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Showdown Over Wisconsin's Budget; Bahrain Crackdown; Man Suspected of Poisoning Auburn University Trees for Purposes of Revenge on School Rival; Violence Along Texas-Mexico Border May Be Traumatizing Children Who Live In The Area; Fashion Week Soon To Hit New York

Aired February 18, 2011 - 15:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: A couple of major developing stories at this hour. The first one could happen at any moment. Here's what we're hearing.

We are keeping our eyes on the United Nations. There is a vote by the Security Council any minute now, could make Israeli settlements illegal. The U.S. delegation is expected to vote or abstain from voting -- veto or abstain from voting. We have a crew at the U.N. waiting for those results.

Also, a firefighter who decided to go home sick, rather than go to the scene of that shooting in Tucson where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot. Six people died. We have invited him to join us. We will tell you where that stands.

Also, that whole case, so many of you were tweeting about this yesterday, the tree poisoning in Auburn. It is now a federal case. And the radio show host who took that call that prompted this entire thing joins me live in just a couple of moments.

But, first, New York now showing signs of solidarity with Wisconsin. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Unions, yes! Walker, no! Unions, yes! Walker, no!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: New Yorkers as Cheeseheads. This is a show of support for those Wisconsin teachers, thousands of them who are fighting to hold onto labor rights, collective bargaining rights they have had for more than 50 years.

And this is a live shot from Madison, where the protests are now in their third day, even more schools in Wisconsin forced to close. At issue here, Wisconsin's proposed budget. The state's new governor calling this a budget repair bill.

And under the governor's plan, teachers would pay a little bit more for their health care, more for their benefits package, and they would lose entirely -- this is calling on the elimination -- we have been talking about these collective bargaining rights for these unions.

CNN's Casey Wian is in Madison.

And, Casey, I know a lot of these schools across the state are closed. In talking to the people there in Madison, is it showing any signs of winding down or is it gaining momentum?

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I would say it's absolutely gaining momentum.

We have seen protesters here, teachers and other public sector workers very angry about this proposed budget deficit fix. As you mentioned, it would require public employees to contribute more for their pension and health care benefits.

But what these workers are really most angry about is what it would do to their collective bargaining rights. It would only allow them to bargain for salary, no other benefits. It would also restrict unions from being able to deduct dues from their paychecks. It would require workers to recertify their union every year. And the workers who are here protesting say that that would be a real blow to the organized labor movement in this state and something that could spread nationally.

Now, what we are seeing is a continuation of these protests. And as you mentioned, some schools have closed throughout the state. We don't know how long that's going to last. We do know that some supporters of this legislation are planning to rally here this weekend as well.

So, we're going to see a noisy, noisy series of protests over the weekend. Now, the legislation that's actually at issue here is actually on hold right now, because, as you may know, some of the Democratic lawmakers here have actually left the state. And that has prevented the state Senate from having a quorum and moving this legislation forward.

The governor has shown no signs of budging. The state lawmakers who have left the state have shown no signs that they're coming back. So right now, neither side is moving and protesters are still here at the state capitol. And they say they are not going to leave any time soon, Brooke.

COOPER: Yes, Casey, I spoke with -- it was Mark Miller. He was the state Senate -- he's the minority leader there. And he, and along I think was 13 other colleagues, left the state. What kind of response have you -- has anyone heard from the governor here or any of the Republicans?

WIAN: Well, yes, we have heard from Republicans. We have heard the governor is expected, was reported to be holding a press conference later on today. We're not sure about that.

BALDWIN: OK.

WIAN: What the Republicans have said is that perhaps the House here may take up this legislation, those House members who are here. We don't know if that has happened yet. It's really insignificant as long as those Democratic senators are not in the state. This bill isn't going to move forward until one of these sides budged, and they are not even discussing this right now.

These workers here say they are willing to discuss helping the state with its budget deficit. They absolutely understand that everybody has to share the pain. But what they say there is a nonstarter and that they are not willing to discuss is any erosion of their union benefits -- Brooke.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: It seems, for now, it's a bit of a political stalemate.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BALDWIN: Casey Wian, listen to the crowd behind you. Casey in Madison for us -- Casey, thanks.

And Wisconsin is not alone with its budget troubles -- 44 states expect deficits for fiscal year 2012. Let's take Texas, for example. The governor there wants to cut $5 billion from public schools, chiefly from arts programs, from prekindergarten and also incentive pay.

The job cuts are very much so on the table as well.

I want to bring in Wayne Slater. He follows politics for "Dallas Morning News." He's pretty much the go-to guy when you're talking politics in Texas.

And didn't Governor Perry claim that there was a budget surplus just a year ago, and now they are staring down this $27 billion budget shortfall? How could Texas turn into a Wisconsin-style showdown?

WAYNE SLATER, COLUMNIST, "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS": Yes. Not only did the governor talk about how things were great in Texas. He made fun of places like California, saying they have budget problems over there.

So, yes, there are series of reasons why we have got problems here. The big reason basically is because of the recession, the same thing that's hurting so many states. As you said, more than 40 states all over the country are undergoing exactly the same thing. How do we solve our budget mess?

BALDWIN: But Texas specifically, Wayne, talk to me about what's proposed. Worst-case scenario, Texas teachers are facing massive, massive layoffs.

SLATER: Look, the difference between Texas and so many other states is that Texas, I think, is the clearest expression of what Republicans and Tea Party conservatives said was the message from last November, which is smaller government, lower taxes, less spending. Here in Texas, we are Republican. The leadership is conservative. Both chambers of the legislature and lieutenant governor are all Republicans. And they say we are going to solve our problem with cuts, not new taxes. The result is -- and you're exactly right. The result could be, depending on the nature of the cuts, could be thousands -- and likely will be -- thousands of schoolteachers laid off and other school personnel, likely means money for school for the supplies.

It means rising tuition most likely is going to happen, less money for college grants and cuts in programs for the poor and elderly.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: And I think it's important, Wayne, to make the distinction that -- we keep talking about Wisconsin and the big issue when you talk those people there in Madison, for example, they are furious because this legislation is proposing to eliminate collective bargaining rights for the union.

That's not the case in Texas. Correct me if I'm wrong. Texas is a right to work state. So, we won't hear union issues in Texas.

SLATER: That's exactly right.

BALDWIN: Now, yes.

SLATER: Yes. Yes. This is a right to work state. So the labor issue isn't going to happen. This is pure cuts in money that is likely to come down the highway.

BALDWIN: Cuts.

SLATER: And that could, in the same way, trigger the same kind -- or similar kinds of protests in the next couple of months, when teachers and others and public employees figure out specifically that they are the ones who are in the crosshairs.

BALDWIN: Before I let you go, Wayne, the whole idea of state politicians playing hooky to skip this vote, for example, the state Senate in Wisconsin, something similar to that happened in Texas not too many years ago. Remind me what happened and what the result was.

SLATER: Yes, 2003, the legislature was taking up a redistricting plan. Then Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay was here working on trying to redraw congressional lines.

Democrats didn't like it. And 11 Democrat senators did exactly what they did in Wisconsin. They left Texas. Instead of going to Illinois, they went to New Mexico. They stayed for 46 days.

BALDWIN: Forty-six days.

SLATER: It was quite an affair...

BALDWIN: Whew. But they ended up losing. SLATER: ... for quite a while -- they did. What ultimately happened was, they just ran out of steam. They got tired. And their ranks broke and they came back and ultimately the Republicans got the bill that they wanted with the redistricting.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: It happened before.

SLATER: But these Democrats became real heroes on the Democrat circuit, as I suspect these Wisconsin legislators will become big heroes on the union circuit.

BALDWIN: It happened before. It's happening again in Wisconsin.

Wayne Slater, "Dallas Morning News," great to have you on, Wayne. I appreciate it.

Now this -- the blood continues to spill in the Middle East, police in Bahrain spraying bullets into the crowd, and now even more people there are dead. When does this violence end? And wait until you hear who was telling everyone to just calm down. We're going to take you there live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We have a lot of developments in the Middle East. Those protests are turning deadly and the situation there becoming more and more volatile.

But first I want to take to Egypt for this remarkable, historic scene. Watch this. This is Cairo. This was just a couple of hours ago, hundreds of thousands of people packing Tahrir Square for what was called the day of victory. The celebration marks, can you it's just been one week, seven days, since February 11. That was the big day for many Egyptians there in the streets, as Egyptians achieved the unthinkable, overthrowing their president, Hosni Mubarak.

Now, this was a symbol of the dramatic change already taking shape in Egypt. A leading Muslim cleric banned from Egypt during Mubarak's reign delivered a sermon, quite the contrast from violent scenes of violent protest we saw just one week ago.

And taking you across the Arab peninsula to Bahrain, the ruling monarch is locked in a deadly showdown with its people. You heard -- you heard those shots. Those were gunshots, police opening fire on peaceful protesters, as two crowds converged near the landmark. It's the Pearl Roundabout in the capital of Manama.

An ambulance worker tells CNN that at least four people are dead. And today's violence follows a series of deadly crackdowns since Monday, when protests there began, hospitals reportedly overflowing with casualties. In fact, the U.S. is watching these developments in Bahrain very closely because it is a key strategic U.S. ally.

And keep in mind, Bahrain serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. So, the king just announced on Bahrain's state television he has decided to give the crown prince, who is the chief of the army -- quote -- "all rights to achieve what is aimed through dialogue with all."

So, I'm going to be talking with our own Arwa Damon there in a moment in Bahrain. She's a reporter on the ground.

But, first, I want you to hear something. I want to hear this, Bahrain's special envoy to the United States on CNN earlier today. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDUL LATIF BIN RASHID AL ZAYANI, BAHRAINI SPECIAL ENVOY TO UNITED STATES: We need to really calm down and sit together. We are in the process of getting together all -- all parties of -- of the societies. We have to have dialogue between them. Our leadership is committed to dialogue, is -- we are committed to the democracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: All right, let's go to Arwa Damon there in Bahrain.

And, Arwa, you know, the crown prince said something very similar on Bahrain's state TV, asking people to remain calm. Clearly, the message here is that the ruling family, the government are ready to negotiate. They say they're open for discussions. But my question to tonight, Arwa, are people calm? How are they responding to that development?

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, it's still a very tense situation. But it is a big step forward that the king right now calling for a dialogue that's going to involve all parties, although it still remains to be seen what sort of an impact that is going to have on these ongoing demonstrations.

What we saw earlier today is a smaller group of demonstrators trying to move back into Pearl square. They made it as far as the cordon set up by the military and the police, where they were repeatedly fired on using, according to eyewitnesses and doctors at the hospital, live ammunition, as well as pellet bullets. And they were using tear gas. We saw the crowd disperse, scatter, really a panicked situation.

We saw bodies being thrown into the back of ambulances as they sped away towards the hospital, the demonstrators there saying that they were determined to fight this out. We were talking to one man who was in that very moment telling us how he was willing to die for freedom and his country when the police and military opened fire in that very moment.

So it is still a very, very tense and unpredictable situation here -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Arwa Damon, stay safe. Thank you for the reporting out of Bahrain. Thank you. And to Libya, the anger, the protests intensify against President Moammar Gadhafi, the longest ruling president in the world. We are just getting word security forces have withdrawn from the city of Benghazi. That's Libya's second largest city. Witnesses say the soldiers are staying. They are now with the people.

But this was the scene earlier today. A medical source tells CNN at least 20 people were killed, 200 injured in this particular city, and tens of thousands of protesters carried the bodies of those killed in this week's clashes.

Government members in civilian clothes reportedly fired at these protesters. Now, CNN has not been permitted to report from Libya, cannot confirm these accounts directly, the government maintaining very strict control over the media there. But Human Rights Watch and other reliable sources tell us that security forces killed at least two dozen people in a brutal crackdown.

Also, this. President Obama has just issued a statement that we have received. Mr. Obama is condemning the use of violence and is urging governments in Libya, in Bahrain and Yemen to show restraint.

And obviously not a good idea to hit and run. Folks, it's illegal, but one guy did it to, of all people, a police car. Doesn't he know there is a dash camera? You are going to see what sparked this whole thing next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We're going to show you what it takes to get from a misdemeanor and a felony in less than 60 seconds.

Watch this with me. There is no audio, so I got to walk you through it. But you see this Atlanta police officer. He's pulling up behind this red Corvette. That car, according to police, was allegedly parked in a fire lane.

Now, a man approaches the Corvette. You see him. Then the Corvette takes off, goes, continues. Driver obviously ignores fact that that was a police officer. They continue. See the headlights? That was the Corvette slamming into the police car. And so that was pretty much the end of that.

Atlanta Police Department asking for any information on the driver or the vehicle. They have no clue thus far why that guy driving that Corvette was even on the run, no idea. We contacted the Atlanta Police Department. We were told this. Apparently, the driver of the Corvette was only going to get slapped with a parking ticket. Ballpark cost of that, maybe 80 bucks. The driver now faces felony charges with a minimum fine of $1,000, five to 10 years in jail for aggravated assault against a police officer.

And a passenger attacks a bus driver, but wait until you hear what the whole thing was over?

Also, this: (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: They're greedy and they're selfish and self-interested.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Whew. Chris Christie says he's a no-nonsense guy and he is sure not holding back how he feels about a lot of people, including President Obama.

And coming up next: why his fight against teachers really matters in this fiery debate over education and money. You are going to hear his blunt talk.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The situation that's taking place now in Wisconsin, it is really symptomatic of budget problems all across the country, not to mention Washington. So, perhaps it's not surprising that a guy like this, a guy who talks simply, moves quickly, is getting a whole lot of attention.

We told you about Chris Christie's speech in Washington. Folks, they are still talking about this speech.

Here is the Republican governor of New Jersey. Have a listen, if you would.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIE: My chief of staff in my first week as governor brought me a sheet of paper that showed me that, if I did not act immediately to stop the planned spending, that New Jersey would not meet its payroll for the second pay period in March.

Imagine that. The state that has the second highest per capita income in America had so overspent, over-borrowed, and over-taxed, that it would not meet payroll in March of 2010. So, we acted immediately to use the executive authority of the governorship to impound $2.2 billion in projected spending, without the permission of the legislature, without compromise, because it was not the time for compromise.

We submitted a budget that cut real spending by 9 percent year over year, not projected growth -- real spending, 9 percent. Every department of state government was cut. And we balanced the budget.

Take my word for it. I rolled out my pension and benefit reform in September on a Tuesday, and then that Friday I went to the firefighters convention in Wildwood, New Jersey, 7,500 firefighters at 2:00 on a Friday afternoon. I think you know what they had for lunch.

And I said, here's the deal: I understand you're angry, and I understand you're frustrated, and I understand you feel deceived and betrayed. And the reason you feel all those things is because you have been deceived and you have been betrayed.

And, for 20 years, governors have come into this room and lied to you, promised you benefits that they had no way of paying for, making promises they knew they couldn't keep, and just hoping that they were the man or women who wouldn't be left holding the bag. I understand why you feel angry and betrayed and deceived by those people.

Here's what I don't understand. Why are you booing the first guy who came in here and told you the truth?

See, one of things that the public sector unions don't understand about my approach in New Jersey is, they think I'm attacking them. I'm attacking the leadership of the union, because they're greedy and they're selfish and self-interested. The members of that union are being ill-served by the leadership of that union.

And, so, what I say, what I'm doing is to save your pension, to save your health care for the rest of your life. And, yes, you're going to have to take a little less. That's the way it goes.

Tell me where else in America -- really, there's two places -- left in America where there's a profession where there is no reward for excellence and no consequence for failure. Of course, we all know the first one is weathermen.

(LAUGHTER)

CHRISTIE: It doesn't matter. It's going to snow six inches, it snows 18. Well, I said it was going to snow. What's the difference?

(LAUGHTER)

CHRISTIE: And they're right back on TV the next night.

(LAUGHTER)

CHRISTIE: Unfortunately, the second one is teaching, because the great teacher, the only reward they get is the psychic reward of knowing that they have done a great job for the children in their classroom.

And the teacher next door, who is the lousy teacher who doesn't care, gets paid the same as the teacher who stays late and comes early, the same as the teacher who communicates with parents, the same as the teacher who feels it's his or her personal responsibility to lift each child up to the next grade.

That's not what America is. America is built on rewarding excellence and having consequence for failure.

We are teetering on the edge of disaster. And I love when people talk about American exceptionalism, but American exceptionalism has to include the courage to do the right thing. It cannot just be a belief that, because we are exceptional, everything will work out OK.

Part of truly being exceptional is being willing to do the difficult things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: That was New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaking Wednesday in Washington.

And now listen to this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Alabama, because I lived 30 miles away, and I poisoned the two Toomer's trees. They are not dead yet, but they definitely will die.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that against the law, to poison a tree?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, do you think I care?

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BALDWIN: "You think I care?"

Well, a lot of people do. That radio caller just implicated himself in a huge college rivalry controversy. That radio host who took that call who voice you heard now part of a federal investigation. I'm going to speak with him next. Auburn University's poisoned tree saga continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of folks, many of you were so floored by the story in Alabama, so today we are following up. We told you about this yesterday, this man arrested for allegedly poisoning two century-old trees in an apparent act of revenge, all over football.

These trees are beloved to Auburn University. These are actually students partying under the oaks after their team's national championship a couple months ago in January. As I told you yesterday, scientists say the trees are now dying.

I want to take you back to the radio clip. You will hear a caller saying he had poisoned these oaks after Auburn beat Alabama. Listen to this. It's part of a football grudge that dates back 28 years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: A good friend of mine that lived in Birmingham sent me a copy of the newspaper showing the Auburn students celebrating Bryant's death.

PAUL FINEBAUM, THE PAUL FINEBAUM RADIO NETWORK: Now, stop, stop, stop. That is just one of the most shocking things I have ever heard. I do not want to believe that's true.

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: Let me finish my story. FINEBAUM: OK.

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: This year I was at the Iron Bowl.

FINEBAUM: No way that can be true.

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: Well, OK. This year I was at the Iron Bowl. I saw where they put a Scam Newton jersey on Bear Bryant's statue.

FINEBAUM: Again, that's 28 years later.

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: Let me tell you what I did. The weekend after the iron bowl I went to auburn, Alabama and I poisoned the two trees. I put spike 80 DL in them.

FINEBAUM: Did they die?

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: They're not dead yet, but they definitely will die.

FINEBAUM: Is that against the law to poison a tree?

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: Do you think I care?

FINEBAUM: No.

"AL" FROM DADAVILLE: OK. I really don't. Hey, you can tell Tammy I hope -- never mind. Roll down tide.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Did you hear that? That caller called himself "Al from Dadeville" talking to long-time radio host Paul Steinbaum who is kind enough to join me during a commercial break of his show. Paul, tell me were your thoughts when you add "Al" call in talking about putting spike 80 DL on the trees. You didn't seem surprised. What was your reaction?

FINEBAUM: At first I didn't believe it or didn't want to believe it. As the day went on we started hearing from horticulturists who said he may have been telling the truth. We were concerned at that point. The next day the officials contacted us and we began cooperating after that.

BALDWIN: The officials contacted you. I understand the feds approached you about this. To your knowledge, is there an active federal investigation into the oak trees?

FINEBAUM: Well, the FBI definitely got involved for several reasons, I think partly because these are historical items. I can't tell you with any degree of specificity where that is now. But they have been a part of the investigation.

BALDWIN: The guy behind bars now. He's Harvey Updike, Jr. Do you know if he's in jail? FINEBAUM: I believe he is on $50,000 bond. I'm not sure when he's getting out. Probably for his own safety I think he's better of in jail than roaming the streets of Auburn now.

BALDWIN: Look, I'm from the south. I get it. I get the rivalry and a lot of people get college rivalries. We are talking Alabama and Auburn. Do college officials worry something could get out of hand over the oak trees like a potential back and forth, potentially, revenge?

FINEBAUM: Well, listen, you won't be surprised by what I say, Brooke. You're from the south. This is the nastiest rivalry in the country and it's been ratcheted up. Alabama won the national title followed by Auburn. There is great hate and also a lot of skepticism from the Alabama fan base that Auburn won an illegitimate championship because of the Cam Newton controversy.

BALDWIN: Yesterday we heard from a grown man crying. This is a huge deal in your neck of the woods. Paul, thanks for weighing in. We really appreciate it.

FINEBAUM: My pleasure. Thank you very much.

BALDWIN: I want to keep you in the loop here. Moving along, we are keeping our eyes on the United Nations, a vote by the Security Council at any moment it could make Israeli settlements illegal. This is live pictures of the U.N. the U.S. delegation is expected to veto or abstain from voting. We have a crew at the U.N. standing by as we wait for the results. We'll bring them to you live.

Also celebrities, half naked models, some of the hottest clothes in the world, some clothes you couldn't pay for and I couldn't afford. This is part of high fashion. This is New York fashion week. CNN is there and talks to, of all people, Victoria Beckham. We have the interview next.

First this -- one NASCAR driver was living life in the fast lane until a scary health problem stopped him in his tracks. Here now, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Brian Vickers fell in love with racing at the age of eight. By 20 Vickers had driven his way into the record books, not only becoming the youngest nationwide series champion in NASCAR history but starting in the super bowl of stock car racing, the Daytona 500.

BRIAN VICKERS, NASCAR DRIVER: I was having numbness, tingling, started getting short of breath.

GUPTA: Suddenly he was in the race of his life.

VICKERS: I had embolism in both lungs and a clot in the left hand.

GUPTA: Vickers was also diagnosed with a condition where a vein in the pelvic area is compressed, increasing the risk of blood clots. A battery of tests found something else -- a hole in his heart. It was the perfect storm -- a hole in his heart that made the cramped corners of the race car for hours on end. His health was at stake and so was his career.

VICKERS: There were times where it didn't look good, didn't look like I was going to race again.

GUPTA: Vickers had heart surgery and was put on blood thinners. Now eight months later, he's clot' free. There is a stent in his left leg keeping the vein open but his doctors cleared him to race. Vickers said he made one of the most difficult decisions of his life to get back in the car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We see the 83 out there. Glad to have Brian Vickers back.

GUPTA: Back on the track he's about to race in his eighth daytona 500.

VICKERS: You can't give up. You have to keep digging and find your own path.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Trending this hour, fashion week in New York, bright lights, runways, models, celebrities. Call it the star-studded Super Bowl for the fashion world. And Alina Cho sat down with some of these high fashion designers, including singer turned fashionista Victoria Beckham. And Alina, what is this I hear about Beckham catering to British royalty?

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's interesting, Brooke, because it's long been rumored that Victoria Beckham may be one of the designers Kate Middleton is looking at for the royal wedding dress. I asked her about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICTORIA BECKHAM: She has asked to try on some dresses.

CHO: Wedding dresses?

BECKHAM: No, no, no. I'm not ready for a wedding dress yet. She's asked to see a couple of dresses. Should she pick one then that would be great.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHO: Of course it would be a great honor. Victoria Beckham said she loves the royal family. I said, I'm American. Who doesn't? She also said that, you know, it's possible it could be something not connected to the wedding. But who knows? The timing is suspect. Perhaps it's for one of the events surrounding the wedding. Of course there are many public events. Brooke, for the special I'm working on, I talked to designer Michael Kors. He's celebrating 30 years in fashion. You will hear about the trends coming up.

BALDWIN: What did he say? What should we look for?

CHO: You know, listen, there's a little bit of a return to modesty. I don't know how you feel about it. Hemlines are going down. That's long been an unofficial economic indicator. I don't know if that's a good thing. But we are seeing a pop of color which is nice other than the black, brown and gray you see on the runway for fall. We are looking at clothes that will be in the stores come fall 2011.

The other thing you will find interesting is all of the celebrities you see sitting in the front row, Brooke, why are they really there? We get to the bottom of it. It's not what you think. It's not always to see the clothes.

BALDWIN: That's a good tease. I was wondering about the famous faces. Alina Cho, we'll watch your special. So fantastic. You're calling it "fashion week, backstage pass" debuting here on CNN Saturday at 2:30 p.m. We'll be tuned in. Alina Cho, thank you so much for all the fashion forwardness you embody.

CHO: My version of the Super Bowl.

BALDWIN: Yes. I like it. Thank you.

Still to come here, 13 murders in the past 24 hours, the violence is growing. What's been called the most dangerous city on the planet. That's next.

First, we all need money advice from time to time, don't we? Well, you can get it for free right here on CNN. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It's time now for the help desk where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me is Ryan Mack, the president of Optimum Capital Management, and Doug Flynn, financial planner. Thanks for being here today guys.

Our first question is "I work for a global company and I may move to the U.K. or India permanently after five, six years. Is there any way I can transfer money to India without paying any penalties." What do you think?

RYAN MACK, PRESIDENT OPTIMUM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: Not fee-free. You may be able to mitigate the amount you pay. A couple of tips are to shop around to make sure you pay less and make sure you look at companies that give you good security. Also make sure you get somebody on the phone.

A lot of companies that do international money transfers, you can't necessarily talk to somebody. Also ask the right questions. What's the exchange rate, how does the individual receive the funds, can they do it in a responsible, safe way and they should be OK.

ELAM: So do a lot of checking before you make moves. Our next question is from Craig in Delaware. He writes, "I'm 43 and have $350,000 in my 401(k). The account is 90 percent stocks and 10 percent bonds. I know a more appropriate mix for my age would be 70/30. But isn't this an awful time to move that much money to bonds with interest rates so low and high bond prices? Should I wait for rates to rise before acting?" What do you think, Doug?

DOUG FLYNN, FINANCIAL PLANNER: We went through 30 years of lowering interest rates so you could be waiting a long time for rates to come up and peak before you do this. The answer is if you should be at 70/30, you need to make the move now. Take that 20 percent differential and move it from the stocks to the bonds.

Here is the trick, though. Don't just buy the traditional treasuries or regular bond fund that you might be offered. You have to do a little bit more digging. You want to find bond funds and bonds that will do well in a rising rate environment. And they're out there. You have to do a little research.

I think the key is you need to do it and need to do it now, but don't just pick the bond fund that's in there. Do some research, find the type of bonds, get on the internet and look for bonds that do well in a rising rate environment or fixed account that can change rates in an upward fashion and you'll do very well.

ELAM: I think someone like Craig knows the ratio should not have a hard time doing the research.

Thanks for helping us out today. If you have a question you want answered, we're happy to help you out. Send an e-mail any time to CNNhelpdesk@CNN.com.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The most dangerous place on the planet adding even more notches in its vile reputation. Just in the past 24 hours alone, at least 13 people have been killed in the Mexican border city of Juarez, all of them in separate shootings, including a man and a woman shot dead outside of a nightclub.

And many families are feeling the violence in Mexico just across the border in Ft. Hancock, Texas. Their children attend school there, and in her special series on the border violence, our own Thelma Gutierrez finds out about the images that haunt these young children. They don't draw childish pictures of flowers and sunshine. Instead, they draw dark images, drawing dead relatives and beheadings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Mexico, a small town for people knew one another and schoolchildren marched in holiday parades. Now, the plaza is silent. Most of the children have gone, and the town is in ruins.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At Mexico they are killing people.

GUTIERREZ: They are seven and eight-year-olds just learning to read, but the journals tell the story of what happened when cartel gunman rode into town.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I heard the news that they had killed my dad, I felt very, very said.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They killed one single person.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With a big, very big machine gun and made a big hole through him.

GUTIERREZ: These students are second graders at Benito Martinez elementary school in Ft. Hancock, Texas, about a mile away from the killings. We're protecting their identities because most of their families had to flee for their lives.

GUTIERREZ (on camera): How many of these children do you believe have been touched by violence?

DELORES TORRES, SECOND GRADE TEACHER: I have 35 kids in my classroom. I would say that maybe 33.

GUTIERREZ: This is a common theme in your curriculum.

TORRES: Absolutely, yes. It's -- they write about it. They talk about it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reason why I am scared to go to Mexico is that the cartel will kill me.

GUTIERREZ: You give them a writing assignment, and a picture of Mexico starts to America.

TORRES: That's her mom crying.

GUTIERREZ: Her mom crying. It's a very sad picture, isn't it?

GUTIERREZ (voice-over): They write about people they have lost, parents, uncles, neighbors. They draw pictures of crimes they have heard about and some they have witnessed -- a man in a wheelchair who was shot, a relative kidnapped at gunpoint.

Then there are coffins and tombstones, guns and tears. In their world even the sun cries.

GUTIERREZ (on camera): From a humanitarian standpoint, do you consider this a crisis?

JOSE FRANCO, SUPERINTENDENT, FORT HANCOCK SCHOOL DISTRICT: Oh, definitely. It's a war zone. I mean, we're living a couple of miles from a war zone is the reality of it. And some of these children that we have in the classroom have been in the middle of it firsthand seeing some of the events that have occurred to their families, brothers, sisters, parents. This is reality. This is for real.

GUTIERREZ: They recount their experiences with chilling detail -- homes burned by the cartels so families can't return, military choppers flying overhead firing on cartel gunmen, big black SUVs driven by cartel hit men packed with drugs.

We were shown darker, more disturbing images that one of her students drew.

GUTIERREZ (on camera): This child is writing about a cousin who was killed. She says that they cut of his head, his hands, and his fingers. You're probably used to children drawing pictures of sunshine and swing sets and grass and flowers and now you're getting pictures of buckets with body parts in it. What do you do as a teacher?

TORRES: I allow them to write. I allow them to violent.

GUTIERREZ: In all the years of teaching that you have under your belt, did you ever imagine you would be dealing with these issues?

TORRES: Oh, never, never, because to me teaching was coming to school and learning ABCs, 123s, reading and writing.

GUTIERREZ: Volunteer community counselors are now working with the children and their families and that the last year they have been in their classroom they are starting to heal and smile again, and so is the sun.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Thelma Gutierrez, those images sort of take the breath out of you, tears and tombstones and automatic machine guns. How do these students cope?

GUTIERREZ: Dee Torres was a social worker before she became a teacher and says these children are resilient. They have each, and because they share some of the similar experiences, they are able to console one another. She's says they are actually making it through day by day.

BALDWIN: Thelma Gutierrez, thank you. So sad.

Did you hear what the governor of Ohio said? John Kasich calling a police officer an "idiot." And guess what, the whole thing is called on video. Now Kasich is having to answer to some critics. That is ahead.

Plus, Gloria Borger with brand new information in from the world of politics. Is government shutdown, could that happen? Is that likely? That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: Time now for quick political update with CNN's own Gloria Borger live in Washington. Gloria, happy Friday to you.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: You, too.

BALDWIN: What do you have?

BORGER: Thank you. Some folks may be out partying this Friday night, but if you're at the United States capitol, chances are you're going to be working late. As you know, the house is moving to vote on these amendments to cut $60 billion out of last year's budget, and within the last 90 minutes they passed amendments to cut all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and bar any federal agency from spending any money that would implement the health care reform plan that was just passed.

Now, as you know, the House doesn't have the final say. The president has threatened to veto this, and Senate Democrats don't want to go along with this, but this is clearly what House Republicans want.

Now, we have another deadline coming up, and that is march 4th. That's also going to keep them busy because if Congress doesn't pass this budget by then or a temporary budget to keep the government funded, guess what -- we may end up at the brink of a government shutdown. There's lots of posturing on both sides as you can well imagine. Each side blaming the other for this.

And then a little later on in "Sit Room," Brooke, we'll talk about the freshman Republicans. They are really the x factor in all of this, 87 of them. 34 of them have never held elective office before, and they look at a government shutdown, some of them and go, hmm, maybe it needs to happen, so we're going to look into that.

Eight hundred miles from here, Madison, Wisconsin, we have got another huge political fight, a budget fight also, over cutting collective bargaining rights for state workers. You have the Democrats actually fleeing the capitol because they don't want to have a vote on this.

Today, the president's spokesman, Jay Carney, weighed in again on this, saying that the president is very understanding of having to make tough budget choices, but that the president also feels very strongly that you can't make this an assault on the collective bargaining rights of state workers.

So, that's a story, Brooke, that we're just going to have to watch play out, budget fight in Wisconsin, budget fight here.

BALDWIN: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

BORGER: And we will see it over and over.

BALDWIN: We're seeing a lot of that and we have got more from Wisconsin here as it continues to gain momentum.

BORGER: Yes. Yes, great story.

BALDWIN: Gloria Borger, thank you. It is.

We will get another political update for you in half-an-hour. You can always get your latest political fix. Go to CNNPolitics.com or hop on to Twitter at @PoliticalTicker.