Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Poll: Two-Thirds of Those Surveyed Believe There Will Likely Be Terrorist Attack in U.S. Before November Election

Aired April 22, 2004 - 10:30   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the top stories "At This Hour."
The Iraqi powder keg city of Fallujah is still sense today after yesterday's heavy fighting between insurgents and U.S. Marine. And there are signs that more trouble is expected. Marines have erected blockades to prevent the return of 70,000 people who have fled the city.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has expelled at least four Palestinians from hi West Bank headquarters. All were wanted by the Israelis and raised Palestinian concerns of an Israeli attack on Arafat's compound.

In Vermont, a search is planned today for two pieces of a fuel rod missing from Yankee Nuclear Plant. The material would be deadly to anyone who handles it without protection. Engineers will search on-site. They do not believe it poses a threat to the public.

A group planning a Pentagon memorial for those killed in the 9/11 attacks announced a fund raising drive today. The $30 million would fund the building and future maintenance of a two-acre memorial with trees and reflecting pools. There also would be 184 benches, each bearing the name of someone killed in the attacks.

In presidential politics, terrorism weighs heavily on voters' minds. A new Associated Press poll finds two-thirds of those surveyed believe there will likely be a terrorist attack in the U.S. before the November election. Our Kathleen Koch joins us with the latest from the White House -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, the Bush administration does share those concerns. Just a few days ago, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said that U.S. has to take very seriously the possibility that terrorists will do something in the run-up to the elections. Adding, quoted, "it seems almost too good to pass up."

President Bush in his speech yesterday to newspaper editors said he responded to Americans concerns about the possibility of a pre- election terrorist strike.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I mean, I can understand why they think we're going to get hit again. They saw what happened in Madrid. This is a hard country to defend. We are making good progress in the defense of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: The president added that the department of Homeland Security and the PATRIOT Act have both helped make America safer. But he admitted while U.S. intelligence on terrorism is good, it is rarely perfect.

Now this is Earth Day, as you've already mentioned. And on this Earth Day, the president is turning his attention to the environment. He left about an hour ago for Wells, Maine. He'll be visiting a nature reserve there, just a few miles south of the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport.

The president while there will be announcing a wetlands initiative and also touting progress that he says his administration has made in protecting and improving the environment.

But a lot of environmental groups and other interest groups beg to differ, saying the Bush administration policies have been anything but environmentally friendly. And some of those groups are protesting the president's visit to Maine. The Sierra Club, the National Resources Council of Maine and Environment of Maine insist that President Bush's policies have weakened clean air and water laws.

And also a national group of Christian leaders have sent President Bush an angry letter on this Earth Day. The National Council of Churches expressing that it has, quote, "grave moral concern about proposed Bush administration changes and power plant regulations" that it believes would worsen air pollution here in the United States. Church leaders putting it this way. It would, quote, "weaken critical and environmental standards to protect God's creation" -- Daryn

KAGAN: Kathleen Koch at the White House. And we should see pictures and sounds from President Bush from Maine live in our next hour.

As for Democratic candidate John Kerry, today he holds an Earth Day rally in President Bush's home state. His appearance in Houston is meant to underscore that city's smog problems. Yesterday Senator Kerry focused on another matter, the military draft. He talked with CNN's Candy Crowley about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't want a draft and I don't think we need a draft and I think what we need is a president who knows how to take the steps to get other countries involved in this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And one more note here on Kerry's schedule. You can catch his Earth Day rally in Houston live here on CNN. That's about 2 1/2 hours from now. So we'll hear from both President Bush and Senator Kerry.

Right now want to get back to that breaking news out of North Korea. And that is a deadly collision involving two trains in North Korea. We're getting word that it was two trains carrying oil and liquefied petroleum and gas colliding and exploding in a North Korean train station.

With more on that, let's go to South Korea where our Sohn Jie-Ae is standing by.

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN SEOUL BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Daryn. The initial reports coming into South Korea are still sketchy and preliminary at this point.

But what we are getting is that South Korean government sources are confirming it was a major explosion in North Korea. This was at a Ryongchon station which is about 50 kilometers south from the border between North Korea and China. It is northwest of Pyongyang, this is the North Korean capital.

The South Korean media are saying that the speculation is that the explosion was from a train collision of trains carrying gas and liquefied petroleum gas, as well as gasoline. They're still speculating about what the casualty numbers are and actually what led to the incident.

Now another reason that this accident is getting a lot of attention here is that the incident happened just about eight to nine hours after North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il passed through the same station on his way back to North Korean capital Pyongyang from a trip to China.

There has been no real connection made between this incident and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's passing of the station. But this is one reason that South Korean authorizes are looking at this incident very closely -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Sohn Jie-Ae. Jie-Ae, thank you for that.

Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, tears of joy for troops returning from Iraq. The year and a half separation for one family finally comes to an end. We're going to visit with the Smith family.

Also, not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Coming up, the story behind the ad campaign that is infiltrating pop culture.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: What happens here stays here. Not a new saying, to be sure, but the sin city slogan has become a pop culture phenomenon, and led by Las Vegas tourism back into the black. Randy Snow is the creative director for the ad agency that came up with the catchy clencher, and he's joining us live but from where else? Vegas. Good morning.

RANDY SNOW, CREATIVE DIR., R&R PARTNER: Good morning.

KAGAN: So whatever happens in this interview stays in this interview, all right?

SNOW: If you said it, that's what we'll do. That's fine.

KAGAN: We'll keep it just between us. Vegas is no stranger on spending big bucks on promotion commercials, but what is it do you think about this one you hit the jackpot and it really has struck a cord?

SNOW: I think that what this does it is speaks to just about everybody in a way that everybody can relate to. What you do when you put together advertising is you try to come up with a message that is relevant to your audience, and everybody out there who has come to Las Vegas, who has thought about coming to Las Vegas, can find something in one of these ads that they can relate to, or think about or say, Boy, I've been there before, or I can imagine that. I think we're tapped into people's inner thoughts about Las Vegas and themselves. It's an emotional thing.

KAGAN: OK, let's be honest, you're going to the naughty side. People -- and it's not so much about what's being said. but what's not being said. Let's look at another spot.

SNOW: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to go back to my convention! Yes, I know, but I have a convention.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to go. My convention. I know! I wish I could stay! We got married! I have to go! I love you. I'll call you!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Yes, yes, she'll call. There you go. Exactly, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Hey, not nobody everybody in Vegas loves these ads. They don't like the idea that it means that people are coming to cheat and be bad.

SNOW: Well, it's -- that's an interesting point. I think that the thing that we need to remember is that Las Vegas is an adult destination, and it's, you know, it's -- I don't know, the spots portray, you know, people having fun, and I don't know that everybody is cheating and being bad in these spots. A lot of the commercials, maybe they're just staying out late, or just something happened and they're laughing about it.

The local people in town here, I've heard some of that, that maybe they're not quite as happy with the campaign as they might be, but all of the numbers in terms of our visitors and in terms of the research we've done with our intended audience, the visitors and potential visitors to Las Vegas, show that they understand that these are commercials, and that they're done in good humor, and that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I don't think anybody is really taking it too awfully seriously. Vegas is about fun, and fantasy, and being free and having a good time, and it's working for us.

KAGAN: Yes, boy, is it ever. Let's look at numbers that are making their way out of Vegas, and just about any community would like to get their hands on these numbers: January 2004, three million visitors. That's a record. The airport there, the first and only airport to return to pre-9/11 levels, and gaming on the strip up 12 percent over a years ago.

Now, some of that is going to be the campaign, but some of that, Randy, don't you think, is just Vegas coming back anyway. Vegas has been in the news quite a bit over the last year.

SNOW: Well, Vegas is an amazing destination, and there's a lot of really smart people here who are building some great resorts, putting together some great programs, and advertising their own resorts, and their own entertainment, and their own dining and shopping. It's been a total resort destination effort to bring us back from the 9/11 results. And you know, I'll take as much credit as anybody is willing to give us for the campaign for "what happens here stays here," but I mean, I believe, and we all believe, that it's been a total effort here on the part of everybody in city, all the resort owners, all the marketers, everybody in charge that is making this happen, and Vegas has always been a great destination, and it treats its customers well. Well over 90 percent of people who come to Vegas report that they've had a good experience, and they come back, and when you get down to it, that's really makes the difference for a destination, is how we treat people when they get here.

KAGAN: And the price of success, everything that's there hasn't stayed there. The two 20 something's that came up with this in your agency, Justin Zito and Jason Hoff, they've moved on. You've lost them.

SNOW: We have. That is the nature of the beast in the advertising campaign. You get this kind of campaign under your belt, and the agencies in New York and Boston, which is where they've went respectively take notice, and as a creative director, you just have to understand that's the way it works, when people come up with great ideas, off they go.

KAGAN: Wish them well and keep developing new talent there in Vegas.

SNOW: We will do it.

KAGAN: Randy Snow, thanks for stopping by. SNOW: Thanks for having me.

KAGAN: Appreciate it. You're going to meet this week's everyday hero after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Time now for our "Everyday Hero" story. It involves private first class Keith Matt Maupin. You probably have heard of him. He's being held hostage right now in Iraq. Today's everyday hero, according to our Chris Lawrence, is a neighbor who shares words of comfort, and that is today's everyday hero.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dear family of Matt Maupin...

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The moment Jacob Kelch starts reading, it's easy to see he's not your normal sixth grader.

JACOB KELCH, MAUPIN FAMILY NEIGHBOR: I wrote you this letter to tell you I'm in deep sorrow and grief for your son.

LAWRENCE: Jacob started writing when he watched a captured Private Maupin, and thought of the family living a few blocks down.

KELCH: I just kind of tried to feel what they were feeling and give them, like, the words that they might need to hear.

LAWRENCE: The day after he delivered it to the Maupin's mailbox, Jacob was asked to read the letter in front of the whole sixth grade, and a special guest who came to greet him, Matt Maupin's dad.

J. KELCH: "It was the first time he left house since he received the news that his son was missing."

LAWRENCE: Jacob's parents still can't believe what their son has written.

SHANNON KELCH, JACOB'S MOM: And it makes me to feel good that he thinks of others. And that he wishes the best for others.

LAWRENCE: Private Maupin has become something of a hero to Jacob who one day wants to join the Army.

S. KELCH: It scares me but make me proud at the same time.

LAWRENCE: Proud of his selflessness, scared for his safety.

S. KELCH: To lose my son someday.

MICHAEL KELCH, JACOB'S DAD: Or have my son be held or something. And that's what Mr. Maupin has to be going through.

LAWRENCE: Twelve today, 18 tomorrow. But in any sense of the word, Jacob Kelch may already be a man. Chris Lawrence, CNN, Batavia, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And he is our "Everyday Hero."

Today we'd like to hear your ideas. E-mail us a story of an "Everyday Hero." Our address right there on the screen. LiveToday@CNN.com.

And we're going to take a break and be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: It's all over except for the endorsements and the spinoff. By now you know that Bill Rancic clawed his way to the top of the heap to be named "The Apprentice." Some of the contestants were guests last night on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE," including that woman that everyone seems to love to hate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, CNN HOST: But how did you enjoy being hated?

OMAROSA MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH, "THE APPRENTICE": No, not at all. I don't think anyone does.

KING: So how does that...

MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH: You have to take any opportunity. In this cases and in this case, I took lemons and made lemonade. And I'm going to keep on moving.

KING: That is your style?

MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH: Oh yes. I mean, you know, I work in Washington. I've been there for seven years. I entered this competition because I wanted to build my business experience and kind of go outside of the Beltway and expound upon an opportunity that was great.

KING: So with all the repercussions, no regrets?

MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH: No regrets at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Well, a spinoff is possible for Rancic. He's is going to spend the next year building a trump property in his hometown of Chicago.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

KAGAN: Sergeant Major Kevin Smith. He is based at Fort Hood. Just back from Iraq. You're looking at some of the festivities taking place. The 4th I.D. coming back. And there is a huge concert. They're calling it a military Woodstock taking place today. Lots of big acts.

And we're going to be talking to the Smith family just ahead. What it's like to have their dad home after over a year in Iraq. That is just ahead.

Also, after weeks behind closed doors, a grand jury has made its decision against Michael Jackson. We'll be going live to Santa Barbara for that.

And ocean explorer and documentary filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau is with us in studio. Stick around for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired April 22, 2004 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the top stories "At This Hour."
The Iraqi powder keg city of Fallujah is still sense today after yesterday's heavy fighting between insurgents and U.S. Marine. And there are signs that more trouble is expected. Marines have erected blockades to prevent the return of 70,000 people who have fled the city.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has expelled at least four Palestinians from hi West Bank headquarters. All were wanted by the Israelis and raised Palestinian concerns of an Israeli attack on Arafat's compound.

In Vermont, a search is planned today for two pieces of a fuel rod missing from Yankee Nuclear Plant. The material would be deadly to anyone who handles it without protection. Engineers will search on-site. They do not believe it poses a threat to the public.

A group planning a Pentagon memorial for those killed in the 9/11 attacks announced a fund raising drive today. The $30 million would fund the building and future maintenance of a two-acre memorial with trees and reflecting pools. There also would be 184 benches, each bearing the name of someone killed in the attacks.

In presidential politics, terrorism weighs heavily on voters' minds. A new Associated Press poll finds two-thirds of those surveyed believe there will likely be a terrorist attack in the U.S. before the November election. Our Kathleen Koch joins us with the latest from the White House -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, the Bush administration does share those concerns. Just a few days ago, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said that U.S. has to take very seriously the possibility that terrorists will do something in the run-up to the elections. Adding, quoted, "it seems almost too good to pass up."

President Bush in his speech yesterday to newspaper editors said he responded to Americans concerns about the possibility of a pre- election terrorist strike.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I mean, I can understand why they think we're going to get hit again. They saw what happened in Madrid. This is a hard country to defend. We are making good progress in the defense of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: The president added that the department of Homeland Security and the PATRIOT Act have both helped make America safer. But he admitted while U.S. intelligence on terrorism is good, it is rarely perfect.

Now this is Earth Day, as you've already mentioned. And on this Earth Day, the president is turning his attention to the environment. He left about an hour ago for Wells, Maine. He'll be visiting a nature reserve there, just a few miles south of the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport.

The president while there will be announcing a wetlands initiative and also touting progress that he says his administration has made in protecting and improving the environment.

But a lot of environmental groups and other interest groups beg to differ, saying the Bush administration policies have been anything but environmentally friendly. And some of those groups are protesting the president's visit to Maine. The Sierra Club, the National Resources Council of Maine and Environment of Maine insist that President Bush's policies have weakened clean air and water laws.

And also a national group of Christian leaders have sent President Bush an angry letter on this Earth Day. The National Council of Churches expressing that it has, quote, "grave moral concern about proposed Bush administration changes and power plant regulations" that it believes would worsen air pollution here in the United States. Church leaders putting it this way. It would, quote, "weaken critical and environmental standards to protect God's creation" -- Daryn

KAGAN: Kathleen Koch at the White House. And we should see pictures and sounds from President Bush from Maine live in our next hour.

As for Democratic candidate John Kerry, today he holds an Earth Day rally in President Bush's home state. His appearance in Houston is meant to underscore that city's smog problems. Yesterday Senator Kerry focused on another matter, the military draft. He talked with CNN's Candy Crowley about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't want a draft and I don't think we need a draft and I think what we need is a president who knows how to take the steps to get other countries involved in this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And one more note here on Kerry's schedule. You can catch his Earth Day rally in Houston live here on CNN. That's about 2 1/2 hours from now. So we'll hear from both President Bush and Senator Kerry.

Right now want to get back to that breaking news out of North Korea. And that is a deadly collision involving two trains in North Korea. We're getting word that it was two trains carrying oil and liquefied petroleum and gas colliding and exploding in a North Korean train station.

With more on that, let's go to South Korea where our Sohn Jie-Ae is standing by.

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN SEOUL BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Daryn. The initial reports coming into South Korea are still sketchy and preliminary at this point.

But what we are getting is that South Korean government sources are confirming it was a major explosion in North Korea. This was at a Ryongchon station which is about 50 kilometers south from the border between North Korea and China. It is northwest of Pyongyang, this is the North Korean capital.

The South Korean media are saying that the speculation is that the explosion was from a train collision of trains carrying gas and liquefied petroleum gas, as well as gasoline. They're still speculating about what the casualty numbers are and actually what led to the incident.

Now another reason that this accident is getting a lot of attention here is that the incident happened just about eight to nine hours after North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il passed through the same station on his way back to North Korean capital Pyongyang from a trip to China.

There has been no real connection made between this incident and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's passing of the station. But this is one reason that South Korean authorizes are looking at this incident very closely -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Sohn Jie-Ae. Jie-Ae, thank you for that.

Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, tears of joy for troops returning from Iraq. The year and a half separation for one family finally comes to an end. We're going to visit with the Smith family.

Also, not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Coming up, the story behind the ad campaign that is infiltrating pop culture.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: What happens here stays here. Not a new saying, to be sure, but the sin city slogan has become a pop culture phenomenon, and led by Las Vegas tourism back into the black. Randy Snow is the creative director for the ad agency that came up with the catchy clencher, and he's joining us live but from where else? Vegas. Good morning.

RANDY SNOW, CREATIVE DIR., R&R PARTNER: Good morning.

KAGAN: So whatever happens in this interview stays in this interview, all right?

SNOW: If you said it, that's what we'll do. That's fine.

KAGAN: We'll keep it just between us. Vegas is no stranger on spending big bucks on promotion commercials, but what is it do you think about this one you hit the jackpot and it really has struck a cord?

SNOW: I think that what this does it is speaks to just about everybody in a way that everybody can relate to. What you do when you put together advertising is you try to come up with a message that is relevant to your audience, and everybody out there who has come to Las Vegas, who has thought about coming to Las Vegas, can find something in one of these ads that they can relate to, or think about or say, Boy, I've been there before, or I can imagine that. I think we're tapped into people's inner thoughts about Las Vegas and themselves. It's an emotional thing.

KAGAN: OK, let's be honest, you're going to the naughty side. People -- and it's not so much about what's being said. but what's not being said. Let's look at another spot.

SNOW: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to go back to my convention! Yes, I know, but I have a convention.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to go. My convention. I know! I wish I could stay! We got married! I have to go! I love you. I'll call you!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Yes, yes, she'll call. There you go. Exactly, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Hey, not nobody everybody in Vegas loves these ads. They don't like the idea that it means that people are coming to cheat and be bad.

SNOW: Well, it's -- that's an interesting point. I think that the thing that we need to remember is that Las Vegas is an adult destination, and it's, you know, it's -- I don't know, the spots portray, you know, people having fun, and I don't know that everybody is cheating and being bad in these spots. A lot of the commercials, maybe they're just staying out late, or just something happened and they're laughing about it.

The local people in town here, I've heard some of that, that maybe they're not quite as happy with the campaign as they might be, but all of the numbers in terms of our visitors and in terms of the research we've done with our intended audience, the visitors and potential visitors to Las Vegas, show that they understand that these are commercials, and that they're done in good humor, and that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I don't think anybody is really taking it too awfully seriously. Vegas is about fun, and fantasy, and being free and having a good time, and it's working for us.

KAGAN: Yes, boy, is it ever. Let's look at numbers that are making their way out of Vegas, and just about any community would like to get their hands on these numbers: January 2004, three million visitors. That's a record. The airport there, the first and only airport to return to pre-9/11 levels, and gaming on the strip up 12 percent over a years ago.

Now, some of that is going to be the campaign, but some of that, Randy, don't you think, is just Vegas coming back anyway. Vegas has been in the news quite a bit over the last year.

SNOW: Well, Vegas is an amazing destination, and there's a lot of really smart people here who are building some great resorts, putting together some great programs, and advertising their own resorts, and their own entertainment, and their own dining and shopping. It's been a total resort destination effort to bring us back from the 9/11 results. And you know, I'll take as much credit as anybody is willing to give us for the campaign for "what happens here stays here," but I mean, I believe, and we all believe, that it's been a total effort here on the part of everybody in city, all the resort owners, all the marketers, everybody in charge that is making this happen, and Vegas has always been a great destination, and it treats its customers well. Well over 90 percent of people who come to Vegas report that they've had a good experience, and they come back, and when you get down to it, that's really makes the difference for a destination, is how we treat people when they get here.

KAGAN: And the price of success, everything that's there hasn't stayed there. The two 20 something's that came up with this in your agency, Justin Zito and Jason Hoff, they've moved on. You've lost them.

SNOW: We have. That is the nature of the beast in the advertising campaign. You get this kind of campaign under your belt, and the agencies in New York and Boston, which is where they've went respectively take notice, and as a creative director, you just have to understand that's the way it works, when people come up with great ideas, off they go.

KAGAN: Wish them well and keep developing new talent there in Vegas.

SNOW: We will do it.

KAGAN: Randy Snow, thanks for stopping by. SNOW: Thanks for having me.

KAGAN: Appreciate it. You're going to meet this week's everyday hero after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Time now for our "Everyday Hero" story. It involves private first class Keith Matt Maupin. You probably have heard of him. He's being held hostage right now in Iraq. Today's everyday hero, according to our Chris Lawrence, is a neighbor who shares words of comfort, and that is today's everyday hero.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dear family of Matt Maupin...

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The moment Jacob Kelch starts reading, it's easy to see he's not your normal sixth grader.

JACOB KELCH, MAUPIN FAMILY NEIGHBOR: I wrote you this letter to tell you I'm in deep sorrow and grief for your son.

LAWRENCE: Jacob started writing when he watched a captured Private Maupin, and thought of the family living a few blocks down.

KELCH: I just kind of tried to feel what they were feeling and give them, like, the words that they might need to hear.

LAWRENCE: The day after he delivered it to the Maupin's mailbox, Jacob was asked to read the letter in front of the whole sixth grade, and a special guest who came to greet him, Matt Maupin's dad.

J. KELCH: "It was the first time he left house since he received the news that his son was missing."

LAWRENCE: Jacob's parents still can't believe what their son has written.

SHANNON KELCH, JACOB'S MOM: And it makes me to feel good that he thinks of others. And that he wishes the best for others.

LAWRENCE: Private Maupin has become something of a hero to Jacob who one day wants to join the Army.

S. KELCH: It scares me but make me proud at the same time.

LAWRENCE: Proud of his selflessness, scared for his safety.

S. KELCH: To lose my son someday.

MICHAEL KELCH, JACOB'S DAD: Or have my son be held or something. And that's what Mr. Maupin has to be going through.

LAWRENCE: Twelve today, 18 tomorrow. But in any sense of the word, Jacob Kelch may already be a man. Chris Lawrence, CNN, Batavia, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And he is our "Everyday Hero."

Today we'd like to hear your ideas. E-mail us a story of an "Everyday Hero." Our address right there on the screen. LiveToday@CNN.com.

And we're going to take a break and be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: It's all over except for the endorsements and the spinoff. By now you know that Bill Rancic clawed his way to the top of the heap to be named "The Apprentice." Some of the contestants were guests last night on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE," including that woman that everyone seems to love to hate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, CNN HOST: But how did you enjoy being hated?

OMAROSA MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH, "THE APPRENTICE": No, not at all. I don't think anyone does.

KING: So how does that...

MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH: You have to take any opportunity. In this cases and in this case, I took lemons and made lemonade. And I'm going to keep on moving.

KING: That is your style?

MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH: Oh yes. I mean, you know, I work in Washington. I've been there for seven years. I entered this competition because I wanted to build my business experience and kind of go outside of the Beltway and expound upon an opportunity that was great.

KING: So with all the repercussions, no regrets?

MANIGAULT-STALLWORTH: No regrets at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Well, a spinoff is possible for Rancic. He's is going to spend the next year building a trump property in his hometown of Chicago.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

KAGAN: Sergeant Major Kevin Smith. He is based at Fort Hood. Just back from Iraq. You're looking at some of the festivities taking place. The 4th I.D. coming back. And there is a huge concert. They're calling it a military Woodstock taking place today. Lots of big acts.

And we're going to be talking to the Smith family just ahead. What it's like to have their dad home after over a year in Iraq. That is just ahead.

Also, after weeks behind closed doors, a grand jury has made its decision against Michael Jackson. We'll be going live to Santa Barbara for that.

And ocean explorer and documentary filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau is with us in studio. Stick around for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com