Keeping Them Honest: Is a South Dakota school using "poverty porn" to raise money?
“My dad drinks and hits me … my mom chose drugs over me … my home on the reservation isn’t a safe place for me to be.”
That is a plea for donations sent to millions of people and has helped raise millions of dollars for St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota. The mailers attribute those words to a young boy named Josh Little Bear, but he does not exist.
St. Joseph's Director of Development acknowledges “The name 'Josh Little Bear' is fictitious,” he wrote, “but unfortunately his story is not.” But the Vice President of a nearby reservation says the school's fundraising material "make the Indians look bad." The President of the First Nations Development Institute even calls it "poverty porn."
Senior Investigative Correspondent Drew Griffin traveled to the school and he is Keeping Them Honest.
Cuddle up with the RidicuList
Sometimes after a long day, a chuckle from watching the RidicuList is all it takes to recharge your batteries. For some folks it takes more than that. If cuddles are what you are looking for, there are now professional cuddlers ready to help.
Orca hunter turned whale rescuer shares his video
Attendance and profits have plunged again at SeaWorld. The company, which operates 11 theme parks, says its third quarter earnings fell 28 percent from a year ago and they had half-million fewer park visitors. That's all during what is supposed to be the busy summer months. SeaWorld's CEO says he is confident they're addressing the company's challenges. They are building larger tanks for its killer whales, the first expected to open in San Diego in four years. This comes after CNN aired the documentary "Blackfish" last year. The film raised questions of alleged animal abuse at its parks. SeaWorld Entertainment Group denies the allegations.
CNN's Ivan Watson got a unique view into how SeaWorld and other parks get their killer whales. For the first time on TV, a former whale hunter is sharing his video.
Former NFL Player Marcellus Wiley: No one is going to sign up for something that will hurt long term, just for a short-term fix
The DEA paid surprise visits to several NFL teams after their games this past Sunday and questioned their medical and training staffs. These "spot checks" were apparently part of an ongoing investigation sparked by a class action suit alleging widespread abuse of painkillers in the league. The agents didn't make any arrests. In a statement the NFL said:
"Our teams cooperated with the DEA today, and we have no information to indicate that irregularities were found."
Marcellus Wiley is one of about 1,300 former NFL players involved in that class action lawsuit and a commentator with ESPN. He spoke to Anderson, along with his attorney Steven Silverman.
Bill Cosby silent on rape allegations
He is one of America's best known comedians and a TV legend. Bill Cosby built a career on G-rated jokes and his years playing Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show." Cosby has not been charged with any crime, but his public image is now under attack by numerous women going public with graphic and disturbing allegations against him. Gary Tuchman has the latest.
Mark Geragos has defended many celebrity clients and Sunny Hostin prosecuted sex crimes as a federal prosecutor. They discussed the impact of several accusers who did not know each other, coming forward with similar stories about Bill Cosby.
State of emergency declared ahead of Ferguson grand jury decision
The FBI issued a nationwide bulletin to law enforcement warning of possible violence when the Ferguson grand jury's decision comes down on whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of Michael Brown. This came after Missouri Governor Jay Nixon activated the National Guard. Sara Sidner reports on signs that people in Ferguson are bracing for trouble.
Anderson discussed the National Guard deployment and other security measures with retired Lieutenant General Russell Honoré.
Remembering Peter Kassig
Peter Kassig went to the Middle East to fight as an Army Ranger. He returned as an aid worker, providing medical assistance to the victims of Syria's civil war. 13 months ago, at a Syrian checkpoint, he was taken from the ambulance he was driving and ended up in the hands of ISIS. Over the weekend, the terror group released video purportedly showing Kassig's murder.
Peter's friend Sulome Anderson says he felt that it was his responsibility to try and help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. Sulome is the daughter of former hostage, Terry Anderson, who was held by Shiite militants until she was seven-years-old.
The Obama administration is rethinking the way it handles hostage situations. Anderson discussed this with Daily Beast Senior National Correspondent Shane Harris, along with investigative reporter David Rohde, who endured seven months in Taliban captivity before making a daring escape, and former Navy SEAL Dan O'Shea who served as the coordinator of the Hostage Working Group at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2004-2006.
