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American Morning
Syria "Punishes" Border Town; A Cyber Pear Harbor?; Ford Launching Competitor To Chevy Volt; Cost Of Raising A Baby in 2010; Using Twitter In Class; Play it Forward
Aired June 10, 2011 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Tanks and troops going in.
I'm Christine Romans.
The Syrian army is launching a brutal crackdown on a border town. Refugees are flooding Turkey, fearing for their lives.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry.
The man in line to be the next Pentagon chief warns that the next Pearl Harbor could actually happen in cyber space. Are we ready to fight a war on the matrix?
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Ali Velshi.
The Casey Anthony murder trial cut short after Casey gets sick in the middle of intense proceedings. Will show up today in court today?
On this AMERICAN MORNING.
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ROMANS: And good morning, everyone. Welcome to the program. It's Friday, June 10th.
VELSHI: Busy morning for us right now. We are following some developments both here in the United States on the Newt Gingrich trial and overseas.
CHETRY: That's right. Also, some of the bloodiest days in Syria since the people started rising up there. The government is sending tanks and troops into a border town, apparently with revenge on their mind.
Residents have evacuated children and women from the area. The Syrian government announcing that it would, quote, "punish" the town of Jisr al-Shughour, after it claimed armed groups massacred at least 120 security forces there. Residents say they are the ones being massacred.
VELSHI: We want to show you a video shot in the town of Jabal al Zawya last week by an opposition activist. He claims it shows refugees being gunned down by the Syrian army. Take a look at this.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
VELSHI: Wow. This alleged military crackdown is now spreading panic through the area. The opposition says more than 2,400 Syrian refugees have fled to Turkey. And humanitarian workers fear that many more are on way.
ROMANS: New this hour in Libya. Heavy fighting right now in Misrata. New signs that Moammar Gadhafi's days in power are numbered. A senior NATO official now hinting that the end game in Libya is killing the dictator, since he is in charge of command and control in the country.
But we spoke to a NATO spokesperson earlier who says the alliance isn't out to specifically target the dictator.
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OANA LUNGESCU, NATO SPOKESPERSON: Let me make this very clear: NATO does not target any specific individuals. We do target critical military capabilities that could be used to organize a plan and conduct attacks against civilians and civilian centers. And that is in full compliance with the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 that you are referring to, which also authorizes all necessary means to stop and prevent attacks and the threat of attacks against civilians and civilian-populated centers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: New airstrikes hammered the capital of Tripoli overnight and rare daytime strikes hit Gadhafi's compound this week. Gadhafi is still vowing he will fight to the death.
CHETRY: A Chicago businessman is cleared of having a role in a deadly terror attack in Mumbai, India, back in 2008. A jury found him not guilty of helping coordinate the attacks. He had been accused by prosecutors of making several trips to India before the three-day siege that left 160 people dead. But he was convicted of providing support for a plot that was never realized, to bomb the offices of the Danish newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
VELSHI: And war on the matrix. The man in line to be the next Pentagon chief is warning that the U.S. is now facing a blizzard of threats, including a possible cyber Pearl Harbor.
ROMANS: Barbara Starr is live at Pentagon.
And, Barbara, for several years now, people at the Pentagon have been concerned about just how vulnerable the U.S. economy, infrastructure and the military are to potential attacks against it in cyberspace.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely, Christine. I mean, we've seen, you know, a number of U.S. companies recently suffer cyber attacks. People like us, we get annoyed if our Twitter or e-mail gets hacked.
But the Pentagon is moving beyond getting annoyed or even just getting concerned. In fact, the U.S. military is now considering making a cyber attack an act of war, and considering under what circumstances, it would use military force to retaliate.
That's why it caught our ear when at his confirmation hearings to be the next secretary of defense, the CIA director, Leon Panetta, talked about how concerned he is about this threat.
Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEON PANETTA, CIA DIRECTOR: There is a strong likelihood that the next Pearl Harbor that we confront could very well be a cyber attack that cripples our power systems, our grid, our security systems, our financial systems, our governmental systems. This is a real possibility in today's world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: So, how do you fight a cyber war with the U.S. military?
You know, here at the Pentagon, they have long publicly said one of their biggest concerns are cyber attacks originating in China. But if you want to retaliate, of course, you have to know exactly where in China? That cyber attack may be coming from or anywhere around the world. That's a very tough business in the world of cyber attacks.
So, talking about retaliation, using military force takes it to a whole different level -- Christine.
ROMANS: All right. Barbara Starr -- thanks, Barbara.
Newt Gingrich says he's not abandoning his presidential campaign despite having 16 members of his campaign, including his entire senior staff, jumped ship. The staffers apparently questioned Gingrich's commitment to this race.
Gingrich says he'll re-launch his campaign at an event this weekend.
CHETRY: Two of the senior aides leaving Gingrich have close ties to Texas Governor Rick Perry. That is fueling speculation that the popular Republican may be getting into the wide-open GOP race. Governor Perry recently said that he plans to consider a presidential bid after the Texas legislative session concludes.
VELSHI: And be sure to join CNN on Monday night. Seven GOP candidates, the ones that are in the race right now, and some that are expected to be in the race, will participate Monday night 8:00 p.m. Eastern, live from New Hampshire, only on CNN. Christine is going to be there as well.
ROMANS: Right. One of those Gingrich defectors will be there, well, may not be there, but is now going to be advising Pawlenty, Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, who will be there.
New calls for Congressman Anthony Weiner to resign this morning over a sexting scandal. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the most senior yet to say that Congressman Weiner has to go. But a new poll of voters in his district shows that most of them want him to stay in Congress. And according to a Democratic source, so does his wife, who is pregnant, Huma Abedin.
CHETRY: Alabama's governor, Robert Bentley, signing a controversial new immigration bill into law. It's much like Arizona's law. It requires police to check the status of anyone they suspect may be in the country illegally.
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GOV. ROBERT BENTLEY (R), ALABAMA: I is a tough bill. It is the toughest bill in the country. But we wanted a tough bill.
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CHETRY: Human rights group call the law unconstitutional and they warn that the law will cost the state millions of dollars to enforce and to defend in the courts.
VELSHI: We've got a major power outage right now in downtown Detroit, several public buildings and schools are closed. City officials are blaming the outage on the heat wave. They say that increased demand for air-conditioning knocked the pour out. Officials say it could take at least 24 hours to fix the problem there.
Little cooler weather across the country. But, still, pretty hot in many places.
ROMANS: And a reminder, you know, a lot of cities say you should set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. If you are blowing it at 74 or less, that's a real strain on the system.
That wildfire in eastern Arizona is now threatening major power and fiber optic lines. And officials say that could cut vital communications, including cell phone service. The fire has already burned 380,000 acres. Calmer winds are expected to help firefighters today.
Boy, do they need it.
CHETRY: They sure do.
Rob Marciano is in the extreme weather center.
So, will they get a bit of a break today? And also, what are they looking for a high in Detroit, because if they are 24 hours before they can get power back on, that is going to be quite sticky.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is going to be sticky, but it will be cooler than what they have seen. So, the heat for the most part is breaking across the Northeast. The winds have died down across the Southwest. That's good. They're not going to be seeing any rain across the fire area. But today is going to be the day, I think, if they're going to make some progress, they'll get it done this morning and through this afternoon.
Across the Deep South, we're still looking at very hazy and very hot conditions. Across Chicago, still looking at thunderstorms with some heavy rain, localized flooding in some of the smaller rivers, the Illinois, the Kankakee, and we have a ground stop at the airport there for the next hour. So, travel through O'Hare and maybe even Midway this morning is going to be a slow go. Then, I think we'll start to see things taper off just a little bit.
Detroit, you will see some thunderstorms heading your way in about -- in about an hour and a half. So, be prepared for that. New York City, you won't see thunderstorms at least for the next few hours and you will see more dry weather and cooler weather.
Eighty-six degrees expected for the high temperature in New York today. That's definitely cooler from yesterday. Spots in New York and Jersey saw temperatures soar above 100 yesterday. With humidity, it felt like 105, 110 in some cases. Dangerously hot. So, we'll take the break.
And then looking ahead towards tomorrow, 68 degrees in Chicago. Oh, that's nice. Eighty-one in New York City -- compared to yesterday, that's nice as well.
But the Southeast continues to sizzle. Today will be the 13th day on the row, guys. Atlanta sees 90 degrees or better. And we don't see that trend stopping any time soon. We are not even into July yet.
ROMANS: Wow. Rob, I'm driving the mini-van and my son said, "Mommy, that says 99." That's little gauge.
CHETRY: Yes.
ROMANS: I mean, even a 5-year-old knew that was unusual and hot.
VELSHI: Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right, guys.
ROMANS: All right. Turning now to a reward -- $100,000 reward now offered for information in the Indiana college student. She's missing for a week now. Her family desperate to find out what happened to her. We'll bring you the latest.
CHETRY: And talk about paying it forward. New York Jets star Braylon Edwards is going to be joining us live in this hour. He is sending 100 students to college.
VELSHI: And, earlier, we told you a story about a teacher using Twitter in the classroom to sort of draw kids out of their shells. Does it really help or are you now convinced kids who are introverts to stay introverts? I'll ill talk to the teacher who does this right there.
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CHETRY: Well, a desperate search continues today for missing student Lauren Spierer. It intensifies. Divers are searching a lake nearby Indiana University where Spierer went to school. And her family is now offering a $100,000 reward.
The 20-year-old girl vanished last Friday. And surveillance video shows the young woman walking into her apartment building with another unidentified person. Police say they have no suspects. They do not believe that she was involved in any type of fight either.
ROMANS: She just disappeared. And her family is desperate to fight more about it.
Casey Anthony is getting medical attention after breaking down in the middle of her murder trial. A judge cut court proceedings 90 minutes early after Anthony got sick.
VELSHI: And it came after a particularly emotional day of testimony and court proceedings. Jurors were shown photos of 2-year- old Caylee's remains, while her mother wiped away her tears.
CNN Gary Tuchman has the details on yesterday's pretty intense proceedings.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Casey Anthony spent much of the day tearful and emotional, or appearing to be tearful and emotional. This day, much different than any other day of this trial.
LINDA DRANE BURDICK, PROSECUTOR: Did the office of the medical examiner with you present ultimately recover a skull from this area?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it did.
BURDICK: Is the skull shown in this photograph?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): This was the day of the disturbing, devastating, and horrifying images of Caylee Anthony's remains were displayed to the jury. We are blurring the photos because of their graphic nature. This one showing Little Caylee's skull, this one showing a close-up of her skull with duct tape on her nose and mouth areas, this one showing a medical examiner picking up her skull to take it to the lab.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. This Orange County utility and emergency dispatch. We found a human skull.
TUCHMAN: This was a 911 call when Caylee's remains were found in these woods in Orlando nearly half a year after she disappeared. Casey Anthony is now claiming her daughter actually accidentally drowned in the pool at her house, and that she lied about it, kept her death secret because of family turmoil, but listen to what the jury heard from a sheriff's deputy who examined the little girl's skull.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are we looking at in 196 in evidence (ph)?
DEP. JENNIFER WELCH, CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR: This is a close- up photograph of duct tape that was on the front of the skull.
TUCHMAN: The prosecution is trying to show the jury that the duct tape on Caylee's face was likely used to suffocate the little girl. And if she drowned, why would there be tape at all? The defense, though, will attempt to convince the jury that the man who discovered the body, a meter reader, did some tampering with the body and brought it to the scene in an attempt to gain fame and fortune.
JOSE BAEZ, CASEY ANTHONY'S ATTORNEY: If there is a body or remains that have been tampered with, that would affect everyone's ability to do their job, correct?
WELCH: Yes.
TUCHMAN: But in addition to Caylee's clothes that were found at the scene, other remains were found in bags near the skull. And the prosecution is expected to link those bags to Casey Anthony.
TUCHMAN (on-camera): It appeared to us in court that Casey Anthony never looked at any of the graphic images of her daughter, but she did hear the very graphic descriptions, and she did not look good.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): More than 90 minutes before court was scheduled to end for the day --
JUDGE BELVIN PERRY, ORANGE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: OK, ladies and gentlemen of the media, Miss Anthony is ill. We are recessing for the day. Neither the state nor the defense has any comments concerning her illness nor do they want to be interviewed.
TUCHMAN: And with that, this emotional day was over.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Orlando, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Talk about the drama inside the courtroom, there was also madness outside of the courthouse early this morning. Take a look.
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CHETRY: All right. Well, the local station, WESH, says that paramedics, firefighters, and security were called in at 5:30 in the morning.
VELSHI: Yes. This mob of people trying to jam their way in the line, trying to get a ticket into Casey Anthony trial.
What they were chanting was "get out of line." Several of them were booted out. This is happening --
CHETRY (on-camera): We saw the mob scrambling where people tripping over each other, run in there, and it's -- I mean, it's kind of something (ph) to think about, you know?
ROMANS: It really is.
VELSHI: Standing and lining up, but it is. This has captured people's attention who don't typically even follow trials of this nature. It's quite something.
ROMANS: That's right. All right.
Look, a kid born today, no, in 2010, right, last year, will cost how much money to raise? It's 18 minutes after the hour. But, it is priceless.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: Good point.
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ROMANS: Just about 22 minutes after the hour. Watching your money this morning. Stock futures are set to open lower this morning. Stock is set to open lower. Futures are lower as investors remain jittery about the economic recovery. The Dow, NASDAQ and S&P 500 futures are all down in future's trading. Marcus (ph) broke a losing streak, though, yesterday closing higher after six days of losses.
Ford announcing this week it will soon produce a new car to compete with the Chevy Volt. The van-like compact car will come in two versions, the C-Max Energy pictured here as the plug-in. The other C-Max is a hybrid. Both are due out next year.
Forget buying a lottery ticket at the supermarket. Minnesota is selling tickets online now. Other states are exploring (ph) this idea. State governments are hoping it increases much-needed revenue.
And a lot of new parents are probably hoping for that winning lottery ticket because they're going to need it. Families will spend about $227,000 raising a child born in 2010 to the age of 18. That doesn't include college, folks. If you're a parent with a new baby, you can check out the Department of Agriculture website for a calculator to estimate costs based on your financial situation. Start saving now.
And some teachers are actually encouraging their kids to tweet in class. They say it can help shy kids break out of their shells, but should those kids be learning more traditional social skills rather than using social media? We're going to ask the teacher who's using Twitter in his classroom, next. AMERICAN MORNING back right after the break.
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VELSHI: So, schools are all struggling to keep texts and tweets and smart phones out of the classroom, but one teacher has found that encouraging kids to use social media in the classroom can actually help bring some of them out of their shell if they're shy.
Joining me now from Los Angeles, Enrique Legaspi. He teaches at Hollenbeck Middle School in Los Angeles. Enrique, good to see you. You were at Mac world In San Francisco and something hit you. You had this eureka moment. You said, why don't I bring Twitter and social media into my classroom? Why?
ENRIQUE LEGASPI, TEACHER: I mean, when I was in San Francisco, I was very excited to hear about this Twitter chorus, and I knew right away that I need to go back to Los Angeles to really share this with the kids because I knew that it would be exciting for all of us.
VELSHI: I mean, all I'm hearing from people is how this is distracting. This is not good for kids to be tweeting because they really are not going to have the discipline to just do what they're supposed to be doing. Tell me what your kids do that actually helps them in terms of social media.
LEGASPI: I think when you use social media in the curriculum, the best way to use it is really to make an interactive student notebook. I mean, this is not an old idea in education.
VELSHI: Sure.
LEGASPI: We really want our students to interact with their learning so that they can really be engaged and be excited and take ownership.
VELSHI: So, give me an example. What do your kids use social media for that makes it better?
LEGASPI: I think, one example. When we prepare for testing, it's a way to review. We use it for academic competitions. We may use Twitter just to enhance our imagination and just do warm-up activities. We use it for political cartoons, analyzing quote of the days. We use it to collaborate with each other.
VELSHI: How is it a tool? OK. You said collaborate. Are they tweeting each other? Are the kids all following each other, following you, you're following them? Is that how this is working, sort of a closed environment?
LEGASPI: Well, I mean, I can give you three quick example.
VELSHI: OK.
LEGASPI: I mean, it's a tool for an ESL student, a student that's learning English. It really helps them build their content vocabulary, and at the same time, master English. Another story, I have a student who, the only time, they'll take to me is say, hey, mister, can I use the restroom. I mean, now, I have a tool to now really check if they're understanding the depth and the complexity of my lessons.
VELSHI: OK.
LEGASPI: Third example, I can really use forms and polls to find out if they need to review something. So, I mean, as a teacher, it's a powerful assessment tool, and it's a powerful tool to do other cool things just to activate old learning that they may have, and it gives me a sense of where I need to take my lessons, too, to really take it to the next level.
VELSHI: Let me ask you this. So, you discuss the fact that it brings some shy kids out of their shell a little bit, but don't we at that point sort of encourage those kids to not learn the actual face- to-face interaction, eye-to-eye stuff that they really do have to learn because you can't just get through life on social media.
LEGASPI: I totally agree with you. I mean, leadership, communicating, using your voice, being an advocate is all important. And I think Twitter is just one vehicle. I mean, I think people need to understand that Twitter is not the only technique that needs to be used in a classroom.
It is one of a hundred plus that really is to engage students and get them to be using these futuristic tools. I mean, you have other things like Quizlet. And Twitter just happens to be very powerful today, very relevant, and who knows what the next cool tool will be?
VELSHI: Are you getting pushed back from parents, saying, you got to be kidding. You want my kids to actually be doing this in class?
LEGASPI: I mean, when I came back in February, I knew right away that I would have some nay sayers. And I think I was very lucky to have some support of administration, but parents were tentative. In the beginning, they were saying to themselves, I don't get, people are going to follow my kid?
That doesn't sit right with me. I think after I reached out to the parents and I put a letter out, because at the beginning of the year, they did know that we were going to run a high-tech curriculum. It took a little bit more explanation. I think they understand and they are starting to see how twitter is that tool for their shy kid or for their student to get them launched into high school.
VELSHI: Enrique, good to see you. You are possibly a pioneer on this front. Enrique using twitter to help his kids learn more and come out of their shells. Good to see you, Enrique.
LEGASPI: Likewise.
CHETRY: New this morning in Libya, heavy fighting reported in the city of Misrata. A doctor says at least 17 people were killed and more than 60 others heard as Gadhafi's forces tried to fight their way back into the city. Misrata has seen some of the bloodiest fighting since the war began.
We also have some new video out of Syria showing soldiers gunning down refugees. Syrian army carrying out revenge attacks on a town near the Turkish border. Thousands fleeing as tanks and troops roll in. Syrian government has announced it would punish the townspeople, claiming armed groups massacred at least 120 security forces there.
Newt Gingrich picking up the pieces of his presidential campaign after 16 of his top campaign staffers abruptly resigned. They aides didn't believe he was taking the campaign seriously enough according to sources. Gingrich says he is still in the race and that he will reboot his campaign over the weekend.
ROMANS: All this week, we are talking about the polls of the people in our CNN listening tour. We have crisscrossed the country hearing what really matters to Americans.
VELSHI: And the final stop is Manchester, New Hampshire. Don Lemon with us live from New Hampshire.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What really matters is a cup of coffee and some good breakfast. Here is our first live shot from Saint Ann's, or Saint A, as they call it here in New Hampshire. First, let's go to the Red Arrow Diner and get a pulse of the people.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Let's see how people start their day in Manchester, New Hampshire. Union lead, got the paper. Let's go to the Red Arrow Diner, voted one of the top ten diners in the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to clean house out there.
LEMON: Out of all the candidates who are declared so far, who do you like?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rick Santorum.
LEMON: What are you talking about over breakfast?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably graduation.
LEMON: No politics? No debate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am not interested in that stuff. I can't vote yet.
LEMON: What are you talking about over breakfast?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Business, finding business opportunities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The economy is very stagnant right now. How do you grow in a very down ward economy? How do you stay stable? How do you keep the lights on? That's really the issues.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's about jobs, and stop spending.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to see what they are going to do. I mean, for us younger people. We are what's going to be supporting the rest of the people after everyone else retires an everything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody else is talking in this town except for us.
LEMON: People why the outside looking in, what should they know about New Hampshire?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We like the voters to speak to us. If you air politician and you are running for president and you make a big national speech, it doesn't play well here. We like it when the candidate will go to the pancake breakfast that only 15 people will show up for. We like to see what you are made up of, if you can handle stuff like that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And that's what the folks say they want to hear. They want realness, realness from the candidates. Our CNN political brain trust is in the CNN express. Besides politics, what people are talking about here, Ali, you know this. They are talking about the bruins. They beat the Canucks.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: I know, I know. We are not talking about that.
LEMON: They are talking about money, Ali. You are exactly right. One interesting thing I have to say, these candidates, all the people that are going to be in this debate, they are social conservatives. They talk about that. That's what they are running on, the people hearsay that's taking -- that's a second to what people care about, jobs and the economy. You hear it over and over. It is the economy, stupid.
By the way, I got you guys a little treat at the red arrow diner. These are called diner fingers.
VELSHI: What are they?
LEMON: Basically, I am going to open it up. They are basically glorified Twinkies without all the preservatives. So they are actually healthy.
CHETRY: We reported before that Twinkies can last for a century.
LEMON: These don't last a century. There are no preservatives. They are healthy.
VELSHI: With Don and Paul Steinhauser, I don't think they will last an hour. CHETRY: We won't see them.
LEMON: See you guys, have fun.
CHETRY: Seven Republican candidates for president will be at the debate, Monday night, 8:00 p.m. eastern, live from New Hampshire only on CNN.
ROMANS: I will be heading out there to fight don for his diner fingers.
VELSHI: Will be you working off the bus?
ROMANS: I have to see if I can get in with the cool kids.
All right, some savings advice from the president. Speaking to reporters yesterday, President Obama shared a piece of advice his grandmother had given him about money. Don't spend all are money. Save a little bit of whatever you are earning.
The president also said there are times when you have to borough money, for instance, when he and the first lady graduated from Harvard law, they were $125,000 in debt.
VELSHI: We want to know that you think. From our blog, "If you think you really want something, sleep on it for two days. You will be shocked at how much you don't need it."
ROMANS: If you can go three days, then you really don't need it. Lynn said, "My mom always told me one fourth of your take-home pay is a good guide for the home mortgage. Never buy what the bank says you can afford." If only your mother was writing the bank underwriting standards.
VELSHI: We were talking about patio furniture for the longest time. You were looking to buy this patio furniture. You talked about it, slept on it. It was weeks, not days. You were asking everybody their advice. Did you buy it in the end?
ROMANS: I bought it in the end. But I convinced you one way and then around the block about it again. It is on sale but I enjoy one summer of enjoying it.
VELSHI: I don't know what we were going to talk about for the rest of the year after you bought that.
ROMANS: I am sorry to bring you all in on it.
CHETRY: New York Jets start Braylon Edwards is helping to send 100 kids to college, a great story of how he is paying it forward.
VELSHI: You are going to love this. This is great.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: It's 42 minutes past the hour. Pro athletes often talk about how important it is to give back to the community. New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards is living proof. He is keeping a promise that he made to high school students four years ago.
ROMANS: Edwards told them if they met certain academic and community service requirements, he would help put them through college.
VELSHI: Part of his Advanced 100 Education Initiative. Braylon Edwards is with us from Southfield, Michigan, this morning. Braylon, good morning. Tell me about this. Tell us about this. You gave them some conditions. They met it and now you are paying up.
BRAYLON EDWARDS, NEW YORK JETS WIDE RECEIVER: Good morning. Yes, my mom and my father and I came up with this initiative in 2006, end of 2007, trying to help education, which seems to be a lacking point in Detroit and Cleveland. It just made sense to do. We went with it and got a lot of help in the Cleveland municipal school system. We helped the kids, whatever they need, laptops, calculators, whatever they need. We got them college credits at Cuyahoga community college. They each get to go to college with seven credits. This was a great program.
ROMANS: That is smart having them going to college. You are going to give them each $10,000, a scholarship toward their tuition from here on out. What was the condition, they had to do 15 hours a week of community service. Tell us what you wanted these young people to do for you or for their community.
EDWARDS: Exactly, do for the community and themselves and their family, more importantly. And 2.5 was the GPA was the requirement. We felt like that was very fair, 15 hours community service within each month as well as workshops that we had slated for them twice a month. Basically, what the workshops were, different things, not all of those schools or educationally based.
Some was etiquette classes, teach them how to tie a tie, how to shake hands, how to sit at the dinner table, conduct a speech, talk to people, keep people's interest. I am proud of my foundation team for doing this the last four years.
CHETRY: That's an important point. It is not just money. Obviously, $10,000 times 100 kids, $1 million. That's nothing to sneeze at. That's a good chunk of money for them. But also describe how you are trying to help guide them, this mentoring aspect so they sort of have somewhere to turn. It is a scary world out there if this is not what you are used to and then trying to find your way in this world.
EDWARDS: Growing up in Detroit, I went to public high school for three years. A lot of the kids that you saw on these programs, they didn't have support at all. They didn't have the parents. They didn't have the grandmothers, the guardians, what have you. They had a lot of talent, a lot of ability, a lot of smarts but no guidance. They weren't making the right decisions. They ended up on the lower end of the totem pole. I saw that growing up. I wanted to help if I could. With this program, we gave them more, like you said, an education, which is guidance, support, whatever they needed, just be there for them, talk to them, take them to the side and crack jokes, things of that nature. It showed that somebody actually cared for them. Somebody supported them and they could actually do the things that teachers talk about in the classroom.
VELSHI: Well, they've got to like you. I mean, first of all, you -- you know what it's like growing up in Detroit. You -- you left Cleveland. You come and you still keep up -- keep your word.
But to some degree, you're talking about tying a tie property and conducting themselves properly. They are not dumb kids. They know a lot about you. You got yourself into a little bit of trouble yourself back in 2010. How do you relate to them on that? What do you do that? Do you just sort of gloss over that or they ask you, hey how about you?
EDWARDS: No, we don't gloss over anything. We are very straight and very direct. Over the past four years, we adopted these kids as our own. So a lot of them, I've watched them grow old, just like they're watching me grow up. So you know, when I got into my -- my situation, I talked to them about it. And I had no problems opening up and answering questions. And tell that you know, in life, you make mistakes. The best thing you can do is learn from them. And everybody is not going to always be 100 percent perfect.
We know what to do and sometimes we choose to go in a different direction. So I talked to the kids about it and they asked questions. And they feel more open because when they feel better or more comfortable because I do answer these questions. And I just say, I don't gloss over them.
CHETRY: A quick football question. I know you are a free agent this year. This labor dispute hopefully will get settled. Where do you want to go?
EDWARDS: I would like to stay with the Jets. I know, I love playing with the Jets. The organization has been very good to me. We have some good times and I think that we are building something special, two AFC championship appearances in a row. And the only thing left is to make it to the next level.
So I feel like they are putting the pieces in place each year. They have done a good job. And I really like what the -- the New York Jets stand for.
CHETRY: You have a great head coach too. So good for you.
All right, Braylon Edwards, New York Jets wide receiver doing a good thing. And we really wish these kids the best of luck. They're going to need it.
ROMANS: That's right.
CHETRY: It's -- college isn't easy. Thanks so much. EDWARDS: Now, tell me about it. Thank you for having me.
And if you want the kids to stay focused follow me @OfficialBraylon and you could find out more about the kids and the foundation.
VELSHI: @OfficialBraylon, thank you.
ROMANS: @OfficialBraylon, you got it.
It's 46 minutes after the hour.
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VELSHI: Forty-eight minutes after the hour. And here are you're morning headlines.
The Syrian Army now carrying out revenge attacks on a town near the Turkish border. Thousands are trying to escape as tanks and troops roll in.
German health officials say they have traced the deadly strand of E coli to bean sprouts. They are not certain which farm is the source of the outbreak. So far, 27 people have died.
A major power outage right now in downtown Detroit; several public buildings and schools are closed. City officials blame the out average on the heat wave they say increased demand for air- conditioning knocked the power out. And it could take at least 24 hours to fix the problem.
A wild fire in Arizona that's burned more than 380,000 acres and destroyed 22 homes is now threatening crucial transmission lines. If they're damaged, it could leave nearly 400,000 people without power.
The markets open in 45 minutes. Right now, the DOW, NASDAQ and S&P 500 futures are down slightly. The market needs a gain again today in order to avoid a sixth straight weekly loss.
You're caught up on the day's headlines. AMERICAN MORNING back after the break.
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CHETRY: All right, there is a shot of Pittsburgh this morning.
VELSHI: Not just a shot of Pittsburgh.
ROMANS: That's a beautiful shot.
CHETRY: A beautiful shot.
VELSHI: Look at that -- look at that.
CHETRY: This morning of the sun coming up; 69 degrees and fair right now, 82 for a high. A little bit later though they could be looking at some thunderstorms. Hopefully they'll move through quickly.
ROMANS: Yes.
CHETRY: And enjoy the day on the water.
ROMANS: Washington, D.C. is nice right now. But there could be thunderstorms later. I mean I guess that means get out in the convertible while you can this morning but then put the top up later on.
VELSHI: But not if you are in Atlanta where Rob Marciano is.
ROMANS: Where you keep the top up all the time.
VELSHI: It is not convertible weather.
CHETRY: You have those convertible mini-vans?
ROMANS: No, I don't have a convertible mini-van, I have a -- I have a --
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Convertible mini-van?
CHETRY: A hard top.
ROMANS: Yes, yes.
MARCIANO: Roll it down Peach Tree on one of those bad boys; it'll definitely pull them down. Oh yes, no convertibles unless you -- you ride at night. And it's nice to get the stars out, it's you know, a warm breeze but hazy, hot and humid again guys today for the southeast.
But for you, things are going to be a little bit more tranquil, a little bit more -- cool. I do want to touch on what's going on in Chicago, back to the lower hand of Michigan, where you've got some rough thunderstorms that are rolling through this area again. You'll hit Detroit which has some power outage issues because of the heat. This will help cool things down just a little bit. It will bring in a hair more humidity.
But generally speaking, we are looking at temperatures that are going to be much, much cooler today and dryer, above this front. It will be hot, dry but less windy across the southwest today. So it'll give the firefighters a little bit of some time to get a handle on that fire. There is not going to be any rain for a month and a half or so.
Temperatures are still are going to be toasty in Dallas, 96 degrees; it will be 96 degrees in Memphis; 82 degrees in Chicago today; and 86 degrees in New York. Still kind of warm in D.C. Remember yesterday Atlantic City, hit 102. A similar number in D.C. and in Newark, a record-shattering temperatures; it's the earliest in Atlantic City that we've touched 100. It'll be a little cooler again today and tomorrow. The weekend doesn't look too shabby. Although, a little bit unsettled. Here is what's looking like -- here is what this is looking like. Hurricane Adrian, a Category 4 storm; come on that's a gorgeous one. Here is some enhanced infrared imagery from NOAA showing that gorgeous side.
And we get excited about these guys because it's far away from land. It will not cause any problems. It will go out to sea and die. It will just cause some nice as well as for the surfers across the West Coast of California and Mexico.
Guys roll down with that top down. Today should be a good one in New York City. But point south it will be a little bit too toasty.
VELSHI: Yes.
CHETRY: Yes our thunderstorms blew through last night for a while there. Some scary moments but --
VELSHI: It was -- it was serious stuff, yes.
Rob, good to see you my friend.
CHETRY: Have a great Friday.
ROMANS: Birthday wishes going out across the pond this morning.
VELSHI: Yes, to Britain's Prince Philip, he turns 90 today. He has been married to Queen Elizabeth for more than 60 years.
CHETRY: He looks great, he does.
VELSHI: He really does. Although that's a uniform but I think he looks pretty good himself.
He is reportedly going to spend the day, quote, "Performing official duties in his role as Queen Elizabeth's husband."
ROMANS: Ali had to explain to me why Kate can be queen.
VELSHI: Yes.
ROMANS: He could not be king.
VELSHI: Right.
ROMANS: I am such a classic American. I don't get the whole thing.
VELSHI: A man who marries the queen doesn't become a king.
CHETRY: Well, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stepping. William and Kate made their first public appearance as a married couple yesterday. They attended a star-studded gala for a charity that funds projects for disadvantaged children. And, of course, she looks smashing as usual. VELSHI: Brilliant.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: She's a really spot-on fashion sense. She does. She knows how to dress for her body type and she has great hair. What can I say?
VELSHI: So do I, which is why I wear several layers.
ROMANS: 54 minutes after the hour.
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ROMANS: Ali has a great story for us about this week's CNN hero. It is a woman who pulls children up from the dumps literally. Take a look.
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ELENA DURON MIRANDA, CHAMPIONING CHILDREN: Currently, in Argentina, there are a lot of children working. In Bariloche, most children work recovering waste from the garbage dump to sell for a small profit. They can be very small children; three, four, five years old.
All parents want a better life for their children than what they had. But there are times when the whole family has to work and try to make ends meet.
My name is Elena Duron Miranda. I founded an organization to help the boys and girls of Bariloche trash dump to get out so they no longer have to work there to survive.
When I arrived in Argentina, it hurt to see so many small children picking through garbage. Many of these boys and girls have dropped out of school. I decided that I had to do something for them.
We tried to be as fully integrated as possible. There is a school tracking group of psychologists and a social worker. We work with the family on the value of putting them in school. Any time we get a child close to school, it is a seed we are planting. You hope not to see the child on the street again. If he returns, we go after him.
Education is how we start to break vicious cycles to give children a better future. I learned something from the children every day -- to be happy even under very complex circumstances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Wow. It is all about making a difference. Who do you know who's making a big difference in your world? Tell us about them. Head to our AMERICAN MORNING blog at CNN.com/am and nominate them to be a hero. CHETRY: All right. Well, that's going to do it for us. Thanks so much for joining us. You have a wonderful weekend -- wonderful Friday.
The news continues with "CNN NEWSROOM" and Kyra Phillips --hi Kyra.
