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CNN Live At Daybreak
Just Who is the BTK Killer; Where is Jessica Lunsford?
Aired March 01, 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, just who is this man? To police, he's a vicious killer. To others, he's just a neighbor. We'll find out more about the BTK suspect.
Plus, where is Jessica Lunsford? Authorities keep asking that question, but so far no answers.
And a trip to the hospital -- will it heal your pain or make you wish you never went?
It is Tuesday.
It's the first day of March.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the alleged BTK serial killer makes a first court appearance today. Ten charges against Dennis Rader will be read at 12:00 Eastern time in a Wichita, Kansas court. He'll likely appear by video from jail.
Condoleezza Rice is in London this morning for a conference on the Middle East. Her goal? Lining up more Arab support for the new Palestinian government. This is her third trip overseas as secretary of state.
The claim? Prisoner abuse. The target? Donald Rumsfeld. Sources close to the case say human rights lawyers plan to sue the defense chief today over alleged abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.
No suspects, no real leads -- that's what Florida authorities face as they keep searching for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Her father says search dogs may be brought in today. Jessica was last seen Wednesday night at her home when her grandmother put her to bed.
And there is word coming in from the Vatican this morning on the pope. A spokesman says the pontiff is well and he's getting better. The pope is recovering from throat surgery at a Rome hospital.
To the forecast center.
Oh, it's still snowing -- Chad. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's snowing hard in some spots.
COSTELLO: What?
MYERS: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't hear him.
COSTELLO: Where's your microphone?
MYERS: Hold on. I don't know where it is. Oh, gosh darn it, Carol.
COSTELLO: That's just wrong, Chad.
MYERS: Sometimes it falls off when I try to put my tie on. That's why I don't put my tie on in the morning and then -- there you go.
Gosh. Try to get coffee and you all at the same time.
Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Big changes, they seem to be happening across the Middle East. And we start our coverage this morning with the key questions -- will those changes hold?
The Bush administration is showing some cautious hope.
More now from CNN's senior White House correspondent John King.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The White House applauded the resignation of Lebanon's Syrian-backed government as the latest in what it views as a series of positive changes in the Middle East.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We are fully committed to supporting free and fair elections that would be free from outside interference.
KING: Monday's deadly car bombing south of Baghdad and Friday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv are reminders apparent progress in the Middle East is too often followed by turmoil and violence. But by any standards, the past two months have been remarkable.
THEODORE KATTOUF, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA: I think what we're seeing, perhaps, if it's not too grandiose a term, is a second Arab awakening.
KING: The Palestinians elected new leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas promises to improve security and seek peace with Israel. Iraqis voted by the millions despite threats from insurgents. Saudi Arabia held municipal elections and says women might get to vote in the next round. And Egypt's leader promised Saturday to amend the constitution and allow multi-candidate presidential elections.
Mr. Bush long has suggested voting in Iraq would serve as a model for the region. Even critics of the war suggest the president deserves a share of the credit.
AARON MILLER, PRESIDENT, SEEDS OF PEACE: I wouldn't expect a series of rising democracies or falling dominoes, if you will, any time soon. This is going to be a long and probably traumatic process. But something very important has been set into motion.
KING: Saddam Hussein's half brother was captured in Syria over the weekend and turned over to Iraqi authorities. But the White House brushed aside suggestions Syria is perhaps trying to repair strained relations and repeated its demand that Syrian troops and intelligence services immediately leave Lebanon.
MCCLELLAN: We will see by their actions if they're committed to changing their behavior.
KING (on camera): Freedom is on the march is how the White House press secretary put it when asked about the dramatic day in Lebanon and other recent political changes in the Middle East. But there also is no shortage of caution here. As one official put it, "It is without a doubt a hopeful period, but history warns you not to get too hopeful."
John King, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Well, let's stay on the hopeful side, shall we?
Lebanon began a search for a new prime minister today. Prime Minister Omar Karami resigned Monday under intense pressure. Protesters packed the streets of Beirut cheering his resignation. Marchers have been demanding Karami's ouster and Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri two weeks ago.
Brent Sadler is in Beirut.
He joins us with more on the dramatic events -- hello, Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
Good morning, Carol.
Yes, it's the morning after the night before here and demonstrators camped out in Martyr's Square and blocked traffic for a short time this morning, waving the Lebanese flag and proclaiming that they had won what they say is the first round in a battle for freedom.
But, Carol, Syria still pulls important strings here and the process of finding a new prime minister to head a new Lebanese government is going to take time, possibly weeks. Lebanon still has as its head of state a staunchly pro-Syrian Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud. And, also, the Syrians can count on loyalty from a large number of members of the Lebanese parliament and they can also count on the support of the security services.
Demands from the demonstrators and from the political opposition for the resignation in the heat of the moment last night of the president himself, that's not likely to happen. Also, demands led by the U.S. for Syria to immediately dismantle, or at least by elections planned for April, dismantle Syria's troop and intelligence services' presence in Lebanon -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Brent Sadler live in Beirut this morning.
Thank you.
A one day international conference -- I'm sorry, we're -- we were going to go to Robin Oakley, who is live in London, but he is not prepared yet, so we'll move on to the next story.
More "News Across America" this morning, Steve Fossett left Kansas on his next adventure. The millionaire is attempting to pilot his plane on a nonstop round the world flight. Fossett is hoping to return to Kansas on Tuesday morning. There's his plane. He would become the first to complete the 23,000 mile journey without a co- pilot. The trip is being financed by billionaire Richard Branson.
A British law professor at the University of Texas is receiving his country's highest honor. Sir Basil Markesinis will be knighted by Queen Elizabeth on March 9. The professor is also the chairman of the College of London's Institute of Global Law. He teaches international law at U.T. three months of the year.
A flat start to the school day in one San Diego school district. Students in the northern school district were left waiting for up to two hours for the school buses to come. Someone let the air out of the tires on 65 buses and 10 school vans. School officials believe it was probably a prank.
All right, back to Robin Oakley now.
A one day international conference intended to support the new Palestinian leadership opened up in London just about 90 minutes ago. Representatives of several nations are being asked to support Palestinian political, financial and security reforms.
So here's Robin Oakley live in London -- hello, Robin.
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
Well, a very optimistic note being struck here at the conference. Kofi Annan, the U.N. secretary general, talking about a new sense of movement in the peace process, a new wave of optimism. A similar note coming from Tony Blair, the conference host. He was spelling out that this is a conference that is all about practicalities. He said there have been good developments already: first of all, the election of President Abbas, the new leader of the Palestinian Authority; secondly, the preparations for disengagement of Israeli settlements by Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister; thirdly, the cease-fire agreement at Sharm el-Sheikh between Mr. Abbas and Mr. Sharon. And building on that, says Tony Blair, this conference is not in itself a further peace conference. That will come at a later stage. But what this is designed to do is to build in a practical way the new Palestinian Authority, preparing it for statehood, practical proposals on what can be done to improve security, to improve the governing institutions and to improve the Palestinian Authority economy.
And Tony Blair is looking to the international donor community, well represented at this conference by people like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, to come forward with their practical proposals for backing up the Palestinians.
And Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, is going to outline his reform program and back up those calls for help from the international community.
COSTELLO: Robin, we're having a little trouble hearing you because of the background noise.
We apologize about the audio quality.
Hopefully when we go back to Robin later on on DAYBREAK, we'll have those problems worked out.
Bill Gates -- he's sounding the alarm about America's high schools. If you have a kid in high school, listen to this. Bill Gates is calling high schools in this country obsolete and outdated. The Microsoft chairman warns that America's students are not getting a good enough education to compete in the global economy. Gates was the keynote speaker at a meeting of U.S. governors. He urged them to redesign the nation's educational system so students can graduate better prepared for college and for work.
That brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Day. Are American high schools obsolete? Do you think your kid's getting a good education? Tell us what you think. Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
A pop star, his young accuser and two vastly different stories. That's what jurors are facing in the Michael Jackson trial. We'll have details for you straight ahead on DAYBREAK.
Also, struggling for answers -- people in a Kansas community are asking tough questions about one of their own.
And could being in the intensive care unit end up causing you some intense pain? We'll find out.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning, March 1.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in London taking part in an international conference on Palestinian reform. Rice is expected to support plans to reform Palestinian security.
This morning, a Vatican spokesman says Pope John Paul II's health is improving, but there is still no indication when the pontiff may be heading back to the Vatican from the hospital.
In money news, the fight for a satellite radio program is pushing the price up. Industry leader X.M. is raising its subscription rate by $3 a month. That hike makes their monthly cost the same as Sirius Satellite Radio.
In culture, the addition of Chris Rock did not lead to the roll in Oscar ratings ABC had hoped for. Preliminary numbers show that just over 41 million people watched the broadcast. That's a 5 percent drop over last year.
In sports, veteran NBA announcer Marv Albert will start calling games for the New Jersey Nets next season. Albert had been the voice of the New York Knicks for more than 35 years. He will continue to call NBA games for TNT.
To the forecast center and Chad -- good morning.
MYERS: Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Carol, it was snowing in Atlanta this morning as I was driving into work and snow...
COSTELLO: Get out!
MYERS: That snow is done now, but it sure was quite a pretty sight on the grass. It never really got onto the roadways, but it was a little slick in some spots.
COSTELLO: What, five snowflakes fell in Atlanta?
MYERS: I would say there might have been 500.
COSTELLO: Really?
MYERS: Yes. It was pretty.
COSTELLO: Ooh, join the club.
MYERS: You've got 500,000. COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
Let's talk about Michael Jackson now.
His attorney is expected to finish his opening statements today and then the first witness will be called. That comes as we learn more about the accusations. The grand jury indictment says Jackson's people tried to intimidate the accuser and his family. But this case may come down to which side of the story the jury is ready to believe.
CNN's Ted Rowlands has it all for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Outside the courtroom, Michael Jackson seemed to be in good spirits, at one point even giving a thumbs up to a camera. Inside, he sat quietly as jurors were told two dramatically different stories about what happened between Jackson and the alleged victim.
Lead prosecutor Tom Sneddon painted a disturbing picture of sexual abuse on a child. Sneddon said Jackson gave the victim and his brother wine and vodka on numerous occasions, saying: "Instead of cookies and milk, you can substitute wine, vodka and bourbon."
Sneddon said dozens of X-rated magazines were found in Jackson's home and at least one had both Jackson's and the victim's fingerprints. Sneddon said about the relationship between Jackson and the victim that Jackson was "manipulating the trust of the common bond that was created."
Sneddon described in great detail the alleged sexual abuse, saying the victim will testify in front of the world about what happened. He also told jurors that the victim's brother witnessed alleged abuse on two separate occasions. The abuse allegedly took place in the master suite at Jackson's Neverland Ranch.
Michael Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, told jurors: "These charges are fictitious, bogus and didn't happen." Mesereau said Jackson was the victim of a trap set by a family with a history of milking celebrities. Before Michael Jackson, Mesereau said, Jay Leno thought he was being manipulated by the same family. Leno, according to Mesereau, cut short a phone call with the victim after hearing the mother possibly coaching him in the background.
Mesereau said: "The mother, with her children as tools, was trying to latch onto a celebrity."
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: If you believe half of what the defense is putting out about the mother of the victim, I don't know how a jury is going to believe this case beyond a reasonable doubt.
ROWLANDS (on camera): Mesereau is expected to finish his opening statement when court resumes. The first witness on the prosecution list is documentary producer Martin Bashir.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: The trial of rapper Lil' Kim is expected to get underway today in New York. She's accused of lying to a grand jury about a shooting in front of a radio station four years ago. Lil' Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, could face up to 30 years in prison. The prosecution plans to introduce some of her rap lyrics and videos as evidence in the case.
That very same radio station at the center of the Lil' Kim trial was the scene of another shooting last night. "Newsday" reports the victim was a member of 50 Cent's entourage. The rapper was inside giving an on air interview at the time of the incident. The victim was hit in the leg and was hospitalized. No arrests have been made.
A legal battle in Louisiana spills out onto the courthouse's front lawn. Ahead, the story behind a fight for justice.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, Chad, it's that time of the morning for some "Late Night Laughs."
MYERS: Because we probably figure you weren't awake watching "Leno" last night and are already awake now.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: And, of course, Leno was joking about the Oscars, which I know you didn't watch because you...
MYERS: Don't watch movies.
COSTELLO: Or -- yes, exactly.
MYERS: So there.
COSTELLO: Well, the host, Chris Rock, as many of you know, made fun of the actor Jude Law for being in so many movies. And then a fellow actor, Sean Penn, took offense to that. He went on stage and he defended Law. It was a touching moment, Chad.
MYERS: I'm ready.
COSTELLO: Well, don't you think that "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno let that get by him.
Listen to what he had to say about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC) JAY LENO, HOST: Folks, you don't have to worry. All the jokes in tonight's monologue have been pre-approved by Sean Penn, so we're fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
LENO: And I liked it when Hillary said I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream. You know, for a second I thought hey, is this the country music awards or what?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. That was your -- that was your moment for laughter this morning. We hope you all enjoyed it.
MYERS: We'll try to do better tomorrow.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers," though.
A former member of the rock band Korn turned his attention to a different type of concert. Brian Welch, also known as "Head" -- that's his nickname, "Head" -- he talked to about 10,000 parishioners at a Bakersfield, California church. Welch announced last week that he was leaving the best-selling band to pursue his faith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH, FORMER MEMBER OF KORN: I came here and like my life was given back to me. I'm happy. I don't want to be dead any more, so I just want to show everybody that this, man, there's so much things to be -- to be happy with in life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Welch says he plans to start a solo career focusing on Christian music.
A brawl broke out on the front lawn of a New Orleans courthouse following the verdict in a well-publicized murder trial. The families of the defendant and the victim mixed it up, but no arrests were made. It's the second time in the past month and a half that court opponents have taken the fight outside of that courthouse from the inside.
Look at this, Chad. State troopers in Louisiana found a ton of marijuana in the back of a vegetable truck. The troopers say they were suspicious that the truck, supposedly carrying cilantro and cucumbers, would look so heavy. The marijuana is valued at about, oh, $3 million.
MYERS: Carol?
COSTELLO: Yes?
MYERS: Do you find it suspicious that there was 19,000 -- or 1,960 pounds and not really 2,000 pounds, that there's 40 pounds missing somewhere?
COSTELLO: Hmmm. I actually do. Anyway, we saw a picture of the man who's part of the couple that was allegedly transporting the drugs.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: They were arrested.
And guess what? They had their 5-year-old son in the truck. Lovely.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
It's medicine's dirty secret. Ahead, why going to the hospital may make you sicker.
Plus, how one man managed to be a Cub Scout leader, a church president and a suspect in a series of grizzly murders. We'll have more on the man accused of being the BTK killer.
And a reminder, our E-mail Question of the Day -- are American high schools obsolete? Do you think your kid is being prepared for the world outside? Send your thoughts to us this morning, daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the man accused of being the BTK killer appears before a judge today for the first time. Dennis Rader is expected to appear via video hookup from a Wichita, Kansas jail to hear the 10 murder charges against him.
The first witness in the Michael Jackson case is expected to be called today. That will come after the defense finishes its opening statement.
And the "Chicago Sun-Times" is reporting a federal judge found the bodies of her husband and 89-year-old mother when she came home from work last night. A white supremacist was convicted last year of trying to hire someone to kill the judge. Police have not said if they suspect a connection. 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 March 1, 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, just who is this man? To police, he's a vicious killer. To others, he's just a neighbor. We'll find out more about the BTK suspect.
Plus, where is Jessica Lunsford? Authorities keep asking that question, but so far no answers.
And a trip to the hospital -- will it heal your pain or make you wish you never went?
It is Tuesday.
It's the first day of March.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the alleged BTK serial killer makes a first court appearance today. Ten charges against Dennis Rader will be read at 12:00 Eastern time in a Wichita, Kansas court. He'll likely appear by video from jail.
Condoleezza Rice is in London this morning for a conference on the Middle East. Her goal? Lining up more Arab support for the new Palestinian government. This is her third trip overseas as secretary of state.
The claim? Prisoner abuse. The target? Donald Rumsfeld. Sources close to the case say human rights lawyers plan to sue the defense chief today over alleged abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.
No suspects, no real leads -- that's what Florida authorities face as they keep searching for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Her father says search dogs may be brought in today. Jessica was last seen Wednesday night at her home when her grandmother put her to bed.
And there is word coming in from the Vatican this morning on the pope. A spokesman says the pontiff is well and he's getting better. The pope is recovering from throat surgery at a Rome hospital.
To the forecast center.
Oh, it's still snowing -- Chad. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's snowing hard in some spots.
COSTELLO: What?
MYERS: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't hear him.
COSTELLO: Where's your microphone?
MYERS: Hold on. I don't know where it is. Oh, gosh darn it, Carol.
COSTELLO: That's just wrong, Chad.
MYERS: Sometimes it falls off when I try to put my tie on. That's why I don't put my tie on in the morning and then -- there you go.
Gosh. Try to get coffee and you all at the same time.
Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Big changes, they seem to be happening across the Middle East. And we start our coverage this morning with the key questions -- will those changes hold?
The Bush administration is showing some cautious hope.
More now from CNN's senior White House correspondent John King.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The White House applauded the resignation of Lebanon's Syrian-backed government as the latest in what it views as a series of positive changes in the Middle East.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We are fully committed to supporting free and fair elections that would be free from outside interference.
KING: Monday's deadly car bombing south of Baghdad and Friday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv are reminders apparent progress in the Middle East is too often followed by turmoil and violence. But by any standards, the past two months have been remarkable.
THEODORE KATTOUF, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA: I think what we're seeing, perhaps, if it's not too grandiose a term, is a second Arab awakening.
KING: The Palestinians elected new leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas promises to improve security and seek peace with Israel. Iraqis voted by the millions despite threats from insurgents. Saudi Arabia held municipal elections and says women might get to vote in the next round. And Egypt's leader promised Saturday to amend the constitution and allow multi-candidate presidential elections.
Mr. Bush long has suggested voting in Iraq would serve as a model for the region. Even critics of the war suggest the president deserves a share of the credit.
AARON MILLER, PRESIDENT, SEEDS OF PEACE: I wouldn't expect a series of rising democracies or falling dominoes, if you will, any time soon. This is going to be a long and probably traumatic process. But something very important has been set into motion.
KING: Saddam Hussein's half brother was captured in Syria over the weekend and turned over to Iraqi authorities. But the White House brushed aside suggestions Syria is perhaps trying to repair strained relations and repeated its demand that Syrian troops and intelligence services immediately leave Lebanon.
MCCLELLAN: We will see by their actions if they're committed to changing their behavior.
KING (on camera): Freedom is on the march is how the White House press secretary put it when asked about the dramatic day in Lebanon and other recent political changes in the Middle East. But there also is no shortage of caution here. As one official put it, "It is without a doubt a hopeful period, but history warns you not to get too hopeful."
John King, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Well, let's stay on the hopeful side, shall we?
Lebanon began a search for a new prime minister today. Prime Minister Omar Karami resigned Monday under intense pressure. Protesters packed the streets of Beirut cheering his resignation. Marchers have been demanding Karami's ouster and Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri two weeks ago.
Brent Sadler is in Beirut.
He joins us with more on the dramatic events -- hello, Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
Good morning, Carol.
Yes, it's the morning after the night before here and demonstrators camped out in Martyr's Square and blocked traffic for a short time this morning, waving the Lebanese flag and proclaiming that they had won what they say is the first round in a battle for freedom.
But, Carol, Syria still pulls important strings here and the process of finding a new prime minister to head a new Lebanese government is going to take time, possibly weeks. Lebanon still has as its head of state a staunchly pro-Syrian Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud. And, also, the Syrians can count on loyalty from a large number of members of the Lebanese parliament and they can also count on the support of the security services.
Demands from the demonstrators and from the political opposition for the resignation in the heat of the moment last night of the president himself, that's not likely to happen. Also, demands led by the U.S. for Syria to immediately dismantle, or at least by elections planned for April, dismantle Syria's troop and intelligence services' presence in Lebanon -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Brent Sadler live in Beirut this morning.
Thank you.
A one day international conference -- I'm sorry, we're -- we were going to go to Robin Oakley, who is live in London, but he is not prepared yet, so we'll move on to the next story.
More "News Across America" this morning, Steve Fossett left Kansas on his next adventure. The millionaire is attempting to pilot his plane on a nonstop round the world flight. Fossett is hoping to return to Kansas on Tuesday morning. There's his plane. He would become the first to complete the 23,000 mile journey without a co- pilot. The trip is being financed by billionaire Richard Branson.
A British law professor at the University of Texas is receiving his country's highest honor. Sir Basil Markesinis will be knighted by Queen Elizabeth on March 9. The professor is also the chairman of the College of London's Institute of Global Law. He teaches international law at U.T. three months of the year.
A flat start to the school day in one San Diego school district. Students in the northern school district were left waiting for up to two hours for the school buses to come. Someone let the air out of the tires on 65 buses and 10 school vans. School officials believe it was probably a prank.
All right, back to Robin Oakley now.
A one day international conference intended to support the new Palestinian leadership opened up in London just about 90 minutes ago. Representatives of several nations are being asked to support Palestinian political, financial and security reforms.
So here's Robin Oakley live in London -- hello, Robin.
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
Well, a very optimistic note being struck here at the conference. Kofi Annan, the U.N. secretary general, talking about a new sense of movement in the peace process, a new wave of optimism. A similar note coming from Tony Blair, the conference host. He was spelling out that this is a conference that is all about practicalities. He said there have been good developments already: first of all, the election of President Abbas, the new leader of the Palestinian Authority; secondly, the preparations for disengagement of Israeli settlements by Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister; thirdly, the cease-fire agreement at Sharm el-Sheikh between Mr. Abbas and Mr. Sharon. And building on that, says Tony Blair, this conference is not in itself a further peace conference. That will come at a later stage. But what this is designed to do is to build in a practical way the new Palestinian Authority, preparing it for statehood, practical proposals on what can be done to improve security, to improve the governing institutions and to improve the Palestinian Authority economy.
And Tony Blair is looking to the international donor community, well represented at this conference by people like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, to come forward with their practical proposals for backing up the Palestinians.
And Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, is going to outline his reform program and back up those calls for help from the international community.
COSTELLO: Robin, we're having a little trouble hearing you because of the background noise.
We apologize about the audio quality.
Hopefully when we go back to Robin later on on DAYBREAK, we'll have those problems worked out.
Bill Gates -- he's sounding the alarm about America's high schools. If you have a kid in high school, listen to this. Bill Gates is calling high schools in this country obsolete and outdated. The Microsoft chairman warns that America's students are not getting a good enough education to compete in the global economy. Gates was the keynote speaker at a meeting of U.S. governors. He urged them to redesign the nation's educational system so students can graduate better prepared for college and for work.
That brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Day. Are American high schools obsolete? Do you think your kid's getting a good education? Tell us what you think. Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
A pop star, his young accuser and two vastly different stories. That's what jurors are facing in the Michael Jackson trial. We'll have details for you straight ahead on DAYBREAK.
Also, struggling for answers -- people in a Kansas community are asking tough questions about one of their own.
And could being in the intensive care unit end up causing you some intense pain? We'll find out.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning, March 1.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in London taking part in an international conference on Palestinian reform. Rice is expected to support plans to reform Palestinian security.
This morning, a Vatican spokesman says Pope John Paul II's health is improving, but there is still no indication when the pontiff may be heading back to the Vatican from the hospital.
In money news, the fight for a satellite radio program is pushing the price up. Industry leader X.M. is raising its subscription rate by $3 a month. That hike makes their monthly cost the same as Sirius Satellite Radio.
In culture, the addition of Chris Rock did not lead to the roll in Oscar ratings ABC had hoped for. Preliminary numbers show that just over 41 million people watched the broadcast. That's a 5 percent drop over last year.
In sports, veteran NBA announcer Marv Albert will start calling games for the New Jersey Nets next season. Albert had been the voice of the New York Knicks for more than 35 years. He will continue to call NBA games for TNT.
To the forecast center and Chad -- good morning.
MYERS: Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Carol, it was snowing in Atlanta this morning as I was driving into work and snow...
COSTELLO: Get out!
MYERS: That snow is done now, but it sure was quite a pretty sight on the grass. It never really got onto the roadways, but it was a little slick in some spots.
COSTELLO: What, five snowflakes fell in Atlanta?
MYERS: I would say there might have been 500.
COSTELLO: Really?
MYERS: Yes. It was pretty.
COSTELLO: Ooh, join the club.
MYERS: You've got 500,000. COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
Let's talk about Michael Jackson now.
His attorney is expected to finish his opening statements today and then the first witness will be called. That comes as we learn more about the accusations. The grand jury indictment says Jackson's people tried to intimidate the accuser and his family. But this case may come down to which side of the story the jury is ready to believe.
CNN's Ted Rowlands has it all for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Outside the courtroom, Michael Jackson seemed to be in good spirits, at one point even giving a thumbs up to a camera. Inside, he sat quietly as jurors were told two dramatically different stories about what happened between Jackson and the alleged victim.
Lead prosecutor Tom Sneddon painted a disturbing picture of sexual abuse on a child. Sneddon said Jackson gave the victim and his brother wine and vodka on numerous occasions, saying: "Instead of cookies and milk, you can substitute wine, vodka and bourbon."
Sneddon said dozens of X-rated magazines were found in Jackson's home and at least one had both Jackson's and the victim's fingerprints. Sneddon said about the relationship between Jackson and the victim that Jackson was "manipulating the trust of the common bond that was created."
Sneddon described in great detail the alleged sexual abuse, saying the victim will testify in front of the world about what happened. He also told jurors that the victim's brother witnessed alleged abuse on two separate occasions. The abuse allegedly took place in the master suite at Jackson's Neverland Ranch.
Michael Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, told jurors: "These charges are fictitious, bogus and didn't happen." Mesereau said Jackson was the victim of a trap set by a family with a history of milking celebrities. Before Michael Jackson, Mesereau said, Jay Leno thought he was being manipulated by the same family. Leno, according to Mesereau, cut short a phone call with the victim after hearing the mother possibly coaching him in the background.
Mesereau said: "The mother, with her children as tools, was trying to latch onto a celebrity."
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: If you believe half of what the defense is putting out about the mother of the victim, I don't know how a jury is going to believe this case beyond a reasonable doubt.
ROWLANDS (on camera): Mesereau is expected to finish his opening statement when court resumes. The first witness on the prosecution list is documentary producer Martin Bashir.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: The trial of rapper Lil' Kim is expected to get underway today in New York. She's accused of lying to a grand jury about a shooting in front of a radio station four years ago. Lil' Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, could face up to 30 years in prison. The prosecution plans to introduce some of her rap lyrics and videos as evidence in the case.
That very same radio station at the center of the Lil' Kim trial was the scene of another shooting last night. "Newsday" reports the victim was a member of 50 Cent's entourage. The rapper was inside giving an on air interview at the time of the incident. The victim was hit in the leg and was hospitalized. No arrests have been made.
A legal battle in Louisiana spills out onto the courthouse's front lawn. Ahead, the story behind a fight for justice.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, Chad, it's that time of the morning for some "Late Night Laughs."
MYERS: Because we probably figure you weren't awake watching "Leno" last night and are already awake now.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: And, of course, Leno was joking about the Oscars, which I know you didn't watch because you...
MYERS: Don't watch movies.
COSTELLO: Or -- yes, exactly.
MYERS: So there.
COSTELLO: Well, the host, Chris Rock, as many of you know, made fun of the actor Jude Law for being in so many movies. And then a fellow actor, Sean Penn, took offense to that. He went on stage and he defended Law. It was a touching moment, Chad.
MYERS: I'm ready.
COSTELLO: Well, don't you think that "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno let that get by him.
Listen to what he had to say about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC) JAY LENO, HOST: Folks, you don't have to worry. All the jokes in tonight's monologue have been pre-approved by Sean Penn, so we're fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
LENO: And I liked it when Hillary said I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream. You know, for a second I thought hey, is this the country music awards or what?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. That was your -- that was your moment for laughter this morning. We hope you all enjoyed it.
MYERS: We'll try to do better tomorrow.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers," though.
A former member of the rock band Korn turned his attention to a different type of concert. Brian Welch, also known as "Head" -- that's his nickname, "Head" -- he talked to about 10,000 parishioners at a Bakersfield, California church. Welch announced last week that he was leaving the best-selling band to pursue his faith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH, FORMER MEMBER OF KORN: I came here and like my life was given back to me. I'm happy. I don't want to be dead any more, so I just want to show everybody that this, man, there's so much things to be -- to be happy with in life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Welch says he plans to start a solo career focusing on Christian music.
A brawl broke out on the front lawn of a New Orleans courthouse following the verdict in a well-publicized murder trial. The families of the defendant and the victim mixed it up, but no arrests were made. It's the second time in the past month and a half that court opponents have taken the fight outside of that courthouse from the inside.
Look at this, Chad. State troopers in Louisiana found a ton of marijuana in the back of a vegetable truck. The troopers say they were suspicious that the truck, supposedly carrying cilantro and cucumbers, would look so heavy. The marijuana is valued at about, oh, $3 million.
MYERS: Carol?
COSTELLO: Yes?
MYERS: Do you find it suspicious that there was 19,000 -- or 1,960 pounds and not really 2,000 pounds, that there's 40 pounds missing somewhere?
COSTELLO: Hmmm. I actually do. Anyway, we saw a picture of the man who's part of the couple that was allegedly transporting the drugs.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: They were arrested.
And guess what? They had their 5-year-old son in the truck. Lovely.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
It's medicine's dirty secret. Ahead, why going to the hospital may make you sicker.
Plus, how one man managed to be a Cub Scout leader, a church president and a suspect in a series of grizzly murders. We'll have more on the man accused of being the BTK killer.
And a reminder, our E-mail Question of the Day -- are American high schools obsolete? Do you think your kid is being prepared for the world outside? Send your thoughts to us this morning, daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the man accused of being the BTK killer appears before a judge today for the first time. Dennis Rader is expected to appear via video hookup from a Wichita, Kansas jail to hear the 10 murder charges against him.
The first witness in the Michael Jackson case is expected to be called today. That will come after the defense finishes its opening statement.
And the "Chicago Sun-Times" is reporting a federal judge found the bodies of her husband and 89-year-old mother when she came home from work last night. A white supremacist was convicted last year of trying to hire someone to kill the judge. Police have not said if they suspect a connection. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
