Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Firefighters Battle Nine Active Wildfires in California; Royal Sex Scandal in England
Aired October 28, 2007 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well good morning, everybody, on this Sunday. I'm Betty Nguyen here at the CNN Center here in Atlanta. T.J. Holmes is off today but our friend, Reynolds Wolf is covering for him in southern California yet again this morning. Good morning to you Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Betty. Firefighters are still battling nine active wildfires. Coming up, we'll get an update from the front lines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, CALIFORNIA: If I were one of those people who started the fires, I would not sleep soundly right now because we're right behind you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A warning to California's fire bug, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in terminator mode. We'll have more from him this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): And we would ring our hands and say, have you checked these people out?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Do you know would you're talking to on Craig's List? You may assume all the babysitting ads are legitimate. Well, this woman thought so, and now she's dead.
This is a news topper as well this morning. A black male, yes a British royal family and a sex tape. Oh, the buzz in London, that's ahead on this CNN Sunday Morning.
But we do want to start with those fires. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says some no-nonsense advice for whoever set at least two of the southern California wildfires, turn yourself in because we are hot on your trail. Fire officials have received some 1,700 tips related to white Ford pickup trucks similar to the one you see right here, officials say it was seen at the site where the Santiago fire in Orange County began last Sunday. The fire was believed to have started at least in two separate locations and that prompted this message from Schwarzenegger to the arsonist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, CALIFORNIA: I want everyone to understand that we will hunt down the people that are responsible for that and we will arrest them and we will prosecute them to the full extent of the law. We are working diligently with local authorities, the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to make that happen. And believe me, we will not fail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF: There are still plenty of other story lines here in California this morning. In fact take a look at the video. What we're talking about in terms of the nine fires that are still not fully contained. That includes the Santiago fire in Orange County. Fires are also burning in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties as we speak.
Now the fires have killed at least 7 people and at least 1,700 homes have been destroyed. Thousands of people were under evacuation orders right now. Many of them are being housed in 26 separate emergency shelters.
Area officials believe property damage from the fires could easily top $1 billion before all is said and done.
NGUYEN: That is so true. But you know what? There is a big concern, a big problem, in fact, facing. many of the people who are being allowed back into their homes, and that's the water. CNN's Kara Finnstrom takes a look.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Water is coming in by the truckload here to the remote community of Ramona. When the fire roared thigh here, it not only incinerated the homes of hundreds of people, it also brought down power lines and cut off this entire community from drinkable, usable water.
MATTHEW MCPETRIE, RAMONA, CALIFORNIA RESIDENT: They say don't bathe in the water, don't do dishes in the water, don't use it to wash clothes and I'm kind of wondering what we can use it for.
FINNSTROM: The answer right now from San Diego's water authority? Nothing. The McPetrie family says their house survived the fire, their dilemma? How to move back in with three young kids and no running water. At this emergency station, the McPetrie's can get bottled water and fresh food, use makeshift rest rooms and take showers.
TAMMY SEARLE, VOLUNTEER: We need masks, hand sanitizer, a lot of hand sanitizer for the upcoming week, as well. Especially when we are dealing with water that is contaminated.
CRAIG BALBEN, SAN DIEGO CO. WATER AUTHORITY: You can see it's pretty rural out here. FINNSTROM: Craig Balben with the water authority says that potential contamination was caused when the fire destroyed power and a pump station failed.
BALBEN: There's concern that some of the well water the backflow devises failed and so the water would then contaminate the treated water system. So there can be things, bacteria that we're testing for.
FINNSTROM: The McPetrie took us to their home to show us a solution they've come up with while waiting for clean clear tap water.
This is your water supply right now?
M. MCPETRIS: This is our water supply right now.
FINNSTROM: They're using a trailer to store water from a friends well. It is a tougher fix than waiting for the water to clear. Two year-old Tatum and his mother struggle with asthma.
MCPETRIS: They put her on all kinds of stuff just to help her get through the night. She's --
FINNSTROM: Did they say how long they expect the air quality to be a problem here for her?
MCPETRIS: They said it could be a couple of weeks. She's got dirt in her eyes. The McPetrie's feel blessed their family and home survived. Now they say they'll find a way to brush themselves off and move forward.
FINNSTROM: Water officials hope to have water running out of all faucets here by Sunday, but they have no idea when public health officials will actually OK that water for use. For now, this is the way folks here will continue to get their water.
Kara Finnstrom, for CNN, Ramona.
NGUYEN: Bonnie Schneider joins us now from the Severe Weather Center. You know they do need water, especially in the form of rain but I hear that there is a chance that maybe the winds are going to pick up again today, and that's not what they need.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. Also the direction of the winds has changed since yesterday. We had a little moisture in the air. You can actually see their satellite loop play, some of that moisture sliding across northern California. Today it's a different story. I want to show you some incredible video that comes to us from an I-reporter. This is a look at how the fire is fought from a hillside. Look at that plane dropping down water and fire retardant. This was taken on Monday, shot by Sterling King around the Stevenson Ranch area of California. He's from New Hall, California. You can see the flame retardant down there being completely, surrounding the area. So you can take a look at that.
This up close and personal look was actually taken from a firefighter's home on a hillside. He got very close and you can see what it was like and hear the sound of the flames.
I want to show you the satellite perspective once again because we are looking at some moisture sliding to the north. Right now, things have cleared out and dried out. So we'll be looking at dryer conditions in the forecast. We have a couple of pockets of showers popping up near Catalina Island just off the coast of Los Angeles. The wind direction has changed. It is coming in from the northeast, which is not good news. We want the flow coming from areas of the ocean to get a marine layer, but that's not in the forecast.
I can tell you even though the wind is coming from areas that will bring about dryer conditions, we're not seeing the intensity of winds that we saw last week. Our forecast shows that we only have some areas offshore where we will see strong wind as we go from Sunday to Monday. So winds covering a bit of dryer air, but at least they're not as fierce as they were.
Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes nothing like those Santa Ana winds. OK. Thank you, Bonnie. We do appreciate it. Let's go back now to Reynolds Wolf who is in Rancho Bernardo, California. Reynolds what's so striking is that while people are returning to their homes, firefighters are still on the frontline.
WOLF: You're absolutely right about that Betty. For instance, this morning, the battle was focused on nine separate fires. But the good news is that the worst of the fires seems to be over. Right now, I'm currently in Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church where just a week ago they were having services and everything was fine. You can see here we've got wide spread destruction in this church. This is a micro cause of what has been happening in this community.
Now joining me now is fire chief Brian Estes. Brian thank you so much for coming in this morning. The question so many people have this morning is basically what is the status of these nine fires that we're talking about?
CHIEF BRIAN ESTES, CAL FIRE: There are nine fires in the southern California region right now. The fires in L.A. County are for the most part contained. There's a couple in San Bernardino County. But the four main fires of focus are the four here in San Diego. The Rice, the Harris, and the (INAUDIBLE)
WOLF: And the Witch fire, which has caused the damage that we have here.
ESTES: Yes, it's the fire that ran from the communities of Ramona, down through Rancho Bernardo.
WOLF: Now the nine fires that sounds like a lot of work. How are your guys holding up?
ESTES: They're holding up great. This has been the largest mobilization of firefighter resources in the state's history. The folks on the fire lines and in the support roles are tired, but they're relentless. They're keeping up the march.
WOLF: I'm struck by how much this seems like a military operation. It seems like a two-prong attack from the air and from the ground. What is the game plan for today?
ESTES: Well, we got kind of a break in the weather yesterday. We got a marine layer that came in and a few sprinkles on the fire line. Not enough to really make a huge difference in the containment efforts, but what we have to be worried about now is the same easterly winds that typically follow any kind of front.
WOLF: Absolutely.
ESTES: And the predictions we're getting from our meteorologists is that they're going to be much lighter. We're not expecting any Santa Ana condition. But we have secured the back door of these fires in anticipation of any kind of directional change.
WOLF: Another busy day for all of you. I thank you so much for your time. Be careful out there. You guys are heroes.
ESTES: Thank you.
WOLF: Betty, that's the story, there is so much we've been talking about. So many fires, so much destruction behind the fires. But in the middle of it all this church that you are seeing here behind me as I was telling you about, did, indeed, survive. Now, there are two holes in the roof just windows to the sky. There is no electricity right now but the pulpits are intact.
Now yesterday volunteers spent the day cleaning this church. And later today, they're going to gather here for a service. I can tell you, it is a remarkable community to see these wonderful people reaching out to others like I've never seen before. Coming up, we're going to talk to the pastor of this church it is a very inspirational and heart warming story.
NGUYEN: It's symbolic that the church survived and it's very important that they'll be holding service there today. Thank you, Reynolds.
Well the fear of losing their jobs is more intense than the fear of losing their lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): The Mercedes and the Jaguars are leaving these wealthy areas of San Diego. They were hunched over like they are right now, continuing to work. They never stopped.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Can you believe it? Illegal immigrants who kept working just as the devastating fires roared around them. We have that story.
But first, an online job ad search ends in a killing. It is a sobering reminder that you can't always trust everyone you meet online.
And this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): She said a stranger ran up behind her. She caught her by surprise and he tried to grab her by the waist and pull her away with him and my dog got all over him. He wanted no part of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Oh, yeah. Meet Angel, a pint-sized attack dog whose bite is worse than her bark. See how she saved a child's life. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A walk in the dark tops our "Quick Hits" this morning. Take a look on today's to do list for the "Discovery" astronauts, moving a solar panel from a temporary home to a permanent position on the International Space Station.
Let's take you to Phoenix now; police released new surveillance video showing the arrest of Carol Ann Gotbaum. She is the New York woman who died at a Phoenix airport after being hand cuffed and left alone in holding room. Police believe she accidentally strangled herself. But a preliminary autopsy didn't pinpoint the cause of death. Toxicology results still have not been released.
And in London, two men have been charged with attempted blackmail involving an alleged sex tape. The target? An unnamed member of the royal family. And it is pretty juicy. The "Sunday Times" says it can't say which royal because of legal reasons. But the tabloids will have a field day with that one. We will have much more on that story once we get it.
Also, police say she answered a job ad on Craig's List and now she is dead. It is a warning for all Craig's List users. Listen to this Minnesota police discovered the body of 24 year old Catherine Alden in the trunk of her car. On Thursday she was supposed to have an interview with what she thought was a nanny meeting a family. She's answered job ads like this before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY OLSON, MOTHER OF SLAIN WOMAN: She found things online and we would ring our hands and say, have you checked these people out?
SARAH RICHTER, SISTER OF SLAIN WOMAN: It seemed kind of fishy, but she was just going to check it out and meet them.
ROLF OLSON, FATHER OF SLAIN WOMAN: It didn't work, she assumed she would be able to turn around and leave and come home. It didn't work out that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: This time, police say the job poster was actually a 19- year-old man. He is now in custody and police are questioning him about the killing. There's no word yet on the motive.
Let's get you the latest on that so-called super bug that's been making the headlines. How dangerous is it? Well just one confirmed case will keep more than 10,000 kids our of school tomorrow in eastern Kentucky. The Pike County School System has an alert on its Web page about the one day shut down. But it doesn't say is that drug resistance staff called MRSA is the reason. Class rooms, cafeterias, even buses and sports rooms will be disinfected.
In northern New Jersey, another school gets a scrub down as a precaution after a security guard tests positive for MRSA.
Until recently MRSA was usually found in hospitals or other health care settings. But as it moves into schools, parents are getting more and more concerned. That's definitely the case in Brooklyn after a seventh grader died from MRSA. Stacey Sayinger (ph) from WABC in New York has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STACEY SAYINGER (ph), WABC (voice over): As parents left the meeting here at IS-211, some were satisfied that they got the explanation they needed about the circumstances surrounding the death of a 12-year-old student Omar Rivera.
GINA VEGAL, PARENT: The way that the principle talked, the doctors and the psychologists, everybody talked. I feel better.
SAYINGER (ph): But others remain puzzled. Their young children at this middle school only somewhat at ease after school officials promise that the bathrooms and classrooms have now been completely cleaned.
ANGEL MOREL, STUDENT: I'm worried that I'll get an infection, too.
SAYINGER (ph): Rivera died on Tuesday and health officials discovered the seventh grader had the bacteria Superbug known as MRSA, a staph infection that could be deadly. After their meeting with parents and the schools principle and elected officials tried to calm any issues about any time lag between Rivera's death and parents being told about the Superbug.
BUFFIE SIMMONS-PEART, PRINCIPAL: A few hours opposed to two weeks or a week that transpired.
SAYINGER (ph): Meanwhile, relatives of Omar Rivera continue to grieve. They were not present at the meeting here, although some parents wish they were.
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): To tell us their part of the story because we don't believe much of what they were saying inside. (END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: You know, it got a lot of people's attention when the CDC reported that annual deaths from the Superbug may exceed the annual deaths from AIDS. For the record, CDC puts the number of AIDS death in 2005 at 16,316. Superbug deaths that same year were higher by more than 2,000. Those numbers are just estimates, but it is the most recent information that we have from the CDC.
So just how do people come in contact with these potentially deadly staph infections? Coming up in our 9:00 hour, I'm going to talk with a CDC site investigator to get you the latest on the Superbug.
In the meantime, the NFL takes a European vacation. But is the UK ready for it? We'll find out.
But first --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF: I think it was one of the most inappropriate things I've seen since I've been in government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Wow. I don't think I'd want to be on his bad side. We'll tell you what Michael Chertoff is all fired up about later this morning on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Do you know what this is?
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): It is a basket ball.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Have you ever seen one of these before?
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): No, not one physically like that, but on the television, perhaps, yes.
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): It's some sort of ball game.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): American football.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Give that man a prize. Come on, though, who doesn't know what a football is? But in a land known for tea, scones, rugby, cricket, is there room for good old American football? Sports business analyst Rick Horrow is in London, across the pond this morning. Rick, I have to ask you, especially after looking at that. Not only are they ready, but are they even interested in American football?
RICK HORROW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, they're interested. I'm interested. Got the credentials, got the scarf, it's going to be a little cold today. We're all ready to go. Here is the bottom line, sellout, 500,000 ticket requests very early. They think this is back to the glory days of Dan Marino and the Dolphins in the 1980s. These are two of the three favorite teams over here. There's 42 teams in the British American football league, there is a 130 hours and games of coverage on television here. Merchandise, tents, all over London. I tried to convince, by the way, the fans here that the Dolphin are 7-0 instead of 0-7. It is a type-. But nobody believes it.
NGUYEN: How did it work?
HORROW: Not very well. Jason Taylor, the linebacker says, hey, we can't win in America. Let's see if we can win here. It will be interesting today.
NGUYEN: Yes see how it goes. The Dolphins playing the Giants. My question to you is why over there? What does the NFL have to benefit from this?
HORROW: They may do one of these every single year as maybe even a 17th game. NFL International it's a $7 billion total revenue business. In Mexico City when the Cardinals and 9ers played there two years ago, they increased revenues about 25 percent across the board. NFL is televising this game in over 200 countries, in 25 languages and so what they have to gain is the globalization of the game more than ever before, even if the game itself might not be great, although we hope it is.
NGUYEN: Let's talk now about the San Diego Chargers, they're playing in Qualcomm Stadium today which was just recently used as a shelter for people trying to escape the fires out in California. How important is today's game in Qualcomm Stadium?
HORROW: It's very important for a number of reasons. First, it validates the fact that San Diego is coming back, quite clearly. And then the NFL and other teams and leagues around the country deal with stadiums, staging areas and rescue areas. Remember Shea in Giant Stadium, September 11th in New York and remember what happened in New Orleans with Katrina with the Superdome? This is another example of a public facilities and the use of them other than football. So football is back, but there is a greater good we're talking about here.
NGUYEN: Lets talk about baseball now; did you think that the Red Sox may be this close to being in the World Series?
HORROW: Well, it ain't over. You know everybody talks about --
NGUYEN: Look at you still doubting. They can sweep Colorado.
HORROW: Yeah, well, they could sweep Colorado. Colorado could come back and win four straights. But the bottom line is the Red Sox is worth $700 million bucks, they are a big time team and they're on the verge of the World Series.
NGUYEN: That is true. While you're over there in London, can you do me this favor? There's big news that there's a sex tape scandal with someone in the royal family. Can you do a little digging on that while you're watching that game?
HORROW: You've asked me for a scone, a hat, a picture of Buckingham Palace, I'll go to the game first and then I'll try and undig that sex scandal thing.
NGUYEN: Yes let us know about that. Thank you, Rick. We'll talk to you later.
HORROW: All right. Bye.
NGUYEN: All right. Check this out. You can forget about her bark, because it is her bite that you want to look out for. Yep, that little thing right there. We'll tell you about this tiny terror and how she was a real savior when it comes to a kidnapping.
JOSH LEVS, DOTCOM DESK: Hey there. I'm Josh Levs. It looked like a news conference that we were seeing the other day. And if you paid attention it kind of sounded like a news conference. There was one thing missing, actual reporters, an embarrassment to the Department of Homeland Security and also to the White House. We'll tell you all about that coming up.
Plus, we've got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): While everybody else was evacuated, you're saying that those workers continued to work in the field.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): They continued to work. There was ash falling, they continued to work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Can you imagine? Migrant workers were more afraid for their jobs then of the fires. But was the risk worth dying?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A stern warning from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to whoever started at least two wildfires. We are right behind you, that's what he says. Fire officials have received some 1,700 tips related to a white Ford pickup. Similar to the one you see here. Officials say it was seen at the sight where the Santiago fire in Orange County began a week ago today. That fire was believed to have started in at least two separate locations. That prompted this message from Schwarzenegger to the arsonist; we are coming to get you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, CALIFORNIA: I want everyone to understand that we will hunt down the people that are responsible for that and we will arrest them, we will prosecute them to the full extent of the law. We are working diligently with local authorities, the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and Explosives to make that happen. Believe me, we will not fail. (END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: That Santiago Fire is still burning in Orange County. Look at these pictures. Nearly 2,000 firefighters are on the front lines there.
Reynolds Wolf is in Southern California in San Diego's devastated Rancho Bernardo neighborhood, where fires are still around you even this morning, right?
WOLF: You are correct, Betty. People are coming back to their neighborhoods. But you see, that doesn't mean the threat really is over. There's still plenty of bad air out there. There's plenty of work that needs to be done from all debris from all these destroyed homes. Joining me now is Captain Kevin McWalters with the San Diego Fire & Rescue.
Kevin, again, it's wonderful to have you back. One thing we were talking about, just a while ago, was when you have these kind of fires and even though the flames are beginning to die down, your work is still very far from over, isn't it?
CAPT. KEVIN MCWALTERS, SAN DIEGO FIRE & RESCUE: Yes, it is, Reynolds. The firefighters are still patrolling the neighborhood. We're starting to get into the some of the areas that firefighters have engaged in fire suppression and helping out the folks; and handing out masks, explaining to them some of the recovery center options that are right down the road. And also just helping them, with when they're stirring up some of the debris, they're getting minor injuries and so forth. So yeah, they're out there interacting with them on a daily basis.
WOLF: How is that interaction going? How are you being received by these people when you go to their home with either a mask, or a kind word or maybe some water, how are you being received?
MCWALTERS: Oh, very well. It's kind of interesting because a lot of firefighters are going back to areas where they saved houses and now they're interacting with the resident. They're just sharing stories. At that point, it's a trigger point for us to explain to them the options down at the recovery center. It's really good, therapeutic, if you will, for the firefighters to go back even though during these tough losses to talk to the residents and explain what exactly happened.
WOLF: Now, you were talking about the recovery centers and the residents. Tell me, what do these recovery centers really provide on for people?
MCWALTERS: Actually, it's working out really well, Reynolds. It's a one-stop shop. Folks can go down to the recovery center. There you have the Red Cross, you have all the insurance agencies. County, state, local agencies providing assistance, and even Scripps Medical has teamed up with the fire department and they set up a field hospital, if you will, where doctors are getting prescriptions, medications, and treating 50, 60 people per day. WOLF: Kevin, again, take a bow. Thank you so much for your help.
MCWALTERS: Thank you.
WOLF: I know that everyone is so thankful for the great work that you've done, the dedication that you and your fellow firefighters have shown -- throughout this event. You guys have always been there. Again, thank you for your time.
Betty, it is a really wonderful thing to see. An inspirational story of this joined community effort to battle the blaze to recover, and just to try to get things back to normal. Let's send it back to you.
NGUYEN: So, very important there. Thank you, Reynolds. We do appreciate that.
Hey, in the middle of the wildfire in California , the Federal Emergency Management Agency held a hasty news conference to brief reporters on the government's response to the crisis. Except that's not really what happened.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not exactly.
NGUYEN: Josh Levs is here, keep them honest. All right, break it down for us.
LEVS: They faked a news confer -- what are they thinking? They faked a news conference.
NGUYEN: Who fakes a news conference? Especially in the middle of a disaster?
LEVS: I don't think I've ever even heard of anything like this. They've faked a news conference. We'll trace you through now exactly what happened, but basically, the idea here is that FEMA decided to try to get reporters some information. But in the end, what they actually did was some slight of hand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS (voice over): You know how news conferences are supposed to work. Reporters ask questions, officials answer. But what if reporters aren't asking the questions?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the FEMA press briefing.
LEVS: Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a news conference in Washington, about what it was doing for victims of the California wildfires. But the agency announced it last minute, so FEMA says no reporters showed up. They just called in on a listen only phone line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, we understand the secretary and the admin --
LEVS: So, who's asking the questions? FEMA says it was their employees. The agency released this video of the news conference.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you happy with FEMA's response, so far?
HARVEY JOHNSON, FEMA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR: I'm very happy with FEMA's response so far.
LEVS: Not exactly hard-hitting journalism. Word got out, embarrassing the White House.
DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It is not a practice that we would employ here at the White House or that -- we certainly don't condone it.
LEVS: FEMA apologized. And in a statement Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson called an "error in judgment". And says the "intent was to provide useful information". A spokesman added that the questions were based on things that the reporters had contacted FEMA about.
AARON WALKER, FEMA PRESS SECRETARY: We know we're doing a bad job but -- we're getting back on track.
LEVS: That didn't stop Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who oversees FEMA for tearing into those responsible.
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SEC., HOMELAND SECURITY: I think it was one of the dumbest, and most inappropriate things I've seen since I've been in government. And I made in unambiguously clear, in Angelo-Saxon prose, that it's not to ever happen again and there will be appropriate disciplinary action taken against those people who exhibited what I regard as extraordinarily poor judgment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: OK, now here's the kicker, that news conference, in which Michael Chertoff made those remarks, FEMA didn't invite all the press to that. FEMA officials say there was only one TV crew invited to that, Betty, and that was from the Associated Press. So, we weren't there to be able to ask him questions about that.
NGUYEN: OK, but here's what's so ironic. You know, FEMA is trying to restore it's image after the whole Hurricane Katrina situation.
LEVS: Right.
NGUYEN: And actually it's been getting some pretty good remarks and then you have this.
LEVS: It's the last thing you needed in the middle of all that. And in a way, they're very much related. Because what happened was FEMA wanted an opportunity to kind of show off, look at all the different things we're doing. They were looking for lots of different ways to do that. Some of it was over in California, but one was supposed to be in Washington, for Washington press corps. And because nobody showed up, they didn't want to look bad in that way. So they set up this whole thing.
And you're right. In the middle of this opportunity for them, they, in this respect, blew it by doing something that is so obviously wrong. It's not even up for question. They've acknowledged it. It's ridiculous. It was fake.
NGUYEN: It is ridiculous. Everything is such a mess now, you know.
LEVS: And no one is going to forget about this. I mean, this is going to last a while.
NGUYEN: And then it stains the reputation, yet again.
LEVS: There you go, new stain.
NGUYEN: All right, thank you, Josh. Appreciate that.
Well, a story like this that involves the press -- or side steps the press -- is bound to catch the attention of our own Howard Kurtz. So much so, that he wrote about it in "The Washington Post" on Friday and he's going to talk more about the fallout from the fake news conference this morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern on CNN's "Reliable Sources".
In the meantime, they pledged to serve and protect. But as fires threatens, the police in Rancho Bernardo did much more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They came in, pushed our car out into the street, grabbed a lot of our prize photos and memento out of the house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Police going above and beyond their job description to save one neighborhood.
And alert the queen. Supposedly, there is a royal sex tape floating around out there somewhere. We'll have that story, plus this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before, she ran from a cat that was smaller than her, so I was ready to put her up for sale. But after that, she's got the most comfortable seat in the house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: She may be small, but she is sassy. How this pint-sized pet saved the day, straight ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Bringing you more news in the morning. Time now for some "Quick Hits": And a royal sex scandal in England. Whoo, it gets juicy. "The Sunday Times" reporting this morning on the arrest of two accused blackmailers.
Allegedly, they were trying to get $100,000 in exchange for a sex tape starring a member of the royal family. But no one is saying who that royal is. We're betting it's not Charles and Camilla.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD CHANTING: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: That was a chant heard in many cities yesterday. Thousands of people took part in anti-war protests from San Francisco to Seattle to New York.
And speaking of crowded streets, the Marine Corps Marathon is getting underway this morning. In just a few minutes, thousands of runners will be hitting the streets of Washington and Northern Virginia.
Giving praise for getting out. Genarlow Wilson going to church today with family and friends and that is something that he hasn't been able to do in quite a while. Wilson just got out of prison. He served two years of a 10-year sentence for having consensual oral sex with a girl when they were both teenagers. Today he'll be worshipping at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, here in Atlanta. And he is expected to make a few comments. Of course, we will keep you posted.
You also want to watch this. Genarlow will talk with CNN's Rick Sanchez for his first prime time interview. It airs tomorrow night at 8:00 on CNN's "Out in the Open".
Bonnie Schneider joins us now with a look at the weather outside.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Hey, you want to listen to this next story, Bonnie. OK?
It's about rising to the occasion. The pup that you're about to see has been known for running away from cats. But when her favorite person needed help, Angel was all over it. And I mean all over it. Charles Billi of affiliate WSVN in Miami has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHARLES BILLI, REPORTER, WSVN (voice over): Meet Angel, the tiny terror, so called because this female Jack Russell is a hero.
ANDRE BROWN, VICTIM'S FATHER: We had the choice between the Jack and an American bulldog. I'm glad we went with the Jack, yeah.
BILLI: Angel saved her owner, an eight-year-old girl. Her dad tells the story.
BROWN: She said a stranger ran up behind her. He caught her by surprise and he tried to grab her at the waist and pulled her away -- away with him. And my dog got all over him. She got all over him. He wanted no part of it.
BILLI: Angel tore into the suspect, biting him in the legs, waist, arms and chest. It gave the little girl a chance to run, and she took it. Running back home from this empty lot across the street. Here, dad holds the shirt she was wearing and the soot the suspect he left behind.
BROWN: All of the black spots is his dirt against her, his belly to her back.
BILLI (on camera): That was what she was wearing?
BROWN: Yeah. That was what she was wearing.
BILLI (voice over): Even though dad is relieved, he is still stunned by Angel's aggression.
BROWN: Before, she ran from a cat that is smaller than her, so I was ready to put her up for sale. But after that, she's got the most comfortable seat in the house tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Yeah, he's not going to sell that dog. She was going nowhere.
Miami police, though, are still looking for the alleged attacker. Maybe they need to put Angel on that case.
Right now, we want to take you to Reynolds Wolf is another amazing story. You're in Rancho Bernardo, California, an area that has just been hard hit by the fires.
WOLF: You're absolutely right. Betty, we met a couple who was on a mission trip when they first learned that their home burned down in the fires. Amazingly, it has not dampened they are spirits. Coming up, you'll have a chance to meet them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WOLF: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
It's one of the more striking images from last Sunday's fires. Malibu Presbyterian Church totally engulfed in flames. Take a look at that video. It's certainly not the only house of worship to be damaged.
I'm currently at the Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church. You can that the roof has two holes in it. Two holes staring up towards the heavens, because of the fires. But you know, one thing that's so amazing about this, I found out that it hasn't dampened the congregation's spirit. In fact, it's strengthened it in so many ways. Listen to one couple's story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
We were on our way for a mission trip. We left about 4:30 in the morning, some friends picked us up. We had left our cars here. We were on our way to Peru for a mission trip. We really didn't find out about the fire until the fire was this close and a danger to us until we got to Miami.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some friends of ours called us and told us, and said, "I don't know how to tell you this, but your house has been burned to the ground."
The lead pastor that was with us, Dan Owen (ph), with Eternity Minded Ministries says, you guys just need to go back home and take care of your problems and you have a different mission now. God has a different plan for you.
WOLF: Can you show us?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.
WOLF: The conditions you found?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure. We'll be happy to.
WOLF: Well, then we'll just follow you, if that's OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This, obviously, was our garage. We had one of our cars parked in the garage. Before we came -- got home, the fire was just starting in our house, some policemen had come along to see if -- to make sure there is nobody in the house. And clear the house.
They came in, pushed our car out into the street, grabbed a lot of our prize photos and mementos out of the house, put them in their police car and took them with them so that they could at least save part of our lives.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the ding room part. And this part here above it, it was two stories, so above it was our bedroom. And this was the balcony off our bedroom, which is now part of our patio. And the fire started across here on this mountain, Battle Mountain. And the embers were coming up over the house that -- that is because of the fire, and it took out the five homes next to us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God walked us through it and he gave us the strength to get through it. And we just felt His provisions through it. I think if anything, it strengthened out faith and we just found out what a great God we have.
WOLF: Terrible amount of irony in the midst of a lot of this destruction, seeing these beautiful flowers. They're fine. Your roses are in great shape.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, the roses are great. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will be giving thanks. We're alive, we're well. This all helped us put things into perspective. This was all just stuff. We can get more stuff. What we can't --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One unique shopping trip.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: So they lose their house, and their church is damaged, as well. But yet they're so strong, their faith is rock solid.
Now, this morning, we're lucky enough to have Lead Pastor Dan Maxton; he's with us.
Dan, this is your church?
REV. DAN MAXTON, RANCHO BERNARDO BAPTIST CHURCH: Yes, it is.
WOLF: How did this happen? How did you find it? And when did you find it in this condition?
MAXTON: Well, you know, we had service last Sunday and then we left everything on the stage. Then the fire happened that night and the next morning. And I, like most of the folks in our church, and in the Rancho Bernardo community, we got the word to evacuate. And when you have to evacuate, you have to go quickly. So I did what everybody else did, gathered some important papers, took some pictures off the wall, and maybe a change of clothing.
Then I turned, instead of going out of town, I came by the road of our church. As I came up by the church, I saw the fire coming on our property and then a shower of sparks came over the road. And then I knew I probably had to stop at that point. Stopped, backed up and did what everybody else did, got out of the way of the fire.
WOLF: And I have to tell you, I'm blown away by how strong everyone is in your church. The faith is so strong and you kept your spirits so solid, as I mentioned earlier.
What advice would you give to people who have dealt with their own fires, their own fires in life? Because there will be other fires. There are going to be other Katrinas, people's whose faith is shaken. What words would you give them?
MAXTON: There is a great verse in Jeremiah 29:11, where it says, "I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope." That's one of the verses we're claiming as a church, and for our community. We love our community, Rancho Bernardo.
We don't know exactly why these plans, but out of these plans, God doesn't want us to become angry or upset or bitter, but that we might grow and change and become better.
And you know, the other thing is, you don't do it alone. You do it -- you allow God to walk with you, and other people. And we've been concentrating our folks to not just think about our situation, but to think about those that have even greater needs that we are. So we're doing our best to join a lot of other agencies and trying to help other fire victims in the community, as well as trying to get ready for the future in the days to come.
WOLF: So it never stops. I mean, this is something that continues. The sharing and --
MAXTON: It continues.
WOLF: And it's amazing to me that just a week ago, you were here. You were giving your sermon and fire -- although there was that threat -- it was not in the forefront of your mind.
MAXTON: No, not at all.
WOLF: But the world has changed. And today you're going to do the same thing again, not in this location, but it's going to be business for you as usual today.
MAXTON: Yeah.
WOLF: Thanks so much for your time. I appreciate it so much.
MAXTON: Thank you, Reynolds.
WOLF: Great words.
It is, again, another story of inspiration. Just great things that are coming up from the ashes here in parts of Southern California.
Betty, let's send it back to you.
NGUYEN: You know, that's usually what happens when it comes to disasters like this. I think the key thing that he said, not only do you have to have hope and faith, but you have to know that you don't have to go through it alone. You can band together with others and they will get you through.
Thank you, Reynolds.
Well, the fear of losing their jobs actually trumped the fear of losing their lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ENRIQUE MARONES, BORDER ANGELS: While the Mercedes and Jaguars were leaving these wealthy areas in the north County of San Diego, they were hunched over like they are right now, continuing to work. They never stopped.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Can you imagine? Illegal immigrants kept right on working as devastating fires just roared around them. Next hour, we're going to talk about variety in the workplace, as well; 52 jobs in 52 weeks? But why? Why is he doing it? Well, it might just inspire you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: You know, as we talk about these fires in California, it is important to point out that nice neighborhoods, even Hollywood estates aren't the only places going up in smoke, especially in San Diego, which is so close to the Mexican border. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez takes a look at those who are often forgotten in the fire.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In a remote canyon near the border, a tragic discovery in the aftermath of the Harris Fire -- four charred bodies. No one knows their names or where they came from, only that they died a horrific death.
DAMON FOREMAN, U.S. BORDER PATROL: Maybe the people were trying to flee from the fire. Two of the bodies looked like they were severely burned.
GUTIERREZ: Authorities say this desert corridor between San Diego and Mexico is used by border crossers. During the fires, dozens of illegal immigrants surrendered to the Border Patrol because they could not outrun the flames.
FOREMAN: The Border Patrol is very concerned. This is a tragedy. These fires, unfortunately, do sometimes take lives, and we found that situation is right now.
GUTIERREZ: While tens of thousands evacuated to nearby shelters, many could not. They are undocumented and were afraid to ask for help. And there was another reason --
I asked Yusidro Gonzales (ph), the father of seven, from Oaxaca (ph), Mexico, why he didn't go to an evacuation center. He says he could not go, that he came to work. And if he missed one or two days, he could lose his job, and he has kids in Mexico to support.
(On camera): You're saying that they actually -- while everybody else was evacuated, you're saying those workers continued to work in the field?
ENRIQUE MORONES, BORDER ANGELS: They continued to work. There was ash falling. It was really smoky. It was dangerous. We came up here right away on Monday. We brought them masks, food, blankets.
GUTIERREZ (voice over): Enrique Morones, with the organization Border Angels, says they worked with flames and thick smoke all around them, while others fled for safety.
MORONES: The Mercedes and Jaguars were leaving, these wealthy areas in the north county of San Diego, they were hunched over like they are now, continuing to work. They never stopped. GUTIERREZ: Gonzalez (ph) says he continued to work breathing in smoke and ash. Like the people in the canyon killed by the fire, it was a journey Gonzalez once made himself three months ago, risking it all to work here. Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, San Diego.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Good morning to you on this Sunday from the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'm Betty Nguyen. T.J. Holmes is off today, but Reynolds Wolf is covering for him in Rancho Bernardo, California, an area which has been hard hit by the wildfires.
Good morning, Reynolds.
WOLF: Good morning, Betty. We've got a lot of things to tell you about. There's a lot of emotion here. As people come to terms with so much that they've lost.
And we have a message from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the arsonists. And we are going to hear from him very soon.
NGUYEN: Plus, a story that will scare anyone familiar with Craig's List. A woman answers a baby-sitting ad on the Website and is murdered.
And a big topper this morning if you don't want to go to work tomorrow, you can actually buy an excuse to extend your weekend, yeah. We'll show you how that works, ahead on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
WOLF: Now if you're just joining us this Sunday morning, here is a quick overview of what's been happening. In southern California, wildfires are still raging. So far, in fact, more than 506,000 acres have burned. About 1,600 homes have been lost, 14 fires have been contained. Here is even more information for you, 9 fires are not fully contained. They're still working on those, including the massive Santiago fire. That is especially infuriating to many here in the area because investigators say that that the Santiago fire was deliberately set. With more on the latest on that investigation, here is CNN Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lived up to his tough guy movie image delivering a message to those who started at least two of the fires that have ravaged thousand of thousand of acres.
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, CALIFORNIA: I want everyone to understand that we will hunt down the people that are responsible for that. We will arrest them and we will prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
MESERVE: At the points where the Santiago fire was set, FBI teams mapped the terrain for future court exhibits if anyone is ever caught and charged. Officials say the investigation is making progress. CHIEF CHIP PRATHER, ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY: I'm very positive. Leads have been given to us, but they have to track them down and make sure that they're legitimate.
MESERVE: Authorities have asked the public for information about a white Ford pickup truck seen in the canyon around the time the fire was started last Sunday. More than 1,000 phone calls have come in to an arson tip line.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): A number of those phone calls have led us to individuals that we've been able to have conversations with. We still have nobody that's a person of interest, and we clearly have nobody that is a suspect yet, but we're making progress.
MESERVE: The Governor put it a different way.
SCHWARZENEGGER: If I were one of those people who started the fires, I would not sleep soundly right now, I'll tell you, because we are right behind you. As a matter of fact, if I were you, I'd turn yourself in.
MESERVE: More than 28,000 acres have been already been scorched by the Santiago fire and it is still big and dangerous. If it weren't for some careless or malicious act, it never would've started.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Santiago Canyon, California.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF: Now this morning I'm in the Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church, which is one of the many buildings that have been badly damaged in this particular neighborhood. But amazingly enough, it is also has been a rallying point. In fact parishioners are planning a big service today.
Coming up next hour, I'm going to talk with the youth pastor and some of the volunteers who are helping the people in this community get back on their feet. It is certainly a story you're not going to want to miss.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes, it is. I can't wait to see that, Reynolds. Thank you for that.
In the meantime, we want to talk to Bonnie Schneider in the CNN Severe Weather Center to get an idea of what is going happen today weather wise out in California. What are you seeing, Bonnie?
SCHNEIDER: Oh Betty we do have some changes to show you. Right now as we look at our satellite perspective, you can see there was some moisture that worked its way through the area. We've had that warm moist marine layer coming through and that helped the firefighters. But things are going to be changing as we take a look at some of the rain that's coming through now, only a few sprinkles in and around the Los Angeles area, I was watching a little pocket of rain pass through Catalina and work its way toward Los Angeles. But it's kind of dried out as it worked its way on shore. Looking at the winds right now, we see them coming from the northeast. That's not a good thing. Some areas are getting them from the south, but the northeast flow does bring about the dryer air. Now, the good thing to notice as we look at wind speed, we're not going to see the intensity that we saw earlier last week, this time last week. It looks like things will stay calm. But it's the wind direction that will be problematic for firefighters today.
We still have high pressure developing over the Great Basin, and that will bring about the warmer dry winds coming down from the region. If we look offshore, we have low pressure developing just to the north of the fire ravaged area. More towards San Francisco. This is the area where we're going to see the rain working its way into northern California for today, not into southern California. We'll see the winds come from this direction. And it looks like that dry, warm wind will continue. Once again, Betty, it will not be as strong as what we saw last week. So a little bit of a change, but not a huge one. Hopefully it won't hinder fire fighting efforts in southern California.
NGUYEN: Yes hopefully not. Thank you Bonnie we do appreciate it.
You may recall this scene just a few days ago, FEMA called a news conference to talk about the federal response to the California wildfires, except no reporters were present. Who asked those hard ball questions? No one. Those were FEMA staffers posing as journalists. Famous boss, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff ripped into the agency for the stunt.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I think it was one of the dumbest and most inappropriate things I've seen since I've been in government. And I made it unambiguously clear in that it's not too ever happen again and there will be appropriate disciplinary action taken for those who exhibited what I regard as extraordinary poor judgment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: FYI the only media allowed in was the Associated Press. They were invited to record Chertoff's remarks so CNN was not able to question him directly about FEMA's stunt.
Another bit of news I want to tell you about, this one a little frightened. Shots ringing out on campus bringing back memories of the massacre at Virginia Tech. This time, it's northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. A campus wide lockdown was lifted just minutes ago. An emergency system at the school had warned students to stay in their rooms, as shots were heard just after midnight. Police just finished up a room to room search for a pair of suspected shooters. So far, they haven't found them. No one was wounded.
You've heard it all before, be careful of the people that you meet online. But pay attention this morning, a young woman is dead after answering a job ad on Craig's List. Julianne Olson (ph) affiliate KARE has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIANNE OLSON (ph), KARE (voice over): Catherine Olson was as fresh and young as the pink flowers she clutches after performing in the "Sound of Music" last summer.
NANCY OLSON, MOTHER OF SLAIN WOMAN: She wanted adventure and she danced on the edge.
OLSON: Olson found some of that adventure like a nanny job in Turkey on the Internet.
N. OLSON: She found things online and we would ring our hands and say, have you checked these people out?
OLSON: On Thursday, a baby-sitting job she found on Craig's list led Olson to Savage.
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): It seemed fishy, but she was going to just check it out and meet them.
OLSON: She thought she was meeting with a married couple.
ROLF OLSON, FATHER OF SLAIN WOMAN: If it didn't work, she assumed that she would be able to turn around and leave and come home. It didn't work out that way.
OLSON: Early Friday, police found Olson's purse in a Savage park. Late Friday, they found her car in a Burnsville Park, her body inside the trunk.
CAPT. DAVE MUELJEN, SAVAGE, MINNESOTA POLICE: I don't have a word to describe this situation. It's very tragic.
OLSON: Police arrested a 19-year-old Savage man. They suspect he placed the ad. They searched his home, just blocks from the park where Olson was found.
R. OLSON: This was evil and this was human brokenness and --
OLSON: Olson's father, a pastor, finds no comfort in cliches.
R. OLSON: I absolutely will not accept comments like, this was god's will.
OLSON: Olson leaves behind a family who not only grievous for her, but also for a lifetime of people who could have known her and been touched by her.
N. OLSON: We know where Catherine is and so we are not afraid for Catherine. We will miss her terribly. She was a bright light and free spirit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Right now, police aren't saying exactly how Olson was killed or what the motive might have been. We'll stay on the story.
Well one case shows up in the district and Pikeville, Kentucky, shuts down every school in its system. And it's all thanks to MRSA, that drug resistant staph super bug. As a preventive measure, all the schools in the system are canceling classes tomorrow. That means more than 10,000 Kentucky students will get a day off, while everything from classrooms to school buses get a thorough cleaning. Is MRSA really that dangerous? What can you do to keep yourself and your kids safe? I'm going to ask a specialist with the Centers for Disease Control. That's in our next hour. Do you defiantly want to stick around for that?
In the meantime, Britain's are getting a little juice with their tea today thanks to a royal sex romp allegedly caught on tape. You might need oven mitts to pick up the paper in the UK today. British police say they have arrested two men and charged them with attempted blackmail; they say the men wanted $100,000 not to release a tape that showed a royal engaged in a sex act. Exactly which royal is getting blackmailed? They've declined to say. But there is no way that we have heard the last of this one.
Well we have all heard the phrase hell hath no furry like a woman scorned. Right after the break, we will show you the story of a woman who waited eight years to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend and his wife.
LEVS: Whoa. Every guy's nightmare.
All right. Hey everybody I'm Josh Levs at the dotcom desk. Coming up, we're going to take look at some of the hot stories on dotcom today, including a new law involving illegal immigrants getting driver's licenses.
Also some allegations about Oprah's school in South Africa. That is all coming up from the dot com desk right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Let's get you a quick look at other stories making news today, in Nashville a vigil for two restaurant workers killed in local pizza shop on Friday. Police are searching for this man right there, 21 year old Jason Vogo (ph). Witnesses say he shot the workers during a robbery. Police say he's a former employee that was fired back in May for a theft.
A gruesome discovery in Washington. Police say they found a dead body in a basement air-conditioning duct. Regulations ramped at the man who died was trying to rob the place.
And in Connecticut, an outrageous story of a woman trying to get revenge on an old boyfriend by going after his wife. Police say the woman spent countless hours by posting bogus profiles of her ex's wife and then posting them on adult Web sites. Hoping to bread up that marriage. Well get this that woman dated the man eight years ago. You think she would have moved on by now. CNN.com is lit up this Sunday morning. Josh Levs of the dot com desk. Today people are really (INAUDIBLE).
LEVS: Anything is less depressing than that story.
NGUYEN: You said earlier a mans worst nightmare.
LEVS: Horrifying. What has she been doing for eight years? Get a job, get a therapist. Let's look at anything else.
I'm going to start off with this, one of the hottest stories on CNN.com today. Betty has been telling you about in this morning. Police in England have arrested two men over an attempt to blackmail a member of the British royal family with an alleged sex tape. A lot of this looks at what the "Sunday Times" reports today. They have a lot of details there; we're summarizing it for on CNN.com. Those royals, they have everything Betty except the ability to catch a break from the press once in a while.
All right. Let's move on to the next one here. This is really interesting. It's a great story on dotcom. I encourage you to check it out. Homeland Security and New York State have agreed on new driver's licenses, including a version that's specifically goes to illegal immigrants. And in this story, you're able to see the arguments on both sides. New York Governor Elliott Spitzer is arguing that by doing that, the state will have a much stronger knowledge of who is inside the state and the type of license the illegal immigrants would get is different from others. But obviously, as you can imagine Betty, it's setting off people on both sides. Making a lot of people unhappy.
Let you a third thing here and that is about Oprah. CNN.com entertainment page has a new story about new allegations involving Oprah's school in South Africa. She put a multi million dollar facility there to educate all these girls. Now there are new allegations involving the possibility that someone who works there, a matron, may have abused in some way some students inside the school. And there are different allegations about what it is.
NGUYEN: Really?
LEVS: Yeah. On this story, CNN.com entertainment we have a video story on it. Our own Robyn Curnow has some great details on it. Now Oprah herself is taking some private investigators from the U.S. and Oprah has dropped other projects because she wants to get to the bottom of this herself.
NGUYEN: Well absolutely, she is passionate about that school. Especially for allegations like that to come to light. Do you know how many students for how long?
LEVS: We don't know because they are allegations at this point. But apparently there are enough reports there that everyone is taking them seriously and everyone wants to know what's going on inside there, what kind of security procedures are taking, what kind of back ground checks. That is what they need to know. It's a different country, different laws. One thing we need to find out is exactly how that is playing out.
NGUYEN: Thank you Josh.
Well hey the John Edwards campaign is embroiled in controversy itself this morning not over the candidates position per say but over the position of his campaign headquarters and a local news story about that. CNN's Melissa Long takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA LONG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): John Edwards has placed his campaign headquarters right here, in the southern village neighborhood of Chapel Hill.
No really one expected this report by a University of North Carolina journalism student to make national headlines, but it is, and here is why. It questions John Edwards' decision to put his presidential campaign headquarters in a fluent North Carolina neighborhood near Chapel Hill.
One student felt that it didn't go with the Democrats professed values of uniting Americas rich and poor.
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): It is ultimately up to the voters --
LONG: The Edwards camp was so incensed by the story, it demanded the report be taken off the Internet or else.
C.A. "CHARLIE" TUGGLE, UNC ASSOCIATED PROFESSORS: They didn't want us to put it out there now because of you and other broadcast and print reporters it's everywhere.
LONG: The or else, according to a local newspaper, the professor claims two of Edwards' top people felt that the reporter misrepresented her story and threatened to cut off the student's group's access to the presidential hopeful if the piece aired. That's a claim the Edwards camp will neither confirm nor deny. Instead, a spokesperson released this story. This is silly. We love all reporters. The problem is, the feeling isn't always mutual. The professor has a different view.
TUGGLE: Stories change and this one did not change in a significant way, in my opinion. It just didn't meet what they were hoping for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, in another story, if you have a short attention span, then we have got a story for you. We're going to introduce you to a guy who is working a different job every single week for a whole year. That's 52 jobs in a row. Talk about first day of work jitters.
But first, here is a preview of today's "House Call" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, guys. We're going to stay on the same story we've been covering all week, the California wildfires. I'm going to show you the anatomy of how to take care of a burn patient.
Also, looking at hospitals struggling to stay open in the path of a fire.
Plus, I'll give you some tidbits on my exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama. All of that is coming up on "House Call" at 8:30.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Still trying to decide what you want to be when you grow up? Well you better join the club, because one man is taking an unusual approach to uncovering his passion. He's working 52 jobs in 52 weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN (voice over): After getting settled in his job with the Georgia Aquarium in just one week, Sean Aiken is now out of a job. No, he hasn't been laid off or fired. He's leaving as planned, just as he left his last job and several before that. He's on an adventurous quest to complete 52 jobs in 52 weeks, one new job in every week. From Iraq climbing instructor to a tattoo artist to a veteran assistant.
SEAN AIKEN, CAREER ADVENTURER: It's going to be OK.
NGUYEN: Aiken seems to have done it all.
AIKEN: I've been a radio D.J., I've been a veteran, and I've been an advertising executive, a florist, yoga instructor, job recruiter, snowshoe guide. A bunch of different things.
NGUYEN: Aiken says he's been coast to coast working different jobs and is able to do it by keeping his expenses low. That seems nearly impossible considering he's not getting paid for his work, but instead is having his employers donating his earnings to a poverty centered organization.
AIKEN: The money goes to a charity campaign. I survive by keeping my cost down as much as possible. Staying at people's houses is a big help, doing some hitch hiking. I have sponsors helping out a little bit with the travel expenses, as well.
NGUYEN: Although he worked at the aquarium for a short time, Aiken got a great review from his temporary boss who at first was hesitant to hire him.
DAVID SANTUCCI, COMMUNICATIONS DIR., and GA AQUARIUM: He called me and explained what he was trying to do and I said, what are you doing? But when I went to one week job.com, I could see his 30 previous jobs that he had done in the past 30 weeks and I could see this guy was committed to the idea and it's an exciting idea. He did a pretty good job this week.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: And Sean Aiken joins me now. Sean a feeling OK? I mean why 52 jobs in 52 weeks?
AIKEN: It's a good question. I finished my college degree and I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. I was sitting around the dinner table and my dad said to me, you know what, Sean it doesn't matter what you do. Whatever it is, just make sure you're passionate about it.
NGUYEN: Let me ask you, you've finished your degree. What was that in? I mean didn't you want to go into that when you started?
AIKEN: I finished my business degree. I think I chose that because it was the most general. Keeping the options open a little longer.
NGUYEN: Speaking of keeping those options open, so you've been on a number of jobs already. Which is your favorite one so far?
AIKEN: My favorite one, I'd probably say a cancer fund-raiser of the nonprofit society. That was a great experience, just kind of knowing what you do have a positive impact on the lives of so many. It was a great experience.
NGUYEN: And the worst would be?
AIKEN: The worst, I was working these 12-hours day in the swamp picking cat tails in the scorching heat and that was unpleasant.
NGUYEN: Let me ask you this, in all reality, how much can you tell about a job in just one week?
AIKEN: Well, I mean, yeah, I don't think it's very realistic to say yes, in one week, that's the perfect job for me. It's more about the overall experience, getting out there each week and placing myself in these unfamiliar situations and meeting as many people as I can and talking to them and any advice they have for people coming out of college and not sure what they want to do with their lives.
NGUYEN: So where are you headed to next? Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?
AIKEN: That's a good question. Where I am headed next, I think I am going to Miami. I'm not sure what I'm doing next. Chances are, I'll be on a 15-hour bus ride to Miami tonight. Who knows?
NGUYEN: So far, we want to tell our viewers that you have raised $12,000 for Make Poverty History Campaign and that's really wonderful what you're doing with the money you're earning in those jobs. Good luck to you.
AIKEN: Thanks so much.
NGUYEN: Maybe you'll be a journalist.
AIKEN: Maybe. I'd love to do that for a week. NGUYEN: Thanks Sean.
So do you have jury duty tomorrow morning or are you wishing for a way out of it? We've got a story for you when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns. We'll show you how two guys took the businesses of excuses and ran with it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Let's just say up front that we are not condoning this and would never do it ourselves. But there is a Web site that for a modest fee will provide you with a realistic-looking excuse to get you out of work or whatever it is that you're trying to get out of. Funeral, doctor's note, jury summons. If you have to guess to try it, it's called "My Excused Absence.com." But beware you could loose your job or get into trouble.
Sam Adams the mayor candidate. Meet Sam Adams the beer company. A couple of Web sites set up on the candidate's behalf caught the attention of the brewer. Which sent a cease and desist letter. The beer maker says Sam Adams of Portland, Oregon can not use the companies name as his web domain. Even though Sam Adams is his legal name. Web sites have been taken down while the matter is worked out. By the way, the cease and desist letter is for sale on eBay. Of course it is. Everything is up for sale. The bidding is up to more than $400.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com
