Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Secret Service Agents Replaced; Battle to Win Women Voters; North Korea's Missile Launch Fails; Spring Cleaning Your Social Media; Storms Brewing in Plains states; Meteorologist Chases Storm Close-up; Prostitution Scandal with Obama's Security Detail; Dental X-rays Linked to Tumors

Aired April 14, 2012 - 11:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is Saturday, April 14th. Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye.

A dozen of the President's Secret Service agents forced to go home from Colombia. The latest on the shocking allegations that reportedly may involve prostitutes. Details in just a moment.

A massive tornado outbreak expected just hours from now. States across the country are on alert and on edge. There is already damage in Oklahoma, we're watching the situation.

Comments about Ann Romney have unleashed a debate about moms and thrust the spotlight on women voters. We're putting the fight, the campaign for votes in focus.

And there is a sense of urgency right now in the U.S. that a new outbreak of tornados is possible in the Plains states. Conditions are ripe for severe weather throughout the weekend. A tornado touched down near in Norman, Oklahoma late yesterday damaging a number of homes no serious injuries. High winds in Yuba City, California caused damage to this car dealership as well.

So what's the high risk? Well, let's bring back in meteorologist, Alexandra Steele. We caught you a little bit early there. But tell us what's happening and where this might hit.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: All right well, you know what's most unsettling is not only where it might hit and kind of the vastness of that but when it might hit. We're going to watch these potentially develop beginning between about 4:00 and 8:00 tonight. So of course, that means night time. That means rain-wrapped tornadoes potentially. That means you can't see what's coming.

So when I talk about your city today, going there, know someone who is there, I think the key this morning for the Saturday and Sunday outbreak potentially is to have a plan today. Maybe have a flashlight, a helmet. Know where you're going to go and where your kids are going to be. Just that kind of thing.

All right. So right now this is the radar picture. No severe weather as of yet this morning. We're high and dry. Had a tornado watch earlier and expired at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.

Just showers and thunderstorms a lot of lightning too but look at this I-40 Corridor, I-44 just getting pounded. St. Louis heading toward Cincinnati and, of course, Indianapolis it's going to be a wet day for you. Wet would be fine, right? It's the severity of the nature of the beast we don't want, but atmospherically, it's all coming together. Two days ago we could kind of see this atmospherically get its act together.

Warm moist air coming out of the south. We had this area of high pressure that was kind of blocking this warm moist air that has pushed eastward kind of allowing the floodgates to open, no pun intended and allowing this warm moist air to come in. What we've got is this robust jet stream kind moving in to this warm sector. I know it's a little technical. But just kind of show you what needs to happen to make these things develop.

Area of low pressure upper levels of the atmosphere bringing in some cold air aloft so with that, right P.S., what you need to know. Des Moines, Wichita, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Abilene, Kansas and even a slight risk in Abilene, Texas.

Again this is today. The balance of this looks like they'll develop sometime between 4:00 and 8:00 beginning to develop. So that means once the sun sets that's when the east could really fire off. Sunday a big threat.

Look at Green Bay, Wisconsin, Randi all the way down to Houston, Texas. So we're talking about five million people, a thousand miles of turf impacted there.

KAYE: Wow. That is a huge area. We'll keep an eye on that, Alexandra.

STEELE: Sure.

KAYE: Thank you very much for that update.

Allegations of sex, lies, and fear of blackmail rocking the office of the U.S. Secret Service; a dozen agents entrusted with protecting President Obama during a weekend summit in a notoriously dangerous country of Colombia have been relieved of duty and send home packing.

The journalist who broke the story told me earlier what he knows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONALD KESSLER, JOURNALIST/AUTHOR: All 12 agents involved in this situation involving prostitutes and one of the agents did not pay one of the prostitutes and she complained to local police. And that's how this all started.

The police went to the State Department. The State Department told the Secret Service. The Secret Service recalled all the agents. It is clearly the biggest scandal in Secret Service history.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: Our White House correspondent Dan Lothian is traveling with the President in Cartagena, Colombia. Dan, what are you hearing there?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, I'm told that this will be handled by the Office of Professional Responsibility which is kind of an internal affairs division of the U.S. Secret Service.

According to a U.S. law enforcement official, here is how it will work. They'll take a look at what occurred. They'll look at who some of these people may have been -- who are part of this allegation here in Colombia. They'll also be conducting additional interviews. All of that has taken place since these officers were sent home from Colombia.

The spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, Edwin Donovan saying in part in a statement, quote, "Because of this, these personnel are being relieved of their assignments, returned to their place of duty and are being replaced by other Secret Service personnel. The Secret Service takes all allegations of misconduct seriously." He went on to say that none of this in this incident compromised President Obama's security here in Colombia -- Randi.

KAYE: And -- and how is the White House overall handling this and -- what do you think -- what do you expect they'll do in the hours and days ahead?

LOTHIAN: Well, they're hoping that this headline goes away. This obviously has been a serious distraction for the administration. They came here to Colombia to really focus on things like trade, overall the economy, how Latin America can be a market for U.S. goods and boost job creation domestically. And so that's what they really want to focus on during the summit, but obviously this is seen as a big distraction.

Nonetheless, they do take these allegations seriously and they are being investigated. Of course, this is being handled by the Secret Service.

KAYE: And in terms of these two bomb blasts that we've seen and heard about that you've reporting on all morning in Cartagena, I mean, has security been beefed up there as well?

LOTHIAN: I'm told by a U.S. official that they have not beefed up security here. Already they have a very comprehensive security plan not only with the U.S. Secret Service but also the national police here in Colombia.

But yes, you pointed out these two incidents that occurred. Two bombings or explosions, rather, that took place in Bogota. Two others that took place last night here in Cartagena. I'm told by a U.S. official that it was several miles away from the venues where these heads of state are holding meetings or staying and that there were no injuries only minor damage, still no claim of responsibility for these incidents. They are being described, these devices are being described as homemade pipe bombs, if you will. Now, we did reach out to the Secret Service to see if they had heightened their security level. I was told by the Secret Service that, quote, "We have a comprehensive security plan in place and work closely with our Colombian National Police partners."

Beyond that, they won't give any specifics about what they might be changing in terms of their security here on the ground.

KAYE: All right. Dan Lothian for us. Dan thank you very much for the update.

The U.N. may vote this morning on whether to send 30 military monitors to Syria next week, but the bloody massacre goes on days after a fragile cease fire went into effect.

In Homs government forces shelled residential neighborhoods at dawn. Government forces also targeted protesters in Daraa injuring at least 20 people. Opposition activist say at least 16 people were killed by Syrian Security Forces across the country today. The U.N. estimates at least 9,000 Syrians have been killed since protests began there just over a year ago.

Back here in the U.S. as George Zimmerman sits in a 67 square-foot jail. His attorney Mark O'Mara is pushing to get Zimmerman out on bond. A bond hearing is tentatively scheduled for the next Friday. O'Mara was hired to defend Zimmerman the same day Zimmerman was charged of second-degree in the shooting death of unarmed teen, Trayvon Martin.

O'Mara says that Zimmerman is stressed, nervous and quote, "frustrated that he was charged at all".

President Obama and Mitt Romney are vying for a key voting bloc -- women voters ahead. There were a few stumbles this week as Democrats and Republicans made their case to women.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: This morning we're taking a closer look at the 2012 election and the battle for the women's vote. The latest poll shows President Obama with a sizeable lead over Republican Mitt Romney, but Romney is hoping to close that gap with the help of his wife Ann.

I talked with our political editor Paul Steinhauser about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: The Romney campaign Randi has been using Ann Romney to a degree to help -- when it comes to female voters. We saw her take a bigger kind of role in -- in her husband's campaign back in the primaries back in February and March and I think you're going to see a lot of her now that we're moving into the general election especially when it comes to reaching out to female voters. Part of the Romney campaign's argument that the Obama administration is not helping women when it comes to the economy and when it comes to the jobs. They're using Ann Romney as their conduit.

KAYE: As far as choice for president goes, Obama is doing pretty well with women there, 57 percent compared to 44 percent with men. Romney, it's the flip of that. Romney has 52 percent with men and only 38 percent with women. Will the female vote, do you think, this time around be enough to carry Obama back to the White House?

STEINHAUSER: I think that's one of the things that the Obama re- election campaign is hoping for. We've seen this gender gap Randi going back to 1980 with Democratic presidential candidates doing better with women, Republican candidates doing better with men.

So the strategy here I guess for the President and his re-election team is to make sure that they do really well with women to make up for their deficit among men and vice versa for Mitt Romney.

KAYE: What if anything can Mitt Romney though, to -- to change women's minds?

STEINHAUSER: Well, they're hoping that as we get away from the primaries, social issues that have come up, that have been -- maybe damaging to him when it comes to the female voters will fall away. And again he's going to concentrate on the economy. He's going to say that what President Obama has done the last couple of years has not helped women at all; that a lot of women have lost jobs under -- in the Obama economy.

And again, you're going to continue to see Ann Romney out there front and center reaching out to female voters to carry that message. We'll see if they're successful.

KAYE: How much do you think Romney will be looking to his vice- presidential candidate to try and help him in this category? I mean what should he be looking for in that candidate?

STEINHAUSER: Oh yes this is fascinating. This is what we're going be talking about nonstop between now and probably August when -- when you would assume Mitt Romney will announce his running mate. If he has a problem with women voters, according to these polls we've seen, does that mean he needs to pick a female running mate? Well, maybe.

He's had a deficit a well among Latino voters. So does he need to take maybe a Latino or Hispanic running mate?

What about social conservative voters; we saw in the primaries that he had with that? And a lot of them were flocking to Rick Santorum and some of the other candidates. So does he need a strong social conservative running mate?

What about Tea Party supporters and other place where he had a problem in the primaries? Does he need somebody who's a real fiscal conservative hawk, somebody who's very popular with Tea Party voters? All these areas -- and what about the battleground states as well. Does he need somebody from Florida, from Ohio, or one of the other important battleground states? All of these are consideration as Mitt Romney now looks toward his running mate. It'll be the biggest decision he makes as the nominee on the Republican side.

KAYE: Yes it can certainly make or break his candidacy. We've seen that before.

STEINHAUSER: Oh yes.

KAYE: Paul Steinhauser, thank you very much.

STEINHAUSER: Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: "STATE OF THE UNION" host Candy Crowley talked politics with legendary actor/comedian and activist Bill Cosby. She also talked to him about the Trayvon Martin case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST "STATE OF THE NATION": More a gun issue than a race issue?

BILL COSBY, ACTOR/COMEDIAN: How are you -- how are you going to solve a race issue when it becomes, he said/she said or he said/he said. And the other question is what is solved by saying he's a racist, that's why he shot the boy? What -- what solves that? This and what is he doing with it? And who taught him and told him how to behave with this?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: You can see the complete interview tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on "STATE OF THE UNION".

North Korea's missile launch was meant to show the world its defiant power. But could its failure fuel a more dangerous response from North Korea? I'll talk to a man who has firsthand knowledge of North Korea and negotiating with its leaders -- next.

Plus, what are the worst jobs in America right now? We'll take a look. The career Web site Careercast ranked these jobs based on low pay, high stress, and bad hiring outlook. Newspaper reporter came in fifth place because of dwindling jobs since the digital revolution. Fourth place, oil rig worker because the physical dangers of the job are relatively low pay. Third place, enlisted military soldier. Second place, dairy farmer.

So what is the worst job in America? We'll have the answer for you in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: We showed you the worst jobs of 2012, but what is the worst job of all? Being a lumberjack. According to the career Web site Careercast unemployment for loggers is very high right now and demand is expected to continue to fall through 2016. It's also among the most dangerous job in the world.

Want to see how your job ranks right now? Well, all you have to do is go to careercast.com and there's a complete list for you right there.

North Korea's botched rocket launch is seen as a humiliating failure. The long-range missile fell apart just 90 seconds after lift-off. Now world leaders are waiting to see how North Korea's new leader will react.

Earlier I spoke with former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and former New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson about the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL RICHARDSON, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: We learned several things. One: that their intercontinental ballistic missile system still has some real technology gaps, so I don't see how they could eventually shoot something the distance of the United States. They're years away from that.

Secondly, we did learn that in the past they've had two unsuccessful launches. They never admitted to it. This time they did admit to it because I think there's more technology, more cell phones in North Korea.

What we don't know is what are they going to do next? The danger is that they will pursue an underground nuclear test to atone for this failure, which is a blow to the new leader Kim Jong-Un.

KAYE: North Korea, of course, has said all along that this was just a satellite launch, a weather satellite. But it is still military technology. So do you think as many have said that this was a cover for something bigger, maybe even a future plan?

RICHARDSON: Yes, yes, I do think it was a test of ballistic missile technology. It was very clear in the United Nations security council that this was prohibited. The North Koreans, when they negotiated with us, with the United States, in change for food aid, they would not pursue additional nuclear technology. This test clearly was a violation of that, although there's a dispute in the understanding.

So yes. I think mostly it was a strong symbolic celebration of the new leader acceding to power as the supreme leader of North Korea, celebrating the hundred years of Kim Il-Sung who was the founder of North Korea. And also to demonstrate to the population of North Korea that they had a new leader; that he was powerful, prestigious.

So this has obviously affected them. I think where we go from here, we've got to be very careful. We can't gloat about this. We can't provoke them. I think it's important that we keep our cool. The six-party countries try to negotiate, put pressure on North Korea, especially China that has leverage over them because they provide food and fuel to that country.

KAYE: The U.S. is certainly announcing it's suspending food aid, but, clearly, is that enough? I mean should there be more sanctions? What would you advise the President?

RICHARDSON: Well, I would pursue Security Council condemnation resolution. That should be coming very soon. I don't think you can pursue any additional sanctions. Maybe there are some potential sanctions that you can pursue that deal with them having access to sensitive military technology, but outside of that, they're sanctioned to death.

I think what's important is keep the food aid in suspension. Don't cancel. Let them make the next move. If it's a hostile move, obviously there's not much you can do for now.

But I think history has shown that if you isolate them, if you just punish them, this gives them opportunities to react negatively. So I think we need to keep our cool. Key players are South Korea, Japan, Russia, but especially China that has leverage over North Korea.

KAYE: And given your experience --

(CROSSTALK)

RICHARDSON: So I think the administration is acting --

KAYE: Given your experience -- I'm sorry to interrupt you there -- how soon might you think that we'll see another test from them?

RICHARDSON: Well, I think -- I think the odds are pretty high that they will do something else like an underground nuclear test. I think internally they have to recover from this blow. That's what I think they will do.

But they keep -- you can't predict what North Korea does. I've been dealing with them for years. You don't know what their next step is. The problem, though, is that they have at least six nuclear weapons, they've got ballistic missile technology, 1.2 million men in arms. We've got close to 30,000 troops in the DMZ between North and South Korea, we have an alliance with South Korea.

That whole area is a tinder box. You have to watch it. You have to be careful. You can't provoke them, but you have to be tough with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Governor Bill Richardson.

Do you know what your online reputation is? Well, you might want to and your boss, guess what, might want to know as well. We're doing some social media spring cleaning next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Welcome back. If you're active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, you're going to want to pay attention to this.

Potential employers starting to notice your online presentation. Just this week, Maryland lawmakers voted to ban employers from asking employees or job applicants for passwords and social media account information. Facebook said employers asking for that information undermine the privacy and security of the user and the user's friends.

This has a whole lot of people talking. I spoke with HLN digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong about what we can all do about this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIO ARMSTRONG, HLN DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: The idea that an employer could be able to ask you and demand it in some cases, I mean this is still going on. This is happening with athletic coaches at the University of North Carolina. This is happening with the Virginia state troopers.

So many people are being demanded to ask for their user name and password for Facebook. Facebook doesn't agree with this. But I think that Facebook should take an actual bigger step forward, a proactive step and say you know what, any business that is violating the privacy of an individual for applications or for college admissions should be -- have their page banned or temporarily shut down from Facebook. I think that could be an impressive step, but one that would send a clear message. People aren't really happy about this at all.

KAYE: So if we wanted to clean up our Facebook page for those of us who have a reason to before an employer checked it out, whatever you delete, is that permanently deleted?

ARMSTRONG: No.

KAYE: Because you know, the Library of Congress has said that they're archiving everyone's tweets.

ARMSTRONG: That is a very good point. No, everything does not get automatically deleted. It's kind of like your trash can on your computer. Over time those files will delete, but not will they all be gone right away.

The best thing to do for spring cleanup, check your page, check your wall, and make sure that other people that are posting information on your site have to get approval from you first. You want to make sure no inappropriate content gets on there not only from you, but more importantly from maybe some of your friends and others that don't realize you're going through an interview process at that time.

KAYE: So if you're worried about your online reputation Mario, is there a way that we can determine what it is?

ARMSTRONG: Yes. There is a Web site called reputation.com. I think we actually even did this for you. KAYE: Uh-oh.

ARMSTRONG: They have a free service and then they have some paid services, but this is a serious thing, folks. I want you to take this very serious. Your reputation is being determined by how you look online. You don't even get a chance to make a phone call, to sit in an interview. They're doing all of this to find out who you are, what you're about, what your associations are, what you do in your off time to get a better understanding and the best place to do that is the web. So if you want to find out when things are being mentioned about you online, use services like Gmail, Google alerts, as well as something like reputation.com.

KAYE: You found my reputation is pretty clean right?

ARMSTRONG: Yes. You are squeaky clean which is a little concerning.

KAYE: It's because I've deleted everything.

ARMSTRONG: You're a smart woman.

KAYE: All right. Mario, that's great advice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Parts of the U.S. are on alert for the possibility of tornados today. We'll tell you where when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Top stories now. President Barack Obama is under the protection of a new security detail in Columbia. This effort, a dozen Secret Service agents were relieved of duty and sent home after one of the agents allegedly met up with a prostitute, didn't pay her, and was reported to police. Ronald Kessler, the reporter who broke the story calls it the biggest scandal in Secret Service history.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: In Syria, people can hear the sounds of gunfire and shelling again. The U.N. Security Council has now unanimously voted for a solution to improve international cease-fire monitors going to Syria. Meanwhile, the government is already defying a cease-fire plan implemented earlier this week.

Opposition activists say at least 16 people were killed by Syrian security forces across the country today. Twenty people injured after government forces opened fire at demonstrations in Iran.

People across the Plains states are bracing for the real possibility of severe weather today, specifically tornados. One twister touched down near Norman, Oklahoma late yesterday tearing roofs off a number of homes. No serious injuries were reported.

And let's check in now with Meteorologist Alexandra Steele, who has been watching these storms as they -- as they head that way. STEELE: Yeah, you know, Randi, what's most concerning about the tornado threat today isn't so much the potential for long-track tornados, which we could see, but the timing of it. It looks like the balance of them will begin after the sun sets, so of course, potentially rain raft and dark.

So if I'm talking about any of your cities, where you're going to, maybe coming through, you have friends there, I think the goal today -- with the tornado threat tonight, overnight and into tomorrow is have a plan. Be it have food, have a helmet, have something, know where you are, your kids are going to be.

So let's show you where things are now. Nothing severe as of yet, which is certainly good news. But this I44 corridor from St. Louis heading just north of Sinceda (ph), Indianapolis, kind of a wet go. Thunder storms, lightening, a lot of it, but nothing severe, so that is the good news there this morning.

But, here's the potential in why the atmosphere's just so juiced for some severe weather and quite an outbreak, potentially. All this warm, moist air coming up from the south in gradient number one, we've got this robust jet stream moving right into that warm, moist atmosphere. Upper level cold pocket coming in, so it's kind of just an explosion waiting to happen.

So Omaha, Kansas City, Wichita, Oklahoma City, we're talking about 5 million people today and tomorrow, about 1,000 miles of turf impacted. Highlights today, Saturday, where we'll see in Demoines, Wichita, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Abilene, both Kansas and even the slight potential for Abilene, Texas, kind of out of that high risk area, but still the potential.

Sunday, tomorrow, all the way, Randi, from Greenbay, Wisconsin to Chicago, St. Louis, Little Rock, even Houston, Texas tomorrow.

Big picture today, severe weather threat kind of bulls eye in the country, Northeast, beautiful. Calm, benign, beautiful weather. And here, of course, snow in the intermountain West.

KAYE: And it's most dangerous because if this hits late at night, then they're not going to even know it's coming.

STEELE: That's right. Absolutely, so kind of a goal today, I think, is to kind of, everyone's thinking caps on, kind of poised and ready, kind of just be aware of what could happen, so maybe sleep a little lighter with a lower radio.

KAYE: Yeah. Have a plan.

STEELE: That's right. That's it.

KAYE: All right. Thank you very much. People living in the direct path of these storms, of course, are on alert and on edge. CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti is at the National Weather Center, storm prediction center that's in Norman, Oklahoma. Susan, good morning to you. What's happening there? SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Randi. Well, this is ground zero for all the meteorologists who are putting together a plan and predictions for where those storms are expected to hit this day.

Look at how busy this place is and all the equipment and data and access they have to all kinds of information. Screens up on the wall, you have meteorologists all over the room -- this one here, another gentleman over here, who is in charge of all the forecasters who are working this day.

And we happened to be located, as you mentioned, in Norman, Oklahoma, where coincidentally, just last night, a tornado swept through Friday afternoon. Fortunately there was limited damage at that time, very few injuries -- none of them considered serious -- but it does indicate that people here in particular are bracing for what lies ahead overnight tonight and into tomorrow.

Now, I find it particularly interesting -- these screens here up on the wall behind me, the one to the far left shows satellite imagery. The red areas are dry areas, the blue that you see on that map indicates moisture throughout various parts of the country.

And swinging over here, this screen that's very, very colorful, if you can make out the orange little squares, that's everywhere that there is some kind of weather watch or warning, any place in the country for any number of different reasons.

And the whiter areas we're about to tell you more about, the different colors indicate the severe weather risk, and it gets broader and then more narrow and narrow with each different color.

Over here is Steve Weiss, who can give us the headline for what's happening today. As a matter of fact, as we speak, you're thinking about putting out a watch for a certain area. Please tell us about that.

STEVE WEISS, METEOROLOGIST, NOAA: That's correct. Thunder storms are all developing already this morning in parts of Southwest Kansas as well as parts of Central Nebraska. The environment is very favorable for intensification and our lead forecaster, John Hart, is -- as we speak -- is coordinating the forecasters in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma on the issuance of a tornado watch for parts of at least Western and Central Kansas, possibly extending up into Nebraska.

CANDIOTTI: Steve, real fast, I was going to say, too, this is only the second time since 2006 that you've put out a high-risk alert this far in advance -- a couple days. What's different about now, what's the -- how has the approach changed?

WEISS: What has happened is two things. One, the system has been more predictable than some weather systems. We started indicating a threat of severe weather seven days out. And coming up into three days out, two days out, the signals were very strong that if storms develop, long-track, dangerous tornados were certainly in the offing (ph), so we had enough confidence to indicate this early on, and the indications are that storms are beginning to develop now. CANDIOTTI: And you want to get that word out just as quickly as possible. Like we said you can't say it often enough, Randi, you know that people must have plans, they have to be prepared. Check on your neighbors. Make sure they're safe, too. Because tonight and tomorrow could be a rough ride. Randi.

KAYE: Absolutely. Susan, I hope you have a safe place to stay as well. Thank you very much for that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Usually when there is a storm like this one brewing, most folks would head the other way, but not Tony Laubach. He's been chasing storms for a long time and loving it. And he's on the road today, chasing this one down. I spoke to him earlier about why he does this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TONY LAUBACH, STORM CHASER/METEOROLOGIST: We are in Salina, Kansas, we're heading up to Nebraska today. Today looks very, very potent, very reminiscent of many of the outbreaks that we was back in 2011.

KAYE: How many storms, I mean, is this something that -- what are we expecting today in terms of the storms. I mean, are you expecting to find what you might call a -- what you might call a super-outbreak?

LAUBACH: Today has the potential to be a super-outbreak with the tornadoes possible from Nebraska all the way down into North Texas. Many of those tornados could potentially be very, very strong, impacting a lot of people from Lincoln, Nebraska all the way down to Wichita Falls, Texas.

KAYE: And what kind of gear do you take with you on a trip like this when you're going to take on a tornado?

LAUBACH: We are equipped with a satellite and mobile internet for radar services. We also have a GPS, all of our camera equipment and, of course, a trusty vehicle to ensure that we're able to get in and out of there safely.

KAYE: I know when you spoke with one of our producers, you said you have more food and Mello Yello than you can shake a stick at, so I guess you have some pretty good supplies?

LAUBACH: Yeah, I've been on the road for the last seven days and food and drink on the road is very handy to have in the back seat, and we'll make sure I never run out of that.

KAYE: So how do you know when it's too dangerous? Is there ever a time where you won't chase a storm?

LAUBACH: My goal is to try to tell the story, not become the story, so I try to keep a steep distance in front of the storm so that I don't end up in any kind of trouble.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAYE: Incredible bravery, wouldn't you say? We will be keeping an eye on that storm and on Tony Laubach as well. We'll keep an eye, though, on the storm for you today, so be sure to keep it here with CNN.

President Obama's security detail is facing major fall-out from an alleged prostitution scandal in Columbia. When we return, we'll hear from the man who broke this story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The Secret Service is taking heat today amid a big shakeup. A dozen agents were sent home from Columbia over an alleged scandal involving a prostitute and a cover-up. The agents were in Columbia ahead of President Obama's visit there this weekend.

And earlier, I spoke to Ronald Kessler, the journalist who broke the story and asked him what he knows.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RONALD KESSLER, JOURNALIST/AUTHOR: Actually, all 12 agents involved in this situation involving prostitutes, and one of the agents did not pay one of the prostitutes, and she complained to local police, and that's how this all started.

Police went to the State Department, State Department told the Secret Service, Secret Service recalled all the agents. It is clearly the biggest scandal in Secret Service history. The only thing that comes close is the penetration of the State Dinner by the Salahi's and the third (inaudible), which I also broke.

And it goes back to a culture of laxness in the Secret Service, which I revealed in my book, in the president's Secret Service. Corner cutting, it's just a lax attitude, which contributes to this kind of thing.

KAYE: Do we have any idea how many, I mean, if all 12 were sent home, do we know how many were actually involved in this?

KESSLER: My understanding is all 12 were, you know, to one degree or another -- whether actually doing it, or covering it up -- and they're all going to be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

KAYE: And just to be clear, soliciting prostitution in Columbia is not illegal.

KESSLER: Right. As long as it's in certain designated areas, but of course, it's terribly inappropriate for the Secret Service agents to be going to prostitutes, especially on a foreign trip when they're protecting the president.

And it subjects them to possible blackmail because, you know, on of these prostitutes, knowing that an agent is with the Secret Service, could blackmail them. Many of them are married, could blackmail them by insisting that, let's say, a terrorist be allowed into a secure area, which could result in assassinations, so it's really shocking.

KAYE: And right now these are live pictures of President Obama in Cartagena, Columbia. He's there, as you know, of the Americas, and this is what has happened, apparently. The scandal, now, has broken out among the Secret Service. We are told that the White House has now scheduled a briefing coming up at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time today. I'm sure they will have a lot to say about this Secret Service scandal, certainly a distraction for the White House for the administration.

The president is there talking about trade partnerships and trade ties and now has this hanging over the administration's head. So we'll continue to follow that, once again 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, that White House press briefing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

So going to the dentist may be good for your teeth, but could the x- rays be hazardous to your health? Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the story, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: There is some pretty alarming news about all those x-rays that we take at the dentist. People who get frequent dental x-rays may be 90 percent more likely to develop the most common type of brain tumor. In fact, according to this study released by Yale researchers, just one dental x-ray each year could be enough to put you at risk.

So just how often is too often to get those x-rays? I asked CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent and Practicing Neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT AND PRACTICING NEUROSURGEON: they over prescribe these type of x-rays, and it's not just dental x-rays, it's lots of different tests. But I think with x- rays in particular, if you look across society, especially here in the United States, it's probably the most common source of ionizing radiation that we get to our bodies.

KAYE (on camera): And does it affect mostly children or adults?

GUPTA: Well, children are more susceptible, in part because their bones are just thinner, so when you're actually x-raying, it can actually penetrate more easily, but also because their brains are still developing.

So they're a little bit more susceptible to these problems. So it's a little bit of a double whammy. They're younger, and they have this susceptibility, and they're probably getting x-rays more frequently as it is, and also, you know, kids who are getting braces, for example, get a lot of the panoramic x-rays and stuff like that.

Again, just ask the doctor, does he really need this, does she really need this, and they'll probably cut down on them.

KAYE (on camera): So how often is too often to get dental x-rays?

GUPTA: Well, the difference between kids and adults, I'd say kids probably a little bit more frequently because they're more at risk for cavities. But maybe one to every two years.

But a lot of that can be also done by physical examination. Really getting in there and looking as opposed to every time the kid goes to the dentist -- every six months or whatever -- getting another set of x-rays, which happens too often.

As you get older, you can probably spread it out even more so -- maybe every two to three years. But again, I think the question that a lot of people -- and it's a perfectly legitimate question to ask is do I really need these x-rays?

KAYE (on camera): Right. Are they safe?

GUPTA: Yeah. Every time you go to the dentist's office, you don't probably necessarily need them unless there's something specific going on.

KAYE (on camera): So when we talk about these tumors, what kind of tumor are we talking about?

GUPTA: The tumor that they talked about specifically was something known as a meningioma. And basically, it's a tumor that grows from the meninges of the brain -- that's the outer layer of the brain -- and it can grow inward.

And these are typically benign tumors in the sense that they don't spread. They don't metastasize throughout the body. But, having removed these tumors myself, they can grow large, and they can push on certain areas of the brain, and that can be the concern.

So when we're talking about an meningioma, a lot of times you observe it, but it could potentially need surgery.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And this week, on SANJAY GUPTA, M.D., Dr. Gupta looks at the signs of depression and how to talk about it with friends, families and co-workers, plus a closer look at a new treatment for depression. That's tomorrow morning on SGMD at 7:30 a.m., Eastern time.

NEWSROOM continues at the top of the hour with Fredricka Whitfield. You have plenty ahead for us.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, boy. We have a full load, but you're just going to have to ride along with us to get it at noon, Easter.

KAYE: I'm riding.

WHITFIELD: OK, good. Our legal guys will be with us as they always are, and you Facebook at work, I Facebook at work, and it's OK, and in fact, it's encouraged at our workplace, but of course, there are some workplaces that discourage it.

So are you breaking federal law by doing so? Our Richard and Avery will be along to explain. Yeah, isn't that serious? Yeah, federal law. OK. And then, the great Magic Johnson and Larry Bird -- you know, there is a play on Broadway right now at the Longachre Theater?

Well, last night, Magic Johnson treated the audience to his personal appearance, and NPR's Mike Pesca will be along with us to talk about what that was like. He was in the audience. He'll give us an idea of what Magic Johnson had to say to folks and whether he thinks the Magic/Bird production is a hit.

KAYE: Cool, so he does score big points.

WHITFIELD: And then, being on a job interview. Well, that's nerve- racking enough, but Career Coach Valorie Burton will be with us to let us know -- you know that opportunity that you have when they say, do you have any questions? Well, she's going to tell us what not to say, what not to ask, what not to do at that very moment.

KAYE: Well, you want to ask something because you want to be smart, you want to have a question ready.

WHITFIELD: Exactly.

KAYE: (As soon as the wrong) --

WHITFIELD: Exactly. So she says you can make the deal or you can break the deal at that very moment.

And then, of course, two things that we are keeping an eye on: we're talking about that U.S. Secret Service investigation that is now underway, and of course, look at the map here, severe weather out there. We are going to keep a close watch. Alexandra Steele is going to be with us.

And this is a big, big day for a good friend of mine who is turning 50. Barbara Wokekeh (ph), in Charleston South Carolina. I am -- I am --

KAYE: Are you heartbroken?

WHITFIELD: Yes, I am heartbroken that I can't be at her big celebration this evening. The great people of Charleston, South Carolina are going to give her a big hurrah, so a big happy birthday, Barbara.

KAYE: Happy birthday, Barbara. I don't know you, but Fred says you're a wonderful friend.

WHITFIELD: She's good peeps, and so Randi just wishes you the ultimate best on the big celebration tonight.

KAYE: Have fun. Sorry you can't be there, Fred.

WHITFIELD: That's right, I can't be there, it's a big ol' bash. KAYE: Well, we've got another minute or so.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yeah. Back to news, too.

KAYE: Yeah, we gotta get back to news.

WHITFIELD: OK. You've got more ahead, too.

KAYE: I do. Can I finish now?

WHITFIELD: Yeah, you can finish now.

KAYE: OK, good. The rocket launch fail. So what can we expect of North Korea? We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: North Korea's advertised rocket launch failed soon after takeoff. So will this deter the country from future attempts, or was it just a testing ground for something even bigger?

Jim Clancy has that report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Now that North Korea's missile test has failed, some analysts think an underground nuclear test is more likely.

PHILLIP YUN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PLOUGHSHARES FUND: The relations between the United States and North Korea particularly are going to get worse. The North -- the U.S. is not going to give it its food aid. North Korea then will say, you broke the agreement, and we're going to do something about it.

So one of the things that they have done in the past was to detonate a nuclear weapon after a missile test. So this is entirely possible now, and I think more probable.

CLANCY: Earlier this week, South Korean intelligence released images that it says showed the North is digging a new tunnel at a known nuclear test site. North Korea conducted two nuclear tests underground in two tunnels here in 2006 and 2009. Both of those tests came within weeks after North Korea experienced embarrassing satellite launch failures.

Seoul says the photos show what appears to be a third tunnel under construction. According to an intelligence report, one tunnel shown in this inset is fresh mounds of earth and sand piled at the entrance.

YUN: The primary indicator was the amount of dirt. They have to dig. They have to put this thing far enough in the ground so it's not going to create any kind of fall-out. It will all stay underground.

CLANCY: Experts are certain North Korea does not have a nuclear warhead, but that doesn't mean Kyung Yang does not pose a nuclear weapons risk.

YUN: Well, right now, I think the possibilities are that if North Korea had any intention, then I don't think they -- there's no reason to think that they do -- but if they're going to use a delivery system, more likely, it's going to be on a cargo ship or it's going to be on a cut cargo container.

And that has to do with terrorist network that has to do with non- state actors, those are the things that we're really worried about in North Korea.

CLANCY: Even if North Korea goes ahead with a nuclear test, it will be difficult to assess where that takes their weapons program. There are satellite photos, information about the economy, how they negotiate that Yun and so many others have reminded us this week that we really don't know what the leadership, and particularly this new regime, is really thinking.

Anyone who says they do is being disingenuous. It is the nature of this secretive nation -- the big part of the risk it poses. I'm Jim Clancy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And CNN NEWSROOM continues now with Fredericka Whitfield. Hello again.

WHITFIELD: All right. Hello to you. Have a great day.

KAYE: You, too.

WHITFIELD: I have lots to continue to cover. Thanks so much.

KAYE: All right.