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Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Crashes; Republicans Have Chance To Grab Majority In Senate; ISIS Kidnaps A Tribe; Obama's Impact On Midterm Elections; Deadline For Iran Nuke Deal Approaching; Lava Now Less Than 100 Yards From Homes; NCAA Accused Of Ignoring Concussions

Aired November 2, 2014 - 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: Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM, just two days away until the midterm. The final push in full swing before voters head to the polls. We have team coverage from the campaign trail.

Then, we are learning more about what might had happened mid-flight when the virgin spaceship two exploded and plummeted to the earth. New details about the moment after the accidents.

And it's the manhunt that held a community hostage for weeks. We learn about the circumstances surrounding Eric Frein's capture and how he got those cuts on his face.

Hello, everyone. I'm Fredericka Whitfield.

It is the final push to win your vote. Congressional and gubernatorial candidates are out in force right now all over the country bolstered by big name supporters like Hillary Clinton and Chris Christie. And the clock is ticking. Polls open in less than 48 hours. And the vote could change the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

Republicans need just six seats to win a majority and three of the seats are considered sure wins. That leaves just three competitive races for the GOP to win, to take control of the U.S. Senate.

CNN's political team is covering all the critical races. Joining me from Massachusetts, David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst and former advisers to presidents Nixon, Ford and Clinton and CNN executive political editor Mark Preston joining us from Washington. And our senior political correspondent Brianna Kielar in New Hampshire.

All right. Well, let's start with Mark and David, I want to start with some brand new polls that bode well for the GOP in three key southern states. NBC/Marist poll shows Republicans making gains in Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana.

Here's the picture in Georgia. David Purdue leading Democrat Michelle Nunn, 48 percent to 44 percent. And then in Kentucky, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has a nine-point lead over Democrat Alison Lundergran Grimes. And in Louisiana, the NBC/Marist poll shows Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu leading but with just 44 percent of the vote and it is not enough to avoid a December runoff against Republican Bill Cassidy.

So Mark, does this allude to real trouble for the Democrats potentially?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, no question, Fred. Because Democrats were hoping that they should, at least, pick off Georgia or at least pick off Kentucky. That would make their night a little bit easier.

As you said, we keep talking about the magic number being six. But really, the magic number is number three because we expect three democratically held seats right now to go Republican. They only need to pick three after that. And if you're looking from New Hampshire and North Carolina all the way across to Alaska, you're seeing seven democratic seats that are on the edge of going Republican. If Democrats were able to pick up Georgia or if they were able to pick up and knock off the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, it would make a little bit easier. But right now, if there's any momentum it appears to be going to Republican.

WHITFIELD: And then let's look at this brand new poll out of Iowa, the key battle ground state, "the Des Moines Register" conducting it between October 31st and November 1st. The poll showing Republican senate candidate Joni Ernst now leading Democrat Bruce Braley by seven points.

So David, how important is this particular race particularly for Republicans?

DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Absolutely a crucial, Fredericka. We don't know how this all going to turn out. The Democrats could still win it. They have surprised Republicans in recent elections with their turnout operations. They have been beating the polls. Having said that, the momentum does seems to be very, as Mark said, toward Republicans and often does against incumbents right at the last minute as we see that frequently.

As particularly important in Iowa as you bring up. The Republicans thought they had about five in the bag. And if Iowa goes Republican and Joni Ernst has just opened up this what seems to be a significant lead that would put it over. It's been recorded that Harry Reid said in the last 48 hours that if Iowa goes Republican, that's it.

WHITFIELD: So Mark, what happened here? This seat in Iowa being held for the past 30 years by retiring Democrat Senator Tom Harkin. What changed here?

PRESTON: Well, it's not even Iowa, it is also Colorado. These are two seats that if you go back about seven months ago Republicans weren't necessarily talking them up as almost in the pocket for them to win. They were talking up other races. But we saw a very strong candidate and Joni Ernst, you know, she is in the military, she is a state senator, she is running a very disciplined campaign. We are seeing the same thing in Colorado with Congressman Cory Gardner who is challenging Senator Udall in Colorado.

Republicans, unlike 2012, seems to have picked really good candidates in key states and that's why I think we're seeing, not in you know, addition to, you know, President Obama's low popularity across the country, but we're also seeing very good Republican candidates.

WHITFIELD: And so David, if you know, the GOP has had the anti-Obama campaign in its pocket, what has been in the pockets of the Democrats?

GERGEN: Well, the Democrats have a hard time fending off this entire Obama campaign by the Republicans. This election is most clearly about Obama's, (INAUDIBLE) whether Republicans are doing so well as well as ratings are low in the mid-30s.

But the Democrats thought they had a campaign going about women and a protection of women, and so some women in a variety of women's rights issues like abortion, for example. But it hasn't pay off as much as they hoped. They thought it would pay off in Colorado, but right now it doesn't seem to be. But very strikingly, of course, we were just talking about the candidate, the Republican candidate in Iowa. And, of course, as Mark just said, that's a woman, Joni Ernst. And she is very winsome.

I think in part, Mark pointed this on a really important, the Republicans are putting up more mainstream, much more acceptable, more win some candidates this year than they have in the last couple of elections for the Senate and they are doing better as a result.

WHITFIELD: David Gergen and Mark Preston, thank you so much to you both, gentlemen. Appreciate it.

GERGEN: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, one of the fiercest Senate battles race is taking place in New Hampshire. The state's democratic incumbent Jean Shaheen is fighting to keep her seat from former Massachusetts senator Scott Brown.

CNN senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar joins us live from Nashua, New Hampshire where Shaheen is getting some pretty high profile support in the form of Hillary Clinton.

What is at all happening there? Is it all influential, Brianna?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a lot of help from Hillary Clinton who is a very popular democratic surrogate for these vulnerable Democrats along with her husband Bill Clinton. He has been separately barnstorming these races with Hillary Clinton. She was in Louisiana and Kentucky yesterday. She was in Iowa this past weekend.

Here in New Hampshire, a key first in the nation primary state. We can't forget that. She's actually just wrapping up on the rope line having finished this rally here, Fred. And what she was saying, her overarching message to folks in New Hampshire was to not let this vote on Tuesday be a protest of the dysfunction in Washington. Especially when it comes to the Senate race.

Jean Shaheen is an incumbent Democrat. She is facing off against republican Scott Brown. You may recognize that name. He was the senator in Massachusetts and now he is trying to win a Senate seat here in New Hampshire. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: You know, it's really hard to express how grateful I am on behalf of my husband and myself to the people of New Hampshire starting way back in 1991, you opened your homes and your hearts to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Hillary Clinton talked about the issues resonating as well as with women, not necessarily the hot button social issues, but equal pay and more of the economic message. Women, as you just heard, Fred, so key in this election for Democrats in full show. That they kind of tuning out politics during this key midterm cycle for Democrats.

Also, you really want to pay attention to the state come Tuesday night. This is very much a bell weather. This is a state that President Obama won both in 2008 and in 2012. And if you start seeing the results coming in, and Democrats in particular, Senator Shaheen, not very well, that is a sign of a really tough night for Democrats across the country, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brianne Keilar. Thank you so much.

Of course, we are going to get back to the midterm elections momentarily. But don't forget Tuesday night, CNN's full coverage of the midterm elections beginning at 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

All right, now to other news we are following this hour in the NEWSROOM. We now know the names of the two pilots in that deadly test flight of Virgin Galactic SpacShipTwo.

The surviving pilot is 43-year-old Peter Siebold. He is alert and talking with his family and doctors. His copilot was 39-year old Michael Alsbury. He died on Friday when the SpaceShipTwo disintegrated just two minutes after separating from the jet-powered aircraft.

Virgin group's founder Richard Branson says their bravely cannot be overstated. I want to bring in CNN's Alexandria Field in New York.

So Alexandra, what more are you learning about the moments right after the test flight took off and then failed and exploded in the air and is the surviving pilot able to help kind of fill in the blanks at this junction? Can he speak about this right now?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think investigators are really counting on him to help fill in some of the blanks, as you put it, Fred. That would, of course, be for the rest of the investigation they are going to be working on. And we do know, as you reported, that he is able to talk. We are told

that his injuries were moderate to serious. Of course, he is in the hospital. But he isn't able to speak to investigators quite yet. That is going to take a little bit of time. The NTSB has described to us why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The question is have we interviewed the surviving pilot? We have not because the surviving pilot does not medically -- the doctors do not recommend that we to do an interview at this state. We are -- so we are in contact with the surviving pilot's wife and we don't want to interview that pilot before. The pilot is great.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: And Fred, investigators say that Peter Siebold was about a mile away from the fuselage. He had his parachute near him. So they are going to try and figure out, you know, if he was able to eject from SpaceShipTwo, if he was thrown from it, so many questions about how he was able to survive this. And that is going to be part of this investigation.

WHITFIELD: All right, Alexandra Field, thank you so much. Keep us posted on any new developments.

All right, now to the details in that take down of an alleged sop- killer in Pennsylvania. Many of you may have seen the image of the suspect, Eric Frein, and wondered how did he get these cuts on his nose and his forehead there? Well, his face was scratched after being arrested. And now an explanations to why and how.

One of the marshals who helped capture Frein says that when he and the officers approached Frein, he had his chest was down on the ground, but his head was up looking like them. And that marshal says the protocol is quote-unquote "never have a fugitive look at you." So Frein was forced to be face down on the asphalt and his face was cut in the process, they say. Frein had been on the run for 48 days after allegedly shooting two state troopers killing one.

Our team coverage of the midterm election continues. Nick Valencia is live outside a church in Atlanta, actually.

So Nick, what is going on there?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hey, Fred. Thirty six Senate seats are up for grabs across the country. Perhaps, none are more important than the one happening right here in the state of Georgia. We'll tell you all that and more right after the break.

You're catching the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, two of the midterm election's most hotly contested campaigns are right here in Georgia. A new NBC/Marist indicates that Republican David Perdue leads Democrat Michelle Nunn in the race for the U.S. Senate by four points. That is within the margin of error. And the governor's race is considered too close to call as well between incumbent Republican Nathan Deal and Democratic challenger Jason Carter.

Nick Valencia is in Atlanta and outside a church in which a campaign is being called kind of soul to the poll. You will explain what that is all about. But in this traditionally red state, are you finding Democrats energized by these tight races?

VALENCIA: Yes. Well, we are outside here, outside of the Grainy Pine Baptist Church where a big mass has been this nonpartisan push, the souls to the polls push is to get voters mobilized. E will have more on that in a minute.

But let's get to these races, Fred. Two hotly contested races, as you said, the gubernatorial race up against the incumbent Nathan Deal and a familiar name to many people in Georgia and really across the country, Jason Carter, who is the grandson of Jimmy Carter -- Jimmy Carter, the former president, has not really been out aggressively campaigning for his grandson. We did see him out on Halloween and in the last time about there, sort stumping for his grandson.

But really, all the eyes are on the attention this race in the Senate. Democratic candidate Michelle Nunn is up against David Perdue, who happens to be the cousin of the former governor of Georgia here. And really this has implications far beyond Georgia, really in Washington as well and could decide whether or not the power of the Senate stays in the hands of the Democrats.

As I mentioned earlier, 36 seats are up for grabs in the Senate and this race is perhaps one of the most important. We have not seen too much mudslinging between Nunn and Perdue. They had a debate earlier today on CNN affiliate, WSBTV, where Nunn was on the offenses sticking to her talking point of calling Perdue a corporate titan who is proud of his legacy in corporate America as being an outsourcer of jobs.

Meanwhile, Perdue had launched back saying that Nunn is a rubber stamp for the Obama administration and a vote for her is a vote for Obama. But also, we have seen here in Georgia what's happened in a lot of Democratic states, as we have seen these democratic candidates sort of distancing themselves from President Obama, Fred.

WHITFIELD: And then, Nick, where you are, are you getting a sense that parishioners or voters are inspired to vote on Tuesday because so often midterm elections, you know, there's a lot of apathy, people aren't as enthusiastic about getting out to the polls.

VALENCIA: Yes. Well, you just have to look at the numbers. A million people voted for the president in the presidential election in 2012 and 2008 here in the state of Georgia. And that increasingly, I should say, that decreases by about 300,000 votes when you factor in the midterm elections. But when you talk to parishioners here and you do get the sense as they understand the significance of the vote. Not just for the gubernatorial race but for these congressional races and the local races. I caught up to one parishioner and I asked her why it is so important

to vote and what's at stake here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Georgia is one of the five state where is the Senate race is really going to determine the move for the democratic vote, the Republican vote and the majority of the Senate. This that relates to President Obama. So him getting his message out, him getting his agenda out, we have to get out as Democrats and vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: And it is areas like this in DeKalb County that has about a 55 percent African-American population that the Democrats are counting on. I talked to the church organizer here, She says that this is a strong message for them and their congregate already. According to the church, 80 percent of their parishioners have early voted, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nick Valencia, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

A programming reminder, get all the election night coverage on CNN this Tuesday beginning at 5:00 p.m. eastern.

Also, up next, new horrors from ISIS militants. We go live to the region and hear more on the fate of a group of tribesmen kidnapped this weekend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: ISIS militants accused of kidnapping dozens of men and boys. A Sunni tribal leader in Anbar province tells CNN many of the victims were pulled from their owned beds in the middle of the night. It's feared they have been executed along with hundreds of fellow tribal members.

Let's bring in CNN's Nick Paton Walsh in southeastern Turkey.

So Nick, what do you know about these kidnappings and the fate of the men and boys who have disappeared?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Early Saturday morning near the town in Anbar called Hiit, another town that was in fact victim of this ISIS kidnapping, (INAUDIBLE) when it feel resistance or lack of the legions in the certain areas and they all basically to take everybody away. Disappear the men and in this case, to a lot of women and children's whereabouts are not known as well.

Now, this is because these people are part of the tribe known as the (INAUDIBLE). Now, they have historically being a Sunni tribe, yes, but prone to resisting Al-Qaeda when the Americans were in Iraq. But also recently ISIS as well.

So there were fears, we believe, in ISIS, but they are about to begin and authorizing against them. This may have been an attempt to stem that. There are these of fifty part of hundreds of similar victims in the past week or so. We believe most of them end up being executed when ISIS conduct this is kind of terrible operation.

But it's because effectively ISIS are worried and they face the city tribal uprising against them. We hear from one Shiite (ph), one of the leaders of this tribe that in fact there were 2,000 fighters willing to fight ISIS, but they are waiting for one key thing, Fredricka, weapons from the Iraqi government. Until that Iraqi government in Baghdad predominantly shares so hostile towards the city historically, until they saw it complete, they are not necessarily willing to fight. And until they do that as well, America is not willing to give them extra military aid as well. A lot depending on the Iraqi government and this potential for a Sunni tribe to put the face -- ISIS down -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nick Paton Walsh, thank you so much there in Turkey.

All right. Back in the U.S., it's crunch time in the midterms, but there's one factor that could change everything in Tuesday's election. President Barack Obama, will his low approval rating have a drag on Democrats? Will it be matter? We'll discuss that, next.

WHITFIELD: All right. Bottom of the hour now. Welcome back. I'm Fredericka Whitfield. Here is a look at some of the top stories making news right now.

The Washington Redskins got quite a scare this morning before the game. Two team buses collided with a squad car on their way to play the (INAUDIBLE) to play the Vikings. A redskin's wife receiver Pier Garson (ph) said everyone is OK. He tweeted this picture earlier saying, so this just happened, but we are OK. And you can see the damage in the windshield there. Some players are reportedly a little shaking up by that crash.

In New York, there was heightened concern over an individual who is already under an Ebola quarantine. The Department of Health said the unnamed person will now be subject to direct active monitoring. This person was quarantined because of contact with Dr. Craig Spencer. He contracted Ebola as an aid worker in Guinea, but didn't show symptoms until he returned to New York.

And it was a very chilly start for these runners in New York City for that marathon today, the big one. But some 50,000 runners still laced up to take part in the race. The winners include Mary Katani of Kenya. She won the women's elite division.

And Wilson Kitseng of Kenya is also taking the winning position for the men's division. Some celebrities also taking part in the 26-mile plus race, tennis star, Caroline Wozniaki, former NFL running back, Tiki Barber and even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver among them.

OK, so it is crunch time indeed in the razor close midterm elections. Today President Barack Obama headlining after campaign rallies for Democratic governor candidates in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. But with Obama's sagging popularity, it is stumping a health or a hindrance.

Joining me now is CNN's Erin McPike at the White House. So Erin, is the president seen as a campaign liability for Democrats in this midterm season?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, certainly and the reason is that his approval rating is just 45 percent in our most recent CNN/ORC poll. Now, that is not as low as President George W. Bush's was in 2006 going into those midterms before the last two years of his presidency.

But what I would point out to you is that President Obama has headlined five rallies so far this cycle and has two more today. He's not doing any more campaigning on Monday and Tuesday. That's just seven.

And remember, President Obama has been a campaign k for the last decade. So of course, this is very strange. To give you a little bit of context, there's no single overriding issue that has really taken ahold in this election season.

And to fill that void, what Republicans are campaigning on is what they say is President Obama's competence and crisis. His lack of leadership and having him on the campaign trail in some of these more competitive races, it doesn't necessarily hurt with Democrats.

The problem is really that it galvanizes more Republicans to come out and vote for Republican candidates right now.

WHITFIELD: And then, Erin, how concerned is the White House if it were to lose or I should say, see a sixth seat gain by the Republicans in the Senate?

MCPIKE: Well, Fred, there are two big things to watch. If there's a Republican-controlled Senate, the thing you have to think about are any nominations that President Obama will want to make in his last two years. That's especially true if there's a Supreme Court vacancy because with a Republican Senate, President Obama is not going to get the liberal justice he would want and that of course is a legacy issue.

The other thing is legislatively. Obviously, Congress has done very, very little in the past few years, but if Republicans controlled both houses of Congress, we may see some kind of push on immigration reform. That has not been successfully done recently, but going into the 2016 election.

If Republicans can claim for even small measures on immigration reform, that could help them maybe slightly with the Latino vote -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Erin McPike at the White House, thanks so much. Remember, you can, get all of your election night coverage on CNN this Tuesday beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

All right, if the threat of a nuclear Iran doesn't send chills down your spine, this just might. New reports that Iran is working with al Qaeda in one of the most volatile areas of the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Twenty five years after winning the U.S. open, Boris Becker is back on the ATP Tour. I caught up with him in Cincinnati where Becker was preparing the world's number one, Novak Djokovic. He was hired as the head coach at the start of the season.

BORIS BECKER: A great student, somebody that has won so much already, a very rich man. He really wants to learn and really wants to get better and be in the history books of tennis. Yet he's very hard- headed, he's very convinced upon his way and he should be. So some of the conversations weren't that easy or easy, but sometimes we have a different point of view. So it's up to my magic to find a way to convince him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have had such a great tennis career and you are such a competitor. How does it feel to be right back in it coaching the man who is number one?

BECKER: It feels like something I haven't felt in a while.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We're just three weeks away from the nuclear deadline for Iran. Iranian leaders are giving themselves until November 24th to reach an agreement with the United States and five other nations on its nuclear program. But there are mixed assessments on just how it will all play out.

Joining me on the phone right now is Elise Labott, CNN global affairs correspondent. So Elise, what is happening in these final days that you can speak of and what happens if the decade long search for disarmament fails?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Fred, as we approach that November 24th deadline, the U.S. and European officials meeting with Iranian officials trying to hammer out this comprehensive deal on Iran's nuclear program.

Now what officials said is they have made impressive progress on a lot of issues that have in the past seemed intractable, but they compare it to a Rubik's cube. While the deal isn't full until all the pieces are kind of put together.

Now, they have talked about some signs of a potential compromise in terms of dismantling some of Iran's centrifuges that would be able to make enough -- enriching that Uranium for nuclear weapon. They are still far off and it seems that the sticking points are not only on that number of centrifuges, but also on the process of lifting Iranian sanctions.

So I would say that the possibility of a full deal by November 24th isn't looking very good. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the other day it was kind of about 50/50.

But what I do think is probably going to happen is there could be an agreement reached on a cluster of issues on things they have already agreed to, such as Iran's Iraq research facility, other types of more things that could justify an extension, if you will, to get that final deal -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. Then in an unrelated situation, what more do you know about this report involving some payment exchange that would have some Iranians financing this fight against Assad.

LABOTT: Well, it is really interesting, there was a new video obtained by CNN from Syrian rebels, which I have to be clear, we cannot verify, but is seems as if some of these people that have been fighting on behalf of the regime appear to be Afghans.

Now you know that there are many Afghans that have gone over to Iran to try and get more opportunities, with all the situation going on in Afghanistan feel they can do better in Iran.

And a lot of the people they are finding on the battlefield according to the video don't speak Arabic, but they are talking in Dari, which is an Afghan language.

They appear to be one of Afghan nationalities and it's very interesting because, you know, it shows in some ways how the Syrian regime has really gained ground in some areas after they appeared to be on the defensive in the back foot.

So as you see what is going on with the battle, there's a lot of moving parts in Syria, you have Afghan -- you have this introduction of the Afghan, but you also have the Syrian opposition, which is battling ISIS.

Now they are also battling the regime. It seems to be getting more of the offensive here. So it just kind of shows how complicated this Syrian is. Syrian rebels versus the regime. Now Iran seems to have picked up a little bit of momentum in terms of sending -- we already know that Hezbollah fighters, Iranian Revolutionary Guard fighters have been on the battlefield.

Now it may appear as if they are trying to pay someone else to do their battling for them -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Elise Labott, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

All right, while the United States continues to push to get more information about Iran's nuclear capabilities, Americas know very little about the people who actually in Iran. So for years, Anthony Bourdain has tried to get into that country and then finally he was allowed in. What he discovers was quite unexpected he says.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST, "PARTS UNKNOWN": I think people's minds will be blown by Iran because this really is an extraordinary look and extraordinary country.

One of the most potential and most complicated. Their official policy is to be friendly toward us, not adversarial or violent. And yet of all the counts I have gone out to be on television, me and my crew have never been treated so well every day by average people in the street.

People were lovely to us, the music, the dress. On one hand, you know, very restrictive. You can't dance. You certainly can't bring up their government, their official policies. What we say about them, what they say about us is completely at odds with what you see, taste, smell, feel and hear on the streetlight.

It's an extraordinary place that make makes us watch what we see on the news so we know our paths together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK. Be sure to watch Anthony Bourdain "PARTS UNKNOWN" tonight focus Iran at 9:00 on CNN. All right, one day it's there, the next gone. We take a look at the town wiped off the map by lava.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In Hawaii, the lava that has been threatening homes has slowed to a trickle, but authorities say residents still need to keep on alert. The lava could start flowing at any time.

Our Martin Savidge is on the Big Island of Hawaii. So, there you are. All right, where is the lava heading and what is it doing today?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pretty much it is where it was exactly at the same time yesterday. The lava front has stalled, but they are concerned about some breakouts farther upslope.

In the meantime, though, the history of volcanoes in the state does not bode well for this town.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): In the town of Pahoa, it's another day of worrying about what the lava will do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The evacuation will continue --

SAVIDGE: But if residents really want a glimpse at their possible future, they need to go about 9 miles to the end of the road.

(on camera): This is where the road ends and I brought you here because there's something to see up this way.

(voice-over): This was the town of Kalapana. Hundreds of people used to live here. Between 1986 and 1991, lava from the Kilauea volcano ran over Kalapana burning and then burying it. Uncle Robert counted the number of homes spared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably a couple in this area.

SAVIDGE: Just as in Pahoa now, in Kalapana then he says, when the lava first came, many thought it would miss them. They've been wrong.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No place is safe.

SAVIDGE: Before the lava stopped, more than 150 homes were destroyed.

(on camera): This is a postcard of the Kalapana beach back then absolutely gorgeous where, no wonder people lived here. Where I'm standing now is where the water line used to.

(voice-over): The lava pushed the beach a quarter of a mile away so is Pahoa now doomed to the same faith?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it would be pretty mature for us to say that right now because things can happen up with the magna supply maybe (inaudible).

SAVIDGE: But if the worst does happen, Uncle Robert offers this advice --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Understand that we have no control.

SAVIDGE: Back on Kalapana, there are signs of new life as new residents have begun building new homes on the old town that lies buried under 85 feet of lava.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: There it is. The Big Island of Hawaii, this is the biggest of the Hawaiian island chains and as you can see, thanks to the volcano, it still growing -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Yes, it's growing and that lava always changes the coastline, doesn't it? It changed the landscape in a very big way of the island, what's going to be usable, what isn't, constantly threatening lives there. Martin Savidge, thanks so much.

It is a little mist there and Big Island also know for a lot of rain there. So it is once again, a little misty and rainy. Appreciate it.

All right, toughen up and get back in there, well that's what football players normally hear from their coaches after taking some very hard hits on the field.

But CNN has exclusive report with one player who did just that and guess what it cost him terribly? We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. With college football in full swing across the nation, there's a hidden danger on the field that's taking lives and destroying families, concussions. A new CNN investigation found that the NCAA has far fewer rules than even the NFL when it comes to players and concussions. We have uncovered case after case of college football players being seriously injured and some even killed by traumatic brain injuries that happened on the field. Investigative correspondent, Sara Ganim is tracking this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA GANIM, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The NCAA has ignored more than a decade of concussion research according to critics. Even some it paid for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The NCAA does have a problem.

GANIM: Neurosurgeon, Dr. Bob Cantu has co-authored hundreds of studies including two funded by the NCAA, which show athletes required a full seven days to recover from a concussion and players with one concussion are susceptible to more.

(on camera): Why do you think that they didn't take drastic action when they asked you to study those issues?

DR. ROBERT CANTU, CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF NEUROSURGERY, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: I suspect that part of the reason is they didn't have to at that particular point in time.

GANIM: The NCAA which has rules for everything from scholarships to autographs to free meals. Only has one rule when it comes to concussions that schools have to have a plan. In fact, the NCAA admitted to CNN it does not punish universities for the way player injuries are handled.

(voice-over): And there's no NCAA rule preventing injured athletes from being sent back into play after a concussion, even though research shows another hit can be dangerous.

CANTU: There's massive increase in intercranial pressure bringing herniation to a very high degree of fatality.

GANIM: Yet this internal NCAA e-mail points out it is not a requirement that the student athlete is precluded from returning to athletic activities. The NCAA does have concussion guidelines, but it is up to the universities to police themselves.

Adrian Arrington says he at least six concussions when he played for Eastern Illinois University. Arrington grew up poor in Mississippi. College football was supposed to lead to opportunity.

ADRIAN ARRINGTON, FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY: I was excited to go to Easton. I was the first person in my family to get a degree and that was my goal.

GANIM: Instead, he said he has frequent seizures and other symptoms of brain damage.

ARRINGTON: I have memory loss every day. I have migraine headaches every day. GANIM: Arrington loved the game, but by his senior year, he was struggling.

ARRINGTON: My agent told me, you need to take your trainer about this. They told me to take these pills and I would be fine.

GANIM: A 2010 NCAA survey found half of college trainers admitted to allowing athletes to go back into a game after they suffered a concussion. Pressure from coaches is cited as part of the problem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The irony is that the founding principle of the NCAA is player safety.

GANIM: Joe Siprut is Adrian Arrington's attorney.

JOE SIPRUT, ADRIAN ARRINGTON'S ATTORNEY: The reason people like Adrian had these things happen to them is the NCAA doesn't have mandatory protocol that is are binding on schools.

GANIM: Despite all the research that exists, the NCAA told CNN it does not have rules on concussions because there is very little published science to guide us at this point, but current recommendations may become NCAA rules as definitive medical evidence becomes available.

Right now, the NCAA says it only enforces academic and amateurism issues and leaves health and safety best practices to the schools which didn't help Arrington in 2009. He was sent right back into a game of hitting his head until his father ran to the field and stepped in.

ARRINGTON: He's not going back into the game. Please take him out of the game. He's had too many concussions and he's done playing football.

GANIM: Was that your last game?

ARRINGTON: That was my last game.

GANIM: Arrington was the first member of a class action lawsuit against the NCAA. A preliminary settlement could implement return to play rules for the very first time and set aside $75 million for research and screening of athletes going back 50 years. Critics of the settlement say it's shameful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It draws a lot of parallels to the cigarette makers, you know, in tobacco industry.

GANIM: Ramogi Huma, the president of the National College Players Association says the settlement doesn't do nearly enough to protect players.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have known for quite a while the problems associated with concussions and how they should be managed. Sitting back doing nothing and cashing in on lucrative TV revenues and ticket sales, at the very least, if it's not illegal it's definitely immoral. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And Adrian Arrington will not get any of the $75 million from the settlement. None of that money goes directly to players.

All right, we got much more ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM and it all starts right now.