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American Morning
Schiavo Legal Options; School Shooting; 'Faith in America'
Aired March 24, 2005 - 09:00 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S MOTHER: Stop the insanity. Please let my daughter live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Terri Schiavo's parents, now with few places left to turn, pleading with the Supreme court to act today.
In Texas, the search for more victims of that massive explosion at the third largest refinery in America.
And at Red Lake Reservation, how did a seriously troubled teenager go unnoticed? Victims of the school shooting demanding answers on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning again, everyone. Third hour here on AMERICAN MORNING, 9:00 in New York City.
Still awaiting word from one of two courts that could intervene in Terri Schiavo's case. The story moving forward in Washington, it's moving forward in Tallahassee at this hour. We'll get reports from both places in a moment here.
O'BRIEN: Also, on a much lighter note this morning, a gadget coming on to the market that could be the next big thing. It plays video games, it plays movies, it plays music. We're going to get a ground-floor look at an electronics revolution.
HEMMER: Yes. And it is cool, too, huh?
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: Here's Jack.
What's happening?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Should the Supreme Court of the United States agree to hear the Terri Schiavo case? AM@CNN.com. Give us your thoughts.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack. Thanks.
Let's get right to the headlines. Carol Costello helping us out.
Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning to all of you.
"Now in the News," anti-government protest in Kyrgyzstan. The demonstrators are angry about recent elections and want the president's resignation. This is in the former Soviet Republic. That's where Kyrgyzstan.
So far, the president's whereabouts are not known. There are reports of clashes with riot police, but no major violence. European officials are monitoring the situation.
The Vatican is carrying out Holy Thursday celebrations without Pope John Paul II. The pope's still recovering from throat surgery. He's been forced to miss most of the Holy Week ceremonies. He's still expected to give the annual Easter blessing on Sunday.
Pop diva Whitney Houston apparently back in rehab. A publicist confirms the singer checked herself into a substance abuse program. It is not clear where and when.
Houston had been in rehab at least once before. She checked in to a facility one year ago after publicly admitting she'd used cocaine, marijuana and pills.
And the woman held hostage by suspected Atlanta courthouse shooter Brian Nichols is getting more than $60,000 in reward money. Ashley Smith will be presented with the first of it, a $10,000 check from the governor of Georgia during a ceremony this afternoon. The governor says Smith absolutely deserves the money and he is ready to pay up.
I think if he had said anything else, he would be in trouble.
O'BRIEN: There would be people camped out at the governor's mansion saying, "Give her the money."
HEMMER: He'd be out of office.
COSTELLO: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: Thank you, Carol.
Here is where we stand now in the Terri Schiavo case. There's an emergency appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court, and in Florida, a court there is expected to make a decision any time now we're told before 12:00 noon Eastern Time.
Joe Johns is outside the Supreme Court in Washington. Ed Henry is at the Florida state capitol in Tallahassee. First, to Joe in D.C.
What's the status of that appeal, Joe?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it has been 10 hours since that appeal hit the Supreme Court. Of course, there was some thought yesterday at least that this would be a quick decision. But so far it has not been.
The appeal, of course, asking for the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo to be reinserted. Also for this case to be remanded, sent back to the 11th Circuit.
It has all the arguments in there, including the due process arguments, of course, we've heard so much about. But there's also a very interesting assertion of a miracle. We have a graphic to show you, some of the language that's in the pleading that was filed last night.
It says, "A miraculous event occurred during the weekend after Terri's feeding tube was removed which fundamentally alters the matter in which Terri's claims are to be viewed by the federal courts when Congress in a bipartisan and dramatic fashion thundered the message that the United States of America must stand for life, accuracy and fair innocence in the process afforded to an innocent, incapacitated woman."
Now, the reference apparently to this miracle is something that was discussed by a person who happens to be a lawyer and a friend of the parents of Terri Schiavo. She says over the weekend, Terri Schiavo apparently tried to talk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WELLER, SCHINDLER ATTORNEY: I took her by the arms like this, and I said, "Terri, if you could just say, 'I want to live,' this would be all over." I said, "Terri, can you just like try and say, 'I want to live?'" And Terri said, "Ah," and then she screamed, "Wah!" And she said it so loud that the cop outside the door heard her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: So the court today is expected to have a regularly scheduled weekly conference that would have occurred tomorrow, except tomorrow is Good Friday. And people are expected to be off. No word on when this decision on whether to hear this case, to handle it, will come out.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Joe, thanks for that at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Down in Tallahassee right now, and Ed Henry.
Do we know what the next move might be by the governor, Jeb Bush, Ed?
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. The governor's trying to pull out all the stops to try to save Terri Schiavo's life, but the bottom line is he is rapidly running out of time and options. All the executive, legislative and judicial options are all but exhausted at this point. Yesterday, the governor's latest maneuver was to file a motion with the circuit court here trying to get Terri Schiavo turned over, brought into the custody of the state Department of Children and Families, because the governor was citing what he termed new medical evidence suggesting she's not in a permanent vegetative state.
Now, state Judge George Greer says he will rule on that motion by noon Eastern Time today. But in the meantime, late yesterday the judge issued an emergency order saying that the state cannot take custody of Terri Schiavo in the meantime.
And it is important to note that Judge Greer is the judge who last Friday first ordered that feeding tube to be taken out. And last night on CNN, Terri Schiavo's father told Aaron Brown that he believes that Judge Greer is on a "crusade" to kill Terri. So obviously the family not expecting that Judge Greer will necessarily side with the governor here.
That's why the governor is also trying and tried yesterday to exhaust all of his legislative options. He urged the state Senate right behind me here to take up legislation that would have reinserted the feeding tube. The Senate did have three hours of emotional debate.
Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, was in the Senate gallery watching that debate. But after three hours they ended up voting to reject the legislation, despite the governor's pleas, 21-18. So right now the bottom line here is that legislative options have been exhausted. That's why all eyes are on that court at noon today -- Bill.
HEMMER: Ed Henry, we're watching it as well. Thanks in Tallahassee.
These two court decisions could be the last in what has been a seven-year legal battle and a 15-year ordeal for Michael Schiavo and Terri's parents. We asked for reaction earlier today. Michael Schiavo's brother was with us. And also, we talked with a spiritual adviser for Terri's parents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROTHER PAUL O'DONNELL SCHINDLERS' SPIRITUAL ADVISER: We believe that the governor has the power to pardon mass murders on death row in Florida. He has by his executive office the ability to stop this insanity. And we begged the governor to take action and take it now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT SCHIAVO, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: The politicians wanted to have this go to a federal court so they can review the case, and it's almost like being little kids. They want a do-over now because now that the federal courts have ruled against it, it's not good. So they're going to come up with another political ploy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Again, earlier today here on AMERICAN MORNING.
We do know that Michael Schiavo has spent time again by his wife's side this past week. The Schindlers, Terri's parents, have also visited their daughter. We were told they were there late yesterday and into the evening -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, an employee at a Texas oil refinery still not accounted for following that deadly explosion there. The blast happened on Wednesday afternoon at the BP refinery in Texas City in Texas. That's about 40 miles southeast of Houston.
Company officials say at least 14 workers were killed. More than 100 other workers and town residents have been injured.
Terrorism has been ruled out as a possible cause. Two employees were killed at the plant just six months ago. And earlier, I asked the president of BP Americas what kind of lessons were learned after that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSS PILLARI, PRESIDENT BP AMERICAS: All the lessons you always learn time over time is it's good training, it's constant routine, going over of the issues all the time, and just making sure people are alert and aware. Large manufacturing facilities like this are inherently dangerous. And that's what we always have to keep reminding everybody of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: The refinery is the country's third largest. It produces 30 percent of North America's gas supply. No word so far on whether the explosion will affect production.
There's some new trouble for the Ford Motor Company. The government is investigating possible defects in almost four million of Ford's most popular pickups and SUVs. Under examination, the Ford F- 150 pickups, the model years 1995 to 1999, and 2001 and 2002. And Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, the model years 1997 to 1999, and 2001 and 20002.
At least 218 problems have been reported involving cruise control switches. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the possible defect could cause a vehicle to catch fire even when it's not running. If a defect is, in fact, found, the next step would likely be a recall. So far, no injuries have been reported -- Bill.
HEMMER: About 10 minutes past the hour now. This morning we are learning more about the teenage gunman in Minnesota who killed nine people in the worst school we have seen in this country since Columbine, six years ago.
Jeffrey Weise opened fire at Red Lake High School -- that's on an Indian reservation -- on Monday, about 240 miles north of Minneapolis- St. Paul. David Mattingly again on the story for us there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On and off the Red Lake Reservation, people grieved two days after the worst school shooting since Columbine. And with each passing day there are more questions.
Victoria Brun is the sister of the slain security guard Daryl Brun (ph), one of nine people killed by teenager Jeff Weise.
VICTORIA BRUN, SISTER OF SHOOTING VICTIM: Should he have been allowed to be walking on our streets? I mean, had anybody ever addressed the family situation? Was there -- you know, was there more to cause his -- it had to be a mental illness for him to go walk in there and shoot my brother with a gun right in his heart.
MATTINGLY: Many believe the answers remain sequestered within this isolated and guarded Native American community, while authorities continue to investigate the life of a 16-year-old Weise. Those familiar with his upbringing described to CNN years of social and academic problems, a young boy who was frequently picked on, they say, and was not given the attention he badly need.
LEE COOK, MINNESOTA RESOURCE CENTER: Who was he going to talk to? His mother was incapacitated, his father was dead, and probably nobody else that he thought around him understood what he was going through or asked, for that matter.
MATTINGLY: Lee Cook is part of Weise's extended family, an executive director of the state Indian Resource Center. He tells us how in recent years Weise's father committed suicide during a standoff with police and how his mother suffered severe brain injuries in a traffic accident, leaving her in a nursing home.
Weise wound up in the care of relatives. Most recently, the home of his grandmother on the Red Lake Reservation.
COOK: If you're not in an environment or used to an environment where somebody comes along and says, maybe, you know, it would be appropriate for him to have some kind of counseling, maybe somebody ought to be talking to the son or to the family about the trauma that he's been through. And I think a lot of times we just assume people grow out of things.
MATTINGLY: Instead, Weise apparently grew angry until his rage took the lives of 19 people before he took his own life, like his father, in conflict with police. Cook says the family was unaware until approached by investigators of Weise's apparent fascination with a neo-Nazi Web site.
(on camera): Tribal leaders say next for the Red Lake Reservation will be an extended wake for the grieving families, a traditional event that usually lasts two full days and nights. And as with everything in the aftermath of this school shooting, they will be held with the strictest of privacy.
David Mattingly, CNN, Red Lake, Minnesota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: One of the cultural coordinators at Red Lake Middle School tells "The Washington Post" today that Weise had been hospitalized at least once and hospitalized for suicidal tendencies, he says. He also reports that Weise was taking antidepressants at the time of the shooting.
O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us. He's taking a look at how your mind works when something traumatic happens and how you can help those who have seen the very worst find relief.
That's ahead this morning.
HEMMER: Also, "Faith in America." A closer look at the increasing influence of black churches on political policy. That's ahead right after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Now to our series this week. It's called "Faith in America."
We know the president may have conservative Christians to thank in part for his second term. Proof of the prominent role that religion can play in politics. This morning, Dan Lothian looks at how black churches are trying to make a difference.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From homeless to a Harvard degree, Reverend Alex Hurt is empowering African-Americans in Brockton, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, using his church as a springboard to create jobs, a school and low-income housing.
REV. ALEX HURT, KINGDOM CHURCH: But that's OK because I've got the gospel of life.
LOTHIAN: It may sound like a traditional urban ministry, but it isn't. Reverend Hurt is part of a growing number of black evangelicals finding common ground with a Republican administration.
HURT: For the first time, both parties are needing to take seriously the votes, the aspirations and hopes of the black church.
LOTHIAN: President Bush has been reaching out. He invited black clergy to the White House as he began his second term. A relationship often with differing opinions on many issue, but common thinking on social values. HURT: We can be very supportive of his faith-based initiative and disagree strenuously with him about Iraq. We can be incredibly supportive of him on some of his social initiatives -- primarily, I'm talking about gay marriage -- but also be incredibly against his tax cuts.
LOTHIAN: Orphaned at 8, Hurt was sleeping in an abandoned slaughterhouse by 16. Long nights at a public library sparked his journey to Harvard. His values are rooted in faith, shaped by hard life.
(on camera): Now he and other like-minded black ministers want to use their growing influence to impact policy from the pulpit, rallying the faithful around social values.
It's just one slice of the evangelical community using its power base to tackle new themes. For example, Reverend Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, and an avid scuba diver, he's literally wading into new waters, fighting global warming.
REV. TED HAGGARD, NEW LIFE CHURCH: I have observed the decline in the quality of coral reefs.
LOTHIAN: While he doesn't agree with the environmentalist mantra, Haggard, and other religious leaders who recently held high- level meetings on Capitol Hill, say as believers, this fight makes sense.
HAGGARD: We have a responsibility to care for the Earth. We are the stewards of the Earth.
LOTHIAN: And from a growing number of small conservative law schools, an evangelical movement to educate future lawyers on how they can build faith into their opinions, whether in government or in the courts.
What do Americans think about this? In a Gallup CNN-"USA Today" poll conducted last year, 48 percent said the church or organized religion currently has too much political influence. Forty percent said too little. And in another survey, 64 percent said religious leaders should not try to influence politicians in their positions on the issue.
PROF. RICHARD PARKER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: So religion rises to a new kind of prominence.
LOTHIAN: Professor Richard Parker, who teaches religion, politics and public policy at Harvard University, says this growing influence raises an important issue.
PARKER: The question is whether or not in pursuing religiously framed values an element of intolerance or destruction of opponents' values is part of the process.
LOTHIAN: But Reverend Hurt believe there is power in connecting the spiritual and the material.
HURT: And we have to be engaged in the public square. These things aren't mutually exclusive.
LOTHIAN: Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Tomorrow, the final installment of "Faith in America" continues. We'll look at the impact of religion in music.
Ahead, meet a soldier fresh from war. And learn how to deal with memories some would rather forget. Sanjay's series on memory continues on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. The Supreme Court could weigh in on the Terri Schiavo case. That's the "Question of the Day" this morning.
Good morning.
CAFFERTY: Good morning.
We want to know whether you think they should or not. They've declined to in the past. The parents of this woman are asking for them to again look at it. So far, they've said no. What do you think they ought to do?
Johnny in Mississippi, "Congress and the president consistently tried to undermine the judicial system for political benefit. And now the fate of this poor woman is hanging in the balance. The courts have already spoken and, like it or not, the decision was made. The Supreme Court should not hear this case."
Carolyn in Virginia, "The Supreme Court has spoken to this issue previously by not hearing the case. It is time for Mr. And Mrs. Schindler to spend their time saying good-bye to their daughter and stop this circus which is a disservice to her."
Steve in Florida writes, "Yes, by all means" -- no -- "The Supreme Court should remain uninvolved in the Schiavo matter unless it intends to allow Congress and the Christian conservatives to interfere in the medical decisions of thousands of citizens."
And finally, Norma in Washington writes, "Yes, by all means, the Supreme Court should be forced to hear this case. After all, the rest of us have to hear it day after day after day after day after day."
O'BRIEN: Not the only person thinking that there's just too much on this story.
CAFFERTY: No, there are two of us in this world, me and this lady here. What's her name? I've forgotten.
O'BRIEN: You guys agree. All right, Jack. Thanks.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Well, an outside contractor is taking the heat now for the "American Idol" phone number debacle at the end of Tuesday night's show. The wrong voting numbers were put up on the screen.
The show's executive producer says the person to blame has been reprimanded, won't say if that person's been fired, though. The performances were re-aired last night, this time with the correct phone numbers. Well, comedian Jay Leno couldn't help but to weigh in on the mix-up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: Well, I guess you know there was a huge screw-up on "American Idol" last night. You all know that, right?
The phone voting was all mixed up and the numbers on the screen were wrong. Well, they had a complete revote tonight, the next night. That's what I love about our country.
When there's a voting problem in the presidential election, what did that take, three months to figure out? Some stupid karaoke show, oh, my god get on the phones. We've got to fix it. The next day, the next day it's fixed! The next day!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: He's not the only one who sort of pointed that out.
HEMMER: That stupid karaoke show is about the best thing going on TV these days in terms of popularity.
O'BRIEN: Exactly. Well, one of the remaining 11 contestants is going to be booted off that show tonight.
HEMMER: Yes. That's the way it works.
O'BRIEN: That is.
Do you have the latest in cool? Do you have the latest in cool?
HEMMER: Not yet I don't. But I like this thing a lot.
O'BRIEN: Get it soon. Some people already owned these since midnight. They are saying that this gadget, Sony's new gadget, they're calling it the new iPod. We're going to check it out just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. It is just about half-past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Coming up, inside one soldier's very worst memories. Dr. Sanjay Gupta goes looking for the roots of post-traumatic stress disorder and the new cutting-edge science of the mind.
HEMMER: That's been a great series all week, too, here.
O'BRIEN: Yes, it has.
HEMMER: Also, the next generation of video games coming to a store near you, today, in fact. So small it can fit in your pocket. And you're probably going to start seeing them just about everywhere. We'll look at this and see all the cool things it can do in a moment here.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
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Aired March 24, 2005 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S MOTHER: Stop the insanity. Please let my daughter live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Terri Schiavo's parents, now with few places left to turn, pleading with the Supreme court to act today.
In Texas, the search for more victims of that massive explosion at the third largest refinery in America.
And at Red Lake Reservation, how did a seriously troubled teenager go unnoticed? Victims of the school shooting demanding answers on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning again, everyone. Third hour here on AMERICAN MORNING, 9:00 in New York City.
Still awaiting word from one of two courts that could intervene in Terri Schiavo's case. The story moving forward in Washington, it's moving forward in Tallahassee at this hour. We'll get reports from both places in a moment here.
O'BRIEN: Also, on a much lighter note this morning, a gadget coming on to the market that could be the next big thing. It plays video games, it plays movies, it plays music. We're going to get a ground-floor look at an electronics revolution.
HEMMER: Yes. And it is cool, too, huh?
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: Here's Jack.
What's happening?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Should the Supreme Court of the United States agree to hear the Terri Schiavo case? AM@CNN.com. Give us your thoughts.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack. Thanks.
Let's get right to the headlines. Carol Costello helping us out.
Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good morning to all of you.
"Now in the News," anti-government protest in Kyrgyzstan. The demonstrators are angry about recent elections and want the president's resignation. This is in the former Soviet Republic. That's where Kyrgyzstan.
So far, the president's whereabouts are not known. There are reports of clashes with riot police, but no major violence. European officials are monitoring the situation.
The Vatican is carrying out Holy Thursday celebrations without Pope John Paul II. The pope's still recovering from throat surgery. He's been forced to miss most of the Holy Week ceremonies. He's still expected to give the annual Easter blessing on Sunday.
Pop diva Whitney Houston apparently back in rehab. A publicist confirms the singer checked herself into a substance abuse program. It is not clear where and when.
Houston had been in rehab at least once before. She checked in to a facility one year ago after publicly admitting she'd used cocaine, marijuana and pills.
And the woman held hostage by suspected Atlanta courthouse shooter Brian Nichols is getting more than $60,000 in reward money. Ashley Smith will be presented with the first of it, a $10,000 check from the governor of Georgia during a ceremony this afternoon. The governor says Smith absolutely deserves the money and he is ready to pay up.
I think if he had said anything else, he would be in trouble.
O'BRIEN: There would be people camped out at the governor's mansion saying, "Give her the money."
HEMMER: He'd be out of office.
COSTELLO: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: Thank you, Carol.
Here is where we stand now in the Terri Schiavo case. There's an emergency appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court, and in Florida, a court there is expected to make a decision any time now we're told before 12:00 noon Eastern Time.
Joe Johns is outside the Supreme Court in Washington. Ed Henry is at the Florida state capitol in Tallahassee. First, to Joe in D.C.
What's the status of that appeal, Joe?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it has been 10 hours since that appeal hit the Supreme Court. Of course, there was some thought yesterday at least that this would be a quick decision. But so far it has not been.
The appeal, of course, asking for the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo to be reinserted. Also for this case to be remanded, sent back to the 11th Circuit.
It has all the arguments in there, including the due process arguments, of course, we've heard so much about. But there's also a very interesting assertion of a miracle. We have a graphic to show you, some of the language that's in the pleading that was filed last night.
It says, "A miraculous event occurred during the weekend after Terri's feeding tube was removed which fundamentally alters the matter in which Terri's claims are to be viewed by the federal courts when Congress in a bipartisan and dramatic fashion thundered the message that the United States of America must stand for life, accuracy and fair innocence in the process afforded to an innocent, incapacitated woman."
Now, the reference apparently to this miracle is something that was discussed by a person who happens to be a lawyer and a friend of the parents of Terri Schiavo. She says over the weekend, Terri Schiavo apparently tried to talk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WELLER, SCHINDLER ATTORNEY: I took her by the arms like this, and I said, "Terri, if you could just say, 'I want to live,' this would be all over." I said, "Terri, can you just like try and say, 'I want to live?'" And Terri said, "Ah," and then she screamed, "Wah!" And she said it so loud that the cop outside the door heard her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: So the court today is expected to have a regularly scheduled weekly conference that would have occurred tomorrow, except tomorrow is Good Friday. And people are expected to be off. No word on when this decision on whether to hear this case, to handle it, will come out.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Joe, thanks for that at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Down in Tallahassee right now, and Ed Henry.
Do we know what the next move might be by the governor, Jeb Bush, Ed?
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. The governor's trying to pull out all the stops to try to save Terri Schiavo's life, but the bottom line is he is rapidly running out of time and options. All the executive, legislative and judicial options are all but exhausted at this point. Yesterday, the governor's latest maneuver was to file a motion with the circuit court here trying to get Terri Schiavo turned over, brought into the custody of the state Department of Children and Families, because the governor was citing what he termed new medical evidence suggesting she's not in a permanent vegetative state.
Now, state Judge George Greer says he will rule on that motion by noon Eastern Time today. But in the meantime, late yesterday the judge issued an emergency order saying that the state cannot take custody of Terri Schiavo in the meantime.
And it is important to note that Judge Greer is the judge who last Friday first ordered that feeding tube to be taken out. And last night on CNN, Terri Schiavo's father told Aaron Brown that he believes that Judge Greer is on a "crusade" to kill Terri. So obviously the family not expecting that Judge Greer will necessarily side with the governor here.
That's why the governor is also trying and tried yesterday to exhaust all of his legislative options. He urged the state Senate right behind me here to take up legislation that would have reinserted the feeding tube. The Senate did have three hours of emotional debate.
Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, was in the Senate gallery watching that debate. But after three hours they ended up voting to reject the legislation, despite the governor's pleas, 21-18. So right now the bottom line here is that legislative options have been exhausted. That's why all eyes are on that court at noon today -- Bill.
HEMMER: Ed Henry, we're watching it as well. Thanks in Tallahassee.
These two court decisions could be the last in what has been a seven-year legal battle and a 15-year ordeal for Michael Schiavo and Terri's parents. We asked for reaction earlier today. Michael Schiavo's brother was with us. And also, we talked with a spiritual adviser for Terri's parents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROTHER PAUL O'DONNELL SCHINDLERS' SPIRITUAL ADVISER: We believe that the governor has the power to pardon mass murders on death row in Florida. He has by his executive office the ability to stop this insanity. And we begged the governor to take action and take it now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT SCHIAVO, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: The politicians wanted to have this go to a federal court so they can review the case, and it's almost like being little kids. They want a do-over now because now that the federal courts have ruled against it, it's not good. So they're going to come up with another political ploy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Again, earlier today here on AMERICAN MORNING.
We do know that Michael Schiavo has spent time again by his wife's side this past week. The Schindlers, Terri's parents, have also visited their daughter. We were told they were there late yesterday and into the evening -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, an employee at a Texas oil refinery still not accounted for following that deadly explosion there. The blast happened on Wednesday afternoon at the BP refinery in Texas City in Texas. That's about 40 miles southeast of Houston.
Company officials say at least 14 workers were killed. More than 100 other workers and town residents have been injured.
Terrorism has been ruled out as a possible cause. Two employees were killed at the plant just six months ago. And earlier, I asked the president of BP Americas what kind of lessons were learned after that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSS PILLARI, PRESIDENT BP AMERICAS: All the lessons you always learn time over time is it's good training, it's constant routine, going over of the issues all the time, and just making sure people are alert and aware. Large manufacturing facilities like this are inherently dangerous. And that's what we always have to keep reminding everybody of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: The refinery is the country's third largest. It produces 30 percent of North America's gas supply. No word so far on whether the explosion will affect production.
There's some new trouble for the Ford Motor Company. The government is investigating possible defects in almost four million of Ford's most popular pickups and SUVs. Under examination, the Ford F- 150 pickups, the model years 1995 to 1999, and 2001 and 2002. And Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, the model years 1997 to 1999, and 2001 and 20002.
At least 218 problems have been reported involving cruise control switches. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the possible defect could cause a vehicle to catch fire even when it's not running. If a defect is, in fact, found, the next step would likely be a recall. So far, no injuries have been reported -- Bill.
HEMMER: About 10 minutes past the hour now. This morning we are learning more about the teenage gunman in Minnesota who killed nine people in the worst school we have seen in this country since Columbine, six years ago.
Jeffrey Weise opened fire at Red Lake High School -- that's on an Indian reservation -- on Monday, about 240 miles north of Minneapolis- St. Paul. David Mattingly again on the story for us there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On and off the Red Lake Reservation, people grieved two days after the worst school shooting since Columbine. And with each passing day there are more questions.
Victoria Brun is the sister of the slain security guard Daryl Brun (ph), one of nine people killed by teenager Jeff Weise.
VICTORIA BRUN, SISTER OF SHOOTING VICTIM: Should he have been allowed to be walking on our streets? I mean, had anybody ever addressed the family situation? Was there -- you know, was there more to cause his -- it had to be a mental illness for him to go walk in there and shoot my brother with a gun right in his heart.
MATTINGLY: Many believe the answers remain sequestered within this isolated and guarded Native American community, while authorities continue to investigate the life of a 16-year-old Weise. Those familiar with his upbringing described to CNN years of social and academic problems, a young boy who was frequently picked on, they say, and was not given the attention he badly need.
LEE COOK, MINNESOTA RESOURCE CENTER: Who was he going to talk to? His mother was incapacitated, his father was dead, and probably nobody else that he thought around him understood what he was going through or asked, for that matter.
MATTINGLY: Lee Cook is part of Weise's extended family, an executive director of the state Indian Resource Center. He tells us how in recent years Weise's father committed suicide during a standoff with police and how his mother suffered severe brain injuries in a traffic accident, leaving her in a nursing home.
Weise wound up in the care of relatives. Most recently, the home of his grandmother on the Red Lake Reservation.
COOK: If you're not in an environment or used to an environment where somebody comes along and says, maybe, you know, it would be appropriate for him to have some kind of counseling, maybe somebody ought to be talking to the son or to the family about the trauma that he's been through. And I think a lot of times we just assume people grow out of things.
MATTINGLY: Instead, Weise apparently grew angry until his rage took the lives of 19 people before he took his own life, like his father, in conflict with police. Cook says the family was unaware until approached by investigators of Weise's apparent fascination with a neo-Nazi Web site.
(on camera): Tribal leaders say next for the Red Lake Reservation will be an extended wake for the grieving families, a traditional event that usually lasts two full days and nights. And as with everything in the aftermath of this school shooting, they will be held with the strictest of privacy.
David Mattingly, CNN, Red Lake, Minnesota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: One of the cultural coordinators at Red Lake Middle School tells "The Washington Post" today that Weise had been hospitalized at least once and hospitalized for suicidal tendencies, he says. He also reports that Weise was taking antidepressants at the time of the shooting.
O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us. He's taking a look at how your mind works when something traumatic happens and how you can help those who have seen the very worst find relief.
That's ahead this morning.
HEMMER: Also, "Faith in America." A closer look at the increasing influence of black churches on political policy. That's ahead right after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Now to our series this week. It's called "Faith in America."
We know the president may have conservative Christians to thank in part for his second term. Proof of the prominent role that religion can play in politics. This morning, Dan Lothian looks at how black churches are trying to make a difference.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From homeless to a Harvard degree, Reverend Alex Hurt is empowering African-Americans in Brockton, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, using his church as a springboard to create jobs, a school and low-income housing.
REV. ALEX HURT, KINGDOM CHURCH: But that's OK because I've got the gospel of life.
LOTHIAN: It may sound like a traditional urban ministry, but it isn't. Reverend Hurt is part of a growing number of black evangelicals finding common ground with a Republican administration.
HURT: For the first time, both parties are needing to take seriously the votes, the aspirations and hopes of the black church.
LOTHIAN: President Bush has been reaching out. He invited black clergy to the White House as he began his second term. A relationship often with differing opinions on many issue, but common thinking on social values. HURT: We can be very supportive of his faith-based initiative and disagree strenuously with him about Iraq. We can be incredibly supportive of him on some of his social initiatives -- primarily, I'm talking about gay marriage -- but also be incredibly against his tax cuts.
LOTHIAN: Orphaned at 8, Hurt was sleeping in an abandoned slaughterhouse by 16. Long nights at a public library sparked his journey to Harvard. His values are rooted in faith, shaped by hard life.
(on camera): Now he and other like-minded black ministers want to use their growing influence to impact policy from the pulpit, rallying the faithful around social values.
It's just one slice of the evangelical community using its power base to tackle new themes. For example, Reverend Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, and an avid scuba diver, he's literally wading into new waters, fighting global warming.
REV. TED HAGGARD, NEW LIFE CHURCH: I have observed the decline in the quality of coral reefs.
LOTHIAN: While he doesn't agree with the environmentalist mantra, Haggard, and other religious leaders who recently held high- level meetings on Capitol Hill, say as believers, this fight makes sense.
HAGGARD: We have a responsibility to care for the Earth. We are the stewards of the Earth.
LOTHIAN: And from a growing number of small conservative law schools, an evangelical movement to educate future lawyers on how they can build faith into their opinions, whether in government or in the courts.
What do Americans think about this? In a Gallup CNN-"USA Today" poll conducted last year, 48 percent said the church or organized religion currently has too much political influence. Forty percent said too little. And in another survey, 64 percent said religious leaders should not try to influence politicians in their positions on the issue.
PROF. RICHARD PARKER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: So religion rises to a new kind of prominence.
LOTHIAN: Professor Richard Parker, who teaches religion, politics and public policy at Harvard University, says this growing influence raises an important issue.
PARKER: The question is whether or not in pursuing religiously framed values an element of intolerance or destruction of opponents' values is part of the process.
LOTHIAN: But Reverend Hurt believe there is power in connecting the spiritual and the material.
HURT: And we have to be engaged in the public square. These things aren't mutually exclusive.
LOTHIAN: Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Tomorrow, the final installment of "Faith in America" continues. We'll look at the impact of religion in music.
Ahead, meet a soldier fresh from war. And learn how to deal with memories some would rather forget. Sanjay's series on memory continues on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. The Supreme Court could weigh in on the Terri Schiavo case. That's the "Question of the Day" this morning.
Good morning.
CAFFERTY: Good morning.
We want to know whether you think they should or not. They've declined to in the past. The parents of this woman are asking for them to again look at it. So far, they've said no. What do you think they ought to do?
Johnny in Mississippi, "Congress and the president consistently tried to undermine the judicial system for political benefit. And now the fate of this poor woman is hanging in the balance. The courts have already spoken and, like it or not, the decision was made. The Supreme Court should not hear this case."
Carolyn in Virginia, "The Supreme Court has spoken to this issue previously by not hearing the case. It is time for Mr. And Mrs. Schindler to spend their time saying good-bye to their daughter and stop this circus which is a disservice to her."
Steve in Florida writes, "Yes, by all means" -- no -- "The Supreme Court should remain uninvolved in the Schiavo matter unless it intends to allow Congress and the Christian conservatives to interfere in the medical decisions of thousands of citizens."
And finally, Norma in Washington writes, "Yes, by all means, the Supreme Court should be forced to hear this case. After all, the rest of us have to hear it day after day after day after day after day."
O'BRIEN: Not the only person thinking that there's just too much on this story.
CAFFERTY: No, there are two of us in this world, me and this lady here. What's her name? I've forgotten.
O'BRIEN: You guys agree. All right, Jack. Thanks.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Well, an outside contractor is taking the heat now for the "American Idol" phone number debacle at the end of Tuesday night's show. The wrong voting numbers were put up on the screen.
The show's executive producer says the person to blame has been reprimanded, won't say if that person's been fired, though. The performances were re-aired last night, this time with the correct phone numbers. Well, comedian Jay Leno couldn't help but to weigh in on the mix-up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: Well, I guess you know there was a huge screw-up on "American Idol" last night. You all know that, right?
The phone voting was all mixed up and the numbers on the screen were wrong. Well, they had a complete revote tonight, the next night. That's what I love about our country.
When there's a voting problem in the presidential election, what did that take, three months to figure out? Some stupid karaoke show, oh, my god get on the phones. We've got to fix it. The next day, the next day it's fixed! The next day!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: He's not the only one who sort of pointed that out.
HEMMER: That stupid karaoke show is about the best thing going on TV these days in terms of popularity.
O'BRIEN: Exactly. Well, one of the remaining 11 contestants is going to be booted off that show tonight.
HEMMER: Yes. That's the way it works.
O'BRIEN: That is.
Do you have the latest in cool? Do you have the latest in cool?
HEMMER: Not yet I don't. But I like this thing a lot.
O'BRIEN: Get it soon. Some people already owned these since midnight. They are saying that this gadget, Sony's new gadget, they're calling it the new iPod. We're going to check it out just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. It is just about half-past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Coming up, inside one soldier's very worst memories. Dr. Sanjay Gupta goes looking for the roots of post-traumatic stress disorder and the new cutting-edge science of the mind.
HEMMER: That's been a great series all week, too, here.
O'BRIEN: Yes, it has.
HEMMER: Also, the next generation of video games coming to a store near you, today, in fact. So small it can fit in your pocket. And you're probably going to start seeing them just about everywhere. We'll look at this and see all the cool things it can do in a moment here.
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