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CNN NEWSROOM

Dow Starts Week Higher; Coopertown Police Taking Polygraph Tests; 6 Teens Killed in Ohio Crash; Timberlake Scores on SNL as Bieber Has Bad Times

Aired March 11, 2013 - 13:30   ET

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


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SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: All right. New Yorkers, listen up. You got one more day left to get your supersized drinks. That's right. Tuesday, Mayor Bloomberg's ban going into effect. Stores, businesses, going to be banning -- banned, actually, from selling those high-calorie beverages, larger than 16 ounces. Part of a citywide effort to curb obesity, promote healthier lifestyles. Beer drinkers, they don't have to worry about all this. The ban does not apply to them or to alcohol.

And a jury has resumed deliberations in the "Cannibal Cop" case. New York City Police Officer Gilberto Valle accused now of plotting to kidnap, torture, kill and eat -- I'm not kidding you -- at least six women, including his wife. Well, the defense lawyers argue that he is harmless. And they say, quote, "He's just into stupid infantile story telling."

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MALVEAUX: Thousands gathered today at a national memorial service on the second anniversary of japans' worst natural disaster in recent memory. Nearly 19,000 people died after a massive earthquake hit, triggering a tsunami. Today, Japan is still dealing with the economic and environmental fallout. More than 300,000 people still living in temporary housing.

Also, want to check on the markets. After a record setting week that was last week, the Dow Jones only up, here we're looking, by 42 points or so.

We're bringing in Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange.

What do we think? Have we seen most of the excitement? Is it all over now?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's funny that you say only 43 points. Yes, there aren't any bells or whistles today. But you know what's happening again, Suzanne, is that the Dow is reaching yet another record high even with 42 points higher. It's basically reaching a new record high every day it doesn't close lower. If the Dow closes higher today, still has to close, it would be the fifth record high for the Dow -- the fifth in a row. That's after wrapping up one of the best weeks of the year on Friday.

Of the major averages, you know, they've gained more than 2 percent for last week. Already, if you look at the year, the major averages are up anywhere from 7 percent to 10 percent.

As far as today goes, investors are looking for another spark. They're not really finding it today, but they are trading stocks a little higher. The focus is really coming on Wednesday, Suzanne. The February retail sales report comes out from the govnerment. What that's going to do is give an idea of how consumers are holding up after the increased payroll taxes, the delayed tax refunds and higher gas prices. Right now, the focus is on Wednesday. That could be the game changer. If the number is a miss, you could see the Dow fall into the red -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: Alison, we'll watch closely. Thank you.

One police chief wants to be certain he doesn't have racist cops on patrol. So he is making them take a lie detector test before they're even hired. Is it a good idea? Is it even legal?

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MALVEAUX: People in western Iowa dealing with this today, heavy snow. Several school districts canceled classes already. Dozens of cars slid off those icy roads and into ditches. You can see it there. A storm is moving now into Minnesota. It's expected to dump about a half-foot of snow by later this afternoon.

The number of Americans ditching their cars, taking public transportation is now at a record high. That is actually a good sign for the economy and the environment as more people are now returning to work. American Public Transportation Association says the number of people taking trains, buses, commuter rail rose 1.5 percent last year. Passengers took 10.5 million trips back in 2012 last year. Nearly 5 percent more people took light rail last year as well.

In a small Tennessee town, the new police chief, well, he is doing something that is dramatically different before he hires new cops. What he's doing, he's making applicants take a lie detector test in Coopertown, which is just north of Nashville. The chief says they've had a series of problems that include a police officer using a racial slur. So the chief, Shane Sullivan, told CNN he felt it would help him select people with good moral character to be police officers and help him rebuild the department.

So, Mike Brooks, he's a law enforcement analyst.

And, Mike, you were on the police force in D.C. for more than 26 years. Do you think this is actually going to root out racism? How do you really know if somebody is really racist and they're not beating the machine, necessarily? MIKE BROOKS, HLN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: You know, it's tough to be the psychological police, Suzanne, but I tell you, I think polygraphs as a condition of employment for law enforcement is a good idea. Many departments are using it now. You know, one of the things they want to make sure you haven't lied on your application. They want to make sure that you, you know, who you are of basic good moral character. The FBI uses it when they hire people. And they even use it now when you're, five years, your security clearance is good for five years. Now instead of doing just the background check after five years, they're giving everyone a polygraph. But basically, they're looking for national security matters.

MALVEAUX: Mike, do you think people could beat the system, beat the machine? We've heard that before. Is that kind of folklore that you can actually trick the machine and lie?

BROOKS: Oh, no, you can beat the machine. If you go back to the '90s, former CIA agent, Aldrich Ames (ph), he beat the polygraph twice. And other people have beat it too. It's a great investigative tool, Suzanne. I've never had to take one, but I've been threatened with one when I was working a case when I was inside the FBI. But I've used it as an investigative tool. And it really is a great investigative tool. I think for this particular department, if he's looking for total transparency, I think it's a great idea.

MALVEAUX: All right. Mike, I'm not going to put you on the spot why you were threatened to use --

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BROOKS: It was a national security case. It was a national security case.

MALVEAUX: OK. But what would be some of the instances, the cases where they would say, OK, we do need a lie detector test in this particular incident?

BROOKS: Well, you know, as a condition of employment, they can ask you about drug use, because they always ask you that anyway, and you put that on your application. But they want to make sure you have total candor with the people -- the department you're applying with.

In this particular department, they're also asking, you know, have you ever committed a hate crime, that kind of thing.

And, no, but it's a great, great investigative tool because you can take somebody, you can fingerprint them, you can do a background check, but still you don't know how honest that particular person's going to be until you get -- until you use a polygraph. I tell you, just being hooked up to the machine, I heard is very, very stressful.

MALVEAUX: Yes. That will start making you sweat, I'm sure.

BROOKS: Absolutely.

MALVEAUX: Real quick here. Is it legal? I mean, can they do that? Do they need to get over any legal hurdles to hook up to the machine?

BROOKS: No. It's totally legal if you use it as a condition of employment. That's what a lot of departments are doing now. I would say the majority of police departments now, when they're hiring new recruits, they give them a polygraph test, and it's totally legal.

MALVEAUX: All right. Mike, thanks.

BROOKS: All right.

MALVEAUX: Appreciate it.

BROOKS: Absolutely.

MALVEAUX: Good to see you.

BROOKS: Good to see you.

MALVEAUX: County police say this is the deadliest car crash in their history. It is tragic. Six Ohio teenagers dying in this rollover crash. Police say that speed was involved. And some were not wearing seat belts.

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MALVEAUX: Heard that aspirin is good for more than just slight aches and pains. There's a new study now that is giving the drug another possible benefit. We are talking about reducing the risk of skin cancer. A new study from Stanford University is looking specifically at the drug's role in reducing the risk of melanoma. It shows that people who use aspirin were less likely to get melanoma than those who did not. Previous studies show that inflammation plays a big role in the development of cancer. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory drug.

And more on Ohio. A community is now reeling. It is a terrible accident we are talking about. Six teens died when their SUV veered off the road, flipped over and rolled into a pond. Eight crammed into the vehicle that seats about five. Only some had seat belts on. And police say the car was speeding down a two-lane road.

Well, Brian Todd, he is in Warren, Ohio.

Brian, I know there was a press conference not too long ago. What have we learned about this?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, they are saying toxicology results are not back yet. That will be the key finding of this investigation. They have said the car was going above the 35-mile-an- hour speed limit. They will not say at the moment, they may not know yet exactly how fast the vehicle was going.

But I can set the scene for you here. The vehicle hit this guardrail behind me, flipped over, went into this swamp down here. This is about the area where it hit. You can see flowers have been tossed down there and some other things in memoriam to some of the victims. Up here, a makeshift memorial notes, flowers. A lot of stuffed animals, notes, flowers to the victims.

A short time ago, I spoke with Deanna Behner, the mother of 15-year- old Kirkland Behner, one of the six teenagers killed. She was still trying to absorb what had happened.

DEANNA BEHNER, MOTHER OF KIRKLAND BEHNER: I just want him to come home and he can't. No parent can understand what it's like to lose -- well, some parents can understand what it's like to lose a child, but you don't really know until it hits you. And he can't come home. He can't come through the door, Mom, what's for dinner? What'd you cook, Mom? I'm not going to hear none of it anymore.

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TODD: Kirkland would have turned 16 years old this month, according to his family.

I also spoke with Kirkland's brother, Kyle Behner. Kyle was the one who had to go to the hospital and identify his brother's body. Here's what he had to say.

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KYLE BEHNER, BROTHER OF KIRKLAND: They had me identify him and I went back there and all I seen was tubes and blood everywhere. And after I identified him, I ran out. And I couldn't -- I just lost everything.

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TODD: There were two survivors of this crash, 18-year-old Brian Henry and 15-year-old Asher Lewis. Both -- one of the survivors, Brian Henry, has told us, and the police have told us that they got out by punching a hole -- elbowing a hole into the back windshield, swimming through that, out this swamp. They got up here, ran about a quarter mile to a house and called 911 -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: That is so sad. It's such a hard story, I'm sure, for that community, when you think about six teenagers, the number of families impacted, but also a whole community. You imagine, they're all friends, they know each other, the people who went to school with them. And everybody is impacted by this.

Brian, thank you so much.

We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

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MALVEAUX: Looking at the housing market is one way to check on how the market, overall, is doing. It is definitely on is way up, so people are feeling a little better about putting money into their homes.

As Christine Romans tells us, got to be selective when it comes to remodeling.

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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How did this --

MEGAN AYLWARD, HOMEOWNER: This is the refrigerator.

(voice-over): -- start with this?

AYLWARD: We have four children and the refrigerator was 18 cubic feet and it was hideous. And what started with a little refrigerator turned into a family room and a laundry room and another bathroom, and upstairs, the bedroom that is being expanded.

ROMANS: As the housing market has bounced back, homeowners like Megan are feeling good about putting money into their homes. In 2012, home renovation spending hit the highest level in six years.

AYLWARD: When we figured out what the addition was going to cost, my husband said maybe we should just move. So this summer we looked at everything in town. Anything I could afford, mine was better. Anything I loved, I couldn't afford.

ROMANS (on camera): The decision to move or renovate is never easy and never cheap and not all renovations pay the same returns. And did you know that most renovations don't even return your entire investment?

Here are some of the better renovations, building an attic, bedroom, a minor kitchen remodel or upgrading to vinyl siding. Those return more than 70 percent of your costs.

On the other hand, look at backup generators, sunroom additions, a home office remodel. Those only recoup about half of what they cost when it comes time to sell.

SAL ALFANO, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, REMODELING MAGAZINE: Kitchens and baths are still very attractive rooms. They're the rooms that buyers look at and pay a lot of attention to and an upgrade in one of those rooms can make a big difference in resale value of the house.

ROMANS: If you're planning to sell, focus on basics.

ALFANO: Anything has to do with the systems of the house. So the mechanical systems, HVAC, heating, air conditioning, good roofing, good siding, good windows, all of that is taken for granted. If those need upgrading, those are things you want to do first.

ROMANS: If you plan to things that improve your quality of life.

TONY DONATO, DEFINO REALTORS: Long-term goal and short-term goal is very important. If they plan on being here for 20, 30 years, basically, just put the improvements in that make you enjoy your home.

ROMANS: No matter what your intention, remodeling is disruptive, so brace for chaos.

AYLWARD: It is hideous.

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Not convenient at all. But I keep saying eye on the prize, like when it's done, it's going to be fantastic. It will -- but you do what you got to do.

ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

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MALVEAUX: In Detroit, the former mayor is facing up to 20 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of corruption. Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted of most of the federal charges against him, including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and filing false tax returns. The feds say he used the mayor's office to make himself rich as well as his associates. His father and a close friend were also found guilty on related charges.

And Justin Timberlake rocking the ratings of "Saturday Night Live." He'll join an exclusive club. Watch.

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MALVEAUX: There's been a lot of controversy over the latest decision from the TSA to allow those small little knives on planes and not to confiscate them. We're now getting a statement here. This is from TSA chief, John Pistole, from his office. Despite the opposition from some of the pilots, the flight attendants, even members of Congress, the spokesman saying that TSA is going to stick with its decision here to allow the small knives on planes, that their intent is to implement the changes on April 25th. That, according to a spokesman. And we also expect that the TSA chief, Pistole, is going to defend his decision Thursday when he attends a pre-scheduled hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee to explain what is behind that very controversial decision. But he is actually going to stick with it.

And another story we're following, this is entertainment, a lot lighter. Justin Bieber having a tough time lately from fans, even from the paparazzi. Another Justin, not having such a tough time, actually, doing quite well on "SNL."

We are going to Nischelle Turner to talk about all things Justin.

How are you doing?

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NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Suzanne. It is Justin times two, yes, the good, the bad and then there's the Bieber.

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But we're talking about Justin Timberlake first. He had a huge return to "Saturday Night Live" this week in a couple of different ways. Big ratings, the best in 14 months. His fifth time hosting was this week. He's already becoming known as one of the best "Saturday Night Live" hosts ever. He even did a really funny skit for his monologue with the other members of the five-timers club, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Paul Simon, Tom Hanks and Candice Bergen. All of them were in the sketch with Justin to open the show.

He was so darn funny. We're seeing right there the singing tofu. That was my favorite.

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Veg out, no meat, so chic. I love that.

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MALVEAUX: All right. Tell us what happened to Justin Bieber. What was up with that?

TURNER: Well, not a good week for him. You know, this past week, he celebrated his 19th birthday, which he described on Twitter as his worst birthday. He suffered a mysterious illness during one concert. He showed up two hours late to another. He had a verbal altercation with the paparazzi. And was seen walking the streets of London shirtless and he also had a gas mask on, which he says that he allegedly -- he wore to allegedly throw off the paparazzi. Even Bieber himself called it a rough week. But it does keep going. After four sold-out shows in London, tomorrow night, his scheduled concert in Portugal has been canceled by promoters. The reports were that there were not enough tickets that were sold for the show. He is playing a concert tonight in Lisbon and Portugal, and he responded on Twitter, using the #sold out. So I don't know if that was a shot to the promoters for cancelling show number two.

MALVEAUX: Hopefully, he'll be doing better. We hope both of the Justins are going to be really successful. So --

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TURNER: Indeed.

MALVEAUX: Nice to see you, Nischelle, as always.

That's it for me. CNN NEWSROOM continues.