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CNN Live At Daybreak
Cost of War Going Up; Aftermath of Deadly Bombing in Beirut, Lebanon
Aired February 15, 2005 - 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: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, the cost of war. It's going up, and President Bush wants Congress to pay for it, which, of course, means you.
Plus, tongues are wagging over this pooch. We'll introduce you to Belaggio.
And have you seen it? That's what New Yorkers are asking each other as some big time art hits the Big Apple.
It's Tuesday, February 15.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
We begin this morning with the aftermath of that deadly bombing in Beirut, Lebanon. The powerful blast killed the nation's former prime minister and 15 others. Now the bombing has set off political aftershocks and investigators are on the hunt.
Let's go straight to the site of the bombing and CNN's Ben Wedeman -- hello, Ben. BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Well, that blast yesterday sent shocks throughout the region. At the moment, Lebanese investigators are on the scene here, on the Corniche, one of the main roads of Beirut, trying to find more clues as to who may have been behind this bombing. According to Lebanese security sources, the explosives were somewhere more than 500 pounds of high explosives used in this blast.
Now, the latest death toll, we're told, is 16 dead, 157 were wounded in that blast and, of course, among those killed was Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon.
Now in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, fingers are pointing in the direction of Damascus. Many people now demanding that security -- that Syrian forcers leave the country. Of course, that's a demand we've heard increasingly over the last few months. The
U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 1559 that is calling for the immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon and now we're hearing those calls including here in Beirut -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know that the Lebanese opposition is accusing Syria of being involved in this blast.
But is there any real evidence as to that, Ben?
WEDEMAN: No. At the moment it all seems to be circumstantial. Syria, of course, maintains at least 14,000 troops here in Lebanon and since the mid-'70s it has been a major power broker in this country. But at this point, there's nothing that points directly to Syria. The Syrians, for their part, of course, have condemned the assassination of Rafik Hariri and say they had nothing to do with the blast.
But that doesn't stop suspicions from mounting here in Lebanon -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ben Wedeman live in Lebanon this morning.
Also in the news, President Bush is asking law makers for another $82 billion. Most of it will go to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Republicans hope to push the package through Congress by early spring.
Former priest Paul Shanley could face life in prison. He'll be sentenced in Massachusetts this morning for repeatedly raping a young boy in his parish during the '80s.
New allegations of corruption in the U.N.'s Oil For Food Program. In a hearing this morning, a Senate panel will claim an inspector was bribed into letting Saddam Hussein's regime smuggle a half million barrels of oil.
A week of floods and landslides has taken a deadly toll in Venezuela and Colombia. At least 86 people have been killed. At least 50 are missing. Officials expect the death toll to climb.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: A search is going on right now for coal miners missing after a deadly gas explosion in China. The explosion at a mine in northeast China killed at least 203 miners, 22 more hurt. Thirteen might still be trapped.
Live to our Tara Duffy.
She's in Beijing this morning -- hello, Tara.
TARA DUFFY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, there are still rescue efforts ongoing, as you mentioned. Now, the cause of the blast is still uncertain. Now, what one mining manager at the mine has told Chinese state run media, Tsinghua, is that 10 minutes before the blast, there was a tremor felt, what he's describing as a mine quake. And at that time, the gas reading underground suddenly showed no reading at all. And after that 10 minutes, the explosion occurred.
Now, this is just the latest in a string of deadly mining accidents in recent months in China. In November, 166 miners were killed in once accident. In October, 148 in another. So it's all contributing to a death toll of some 6,000 last year in China.
Now, while that number is lower than past years, it is still quite a high number and it makes China the most dangerous mining industry in the world.
Now, Chinese leaders have been pushing for a safety campaign at mines. Around the country, you see signs with slogans saying "safety first." And that -- such a sign was seen at this Sunjiawan mine in northeast China. Another sign there showing, a sign saying, "your relatives await your safe return," a stark reminder of just how dangerous this job is. And in China, this often, all too often, is a fatal one -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Tara Duffy live in Beijing this morning.
Thank you.
In News Across America this morning, a real life mystery has finally been solved. Omar Hamani was found last month in a snow bank in Boston, but he didn't remember who he was or how he got there, that was, until his brother saw the story on television and called to identify his brother. Now the two will travel back to their North Carolina home together.
Two people are in stable condition this morning after their small plane crashed near Orlando, Florida. The plane's pilot and one other passenger were killed in the crash. The plane hit a fence on its approach to a private air strip.
Savannah State University's basketball team really finished, finally finished, rather, their perfect season, perfectly awful, that is. They became just the second Division One team in the last 50 years to lose every single game in a season. And the five point loss last night was their closest game of the year.
Mary Kay Letourneau is getting married. Yes, she's getting married to the boy she went to jail for. The former teacher spent more than seven years in prison after having an affair with the then 12-year-old student. Well, he's 22 now. The couple have two children. Their wedding will be April 16.
Weekly bible class will go on as usual for elementary school students in Staunton, Virginia. That's the decision of the school board. They voted 5-1 last night to support the decades old practice.
But as CNN's Tom Foreman tells us, the decision is quite controversial.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On a damp path behind McSwain Elementary School, the first graders are heading to a Baptist church.
UNIDENTIFIED TEACHER: We love him because he first loved us.
FOREMAN: For a half hour each week, first, second and third graders who sign up for weekday religious education, or WRE, are excused from class to learn about the bible, morality.
ALEX DRAKES, STUDENT: Well, some of the lessons that I learned from the bible were stuff like Daniel and the lion's den, the birth of Jesus.
FOREMAN: Both of Andrea Oakes' girls went, along with 85 percent of their classmates. And she's astonished the program is under attack.
ANDREA OAKES, MOTHER: I would like to think that, no, they're not attacking us because we are Christians. However, I cannot help but question whether or not that is the reason.
FOREMAN: In this strongly religious state, church groups pay for WRE, which about 12,000 students attend. And religious classes are not held on school property.
AMY DIDUCH, PARENT: Well, it really began at the beginning of this school year.
FOREMAN: But Amy Diduch is one of the minority of parents who want the school board to shut the program down anyway.
DIDUCH: I'm not opposed to a parent, on an individual basis, choosing to take a child out for religious instruction. But I am opposed to having the school day stop while those children are absent.
FOREMAN: Diduch and others say kids who do not take part are getting little or no instruction while others are in religion class, and that sometimes children are ostracized for not going.
EDWARD SCOTT, STAUNTON CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: If the letters to the editors are to be believed at all, to our local newspaper, then surely students have been stigmatized.
FOREMAN: Back at the church, the Oakes girls say they never saw any evidence of that.
JACLYN OAKES, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GRADUATE: I don't think any of the kids in my classroom that were left behind got teased at all.
FOREMAN: And religion class organizers say the courts have long approved of such programs, as long as they remain separate from schools and parents can choose.
JACK HINTON, PRESIDENT, WEEKDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: The majority does not impose its will on any minority in this particular situation. It is a voluntary program where you opt in or you opt out. FOREMAN (on camera): Many of the opponents of the religion classes make a point of saying they are Christian, too. They just think that school time should be for traditional school studies.
(voice-over): But in the end, the school board voted overwhelmingly to keep the religion classes and try to figure a better plan for what to do with the kids who don't participate.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Staunton, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And that brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Morning. What do you think? Should religious education be offered by the public schools? Send your comments to us at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
There is much more to come on DAYBREAK this hour.
When we say star witness, we mean star. We'll tell you who might take the stand in Michael Jackson's trial. Chances are you will recognize the names.
And who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? We'll show you the new breed that has dog lovers drooling.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
President Bush is asking Congress for another $82 billion, mostly for Iraq and Afghanistan. The money was not included in his 2006 budget proposal.
You can still carry butane lighters on board commercial flights. A law banning them was supposed to take effect today, but federal security officials say they are still reviewing it.
In money news, Cal Ripken, Jr. will anchor the lineup on X.M. Radio's new major league baseball channel. That round the clock channel launches today with several big name hosts and replays of classic games.
In culture, Chris Rock has made some harsh comments about the Oscars, even though he will host the awards later this month. The comedian called the concept "idiotic" and says he only watches when black actors are nominated. The producers say there's no pressure to remove him from his hosting duties, though.
In sports, it looks like there really will not be any goals or games in the National Hockey League this season. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will hold a news conference tomorrow where he is expected to announce the official cancellation of the season.
No surprise there -- Chad, I guess.
MYERS: Not really. That's OK, now. NASCAR season has started. It doesn't really matter, does it?
COSTELLO: You know, it's a shame because it's really hurting the sport of hockey.
MYERS: It certainly is.
COSTELLO: They cannot find a compromise at all.
MYERS: No. And I get all my money back for my season tickets. Whooo-hoo! And I won't give them any money next year, either. Whooo- hoo!
Good morning, everybody.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
On the docket today, the jury in the so-called Zoloft murder trial resumes deliberations later this morning. Jurors got the case yesterday afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina. Lawyers for 15- year-old Chris Pittman argue the anti-depressant made him shoot and kill his grandparents three years ago.
Robert Blake's attorneys go to work presenting their case today in the actor's murder trial. Blake lost his composure and began openly weeping shortly after the prosecution rested its case. Blake is accused of killing his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. The trial is expected to end this month.
And in Kingston, New York, investigators link a mall shooting suspect with the 1999 Columbine High School killings. Robert Bonnelli, Jr. is accused of wounding two people Sunday when he allegedly opened fire in a crowded shopping mall. Police say they found a cache of Columbine memorabilia when they searched the 25-year- old's room.
Michael Jackson's attorneys could call up to 350 people to testify in the pop star's child molestation trial. There are that many names on the defense team's witness list.
And as CNN's Ted Rowlands explains, it's an all star cast.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The star-studded list of potential defense witnesses in the Michael Jackson case includes Liz Taylor, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Larry King, and Kobe Bryant. Also on the list, Jackson's children, Paris and Prince Michael, plus their mother, Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe. The prosecution list includes both of Jackson's former attorneys, Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman; also family members of the alleged victim in a 1993 allegation of child molestation against Jackson.
Kobe Bryant, according to court documents obtained by CNN, was identified as a friend by the mother of the accuser in the current case against Jackson. In a 2001 interview with Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, she said of Bryant and Jackson: "They shower us with love. We see them very often. They come to our house. We go to their house. We go places together and eat together."
Michael Jackson arrived to cheers from a handful of fans outside the courthouse. Inside, Jackson stood up and smiled and waved to the courtroom full of potential jurors.
LINDA DEUTSCH, A.P. CORRESPONDENT: Michael Jackson was dressed for the occasion. He was every inch the star.
ROWLANDS: One juror has been dismissed. 81-year-old Ralph Marks had a note from his doctor and was let go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you have liked to have served on this jury?
RALPH MARKS, DISMISSED JUROR: Well, yes and no. I think it's going to be very interesting, time-consuming, and that's one reason that the doctor got me off.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That was CNN's Ted Rowlands reporting. And I know he listed some of those names in his story, but you can add Backstreet Boy Nick Carter to the list; and also Jay Leno. And you can see Larry King is on there, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Kobe Bryant. We're going to talk more about this in the 6:00 hour of DAYBREAK because it's just so unusual.
New York City has gone to the dogs, and that's a good thing. It's time for the Westminster Dog Show. And coming up, we'll introduce you to one of the new stars of the show, with a face only a mother could love.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK Eye-Opener.
Several couples spent their Valentine's Day on top of a snowy mountain in Georgetown, Colorado. They were taking part in the 14th Annual Mountaintop Wedding Ceremony, which allows participants to ski free. But that seems like a big commitment just to save money on the lift tickets.
In the meantime in Oregon, students gathered to try and break the kissing record at Oregon State University. The Guinness record is more than 5,300 kissing couples. With around 19,000 students on the campus, they did have a chance to make history, or just get whacky.
For dessert, cooking students in Orlando, Florida prepare the world's largest creme brulee. The 26-foot wide tasty treat weighed in at a whopping 1,600 pounds. Tasters say the colossal confection was actually quite tasty.
In Richmond, California, one person was not in the mood for sweets after trying to break into a bank. The so-called back hoe bandit commandeered the piece of construction equipment to smash open an ATM. He was successful at causing a lot of damage, but the bandit walked away empty-handed. That's one tough ATM.
Do lobsters feel pain when they're dropped in boiling water? A new study out of Norway says no. The government funded study to see if the lobsters should be included in the new animal cruelty laws. But they also say more research is needed.
I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse about eating lobster -- Chad.
MYERS: I'm just standing, Carol.
COSTELLO: Oh, there you are.
MYERS: Here I am.
COSTELLO: You suddenly popped up.
MYERS: That's OK.
COSTELLO: I know you're into the Westminster Dog Show, aren't you?
MYERS: Did you hear about this? There's all -- I mean there's a little bit of, not controversy, but there's all these new things now to it and new processes and new dogs.
COSTELLO: New dogs. A brand new breed of dog. And as many of you probably know, the Westminster Dog Show underway here in New York. There are more than 2,500 dogs, 165 breeds, all trying to be the top dog. But it's one of the new breeds that has captured everyone's attention.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Jeanne Moos introduces us.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): All the Botox in the world couldn't cure Belaggio. (on camera): You're a sucker for wrinkles...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes, I can't imagine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not on me.
MOOS (voice-over): The new breed at Westminster will leave you drooling.
(on camera): Yes, oh that is some man-sized drool.
(voice-over): Let it fly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got to have a drool rag. It's like American Express, you can never leave home without it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is he?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A hippopotamus, right?
MOOS: Hippo, no. Neo, yes. Short for...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Neapolitan mastiff. His name is Belaggio.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, wow, Belaggio.
MOOS: The girls are swooning over half brothers Belaggio and Sirius...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lets get serious.
MOOS: ... two of only three Neapolitan mastiffs competing for the first time ever at Westminster.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to make him flap his cheeks.
MOOS (on camera): Woah!
(voice-over): In the time of the Roman emperors, a dog like this was used as...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A canine gladiator.
MOOS: Belaggio's handler, Harry Booker, says they fought lions and tigers at the Coliseum. Their loose, wrinkly skin, makes it hard for an opponent to grab.
JIM DEPPEN, SIRIUS OWNER: He can literally turn in the skin. I can't literally restrain this dog.
MOOS (on camera): You like those wrinkles?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I just said I'll look like this in 30 years.
MOOS: Twenty. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, you're a sweetheart, aren't you?
MOOS (voice-over): And though they were bred to be guard dogs, they're gentle when trained from puppy hood. This is Sirius' son, seriously irresistible. Belaggio's so well trained, we had to use a treat to entice him to jump up on me.
(on camera): I can't find his mouth.
(voice-over): Maybe you've seen the breed before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: In "Harry Potter."
(on camera): Is this what happens all the time when you bring him out?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Constantly, the barrage of people.
MOOS (voice-over): Amid all the acclaim, what's a little slobber on your suit? The best in breed went to Belaggio despite comments like hey, mister, someone let the air out of your dog. Maybe slimmer dogs can slip by.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He can't get through, he's so big. We've got to go around. He's the biggest dog in the show.
MOOS: At least he got the biggest laugh. Maybe those are just laugh lines.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MYERS: Hey, dog. Hey, guy, someone let the air out of your dog.
COSTELLO: It's a good line, isn't it?
MYERS: That was the best line on the show.
COSTELLO: All that slobber would get to me after a while, though, and I love dogs. I do.
MYERS: Yes. You're just behind him with one of those wet mops the whole time. What a great dog. What a pretty dog.
COSTELLO: That's Belaggio.
MYERS: I love the little offspring, the little puppy. He was good.
COSTELLO: Oh, that was an adorable dog.
MYERS: Yes, he was really cute. He was cute.
COSTELLO: And then they turn into that big, huge giant Belaggio thing.
MYERS: Even the owners say he's a hippopotamus.
COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
A New York moment -- what is it about this billowy display of ribbon and steel that's got so many people flocking to Central Park? A lot of people have a lot to say about this.
And a reminder -- our E-mail Question of the Day. Should religious education be offered by public schools? Daybreak@cnn.com.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 15, 2005 - 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: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, the cost of war. It's going up, and President Bush wants Congress to pay for it, which, of course, means you.
Plus, tongues are wagging over this pooch. We'll introduce you to Belaggio.
And have you seen it? That's what New Yorkers are asking each other as some big time art hits the Big Apple.
It's Tuesday, February 15.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
We begin this morning with the aftermath of that deadly bombing in Beirut, Lebanon. The powerful blast killed the nation's former prime minister and 15 others. Now the bombing has set off political aftershocks and investigators are on the hunt.
Let's go straight to the site of the bombing and CNN's Ben Wedeman -- hello, Ben. BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Well, that blast yesterday sent shocks throughout the region. At the moment, Lebanese investigators are on the scene here, on the Corniche, one of the main roads of Beirut, trying to find more clues as to who may have been behind this bombing. According to Lebanese security sources, the explosives were somewhere more than 500 pounds of high explosives used in this blast.
Now, the latest death toll, we're told, is 16 dead, 157 were wounded in that blast and, of course, among those killed was Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon.
Now in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, fingers are pointing in the direction of Damascus. Many people now demanding that security -- that Syrian forcers leave the country. Of course, that's a demand we've heard increasingly over the last few months. The
U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 1559 that is calling for the immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon and now we're hearing those calls including here in Beirut -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know that the Lebanese opposition is accusing Syria of being involved in this blast.
But is there any real evidence as to that, Ben?
WEDEMAN: No. At the moment it all seems to be circumstantial. Syria, of course, maintains at least 14,000 troops here in Lebanon and since the mid-'70s it has been a major power broker in this country. But at this point, there's nothing that points directly to Syria. The Syrians, for their part, of course, have condemned the assassination of Rafik Hariri and say they had nothing to do with the blast.
But that doesn't stop suspicions from mounting here in Lebanon -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ben Wedeman live in Lebanon this morning.
Also in the news, President Bush is asking law makers for another $82 billion. Most of it will go to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Republicans hope to push the package through Congress by early spring.
Former priest Paul Shanley could face life in prison. He'll be sentenced in Massachusetts this morning for repeatedly raping a young boy in his parish during the '80s.
New allegations of corruption in the U.N.'s Oil For Food Program. In a hearing this morning, a Senate panel will claim an inspector was bribed into letting Saddam Hussein's regime smuggle a half million barrels of oil.
A week of floods and landslides has taken a deadly toll in Venezuela and Colombia. At least 86 people have been killed. At least 50 are missing. Officials expect the death toll to climb.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: A search is going on right now for coal miners missing after a deadly gas explosion in China. The explosion at a mine in northeast China killed at least 203 miners, 22 more hurt. Thirteen might still be trapped.
Live to our Tara Duffy.
She's in Beijing this morning -- hello, Tara.
TARA DUFFY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, there are still rescue efforts ongoing, as you mentioned. Now, the cause of the blast is still uncertain. Now, what one mining manager at the mine has told Chinese state run media, Tsinghua, is that 10 minutes before the blast, there was a tremor felt, what he's describing as a mine quake. And at that time, the gas reading underground suddenly showed no reading at all. And after that 10 minutes, the explosion occurred.
Now, this is just the latest in a string of deadly mining accidents in recent months in China. In November, 166 miners were killed in once accident. In October, 148 in another. So it's all contributing to a death toll of some 6,000 last year in China.
Now, while that number is lower than past years, it is still quite a high number and it makes China the most dangerous mining industry in the world.
Now, Chinese leaders have been pushing for a safety campaign at mines. Around the country, you see signs with slogans saying "safety first." And that -- such a sign was seen at this Sunjiawan mine in northeast China. Another sign there showing, a sign saying, "your relatives await your safe return," a stark reminder of just how dangerous this job is. And in China, this often, all too often, is a fatal one -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Tara Duffy live in Beijing this morning.
Thank you.
In News Across America this morning, a real life mystery has finally been solved. Omar Hamani was found last month in a snow bank in Boston, but he didn't remember who he was or how he got there, that was, until his brother saw the story on television and called to identify his brother. Now the two will travel back to their North Carolina home together.
Two people are in stable condition this morning after their small plane crashed near Orlando, Florida. The plane's pilot and one other passenger were killed in the crash. The plane hit a fence on its approach to a private air strip.
Savannah State University's basketball team really finished, finally finished, rather, their perfect season, perfectly awful, that is. They became just the second Division One team in the last 50 years to lose every single game in a season. And the five point loss last night was their closest game of the year.
Mary Kay Letourneau is getting married. Yes, she's getting married to the boy she went to jail for. The former teacher spent more than seven years in prison after having an affair with the then 12-year-old student. Well, he's 22 now. The couple have two children. Their wedding will be April 16.
Weekly bible class will go on as usual for elementary school students in Staunton, Virginia. That's the decision of the school board. They voted 5-1 last night to support the decades old practice.
But as CNN's Tom Foreman tells us, the decision is quite controversial.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On a damp path behind McSwain Elementary School, the first graders are heading to a Baptist church.
UNIDENTIFIED TEACHER: We love him because he first loved us.
FOREMAN: For a half hour each week, first, second and third graders who sign up for weekday religious education, or WRE, are excused from class to learn about the bible, morality.
ALEX DRAKES, STUDENT: Well, some of the lessons that I learned from the bible were stuff like Daniel and the lion's den, the birth of Jesus.
FOREMAN: Both of Andrea Oakes' girls went, along with 85 percent of their classmates. And she's astonished the program is under attack.
ANDREA OAKES, MOTHER: I would like to think that, no, they're not attacking us because we are Christians. However, I cannot help but question whether or not that is the reason.
FOREMAN: In this strongly religious state, church groups pay for WRE, which about 12,000 students attend. And religious classes are not held on school property.
AMY DIDUCH, PARENT: Well, it really began at the beginning of this school year.
FOREMAN: But Amy Diduch is one of the minority of parents who want the school board to shut the program down anyway.
DIDUCH: I'm not opposed to a parent, on an individual basis, choosing to take a child out for religious instruction. But I am opposed to having the school day stop while those children are absent.
FOREMAN: Diduch and others say kids who do not take part are getting little or no instruction while others are in religion class, and that sometimes children are ostracized for not going.
EDWARD SCOTT, STAUNTON CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: If the letters to the editors are to be believed at all, to our local newspaper, then surely students have been stigmatized.
FOREMAN: Back at the church, the Oakes girls say they never saw any evidence of that.
JACLYN OAKES, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GRADUATE: I don't think any of the kids in my classroom that were left behind got teased at all.
FOREMAN: And religion class organizers say the courts have long approved of such programs, as long as they remain separate from schools and parents can choose.
JACK HINTON, PRESIDENT, WEEKDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: The majority does not impose its will on any minority in this particular situation. It is a voluntary program where you opt in or you opt out. FOREMAN (on camera): Many of the opponents of the religion classes make a point of saying they are Christian, too. They just think that school time should be for traditional school studies.
(voice-over): But in the end, the school board voted overwhelmingly to keep the religion classes and try to figure a better plan for what to do with the kids who don't participate.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Staunton, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And that brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Morning. What do you think? Should religious education be offered by the public schools? Send your comments to us at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
There is much more to come on DAYBREAK this hour.
When we say star witness, we mean star. We'll tell you who might take the stand in Michael Jackson's trial. Chances are you will recognize the names.
And who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? We'll show you the new breed that has dog lovers drooling.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
President Bush is asking Congress for another $82 billion, mostly for Iraq and Afghanistan. The money was not included in his 2006 budget proposal.
You can still carry butane lighters on board commercial flights. A law banning them was supposed to take effect today, but federal security officials say they are still reviewing it.
In money news, Cal Ripken, Jr. will anchor the lineup on X.M. Radio's new major league baseball channel. That round the clock channel launches today with several big name hosts and replays of classic games.
In culture, Chris Rock has made some harsh comments about the Oscars, even though he will host the awards later this month. The comedian called the concept "idiotic" and says he only watches when black actors are nominated. The producers say there's no pressure to remove him from his hosting duties, though.
In sports, it looks like there really will not be any goals or games in the National Hockey League this season. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will hold a news conference tomorrow where he is expected to announce the official cancellation of the season.
No surprise there -- Chad, I guess.
MYERS: Not really. That's OK, now. NASCAR season has started. It doesn't really matter, does it?
COSTELLO: You know, it's a shame because it's really hurting the sport of hockey.
MYERS: It certainly is.
COSTELLO: They cannot find a compromise at all.
MYERS: No. And I get all my money back for my season tickets. Whooo-hoo! And I won't give them any money next year, either. Whooo- hoo!
Good morning, everybody.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
On the docket today, the jury in the so-called Zoloft murder trial resumes deliberations later this morning. Jurors got the case yesterday afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina. Lawyers for 15- year-old Chris Pittman argue the anti-depressant made him shoot and kill his grandparents three years ago.
Robert Blake's attorneys go to work presenting their case today in the actor's murder trial. Blake lost his composure and began openly weeping shortly after the prosecution rested its case. Blake is accused of killing his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. The trial is expected to end this month.
And in Kingston, New York, investigators link a mall shooting suspect with the 1999 Columbine High School killings. Robert Bonnelli, Jr. is accused of wounding two people Sunday when he allegedly opened fire in a crowded shopping mall. Police say they found a cache of Columbine memorabilia when they searched the 25-year- old's room.
Michael Jackson's attorneys could call up to 350 people to testify in the pop star's child molestation trial. There are that many names on the defense team's witness list.
And as CNN's Ted Rowlands explains, it's an all star cast.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The star-studded list of potential defense witnesses in the Michael Jackson case includes Liz Taylor, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Larry King, and Kobe Bryant. Also on the list, Jackson's children, Paris and Prince Michael, plus their mother, Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe. The prosecution list includes both of Jackson's former attorneys, Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman; also family members of the alleged victim in a 1993 allegation of child molestation against Jackson.
Kobe Bryant, according to court documents obtained by CNN, was identified as a friend by the mother of the accuser in the current case against Jackson. In a 2001 interview with Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, she said of Bryant and Jackson: "They shower us with love. We see them very often. They come to our house. We go to their house. We go places together and eat together."
Michael Jackson arrived to cheers from a handful of fans outside the courthouse. Inside, Jackson stood up and smiled and waved to the courtroom full of potential jurors.
LINDA DEUTSCH, A.P. CORRESPONDENT: Michael Jackson was dressed for the occasion. He was every inch the star.
ROWLANDS: One juror has been dismissed. 81-year-old Ralph Marks had a note from his doctor and was let go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you have liked to have served on this jury?
RALPH MARKS, DISMISSED JUROR: Well, yes and no. I think it's going to be very interesting, time-consuming, and that's one reason that the doctor got me off.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That was CNN's Ted Rowlands reporting. And I know he listed some of those names in his story, but you can add Backstreet Boy Nick Carter to the list; and also Jay Leno. And you can see Larry King is on there, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Kobe Bryant. We're going to talk more about this in the 6:00 hour of DAYBREAK because it's just so unusual.
New York City has gone to the dogs, and that's a good thing. It's time for the Westminster Dog Show. And coming up, we'll introduce you to one of the new stars of the show, with a face only a mother could love.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK Eye-Opener.
Several couples spent their Valentine's Day on top of a snowy mountain in Georgetown, Colorado. They were taking part in the 14th Annual Mountaintop Wedding Ceremony, which allows participants to ski free. But that seems like a big commitment just to save money on the lift tickets.
In the meantime in Oregon, students gathered to try and break the kissing record at Oregon State University. The Guinness record is more than 5,300 kissing couples. With around 19,000 students on the campus, they did have a chance to make history, or just get whacky.
For dessert, cooking students in Orlando, Florida prepare the world's largest creme brulee. The 26-foot wide tasty treat weighed in at a whopping 1,600 pounds. Tasters say the colossal confection was actually quite tasty.
In Richmond, California, one person was not in the mood for sweets after trying to break into a bank. The so-called back hoe bandit commandeered the piece of construction equipment to smash open an ATM. He was successful at causing a lot of damage, but the bandit walked away empty-handed. That's one tough ATM.
Do lobsters feel pain when they're dropped in boiling water? A new study out of Norway says no. The government funded study to see if the lobsters should be included in the new animal cruelty laws. But they also say more research is needed.
I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse about eating lobster -- Chad.
MYERS: I'm just standing, Carol.
COSTELLO: Oh, there you are.
MYERS: Here I am.
COSTELLO: You suddenly popped up.
MYERS: That's OK.
COSTELLO: I know you're into the Westminster Dog Show, aren't you?
MYERS: Did you hear about this? There's all -- I mean there's a little bit of, not controversy, but there's all these new things now to it and new processes and new dogs.
COSTELLO: New dogs. A brand new breed of dog. And as many of you probably know, the Westminster Dog Show underway here in New York. There are more than 2,500 dogs, 165 breeds, all trying to be the top dog. But it's one of the new breeds that has captured everyone's attention.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Jeanne Moos introduces us.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): All the Botox in the world couldn't cure Belaggio. (on camera): You're a sucker for wrinkles...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes, I can't imagine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not on me.
MOOS (voice-over): The new breed at Westminster will leave you drooling.
(on camera): Yes, oh that is some man-sized drool.
(voice-over): Let it fly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got to have a drool rag. It's like American Express, you can never leave home without it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is he?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A hippopotamus, right?
MOOS: Hippo, no. Neo, yes. Short for...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Neapolitan mastiff. His name is Belaggio.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, wow, Belaggio.
MOOS: The girls are swooning over half brothers Belaggio and Sirius...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lets get serious.
MOOS: ... two of only three Neapolitan mastiffs competing for the first time ever at Westminster.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to make him flap his cheeks.
MOOS (on camera): Woah!
(voice-over): In the time of the Roman emperors, a dog like this was used as...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A canine gladiator.
MOOS: Belaggio's handler, Harry Booker, says they fought lions and tigers at the Coliseum. Their loose, wrinkly skin, makes it hard for an opponent to grab.
JIM DEPPEN, SIRIUS OWNER: He can literally turn in the skin. I can't literally restrain this dog.
MOOS (on camera): You like those wrinkles?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I just said I'll look like this in 30 years.
MOOS: Twenty. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, you're a sweetheart, aren't you?
MOOS (voice-over): And though they were bred to be guard dogs, they're gentle when trained from puppy hood. This is Sirius' son, seriously irresistible. Belaggio's so well trained, we had to use a treat to entice him to jump up on me.
(on camera): I can't find his mouth.
(voice-over): Maybe you've seen the breed before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: In "Harry Potter."
(on camera): Is this what happens all the time when you bring him out?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Constantly, the barrage of people.
MOOS (voice-over): Amid all the acclaim, what's a little slobber on your suit? The best in breed went to Belaggio despite comments like hey, mister, someone let the air out of your dog. Maybe slimmer dogs can slip by.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He can't get through, he's so big. We've got to go around. He's the biggest dog in the show.
MOOS: At least he got the biggest laugh. Maybe those are just laugh lines.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MYERS: Hey, dog. Hey, guy, someone let the air out of your dog.
COSTELLO: It's a good line, isn't it?
MYERS: That was the best line on the show.
COSTELLO: All that slobber would get to me after a while, though, and I love dogs. I do.
MYERS: Yes. You're just behind him with one of those wet mops the whole time. What a great dog. What a pretty dog.
COSTELLO: That's Belaggio.
MYERS: I love the little offspring, the little puppy. He was good.
COSTELLO: Oh, that was an adorable dog.
MYERS: Yes, he was really cute. He was cute.
COSTELLO: And then they turn into that big, huge giant Belaggio thing.
MYERS: Even the owners say he's a hippopotamus.
COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
A New York moment -- what is it about this billowy display of ribbon and steel that's got so many people flocking to Central Park? A lot of people have a lot to say about this.
And a reminder -- our E-mail Question of the Day. Should religious education be offered by public schools? Daybreak@cnn.com.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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