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CNN NEWSROOM

Patients Need HIV Test; North Korea Rockets Aimed at U.S.; Former NFL Player Talks About Secret

Aired March 29, 2013 - 14:00   ET

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


BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Rusty equipment, unsterilized needles. Sickening discoveries. Investigators in Oklahoma are describing this dentist office as, quote, "a menace to public health." We will talk to a patient who now has to get checked for HIV and hepatitis.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

North Korea now pointing rockets at U.S. targets. The country's leader says, quote, "the time has come to settle accounts."

Plus, he won $338 million in Powerball this week. But a previous arrest warrant is coming back to haunt him, costing him big bucks.

And, a former NFL player outed after an alleged fight with an ex- boyfriend. He speaks publicly about his sexuality for the very first time today.

Top of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Good to be with you here on a Friday.

You know, they say it looked normal, this Tulsa dentist office. Take a look for yourself. This is the outdoors. But then came the case of hepatitis. Two harrowing health inspections and now a warning to thousands of patients, if you went to this dentist, Dr. Harrington, Dr. Scott Harrington, please get tested. Get tested for hepatitis. Get tested for HIV. Seven thousand patients.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUSAN ROGERS, EXEC. DIR., OKLAHOMA DENTISTRY BOARD: We're hoping that anyone that hasn't been tested but did see that -- did go to that practice will actually go seek testing. And if they're afraid to go to the health department, we would ask them to go to their private physician and visit with them and get tested.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Again, health authorities are saying some 7,000 people need to get tested as soon as possible for hepatitis b, possibly hepatitis c, and possibly HIV.

Now with me on the phone is Joyce Baylor from Tulsa. She was one of the patients of Dr. Harrington.

So, Mrs. Baylor, I know this is bad news for you and I've just been told you got worse news. You just found out, you can't even just go to your -- to your doctor to be tested.

JOYCE BAYLOR, PATIENT OF DR. HARRINGTON (via telephone: No.

BALDWIN: Where do you have to go?

BAYLOR: I can barely hear you.

BALDWIN: Mrs. Baylor, this is Brooke. Can you hear me? I'll try to speak slow and clearly for you.

BAYLOR: That's good now.

BALDWIN: You just got some news that you can't go to your doctor to get tested.

BAYLOR: No, I can't, because of the investigation.

BALDWIN: So where do you have to go?

BAYLOR: To the health department.

BALDWIN: How frustrated are you?

BAYLOR: I'm very frustrated. And I'm disappointed. And I'm angry.

BALDWIN: How many times did you seen this Dr. Harrington?

BAYLOR: I saw him a year and a half ago when I had some dental work done.

BALDWIN: And what was he like?

BAYLOR: Well, he was OK. You know, you don't expect anything negative when you go to a doctor. And you put your trust in them. And that's what I did. And now this has happened and I'm very angry because I have to be inconvenienced not knowing if there is a problem and can't go to my own doctor.

BALDWIN: I want you to just listen again here to the head of the dentistry board talking about the inspections at Dr. Harrington's office. The inspections happened two days apart in mid-March. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUSAN ROGERS, EXEC. DIR., OKLAHOMA DENTISTRY BOARD: When the health inspectors went in there, the health department investigators, they saw things that you wouldn't necessarily know unless you pulled open cabinets and looked and were looking for specific items like we were that day. We went to follow up on their investigation and see the things that they had told me that they had seen that I frankly just couldn't believe. And when we got there and went further into the investigation, looking at things that we normally look at, it was actually a lot worse than we had expected.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: So, Mrs. Baylor, I'm just going to run through, we've reviewed the dentistry's board multiple page complaint. This is just some of what they found here. Rusty instruments, that means they can't be sterilized.

BAYLOR: Right.

BALDWIN: They found plastic storage boxes stained by open vials of medication. Multiple bottles of hydrocodone syrup at a dentist office. Why? I mean everywhere they looked, risks of cross-contamination. Did you, ma'am, when you went about a year and a half ago, did you see anything that seemed suspicious at all to you?

BAYLOR: No, not at all. I suppose I wasn't really looking for anything. It was a clean office. Very well decorated. The decor was, you know -- the waiting room was just immaculate. And I didn't -- you really don't go in to doctor's office looking for odd things. At least I don't. but that makes -- and you put your trust in them.

BALDWIN: And I think -- absolutely. I was about to make the point you made a moment ago. You go to a doctor, you go to a dentist, you go in trusting them.

BAYLOR: Yes.

BALDWIN: Right?

BAYLOR: Exactly. Exactly. It's like going to the grocery store buying certain products. You trust that product. Does that make sense?

BALDWIN: Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. And, tell me, how did you first hear about the news?

BAYLOR: Well, Channel 6 sends me breaking news and the Tulsa world on my Internet.

BALDWIN: So final question, if you had this dentist in front of you, Joyce Baylor, what would you say to him?

BAYLOR: I would just want to know why he allowed this to happen. Being a professional. And did he not have finances to buy the right equipment? Does that make sense?

BALDWIN: All valid questions. We wish you well when you do go to the health department and hopefully you get a clean bill of health. Joyce Baylor, one of the 7,000 patients now having to test for HIV and hepatitis because of this that's been found. Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate it.

Want to move on here. A Georgia city commissioner has apologized after being charged with telling the family of a murder suspect not to talk to police in the case of a baby shot dead in his stroller. James Brooks' lawyer says Brooks was trying to help the family and that they had duped him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALAN TUCKER, ATTORNEY FOR COMMISSIONER JAMES BROOKS: Commissioner Brooks went to the aid of constituents and he later -- unfortunately found out later that what they had been telling him and other members of the community wasn't true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Police say this 13-month-old child was shot in the face last Thursday when two teens tried to rob the baby's mother and these two are accused of murder. Several family members of one of the suspects are charged with hindering the investigation. Police are looking into the possibility that the shooting was gang related.

And North Korea says it has rockets aimed at American targets, including U.S. military bases in both the Pacific and South Korea. Take a look at this photo with me. Here he is, the leader -- North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un meeting with military leaders today. Here he is sorting through documents.

But you'll see in a moment, there's a map behind him. Here it is. You see that, over his left shoulder? Lines drawn to places like Hawaii, places like California. And what's more is this. Yet another piece of propaganda video. It shows animation of North Korean missiles destroying U.S. bomber planes.

This comes just a day after the United States sent B-2 stealth bombers over South Korea for military drills. A move that North Korea says is a threat of quote/unquote "nuclear war."

And we've been reporting, we've been getting and hearing this growing rhetoric from North Korea in recent weeks. The nation calling the U.S. warmongers and imperialists. U.S. officials, they say they are concerned.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK HAGEL, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think they're very provocative actions and belligerent tone has ratcheted up the danger. And we have to understand that reality.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's go to Chris Lawrence for us at the Pentagon.

And, Chris, I just want a reality check. I mean how serious now is the U.S. taking the threats that rockets are aimed and ready to fire?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, they're not worried about any rockets striking Austin, L.A., Hawaii, places like that. What they are concerned about, though, are those rockets that could be aimed at some of the islands around South Korea. Some of the local regional attacks. They don't believe at this point that Kim Jong-un is going to launch any sort of massive strike against the United States. But they're very worried that North Korea may come right up to the edge of these provocations and then tumble over the edge. In other words, a localized strike, like when they shelled those border islands around South Korea just a few years ago. They're worried about what that could do and what sort of escalation could happen from a smaller, local attack like that.

BALDWIN: So if you're talking about the smaller islands around South Korea, then my next question would be, what would North Korea have to do, Chris, for the U.S. to actually take military action? And if we did, what would the U.S. response actually look like?

LAWRENCE: Well, maybe no mistake, the first response by all accounts is going to come from South Korea. They have the most assets in that area. They are ready 24/7/365. But that new agreement that South Korea and the U.S. recently signed, just last week, basically brings the U.S. in the loop very early. So even a small attack, like North Korea shells one of those islands, the U.S. would be right in the middle of those discussions, helping to formulate some sort of response. The goal is to keep that response forceful yet not do something that may be over the top or over reactive and things start spiraling out of control where it can't be stopped.

BALDWIN: We also, Chris, we showed some of the video of, you know, the U.S. showing its military might with the bomber flights, the military drills. Is the U.S. adding to tensions in the region by doing that?

LAWRENCE: Yes, I talked to an official just a few minutes ago. He said, you know, look, the B-2 is what's called a strategic manned asset. It's a special asset in that it requires a higher level of approval to operate. So, a regional commander can't just call one in the theater from Missouri.

I'm told that these were very deep discussions between the Pentagon and senior officials, all the way up to the National Security Council and the White House, on whether this should be used. There were other options considered, both perhaps less forceful than flying that B-2 and more forceful. But ultimately it was Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel who signed the order to fly that B-2.

The goal wasn't just a message to North Korea to show the United States' reach, but also, I'm told, reassurance to the South Koreans that the U.S. is behind them and there's no need to overreact to some of these provocations from North Korea.

BALDWIN: That they've got their back, essentially.

LAWRENCE: Yes.

BALDWIN: Chris Lawrence at the Pentagon. Appreciate it, Chris.

And now to this mystery behind this massive landslide might actually be solved. We've been talking about this all week long here. More than a dozen homes in Washington state threatened. Some on the edge of this newly formed cliff here. Well now a geologist called to the scene is explaining what could have triggered this massive landslide.

Plus, sexuality and sports. A former NFL player outed by an alleged fight with his ex-boyfriend. Now he's speaking publicly about his sexuality for the very first time only to CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now to some of the hottest stories in a flash. "Rapid Fire." Roll it.

First up, the pope is now presiding over his first Good Friday service at St. Peter's Basilica. In his next act as part of holy week celebrations, he will lead a candle lit procession around the Roman Coliseum. And this comes just a day after the new pope broke with tradition, washing the feet of young prisoners, including, for the first time in history, the feet of women.

More than 1 million New Yorkers may have the city behind them the next time they call in sick to work. A deal is expected to be reached requiring all companies with 20 or more workers must provide paid time off for sick employees. The mandate would take effect in April of next year if it gets final approval from city council.

And it is incredible. This land here, it is still moving near the homes perched precariously along this cliff here in Washington state. This is the view in Whidbey Island. Geologists say a landslide like this happens once every 100 or 200 years. No one is saying for sure exactly what triggered one this week, but here's this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRY SWANSON, GEOLOGIST: When you get lots of water, the water pressure can push the sand grains apart and then there's no cohesion and the stuff moves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Karen McCoy lives in the area. She moved in just a couple of months ago. She is now waiting and just watching her own house.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN MCCOY, RESIDENT: I thought of it as like a huge, huge, huge wave crashing against the cement wall. And it was just really strong. There's just a lot of anxiety about, like, what's going to happen. Will I be able to move back home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: One home here was totally destroyed. Dozens of others have been evacuated.

Wounded soldiers and veterans can now get a little faster screening at our nation's airport. The new move by the TSA allows wounded warriors to keep things on, like their jackets and their hats and keep their laptop computers while going through airport security. They will need to call or e-mail the TSA in advance just to give them a heads up. But this news comes two weeks after a disabled Marine was humiliated by his treatment at an airport in Phoenix.

This week, this New Jersey man right here became one of the richest men in America. The sole winner, you see the ginormous check, $338 million in Powerball winnings. So, this Dominican immigrant saying this through his translator.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEDRO QUEZADA, LOTTERY WINNER (through translator): Is there something particular that you would like to purchase and you're going to purchase right now? Well, yes, a good car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Well, here's the but. New Jersey police say, not so fast. Turns out he owes $29,000 in child support. And if he doesn't cough up, this guy can get arrested.

A former NFL player is now openly gay, but not because he chose to come out with the news. Coming up next, an exclusive interview with Kwame Harris about how he was outed and why he's now speaking publicly about something as personal as his sexuality.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Nearly every part of society has become increasingly accepting of gays and lesbians over the last couple of years, with one huge exception -- professional sports. Some ugly examples of homophobia have made headlines and no one who plays football or basketball or baseball or hockey for that matter has ever come out, at least not while they were actively playing. Thought we should add there was some news this week from CBS Sports' Mike Freeman that a current NFLer is considering -- considering coming out.

But let me tell you this. When Kwame Harris played pro football, no one in the locker room doubted he was straight. But he wasn't. And he kept that secret during his pro career. Former teammate Coy Wire talked to him about the pressure he was under to keep quiet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KWAME HARRIS, FORMER NFL PLAYER: It's pretty (ph) on this field, huh?

COY WIRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kwame Harris was always a standout football player. From high school to Stanford University to first round pick in the 2003 draft. He played six seasons in the pros, five with the San Francisco 49ers, and one with the Oakland Raiders.

HARRIS: I love football. Football provided me with some experiences and some opportunities that I wouldn't trade for anything else. But at the same time, the cost was great in asking me to not speak candidly or be able to be open about myself in this complete manner.

WIRE: Harris is gay. He said he's always known this, but concealed it until recently.

HARRIS: I wasn't publicly out until -- until about, I don't know, beginning of the Super Bowl when it was publicized. WIRE: It was publicized after an alleged altercation with an ex- boyfriend outside of a restaurant. Not long after, current 49er Chris Culliver made this comment on Artie Lange's radio show.

CHRIS CULLIVER, SAN FRANCISCO 49ER CORNERBACK: We ain't got no gay people on the team. You know, they got to get up out of here if they do.

WIRE: And Culliver ultimately apologized, but the sentiment is not uncommon in the sports world. Last baseball season, Toronto short stop Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games for a gay slur written in Spanish in the grease under his eyes. Escobar apologized as well. But it does explain why no player in any of the four major male professional sports in the U.S. has ever come out while playing.

WIRE (on camera): Did you ever consider coming out while you were a player?

HARRIS: None. No. Not while I was playing. I didn't see those two things as being compatible. But now, when I look back in hindsight, if I -- if I could have done it differently, I would like to think that I would find the strength or find the fortitude or the grace to kind of make the hard decision.

WIRE (voice-over): Fawn Yacker and Dee Mosbacher started The Last Closet, an organization to encourage the end of homophobia in male pro sports.

FAWN YACKER, "THE LAST CLOSET": Just have to look back to Jackie Robinson's days when he came into baseball. And he had some trouble, but it was the management that really took care of him and made it OK.

WIRE: Yacker points out that, for many players, it's a non-issue.

BRENDON AYANBADEJO, BALTIMORE RAVENS LINEBACKER: We're going to support him and we're going to treat him just like we treat everybody else, every other teammate, with love and fairness and kindness and compassion because we know it's really going to be a tough burden on that person.

WIRE: For Harris, the burden almost became too much to bear.

HARRIS: You want to escape the despair, this turmoil and maybe your mind goes to dark places sometimes. But I would just say that I -- I'm happy today. I'm glad that, you know, I didn't actually -- but those are just ideas and I didn't act on any of those things. And that, you know, it does -- it does get better.

WIRE (on camera): You hadn't spoken about this to any media at all. So why now?

HARRIS: I want people, you know, whether they're gay athletes or athletes who are still in the closet or youths who aren't quite sure what their sexuality is, to realize that not only is that not unique, that those feelings are common feelings. Don't feel incredibly alone and having these questions. And secondly that, I am gay and I'm a former athlete and I think I'm a pretty normal guy.

WIRE (voice-over): Coy Wire, CNN, Stanford, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: What do you think of Kwame's decision? Send me a tweet @brookebcnn. Let me also tell you, I'll be doing the 7:00 show tonight and Coy Wire will be in studio with me. We'll talk to him a little bit more about his discussion with Kwame and whether he wishes he had come out while he was playing.

Coming up, tax time. It is just around the corner. And FaceBook founder Mark Zuckerberg just got handed a huge tax bill. Find out exactly how much he has to pay.

Plus, the president announces a new plan today to clean up gasoline. So will cleaner gas mean higher prices for all of us at the pump?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: President Obama talked jobs just last hour as he has been in Miami. The president, he wants to create construction jobs, rebuilding America's roads and the bridges and the ports. Speaking of, he's at the Port of Miami there today. He's hoping to get private investors involved. He talked about his plan for a national infrastructure bank. Basically the president wants Congress to pony up $10 billion to loan to projects. Loans that would be matched by local governments or private investors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Instead of picking projects based on pork barrel politics, we'll pick them based on how much good they'll actually do for the economy. How much the project makes sense. And we'll better finance projects that involve more than one mode of transportation or more than one town or state with less red tape to gum up the works.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The president, again, as I mentioned, spoke at the Port of Miami, which is undergoing a $2 billion upgrade funded by taxpayers and private investors.