CNN Student News Transcript: April 25, 2008

(CNN Student News) -- April 25, 2008

Quick Guide

Gold for Gas - Hear how some people are trading in their teeth for gas money.

Olympic Torch Down Under - See what happened when the Olympic torch touched down in Australia.

Before We Go - Find out why one young woman is offering others free prom dresses.

Transcript

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Welcome to Friday. The week's last broadcast of CNN Student News. We're glad to have you along. From the CNN Center, I'm Carl Azuz.

First Up: Gas Prices Up

AZUZ: First up, Americans are paying record rates at the pump, as the cost of gas shoots sky high. Now let's put this in context. A year ago, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.85. A month ago, it was $3.26. Yesterday: $3.55 per gallon! That number's gone up 14 cents in just the last week! Part of the reason is a change over from winter-grade gasoline to more expensive summer supplies.

Gold for Gas

AZUZ: Once that transition gets wrapped up, some experts do think the price increases will slow down, but they don't expect them to stop. And that means shelling out big bucks if we want to keep cruising around town. Some people are already digging deep to keep their cars on the road, and not just in their wallets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: In his 2006 State of the Union speech, President Bush said it.

U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: America is addicted to oil.

AZUZ: Since then, that addiction has gotten a lot more expensive, and some Americans are taking extreme measures to pay for it, turning wearable gold into liquid gold. Welcome to Capitol City Pawn shop in Topeka, Kansas, where cash-strapped customers have found a new way to get gas money.

FRANK ELLIS, V.P., CAPITOL CITY PAWN: This time of year, everybody's short on cash, and just need some. Can't go to a bank and get a $50 loan to fill up a car with gas, so...

AZUZ: So, they come in here and bring "bling" with them. In March, gold prices gleamed at $1,000 per ounce. They've slipped since then, but they're still high, and that makes gold more expensive to buy, and more valuable to sell; Capitol City Pawn is paying three times what it did last year for it. And we're not just in Kansas anymore, Toto: Sellers are seeing the same scenario in Sarasota, Florida, and presumably across the country. One coin dealer says people are trading their teeth for cash. Gold teeth, that is: old caps, dental work they no longer need. On the other hand, if old fillings can fill up your gas tank, which now can cost more than a hundred bucks, you can see why some are smiling less, why their jewelry is shining less, and why they're doing more to keep driving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Do the Math

GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: It's time to Do the Math! We're hearing a lot about the rising cost of gas, but how does that affect you? OK, say you work 20 hours a week after school for minimum wage. You make $117 a week. If your car has a 15-gallon tank, at an average cost of $3.55 for a gallon of regular unleaded, you're spending $53.25 for a fill-up. If you fill up once a week, nearly half your paycheck, more than 45%, is getting poured into your tank. Add that to your knowledge!

Today's Headlines

AZUZ: Checking out a couple other headlines now. Two U.S. retail giants are capping purchases of a particular product: rice! Costco and Sam's Club are built around buying in bulk, but both chains are limiting some sales of rice. At Sam's Club, any customers stocking up on 20-pound bags can only buy four at a time for now.

And President Bush is pushing for a peace plan in the Middle East. Yesterday, he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House. Both men said they're hopeful that a deal can be agreed on before Mister Bush leaves office in January. He's planning to visit the Middle East next month to keep these efforts moving forward.

Shoutout

RAMSAY: Today's Shoutout goes out to Mr. Linser's Contemporary World/American Government classes at Robinswood High School in Bellevue, Washington! What's the capital of Australia? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) Melbourne, B) Sydney, C) Canberra or D) Wagga Wagga? You've got three seconds and don't be chook -- GO! A lot of folks would say Sydney, but Australia's capital is Canberra, letter C. That's your answer and that's a fair dinkum Shoutout!

Olympic Torch Down Under

AZUZ: And Australia is one of the most recent stops on the Olympic flame's trip around the world. Now, if you've been following this torch relay, we've been following it a lot, you know several legs have seen protests, both for and against the host country of China. A lot of the demonstrations have to do with that country's stance toward its region of Tibet. So, what happened when the torch traveled down under? Andrew Stevens has the details from the Australian capital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN REPORTER: They were arriving in the thousands even before the sun was up; Canberra's Reconciliation Square a sea of color and sound. The vast majority: pro-China supporters, lending their voice to a swelling chorus of Chinese patriotism. The mood was festive, but this Australian leg of the international torch relay still did not escape protests: these confrontations between pro-Tibetan and counter demonstrators, mild though in comparison with scenes from other cities in earlier relay legs.

Organizers from both sides have called for peaceful demonstrations, and by and large they got them; just a handful of arrests. The relay itself, by and large, incident-free; the torch protected by Australian police as China's own controversial flame attendants took a low profile. One clear message of Tibetan support coming from above. But on the ground, thousands of Chinese supporters were out in overwhelming force in all key locations, including here at the finish. Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe, running the final leg to light the cauldron in front of a crowd drenched in the red flags of China. But in this international relay, politics is always close to the surface.

This is one of the sites here at the finishing post: one or two Tibetan supporters in a sea of Chinese flags, surrounded by Chinese chanting at them, "Go, go, go," while they defend their right to demonstrate.

PROTESTER: I have a right to express my views. You have a right to express your views. I am not going anywhere.

PROTESTER: Shame on you. Shame on you.

STEVENS: These three have come to see the final leg of the torch relay. They didn't get far.

PROTESTER: These two got pushed around when we were here. Right now, by themselves.

PROTESTER: Olympic games were based without politics. That's all I want to say, ok?

IMPARTIAL OBSERVER: I think this is a great example of a democracy at work, and people are allowed to be out here with their different opinions. And it's been mostly peaceful.

STEVENS: By early afternoon, the Olympic flame was on the move again, this time to Japan. And even though this leg of the international relay against expectations went off generally smoothly, a last clear reminder of the massive security that's needed in this journey of harmony. Andrew Stevens, CNN, Canberra, Australia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Promo

AZUZ: Do you have a handle on the headlines? Put your knowledge to the test with our weekly Newsquiz! Now every Friday, we offer up ten questions on some of the stories we've covered during the week on our show. Can you score a perfect ten? It sounds easier than it is. Some of the questions are okay, some will beat you up! Log on to CNNStudentNews.com, access this free resource and find out!

Before We Go

AZUZ: Before we go, prom night. It ain't cheap. Guys have to rent tuxes, maybe just put together a suit and still pay for dinner. Ladies have to buy those expensive dresses and you don't really get that many chances to wear them. Now when you start to total up all these expenses, prom gets pricey. Cynthia Fodor of affiliate KCCI tells us how one young woman is helping out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RACHEL CASTANER, BECCA'S CLOSET: We have two-piece ensembles.

CYNTHIA FODOR, KCCI REPORTER: Rachel Castaner has a special closet.

CASTANER: We have everything from dark colors to the nice pastels.

FODOR: Unlike any other teenage girls.

CASTANER: If I was that size, I would have worn it, but...

FODOR: Rachel realized buying a prom dress for one night is more than many can afford.

CASTANER: Especially when times are hard, and not everyone can give up $200 or more for a dress. Then come and take one and wear it, keep it.

FODOR: So, she set up a Becca's Closet to collect and give away used dresses for free.

CASTANER: There's no sign saying these dresses have been worn before, so why not give them a second run?

FODOR: A teenage girl named Rebecca Curtman came up with this idea to help out a friend who couldn't afford a prom dress. She was then killed in a car accident while delivering dresses to a high school. It became a national program, with designers sending dozens of new items. So many, Rachel ran out of room.

CASTANER: This year we had to leave about 500 dresses out of, you know, visualization for girls, simply because we had none of the hanging room.

FODOR: When carpenter Kevin King heard they needed more space, he came to the rescue.

KEVIN KING, DONATES SPACE: We are Christians, I think, and it just seemed somebody put their, needed some help. So...

CASTANER: We needed a Prince Charming and we got a King instead. That's kind of a nice trade.

FODOR: King, whose wife is named Rebecca, is remodeling his garage for girls to try on gowns.

KING: We're going to put rods on both sides. It will be just a changing room.

FODOR: The new Becca's Closet will be right across the street from the high school.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Goodbye

AZUZ: And that's where we dance on out the door. But check out our blog on this at CNNStudentNews.com. E-mail to a friend