Support for Cleveland survivors
Editor's note: Tonight Randi Kaye reports on kidnapping survivor Michelle Knight. She was abducted in 2002 at age 21 but her name was removed from the FBI's Missing Persons Database just 15 months after she vanished. Tune in at 8 and 10 p.m. ET.
This Sunday, a citywide rally will unite the residents of Cleveland. Churches on the east and west sides want to come together to honor Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, the three missing women found last week. Cleveland desperately needs to heal and process the raw emotions of what happened.
On Seymour Avenue where the girls were allegedly tortured for a decade, neighbors tell me they can't sleep, they cry for no reason and they feel extremely mad. It's upsetting that heinous crimes were allegedly committed only feet away from where they live. Not knowing about it makes residents increasingly angry at themselves and at suspect Ariel Castro.
Today I spoke to Lupe Collins, a friend of the DeJesus family, who said she still feels ill, and not figuratively. "My stomach is upset. I'm nervous. I feel physically sick," she said.
Tonight on AC360: Following Ryan on the campaign trail
A couple of weeks ago I landed in Chicago, on assignment from New York, and drove from there to Rep. Paul Ryan's hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin. It was a beautiful drive through back roads and farm towns with no shortage of cheese shops.
In Janesville I met some of Ryan's neighbors, folks who pointed out the house he grew up in, the high school he attended and they waved at the owner of one of his favorite restaurants. I interviewed the owner of that restaurant for a story about the concerns of small business owners. He was non-partisan during our interview, expressing his worries for the middle class but not his political preference. He is a personal friend of his loyal customer, Ryan, but didn't make it known if he shares his politics.
As I drove through town that day, I was surprised by the deficit of 'Romney-Ryan' signs. I saw many 'Ryan' signs on lawns and windows supporting his congressional race and a few 'Obama-Biden' signs but none, that I saw, supporting the GOP presidential ticket.
Tonight on AC360: Exclusive interview with American freed from Nicaraguan 'hellhole'
In an exclusive interview at 8 and 10 p.m. ET, Anderson Cooper talks to Jason Puracal about his imprisonment in La Modelo, one of the world's most notorious prisons, for charges he calls unfounded.
Puracal, 35, a native of Washington state who had been imprisoned for nearly two years in Nicaragua left the country Friday, a day after he was set free, and was reunited with his wife, son, mother and sisters in the U.S. on Sunday.
He had been serving a 22-year sentence for drug-related crimes and was one of 12 people whose charges were vacated, according to his legal team and a judicial order signed Wednesday that the team gave to CNN.
Tonight on AC360: Inside Gingrich's Iowa campaign
Iowa has been nearing record-high temperatures recently, but not today. It’s very cold and windy. Gary Tuchman and I felt it most while waiting for Newt Gingrich to get off his bus. We were shooting footage for tonight's behind-the-scenes look at his campaign in Iowa. Today's first stop is Independence, Iowa to talk to supporters and the press.
The mood inside was warm and cordial. Gingrich mentioned several times how he won't go negative against his opponents. In fact, his biggest applause at this event came regarding negative ads: "People running negative ads should try to adopt a very simple rule," he said. "If you won't show your ad to your grandchildren, don't run it. If you are not proud of it, don't run it. And I think you would see about 80 percent of the negativity come off of TV." Gingrich noted his young grandson and his buddy were in attendance.
The unique story we’re preparing for AC360 includes moments you don't always see on TV: Gingrich with his wife and family, conversations with potential supporters, what Iowans are asking him and what they are applauding. "Rebuilding the America We Love" is the slogan on the side of his campaign bus and one of the points that has been getting most support from crowds is about America's place in the world. "I think it should be our policy to become so energy independent that no American president ever again bows to or walks arm-in-arm with a Saudi king."
