-election in November.
Military investigators returned to the crash site of a U.S. military Navy drone later today. It's not clear why the unmanned aircraft crashed in a marsh near Salisbury, Maryland. No injuries but the loss of the most advanced drones in the U.S. military comes at a cost of $176 million.
The so-called victim number one takes the stand in the Jerry Sandusky trial. He's the teenager who triggered the entire investigation by becoming the first to come forward. And he's the second alleged victim to take the stand against the former Penn State football coach.
Susan Candiotti was -- Susan Candiotti is following the case. She's outside the courthouse.
Has he taken the stand yet, Susan?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we don't know. But it's -- the court certainly is getting underway certainly minutes from now if it hasn't already. Jerry Sandusky entered the courthouse a good half-hour ago.
The importance, Carol, of this first person is this. He is now 18 years old. But he has previously told a grand jury that when he was between the ages of 11 and 15, that Jerry Sandusky allegedly raped him, fondled him, attacked him at least 20 times, he testified, both at Sandusky's home, at his own high school, and one time he testified that a wrestling coach even came upon them one night.
This is a young man who has said that he had to transfer out of his high school after these allegations, after the investigation came to light, because he was getting flak from some students and fallout from some parents who were supporters of Jerry Sandusky. And as a matter of fact, this young man just graduated from a different high school just last weekend -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Susan Candiotti reporting live for us this morning.
As the sun comes up in Colorado, firefighters are hoping today is the day they can finally gain control of a fast-moving deadly wildfire. Just since Saturday, 64 square miles have burned sometimes traveling at 40 feet per second.
Alexander Steele is here to tell us more about this fire and whether the weather will cooperate with firefighters.
ALEXANDER STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Carol. Good morning. You know, well, we also have learned this morning that actually lightning -- a lightning strike and did ignite this fire early on Saturday morning.
And you know you heard Carol say it's claimed thus far 41,000 acres. Now in this type of landscape and topography, kind of wind shifts in direction are pretty common. But yesterday, a wind shift actually was quite favorable. It moved and put the fire in unto itself as opposed to burning more landscape. But that was just kind of for a brief time in the afternoon. Moving about 20 to 40 feet per minute. And that is really very fast.
All right. So kind of what we're seeing in terms of containment, weather contention, it is all about the weather. The best scenario, cooler temperatures, calmer winds and higher humidity. Will we see that? Not really. Yesterday, temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s. Today it's warmer and it's also windier, Carol, today.
We're going to see the gusts at about 30, 35 miles per hour sustained between up to about 10 or 15. Humidity, though, at 20 percent. Unfortunately, tomorrow temperatures warm even further into the 90s and will stay about 89 and 90 for the next couple of days.
COSTELLO: Oh, man. Alexandra, thanks.
STEELE: Sure.
COSTELLO: In the world of sports, the L.A. Kings have put a Hollywood ending onto to their season. The Kings beat New Jersey last night to win the Stanley Cup. The Kings barely made the playoffs as an eight seed and then went on an amazing 16-4 postseason run. Team captain Dustin Brown was first to hoist the cup. The Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick was named playoff MVP. The Kings' win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their 44-year history. We'll have game highlights coming up in sports.
An absolute brawl involved -- an absolute brawl, I should say, in a Kentucky courtroom.
We'll have the story behind this dramatic video.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Twelve minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now.
The Justice Department said it will sue Florida over its program to purge voter lists before the November election. An initial comparison of Florida drivers' licenses and voting records turned up more than 182,000 names of people who might not be U.S. citizens. Washington says the program unfairly targets minorities and violates federal voting laws.
Voters today are deciding whether the University of North Dakota can keep the fighting Sioux nickname. Whatever the outcome, some say they'll fight to change the state constitution that requires the nickname and Indian head logo. Native American groups find the name demeaning. The NCAA has threatened the school with sanctions if it doesn't drop the nickname.
In money news, one thing that might get easier when you travel, finding a -- finding a plug to charge your phone. Airports and airlines say they're installing more charging stations for passengers wanting to recharge electronic devices. Several airports are locating the new power outlets where pay phones used to be, and several airlines are installing more outlets at the gates.
In weather, cleanup still underway in western New Jersey after a brief but powerful thunderstorms. Torrential rain flooded several roads, strong winds downed trees and power lines. Crews have been working to restore electricity to people in Morris and Sussex Counties.
And check out this courtroom video. An inmate charges a deputy tried to escape a holding cell. This is happening in -- this happened in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The inmate had just appeared before the judge when police tried to get another inmate out of the holding cell. He was jumped but quickly tackled. The inmate now faces attempted escape and assault charges.
The smoldering wreckage is still there lying in a marsh in Salisbury, Maryland, it's what's left of a military drone. No injuries, no property damage, but a $176 million loss for the Air Force. The Air Force is still investigating why this thing crashed. The drone is used for military purposes, but smaller drones are being used by law enforcement agencies across the country. Police say these small drones can fly low and undetected and help them fight crime. The American Civil Liberties Union says it's a violation of personal rights. Republican senator, Rand Paul, does, too. He is here now.
Welcome, Senator.
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: Good to be with you.
COSTELLO: Tell us about your anti-drone bill. I actually have it right here, and I'm amazed it's three pages long.
PAUL: Well, you know, I got the idea from Representative Austin Scott. So I have to give him some credit, from Georgia. He told me about the bill recently. And so we picked it up and are introducing it as the Senate version.
Yes, I'm a big fan of the Fourth Amendment. Not only do I like the Second Amendment, I like the Fourth Amendment. I think you should have to have a warrant to invade people's privacy and to spy on them. And so I think it's very important.
And this is just basically restating the Constitution. But sometimes you have to restate the Constitution because many up here seem so ignore it. And Representative Scott when he told me about the bill said, look, when I'm out hunting on my property, I don't want them spying on me.
And I'm not a hunter. But when I'm separating out my recyclables, I don't want them having a drone to make sure I'm putting my newspaper in the proper bin.
COSTELLO: Well, we've already got drone launch sites in more than 20 states. Police are pretty excited about this new crime fighting tool. So would your bill make these launch sites go away?
PAUL: What it would do is there's a balancing act. I mean, police do have power. And I want police to catch rapists and murderers. But they ask a judge. And we separate the police from the people who finally make the decision on someone coming in your house.
So even if a rapist is loose in D.C. tonight, the police will call a judge in the middle of the night, wake him or her up and say, we think there's a rapist in the neighborhood. Can we go in x address? And so those are things that are very, very important to protecting innocent individuals.
And a drone is a very, very powerful way of snooping on behavior. And I don't want them monitoring every bit of my behavior. And I'm not joking about the recyclables. I mean, we've had different states and cities trying to punish people criminally for not separating out the recyclables.
We don't want a nanny state that watches every minute of our day. It's not that there will be no drones. It's that drones will only be used when a judge says that it's proper.
COSTELLO: What about in this instance? One Texas sheriff told reporters his agency is considering arming his drones with rubber bullets and tear gas.
Let's say there's a large crowd gathering and you need some crowd control. This type of drone might be able to diminish problems on the ground. Would that be allowed under your bill?
PAUL: Anything that would require a warrant. It would have to have a warrant. And I'm concerned about obviously arming drones. But I don't want to say that I'm arguing against technology. For example, there's a bomb in a car, I'm very happy that we have automated robots to go up to the car and investigate the bomb and we don't have to risk a human.
Same with drones. If they can save lives, that's one thing. Arming drones obviously sends up pictures of the military, and I don't think domestically armed drones are a good idea.
What I would say is that drones can be used if you have a proper warrant. But that means you go through a judge. A judge has to say there is probable cause of a crime. But I don't want drones roaming across, crisscrossing our cities and our country snooping on Americans. And that's the surveillance state that I'm very concerned about. And that's what our bill would stop.
COSTELLO: This military drone that crashed in Salisbury, Maryland. The ACLU is also concerned it could crash in a neighborhood and hurt people. Is that a concern you have, too?
PAUL: I don't know the safety profile of how good they are. But they do crash occasionally. This one crashed. And we also lost the one in Iran.
So I think there is some danger. But I'm not against technology per se. What I am for are the constitutional processes that protect our civil liberties. So, you know, it's not like I'm against the police using cars or against them using airplanes or helicopters or robots.
But I am for personal privacy for saying that no policeman will ever do this without asking a judge for permission. That was the recent case where the police were tagging GPS tags on your car without a warrant.
The Supreme Court was very clear on this. Struck it down 9-0. So I feel comfortable that conservatives and liberals on the Supreme Court are concerned about privacy and technology's ability to invade our privacy.
So I am very, very concerned about this, and I think this is a very serious bill. And we're going to push forward and I'm going to talk to Senator Reid and Senator McConnell about allowing a vote on it.
COSTELLO: Do you have the same types of concerns about military drones being used in other countries or does your bill just specifically deal with drones flying over the United States?
PAUL: This would only be domestic.
COSTELLO: Do you have concerns about the use of military drones in other countries?
PAUL: I am concerned about one person deciding the life or death of not only foreigners but U.S. citizens around the world. And the chance that one person could make a mistake, you know, is a possibility.
So having the president decide who he's going to kill concerns me. I would rather it go through a court, and there are actually secret courts, the FISA court investigates intelligence information.
And most of these decisions aren't made like this. They make the decision over weeks and months. They target people and go after them. I see no reason why there shouldn't be some sort of court preceding, even if it's secret court preceding, to allow some protection.
I mean, even in the United States where we have the best due process probably in the world, we have probably executed people wrongfully for the death penalty. They have found out through DNA testing, many people there on death row are there inaccurately. And even Republicans have pulled back their beliefs some on death penalty.
So I think when we decide to kill someone, that's obviously the ultimate punishment. We need to be very, very certain that what we're doing is not in error.
COSTELLO: Senator Paul, thank you so much for being with us this morning. We appreciate it.
PAUL: Thank you.
It's the new incivility, loud public cursing, F-bombs galore. Now, one Massachusetts town is fighting back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not freedom of speech. We're talking about verbally assaulting everybody who is out there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: More on that when we come back.
And don't forget, if you're heading out the door, you can take us with you. Watch us anytime on your mobile or computer. Just head to CNN.com/TV.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big story of the day. The question for you this morning, how do we restore civility in America? The B-word has become just another word. TV shows may not spell it out, but it's there.
Take the show "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23." If you think the title is bad, wait for the dialogue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Drink it, you slut.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a slut.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bottoms up, whore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You say something negative, but it's so positive. I love it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Well, I wouldn't exactly call it positive, but the F- bomb now bombs in the realm of really bad words. Seriously, if you live in the Northeast, the "F"-word is used like darn or drat.
Things have gotten so bad that the Massachusetts town of Middleborough has banned loud public cursing. Drop the F-bomb there, and the cops can slap you with $20 fine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not freedom of speech. We're talking about when it's verbally assaulting everyone else who is out there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of kids don't want to go downtown because they don't want to get like slapped with the $20 fine. They don't know what the gray area is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Really truly. What is a bad word anymore? The one word you feel naughty saying? I bet it isn't the F-bomb.
According to "Politico," America is suffering a national disability disorder. We are crude and rude. "Politico" cites the new survey asking people who they blame for all this incivility. Politicians, government officials, the economy, youth, media and celebrities are the top culprits. But what about the rest of us?
So the talk back question today. How do we restore civility in America? Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.
It's called swatting. A phony 911 call that sends a SWAT team to your door.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I just shot my wife, so --
911 DISPATCHER: You just shot your wife?
CALLER: I don't think I can come down there.
911 DISPATCHER: Where is your wife at now?
CALLER: She's dead now.
911 DISPATCHER: You just shot your wife and she's dead and you don't know where she's located at?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But right-wing bloggers say this actually is an orchestrated effort to shut them up. We'll tell you why it could hurt all of us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello.
Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM.
Opening bell on Wall Street just about to ring after a day of selloffs. Stocks are poised to open a bit higher today, but likely to be up and down as investors keep a close eye on the banking crisis in Europe. Ringing the opening bell this morning, the CEO of Pembina Pipeline Corporation.
Commerce Secretary John Bryson is on medical leave after two back to back car accidents in Los Angeles. Police found him unconscious behind the wheel. They're also investigating him for possible felony hit and run.
The Commerce Department says he suffered a seizure. The White House press secretary confirms Bryson will be taking a medical leave of absence as he undergoes tests and evaluations.
To Florida, the stand your ground task force is holding its first public meeting right now. If you remember, George Zimmerman cited that law when he killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager, back in February. The task force is reviewing the law. Martin's parents are expected to testify.
Imagine, you're at home and suddenly police show up out of the blue after getting a 911 call like this one.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I just shot my wife, so --
911 DISPATCHER: You just shot your wife?
CALLER: I don't think I can come down there.
911 DISPATCHER: Where is your wife at now?
CALLER: She's dead now.
911 DISPATCHER: You just shot your wife and she's dead and you don't know where she's located at?
CALLER: Well, I know where she's located.
911 DISPATCHER: Where is she located at?
CALLER: I'm looking at her.
911 DISPATCHER: What's your phone number, sir?
CALLER: I don't know. I guess you're going to have to find out. I'm going to shoot someone else soon.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That sounds chilling. Sounds real. But it actually was a fake call to 911. The prank is called Swatting, and it's meant to get the SWAT team to respond to a certain address.
In case, the target was CNN contributor and editor-in-chief of RedState.com's Erick Erickson.
Good morning, Erick.
ERICK ERICKSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.
COSTELLO: You have talked about this. And you have been talking about this. Now you're releasing the actual 911 tape. You actually posted it on your blog. It's just -- listening to it, it's just chilling.
ERICKSON: You know, I was really fortunate when the police showed up in the driveway, they were very professional. In fact, the police officer recognized me from CNN and as my kids came bounding out of the house, he pretty much suspected that it was not what it purported to be.
And he told me it was an accidental shooting. It was only when I heard the 911 call that I realized it was much more than that. And the other police officer came up the hill with his hand on the gun as my 3-year-old is dancing around in the front yard excited at the blue lights, it kind of -- it finally sunk in this could have been a lot worse.
COSTELLO: Who do you suppose is doing this?
ERICKSON: No one really knows. There are all sorts of suspects out there. There's why so many members of Congress have asked the FBI to look into it. It is definitely happening in New Jersey and California. It's happening here.
It started off as a prank in the gamer community. And now suddenly conservative activists have been targeted. All of us kind of fitting the same fact pattern, writing about the same topics, and then suddenly this happens.
COSTELLO: So you think this is an orchestrated effort against conservative bloggers?
ERICKSON: It appears so. And on one topic in particular, a left wing activist we have been focusing on, no one thinks it's this person, but it seems like someone doesn't want us writing on this topic. And it all kind of happens -- the three people, myself included, and now a fourth person who had a similar situation happening with him, although police didn't show up at his house. All of us focusing on this topic, and then this happens.
It just seems like someone is either trying to scare people, intimidate people, or punish people for covering particular political topics.
COSTELLO: Well, what specific topic are you talking about?
ERICKSON: Well, back in the early 1980s, there was a man in Indiana who was arrested for being a bomber named Brett Kimberlin, who is now a left-wing activist gets a lot of money from left-wing organizations. And when the guy in New Jersey, the guy in California, myself, and a now a fourth person have written about him all of us have been the subject of harassment.
Now, none of us think it's him. I should be clear in saying that. But it seems to fit the same pattern. The four of us write about this person, particularly focusing on where the money comes from for his left-wing activism, and then suddenly this happens.
COSTELLO: OK. So 83 members of Congress have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. They are all Republicans.
Do you think the U.S. attorney general will investigate this?
ERICKSON: Well, I think so. Given the pattern of the crime, it's very clear. It happened in New Jersey, California, Georgia. Someone is doing this across interstate lines.
And it appears to be happening over voice over IP, means it's much more difficult for local authorities to trace a phone call that originates from the Internet. The federal authorities are the only people who have the capability of handling that. So I suspect they'll be interested.
I do know local prosecutors in my situation have also independently reached out and asked for help.
COSTELLO: Erick Erickson, thanks for talking with us this morning. We appreciate it.
ERICKSON: Thank you.
COSTELLO: It's become an icon of daytime drama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hate you
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Who hasn't heard of "General Hospital"? It's been on television for 50 seasons. How have they done it? When so many other soap operas have died?
We'll take you behind the scenes and get the secret to their success.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Thirty-eight minutes past the hour.
Soap operas, they provide some of the biggest twists, turns, and plots for television shows. "General Hospital" just one of those soaps. There are not many left on afternoon television, frankly.
But "General Hospital" is celebrating 50 seasons with 23 daytime Emmy nominations.
HLN's "Showbiz Tonight" correspondent Nischelle Turner takes a look at the secret of its success.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just go about your day, man.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out!
NISCHELLE TURNER, HLN "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT' CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): A little comedy -- a little romance --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You took them both away from me!
TURNER: And a whole lot of drama. It's the classic recipe that's been cooking for nearly 50 years Monday through Friday afternoons on TV's "General Hospital."
FINOLA HUGHES, "GENERAL HOSPITAL": The longevity of the show has been because of the characters written. And the fact that people really feel like they know us. And they want to spend their afternoon with us.
TURNER: Finola Hughes is a familiar face to longtime fans of "General Hospital." She first showed up to the fictional town of Port Charles back in 1985. She left the soap scene for many years, but was lured back five months ago by the show's new executive producer, Frank Valentini.
HUGHES: He is on the side of the actors. He stays out here with us to make sure that everything is real and entertaining and truthful.
TURNER: Valentini himself moved over from "One Life to Live" when that show ended in January. He's brought along some crossover characters, brought back some favorites, and added some fresh faces. It's all part of Valentini's strategy to keep "General Hospital" thriving with fans and appealing to a new audience.
FRANK VALENTINI, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "GENERAL HOSPITAL": Not only does it need to be entertaining, but it needs to be entertaining and part of everyone's life in 2012. So, keeping the show contemporary in terms of music and the way it sounds, the way it feels, the way it looks, is something that's very important to me, and I think we've been able to do that.
TURNER: "General Production" schedule is demanding. In today's budget conscious climate, the cast and crew of 300 shoot about 80 pages of dialogue a day. Compare that to some primetime dramas which shoot about 10.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dead or alive, there's no evidence.
TURNER: There's little time for retakes, so the cast is ready to roll.
NANCY LEE GRAHN, "GENERAL HOSPITAL": There's no room for someone who cannot take the pace, the speed. You have to be on your game.
TURNER: "General Hospital" vet Nancy Lee Grahn has been on the show for 16 seasons. One new aspect her role? Audience outreach on Twitter.
GRAHN: These are the most loyal fans on television ever. And they have been watching it generationally.
TURNER: The "General Hospital" team attributes much of its success to its loyal fan base. As for the future of this classic soap, one of the show's youngest stars sums up the continued appeal of "General Hospital" this way.
KRISTEN ALDERSON, "GENERAL HOSPITAL": I think that soaps deal with everyday issues. Sometimes they are a little built up, you know, under extreme circumstances. But at the same time, if you talk to anyone, everyone has a soap opera story in their life and they can relate to it in some way.
TURNER: And don't we all love a little drama in our lives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Absolutely, Nischelle Turner.
You can watch the daytime Emmys Awards live on Saturday, June 23rd, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on HLN.
Some people just have a curse jar, but that is not enough for Middleborough, Massachusetts. The whole town has to watch their language or get pegged with a $20 fine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Just about 45 minutes past the hour.
Checking our top stories now:
Today, Jerry Sandusky's child rape trial. We'll hear from another young man who says the former Penn State assistant football coach sexually abused him.
We know him only as victim one. His accusations triggered the criminal investigation that led to Sandusky's arrest. In all, 10 boys accused Sandusky of molesting them over a span of 15 years.
You better watch your mouth in Middleborough, Massachusetts. The town just passed a plan to make people with potty mouths pay $20 a pop if they are caught swearing. Critics say people shouldn't be fined for constitutionally-protected speech, even if that includes foul language.
It took more than three decades, but a mother can finally have some peace. A coroner's inquest in Australia, the fourth one, finally agreed with Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, who insisted all this time that a dingo wild dog had stolen and killed her 2-month-old baby.
It happened during a family camping trip in Australia in 1980. She was actually convicted of murder, though she was later -- that decision was later quashed.
Imagine surviving a snowstorm in the New Zealand Mountains by soaking up heat from natural hot springs and sleeping in hammock tents. For nine days, that's what Alec Brown and Erica Klintworth from Wisconsin did. They've been studying in New Zealand and decided to take a camping trip on the mountains when a nasty storm hits. But they toughed it out in the rain and the snow, rationing trail mix and -- and layering in the warm -- and lying rather in the waters from the natural hot springs which what likely saved their lives.
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ERICA KLINTWORTH, survived nine days in New Zealand Wilderness: It was pretty much the river ran through. There is an island in the middle and the main river run through one side. And then the other side was kind of more of a flood plain and that's where the hot water came out of.
And so we just had to kind of dig away some of the rocks and make ourselves a little pool and it was really nice and hot. Nice clean water, just a great place to be stranded in a blizzard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And how long were you standing in that hot water each day?
KLINTWORTH: Pretty much as soon as we got up, maybe around 9:00 or 10:00 we got in and got out. Some days it was around 5:00 or 6:00 when it started to get dark. Other days it wasn't until maybe 9:00 or 10:00.
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COSTELLO: They were able to make it out on their own, but not before a hefty search and rescue was underway to find them. Here's New Zealand reporter Jessica Row.
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JESSICA ROW, NEW ZEALAND: The rescue helicopter homes in on the spot where Wisconsin couple Alex Brown and Erica Klintworth toughed out last week's big snowstorm by lying in natural hot pools. But they reject criticism they were unprepared.
KLINTWORTH: We were in hoodies and like just not the type of thing that you want to be wearing and have when you're stuck in a mountain storm. But I think when it came down to it we were a lot more prepared than everybody thought.
ROW: They were hiking the Ozahakee River when the bad weather hit them. The snow came down thick and fast. And temperatures dropped as low as minus eight degrees. Unable to cross the swollen river, the couple was stranded. They hunkered down keeping warm by sleeping in a hammock tent like this and spending hour after hour lying in the natural hot springs.
KLINTWORTH: Clearly, we were pretty comfortable where we were and survived it, no problem. We had all the right gear to get through it. And have clean fresh water. And stay warm and dry.
ROW: It was not until yesterday that river levels dropped low enough for them to safely cross and walk out of the bush by themselves. West Coast search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Sean Judd says it could have been avoided if they had been properly prepared for the forecast and (inaudible).
SEAN JUDD, SEARCH AND RESCUE: Yes it is frustrating. I mean there's a lot of work gone into this operation. Taxpayer dollars, the use of a helicopter and obviously, you know, the search and rescue volunteers that we use. A lot of these time has been used up over the weekend and you know perhaps needlessly.
ROW: The couple spent last night at the (inaudible) backpackers and are expected back in Christchurch this evening.
Jessica Row, Three News.
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COSTELLO: Your "Talk Back" question of the day. "How do we restore civility in America?" Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll have your responses on the other side of the break.
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COSTELLO: We asked you to "Talk Back" on one of the stories of the day. The question for you this morning, how do we restore civility in America?
This from Robert, "The worst offenders follow FCC regulations. They're called politicians. The "f-bomb" doesn't bother me. The political climate in D.C. this last four years does."
This from Michael, "If you kid hears you swearing or sees you flipping someone off in traffic or watching to cut in line or sees you berating some poor service worker who might have made a mistake then you cast the mold for the next generation."
This is from Lawrence, "Get rid of the majority of reality entertainment -- Kardashians, Real World, Gene Simmons show. That would be a great start.
This from Paris, "I don't think we should be telling people what to say. I always hear that from people with kids. I'm a grown man. I can say what I want."
And this from Jeff, "I'm one of the biggest swearing offenders; 20 years working in a max security prison. If I shut my blankety- blanking mouth it would help."
Keep the conversation going, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. More comments in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.
Also coming up, happy anniversary Camden Yards. We'll take you to the stadium that started a national trend. Orioles center fielder Adam Jones tells us what's so special about Camden next.
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COSTELLO: When the Baltimore Orioles opened Camden Yards 20 years ago they broke the mold. From the 1960s onward, new stadiums were made from giant cookie cutters, like spaceships plopped down on a barren landscape.
Then came Camden Yards, pleasing to the eye, looks just like an all-time ballpark nestled into an existing neighborhood. Not only helping revitalize that urban area but also serving as a model for 21 other big league parks to follow.
So let's bring in two people who know Camden Yards very well: Orioles vice president of planning and development Janet Marie Smith and Orioles center fielder Adam Jones. Welcome to both of you.
JANET MARIE SMITH, ORIOLES VP PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT: Thank you.
ADAM JONES, ORIOLES CENTER FIELDER: Thanks for having me.
COSTELLO: You're welcome.
So Adam, I'm so excited to be talking with you. Tell me what it's like to play in center field at Camden Yards?
JONES: Well, to be honest, it's one of the most beautiful ballparks in the league. A lot of guys come around the league and they say you play in one of the best ballparks. I love coming there. I love hitting there. It's a great place to hit.
Every time we come back from the road trip, I always walk all the way down to the tunnel, all the way to the dugout just to see if the ballpark is still there because I like seeing it even with the lights shut off. And, you know, it's an honor to be able to play in such a ballpark that has such history to it.
COSTELLO: I must say it is gorgeous. I remember, Janet, being there when Camden Yards opened 20 years ago. I think I covered it for one of the Baltimore television stations.
At the time it seemed so new and exciting. But now some people say it's getting a little old and crusty. What do you say?
SMITH: I think the challenge for us is to make sure it doesn't get old and crusty, but rather that the patina of time is good to it. We've been fortunate that the Maryland Stadium Authority has taken such good care of it.
And our owner Peter Angelos is constantly looking for new ways that we can bring fans in, do different things like the roof deck that we're sitting on now. And really keep it -- you know, keep it upgraded and make sure we stay true to our origin which is to be an old-fashioned park in the middle of downtown.
COSTELLO: So many other cities have copied the Camden Yards model -- I mean Cleveland, Texas, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Detroit and there are a host of others. So Adam, when you play in those ballparks, is it sort of like playing at home?
JONES: No. It's nothing like playing here in Camden. But I mean we were talking before there's a lot of great ballparks out there. But they just don't offer, you know, what this ballpark offers. You know, we're saying Seattle is one of the most beautiful ballparks to me also, but it's a graveyard. You know, it's very -- you go inside, it's incredible. But it's still a graveyard.
So the feeling to hitters is this place is a graveyard, we don't want to come here and hit. But when you come to Camden, it's real nice. And, you know, you can be rewarded if you hit the ball -- sometimes not as great as you hoped but it still flies a little bit here.
COSTELLO: Adam Jones, thanks. You're having a terrific season.
JONES: We're trying.
COSTELLO: And the Baltimore Orioles are -- they're on the comeback trail, so that's cool. Keep it up.
And Janet Marie Smith, thanks for joining us, too.
JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS: I think he's going to be in the all- star game. I just do.
COSTELLO: I think he's going to be, too.
FISCHEL: He's having a great season.
COSTELLO: He's a cool guy.
FISCHEL: Yes.
COSTELLO: Hi Jeff Fischel.
FISCHEL: Howdy.
COSTELLO: You're talking what?
FISCHEL: The Kings. You know, I have to admit, growing up in L.A. it was kind of rough being a Kings fan. Just never worked. They were never going to ever win a (inaudible). But finally they have done it and improbably, they were the eighth seed -- like the last team in the playoffs.
This helped, although it hurt as well. The first period hit by Steve Bernier on Rob Escuderi. Bernier tossed from the game. L.A. goes on a five-minute power play and the Kings capitalized, not once, not once -- three times, three power play goals including this one with just eight seconds left in the penalty.
Trevor Lewis with the goal. The Kings go on to win 6-1. Take the series 4-2. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick named playoff MVP -- well deserved. Only the third U.S.-born player to win that award. The Kings are Stanley Cup champs -- I can't believe I'm saying it -- for the first time in the history of the franchise 44 years in the making. How about that?
Well, other 14-year-olds may be hanging out at the pool this week. Andrew Jiang will be going head to head with the best golfers in the world. Jiang is qualified to play in the U.S. Open beginning Thursday at the Olympic Club in California. Jiang was born in China, now lives in Florida he becomes the youngest competitor at the Open since World War II.
Just in time for the start of tonight's NBA finals, female fans of the Heat/Thunder can show off their team spirit with this stilettos -- look at those.
COSTELLO: Those are awesome.
FISCHEL: Six-inch heels or three-inch platforms, perfect to dunk on. The company Herstar makes them in suede or crystal.
