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CNN Live At Daybreak
Teacher in Love With Student Released From Prison; DA: Hacking Allegedly Admitted Killing Wife
Aired August 04, 2004 - 05:00 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: She went to jail for raping a 12- year-old boy. Today, the onetime grade-school teacher gets out of jail.
It is Wednesday, August 4. This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news:
News just coming into us now: that teacher who served seven years in prison for a sexual relationship with a sixth grader has just been set free. A corrections official in Washington states confirmed less than 30 minutes ago that Mary Kay Letourneau has been released.
The woman whose smiling face was seen in many of those notorious Abu Ghraib Prison pictures is due back in court today. Day two of Army Private Lynndie England's preliminary hearing begins at 11:30 a.m. Eastern at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The 9/11 commission report goes under the microscope again four hours from now. This time, it's the House Select Intelligence Committee's turn to examine the panel's recommendation.
Hurricane Alex has done its damage, flooding homes, cars and roads on North Carolina's Outer Banks. The storm is moving out, but expect high surf and rip currents along the Carolina coast today.
Chad is traveling home from North Carolina. Rob Marciano graces us with his presence once again.
Good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, stop it (ph). Chad's trying out. Did you see him out there yesterday getting blown around in the rain (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
COSTELLO: Yes. I told him that umbrella wasn't going to be enough.
MARCIANO: No. Well, we knew that. But it looks like he was having - you know, that - pretty good storm, you know, just kind of brushed the coast line. The folks that typically get hit pretty hard got hit with some good winds, and obviously there was some damage. But not too out of the ordinary as far as what the Outer Banks would expect during hurricane season.
These are the some of the wind gusts. 120-mile winner out of Ocracoke terminal there. At Cape Hatteras, 102-mile-an-hour wind gusts. Cape Lookout, 64, and then it goes on down the line. So definitely verifying it was a category 2 hurricane. Our first one of the season, Alex. And if we have our next one to be named, which could very well happen today or tomorrow as hurricane hunter aircraft head out into the Caribbean, the next line would be - or name would be Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The 9/11 report is on the fast track. This morning, the panel's recommendations will be examined by the House Select Intelligence Committee. House and Senate committees already have had several hearings.
Two of the 9/11 commission members, one Republican and one Democrat, are questioning President Bush's proposal for a national intelligence chief. They insist the new intelligence chief must have real power over the budget and staff of all 15 U.S. spy agencies.
Now to Britain's anti-terrorism efforts. Police there have rounded up 13 suspected terrorists and are conducting searches of their homes.
Our Diana Muriel is following developments in London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: British police have confirmed that 13 men have been arrested in a series of raids that took place across the U.K. on Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening. The operation took place in four locations: northwest London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Lancashire, although police are not giving any more details as to their precise locations.
The suspects are all understood to be in their 20's or 30's, and they are being held under the Terrorism Act 2000, as part of a pre- planned, ongoing intelligence-led operation. They're being held on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Police have also issued a number of search warrants for residential premises at the locations at which the men were arrested. And those searches are ongoing. Police say they could take some time to complete.
Scotland Yard has also confirmed that all the suspects have been brought to a central London police station. In the past, suspects who have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 have been brought here, to Paddington Green Station in West London for interrogation. Police have two weeks in which they must press charges against these suspects or let them go.
Diana Muriel, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: And you can get more details on the arrest of those terror suspects by logging onto our Web site at cnn.com.
New travel warnings from the State Department this morning. Officials are advising you to stay away from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. That's in response to the recent kidnapping of an American in the West Bank and threats made by terrorist groups in the region. The State Department also says stay out of Uzbekistan. That warning follows suicide bombings there last week.
Gay marriage will not be legal in Missouri. An overwhelming majority of voters approved a ban on same-sex marriages there. Ban opponents say they knew it was an uphill battle in Missouri. It's the first such vote since Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriages last year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEV EHLEN, COALITION TO PROTECT MARRIAGE: I'm very excited, very thankful that - that we won. And like I said, Missouri has spoken and I'm -- I'm not surprised that Missouri came out loud and clear that marriage is important and we'll do whatever we have to do to protect that institution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF IVLINROW, CONSTITUTION DEFENSE LEAGUE: Amendment 2 is significant for everyone in Missouri because the threat is that we will be using our constitution to limit the rights of a group of Missourians for the first time ever, which is absolutely wrong. We - the constitution should always to protect and expand rights, never take them away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Four other states already have constitutional bans against same-sex marriage: Hawaii, Alaska, Nebraska and Nevada. As many as 12 other states have similar measures on the ballot later this year.
A Utah judge has now set bail for Mark Hacking at $500,000 cash. This despite new court documents that further implicate the Utah man in the disappearance of his pregnant wife.
Miguel Marquez has your update.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the document police used to charge Mark Hacking with murder, police lay out their case.
David Yocum, the Salt Lake County district attorney, the man who will prosecute Mark Hacking, reads from the report. It lays out what police say Mark Hacking told a witness while at a Salt Lake City psychiatric hospital just days after reporting his wife missing.
DAVID YOCUM, SALT LAKE CO. DISTRICT ATTY.: Mark Hacking told this reliable citizen witness that he killed Lori while she was asleep in bed, and disposed of her body in a Dumpster.
MARQUEZ: The report also indicates that police found a mattress in a Dumpster near the Hacking residence and that the tags on it matched those on a box spring in the Hacking's bedroom. Mark Hacking purchased a new mattress the day he reported his wife missing.
And there is other evidence. Security cam video from a Salt Lake City convenience store shows Mark Hacking entering the store at 1:18 a.m. on Monday, July 19, hour before he reported his wife missing. Hacking enters along with an unrelated customer and buys a pack of Camel lime twist cigarettes. The store's management says the clerk reported that there was nothing strange about Mark Hacking's demeanor or the transaction. Hacking is seen examining his hands, sighing heavily, then purchasing the Camels. He walks off, then returns after forgetting his change.
When he leaves, security cameras catch one more glimpse of Mark Hacking, driving away in his wife's car. The company's spokesman says the entire transaction lasted two to three minutes.
(on camera): In another piece of video from that same store, Mark and Lori Hacking are seen entering just hours before Mark Hacking purchased those cigarettes, about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 18. It may be the last glimpse we have of Lori Hacking alive.
Mark Hacking's attorney, Gil Athay, will not comment on how he will defend this case until, he says, he sees all the evidence. But he does say an insanity plea is possible.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Salt Lake City, Utah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: To another high-profile case: the Scott Peterson trial. Did Peterson know his wife was never coming home? That's what prosecutors contend. Evidence showed that Scott Peterson added hard- core pornography channels to a satellite TV service two weeks after his wife disappeared. The defense says the testimony is just a ploy to sway jurors. A source close to the case tells CNN that Peterson's mistress, Amber Frey, is expected to testify at the beginning of next week.
Here's some other stories making news "Across America" this Wednesday:
Criminal charges expected this morning in last October's fatal ferry accident. Assistant Captain Richard Smith, who was piloting the Staten Island Ferry when it crashed, is expected to plead guilty in court just about five hours from now. The indictment includes 11 counts of manslaughter. Smith, the boat's captain and other ferry officials will be named as defendants. In Georgia, a two-day search is over for a 4-year-old boy who wandered away from his home in the middle of the night. The toddler was found in a vacant house nearly a mile away from his suburban Atlanta home. The owner of the vacant house found the boy sleeping on the floor right in front of the refrigerator.
It's been a rough week for a group of Iraqis visiting Memphis. The seven civic leaders were denied entrance to city hall due to what the city council chairman called "security concerns." And they were also kept out of the National Civil Rights Museum because a film crew was using the building. But all was not lost: at least one of the Iraqi delegates did get to visit Graceland.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: If you're a frequent flier, this probably will not be breaking news to you: Flight delays at Chicago's O'Hare Airport are commonplace, and it's only getting worse. Things are so bad that the transportation secretary is holding a meeting today with domestic airlines that fly into O'Hare to talk about flight cutbacks.
CNN's Lisa Leiter has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA LEITER, CNNfn CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some frequent fliers have one word to describe their experience at O'Hare:
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A nightmare.
LEITER: This year, the world's busiest airport in terms of flights is also the most delayed: 14,500 flights failed to arrive on time in May alone. And that's a record.
Because almost 5 percent of total domestic flights go through O'Hare, the problems in Chicago create a ripple of backups elsewhere. The average arrival delay was up by 25 percent at other top airports between November and May.
JAY FRANKE, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY: When O'Hare goes down, it affects the entire system, just as if the central electrical box in your house blew a fuse - blew several fuses, would affect the whole house. Same thing with the air-traffic system.
LEITER: The FAA blames the problem partly on bad weather, but mostly on overscheduling. O'Hare handled 6,000 more flights in June than it did in June of last year. And while the long-term solution may mean more runways at O'Hare, air-traffic controllers say they need relief now.
RAY GIBBONS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSN.: The system is truly being kept together by a thread. And that's what concerns us: not enough people; an aging, overburdened workforce handling higher levels of traffic is not necessarily the best recipe for safety.
LEITER: Since March, United and American have cut O'Hare flights during peak hours by 7 and a half percent. But the impact was only temporary because smaller carriers added more service, only adding to some travelers' frustration.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I always expect delays.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've slept here overnight on a Friday night when there were no hotel rooms locally available and I had to catch a Saturday morning, 9 a.m. flight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tuesday night it was four and a half hours, and the last time out of here two and a half hours.
LEITER: Any flight cutbacks at O'Hare could have a big downside for travelers across the country. A smaller supply of flights combined with strong demand could ultimately mean higher fares.
Lisa Leiter for CNN Financial News, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we know we want to know what you think about this this morning. Is the solution to the airport-delay problem a public or a private one? Should the government get involved? E-mail us now. The address: DAYBREAK@cnn.com, DAYBREAK@cnn.com. And if you have an airport horror story, we'd love to hear that too.
Go on, get comfortable. Here's what we've got coming up for you:
At 19 after the hour, she is the female face of the Iraqi prison- abuse scandal. And now the government is making its case against Private First Class Lynndie England. We've got details of her first day in court.
At 5:33, she called it "a beautiful relationship." But the judge called her affair with a child student rape and sentenced her to seven years. And now, Mary Kay Letourneau is out of jail.
And at 5:46, imagine seeing colors when you hear music or spell out of the days of the week. For some, it's just how the brain weeks.
Those stories and more coming your away, but first here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Dow Jones took a plunge at the closing yesterday. The Dow opens this morning nearly 59 points down. The Nasdaq is lower by 32 points -- almost 33 points actually. And the S&P 500 down almost 7 points this morning.
Let's find out what's going on in the European markets as a result of that. For that, we head live to London and Robyn Curnow.
Good morning, Robyn.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. How are you doing? And, of course, the big news here, as it is in the U.S., is in fact these are the numbers that are really impacting on global markets. Just look at these oil-price numbers: $44 a barrel, more than $44 dollars a barrel. These are record highs for the oil prices.
Brent crude here in London - look at what that's trading at! Forty dollars and seventy-two - seventy-four cents a barrel. These are red hot, and they really are infusing these markets here in Europe with some very negative sentiment.
Just look - all the arrows pointing very much down. In particular, the German DAX is down one and a half percent. It's cameled (ph) some of its losses of the day. It was done nearly 2 percent a little bit earlier on today. But really, these markets feeling the pinch of these high oil prices, real concerns about oil supply. And of course, all of that is coming out of concerns about Russian output, about geopolitical instability in the Middle East. All of that paying - playing into these markets.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: Robyn Curnow, live in London, thank you.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:17 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning:
Four Jordanians held hostage in Iraq are now free. The brother of one of the hostages says they are all now safe in Jordan. The four were being held in Fallujah.
Could Shaquille O'Neal be called to testify in the Kobe Bryant trial? Hmm. "Sports Illustrated" reports that O'Neal and a Florida waitress could be called by prosecutors. The waitress claims Bryant groped her at a party hosted by Bryant's former teammate.
In money news, Halliburton will have to pay $7.5 million to settle charges the company misled investors while Vice President Dick Cheney was in charge. The case centers on accounting charges made by the company in 1980 - or, 1998 rather.
In culture - oh, to be a star, I (ph). Cleveland plays host today to the first round of "American Idol" auditions. More than 15,000 wannabes have been waiting in line throughout the night for their chance at stardom.
In sports, the Americans got spanked in a big way in preparation for the Olympics. The U.S. basketball team lost to Italy by 17 points. It is the worst lost since Team USA began using pro-players back in '92.
Ooh, that's embarrassing, Rob.
MARCIANO: No, it' s just - it's a little ploy. It's called sandbagging.
(LAUGHTER) MARCIANO: Yes, just get them, get the confidence built up and then we'll take it to them in the real (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
COSTELLO: I hope you're right.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Private First Class Lynndie England is expected to return to a military courtroom today for day two of her Article 32 hearing. Tuesday was a pretty rough day for the 21-year-old.
CNN's Susan Candiotti tells us more about that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a day of embarrassing testimony for the diminutive, 6-month pregnant reservists from rural West Virginia. Twenty-one-year-old Private First Class Lynndie England appeared uncomfortable facing witnesses, who described not only her alleged role in abusing Iraqi prisoners, but detailed, sexually explicit photos of England with other soldiers.
The lead investigator testified England was asked why she posed with naked Iraqi detainees stacked in a human pyramid, why she agreed to hold a dog leash tied around the neck of another nude detainee. He said England offered this explanation: "It was just for fun."
As for all the guards involved, these words: "They didn't think it was that big a deal. They were joking around."
The investigator testified that only once when England was first questioned did she mention military intelligence, that she said agents told guards it was OK to rough up these suspected rapists.
When testimony turned to others, more personal photographs, as her mother looked on, England turned away and dropped her head. When England left at the lunch break, she did not return for the afternoon session. Her lawyer said she had called her doctor, who asked her to come in. He would not elaborate, other than to say it had been a difficult day for her.
RICHARD HERNANDEZ, ATTORNEY FOR LYNNDIE ENGLAND: She's as stressed as anyone else would be if you were a 20-year-old - 21-year- old young lady who's facing 30 years for pictures, intimate photographs that are - you would see at Mardi Gras on spring break. But not in this case. She's facing 30 years.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): For now, England is keeping her silence at this investigative hearing. She spoke only briefly in court, saying the defense does not plan to call any witnesses. But she is expected in court on Wednesday to hear more of the government's case against her.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Hurricane Alex bears down on the Outer Banks, whipping up sand and surf with 100 mph winds. We'll see how things fared out there in North Carolina.
And we will read some of your e-mails this morning. The "Question of the Day": fewer airport delays: is the solution public or private? Should the government get involved? We want to hear from you. The address: DAYBREAK@cnn.com
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We are starting a new segment this morning, and Rob, you get to be in on it.
MARCIANO: I...
COSTELLO: This is exciting. It's time to check our "Web Clicks" this morning.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: What stories are really getting our audience's attention.
MARCIANO: All right.
COSTELLO: Let's go to cnn.com now. This is - these are stories that are the most clicked-on on the CNN Web site.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: No. 1...
MARCIANO: Which is one of the more popular Web sites on the Web.
COSTELLO: The most popular Web site in America, in the world.
MARCIANO: Who needs the promotions department when you have Carol Costello?
COSTELLO: (LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: All right.
COSTELLO: Anyway, the - the most popular story clicked-on on our Web site is about Mary Kay Letourneau. Of course, the Washington state teacher. She was released from prison this morning, and of course she was serving a sentence for having a sexual relationship with her 12-year-old student, who is now 21.
MARCIANO: He's a man now, and we'll have to see what happens next.
COSTELLO: Yes. MARCIANO: It's legal now.
COSTELLO: The second most clicked-on story: "Granddaughter, Teen Friend Caught in Double Slaying." Two teenage girls in Georgia allegedly stabbed one of the girl's grandparents to death. Nobody knows why, but the girls are still out there, somewhere. And the family is now begging them to come home.
The third most popular clicked-on story: "Girl Testifies Disney's Tigger Molested Her."
MARCIANO: No. Say it ain't so.
COSTELLO: Well, that's what he's saying.
(LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: There's no way Tigger could molest (ph) a little girl.
COSTELLO: Tigger - see the character dressed up. He was supposedly taking a picture with this 13-year-old girl, and she claimed he allegedly touched her breast. He says he didn't do it. In the words of his attorney, "this defendant knew where his paws were at all times."
MARCIANO: And probably couldn't feel anything anyway, through (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
COSTELLO: That's what he's saying.
MARCIANO: Why would he do it?
COSTELLO: Well, they're in court now. We'll see.
All right. So, what do you think? Want to see more coverage of a certain story? Do you think we're doing a good job? Shoot - shoot us an e-mail, DAYBREAK@cnn.com. Let it all out. Tell us what you want to see more of.
Oh, and today's e-mail question. We should...
MARCIANO: Is it?
COSTELLO: We should slide this by people again. See, we're all confused because this is a new segment.
MARCIANO: I thought it was just me.
What are we doing? Am I supposed to read something?
COSTELLO: No, no, no. It's OK.
MARCIANO: No? Are we done?
COSTELLO: No. No, not yet. You have to sit there and listen to me for just another second. (LAUGHTER)
Our e-mail "Question of the Day": Do you think the government should get involved in overcrowding at the nation's airports?
You know, Chicago's O'Hare airport has a terrible record when it comes to on-time flights. The government now wants to get involved. We want to know if you think that's a good idea. DAYBREAK@cnn.com.
Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-openers" right now.
This truck took a wrong turn near Long Beach. You're going to see it soon. The semi left the freeway and ended up in the back of someone's house. No one was injured in the wreck. Police are still looking into what caused the truck to build its own off-ramp.
One Marine reservists has five good reasons to skip his deployment to Iraq. Josh Horton and his wife have quintuplets on the way, but the couple decided he should go, even though the Marines offered him a way out. Still, he plans to back in time for the quints' birth.
Ever wanted to own your own ice cream shop? In Dayton, Ohio, you can get one for just $100. Alice Lacompte (ph) is planning to raffle off her business so she can retire. Tickets cost $100 each. Lacompte says she'll go through with the raffle if she can sell 1,500 tickets.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK:
A troubled teacher is free this morning. Up next, we'll have details of her past.
Also, Kobe Bryant could be in the hot seat. Find out what one potential witness says happened to her at the hands of the NBA superstar.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
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Aired August 4, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: She went to jail for raping a 12- year-old boy. Today, the onetime grade-school teacher gets out of jail.
It is Wednesday, August 4. This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news:
News just coming into us now: that teacher who served seven years in prison for a sexual relationship with a sixth grader has just been set free. A corrections official in Washington states confirmed less than 30 minutes ago that Mary Kay Letourneau has been released.
The woman whose smiling face was seen in many of those notorious Abu Ghraib Prison pictures is due back in court today. Day two of Army Private Lynndie England's preliminary hearing begins at 11:30 a.m. Eastern at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The 9/11 commission report goes under the microscope again four hours from now. This time, it's the House Select Intelligence Committee's turn to examine the panel's recommendation.
Hurricane Alex has done its damage, flooding homes, cars and roads on North Carolina's Outer Banks. The storm is moving out, but expect high surf and rip currents along the Carolina coast today.
Chad is traveling home from North Carolina. Rob Marciano graces us with his presence once again.
Good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, stop it (ph). Chad's trying out. Did you see him out there yesterday getting blown around in the rain (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
COSTELLO: Yes. I told him that umbrella wasn't going to be enough.
MARCIANO: No. Well, we knew that. But it looks like he was having - you know, that - pretty good storm, you know, just kind of brushed the coast line. The folks that typically get hit pretty hard got hit with some good winds, and obviously there was some damage. But not too out of the ordinary as far as what the Outer Banks would expect during hurricane season.
These are the some of the wind gusts. 120-mile winner out of Ocracoke terminal there. At Cape Hatteras, 102-mile-an-hour wind gusts. Cape Lookout, 64, and then it goes on down the line. So definitely verifying it was a category 2 hurricane. Our first one of the season, Alex. And if we have our next one to be named, which could very well happen today or tomorrow as hurricane hunter aircraft head out into the Caribbean, the next line would be - or name would be Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The 9/11 report is on the fast track. This morning, the panel's recommendations will be examined by the House Select Intelligence Committee. House and Senate committees already have had several hearings.
Two of the 9/11 commission members, one Republican and one Democrat, are questioning President Bush's proposal for a national intelligence chief. They insist the new intelligence chief must have real power over the budget and staff of all 15 U.S. spy agencies.
Now to Britain's anti-terrorism efforts. Police there have rounded up 13 suspected terrorists and are conducting searches of their homes.
Our Diana Muriel is following developments in London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: British police have confirmed that 13 men have been arrested in a series of raids that took place across the U.K. on Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening. The operation took place in four locations: northwest London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Lancashire, although police are not giving any more details as to their precise locations.
The suspects are all understood to be in their 20's or 30's, and they are being held under the Terrorism Act 2000, as part of a pre- planned, ongoing intelligence-led operation. They're being held on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Police have also issued a number of search warrants for residential premises at the locations at which the men were arrested. And those searches are ongoing. Police say they could take some time to complete.
Scotland Yard has also confirmed that all the suspects have been brought to a central London police station. In the past, suspects who have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 have been brought here, to Paddington Green Station in West London for interrogation. Police have two weeks in which they must press charges against these suspects or let them go.
Diana Muriel, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: And you can get more details on the arrest of those terror suspects by logging onto our Web site at cnn.com.
New travel warnings from the State Department this morning. Officials are advising you to stay away from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. That's in response to the recent kidnapping of an American in the West Bank and threats made by terrorist groups in the region. The State Department also says stay out of Uzbekistan. That warning follows suicide bombings there last week.
Gay marriage will not be legal in Missouri. An overwhelming majority of voters approved a ban on same-sex marriages there. Ban opponents say they knew it was an uphill battle in Missouri. It's the first such vote since Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriages last year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEV EHLEN, COALITION TO PROTECT MARRIAGE: I'm very excited, very thankful that - that we won. And like I said, Missouri has spoken and I'm -- I'm not surprised that Missouri came out loud and clear that marriage is important and we'll do whatever we have to do to protect that institution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF IVLINROW, CONSTITUTION DEFENSE LEAGUE: Amendment 2 is significant for everyone in Missouri because the threat is that we will be using our constitution to limit the rights of a group of Missourians for the first time ever, which is absolutely wrong. We - the constitution should always to protect and expand rights, never take them away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Four other states already have constitutional bans against same-sex marriage: Hawaii, Alaska, Nebraska and Nevada. As many as 12 other states have similar measures on the ballot later this year.
A Utah judge has now set bail for Mark Hacking at $500,000 cash. This despite new court documents that further implicate the Utah man in the disappearance of his pregnant wife.
Miguel Marquez has your update.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the document police used to charge Mark Hacking with murder, police lay out their case.
David Yocum, the Salt Lake County district attorney, the man who will prosecute Mark Hacking, reads from the report. It lays out what police say Mark Hacking told a witness while at a Salt Lake City psychiatric hospital just days after reporting his wife missing.
DAVID YOCUM, SALT LAKE CO. DISTRICT ATTY.: Mark Hacking told this reliable citizen witness that he killed Lori while she was asleep in bed, and disposed of her body in a Dumpster.
MARQUEZ: The report also indicates that police found a mattress in a Dumpster near the Hacking residence and that the tags on it matched those on a box spring in the Hacking's bedroom. Mark Hacking purchased a new mattress the day he reported his wife missing.
And there is other evidence. Security cam video from a Salt Lake City convenience store shows Mark Hacking entering the store at 1:18 a.m. on Monday, July 19, hour before he reported his wife missing. Hacking enters along with an unrelated customer and buys a pack of Camel lime twist cigarettes. The store's management says the clerk reported that there was nothing strange about Mark Hacking's demeanor or the transaction. Hacking is seen examining his hands, sighing heavily, then purchasing the Camels. He walks off, then returns after forgetting his change.
When he leaves, security cameras catch one more glimpse of Mark Hacking, driving away in his wife's car. The company's spokesman says the entire transaction lasted two to three minutes.
(on camera): In another piece of video from that same store, Mark and Lori Hacking are seen entering just hours before Mark Hacking purchased those cigarettes, about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 18. It may be the last glimpse we have of Lori Hacking alive.
Mark Hacking's attorney, Gil Athay, will not comment on how he will defend this case until, he says, he sees all the evidence. But he does say an insanity plea is possible.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Salt Lake City, Utah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: To another high-profile case: the Scott Peterson trial. Did Peterson know his wife was never coming home? That's what prosecutors contend. Evidence showed that Scott Peterson added hard- core pornography channels to a satellite TV service two weeks after his wife disappeared. The defense says the testimony is just a ploy to sway jurors. A source close to the case tells CNN that Peterson's mistress, Amber Frey, is expected to testify at the beginning of next week.
Here's some other stories making news "Across America" this Wednesday:
Criminal charges expected this morning in last October's fatal ferry accident. Assistant Captain Richard Smith, who was piloting the Staten Island Ferry when it crashed, is expected to plead guilty in court just about five hours from now. The indictment includes 11 counts of manslaughter. Smith, the boat's captain and other ferry officials will be named as defendants. In Georgia, a two-day search is over for a 4-year-old boy who wandered away from his home in the middle of the night. The toddler was found in a vacant house nearly a mile away from his suburban Atlanta home. The owner of the vacant house found the boy sleeping on the floor right in front of the refrigerator.
It's been a rough week for a group of Iraqis visiting Memphis. The seven civic leaders were denied entrance to city hall due to what the city council chairman called "security concerns." And they were also kept out of the National Civil Rights Museum because a film crew was using the building. But all was not lost: at least one of the Iraqi delegates did get to visit Graceland.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: If you're a frequent flier, this probably will not be breaking news to you: Flight delays at Chicago's O'Hare Airport are commonplace, and it's only getting worse. Things are so bad that the transportation secretary is holding a meeting today with domestic airlines that fly into O'Hare to talk about flight cutbacks.
CNN's Lisa Leiter has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA LEITER, CNNfn CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some frequent fliers have one word to describe their experience at O'Hare:
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A nightmare.
LEITER: This year, the world's busiest airport in terms of flights is also the most delayed: 14,500 flights failed to arrive on time in May alone. And that's a record.
Because almost 5 percent of total domestic flights go through O'Hare, the problems in Chicago create a ripple of backups elsewhere. The average arrival delay was up by 25 percent at other top airports between November and May.
JAY FRANKE, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY: When O'Hare goes down, it affects the entire system, just as if the central electrical box in your house blew a fuse - blew several fuses, would affect the whole house. Same thing with the air-traffic system.
LEITER: The FAA blames the problem partly on bad weather, but mostly on overscheduling. O'Hare handled 6,000 more flights in June than it did in June of last year. And while the long-term solution may mean more runways at O'Hare, air-traffic controllers say they need relief now.
RAY GIBBONS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSN.: The system is truly being kept together by a thread. And that's what concerns us: not enough people; an aging, overburdened workforce handling higher levels of traffic is not necessarily the best recipe for safety.
LEITER: Since March, United and American have cut O'Hare flights during peak hours by 7 and a half percent. But the impact was only temporary because smaller carriers added more service, only adding to some travelers' frustration.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I always expect delays.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've slept here overnight on a Friday night when there were no hotel rooms locally available and I had to catch a Saturday morning, 9 a.m. flight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tuesday night it was four and a half hours, and the last time out of here two and a half hours.
LEITER: Any flight cutbacks at O'Hare could have a big downside for travelers across the country. A smaller supply of flights combined with strong demand could ultimately mean higher fares.
Lisa Leiter for CNN Financial News, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we know we want to know what you think about this this morning. Is the solution to the airport-delay problem a public or a private one? Should the government get involved? E-mail us now. The address: DAYBREAK@cnn.com, DAYBREAK@cnn.com. And if you have an airport horror story, we'd love to hear that too.
Go on, get comfortable. Here's what we've got coming up for you:
At 19 after the hour, she is the female face of the Iraqi prison- abuse scandal. And now the government is making its case against Private First Class Lynndie England. We've got details of her first day in court.
At 5:33, she called it "a beautiful relationship." But the judge called her affair with a child student rape and sentenced her to seven years. And now, Mary Kay Letourneau is out of jail.
And at 5:46, imagine seeing colors when you hear music or spell out of the days of the week. For some, it's just how the brain weeks.
Those stories and more coming your away, but first here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Dow Jones took a plunge at the closing yesterday. The Dow opens this morning nearly 59 points down. The Nasdaq is lower by 32 points -- almost 33 points actually. And the S&P 500 down almost 7 points this morning.
Let's find out what's going on in the European markets as a result of that. For that, we head live to London and Robyn Curnow.
Good morning, Robyn.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. How are you doing? And, of course, the big news here, as it is in the U.S., is in fact these are the numbers that are really impacting on global markets. Just look at these oil-price numbers: $44 a barrel, more than $44 dollars a barrel. These are record highs for the oil prices.
Brent crude here in London - look at what that's trading at! Forty dollars and seventy-two - seventy-four cents a barrel. These are red hot, and they really are infusing these markets here in Europe with some very negative sentiment.
Just look - all the arrows pointing very much down. In particular, the German DAX is down one and a half percent. It's cameled (ph) some of its losses of the day. It was done nearly 2 percent a little bit earlier on today. But really, these markets feeling the pinch of these high oil prices, real concerns about oil supply. And of course, all of that is coming out of concerns about Russian output, about geopolitical instability in the Middle East. All of that paying - playing into these markets.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: Robyn Curnow, live in London, thank you.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:17 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning:
Four Jordanians held hostage in Iraq are now free. The brother of one of the hostages says they are all now safe in Jordan. The four were being held in Fallujah.
Could Shaquille O'Neal be called to testify in the Kobe Bryant trial? Hmm. "Sports Illustrated" reports that O'Neal and a Florida waitress could be called by prosecutors. The waitress claims Bryant groped her at a party hosted by Bryant's former teammate.
In money news, Halliburton will have to pay $7.5 million to settle charges the company misled investors while Vice President Dick Cheney was in charge. The case centers on accounting charges made by the company in 1980 - or, 1998 rather.
In culture - oh, to be a star, I (ph). Cleveland plays host today to the first round of "American Idol" auditions. More than 15,000 wannabes have been waiting in line throughout the night for their chance at stardom.
In sports, the Americans got spanked in a big way in preparation for the Olympics. The U.S. basketball team lost to Italy by 17 points. It is the worst lost since Team USA began using pro-players back in '92.
Ooh, that's embarrassing, Rob.
MARCIANO: No, it' s just - it's a little ploy. It's called sandbagging.
(LAUGHTER) MARCIANO: Yes, just get them, get the confidence built up and then we'll take it to them in the real (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
COSTELLO: I hope you're right.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Private First Class Lynndie England is expected to return to a military courtroom today for day two of her Article 32 hearing. Tuesday was a pretty rough day for the 21-year-old.
CNN's Susan Candiotti tells us more about that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a day of embarrassing testimony for the diminutive, 6-month pregnant reservists from rural West Virginia. Twenty-one-year-old Private First Class Lynndie England appeared uncomfortable facing witnesses, who described not only her alleged role in abusing Iraqi prisoners, but detailed, sexually explicit photos of England with other soldiers.
The lead investigator testified England was asked why she posed with naked Iraqi detainees stacked in a human pyramid, why she agreed to hold a dog leash tied around the neck of another nude detainee. He said England offered this explanation: "It was just for fun."
As for all the guards involved, these words: "They didn't think it was that big a deal. They were joking around."
The investigator testified that only once when England was first questioned did she mention military intelligence, that she said agents told guards it was OK to rough up these suspected rapists.
When testimony turned to others, more personal photographs, as her mother looked on, England turned away and dropped her head. When England left at the lunch break, she did not return for the afternoon session. Her lawyer said she had called her doctor, who asked her to come in. He would not elaborate, other than to say it had been a difficult day for her.
RICHARD HERNANDEZ, ATTORNEY FOR LYNNDIE ENGLAND: She's as stressed as anyone else would be if you were a 20-year-old - 21-year- old young lady who's facing 30 years for pictures, intimate photographs that are - you would see at Mardi Gras on spring break. But not in this case. She's facing 30 years.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): For now, England is keeping her silence at this investigative hearing. She spoke only briefly in court, saying the defense does not plan to call any witnesses. But she is expected in court on Wednesday to hear more of the government's case against her.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Hurricane Alex bears down on the Outer Banks, whipping up sand and surf with 100 mph winds. We'll see how things fared out there in North Carolina.
And we will read some of your e-mails this morning. The "Question of the Day": fewer airport delays: is the solution public or private? Should the government get involved? We want to hear from you. The address: DAYBREAK@cnn.com
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We are starting a new segment this morning, and Rob, you get to be in on it.
MARCIANO: I...
COSTELLO: This is exciting. It's time to check our "Web Clicks" this morning.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: What stories are really getting our audience's attention.
MARCIANO: All right.
COSTELLO: Let's go to cnn.com now. This is - these are stories that are the most clicked-on on the CNN Web site.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: No. 1...
MARCIANO: Which is one of the more popular Web sites on the Web.
COSTELLO: The most popular Web site in America, in the world.
MARCIANO: Who needs the promotions department when you have Carol Costello?
COSTELLO: (LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: All right.
COSTELLO: Anyway, the - the most popular story clicked-on on our Web site is about Mary Kay Letourneau. Of course, the Washington state teacher. She was released from prison this morning, and of course she was serving a sentence for having a sexual relationship with her 12-year-old student, who is now 21.
MARCIANO: He's a man now, and we'll have to see what happens next.
COSTELLO: Yes. MARCIANO: It's legal now.
COSTELLO: The second most clicked-on story: "Granddaughter, Teen Friend Caught in Double Slaying." Two teenage girls in Georgia allegedly stabbed one of the girl's grandparents to death. Nobody knows why, but the girls are still out there, somewhere. And the family is now begging them to come home.
The third most popular clicked-on story: "Girl Testifies Disney's Tigger Molested Her."
MARCIANO: No. Say it ain't so.
COSTELLO: Well, that's what he's saying.
(LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: There's no way Tigger could molest (ph) a little girl.
COSTELLO: Tigger - see the character dressed up. He was supposedly taking a picture with this 13-year-old girl, and she claimed he allegedly touched her breast. He says he didn't do it. In the words of his attorney, "this defendant knew where his paws were at all times."
MARCIANO: And probably couldn't feel anything anyway, through (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
COSTELLO: That's what he's saying.
MARCIANO: Why would he do it?
COSTELLO: Well, they're in court now. We'll see.
All right. So, what do you think? Want to see more coverage of a certain story? Do you think we're doing a good job? Shoot - shoot us an e-mail, DAYBREAK@cnn.com. Let it all out. Tell us what you want to see more of.
Oh, and today's e-mail question. We should...
MARCIANO: Is it?
COSTELLO: We should slide this by people again. See, we're all confused because this is a new segment.
MARCIANO: I thought it was just me.
What are we doing? Am I supposed to read something?
COSTELLO: No, no, no. It's OK.
MARCIANO: No? Are we done?
COSTELLO: No. No, not yet. You have to sit there and listen to me for just another second. (LAUGHTER)
Our e-mail "Question of the Day": Do you think the government should get involved in overcrowding at the nation's airports?
You know, Chicago's O'Hare airport has a terrible record when it comes to on-time flights. The government now wants to get involved. We want to know if you think that's a good idea. DAYBREAK@cnn.com.
Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-openers" right now.
This truck took a wrong turn near Long Beach. You're going to see it soon. The semi left the freeway and ended up in the back of someone's house. No one was injured in the wreck. Police are still looking into what caused the truck to build its own off-ramp.
One Marine reservists has five good reasons to skip his deployment to Iraq. Josh Horton and his wife have quintuplets on the way, but the couple decided he should go, even though the Marines offered him a way out. Still, he plans to back in time for the quints' birth.
Ever wanted to own your own ice cream shop? In Dayton, Ohio, you can get one for just $100. Alice Lacompte (ph) is planning to raffle off her business so she can retire. Tickets cost $100 each. Lacompte says she'll go through with the raffle if she can sell 1,500 tickets.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK:
A troubled teacher is free this morning. Up next, we'll have details of her past.
Also, Kobe Bryant could be in the hot seat. Find out what one potential witness says happened to her at the hands of the NBA superstar.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
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