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CNN Live At Daybreak

Fighting For Iraq; Devil's in the Details; Obese Insurance; Major Mickelson

Aired April 12, 2004 - 05:30   ET

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

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The deadline is long gone. Is the American hostage in Iraq still alive?
It's Monday, April 12. This is DAYBREAK.

Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN -- from CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us.

Here is what's happening right now.

Three U.S. Marines were killed during fighting in western Iraq. They were assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been operating near Fallujah. Nineteen American troops have died in action since Friday.

Iraq is expected to be a major topic of discussion when President Bush welcomes Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The two were scheduled to meet today at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Senator John Kerry kicks off his four-city campus campaign tour today at the University of New Hampshire. The tour features rock bands and other celebrity endorsers. Obviously Kerry is trying to reach out to younger voters.

The Jayson Williams manslaughter trial resumes this morning after a one-week delay. The judge in the case is expected to rule on the defense motion to dismiss the case because of alleged misconduct by the prosecution.

To the Forecast Center now and Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Three more American Marines lose their lives in the fight for Iraq. That is the latest in our situation report this morning. The Marines were killed in the fighting around Fallujah. Total number of American troops killed over there now stands at 664.

The fate of American contractor Thomas Hamill in question this morning. His captors had vowed to kill and burn him if U.S. forces did not leave Fallujah. That deadline has now passed.

In the meantime, Iraqi insurgents are also holding seven Chinese men captive. Beijing is asking Baghdad authorities to rescue the hostages. Three Japanese and two Arabs also being held this morning.

Vice President Dick Cheney says he supports the Japanese prime minister's handling of the hostage crisis. During Cheney's visit to Tokyo, he thanked the Japanese leader for supporting the war on terrorism.

The town of Kut is one of the hot spots in Iraq. U.S. troops are now back in control there, but there is major work ahead.

Jane Arraf has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Remnants of a rebellion, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition and images of the Shi'a leader whose small militia has put thousands of U.S. troops back into combat. The U.S. Army says it has essentially defeated Muqtada al-Sadr's militia here and is methodically moving through Kut to make sure.

The Army calls this the Iranian Cafe. They say it may have been one place where militia members met to plot seizing a city where there had been no U.S. troops since the Marines left after the war.

(on camera): This was known as a calm town, pro-coalition even. But now three months before the U.S. is due to hand back power to the Iraqis, American tanks have moved in again.

(voice-over): And they'll likely stay for some time. A mire 500 militia members were able to seize the city of 300,000 people. Ukrainian troops, restricted to peacekeeping by their Defense Ministry, retreated to their barracks. The new Iraqi police and civil defense forces melted away.

More than 1,000 troops from the 1st Armored Division, due to go home, and tons of equipment were rushed from Baghdad and other places instead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the first opportunity, we will -- we will obviously transition and work closely with the local security forces, as we can locate them, and get them back to work.

ARRAF: But first they have to gain trust. These Iraqi police will only meet U.S. officers on a dark street corner. In daylight, the streets are almost empty with schools and shops shut. The Army has warned people to stay indoors for now. Some said townspeople feared al-Sadr's Mehdi Army more than they supported it.

But this man said they should leave Muqtada al-Sadr alone. He is a civilian, like us, give him his freedom he says. This isn't democracy. Sadr draws his support from the poor and disaffected. His militia's first target was the coalition civilian headquarters, attacked, burned and looted.

As it did in Baghdad, the Army is starting from scratch again, rebuilding a government, rebuilding an infrastructure and trying to get people off the streets, back at work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And in some places, I think the people feel as though what they expected didn't move as quickly as it should. But we're here to see what their needs are and we'll start working those issues with them.

ARRAF: More reasons that the U.S. will be keeping some troops in Iraq longer than they bargained for in a part of the country they thought had been stable.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Kut in south central Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A final wish fulfilled. That tops our look at stories making news 'Across America.'

You know last week we told you the story of 9-year-old cancer patient Mak Shulist. There he is. Well his last wish was for a playground addition for his friends. Young Mak died on Friday, but not before he was treated to the sounds of his playmates describing the fun they were having with his wish.

In San Diego, the parents of Grammy Award winner "Weird Al" Yankovic were found dead after apparently falling victim to carbon monoxide poisoning. Police say when they entered the house, it was filled with smoke from a fire in the fireplace. The flue was shut.

Eight people are dead following a propane gas explosion at a restaurant in a popular tourist town near the Texas-Mexico border. Twelve others were injured in the blast, which leveled an entire city block.

How did the FBI handle intelligence information prior to the terrorist attacks? That's the question the 9/11 Commission will ask this week as Justice Department officials appear before them. The testimony comes as the Bush administration continues to defend its position on an intelligence report.

Here is CNN's Elaine Quijano.

(on camera): The panel is expected to look not only at the FBI, but other agencies. And what one commissioner says were problems getting available information into the hands of those who could make a difference.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Later in the next hour of DAYBREAK, how Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Japan is going amid the recent kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq and the renewed violence there.

And being obese could affect not only your health but your wallet. How insurance companies factor in the fat. This is DAYBREAK for Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:43 Eastern Time. Here is what's all new this morning.

The fate of American hostage Thomas Hamill still unknown this morning. A deadline set by his captors in Iraq has passed.

A ban on the herbal stimulant Ephedra goes into effect today, unless a judge blocks it. The once popular weight loss and body building drug has been linked to 155 deaths.

In money news, here is something you should know before you file your taxes this week, the IRS has been auditing fewer businesses and more individual taxpayers. That's according to a Syracuse University study of government data.

In sports, broadcaster and former NFL kicker Pat Summerall is said to be in stable condition after receiving a liver transplant.

In culture, Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ" recaptures the No. 1 spot at the box office this Easter weekend.

MYERS: Good morning -- Carol.

Some rain showers across parts of the southeast this morning. Some of those showers and storms could be severe. A new watch box out for Florida. Details on that coming up.

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines this morning.

You already know that health care costs are going up as more and more people become overweight and obese. Insurance companies certainly know it.

CNN's Jim Boulden reports as you balloon, so might your insurance premium.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before you finish off that Easter chocolate, you better check your life insurance policy. Insurance companies do raise premiums for those who are obese. But they may soon also calculate the likelihood that you will one day become fat and charge you accordingly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now there's not any -- there are not any questions we ask, there are not any tests we perform to indicate future obesity. But we are continuing to do research on it, as are many other industries. And if those come out and are considered appropriate, we would like to include them in our underwriting.

BOULDEN: Swiss Re says that obesity will soon overtake smoking as the most preventable cause of early death. Overweight people risk heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and some forms of cancer. There's also a potentially higher suicide rate because of low self- esteem. And studies show that as you get fatter, the risks escalate sharply. One in three Americans is now overweight and many Western countries are becoming alarmed at the rate of obesity in children.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Children, in particular, have shown this huge increase in the number that are overweight or obese within a short time period as well. So with adults we know it has taken slightly longer, but within children it's happened, you know, within a shorter space of time. And we are now seeing diseases, which we have associated with older people who are overweight, happening in younger children who are overweight and obese.

BOULDEN: The insurance industry is worried that its profits will be eaten into by the sudden increase in obesity. And though people are living longer these days, Swiss Re thinks we might have been living even longer if it wasn't for our diet and lack of exercise.

Jim Boulden, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, campaigns and colleges. Why the Democratic president nominee is focusing his attention on young voters.

And later, a classic Masters moment as Phil Mickelson gets the monkey off his back. How he snagged the coveted green jacket in dramatic fashion at his first major.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: On the campaign trail for the first time since winning the New Hampshire presidential primary, Democrat John Kerry returns to that state today and he has his sights set on young voters.

The gang from the WOKQ Waking Crew, Mark Ericson and Danielle Carrier, join us live by phone to talk more about this.

Good morning.

MARK ERICSON, WOKQ MORNING WAKING CREW, PORTSMOUTH & MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Morning -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So what campus is he going to hit?

ERICSON: He's going to be at the University of New Hampshire, which is kind of like safe waters for the Kerry campaign. There is already an on-campus group there called UNH for Kerry. That's been around since last August, believe it or not. Plus, some of the UNH students come from Massachusetts and the campus is also an easy drive from the base state.

COSTELLO: He seems to have like spunky titles for all of these different things. This one -- this one is called "Change Starts With You." But let's face it, do young people really get out there and vote?

ERICSON: Well you know at the UNH campus there seems to be an effort afoot to do this. On Saturday they were all making signs, well not all of them, obviously, but they were making signs for the...

COSTELLO: All five of them. I'm just kidding.

DANIELLE CARRIER, WOKQ MORNING WAKING CREW, PORTSMOUTH & MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Hey, you have no idea how much pizza can really draw in a crowd.

(LAUGHTER)

CARRIER: Actually, no, he did, he bought pizza and soft drinks for the entire body that was there making the signs for him.

COSTELLO: Really, well that was a good campaign move, don't you think?

ERICSON: Of course.

COSTELLO: Did they discuss boxers or briefs as well?

(LAUGHTER)

CARRIER: I'm thinking that wasn't on the top of the topic list there.

COSTELLO: No, you know I'm joking, but I know that young people might be more attune to voting because of what's happening in Iraq and so many young people being sent over there.

ERICSON: Well there is that. There is also what it costs to go to college these days and that is going to be part of Kerry's speech at around 1:30 this afternoon Eastern Time on the UNH campus. He is unveiling something he calls the "Misery Index."

COSTELLO: The "Misery." See, I told you he had spunky titles for everything.

ERICSON: Yes, you did.

COSTELLO: And what pray tell...

CARRIER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COSTELLO: ... what is the "Misery Index" or should I guess?

CARRIER: He says it's going to show the Bush administration has done damage to working families in America where it comes to health insurance, rising costs, job losses and college in tuition.

ERICSON: Yes, we don't know the exact formula, it's kind of like... CARRIER: It's quite broad.

ERICSON: ... Colonel Sanders 11 secret herbs and spices or something. But it's supposed to be a combination of all those things that he is calling the "Misery Index."

COSTELLO: I wonder if he will actually have a physical index with a little needle and it will go over depending on what happens.

ERICSON: I don't know if there are going to be any visual aids that are going to have a number with, you know, like a 4.8 or something if there is a decimal point involved in this. And of course on the other side of the coin, the Bush campaign says the "Misery Index" is just a political stunt, that he can put it...

COSTELLO: No?

ERICSON: Yes. It's just a spunky title.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Mark and Danielle, it was fun, as always. And I do hope young people get out to vote, because it's very important that you do that, especially in these times.

Let's talk about the Middle East and Iraq, hot spots on the Bush agenda, as the president meets with some world leaders this week. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be at the -- or at his Crawford, Texas ranch today. Wants to talk about Israel and the withdrawal from Gaza.

That will also be the prime topic when Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visits the White House on Wednesday. And on Friday, Mr. Bush entertains his top ally in Iraq, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair.

All right, 'Stories from the States.'

MYERS: Time for that?

COSTELLO: Is it that time?

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: It certainly is.

Take a look at the front page of the "New York Post." We just thought that this was a telling photo in light of the kidnappings that are going on...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... in and around Fallujah. This, of course, is Thomas Hamill, the contractor from Mississippi, looking very scared. A deadline has passed. No one has really heard anything from him or his captors, so.

MYERS: Well the communications between the two groups spotty because we don't know what's going on over there.

COSTELLO: Well it's difficult.

MYERS: So don't even know if they know what's going on.

COSTELLO: Yes, but they are praying in Mississippi. They had a candlelight vigil for him.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: He comes from a very small town, Macon there, so sad stuff.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: This is from "The Detroit News." And you'll know more about this than I, Chad, this is called the on SUVs, minivans and the like, apparently on some models the roofs cave in upon...

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: ... crash impact and that's caused, what, 7,000 deaths it says in here.

MYERS: Part of the problem is that these SUVs are very heavy. You look at it, you look at a Suburban, and we're not picking out any names, but...

COSTELLO: You just did.

MYERS: Well I'm not picking on any kind. It's GM, it's Ford, it's Chrysler, it's all of them.

COSTELLO: OK.

MYERS: Those big cars are very heavy. It takes a very strong A pillar, B pillar, C pillar and on an SUV the back pillar, too, to keep that -- if that car does turn over in a violent crash, turning over and over and over takes an awful lot of strength to keep those stops -- those tops up. And obviously the Nissan now people looking into all of these things.

COSTELLO: Well according to this article, each year an estimated 7,000 people are killed or severely injured in rollovers in which the roof crushed. Those -- that's according to federal statistics. And they are talking to Detroit's big three to try to do something about this. But of course Detroit's big three balking because of the enormous cost associated with it.

MYERS: Well you have to strengthen the whole car. You have to make it heavier. You have to make it more expensive. People don't want that, but do they want that? You know you almost need to ask the public, right?

COSTELLO: Exactly. Think that would be a good sales...

MYERS: Big article, long article. I mean I -- it took me 15 minutes to read the whole article, if you want to pick it up.

COSTELLO: Let's talk about something happy. Let's go out to New Orleans and "The Times-Picayune" because there was a big race. It's called Classic Climate in New Orleans. Just look at all those people running.

MYERS: And it's the -- one of the fastest races because it's so flat.

COSTELLO: Yes, it's a 10,000-meter road race. And I guess a lot of records are set here because it's an absolutely flat course and the weather is always beautiful. And of course the route is beautiful, too. You go right through the French Quarter. So congrats to all of those runners who got out there and moved it.

MYERS: That's right, like they're moving a block (ph).

COSTELLO: Let's talk about Phil Mickelson, OK.

MYERS: Man, what a great day (ph).

COSTELLO: Yes, it was amazing. His major drought came to a thrilling end at this year's Masters. The lefty was finally able to overcome his usual final round swoon to hit the big shot when it really counted.

Would you call him the Susan Lucci of golf? Not anymore.

CNN's Josie Burke talked with the newest owner of the coveted green jacket.

MYERS: Susan Lucci?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Phil, when you were walking up to the 18th green, you're about to take the biggest shot of your life, you had this grin on your face, why?

PHIL MICKELSON, 2004 MASTERS CHAMPION: I just -- I had a lot of fun this week. I just had a feeling that I was going to knock the putt in. I hit a good shot in there. I hit a good tee shot, a good second shot in there and I have seen so many guys in the past make that putt. It's a putt that doesn't break too much. And I just had a -- I just had a good feeling I was going to make it.

BURKE: Can you admit now that you knew this was going to happen? You knew even before you teed off on Thursday that you'd be wearing the green jacket now?

MICKELSON: Well you never know for sure. You never know for sure. But I had a good feeling this week that I knew I was playing well, I knew I was driving it well, I was putting well. I had a lot of confidence this week.

I also had something interesting happen to me over the holidays. My grandfather passed away. He was 97 in January, and he had been waiting for so long now to put up a major championship flag on his wall. And before he passed away, he said this is your year, I can feel it coming. I know it's going to happen. And when he passed away, I just had a feeling that this was going to be the tournament.

BURKE: What's this the start of?

MICKELSON: Well it's been -- it's been -- this is the year 2004 that I really want to make something special. I want to do some things that I haven't done before, and obviously winning a major is one of them, it's a great start. But I want to make this year really special, and although winning this tournament makes it already special, I want to finish it off right. I want to -- I want to continue the year right. Last year was a tough year, not a very good year for me, and I want to make '04 continue it to be as special as it is today.

BURKE: Are you going to sleep in the green jacket? How does it feel?

MICKELSON: It's going to be hard to get two things off, this and this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MYERS: And he won.

COSTELLO: We're just chatting about Phil Mickelson because it was such a thrilling finish. We're going to show you more in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

We'll also have more for you on the man from Mississippi now being held hostage in Iraq.

Plus three sisters sent to fight in the war in Iraq, one does not make it home alive. Now a plea from the parents of the surviving sisters to keep them home.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 12, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The deadline is long gone. Is the American hostage in Iraq still alive?
It's Monday, April 12. This is DAYBREAK.

Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN -- from CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us.

Here is what's happening right now.

Three U.S. Marines were killed during fighting in western Iraq. They were assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been operating near Fallujah. Nineteen American troops have died in action since Friday.

Iraq is expected to be a major topic of discussion when President Bush welcomes Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The two were scheduled to meet today at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Senator John Kerry kicks off his four-city campus campaign tour today at the University of New Hampshire. The tour features rock bands and other celebrity endorsers. Obviously Kerry is trying to reach out to younger voters.

The Jayson Williams manslaughter trial resumes this morning after a one-week delay. The judge in the case is expected to rule on the defense motion to dismiss the case because of alleged misconduct by the prosecution.

To the Forecast Center now and Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Three more American Marines lose their lives in the fight for Iraq. That is the latest in our situation report this morning. The Marines were killed in the fighting around Fallujah. Total number of American troops killed over there now stands at 664.

The fate of American contractor Thomas Hamill in question this morning. His captors had vowed to kill and burn him if U.S. forces did not leave Fallujah. That deadline has now passed.

In the meantime, Iraqi insurgents are also holding seven Chinese men captive. Beijing is asking Baghdad authorities to rescue the hostages. Three Japanese and two Arabs also being held this morning.

Vice President Dick Cheney says he supports the Japanese prime minister's handling of the hostage crisis. During Cheney's visit to Tokyo, he thanked the Japanese leader for supporting the war on terrorism.

The town of Kut is one of the hot spots in Iraq. U.S. troops are now back in control there, but there is major work ahead.

Jane Arraf has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Remnants of a rebellion, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition and images of the Shi'a leader whose small militia has put thousands of U.S. troops back into combat. The U.S. Army says it has essentially defeated Muqtada al-Sadr's militia here and is methodically moving through Kut to make sure.

The Army calls this the Iranian Cafe. They say it may have been one place where militia members met to plot seizing a city where there had been no U.S. troops since the Marines left after the war.

(on camera): This was known as a calm town, pro-coalition even. But now three months before the U.S. is due to hand back power to the Iraqis, American tanks have moved in again.

(voice-over): And they'll likely stay for some time. A mire 500 militia members were able to seize the city of 300,000 people. Ukrainian troops, restricted to peacekeeping by their Defense Ministry, retreated to their barracks. The new Iraqi police and civil defense forces melted away.

More than 1,000 troops from the 1st Armored Division, due to go home, and tons of equipment were rushed from Baghdad and other places instead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the first opportunity, we will -- we will obviously transition and work closely with the local security forces, as we can locate them, and get them back to work.

ARRAF: But first they have to gain trust. These Iraqi police will only meet U.S. officers on a dark street corner. In daylight, the streets are almost empty with schools and shops shut. The Army has warned people to stay indoors for now. Some said townspeople feared al-Sadr's Mehdi Army more than they supported it.

But this man said they should leave Muqtada al-Sadr alone. He is a civilian, like us, give him his freedom he says. This isn't democracy. Sadr draws his support from the poor and disaffected. His militia's first target was the coalition civilian headquarters, attacked, burned and looted.

As it did in Baghdad, the Army is starting from scratch again, rebuilding a government, rebuilding an infrastructure and trying to get people off the streets, back at work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And in some places, I think the people feel as though what they expected didn't move as quickly as it should. But we're here to see what their needs are and we'll start working those issues with them.

ARRAF: More reasons that the U.S. will be keeping some troops in Iraq longer than they bargained for in a part of the country they thought had been stable.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Kut in south central Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A final wish fulfilled. That tops our look at stories making news 'Across America.'

You know last week we told you the story of 9-year-old cancer patient Mak Shulist. There he is. Well his last wish was for a playground addition for his friends. Young Mak died on Friday, but not before he was treated to the sounds of his playmates describing the fun they were having with his wish.

In San Diego, the parents of Grammy Award winner "Weird Al" Yankovic were found dead after apparently falling victim to carbon monoxide poisoning. Police say when they entered the house, it was filled with smoke from a fire in the fireplace. The flue was shut.

Eight people are dead following a propane gas explosion at a restaurant in a popular tourist town near the Texas-Mexico border. Twelve others were injured in the blast, which leveled an entire city block.

How did the FBI handle intelligence information prior to the terrorist attacks? That's the question the 9/11 Commission will ask this week as Justice Department officials appear before them. The testimony comes as the Bush administration continues to defend its position on an intelligence report.

Here is CNN's Elaine Quijano.

(on camera): The panel is expected to look not only at the FBI, but other agencies. And what one commissioner says were problems getting available information into the hands of those who could make a difference.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Later in the next hour of DAYBREAK, how Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Japan is going amid the recent kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq and the renewed violence there.

And being obese could affect not only your health but your wallet. How insurance companies factor in the fat. This is DAYBREAK for Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:43 Eastern Time. Here is what's all new this morning.

The fate of American hostage Thomas Hamill still unknown this morning. A deadline set by his captors in Iraq has passed.

A ban on the herbal stimulant Ephedra goes into effect today, unless a judge blocks it. The once popular weight loss and body building drug has been linked to 155 deaths.

In money news, here is something you should know before you file your taxes this week, the IRS has been auditing fewer businesses and more individual taxpayers. That's according to a Syracuse University study of government data.

In sports, broadcaster and former NFL kicker Pat Summerall is said to be in stable condition after receiving a liver transplant.

In culture, Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ" recaptures the No. 1 spot at the box office this Easter weekend.

MYERS: Good morning -- Carol.

Some rain showers across parts of the southeast this morning. Some of those showers and storms could be severe. A new watch box out for Florida. Details on that coming up.

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines this morning.

You already know that health care costs are going up as more and more people become overweight and obese. Insurance companies certainly know it.

CNN's Jim Boulden reports as you balloon, so might your insurance premium.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before you finish off that Easter chocolate, you better check your life insurance policy. Insurance companies do raise premiums for those who are obese. But they may soon also calculate the likelihood that you will one day become fat and charge you accordingly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now there's not any -- there are not any questions we ask, there are not any tests we perform to indicate future obesity. But we are continuing to do research on it, as are many other industries. And if those come out and are considered appropriate, we would like to include them in our underwriting.

BOULDEN: Swiss Re says that obesity will soon overtake smoking as the most preventable cause of early death. Overweight people risk heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and some forms of cancer. There's also a potentially higher suicide rate because of low self- esteem. And studies show that as you get fatter, the risks escalate sharply. One in three Americans is now overweight and many Western countries are becoming alarmed at the rate of obesity in children.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Children, in particular, have shown this huge increase in the number that are overweight or obese within a short time period as well. So with adults we know it has taken slightly longer, but within children it's happened, you know, within a shorter space of time. And we are now seeing diseases, which we have associated with older people who are overweight, happening in younger children who are overweight and obese.

BOULDEN: The insurance industry is worried that its profits will be eaten into by the sudden increase in obesity. And though people are living longer these days, Swiss Re thinks we might have been living even longer if it wasn't for our diet and lack of exercise.

Jim Boulden, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, campaigns and colleges. Why the Democratic president nominee is focusing his attention on young voters.

And later, a classic Masters moment as Phil Mickelson gets the monkey off his back. How he snagged the coveted green jacket in dramatic fashion at his first major.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: On the campaign trail for the first time since winning the New Hampshire presidential primary, Democrat John Kerry returns to that state today and he has his sights set on young voters.

The gang from the WOKQ Waking Crew, Mark Ericson and Danielle Carrier, join us live by phone to talk more about this.

Good morning.

MARK ERICSON, WOKQ MORNING WAKING CREW, PORTSMOUTH & MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Morning -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So what campus is he going to hit?

ERICSON: He's going to be at the University of New Hampshire, which is kind of like safe waters for the Kerry campaign. There is already an on-campus group there called UNH for Kerry. That's been around since last August, believe it or not. Plus, some of the UNH students come from Massachusetts and the campus is also an easy drive from the base state.

COSTELLO: He seems to have like spunky titles for all of these different things. This one -- this one is called "Change Starts With You." But let's face it, do young people really get out there and vote?

ERICSON: Well you know at the UNH campus there seems to be an effort afoot to do this. On Saturday they were all making signs, well not all of them, obviously, but they were making signs for the...

COSTELLO: All five of them. I'm just kidding.

DANIELLE CARRIER, WOKQ MORNING WAKING CREW, PORTSMOUTH & MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Hey, you have no idea how much pizza can really draw in a crowd.

(LAUGHTER)

CARRIER: Actually, no, he did, he bought pizza and soft drinks for the entire body that was there making the signs for him.

COSTELLO: Really, well that was a good campaign move, don't you think?

ERICSON: Of course.

COSTELLO: Did they discuss boxers or briefs as well?

(LAUGHTER)

CARRIER: I'm thinking that wasn't on the top of the topic list there.

COSTELLO: No, you know I'm joking, but I know that young people might be more attune to voting because of what's happening in Iraq and so many young people being sent over there.

ERICSON: Well there is that. There is also what it costs to go to college these days and that is going to be part of Kerry's speech at around 1:30 this afternoon Eastern Time on the UNH campus. He is unveiling something he calls the "Misery Index."

COSTELLO: The "Misery." See, I told you he had spunky titles for everything.

ERICSON: Yes, you did.

COSTELLO: And what pray tell...

CARRIER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COSTELLO: ... what is the "Misery Index" or should I guess?

CARRIER: He says it's going to show the Bush administration has done damage to working families in America where it comes to health insurance, rising costs, job losses and college in tuition.

ERICSON: Yes, we don't know the exact formula, it's kind of like... CARRIER: It's quite broad.

ERICSON: ... Colonel Sanders 11 secret herbs and spices or something. But it's supposed to be a combination of all those things that he is calling the "Misery Index."

COSTELLO: I wonder if he will actually have a physical index with a little needle and it will go over depending on what happens.

ERICSON: I don't know if there are going to be any visual aids that are going to have a number with, you know, like a 4.8 or something if there is a decimal point involved in this. And of course on the other side of the coin, the Bush campaign says the "Misery Index" is just a political stunt, that he can put it...

COSTELLO: No?

ERICSON: Yes. It's just a spunky title.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Mark and Danielle, it was fun, as always. And I do hope young people get out to vote, because it's very important that you do that, especially in these times.

Let's talk about the Middle East and Iraq, hot spots on the Bush agenda, as the president meets with some world leaders this week. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be at the -- or at his Crawford, Texas ranch today. Wants to talk about Israel and the withdrawal from Gaza.

That will also be the prime topic when Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visits the White House on Wednesday. And on Friday, Mr. Bush entertains his top ally in Iraq, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair.

All right, 'Stories from the States.'

MYERS: Time for that?

COSTELLO: Is it that time?

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: It certainly is.

Take a look at the front page of the "New York Post." We just thought that this was a telling photo in light of the kidnappings that are going on...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... in and around Fallujah. This, of course, is Thomas Hamill, the contractor from Mississippi, looking very scared. A deadline has passed. No one has really heard anything from him or his captors, so.

MYERS: Well the communications between the two groups spotty because we don't know what's going on over there.

COSTELLO: Well it's difficult.

MYERS: So don't even know if they know what's going on.

COSTELLO: Yes, but they are praying in Mississippi. They had a candlelight vigil for him.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: He comes from a very small town, Macon there, so sad stuff.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: This is from "The Detroit News." And you'll know more about this than I, Chad, this is called the on SUVs, minivans and the like, apparently on some models the roofs cave in upon...

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: ... crash impact and that's caused, what, 7,000 deaths it says in here.

MYERS: Part of the problem is that these SUVs are very heavy. You look at it, you look at a Suburban, and we're not picking out any names, but...

COSTELLO: You just did.

MYERS: Well I'm not picking on any kind. It's GM, it's Ford, it's Chrysler, it's all of them.

COSTELLO: OK.

MYERS: Those big cars are very heavy. It takes a very strong A pillar, B pillar, C pillar and on an SUV the back pillar, too, to keep that -- if that car does turn over in a violent crash, turning over and over and over takes an awful lot of strength to keep those stops -- those tops up. And obviously the Nissan now people looking into all of these things.

COSTELLO: Well according to this article, each year an estimated 7,000 people are killed or severely injured in rollovers in which the roof crushed. Those -- that's according to federal statistics. And they are talking to Detroit's big three to try to do something about this. But of course Detroit's big three balking because of the enormous cost associated with it.

MYERS: Well you have to strengthen the whole car. You have to make it heavier. You have to make it more expensive. People don't want that, but do they want that? You know you almost need to ask the public, right?

COSTELLO: Exactly. Think that would be a good sales...

MYERS: Big article, long article. I mean I -- it took me 15 minutes to read the whole article, if you want to pick it up.

COSTELLO: Let's talk about something happy. Let's go out to New Orleans and "The Times-Picayune" because there was a big race. It's called Classic Climate in New Orleans. Just look at all those people running.

MYERS: And it's the -- one of the fastest races because it's so flat.

COSTELLO: Yes, it's a 10,000-meter road race. And I guess a lot of records are set here because it's an absolutely flat course and the weather is always beautiful. And of course the route is beautiful, too. You go right through the French Quarter. So congrats to all of those runners who got out there and moved it.

MYERS: That's right, like they're moving a block (ph).

COSTELLO: Let's talk about Phil Mickelson, OK.

MYERS: Man, what a great day (ph).

COSTELLO: Yes, it was amazing. His major drought came to a thrilling end at this year's Masters. The lefty was finally able to overcome his usual final round swoon to hit the big shot when it really counted.

Would you call him the Susan Lucci of golf? Not anymore.

CNN's Josie Burke talked with the newest owner of the coveted green jacket.

MYERS: Susan Lucci?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Phil, when you were walking up to the 18th green, you're about to take the biggest shot of your life, you had this grin on your face, why?

PHIL MICKELSON, 2004 MASTERS CHAMPION: I just -- I had a lot of fun this week. I just had a feeling that I was going to knock the putt in. I hit a good shot in there. I hit a good tee shot, a good second shot in there and I have seen so many guys in the past make that putt. It's a putt that doesn't break too much. And I just had a -- I just had a good feeling I was going to make it.

BURKE: Can you admit now that you knew this was going to happen? You knew even before you teed off on Thursday that you'd be wearing the green jacket now?

MICKELSON: Well you never know for sure. You never know for sure. But I had a good feeling this week that I knew I was playing well, I knew I was driving it well, I was putting well. I had a lot of confidence this week.

I also had something interesting happen to me over the holidays. My grandfather passed away. He was 97 in January, and he had been waiting for so long now to put up a major championship flag on his wall. And before he passed away, he said this is your year, I can feel it coming. I know it's going to happen. And when he passed away, I just had a feeling that this was going to be the tournament.

BURKE: What's this the start of?

MICKELSON: Well it's been -- it's been -- this is the year 2004 that I really want to make something special. I want to do some things that I haven't done before, and obviously winning a major is one of them, it's a great start. But I want to make this year really special, and although winning this tournament makes it already special, I want to finish it off right. I want to -- I want to continue the year right. Last year was a tough year, not a very good year for me, and I want to make '04 continue it to be as special as it is today.

BURKE: Are you going to sleep in the green jacket? How does it feel?

MICKELSON: It's going to be hard to get two things off, this and this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MYERS: And he won.

COSTELLO: We're just chatting about Phil Mickelson because it was such a thrilling finish. We're going to show you more in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

We'll also have more for you on the man from Mississippi now being held hostage in Iraq.

Plus three sisters sent to fight in the war in Iraq, one does not make it home alive. Now a plea from the parents of the surviving sisters to keep them home.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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