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CNN Saturday Morning News
Fort Hood, Community Mourn Shooting Victims; House Faces Decision Day on Health Care; Tropical Storm Ida Menaces Mexico, Cuba; Laid-Off Workers Face Tough Choices About Medical Coverage
Aired November 07, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello there, everybody. From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING for this November the 7th. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. Thanks so much for starting your day with us.
It is 6 a.m. right here in Atlanta; 5 a.m. in Fort Hood, Texas, where the investigation continues this morning on that massacre on the largest U.S. military post. Now, this morning, we're going to take you live to Fort Hood for the latest developments there. And you're also going to hear from family members of the victims.
HOLMES: Now also something interesting, really, on the heels of that shooting. We have our guy, Mario Armstrong here. He's a radio and tech expert we use here on the weekends, a friend of our show. Well, he's going to show us something: software that actually detects gunshots. Business owners can buy this, install it and when it detects gunfire, it will alert you almost immediately. We'll going to explain this.
NGUYEN: Yes, it's pretty amazing technology.
And we also want to hear from you today. So send us your thoughts on the Fort Hood shooting. We want to air your comments throughout the morning. So send them in. You can hit us up on our blogs, Facebook, Twitter. Also weekends@CNN.com.
HOLMES: Also this morning, health care. A big weekend for health care. And the president -- this is how you know how big of a weekend it is -- he is making a rare appearance on Capitol Hill on a Saturday. Yes, he's urging House Democrats to pass the health-care reform bill this weekend. We're going to break down some of the major sticking points that could slow down the passing of that health-care legislation.
But let's start with Fort Hood this morning, the tragedy there in Texas. What we know now -- here we are, two days after that Fort Hood shooting. Investigators say Major Nidal Hasan fired more than a hundred rounds from two handguns on Thursday. We do now know that two dozen of the 38 people who were shot remain hospitalized.
Hasan was shot four times himself by a police officer. He has been taken to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he's under heavy guard and in critical but stable condition at this time. The flag-draped remains, meanwhile, of the 12 soldiers and one civilian killed Thursday were flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware last night. Autopsies will be done there.
Let's go now to Fort Hood and get the latest now on Major Hasan. Our Sean Callebs is there for us.
Sean, good morning to you. We're starting to get more details about just how horrific of an event that was. Sean, you hear me OK, buddy?
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I hear you fine.
We're -- we are learning a bit more about it. We're learning more about the weapons that he used. One's called an FN 5.7. It's called a "cop killer." I mean, just -- just think about that. Talking about more than 100 rounds were fired. Also, a .357. And more than a hundred rounds were fired. Forty-six of the -- of those actually found victims. So there 46 gunshot wounds here yesterday.
It very -- it happened in a very short period of time. The first responders were on site in fewer than four minutes. So it gives you an idea of just how fast all of this was unleashed.
And we're learning more about Hasan -- you're exactly right. A neighbor said he heard some noise overnight -- excuse me. It turned out to be him giving away his furniture in the middle of the night. And then later, investigators talked to his neighbor. This was a neighbor who let him use his wireless service a couple of times in the middle of the night.
This neighbor was also a maintenance worker here on base, but he did not show up for work the day of the shooting. So he was talked to for about four hours, and he told authorities that they were -- that he told us that authorities wanted to know more than just that wireless service, why he allowed Hasan to use that.
We do know authorities also took the neighbor's laptop as well. And Hasan was somewhat of a creature of habit. We know that he went to basically the same convenience store in the shadow of this post a number of times. He had coffee and has browns virtually every morning. And there's some CNN exclusive video we have of him going in there in what would be a traditional Middle Eastern, Arab garb going in there that morning.
Later on, some pictures of him wearing scrubs as well. And then, boy, that shooting, T.J., just being unleashed at 1:30 in the afternoon. And just the -- the heroism we're hearing from people who arrived at the scene, both the first responders, also soldiers who were next door, some at a graduation ceremony. Others just heard the screams, the shots, and came to get whatever they could.
So that's what we're learning about Hasan. You're exactly right; he remains in a comalike state in a hospital right now. He has not been charged with anything yet. But, of course, he certainly will be down the road -- T.J. HOLMES: All right. Our Sean Callebs for us at Fort Hood. Sean, we're certainly going to be checking in with you a bit later. Thanks so much.
NGUYEN: Well, we're also learning about the victims of this massacre. And among them, 22-year-old Specialist Jason Dean Hunt of Tipton, Oklahoma. J.D., as many knew him -- that's his sister, Leila William (ph). Well, we're going to show her to you in just a second, because she spoke last night with our Larry King.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Leila, you can expect someone who goes in the Army, goes to Iraq, OK, you're hardened for the worst. But you certainly never expect him to die at his base, right?
LEILA WILLINGHAM, BROTHER KILLED AT FORT HOOD: I just want to say that, you know, because it didn't happen overseas or it didn't happen in a combat situation doesn't make him any less a hero, because my brother was the kind of person to jump in front of a bullet for somebody. And I really feel like, you know, I don't know the details, but I know my brother, and I know he was -- he was very brave in this situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Just so very tragic.
Well, Hunt served a tour of duty in Iraq.
Sixty-two-year-old Michael Grant Cahill was the lone civilian killed in this rampage. Cahill was a physician assistant who had suffered a heart attack just two weeks ago but returned after one week off for a recovery.
His sister talked about learning that her brother was killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARILYN ATTERBERRY, SISTER OF MIKE CAHILL: I got the call that he was dead. But they don't know any particulars. And then, about 40 minutes later, my little sister Becky (ph) called from Oregon and said he had been shot and he is gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, we are expecting to get more information today about the Fort Hood shootings and also more about the conditions of those who have been shot. We're expecting one news briefing at noon at Scott N. White Memorial Hospital in Temple with the commander of Fort Hood. Also, the Texas governor, Rick Perry, expected to make remarks there as well.
The other press conference we're expecting is around 6:00 Eastern Time at Fort Hood. That one will be conducted by the base public- affairs officer. And those shootings at Fort Hood changed the lives, as we know, of so many people now. And tonight, a CNN primetime special continues the search for the answers. The post, the suspect, the wounded, a CNN special investigation: "Inside the Fort Hood Shootings," tonight, 8:00 Eastern.
Some of our top stories also we're keeping an eye on. House negotiators on both sides of the abortion issue worked late into the night but failed to reach an agreement on a sticking point to the Democrats' health-care reform bill. So as a result, lawmakers are expected to vote today on an amendment that would ban most abortion coverage from the public option and other insurance providers in a new marketplace setup.
The president is scheduled to visit Capitol Hill hoping to help close the deal on the health-care reform legislation. He'll be meeting with House Democrats later this morning. Floor debate scheduled to begin in less than three hours. Final vote could be pushed back until tomorrow.
NGUYEN: Well, we are getting new information in that workplace shooting in Orlando. And according to CNN affiliate WFTV, the suspect's mother tipped police off to where he was hiding. Police say Jason Rodriguez went to her apartment after he opened fire at an architecture firm where he used to work.
One person was killed in the shooting yesterday; five others wounded.
Take a listen to some of the eyewitnesses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They said, 'The shooter's coming. The shooter's coming.' People were falling out of the elevators to get out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So I'm coming out of our suite. She's running towards me, telling me to get back in, there's gunfire. And you could smell the gunfire.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a little unnerving. It was a little unnerving. We started -- you know, you think the worst, and you call in your families, and your families are calling you. And the phones are going crazy, and just started hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: We're also hearing that Rodriguez could be in court as early as today to face charges.
HOLMES: All right. Let's bring in Reynolds full (INAUDIBLE) -- tieless....
NGUYEN: Oh! Yes!
HOLMES: ...Reynolds Wolf this morning.
NGUYEN: Is this casual Saturday? What's up?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Going for the Steve McQueen look. Going for the (INAUDIBLE). There you go.
NGUYEN: Oh nice. OK.
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE)
WOLF: Hey guys, we're keeping a sharp eye on the tropics. Got a -- a big storm we're dealing with. You may have heard about it earlier this week. This storm is actually called Ida. It was once a hurricane; it had some interaction with parts of Nicaragua and Honduras.
It has weakened a little bit. Right now, it is moving north of Honduras. Winds about 45 miles an hour, gusting to 60. And there's a chance this may strengthen a little bit. Will it become a hurricane later today? Well, it's got a long way to go.
And speaking of way to go, people wondering, where is this thing headed? Well, the latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center -- let's expand this a bit. This show today's forecast. Tomorrow, we're going to be seeing this storm make its way to the north. As I put this into motion -- again, this is the forecast from the National Hurricane Center. Brings it right just to the -- the east of Cancun, just to the west of Cuba, going past the Yucatan peninsula and then moving into the Gulf of Mexico as we get into Monday and Tuesday.
Now keep in mind, right now, the forecast does not have it making landfall anywhere in the United States. But a lot can certainly change in the next couple of days and hours. We're going to keep a very sharp on it.
The hurricane season ends, of course, for the Atlantic basin, in late November. So again, certainly although things have been kind of quiet this season, certainly not a time to let your guard down. We'll keep a sharp eye on it for you.
Let's send it back to you guys at the news desk.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you so much, Reynolds. We'll be checking in very shortly.
HOLMES: And as we said just a bit ago, President Obama heading to Capitol Hill to push Democrats to pass health-care reform bill. But what do average, everyday citizens think of that bill? Well, they think that maybe they should start over.
After all we've gone through...
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: ....all the debates, all the town halls...
HOLMES: Tear it up.
NGUYEN: ... all the protests, all the supporters -- oh my goodness.
HOLMES: Start over. Yes, we got new polls that will explain what we're talking about.
NGUYEN: Plus, more on our top story. Josh Levs is tracking that shooting at Fort Hood on the Internet. I know a lot of people have been weighing in on this tragedy.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They have. We're hearing a lot. And what we're going to do is, we're going to take you inside Fort Hood to show you where all this happened. Also, where the alleged gunman lives.
Also, other shootings at U.S. bases that you might not know about.
HOLMES: All right, Josh. Thank you.
Also, want to take a look at some of the victims of Thursday's shooting.
That is Michael Pearson there. He's from Bolingbrook, Illinois. Twenty-one years old. Died in that shooting.
Also, another, Aaron Thomas Nemelka from West Jordan, Utah. Nineteen years old. He enlisted in '08. He was set to deploy to Afghanistan in January.
Also, Specialist Jean Dean Hunt from Tipton, Oklahoma. Twenty-two years old. Enlisted in the Army in 2006. He turned 21 in Iraq. He chose to re-enlist. Dedicated the next six years to the military. Recently married. Set for his second deployment to Iraq.
Also, Amy Krueger from Wisconsin. She joined the military after the September 11 attacks.
Also, Francesca Vellez from Chicago. Twenty-one years old. She was three months pregnant.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Well, the shooting rampage at Fort Hood is the deadliest ever at a U.S. military post.
HOLMES: Yes, unfortunately there have been several other fatal shootings at U.S. bases this decade.
Josh Levs here to show us. Good morning to you, Josh.
LEVS: And good morning to you guys.
You know, this is something a lot of people have been taking a look at right now. Obviously, as Betty was just saying, this is the worst. But there is a history of this throughout the decade, since the beginning of the Iraq war specifically.
Let's zoom in here. I want to show you all a special Web site we have set up at CNN.com that talks specifically about Fort Hood and what's been happening. It's our section focused on this. And as part of his, we have a timeline for you to look at here.
Let me just show you some of the examples that we're pointing to here. This one's from March 23, 2003. This was two days after the beginning of the Iraq invasion. Hasan Akbar attacked his fellow soldiers, killing two, injuring 14 at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait.
There was also another incident in October 2007. Two U.S. sailors stationed in Bahrain were killed in their barracks by a comrade.
September 14, 2008, two soldiers shot and killed by a comrade at a base just outside Baghdad.
And then we'll show you one more example here, May 11, 2009. This was not long ago, just months ago. Five soldiers shot and killed at a stress clinic at Camp Liberty just outside Baghdad.
Now, each case has its own background, its own reasons in these situations. But this is something you're seeing military officials talk about, about security and the comfort of security that people should be able to feel at U.S. military posts around the world.
We also do something else for you at CNN.com, and I want to go to this now. We take you inside Fort Hood. We have Google Earth for you. Let's zoom in here. The Readiness Center is where this happened. This is the area where the shootings took place.
But we want to zoom out a little bit and show you Fort Hood, because this is, in terms of its activity, in terms of the number of soldiers who are there at work, the largest U.S. military post in the world, largest active duty. It supports 12 units; 41,000 soldiers work at Fort Hood.
But what we want to do also is, in addition to showing you Fort Hood, we're going to zoom over to Killeen, Texas. Because the story is also taking place there. And that is where the apartment of Major Hasan, who is the alleged gunman in this case. And we've seen video of FBI agents and police having raided that apartment. And we're now being told by neighbors that he gave away Qurans the morning before the shooting, and also that he gave away his furniture. He had his place cleaned out.
So a lot of the investigation taking place not just in Fort Hood, but also in Killeen, Texas.
Now, to get to all this, all you need to do is go to CNN.com. Click on our stories about Fort Hood, and it'll bring you to our special section right here about the shootings. We update it all day long. Every time there's a new development, you will see it here online.
And Betty and T.J., I'll be back next hour with more of our special coverage online.
NGUYEN: Yes. You know, I used to work in Killeen, Texas. Covered Fort Hood a lot.
LEVS: Wow.
NGUYEN: And it's a close-knit post.
LEVS: Yes.
NGUYEN: And when you have this many deaths, and such a tragedy, it was just horrific, not only for the folks there, for those of you watching as well.
LEVS: Unreal.
NGUYEN: And we -- we know that the folks at home, you watching this morning, thank you for being up early. But we know that you want to weigh in on this. You've been watching this as it's played out over the past couple of days. So let us know what you think about the situation, also your support for the Fort Hood community.
You can reach us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also e-mail us on our blog. Just go to CNN.com/Betty or CNN.com/TJ. We'll read some of your responses on the air today.
HOLMES: Well, there is some new software out there that is being used by business and schools to actually detect gunshots ...
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: ...in a specific area then to...
NGUYEN: Which is amazing.
HOLMES: ...alert the police...
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: ...within seconds. Well, is this something that your company or school needs to install? Got a bit of a show-and-tell coming up here in about 30 minutes.
NGUYEN: Plus, how can you get health insurance if you've been laid off? Well, there is a way, and our Gerri Willis woke up very early this morning to join us on the set to explain how that works. You'll want to stay here for that. Plus, the top stories coming right at you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Want to take a look at some of the other top stories that we are following for you today.
In Washington, police have shot and wounded a man sought in connection with the killing of an officer on Halloween night. It happened at this apartment complex. And police say the man drew a gun. There's no word on his condition.
HOLMES: We're getting reports that more than two dozen NATO and Afghan forces have been wounded. A NATO official says they were hit by insurgent activity while searching for two U.S. soldiers missing in western Afghanistan.
NGUYEN: President Obama hoping to help push through a Democratic health-care reform bill in the House. The president actually heads to Capitol Hill later this morning. Yes, working on Saturday for a visit with Democrats.
The full House begins debate in less than three hours from now. A final vote could come tomorrow.
HOLMES: All right. A lot on health care still up in the air. We don't know, and won't know until much later this afternoon and possibly tomorrow, about the fate of this bill.
NGUYEN: That's true. But here to break it all down is our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINAHUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Betty, T.J., it seems most people do want Congress to keep working. That according to our new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll. The survey suggests that nearly six out of 10 Americans want lawmakers to continue moving forward when it comes to health-care reform.
But that's where the agreement ends. Our poll indicates a quarter say the bill should pretty much be passed as is, with a third suggesting that Congress should make major changes. The poll says that one in four want Congress to start from scratch, and 15 percent of those we questioned want lawmakers to stop all work on health care.
The House bill that could be voted on this weekend has a public option. That's a government-administered health-care plan that would compete with private insurance companies. It's one of the reasons that no Republicans are supporting the Democrats' bill. Now, our poll indicates that a slight majority of Americans, 55 percent, like the public option.
One reason for this appetite for Congress to get something done may be rising health-care costs. According to the poll, 55 percent of Americans say their insurance company has raised their rates, deductibles or co-pays over the past year -- T.J., Betty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. We're going to have much more on our top stories and top story coming up in 6:30. We're learning more about the heroes of that massacre...
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: ...at Fort Hood, Texas. We will not be too far from that story at any point this morning.
NGUYEN: Very true. And in fact, it was a female police officer who shot the gunman several times. And she is being hailed a hero this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Well, we are just thrilled.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Let me start with that.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Gerri Willis.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Sorry. I didn't mean to laugh (INAUDIBLE).
HOLMES: It's OK. It's -- it's early.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: But good to have you here with us in studio. Gerri Willis, our personal finance editor, who is usually in New York. But here, for one, you're going to be doing your show live...
WILLIS: Right.
HOLMES: ...this morning, right here out of Atlanta.
WILLIS: It's live every week, T.J.
HOLMES: Yes, well...
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Live out of Atlanta, I should say, this time.
But good to have you here.
WILLIS: Thank you.
HOLMES: But we're talking about health insurance this morning. A big concern: What happens if you lose your job? How do you keep your health insurance? That's a big concern for a lot of folks. A lot of people losing jobs right now.
WILLIS: Well, that's right, T.J.
And -- and it's like double jeopardy, right? I mean, you lose your job, and then you lose your health care.
The good news is, is that Congress is offering some help here if you've been laid off between September 1st of 2008 and December 31st of 2009. Uncle Sam stepped in and covered 65 percent of your medical -- your health-care insurance premium. So that's a big deal. Four hundred to a thousand dollars per month. If you're unemployed, face it, you really can't afford that.
But the bad thing right now, T.J., is that lifeline is running out, OK? As I said, it only applies to people who were unemployed during a certain time period, and now those benefits are going away.
HOLMES: Yes.
WILLIS: They could be extended; we just don't know yet.
HOLMES: All right. Well, a lot of people have a very simple question: If I lose my job right now, what are my options for health insurance?
WILLIS: You know, the very best thing is to piggyback on your spouse's plan, if your spouse does have a plan. Look, it's easy to do. You have to sign up 30 days after you lose your own coverage. But it is the best-case scenario, because it's the cheapest.
The other thing is you can ask your employer, or your former employer I guess should say, 'Hey, can you give me a little more in my exit package, my severance package, will you pay a little bit of my health care, give me some help here.'
And finally, you can make that COBRA payment. Federal law requires companies with 20 employees or more to extend health care if you pick up the tab. Now, as I said, this is a lot of dough.
HOLMES: Yes.
WILLIS: This is, like, $400 to $1,000 every month. So people who are unemployed have a hard doing that. But typically, if you're in a large company, 20 more -- 20 or more employees, you have the option of doing that for up to 18 months.
But I have to tell you, T.J, you know, the options here are really limited, and it's very tough for people who are unemployed.
HOLMES: Are companies at this time -- are they -- everybody's trying to tighten up a bit. Are they being kind of -- are we seeing them being willing to help people out right now?
WILLIS: You know, it's a hard argument to make. HOLMES: Yes.
WILLIS: You know, you've really got to think about, 'Does my spouse have coverage?'
HOLMES: Yes.
WILLIS: That's your best-case scenario, the cheapest scenario, the best way to go. At the end of the day, I think we're all relying on Congress maybe to say, 'Hey you know what? We're going to extend this program a little longer.'
It could happen. We're waiting to see.
HOLMES: Did you say, "relying on Congress"?
WILLIS: I think I did.
HOLMES: We should all sleep a little better.
WILLIS: I think I did.
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE). All right. Gerri Willis, so good to have you here live with us. We're going to be talking to you...
WILLIS: Thank you.
HOLMES: ...plenty more before your show live at 9:30. And again, hosts live, special edition, right here, 9:30 Eastern. The subject's going to be, "understanding your open enrollment." Going to be answering your phone calls and e-mails about important decisions you have to make regarding the health -- health care.
The number -- do we have that up as well? Well, take it down. Just listen to my voice. It's 866-792-3399; 866-792-3399. We will be putting that up. And Gerri going to be back, top of the hour, talking on employment with us.
Good to have you here.
WILLIS: Thank you, sire.
HOLMES: Really, can you tell I'm excited to have?
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Good to have you here.
WILLIS: (INAUDIBLE)
HOLMES: We're going to be taking a look at the psychological impact of the unemployment numbers and why there is one bright spot in it all.
Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hello, everybody, and welcome back on this Saturday morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: Hello. I'm T.J. Holmes. Glad you could start your Saturday right here with us. Some of the things we're keeping our eye on today. There's been an outpouring, of course, of concern for the victims of the Ft. Hood shootings.
NGUYEN: Yes, in his weekly address this morning, President Obama talks about the shootings pointing out how quickly soldiers rushed to help their comrades.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'd like to speak to you a few minutes today about the tragedy that took place at Ft. Hood. This past Thursday on a clear Texas afternoon, an Army psychiatrist walked into the Soldier Readiness Processing Center and began shooting his fellow soldiers.
It's an act of violence that would have been heartbreaking had it occurred anyplace in America, it is a crime that would have horrified us had its victims been Americans of any background, but it's all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable because of the place where it occurred, and the patriots who were its victims.
The SRP is where our men and women in uniform go before getting deployed. It's where they get their teeth checked and their medical records updated, and make sure everything is in order before getting shipped out. It was in this place, on a base where our soldiers ought to feel most safe, where those brave Americans who are preparing to risk their lives in defense of our nation, lost their lives in a crime against our nation.
Soldiers stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world called and e-mailed loved ones at Ft. Hood, all expressing the same stunned reaction. I'm supposed to be the one in harm's way. Not you.
Thursday's shooting was one of the most devastating ever committed on an American military base, and yet even as we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America. We saw soldiers and civilians alike rushing to the aid of fallen comrades, tearing off bullet riddled clothes to treat the injured, using blouses as tourniquets, taking down the shooter even as they bore wounds themselves.
We saw soldiers bringing to bear on our own soil the skills they'd been trained to use abroad. Skills that had been honed through years of determined effort for one purpose and one purpose only; to protect and defend the United States of America. We saw the valor, selflessness and unity of purpose that makes our servicemen and women the finest fighting force on Earth. That make the United States military the best the world has ever known. And that make all of us proud to be Americans. On Friday, I met with FBI Director Mueller and Defense Secretary Gates and representatives of the relevant agencies to discuss their ongoing investigation into what led to this terrible crime. And I'll continue to be in close contact with them as new information comes in.
We can't fully know what leads a man to do such a thing, but what we do know is that our thoughts are with every single one of the men and women who were injured at Ft. Hood. Our thoughts are with all the families who have lost a loved one in this national tragedy and our thoughts are with all the Americans whose wear, or have worn, the proud uniform of the United States of America; our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, and the military families who love and support them.
In tribute to those who fell at Ft. Hood I've ordered flags flying over the White House and other federal buildings to be lowered at half-staff from now until Veterans Day next Wednesday. Veterans Day is our chance to honor those Americans whose served and the battlefields from Lexington to Antietam, Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Kesan, Ramadi to Kandahar.
There are Americans of every race, faith and station. There are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America. What they share is a patriotism like no other. What they share is a commitment to country that has been tested and proved worthy.
What they share is the same unflinching courage, unblinking compassion, and uncommon camaraderie that soldiers and civilians of Ft. Hood showed America and showed the world. These are the men and women we honor today. These are the men and women we honor on Veterans Day. And these are the men and women we shall honor every day in times of war, in times of peace, so long as our nation endures.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And we have been learning more about the man accused of shooting so many on Thursday. Investigators say Major Nidal Hasan fired, listen to this, more than 100 rounds from two handguns, one of them a semiautomatic. The father of one soldier, who did not want to be identified, says Hasan, a Muslim, yelled Allah Akbar, meaning God is great, as he pulled the trigger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said, Allah Akbar, and just opened up on everybody, and initially she thought that it was part of the training, some real-life scenario, but it was with a second or two that she realized it was for real, because the person next to her was shot and killed instantly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And we are hearing about two news briefings today regarding the Ft. Hood shootings. One at noon, at Scott White Memorial Hospital, in Temple, with the commander of Ft. Hood. And then Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to make remarks as well. The other, at 6:00 p. m. Eastern at Ft. Hood, that will be conducted by the base public affairs officers. We'll follow all of this for you today.
HOLMES: And please note that tonight we will have a special primetime series tonight talking about the search for answers. A special investigation "Inside the Ft. Hood Shootings" tonight at 8:00 right here on CNN. Don't want to miss this. Looking inside the investigation.
NGUYEN: We're also getting new information in Friday's workplace shooting in Orlando. According to CNN affiliate WFTV, the suspect's mother told police where he was hiding. Police say Jason Rodriguez fled to her apartment after he opened fire at an architecture firm where he used to work. One person killed, five other the wounded. Rodriguez may be in court as early as today to face charges. We will give you an update just as soon as we have new information.
HOLMES: Also the H1N1 flu now widespread, in 48 states. Manufacturing delays have caused a massive vaccine shortage. Federal health officials say 38 million doses are available now. More will be ready next week. This is one of our topics on our blog today. You can log on to CNN.com/TJ, or /Betty. And send us your questions.
We will have a pediatrician on hand to answer them in our half hour at 9:00 o'clock Eastern. We are dedicating to health care. Again, send those questions in to us about H1N1. Know you have them, a lot of people have them about their kids what they should give their kids, the mist versus the shot. Send those all in, he will answer those for us.
Then at 9:30 Eastern, Gerri Willis, hosts a live special edition of "YOUR BOTTOM LINE." This morning the subject is understanding open enrollment. She'll be answering your phone calls and e-mails about important decisions you have to make regarding your health care. The number is 866-792-3399.
NGUYEN: The House reconvenes two and a half hours from now as it nears a final vote on a Democratic health care reform bill. Negotiators worked late into the night producing an amendment to the bill that would bar most abortion coverage from the public option, and private insurance plans. House members will vote on that amendment today as part of the debate on the bill. A final vote could be pushed to tomorrow.
HOLMES: And let's let you take a look at a lovely live picture I think we do have this morning. It's coming, I'm told. There it is. The USS New York, being commissioned today, meaning it will officially join the fleet of the Navy. It's bow, as many of you know by now, made from 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center. We will be showing that commissioning ceremony which will include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking at it.
Just a really gorgeous sight; we saw it roll into New York this past week. Amid much deserved fanfare. It is officially joining the fleet today. Also we'll talk about what else is special about that particular ship.
NGUYEN: There are a lot of great stories surrounding that. This is really a source of pride, too. A pride that arrived after such enormous tragedy and we'll be watching that today as it begins.
Also in light of this week's deadly shootings in Texas and Florida, we've brought in our tech expert to show us some new software that can actually detect the sound of gunshots.
HOLMES: That's very interesting. It can help save lives, also alert people to get out and alert the police to come to the scene. So a lot of schools and businesses actually already use this. We are going to have a demonstration to explain how it works. Not a demonstration, where we are going to set off some gunfire. Let's be clear.
NGUYEN: No, we're not prepared for that kind of demonstration around here.
HOLMES: We'll explain how this thing works. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Checking our top stories right now. White House aides say President Obama plans to attend a memorial service for the victims of Thursday's shooting spree. That service has not been scheduled just yet, but in his weekly web and radio address, released this morning, the president called the incident a tragedy. He also said that the training designed to keep U.S. forces safe abroad, help prevent further deaths at Ft. Hood.
HOLMES: More than two dozen NATO and Afghan forces have reportedly been wounded while searching for a pair of missing U. S. soldiers. A NATO official says the security forces were hit by insurgent activity. The U.S. paratroopers disappeared Wednesday during a routine resupply mission in the western part of that country.
NGUYEN: In Washington police have shot and wounded a man sought in connection with the killing of an officer killed on Halloween night. Police say the gunman drew a gun as they chased him at his apartment complex. There is no word on his condition this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WOLF: All right, guys. We're talking about, of course, "Wacky Weekend" events. We have all kind of great things happening. Some that will stir your heart with patriotism, others make you go ...
NGUYEN: Huh?
WOLF: What was that?
NGUYEN: What is going on?
WOLF: Exactly. It is going to be one of those kind of things. First and foremost, this is a great one. The USS New York commissioning will take place today at 11 a.m. We are going to carry that live. Stay tuned. We'll have the very latest for you.
Also the National Radio Hall of Fame induction in Chicago. Neil Boretz (ph) of WSB, here in Atlanta, nationally syndicated is going to be listening today. Also, the late Phillies broadcaster Harry Callus, and Doctor Demento will be among the inductees.
NGUYEN: Doctor Demento?
WOLF: Yes, good times.
And a the National Toy Hall of Fame induction in Rochester, New York. They have the Big Wheel, the Gameboy and -- ball, elected, ball.
HOLMES: How is the ball just now getting into the Hall of Fame?
WOLF: See? Isn't that kind of ...
HOLMES: Isn't that the first toy?
NGUYEN: First, yes.
WOLF: What is the next one? Stick.
NGUYEN: No.
WOLF: The stick got inducted into the hall last year.
HOLMES: OK?
NGUYEN: They're a little late on that, don't you think?
WOLF: I know.
NGUYEN: That should have been one of the first few toys inducted.
WOLF: That does not wet your appetite, maybe this will. The Giant Omelet Festival in Abbeville, Louisiana. Cooking an omelet. Get this, 5,000-egg omelet. That is going to be tomorrow morning. How they turn over the darn thing, I have no idea.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: Just some crazy stuff that is going on.
About, again, the first thing we mentioned. We are talking about the USS New York. It is an amazing thing.
NGUYEN: I know.
WOLF: It is a floating memorial, it is born from the destruction of 9/11. Later this morning the Navy officially is going to welcome the new member to the team with the commissioning of this fantastic ship, the USS New York. There is a live picture for you. You see it right there.
CNN's Heidi Collins actually spoke with some of the sailors just yesterday serving aboard the ship.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): She's more than 25,000 tons. As long as two football fields and will eventually carry hundreds of U.S. sailors and Marines into battle across the globe. But it's the bow of this new ship that sets her apart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of any ship in the navy, this is one ship where you can really be proud of your mission and remember on a daily basis of why we're here, and why the ship is so special. The steel in the bow, we're very mindful that we're representing the families of victims of 9/11, and the victims, the people who died that day.
COLLINS: Beam by beam they sifted through this pile of wreckage and twisted metal, the devastated debris from the towering World Trade Center to salvage 7.5 tons of workable steel.
More than 1,000 workers then melted, poured and reshaped that steel into what would become the bow of the USS New York. Now plying the waters as a mighty symbol of all that was lost on that day more than eight years ago.
HOWARD LUTNICK, CEO, CANTER FITZGERALD, LOST BROTHER ON 9/11: We lost 658 employees, my brother, my best friend, all my co-workers.
COLLINS: Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald is adamant the memories of those he lost never be forgotten, and their survivors always be protected.
LUTNICK: I really like the idea of people going out and avenging what happened to us and protecting us so that it should never happen again, because the pain that we went through, we would want no other family to ever have to go through that.
COLLINS: The ship will be a memorial for Lee Lelpi (ph), too. His firefighter son Jonathan bravely went into the towers on 9/11, but never made it out.
LEE LELPI, LOST SON ON 9/11: What better way for our young men and women that will be on the USS New York to feel that spirit of our country, than to have this ship have that steel in the bow, and represent not the bad, the good of our country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: It is an amazing thing. A New York -- New Jersey, rather, volunteer firefighter came up with the idea of using the steel from the Twin Towers to build this war ship. He'll join us live around 10:15 Eastern and we are going to carry the commissioning ceremony. And that starts at 11:00 o'clock.
NGUYEN: Yes. WOLF: It is a cool thing to see that.
NGUYEN: It is.
HOLMES: It is. I really is.
NGUYEN: And that volunteer firefighter, the thing about it, his wife says he can't ever remember where he put his car keys but somehow in the middle of the night, came up with this amazing idea. And it has come to fruition.
WOLF: Good times.
NGUYEN: Yes, thank you, Reynolds.
HOLMES: Thanks Rennie, we'll see you again soon, buddy.
NGUYEN: All right, with the shootings in Ft. Hood and Orlando just over the past couple days, we want to show you a new program that businesses, schools and even police departments are using.
HOLMES: Yeah. Listen to this, folks. It detects the sound of gunfire. And then it can alert the police. Still to come, our tech guru, Mario Armstrong, he is here with us live. Here live, nice to have him in the studio with us. He will have a little show-and-tell for us. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, it took civilian police officers roughly four minutes to respond to calls from Ft. Hood on Thursday. There may actually be a way to get police officers to a scene even faster. There is some new software out there that can detect the sound of gunfire within a second of the shooter pulling the trigger. That's not all it does. Want to get details now from radio host and also our tech expert Mario Armstrong.
Good to have you here, in the studio, in Atlanta.
MARIO ARMSTRONG, RADIO HOST AND TECHNOLOGY EXPERT: In studio!
HOLMES: Good to have you here.
ARMSTRONG: In studio, in Atlanta with you, T.J. and Betty. Thanks for having me in.
HOLMES: Oh, no, thanks for being here. I was amazed when you told me about this yesterday, how this thing is supposed to work. So, explain just the basics of it. How does this thing work?
ARMSTRONG: Yes, so essentially, T.J., what happens here is, the scenario, is if someone shoots a gun in an urban area, or inside of a building, audio sensors can detect the precise location of where that gunfire is taking place, to be able to give the law enforcement or first responders a map, or longitude and latitude, of exactly the location where the gunshots took place. For example, here, we can take a look at exactly what the officers would see before they would actually approach a scene. This actually is the control panel. You could see this on a PDA, in an officer's hand. They could see it in their patrol car, or they could actually in the command center.
HOLMES: How long has this type of technology been around? And has it been around long enough that a lot of cities and businesses are starting to use it?
ARMSTRONG: Yes, you know, a lot of places are starting to pick it up. If you look at it, it is about 40-plus places across the country, cities and counties, and even internationally it is being used in two locations. Universities, like John Hopkins University is even using this technology to make sure their campus is safe.
We still have a lot of coverage yet to still go, but the good news is people are starting to see benefits from this system. Police departments are seeing they get situational awareness when they approach a scene. They can determine whether or not it was one shooter, whether or not it was a drive-by shooting, or whether or not it was a .32 caliber or a .38 caliber gun.
HOLMES: Oh, wow.
ARMSTRONG: It can give them a lot of information before they approach the scene and so the dispatcher can say, hey, you're turning your car on the northeast corner, you are actually heading right into the gun battle. Maybe you should come around from a different direction so you can be safe.
HOLMES: OK, last thing. Sounds like this is a complicated, new technology. Maybe some kinks to work out. But still, it sounds like you have to have the sensors in a lot of places in a lot of big buildings. So, how expensive of a proposition are you talking about here?
ARMSTRONG: Yes, this isn't cheap to do. You are talking about a two-block area costs about $7,500 per unit.
HOLMES: Oh, wow.
ARMSTRONG: It can go as high at $200,000 for a total square mile. Just so you can get a piece of an idea as to what some of these systems look like. This is what's going on in Baton Rouge, right now. This gives you an idea. This actually has a camera attached to it, as well. So the camera can zoom in as to where the gunfire took place. This is actually in Los Angeles. There are different designs, different looks. Some of them look smaller than this, and have like a like a pizza box type of feel, that you can't really detect and know.
HOLMES: This is some amazing stuff. Again, it's expensive right now and that probably deters a lot of people from getting it. But man, it sure can come in handy. Certainly in situations we have been seeing the past couple days.
ARMSTRONG: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Mario, thank you. Good to have you here. We're going to be checking in with you a couple more times this morning. Looking forward to it.
ARMSTRONG: Excellent. Thank you, T.J.
NGUYEN: That is great information.
Also want to give you this. President Obama making a rare Saturday appearance on Capitol Hill today. He'll be urging House Democrats to pass the health care reform bill this weekend. We're going to break down the major sticking points for you.
But first, a look at a couple more victims from Thursday's shooting at Ft. Hood. Michael Grant Cahill from Spokane, Washington; 62 years old. He was a physician's assistant. Private First Class Kham Xiong from St. Paul, Minnesota; 23 years old, enlisted last year, preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. It's a bit of a numbers game up on Capitol Hill. A lot of adding and subtracting going on these days.
NGUYEN: Special kind of math.
HOLMES: Special math, because they are trying to figure, Democrats, if they have the numbers to pass health care reform legislation.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: Even if they do have the numbers, they would rather have, you know, a few Republicans. They want it to look bipartisan, at least. Might want to give up on that one. But still -amongst all this, you still have to wonder if the bill is even going to go before the House floor, for the vote today?
NGUYEN: Yes, and there is going to be some debate today. In fact, party members have to find some kind of compromise over a couple of these contentious issues first. And CNN Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash tells us how these sticking points could still derail the entire process.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A sea of conservative protesters outside the capitol.
PROTESTORS CHANTING: Kill the bill! Kill the bill!
BASH: And an army of Republican lawmakers eager to rally them.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) MINORITY LEADER: This bill is the greatest threat to freedom that I have seen in the 19 years I've been here in Washington.
BASH: It is one last show of strength against the House Democrats' health care bill before a Saturday vote, though this Republican offered the crowd a dose of reality.
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN, (R) MINNESOTA: Quite simply, the Republicans don't have the votes to kill this bill. Every lever of power is controlled by one party now in D.C.
BASH: Inside the Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignored the protests outside and portrayed a sense of inevitability.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: We are right on the brink of passing historic legislation to provide quality, affordable, accessible health care for all Americans.
BASH: For House Democratic leaders now it's all about building momentum. And they got some big help with two endorsements, the American Medical Association, which represents doctors and the powerful seniors group AARP.
BONNIE CRAMER, BOARD CHAIR, AARP: We are supporting this bill because it meets the needs of our members.
BASH: Still, two controversial issues within the Democratic Party threaten to derail their health care bill. One is abortion. Democratic leaders are working to answer concerns like this.
REP. JASON ALTMIRE (D), PENNSYLVANIA: I don't think that we should have a bill that allows one penny of federal money to fund abortion, directly, or indirectly.
BASH: Another, immigration. The health care bill now bans illegal immigrants from getting taxpayer subsidies, but some conservative Democrats want to add language that prohibits illegal immigrants from buying health insurance, even with their own money. Hispanic Caucus members are furious.
REP. LUIS GUTIERREZ (D), ILLINOIS: If you include it, then I have the responsibility and the right, given what we've negotiated thus far, to walk away. And I think it would behoove the Democratic leadership and President Barack Obama to seriously reconsider bringing a health care bill that offends, that offends us, in our very, very core.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: After debating some of the issues late last night House Democrats reached a compromise on at least one of the issues. The anti-abortion Democrats -- they will offer at least an amendment today that will push to ban most abortion coverage from the public option and other insurance providers. They hope giving abortion opponents the opportunity to vote on the issue will at least clear the way for passage of that health care bill.
(MUSIC) HOLMES: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING for this November 7th. I'm T.J. Holmes, and a little under the weather Betty Nguyen.
NGUYEN: Yes. The voice is coming back slowly, though. Not a chain smoker, folks, but my voice is just kind of under the weather as am I this morning. But good morning, thanks for being here. Yes, I'm Betty Nguyen and you are starting your day with us.
It's 7:00 a.m. in Atlanta; 6:00 a.m. at Fort Hood, Texas, where the investigation continues this morning on the massacre on the largest U.S. military post. And this morning, we're going to take you like to Fort Hood for the latest developments. You're also going to hear from family members of the victims.
HOLMES: All right. And also, we want to hear from you this morning. We want your thoughts on Fort Hood, on that shooting. We'll be talking about some of your comments, reading some of those this morning. But you know where to find Betty and I -- Twitter, Facebook, also our blogs, CNN.com/TJ or Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes. President Obama is also making a stop on Capitol Hill today. He is working on a Saturday. Why? Well, because he's urging House Democrats to pass the health care reform bill this weekend.
HOLMES: And has that on his plate, but also the economy and some bad news. The number is now at 10.2 -- 10.2.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: That is the unemployment number. That is the highest we have seen in decades. Coming up in this hour, our financial expert, Gerri Willis, is here with us this morning, live in the studio. She at least has some good news for us this morning.
NGUYEN: Good.
HOLMES: Can't wait for that.
NGUYEN: Could use some of that, yes.
HOLMES: Can't wait for that. But we do want to get to Fort Hood and the tragedy there in Texas.
Here's what we know now, two days later. Investigators say Major Nidal Hasan fired more than 100 rounds from two handguns on Thursday. Two dozen of the 38 people shot remain hospitalized. Hasan, who was himself shot four times by a police officer, has been taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he is under heavy guard and in critical but stable condition.
The flag-draped remains of the 12 soldiers and one civilian killed Thursday were flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Autopsies are being done there.
We want to head now Fort Hood for more on the investigation. Our Sean Callebs is there live for us.
Sean, Hasan is a guy whose job it was to look after the mental health of the other soldiers. But now, questions about his own frame of mind on Thursday?
CALLEBS: Yes, without question. Let's begin, just several hours before that shooting, we know that one of Hasan's neighbors said he heard a great deal of noise in his apartment. They shared a common wall. It turns out Hasan was giving away his furniture in the middle of the night. Then later on, that same neighbor, Hasan called him at 2:37 in the morning, asked to use this wireless. He's able to do that. He called again at 5:00, used it again.
Well, investigators later went to that individual's apartment. His name is Willie Bell. They questioned him more than four hours on exactly what he was talking with Hasan about. Then, of course, Hasan came to this place and just unleashed terror. Around 1:30 Central Time, we know he fired more than 100 shots of 46 gunshot wounds on the victims who are shot dead and dying here, injured as well.
I want to bring in now the chief of police here at Fort Hood.
A lot of people are talking about Kimberly Munley, one of your officers. You have 165 officers under your supervision. She's something special. You had a chance to speak with her yesterday. People out there want to know how she's doing. She was shot in the wrist, in both thighs. How she's holding up?
CHIEF DAVID ROSS, FORT HOOD, TEXAS: Kim's holding up real well. I spoke to her last night. She underwent surgery yesterday. She was still in high spirits, in pain. She talked a little about feeling a lot better the day before than she was last night, obviously, because of the pain and undergoing the surgeries to remove the other bullets that were still in her leg.
CALLEBS: And in your discussions with her, she was able to tell you that she fired twice at Hasan, because the information we had was four times? But she told you twice?
ROSS: When I talked to her on the day of, she told me she had went to a prone position at the edge of the building and fired at least twice that she remembered, and at that point told me she thought she'd hit him at least twice and she couldn't remember exactly how many shots she had fired. And again, we're still waiting to find out exactly what all was -- happened at that particular point, how many rounds she did actually expend. So...
CALLEBS: She's been with your department close to two years. Now, this is something that's come across as Texas tough. How is she holding up?
ROSS: Kim, surprisingly, even the day of was very strong, talking about how she wishes she could have gotten there a lot sooner, and I explained to her...
CALLEBS: And that's important because she was here within four minutes.
ROSS: That is true. She got there within four minutes of the first 911 call that she got. She, in fact, had just cleaned her car up and was headed back to her patrol area, and she got the call and she immediately responded.
CALLEBS: Right. David Ross, thanks very much for joining us out here this morning.
And a couple of things, T.J. and Betty, that we were able to learn as well. We know that her husband has arrived from Fort Bragg. Her parents are here as well with her. We've had a number of e-mails, people trying to offer well-wishes to her. She does have a Facebook page. Of course, everybody does at this day and age.
So, if you want to contact her that way, they can do it.
Also, Lowe's, a store that here in Killeen, of course, very close ties to this base, has come. They've offered to build ramp at her house in case she's going to be in a wheelchair, actually take care of her entire house to make it wheel chair accessible, if she needs that.
And Lowe's also wants to come in and do work where the shooting took place, at the processing center. That, of course, has to be worked out at the base, but just an outpouring of support from around this area around the country to Kimberly Munley as well as all of those affected by that tragic shooting -- guys.
HOLMES: Yes, everybody is really going to be itching to talk to her and hear her story. But amazing to hear the details that so far trickled out.
We appreciate you this morning, Sean, for bringing that to us and grabbing the officer this morning. Thanks so much. We'll check in with you.
NGUYEN: Well, we are hearing about two news briefings today regarding the Fort Hood shooting: one at noon at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple with the commander of Fort Hood. Also, Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to make remarks there as well. Now, the other news conference, 6:00 p.m. Eastern at Fort Hood, that will be conducted by the base public affairs officer.
Well, you know, the shootings at Fort Hood changed the lives of dozens of families. And tonight -- a CNN special primetime coverage continues in the search for answers, the post, the suspect, the wounded. A special investigation "Inside the Fort Hood Shootings" airs tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
(MUSIC)
NGUYEN: Time now to check some of the other top stories for you today.
President Obama making a full-court press on Capitol Hill for health care overhaul that is. The president meets with House Democrats a little bit later this morning, and the House takes up a debate today on a health care bill, and that includes voting on an amendment that would ban most abortion coverage -- from the public option and from private insurers in a new exchange the bill creates. The final vote on the bill may not come until tomorrow.
HOLMES: Well, the suspect in yesterday's workplace shooting in Orlando may be in court as early as today. Police say Jason Rodriguez shot and killed one person and wounded five others during a rampage at an architecture firm where he once worked. He was arrested later at his mother's apartment. Our affiliate WFTW says it was actually his momma that called 911 to tell police where her son was.
NGUYEN: President Obama is planning to attend a memorial for the 13 who died during Thursday's shooting rampage at Fort Hood. A separate vigil was held at Hood Stadium in Texas yesterday, and more than 400 people gathered to remember the victims. The White House plans to schedule another memorial at the convenience of the victims' families. And as a tribute, the president has ordered flags at the White House and other federal agencies to be flown at half-staff until Veterans Day.
(MUSIC)
NGUYEN: I'm sorry.
HOLMES: You're OK, Betty.
NGUYEN: I'm trying.
HOLMES: It's OK. You hang in there, all right?
NGUYEN: My allergies are killing me today.
HOLMES: That's all right. Well, we are -- that bad news to other bad news, I guess. I'm sorry.
WILLIS: We're doing what we can.
HOLMES: On the unemployment numbers we're talking about, had a lot of bad news in it on Friday. The numbers that we did see unemployment -- now at 10.2 percent, Gerri.
WILLIS: This is really ugly, I have to tell you. It's important psychological threshold for the market and for people who watch it.
Let's look at some of these numbers in detail here. First of all, we said 10.2 percent. That's the overall level. It's a 26-year high. As you can see right here, there's been 22 straight months of job losses. I got to tell you, that's a long time, guys, really long.
OK. Seven-point-three million jobs have been lost since 2008. So the pain is deep. It's really concerning. We're seeing lots of people suffering out there.
There is one tiny bright spot, though, let me tell you about this. Even though the rate continues to go up, we've been talking about 10.2, 9.9, right? People filing for unemployment, the numbers are declining. For example, there was a net loss of 190,000 jobs in October, that is down from September, when 219,000 jobs were lost. So, I know that doesn't sound like a lot...
HOLMES: A lot, yes.
WILLIS: ... but it's important. And if you actually look at the trend month by month over time, you've seen improvement for like eight months.
HOLMES: So, that's good. That sounds a good news. We'll take that.
WILLIS: I'm here to make you happy, you know?
HOLMES: But still, there's one thing -- again, we see these numbers and people just get -- mind gets boggled sometimes dealing with all of these numbers. But just the 10.2. Once you get to the double digits...
WILLIS: Right.
HOLMES: ... that just -- no matter how much you've been watching, if you hear that number, that psychologically does something to us.
WILLIS: Well, you know, I think people look at that and they say to themselves, you know what, I'm not going to spend as much as I've been spending.
HOLMES: Oh, yes.
WILLIS: I'm going to pull in the reins a little bit. And, you know, we got a little pop in retail spending earlier this month, but I think people are going to start rethinking that. Consumers will take it as a reason not to spend. Companies will decide, "Hey, we're not spending as much." They'll become more cautious in their spending as well, and there were interesting numbers out last night.
Pay attention to this. Consumers are borrowing less and less. The Federal Reserve said last night, consumer credit fell for the eighth straight month, and the longest string of declines since 1943.
Now, this cuts two ways, really. I mean, the good news is, people are borrowing less, T.J., and it also means that they're going to have less debt. So, you can really look at it two ways. They're frightened, they're scared. They're not borrowing money. On the other hand, they're not going to have to pay it off.
HOLMES: That's great individually. But still, we need that engine to fuel this economy. We need people borrowing and buying things and so on and so forth.
WILLIS: We need businesses to spend money now. They're sitting on a big, fat cushion of cash waiting to see where all of this is going. If they came out and spent, they could also encourage the economy to expand as well.
HOLMES: Well, the holidays coming up...
WILLIS: Right.
HOLMES: ... people are always looking for jobs, people need to hire as well. So, could that help these unemployment numbers over the next couple of months?
WILLIS: Well, you know, I'd like to say the numbers are better than they are. You know, typically, might hire something like 700,000 people during the holiday season to man the retail sales floors at the local department stores, dollar stores. But, in fact, they're only going to hire about 400,000 this year. So, that's a bottom line with what they hired last year. It's going to be good, but not fantastic.
HOLMES: Not enough to help out.
WILLIS: I tried to give you some little glimmers there.
HOLMES: No, we appreciate the glimmers. And also, weren't we starting to feel better about the -- people starting to feel a little better about how things are going and now we get hit with this 10.2 number.
WILLIS: Well, you know, there's not a rule that says that, you know, recovery has to be straight up, right?
HOLMES: Yes.
WILLIS: You know, you can take steps back. We're going to see back and forth. And we probably won't know that we're absolutely into recovery until it's behind us.
HOLMES: Until it's done.
All right. Gerri Willis, she's here with us. Good to have you here live.
WILLIS: Thank you.
HOLME: (INAUDIBLE) there is a purpose for that. She has a live special edition of "YOUR BOTTOM LINE" this morning at 9:30 Eastern Time.
NGUYEN: Yes, the subject: Understanding open enrollment. Do you understand it when it comes to your insurance? We're going to answer some of your phone calls and e-mails about important decisions that you have to make regarding your health care. The number, do we have it for you? There -- at the bottom of your screen there. It is 1- 866-792-3399. Send in your questions this morning because Gerri Willis got answers for you.
T.J., you know, we were supposed to do our enrollment. Have you done yours?
HOLMES: Oh, next week, deadlines, yes.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: I'm good.
HOLMES: I'm not yet.
NGUYEN: Well, I may have to help you out.
HOLMES: I'm going to be your dependent next year.
NGUYEN: Oh, you're in trouble then.
OK. Here's some good information for you. If you own a home or looking to buy one, a few extra thousand dollars could be coming your way.
HOLMES: It sounds good.
NGUYEN: We're going to explain how to get your check.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
NGUYEN: All right. Signed, sealed and delivered. Yes. This week, Congress extended the $8,000 home buyers tax credit through next year. We talked about that maybe happening. Well, it has. And now, you have until April 30th to enter a contract and until June 30th to close.
OK. That said, let's get to the fine print, shall we? Because this morning, we are going to break down the top six myths surrounding the credit -- and to do that, we turn to our housing expert, and fact checker, shall we call him. That being Clyde Anderson.
Hey, there, Clyde. Good morning.
CLYDE ANDERSON, HOUSING EXPERT: Good morning, Betty. How are you?
NGUYEN: I am doing OK, and a lot of folks do even better once they get these myths busted. And you're going to be the myth-buster for us.
Let's get to myth number one: A first-time homeowner has never owned a home before.
ANDERSON: Right. Now, first...
NGUYEN: That's a myth?
ANDERSON: That is a myth.
NGUYEN: OK. ANDERSON: The first time buyer is one that hasn't owned a home or occupied in the last three years. (INAUDIBLE). Now, that's three years. A lot of people don't know that.
NGUYEN: Oh. So, I could have bought a home, say, seven years ago.
ANDERSON: Exactly.
NGUYEN: But if I hadn't owned it in the past three years and start to buy a new one, I'm a first-time home buyer and I qualify.
ANDERSON: That's right. You're a first-time home buyer again.
NGUYEN: Right. That is good news.
OK. So, here's myth number two. You can't receive tax credit if family income exceeds $75,000 a year, true?
ANDERSON: Well, actually, it's changed. If you could -- if you do no exceed an income of $125,000 a year for individual, it's $225,000 for a family or couple, then you can still qualify. So, those limits are wide. So, a lot of people do now fit into that box that they may not have fit into before.
NGUYEN: All right. Myth number three: you have to pay back the $8,000 tax credit.
ANDERSON: You don't. This is -- unlike the first one that was issued for $7,500, which required you to pay it back. This one, you don't have to pay it back. It's an $8,000 tax credit.
Now, if you move from the property in a said period of time, you may have to pay back some of that money. So, you definitely are going to want to check into that. But it's not money that you have to pay back next year and it's not a loan. It's actually a tax credit that they'll give you and your taxes.
NGUYEN: OK. For those married folks out there, if you are married, filing separately, can both apply for the credit?
ANDERSON: Yes. What happens, though, is they split it in half. You can both apply. If you file separately, you can both apply. But can you get $4,000, your spouse will get $4,000. So, it still equals that same $8,000.
NGUYEN: Oh, the same thing.
ANDERSON: Yes, exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Kind of a tricky there.
All right. Number five, I love this music. It's delayed but I like it. And myth number five -- oh, see? Now they're playing with me.
ANDERSON: I love it.
NGUYEN: OK. I will get the full $8,000 even if I owe the government money?
ANDERSON: That is a big, fat myth.
NGUYEN: Oh!
ANDERSON: That is not true.
NGUYEN: OK.
ANDERSON: If you owe the government money, they're going to take the difference.
NGUYEN: Of course, they are.
ANDERSON: So, if you owe the government $5,000, you probably will only get $3,000. So, you got to be careful with that.
NGUYEN: Can I get some music on that? I'm waiting. There you go!
All right. And the last one, myth number six.
ANDERSON: Right.
NGUYEN: You can apply for the credit before you purchase a home. I love that.
ANDERSON: You cannot.
NGUYEN: OK.
ANDERSON: And there's been several cases out there of fraud and some other things. You got to really be careful. Do not try to get this credit until you actually purchased a home, have a HUD-1 settlement statement to show that you have purchased a home. You don't want to do anything before. You don't want to jump the gun.
So, you have to complete the purchase, go through the whole transaction, don't say, "Hey, I'm going to buy a house and I'm going to get this credit now," and end up don't buying a house, you're going to be in big trouble.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes, definitely. OK.
ANDERSON: Yes. And that's my final answer, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. I'm loving it!
ANDERSON: There you are.
NGUYEN: The myth-buster himself, Clyde Anderson. We do appreciate it. We're going to do this again, I like it.
ANDERSON: Yes, I like that.
NGUYEN: All right. See you next weekend, Clyde.
ANDERSON: All right, Betty, have a good one.
NGUYEN: You, too.
HOLMES: All right. We're keeping an eye on our top story this weekend, a shooting at Fort Hood. We're learning the gunman fired some 100 rounds. Also, America's seen its share of shootings over the years. Certainly, Josh Levs looking back for us.
Josh, good morning, again.
LEVS: And good morning to you, guys. Yes, mass shootings are a horrible American phenomena. A lot of people are asking, how often do these things actually happen here? I'm going to show you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. So, two mass shootings in two days: Fort Hood in Texas and then at an office complex in Orlando, Florida. A lot of people are going what the heck is going on in this country? Well, these are just the latest of a series of rampages in America.
HOLMES: Yes. You think back, we have seen these time and time over the years. In fact, there had been mass shootings every year for the last few years, and including several already we've seen this year. And we know, Josh Levs is taking a look for us.
Hello, again, Josh.
LEVS: Hey to you, guys.
Yes, we've been working with CNN.com on this, putting together this interactive look, because exactly as were you saying, so many people are saying, we feel that we hear about these all the time.
Let's zoom in. I want to you show everyone. We have a special section on CNN.com. Just click on any Fort Hood story, it brings you to the latest coverage we have at Fort Hood.
This is a timeline, a look at mass shootings in U.S. since 2005. Instead of reading every one, I just want to scroll through quickly at first and just show you the years. Look, there's one from 2005. Here, 2005 again. Next, 2006, 2007. Then look at all this -- another 2007, 2008. All of these in just the last few years. And all of these from 2009 alone.
Mass shootings in America. This one you're looking at right here is something we reported on a lot. This was George Sodini, who walked in to a gym outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, opened fire in an aerobics class. Let's scroll back to just a few of these. You can see a few of these. Example, this was Robert Stewart carrying several weapons, who killed several patients and a nurse at Pinelake Health and Rehab Center in Carthage, North Carolina.
Also, we go back a little more, you're going to see one we did a lot of reporting on as well at Virginia Tech. A lot of people, you know, remember a lot of these examples. And this is what we're been seeing in the United States over recent years, these shooting rampages.
I also want to mention this interactive from "The Wall Street Journal," where they put together a map and you click on anyone of these cities, and they give you information, too, with pictures about these mass shootings we've been seeing in the United States -- big talker online today.
Let's go to the graphic here. I want to show you all how you can weigh in. You've already been doing it in the blogs at CNN.com/Betty and TJ, I'm up there, too, slash Josh.
We've also been having a conversation since yesterday on my Facebook and Twitter pages, JoshLevsCNN, a lot of people weighing in guys. I certainly encourage to check out the special section at dotcom, look at some of that story, think about what's going on in this country -- Betty.
NGUYEN: All right, Josh, thank you for that.
You know, and many of you are showing your support for the Fort Hood community, as well those in Orlando, affected by that shooting there, and you've been responding on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
We want to read some of them to you right now. Let me go to my Twitter page. (INAUDIBLE) says, "It's terrible what happened in Fort Hood and Orlando. Need stricter gun law regulations." And MarvelosoT (ph) says, "The Fort Hood situation is tragic. I hope many lessons will be learned. And I hope God blesses those affected."
And quickly, let me go to my Facebook page. And John Bolster (ph) says, "My prayers and sympathy go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones. To all the men and women of the U.S. military, you make us proud."
So, thank you so much for sending in your comments today. You can also e-mail us on our blog as well. Just go to CNN.com/Betty or CNN.com/TJ, and reach us at Facebook and Twitter, and lots of ways to share your thoughts and we'll be reading more of that on the air this morning.
HOLMES: And coming your way in our 9:00 a.m. hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, we're dedicating that half hour to health care. We'll be talking about those proposed bills on Capitol Hill, also taking your questions.
NGUYEN: And also talking H1N1. Send us your questions. Yes, speaking of questions, because we have a pediatrician who will be live on this set to answer your questions. So, you've got to send them in. That will be in the 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And a look now at another of the 13 who died at that shooting in Fort Hood on Thursday. This is 56-year-old John Gaffaney. He's a psychiatric nurse. He had just traveled to Fort Hood. He had just been there, just gotten there this week. He had arrived to prepare for a year-long overseas deployment.
NGUYEN: We're going to have more on the shootings at Fort Hood at the top of the hour when CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues.
HOLMES: But first, time for us to hand it over to Dr. Sanjay Gupta at "HOUSE CALL."
