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CNN Live Sunday

Gunfire Breaks Out in New York State Shopping Mall; Interview with Janet Reno

Aired February 13, 2005 - 18:00   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.


VOICE OF MICHAEL TRANI: Pretty much got out of the mall pretty fast. There was nobody stopping any cars. There was, you know, nobody checking for any kind of identification or anything like that, but it was extremely difficult to get out of the mall with the traffic, you know, was just backed up. There were just people everywhere. It was kind of calm getting out, but there was just cars everywhere. You couldn't. It took quite a long time to get out of the area.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They were asking people lots of questions?

TRANI: Correct.

KAYE: OK. All right. Michael Trani inside the mall bringing us his point of view from what happened in there. Glad to hear that you got out safely Michael Trani. Thank you very much. From CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, once again I'm Randi Kaye in for Carol Lin. We are following a breaking story in New York State. Gunshots have broken out inside a crowded mall in the town of Ulster in the Hudson Valley, about 90 miles north of New York City. We're hearing that anywhere from one person to as many as five have been wounded. The mall is now under lockdown and at least one gunman is in custody.

Wayne Platte, an assistant fire chief was inside the mall when the shots rang out and he joins us now by phone. Deputy, can you give us the very latest from there?

VOICE OF DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF WAYNE PLATTE, KINGSTON, N.Y.: I have just as much information as you do now. I haven't gotten anything official from anybody out in the field. What you probably know is that they've had one person is custody, I'm told and possibly five patients who had some wounds from the gunfire. That's all I have at this time.

KAYE: We are waiting here for a news conference, a press conference to bring us the very latest information. But, while we have you, can you talk us through, given that you are the assistant fire chief in town, talk us through what would happen in a situation like this. How security and folks like yourself would end up there at the mall. What is the proper procedure there in the case of a shooting at the mall?

PLATTE: Well, let me just begin by saying, this happened in a jurisdiction adjacent to the city. It's still considered a Kingston address, but it is in the actual adjacent district. But from the fire department standpoint, we would most likely be assigned to a staging area, especially at this time, when the police agency I'm understanding that the mall is still not secured. So, we would not bring our units into a dangerous area at this time. We would actually be staging at a safe place until we got the all clear from the police agencies to come on in.

KAYE: And how many of your men are there on the scene?

PLATTE: I have no men from my jurisdiction. I'm not sure how many from the surrounding communities are there. Like I said, this is an adjoining jurisdiction. My involvement with this today, I was actually off duty at the time and, shopping at the mall when this incident took place. That's how I became involved in it. So, I'm not sure how many firefighters are actively involved at a staging area at this time.

KAYE: And when you say the mall is still not secure, we understand it is still on lockdown. Any idea who might still be inside? Are we talking about shoppers? Are we talking about employees? Are we talking about gunman?

PLATTE: Probably the police department and the agencies involved are considering all three of those, the patrons, the employees and any possible additional perpetrators at this time. So that is probably why they still have it a lockdown, just to make sure that they've accounted for everybody who has to be accounted for.

KAYE: One man in custody is what we've been reporting and you confirmed that for is. Do you know anything about this man?

PLATTE: No, I don't. I haven't received anything on this fellow at all.

KAYE: And do you know yet if any weapons have been recovered?.

PLATTE: No, I don't.

KAYE: OK. All right. Deputy Chief Platte, thank you very much. We will get back to you a little bit later on this evening. In the meantime, we want to turn to Craig Baker, who is a CNN producer. He lives nearby. Good evening Craig.

CRAIG BAKER, CNN PRODUCER: Hi. How are you?

KAYE: Good. How are you?

BAKER: I'm fantastic.

KAYE: Well, you live nearby. Give us an idea of what the area is like and your familiarity with this mall.

BAKER: I'm actually from upstate New York and I'm actually in town visiting some of my in-laws. But, this part of upstate New York has become in the past couple years a bedroom community for New York City. People commute from here down to New York. I'm across from the mall at a shopping store, in which police told me that they are going to be bringing people by bus who were in the mall to let them, I guess, release them here, off the bus. There's some families waiting for members of their families who were in the mall here. I haven't been able to get any information about, from them about their family members, conditions or anything like that. But, they're supposed to have a press conference a little later, here, at the food store.

KAYE: And have you seen people being interviewed? What is the situation there? Are people able to leave the mall parking lot freely because we're looking at a live picture there with lights and the situation there, certainly law enforcement on the scene.

BAKER: I'm seeing some cars that are you know, like, leaving occasionally, not a lot. But, the police do have it blocked off with their cars and people seem to be freely leaving. There are some onlookers outside across the street. Police are keeping them away from the mall, on route 9W, which goes along in front of it. They are not letting anybody close to it and everybody seems to be pretty calm.

KAYE: Have you had a chance -- I know you've had a chance to talk with police a little bit, but have you had a chance to talk with any of the people who were inside the mall?

BAKER: No, I haven't yet. I haven't met anybody yet. I have only met members of families who have people who are still in the mall.

KAYE: And what is that like for these families as they stand on the sidelines, not knowing if there's a gunman inside, not knowing if their family might still be inside. Have you had a chance to just see where they are at emotionally as they wait?

BAKER: A lot of them are very concerned. They don't know. They're getting very little information, about as much information as we're getting and there seems to be a genuine concern for the well- being of their other family members.

KAYE: And are people coming over to sort of brief them and let them know what the situation is or are they just left there to wonder?

BAKER: No. They are kind of loitering here in the parking lot across from the mall with police. Across the street to me, (INAUDIBLE) street the mall to talk to police at the entrances and all they're telling them is that they are going to have buses come to the store over here.

KAYE: And what do you know or what do the folks that you're visiting know about this mall? Has it had problems before?

BAKER: Not that I'm aware of. In the past, I've been -- I lived in the area for about 14 years and the Hudson Valley -- it is a very calm area that is never really very many problems around here that you hear of. It's -- you know, it's close to New York City. It's close to upstate and Massachusetts and it's easy to go over to Connecticut from here and people live here tend to want to live in a place that's quiet and calm and safe and I'm sure this is very disturbing to them.

KAYE: I'm sure. All right. Craig Baker who is there on the scene for us, stand-by if you would, just in case we want to revisit with you in just a moment, but, as we take a look again at these live pictures here of the mall parking lot, you can see some police cars there, some law enforcement units, and just a few seconds ago, we were showing you how empty the parking lot is there at the Hudson Valley mall in Kingston, New York, about 90 miles north of New York City. If you're just joining us, we can tell you that there was a shooting there this afternoon, anywhere from one to five people injured. That is in the community of Kingston, New York and joining us now is Bill Ferrono. He is a Radio Shack employee. He was in the mall at the time of the shooting today. Bill, can you hear us?

VOICE OF BILL FERRONO, RADIO SHACK EMPLOYEE: Oh, yes.

KAYE: Bill, if you would, take us through what you experienced there in the mall this afternoon.

FERRONO: In two words, I guess, I'd almost say, and I really hate to say it, is organized panic at first. I, like, came in from just getting my lunch at the food court and greeted a few people in the store and all of a sudden, you just see a crowd of people just like a pack of elephants and again these are civil people and all.

KAYE: And, how far is Radio Shack from where this shooting occurred?

FERRONO: Everyone is saying Best Buy. I've heard Best Buy. I've heard Dick's (ph), people coming - well these shooters coming into the mall. I'm a matter of maybe 100 feet, 150 feet.

KAYE: And, did you see -- what did you see? Did you see people running? Did you see any of the alleged gunmen?

FERRONO: Well, I kind of got a glimpse of them, I'm pretty sure I did, but it's just all in the panic of things. Really, as soon as this happened and the people started in the mall flying down the hallway, we immediately just started getting people into our back room and out our back door except for one employee who actually went into the hallway and as soon as I got the last person to the back room and the other two employees at the store, I knew we were getting them out the back door, I went out looking for him and by then, all I seen was glass and smoke that could almost choke you.

KAYE: And Bill, if you would, tell us what you saw one of these gunmen wearing?

FERRONO: just looked like black pants, not like -- this whole trench coat mafia thing, not like that by no means.

KAYE: Bill, we're going to interrupt you right there. We want to take you live to a press conference and get you the very latest on the shooting. Let's listen in.

CAPT. WAYNE OLSON, NEW YORK STATE POLICE: The individual was firing rounds from an assault type rifle. We have one individual that was injured as a result of a gunshot wound. We have the possibility of a second victim who was injured possibly from shrapnel or flying glass. The victims are being treated at hospital facilities right now. We have one individual, a lone male gunmen to the best of our knowledge at this time who is in custody and at the Ulster police department, going through the interview process.

This individual was taken into custody when several witnesses in the mall observed him firing a rifle. When he was out of ammunition, he was apprehended by those witnesses in the mall and turned over to police authorities. We have members of several different agencies, actually probably 15 different police agencies working at the lockdown at the Ulster County at the Hudson Valley mall at this time. The mall is closed. It's going to be cleared and it probably will not reopen until sometime tomorrow. The agencies are working in concert to clear the mall. We have several different swat teams and mobile response teams at the mall at this time.

REPORTER: Do you believe that there is more than one gunmen?

OLSON: To the best of our knowledge at this time, it was a lone gunman.

REPORTER: Was this gang related?

OLSON: We don't actually know what it relates to at this point in time.

REPORTER: Was there a gang fight here last night?

OLSON: Well, there was no gang fight today that was part and parcel to this incident.

REPORTER: ...identification of the gunman?

OLSON: Excuse me.

REPORTER: ... or identifying...

OLSON: We're not releasing the identifying information on the gunman right now.

REPORTER: Do you have anyone in custody?

OLSON: We have one individual in custody. The chief can actually --

REPORTER: How many rounds did he fire?

OLSON: We don't know the exact number of rounds, a significant number as far as we can tell.

REPORTER: Do you know where it happened?

CHIEF PAUL WATZKA, ULSTER POLICE DEPT: The subject -- the subject entered Best Buy, started firing while walking through Best Buy. When he exited Best Buy into the corridor, that's when he was apprehended by a couple of the employees at the mall.

REPORTER: Was it mall security guards who caught him?

WATZKA: No, it was employees from one of the stores. We're not releasing the name at this time, 44-year-old.

REPORTER: How bad are the injuries of the two people who were injured?

WATZKA: The one injury is to the leg and the other injury we believe is a hand injury.

REPORTER: Which is which?

OLSON: The gunshot victim has a wound to his leg, just above the knee. The gunshot injury is to the victim's leg.

REPORTER: What is the other injury, the hand injury?

OLSON: We don't know what it was caused by. It could be flying glass. It cold be that the individual fell down. But, there's a minor injury.

REPORTER: Was this Best Buy store packed? It's amazing only one person was hit if this guy just opened fire.

WATZKA: We are still looking into it. We are still investigating it, talking to witnesses.

REPORTER: ... gunshot (INAUDIBLE) Army recruiter.

WATZKA: That is not true.

REPORTER: Have you recovered a weapon?

OLSON: Victims have been identified and their names are being withheld at this point.

REPORTER: Have you recovered a weapon sir?

WATZKA: Yes.

REPORTER: Are you going to tell us what kind of weapon you recovered?

OLSON: It is an assault type rifle.

REPORTER: Is it an AK-47?

OLSON: We're not saying specifically because we don't have that information. (INAUDIBLE) Actually, one victim has not been interviewed yet, undergone treatment, and we expect to interview that individual shortly.

REPORTER: What are the charges?

OLSON: There's a whole array of possible charges and we are not really going to go into that at this juncture. That will be released at a later time.

REPORTER: Was the gunman wearing a face mask? WATSKA: No.

REPORTER: What was he dressed as? (INAUDIBLE) reason for doing this.

WATSKA: We're really not going to go into that right now. Actually he's being interviewed as we speak.

REPORTER: Do you know if you got any of it on surveillance tape at the mall?

WATSKA: That will be part of our investigation.

REPORTER: Is there anything you can tell us about how it happened? He came in at 3:00. Did he say anything? Did he do anything?

OLSON: No. There is nothing more that we can really tell you about the incident itself right now. It is still in the investigative process and as we learn more, we might be able to release more but, to do so now would really be speculation.

KAYE: All right. You've been listening there to a live press conference, New York state police and Ulster Police Department involved in that press conference. Just to recap for you, a military- type rifle was recovered at the Hudson Valley mall in Kingston, New York. One person injured, a gunshot wound to the leg. Another second victim with a hand injury, may have been from shrapnel or glass. The individual who they are saying now, they believe was acting alone, a lone gunman 24 years old, is at the Ulster PD, police department, being interviewed and he was taken into custody apparently when his ammunition ran out and some store employees apprehended him. No motive yet, not clear on how many rounds fired. The mall remains locked down and it is unclear when that mall will reopen. So, once again, that is the very latest at this moment when that mall will reopen. So once again, that's the very latest for you on the shooting taking place this afternoon now and into this evening at the Hudson Valley mall in Kingston, New York, just about 90 miles north of New York City. Take a break here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The results are in, but the work has just begun. Two weeks after Iraq's historic election, the outcome is expected and unexpected at the same time. Here is the breakdown. The Shiite united Iraqi alliance got more than 47 percent of the 8 1/2 million votes cast. The Kurdish coalition came in second with more than 25 percent. And the Iraqi national accord, the ticket led by Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi was third with about 13 percent. The lack of outright majority means the Shiites must now reach out to their rivals to form a government. CNN's Nic Robertson reports from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even before the results were announced, there were complaints. Iraq's sizable Turkaman (ph) ethnic minority claiming disenfranchisement, but inside the results hall... FAYID AYER, IECI SPOKESMAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We congratulate everybody, those that won and those that didn't.

ROBERTSON: A mood of celebration the elections actually pulled off.

ADIL AL-LAMI, GEN DIR, ELECTORAL ADMIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The total number of votes for the national assembly, 8,456,266.

ROBERTSON: About 60 percent turnout. A little lower than Election Day optimism had many believe. The Sunni province of Al Anbar (ph) getting just 2 percent of possible voters going to the polls.

TRANSLATOR: The front for the Turkmens of Iraq, 73,791 votes.

ROBERTSON: As figures slowly emerged, few surprises. The religious United Iraqi Alliance, backed by Shia Islam's top Iraqi cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani garnering almost half the seats in the interim national assembly, their politicians quick to espouse inclusivity.

MOUWAFFAQ RUBAIE, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE: This is going to be a government of national reconciliation, a government of national unity, a national coalition, all communities, all free communities are going to take literally, a very strong position in this government.

ROBERTSON: Likely partners with the UIA, the Kurdish alliance, landing about one-quarter of the 275 seats. If the cooperation continues, the grouping quite possibly dominating the new political landscape and taking a lead role in shaping the new constitution.

BARHAM SALAH, KURDISH ALLIANCE: There should be no legislation that will violate the core values of Islam. I think that represents the area of consensus between Iraqi, different Iraqi political movements and communities. Any attempt to establish a fundamentalist religious state in Iraq will backfire.

ROBERTSON: Current Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's grouping gained about 38 seats. The other parties trailing much farther behind, leading some to question the process that gives little voice to independents and small parties.

(on-camera): A lesson, if one is to be learned in this fledgling democracy that unity works. The United Iraqi Alliance benefiting from the vision of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani. The future of Iraq now firmly in his hands and those the United Iraqi Alliance will share power with, as the political horse trading now gets underway in earnest. Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

KAYE: Here in the U.S., law makers are expressing satisfaction after learning the results of the Iraqi election. President Bush is also offering praise. CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As Iraqis announced their election results, the president was at church. Later, he released a statement careful not to give detailed reaction before the election is certified, saying in part, the United States and our coalition partners can all take pride in our role in making that great day possible. Going on to say, I congratulate the Iraqi people for defying terrorist threats and setting their country on the path of democracy and freedom.

Several U.S. law makers appeared relieved that the Shia majority party won under 50 percent of the vote and will now be forced to reach out to smaller ethnic groups to form a government.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R) MAJORITY LEADER: The fact that is Shiite have about 47, 48 percent leave open the possibility that minority coalitions can come together in this sort of parliamentary post- election give and take.

SEN. RICK SANTORUM (R) PENNSYLVANIA: I think it was a good thing that the Shiites can't just sort of dictate how things are to go.

BASH: A long-standing U.S. fear has been the majority Shia, oppressed under Saddam Hussein, would not deal with Sunnis and the result could be internal war.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R) INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: I think the chances of civil war have been significantly lessened and I think they are going to have a real experiment in democracy whether they know it or not.

BASH: Republicans and Democrats alike called the Iraq elections an opportunity for a cross-faction government, but warned Sunnis, who voted in modest numbers, must be engaged.

SEN. JOE BIDEN (D) DELAWARE: We are going to have to see more Sunnis brought into the constitution writing, if there is going to be any legitimacy at the end of the day.

BASH: For all the applause for democracy, one Democrat reminded, that wasn't the reason for war.

REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D) NEW YORK: I suspect that by Republican standards, today has been considered successful but I know one thing. The American people would not have voted for war at the loss of 1200 American lives, 25,00 wounded, an endless war just for this election.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: The U.S. death toll is actually now more than 1400 and though in many ways the hardest part, like a workable power sharing agreement and actually creating the government is just beginning. The White House hope is there will soon be enough civility to start bringing American troops home. Randi.

KAYE: Dana Bash, live for us on the White House lawn tonight. Thank you. Let's take a closer look at the Iraqi election results and what they mean for the country, its people and its neighbors. Ken Pollack, the director of research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy and a CNN analyst, joins us now from Washington. Good to see you, Ken.

KEN POLLACK, SABAN CENTER: Good to see you Randi.

KAYE: Any surprises with these election results?

POLLACK: No. I think that they pretty much turned out as expected. There was a good turnout, not as high as people had initially thought on Election Day. The Shia have the plurality but not a majority. The Kurds in second place, largely because Iraq's Sunni Arab population didn't come out to vote. This is all, everything that we expected, unfortunately nothing really great and surprising, but also nothing terrible and surprising.

KAYE: Now, the Sunnis, they didn't come out to vote, because they wanted to boycott the American presence there in Iraq. But how critical is it that the Shia and the Kurds get them involved in the government?

POLLACK: It is critical Randi. You heard all of those congressmen in Dana Bash's package explain how important it is and there's no way around that. If this government is going to be considered legitimate by the Sunni Arab community, which makes up almost 20 percent of Iraq's population and is the main driving force behind the insurgency, this government is going to have to reach out to Sunnis, Sunnis right now who are not represented in the national assembly. They have to be brought in for the writing of the constitution. Otherwise, Sunnis are just going to see the constitution as illegitimate and will keep on fighting.

KAYE: And what can we expect from that process in terms of the writing of the constitution?

POLLACK: Well, unfortunately, no one really knows Randi. What we've seen from the Iraqi parties is that they have a great deal of difficulty reaching these compromises. They are very far apart on some very fundamental issues. For example, the Kurds want de facto independence. They want a form of autonomy that goes way beyond what either the Shia or the Sunni Arabs want. By the same token, the Sunni Arabs want minority rights which the Kurds agree with them about but the Shia don't. On those issues what we've seen is typically the groups have not been able to reach a compromise until the United States has gone to them and said, you have to make a decision. You've got to make a compromise and you better do it by tomorrow. And only on those occasions have they been able to sit down and work out a rough compromise.

KAYE: You know, Ken, we talk so much about these elections. We've been doing so for so long now, but we don't hear a lot about what the Iraqis are expecting from the results of this election. What do you think they are, in your opinion? POLLACK: I think that is a critical question Randi, because what I continue to hear from Iraqis, and, also what I've seen in some of the early polls that we've seen is that, while Iraqis are glad that they now have a democratic form of government. That was something that they wanted, the thing that they want most from this government is not the stuff that you and I and most Americans are focusing on, the writing of this constitution. What they are focused on is whether this government can deliver on basic services: security, jobs, electricity, clean water and gasoline. That's what matters to Iraqis and that's what they're hoping that this new government is going to deliver and that is probably the biggest challenge for this new government, because, frankly, they don't have the resources to deliver on those things. Only the United States does.

KAYE: All right, Ken Pollack at the Brookings Institution, Saban Center, always a pleasure to get your insight on this topic. Thanks for being with us tonight.

POLLACK: Thank you Randi.

KAYE: We wanted to give you the very latest update now on our top story, the shooting at the mall in Kingston, New York. You are looking there at a picture of some law enforcement there on the scene. One gunman in custody, two injured, one with a gunshot wound. We'll have much more on this breaking story on the flip side of this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We are following a breaking story in New York state. Gunshots have broken out in a crowded mall in the town of Ulster in the Hudson Valley near Kingston about 90 miles north of New York City. We are hearing that two people have been wounded. The mall is under lockdown. And at least 1 gunman is in custody.

Wayne Platte, an assistant fire chief was inside the mall when the shots rang out. This is what he told us just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE PLATTE, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF: What I heard was a -- I saw a large crowd of people running down the hall. It looked as though they were moving in to observe a fight possibly. And, people had said then that they had some people with some guns down at the other end of the mall. And I heard a couple pops of gunfire, some more people running down the hall. And then, the shots got progressively louder. And it sounded like automatic weapon fire at the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: And we of course will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they warrant.

Now here is a quick look at other stories now in the news.

Clergy backed Shiites are the big winners of Iraq's historic election. They're group, the United Iraqi Alliance, won almost 48 percent of the vote. But, that's not enough to control the countries 275-member national assembly. Kurdish parties and a secular Shiite group were the other top vote getters.

Thousands turn out to commemorate the 60 anniversy of the allied fire bombing of Dresden, Germany. At least 35,000 people died in those World War II raids. U.S. and British ambassadors laid wreaths.

German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder said the anniversary is a time for people everywhere to unite against the inhumanity of war.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says is not planning to resign over the Iraq oil for food scandal. Two U.N. officials have been suspended over the scandal which allegedly involved illicit oil deals with Saddam Hussein. Annan saids U.N. members understand the complexity of the current investigation and fully support his leadership.

And the second leading scorer in NBA history is calling it quits. Basketball great Karl Malone announced his retirement today. The 41- year-old forward, nicknamed "the Mailman" played with the Utah Jazz for 18 season, then signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003. But he suffered a knee injury midseason and never fully recovered.

An amazing recovery story, twins conjoined at the head. Now, following surgery, they are walking. We'll talk to the doctor who performed the successful operation that separated them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It was more than a year ago when we first introduced you to Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrahim, Egyptian twins who were brought Texas to undergo a risky operation to separate them at the head. The boys, now 3-years-old recovered remarkably. Just last week, one of the twins underwent a second surgery to reconstruct his head.

Dr. David Genecov is one of the boy's primary surgeons. And he joins us now live from Dallas, Texas. Good evening, doctor. Thank you for being with us.

Tell us what was done to reconstruct Ahmed's skull?

DR. DAVID GENECOV, MEDICAL CITY DALLAS HOSPITAL: Well, after the boys were separated, the tops of their skulls were without bone. And, so the goal of the operation was then to create and environment in which bone would be reconstructed on the tops of their head.

KAYE: And we're looking at some video here as we hold this conversation with you. One of the boys, either Ahmed or Mohammed walking with a walker. That would be Ahmed. How is he doing following the surgery?

GENECOV: His surgery went very well. And he had an uncomplicated postoperative recovery. He has had no infections since the surgery. And, really recovered quite nicely. He's going to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow and, should be home, back at the apartment with his family. KAYE: What has it been like for the 2 boys over the last year and a half? Any sort of limitations for them?

GENECOV: Well, I think the boys -- if you can imagine growing up for the first year and a half of your life flat on your back without much upright movement. Suddenly, after an operation, becoming upright, it is quite a change for them. And they've had to undergo a significant amount of physical therapy and occupational therapy to get them to the point where they are today.

KAYE: So, now that Ahmed's surgery is complete, what is the plan for Mohammed?

GENECOV: Well in about a month, Mohammed will undergo his operation to reconstruct the top of his skull. And Mohammed without, hopefully, any problems like his brother, should have an excellent recovery.

The goal of the operation for both the boys is to put inside the scalp, under the scalp, on top of the dura that was recreated at the first operation a mixture, a milieu of proteins, that will stimulate the areas own potential to regrow their own bone.

KAYE: And what has been the key to success for these 2 boys? Why did this operation work?

GENECOV: Well, I think the operation worked mainly because we spent a long time, a little over a year to a year and a half, studying and learning and planning the operation. The operation was a joint effort. About 60 physicians and nurses led by, not only the plastic surgeons, but mainly the neurosurgeons.

The pediatric neurosurgery group at Medical City Childrens and at Childrens Medical Center were fantastic in their ability to separate the brains. And, the plastic surgeons from Medical City Childrens were able to create coverage. We were able to create coverage of their skull and of the brain such that they didn't have any infections. And I think that's the key to their success, no infections...

KAYE: The operation is itself is fascinating, but is there any concern about brain development for either one of these boys?

GENECOV: Well, I think, when you separate their brains, they're going to have some injury. And the boys, I think, will remain dependent on their physical therapy and their occupational therapy for their long-term success.

KAYE: And what has it been like for you and the medical staff there at Medical City Dallas Hospital? I imagine you've grown some what close to these boys. They certainly can your laert just looking at them there on the television screen. What has it been like? Has it been at all emotional for you and your staff?

GENECOV: I think that everyone has become attached to the boys. They are very endearing. They're very affectionate. They like to hug, and blow kisses. And they're very communicative.

I think -- it will be very difficult for all of us, the nurses, the physicians, their therapists, to let them go back home, which is our goal, to let them go back to Egypt and be with the rest of their family.

KAYE: Of course. Well, we certainly wish Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrahim and all of you there at Medical City Dallas Hospital best of luck. Dr. David Genecov, cranial, facial surgeon, thank you so much for your time tonight.

And, just ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, we are live at the Grammys with our own star, Toure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOURE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: The stars are trickling in here at the Grammys. I've seen MC Hammer, I've seen Bronson Arroyo from the Boston Red Sox.

And Janet Reno is here. She's working on an album. You heard that right. We're going to interview her live. You don't want to miss me talking to Janet Reno. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Oh, yes. Kanye West is one of the recording artists most eagerly awaiting tonight's Grammy awards. He has more nonimantions than anyone else, 10 in all.

And those in the music industry are holding their breathe, waiting to see who wins those coveted Grammy Awards tonight. Pop culture corresopndent Toure is on the red carpet at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, having way too much fun.

TOURE: I am having lots of fun out here. Guess what? I'm here with Janet Reno, former attorney general of the United States. My mother never thought I'd get to interview Janet Reno, but here I am.

What are you wearing? You look fantastic.

JANET RENO, FRM. ATTORNEY GENERAL: My nieces helped find this outfit for me. And I give them all the credit.

TOURE: It's fantastic.

Now, the two of you are working on an album together? Explain that to me.

RENO: Several years ago, I suggested to my nephew who had written an number of folk songs that he produce an album telling the history of America in song to reach kids who were turned off by history, who didn't find it relevent, because music is a wonderful way to open the doors for so many young people.

TOURE: And the album is called, "Songs of America." RENO: Well, that's the working title I think.

My nephew went out, saw what had been done, saw that there was nothing like this. Because we had envisioned, preparing materials for school teachers to go with the album to use it as a teaching tool.

And then, David, who has just won a Grammy for his Stephen Foster album, and Ed met up and started talking together, and they are now in the process of co-producing the album. I think it will be a wonderful way to educate and also to entertain all America.

TOURE: Now you know about pageantry from your days at the White House. How does the record business pageantry compare to White House pageantry?

RENO: Well, it's a little bit different.

TOURE: It is.

RENO: But, the beauty of music is, whether in pageant, or in a simple setting, it is the universeal language and can do so much to bring people together.

TOURE: You're a big music fan I take it?

RENO: I can't carry a tune, but music has been a part and parcel of all my life.

TOURE: Right. Right. Now, tell me the truth, wouldn't you really rather be home watching "Desperate Housewifes?"

RENO: One experience like this is very good for the soul.

TOURE: Absolutely. Absolutely.

Well, thank you very much. Back to you.

KAYE: All right. Toure, do you happen to know who is performing tonight?

TOURE: Yes, I do. We have a whole lot of performances: Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx will be performing together, dueting a Ray Charles tribute. We are going to have a big Southern rock tribute. We're going to have gospel tribute. It's going to be a fantastic night.

And, of course, the Anthonies are going to perform: Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. I hear they're going to be sining in Spanish. It could be great, it could be a disaster, we don't know. We are going to stay tuned. Back to you.

KAYE: All right. We'll see you back here tonight at 10:00. Toure, thank you.

Bruce Springsteen has a song up for best rock vocal in the Grammy awards tonight. His co-writer for that song is someone critics for decades have considered one of the best rock n' rollers ever and yet, you may have never heard his name.

CNN's Aaron Brown profiles this little known rocker with a big voice and a big heart. Pittsburgh's Joe Grushecky.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, SINGER: I'd like to bring out the most handsome man in the world of Pittsburgh show business. Joe Grushecky!

JOE GRUSHECKY, SINGER/SONGWRITER: I have a great band called the House Rockers. Recorded a lot of albums over the years.

AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Unless you're from Pittsburgh, you probably never heard of Joe Grushecky.

GRUSHECKY: The first record was out on MCA. It was in 1979. It was quite a thrill. I can just remember going home, remembering, I actually had a record. I made a record.

Rolling Stone called it the debut record of the year.

ANTHONY DECURTIS, ROLLING STONE: Everyone was really excited. This was the sound of the times. Muscular rock and roll. People, you know, people were really gripped by what they did.

GRUSHECKY: We came this close to making it, the big, big time.

ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Solid Gold!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Critics are saying they will soon be one of rock's superstar band. Here singing our pick hit of the week "Friday Night," the Iron City Houserockers.

BROWN: But Joe Grushecky never struck gold, never had a hit record just a family to support. So he decided to teach. And not teach the easy kids. Grushecky teaches severely disturbed children.

GRUSHEKCY: They're really the forgotten kids.

There was once upon a time when threre was TV without cable.

Some of their backgrounds are so unbelievably hard. You wonder how they survived on a day to day basis.

BROWN: Joe Grushecky has been doing this difficult, high burn- out job for more than 25 years. But this is still just his day job.

GRUSHECKY: Down to the bar, boys, one, two, three, four!

BROWN: By night, he still heads up what has been called one of the best bar bands in America.

(SINGING)

BROWN: A lot of his Grushecky's gig are for charities. Over the years, he's raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a multitude of causes.

GRUSHEKCY: I thought it was part of being an artist was giving back to the community.

(SINGING)

Bruce Springsteen and I met in New York City in 1980.

BROWN: Bruce Springsteen collaborates a lot with Grushecky. They even co-wrote some things.

(SINGING)

DECURTIS: Recently, Joe Grushecky called Bruce up to do a benefit for flood victims in Pennsylvania. They ended up raising a quarter of a million dollars.

(SINGING)

GRUSHECKY: The things would have worked differently now, I wouldn't be where I'm at right now. And I'm very happy with my wife and my family. I think it's silly to sit around think about what might have been or have regrets. Fame is really not important. And, how do you term success? i mean, I've certainly done just about everything I've set out to do, accept make a lot of money or have a big hit record.

DECURTIS: He's a working class guy. But he sees himself, as somebody has gotten a lot from this society and is gives something back.

BROWN: Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Contestants competing for a coveted job, each given tasks, with the weakest performer called to the board room and fired. No, this is not the reality show, "The Apprentice," it's a new series out of Israel called "The Ambassador." And while it is very similar to "The Apprentice," there is a major difference. Instead of selling a product, these contestants are selling an imagine of their country. One of their last challenges, an appearance on CNN's Paula Zahn's show. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): This has become part of a final test and 3 young Israelis have been getting ready for the past 12 weeks.

MERERETA BARUCH, CONTESTANT "THE AMBASSADOR": This is my opportunity to tell something positive.

ZVICKA DEUTSCH, CONTESTANT "THE AMBASSADOR: You can, like, decide what will be the public opinion. You determine what the public opinion will be. That's power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the moment we've been waiting for, this is the moment we've been preparing for.

ZAHN; When we heard about Israel's new reality show, we invited the contestants to be our guests. The Israeli producers then thought, why not make this part of the competion. One of the last hurdles, as the contestants try to win the job of their dreams.

The mission? One even experienced diplomats have struggled with for years: improving their country's mission.

EYTAN SCHWARTZ, CONTESTANT "THE AMBASSADOR": If we cause pain, we regret that and go on. Look at what we really want to do which is achieve peace in that region. And we inflict pain, we have to recognize that and say we're sorry.

ZAHN: They're competing for a job with a major Jewish organization.

BARUCH: This is what the public feels that we want peace, and we want to live peacefully with our neighbors. And sometimes the world doesn't understand that.

ZAHN: They do it through entertainment. Out of thousands who applied, only 14 made it to the starting line. The show's creators were looking for young, ambitious, articulate and attractive contestant who would sent around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want you to have the ability to speak in front of the public. Which mean, to connect with an audience, to have them laugh from your jokes.

ZAHN: And the road to winning the hearts and minds of the world's public opinion went through London, Paris and Budapest.

There were bumps along the way, sometime a hostile audience.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like me busting into your home, OK, taking control, killing a few of your family members and telling you that you can now live in the closet and say, now that's a generous offer.

Contestants had to find creative ways to sell their message. And a weak performance led to the board room. Someone was fired at the end of each episode.

Sounds familiar? While "The Apprentice" tests contestant's ability to sell lemonade on the street, or handle office politics, the ambassador finalists have learned that selling real politics is a lot harder.

DEUTSCH: The problem is that when you sell lemonade, nobody hates it. Nobody's going to say that your lemonade occupies territories, or that your lemonade kill babies.

ZAHN: Three months later, only 3 had made it here to try out for the role of unofficial ambassadors, New York style.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shooting a reality show. One of us going to be the future ambassador of Israel.

ZAHN: Among their final tests, freestyle hip-hop with high school students.

Impressing the mayor of New York.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say cheese.

ZAHN: Taking their cause to a basketball court.

SPIKE LEE, FILMAKER: That's more false information from Israel. What are you talking about? I come all the time.

ZAHN: And appearing on behalf of their country in this interview on PAULA ZAHN NOW.

ZAHN: Dispel what you think is the most common myth about Israel.

SCHWARTZ: We cherish our freedom, we cherish human rights.

ZAHN: The winner has not been chosen yet. The audience back in Israel will meet the ambassador in the show's final episode.

And while fixing Israel's image problem might require a little more than a TV show, the audience has already weighed in. "The Ambassador" isa smashing success.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, I think people are tired of seeing crazy, erratic, kind of running arround, people doing things without a real purpose. This show, the one distinction it has, there is a purpose. There is an ultimate goal, there is a story. I think that's what people are looking for. It is for the mind.

ZAHN: Stay tuned for a second season of "The Ambassador."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: The winner for this season of the ambassador will be selected on Wednesday.

That's all the time we have for this hour. Coming up next on PEOPLE IN THE NEWS, a look at Garmmy winning rapper LL Cool J and country beauty Shania Twain.

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 February 13, 2005 - 18:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VOICE OF MICHAEL TRANI: Pretty much got out of the mall pretty fast. There was nobody stopping any cars. There was, you know, nobody checking for any kind of identification or anything like that, but it was extremely difficult to get out of the mall with the traffic, you know, was just backed up. There were just people everywhere. It was kind of calm getting out, but there was just cars everywhere. You couldn't. It took quite a long time to get out of the area.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They were asking people lots of questions?

TRANI: Correct.

KAYE: OK. All right. Michael Trani inside the mall bringing us his point of view from what happened in there. Glad to hear that you got out safely Michael Trani. Thank you very much. From CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, once again I'm Randi Kaye in for Carol Lin. We are following a breaking story in New York State. Gunshots have broken out inside a crowded mall in the town of Ulster in the Hudson Valley, about 90 miles north of New York City. We're hearing that anywhere from one person to as many as five have been wounded. The mall is now under lockdown and at least one gunman is in custody.

Wayne Platte, an assistant fire chief was inside the mall when the shots rang out and he joins us now by phone. Deputy, can you give us the very latest from there?

VOICE OF DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF WAYNE PLATTE, KINGSTON, N.Y.: I have just as much information as you do now. I haven't gotten anything official from anybody out in the field. What you probably know is that they've had one person is custody, I'm told and possibly five patients who had some wounds from the gunfire. That's all I have at this time.

KAYE: We are waiting here for a news conference, a press conference to bring us the very latest information. But, while we have you, can you talk us through, given that you are the assistant fire chief in town, talk us through what would happen in a situation like this. How security and folks like yourself would end up there at the mall. What is the proper procedure there in the case of a shooting at the mall?

PLATTE: Well, let me just begin by saying, this happened in a jurisdiction adjacent to the city. It's still considered a Kingston address, but it is in the actual adjacent district. But from the fire department standpoint, we would most likely be assigned to a staging area, especially at this time, when the police agency I'm understanding that the mall is still not secured. So, we would not bring our units into a dangerous area at this time. We would actually be staging at a safe place until we got the all clear from the police agencies to come on in.

KAYE: And how many of your men are there on the scene?

PLATTE: I have no men from my jurisdiction. I'm not sure how many from the surrounding communities are there. Like I said, this is an adjoining jurisdiction. My involvement with this today, I was actually off duty at the time and, shopping at the mall when this incident took place. That's how I became involved in it. So, I'm not sure how many firefighters are actively involved at a staging area at this time.

KAYE: And when you say the mall is still not secure, we understand it is still on lockdown. Any idea who might still be inside? Are we talking about shoppers? Are we talking about employees? Are we talking about gunman?

PLATTE: Probably the police department and the agencies involved are considering all three of those, the patrons, the employees and any possible additional perpetrators at this time. So that is probably why they still have it a lockdown, just to make sure that they've accounted for everybody who has to be accounted for.

KAYE: One man in custody is what we've been reporting and you confirmed that for is. Do you know anything about this man?

PLATTE: No, I don't. I haven't received anything on this fellow at all.

KAYE: And do you know yet if any weapons have been recovered?.

PLATTE: No, I don't.

KAYE: OK. All right. Deputy Chief Platte, thank you very much. We will get back to you a little bit later on this evening. In the meantime, we want to turn to Craig Baker, who is a CNN producer. He lives nearby. Good evening Craig.

CRAIG BAKER, CNN PRODUCER: Hi. How are you?

KAYE: Good. How are you?

BAKER: I'm fantastic.

KAYE: Well, you live nearby. Give us an idea of what the area is like and your familiarity with this mall.

BAKER: I'm actually from upstate New York and I'm actually in town visiting some of my in-laws. But, this part of upstate New York has become in the past couple years a bedroom community for New York City. People commute from here down to New York. I'm across from the mall at a shopping store, in which police told me that they are going to be bringing people by bus who were in the mall to let them, I guess, release them here, off the bus. There's some families waiting for members of their families who were in the mall here. I haven't been able to get any information about, from them about their family members, conditions or anything like that. But, they're supposed to have a press conference a little later, here, at the food store.

KAYE: And have you seen people being interviewed? What is the situation there? Are people able to leave the mall parking lot freely because we're looking at a live picture there with lights and the situation there, certainly law enforcement on the scene.

BAKER: I'm seeing some cars that are you know, like, leaving occasionally, not a lot. But, the police do have it blocked off with their cars and people seem to be freely leaving. There are some onlookers outside across the street. Police are keeping them away from the mall, on route 9W, which goes along in front of it. They are not letting anybody close to it and everybody seems to be pretty calm.

KAYE: Have you had a chance -- I know you've had a chance to talk with police a little bit, but have you had a chance to talk with any of the people who were inside the mall?

BAKER: No, I haven't yet. I haven't met anybody yet. I have only met members of families who have people who are still in the mall.

KAYE: And what is that like for these families as they stand on the sidelines, not knowing if there's a gunman inside, not knowing if their family might still be inside. Have you had a chance to just see where they are at emotionally as they wait?

BAKER: A lot of them are very concerned. They don't know. They're getting very little information, about as much information as we're getting and there seems to be a genuine concern for the well- being of their other family members.

KAYE: And are people coming over to sort of brief them and let them know what the situation is or are they just left there to wonder?

BAKER: No. They are kind of loitering here in the parking lot across from the mall with police. Across the street to me, (INAUDIBLE) street the mall to talk to police at the entrances and all they're telling them is that they are going to have buses come to the store over here.

KAYE: And what do you know or what do the folks that you're visiting know about this mall? Has it had problems before?

BAKER: Not that I'm aware of. In the past, I've been -- I lived in the area for about 14 years and the Hudson Valley -- it is a very calm area that is never really very many problems around here that you hear of. It's -- you know, it's close to New York City. It's close to upstate and Massachusetts and it's easy to go over to Connecticut from here and people live here tend to want to live in a place that's quiet and calm and safe and I'm sure this is very disturbing to them.

KAYE: I'm sure. All right. Craig Baker who is there on the scene for us, stand-by if you would, just in case we want to revisit with you in just a moment, but, as we take a look again at these live pictures here of the mall parking lot, you can see some police cars there, some law enforcement units, and just a few seconds ago, we were showing you how empty the parking lot is there at the Hudson Valley mall in Kingston, New York, about 90 miles north of New York City. If you're just joining us, we can tell you that there was a shooting there this afternoon, anywhere from one to five people injured. That is in the community of Kingston, New York and joining us now is Bill Ferrono. He is a Radio Shack employee. He was in the mall at the time of the shooting today. Bill, can you hear us?

VOICE OF BILL FERRONO, RADIO SHACK EMPLOYEE: Oh, yes.

KAYE: Bill, if you would, take us through what you experienced there in the mall this afternoon.

FERRONO: In two words, I guess, I'd almost say, and I really hate to say it, is organized panic at first. I, like, came in from just getting my lunch at the food court and greeted a few people in the store and all of a sudden, you just see a crowd of people just like a pack of elephants and again these are civil people and all.

KAYE: And, how far is Radio Shack from where this shooting occurred?

FERRONO: Everyone is saying Best Buy. I've heard Best Buy. I've heard Dick's (ph), people coming - well these shooters coming into the mall. I'm a matter of maybe 100 feet, 150 feet.

KAYE: And, did you see -- what did you see? Did you see people running? Did you see any of the alleged gunmen?

FERRONO: Well, I kind of got a glimpse of them, I'm pretty sure I did, but it's just all in the panic of things. Really, as soon as this happened and the people started in the mall flying down the hallway, we immediately just started getting people into our back room and out our back door except for one employee who actually went into the hallway and as soon as I got the last person to the back room and the other two employees at the store, I knew we were getting them out the back door, I went out looking for him and by then, all I seen was glass and smoke that could almost choke you.

KAYE: And Bill, if you would, tell us what you saw one of these gunmen wearing?

FERRONO: just looked like black pants, not like -- this whole trench coat mafia thing, not like that by no means.

KAYE: Bill, we're going to interrupt you right there. We want to take you live to a press conference and get you the very latest on the shooting. Let's listen in.

CAPT. WAYNE OLSON, NEW YORK STATE POLICE: The individual was firing rounds from an assault type rifle. We have one individual that was injured as a result of a gunshot wound. We have the possibility of a second victim who was injured possibly from shrapnel or flying glass. The victims are being treated at hospital facilities right now. We have one individual, a lone male gunmen to the best of our knowledge at this time who is in custody and at the Ulster police department, going through the interview process.

This individual was taken into custody when several witnesses in the mall observed him firing a rifle. When he was out of ammunition, he was apprehended by those witnesses in the mall and turned over to police authorities. We have members of several different agencies, actually probably 15 different police agencies working at the lockdown at the Ulster County at the Hudson Valley mall at this time. The mall is closed. It's going to be cleared and it probably will not reopen until sometime tomorrow. The agencies are working in concert to clear the mall. We have several different swat teams and mobile response teams at the mall at this time.

REPORTER: Do you believe that there is more than one gunmen?

OLSON: To the best of our knowledge at this time, it was a lone gunman.

REPORTER: Was this gang related?

OLSON: We don't actually know what it relates to at this point in time.

REPORTER: Was there a gang fight here last night?

OLSON: Well, there was no gang fight today that was part and parcel to this incident.

REPORTER: ...identification of the gunman?

OLSON: Excuse me.

REPORTER: ... or identifying...

OLSON: We're not releasing the identifying information on the gunman right now.

REPORTER: Do you have anyone in custody?

OLSON: We have one individual in custody. The chief can actually --

REPORTER: How many rounds did he fire?

OLSON: We don't know the exact number of rounds, a significant number as far as we can tell.

REPORTER: Do you know where it happened?

CHIEF PAUL WATZKA, ULSTER POLICE DEPT: The subject -- the subject entered Best Buy, started firing while walking through Best Buy. When he exited Best Buy into the corridor, that's when he was apprehended by a couple of the employees at the mall.

REPORTER: Was it mall security guards who caught him?

WATZKA: No, it was employees from one of the stores. We're not releasing the name at this time, 44-year-old.

REPORTER: How bad are the injuries of the two people who were injured?

WATZKA: The one injury is to the leg and the other injury we believe is a hand injury.

REPORTER: Which is which?

OLSON: The gunshot victim has a wound to his leg, just above the knee. The gunshot injury is to the victim's leg.

REPORTER: What is the other injury, the hand injury?

OLSON: We don't know what it was caused by. It could be flying glass. It cold be that the individual fell down. But, there's a minor injury.

REPORTER: Was this Best Buy store packed? It's amazing only one person was hit if this guy just opened fire.

WATZKA: We are still looking into it. We are still investigating it, talking to witnesses.

REPORTER: ... gunshot (INAUDIBLE) Army recruiter.

WATZKA: That is not true.

REPORTER: Have you recovered a weapon?

OLSON: Victims have been identified and their names are being withheld at this point.

REPORTER: Have you recovered a weapon sir?

WATZKA: Yes.

REPORTER: Are you going to tell us what kind of weapon you recovered?

OLSON: It is an assault type rifle.

REPORTER: Is it an AK-47?

OLSON: We're not saying specifically because we don't have that information. (INAUDIBLE) Actually, one victim has not been interviewed yet, undergone treatment, and we expect to interview that individual shortly.

REPORTER: What are the charges?

OLSON: There's a whole array of possible charges and we are not really going to go into that at this juncture. That will be released at a later time.

REPORTER: Was the gunman wearing a face mask? WATSKA: No.

REPORTER: What was he dressed as? (INAUDIBLE) reason for doing this.

WATSKA: We're really not going to go into that right now. Actually he's being interviewed as we speak.

REPORTER: Do you know if you got any of it on surveillance tape at the mall?

WATSKA: That will be part of our investigation.

REPORTER: Is there anything you can tell us about how it happened? He came in at 3:00. Did he say anything? Did he do anything?

OLSON: No. There is nothing more that we can really tell you about the incident itself right now. It is still in the investigative process and as we learn more, we might be able to release more but, to do so now would really be speculation.

KAYE: All right. You've been listening there to a live press conference, New York state police and Ulster Police Department involved in that press conference. Just to recap for you, a military- type rifle was recovered at the Hudson Valley mall in Kingston, New York. One person injured, a gunshot wound to the leg. Another second victim with a hand injury, may have been from shrapnel or glass. The individual who they are saying now, they believe was acting alone, a lone gunman 24 years old, is at the Ulster PD, police department, being interviewed and he was taken into custody apparently when his ammunition ran out and some store employees apprehended him. No motive yet, not clear on how many rounds fired. The mall remains locked down and it is unclear when that mall will reopen. So, once again, that is the very latest at this moment when that mall will reopen. So once again, that's the very latest for you on the shooting taking place this afternoon now and into this evening at the Hudson Valley mall in Kingston, New York, just about 90 miles north of New York City. Take a break here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The results are in, but the work has just begun. Two weeks after Iraq's historic election, the outcome is expected and unexpected at the same time. Here is the breakdown. The Shiite united Iraqi alliance got more than 47 percent of the 8 1/2 million votes cast. The Kurdish coalition came in second with more than 25 percent. And the Iraqi national accord, the ticket led by Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi was third with about 13 percent. The lack of outright majority means the Shiites must now reach out to their rivals to form a government. CNN's Nic Robertson reports from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even before the results were announced, there were complaints. Iraq's sizable Turkaman (ph) ethnic minority claiming disenfranchisement, but inside the results hall... FAYID AYER, IECI SPOKESMAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We congratulate everybody, those that won and those that didn't.

ROBERTSON: A mood of celebration the elections actually pulled off.

ADIL AL-LAMI, GEN DIR, ELECTORAL ADMIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The total number of votes for the national assembly, 8,456,266.

ROBERTSON: About 60 percent turnout. A little lower than Election Day optimism had many believe. The Sunni province of Al Anbar (ph) getting just 2 percent of possible voters going to the polls.

TRANSLATOR: The front for the Turkmens of Iraq, 73,791 votes.

ROBERTSON: As figures slowly emerged, few surprises. The religious United Iraqi Alliance, backed by Shia Islam's top Iraqi cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani garnering almost half the seats in the interim national assembly, their politicians quick to espouse inclusivity.

MOUWAFFAQ RUBAIE, UNITED IRAQI ALLIANCE: This is going to be a government of national reconciliation, a government of national unity, a national coalition, all communities, all free communities are going to take literally, a very strong position in this government.

ROBERTSON: Likely partners with the UIA, the Kurdish alliance, landing about one-quarter of the 275 seats. If the cooperation continues, the grouping quite possibly dominating the new political landscape and taking a lead role in shaping the new constitution.

BARHAM SALAH, KURDISH ALLIANCE: There should be no legislation that will violate the core values of Islam. I think that represents the area of consensus between Iraqi, different Iraqi political movements and communities. Any attempt to establish a fundamentalist religious state in Iraq will backfire.

ROBERTSON: Current Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's grouping gained about 38 seats. The other parties trailing much farther behind, leading some to question the process that gives little voice to independents and small parties.

(on-camera): A lesson, if one is to be learned in this fledgling democracy that unity works. The United Iraqi Alliance benefiting from the vision of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani. The future of Iraq now firmly in his hands and those the United Iraqi Alliance will share power with, as the political horse trading now gets underway in earnest. Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

KAYE: Here in the U.S., law makers are expressing satisfaction after learning the results of the Iraqi election. President Bush is also offering praise. CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As Iraqis announced their election results, the president was at church. Later, he released a statement careful not to give detailed reaction before the election is certified, saying in part, the United States and our coalition partners can all take pride in our role in making that great day possible. Going on to say, I congratulate the Iraqi people for defying terrorist threats and setting their country on the path of democracy and freedom.

Several U.S. law makers appeared relieved that the Shia majority party won under 50 percent of the vote and will now be forced to reach out to smaller ethnic groups to form a government.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R) MAJORITY LEADER: The fact that is Shiite have about 47, 48 percent leave open the possibility that minority coalitions can come together in this sort of parliamentary post- election give and take.

SEN. RICK SANTORUM (R) PENNSYLVANIA: I think it was a good thing that the Shiites can't just sort of dictate how things are to go.

BASH: A long-standing U.S. fear has been the majority Shia, oppressed under Saddam Hussein, would not deal with Sunnis and the result could be internal war.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R) INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: I think the chances of civil war have been significantly lessened and I think they are going to have a real experiment in democracy whether they know it or not.

BASH: Republicans and Democrats alike called the Iraq elections an opportunity for a cross-faction government, but warned Sunnis, who voted in modest numbers, must be engaged.

SEN. JOE BIDEN (D) DELAWARE: We are going to have to see more Sunnis brought into the constitution writing, if there is going to be any legitimacy at the end of the day.

BASH: For all the applause for democracy, one Democrat reminded, that wasn't the reason for war.

REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D) NEW YORK: I suspect that by Republican standards, today has been considered successful but I know one thing. The American people would not have voted for war at the loss of 1200 American lives, 25,00 wounded, an endless war just for this election.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: The U.S. death toll is actually now more than 1400 and though in many ways the hardest part, like a workable power sharing agreement and actually creating the government is just beginning. The White House hope is there will soon be enough civility to start bringing American troops home. Randi.

KAYE: Dana Bash, live for us on the White House lawn tonight. Thank you. Let's take a closer look at the Iraqi election results and what they mean for the country, its people and its neighbors. Ken Pollack, the director of research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy and a CNN analyst, joins us now from Washington. Good to see you, Ken.

KEN POLLACK, SABAN CENTER: Good to see you Randi.

KAYE: Any surprises with these election results?

POLLACK: No. I think that they pretty much turned out as expected. There was a good turnout, not as high as people had initially thought on Election Day. The Shia have the plurality but not a majority. The Kurds in second place, largely because Iraq's Sunni Arab population didn't come out to vote. This is all, everything that we expected, unfortunately nothing really great and surprising, but also nothing terrible and surprising.

KAYE: Now, the Sunnis, they didn't come out to vote, because they wanted to boycott the American presence there in Iraq. But how critical is it that the Shia and the Kurds get them involved in the government?

POLLACK: It is critical Randi. You heard all of those congressmen in Dana Bash's package explain how important it is and there's no way around that. If this government is going to be considered legitimate by the Sunni Arab community, which makes up almost 20 percent of Iraq's population and is the main driving force behind the insurgency, this government is going to have to reach out to Sunnis, Sunnis right now who are not represented in the national assembly. They have to be brought in for the writing of the constitution. Otherwise, Sunnis are just going to see the constitution as illegitimate and will keep on fighting.

KAYE: And what can we expect from that process in terms of the writing of the constitution?

POLLACK: Well, unfortunately, no one really knows Randi. What we've seen from the Iraqi parties is that they have a great deal of difficulty reaching these compromises. They are very far apart on some very fundamental issues. For example, the Kurds want de facto independence. They want a form of autonomy that goes way beyond what either the Shia or the Sunni Arabs want. By the same token, the Sunni Arabs want minority rights which the Kurds agree with them about but the Shia don't. On those issues what we've seen is typically the groups have not been able to reach a compromise until the United States has gone to them and said, you have to make a decision. You've got to make a compromise and you better do it by tomorrow. And only on those occasions have they been able to sit down and work out a rough compromise.

KAYE: You know, Ken, we talk so much about these elections. We've been doing so for so long now, but we don't hear a lot about what the Iraqis are expecting from the results of this election. What do you think they are, in your opinion? POLLACK: I think that is a critical question Randi, because what I continue to hear from Iraqis, and, also what I've seen in some of the early polls that we've seen is that, while Iraqis are glad that they now have a democratic form of government. That was something that they wanted, the thing that they want most from this government is not the stuff that you and I and most Americans are focusing on, the writing of this constitution. What they are focused on is whether this government can deliver on basic services: security, jobs, electricity, clean water and gasoline. That's what matters to Iraqis and that's what they're hoping that this new government is going to deliver and that is probably the biggest challenge for this new government, because, frankly, they don't have the resources to deliver on those things. Only the United States does.

KAYE: All right, Ken Pollack at the Brookings Institution, Saban Center, always a pleasure to get your insight on this topic. Thanks for being with us tonight.

POLLACK: Thank you Randi.

KAYE: We wanted to give you the very latest update now on our top story, the shooting at the mall in Kingston, New York. You are looking there at a picture of some law enforcement there on the scene. One gunman in custody, two injured, one with a gunshot wound. We'll have much more on this breaking story on the flip side of this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We are following a breaking story in New York state. Gunshots have broken out in a crowded mall in the town of Ulster in the Hudson Valley near Kingston about 90 miles north of New York City. We are hearing that two people have been wounded. The mall is under lockdown. And at least 1 gunman is in custody.

Wayne Platte, an assistant fire chief was inside the mall when the shots rang out. This is what he told us just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE PLATTE, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF: What I heard was a -- I saw a large crowd of people running down the hall. It looked as though they were moving in to observe a fight possibly. And, people had said then that they had some people with some guns down at the other end of the mall. And I heard a couple pops of gunfire, some more people running down the hall. And then, the shots got progressively louder. And it sounded like automatic weapon fire at the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: And we of course will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they warrant.

Now here is a quick look at other stories now in the news.

Clergy backed Shiites are the big winners of Iraq's historic election. They're group, the United Iraqi Alliance, won almost 48 percent of the vote. But, that's not enough to control the countries 275-member national assembly. Kurdish parties and a secular Shiite group were the other top vote getters.

Thousands turn out to commemorate the 60 anniversy of the allied fire bombing of Dresden, Germany. At least 35,000 people died in those World War II raids. U.S. and British ambassadors laid wreaths.

German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder said the anniversary is a time for people everywhere to unite against the inhumanity of war.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says is not planning to resign over the Iraq oil for food scandal. Two U.N. officials have been suspended over the scandal which allegedly involved illicit oil deals with Saddam Hussein. Annan saids U.N. members understand the complexity of the current investigation and fully support his leadership.

And the second leading scorer in NBA history is calling it quits. Basketball great Karl Malone announced his retirement today. The 41- year-old forward, nicknamed "the Mailman" played with the Utah Jazz for 18 season, then signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003. But he suffered a knee injury midseason and never fully recovered.

An amazing recovery story, twins conjoined at the head. Now, following surgery, they are walking. We'll talk to the doctor who performed the successful operation that separated them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It was more than a year ago when we first introduced you to Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrahim, Egyptian twins who were brought Texas to undergo a risky operation to separate them at the head. The boys, now 3-years-old recovered remarkably. Just last week, one of the twins underwent a second surgery to reconstruct his head.

Dr. David Genecov is one of the boy's primary surgeons. And he joins us now live from Dallas, Texas. Good evening, doctor. Thank you for being with us.

Tell us what was done to reconstruct Ahmed's skull?

DR. DAVID GENECOV, MEDICAL CITY DALLAS HOSPITAL: Well, after the boys were separated, the tops of their skulls were without bone. And, so the goal of the operation was then to create and environment in which bone would be reconstructed on the tops of their head.

KAYE: And we're looking at some video here as we hold this conversation with you. One of the boys, either Ahmed or Mohammed walking with a walker. That would be Ahmed. How is he doing following the surgery?

GENECOV: His surgery went very well. And he had an uncomplicated postoperative recovery. He has had no infections since the surgery. And, really recovered quite nicely. He's going to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow and, should be home, back at the apartment with his family. KAYE: What has it been like for the 2 boys over the last year and a half? Any sort of limitations for them?

GENECOV: Well, I think the boys -- if you can imagine growing up for the first year and a half of your life flat on your back without much upright movement. Suddenly, after an operation, becoming upright, it is quite a change for them. And they've had to undergo a significant amount of physical therapy and occupational therapy to get them to the point where they are today.

KAYE: So, now that Ahmed's surgery is complete, what is the plan for Mohammed?

GENECOV: Well in about a month, Mohammed will undergo his operation to reconstruct the top of his skull. And Mohammed without, hopefully, any problems like his brother, should have an excellent recovery.

The goal of the operation for both the boys is to put inside the scalp, under the scalp, on top of the dura that was recreated at the first operation a mixture, a milieu of proteins, that will stimulate the areas own potential to regrow their own bone.

KAYE: And what has been the key to success for these 2 boys? Why did this operation work?

GENECOV: Well, I think the operation worked mainly because we spent a long time, a little over a year to a year and a half, studying and learning and planning the operation. The operation was a joint effort. About 60 physicians and nurses led by, not only the plastic surgeons, but mainly the neurosurgeons.

The pediatric neurosurgery group at Medical City Childrens and at Childrens Medical Center were fantastic in their ability to separate the brains. And, the plastic surgeons from Medical City Childrens were able to create coverage. We were able to create coverage of their skull and of the brain such that they didn't have any infections. And I think that's the key to their success, no infections...

KAYE: The operation is itself is fascinating, but is there any concern about brain development for either one of these boys?

GENECOV: Well, I think, when you separate their brains, they're going to have some injury. And the boys, I think, will remain dependent on their physical therapy and their occupational therapy for their long-term success.

KAYE: And what has it been like for you and the medical staff there at Medical City Dallas Hospital? I imagine you've grown some what close to these boys. They certainly can your laert just looking at them there on the television screen. What has it been like? Has it been at all emotional for you and your staff?

GENECOV: I think that everyone has become attached to the boys. They are very endearing. They're very affectionate. They like to hug, and blow kisses. And they're very communicative.

I think -- it will be very difficult for all of us, the nurses, the physicians, their therapists, to let them go back home, which is our goal, to let them go back to Egypt and be with the rest of their family.

KAYE: Of course. Well, we certainly wish Ahmed and Mohammed Ibrahim and all of you there at Medical City Dallas Hospital best of luck. Dr. David Genecov, cranial, facial surgeon, thank you so much for your time tonight.

And, just ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY, we are live at the Grammys with our own star, Toure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOURE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: The stars are trickling in here at the Grammys. I've seen MC Hammer, I've seen Bronson Arroyo from the Boston Red Sox.

And Janet Reno is here. She's working on an album. You heard that right. We're going to interview her live. You don't want to miss me talking to Janet Reno. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Oh, yes. Kanye West is one of the recording artists most eagerly awaiting tonight's Grammy awards. He has more nonimantions than anyone else, 10 in all.

And those in the music industry are holding their breathe, waiting to see who wins those coveted Grammy Awards tonight. Pop culture corresopndent Toure is on the red carpet at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, having way too much fun.

TOURE: I am having lots of fun out here. Guess what? I'm here with Janet Reno, former attorney general of the United States. My mother never thought I'd get to interview Janet Reno, but here I am.

What are you wearing? You look fantastic.

JANET RENO, FRM. ATTORNEY GENERAL: My nieces helped find this outfit for me. And I give them all the credit.

TOURE: It's fantastic.

Now, the two of you are working on an album together? Explain that to me.

RENO: Several years ago, I suggested to my nephew who had written an number of folk songs that he produce an album telling the history of America in song to reach kids who were turned off by history, who didn't find it relevent, because music is a wonderful way to open the doors for so many young people.

TOURE: And the album is called, "Songs of America." RENO: Well, that's the working title I think.

My nephew went out, saw what had been done, saw that there was nothing like this. Because we had envisioned, preparing materials for school teachers to go with the album to use it as a teaching tool.

And then, David, who has just won a Grammy for his Stephen Foster album, and Ed met up and started talking together, and they are now in the process of co-producing the album. I think it will be a wonderful way to educate and also to entertain all America.

TOURE: Now you know about pageantry from your days at the White House. How does the record business pageantry compare to White House pageantry?

RENO: Well, it's a little bit different.

TOURE: It is.

RENO: But, the beauty of music is, whether in pageant, or in a simple setting, it is the universeal language and can do so much to bring people together.

TOURE: You're a big music fan I take it?

RENO: I can't carry a tune, but music has been a part and parcel of all my life.

TOURE: Right. Right. Now, tell me the truth, wouldn't you really rather be home watching "Desperate Housewifes?"

RENO: One experience like this is very good for the soul.

TOURE: Absolutely. Absolutely.

Well, thank you very much. Back to you.

KAYE: All right. Toure, do you happen to know who is performing tonight?

TOURE: Yes, I do. We have a whole lot of performances: Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx will be performing together, dueting a Ray Charles tribute. We are going to have a big Southern rock tribute. We're going to have gospel tribute. It's going to be a fantastic night.

And, of course, the Anthonies are going to perform: Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. I hear they're going to be sining in Spanish. It could be great, it could be a disaster, we don't know. We are going to stay tuned. Back to you.

KAYE: All right. We'll see you back here tonight at 10:00. Toure, thank you.

Bruce Springsteen has a song up for best rock vocal in the Grammy awards tonight. His co-writer for that song is someone critics for decades have considered one of the best rock n' rollers ever and yet, you may have never heard his name.

CNN's Aaron Brown profiles this little known rocker with a big voice and a big heart. Pittsburgh's Joe Grushecky.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, SINGER: I'd like to bring out the most handsome man in the world of Pittsburgh show business. Joe Grushecky!

JOE GRUSHECKY, SINGER/SONGWRITER: I have a great band called the House Rockers. Recorded a lot of albums over the years.

AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Unless you're from Pittsburgh, you probably never heard of Joe Grushecky.

GRUSHECKY: The first record was out on MCA. It was in 1979. It was quite a thrill. I can just remember going home, remembering, I actually had a record. I made a record.

Rolling Stone called it the debut record of the year.

ANTHONY DECURTIS, ROLLING STONE: Everyone was really excited. This was the sound of the times. Muscular rock and roll. People, you know, people were really gripped by what they did.

GRUSHECKY: We came this close to making it, the big, big time.

ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Solid Gold!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Critics are saying they will soon be one of rock's superstar band. Here singing our pick hit of the week "Friday Night," the Iron City Houserockers.

BROWN: But Joe Grushecky never struck gold, never had a hit record just a family to support. So he decided to teach. And not teach the easy kids. Grushecky teaches severely disturbed children.

GRUSHEKCY: They're really the forgotten kids.

There was once upon a time when threre was TV without cable.

Some of their backgrounds are so unbelievably hard. You wonder how they survived on a day to day basis.

BROWN: Joe Grushecky has been doing this difficult, high burn- out job for more than 25 years. But this is still just his day job.

GRUSHECKY: Down to the bar, boys, one, two, three, four!

BROWN: By night, he still heads up what has been called one of the best bar bands in America.

(SINGING)

BROWN: A lot of his Grushecky's gig are for charities. Over the years, he's raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a multitude of causes.

GRUSHEKCY: I thought it was part of being an artist was giving back to the community.

(SINGING)

Bruce Springsteen and I met in New York City in 1980.

BROWN: Bruce Springsteen collaborates a lot with Grushecky. They even co-wrote some things.

(SINGING)

DECURTIS: Recently, Joe Grushecky called Bruce up to do a benefit for flood victims in Pennsylvania. They ended up raising a quarter of a million dollars.

(SINGING)

GRUSHECKY: The things would have worked differently now, I wouldn't be where I'm at right now. And I'm very happy with my wife and my family. I think it's silly to sit around think about what might have been or have regrets. Fame is really not important. And, how do you term success? i mean, I've certainly done just about everything I've set out to do, accept make a lot of money or have a big hit record.

DECURTIS: He's a working class guy. But he sees himself, as somebody has gotten a lot from this society and is gives something back.

BROWN: Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Contestants competing for a coveted job, each given tasks, with the weakest performer called to the board room and fired. No, this is not the reality show, "The Apprentice," it's a new series out of Israel called "The Ambassador." And while it is very similar to "The Apprentice," there is a major difference. Instead of selling a product, these contestants are selling an imagine of their country. One of their last challenges, an appearance on CNN's Paula Zahn's show. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): This has become part of a final test and 3 young Israelis have been getting ready for the past 12 weeks.

MERERETA BARUCH, CONTESTANT "THE AMBASSADOR": This is my opportunity to tell something positive.

ZVICKA DEUTSCH, CONTESTANT "THE AMBASSADOR: You can, like, decide what will be the public opinion. You determine what the public opinion will be. That's power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the moment we've been waiting for, this is the moment we've been preparing for.

ZAHN; When we heard about Israel's new reality show, we invited the contestants to be our guests. The Israeli producers then thought, why not make this part of the competion. One of the last hurdles, as the contestants try to win the job of their dreams.

The mission? One even experienced diplomats have struggled with for years: improving their country's mission.

EYTAN SCHWARTZ, CONTESTANT "THE AMBASSADOR": If we cause pain, we regret that and go on. Look at what we really want to do which is achieve peace in that region. And we inflict pain, we have to recognize that and say we're sorry.

ZAHN: They're competing for a job with a major Jewish organization.

BARUCH: This is what the public feels that we want peace, and we want to live peacefully with our neighbors. And sometimes the world doesn't understand that.

ZAHN: They do it through entertainment. Out of thousands who applied, only 14 made it to the starting line. The show's creators were looking for young, ambitious, articulate and attractive contestant who would sent around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want you to have the ability to speak in front of the public. Which mean, to connect with an audience, to have them laugh from your jokes.

ZAHN: And the road to winning the hearts and minds of the world's public opinion went through London, Paris and Budapest.

There were bumps along the way, sometime a hostile audience.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like me busting into your home, OK, taking control, killing a few of your family members and telling you that you can now live in the closet and say, now that's a generous offer.

Contestants had to find creative ways to sell their message. And a weak performance led to the board room. Someone was fired at the end of each episode.

Sounds familiar? While "The Apprentice" tests contestant's ability to sell lemonade on the street, or handle office politics, the ambassador finalists have learned that selling real politics is a lot harder.

DEUTSCH: The problem is that when you sell lemonade, nobody hates it. Nobody's going to say that your lemonade occupies territories, or that your lemonade kill babies.

ZAHN: Three months later, only 3 had made it here to try out for the role of unofficial ambassadors, New York style.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shooting a reality show. One of us going to be the future ambassador of Israel.

ZAHN: Among their final tests, freestyle hip-hop with high school students.

Impressing the mayor of New York.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say cheese.

ZAHN: Taking their cause to a basketball court.

SPIKE LEE, FILMAKER: That's more false information from Israel. What are you talking about? I come all the time.

ZAHN: And appearing on behalf of their country in this interview on PAULA ZAHN NOW.

ZAHN: Dispel what you think is the most common myth about Israel.

SCHWARTZ: We cherish our freedom, we cherish human rights.

ZAHN: The winner has not been chosen yet. The audience back in Israel will meet the ambassador in the show's final episode.

And while fixing Israel's image problem might require a little more than a TV show, the audience has already weighed in. "The Ambassador" isa smashing success.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, I think people are tired of seeing crazy, erratic, kind of running arround, people doing things without a real purpose. This show, the one distinction it has, there is a purpose. There is an ultimate goal, there is a story. I think that's what people are looking for. It is for the mind.

ZAHN: Stay tuned for a second season of "The Ambassador."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: The winner for this season of the ambassador will be selected on Wednesday.

That's all the time we have for this hour. Coming up next on PEOPLE IN THE NEWS, a look at Garmmy winning rapper LL Cool J and country beauty Shania Twain.

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