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Quick Guide & Transcript: Tookie Williams executed, Post-Katrina housing woes
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CNN STUDENT NEWS(CNN Student News) -- December 14, 2005 Quick GuideTookie Williams Executed - Get an overview on the history and present status of capital punishment in the United States. Post-Katrina Housing Woes - Find out how some hurricane victims in Louisiana are coping without proper shelter. School and Work - Meet an 18-year-old student who's balancing his schoolwork with a full-time job rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. TranscriptTHIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. MONICA LLOYD, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: We're glad you could join us for this Wednesday broadcast of CNN Student News! I'm Monica Lloyd. A convicted killer is put to death in California. We'll bring you some facts and figures on the controversial issue of capital punishment. Dozens of trailers are ordered for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. But what's keeping some of them from getting where they're needed? And in a region where workers are hard to come by, hourly wages are on the up-and-up. But how do you balance a full-time job, with school and sleep? First Up: Tookie Williams Executed LLOYD: A man who helped found a violent street gang called the Crips, was executed in California early Tuesday. Stanley Tookie Williams was sentenced to the death penalty in 1981, for killing four people in 1979. One of the prosecutors in the case said the evidence against Williams, was "rock solid." But though Williams acknowledged he had a violent past, he claimed he was innocent of the murders for which he was sentenced. He spoke out against gang violence after his conviction, and wrote children's books with an anti-gang message. The case has triggered intense debate over capital punishment, which was re-instated in the 1970's. Here's Tony Harris with a "fact check" on the topic. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TONY HARRIS, CNN REPORTER: The United States and Japan are the only two industrialized democracies to still permit capital punishment. Some other nations won't even extradite criminal suspects to the U.S. without assurances they won't face capital punishment. There are currently more than 3,400 inmates on death row in 38 states. America's most prolific period for capital punishment was in the 1930's. 160 executions were carried out every year. The Supreme Court in 1972 ruled against the state of Georgia in a case that effectively banned the death penalty in America. The death penalty was reinstated by another high court in 1976. And a 10 year moratorium with the execution of Gary Gilmore in Utah in 1977. Gilmore was killed by a firing squad. (END VIDEO CLIP) Word to the Wise CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS REPORTER: A Word to the Wise... moratorium: (noun) a legally approved period of delay in the performance of a duty; a suspension Source: www.wordcentral.com Post-Katrina Housing Woes LLOYD: One of the ways in which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has helped victims of Hurricane Katrina, is by providing trailers for those whose homes were destroyed. But in Saint Bernard Parish, an area of Louisiana that was devastated by the storm, some are still living without proper shelter. Local officials argue that FEMA hasn't done enough to house the hurricane victims; FEMA says it's willing to help, but doesn't know where to put the trailers. Meanwhile, Susan Roesgen tells us how the victims themselves are making do. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN REPORTER: Wayne and Charlene Conrad just wanted to live again in their own home. So they are. Sort of. After weeks of waiting for a FEMA trailer that has never arrived, they decided to buy a tent and put it up in what's left of their living room. I like the do not disturb sign. This is where the master bed is, just barely big enough for the two of them. The house has no power except in the kitchen; that's where they boil the water to help each other take a shower. CHARLENE CONRAD, HOME OWNER: Pours it over me.. suds up.. pours more... that's how we take our bath. ROESGEN: Charlene and Wayne have tried to make living here as nice as possible, for themselves and for another couple; longtime friends who set up a tent in the Conrad's house too! ROESGEN: Both couples are waiting for FEMA trailers. CHARLENE: You call and you call and you call and it's busy, and then you get a recording.. I don't know what to do.. all we're asking is that we get a trailer. ROESGEN: If Charlene would like to see some FEMA housing, she could go to Arkansas. These are mobile homes purchased by FEMA for Katrina victims that haven't been distributed to anyone - and one of these wouldn't fit in the Conrad's driveway anyway, but a smaller travel trailer would. And even more incredible to some people in St. Bernard -- 1,400 of them are sitting in their own back yard, empty. The parish ordered them from a private contractor just days after the hurricane, but they're not being used because FEMA hasn't given the parish the money to pay for them. LARRY INGARGIOLA, ST. BERNARD PARISH DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY: They won't pay for the trailers. If they don't pay for the trailers, I can't put them out. ROESGEN: Parish Homeland Security Chief Larry Ingargiola says he talks to FEMA reps 3 and 4 times a day and can't get FEMA to fork over the money. FEMA says it's not to blame. A FEMA spokeswoman in Washington, Nichol Andrews says: (GRAPHIC) 'We agree that it is time that people forced from their homes more than three months ago have a place to call home. So far, FEMA has provided rental assistance for more than 500,000 families and housed more than 40,000 in travel trailers.' INGARGIOLA: We are ready for the trailers in St. Bernard. We are ready. ROESGEN: People in St. Bernard are trying to come back. A few people have FEMA trailers, but 15 to 20 thousand don't.That includes the Conrads.. still waiting for a trailer... sleeping in a tent... camped out in their living room instead. Susan Roesgen, CNN, St. Bernard Parish. (END VIDEO CLIP) Shoutout AZUZ: Time for the Shoutout! What is federal minimum wage? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) $3.45 per hour, B) $4.15 per hour, C) $5.15 per hour or D) $6.25 per hour? You've got three seconds--GO! If you're making federal minimum wage, your pre-tax pay is $5.15 per hour. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! School and Work LLOYD:But some folks in hurricane-hammered areas are finding day-labor jobs that pay twice that, because there's such a shortage of workers. In fact, some reports indicated a fast-food restaurant in New Orleans, was offering a six-thousand dollar signing bonus, to prospective employees! Jonathan Freed introduces you to one Mississippi high-schooler, who's both making money, and paying the price for it. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JONATHAN FREED, CNN REPORTER: Jonathan Sherman used to only dream of owning a motorcycle. But the 18-year-old high school senior has had that dream come true. Thanks to the aftermath of a nightmare named Katrina. These days, when Sherman walks the hallways of Pascagoula High, his pace is a bit slower than usual. And it's sometimes harder to keep his head up in class. That's because the money to buy that bike came from doing hundreds of hours of...this: Re-building after the hurricane means a big demand for workers here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. And the chance to earn extra money - Sherman makes ten dollars an hour doing clean up and construction work - is proving irresistible to some kids. JONATHAN SHERMAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: To make enough money that way I can go to Colorado to go to school...start my own business... and pay for a college fund and for a spot to live. FREED: This is the spot where Sherman lives now. SHERMAN: We had three and a half foot in here... you had three and a half feet of water in the house? Yep, 'cause we got the bayou out here. FREED: Sherman's also using some of the money he earns to help his own family re-build; hoping to get them out of the trailers parked on their front lawn as soon as possible. He's working about 40 hours a week outside of school... and that's meant cutting back on class credits above what he needs to graduate. But that's something his father needed to check on first. GEORGE SHERMAN, JONATHAN'S FATHER: As long as he keeps his grades up that's great, ya know, right now everybody needs as much money as they can. FREED: The staff at school will tell you they're sympathetic with students who need the money. But when kids start nodding off in class, teachers are shaking their heads. KELLY LONG, ASS'T. PRINCIPAL, PASCAGOULA HIGH SCHOOL: I understand that you have to try to help your families and are tearing out drywall and help dad replace things, or mom, but without your education your future is bleak. FREED: So, at a time when Sherman's biggest worry should be picking out the right class ring...he's been forced to grow up a bit sooner than expected. Surprisingly, he's not blaming Katrina for it. He says it's a situation he's just going to have to ride out. Jonathan Freed, CNN, Pascagoula, Mississippi. (END VIDEO CLIP) Promo LLOYD: Just as a reminder, this is our last week on the air before the holiday break. So we'll see you tomorrow and Friday, and then again in 2006. While you're off, be sure to swing by our web site and let us know what you think of the show! Before We Go LLOYD: Everyone knows there can be only one real Santa Claus. So before we go... Here's how some of his white-haired helpers get in shape for the holiday season. This "Santa school" in England is all about standards. For example, it allows no half-hearted "ho-ho-hos," and no hygenic mishaps: If you're going to don a hot, furry suit, you're going to need plenty of deodorant. And if you can't name all the reindeer, get out of the sleigh! Goodbye LLOYD: That wraps up our present edition of CNN Student News! I'm Monica Lloyd. We'll see you tomorrow, online or on Headline News. 
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