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Race to Turn Jersey Shore into Paradise; Bridge Collapse Reignites Infrastructure Debate; Girl, 18, Accused of Sexually Assaulting Schoolmate, 14; "Arrested Development" Returning.
Aired May 24, 2013 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Take a look at these terrifying pictures out of Washington State. An entire section of a bridge collapsed sending cars plummeting into the river below. Amazingly no one was killed. Police and witnesses say an 18-wheeler truck hit part of the I-5 bridge causing the collapse. But there are also questions about the condition of this bridge. And that's reigniting the debate over the country's aging infrastructure. We're going to tell you why some consider the issue a matter of major national security. That is just ahead.
A passenger airliner had to land before its intended destination today in England. The flight from Lahore, Pakistan, to Manchester landed instead in north of London after fighter jets scrambled to escort it down. Police arrested two passengers who reportedly got into some sort of altercation with the flight crew and threatened to blow up the plane. British officials say nothing suspicious has been found on the plane. They're treating the incident as a criminal matter, not as terrorism.
It could be weeks, even months before Jodi Arias knows her fate. A jury in phoenix announced it could not reach an agreement on whether to sentence her to death for the murder of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander. The decision must be unanimous. A source says the jury was split eight-four in favor of death. The deadlock means a new jury will be picked to deliberate her sentence. That's scheduled to begin July 18th. But it's possible prosecutors could offer Arias a deal to avoid death row.
President Obama hits the New Jersey shore next week. He and the governor, Chris Christie, will visit communities rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday. That storm, back in October, destroyed thousands of homes, caused billions of dollars in damages. President Obama surveyed the destruction with the governor right after the storm hit. Christie, a Republican, has praised the president's handling of recovery efforts.
Memorial Day brings the unofficial start to summer and many businesses on the Sandy-battered east coast are still recovering. But in a new AAA poll, 79 percent of travelers say the storm has not changed their summer plans. 69 percent say they'll spend the same or more time at the Jersey shore.
Poppy Harlow reports the race is on to turn the former disaster zone into a summer paradise. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The iconic boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, coming to life again after Sandy.
BILL AKERS, MAYOR OF SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY: We said it'd be done by Memorial Day weekend and it's going to be done.
HARLOW: The mayor says 85 percent of the boardwalk's businesses will open by this weekend. All they need now?
AKERS: People. I mean, you need good weather and you need people.
HARLOW: The owner of Lucky Leo's is depending on it.
STEVE WHALEN, OWNER, LUCKY LEO'S: This is where I make 100 percent of my money is right here on this boardwalk.
HARLOW: But the problem is many of the people have no homes to come back to. Just down Ocean Avenue in Mantoloking, not one house spared.
GEORGE NEBEL, MAYOR MANTOLOKING, NEW JERSEY: I just look and tears come to my eye every time I drive up and down route 35 and look at those houses.
HARLOW: Famous for images like this.
Bill and Louie (ph) Metler lost the home they'd lived in for decades.
BILL METLER, NEW JERSEY RESIDENT: Supports gave way, supports dropped down and tilted toward the ocean.
HARLOW: This week, they watched that home come down.
LOUIE (ph) METLER, NEW JERSEY RESIDENT: Just how sad it is that it's being destroyed, that we couldn't save it.
HARLOW (on camera): Of the 520 homes here in Mantoloking, 56 of them washed away the night Sandy struck. Many, many more, so damaged, they're uninhabitable, being torn down one after the next after the next. All-in, Sandy took about 40 percent of the homes in this town.
(voice-over): Now, a beach so eroded it offers little protection from future storms.
NEBEL: Most people will want to rebuild and will rebuild. I think the reluctance will exist until we can guarantee them safety from a similar storm.
HARLOW: Mayor George Nebel is fighting for 20-foot-high dunes, a protective wall beneath them and quadrupling the width of the beach. But even with those improvements --
LOUIE (ph) METLER: Oh, God, do we look young there.
HARLOW: -- the Metlers are leaving with a few mementos -- LOUIE (ph) METLER: Oh, that's always been one of my favorite pictures of you.
HARLOW: -- saved from the rubble.
Poppy Harlow, CNN, Mantoloking, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: It's Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, but don't expect beach weather everywhere you go. The folks in the northeast may actually see some wet snow. And even in the south, there will be some near-record low temperatures.
Our meteorologist, Chad Myers, is joining us from the CNN Center.
Chad, where is the best place to find good weather this holiday weekend?
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Las Vegas. It's going to be 92. I don't know if you have good luck out there, but everywhere else in the northeast is going to feel more like Easter than for Memorial Day.
It's a cold wet day across the northeast. New England, you're going to stay in the 40s all day tomorrow. It does warm up eventually by Monday. But you're going to have to really wait for the warm-up. And here's Saturday. Here's Sunday. The rainfall here even snowfall in the green or white mountains, it's going to be cold.
That does make for some good news for some people. When we change the jet stream from a trough to a ridge trough here, you make the northeast cold, but you also take the severe weather potential away from Oklahoma and Texas. So at least the people that are trying to clean up in Moore will get a couple good days. They won't be perfect days, but there won't be the threat of more tornadoes there.
Tonight, low temperatures, Boston 50, New York City 48, even cooler across toward the Hamptons. The severe weather only up in the Dakotas and western Nebraska. The high plains severe weather this week.
Here's Sunday's forecast. Sunny and nice across a lot of the southeast. Temperatures below normal but still nice, and severe weather, again, Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, showers in the Pacific Northwest, wet picnics there.
But everybody else, other than, I think, Indy 500, the weather service says a chance of rain, 30 percent. I believe that number is higher for the Indy 500. You may need to make an extra plan to stay on Monday to watch the race.
Look at the Hamptons. The high in the Hamptons tomorrow 46. On Monday, 70. If you are heading out to the northeast to New England, wherever, have an extra sweater and pretend it's Easter for one more day.
BLITZER: At least it's going to be in the 70's here in Washington, D.C. I'm happy about that. I was in Vegas not that long ago. It was almost 100 degrees in Vegas. So you're right about Las Vegas. I'm sure people are going to be having a lot of fun out there.
Chad, thanks very much.
MYERS: You're welcome.
BLITZER: Just ahead here in the CNN NEWSROOM, the bridge that collapsed in Washington State was deemed, quote, "functionally obsolete." We're going to talk to an expert about what that means and whether you should be worried about those bridges in your hometown.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A traffic accident causes a bridge to collapse. A scary scenario actually happened yesterday in Skagit County near Seattle, Washington. Police say an 18-wheeler truck hit part of I-5 bridge causing the bridge to collapse. Three vehicles fell in the river. Luckily, everyone was rescued.
This isn't the first time though we've seen this happen. You may remember this bridge collapse in Minneapolis back in 2007. It killed 13 people. Even after that deadly incident, federal officials did not mandate re-inspections of bridges that can completely collapse when just one part gives way.
Here's a look at some of the countries major bridges that need repair. A portion of the I-10 in Los Angeles, the I-25 in Denver, and bridges in New Jersey, Nevada and Virginia. In 2011 more than 66,000 American bridges were labeled structurally deficient.
Joining me now via Skype from Connecticut, Stephen Flynn, a former member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the author of the book "The Edge of Disaster, Rebuilding a Resilient Nation."
Stephen, are these bridges dangerous to travel on right now? What's going on?
STEPHEN FLYNN, FORMER MEMBER, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS & AUTHOR: Well, they're not dangerous under normal circumstances here, but they're a warning sign. Should be a big blinking red light that we as a country have inherited a bunch of infrastructure and we haven't been keeping it up very well, never mind upgrading it for the kinds of needs we have going forward.
BLITZER: You believe that ignoring these huge infrastructure problems we have here all across the United States could hurt our national security. What do you mean by that?
FLYNN: Really, the last president who got that infrastructure as a key national security issue was Dwight D. Eisenhower. We've been struggling ever since and making the appropriate investment. So one is of course that it's the underpinning of any advance of society. Its economy relies on the infrastructure.
But more importantly, post-September 11th when we see terrorism is directed at civil targets, whether we saw in Boston, where I am now at Northeastern University, where I am a mile away we had the explosion going after, the concern is terrorists are increasingly looking at the fragile infrastructure. The more brittle it is, the more vulnerable we are. And this is something we should be investing in from a national security perspective as well as just a sound economic quality of life perspective.
BLITZER: As you know, showing up the country's infrastructure was a big part of President Obama's stimulus package back in 2009. How much work has been done since then?
FLYNN: Not near enough. You know, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, if we just repair the infrastructure we have right now, we're going to need $3 trillion plus and climbing. Wolf, the longer we delay, the more expensive it gets. And so this is a very serious issue. We are basically a bit like a generation inherited our grandparents' mansion and we're not doing any of the upkeep. We cannot be the world's top power economically, militarily, and bridges are rated according to the engineers as best of our infrastructure. The overall grade for the country is a D-plus. And we have many segments like water mains and so forth, the kind of invisible infrastructure -- 240,000 water mains broke last year across the country. We're like falling apart and we're not paying attention.
BLITZER: Yeah, we've got to spend some money on this. People wonder, where is the money going to come from. And that's an issue. But obviously, this is critically, critically important.
Stephen Flynn, thanks very much for joining us.
The family of an 18-year-old girl accused of sexually assaulting a 14- year-old says their daughter has done nothing wrong. We're going to hear from them as well as the parents of the alleged victim. That's coming up right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Openly gay youths will soon be allowed to join the Boy Scouts of America. In an historic decision, the scout's national council voted to end its century-old policy of barring gay Scouts. Gay rights advocates are hailing the move, but some religious groups argue it dilutes the Boy Scout's message of morality. The Scouts keeping the ban on gay adult leaders. New policy takes effect January 1, 2014.
In Florida, a same-sex case is making headlines. An 18-year-old girl is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female schoolmate. If convicted, Kaitlyn Hunt could go to prison for as long as 15 years and be labeled a sexual predator. She says it was not assault.
Sarah Ganim has the report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CRYING)
SARAH GANIM, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Authorities in Indian River, Florida, say this is a sexual predator.
KAITLYN HUNT, ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT: I'm scared of losing my life -- the rest of my life. Not being able to go to college and be around kids and my sisters and my family.
GANIM: Instead of trying out this month for a college cheer team, 18- year-old Kaitlyn Hunt is defending herself against charges she sexually assaulted a child, a high school classmate, a freshman age 14.
KELLEY HUNT SMITH, KAITLYN HUNT'S MOTHER: To hold someone accountable for a felony for having a relationship with a peer seems outrageous to me.
GANIM: It's not just the law that seems outrageous to the family, but the punishment. Kaitlyn Hunt is facing 15 years in jail and a lifetime labeled as a sexual predator unless she accepts a plea deal for two child-abuse felonies.
Her family fears the impact of two child-abuse felonies on her record forever.
HUNT SMITH: A decision like that is, it's like the lesser of two evils. You know, her life has been destroyed already. You know, I can't handle this. And I'm 37 years old.
GANIM: The sheriff says this is not about anyone's sexual orientation. In Florida, a 14-year-old can't consent to sex.
DERYL LOAR, SHERIFF, INDIAN RIVER, FLORIDA: There's a big difference between a 14-year-old child and an 18-year-old child, if you will.
GANIM: Police recorded a phone call where both girls admit to the relationship.
Hunt is not the first high school senior to find out that sex with a freshman is, in some places, illegal.
LOAR: In fact, we have had cases in the past where we have had same- sex, similar circumstances. Albeit, some of the evidence may not have been as intriguing, I guess. We've also obviously had 18-year-old males with a relationship with 14-year-old females.
GANIM: But Hunt's attorney says prosecutors are treating her like a predator.
JULIA GRAVES, ATTORNEY FOR HUNT FAMILY: I've seen those personally. They get a misdemeanor and they all move on with their lives.
GANIM: The Hunts believe this would have never been reported by the young girl's parents if Kaitlyn was a boy.
HUNT SMITH: We would not be here if the parents were not baited. To take it criminally, I feel like they're using the law, the age law to pursue the parents.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: That was our report from Sarah Ganim.
By the way, of the alleged 14-year-old victim, they're speaking out publicly for the first time. They spoke exclusively to affiliate, WPEC, and they're defending their decision to press charges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM SMITH, FATHER OF ALLEGED VICTIM: We had no alternative, but to turn to the law and as basically a last resort.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So this whole story about "you blame Kate" for making your daughter gay, where did that come from?
JIM SMITH: I don't know. You tell me. It didn't come from us. Because that's not how we feel.
LAURIE SMITH, MOTHER OF ALLEGED VICTIM: It was never said. And that's why we feel that we had to tell how we felt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The 18-year-old, by the way, must decide by today whether to accept a plea deal in the case.
All right, a very different note. Shhh, you're going to wake him up. Morgan Freeman takes a nap during a live interview. We'll tell you what happened after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: So in Hollywood, what's old is new again. The once-canceled television series "Arrested Development" is returning to a live stream near you.
Our Nischelle Turner has details on the newest Netflix project.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now the story of a canceled TV comedy about a dysfunctional family --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I said enough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: -- that gained cult status and a devoted fan base, and is getting a second life. It's "Arrested Development." The critically acclaimed Emmy winning show never found its footing with viewers, but after the 2006 finale, the fans began to multiply.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Someone turned me on to it a couple of years after it got canceled. But I loved it.
TURNER: Enough for the cast members to notice.
WILL ARNETT, ACTOR: It feels like the show has never been more popular than it is now.
JESSICA WALTER, ACTRESS: A lot of people found the show after it was on television on the DVDS, and on the Internet.
TURNER: Seven years later, "Arrested Development" is returning with a fourth season, not on network TV, but the popular streaming service Netflix.
The show's producer, Bryan Grazer, says it was a big move.
BRYAN GRAZER, PRODUCER: Never would I say taking over the business, but there are another very variable outlet to watch programming.
TURNER: If the new season proves to be a success, the Netflix model could be used by those behind of other canceled shows according to Lacey Rose of "The Hollywood Reporter."
LACEY ROSE, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Others will look at this and say how can we do this? How can we revive our show? Between the cable networks that are increasingly trying to up their originals, as well as these, you know, streaming platforms, like Netflix, like Amazon, there can be new homes for these shows.
TURNER: With high-profile shows on their queue, Netflix could be battling the big net works at the Emmys for the first time.
ROSE: With a show like "House of Cards" and "Arrested Development," it would certainly do a tremendous amount for the company's reputation in Hollywood. And I think it would plant a flag in the ground for Internet television.
ARNETT: We knew we were being included in this effort that Netflix is making to kind of change the way television is brought to people.
TURNER: Nischelle Turner, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Here is something you don't see every day. The actor, Morgan Freeman, apparently not getting enough sleep. The Oscar- winning star nodded off this week during an interview by CNN affiliate, KCPQ. Freeman was promoting his new movie, "Now You See Me." The actor -- never bothered to wake him up. He woke up by himself about halfway through the chat but still seemed quite sleepy. OK. Something caught in your throat? There certainly was for this big guy. We're going to tell you what had him all choked up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Talk about being all choked up. This is the story of Ty, the Florida wildlife refuge tiger, and a hair removal story like you've never heard before. Turns out tigers, like cats, they get hair balls from grooming themselves. Usually both species cough them up but Ty couldn't get rid of his on his own. It made him stop eating. He lost 100 pounds. Doctors stepped in and removed the four-pound blockage and, good news, Ty is doing well. Good for him.
That's it for me. Thanks very much for watching. I'll be back 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."
Brooke Baldwin picks up our coverage right now.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, thank you so much.
Good to see all of you. I'm Brooke Baldwin, live today on this Friday afternoon from Moore, Oklahoma, with CNN special coverage of the aftermath. As you can see, homes in this neighborhood absolutely level from Monday's tornado.
