CNN Presents

Battery Powered Brain

cnnpresents7 — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:01:34 +0000

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells the story of a severely depressed patient, who
underwent an experimental surgery in which doctors drilled two
holes in her skull to implant a pair of battery-powered electrodes in her
brain.

A small electrical charge then stimulates a part of the brain known
as ³Area 25,² which is a junction box for the circuits that control our
moods. The patients who undergo this procedure have not been helped by
anything else. Not psychotherapy; not meds; not even electro-convulsive
shock therapy. But about two-thirds of the experimental subjects using Deep
Brain Stimulation have improved significantly.

Battery Powered Brain is one of three in-depth stories in one riveting hour hosted
by CNN's Randi Kaye and Drew Griffin. CNN Presents premieres an all-new show tonight at 8pm ET, re-airing at 11:00 pm and 2:00 am ET.

The Scary Guy

cnnpresents7 — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:24:52 +0000

He's a former tattoo artist who commands tens of thousands of dollars to speak to schoolchildren worldwide in the name of bullying prevention. While his tattooed face and outrageous tactics may capture the hearts and minds of kids, critics question whether he has a lasting impact.

CNN's Randi Kaye visits two Minnesota schools – one hoping the twenty thousand dollars the community paid Scary will help them solve the bullying problem, the other going a different route after a Scary experience.

The Scary Guy re-airs on CNN Presents this Saturday at 8:00 pm ET, 11:00 pm and 2:00 am ET.

The Real March Madness

cnnpresents7 — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:45:01 +0000

Just how far will a college go to win the NCAA tournament? For a few teams the Secretary of Education calls "bad apples," it may be too far. These schools are not putting true student athletes on the court.

A new study of graduation rates will show almost half of the African American student athletes who will play in the NCAA basketball tournament will not graduate. And at some schools, the graduation rate for basketball players -black and white- is abysmal.

At UConn for instance, over the last four years, an average of only 25% of its men's basketball players graduated and only 14% of its African American players got a degree. Kentucky had a 31% graduation average. At Syracuse it's just about half. CNN's Drew Griffin investigates.

Don't miss 'The Real March Madness' this Sunday during an all new CNN Presents at 8:00 pm ET, re-airing at 11:00 pm and 2:00 am ET.

Refund Robbery

cnnpresents7 — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:51:46 +0000

Law enforcement says it's one of the biggest, most brazen crimes in the U.S. – criminals stealing your tax refund by stealing your identity, going online, and getting the refund money. Police even call it the new "crack cocaine of crime," and in some Florida neighborhoods, it's actually replaced street level drug dealing. Police officials and the Tampa mayor blame the IRS because it allows the refunds to be put on debit cards, and sends out the return before completely checking the information.

For the first time, our investigation shows the fraud as it's happening on the streets of North Miami Beach and Tampa, Florida, we interview two police detectives who are themselves victims, and talk to a police informant who teaches people how to do tax refund fraud. In an exclusive interview, the IRS deputy commissioner says it's a "balancing act" to get the returns out fast to legitimate taxpayers and keep fraudulent ones from going to criminals. The IRS has identified $6.5 billion in ID-related tax refund fraud last year, but does not know how much was going undetected.

"Refund Robbery" is one of four riveting stories you won't want to miss this Sunday on CNN Presents at 8:00 pm ET, replaying at 11:00 pm ET and 2:00 am ET

NFL flags Saints for "bounty hunting"

cnnpresents7 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:05:50 +0000

It's been said that while baseball may be America's favorite past-time, football is its passion. The mentality of the sport is violent by nature, but some players and coaches crossed a fine line that separates fierce competition from thuggery.

The NFL has concluded that the New Orleans Saints have been involved in what's been referred to as "Bounty Hunting," where payoffs were made for inflicting game-ending injuries on other teams' star players.

Just how did the bounty or incentive programs work?
And how prevalent are they in the NFL? CNN's Ed Lavandera investigates.

"Bounty Hunters" is one of four riveting stories you won’t want to miss this Sunday on CNN Presents at 8:00 pm ET, replaying at 11:00 pm ET and 2:00 am ET.

CNN Presents: 72 Hours Under Fire

cnnpresents7 — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:41:35 +0000

It's likely among one of the most dangerous places a team of journalists has ever traveled for CNN. The random and indiscriminate killing of citizens in Homs, Syria made this a story the world had to see.

This one-hour documentary will expose a side of the story that rarely gets reported: the behind the scenes stories of those who helped the team of journalists along the way, the tough choices CNN executives made to keep their team safe, the dangerous journey into the heart of the onslaught, and the unfiltered account of those reporting and surviving a trip into hell.

Don't miss CNN Presents: 72 Hours Under Fire this Sunday at 8:00 pm ET, reairing at 11:00 pm and 2:00 am ET.

The business of making saints

cnnpresents7 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:14:26 +0000

It’s the highest honor in the Catholic Church, but what does it take to become a saint? The mysterious saint-making tradition that started in the Middle Ages is still alive and well today. But these days, you not only need a couple of miracles—you need power, influence, and lots of money.

Drew Griffin examines the business of making saints, one of three in-depth stories in one riveting hour hosted by CNN’s Randi Kaye and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Don't miss CNN Presents this Saturday at 8pm ET, re-airing at 11pm and 2am ET.

Twisted Justice: A night that changed three lives forever

cnnpresents7 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:49:01 +0000

On October 3, 1996, Richard DiGuglielmo stopped by his family’s deli in Dobb’s Ferry to help his father, who was recovering from a heart attack, with the pre-dinner rush. Due to tenants’ complaints about the lack of parking, Richard Sr., was protective of the small lot in front. So when Charles Campbell pulled into a spot reserved for “patrons only,” DiGuglielmo Sr. asked him to move to a nearby lot. Campbell refused. A fight ensued. DiGuglielmo says he tried to save his father’s life, but what happened next changed his life forever.

Deborah Feyerick examines the case against a former NYC transit officer who is sitting in prison - maybe for life - even after the trial that put him there was found by a judge to be full of holes. It is a story of anger, and a death that started over a parking space.

Was it murder or a miscarriage of justice?

Twisted Justice is one of two revealing investigations you won’t want to miss on CNN Presents this Saturday at 8:00 pm ET, reairing at 11:00 pm and 2:00 am.

Vets feel abandoned after secret drug experiments

cnnpresents7 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:12:37 +0000

The moment 18-year-old Army Private Tim Josephs arrived at Edgewood Arsenal in 1968, he knew there was something different about the place.

“It just did not look like a military base, more like a hospital,” recalled Josephs, a Pittsburgh native. Josephs had volunteered for a two-month assignment at Edgewood, in Maryland, lured by three-day weekends closer to home.

“It was like a plum assignment,” Josephs said. “The idea was they would test new Army field jackets, clothing, weapons and things of that nature, but no mention of drugs or chemicals.”

But from 1955 to 1975, military researchers at Edgewood were using Army volunteers to test chemicals ranging from potentially lethal nerve gases like VX and sarin to incapacitating agents like BZ. The military also tested tear gas, barbiturates, tranquilizers, narcotics and hallucinogens like LSD.

This top secret Cold War research program initially looked for ways to defend against a chemical or biological attack by the Soviet Union, thought to be far ahead of the United States in “psycho-chemical” warfare. But the research expanded into offensive chemical weapons including one that could, according to one Army film obtained by CNN, deliver a “veritable chemical ambush” against an enemy.

Join CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta for more from his investigative report on U.S. soldiers used as drug test subjects. CNN Presents premieres Sunday at 8pm ET, re-airing at 11pm and 2am ET.

Dangers faced by Journalists in Mexico

cnnpresents7 — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:52:01 +0000

The growing strength of the cartels in Mexico has given drug traffickers increasing control over police, prosecutors, and judges… even entire towns. Powerful cartels have reached into nearly every sector of society, including the press. For journalists covering the raging drug war, it has become a deadly beat. Many have been silenced through murder, threats and intimidation. Reporters feel they can’t do their jobs. Since 2000, more than 60 journalists have been killed in Mexico. What’s worse is most of those murders go uninvestigated and unpunished.

Kaj Larsen follows two brave journalists, who despite threats, continue to report on drug traffickers and government corruption. Don’t miss Deadly Beat, one of three in-depth stories in one riveting hour hosted by CNN’s Randi Kaye and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

CNN Presents premieres Sunday at 8pm ET, re-airing at 11pm and 2am ET.