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CNN NEWSROOM

Three Bodies Found Wrapped In Plastic; Israeli-Palestinian Talks Possible; Two More Die In Milwaukee Heat; Girl Reads Braille With Lips, Aces Exams; Two Accidents At Amusement Parks; Mick Rocks On; Black Sabbath Starts U.S. Tour; Mick Jagger Turns 70 On Friday; 30 Acts Of Kindness; Phil Mickelson Wins British Open; Belgium Has New King; Congressman Lewis Writes Comic Book

Aired July 21, 2013 - 14:00   ET

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


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. A look at top stories this hour.

The bodies of three women are found in East Cleveland, victims of a possible serial killer. The disturbing details of how the women were discovered and the suspect now in custody.

And two terrifying accidents at amusement parks on the same day. One of them a deadly fall from a roller coaster in Texas. Find out how to keep your next trip to the park a safe one.

Phil Mickelson, golf's comeback kid. His unbelievable performance at the British Open straight ahead.

But, first, our top story. A gruesome discovery near Cleveland. Police find the bodies of three women wrapped in plastic bags and decomposing. It started Friday with a foul odor that led East Cleveland Police to the first body in a garage. Yesterday, police found two more, one in the basement of an abandoned house and another in a field. Officers are searching today to see if they can find more clues. They do have a man in custody but have not charged him yet.

Alina Cho is following this story from New York. So, Alina, you just spoke to the mayor of East Cleveland. What was said?

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I just got off the phone with him and spoke to him on camera as well, Fredricka. He did not mince words. Mayor Gary Norton called these murders atrocious. He added this is nothing short of neighborhood terrorism. The mayor also said initially there was some great panic in this small community when word started to spread that this had happened.

So, let me tell you exactly what we know at this early hour so far. Over the course of two days this weekend, Friday and Saturday, police in East Cleveland found the bodies of three women. All believed to be African-American, all found within 200 feet of one another, and all of the bodies wrapped in four to five layers of black trash bags. The victims have not yet been identified, but the mayor says it appears all three were killed in a span of just ten days.

Now police have in custody 35-year-old Michael Madison. He is a man who was convicted of attempted rape in 2001 and is still a registered sex offender. We are also told by the mayor that Madison was inspired by another serial killer named Anthony Sowell, also known as the Cleveland Strangler. This is a man, convicted back in 2011, of killing 11 women in the Cleveland area. And here's what Mayor Norton said about that. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR GARY NORTON, EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO: This is a sick individual who appears to have been influenced by another sick individual. It's absolutely horrible, it's atrocious. And again, we believe that this individual that we're dealing with killed three women in a span of about 10 days. That is insane. We know if he had been out for one more hour, there's no telling what would have happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And Alina, given that, how fearful is the mayor they might find even more bodies?

CHO: Well Fred, you know, I have to tell you, he's concerned. Mayor Norton says he hopes and prays there aren't more victims, but he also said listen, this is a sick individual. It is entirely possible we will find more bodies.

And one thing this has done, I should tell you, is rally community in a major way. In fact right now, Fred, we are told that some 100 community volunteers have fanned out. They are searching the area right now possibly for more victims. But of course, the hope is they won't find any.

WHITFIELD: Horrible situation nonetheless. All right, Alina Cho, thanks so much. Keep us posted throughout the afternoon.

Onto Milwaukee now. Health officials say a week-long heat wave may have claimed two more lives. According to affiliate WISN, a 69-year- old man died Friday after being rushed to the hospital with a body temperature of 102 degrees. A 64-year-old woman also died inside her sweltering home. Officials say all the windows were closed because her family feared shootings in the neighborhood. The heat-related death toll in Milwaukee now stands at five.

And in Ohio, an EF-1 tornado ripped the walls off the gym at Urseline College in the town of Pepperpike. The National Weather Service says the winds reached 110 miles an hour before dawn yesterday. No one was hurt.

And firefighters south of Los Angeles are making progress on a wildfire that has already destroyed at least six homes. According to our affiliate KABC, the mountain fire as it's being called near Idlewild is now 49 percent contained thanks to Mother Nature slowing the flames a bit. The fire has burned over 27,000 acres, putting the cost of the fire at $19 million. An official says he expects the fire to be fully contained by Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHRIS GAULDING, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: There is a slight chance of thunderstorms probably through early next week, which could change things on the fire. Estimated full containment date on the fire is going to be July 26th.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Evacuation orders were lifted in several nearby communities just a short time ago.

Phil Mickelson won the Open in Scotland today. He shot an amazing 66 to charge through the field in the final round. This is Mickelson's fifth major title. CNN sports reporter Rachel Nichols joining me live now from New York. So, Rachel, Phil Mickelson has won majors before. But there was something different, something much more special about today's win.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, very special for Phil Mickelson. He said he never thought for sure he would win a British Open, and instead he did it on one of the toughest courses in the world, playing what he felt one of the best rounds of golf he's ever played.

And it was special even for casual golf fans. Phil is the kind of golfer that just reels people in. His family is such a big part of his victories. We saw his wife Amy's very public battle with breast cancer and then that great family hug there at the end as they all gathered around.

And then there's the way Mickelson attacked a golf course. He's so brave, and sometimes that bravery on the course is spectacular. Sometimes it translates into foolishness. It's always exciting, though. Fred, this is a guy whose namesake is Phil the Thrill, and there's no doubt it was thrilling today.

WHITFIELD: Oh, wow a big thrill indeed. Oh, that's so nice, that moment like that.

So meantime, it doesn't matter who wins. People still want to talk about Tiger Woods. He started the day in second place, and the expectation was pretty high that he might win the first major in very a long time. Is there a way to kind of summarize what may have happened for him?

NICHOLS: Yes. When he talked afterward, he said he was struggling to read the speed of the greens. You can see him putting and having some trouble there.

What he didn't talk about afterwards was his confidence. And what's the real question everybody has. He's playing pretty good golf overall. But in major tournaments, we've seen his scores trend worse from the early rounds into the late rounds, and that's not something we ever really saw with Tiger Woods before. He won 14 majors, just seemed invincible so long. And now it's been five years since he won a major tournament. That pressure builds every time he steps out for the next one. And the next one is next month in Rochester, New York and we'll have to see if he can break back through then. You know he'll be trying.

WHITFIELD: Wow. We haven't seen the kind of confidence that Tiger used to exude before five years ago. But does it not seem like within this past year, these past few tournaments he seems to be exhibiting a return to that real bravado on the course? Am I read doing much into it? You know, I try to play psychologist now and then.

NICHOLS: Well, you're doing real well. I don't know if you've had Tiger on the couch. Good try there. I mean, we've seen his game improve. He had some injuries he's gotten over, and we've seen him get back into that comfort zone of winning tournaments. He won a lot of other tournaments this year, but the majors are still a struggle.

Majors are majors for reason. They're a big deal. They're the hardest courses. You're playing against the best fields. Psychologically, it is the most difficult. So we'll have to see if this experience is something he can learn from and whether he can break back through next month at the PGA championship. That's his last shot before the calendar rolls over to 2014 with still no majors.

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. Well, nonetheless, today it's Phil Mickelson's day, and our congrats go out to him because I think people always seems to root for him. He just seems like a nice guy, a family guy. People grimace when he doesn't win, when he comes this close and something happens. And now everybody can celebrate with him. So very cool stuff.

Thanks so much, Rachel. Appreciate it.

All right. A veteran lawmaker says he will introduce a bill to end racial profiling. But can it pass Congress? I'm talking to our chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley about that and more.

Plus, a gay couple takes a drastic step to avoid paying an inheritance tax. After 45 years together, they're redefining their relationship.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This week, a veteran member of Congress is proposing legislation to help end racial profiling. This on the heels of the George Zimmerman verdict and a weekend of rallies in honor of Trayvon Martin, and the president revealing his own experiences being racially profiled. Detroit Congressman John Conyers told me why he's reintroducing his bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN CONYERS (D), MICHIGAN: Well, I think we need a federal statement on this, and I'm so glad you have brought this up and emphasized it. It's critical because it's a common factor of young African-American men growing up. And so this will help review and down play this tactic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Candy Crowley is our chief political correspondent and host of "STATE OF THE UNION." So Candy, what is the likelihood that this bill will have new traction, especially in the spirit of what we've seen in the last week?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's pretty clear it has new traction. The question is whether it will ever get passed. As the president noted, most laws dealing with criminality and police tactic, et cetera, et cetera, are done at the state and local level. So, traction and passing are two different things. But definitely traction. On the show today, I had a woman named Sherrilyn Ifill. She is the president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERRILYN IFILL, PRESIDENT, NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND: What this verdict does is it takes a very particular issue that African- Americans for a long time have had with law enforcement, the issue of racial profiling, and now, because of the Stand Your Ground laws, because of our gun-soaked society, because of the concealed weapons laws, we're essentially saying that average citizens like George Zimmerman who have a fear in our racially anxious society that a young teenager is a threat can kill that teenager and can kill that teenager with impunity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So some very strong thoughts coming from Ms. Ifill there. And really in harmony, that really was the spirit of your discussion with so many. And many on your panel asking whether is it the place of the president to try to address - try to end what racial problems might exist or even racial profiling. But the president himself said he's relying on churches and athletes and corporate groups to pick up the baton on this.

CROWLEY: Really and truly, some of the best solutions always do come from the go up, not from the top down. I think that's what President Obama is talking about. But he didn't say he wouldn't continue to try to lead or have discussions about it. But the federal government is limited what it can do about local laws and local police.

WHITFIELD: And we're also -- many in the world of journalism and beyond are mourning the loss of Helen Thomas. You had some very strong thoughts about the loss of Helen Thomas. Someone who really has been a beacon in journalism, someone who has represented really the fortitude of women among the White House Press Corps.

CROWLEY: Well, first of all, just forget she worked as a journalist into her 80s and remember this is a woman who covered John F. Kennedy and every president since then. If you just Google her and look it up, she is first, first, first woman to do this, first woman to be chief White House correspondent for a wire service. She busted through all the all-male clubs in Washington, press clubs and other institutions. She was dogged, she was fierce. She was controversial, particularly toward the end of her career. In fact, her career was ended by some controversial statements about Israel and Jews. But the fact is she was one fierce reporter. WHITFIELD: She was indeed. All right, thanks so much Candy Crowley, for helping us remember her and bringing us up to date on some of the political news that's going to be a driving force all week long. Host of "STATE OF THE UNION." Thank you, Candy.

CROWLEY: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Public support for same-sex marriage is growing. But the vast majority of states still ban the practice, either by constitutional amendment or state law. Some same-sex couples in those states aren't waiting for a change in law to get some of the same rights heterosexual couples enjoy. Here now is CNN's Sara Ganim.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don't be fooled by the Supreme Court's decision to throw out the Defense of Marriage Act. Hundreds of thousands of guy couples still can't get the benefits of being married in their home state. John and Gregory, a couple in Pennsylvania, are among them, but they found a creative loophole. John, age 65, adopted Gregory, age 73.

JOHN, ADOPTED PARTNER: We have a great house. Nice property. And we've built that together and enjoy it together.

GANIM: State law in Pennsylvania says that when one of them dies, the other would have to pay a steep 15 percent inheritance tax to be able to keep all of those things. They've been together 45 years and didn't think that was fair.

MARIANNE RUDEBUSCH, ATTORNEY: To have to then pay inheritance tax on something that is already really yours somehow just doesn't pass the smell test.

GANIM: Attorney Marianne Rudebusch hit the books looking for legal options and came up with adoption.

JOHN: The judge said absolutely. There's no legal reason why I should not approve this. And I signed it - signed the adoption papers and looked at me and said, congratulations, it's a boy.

TED MARTIN, EQUALITY PENNSYLVANIA: I've heard of situations, on more than one occasion, sadly, when one couple - one part of the couple has died, you know, they've been locked out of a home.

GANIM: Ted Martin is with Equality Pennsylvania and he understands exactly why Gregory and John did it.

MARTIN: A place like Pennsylvania, still the only state in the Northeast where you can still fire someone for being gay or evicted them from their apartment or deny them a public accommodation. So in a lot of ways, you know, people have to be smart.

GANIM: For this couple, it was a last resort. They didn't want to leave the state where they've lived their whole lives, but they don't believe they will live to see same-sex marriage legalized in Pennsylvania.

JOHN: And it's sad we can't call it a marriage in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but it is a really amazing relationship.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GANIM: Now, this isn't for everyone, and it won't work in every state. New York, for example, has denied these kind of requests for adult adoptions. In this case, it worked because one of the partners, his biological parent, was already dead.

Now there's also too the question of incest: could they be charged? The attorney for these men advised them -- she said she didn't think people would be acting as the bedroom police. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Sara Ganim. Appreciate it.

All right, everyone is watching, they're waiting for -- you guessed it. As you see, Buckingham Palace, waiting for the news about the royal baby. And Queen Elizabeth is especially impatient apparently. Live pictures from Buckingham Palace and more. We'll take you there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. We have an incredible rescue to share with you right now. A river guide jumps into action when a rafter is knocked unconscious, hitting his head on some of the rocks after being thrown from the boat. The guide swam over to the man, as you're able to see part of this rescue, pulling him out of the water. The rafter was okay, just a little dazed. The hero who saved him said he's been on the river for 25 years, and this was first time he had to make a rescue like that. Thank goodness the two came together like that.

All right, brace yourself. A guy on a motorcycle was trying out a new helmet camera. Maybe he got a little too focused on the camera. Look what happened. All that caught right on tape. You can see his bike slammed right into the back of a car at almost 70 miles an hour. The rider was actually thrown off the motorcycle and then onto the hood of the car. Incredibly, he actually walked away with only minor bumps and bruises and no further explanation. Whoa. Close call.

Okay. So royal watchers aren't the only ones anxiously awaiting the arrival of the royal baby. Queen Elizabeth is as well apparently. But guess what, she is scheduled to vacation in Scotland in just five days, and she's made it very clear she'd like the baby to be born before she leaves.

CNN royal commentator Katie Nichol joining us live now from in front of Buckingham Palace. So Katie, I mean, the queen is not serious, right? She's not trying to expedite things because she's got vacation?

KATIE NICHOL, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: I think she probably is quite serious.

WHITFIELD: Oh, really?

NICHOL: Holiday is very important to the queen. She has been working incredibly hard. Lots of engagements. There was a festival here at Buckingham Palace a week or so ago. She looks forward to this retreat so much. It really is the focal point of her year. And what she loves is for her grandchildren and children to come up and stay with her. Everyone is invited to come up for a few days and spend with the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

So, she's really not going to want to push this holiday back. And I suspect if the baby's not here by the end of the week, my money is on the queen probably heading off to Scotland and possibly hoping her great-grandchild might make a visit up in the Scottish Highlands.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness! Well, I guess she could always take a quick chopper ride back if baby arrives while she's in Scotland, and everything will be okay. Meantime, do we know where the Duchess of Cambridge is right now?

NICHOL: We're told towards the end of last week she was in Bucklebury with her family. It's been incredibly hot here. The family home is beautiful. There's a swimming pool, lots of space and of course, she wouldn't have had to lift a finger. Her mom would have been there to do everything.

But we understand both her and William have now come back to London at Kensington Palace not far from where we are at Buckingham Palace. They obviously wanted to be close to the hospital. Had they stayed in Bucklebury, could have been an hour's drive. They was a contingency plan for them to go to the local hospital, but everything's in place at St. Mary's. They going to be having the hospital in their own private ward at the Lindo (ph) Wing and the obstetricians, midwives, everyone really is now on call for the very imminent arrival of Baby Cambridge. And we're told they're safely at Kensington Palace.

WHITFIELD: Oh, so it really sounds like everybody else was a little premature, thinking the baby would have arrived last week. They've been thinking any minute now. But it sounds like the couple has kind of known all along it's more likely to happen now she's back at Kensington Palace, given the commute and how long it takes. So, maybe their calendar is different from the public's calendar?

NICHOL: Very possibly. But I think as Kate said when she sort of gave the biggest clue date about the due date when she was on engagement and she said would be in the middle of July, but babies have their own agenda. I know many, many pregnant women have had a due date and been two weeks later. It happens with first babies, and there's whole number of old wives' tales about things you can do to speed up. And one wonders if perhaps this evening, she's going to be tucking into a spicy curry in the hopes that she will bring on labor.

But I think one thing's for sure: this baby is going to make an appearance very soon. And let's hope it's sooner rather than later because it will get very hot again here very soon. And that will be tough on her when she's this pregnant. WHITFIELD: You're right. You're looking at one of those ladies. My firstborn was ten days late. So you know, it'll all happen in time. And -

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: -- to try and get things moving a little faster. I don't know how effective that is. But hey, we'll be happy and welcome little baby when it arrives I guess on its own time. Katie Nichol, thanks so much. Keep us posted there from Buckingham Palace because that's where folks are really going to learn first - at least the fans who are outside the palace -- about the baby's birth.

All right. Back to this country. A young woman - well, actually not really. Overseas, a young woman going beyond her disabilities. She won't let blindness stop her. She reads Braille with her lips. Her inspiring story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, checking in now on our top stories, a grisly discovery in East Cleveland has police and volunteers canvassing a neighborhood today. Three bodies have been found since Friday wrapped in plastic bags and dumped in a garage basement and a field. Investigators say the victims were all women and officials are searching today to see if there are any more bodies. Police have a man in custody, but he has not been charged. You look at the mayor right now. They are on the scene as well.

All right, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talked about negotiations in a speech to his cabinet today. This comes after a new report that Israel could be considering reviving peace talks with Palestinians. Negotiations could involve considering borders laid down in a 1967 U.N. resolution.

In Milwaukee, health officials say a weeklong heat wave may have claimed two more lives. According to affiliate WISN, a 69-year-old man died Friday after being rushed to hospital with a body temperature of 102 degrees. A 64-year-old woman also died inside her sweltering home. The heat-related death toll in Milwaukee now stands at five.

All right, now, to Hongkong, where a blind student who can't read Braille with her fingers has achieved something astonishing. She aced her college entrance exams by reading Braille in a different and rather extraordinary way. Monita Rajpal has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MONITA RAJPAL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meet Tsang Tsz Kwan, a 20-year-old student in Hongkong. On the surface she appears like any other young person who just completed her exams. But Mandy, as known to her friends, well, she is different. See Mandy is blind and deaf, but her challenges don't end there. Unlike other visually and hearing-impaired people, Mandy can't read Braille with her fingertips. TSANG TSZ KWAN, STUDENT: I discovered I had weak sensitivity in my fingers, which makes reading much more difficult than other blind students. I've tried many other methods, but I could only resort to using my lips.

RAJPAL: It's a method Mandy admits is uncommon, but it was the only way she found worked for her. It worked well, so well that she finished high school with top marks excelling in the region's highly competitive Hongkong government exams.

KWAN: During the exam process, I felt rather stressful because with all my difficulties, I had to spend a double amount of time to finish every task my classmates had to finish. When I received the exam results I was really astonished and excited when I heard that my results in some of the subjects far from my own expectations.

RAJPAL: Mandy achieved the highest score in Chinese, English, Liberal Study, not to mention exemplary scores in English and Chinese literature, which involved listening tests she wasn't required to do, but still wanted to prove she could handle, extraordinary for a young girl who has lived with the disabilities since she was a baby and in a society that still judges imperfections.

Mandy hopes to study translation at the Chinese University of Hongkong. For now, she wants to enjoy her summer like any other young person who has just finished a stressful school year oblivious to how much she has inspired countless others. Monita Rajpul, CN, Hongkong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow, an incredible inspiration there.

All right, back in this country now, two terrifying accidents at an amusement park. What you can do to make sure you and your family stay safe. That's up next in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Two separate accidents at two amusement parks this weekend. A woman died at the Texas Six Flags after she fell off a roller coaster. So far authorities say there was no sign of, quote, "foul play or criminality." Witnesses who are riding on the Texas Giant with her said the victim didn't feel safe before the ride.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARMEN BROWN, WITNESS: She goes up like this. When it drops to come down, that's when it released and she just tumbled. It didn't hit me until we got back down to the bottom and I said, like, she was no bigger than I was like that could have been me. I lost it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were screaming when they came back and trying to get out of the restraint and screaming, my mom, my mom, we've got to get my mom. She's gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very sad. I feel horrible for the family. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. Seven people suffered minor injuries at the Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio. In this situation, the boat they were riding in, the rapids ride rolled backward while going up a lift hill. The two separate incidents now raising questions how safe are amusement park rides.

Let's bring in amusement ride and device safety consultant, William Avery. Good to see you. Two accidents in one day, how worrisome is this to you?

WILLIAM AVERY, PRESIDENT, AVERY SAFETY CONSULTING: Well, it's always worrisome when you have an accident. Nobody wants to have that kind of experience, especially on an amusement park. It's not anticipated or expected, certainly not a part of having fun for the day.

WHITFIELD: Not at all. So a witness, in fact, saying that the woman who died in Texas had told a park employee that she felt her restraint was not tightened properly. So how does any know or is it kind of common knowledge for those familiar with rides, you know, what is considered a secured safety restraint or not?

AVERY: Well, specifically what common knowledge is for the average rider, but as a general rule, it needs to fit snugly and near your waistline, above the top of your thighs so it can hold the passenger in regardless of what kind of forces are applied and where they're applied on the human body.

WHITFIELD: And this particular roller coaster, we're looking at pictures of it now, you know, the Texas Giant is what it's called. It's an old roller coaster, but it was renovated we understand. So how does an investigator go about trying to determine whether this was a technical problem, whether there was human error involved? What?

AVERY: Well, generally speaking, you know, you're going to take several different steps. You are going to look at the operations of it and the human factor or the human part of the equation. Was there an error or omission made by an operator or someone in operations. Of course, you want to look at the maintenance to make sure that the locking mechanism and the device was operating as it was supposed to be operating.

You can always look at the bigger scope of things as an issue of design of the ride, but you also want to take into account the rider themselves. What was their posture, profile, size, that sort of thing, and how did they fit into the riding compartment and then how did the restraint work with the size individual that was involved.

WHITFIELD: OK, and then a couple things. You know, is there generally any kind of fine print on, you know, your ticket stub or something that says, you know, that you are doing this at your own risk and if so or if not, what can we as park-goers do to insure our safety?

AVERY: Well, one of the things you can do is certainly like this lady did is asks a question. Unfortunately, perhaps it wasn't taken far enough or understood or appreciated by the ride operator to go a little further and go, Ma'am, you know, I'm sorry you're uncomfortable or you don't feel safe in this particular situation and then take whatever necessary steps they may do to make the individual feel safe before they took the ride as one of them.

You can always look at the operators if you don't feel comfortable with their answers. You have the right to say that I choose now not to ride. I don't want to get on this ride. Look at those kinds of things, condition of the ride, a general overview and make sure you yourself feel comfortable with what it is you are fixing to do or whatever type of ride you are going to be on.

WHITFIELD: Well, our hearts go out to the family members involved in these two separate incidents. Thanks so much, William Avery, for your time.

AVERY: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: All right, on to music and beyond, how this man kind of resonates across generations, Mick Jagger. Well, he's been rocking for 50 years and he doesn't seem to be slowing down. Go, Mick, go. Can believe he's about to celebrate his 70th, 7-0 birthday? Why everyone loves him from baby boomers to their kids.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Ozzy Osbourne goes on tour with his band, "Black Sabbath" this week after their big reunion album drop last month. Their 20- city U.S. tour starts Thursday near Houston. Just last month, "Black Sabbath" released their first full studio album with Ozzy as the front man since 1978. It's been a long time. Guess what, it jumped to number one on the "Billboard" charts, a first ever for this band.

And a rock' n roll legend is about to celebrate the big 7-0. Go, Mick, with forever moves, "Rolling Stone's" front man Jagger turning 70 years old this Friday and that song start me up came out over 30 years ago in 1981 and one could argue he doesn't look that different. He doesn't move any differently.

Jagger and the "Stones" still rocking. I'm joined now by Anthony De Curtis, a contributing editor for "Rolling Stone" magazine. The name "Rolling Stone" as a magazine and "Rolling Stones", the band were both coincidentally named after a muddy waters song, but there is no other relations beyond that, right, Anthony?

ANTHONY DE CURTIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: Yes, absolutely. The magazine has been covering the band almost since the beginning. We started up in 1967 so certainly since that time.

WHITFIELD: Wow. That's fantastic. So what have you observed about the "Rolling Stones" in general, but Mick Jagger specifically over the years? You have interviewed that group, at least a dozen times, but what is it about them that they seem to defy age in a way, whether it be in their performances, the songs, all of that continues to resonate. It all seems so timeless. CURTIS: Well, you know, I think that one of the things about it is that they've committed to being the band they are. I mean, I think Jagger went through a period of just almost feeling like the "Rolling Stones" were played out or something. I think at this point he knows his legacy and you know, his reputation rests on being the lead singer of the "Rolling Stones." Once he's in there, the band is in there fully. Their shows have just been incredible. So I think that's part of it, just believing in what they're doing.

WHITFIELD: Those shows are incredible. I've seen a few of the "Rolling Stones" concerts. I'm telling you it is jaw dropping the kind of energy that they have as a team, the kind of energy that man has as an individual. It seems they get better with time. They don't seem to, you know, lose any steps at all.

CURTIS: Well, it's interesting, you know, Jagger in particular, you know, I mean, he's someone who -- you know, Jagger has taken vocal lessons to learn how to preserve his voice.

WHITFIELD: Really?

CURTIS: His father was a physical education expert. You know, Jagger has always taken care of himself. I mean, whatever excesses he's indulged in over the years. You know, he was never somebody that was, you know, kind of enamored of the edge and the early death and all of that business. He was always somebody who wanted to stick around.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So does it seem as though there is a commitment that they as a group, he as individual, really will stick around, will continue, you know, to perform as long as they can?

CURTIS: Well, I think that they're taking the steps. Certainly, he is taking the steps that he needs to take to be able to continue to do that. He's ultimately -- Jagger is ultimately a pragmatist. You know, he's not going to get on stage if he can't do it to a level that he believes he should be able to. But you know, I saw a show a few weeks ago, it was really inspiring. He loves it. He loves his life and he loves performing.

WHITFIELD: I can look at that montage of those images, you know, just over and over again, incredible, incredibly photogenic. There is a story, it's clear. This is just a story behind his chiselled looks, his fitness on stage and their music. Thanks so much, Anthony. Thanks for being with us and paying tribute and a big old happy birthday to Mick wherever you are if you are watching.

CURTIS: I'm sure he is going to have a good time.

WHITFIELD: Right. I'm sure he is. So Mick Jagger, you're celebrating the big 70 this week.

Another woman that you've never heard of is actually turning 30 this weekend and she is celebrating in a very special way. She survived cancer four times. That amazing story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Thirty acts of kindness, that's how one Atlanta woman plans to celebrate her 30th birthday, but it's a milestone that she never thought she'd live to see. Here's CNN's Nick Valencia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On an ordinary weekday afternoon in Atlanta, Lauraine Frank did something extraordinary.

LAURAINE FRANK, FOUR-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR: I wanted to give you all these sunflowers. I wanted to give these to you all. This is me, doing one of my random acts of kindness, number 18.

VALENCIA: Frank has cancer and for nearly 10 years, she's battled reoccurring Hodgkin's lymphoma.

FRANK: I don't know why I had Hodgkin's four times or why I beat it four times, but I know that I need to do what is in my power to make the world a happier or better place.

VALENCIA: Diagnosed while in college, she never thought she would see her 30th birthday to celebrate surviving, Frank held a week-long Facebook campaign to commit 30 random acts of kindness.

FRANK: It is reaching far and beyond what I ever thought it would.

VALENCIA: Her goal is simple make strangers smile. But as it turns out, it is also strangers around the world who have made her smile.

FRANK: Over 12,000 people have been invited and almost 1,000 are accepted and doing the act.

VALENCIA (on camera): This is people that don't even know you that are latching on to this?

FRANK: Yes. Obviously, it's overwhelming but in such a great way. Just bought lunch at Chick-Fil-A for someone I didn't know.

VALENCIA: You just got one. What does that one say?

FRANK: Brought donuts to a friend an LLS supporter at his office.

VALENCIA: So this is just every -- like every few minutes. You're getting another one here already.

FRANK: I want to do other things and move on from Lauraine, cancer girl. I want to be the spread the love girl or traveling the world girl or something else. I wanted to include you all. I just dropped off some duffle bags I had laying around at my office and I hope that the kids can put to some good use.

VALENCIA (voice-over): She's not yet cancer-free though Frank doesn't like to think of herself as sick. Still recovering from her treatments, she wears a wig she says so that her friends and family don't either. FRANK: I'm ready to have some non-cancer related problems like bring it on. In my 20s where cancer was my main obstacle and I'm hoping to have some regular normal obstacles in my 30s.

VALENCIA (on camera): You want normal drama?

FRANK: I want normal drama. I am going to be 30, so old.

VALENCIA (voice-over): Considering her journey to get here, being old is a label Frank would be happy to live with. Nick Valencia, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Happy birthday to her. All right, he is a long-time congressman and icon of the civil rights movement. So what is John Lewis doing at Comic-Con? It turns out he has his own comic in telling his amazing story. I've got details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking our top stories, Phil Mickelson is the winner of the Open. He shot an amazing 66 today. He had charged through the field in the final round. This is Mickelson's fifth major title. World number one, Tiger Woods seeking his 15th major title split to a tie for sixth place.

Belgium has a new king, former Crown Prince Philippe, was sworn in as king today. His father, Albert II abdicated just an hour before. The 79-year-old king gave up the throne after a 20-year-old reign. He says his age and health won't allow him to exercise his duties properly.

Check out, civil rights icon, John Lewis getting all the attention at, of all places, Comic-Con. Congressman Lewis was one of the most influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and now his story is in a comic book that he wrote himself. He is the only member of Congress to do that. Comic-Con is an annual celebration of comics, movies and sci-fi culture.

And royal baby watch, well, it's on. Everybody is waiting for word on the baby. The queen is even getting a little impatient. We're on watch as well in our 4:00 Eastern Hour. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thanks for watching this hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Up next, "YOUR MONEY" focuses on racial and inequality in America's economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Poverty and dysfunction that we see in those communities can be traced to a very difficult history.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Reverend Jesse Jackson joins Christine Romans on "YOUR MONEY," which starts right now.