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susan candiotti, cnn, suffolk county, long island. >>> victims' families have been following the casely. what do they think about the new theory? susan spoke with them. you'll see her follow-up to the story. [ male announcer ] every day, thousands of people are choosing advil®. [ regis ] we love to play tennis. and with it comes some aches and pains. and one way to relieve them all is to go right to the advil®. tennis is our game and advil® has become part of our game! [ male announcer ] take action. take advil®. ♪ imagine me and you, i do ♪ i think about you day and night ♪ ♪ it's only right ♪ to think about the girl you love ♪ ♪ and hold her tight ♪ so happy together [ male announcer ] when life changes, so can your insurances needs. use travelers free guide to better coverage to stay prepared. is your auto and home insurance keeping up with you? contact your local travelers agent, or call 800-my-coverage. >>> before the break, we told you the latest theory in the long island murder investigation. one serial killer responsible for at least ten murders. the case has troubled no one l

susan candiotti, thanks so much for that. >>> in a another case, jolting the sports world the amateur athletic union says it's working with police to investigate allegations of sexual abuse against its former director. in an in depth report today on espn's "outside the lines" two men tell how robert "bobby" dodd molested them in the 1980s when they played on one of his basketball teams. he's being treated for colon cancer and denied the allegations in a meeting with aau officials last month, but cnn has confirmed the organization investigated those claims and then fired dodd. >>> so with all of these new allegations of coaches abusing children allegedly, what can you do to ensure your child's safety? what standards should be set for organizations designed to actually help children? we get those answers when we talk to the executive director of the national children's advocacy center today in the 5:00 eastern hour. >>> from syria now, a warning. a blood bath could be imminent. the syrian government is giving protesters a deadline. the details straight ahead on that. >>> checking news h

. >> susan candiotti reporting live from pennsylvania this morning. thanks, susan. >>> going to politics, three weeks to go before the iowa caucuses. numbers looking very good for newt gingrich. look at two brand new polls. gingrich opening up a five-point lead over mitt romney and ron paul according to the american research group. you can see ron paul and mitt romney tied there at 17%. gets better for gingrich in the latest university of iowa hawkeye poll. the former house speaker surging to a ten-point lead over romney and a 19-point cushion over ron paul. in this case, bachmann comes in next and the last poll was perry. >>> gingrich is trying to build on his momentum by closing ranks with evangelical christians and has written a letter to a family leader, socially conservative group in iowa promising to defend and strengthen the family and uphold the institution of marriage through personal fidelity. gingrich has been married three times. >>> gingrich hit the pause button in his rival with with mitt romney and turned on jon hutsman. right from the s

susan candiotti again. new, disturbing details.lay a role in this case as it goes forward. thank you so much. ten minutes past the hour. >>> now going to turn to another disturbing story. this one having to do with airport security. you know you're not supposed to take pocket knives and guns if you're getting on a plane. customs agents in russia, they got a surprise when they stumbled on to some nuclear material? zain verjee with me once again to explain this. how in the world did this happen? >> well, some passengers stuffed a little radioactive material into their suitcase and thought they would get away with it. it was on a flight going from moscow to tehran. now according to reports, the passenger was an iranian and authorities detected radiation 20 times above normal. so they checked out the luggage and low and bow hold the federal customs service issued this statement. what they're saying is this, 18 metal lick objects of industrial origin were found packed into individual steel boxes. they went on to say that tests found it

susan candiotti. cnn, suffolk county, long island. >>> all right.ear-old grandmother from long island is considering filing a lawsuit against the tsa after allegedly being strip searched at jfk airport. in she is. lenore zimmerman preparing to fly from new york to ft. lauderdale last tuesday when she was traumatized by two female tsa agents. >> i have a defibrillator, so i don't go through the machines. i asked them to pat me down. they took my pants down and then they took my underwear down. don't i look like a terrorist? i'm going to be 85 years old and weigh 103 pounds. and they strip searched me. >> she also suffered a cut on her leg during the search. tsa denies she was strip search invists proper procedures were followed but apologized to lenore for the "unpleasant screening experience." >>> also new this morning, it's the first win for tiger woods in two years. call it vintage tiger. woods rolling in a ten-foot birdie putt on the final hole yesterday for a one-stroke victory over zach johnson in the chevron world challenge in california. it's

susan candiotti in new york. thank you very much. i want to play a bit of jerry sandusky from susan's story. it references attraction to young boys. >> if i say no, i'm not attracted to boys, that's not the truth because i'm attracted to young people, boys, girls -- >> yeah but not sexually. >> right. that's what i was trying to say. i enjoy spending time with young people. i enjoy spending time with people. my two favorite groups are the elderly and the young. >> i asked two human behavior experts dr. wendy walsh of "the doctors" and psychologist aldwin tart to analyze sandusky's answer. >> clearly in our culture we have a problem with the word attracted. as soon as you say attracted it this an idea it is sexual. he used the word in a true meaning which means he moves toward certain groups of people. now in the context of what is going on you would think he would figure that wouldn't be the word to use so much because so many people misinterpret it. >> when you are accused of these sorts of things you should be savvy enough, they ar

we're going to continue to talk about this with our susan candiotti, who is there right now in that liveconference and also cnn reporter susan gannon the reporter for "patriot news" has been on top of this story and she has information from the attorneys representing the alleged accusers. more from the "cnn newsroom" straight ahead. >>> a stunning development in the child sexual abuse at penn state. >> to stay the course to fight for four quarters. we'll have the opportunity to present our side. >> we couldn't do that today. >> why not? tell me why the preliminary hearing? >> are you looking forward. >> maintain your innocence? >> jerry sandusky's attorney did come back to the mikes and he's holding a live news conference and we're monitoring that for you. cnn contributor sara is outside the courthouse and the reporter for "patriot news" and sara you had a chance to talk to some of the attorneys representing these alleged accusers, correct? >> that's right. you know what they were saying is that their clients are relieved that they didn't have to be here today, however, one attorney went

susan candiotti, let's begin with you. jerry sandusky waived his right to the preliminary hearing today. do we know why? >> reporter: well, what a day it's been, brooke. imagine 11 witnesses, including at least four alleged victims who would have taken the stand talk about in excruciating detail being molested and raped by jerry sandusky but they didn't have the opportunity to do so because he waited and, why? his lawyers explain that it was a tactical decision on their part, that, in part, because they would not have had an opportunity to try to challenge the credibility of these witnesses while they were on the witness stand because of court rules, then it just wasn't to their advantage. however, they certainly, it's true, miss out on an opportunity to interview these people, put them on the stand. however, it would have meant that this day would have been filled with the testimony of what those alleged victims had to say. this way, that didn't happen. and, instead, defense attorneys took the spotlight. they also didn't

susan candiotti, cnn, harrisburg, pennsylvania. >>> all right.idential hopeful ron paul pulled no punches in his assessment of his fellow republican candidates last night. he told talk show host jay leno what he thought about a couple of his rivals. >> michele bachmann? >> she doesn't like muslims. she hates muslims. she wants to go get them. >> rick santorum, i never see him talk about anything. seems like to him gay people, oh, my god, that's the end of the world. he doesn't seem to talk about anything else. does he -- >> gay people and muslims. >> all right. michele bachmann did respond to ron paul's conclusion calling it outrageous and saying today, quote, of course i don't hate muslims. bachmann is on a bus tour of all 99 iowa counties. bachmann's goal is to hit each county by december 28th, less than a week before the iowa caucuses. bachman has some company today in algona, iowa. rick perry is on a bus tour there as well. he's also trying to redeem his former number one status. he plans to see 44 iowa cities in 14 days. just in case you're

susan candiotti in new york, thanks so much. >>> u.s.ansas found singer mindy mccready and her 5-year-old son. officials say they were hiding in a closet at a lake home. mccready earlier this week defied an order to return the boy to his grandmother. mccready's mother and step father have legal custody of the boy. the singer, who has fought a very public battle against drug addiction, has visitation rights. and there are high wind warnings in los angeles again today. the annual santa ana winds in southern california have been fierce this year. they've had hurricane force winds, knocking over trees, which ended up crushing cars and even homes and, of course, a lot of power outages as well. thousands are still without power. it's not just southern california but utah and nevada, also saw these winds. it was pretty devastating in a lot of places. >> this is really the worst santa ana event they've had in years and, unfortunately, we're not over and done with this thing just yet. it's starting to wane. wind gusts are down today but still tal

susan candiotti live in harrisburg, pennsylvania this morning. so what can we expect in court today, susan? >> reporter: well, it's going to be a very important day for the state, because the state is expected to put on mike mcqueary as a key witness to try to prove these charges of perjury and failure to report a case of alleged child abuse against these two penn state officials. it's a very important part of this case, because the state is going to issue more or less a mini preview of what's to come. they have to prove to a judge there is enough evidence that a crime was committed through the testimony of mike mcqueary and some others. >> so, susan, how are they going to prove that? >> reporter: well, of course, his testimony will be very important, and we're going it hear from him, if he indeed takes the stand, for the first time some details other than a broad overview of what he told the grand jury. we are expected to hear what mike mcqueary said that he saw back in 2002 in a locker room at penn state when he testified that he saw a boy about

susan candiotti, cnn, new york. >>> let's talk politics.epublican presidential hopeful newt gingrich's campaign is clarifying remarks he made about the middle east peace process. in in an interview with the jewish channel cable network he described the peace process as, quote, delusional. here's some of what he had to say. >> well, i believe that the jewish people have the right to have a state and i believe that the commitments that were made at a time -- remember, there were -- there was no palestine as a state. it was part of the ought aman empire. i think we invented palestinian people, who are in fact arabs and historically part of the arab community. >> that channel is the jewish channel. since that interview was released, the gingrich campaign has issued a statement saying, quote, gingrich supports a negotiated peace agreement between israel and the palestinians. however, to understand what is being proposed and negotiated you have to insurance decades of complex history, unquote. we want to head to iowa where gingrich and the other

susan candiotti, cnn, parkersburg, west virginia. >> and coming up, it is one of the hottest games ofr has fantasized about driving one of those cool mario carts and, guess what, now you can actually do it. >> it was one of those meetings i took and i was like, can i really do this? can i turn a digital video game that my kids play into real life? >> all right. are these for real? look at that. we'll take you for a test drive. >>> if your kids are gamers, this is probably on their list this year. the brand-new mario kart seven, the deliriously paced racing game for nintendo 3ds. when you're playing easy to ima you're behind the wheel. these are been way too fantastic for the real world. we have a live report. katie, nintendo did something n unprecedented for the launch and had an exclusive look at it so spill the beans. give us details. >> for the launch of it, nintendo wanted to do something entirely different and commissioned west coast customs to build two life-size mario karts. here's the kicker. they only had 30 days to create them for the l.a. auto show. all they had to go off w

susan candiotti, cnn, new york. >>> at eight minutes past the hour now, coming up -- we know a number of people -- nearly 2 million in fact -- americans will lose their unemployment benefits in january. and that impact could affect the nation's economy. stay with us for that. >>> also, coming up next, we've got another bcs mess on our hands possibly? we know lsu is going to play for the championship. but who should they play? could the national championship be a rematch of a game we've already seen this year? that's coming up next. >>> reynolds wolf also standing by. i know what you think about the bcs mess. >> guns firing. cowboys. got to be oklahoma state. alabama had their shot. it is time for oklahoma state. just my opinion. >>> hey, it is also my opinion -- it is not just my opinion, it is fact. southern california's been ravaged by some strong winds. today it may happen again. there's potential for more tree damage, more power outings and possibly at the same time possibly some snow in the rockies. more coming up. wait a minute...i... [ laughs ] [ male announcer ] the lexus dece

susan candiotti was in the courtroom and some of the testimony in her report here is quite graphic. >> reporter: it was his moment, mike mcqueary walked into court, took a deep breath and became the prosecution's star witness. he methodically described what he called a horrifying alleged 2002 sexual assault between jerry sandusky and a young boy in a penn state locker room. >> when i opened that first door, i heard rhythmic slapping sounds, two or three slaps skin on skin. >> reporter: he moved closer and looked in the shower. >> the boy was facing the wall, hands for shoulder height. jerry was close to him with his hands wrapped around his waist. i believe jerry was sexually molesting him. >> reporter: he said he was about 5 to 6 feet away. >> there was no protester yelling, so i can't be sure it was intercourse, but that's what i believe was occurring. they looked directly in my eyes. >> reporter: neither said a word. >> reporter: he says he left, called his father, and met with head coach joe paterno the next day. >> i described it as extremely sexual. >> reporter: but avoided the

want to go to susan candiotti live in times square way look at security and prep. go. oh -- well, it blew well. didn't it? there's confetti for you. action even at this early hour. the streets are clear at this time, but 24 hours from now, forget it. they're going to start to pile in here. the barricades will go up. people will be penned in. you won't be able to go out. you won't be allowed to bring in alcohol or backpacks, and in will be tight security, but they're getting ready to drop that beautiful crystal ball made of waterford crystals at the stroke of midnight. you see the stages ober there, where anderson cooper will be broadcasting, with kathy griffin. so they're getting ready for that as well. it's an experience the organizers say is not to be missed. even in person, or on television. take a look. >> part of it, you know, you see it for years and people just want to be there in this internet age where everything you're kind of seeing on a screen, there is something intense about just being there with the spirit of the crowd, and, you know, a little bit of

susan candiotti is joining us with the latest. a lot of dramatic testimony today. tell our viewers what happened. >> that's right. well, the star witness for the prosecution in this case, assistant coach mike mcqueary had his day in court. he appeared calm and confident as he took to the witness stand and told his story in graphic detail. here's what he said in part. that he went to a locker room in 2002 to retrieve some materials, some tapes and when he was inside, he heard some slapping noiss and when he went to investigate, he said he saw jerry san ddusky and a young bo in the shower room. he testified quote, the boy was up against the wall, facing the wall, hands were shoulder height. jerry was close to him with his hands wrapped around his waist. i believe jerry was sexually molesting him. then said this. he looked away, then looked back. he said quote, their bodies were both facing me. they looked directly in my eyes, seeing they were separated, i thought it was best i leave the locker room and in fact, it is then that mcqueary testified he called his father.

susan candiotti is in pennsylvania with this story. tell us how this played out.is was rather extraordinary when you think about it because we anticipated a real face-to-face with some of these young men who accused him. >> reporter: it certainly was just like that, suzanne, but it turns out that prosecutors had an inkling this was going to happen as it was discussed last night. here's what happened nor the general public. as we anticipated this preliminary hearing to begin with excruciating testimony clearly for the alleged victims inhis case when they would face their accuser, when the parties entered the court, jerry sandusky, his legal team and prosecutors, they immediately went to a sidebar. that's a private conference with the judge at the front of the courtroom. the room you could hear a pin drop. then when the announcement was made by sandusky's team they were going to be waiving this court appearance, however, we have since learned from prosecutors that there was a meeting last night at which sandusky's lawyer told them they might be doing this, they inte

cnn's susan candiotti joins us from times square. tell us more about the, hello.hat's a 2012 -- >> hello. >> happy new year. i have a feeling we will say happy new year to each other several times over the next few hours. susan, tell us about these preparations. can you see through these glasses? >> you know, i can. it's a light green tint. my favorite color. they come in a variety of shades, but i got mine early. yeah, i can see through them, hala. not only give you a taste of this, but a little bit of confetti. there it goes. anyway, they'll drop a ton of that on new year's eve from all these buildings surrounding us and the streets empty now in this area of times square and 24 hours from now, forget about it. as you know, expecting about a million people here and if you take a look now, you can see that they're getting ready to set up barricades. these people that you see over to this side are here not as early as party goers but in line to buy broadway tickets. but up at the top of the times square building, you can see the poll where that beautiful waterford

susan candiotti, cnn, new york. >> so jerry sandusky's choice of words whether he says he's "attractedto the interview but it is the attorney who agrees to let sandusky talk publicly about there. senior legal analyst jeffrey toobin joins us via skype. first, does it seem odd to you sandusky sandusky's struggle to explain his feelings about children? >> well, the whole situation is so odd. and the fact that he is giving interviews. criminal defendants, as a rule, don't give interviews. i think sandusky's demonstrating why that's a good idea not to give interviews. i thought this one, the one with joe thomas of the "times," was better for sandusky than the real disaster with bob costas a couple weeks ago. but still, how he explains his relationship with children is, to use a legal term, very creepy. >> a legal term. jeff, hearing his attorney chime in on that tape to clarify what he means by attracted to children, how damaging do you think that is if this actually goes to court and folks listen to this explanation? >> well, i mean compared to the rest of the case, it's not all that damag

susan candiotti, thanks so much.e by way of television. of course you can tune in right here on cnn starting at 7:00 eastern time for anderson cooper's big celebration with all the stars and kathy griffin there from new york's times square. >>> what goes up must come down. if that object is a bullet, the outcome, of course, can be deadly. around new year's we hear a lot about celebratory gunfire and the damage that it does. george howell shows us what one mother is doing to stop the shooting. >> i see sparks. i see the spark. >> reporter: it is a dangerous tradition that plays out across the country each year with deadly consequences. >> we were sitting exactly over here on this right inside exactly where that bucket is. that's where both of us were sitting. next to each other. >> reporter: something natalie peters knows all too well since her son was killed two years ago inside this church at a new year's watch party. >> you can still see when you look up there, you can still see -- >> it pierced the roof. >> that's

cnn's susan candiotti is live from harrisburg. understand he was in the courtroom and he explained what he saw and heard. what did we learn? >> reporter: well, his testimony just wrapped up. it lasted two hours long, suzanne. let's get right to the heart of this. at issue is what you said is what mike mcqueary told these two penn state officials. he has testified this morning that he made it very clear to these two penn state officials, tim curly and gary schultz, that he did see something of a sexual nature, something that he believed was sexual intercourse. that's what he said he told him. that it was wrong, it was over the line. that he saw jerry sandusky in the showers allegedly attacking a young boy. that's what's at the heart of this, because those two penn state officials disagree that mcqueary said that this boy was allegedly being raped. in fact, mcqueary said i never used the word rape or sodomy, but i did make it very clear to them that something extremely sexual was going on. now as to the particulars, we are hearing f

our susan candiotti will be here. >>> traumatized at jfk.85-year-old grandmother claims that tsa agents pulled down her pants, even her underwear, what happened and why? we'll tell you. >>> american soldiers pulling out of iraq returning home just in time for the holidays. our chris lawrence will take us to ft. hood for the happy reunions. >>> all of that plus much more. your latest news. "american morning" at the top of the hour but christine back after this. >>> 44 minutes past the hour. here's what's happening. newt gingrich surging to the top of the gop heap. the former gop house speaker now the man to beat in iowa. a new nbc poll shows gingrich leading with 26%. mitt romney trails far behind at 18%. and you can count cain out. herman cain as you know suspended his campaign saturday dogged by allegations of sexual harassment and a report that he denies of a 13-year-long affair. >>> a grand jury decided against indicting a mcdonald's worker. two women attacked a cashier over a payment dispute in october. even going behind the counter. tha