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CNN Saturday Morning News

Seven Thousand Dental Patients Warned of HIV; Threats from North Korea; Pope Will Give Easter Vigil Today; Chief Justice Victim of Fraud; FAA Rethinks Electronic Policy; "Cinderella" Run Comes to an End

Aired March 30, 2013 - 07:00   ET

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

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Victor Blackwell.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Alison Kosik. It's 7:00 in the morning. Glad you're with us.

Health officials in Oklahoma are offering free HIV and hepatitis tests today to as many as 7,000 patients of Dr. Scott Herrington. The dentist and oral surgeon has stopped practicing after health inspectors found what they called sickening conditions at this office, including filthy, rusty, dental tools.

BLACKWELL: Yes. They say some of his staffers were unlicensed and he may have given patients expired drugs.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti is in Tulsa this morning.

Susan, first, how did authorities discover this problem?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good question, Victor. Good morning.

Well, they found that a man had been diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis C, and they tried to figure out how he came down with it. So, they were tracing his movements. They found no other risk factors and eventually found that he had been to this dentist office, the office of Dr. Scott Herrington.

That's what prompted investigators to go to the office and that is when they said they found all these deplorable conditions, including using expired drugs, improper sterilization of equipment, and even rusty dental tools that would go inside your mouth. So, that's when they decided we've got to screen all of his former patients, at least 7,000 of them, at least that's the number they know of, that go back to 2007. There are probably more even before that.

Now, you can imagine how worried this is making his former patients. And here's one of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLTON SCOTT, FORMER PATIENT OF TULSA DENTIST: We are all very concerned and, you know, apprehensive. You know, we just don't know until we actually do get tested, you know, whether or not -- I mean, it's just one of those things, you know. But we are all very concerned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Susan, how are the testing going to work?

CANDIOTTI: Well, it's going to take place over my shoulder, and this place is run by the health department here in Tulsa. They are setting up these screenings and people can start to come for them beginning today. They're going to come in and have to give three samples of blood and be tested for HIV, also for hepatitis B and C, and it will take about two to three weeks before they get the results, so you can imagine how difficult that waiting period is going to be for all of these patients.

BLACKWELL: Wow. So, we know what is next for the patients. But what's next for this Dr. Harrington?

CANDIOTTI: Well, he voluntarily surrendered his license and, of course, his office is closed for now, while the state board of dentistry investigates. So, at the very least, he'll have a hearing before them and he'll have to answer to all of these complaints.

However, the district attorney's office is also investigating him for possible criminal charges, as well as possibly looking at charges at his dental assistants who were allegedly giving sedation to patients without being properly licensed.

So, this is far from over. And authorities here are saying, look, we're not saying that there's an outbreak, they are trying to tap down panic and a lot of people are nervous in this community, but that's why they wanted to get these screenings started right away.

BLACKWELL: Just amazing this went for so long.

Susan Candiotti in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for us this morning -- thank you.

KOSIK: An E. coli outbreak has spread to 15 states. The Centers for Disease Control says 24 cases have been reported from Virginia to Washington state. Eight people have been hospitalized.

At least one case is linked to Farm Rich brand frozen foods. Almost 200,000 pounds of meals and snacks are being recalled. Most of those sickened are younger than 22.

BLACKWELL: Let's go to North Korea and now, an escalation of sorts. The secretive nation now says they are in a state of war with their neighbor to the south.

KOSIK: They've also supposedly trained their missiles one of the United States. One of the targets is Austin, Texas.

We get now from our CNN Pentagon correspondent, Chris Lawrence.

Hello, Chris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor and Alison, a lot of folks in Texas right now are wondering, how in the world did we get on the bull's eye list of North Korea?

U.S. officials aren't that concerned about Austin, but they are keeping a very close eye on the North's latest move.

(voice-over): Look past the picture of Kim Jong-un putting North Korean rockets on standby inside his military command. There's a chart marked, U.S. mainland strike plan, with missile trails aiming at Hawaii, California, D.C., and for some reason, Austin, Texas.

It's wishful thinking on Pyongyang's part. They can't reach the U.S. yet. But tens of thousands of American troops are well within range of a more limited strike, something short of an all-out attack.

CHRISTOPHER HILL, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: I think it's more in the sense of North Korea kind of getting right up to the edge, stumbling and then falling over the edge.

LAWRENCE: Former Ambassador Chris Hill says the real danger is the North shelling a border island, like it did in 2010. Hill says there's a wild card here that worries the U.S., young inexperienced Kim Jung Un's desire to prove himself as a leader.

HILL: Because I think there are many North Koreans who have their doubts about whether this kid is really up to this.

LAWRENCE: So far, Pentagon officials say the North's rhetoric has not been matched by any actual military moves. But it has no foreseeable endgame, and could go on for a while.

North Koreans protested on the streets one day after the U.S. flew long-range stealth bombers on a training run, coming within 50 miles of North Korea's border. Some say although the flights may reassure South Korea of U.S. protection, it could lead to unintended consequences.

JOHN PARK, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: One, China viewing this as alarming escalation. And the second is that the North Koreans almost receive a validation in terms of their missile development program.

LAWRENCE (on camera): A senior defense official says there was intense debate over whether to send those B-2s all the way up to the White House in senior levels of the National Security Council. He says the full range of options were considered with some suggesting the U.S. do more than just fly the B-2, and others suggesting the U.S. hold back and do less -- Victor, Alison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSIK: OK. Chris Lawrence, thanks.

BLACKWELL: The military is investigating the third deadly training exercise since February. A Navy SEAL has been killed while parachuting and training in Arizona, northwest of Tucson. Another SEAL was injured and is recovering at the hospital. And the Navy says they were practicing a free fall routine before opening the parachutes, and they reportedly collided in midair.

KOSIK: Tomorrow, millions of Christians around the world will celebrate Easter or resurrection day. At the Vatican, Pope Francis is getting ready for a special Easter vigil this afternoon.

Look at the crowds last night outside the coliseum in Rome. The pope spoke at a special ceremony for Good Friday. He told people that Christians must respond to evil with good.

Let's go ahead and turn to weather. Temperatures -- they're finally getting back to normal after a late season blast of winter but a banned of rain from Minnesota to the Gulf Coast could make it a rainy weekend across the country.

Let's go to CNN weather center and meteorologist Alexandra Steele.

Alexandra, what's going on this Easter weekend?

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, guys. Good morning to you.

BLACKWELL: Good morning.

STEELE: Good morning. Waking up out there, getting your first cup of coffee.

All right. You know, well, Alison said a lot of it. We do have showers and storms up from the upper Midwest and down to the Gulf Coast. Not really a big tornado threat today, more gusty winds and hail, but an isolated tornado is not out of the question.

So, let me walk you where we'll see this rain and these storms through this Easter weekend. All right. Here is Saturday. Here's this morning, kind of this computer model right on target, and then as we head through this morning, 1:00, you can see where we're going to see a pretty benign, kind of broken up. So, as this front moves through, it won't be a total washout, even for Easter for tomorrow.

We have sunrise services or Easter egg hunts. But this is the afternoon, you can see by 8:00 tonight where we're going to see it. St. Louis, some scattered showers toward Atlanta, Georgia. Tomorrow as well.

Tomorrow, there is a threat for some severe weather in Texas, Houston to Dallas, but here's Easter Sunday. You can see. We're going to see a few scattered showers and storms on the whole. It's just very unsettled. So, whether you're in Charlotte or Atlanta or Washington, D.C., it doesn't look like it will be a total washout, but you'll have to kind of dodge the storms that move through.

And then there's Monday morning we're drying out, but we are going to cool down those temperatures. Another arctic blast comes for next week.

So, here's a look at where we are today. Sunny, pretty nice day. Temperatures about 57 in the Northeast, comfortable. There is that severe weather threat. Easter forecast, there's the rain, the line of showers and thunderstorms moving through.

Highs today, finally 70 in Atlanta, finally spring breakers along the Gulf Coast enjoying some warmth. Sixty-seven in New York, 60s in Washington. But, guys, Alison, you asked this crazy temperatures, warming up, it's kind of a rollercoaster, warming up the next couple days. And then Tuesday and Wednesday, look at Chicago, 58 today, by the tomorrow and the next couple of days, it gets down into the 30s and then we'll see that cold get into the Northeast.

KOSIK: So sick of it.

STEELE: April is expected to be above average. So, pretty good.

BLACKWELL: All right.

KOSIK: I am counting on it.

STEELE: OK. Well, don't do that.

BLACKWELL: Thanks, Alexandra.

KOSIK: All right. We've got much more coming up this hour.

BLACKWELL: Here's what's coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK (voice-over): First, the slurs. Now the sorries. Some political figures were saying the darnedest things this week. What were they thinking?

Plus, flying while fat. Is it fair to charge passengers by the pound? Some say get ready, it's coming.

And Bieber behaving badly.

(EXPLETIVE DELETED)

JUSTIN BEIBER, SINGER: What did you say?

KOSIK: The neighbor says he spit in his face and threatened to kill him. Is this superstar slipping out of control?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Good morning. You are looking at a live shot of the White House. Look how pretty. It's not snowing. It's not raining and spring is in the air.

BLACKWELL: I love this music beat.

KOSIK: Why don't you get up and dance for us? BLACKWELL: No, I'm not going to do that, but I do love this music beat. It's kind of jazzy, starting your day. It's 13 minutes after the hour. This will get you sitting up in bed, if not out of bed.

KOSIK: Hopefully.

BLACKWELL: Hey, we've heard some interesting things from lawmakers this week, some things that, yes, they probably should not have said.

KOSIK: Yes, things that remember this declaration from Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: We've got to stop being the stupid party. And I'm serious. It's time for a new Republican Party that talks like adults. It's time for us to articulate our plans and our visions for America in real terms.

There's no secret we had a number of Republicans that damaged the brand this year with offensive and bizarre comments. I'm here to say we've had enough of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: But the funny thing, Jindal's message may have been missed, like some of his Republicans.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

KOSIK: Listen to this from the long time Alaska Congressman Don Young.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

REP. DON YOUNG (R), ALASKA: My father had a ranch and we had hired 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes. You know, it takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It's all done by machine.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Yes, that' exactly what he said. Young issued this apology. He said, "I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays, and I meant no disrespect."

OK. Here is the thing with this -- that term has never been used as something that was not derogatory. It's not like if somebody was to use colored or Negro. Something at some point was the acceptable term and now, it's just passe, but this term has never been acceptable.

KOSIK: You know what gets me is that the Republican Party trying to make a comeback, and you are sort of yearning to hear them sort of think before they speak at this point.

BLACKWELL: And this man obviously did not do that. Here's the response from Young's bosses. Speaker John Boehner, let's take him first.

"Congressman Young's remarks were offensive and beneath the dignity of the office he holds. I don't care why he said it. There's no excuse."

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus was quick to say, "The words used by Representative Young emphatically do not represent the beliefs of the Republican Party."

KOSIK: And then there's Michigan Republican Dave Agema who is a member of the RNC. He posted an article on his Facebook page that portrayed homosexuals as sexually promiscuous, disease-ridden murderers. It apparently was his way of weighing in on the same-sex debate at the Supreme Court.

BLACKWELL: Yes, emphatic response from John Boehner there.

So, did he apologize?

No, his defense was that he didn't write the article, he just posted it. And people just don't like to hear the facts.

KOSIK: But this is not confined to just Republicans. Democrats do it, too.

Alabama State Representative Joe Mitchell had a whopper of his own.

BLACKWELL: Yes, listen to this. This is a response to an e-mail opposing gun control.

OK, Mitchell who is black, offered this description of the white e- mailers' ancestors and this is what he said. He calls them, "Slave- holding, murdering, adulterous, baby-raping, incestuous, snaggle- toothed inbreed folk."

KOSIK: Do they even think before they talk?

BLACKWELL: And this is public. He knows it as a public official that these can be read and have been read by other members of his body.

KOSIK: OK. But, Michelle's fellow Democrats, they quickly condemned the rant, but there's been no apology from Mitchell himself and legislature has decided against any anything, saying that the veteran lawmaker is protective by freedom of speech.

Still, stupidity on the Democrat's part.

BLACKWELL: You know, here's what's unfortunate. These politicians say what could be a weekly segment.

KOSIK: It really could. Every week, they could put their foot in their mouths. And I'll go back to it again. You know, the Republicans lately, Democrats are guilty of it, too, but the Republicans lately have really been putting their put in their mouth.

I know they want to make a comeback. Jindal came out and said stop being stupid -- and stop being stupid. If you want to make a comeback in the next election, you got to start now.

BLACKWELL: All right. It's not just politicians who put their feet on their mouth this week. One political commentator also had to apologize for comment on same-sex marriage.

Maybe you've heard about this. Prominent neurosurgeon Ben Carson speaking on FOX News. Carson appeared, to some, to equate gay groups to pedophile groups and bestiality groups when saying that they had no right to try and redefine marriage.

Last night on CNN "SITUATION ROOM", Carson offered this apology.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CARSON, NEUROSURGEON/POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: As a Christian, we have a duty to love everyone, and love them as ourselves. So, you know, I love gay people. I love straight people.

So this was really on my behalf somewhat insensitive, and I certainly apologize if I offended anybody, because I was not in any way comparing, you know, gays with people who engage in bestiality or sexual child abuse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Dr. Carson has rose to be a favorite among Republicans in recent months.

KOSIK: All right. Switching subjects, watch your wallet. The Supreme Court's chief justice is switching to case after learning a hard lesson about identity theft. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Long stuck in fourth place among the major carriers, T- Mobile is going after new customers with a bold new plan.

KOSIK: And it's offering its customers coverage without a contract. T- Mobile also says it will offer the iPhone 5 and that it will be quickly rolling out its 4G LTE network. That's the faster network and T-Mobile says its network is faster than those belonging to competitors AT&T and Verizon.

BLACKWELL: Facebook is trying out a new plan for ad in your newsfeed. It would target users based on their web browsing history. Now, the new layout will put ads in your new stream instead of on the side.

Facebook hopes the change can help build revenue.

KOSIK: Delta is raising some eyebrows over changes to its Skymile program. The airline is removing the portion of the contract that use to allow you to transfer the miles to your spouse when you die. Well, guess what? Now, that clause is gone, meaning when you die, your miles go with you.

So, for Delta Skymile, it's use them or lose them.

BLACKWELL: All right. You know the tabloid segment, stars, they are just like us. Well, it turns out Supreme Court justices are, too. KOSIK: Chief Justice John Roberts found out that lesson the hard way, switching to gas recently because the credit card information was stolen.

Lisa Sylvester has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are more than one million fraud complaints reported to authorities each year. It doesn't seem to matter who you are. You can still be a victim, even if you are the chief justice of the United States. The Supreme Court has confirmed that someone recently racked up charges on John Roberts' credit card.

Roberts went to his local Starbucks earlier this week, but instead of using plastic like he normally does, he paid cash, explaining to the barista why he had to cancel his card. It just goes to show you.

JEFF BLYSKAL, SENIOR EDITOR, CONSUMER REPORTS: Credit card fraud is very common. And it's often -- it's now called identity theft or identity fraud. But it's -- you know, it's the old fashioned someone steals your credit card.

SYLVESTER: We asked random people if it happened to them and came across Christine Pelosi, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's daughter, who has also been a victim of fraud.

CHRISTINE PELOSI, DAUGHTER OF NANCY PELOSI: Well at the same time I was using my card in California, someone was using my card in Ohio.

SYLVESTER: And crooks can be very inventive. In Omaha, Nebraska, thieves stole credit card numbers right from a gas station using this, called a skimmer, a duplicate card reader that can be easily and quickly installed on a gas pump.

Here are some ways to protect yourself. Avoid doing your online banking at a cafe. It's easier for hackers to gain private information using an open wireless network.

Carry your credit cards somewhere else other than your wallet. It can save you if your wallet or purse are stolen. Don't leave empty tip or total lines on a receipt. Instead, draw a line through them. Go paperless with your billing so you don't get paper statements sitting in your mail box.

And finally, don't fall victim to phishing scams by giving out personal information that's being solicited.

BLYSKAL: One of the best ways to protect yourself is, whenever somebody else initiates contact with you, whether it's through the phone, by e-mail, by a text message, somebody knocking on your door, and if they want information from you, be suspicious and don't give it to them

SYLVESTER (on camera): Most of us already know this, but it does bear repeating, review your statements regularly and if you find something fishy, report it right away.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSIK: You know, a friend of mine just had his information hacked from his bank account. It became like a second job just to unwind everything that was done. I mean, he spent hours on the phone for weeks and he still is weeks later trying to recoup what's been happening.

BLACKWELL: And I hear that's the toughest money to get back because it's already spent. With a credit card, they can stop the charges and you haven't actually lost any money, but when they take it out of the account, of course, if you have automatic pay, you have checks out there, if people still write checks, it's going to be tough to get those to pass through.

KOSIK: And it's just a pain to deal with the backtracking and changing all your passwords again and redoing your accounts.

BLACKWELL: And here is another tip. Lisa said never leave the tip line and total line blank.

KOSIK: Yes.

BLACKWELL: But even I put the amount, I put two X's after the numbers so there can be no numbers added or anything.

KOSIK: And the dollar sign before the number, yes.

BLACKWELL: So, it's the start and the end.

Just a little to help you.

Hey, it's a debate overweight and whether airlines should be able to charge you a so-called fat tax if you are heavier than others.

Plus, you know the drill. No electronics at takeoff, and put it on the plane position. You know what they say. It's that rule about to fly away?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Have you seen mortgage rates? They inched up this week. Have a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Would you look at the time. It's already 7:30.

Welcome back, everybody. I'm Alison Kosik.

BLACKWELL: It's 4:30 out on the West Coast, though.

Welcome. I'm Victor Blackwell. These are the five stories we're watching this morning.

And number one, a man on the Massachusetts most wanted list is now in jail. Authorities say Gary Allen Irving been the on the lam in 1979 after he was convicted of raping three women. A new lead led to police finding him this week in the small town of Gora, Maine. That's where they found Irving, now 52, watching TV with his wife and his grandchild. He is due in court on Monday.

KOSIK: Beginning Monday, New York City will begin a new effort to shift through debris from 9/11, and identify more victim remains. Remember, remains of about 1,000 victims from the World Trade Center attacks, they haven't been identified. But the city now has newer shifting technology. Crews will shift through 50 dump loads for about 10 weeks.

BLACKWELL: Story three comes from Georgia. The mother and sister of a teenage suspect accused of fatally shooting a baby in the face are being held without bond. And Brunswick City Commissioner James Henry Brooks is also charged with influencing a witness. His lawyer says he was just trying to tell the suspect's family to whom his related that they don't have to talk to police.

KOSIK: Thirty-five educators in Atlanta have been indicted in one of the biggest cheating scandals to hit the nation's public school system. They face charges of corruption and racketeering and are accused of changing or fabricating test scores dating back in 2001.

Some of the accused face up 45 years in prison if convicted, and that includes former superintendent Beverly Hall. She resigned in 2011 and denied wrongdoing. But investigators say she was a full participant in the conspiracy and even threatened and punished teachers who didn't cheat. Hall was once name national superintendent of the year, and local news reports say she collected more than $500,000 in bonuses over 10 years, mostly because of a raise in test scores.

BLACKWELL: And number five, something cute for you. Buffalo zoo welcomed a new member on Friday, an adorable polar bear. Luna, the four-month-old charmed the crowd gathered to meet her, and she won't be there for long. Another polar bear coming to the zoo this spring.

KOSIK: Cute.

BLACKWELL: Hey, good news for anyone who flies. We fly a lot.

KOSIK: We do.

BLACKWELL: The FAA might let you keep the electronic devices on.

KOSIK: Shocker, right?

These tablets, laptops, e-readers, maybe even those smartphones, they could be cleared for takeoff by year's end, and that means you can keep reading your favorite e-book, or playing Words with Friend -- somebody tell Alec Baldwin -- before your flight reaches 10,000 feet, and while it lands as well. BLACKWELL: Yes, travel expert Mark Murphy joins us now. He's the author of "Travel Unscripted".

Good to have you, Mark.

MARK MURPHY, TRAVEL EXPERT: Thanks for having me.

BLACKWELL: So, after all these years of being told, the gadgets are dangerous. They pose a safety threat. Were they ever really dangerous?

MURPHY: Well, you know, I have a good friend who is a pilot. He flies private Gulfstream for a major oil company. And he said he's had iPads, cell phones in the cockpit for years and has never interfered with everything.

So, he thinks the FAA is basically three years behind the rest of the world. So, I think it's about time that this change was made. So, yes, we are looking forward to it. I want to be able to keep my Kindle on with takeoff and landings.

BLACKWELL: Right.

KOSIK: OK. So, it seems more likely that we're going to be able to use maybe our iPads and e-readers. What about our cell phones?

MURPHY: Right. I think cell phones are still off limits, because cell phones transmit, and there's indication because they are close to the GPS system of the airplanes itself. So, I think that's going to be something that you're not going to be able to sue. But crack open those iPads, crack open those Kindles, I think you're going to be OK in about six or eight months.

BLACKWELL: You know, there's a concern, maybe not from the pilots, but more from flight attendants who have to give those instructions on the oxygen masks and the seat belts.

MURPHY: Right.

BLACKWELL: They say that if they will allow people to listen to their phones, to keep those one, people would not pay attention. I mean, is there a possibility that even at the very start during those instructions, people will be able to continue to listen to their iPods?

MURPHY: Well, you know what? I think they should tell people to take their headphones out, so absolutely during the safety instruction. But the idea that you couldn't be distracted reading a book before Kindles, before iPhones, before all other stuff, you know, isn't really accurate. You could have always been distracted.

You see people with the newspaper in their face. So, that's not a new thing. Distraction, sleeping, yes, let's get real here. You know, it's like herding cats sometimes on these planes, you're not going to get everybody's attention but can take steps to make sure you get some of it. KOSIK: OK. Let's switch gears a bit. Let's talk about airlines thieves. Forget paying more for leg room or extra bag. There's a professor who is in Norway -- he's got a lot of people talking about this -- saying your weight should be factored into your ticket price. He offered a three model way of paying so your total weight, for example, is your weight plus the weight of your luggage. Meaning, if you weigh 240 pounds, you'd pay twice as much as someone who weighed 120.

How fair, Mark, are these models?

MURPHY: Well, I can't imagine a person being pulled out for a weigh in when you go ahead and get onboard. I think they're going to look at the overall size of the plane, the size of the seats. And I think where they're going to get the extra pay is if you're overweight and you can't fit inside that 17-inch seat, guess what? You're going to be paying for two seats and therefore, they're going to get their money that way.

I mean, and also, air fares are all over the place. You can fly round trip to L.A. One day is $350. Four days later, it's $1,700 from Atlanta. So, when you start thinking about pricing and revenue models, they are upside down in the industry anybody, because of yield management. Now they are going to start thinking about charging you based on your weight? Good luck with that.

BLACKWELL: Yes, you mentioned for a fleeting moment, but how would this be enforced? I mean, do we have to weigh in? Are we going to -- is there going to be a scale next to the luggage scale? But we have to step up --

MURPHY: Victor, weighing in at, what, 220 pounds?

BLACKWELL: That's exactly right, 226.

MURPHY: All right. Step aside, my man. Step aside. Get over there and get on the scale.

BLACKWELL: I know. I'm going to get on the scale. Will this happen at the airport?

MURPHY: No way. No way.

BLACKWELL: OK, good.

MURPHY: Not going to happen.

KOSIK: But you know what this professor, he says, Mark, that, quote, "It may provide significant benefits to airlines, the passengers, even to the society at large and that it will provide a production of carbon emissions. Huh?

MURPHY: How does -- all right, help me with that -- how does making you pay more for your airline ticket reduce that carbon that the airplanes are going to use getting from point A to point B? I don't know get that. KOSIK: I don't know.

MURPHY: You're still carrying the same number of people. It doesn't matter.

Unless they go on a diet and therefore it's less fuel to burn because it's less weight on the plane, and then maybe everybody should joining Weight Watchers with Jenny Craig and then we'll be all set.

BLACKWELL: We do have a health segment, we're helping folks.

Mark Murphy, thank you very much. I'm excited about the electronics. That's what really --

MURPHY: Absolutely.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: All right. Thanks, Mark.

MURPHY: Thanks.

BLACKWELL: You know, I'm hoping that more planes get the charging stations in the armrest.

KOSIK: That would be awesome.

BLACKWELL: Wouldn't that be good.

KOSIK: I am always draining the iPhone before the flight.

BLACKWELL: Right?

KOSIK: Oh, yes.

All right. Guess who is in trouble now? Justin Bieber accused of spitting on his neighbor and threatening to kill him? Is the pop sensation's reputation tanking. Our entertainment talker, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: All right. Welcome back. It's 20 minutes until the top of the hour. We're in the E-block now, and that means time for entertainment news.

Let's start with more Justin Bieber drama.

KOSIK: And this time, the pop star may have popped up more than he could handle. Bieber's own neighbor claimed the 19-year-old assaulted him, threatened him, put his family in danger with erratic driving. It's not the first time this year he's making news.

BLACKWELL: Now, Bieb's mom tells HLN "Showbiz Tonight" A.J. Hammer what she thinks about his recent troubles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PATTIE MALLETTE, JUSTIN BIEBER'S MOM: You know, it's crazy, some of these headlines, you know, that I see them sometimes at the same time as everybody else, and you know, as a mom I just look at them so differently from everybody else. It's not just a story to me. You know, I am his mom, so yes.

A.J. HAMMER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Does he call you when something like this happens to say, here is the deal mom, here is what really happened, I did have this interaction with the guy but it's not what you are reading about?

MALLETTE: You know, I think that it's -- I don't know. It's hard because, what 19-year-old wants his mom talking about his personal life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: And the radio personality Kendra G joins us now and comedian Dean Obeidallah. He's live in New York.

Hello to both of you.

Kendra G, let's begin with you. Is he -- is he losing control?

KENDRA G, RADIO PERSONALITY: No, his mother right there was a poor choice of motherhood. She is talking about I don't want to embarrass my child. Be a mom, why are you finding out things, why I am finding out things on the Internet? That's the problem right there.

He needs to be parented right now. He is not being parented right now, you can tell.

BLACKWELL: Yes, this is the time when she should step in and say something.

KENDRA G: Yes, he needs a good shaking, I won't say beating, I don't want to get America crazy, but he needs a good shaking.

BLACKWELL: Hey, Dean, let's go out to you. As an attorney, if the neighbor was on his property, right, without his permission, can Justin file trespassing charges?

DEAN OBEIDALLAH, COMEDIAN: He could try. Who knows what the facts are? Bieber is making Lindsay Lohan look better by the day. This is unreal at this point to me. He's making her look well-adjusted and professional.

Look, Bieber, you are not going to be a cool bad guy. He wants to be a bad boy. You are a 110-pound Canadian. Canadians are nice. You're never going to be bad boy.

Enjoy your fame. Be rich and be happy and stop fighting with people.

KOSIK: Seriously.

BLACKWELL: That's a good way to live. KOSIK: All right. Let's move on to the media really coming down hard on Kim Kardashian about her pregnancy weight gain. I'd say leave her alone. But anyone, it's so fun to go through it.

"Us Weekly" making it a habit of featuring Kim looking big. This one talked about her struggle with a diet. Another one has a headline, "I can't stop eating." Even "Star Magazine" which we couldn't show, considers a 65-pound weight gain to be an issue. It literally shows her in this white and black dress, side by side, with the whale. And it says which one wore it better? Give her a break, she is pregnant, right?

CNN is not saying Kim gained 65 pounds, but so what, she is pregnant. "The Huffington Post" is calling it fat shaming. What do you say about this?

KENDRA G: This is so horrible. First of all, I think Kim Kardashian is fabulously pregnant. I love the clothes that she's wearing. And this is what's wrong with America, we put so much pressure on women to be fit.

Even on television, I have pressure when I know I am going to be here on Saturday mornings, and it's terrible. It's OK to gain weight. That's what you're supposed when you are pregnant.

BLACKWELL: Yes. What are they expected to do, lose weight?

KENDRA G: I know. Then the baby is not going to be healthy.

BLACKWELL: Yes. We saw this with Jessica Simpson. We saw this with Jenny McCarthy. We see this every time someone who is seen as a bombshell gain some weight when they are pregnant. It's supposed to happen.

KENDRA G: People who write these articles are miserable people I think, they are just haters.

KOSIK: They are haters.

BLACKWELL: It's true.

Hey, Dean, let's come to you.

Kim was on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno the other night. And this is what she had to say about all those comments. Just let's listen and talk on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIM KARDASHIAN, ENTERTAINER: You know, I think it's wrong. I mean, I have always been curvy, and I always embraced my curves and love them and now there is just more to love right now. You know, I -- thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Dean, what do you think of this? I mean, clearly, the criticism has been harsh.

OBEIDALLAH: It has. And, Kim, you go, girl. I never said that in my entire life and I felt like saying that this morning. I'm sleepy.

Look, I mean, they talked about fat-shaming. We should do media shaming, and we should do shame in the media, who talk about inappropriate things like demonizing women for gaining weight when they're pregnant. It's ridiculous. And we don't talk about women's weight ever, except for say looks like you lost a few pounds, which leads to are you saying I was fat before?

But we don't talk about weight. But, you know, Kim Kardashian does get clicks on the Internet for stories and we do about it, and she's a creature of the media, and it's a hard thing for her.

BLACKWELL: Yes, you know, a lot of people will say is that she is in the spotlight. She should expect that it's coming.

But when you are pregnant, that is a beautiful time.

KENDRA G: Yes, it's a beautiful time. She actually looks to me to be beautifully pregnant. I love her style. I mean, she is increasing, not wearing maternity clothes at all.

But I personally love it. And she looks great, leave her alone.

KOSIK: I agree. Leave her alone.

BLACKWELL: We love it. Thank you very much.

Dean Obeidallah in New York and Kendra G here, today here, thank you very much.

KENDRA: We coordinated today.

BLACKWELL: Yes, we did. We got the purple and blue there.

KENDRA G: Getting ready for Easter.

BLACKWELL: So, we didn't see last night's game, because we were asleep. I tried to sleep. Florida Gulf Coast University, you know, the big Cinderella surprise at the NCAA tournament, they went head to head with in-state rival Florida, but did the magic continue or did the clock strike midnight for this year's Cinderella? Highlights are next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: All right. Let's do it. Let's talk March Madness.

A lot of us slept last night while the game was going and the dream season, it ended for Florida Gulf Coast. This year's Cinderella team has been knocked out by in-state rival, Florida.

KOSIK: Andy Scholes is here.

This is an unbelievable story. I didn't watch it. Why don't you update -- why don't you update us?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Yes. You know, this year's Florida Gulf Coast is going to be pretty much tough match for any future Cinderella team. The Eagles accomplished more than any other 15th seed in tournament history. And for a while there last night, it looked like the run may not be over just yet.

Eagles came on on fire in the first half leading by as many as 11 points early on. Dunk City continued, but FTC would eventually turn into a pumpkin as Florida went on a 16-2 run to end the first half and the Gators experience was too much to overcome for Florida's Gulf Coast. Their Cinderella run ends in the sweet 16 with a 62-50 loss to Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDY ENFIELD, FGCU HEAD COACH: Our plan wasn't to be some great national story. Our plan was to go in and compete and win games, but it was unbelievable to see the excitement and passion of not only our local community and the students but also on a national level.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: The game of the night belongs to one seed Kansas and fourth seed Michigan State. Kansas up by eight with 1:28 left, but the Wolverines came storming back, top off by this three from Trey Burke. It sent the game into overtime. Burke scored all of his 23 points in the second half and overtime as Michigan held on to win in extra period, 87-85 to reach the elite 8 for the first time since 1994.

So with Kansas out now, that leaves Louisville as the only number one seed left in the tournament. Last night, the Cardinals continued to play like a dominant number one seed, led by Russ Smith's 31 points. Louisville jumped on Oregon in the first half and never looked back on a 77-69 win. They advance to the elite eight for the second straight year.

And their opponent will be a familiar one, two seed from their region, Duke, behind the hot shooting night from Seth Curry, the Blue Devils defeated Michigan State, 71-61. That sets a Rick Pitino versus Mike Krzyzewski coaching match up in the regional finals for the first time since that famous shot from Christian Laettner back in 1992. That game will be tomorrow.

Now, later on today, two teams will punch their ticket to the final four. Syracuse will square off against Marquette. That game tips at 4:30 Eastern, followed by the lowest seed left in the tournament, Wichita State taking on Ohio State.

Guys, Wichita State they're a nine seed here in the elite eight. They're already knocked off one seed Gonzaga. So, fans are looking to a Cinderella team to jump on now, Wichita State is your team.

BLACKWELL: Cinderella is always a good story line.

KOSIK: It is. BLACKWELL: I've got to take the brackets, because the line time, I think it was last week, I was 20 out of 20.

SCHOLES: Maybe you're doing a little better.

BLACKWELL: Seventeen?

SCHOLES: Only way to go is up, right?

BLACKWELL: Start at the bottom, now we're here.

All right. Let's try to get up there. Thank you, Andy Scholes.

All right. Next up, some stories you have to see, including, come on, guys, this guy is trying to rob -- what is he wearing? You got to see the rest of this video.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: So the calendar says spring, Alexandra Steele, meteorologist Alexandra Steele. When is it going to feel like spring?

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: In mid-April.

KOSIK: Is that wrong?

STEELE: All right. We've had incredible -- incredibly especially compared to last March, we're on the whole we had no snow cover, temperatures were 10 to 15 degrees above average, all the way from the Midwest to the Deep South.

This march we're about ten degrees below average and we have ample snow. Now, though, actually, even in Minneapolis, it's not snow at this hour, it's rain. A line of showers and storms developing and crossing the country, from the Upper Midwest to the Gulf Coast. It will push eastward and not a total washout for everyone for Easter Sunday, but you may have to dodge some showers.

So, here's the time line. This morning you can see where it is. On the whole Kansas, Oklahoma, down to Texas, and then damaging winds and hail, I don't think an isolated tornado potentially but not a big tornadic threat, more of a hail and wind maker. As we head toward tonight, you can see there it moves. So Sunday morning being early Sunday by services or Easter egg hunts not a washout but you may have to dodge some of the showers.

And then it all pushes off for Monday but behind that, colder air this is our last bout of arctic air I think and by the second week of April, things get up to average.

So today's forecast, severe weather, nice today in the Northeast. Temperatures right at average, tomorrow, Easter forecast, there's the front, the rain along it, and upper Midwest the beginning the taste of the arctic air begins to move in.

Here's a look, you can see, 51 today in Minneapolis, finally into the 70s, it's spring break for those in the South and finally at the Gulf Coast, enjoying the beach, it will feel warmer than those very cold mornings and then you guys, you can see tomorrow, 40 in Minneapolis and this is just the beginning of the arctic air shot, going to be a cold week.

KOSIK: Big sigh. Alexandra Steele, thank you.

Now to some stories you got to see. Look at this face, can you believe a mother could reject this baby gorilla?

Meet Gladys, she's a critically endangered low land gorilla. She is now being raised by 10 human surrogates until the Cincinnati zoo finds Gladys a new mother. Later this morning, we're going to be introducing you to one of her surrogates, Ron Evans, who you see here with her in these great pictures. That's at 8:50 a.m. Eastern Time here on CNN.

BLACKWELL: An unusual guest found his way into a five-star resort in southern California. Rescue crew from Sea World was called to the hotel after a dehydrated California sea lion decided it needed rest and relaxation, sitting there at the bar waiting for a drink.

The guests there didn't seem to mind and the sea lion relaxed until the net squad showed up. I know they were coming. I just wait here for a little.

The pup is resting comfortable at Sea World this morning.

KOSIK: Suffering a hangover. Just kidding.

A daring photographer had to apologize for the breathtaking views of Egypt's pyramids. That's because he and his friends broke the law and secretly scaled the pyramids at night. But the images have lit up the Internet with everything from awe to anger.

BLACKWELL: And this is a favorite. What this man, I just -- he's dressed in pajama pants, stocking mask on his head, usually, if you make a stocking cut, you cut the legs off. Showed up a market in California, forgets to pull down the mask. Oh, wait, let me pull the mask down a bit.

So, then he comes back, he throws a rock, oh, no, then breaks a window, then he runs, ten feet, falls down, still out there somewhere. This, I don't know.

KOSIK: Brilliance, it's brilliance.

BLACKWELL: The idea that you have those pieces you can put together to go run and steal something from someone, cut the legs off the stockings before you tie it on your head.

KOSIK: I'll remember that.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: Just a little tip.

Thanks for starting your morning with us.

KOSIK: The next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins now.