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NEW DAY

Medical Student Mystery; "Meltdown Mike"; Kanye's Royal Gift; Julianna Talks Huma

Aired July 31, 2013 - 07:30   ET

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


MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: It flipped five times and what's amazing he walked away uninjured and just sort of carried on racing the next night, in fact. He came in fifth in the race last night I believe, but it's amazing, five tumbles, walks away not injured.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Huge name, too.

PEREIRA: Yes.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: He has such a passion for racing all the different circuits. You know what it speaks to the elevation in safety standards that they've come up with. They found ways to keep drivers safe, so different than five, ten years ago.

BOLDUAN: Racing for fun, still needs to be careful.

All right, one story that is a lot of people are scratching their heads in the close-knit community at the University of Michigan, the whole community is mourning this morning, a 25-year-old medical student, Paul Dewolfe. He was found shot to death by a single bullet. Police are investigating it as a homicide this morning. But so far they have no motive or reason why someone would want to kill this student who's known to be popular and an aspiring surgeon. We'll talk with one of his close friends in a minute. But first Pamela Brown is here with more on what clearly is a murder mystery.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is. As you said, it's a puzzling case for police as they're investigating right now. Dewolfe was a medical student said to graduate next year researching a treatment for ACL tears and in a statement, one field researcher said Dewolf was the epitome of everything great in the field of medicine. Now it's a shock to the community when a co-worker found Paul Dewolf dead after he failed to show up for work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN (voice-over): A mysterious death in Michigan, a 25-year-old aspiring surgeon with a magnetic smile living a full life, high school valedictorian, marathon runner and avid scuba diver.

JASON HALTERMAN, DEWOLF'S CLOSE FRIEND: Paul was probably the best person that I've ever met in my entire life. He really brought everyone that was with him up, myself included.

BROWN: Dead by a single gunshot wound, found in a pool of blood inside his bedroom at an off campus fraternity house last Wednesday sending shock waves through the University of Michigan community and stunning those who knew Paul Dewolf well.

HALTERMAN: It's hard for me to believe that Paul would have any enemies. I don't know a single person that didn't like him.

BROWN: Police believe Dewolf was killed in cold blood, adding to the mystery no weapons were found on the scene and nothing stolen from Dewolf's room. Police said they are directing every available resource to this investigation. As police hunt for Dewolf's killer, the University of Michigan is increasing police patrol and warning students to stay alert. The vice president of the University Health System said, quote, "Paul was a talented medical student. He was dedicating his life to helping others."

The med student also an active duty second lieutenant in the Air Force planning to graduate in May and complete his residency while in the Air Force. A young life taken, shrouded in mystery, no clues to what went terribly wrong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Dewolf's parents released a statement saying he was a brother, a son, a man of faith and a good friend to everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. Paul will be greatly missed but will always be cherished in our heart and minds -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Pamela, thank you very much. I want to bring in Sarala Sarah, a close friend of Paul Dewolf, joining us from Ann Arbour, Michigan. Thank you for being here. I'm sorry to have to meet you under these circumstances. We're hearing a lot about what took your friend. What I want to know is tell me about what made Paul special to you?

SARALA SARAH, FRIEND OF PAUL DEWOLF: Paul was a modern day renaissance man. He excelled at everything that he did. He ran marathons. He was valedictorian in high school. He graduated top of the class and aspiring to be a surgeon. At the end of the day, he was above all a son to his parents and a brother to his family and friends, and he will be missed. The community lost a hero and it's tragic that this had to happen to such a wonderful person.

CUOMO: What is the best guess you have as to why this happened or how?

SARAH: I don't know. I'm just as shocked. It's sad. He really did have no enemies. He was an aspiring surgeon. He was in the Air Force. He lived his life guided by God. He was a man of faith and he was a devoted Christian.

CUOMO: So no enemies, no worries, or troubles that you knew about, no tortured romances, no drama going on around him?

SARAH: No, none at all.

CUOMO: You know why we ask those questions, though, because this is becoming a mystery for authorities. They know there's been some crime in the area. They know there was a break-in, they believe on the same block very recent to this and yet this doesn't look like a break-in. And it leaves them baffled.

SARAH: Yes.

CUOMO: What do you make of that?

SARAH: None of his belongings were disturbed as they already released in the news, but as far as I know there's been nothing new that's been updated.

CUOMO: How did you hear about this?

SARAH: I got a phone call Thursday morning. So it was devastating to hear and I just talked to him on Tuesday and to find out he passed out, passed away the day after.

CUOMO: Where was his --

SARAH: Heartbreaking.

CUOMO: Where was his head and his heart on Tuesday the last time you spoke to him?

SARAH: Actually today he was supposed to leave for California to do a surgical rotation and flight training and instead he's going to his burial. So he was excited and ambitious and really looking forward to all the great things life had to offer for him.

CUOMO: You described him as the kind of doctor or medical student who would have cured cancer.

SARAH: Yes.

CUOMO: When he talked about his future and what he wanted to do with his life what did he say?

SARAH: He was so passionate about serving others. Paul and I met the first day of our college career and he was a biomedical science major and from day one he put his heart and soul into his studies and his education because he was so passionate about becoming a surgeon. He never strayed from that dream. I never heard him talk about anything else.

CUOMO: How close were you to him?

SARAH: Extremely close. He was one of my best friends for the last seven years.

CUOMO: I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm sorry to have you meet you this way as I said. Our hearts go out to all of you. We will stay on this story to find out what happened to your friend, I promise you that.

SARAH: Thank you. The community definitely lost a hero. CUOMO: Thank you for joining us today. We'll be in touch.

SARAH: Thank you.

CUOMO: Kate.

BOLDUAN: Thanks so much, Chris.

Coming up next on NEW DAY, a jailbreak caught on camera, how this very dangerous man got the jump on the guards.

And this lawmaker seems to be better known for his meltdowns than his politics at the moment. Well now he has his eye on an even bigger stage, Congress. We'll talk to him about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Welcome back to NEW DAY, everyone. If you've never heard of Mike Bost, well, you're about to. The lawmaker is already a huge hit online. His rants in the Illinois General Assembly have become legendary and now he wants to bring his act to Washington. Mike Bost is going to joining us in just a moment. But first let's give you some background on the former Marine who is ready to fight for the American dream in Congress.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BOST, ILLINOIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE: These damned bills, all the damned time come out here at the last second!

BOLDUAN (voice-over): He's known for his paper punching, finger pointing tirades on the floor of the Illinois legislature.

BOST: Enough! I feel like somebody trying to be released from Egypt! Let my people go! My God! They sent me here to vote for them!

BOLDUAN: Now Republican Mike Bost is hoping to bring that passion to Capitol Hill after nine terms in the state assembly he's running for Congress.

BOST: You should be ashamed of yourselves!

BOLDUAN: Bost often loses his cool while everyone around him seems to look bored. Some call him "Meltdown Mike" for displays like this one during a debate over a concealed weapons bill.

BOST: I keep playing games like this? Vote no.

BOLDUAN: His trademark outbursts have become internet sensations featured on "Letterman."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How a bill becomes a law.

BOST: These damned bills all the damned time!

BOLDUAN: Remixed to music. Even compared to Chevy Chase's famous Christmas vacation rant.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: So let's talk more about this, joining me is Illinois state representative and YouTube sensation, Mike Bost. Mr. Bost, thanks so much for joining me this morning.

BOST: Thanks for having me here.

BOLDUAN: You're clearly passionate, but I get a chuckle every time we take a look at your videos and I would love to know what you think when you see the videos of yourself.

BOST: Well, you've got to understand the situation, and it was two issues that had occurred in the Illinois General Assembly and any time -- I represent the people of the 115th district in Illinois and any time you're going to violate their constitutional rights or any time that you're going to try to take away their rights for a clear and proper debate then my job is I believe to stand up for them and I do the best I can with that.

Those are two times. Now there are other times I work in bipartisan manner, work together my colleagues and I work together from both sides of the aisle, but maybe we do need more passion, maybe we need passion in Washington because unfortunately we're not getting things done right the way it is right now.

BOLDUAN: Mr. Bost, you sure sound you're running for something. I'll talk to you about that in a second. What do you think of all the fun people are having with your rants?

BOST: You know that's fine. I mean, if you can't laugh at yourself with different things in life then you know, what's life about? And my family knows me, my constituents know me, and we have a good time with it.

BOLDUAN: So what sets you off? Is this a typical day-to-day reaction on the floor of the state legislature?

BOST: No, not at all.

BOLDUAN: Are you putting on a show to get some attention?

BOST: There are only about two things that really bother me, if you're going to -- when I'm working in the general assembly and someone just violates the rules and therefore takes those rules away from my constituents and my ability to defend my constituents and work on certain pieces of legislation. That's a problem I have trouble and I make sure that everyone understands the concerns I have and if you're going to violate the constitution of Illinois or the United States, I have a problem with that. That and protecting my children are probably the things that would do that.

BOLDUAN: I feel bad for any kid who takes on one of your kids after seeing these rants on the floor of the state legislature.

BOST: Child on child it would be a little different.

BOLDUAN: I'm just playing with you. OK, so you are running for Congress for the 12th congressional district in Illinois.

BOST: I am.

BOLDUAN: So Congress, the House known as a dysfunctional group, everyone would agree, and a group that I think most Americans are now saying they want to see them working together and working together more and screaming at each other less. So how are these rants going to play in Washington?

BOST: Well, let me explain this to you. In the meetings and the one on ones that might be true, but if someone comes up to me and says they want to pass a bill just to figure out what it does, I would have problems with that and I think my constituents would as well. I would express some concerns with that. As a matter of fact one of the rants I had in Illinois was on just that issue. I think -- obviously I get along with everybody in Illinois. We do very well together. Those are two rants over 18, 19 years.

BOLDUAN: And the rant can go viral in a minute. Before I let you go, I think you've had the chance to see the video. We had a little fun with you yesterday here on NEW DAY comparing you to another famous online sensation, Grumpy Cat.

BOST: Grumpy Cat.

BOLDUAN: But Grumpy Cat, let's be serious, Grumpy Cat has done pretty well for herself. She has a coffee drink line and movie deal. Is this the end game?

BOST: I don't know if there would be a mike-a-mocha in the future.

BOLDUAN: It already sounds delicious. We'll be following your race very closely. Good luck with it. It will be a colorful --

BOST: Thank you for having me on.

BOLDUAN: State Rep Mike Bost, great to meet you, thank you.

BOST: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Chris.

CUOMO: Last thing he needs is more coffee. That's for sure. I'll tell you I respect the passion as long as he believes in what he's saying. He should get out there and get after it.

We're going to take a break here on NEW DAY. When we come back, you go to the hospital to get well, right? You don't want to pick up an infection. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will tell you what to look out for the next time you go to the hospital so you come home better than you go in.

A real housewife now out on bail in New Jersey, hear about the reality star's true dose of reality, straight ahead on NEW DAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Welcome back to NEW DAY, everybody. It's time for the Pop Four with our Nischelle Turner. You're here, we get so excited.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Night at the Roxberry Dance. All right, let's get to the pop four. Our number four story popping this morning, third time is the charm for "Sharknato." Yes, indeed, sci-fi flick got its highest ratings over the weekend scoring 2.1 million views. It was the network's third showing of the movie. This thing just keeps getting better and better.

CUOMO: Only growing because it is real.

TURNER: That's right. We have to say this every time. Chris Cuomo says this is based on real-life events. It happened, everybody.

All right, fashion fit for a king. Our number three story, Kanye West had mini version of his clothing line commissioned and sent to the first son of Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge, among the clothes gifted, tiny skinny jeans and mini hoodies. They're something way down deep inside of me.

BOLDUAN: I'll tell you, a baby, like a little girl in jeggings is the cutest thing you've ever seen.

CUOMO: In a what? What are those?

BOLDUAN: Jeans like leggings on a baby --

TURNER: It's a woman thing, Chris.

BOLDUAN: I melted when I saw the picture.

TURNER: All right, number two, art imitating life and now art is giving lessons. Yes, television's good wife giving good advice to Anthony Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin. Julianna Margley who plays "The Good Wife" watching Huma -- saying that when she was watching Huma on the podium standing by her man she just felt compassion and empathy for her. She added, I have no judgment every woman has to do what feels best for her in that moment.

Our number one story, I love this, the remaining members of "Queen" are hoping to release a series of duets that Michael Jackson and Freddy Mercury recorded back in 1983. Don't you love it?

CUOMO: Freddy Mercury, one of the most unique voices in rock.

TURNER: Received a release from Michael Jackson's estate and he hopes to have these songs completed in the fall. Can you dig it?

PEREIRA: I can and I will.

TURNER: I do think it was really funny though according to "Queen's" manager after they had the first recording, Freddy and Michael, they had a falling out because Michael Jackson brought a llama to the studio.

PEREIRA: They make a mess.

CUOMO: Who doesn't?

TURNER: Freddy Mercury is like --

PEREIRA: They're loud.

BOLDUAN: I'm a lover of llamas.

TURNER: I have to say, I have a little baby panda bear.

BOLDUAN: You have a baby panda.

PEREIRA: Wildlife rules here.

CUOMO: We'll leave it there. Once you start talking about llamas, it's time to go to break.

Coming up on NEW DAY, the latest on pre-packaged salad that is making some people very sick. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has everything you need to know to stay safe.

BOLDUAN: Plus Oscar-winner Denzel Washington stopping by NEW DAY, we'll talk to him about teaming up with Mark Wahlberg in the new movie "Two Guns." Lots of fun ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: You know what that means. It's means it's time for the rock block, everyone. A quick round up of the stories you'll be talking about today. First up, Michaela.

PEREIRA: First up in the papers, in the "L.A. Times," sin city crackdown. California troopers taking a zero tolerance policy on a dangerous interstate to Las Vegas where some cars definitely try to go over 100 miles per hour.

From the "Wall Street Journal," a pot problem. Farmers in California say marijuana crops are using up valuable farmland. They are concerns about violence coming from pot thefts.

In the "USA Today," Amelia Rose Earheart, a Denver anchor woman and a distant relative of legendary pilot, Amelia Earhart, is planning to re-create her namesake's 1937 flight next summer. How about that? I want to watch. Christine Romans with your business news now.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Another big month for your 401(k), folks, futures are mixed right now. Stocks are up just about 4 percent just this month. That's the biggest gain since January and today is the last day of the month.

Good news for Oprah, her Own Network finally turned a profit. That network has struggled to attract viewers since its 2011 launch.

Get ready for some tax-free back-to-school shopping. Seventeen states, 17 of them, offering tax breaks to help with everything from crayons to computers. Let's get to our Indra Petersons for the weather. Good morning.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. A break from the rain in the southeast, yes, well, we're talking about more rain today thanks to the winds coming right out of the gulf. Look for one to two inches of rain for what has already been such a wet summer. That's not all. Anywhere from the Midwest stretching to the northeast, we're going to be watching a cold front make its way across and by Thursday we're talking about rain into the northeast. As far as temperatures, below normal down to the south and so nice around the lake, look at those temperatures say in the 70s. That is the good plus side to that.

BOLDUAN: It's 78 in Boston today. All right, Indra, thanks so much. We're now at the top of the hour, which means it is time for the top news.

CUOMO: Seeing red over leafy greens. Pre-packaged salads sickening hundreds nationwide. Does the government know more than it's telling? We get answers.

BOLDUAN: TSA under fire. A damning report against the agency charged with keeping fliers safe, 9,000 incidents of misconduct, thefts, bribery, sleeping on the job and more.

PEREIRA: Fighting back, meet the young brothers who took on a robber at their own restaurant and won. They talk to us now about that infamous chest bump.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY continues right now.

BOLDUAN: Good morning, everybody. Welcome back to NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, yes, Chris, Wednesday, July 31st. It's 8:00 in the east. I'm Kate Bolduan.

CUOMO: I don't believe you. I am Chris Cuomo here as always with news anchor, Michaela Pereira. We have a man hunt this morning that started as a mad dash. A dangerous convict in Arkansas leaping out of a window. How did that happen? We'll tell you. The bad news is he got away. Police chased him, did not catch him and now there is a statewide search that we'll need your help with. Stay with us.

BOLDUAN: And there are more than a million preventable medical errors in hospitals every year. How do you know if your hospital is safe? Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here with what everyone needs to know.

PEREIRA: What a delight for NEW DAY, he is one of the most famous and accomplished dramatic actors in the world and let's be honest, ladies, he's not ugly. Denzel Washington joining us to talk this hour, but his new action flick and comedy with Mark Wahlberg "Two Guns."