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STUDENT NEWS

Ferguson Getting Ready for Possible Public Outrage; Veterans` Day in U.S.; Drones Saving Lives

Aired November 11, 2014 - 04:00:00   ET

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


CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Commemorating Veterans Day this November 11. History and tributes are coming up on CNN STUDENT NEWS. I`m Carl Azuz.

First up, a major data breach, but not like the ones we`ve told you about before in retail stores or in the cloud, in databases.

Hackers tried to get personal information anywhere it`s stored digitally. That includes systems of the U.S. government.

Officials say the U.S. Postal Service was hacked (ph). Information on almost 3 million customers, people who use the Postal Service was

compromised. Names, addresses, phone numbers, email records.

That`s in addition to birth dates and payroll records for 750,000 postal service workers. The USPS is paying to help protect their credit, the FBI

is investigating, mail service wasn`t affected. But one lawmaker says the frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks highlights the need for

better cyber security.

Police, the media and the government are keeping a close eye on Ferguson, Missouri. This is a town of just over 21,000 people, and it`s been on edge

since August 9. That`s when a white police officer named Darren Wilson shot and killed an African-American 18-year old named Michael Brown. Brown

was unarmed. Some witnesses say he was trying to surrender to the officer when he was shot.

Police say Brown attacked the officer and reached for his gun before he was shot.

Massive protests, some peaceful, some violent followed the shooting. Most demonstrators want a grand jury to charge Officer Wilson with a crime. But

a CNN legal analyst said recent leaks about the case have supported the police`s side of the story.

The grand jury`s decision could come this month, people there are preparing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ferguson is on edge. Some business owners are busy fortifying their shops.

CONSTANCE GARNETT, BUSINESS OWNER: It`s hurtful. It is really, really hurtful.

SIDNER: Salon owner Constance Garnett says she can`t afford to take a chance that unrest will crash head on into the business she built here for

the past 11 years.

GARNETT: If they should come and loot our area, then it`s going to cost us.

SIDNER: Protests haven`t stopped for three months on her street so we asked one of the police`s most confrontational protesters about those

concerns.

BASAM MASRI, ST. LOUIS RESIDENT: Now, as far as what`s happened within the last 90 days, people will know that if you have been paying attention,

there hasn`t been any looting, or violence, what not. We`ve been completely peaceful.

CROWD: (INAUDIBLE)

SIDNER: Nevertheless, plenty of folks worry that may change. If the grand jury announcement goes against what protesters want -- the indictment of

Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

At a gun shop near Ferguson, the manager says sales of firearms for personal protection are up about 50 percent.

JOHN STEPHENSON, BUSINESS OWNER: Every time that door opens we`re seeing new faces every day. Dozens of new faces coming in.

SIDNER (on camera): Do you think that`s because of what`s happened in Ferguson?

STEPHENSON: I think it is. I think - I think people in general, because it`s spread beyond Ferguson now.

SIDNER (voice over): The mayor of Ferguson says he`s heard all about it, too.

MAYOR JAMES KNOWLES, FERGUSON, MISSOURI: The plus side of that is that, you know, every one of them I spoke to have went out and taken a training

class, have went out and tried to learn the law.

SIDNER: But not everyone is convinced there`s going to be chaos. At the Ferguson Burger Bar and More, which opened just a day before Brown was

killed, no boards. Unlike most of his neighbors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m here, I`m open, I`m not going anywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: The U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs says major changes are ahead for his department. It`s biggest reorganization since it was established

in 1930.

A scandal at the VA began to unfold late last year. That`s when it was revealed U.S. veterans were having to wait, sometimes for months to get

medical care.

Nationwide, more than 100,000 veterans were affected, some died waiting for treatment.

Robert McDonald took over the department three months ago. He says the VA plans to hire 28,000 medical workers to stuff its hospitals and clinics.

And that thousands of its current employees have been disciplined. But only one senior leader has been fired, and critics say Secretary McDonald is not

moving fast enough to fix Veterans Affairs. Some U.S. veterans are still on waiting lists for treatment.

Five key facts in honor of Veterans` Day.

First, it`s not to be confused with Memorial Day. That`s in May, remembering men and women who died while serving their country. Veterans`

Day is for anyone living or dead who`s ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Second, it originally started this Armistice Day, on November 11, 1918, the Armistice that ended World War One went into effect.

Ceremonies honoring its veterans started a year later.

Third, it`s symbolized by poppies. These flowers are often associated with the First World War and its battlefields. Poppies are worn to remember

veterans and raise money to support them.

Fourth, Armistice Day officially became Veterans` Day in 1954. That was after World War II and the Korean War. American officials wanted to honor

people who`d served in any conflict.

Fifth, the holiday is also marked in Australia, Britain, Canada and France. It`s also known as Remembrance Day and it`s celebrated on Remembrance

Sunday in Britain.

Roll call? Love saying that. We are kicking things off today in the capital of Idaho, the grizzlies are there. Can you bear it? Riverglen

Junior High School is in Boise. Ludlow is a city in northern Kentucky, and at Ludlow High School we`ve got the Panthers watching today. And one state

south, in the city of Troy, Tennessee, say hello to the rebels of Obion County Central High School.

OK. Drones. You`ve seen video from them on our show. They are being used in warfare. They are being used in space. We`ve talked about them,

potentially delivering packages.

What about rescuing people who are having heart attacks. Could that ideal one day get off the ground?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RACHEL CRANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One day, a drone might just save your life.

When you or someone you love is having a medical emergency, every second that passes is precious. Especially when it comes to heart attacks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he had a heart attack.

CRANE: According to the CDC, brain death begins just four to six minutes after cardiac arrest. And here in the U.S., only eight percent of people

who suffer a heart attack outside the hospital survive.

That`s where 23-year old Alec Momont steps in.

The Delft University of Technology graduate student is trying to use drones to cut response time in those crucial moments.

For his final project, he developed a sort of ambulance drone that he says can fly defibrillator up to 4.6 square miles in under a minute. That`s a

lot faster than the average ambulance response time here in the New York City, which is 9.5 minutes. The drone is equipped with cameras to absorb

and assess the patient, and also has voice communication to direct those on the scene. On how to treat the victim in those critical moments before

medical personnel arrive on the scene.

But now, I was suspicious of the caller`s ability to properly diagnose the patient. They may be a good Samaritan, but most don`t boast a medical

degree. What if it isn`t a heart attack? How can they really tell?

Apparently, the defibrillator is equipped with sensors that can determine whether the patient is actually in need of a shock. The drones are

expected to cost at least $15,000. And Momont estimates that his technology can help increase the rate of survival by 60 to 80 percent. He

hopes that someday these little lifesavers will be stationed at cell phone towers around the city. For now, though, countries have to figure out if

or how they`ll allow drones to be used in public. And Momont is figuring out how to increase battery life on the drone. As the current version only

lasts ten to 15 minutes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AZUZ: Homecoming. Some of the best moments we see in news involved U.S. Service men and women being reunited with their loved ones. It`s even

better when it`s a surprise.

So, we are wrapping up today`s show in Veterans Day coverage with homecomings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please welcome back home the First Lieutenant (cheers and applause)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who has just returned from Afghanistan.

(CHEERS)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ah! I love you!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Daddy!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

END