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Attorney General Holder To Face Grilling; Senator Paul Wants To Ban Domestic Drones; Florida Voter Roll Purge Faces Lawsuit; Manhunt For Accused Auburn Killer; Whitey Bulger's Girlfriend Sentencing; Fire Crews Hopeful In Colorado Today; Special Election To Replace Giffords; Say Goodbye To Passwords?; "Victim Number One" Takes Stand In Sandusky Trial; Commerce Secretary Takes Medical Leave; Family Net Worth Drops Nearly 40 Percent; Task Force Tackles "Stand Your Ground"; Calling On Repeal Of Shoot First Law; Victim Number One Versus Sandusky Today; 39 States Taking the Gamble; 911 Call about Pastor Dollar Released; Splitsville for Tortoise Couple
Aired June 12, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- NBA finals, female fans of the Heat and Thunder can show off their team spirit with these stilettos. Look at those, six-inch heels or three-inch platforms, perfect to dunk on.
The company Her Star makes them in suede or crystal, for every team, but, of course, we expect to see them tonight, fans, for the Thunder and the Heat. Game one of the NBA finals.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I have to get me a pair of those puppies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe a pair for Lebron if they don't win.
COSTELLO: Yes, I'd like to see him in those actually. Jeff, thanks. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
Good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Just ahead in the NEWSROOM, Eric Holder on the Hill. In just minutes, the nation's attorney general is scheduled to take tough questions from Congress including why classified information was leaked to the media.
Police hot on the trail of a triple murder suspect surround an Alabama home for six hours. Despite the show of force and rounds of tear gas, they walk away empty-handed.
Plus, researchers say the rhythm of your typing is as unique as your fingerprint. Now the Department of Defense is paying big bucks to find out if that can help secure government computers.
But we start with this. Right now on Capitol Hill, the nation's top law enforcement official is getting ready to face some tough questions. Here are the two biggest issues for Attorney General Eric Holder.
The bungled "Fast and Furious" gun smuggling sting, today's testimony comes one day after a House panel announced it will vote on whether Holder is in contempt of Congress for failing to produce documents in that investigation.
Also sure to stoke lawmakers' anger is the recent leaks of classified intelligence. The FBI is investigating whether the White House is to blame for those secrets being made public.
Dana Bash is on Capitol Hill. So Dana, why don't we start with "Fast and Furious?"
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sure. I mean, look, this, overall, Carol is a case of bad timing for Eric Holder. This just happens to be a regular oversight hearing, but as you just laid out very well.
There are a ton of issues that are in members of Congress' crosshairs when it comes to Holder, Democrats and Republicans, on "Fast and Furious."
Yes, it is the House side and the House Republicans over there who are threatening to hold Eric Holder in contempt, but there are members of the Senate, specifically this committee that he is going to testify before who are really, really angry.
Namely Charles Grassley who is the top Republican on this committee, he is one of those who basically feel lied to by the Justice Department.
Because they wrote him a letter more than a year ago saying that the Justice Department tries to interject these weapons and it turned out not to be true. So what he wants to know is why the change.
That is the core of what they're looking at with regards to "Fast and Furious." So I think just on that issue alone, we will see some fireworks.
COSTELLO: OK, so let's move on to the next issue, this leaking of classified information. Will we learn anything new?
BASH: Unclear how much we are going to learn new with regard to the leaks. Because as you know, late last week, Eric Holder formally announced that two U.S. attorneys are looking into this, as senators' call it, this cascade of leaks that they say has hurt national security and threatened peoples' lives.
There are, again, bad timing perhaps for Eric Holder, senators on this committee in both parties who are angry about it. Some, for example, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina who says what Holder has done is not enough that there should be an independent council.
So I think we're likely to hear him pressed on why not have somebody outside the Justice Department come in and look at these leaks and the impact on national security.
COSTELLO: We'll check back with you. Dana Bash reporting live from Capitol Hill. They have been used to track down and kill terrorists in lands far away, but Senator Rand Paul says our own government is using drones to spy on us. He wants that to stop.
The government says they only use drones here to stop criminal activity. But the senator says that doesn't matter. No warrant. No spying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: Anything that would require a warrant, it would have to have a warrant. I'm concerned about obviously about arming drones, but I don't want to say I'm arguing against technology.
For example, if there's a bomb in a car, I'm very happy that we have automated robots that can go into the car and investigate the bomb and we don't have to risk a human.
Same with drones, if they could save live that will be one thing. Arming drones obviously sends up pictures of the military and I don't think really domestically armed drones are a good idea.
What I would say is that drones could be used if you have a proper warrant, but that means you go through a judge. A judge has to say there's probable cause of a crime. But I don't want drones crisscrossing our cities and country snooping on Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The senator plans to introduce a bill to ban the use of domestic drones today.
A legal fight is 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 follow lawsuit claiming the law violates voting rights laws. Critics say the plan is flawed and unfairly targets minorities.
Earlier on CNN, Florida's governor said he is merely protecting the integrity of elections by booting ineligible voters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: If there is credible evidence that somebody is registered to vote who is not, they get sent a letter. They have 30 days to respond. If they don't respond then, then there is a notice filed in the papers. 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 the Department of Homeland Security share its database to help identify who is a legal U.S. citizen and who is not.
We are expecting a live news conference next hour on a manhunt for a triple murder suspect in Alabama. Police thought they had picked up the trail of the 22-year-old when they converged on that house there in Montgomery.
But after six hours and a round of tear gas, they abruptly left the scene apparently without Desmonte Leonard, the man accused of opening fire at a weekend pool party.
David Mattingly is following these latest developments. So no guy in the house, do they have any idea where this guy might be?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's put it this way. When they have the press conference the next hour, the Auburn police and the authorities in this, have a little bit of explaining to do because they abruptly left the scene last night after being there for hours.
They pumped the house full of tear gas. They said they had thermal imaging that indicated somebody might be there. They also said they heard possibly some movement or some coughing in that house.
So they were very sure that suspect was in there. They actually got a 911 call from someone in Montgomery saying that man is in that house that is my house. He is sitting on my couch.
COSTELLO: Who was that person? I'm curious. Did the suspect know her?
MATTINGLY: They have not identified publicly the woman who made that 911 call, but authorities in Montgomery last night at the scene did say that they were questioning that woman. No word on whether the story changed and that's why they left.
But they left abruptly last night probably about 3:00 in the morning Eastern Time after being there for hours and pumping up expectations that they were going to find someone and make an arrest there, they left.
That's just it so now we're waiting to hear probably in the next hour from Auburn police exactly where this manhunt stands because Desmonte Leonard is a dangerous guy.
Just 22 years old, he opened fire at this party, off campus near Auburn University on Saturday. He shot six people. He killed three of them.
COSTELLO: David Mattingly, thanks so much.
Prosecutors are calling it the most extreme case of harboring a fugitive and they want to send Katherine Greg to prison for the next 10 years. Greg is the girlfriend of reputed Boston mob boss Whitey Bulger.
These pictures were taken by the FBI while they were still on the run. Greg is in federal court right now awaiting sentencing. FBI agents captured the couple last June after they had been on the run for 16 years.
Prosecutors say Greg not only hid Bulger's identity, but also hid the fact that he filled their apartment with an arsenal of weapons. Bulger is scheduled to go on trial in November.
As the sun comes up this morning in Colorado, firefighters are hoping this is the day they will finally gain control of a fast- moving deadly wildfire. Since Saturday, 64 square miles have burned. For the thousands of people who have been evacuated, it's an agonizing feeling of helplessness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We brought the few things that are really important to us, some works of art done by friends, some things that we're emotionally attached to. Other than that, we are just really -- we trust these guys. We know all these firefighters in our area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Meteorologist Alexandra Steele is here saying the weather is the big concern right now.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I mean, containment is certainly weather contingent, no question about that. We actually learned now that Saturday morning, early Saturday morning, lightning, and it was a lightning strike that ignited this fire.
Now it's even claimed up to 43,000 acres. Now in this part of the country, this rugged terrain, ebbs and flows and shifts in the wind are really quite common.
But yesterday for a brief period in the afternoon, a wind shift actually worked in its favor. What happened was the wind pushed the fire into itself as opposed to spreading it out so, short-lived, albeit, it was certainly a little bit of good news.
Now it is moving 20 feet to 40 feet per minute. That's about a half mile per hour so it is certainly moving. Now containment, we said weather contingent. What's the ultimate, cooler temperatures, calmer winds and higher humidity. What we are going to see is not that.
Warmer temperatures, yesterday we saw a cold front move through so temperatures on the high side were only in the upper 60s to about 70. Today 82, sunny skies and also the winds will be higher today.
So temperatures are higher. Wind gusts are higher gusting to about 30. Humidity is about 20 percent or less than that. So weather-wise, Carol, it's not good and 82 is right about average.
Tomorrow, these numbers get into the low 90s temperature-wise. So certainly that will be a problem. You think storms would be good, but you see that lightning that actually set off this thing. So it's kind of the rain from it would be good, but the seriousness of thunderstorms certainly wouldn't be, right?
COSTELLO: Right, exactly. Alexandra Steele, thanks so much.
Right now, in Arizona, voters are choosing the successor to Gabby Giffords congressional seat. The special election pits a former Giffords challenger on the right, you see him there, against a former Giffords aide.
Ron Barber 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 is 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.
This is such a strange story. You know how you hate -- you always forget your password, right? An Iowa State University professor wants to make passwords a thing of the past.
He has this interesting way of doing it. The way you type is as individual as a fingerprint. Isn't that strange? Alison Kosik is going to explain it all to us.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I will. Think of it this way. We are creatures of habit with almost everything we do. That includes how we type in our keyboards.
So the guy who is spearheading this, his name is Maurice Chang. He is a professor at Iowa State University. He won a $500,000 Defense Department grant to study our key strokes on our computer.
Now what Professor Chang says we do is we all type very differently. So for example, when we type a long word, we all pause somewhere in the middle of that long word and those pauses are unique to each of us.
Our computer user habits could one day replace passwords. Meaning computers could detect the correct user and block out the intruders. Interesting?
COSTELLO: It's fascinating. It's hard to believe too. The government is also interested in this, right?
KOSIK: Yes, this began as a military project, but it could make its way into civilian life. This grant comes from Defense Advance Research Project Agency also known DARPA. How do you like that name?
The group that developed -- this is actually the group that developed the internet among other projects. There would be plenty of demand if he can pull this off.
You know, just last week, remember, we heard about passwords being stolen at LinkedIn and E-Harmony. Guess what? This would make those data breaches a thing of the past, very interesting.
COSTELLO: It's fascinating. Alison Kosik live at The New York Stock Exchange, thanks so much.
It was a crazy scene in a courtroom. Take a look at this. An absolute brawl breaks out. Actually that's the end of it. We'll show you the full amount to you when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 16 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories.
The so-called victim number one takes the stand in the Jerry Sandusky child rape trial. He's the teenager who triggered the investigation by being the first to come forward.
He alleges Sandusky abused him many times over the years. Victim one met Sandusky when he was 11 or 12 years old. His lawyer says his client is quote, "ready to go."
The White House says Commerce Secretary John Bryson is on medical leave after two back-to-back 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 said he suffered a seizure.
In money, our family's net worth is 40 percent less than what it was in 2007. That's according to a new report by the Federal Reserve. Pre-tax incomes fell nearly 8 percent during that same time frame. The takeaway from all of this is that the recession wiped away 18 years of family savings and investments.
In sports, the Los Angeles Kings are waking up today new owners of the Stanley Cup. They wrapped up the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to win the National Hockey League title in six games. It's their Stanley Cup in their 45-year history.
In Kentucky, an inmate trying to escape a courtroom. You will likely fail this surveillance video proves it. An inmate is trying to escape a holding cell only to push himself and a deputy into a live courtroom. He didn't get too far before he was tackled. He's now facing attempted escape and assault charges.
Florida residents are now getting their first chance to talk about the "Stand Your Ground Law" before a state task force. The law came to light back in February when Georgia Zimmerman shot and killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin.
The two got into a scuffle and Zimmerman claims the shooting was in self-defense. He is charged with second degree murder, but he could use Florida's "Stand Your Ground Law" as his defense.
The law basically states that a person may use force in self- defense when there is reasonable belief of a threat. Trayvon Martin's parents are delivering a petition with more than 340,000 signatures at today's task force meeting asking that the law be repealed.
Allie Braswell is with the Central Florida Urban League. She supports the petitions. Welcome, sir.
ALLIE BRASWELL, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CENTRAL FLORIDA URBAN LEAGUE: Thank you so much.
COSTELLO: The task force is going to talk about this law. It will parse it out. It's going to determine whether it's fair or not. Do you feel confident at all that this task force will take a critical look at the law?
BRASWELL: Well, I believe so. I think when you think about the 250,000 Americans along with the Central Florida Urban League civil rights leaders, Mayor Bloomberg from across the nation that are calling for deeper look into this law.
It's on this task force do just that, to take a look and see where the inconsistencies in the law are and where -- where the challenges with the law are and to bring about a change.
COSTELLO: Some people have a problem with the makeup of this task force. They say too many people are on the task force that have something to do with the law itself. Do you agree?
BRASWELL: Yes, we agree with that. We are worried about the inconsistencies, but also we're sure they'll look at how the law has been applied inconsistently across the state of Florida.
How this law gives more leeway than the rules of engagement for our soldiers engaged in the act of war. Law enforcement still has a challenge and opposes this law. It's a law that's flawed. It's a law that prior to 2005.
Florida had a self-defense law. We need go back there and start over if we feel like we need do better on that law. So we are concerned about the panel.
We are also concerned about the people empanelled to do this, but we will be a loud voice and hopefully bring about this change we need.
COSTELLO: The 340,000 signatures, that's a lot of signatures. Who did you present this petition to? BRASWELL: This petition will be presented to the panel, to the task force that the governor has empanelled to look at this law. We'll also be joined by Trayvon Martin's family to do that.
Because when you take a look at this law, we have young people across the state of Florida, a woman who in Jacksonville in self-defense fired against an aggressive husband who has been accused of and alleged to have committed domestic violence.
But now she is going to serve a 20-year sentence for discharging a weapon. On the other hand, when you look at the case of Willie Chester in Marion County, you had a gentleman get in an altercation with another gentleman.
When the fray didn't go the way of Mr. Daley there was a weapon pulled resulting in the death of Mr. Chester, stand your ground was evoked there. So there are inconsistencies in the law. It needs to be looked into.
We need to make sure that the leeway that this law gives to the average citizen without the training is repealed, is removed from the statutes and then we move forward with a law that's consistent that can be applied by law enforcement.
COSTELLO: Allie Braswell, thanks so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.
BRASWELL: Thank you so much for having me.
COSTELLO: When we come back, we're asking you this question, how do we restore civility in America?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the stories of the day. The question for you this morning, how do we restore civility in America?
The "b" word has become just another word. Television 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 enough. Wait for the dialogue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Drink it, you slut.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a slut.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bottoms up, whore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You think this is negative, but it sounds positive. I love it.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: 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 north east, the "f" word is used like the darn or drat.
Things have gotten so bad that the Massachusetts town of Middleboro has banned loud public cursing. Drop the f-bomb there and cops can slap you with $20 fine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not freedom of speech. We're talking when it's verbally assaulting everyone else out there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of kids are afraid to go downtown because they don't want to get slapped with a $20 fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Really and truly though 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 civility disorder.
We're rude and crude. "Politico" cites a new survey asking who people 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. I'll read your comments later this hour.
We've just learned new information in the Jerry Sandusky trial. We'll take you there live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A bombshell in the Jerry Sandusky trial. Let's head directly to Bellefonte, Pennsylvania and Susan Candiotti, what's this word of a secret file?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It broadly relates to this larger investigation as to who knew what about the allegations, past allegations against Jerry Sandusky.
As you know Carol, there is an ongoing investigation including into what Penn State officials may have known about it and others as this investigation unfolded.
And what we have learned, according to court documents now obtained by CNN, documents that were filed on Monday afternoon, it makes reference to what appears to be a secret file that may have been maintained by Penn State officials, in fact including two people who are now charged with perjury in this case.
Specifically Gary Shultz, who is a form Vice President at Penn State and was in charge of the police operations. He is charged with perjury as well as Tim Curly, who is the former athletic director.
But to the point this motion says that the Attorney General's office of Pennsylvania has obtained a file relating to incidents involving Jerry Sandusky. And it says quote the file was created, maintained and possessed by Gary Shultz. These documents, the motion goes on to state, are -- involves information that is inconsistent with statements made by Gary Shultz to a grand jury, as well as Curly.
And it also talks about computer data -- computer data that has been received by the attorney general's office investigation as well, including e-mails between Shultz, Curly and others that involve -- that contradict their grand jury investigation about what they did or didn't know about Jerry Sandusky and what they might have done about it.
So this is what we're learning now. Again, blockbuster information about what appears to be a secret file of information that had not been turned over previously after being -- after the attorney general's office requested it. Right now they have found this new information -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know you're being careful because this is a legal case and I understand that. But reading between the lines, that means, maybe, that the University knew that jerry Sandusky was acting inappropriately for a period of time.
And -- and do any of those e-mails that you talked about talk about specifics?
CANDIOTTI: Well, we haven't seen the documents themselves but it certainly does seem to indicate that was there -- it raises the question was there a cover-up going on? Who knew what and when?
Were these parties really talking among themselves before or after this investigation began? And were they, in fact, withholding information that had been asked for and demanded by the attorney general's office as part of their investigation? You'll remember that two of these officials said that they had no previous information or nothing that indicated any kind of sexual abuse.
Well, this information, at least seems to contradict that they had discussions about incidents involving Jerry Sandusky that were not previously disclosed -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Susan Candiotti, reporting live from Pennsylvania thanks so much.
Checking our "Top Stories" now at 10:33 Eastern Time, how much did senior justice and White House officials know about security leaks and the flawed Fast and Furious weapons program? Attorney General Eric Holder is facing tough questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee right now.
The chairman of the House Oversight Committee has already said he plans to move forward with the resolution to place Holder in contempt of Congress next week. Alabama police thought they picked up the trail of the Auburn triple murder suspect, Desmonte Leonard when a conversion in a house in Montgomery, but after six hours and a round of tear gas, they abruptly left the scene without comments. Leonard is still at-large he is considered armed and dangerous.
Chicago teachers overwhelming vote to authorize a strike, but union leaders say the 90 percent vote in favor of a strike doesn't necessarily mean the teacher will walk out. They're mainly looking for a raise but they're also concerned about class size and resources.
Carrie Underwood, she is the biggest star country music these days, but will her take -- but will her stand on same-sex marriage hurt her record sales?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: She's a star of country music in America, but will Carrie Underwood's coming out for same-sex marriage impact her stardom? "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT'S" host A.J. Hammer is with us now. It's a big step for her.
A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Yes it's a really big step. She was giving an interview Carol to the Britain's "The Independents" and she spoke up for gay marriage at that time. The interviewer asked her about her faith and if that anyway impacted the fact that she works in the music industry which as we all know is pretty progressive.
And that's when she volunteered her support for gay marriage. And she is quoted in this article as saying that she goes to a gay friendly church and she added "As a married person myself I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love and want to marry. I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love and love publicly the people who we want to love."
And she have a lot of conservative followers so it is a pretty big deal that she's speaking out about this. You remember she big hit "Jesus take the Wheel". Some of those fans are very upset about this today although she does also have a lot of support.
You can check out this battle it's going on, on the Web on sites like TasteOfCountry.com. The people there who are chiming in are debating bible verses and are going back and forth on the whole thing. And while people are saying that they're going to buy a Carrie Underwood song again Carol there are plenty of people on the other side as well and it seems to me that if it is starting a dialogue in places where maybe the dialogue doesn't happen a whole lot that can only be a good thing.
COSTELLO: Yes I think so. Let's talk about Steve Jobs. There are competing films about him now?
HAMMER: Yes. And history shows that the one that gets out first is usually the one to win the battle. It seems like these things actually happen pretty often in two competing projects just fighting to survive out there.
Well production has started on one of them. The Ashton Kutcher film "Jobs" it's in Los Altos, California right now where they're shooting on location. That's the site of Job's childhood home.
The other film has Aaron Sorkin signed on. It's seem it's a little behind in this race. Aaron Sorkin just telling the "New York Times" that he doesn't know what parts of Jobs life he's going to focus on. So it could be a while Carol before we see filming starting on that movie. There was no shortage of interest, of course, in the life of Steve Jobs. They can both be huge hits.
COSTELLO: You never know. A.J. Hammer, many thanks.
HAMMER: You got it.
COSTELLO: The "Daytime Emmys" are coming to HLN. You can watch the Daytime Emmy Awards live, Saturday June 23rd 8:00 p.m. Eastern on HLN. And you can be there in person too by entering our sweepstakes and winning a trip for two to Los Angeles. You also get a red carpet makeover. To enter it's simple go to hlntv.com/daytimeemmysweeps.
A 15-year-old tells 911 her father, mega-church Pastor Creflo Dollar just beat her. For the first time you will hear that 911 tape.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Las Vegas is still the prime spot for casino gambling, but 39 states are taking a gamble not only lured by revenue but also the promise of thousands of jobs. So why isn't every state in America doing it? Poppy Harlow has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 35 years ago, it was all about Vegas and Atlantic City. Today casino gaming both commercial and tribal has spread to 39 states. Downtown Detroit, just outside Philadelphia, and now they're dealing cards in Cleveland.
GARY LOVEMAN, CEO, CAESARS: There are a few places like that left in the United States that are tremendous markets.
HARLOW: States like Massachusetts want to go all in. Ready to issue licenses for three resort casinos. Caesars CEO Gary Loveman, wants one of them.
(on camera): If gaming -- casino gaming can get expanded in the way that you would like to see it, what would it mean for jobs?
Well, it would certainly mean hundreds of thousands of jobs. The industry already employs --
HARLOW: Hundreds of thousands of new jobs?
LOVEMAN: New jobs. Sure. I mean just in Ohio alone between the four new facilities that will open in the next year, that will be somewhere around 68,000 new positions.
HARLOW (voice-over): It is not just jobs Massachusetts is after. Over the past 20 years it's watched its neighbor, Connecticut, earn $6 billion in gaming revenue. Some from day-tripping Massachusetts gamblers.
Last year alone Pennsylvania raked in $1.5 billion in taxes from gaming revenue, the most of any state. More than 340,000 Americans work in the casino industry. The Bureau of Labor statistics estimates that will grow 13 percent by 2020.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have ten casinos here in Las Vegas. And then we have another 40 casinos across the country.
HARLOW (on camera): This is a bet on the future of the U.S. consumer that we will continue to spend in the way we have.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no question about that. We've seen a steady incline in the amount of money these people will spend.
HARLOW (voice-over): Loveman says grandmothers are key.
LOVEMAN: Grandma has two things that are important. She has more money than her granddaughter has and she has more time.
HARLOW: But industry experts know casino gaming revenue accounts for less than 5 percent of state budgets and they point out the social costs, namely addiction which can lead to bankruptcy, embezzlement, theft and divorce. Analysts say the closer casinos are to people, the higher their propensity to gamble.
LOVEMAN: Why shouldn't every American adult be able to do this? You can own a handgun. You can put your child up for adoption. You can buy liquor. You can sign contracts. You can invest all your money in one stock, but in most states you can't go to a casino.
HARLOW (on camera): There is a strong counterargument to that and it's the social cost of gaming, compulsive gambling.
LOVEMAN: The only activity in casinos that worry me are the fact that about one percent to two percent of our visitors cannot control how they gamble. And as a result, they do damage to themselves, to their families and their other constituents. And that's a big deal. We have to take every single person who suffers this condition seriously and do everything we can to keep them out and provide them help and support.
HARLOW (voice-over): Right now many states are considering that risk but also billions in potential tax revenue.
(on camera): It has not saved Detroit.
LOVEMAN: No.
HARLOW: It's not going to save cities. LOVEMAN: I don't see why anybody would ever argue it's going to save anything. It's going to be a stimulant to a city that's having its own channel. I think you'd be over-reaching -- anyone would be over-reaching terribly to say that this is going to be a panacea for something.
HARLOW: Poppy Harlow, CNN, Las Vegas.
COSTELLO: 45 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now, a startling development today in Jerry Sandusky's child rape trial. The state attorney general's office says former Penn State vice president, Gary Schultz was keeping a secret file on Sandusky and accusations of his sexual abuse.
We're also hearing from another young man, who says the former Penn State Asst football coach, sexually abused him. Victim number one's accusations triggered the criminal investigation. He says Sandusky abuse him many times over the years. He's one of a long list accusing Sandusky of molestation.
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 said he suffered a seizure. The White House press secretary confirms Bryson will be taking a medical leave as he undergoes test and evaluations.
In money news, your family's net worth is 40 percent less than what it was in 2007. That's according to a new report by This Federal Reserve: Pre-tax incomes fell nearly about 8 percent during that same time frame.
The take away from all of this is that the recession wiped away 18 years of family savings and investment.
In sports, the Los Angeles Kings are waking up today, the new owners of the Stanley cup. They roughed up the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to win the National Hockey League title in six games. It is their first Stanley Cup in 45 years.
In Kentucky, if you're an inmate trying to escape a courtroom, you will likely fail. This surveillance video shows that (inaudible) trying to escape a holding cell only to push himself and a deputy into a live courtroom.
He didn't get too far before he was tackled. He is now facing attempted escape and assault charges.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: For the first time we're hearing the 911 tapes that led to the arrest of Atlanta's Megachurch Pastor Creflo Dollar. On this tape you can hear his 15-year-old daughter accusing him of choking and beating her.
Dollar denies he attacked his daughter and left jail after posting bond. George Howell's here with the 911 tapes. You listened to it, what did you hear?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well police just released these tapes. We took out the phone number and the address that was also on the tapes. But on this tape, you get a sense the emotional state of this young girl when she called police indicating to them that this had happened before and asking them to take some sort of action.
Let's listen together, we can talk about it here on the other side.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP): Fayette County 911, where is your emergency.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just got into an altercation with my father. He punched me and threatened to choke me. This is not the first time it's happened. I feel threatened by being in this house.
I don't know what can be done. I'm scared. I'm shaking. I don't know what to do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And are there any weapons involved?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, ma'am.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Any drugs or alcohol?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, ma'am.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have any visible injuries?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, ma'am.
HOWELL: So, Carol on that tape she sounds frustrated but at the same time calm, I should say; and composed.
COSTELLO: I was going to say she sounds really calm.
HOWELL: As she explains to police her side of the story. Keep in mind, this is the a result of an argument with her father, according to the police report over grades and her not being able to go to a party. Creflo Dollar says that he did not hit his daughter, but tried to restrain her after she became disrespectful. But both of his daughters they describe an aggressive attack where he reportedly used his shoe to hit the young girl and also tried to choke her.
COSTELLO: Where are the kids now? I know the sister is 19, right? Where is the 15-year-old?
HOWELL: From what we've -- from what we understand at this point. They are altogether. Creflo Dollar has put out a statement saying that this is a family matter and is being handled as a family matter.
The daughters have not hired attorneys. There are no attorneys involved at this point. It seems like this is a case where the family is working this out together. That's what he told his church, thousands of members of that church, that he's going to work this out within his family.
COSTELLO: But the charges still loom over his head, right?
HOWELL: And that will still play out throughout the court system.
COSTELLO: George Howell, thanks so much.
Don't forget to talk back on one of the stories of the day. The question for you this morning, how do we restore civility in America? You have many interesting responses. I'll read some of them on the other side of the break.
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COSTELLO: That splitting headache may be more than a headache it could be a neurological disorder which you call a migraine. Migraine sufferers know the triggers -- stress, certain foods, changes in the weather. So how do you fight migraines?
CNN.com/health has some tips. Start with healthy habits, eat, sleep, exercise regularly. Try to control your stress. Use relaxation strategies like meditation. And consider taking a supplement as a preventive measure.
If your attacks are disabling, talk to your doctor about going on daily medication. And when the migraine strikes, try to relax in a dark, quiet room if you can.
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 Alex Brown and Erica Klintworth of Wisconsin did. They were studying in New Zealand, they decided to take a camping trip in the mountains when a nasty storm hit. They toughed it out in the rain and the snow, rationing trail mix and lying in the warm waters from the natural hot springs which is likely what saved their lives.
We asked you to "Talk Back" on one of the stories of the day. The "Talk Back" question for you: how do we restore civility in America?
This from James, "What makes you so sure it's truly gone. There are plenty of us Americans who are proud of the way we were brought up and practice what we were taught -- to speak for yourself."
This from Lawrence. "Get rid of the majority of reality entertainers, like the Kardashians, "The Real World", Gene Simmons. That would be a great start.
And this from Mylan (ph), "You think if they were going to start tramples on the rights of the people they would have started with words that really should have been banned. I guess racial epithets don't seem as horrible as the F-word.
Keep the conversation going. Facebook.com/carolcnn. And thanks as always for your comments.
After 115 years together, it's Splitsville for two tortoises. She bit him, and he's turned his back on her.
Here's Jeanne Moos with the bitter split.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reporter: you would need a neck rub, too, if your 115-year marriage just broke up. No more happy anniversaries for BB and Paldy. These two giant tortoises at a zoo in Austria are both said to be 115 years old and they were brought up together. But it was love on the rocks after BB the female, took a chunk out of her mate Shell.
HELGA HAPP, ZOO DIRECTOR: They just go at each other. At first it was only the female who attacked the male and bit him. But now you get the feeling can't stand the sight of each other.
MOOS: They don't even want to be in the same enclosure. Zookeepers don't understand what went wrong after 115 years of togetherness. But people posting online have plenty of theories.
"Every time she wanted to talk about the relationship, he retreated into his shell." "My guess is she caught him making eyes at the 90-year-old bimbo in the enclosure next door. He gave the wrong answer when she asked does my bum look big in this shell?
What makes this breakup more ironic is the song made famous by a certain singing group. Who could forget "The Turtles".
(MUSIC)
MOOS: Now it's happy apart for these tortoises. Talk about irreconcilable differences.
HAPP: There is always the danger they will bite each other so hard that one of them will bleed to death.
MOOS: On the bright side, 115 years sure beats Kim Kardashian's 72 days of matrimony. We have not been this distraught about a breakup since Pedro and Buddy, so called gay penguins at the Toronto Zoo were separated by keep persons, put into a breeding. BB and Poldy are taking marriage counselling of sorts.
Zookeepers are trying to inject a little fun back into the relationship by getting them to play games together.
Imagine that a 115 single again looking for a hot tomato.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: A fabulous way to end the morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. CNN NEWSROOM continues now with Ashleigh Banfield in for Kyra Phillips.
