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Police Officer Killed in New York; Judge Guilty in "Kids for Cash" Scheme; Bloody Uprising in Libya; Wisconsin Budget Showdown; Report Details Alleged Abuse by Priests
Aired February 19, 2011 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: You're looking now at live pictures from Libya after a day of deadly protests. Journalists not allowed in, but these pictures provided by people risking their lives and finding ways around a government information blackout.
We've been following this developing story all day out of Libya. There's been some dramatic video, and we'll have more of this in just a few minutes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My kid's not here. He's dead because of him. He ruined my [bleep] life. I'd like him to go to hell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Wait until you hear the rest of what this mother told a judge who got kickbacks for sending kids to jail. One of those kids was her son who committed suicide. Her emotional talk with me in just moments.
And supermodel Niki Taylor on a new crossroad mission, the tragic loss of her sister and the car crash that almost took her own life.
I'm Don Lemon. But first, the top stories of the day.
We start this broadcast in Wisconsin where massive protests over the state budget bill went into a fifth day.
The bill would strip public workers of collective bargaining and force them to pay more for benefits. Republican Governor Scott Walker says the state needs to pay its bills, and ultimately this will save jobs.
Tea Party activists today flocked to Madison to show their support for the bill. Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate have fled the state to stall the vote. We'll have a report from the scene in just a few minutes.
A battle for the future of Libya is shaking the country's second largest city. The military spent Saturday battling protesters. One pro-democracy activist said some 200 people have been killed. CNN is unable to confirm the death toll since the government has refused our requests for access.
But you can hear the fear in this woman's voice as she discussed the clash.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are very afraid. We are near the camp, the big camp in the - downtown, in Benghazi. This camp for Gadhafi's house and all the people wouldn't get inside to this house - this camp. After that, the - a vessel (INAUDIBLE) had shoot, shoot, shoot the people and killed many, many young people.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
LEMON: Again, as we look at these live pictures being provided to us from people who are risking their lives in Benghazi. We'll tell you a little bit more about this story. We're going to hear from another protester on the frontlines a little bit later on in this show.
Let's go to Bahrain now. Fear turned to joy today as protesters surged into the square where they battled security forces earlier this week. The crown prince ordered the military to leave the Pearl roundabout to the protesters. He also says the government is open to dialogue.
Somali pirates hijacked this yacht with four Americans on board yesterday, according to the U.S. military. It happened on the Indian Ocean as the vessel was headed to Oman. It's not clear who the abducted Americans are, but the yacht, the "SV Quest," is registered to Jean and Scott Adam, a California couple who has spent the last seven years traveling the world. They recently told friends they had concerns about pirates.
The mayor of Poughkeepsie, New York called yesterday perhaps the worst day in the city's history after the fatal shooting of 44-year- old Police Officer John Falcone. Friday Afternoon, police responded to a shooting in a parking lot where they say 27-year-old Lee Welch had shot his wife, Jessica, and was holding his toddler son.
Police rescued the child but then, they say, Welch opened fire, fatally wounding Falcone, then turned the gun on himself. The suspect's wife, Jessica, died later in the hospital. Welch had been arrested just two weeks ago for reportedly attacking her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF RONALD KNAPP, POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK POLICE: It is our belief that the suspect killed himself after firing at least two shots at the officers, one of them hitting Officer Falcone.
So, just to make that clear, none of the police officers at the scene discharged their weapons.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: To Florida now, where investigators say they do not suspect foul play in the death of a teenage bull rider. Brooke Ann Coats, who was 16, could not be revived after the bull she was riding threw her and then kicked her in the chest.
She was able to walk out of the ring Friday night at the 301 Rodeo East of Tampa. She later had trouble breathing and then she collapsed.
An army soldier wanted in the rape of an underaged girl has been captured at a motel in Daytona Beach. Twenty-year-old Private Daniel Brazelton had been on the run since he escaped from military custody in Georgia a week ago. He faces extradition to Los Angeles for sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.
High winds in the nation's capital today snapped the trunk of the national Christmas tree not far from the White House. The 42-foot tall blue spruce was the star attraction back in December when the First Family took part in the lighting ceremony. But, by late today, it was just a memory. The area was cleaned up and the tree was reduced to mulch.
Call it one of the largest tree hugs you will ever see. Auburn fans in Alabama gathered today for the event that they call "The Toomer Tree Hug." They're showing support for teams (ph) now, trying to save the 130-year-old Toomer's Corner trees.
On Thursday police arrested 62-year-old Harvey Updyke Jr. for applying herbicide to the plants. It appears Updyke poisoned the trees to support Auburn's rival, the University of Alabama.
Kids and the law often don't mix. Marijuana, truancy, shoplifting. Usually there's an expectation of leniency, especially for first-time minor offenses.
Well, not for kids who went before Judge Mark Ciavarella in Pennsylvania. He secretly received nearly $1 million to put kids away just so a juvenile facility could stay full. Now Ciavarella faces his own time behind bars.
Shannon Murphy of our affiliate WBRE in Scranton has the emotional reaction as Ciavarella exited the court and went home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not a cash for kids case, and we hope somebody starts getting the message.
SANDY FONZO, SON SENT TO JUVENILE CENTER THEN COMMITTED SUICIDE: My kid's not here anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ma'am -
FONZO: My kid's not here. He's dead because of him! He ruined my [bleep] life! I'd like him to go to hell and rot there forever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am, come on.
FONZO: No. You know what he told everybody in court? They need to be held accountable for their actions. You need to be.
You remember me? Do you remember me? Do you remember my son? An all-star wrestler. He's gone. He shot himself in the heart. You scumbag.
SHANNON MURPHY, WBRE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That mother lashed out at Ciavarella this afternoon after the verdict was read. She says her son committed suicide after being sent away by Ciavarella for a minor crime.
But that's just one of the hundreds of stories surrounding the kids for cash scandal. "Eyewitness News" also caught up with Kevin Williamson. Kevin was sentenced to 90 days at a juvenile detention center back in 2008 for a minor offense.
KEVIN WILLIAMSON, KIDS FOR CASH VICTIM: I was honestly expecting like some form of like simple probation or some type of fine or something. Like, the last thing I expected was to get sent away.
MURPHY: Kevin and his mom say they're happy with the verdict, but not the fact that Ciavarella walked out of federal court a free man.
WILLIAMSON: I wasn't impressed because he walked out of there. I would have rather seen him go away straight from court, considering that's what I had to do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought the judge should have had a little more compassion and thought about the kids and what they went through, that they never had a chance. They got taken right out of the chair into handcuffs and shackles, right out the side door, and never had a good-bye.
MURPHY: Kevin, now 20, says he will be there for sentencing. He just hopes the punishment fits the crime.
WILLIAMSON: That's what I'm afraid of. He's going to get like some type of simple punishment, a slap on the wrist-type deal. Like I think he should be treated like everyone else should. No special - there's like nothing special about him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Definitely an emotional reaction there. The woman screaming at the judge as he came out of the courthouse, that mom, Sandy Fonzo, spoke with us just a short time ago, and you're going to hear her tell us why she will never forgive that judge.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... message. FONZO: My kid's not here anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ma'am -
FONZO: My kid's not here. He's dead because of him! He ruined my [bleep] life! I'd like him to go to hell and rot there forever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am, come on.
FONZO: No. You know what he told everybody in court? They need to be held accountable for their actions. You need to be.
You remember me? Do you remember me? Do you remember my son? An all-star wrestler. He's gone. He shot himself in the heart. You scumbag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That mother who screamed at former Judge Mark Ciavarella was Sandy Fonzo. She says when her son Ed first got in trouble, Ciavarella told her he was going to scare him straight. Instead, it snowballed into an unending nightmare. Ed never got over it and took his own life.
Earlier tonight, I spoke with his heartbroken mother.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FONZO: My son was my life and that's all I had, and now it's gone, so I don't have that same life. I don't - you know, I exist right now.
LEMON: How did your son first come in contact with Ciavarella's court?
FONZO: He was 17 and he was going into senior year of high school. Like I said, he was an all-star wrestler. He was expected that year to take states. He would have been the first one in his high school to have that title, and he would have received a scholarship to anywhere in the country.
And right before school started he just started hanging with a different crowd and he was staying out later, you know? He was pushing the limits and it - it just went on for a while. Ed lived just with me. I wasn't with his father, and - and he just - I don't know. Things were just getting a little bit out of control.
And when I spoke to his father, he had friends that we actually went to school with in the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, and we knew Ed was at an underage drinking party, so we sent them in just to get him out of there. We wanted to put a scare into him and just get him back on track. And, you know, he just had too much to lose to go down that path.
LEMON: Can you ever forgive this judge? FONZO: No. Never. Never. I - there is no justice. He'll never receive my sentence, what I have to live with every day of my life without my son.
He left on that beautiful day yesterday to go back with his family. I have nothing anymore, and he still has no - nothing. It was - it was all for nothing. It was all for greed and for more and more. He never had enough, and he took everything from me. And I'll never, never forgive him, no.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Thanks to Sandy Fonzo.
At least one sign read "Welcome to Cairo."
You know, this wasn't a scene overseas. This is in America, outrage in Wisconsin. It's coming up soon to your state, maybe.
This is overseas. Libyans seeking change, but the military is taking aim. We're talking to one man risking his life to get the word out about what's happening.
And I'm online. I know you are, too. Make sure you check out our social media sites and connect with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Facing rebellion in their countries, Bahrain and Libya are trying very different tactics. Bahrain's government appeared to back off on Saturday, ordering the military out of the Pearl roundabout. Protesters surged into the area abandoned by soldiers and the government is offering talks.
Now, Libya has heard enough from its protesters and is trying to silence pro-democracy activists. Today, the hospital in Benghazi received a steady stream of casualties. A firm number was impossible to confirm and, of course, these are just two of the many countries caught up in the current of Mideast rebellion and revolt this year.
Today's bloodshed on the streets of Benghazi appears to have energized the protesters. They're planning a new rally for tomorrow afternoon and making it clear that they'll stop at nothing to win their freedom.
We're joined now by a pro-democracy activist, and we're not revealing his name to protect him and we're not telling exactly where he is.
When I spoke to you last just a couple of hours ago, you were concerned that you might not make it through the night. It is just after 5:15 there in the morning, so you did make it through the night, but is this any indication that things are going to slow down there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Slow down as in you mean the demonstration? They're not going to slow down. There are going to be more demonstrations tomorrow.
Let me just explain on thing, OK? The more he kills, the more people assemble. It's going to be even, even, even bigger and bigger tomorrow in Libya.
LEMON: Yes. When I asked you if it was slowing down, if there was an indication, I meant the violence on the streets, because we heard from you and we heard from others that the military was actually saying that they were joining the protests, and then they would shoot people. And that's according to you, again, and someone else we spoke to.
I meant do you think the violence is going to stop from people - from people who are either beating or shooting the demonstrators?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The militia are not stopping. Right now they told me. I was talking to Brian (ph) that there are black cars who are shooting at people running, you know? Just, you know, shooting randomly at people, just trying to slow down, you know, the number of people who are actually gathering.
Tomorrow morning - tomorrow morning I will try to have another (INAUDIBLE) to show you that that funeral is going to start from the - from the courthouse in front of the city, in Benghazi City, towards the (INAUDIBLE). That's about 10 kilometers' walk.
They got to take the dead people from that place to - that place, you know? And it's going to be a big one, because earlier I was told that around 200 people died. We are not sure how many died just right now in the last few hours, after that news.
LEMON: What is your - what recourse, if any, do you feel that you have? Is it just the protests? Because they're trying to - they have shut down the Internet, virtually, for people who can't make their way around it. Obviously you are making your way around the Internet and the phone lines. But is that your only recourse, really, to have those protests and - and to continue them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will continue protesting, yes. We want Libya free. We want to be free. It's - it's simple - it's a simple human right to have your freedom.
I mean, come on. Why - why don't we have Internet just to show you? Why don't you have somebody - why don't you have somebody here in Libya to see what's going on?
LEMON: Yes. You make a very good point, because the government is not allowing media in. You wouldn't allow journalists to come in to record what's happening. And so I think it's - it's important that we have you on here so that you can explain to our viewers now exactly what you saw today.
As we understand, that some - some members of the military, or militia, as you say, were in trees, shooting at protesters. Shooting, injuring some, killing others. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I have sent you already a video, that was a short video. You can see in that video bullets going through bodies of - of Libyan guys, and you can see it. You can't see it very clear because it's dark and the bullets, they look like red, you know, red flares, but they are really fast.
LEMON: Yes. Cars driving by through the streets, randomly, with people in them randomly shooting at protesters?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes. That's true. That's correct.
And I want to - I want to just mention one - one thing, please. There is something called (INAUDIBLE). It's in downtown. They have snipers on top of it, and they are right now shooting people with something called anti-tanks. I'm not sure how to describe it very, very clearly. Because they are running out of ammunition. So they're trying to shoot people with anything they have.
LEMON: Yes. Listen, we want to thank you again for risking your life and for showing and - look, these are some of the pictures that we're getting that have been streaming out of Libya there. And - go ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tomorrow morning I'm going to be there to show you even more.
LEMON: Yes.
These are live streaming pictures from Benghazi, and we have someone who's on the phone who were in the middle of those protests. And when we spoke to him earlier he was afraid he wasn't going to make it through the night. It's 5:20 in the morning there. He has made it through the night, but still concerned for his safety and the safety of others.
He says as many as 200 people have been killed. That's not our reporting. That's according to him. And we can't confirm because the government's not allowing journalists in.
We're going to continue to follow this story. Thanks to our caller who's calling us from Benghazi.
I just want to say, if you'll coming back to me here on camera just real quickly, and we can get back to those pictures. I want to show our viewers this. This is just in from the State Department, and I'm going to read it here.
You can put those pictures back up. It's important to see Benghazi live there. We just got it from the U.S. State Department.
It says, "The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the potential for ongoing unrest in Eastern Libya. U.S. citizens are urged to defer nonessential travel to Eastern Libya at this time. There are reports of violent clashes between protesters and security forces in various cities in Eastern Libya, including Benghazi and others. Spontaneous demonstrations and violence are possible throughout the next several days."
One more sentence here, "In addition, U.S. citizens are advised that there may be unannounced changes to road access in Eastern Libya." Again, from the Department of State here, a warning to Americans who may be traveling in Libya.
We're going to continue to follow this story for you.
In the meantime, let's check your top stories here on CNN, starting with a report just coming in to the CNN NEWSROOM, a five- alarm fire tonight in Brooklyn has injured at least 15 people, including nine firefighters. Fortunately none of the injuries is life threatening. Officials tell us the fire is in a six-story residential building.
Somali pirates hijacked this yacht with four Americans on board yesterday, according to U.S. military officials. It happened on the Indian Ocean as the vessel was headed to Oman.
It's not clear who the abducted Americans are, but the yacht, the "SV Quest," is registered to Jean and Scott Adam, a California couple who has spent the last seven years traveling the world. We're told they recently told friends that they had concerns about pirates.
Investigators in Florida do not suspect foul play in the death of a teenage bull rider. Brooke Ann Coats, who was 16, could not be revived after the bull she was riding threw her and then kicked her in the chest. She was able to walk out of the ring Friday night at the 301 Rodeo East of Tampa, but she later had trouble breathing and collapsed.
I want to get back to one of our other top stories now. Wisconsin and the budget showdown that's drawing massive protests. The governor stands by his budget, which would strip public workers of collective bargaining and increase their benefits cost.
Our Casey Wian has been in the middle of the protest crowd all day - Casey.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More than 100,000 people surrounded the state capital here in Madison, Wisconsin today, bitterly divided over the issue of state employee rights and the contribution they will make to help close the state's budget deficit. We saw organized opposition from labor unions, as we have seen all week, marching around the state capital. They're very angry about a proposal by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker which would strip unions, state unions, of many of their collective bargaining rights and require them to pay more for their health and pension benefits.
One of the reasons the numbers were so large today is because for the first time supporters of the governor arrived in large numbers. We saw people from several states arriving by the busload, organized by the Tea Party. They came here to say that they support these efforts to rein in, in their words, the state unions and help reduce the budget deficit. Despite the fact that there were so many people here and so many bitterly held divided opinions, these protests were largely peaceful. Police officers say they don't know when these protests are going to end. The - both sides say that they're dug in. They're not going to budge on this issue. The governor says he's not going to negotiate with the unions. The unions say they're going to keep coming here until he does.
Casey Wian, CNN, Madison, Wisconsin.
LEMON: All right, Casey, thank you.
Picture this, a rope swinging over a river. Pretty cool, right? Now, picture this, a rope swinging over a canyon. Hold that thought. You'll see it after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It's a scandal that wouldn't go away, Catholic priests accused of sexually abusing children. A particularly horrible cases engulf the Philadelphia archdiocese, and CNN's Susan Candiotti explains why this case is especially worrisome to the Vatican.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Despite efforts to change its ways, Philadelphia's archdiocese again is facing damning allegations from a grand jury, including a child sex abuse cover-up.
BISHOP DANIEL THOMAS, ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA: It's clear that more needs to be done.
CANDIOTTI: These two priests, Edward Avery and Charles Englehardt, and a lay teacher, Bernard Shero, now stand accused of raping the same boy between 1998 and 2000. Father James Brennan is charged with assaulting a different boy in 1996. But allegations against a fourth priest is setting the case apart.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Here's what makes this case different. It appears to be the first time a priest who's not accused of being an abuser himself is charged with going out of his way to put dangerous priests into contact with more children who, in turn, also were abused.
(voice-over): He's Monsignor William Lynn. From 1992 to 2004, the man tapped by the archdiocese to investigate abuse, Lynn faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of endangering the welfare of two children allegedly raped by other priests. Priest Lynn allegedly knew to be sex offenders.
R. SETH WILLIAMS, PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY: This is about evil men being held accountable for doing despicable acts.
CANDIOTTI: District Attorney Seth Williams is bringing the charges that at least one respected analyst agrees could rock the Vatican.
WILLIAMS: And they say this is the precedent, this is the first time in American prosecution that we're holding accountable a person who didn't do the abusing, but was, we believe negligent in his authority.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): According to the grand jury report, Monsignor Lynn learned that one of the priests under his direction had fondled a young boy, that priest was sent to a sex offender program, yet, Monsignor Lynn allegedly lied about what happened to parishioners and called it all a rumor.
When that priest was released from the program, he was ordered to stay away from young people, yet, just the opposite happened. The archdiocese assigned him here to St. Jerome's Church and School. According to the grand jury, that priest, Father Edward Avery allegedly raped a young boy here. That same boy was allegedly raped by another priest here and a lay teacher.
CANDITOTTI (voice-over): Bishop Daniel Thomas was assigned by the cardinal to talk with CNN about the grand jury's report. The bishop points out the D.A. credits the archdiocese with providing victim counseling and now reporting some accused abusers to police including the four now charged.
In response to the report, the archdiocese has just hired a former local prosecutor who sits on a church board to review the grand jury's recommendations. The bishop promises things will be different.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Why should people believe the archdiocese this time?
BISHOP DANIEL THOMAS, ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA: Some have said this is too little too late. But the reality is it's never too late to make it right.
GINA MAISTO SMITH, ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA: This is an opportunity to make a difference.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): However, the D.A. and grand jury say there is credible evidence that 37 additional active priests are alleged abusers. The archdiocese has put three of those priests on administrative duty, but disputes it knows of credible information about any of the 37 at this time. It vows a complete review.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Philadelphia's district attorney urges any victim to come directly to them. In his words, it's not necessary to go to the archdiocese first.
Now, in terms of reaction from the defendants, first of all, we spoke with a lawyer for Monsignor Lynn. He says that his client says he is not guilty, and he goes beyond that. He said that the law that they are charging him with, endangerment of a child does not apply to Monsignor Lynn because he's too high an official in the archdiocese and that the statute does not apply to him. He said that the 2005 grand jury recognized this, this jury did not. And the attorney will be challenging that.
In terms of Father Eberhart, his attorney also says that his client is not guilty and that he believes so confidently in his innocence that he waived his right against self incrimination and testified before a grand jury. As far as the lawyers for the other defendants we so far have been unable to reach them - Don.
LEMON: All right. Susan, thank you very much.
A new report by menshealth.com has ranked the angriest U.S. cities. Is your city on the top five list? OK. Take a look. Rounding out the top five -- Newark, New Jersey; number four, Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada, like it's everybody loses their money, right? Number three, St. Petersburg, Florida. And before we get to the last two, try to guess which ones they are.
The answer - so what are the top two angriest cities in the U.S.? Don't get mad, but you have to wait until after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back. Does your city rank high when it comes to anger and aggravated assault? If so, you may be living in one of the angriest cities in the U.S. That's according to "Men's Health Magazine".
Now here are the top two angry towns topping the list. Taking the number two spot, Baltimore, Maryland. And the number one angriest city in America, well, given the current state of the economy there, they may have - they may have some good reason to be upset. It's Detroit, Michigan. Sorry, Motor City, I'm just the messenger.
OK. Time now for your viral videos. And snow from this winter's storm is gone in many places but here's a fond memory of the blizzard outside one home in Brooklyn, New York. Hands down, best snow fort ever. I said fort - ever.
Fans of the cartoon "Masters of the Universe" will recognize it as Castle Grayskull home - as a Castle Grayskull home of He-Man. It even has lights to make it glow at night. The amazing fort was made by the sculptor known as Kilroy III. The music - if you're curious, we can't hear it. Can you hear the music? The SOP by Acid James. OK.
Right now, countless kids are spilling gallons of water all over their kitchens trying to do this trick. The guy who created the video swears it's real. A lot of the people in the comment section are playing along saying they could do it, too.
Isn't that awesome? Look how cool that is. Is that real?
It appears to be a glass of water holding its shape after the glass is removed. But it's just computer generated. It's not real. Anyone out there who's trying to duplicate this trick can stop now. It will never work without violating the laws of physics. If it did work, our ancestors would have discovered it a very long time ago. I thought it's like a half-frozen water where it just - OK. So it's not real.
Everyone loves a good rope swing, but we bet you've never seen one like this before. That looks really cool, doesn't it? Some daring folks made it over a canyon in Moab, Utah. It takes nerves of steel to jump off that cliff. The swing line as it's called was created by stringing two climbing ropes across a large crevasse or crevasse, some people call it. Then someone had to shimmy out to the middle to attack - attach, I should say, the swing line.
Look how cool that is. Looks like they had a good time and no one got hurt. Would you do that? Yes, absolutely? All right. I don't think I would do it. It looks cool, but have to be a big net down there or something.
There's a lot more than taste to this wonderful ethnic food you're looking at. There's also a rich history behind it. You'll hear it right after the break. It looks good.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Checking the top stories right now.
Day five of massive protests in Wisconsin over the state budget bill.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kill the bill! Kill the bill! Kill the bill!
LEMON: The bill would strip public workers of collective bargaining and force them to pay more benefits. Republican Governor Scott Walker says the state needs to pay its bills and ultimately this will save jobs. Tea Party activists today flocked to Madison to show their support for the bill. Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate have fled the state to stall the vote.
A battle for the future of Libya is shaking the country's second largest city. The military spent Saturday battling protesters. One pro-democracy activist said some 200 people have been killed. CNN is unable to confirm the death toll since the government has refused our requests for access. But you can hear the fear in the woman's voice as she discussed the clash.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are very afraid. We are near the camp, the big camp in the - downtown in Benghazi. This camp for Gadhafi's house and all the people will get inside to this - this camp. After that, the vessel - has shoot, shoot, shoot the people, and kill many, many young people.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
LEMON: It's a different story in Bahrain where fear turned to joy today as protesters surged into the square where they battled security forces earlier this week. The crowned prince ordered the military to leave the Pearl Roundabout to the protesters. He also says the government is open to dialogue.
Ever wondered about the story behind popular ethnic foods like ox tail, short ribs or jerk chicken? There's a new cookbook with over 130 recipes from African-American chefs with African and Caribbean ancestry whose mission is to pass down their food culture to future generations. Here's a taste of history.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF HENDERSON, CHEF/AUTHOR: We're here to talk about food. We're here to talk about the African-American contributions, not just to history, but to cuisine. The "Pass It Down" cookbook is a collection of over 130 different recipes from African-Americans who have Caribbean ancestry, African ancestry and we want to talk a little bit about the braising of foods we have here. We have ox tails that are slow braising here. We have short ribs. We have a little of Caribbean jerk chicken.
A slave used to go out and hunt for game and when they brought the game back to the - to the mansion, the slaves got the tough parts of the meat. They got the meats that took all day to cook, all day to braise like ox tails, like the short ribs. So when the slaves were out in the fields, these particular meats would braise and soul cook all day long, so when the slaves came home in the evening they would have nice, tender meat that was normally tough that the slave master really didn't want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And when we come back, the history of African-American food is passed down to future generations by father and son chefs.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A veteran chef collaborates with a father and son chef team in Atlanta. They've produced a cookbook that illustrates how food has shaped black culture and history. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENDERSON: During the slave times, many of the slaves connected through food. After church, we connect through food. At funerals, we connect through food. How can we present our history without foods? And this is how the whole "American I Am Pass It Down" cookbook came about.
What's the inspiration behind most of these dishes here, chef?
JOE RICKERSON, CHEF, SPACE ATLANTA: Well, most of these dishes right here came from my grandmother, my great grandmother, and, you know, they cook their - they cook food that made you feel good.
I'm very fortunate that, you know, my grand daddy started this. He passed it on to me and I'm getting the opportunity to pass it on to Joel (ph). And hopefully Joel (ph), he'll pass it on to his kids.
HENDERSON: Joel (ph) is your?
RICKERSON: Oldest son.
HENDERSON: Your oldest son.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And tomorrow night, CNN spotlights another moment in American history. A man at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. But was he a hero or was a traitor? His camera lens captured pivotal moments in African-American history. Now, FBI documents exposed a darker angle.
Make sure you join Soledad O'Brien for the special investigation "Pictures Don't Lie." That's Sunday night, 8:00, Eastern only on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: I'm talking to supermodel Niki Taylor about what? Does it matter?
NIKI TAYLOR, SUPERMODEL: Ah.
LEMON: Look at her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The woman with the good looks is pushing good causes while talking about how she overcame the bad breaks in her life.
But first, Dan Wallrath was honored as a Top 10 CNN hero for building mortgage-free homes for injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. That caught the attention of the TV show "Extreme Home Makeover: The Home Edition". Well, together they helped a soldier who survived the Fort Hood shootings find his way home. And that episode airs Sunday on ABC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KID ROCK, SINGER: It's my honor to present CNN Hero Dan Wallrath.
DAN WALLRATH, TOP 10 CNN HERO: Being a Top 10 CNN Hero was just very humbling. The true heroes are servicemen and women who answered the call.
Since the show aired, we've been getting phone calls and e-mails and donations from all over the world. It's just been incredible.
GEORGE VERSCHOOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER": We had seen Dan on the CNN Heroes Tribute and we thought that that's a perfect guy we've got to team up with.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning (INAUDIBLE). ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" joined forces with Dan to build a home for an Iraq war veteran wounded in the 2009 attack at Ft. Hood in Texas. Thirteen soldiers died, but Staff Sergeant Patrick Zeigler pulled through.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was shot four times, once in the head. He's just made a remarkable recovery.
COOPER: For Dan who normally works with around 200 people, it's a chance to help build a home on a much larger scale.
WALLRATH: It's been probably 4,000 or 5,000 volunteers involved. We have tons of military folks helping us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless you.
WALLRATH: This house is going to be built in about 100 hours where normally will take about six months.
COOPER: And an event at Ft. Hood honoring Patrick and his fiancee Jessica, Dan made a special announcement.
WALLRATH: We have established a Ft. Hood victims' fund to reach out to all the families affected by this tragedy.
It feels so good all the time about seeing these lives changed. Now, we're going to be able to change a lot more.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: From the runway to the roadway, former supermodel Niki Taylor has been traveling the country to promote a campaign to help America's struggling communities. The ex-cover girl is now a spokesperson for the "Reader's Digest" campaign, "We Hear You America". The magazine is giving out a total of $5 million to community projects around the nation traveling to 100 cities in 100 days and it's "We Hear You America" RV.
So Taylor is part of an effort to help local programs that cash- strapped municipalities can't afford nowadays, but this is far from her only cause. Soon after her sister Krissy's death in 1995, she and her family took on the task of informing people about the risks of ARVD, the heart condition they believe killed Krissy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: You have such a nice demeanor and a great spirit, but you've gone through a lot. I remember I interviewed you back in the '90s and your sister was there at the time and this is before your sister's untimely death, which you and your family sort of made a mission to talk about these heart arrhythmias, right?
TAYLOR: Yes. You know, we get our teeth checked, but we never get our heart checked out.
LEMON: Did you get over something like that, losing a sister?
TAYLOR: Never. Now, you know, I was also in a car accident here in Atlanta 10 years ago. And I said I would go through that car accident a hundred times just to have my sister back, but you never get over a death of a loved one.
LEMON: Yes. How did your family deal with it? How did you deal with that?
TAYLOR: Oh, not good. Who does? Nobody - nobody deals good with it.
LEMON: Yes.
TAYLOR: And it took, you know, a lot out on a lot of people and everybody handled it in their own different ways, but I think you have to have a strong support system -
LEMON: Yes.
TAYLOR: -- you know, in place.
LEMON: But you made it through and, again, as I said you made it - you made it your mission and then the accident right here in Atlanta.
TAYLOR: Right here in Atlanta.
LEMON: Does this bring back memories being here?
TAYLOR: No, no. I love Atlanta.
LEMON: What happened?
TAYLOR: We hit a utility pole. Several times I flatlined and they kept telling people that they needed to make arrangements to move my body. But, you know, God wasn't done with me yet and lots of blood and lots of amazing doctors.
LEMON: The People's Choice Awards in January, you showed - you wore a gown and showed your scar from the accident.
TAYLOR: Yes.
LEMON: Why did you choose to do that?
TAYLOR: This is an all last minute thing and I did not have a dress for this award show and somebody had brought a couple of dresses over and it was the only dress that really fit and felt comfortable and it was a Donna Karan and you always feel so nice and cozy in Donna Karan. And this one was just a little low in the back and - and you do - you do see my scar and I've had two back surgeries from my car accident.
And no, I'm thankful for the scars. Oh, my gosh.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Let's check the stop stories right now.
We start in Wisconsin where massive protests over the state budget bill went into a fifth day. The bill would strip public workers of collective bargaining and force them to pay more for benefits. Republican Governor Scott Walker says the state needs to pay its bills and ultimately this will save jobs. Tea Party activists today flocked to Madison to show their support for the bill. Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate have fled the state to stall a vote.
The battle for the future of Libya is shaking the country's second largest city. The military spent Saturday battling protesters. One pro-democracy activist said some 200 people have been killed. CNN is unable to confirm the death toll since the government has refused our requests for access. But you can hear the fear in this woman's voice as she discussed the clash.
We'll move on now. In Bahrain, fear turned to joy today as protesters surged into the square where they battled security forces earlier this week. The crowned prince ordered the military to leave the Pearl Roundabout to the protesters. He also says the government is open to dialogue.
And this coming in to the CNN newsroom, a five-alarm fire in Brooklyn has injured at least 15 people including firefighters. Fortunately, none of the injuries is life threatening. Officials tell us that the fire is in a six-story residential building. Again, a five-alarm fire in Brooklyn injuring firefighters. We're told none of the injuries life threatening.
We'll update you on all of the stories tomorrow morning here on CNN.
In the meantime, I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. I'll see you back here tomorrow night, 6:00, 7:00 and 10:00 P.M. Eastern. Good Night.
