Strong Winds Whip Across Northeast
LEMON: So, Dr. Wendy Walsh is back. So, Wendy, there's been an ongoing cultural trend on TV in and in film, women fighting men and winning. It's also playing out in high school sports as well. This Iowa high school wrestler gave up his shot at the state championship on Thursday because his opponent was a girl. His name is Joel Northup, and he said, quote, "as a matter of my conscience and my faith, I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner." And, he says, he has a lot of respect for the girl, her name is Cassy Herkelman. You see her there. So, Wendy, is he right to stand up for what he believes in, you know, if it's religion? Is it right for him? And what is the trend of girls combating boys in sports have to do with belief?</s>WALSH: Listen, Don, everybody has a right to their personal opinion and their personal belief, so I honor this young man for that. But is he being chauvinistic or is he being a gentleman here? Let me answer this. Women long ago have figured out that there is a wide variety of men out there. We've got protectors, providers, alphas, betas and those wonderful guys that even change diapers for our children, right? But men, it seems sexist to me when they lump women into one category. This young woman is a seasoned athlete. She's in his weight class. She's won many levels of competition to be considered just an opponent. So for him to now deny her that right to be an opponent and suddenly put her in a category of lady isn't fair to this athlete.</s>LEMON: OK. Well, Wendy, let's talk about the thing that everybody is dancing around. It's wrestling, they're wearing the tight clothes, they're in high school. The hormones are raging. I mean, might there be some embarrassment about that?</s>WALSH: There are probably many pieces to this young man's decision. His faith and religion and his respect for women may be one of them. Certainly there may be some air about sexuality that may be coming up, getting so close and physically aggressive with the woman while she's tangling, our young woman, a girl at the age of 18. And, so, of course that's got to be a piece in it. But this is still a sport that allows both genders to participate. So somebody has got to turn their blinders on and become opponents and get into the competition. They're in the same weight class. Give her this opportunity to show she's best. Because guess what, she valiantly steps out as gentleman and then he doesn't have to risk losing to a girl.</s>LEMON: I'll let you have the last word on that, Dr. Wendy Walsh. Thanks as always.</s>WALSH: Thank you.</s>LEMON: Let's get you caught up on your top stories here on CNN. Anger in Wisconsin. Massive protests over the state budget bill are now in a fifth day. The bill would strip public workers of collective bargaining and force them to pay more for benefits. The Republican Governor Scott Walker says, the state needs to pay its bills and ultimately this will save jobs. Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate fled the state to stall a vote on the bill. The Libyan military is putting down new protests in Benghazi with brutal tactics. Witnesses report bloody clashes between demonstrators and the military. The Libyan military is putting down new protests in Benghazi with brutal tactics. Witnesses report bloody clashes between demonstrators and the military. A doctor treating the injured in one hospital said at least 30 people died. Most from gunshot wounds to the head. One woman in Benghazi told CNN that soldiers said they were joining the protests, but then turned their guns on the crowds. In Bahrain, fear turned to joy today as protesters surged into the square where they battled security forces earlier this week. The crown prince ordered the military to leave the Pearl Roundabout to the protesters. He said they could remain there without fear and that the government is open to dialogue. When strong winds whipping across the northeast, that's just one of the weather stories that Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is following for us today. Jacqui, a very interesting weather day. What's going on with this wind?</s>JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, my gosh, it's crazy. It's really, really strong and causing a lot of problem, in the northeast in particular. We've got the video to show you the damage from it. This is a sad story, Don. Pay attention. This is Washington, D.C. There you see the national monument. This is the national Christmas tree that you're looking at here. This thing has been there for 40 years. It's 42-feet tall. It's a blue spruce and they think that it was the winds that likely caused this thing to get knocked down earlier this morning. So some sad news there. The president and first lady were there to light it up this holiday season. So it's no more. Hopefully, they will plant another tree. Let's take a look now at what's happening in the Boston area. This is just north of Boston, Massachusetts. Some high winds there toppled down a scaffolding on the side of a hotel building. It did damage about ten cars that were parked in the lot there. We're also hearing stories of wildfires that are burning and getting out of control because of these winds. And thousands of people without power now in the northeast. If you're trying to travel, take a look at our airport delays because they're getting quite lengthy. JFK, arrival delays over an hour, Newark, 20 minutes. You have 40 minutes in San Francisco, and Washington Dulles are looking at 55-minute delays. Take a look at the winds and what they're doing at this hour. These are the sustained winds, not to mention those gusts that have been common in the 50 to 60-mile-per-hour range today. That does some damage and you need to be cautious. The winds causing lake-effect snows here too, so if you get in one of these heavier bands, it will reduce your visibility quite a bit. Our other big story is what is happening in the southwest. There's a storm system that's been moving in through here. This is the second one in as many days and it's bringing a real soaker across parts of southern California. We're getting heavy snow into the higher elevations. In fact, we've had seven feet of snow in the last 72 hours in the Lake Tahoe area. So the skiers are happy about this, but really tough for travelers. We're talking one to two feet into parts of Colorado. Let's talk about where that storm system is going because it's really bringing an end to this nice spring-type weather that you've been having. The upper Midwest and the northeast feeling like winter. As this storm system heads your way, we're talking about some heavy snow. We could be talking about six to 12 inches. Minneapolis/St. Paul that will start tonight, continue through the day tomorrow. Yes, more snow for Milwaukee. Chicago, we think a wintry mix. Not a lot of accumulation but you could have some freezing rain. Then this will move into the northeast as you head into Monday. So winter back with a vengeance. That after record highs yesterday, Don. It was like 77 in D.C. yesterday. We're talking 60s in New York City and now temperatures plummeting through the 30s.</s>LEMON: Can we go back out west. This is a live picture from our affiliate, KGO. Look at that.</s>JERAS: Oh, wow, beautiful. Snow.</s>LEMON: Yes. Yes. Snow.</s>JERAS: Well, it's February.</s>LEMON: Yes. Not here, though.</s>JERAS: Got to keep it real.</s>LEMON: It's a very warm day. Thank you very much, Jacqui Jeras. We'll check back with you throughout the evening. Up next --</s>SANDY FRANZO, SON SHOT HIMSELF: No, you know what he told everybody in court? They need to be held accountable for their actions. You need to be. Do you remember me? Do you remember me? Do you remember my son? An all-star wrestler? He's gone. He shot hisself in the heart. You scumbag.</s>LEMON: That's hard to watch. A mother's grief for the son she no longer has. She says it's because a judge got kickbacks to send kids like him away for minor offenses. The whole story is just ahead. And here's to the little guy. We hear a lot these days about banks foreclosing on homeowners. This hour, meet a man who foreclosed on his bank. That's right. You're going to hear from him just ahead.