CNN’s Abbie Boudreau reports on the shoddy electrical work performed by the Halliburton subsidiary, KBR, in Afghanistan. The faulty wiring has lead or contributed to the deaths of as many as 18 US military personnel. The Pentagon has ruled one death as a possible negligent homicide, but still KBR remains on the job, and now is wiring bases in Afghanistan with faulty electrical systems.

Did the SEC drop the ball in connection with the Bernie Madoff investment scandal? CNN’s Abbie Boudreau reports.

The mayors' proposal requests a $4.8 million polar bear exhibit at the Providence, Rhode Island, zoo.

Abbie Boudreau | Bio
CNN Investigative Correspondent

When you think of critical infrastructure projects, what do you think of? I would guess, most people think of crumbling roads and bridges, or renovations to schools and water treatment plants. Recently, the U.S. Conference of Mayors created a list of “Ready to Go” jobs and infrastructure projects. It’s more than 800 pages long. The group believes emergency federal money should be used to help start around 11,300 critical projects, and it’s asking Congress for $73 billion.

But the report seems to read more like a wish list for cities throughout the country. If you read the list carefully, you will find plenty of projects that are raising red flags. We found cities asking for millions of dollars to build skate parks, horse trails, a duck pond, and a dog park. We also found cities asking for a new, $1.5 million ride at a water park, a nearly $5 million polar bear exhibit, and a $20 million minor league baseball museum.

Don’t get me wrong, these projects all sound great if you live in that community, but should the federal government be using emergency money to pay for a $3 million mural in Long Beach, Calif.? My producer and I contacted many of these cities to ask about their projects, and all of them felt they were critical infrastructure projects, though several city officials told us these new projects would not necessarily create new jobs.

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There is a request for a new $1.5 million water ride at the Grapeland Water Park in Miami, Florida.

Abbie Boudreau and Scott Zamost
CNN Special Investigations Unit

A report to Congress that requests $73.2 billion to pay for infrastructure projects around the country includes plans for a polar bear exhibit, an anti-prostitution program, a water park ride, zoos, museums and aquatic centers, CNN has found.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors went to Capitol Hill earlier this month with a report listing 11,391 infrastructure projects proposed by 427 cities. The mayors claimed the proposal would create 847,641 jobs in 2009 and 2010.

The more than 800-page document is titled “Main Street Economic Recovery: ‘Ready To Go’ Jobs and Infrastructure Projects.”

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Abbie Boudreau is a correspondent for CNN Special Investigations Unit.

By Abbie Boudreau
Correspondent, CNN Special Investigations Unit

It was toward the end of the day, and my producer, Scott Zamost and I were scrolling through story tips from CNN viewers.

There was one that jumped out at us.  It read, “Please, help me,” and the subject line said, “YouTube Video of Crying 16-year-old Rape Victim Pleas for Help.”  There was a link to a video posted on YouTube by a Florida girl.

Right away, we watched the video, and the first thing we thought was, “Can this be real?”

Within minutes, we contacted the young girl, Crystal. We talked at length with both Crystal and her father, Dennis. Quickly, we learned this girl was real, and she had a real story she wanted to share.

Two days later, we flew to Florida to meet Crystal and to learn more about why she posted a video about her most private moments, for the world to see and judge.

She told us she felt she had nothing to lose, and she was desperate to find someone who would listen to her story.

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Watch CNN Special Investigations Unit's Abbie Boudreau report on campus rage tonight on 360°.

Since we aired our Special Investigations Unit documentary “Campus Rage,” we have received thousands of emails. Most of these responses are from teachers and parents who think bullying is getting out of control –- not just at school, but in cyberspace as well.

Of course, bullying is not a new problem.

I saw it when I was in school and I’m sure you did too. When my older sister was in the fourth grade, she was bullied so badly, my parents chose to take her out of school and send her to a different one in the middle of the school year. Her classmates relentlessly teased her for being “too smart.” In her case, it wasn’t just other kids who picked on her, it was her teacher as well. (She was able to overcome the bullying and by the time she was a senior in high school — she was the class valedictorian and homecoming queen!)

But the questions remain — Has bullying gotten worse? Or are the kids who are being bullied seeking out more revenge?

I want to hear from those of you who are being bullied. What is your day like at school? What do you want bullies to know about how they make you feel?

And for you bullies out there, why do you pick on other kids? I would love an explanation.

- Abbie Boudreau, Correspondent/CNN Special Investigations Unit

Program note: How do you stop a killer bent on revenge? Watch AC 360° tonight at 10 p.m. ET.

Comments to the 360° blog are moderated. What does that mean?

It started with an e-mail. In fact, it was the last of more than 600 e-mails CNN received in the wake of the Northern Illinois University shootings on Valentine’s Day. But this one stood out to me.

A frustrated and clearly anguished mother of a teenager was telling us she could relate to the massacre. That’s because her own son planned a school shooting when he was a high school junior in Idaho.

I immediately contacted Elaine Sonnen and spoke to her for at least an hour. I was immediately fascinated by her story — she saw the warning signs in her son, Richard, and was able to stop him from killing his classmates. But she still worried that he could be violent if he stopped taking his medication.

Still, there was little she could do because he was now over 18 and living on his own. She wanted to talk, but we knew the story would not be complete without hearing from Richard himself.

“Do you think he would talk to us?” I asked her. She agreed to call him and find out.

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When we finally reached Jessica Baty by phone, she was so upset she could barely talk with me.  But she did agree to meet for an interview, and said we could come to her parents’ home about an hour away. On the drive, we didn’t know if she would actually do the interview. She told me her family was against it. 

When my producer and I got to her house, Jessica was sobbing. She made it clear, though, that she wanted to do the interview. We spent two hours with Jessica and her family. It was one of the toughest interviews I’ve ever done. I kept thinking no matter what happens, this young woman will never be the same.

She answered all our questions, and shared personal photos. During the interview, other reporters were knocking on her door – some were even knocking on her windows.  In fact, as we were wrapping up, we noticed two were actually right outside her back door. Jessica told us she wasn’t going to talk to anyone else. This would be her only interview. 

We left with the feeling that she had an amazing story to tell – but one with no answers.

 - Abbie Boudreau, Special Investigations Unit

Program note: Tonight on 360°, CNN Special Investigations Unit Correspondent Abbie Boudreau has the second part of her exclusive interview with the girlfriend of Northern Illinois University shooter Steven Kazmierczak.

Jessica Baty said her boyfriend, Steven Kazmierczak, gave no warning of the shooting rampage at NIU.

WONDER LAKE, Illinois - The girlfriend of the gunman who killed five people and then himself at Northern Illinois University last Thursday told CNN there was “no indication he was planning something.”

“He wasn’t erratic. He wasn’t delusional. He was Steve; he was normal,” Jessica Baty tearfully said in an exclusive interview.

Baty, 28, said she dated Steven Kazmierczak off and on for two years and had most recently been living with him.

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