Guns In Mexico Traced To U.S.
ROMANS: It was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in our country's history, violent twisters tearing through the south. And now, one year later, victims are still picking up the pieces. Tuscaloosa, Alabama, rebuilding from that mass of tornado that hit this very day last year. More than 50 people were killed in Tuscaloosa. More than 7,000 homes destroyed. A year later, the city is trying to rebuild. George Howell live in Tuscaloosa with more. Good morning, George.</s>GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, good morning. We are right along the path this tornado took through the city of Tuscaloosa, and keep in mind, this was an especially wide tornado that destroyed buildings, destroyed this home that's currently being rebuilt. And as you'll see in the report, even wiped entire neighborhoods off the map.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God!</s>HOWELL (voice-over): It's been one year since this EF-4 monster left its mark on Tuscaloosa. A year since we last spoke to the owner of this Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Is all this a total loss?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A total loss.</s>HOWELL: Today, Evan Smith is still working to rebuild. (on-camera) We're talking like a year after this tornado came through here, and we're still waiting for the concrete to be poured here.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's amazing. You know, in one sense, you want to be upset and think how could it take 12 months, but a lot went on in those 12 months.</s>HOWELL (voice-over): The first came the massive effort to remove debris, according to city officials, 1.5 million cubic yards of it county wide. Overall, 12.6 percent of the city was destroyed.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most tornadoes hit a house, skip a house, hit a house. So, this thing was taking everything out, you know, half a mile or mile wild.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There were trees all through here.</s>HOWELL: Gary Limroth (ph) survived by taking shelter in his basement. His home had to be demolished. So, now, he's starting over.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does take a while to figure out how do you want to build back? How do you want to do it? Do you want to come back? I mean, there were a lot of people that are still across the lake that are trying to decide. Some have decided they just can't take it. They couldn't be here in the constant reminder every day of seeing it.</s>HOWELL: You can see the difference best from satellite imagery. This is the corner of 15th and McFarland Boulevard before the tornado hit. Here's an image of the corner just after the storm came through, there's debris everywhere. (on-camera) This is what that same neighborhood looks like today. We're left here with an empty field where these homes once stood. The tornado was on the ground for less than six minutes, and overall, 53 people were killed here in Tuscaloosa alone.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is going to be the safe room. This is poured in place concrete walls.</s>HOWELL (voice-over): Residents are rebuilding to be better prepared. You worried this could happen again?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I mean, I think it's obvious that Tuscaloosa is on the path now.</s>HOWELL: And though, there are signs of progress --</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As far as me and this business, I'm not better off until I get the doors open again.</s>HOWELL (on-camera): We are back here in Tuscaloosa with a live view of the hospital. And obviously, we are limited in showing you the full scope of this, but the tornado took this path and barely missed the hospital. That is the silver lining that many people remember, that many people talk about that day on April 27th. But again, 53 people killed here in Tuscaloosa alone. 253 people killed here in the state of Alabama -- Chrstine.</s>ROMANS: Unbelievable. All right. A year later. Thanks, George.</s>BANFIELD: It's 47 minutes now past the hour, and that's a good time to check the stories making top billing in the headlines.</s>BANFIELD (voice-over): And a real shocking development in Trayvon Martin case this morning. The shooter, George Zimmerman's, lawyer says that his client has raised over $200,000 in online donations for his defense. The trouble is the judge in his case did not know that when the judge set the bail. Legal experts say when the judge is told about the cash at a hearing today, it could effect the bail, and actually, it could be revoked.</s>ROMANS (voice-over): A new government report says 70 percent of guns found at crime scenes in Mexico originated in the United States. Gun control advocates say those stats show a need for stricter gun laws here in the U.S. But Iowa Republican senator, Chuck Grassley, says the figure paints an incomplete picture. Most of the guns cannot be traced to U.S. gun dealers.</s>BANFIELD: Passengers onboard a Delta flight were quarantined on the tarmac for three hours yesterday in Chicago because of a medical scare. Men with surgical mask boarded the plane, all of it because a Minnesota woman triggered the scare. She was returning from a trip to Uganda. The CDC says that a family member have reported concerns that the rash that she had might actually be monkeypox, a potentially contagious disease. Now, it turns out it was all a misunderstanding. That's the good news. The bad news for the passenger, though, she was actually suffering from bed bug bites.</s>ROMANS: So, if you were on that flight, please leave your bags in your garage.</s>BANFIELD: Exactly.</s>ROMANS: Two Houston high school students busted on forgery charges for allegedly printing counterfeit $20 bills to buy their school lunches. Lunch room workers turned them in. Police say the phony bills are print with the computer. One of the suspects was selling them to other students.</s>BANFIELD: This woman had a nagging cough and trouble breathing for 28 years. In fact, at one point, she was even diagnosed with cancer. She didn't have cancer. Turned out it might have been a fruit pit lodged in her lung. Look at the x-ray.</s>ROMANS: What?</s>BANFIELD: Yes. Look at the x-ray. A fruit pit. She is 62- year-old Blanca Reveron (ph), and she got the news from doctors after they spotted a mass on her lung five months ago. But then, her daughter remembered a story from three decades ago when the woman accidentally swallowed the seed of a fruit called</s>ROMANS: That's amazing.</s>BANFIELD: Remarkable.</s>ROMANS (on-camera): Up next, air bear. The story behind this ridiculous photo. That's one relaxed looking bear.</s>ROMANS: You're watching EARLY START.