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Noose at Ole Miss; Baby Stops Breathing on Jammed Road; Canada Beats U.S. in Hockey; Christie and the GOP

Aired February 21, 2014 - 14:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Don Lemon here, in today for Brooke. Thank you so much for joining me. A huge day of news, so let's get right to it for you.

We have just learned President Obama will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin today by phone. It's not yet clear everything they'll discuss. But we do know the violence in the Ukraine will be a topic of conversation. We'll bring you updates as we get them here.

Meantime, a breakthrough in the crisis which has turned one of the world's most beautiful cities into this. Kiev looking more like a war zone after its deadliest days in months of protests. The president and opposition leaders agreed to a deal. Shots rang out and blood still stained the streets around Independence Square in Kiev today. But behind closed doors, the president, Viktor Yanukovych, is seen here signing a deal with Vitali Klitschko, a former world class boxer turned opposition leader, and really the leader of this anti- government protest - these protests. They hope this deal will diffuse a political crisis that has left scores dead and hundreds injured. It includes less power for the president and constitutional reform. For their part, protesters have 24-hours to leave the streets and turn in any weapons they might have.

Grand Daddy Purple (ph) or Island Sweet Skunk (ph) and Super Lemon Hayes (ph) are filling Colorado state's coffers today. Colorado expects to collect $184 million in tax revenue in the first 18 months of recreational pot sales and 600 million by June of next year. Marijuana shop owners turned in their first tax reports yesterday. Local budtenders (ph) say sales are booming.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM CULLEN, CO-OWNER, EVERGREEN APOTHECARY: It's just exceeded all my expectations. We paid about $190,000 in sales tax that we collected during the month of January.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, Colorado aggressively taxes recreational marijuana at 25 percent. Much of the tax revenue will be funneled into teaching kids to stay away from pot. A state committee wants to spend $45 million on the prevention of youth marijuana use.

New Jersey's Chris Christie is opting out of dinner with the president. Christie among dozens of governors converging today on Washington for a series of annual meetings. Dinner is Sunday night at the White House, but Christie plans to return to New Jersey, says an aide, to celebrate the 18th birthday of his elder daughter, Sarah. And as you probably remember here, Christie chaffed a lot of Republicans making nice with the Democratic president after Hurricane Sandy, just days before the 2012 election.

Extreme weather. We're talking everything from wind-driven thunderstorms to tornados whipping across this country. This was a scene overnight in Nashville, where lightning and high winds swept across the state. Tornado sirens sounded in Memphis before the storm finally moved on. Thousands in the southeast still without power.

And in Mississippi, a lightning strike is probably to blame for the daycare center fire. The one that you're looking at right here. Thankfully the building was closed at the time.

And some rare winter tornados spun through parts of Illinois. This funnel cloud caught by storm chasers there.

And the snow just won't go away across the upper Midwest, in places like Minnesota and Iowa, where the forecast is for more blizzard-like conditions.

All right, let's get you up to date on this particular story right here. An investigation underway at Ole Miss to find the person or persons who draped a noose over the campus Civil Rights memorial to James Meredith, the second black student admitted to the University of Mississippi. Meredith's enrollment back in 1962 touched off a massive riot that turned deadly and prompted President John F. Kennedy to address the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. JOHN F. KENNEDY, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Americans are free and sure to disagree with the law, but not to disobey it. For any governments of laws and not of man, no man, however prominent or powerful, and no mob, however unruly or boisterous, is entitled to defy a court of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So this is what the statute looks like. That's Meredith in white - in that white suit back in 2006 when the dedication happened. He is now 80 years old. Ole Miss police chief says authorities have identified three male freshmen from Georgia that they want to question and they are working with state and federal officials about possible criminal charges.

Joining me now via Skype is Adam Ganucheau. He's the editor in chief of the campus newspaper, "The Daily Mississippian."

Adam, hello to you. How is this being received on campus? Are racial problems there still prevalent?

ADAM GANUCHEAU, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN": Hi, Don. Thanks for having me. You know, I would say that Ole Miss has a race problem, but I also don't think it's limited to just our university. I definitely want to be clear about that. I think that, you know, the universities across the southeast are just more prone to these kinds of incidents because of the past (INAUDIBLE) at the universities.

At Ole Miss specifically, as you mentioned, with the, you know, race riot in '62 when Meredith was admitted, you know, since then we've been dealing with these issues. And I don't think that there's a prevalent race problem in terms of students, you know, running around, having major issues with students of other races, but I do think that because of our history, we're more prone to some of these isolated incidents.

LEMON: So, I mean you have to admit because of this incident and they're looking at students, there are problems when it comes to race at this university.

GANUCHEAU: Absolutely. And something that the university is doing, I think, that's unique, I think, like I said, at other universities across the south, I mean, we're -- Ole Miss is definitely not the only one that, you know, has these issues. But our university tackles these things head on. They've done a great job of not only, you know, responding to these incidents when they happen and in a professional and really a (INAUDIBLE), but also they've taken a lot of proactive instead of just regular retroactive steps to ensure that these things (INAUDIBLE) happen again.

LEMON: Listen. Trust me, I get it. I went to LSU, so I understand what you mean about universities across the southeast. I understand, you know, the culture. How are students - how are students there being taught about race there? Are they being taught do you think enough? Is the university doing a good enough job?

GANUCHEAU: That's something the university has talked about, actually, in the last few months. There was an incident in October. There was a play, "The Lerhamy (ph) Project," about, you know, a homosexual man that was murdered in Wyoming. During a screening of that play on our campus, some students that were in attendance of that play decided to yell some things they shouldn't have that really - really offensive things. And what the university did after that occurred, they - they've implemented a system now that freshman, during orientation, they're going to have to - they're going to have to go through this sensitivity training and they're really going to be taught, you know, the dos and don'ts of situations like this.

But, you know, that hasn't started yet. That's starting, I think, in the fall of this coming school year. So, you know, I don't know if Ole Miss is doing enough. That's hard to say. I think there is one real answer for this. We wouldn't be sitting here having this interview right now.

LEMON: Before I let you go, what would you like to see done?

GANUCHEAU: You know, I think the steps that I discussed that the university is taking with the orientation for the new students, the freshmen students coming in, I think that's a great first step. You know, something that we've done, you know, my whole philosophy is that as the editor of "The Daily Mississippian" has been to expose these incidents that occur and start the conversation. We need to continue the dialogue on our campus about race. I think that's the only way that we can move forward and, you know, improve our, you know, racial land scape, if you will, on campus.

LEMON: Yes. Yes. And, sadly, the real truth is that by the time you get to the university, sometimes it is too late. These things are better taught at home. Sometimes it's home training. It's not necessarily the university's responsibility all the time to teach young kids about what they should do, what they should and should not do.

Well, thank you very much. We appreciate you, Adam Ganucheau, for joining us.

GANUCHEAU: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: Coming up, Ted Nugent apologizes for using a racist term to describe President Obama. So he said that the president is a brute and a mongrel, right, that's what he said. You're going to hear the rocker's explanation now.

Plus, I'm going to speak live with the photographer who shot these stunning pictures of an infant being rescued in the middle of a highway.

And several states on alert for possible twisters. Extreme weather hitting two regions. Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So just a few minutes ago, at the top of the hour, we showed you some of the extreme weather conditions blanketing parts of the country, particularly some dramatic twisters that were spotted in the Midwest. Here it is again, a series of funnel clouds near Jacksonville, Illinois. There are no reported injuries or damages, but there were also tornado warnings in parts of the south. Now, meteorologist Chad Myers live from the CNN Severe Weather Center with more on this severe forecast.

What's going on, Chad?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Don, the cold front just about to push offshore on the East Coast. And that will take all of the severe weather threat with it.

A big cold front right through here. A lot of cold air in behind it. This isn't the arctic air we're talking about for next week, but there's still enough cold air to make some snow across parts of the Great Lakes and also on up into Ontario and into Quebec.

This is the weather that we're worried about, though, for the rest of the day, at least for the next couple of hours before these storms finally go away. Into the Delmarva, into parts of - even New Jersey seeing some strong weather here just to the north of Cape May, moving offshore eventually. And then that weather moving through.

Once it's by you, you're in great shape. Like D.C., Baltimore, Richmond. Once the first storm is the only storm that goes by, there's nothing behind it. But still here, for parts - here, this is North Carolina, Don. All of this here. All of the eastern parts of North Carolina, still under the gun for this weather to come right through like that. That won't be offshore probably for another two or three hours. So Wilmington and the like, Cape Hatteras and the like, you are the guys who are really under the gun for the rest of this afternoon.

Don.

LEMON: Looks like you're drawing claws. My goodness.

MYERS: Sorry.

LEMON: Claws aren't usually good. Thank you, Chad Myers. Appreciate it.

MYERS: You're welcome. All right.

LEMON: Coming up, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, he's in Washington for a meeting of Republican governors. President Obama asked him to come to the White House for dinner. Governor Chris Christie said, no. Why? We've got the story for you.

And a dramatic roadside rescue when a baby stops breathing in a car. First responders and other drivers rush to the rescue. We talked to the photographer who took these amazing pictures, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: If you do not know how to perform CPR, you might be inspired to learn after I share what happened on a busy highway in Miami. This five month old baby stopped breathing in his aunt's car while they were stuck in traffic yesterday afternoon. That's his aunt performing CPR, frantically trying to save his life. A "Miami Harold" photographer who took these pictures says she screamed, my baby can't breathe, call 911. And that's when he and a woman rushed to help and they were able to keep the baby breathing until paramedic arrived. No word yet on why the baby stopped breathing, but he was born premature and had some respiratory issues.

I want to bring in now Al Diaz. He's the "Miami Harold" photographer or photojournalist who saw this all play out.

So, Al, take us back to the moment that you saw the woman slam on her brakes. And as I understand, the baby stopped breathing twice and then was resuscitated each time?

AL DIAZ, PHOTOJOURNALIST, "MIAMI HERALD": Yes. Yes. So I was traveling west on the 836 and a car in front of me stopped. And I didn't think much of it. It was usual traffic - a lot of traffic in that area. And I started to hear screaming and I didn't know where it was coming from. I thought it was my radio or my phone. I look up and I see the woman like jump out of her car screaming for help. And so then I put my hazards on and ran over to assist her.

I don't know CPR, so I went and I just started running towards traffic trying to get someone to come help. And that's when the woman that you see in the -- wearing the white blouse, Lucila, she came over and tried to provide aid.

So then I turned around and went looking for more help. And that's when I came across a Sweet Water police officer who - who was unaware -- he was several cars behind - and informed him. And so he came to the aid. And then there were several police officers that were stuck in traffic and everything started to back up. And when they arrived, they went to her and at that point that - the -- they were working on the child - Pamela had been working on it, giving her - giving the baby CPR and the baby started breathing again and everything started to calm down. So that's when I turned around and went and got my camera and started taking pictures. The baby went under duress again and she - Pamela took the baby and started performing CPR again. And that's when I captured those images

LEMON: Yes. It must be tough for you to stand there and take pictures. I know you probably want to help. But you said you waited until someone else got there and then you started taking pictures.

DIAZ: Yes.

LEMON: Are you still in touch with the baby's aunt and, if so, what did she say to you after -

DIAZ: Not -

LEMON: So you haven't spoken with her?

DIAZ: Not yet.

LEMON: What did she say to you after - right after? Did she say anything to you?

DIAZ: No, I haven't spoken to the family. It's been so busy all day and I don't know how to contact them.

LEMON: So not even on the highway you - you didn't get a chance to speak to her?

DIAZ: No. No. Well, you know, when I approached her, she said the baby's not breathing. When Lucila came over, we were with - the three of us were there and Lucila had asked if she was -- if the baby had eaten something, if something, you know, is he choking. And, you know, they turned the baby on the side and that's when I went to get more help. But I --

LEMON: How many car -- you said you went running from car to car to get someone to help. How many cars did you run by before someone actually knew how to do CPR? And as I understand, they didn't perform it properly, but luckily what they did worked.

DIAZ: Yes. I - it's all a blur. You know, I don't recall. I know there was - cars were - we were off to the shoulder a little bit, but I'm in the middle of the speed lane and so traffic - traffic stopped behind me and - and then the adjoining lanes were starting to slow down. So, you know, I just waved and tried to get help and I don't know how many cars went by us. It was all very - very fast.

LEMON: Well, Al Diaz, we're glad you did what you did and thank you for coming on CNN. We appreciate you.

DIAZ: I appreciate it. Well, my hope is that when people see these type of pictures, that would encourage them to take CPR classes, because you never know.

LEMON: Very good. Thank you, sir.

DIAZ: Thank you.

LEMON: Coming up, the images from Ukraine are dramatic. Protesters spilling into the streets. Blood, flames and outrange. And today, a peace deal has been signed. President Obama and Vladimir Putin are scheduled to speak over the phone. So, what is next?

And here in the U.S., New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, he is in Washington but says he won't be meeting with President Obama. Why is that? That story is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Do not blame the messenger. I just deliver the news. Breaking news. We've got a winner in the highly anticipated Olympic hockey game between the U.S. and Canada. The men's teams. Let's go right to Lara Baldesarra.

Lara, give us the news.

LARA BALDESARRA, CNN WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, I'm sorry to have to be the one to break it to everyone, but the USA is now out of the Olympics in terms of men's hockey.

LEMON: Oh.

BALDESARRA: They lost 1-0 to Canada in the semifinal game. This was really an absolutely excellent game, though. It was really hard fought. You know, in the Olympics, sometimes we see kind of a different style play, but these are two teams whose rosters were entirely made up of NHL players and they got out there and it looked like a real NHL type of game. It was really, really fast paced. It was physical. It was aggressive. It was a very entertaining game. But, unfortunately, the result goes in Canada's direction and the USA again they lose to their ultimate rival that they really wanted that huge redemption over, especially after Vancouver 2010 and the gold medal game which Canada won beating the U.S.

LEMON: One to zero, ay (ph)?

BALDESARRA: One-zero is what it was, yes.

LEMON: All right. Thank you, Lara. Appreciate it.

BALDESARRA: Of course.

LEMON: I'm not mad at you.

BALDESARRA: Good.

LEMON: Let's head down to the nation's capital. Washington's hosting the governors. Democratic governors sat down this morning with the president. Republican governors are meeting amongst themselves and at some point they'll all meet together. But how's this, the Democrats dropped this greeting on the Republicans just as they were arriving.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Growing fallout for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's an embarrassment now to his own state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The Dems are taking aim at Chris Christie. No surprise there. Christie not only has a scandal on his hands, he might be running for president. Gloria Borger is with us now from Washington, our chief political analyst.

They're playing -- it seems like the Democrats obviously are playing hardball.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes.

LEMON: Christie is, though, standing among his fellow governors. He seems to be surviving this scandal if for no other reason than he is raising record sums of money on their behalf, right?

BORGER: Right. He's delivering. He's raising money for them. He's raised $18 million. And since January, which is when he had the scandal problem, he's raised about nine. So he's made a point of being out there on the campaign trail for them, raising the money they need.

There's some whispering behind his back about, well, is this OK, is this going to hurt the brand, et cetera, et cetera. But as long as the money keeps coming in, I think he's fine.

LEMON: How important is Christie's future, his political plans, I should say, how important is this gig to that as the head of the Republican Governor's Association?

BORGER: It's - look, it's very - it's very important. A, it gives him visibility, although he probably argues now that he's got enough visibility of the wrong sort. But it gives him visibility. It allows him to collect chits. I raise money for you, you help me out. It allows him to go into key battleground states that one might want to have name recognition in if you're running for the presidency. So, you know, when he first took this job, this was, you know, going to be a clear stepping stone to the next thing. And it may well be if he survives this scandal.