Main Suspect in the Benghazi Attack Released
SAVIDGE: It is 3:30 on the east coast, that's 12:30 on the west coast. For those of you just joining us, welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Martin Savidge in for Fredricka Whitfield. And here are the top stories we're following right now. The CDC is releasing new information about the flu epidemic. And there are indications that the spread of the flu, at least in some areas, has slowed down in some areas. Still 24 states and New York City are reporting high levels of flu activity. New York's governor, by the way, has even declared a public health emergency. The CDC says since this outbreak began, there have been 20 flu related deaths among young people 18 years and younger. Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong had reportedly will come clean tomorrow according to "USA Today" at least. Armstrong will tell Oprah Winfrey the truth about doping during his years as the world's top cyclist. The paper says the interview will be taped at Armstrong's home in Texas for broadcast on Thursday. Then there's this. In Seattle, a quick thinking bus driver saved his passengers from harm when a fire broke under the vehicle. Everyone got off safely before a fireball engulfed the bus. Traffic was tied up for hours. The fire may have started due to a frozen brake line. First time I've heard that. And here's what's trending around the web. The White House says no, it will not be building a death star no matter how many jobs it potentially could create. The idea to build one like the one in "Star Wars," the movie, was posted on the web as a petition at a White House Web site. And for the record, the White House officially said quote, "the administration does not support blowing up planets," unquote. I think that's popular with many world leaders. The $850 quadrillion price tag was also an issue, always cost overruns. A New Mexico artist is getting attention for a new series of photographs he created. Those are faces distorted by scotch tape. The artist says the whole thing was meant to be a fun project with some friends. He got the pictures by asking them to try to get the tape off by using only their facial muscles. And this is what happens when you send a camera up into space and let it fall back down again. The thousand dollar camera was sent into low orbit more than 65,000 feet up. The balloon malfunctioned and the thing came hurtling back to earth. The camera wasn't found until six months later. And here's a testimony who whoever made it, it was still working. All right. Now back to the flu. If you had questions about how deadly it can be, watch max's story. The 17-year-old celebrated the holidays with his family and all of a sudden became very ill. Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen spoke to Max's parents about their son's final days.</s>ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Schwolert family was getting ready for a joyful Christmas when on December 21st, 17-year-old son Max started feeling sick, tired, fever.</s>TOM SCHWOLERT, MAX'S FATHER: He never really got like super sick.</s>COHEN: Two days later he was feeling better. Played in the snow on vacation in Wisconsin. Celebrated Christmas with his family. But Christmas night, Max felt sick again.</s>MELANIE SCHWOLERT, MAX'S MOTHER: He had excessive like 104.9 fever and we could not break it.</s>COHEN: The next morning, his parents took Max to the hospital where he was diagnosed with the flu.</s>TOM SCHWOLERT: Within 30 minutes, I mean the doctor was like something really wrong here. His kidneys are starting to fail.</s>COHEN: Max was rushed by helicopter to a larger hospital.</s>MELANIE SCHWOLERT: One of the last coherent things he said he looked at me and there were tears rolling down his face.</s>TOM SCHWOLERT: He was scared.</s>MELANIE SCHWOLERT: He said, mom, I'm scared. I said I know, buddy. I am, too. Then he saw me crying. He said mom, it's going to be OK. You're going to be OK. I love you. And that's really the last really coherent things that he said to me.</s>COHEN: Within 24 hours, Max went from feeling OK to intensive care.</s>MELANIE SCHWOLERT: His organs were shutting down. And they were completely baffled what was happening. What would attack him so quickly?</s>COHEN: His parents prayed for a miracle.</s>MELANIE SCHWOLERT: I remember putting my hands on his heart and I would feel his heart beat. And I -- I just knew how big it was, you know.</s>TOM SCHWOLERT: Four days later, Max died, a young man whose nickname was Panda, 6'4", big and gentle. Played golf, goofed on his sisters, taught Sunday school. After Max died, the Schwolert drove home to Louisville, Texas. Waiting in their mailbox, an acceptance letter to Max's first college choice. Tom and Melanie want Max to be remembered for how he loved God, life and the people around him. They've sold more than 1,000 love to the Max t-shirts. The money will go to a charity in Max's memory and the memory of his huge loving heart.</s>COHEN: Martin, as we can see, young people can get very sick very fast with the flu. So, here are some red flags that parents can look out for. First, if your child gets better and then gets sick again, that's a bad sign. It means they might have a secondary bacterial infection that's set in. Also if your child is extremely lethargic, that's a red flag, also if your child is confused. Be vigilant about these signs and get your child medical help as soon as you can -- Martin.</s>SAVIDGE: Absolutely. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen, thank you very much. Well, a man held by Tunisian authorities in connected with the deadly September attack in a U.S. consulate in, the one in Libya, has been released by a judge. And many people are now asking why. According to the Tunisian state media, Ali Harzi was freed Monday by an investigating judge overseeing the case. CNN international anchor Jonathan Mann is here now with more on the story. And really, what more do we know?</s>JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, the extraordinary thing was this was a deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya four months ago and we really know very little. And this was the best suspect anyone had. He was the only man behind bars in connection with the attack. But apparently there was according to his lawyer, no evidence against him and that's why the lawyer says he was let go. There is video of the attack some of us have it. He's not in the video. And so, despite the fact that various press accounts, these are published accounts seem to link him to the attack or to groups suspected of involvement in the attack, despite the fact that published accounts suggest this is a man authorities should want to talk to and U.S. authorities do want to talk to, the Tunisians said there wasn't enough evidence to hold him and so, they let him go. Keep in mind, this was a Tunisian man arrested in Turkey changing planes on suspicion of being involved in attack in Libya. The whole thing remains incredibly murky and according to the Tunisians not enough to hold him.</s>SAVIDGE: Well, OK. So, you know, how is this twist going to impact the investigation into it all?</s>MANN: From the very get-go, this attack was not only deadly, it has proved to be really, I think a mess for everyone looking into it, both because Libya itself is dangerous. Benghazi is dangerous. Investigators can't spend as much time there as they would like. And of course, there's the famous question what did Hillary Clinton know and when did she know it. She was famously ill, unable to testify. So, there are investigations into two different levels. There's, you know, basically that the detectives pounding the beat, they are trying to find out what literally happened on the ground four months ago now and they can't visit the site because it's dangerous. And then there are the political investigations under way. Those have been held up though of course, Congress hasn't forgotten about this. This may turn into a problem not only for Hillary Clinton but John Brennan set to be confirmed as head of the CIA. And already, Lindsey Graham is saying he's not going to vote for John Brennan to be confirmed unless Benghazi gets cleared up. It is four months ago, four Americans died. We don't know what happened. This may be a mystery for a good while longer.</s>SAVIDGE: Yes. I think it's going to have long and deep shadows, especially politically in this country. Jonathan Mann. Thank you very much for that update. Well, he claims that he stole ashes from concentration camp ovens. Then mixed them with water and painted a grim picture. And he says its art. For the families of those killed in the holocaust, it's an outrage and we will have that story. Then Casey Anthony, she is back in court. And she says she wants the charges against her dropped. "Headline News" Jane Velez-Mitchell weighs in on this case and hands down her verdict direct from the CNN NEWSROOM.