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American Morning
Suicide Bombing in Iraq; Academy Awards Recap
Aired February 28, 2005 - 07:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: In the past hour, the Vatican releasing a new medical bulletin on the condition of the pope. What doctors are doing for him this morning.
A horrific attack today in Iraq, more than 100 are dead, 200 wounded by a suicide bomber.
And a huge winter storm bearing down in the Northeast. Later today, you will need a shovel.
At the Academy Awards last night, one beautiful baby.
CLINT EASTWOOD: I'm just a kid.
HEMMER: Clint Eastwood, at age 74, and his "Million Dollar Baby" film is a knockout last night. We'll have all the winners in a moment here on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning, good to have you along with us today. I'm Bill Hemmer.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad because Soledad is in a much more exciting place.
HEMMER: That she is. And probably tired at this hour as well. She scored tickets to see the Academy Awards in L.A. A whole lot of Oscar coverage coming up this morning. Jamie Foxx feeling good today. Winning for best actor for his performance in "Ray". Soledad talked to him last night. We'll have that interview today. Also a special edition of "90 Second Pop." All Oscars, the winners, the surprises, Chris Rock, everything from last night in a few minutes.
COSTELLO: I hope we can see Soledad's dress.
HEMMER: I think we will.
COSTELLO: Really? I'm excited.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Let's hope she's wearing it.
COSTELLO: Some may hope not. A lot of other news this morning. Let's move right along. We're looking at the suspect of the BTK serial killings. Let's start to get serious now. We'll be talking to people who knew him well.
Also, today's the opening of the Michael Jackson trial. We'll also talk to the father and grandmother of Jessica Lunsford, she is that missing nine-year-old girl in Florida.
HEMMER: It's a busy Monday morning.
Also, Jack, what's on your mind? Good morning to you.
CAFFERTY: A little over a week before Dan Rather steps down as the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" after 24 years in the chair. In conjunction with that, some well-known, high profile colleagues at CBS are saying some very unflattering things about Mr. Rather. We'll take a look.
HEMMER: All right. Jack, thanks for that.
First, let's get to Iraq. A suicide car bomb killed more than 100 today in Iraq. The target was a group of police recruits in Hilla. That's about 55 miles south of Baghdad. Straight away to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and Nic Robertson.
Nic, what do you have for us there?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it's the deadliest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Iraqi police tell us 125 were killed, more than 200 wounded. Police recruits are were lining up outside a medical center to get medical checks, as part of the recruitment process. The medical center, we're told, in the middle of Hilla, surrounded by a very busy market area.
The blast occurring at 9:30 when the suicide bomber drove his car laden full of explosives right into the line of police recruits. At this time, police do not know they say, exactly how many police recruits, how many people in the market were among the dead and wounded. They do say, however, the figure of 125 dead, more than 200 wounded, is expected to climb -- Bill.
HEMMER: Nic Robertson from Baghdad, we'll have more of that story as we continue through the morning. Now, Carol back here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We do have word on Pope John Paul II, quote, "He continues to be good," that is the word from the Vatican this morning. In a press statement handed out a short time ago, the Vatican says he's eating regularly, he's sitting up in a chair, and starting rehab. Dr. Sanjay Gupta live from the CNN Center to tell us more.
Good morning, Sanjay.
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Yes, those are all the things you look for in the first couple of postoperative days following an operation like this. The pope is now postoperative day number four, four days since his operation. Concerns that doctors will continue to have for several days still are the concerns about infection. Is he going to develop an infection of his lungs, in particular. It doesn't look like that's developed. That's good news.
Also, rehab when they talk about rehab, just getting him up and about. You can see him waving there. That is also a good sign. Then the rehab that begins for his voice, his phonation, they call it. To try and figure out if he'll be able to breathe with the tracheotomy device in place. That may take a few days still but that is possible in the days to come, Carol.
COSTELLO: When you talk about him speaking again, when might he be able to do that?
GUPTA: Well, it's a -- I have one of these devices here. Just a couple things to point out. It takes a fair amount of exercise to learn how to use a device in the way you can speak with it. Again, this is sitting in his windpipe. Typically, what has to happen is air still has to go past this device when it's in the windpipe and back past the vocal cords and out the mouth.
It takes just takes some practice, some rehabilitation to learn how to breathe that and learn how to speak that way. It varies from person to person. It could be several days still before he learns how to do that.
Also, keep in mind, Carol, part of the reason he had this in place was because of inflammation of the upper airway. Doctors are saying let's continue to give the upper airway a rest. Part of giving it a rest means not speaking. That could add to it as well, Carol.
Sanjay Gupta, live in Atlanta this morning. Bill?
HEMMER: The man suspected of the BTK serial killings could appear in court later today and will hear up to 10 charges of murder against him. Police in Wichita, Kansas, very tight-lipped again today on the investigation, what led them to arrest Dennis Rader on Friday. Here's Bob Franken live this morning in Wichita.
Bob, good morning there.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONENT: Good morning, Bill. As you can imagine, the community is trying to cope now with these startling new developments. The story of Dennis Rader, perhaps in the legal proceedings could start unfolding as you pointed out somewhat later today.
It could be tomorrow. They're trying to sort everything out. They're shooting for later today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FRANKEN (voice over): Now, he awaits his first appearance before a judge. Accused of brutal, sadistic murders that span decades. Arrested Friday. Just two days before that, Dennis Rader had stopped off before Lenten observances at Christ Lutheran, where he's president of the church council.
PAUL CARSTEDT, CHURCH MEMBER: He brought spaghetti sauce and a salad, and he said, "Here, this is for the congregation." To go from Wednesday to Friday, and to have that conversation with him on Wednesday night, it's 48 hours of just disbelief.
FRANKEN: It has been widely reported that Rader antagonized many neighbors. But at church he was seen as a loving member of the congregation, a family man. The pastor says he has spoken with the family.
REV. MICHAEL CLARK, PASTOR, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH: At the present time, the family is in a bewildered stage, totally. Trying to make sense and to understand what is happening in their lives right now.
FRANKEN: Which is what members of the Christ Lutheran Church are trying to do. Every Sunday, Bob Smyser and Dennis Rader passed collection plates together. Smyser spent lots of time with Rader, so did his children.
BOB SMYSER, CHURCH MEMBER: They saw the picture on the news. My five-year-old said, "Daddy, that's the guy who collects money with you, in the plates."
I said, "Yes. That's Dennis and we usher together." He was fairly quiet and I'm not sure w hat to tell him. I'm not sure what to tell myself. And he said, "Daddy, he tricked us, didn't he?"
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: The church is bringing in professional crisis counselors as the congregation, the entire community, and the justice system, Bill, try to unravel the story of Dennis Rader.
HEMMER: Unravel indeed. Thank you, Bob. At the half hour, we'll talk with members of the church community coming up here on AMERICAN MORNING> Here's Carol.
COSTELLO: I'm looking out the window, Bill, waiting for it to start snowing, because we're expecting another major snowstorm in New York City. And there's still snow on the ground and they have to take the gates down too from Central Park. Let's go to the forecast center in Atlanta and talk to Chad about just how much snow we're expecting. Make it stop!
(WEATHER FORECAST)
HEMMER: It is hard to put a price on winning an Oscar, but the 77th Academy Awards were definitely worth about a million. "Million Dollar Baby" took home four major he awards, include best actress for Hilary Swank. It was also named best picture and Clint Eastwood won for best director. Morgan Freeman won for his supporting role in "Million Dollar Baby". And Kate Blanchett won for her role in "The Aviator".
Also, Jamie Foxx last night, another big victory for him for his portrayal of the late, great Ray Charles. Foxx was the heavy favorite. He gave a heartfelt acceptance speech that we've heard time and again over the past two months, thanking Charles and paying tribute to his late grandmother. Soledad is out in L.A., she sat down with the best actor winner late last night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: So congratulations.
JAMIE FOXX, ACADEMY AWARD WINNER, BEST ACTOR: Thank you.
SOLEDAD: That's exciting.
FOXX: Thank you. It's beautiful.
SOLEDAD: It is beautiful. How does it feel?
FOXX: Feels absolutely incredible. I'm going to tell you what. It really is a cherry on top of everything that's happened to me in the past 12 months. I'll give you a scenario, you tell me how you'd feel.
Oprah Winfrey tells me I'm throwing a party at Quincy Jones' house for Sidney Poitier. The guest list is Samuel Jackson and Louis Gossett, Jr. and you just go what? You get in there and Sidney Poitier knights me.
SOLEDAD: What did he say to you?
FOXX: He knights me. I walk in, and is all the big Hollywood there. And he go see, I saw you one time and our eyes connected. You remember that? I was like, yeah. All these people around him said Sidney, Jamie. And he classic Sidney "I am not finished." And everybody left. And he said, "I'm gonna tell you something about this. I give you a responsibility. The responsibility that if you do win, be responsible for it. Be grown-up about it."
SOLEDAD: Which means what to you?
FOXX: It means exactly what went on, on stage tonight, the speech.
SOLEDAD: A meaningful speech.
FOXX: A meaningful speech. Oprah Winfrey came by my chair.
SOLEDAD: Did you see her go like this to you?
FOXX: Yeah. Came by my chair before, and my little girl was there. Came by the chair with a tissue. I said what is that? She said put the gum in the tissue. Don't have gum on stage. Do not let us look back at this night with you on stage and not be able to be proud about the words that you say on stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FOXX: My daughter shares my grandmother's name. Marie. My grandmother's name is Estell Marie Talley. And she's not here tonight, and this is going to be the toughest part. But she was my first acting teacher. She told me "Stand up straight. Put your shoulders back. Act like you got some sense."
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOXX: So when you have somebody like that and Sidney Poitier and Quincy Jones and those people. You have to go up and you have to grow up. No matter what, you want to be very young, and young it off. Grow up.
I tell you a story about me. I was 15 years old, and I was playing on the varsity team in Texas, football. We were at the bi- district final and we lost that game. We came in and these singers were crying. I was like, look at them crying. We'll be back. And I younged (ph) that moment off. My junior year and senior year, we didn't win a game. Never got a chance to get back to that. We may never get back to this point ever in our life. So I don't want to young it off. I wanted to share it with that lady right over there.
SOLEDAD: Your beautiful daughter and your family. You mentioned --
FOXX: Come in and sit in.
SOLEDAD: Yeah, you want to come in and sit in?
FOXX: You have to hear what she tells me just before they're calling out the names.
SOLEDAD: Tell me, what did you tell your dad?
CORINNE FOXX, DAUGHTER: If you don't win the award that you don't need it to tell you that you're a good actor.
FOXX: Wow. Can you imagine that? Your own seed telling you, hey, hey, all this is great but if it doesn't happen, everything's still good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: What a year he has had.
A bit later this hour, Soledad talks to our "90 Second Pop" panel, they were all watching the Oscars last night in Southern California. We'll discuss the winners and losers, that is coming up a bit later this hour.
How about the 'do on Soledad? Straight? Flat iron.
COSTELLO: Yes, she was looking swanky. Did you see her dress?
HEMMER: Very nice.
COSTELLO: Very daring. I'm going to have to talk to her about that.
In other news this morning, coming up, a dispute outside the house once shared by Scott and Laci Peterson. We'll tell you what happened when Laci's mother ran into Scott's family.
HEMMER: Also, from California again today, the Michael Jackson trial gets underway. The defense sounds like it's ready to put someone else on trial. We'll explain that.
And the ongoing search for Jessica Marie Lunsford. What are police telling her family? We'll talk to Jessica's father and grandmother. That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back to Homosassa Springs, Florida, this morning. Today could be the last day for the wide scale search for missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Over the weekend, police released the anguished call of the little girl's grandmother to authorities. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911: What is her name?
RUTH LUNSFORD: Jessica Lunsford, L-U-N-S-F-O-R-D.
911: What is her date of birth, ma'am.
October the --
911: That's OK, you're doing good. October what?
LUNSFORD: October 6, 1995.
911: In '95?
LUNSFORD: Yes, ma'am.
911: OK, ma'am. We're getting you some help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: That was Jessica's grandmother, Ruth Lunsford. She's with us now from Florida. Also, the father, Mark Lunsford, both with us from Homosassa Springs.
Good morning to both of you. I certainly wish on this day we could be talking about much different news. Ruth, I'd like to begin with you. What have police told you as a result of the search from over the weekend?
RUTH LUNSFORD, JESSICA'S GRANDMOTHER: I haven't really talked to them this weekend. I stayed pretty much in the house. I know they're busy.
HEMMER: I apologize. I know they're busy, you're right about that.
Mark, what have the police told you, then?
MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA'S FATHER: Basically, the same thing they've told y'all. You know, that -- I mean that things will keep going on. They're just, they're just moving the command center. But the best source of information is through them, because we all stay so busy trying to put out flyers and ask for as much help as we can get.
HEMMER: Hey, Mark, if it's true that the search will end later today, have they told you why? Today will be that day?
M LUNSFORD: I'm not real sure, but you know, I think that from what I can gather here and there, it's just like this was phase one, and now they're going to phase two.
HEMMER: You say, Mark, you're convinced that Jessica was abducted. And that she did not run away. What convinces you of that?
M LUNSFORD: Because I know my daughter, and she's not much different than anybody else's. She's, you know, if they're in a good home, there's no reason for them to leave.
HEMMER: The door to the front of the house apparently was left unlocked. Is that common for that particular door to be unlocked in the morning?
M. LUNSFORD: Oh, no. No. I mean, we don't use that door a whole lot. I think it was used the night before, you know, when from when Jessie came home from church. But you know, you just -- this kind of neighborhood, it's not something you really worry about leaving your door unlocked.
(CROSS TALK)
HEMMER: I want to go back to Ruth quickly here, in the short time we have here. You say you spent the weekend inside. How are you holding up?
R LUNSFORD: As well as can be expected, sir.
HEMMER: How do you feel about the sense of community that has really enveloped the search for your granddaughter and the hope and the help that they've provided?
R LUNSFORD: Oh, the community has been great. And our law enforcement that we've had here has been the very best. And I know that they have, they have to move their command center, but that doesn't mean that this investigation has stopped. It's ongoing until we bring Jessie home.
HEMMER: Ruth, what would you like to say to Jessica now?
R LUNSFORD: What we always say to each other. I love you, Jessie. Come home, Jessie. We miss you.
HEMMER: Well, our best to you Ruth Lunsford and Mark Lunsford.
Again, updating us in the latest in the search for Jessica, from Homosassa Springs, Florida. Thank you for your time. I know it's extremely difficult. I also know you feel interviews like these are important to get the word out. Thanks and we'll be in touch. Here's Carol.
M LUNSFORD: Thank you. If I could just --
HEMMER: Go ahead, Mark?
M LUNSFORD: ... Jessica Marie Lunsford.com, you can get a picture of her description, a copy of her description. You can leave her a prayer and you can leave her a message for when she comes home. And please, go to it, get her picture, and send it to someone you know.
HEMMER: Quickly, Mark, the Web site again? We clipped your microphone a little bit there.
M LUNSFORD: OK. Jessicamarielunsford.com.
HEMMER: We got it now. Thanks, our best to you. Here's Carol.
COSTELLO: Just breaks your heart.
In Modesto, California, police were called to keep the peace at the home once shared by Scott and Laci Peterson. Neighbors reported a loud argument between Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, and Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie, and his brother John. It happened as the Petersons were hauling items from the home into a moving van Saturday.
Rocha left shortly after the police arrived. What they were arguing about, we don't know exactly. Peterson was convicted in November of killing his pregnant wife, Laci. His formal sentencing is scheduled for March. A jury already recommended the death penalty.
HEMMER: After several stops and starts, finally looks like a mega merger between two retail giants is about to be a done deal. What does it mean for your pocketbook and shopping at home? Andy's "Minding Your Business" next here on AMERICAN MORNING. Live in New York City. The snow is acomin'. Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: News of a deal that promises to reshape the shopping landscape. Hopefully, it will mean good deals for you and me. Who knows? Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
ANDY SERWER, COLUMNIST, "FORTUNE": Good morning, Carol.
This deal was on, then it was off, and now it is on again. Federated Department Stores, which owns Bloomingdale's and Macy's, is buying May Department stores, which owns Lord & Taylor, Marshall Fields and Filene's.
It's really going to be the last department store chain standing; 900 scores, of course, it will be the largest chain. Eventually, you're going to see closings here and name changes. The Macy's brand is going to reign preeminent, especially when you see the stores in the same malls together. This is a model by the way, the department store model that goes back to the 19th century.
To give you an idea, this is in "The Wall Street Journal" this morning. Twenty years ago, 75 percent of all women's apparel was bought in 1982 at the department stores. Today, it's down to 35 percent. So you can just see how this business is just dropped precipitously.
COSTELLO: Wow. So, where are they shopping?
SERWER: At The Gap and Banana Republic. They're going to Neiman Marcus, on the high end, they're going to Wal-Mart on the low end. And so it's not a good business at all.
Meanwhile, let's talk about Wall Street; a good week, last week, for investors. Dow up half a percentage point. We erased all those losses from Friday. Dow up 92 points. Good GDP report. However, futures are down this morning because of higher oil prices. We've heard that drumbeat before.
COSTELLO: Yes, we have. Many times.
SERWER: Sorry, but it's here again.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Back to Jack, "The Question of the Day".
Good morning.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, sir. Good morning.
Well, with friends like these, as Dan Rather's long career as the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" comes to an end, some very well-known colleagues at CBS News are trashing him in an article by Ken Aleta (ph) in "The New Yorker" magazine.
How about Walter Cronkite, who calls Rather's style showboating? Or Mike Wallace, who says rather is uptight and occasionally contrived? Even "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt says he prefers watching Peter Jennings to Dan Rather. Rather is scheduled to step down march 9 after 24 years as the anchor of the "CBS Evening News". Here's the question, is it appropriate for Dan Rather's colleagues at CBS to criticize him?
COSTELLO: Talk about kicking a guy when he's down.
SERWER: It may be appropriate, but it's kind of bad form.
HEMMER: You said it. Friends like these.
CAFFERTY: It's just lame.
SERWER: You're defending Dan Rather now? I mean, because you have criticized him?
CAFFERTY: I'm not defending Dan Rather. I'm suggesting that guys like Mike Wallace and Don Hewitt ought to look in the mirror. There's probably a wart or two there if they cook real, real close.
It has nothing to do with Dan Rather. I thought the thing he did with that story about Bush was wrong, about CBS News was wrong. This is BS, for want of a better phrase. This guy's worked there for 30 years. These are supposed to be his colleagues, his friends. What a bunch of crap.
HEMMER: Final newscast early next week, right?
SERWER: That the TV business, right?
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Hollywood's biggest night is in the books. Soledad was there last night to capture it all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Ahead on "90 Second Pop," "Million Dollar Baby" knocks out the competition. Jamie Foxx cries in his acceptance speech. Chris Rock, did he rock or flop? Our "90 Second Pop" panel weighs in the morning after the Oscars.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 28, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: In the past hour, the Vatican releasing a new medical bulletin on the condition of the pope. What doctors are doing for him this morning.
A horrific attack today in Iraq, more than 100 are dead, 200 wounded by a suicide bomber.
And a huge winter storm bearing down in the Northeast. Later today, you will need a shovel.
At the Academy Awards last night, one beautiful baby.
CLINT EASTWOOD: I'm just a kid.
HEMMER: Clint Eastwood, at age 74, and his "Million Dollar Baby" film is a knockout last night. We'll have all the winners in a moment here on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning, good to have you along with us today. I'm Bill Hemmer.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: I'm Carol Costello, in for Soledad because Soledad is in a much more exciting place.
HEMMER: That she is. And probably tired at this hour as well. She scored tickets to see the Academy Awards in L.A. A whole lot of Oscar coverage coming up this morning. Jamie Foxx feeling good today. Winning for best actor for his performance in "Ray". Soledad talked to him last night. We'll have that interview today. Also a special edition of "90 Second Pop." All Oscars, the winners, the surprises, Chris Rock, everything from last night in a few minutes.
COSTELLO: I hope we can see Soledad's dress.
HEMMER: I think we will.
COSTELLO: Really? I'm excited.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Let's hope she's wearing it.
COSTELLO: Some may hope not. A lot of other news this morning. Let's move right along. We're looking at the suspect of the BTK serial killings. Let's start to get serious now. We'll be talking to people who knew him well.
Also, today's the opening of the Michael Jackson trial. We'll also talk to the father and grandmother of Jessica Lunsford, she is that missing nine-year-old girl in Florida.
HEMMER: It's a busy Monday morning.
Also, Jack, what's on your mind? Good morning to you.
CAFFERTY: A little over a week before Dan Rather steps down as the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" after 24 years in the chair. In conjunction with that, some well-known, high profile colleagues at CBS are saying some very unflattering things about Mr. Rather. We'll take a look.
HEMMER: All right. Jack, thanks for that.
First, let's get to Iraq. A suicide car bomb killed more than 100 today in Iraq. The target was a group of police recruits in Hilla. That's about 55 miles south of Baghdad. Straight away to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and Nic Robertson.
Nic, what do you have for us there?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it's the deadliest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Iraqi police tell us 125 were killed, more than 200 wounded. Police recruits are were lining up outside a medical center to get medical checks, as part of the recruitment process. The medical center, we're told, in the middle of Hilla, surrounded by a very busy market area.
The blast occurring at 9:30 when the suicide bomber drove his car laden full of explosives right into the line of police recruits. At this time, police do not know they say, exactly how many police recruits, how many people in the market were among the dead and wounded. They do say, however, the figure of 125 dead, more than 200 wounded, is expected to climb -- Bill.
HEMMER: Nic Robertson from Baghdad, we'll have more of that story as we continue through the morning. Now, Carol back here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We do have word on Pope John Paul II, quote, "He continues to be good," that is the word from the Vatican this morning. In a press statement handed out a short time ago, the Vatican says he's eating regularly, he's sitting up in a chair, and starting rehab. Dr. Sanjay Gupta live from the CNN Center to tell us more.
Good morning, Sanjay.
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Yes, those are all the things you look for in the first couple of postoperative days following an operation like this. The pope is now postoperative day number four, four days since his operation. Concerns that doctors will continue to have for several days still are the concerns about infection. Is he going to develop an infection of his lungs, in particular. It doesn't look like that's developed. That's good news.
Also, rehab when they talk about rehab, just getting him up and about. You can see him waving there. That is also a good sign. Then the rehab that begins for his voice, his phonation, they call it. To try and figure out if he'll be able to breathe with the tracheotomy device in place. That may take a few days still but that is possible in the days to come, Carol.
COSTELLO: When you talk about him speaking again, when might he be able to do that?
GUPTA: Well, it's a -- I have one of these devices here. Just a couple things to point out. It takes a fair amount of exercise to learn how to use a device in the way you can speak with it. Again, this is sitting in his windpipe. Typically, what has to happen is air still has to go past this device when it's in the windpipe and back past the vocal cords and out the mouth.
It takes just takes some practice, some rehabilitation to learn how to breathe that and learn how to speak that way. It varies from person to person. It could be several days still before he learns how to do that.
Also, keep in mind, Carol, part of the reason he had this in place was because of inflammation of the upper airway. Doctors are saying let's continue to give the upper airway a rest. Part of giving it a rest means not speaking. That could add to it as well, Carol.
Sanjay Gupta, live in Atlanta this morning. Bill?
HEMMER: The man suspected of the BTK serial killings could appear in court later today and will hear up to 10 charges of murder against him. Police in Wichita, Kansas, very tight-lipped again today on the investigation, what led them to arrest Dennis Rader on Friday. Here's Bob Franken live this morning in Wichita.
Bob, good morning there.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONENT: Good morning, Bill. As you can imagine, the community is trying to cope now with these startling new developments. The story of Dennis Rader, perhaps in the legal proceedings could start unfolding as you pointed out somewhat later today.
It could be tomorrow. They're trying to sort everything out. They're shooting for later today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FRANKEN (voice over): Now, he awaits his first appearance before a judge. Accused of brutal, sadistic murders that span decades. Arrested Friday. Just two days before that, Dennis Rader had stopped off before Lenten observances at Christ Lutheran, where he's president of the church council.
PAUL CARSTEDT, CHURCH MEMBER: He brought spaghetti sauce and a salad, and he said, "Here, this is for the congregation." To go from Wednesday to Friday, and to have that conversation with him on Wednesday night, it's 48 hours of just disbelief.
FRANKEN: It has been widely reported that Rader antagonized many neighbors. But at church he was seen as a loving member of the congregation, a family man. The pastor says he has spoken with the family.
REV. MICHAEL CLARK, PASTOR, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH: At the present time, the family is in a bewildered stage, totally. Trying to make sense and to understand what is happening in their lives right now.
FRANKEN: Which is what members of the Christ Lutheran Church are trying to do. Every Sunday, Bob Smyser and Dennis Rader passed collection plates together. Smyser spent lots of time with Rader, so did his children.
BOB SMYSER, CHURCH MEMBER: They saw the picture on the news. My five-year-old said, "Daddy, that's the guy who collects money with you, in the plates."
I said, "Yes. That's Dennis and we usher together." He was fairly quiet and I'm not sure w hat to tell him. I'm not sure what to tell myself. And he said, "Daddy, he tricked us, didn't he?"
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: The church is bringing in professional crisis counselors as the congregation, the entire community, and the justice system, Bill, try to unravel the story of Dennis Rader.
HEMMER: Unravel indeed. Thank you, Bob. At the half hour, we'll talk with members of the church community coming up here on AMERICAN MORNING> Here's Carol.
COSTELLO: I'm looking out the window, Bill, waiting for it to start snowing, because we're expecting another major snowstorm in New York City. And there's still snow on the ground and they have to take the gates down too from Central Park. Let's go to the forecast center in Atlanta and talk to Chad about just how much snow we're expecting. Make it stop!
(WEATHER FORECAST)
HEMMER: It is hard to put a price on winning an Oscar, but the 77th Academy Awards were definitely worth about a million. "Million Dollar Baby" took home four major he awards, include best actress for Hilary Swank. It was also named best picture and Clint Eastwood won for best director. Morgan Freeman won for his supporting role in "Million Dollar Baby". And Kate Blanchett won for her role in "The Aviator".
Also, Jamie Foxx last night, another big victory for him for his portrayal of the late, great Ray Charles. Foxx was the heavy favorite. He gave a heartfelt acceptance speech that we've heard time and again over the past two months, thanking Charles and paying tribute to his late grandmother. Soledad is out in L.A., she sat down with the best actor winner late last night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: So congratulations.
JAMIE FOXX, ACADEMY AWARD WINNER, BEST ACTOR: Thank you.
SOLEDAD: That's exciting.
FOXX: Thank you. It's beautiful.
SOLEDAD: It is beautiful. How does it feel?
FOXX: Feels absolutely incredible. I'm going to tell you what. It really is a cherry on top of everything that's happened to me in the past 12 months. I'll give you a scenario, you tell me how you'd feel.
Oprah Winfrey tells me I'm throwing a party at Quincy Jones' house for Sidney Poitier. The guest list is Samuel Jackson and Louis Gossett, Jr. and you just go what? You get in there and Sidney Poitier knights me.
SOLEDAD: What did he say to you?
FOXX: He knights me. I walk in, and is all the big Hollywood there. And he go see, I saw you one time and our eyes connected. You remember that? I was like, yeah. All these people around him said Sidney, Jamie. And he classic Sidney "I am not finished." And everybody left. And he said, "I'm gonna tell you something about this. I give you a responsibility. The responsibility that if you do win, be responsible for it. Be grown-up about it."
SOLEDAD: Which means what to you?
FOXX: It means exactly what went on, on stage tonight, the speech.
SOLEDAD: A meaningful speech.
FOXX: A meaningful speech. Oprah Winfrey came by my chair.
SOLEDAD: Did you see her go like this to you?
FOXX: Yeah. Came by my chair before, and my little girl was there. Came by the chair with a tissue. I said what is that? She said put the gum in the tissue. Don't have gum on stage. Do not let us look back at this night with you on stage and not be able to be proud about the words that you say on stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FOXX: My daughter shares my grandmother's name. Marie. My grandmother's name is Estell Marie Talley. And she's not here tonight, and this is going to be the toughest part. But she was my first acting teacher. She told me "Stand up straight. Put your shoulders back. Act like you got some sense."
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOXX: So when you have somebody like that and Sidney Poitier and Quincy Jones and those people. You have to go up and you have to grow up. No matter what, you want to be very young, and young it off. Grow up.
I tell you a story about me. I was 15 years old, and I was playing on the varsity team in Texas, football. We were at the bi- district final and we lost that game. We came in and these singers were crying. I was like, look at them crying. We'll be back. And I younged (ph) that moment off. My junior year and senior year, we didn't win a game. Never got a chance to get back to that. We may never get back to this point ever in our life. So I don't want to young it off. I wanted to share it with that lady right over there.
SOLEDAD: Your beautiful daughter and your family. You mentioned --
FOXX: Come in and sit in.
SOLEDAD: Yeah, you want to come in and sit in?
FOXX: You have to hear what she tells me just before they're calling out the names.
SOLEDAD: Tell me, what did you tell your dad?
CORINNE FOXX, DAUGHTER: If you don't win the award that you don't need it to tell you that you're a good actor.
FOXX: Wow. Can you imagine that? Your own seed telling you, hey, hey, all this is great but if it doesn't happen, everything's still good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: What a year he has had.
A bit later this hour, Soledad talks to our "90 Second Pop" panel, they were all watching the Oscars last night in Southern California. We'll discuss the winners and losers, that is coming up a bit later this hour.
How about the 'do on Soledad? Straight? Flat iron.
COSTELLO: Yes, she was looking swanky. Did you see her dress?
HEMMER: Very nice.
COSTELLO: Very daring. I'm going to have to talk to her about that.
In other news this morning, coming up, a dispute outside the house once shared by Scott and Laci Peterson. We'll tell you what happened when Laci's mother ran into Scott's family.
HEMMER: Also, from California again today, the Michael Jackson trial gets underway. The defense sounds like it's ready to put someone else on trial. We'll explain that.
And the ongoing search for Jessica Marie Lunsford. What are police telling her family? We'll talk to Jessica's father and grandmother. That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back to Homosassa Springs, Florida, this morning. Today could be the last day for the wide scale search for missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Over the weekend, police released the anguished call of the little girl's grandmother to authorities. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911: What is her name?
RUTH LUNSFORD: Jessica Lunsford, L-U-N-S-F-O-R-D.
911: What is her date of birth, ma'am.
October the --
911: That's OK, you're doing good. October what?
LUNSFORD: October 6, 1995.
911: In '95?
LUNSFORD: Yes, ma'am.
911: OK, ma'am. We're getting you some help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: That was Jessica's grandmother, Ruth Lunsford. She's with us now from Florida. Also, the father, Mark Lunsford, both with us from Homosassa Springs.
Good morning to both of you. I certainly wish on this day we could be talking about much different news. Ruth, I'd like to begin with you. What have police told you as a result of the search from over the weekend?
RUTH LUNSFORD, JESSICA'S GRANDMOTHER: I haven't really talked to them this weekend. I stayed pretty much in the house. I know they're busy.
HEMMER: I apologize. I know they're busy, you're right about that.
Mark, what have the police told you, then?
MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA'S FATHER: Basically, the same thing they've told y'all. You know, that -- I mean that things will keep going on. They're just, they're just moving the command center. But the best source of information is through them, because we all stay so busy trying to put out flyers and ask for as much help as we can get.
HEMMER: Hey, Mark, if it's true that the search will end later today, have they told you why? Today will be that day?
M LUNSFORD: I'm not real sure, but you know, I think that from what I can gather here and there, it's just like this was phase one, and now they're going to phase two.
HEMMER: You say, Mark, you're convinced that Jessica was abducted. And that she did not run away. What convinces you of that?
M LUNSFORD: Because I know my daughter, and she's not much different than anybody else's. She's, you know, if they're in a good home, there's no reason for them to leave.
HEMMER: The door to the front of the house apparently was left unlocked. Is that common for that particular door to be unlocked in the morning?
M. LUNSFORD: Oh, no. No. I mean, we don't use that door a whole lot. I think it was used the night before, you know, when from when Jessie came home from church. But you know, you just -- this kind of neighborhood, it's not something you really worry about leaving your door unlocked.
(CROSS TALK)
HEMMER: I want to go back to Ruth quickly here, in the short time we have here. You say you spent the weekend inside. How are you holding up?
R LUNSFORD: As well as can be expected, sir.
HEMMER: How do you feel about the sense of community that has really enveloped the search for your granddaughter and the hope and the help that they've provided?
R LUNSFORD: Oh, the community has been great. And our law enforcement that we've had here has been the very best. And I know that they have, they have to move their command center, but that doesn't mean that this investigation has stopped. It's ongoing until we bring Jessie home.
HEMMER: Ruth, what would you like to say to Jessica now?
R LUNSFORD: What we always say to each other. I love you, Jessie. Come home, Jessie. We miss you.
HEMMER: Well, our best to you Ruth Lunsford and Mark Lunsford.
Again, updating us in the latest in the search for Jessica, from Homosassa Springs, Florida. Thank you for your time. I know it's extremely difficult. I also know you feel interviews like these are important to get the word out. Thanks and we'll be in touch. Here's Carol.
M LUNSFORD: Thank you. If I could just --
HEMMER: Go ahead, Mark?
M LUNSFORD: ... Jessica Marie Lunsford.com, you can get a picture of her description, a copy of her description. You can leave her a prayer and you can leave her a message for when she comes home. And please, go to it, get her picture, and send it to someone you know.
HEMMER: Quickly, Mark, the Web site again? We clipped your microphone a little bit there.
M LUNSFORD: OK. Jessicamarielunsford.com.
HEMMER: We got it now. Thanks, our best to you. Here's Carol.
COSTELLO: Just breaks your heart.
In Modesto, California, police were called to keep the peace at the home once shared by Scott and Laci Peterson. Neighbors reported a loud argument between Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, and Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie, and his brother John. It happened as the Petersons were hauling items from the home into a moving van Saturday.
Rocha left shortly after the police arrived. What they were arguing about, we don't know exactly. Peterson was convicted in November of killing his pregnant wife, Laci. His formal sentencing is scheduled for March. A jury already recommended the death penalty.
HEMMER: After several stops and starts, finally looks like a mega merger between two retail giants is about to be a done deal. What does it mean for your pocketbook and shopping at home? Andy's "Minding Your Business" next here on AMERICAN MORNING. Live in New York City. The snow is acomin'. Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: News of a deal that promises to reshape the shopping landscape. Hopefully, it will mean good deals for you and me. Who knows? Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
ANDY SERWER, COLUMNIST, "FORTUNE": Good morning, Carol.
This deal was on, then it was off, and now it is on again. Federated Department Stores, which owns Bloomingdale's and Macy's, is buying May Department stores, which owns Lord & Taylor, Marshall Fields and Filene's.
It's really going to be the last department store chain standing; 900 scores, of course, it will be the largest chain. Eventually, you're going to see closings here and name changes. The Macy's brand is going to reign preeminent, especially when you see the stores in the same malls together. This is a model by the way, the department store model that goes back to the 19th century.
To give you an idea, this is in "The Wall Street Journal" this morning. Twenty years ago, 75 percent of all women's apparel was bought in 1982 at the department stores. Today, it's down to 35 percent. So you can just see how this business is just dropped precipitously.
COSTELLO: Wow. So, where are they shopping?
SERWER: At The Gap and Banana Republic. They're going to Neiman Marcus, on the high end, they're going to Wal-Mart on the low end. And so it's not a good business at all.
Meanwhile, let's talk about Wall Street; a good week, last week, for investors. Dow up half a percentage point. We erased all those losses from Friday. Dow up 92 points. Good GDP report. However, futures are down this morning because of higher oil prices. We've heard that drumbeat before.
COSTELLO: Yes, we have. Many times.
SERWER: Sorry, but it's here again.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Back to Jack, "The Question of the Day".
Good morning.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, sir. Good morning.
Well, with friends like these, as Dan Rather's long career as the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" comes to an end, some very well-known colleagues at CBS News are trashing him in an article by Ken Aleta (ph) in "The New Yorker" magazine.
How about Walter Cronkite, who calls Rather's style showboating? Or Mike Wallace, who says rather is uptight and occasionally contrived? Even "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt says he prefers watching Peter Jennings to Dan Rather. Rather is scheduled to step down march 9 after 24 years as the anchor of the "CBS Evening News". Here's the question, is it appropriate for Dan Rather's colleagues at CBS to criticize him?
COSTELLO: Talk about kicking a guy when he's down.
SERWER: It may be appropriate, but it's kind of bad form.
HEMMER: You said it. Friends like these.
CAFFERTY: It's just lame.
SERWER: You're defending Dan Rather now? I mean, because you have criticized him?
CAFFERTY: I'm not defending Dan Rather. I'm suggesting that guys like Mike Wallace and Don Hewitt ought to look in the mirror. There's probably a wart or two there if they cook real, real close.
It has nothing to do with Dan Rather. I thought the thing he did with that story about Bush was wrong, about CBS News was wrong. This is BS, for want of a better phrase. This guy's worked there for 30 years. These are supposed to be his colleagues, his friends. What a bunch of crap.
HEMMER: Final newscast early next week, right?
SERWER: That the TV business, right?
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
Hollywood's biggest night is in the books. Soledad was there last night to capture it all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Ahead on "90 Second Pop," "Million Dollar Baby" knocks out the competition. Jamie Foxx cries in his acceptance speech. Chris Rock, did he rock or flop? Our "90 Second Pop" panel weighs in the morning after the Oscars.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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