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American Morning

Update on Michael Jackson Trial; Petting Zoo Illnesses; Girl Power

Aired April 12, 2005 - 07:29   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: It's a good looking day here in the Northeast.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.

HEMMER: Keep it going.

O'BRIEN: Finally. I like that.

HEMMER: Yes. It's 7:30 here in New York. Good morning, everyone.

Back to the Michael Jackson trial this morning and what could be one of the most important witnesses for the prosecution, the mother of the boy accusing Jackson of molestation, telling now what she knows; this, after another mother's surprising story of Michael Jackson in tears. Ted Rowlands is watching that story. We'll get to Ted's report in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also, the 10-year-old who is the boy state wrestling champion of Illinois. A pretty amazing story, considering she's a girl. Coming up, we're going to meet the little girl. She's turning heads, twisting a few arms and legs, too. And she'll explain the secret of her success.

HEMMER: She is one tough 10-year-old.

O'BRIEN: She is.

HEMMER: First, the headlines, and Iraq starts us off again.

Good morning to Carol Costello.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.

Not good news out of Iraq unfortunately. This just in to CNN actually. There's been a car bombing in Iraq. A U.S. military convoy may have been the target. The blast taking place in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Officials say at least five Iraqis were killed, three others injured. We'll bring you more details as they come in to us.

This violence is taking place as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld makes a surprise visit to Iraq. The defense secretary landed in Baghdad overnight. His trip had not been publicized for security reasons. Rumsfeld took part in a re-enlistment ceremony for about 100 American soldiers. He's also meeting with Iraqi officials.

A pep talk from President Bush to some American troops. The president is set to speak at Fort Hood, Texas, the largest active-duty armored post in the military. He will also meet privately with the families of some 30 soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. CNN will have live coverage of the president's address beginning at 11:20 a.m. Eastern Time.

John Negroponte is preparing to face lawmakers for confirmation hearings. He's been tapped as the first-ever director of national intelligence. The post was created last December to help intelligence agencies coordinate in the fight against terrorism. Negroponte is expected to be approved.

And another national title for North Carolina. A week after the Tar Heels won the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Miss North Carolina, Chelsea Cooley (ph), has been crowned Miss USA. The 21- year-old will now compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand next month.

O'BRIEN: They're not going to make that one a reality show, like they're doing with the Miss America pageant, are they?

COSTELLO: Actually, I think that's a pretty good idea.

O'BRIEN: Yes, me too.

COSTELLO: I can't wait to see it. Think how vicious it will be.

O'BRIEN: Oh, yes. The behind-the-scenes is way more interesting.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: Well, congratulations to her. That's exciting.

HEMMER: Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: What does that mean?

HEMMER: We want to get to the Michael Jackson trial now. Another day of crucial testimony now from California; this time, from the mother of a boy who says Jackson molested him more than 10 years ago.

Ted Rowlands has the story now in Santa Maria.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The mother of one of Michael Jackson's alleged victims broke down on the stand, saying she regrets trusting Jackson with her then 13-year-old boy. The woman detailed his alleged relationship with Jackson, which she said started after she gave the pop star her son's phone number following a chance meeting in 1992. The mother testified that phone calls started, some lasting up to 90 minutes; then an invitation to Neverland. And within a few months, she said, her family was traveling the world with Jackson, and her son was sleeping in his bed.

One of the trips, she said, was to Monaco, where her son sat on Jackson's lap at the 1993 World Music Awards.

ANNE BREMNER, LEGAL ANALYST: He's a very charming, I think, individual. Somebody that was able to persuade this mother that he would not hurt her son. And she believed that.

ROWLANDS: The mother said Michael Jackson convinced her to allow her son to share his bed on a trip to Las Vegas, after she said Jackson cried and asked her -- quote -- "Don't you trust me? We're family." The woman said Jackson ended up sleeping at her house, spending more than 30 nights, each time she said Jackson slept with her son in his room.

The woman said Jackson bought her gifts, including handbags, jewelry and a $7,000 boutique gift certificate.

JIM MORET, POOL REPORTER: You got the sense that she sold her son. You got the sense she received a gold bracelet, she received a necklace, she received a ring. In return, the implication is she allowed Michael Jackson to sleep at her house with her son for 30 nights.

ROWLANDS: On cross-examination, the mother admitted she hasn't talked to her son in 11 years, saying it wasn't her choice. She also admitted that she never saw any abuse, and that at times she was comfortable with Jackson sharing his bed with her son.

The mother was the latest in a series of witnesses allowed to testify about Michael Jackson's past. Her son, the accuser, is not expected to take the stand.

Jackson currently faces four counts of lewd acts on a minor, and has pleaded not guilty.

(on camera): The mother of the 1993 alleged victim is the 51st witness to testify for the prosecution. Prosecutors told the judge that they expect to bring the mother of the current accuser to the stand in the next few days.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: One other note, as Ted pointed out there: The alleged victim, whose mother testified Monday, is now 25 and, again, is not expected to take the stand -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Updating now a story that we've been following out of Florida. Investigators have concluded that 26 people sick with the E. coli bacteria are linked to farm animals from one single petting zoo, and 42 more suspected cases of E. coli infections are still under investigation.

Yvonne Miller says that she contracted the bacteria from a petting zoo, and she was in the hospital for five days. She's in Orlando, Florida, this morning.

Nice to see you. Thanks for talking with us, Yvonne.

YVONNE MILLER, DIAGNOSED WITH E. COLI: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Take us back to that day on March 13. You went to the fair in central Florida. You went to the petting zoo as well?

MILLER: No, I didn't go to the petting zoo. We just went on the rides.

O'BRIEN: So, you never touched any animals?

MILLER: No, ma'am.

O'BRIEN: You brought your children with you. Were you the only person in your family who got sick?

MILLER: Yes I was.

O'BRIEN: Give me a sense of what happened. When did you discover that you actually had gotten the E. coli bacteria?

MILLER: I was hospitalized about four days after the visit to the zoo. That was on the weekend, that Friday. And that Monday I found out that I had E. coli. They had tested -- ran some tests on me, and they tested my stool and it came back positive for the E. coli.

O'BRIEN: Why the four-day delay? Did it take that long before you realized that you were sick?

MILLER: Well, I actually thought it was a small case of food poisoning. I didn't think it was anything that serious. You know how you sometimes eat something and you get an upset stomach? And that's what I thought it was. But by Friday, I had blood in my stool, and that triggered me to go to the hospital.

O'BRIEN: Give me a sense of some of your other symptoms as well.

MILLER: I had severe abdominal cramps. I had a fever, chills, weak, tired.

O'BRIEN: You were hospitalized, as you said, for five days.

MILLER: That is correct.

O'BRIEN: Finally, they determined that you had E. coli bacteria. You were given a transfusion, I understand.

MILLER: Yes. O'BRIEN: Two transfusions. One was a platelet transfusion, one a blood transfusion as well. Was there any point in the hospital where you thought you may not make it?

MILLER: Yes, I did.

O'BRIEN: Really?

MILLER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: How bad did it get?

MILLER: It got really bad, really scary. Really bad.

O'BRIEN: You are now suing the company, Ag-Venture Farm Shows, that put on the petting zoo. Let's meet your lawyer this morning. His name is Bill Marler, and he's acting as an attorney for Yvonne Miller.

Thanks for talking with us, Mr. Marler. Give me a sense of what your strategy is here? And what do you want out of this lawsuit?

BILL MARLER, ATTORNEY FOR YVONNE MILLER: Well, I think the important thing is to know that, you know, Yvonne didn't go to the petting zoo. And I think one of the questions you could ask is, well, why are we suing the petting zoo? I mean, we know that the Ag-Venture Farm brought these animals in that they all tested positive for the exact genetic strain that sickened Yvonne and sickened a lot of other people, many children who are still hospitalized.

I have done these kinds of cases before, E. coli cases, all over the country. And I think what it points out is that petting zoos and county fairs are not as safe as they were when, you know, I was a kid. And I think parents need to understand and the fairs need to understand that they need to change their behaviors.

O'BRIEN: Meaning what? It's the first time in 11 years that this organization, Ag-Venture Farm Shows, has reported any kind of problem.

MARLER: Well...

O'BRIEN: Why sue them as opposed to getting a warning, having them clean up their act?

MARLER: Well, you know, it's not just Ag-Venture's problem. I mean, we're having outbreaks of E. coli 057H7, which is a deadly form of this bacteria, every year at petting zoos and county fairs throughout the United States. We've seen over two dozen E. coli and bacteriological outbreaks tied to petting zoos and county fairs since 1995.

O'BRIEN: But you think there should just be no petting zoos?

MARLER: No, no, I don't -- I mean, look, I grew up on a farm. I took animals to the fair. I have three kids, none of whom go to petting zoos and none of whom go to county fairs. But the reality is that the CDC in 2001 set out guidelines to make petting zoos and county fairs safer. And in the last three years, there have been three outbreaks, none of which followed -- none of which the fairs followed any or most of the guidelines the CDC set down. The CDC...

O'BRIEN: How...

MARLER: Excuse me. The CDC also set down guidelines that came out just in March of this year. Again, none of these petting zoos are following their guidelines.

O'BRIEN: How much money are you going for in this lawsuit?

MARLER: You know, Yvonne's case, fortunately, she was very ill, almost suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is the bad outcome for these cases. But, you know, you're looking at hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for all of these people who got sick. If you took this outbreak and put it in one of the food outbreaks that I've been involved in, you're looking at $50 million to $100 million in damages.

O'BRIEN: I'm not sure that you answered my question. How much money are you going for in this particular lawsuit?

MARLER: Well, we'll deal with that as the case goes along. But the important thing is, is that fairs and petting zoos need to clean up their act, and, you know, that they need to follow the CDC guidelines that have been set down for the last four years.

O'BRIEN: Attorney Bill Marler and Yvonne Miller in Orlando. Bill Marler is in Seattle. Thanks to both of you. Appreciate your time.

MARLER: Thank you very much.

MILLER: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: Bill.

HEMMER: There is major money to fight AIDS from former President Bill Clinton. His foundation announcing on Monday it will donate $10 million to expand treatment for children with AIDS in 10 countries, especially on the continent of Africa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've got a long way to go in the fight against AIDS, but I'm hopeful that steps like the ones we announced today will make a difference. Together, we can save millions of lives and help bring quality health care to the world's children and to people living in poor, rural areas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: The U.N. says an estimated 39 million people living today with AIDS, more than 2 million of them are children.

Back to the weather.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Already out of prison, Martha Stewart makes a bid for even more freedom. Andy will explain. He's "Minding Your Business" just ahead.

HEMMER: Also a bit later, 10-year-old girl who says she likes to make boys cry on the wrestling mat. She's also making history while she's at it.

Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: All right, here's a good one. It seems the majority of Americans would rather go to the dentist than file their taxes. Well, duh! According to an Associated Press poll, 49 percent say that they prefer the dentist. Maybe part of the problem is that the majority of those polled, 70 percent, say the federal tax system is too complicated, which it is. Either way, you only have until Friday's deadline to mail in your return or file an extension. Guess which one I'm going to be doing?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Oh, the extension for you.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I can't get it together.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: You were away, and then you got called back because of the pope. You've been very busy.

O'BRIEN: I have a guy who does my taxes, and I'm still going to file them.

CAFFERTY: Well, he's busy, too.

SERWER: He's the late guy.

CAFFERTY: Yes, but you have to get him the material, right?

O'BRIEN: Yes, that's the problem.

CAFFERTY: He can't do anything until you give him the stuff.

O'BRIEN: He can't just make it up, as much as I'd like him to.

HEMMER: And you definitely don't want to drive to that meeting, too.

CAFFERTY: You got extra deductions, right? Yes, I know, that's a good transition.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Wow!

CAFFERTY: OK. Are we all set here?

O'BRIEN: Yes.

CAFFERTY: Are the cameras in this room, or did they move them across the street?

O'BRIEN: They're part of it.

CAFFERTY: The freak summer -- oh, no. The peak summer driving season isn't here yet, but gas prices are already hitting all-time highs. The Lundberg survey now pegs the nationwide average for unleaded regular at 2.29 a gallon. And the Department of Energy says it will probably go to 2.35 next month.

California has seen prices above $3 a gallon. A Gallup poll taken last month found the concerns about the cost of gasoline now rival worries about unemployment, jobs and wages.

The question this morning is: Have gasoline prices changed your lifestyle?

Randy in Cooperstown, Pennsylvania: "I used to view my motorcycle as a recreational vehicle. Now it's a necessity to be able to afford the high gas prices. It's a little rough on these 32-degree Pennsylvania mornings."

Robert in Tacoma, Washington: "My wife is self-employed. It costs her $200 a week to drive. We've even quit smoking to help ease the cost, but it keeps going up. We will be out of business by the end of the year if something doesn't give."

Steve in New York: "My schedule sure has changed. I live, work and drive in New York City. If that wasn't bad enough already, now I get mugged at the gas station every day."

SERWER: Right.

CAFFERTY: John in San Clemente, California: "We have definitely changed our driving habits. My daughter, wife an I all work in the same town 30 miles from here. Our work hours are different, but we're car pooling. I found a bargain yesterday, though, cheap unleaded, 2.59 a gallon."

And S. in South Hampton, Pennsylvania: "No, but it's made the people I'm bumming rides off of grumpier than usual."

SERWER: Yes.

HEMMER: Well, there's room in that car. Thank you, Jack.

O'BRIEN: It's nice to hear that people are making some changes.

CAFFERTY: Huh?

O'BRIEN: It's nice to hear people are making some changes.

SERWER: They have to.

O'BRIEN: I wouldn't have guessed it.

CAFFERTY: Yes, it's getting to that place.

O'BRIEN: Business news now. A judge is deciding whether to free Martha of her house arrest. With that and a look at the markets, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."

SERWER: So Judge Miriam Suderbahn (ph) yesterday ruling that Martha will not be footloose and fancy free sooner than she had wanted. She said that she won't modify Martha Stewart's sentence. Martha wanted to reduce. It's not modify. It's reduce.

And here's what the judge said, just a couple of sentences from her ruling. I think they are very on topic. "Defendant Stewart should not be treated differently from any other person convicted of the crimes of which she was convicted." It makes sense.

How about this one? "Home detention is imposed as an alternative to imprisonment. It's designed to be confining."

That's in response to Martha complaining that it was confining. That's what it's supposed to be. It's confining. It's confinement.

O'BRIEN: It's prison. It's not supposed to be fun.

SERWER: That's right, exactly.

Let's talk a little bit -- oh, look, first of all, the stock, I just want to point out, that it's down 40 percent since she's gotten out of the joint. And so she'll be done with her home confinement, I believe, in early August, because she started in early March, five months.

Let's talk a little bit about the markets yesterday, a kind of a little bit of a bummer yesterday for investors, at least in the Dow and the Nasdaq down 12 points. Very, very light trading. The lightest trading day of the year, which suggests that investors are tiring of the up and the down and the up and the down.

CAFFERTY: The markets are going nowhere.

SERWER: Yes, just a big nowhere this year.

O'BRIEN: All right, Andy, thanks.

SERWER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: In a moment here, we'll go to the mat with a 10-year-old girl who is taking on the boys in a big way. She's beating them now in record fashion. But first, though, our quiz question of the day. Joannie Laurer is the real name of which former women's professional female wrester, Jack? Is it Kimona, Lady Victory or Chyna?

CAFFERTY: I'm not up on Lady Victory.

HEMMER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: I'm going with Chyna.

HEMMER: Oh, you're going with Chyna?

O'BRIEN: Yes, Chyna.

CAFFERTY: That's not how you spell Chyna either.

HEMMER: Don't go anywhere, Jack. The answer is after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Before the break, we wanted to know, Joannie Laurer is the real name of which former professional female professional wrestler? The answer is c. Soledad wins. Chyna. The first woman to win a men's pro wrestling title. And now you know.

Makeba Elliott is only 10 years old, and she's already a national girls' wrestling champ. But Makeba is also the boys' wrestling champ in her home state of Illinois. She beat the best of the boys as well a year ago, the first girl ever to do that.

And Makeba and her father, Mike Elliott, are my guests now in Chicago.

It's nice to see you. Good morning to both of you.

MIKE ELLIOTT, FATHER OF WRESTLING CHAMP: Good morning.

HEMMER: Hey, Makeba, what makes you so good?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT, ILLINOIS BOYS STATE WRESTLING CHAMP: My wresting team and my coaches and teammates, and they gave me a lot of support. And I'm just really dedicated to the sport, and I know nobody can beat me. So I just do my best.

HEMMER: You speak with a lot of confidence. What's wrapped around your neck there, Makeba?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: My medals. I have three boys' state medals and three girls' national medals.

HEMMER: Wow! You're doing all right so far, aren't you? Hey, Mike, three years ago, when your daughter came to you and said she wanted to wrestle, what did you think?

MIKE ELLIOTT: Well, actually, it was four years ago. And I had no qualms about it, because she's always been a natural athlete. She's always been really good at what she did. At a very early age, she did karate and soccer, and she excelled at that. And I had no doubt about it.

HEMMER: I understand your wife doesn't share your enthusiasm, though, does she?

MIKE ELLIOTT: Not for wrestling. My wife is very supportive of Makeba's track and field events. Makeba runs track and field also. She qualified in three events in the Junior Olympics two years in a row. But no, she doesn't share my enthusiasm about her wrestling.

HEMMER: That is so...

MIKE ELLIOTT: She's a little girl on the mat with boys.

HEMMER: Yes. Hey, Makeba, what is it about wrestling boys? I read some comments here that you like to see them cry.

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: I like to see their coaches cry -- I mean, see them cry and their coaches yell at them. And the way when they see that I'm a girl, they start crying even more (UNINTELLIGIBLE) crying off the mat.

HEMMER: Well, you haven't won every match, though. What happens when you lose?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: I don't want to be around anybody, and I write their name down.

HEMMER: You write their name down?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: So the next time I wrestle them I know who they are and I beat them.

HEMMER: So you've got a little list working there in Chicago, too, don't you? Yes?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: Yes.

HEMMER: So, Makeba, what do you want to do when you grow up?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: I want to be a physical doctor, a physical therapist, and then I want to win the Olympics and win the world trials.

HEMMER: Well, listen, good luck to you. And have a great summer, too, OK? It's coming up soon. Makeba, thanks. And Mike Elliott also there in Chicago.

MIKE ELLIOTT: Thank you.

HEMMER: All right, keep it going. Here's Soledad.

O'BRIEN: In a moment, a look at today's top stories, plus a potential breakthrough for millions of Americans who suffer from migraines. The surgery to stop the pain also helps them look younger at the same time. We are paging D. Gupta just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: In a moment, money that was meant for homeland security is paying for air conditioning on garbage trucks. The lawmaker who wants to change that is our guest next.

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 April 12, 2005 - 07:29   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It's a good looking day here in the Northeast.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.

HEMMER: Keep it going.

O'BRIEN: Finally. I like that.

HEMMER: Yes. It's 7:30 here in New York. Good morning, everyone.

Back to the Michael Jackson trial this morning and what could be one of the most important witnesses for the prosecution, the mother of the boy accusing Jackson of molestation, telling now what she knows; this, after another mother's surprising story of Michael Jackson in tears. Ted Rowlands is watching that story. We'll get to Ted's report in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also, the 10-year-old who is the boy state wrestling champion of Illinois. A pretty amazing story, considering she's a girl. Coming up, we're going to meet the little girl. She's turning heads, twisting a few arms and legs, too. And she'll explain the secret of her success.

HEMMER: She is one tough 10-year-old.

O'BRIEN: She is.

HEMMER: First, the headlines, and Iraq starts us off again.

Good morning to Carol Costello.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.

Not good news out of Iraq unfortunately. This just in to CNN actually. There's been a car bombing in Iraq. A U.S. military convoy may have been the target. The blast taking place in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Officials say at least five Iraqis were killed, three others injured. We'll bring you more details as they come in to us.

This violence is taking place as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld makes a surprise visit to Iraq. The defense secretary landed in Baghdad overnight. His trip had not been publicized for security reasons. Rumsfeld took part in a re-enlistment ceremony for about 100 American soldiers. He's also meeting with Iraqi officials.

A pep talk from President Bush to some American troops. The president is set to speak at Fort Hood, Texas, the largest active-duty armored post in the military. He will also meet privately with the families of some 30 soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. CNN will have live coverage of the president's address beginning at 11:20 a.m. Eastern Time.

John Negroponte is preparing to face lawmakers for confirmation hearings. He's been tapped as the first-ever director of national intelligence. The post was created last December to help intelligence agencies coordinate in the fight against terrorism. Negroponte is expected to be approved.

And another national title for North Carolina. A week after the Tar Heels won the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Miss North Carolina, Chelsea Cooley (ph), has been crowned Miss USA. The 21- year-old will now compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand next month.

O'BRIEN: They're not going to make that one a reality show, like they're doing with the Miss America pageant, are they?

COSTELLO: Actually, I think that's a pretty good idea.

O'BRIEN: Yes, me too.

COSTELLO: I can't wait to see it. Think how vicious it will be.

O'BRIEN: Oh, yes. The behind-the-scenes is way more interesting.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: Well, congratulations to her. That's exciting.

HEMMER: Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: What does that mean?

HEMMER: We want to get to the Michael Jackson trial now. Another day of crucial testimony now from California; this time, from the mother of a boy who says Jackson molested him more than 10 years ago.

Ted Rowlands has the story now in Santa Maria.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The mother of one of Michael Jackson's alleged victims broke down on the stand, saying she regrets trusting Jackson with her then 13-year-old boy. The woman detailed his alleged relationship with Jackson, which she said started after she gave the pop star her son's phone number following a chance meeting in 1992. The mother testified that phone calls started, some lasting up to 90 minutes; then an invitation to Neverland. And within a few months, she said, her family was traveling the world with Jackson, and her son was sleeping in his bed.

One of the trips, she said, was to Monaco, where her son sat on Jackson's lap at the 1993 World Music Awards.

ANNE BREMNER, LEGAL ANALYST: He's a very charming, I think, individual. Somebody that was able to persuade this mother that he would not hurt her son. And she believed that.

ROWLANDS: The mother said Michael Jackson convinced her to allow her son to share his bed on a trip to Las Vegas, after she said Jackson cried and asked her -- quote -- "Don't you trust me? We're family." The woman said Jackson ended up sleeping at her house, spending more than 30 nights, each time she said Jackson slept with her son in his room.

The woman said Jackson bought her gifts, including handbags, jewelry and a $7,000 boutique gift certificate.

JIM MORET, POOL REPORTER: You got the sense that she sold her son. You got the sense she received a gold bracelet, she received a necklace, she received a ring. In return, the implication is she allowed Michael Jackson to sleep at her house with her son for 30 nights.

ROWLANDS: On cross-examination, the mother admitted she hasn't talked to her son in 11 years, saying it wasn't her choice. She also admitted that she never saw any abuse, and that at times she was comfortable with Jackson sharing his bed with her son.

The mother was the latest in a series of witnesses allowed to testify about Michael Jackson's past. Her son, the accuser, is not expected to take the stand.

Jackson currently faces four counts of lewd acts on a minor, and has pleaded not guilty.

(on camera): The mother of the 1993 alleged victim is the 51st witness to testify for the prosecution. Prosecutors told the judge that they expect to bring the mother of the current accuser to the stand in the next few days.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: One other note, as Ted pointed out there: The alleged victim, whose mother testified Monday, is now 25 and, again, is not expected to take the stand -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Updating now a story that we've been following out of Florida. Investigators have concluded that 26 people sick with the E. coli bacteria are linked to farm animals from one single petting zoo, and 42 more suspected cases of E. coli infections are still under investigation.

Yvonne Miller says that she contracted the bacteria from a petting zoo, and she was in the hospital for five days. She's in Orlando, Florida, this morning.

Nice to see you. Thanks for talking with us, Yvonne.

YVONNE MILLER, DIAGNOSED WITH E. COLI: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Take us back to that day on March 13. You went to the fair in central Florida. You went to the petting zoo as well?

MILLER: No, I didn't go to the petting zoo. We just went on the rides.

O'BRIEN: So, you never touched any animals?

MILLER: No, ma'am.

O'BRIEN: You brought your children with you. Were you the only person in your family who got sick?

MILLER: Yes I was.

O'BRIEN: Give me a sense of what happened. When did you discover that you actually had gotten the E. coli bacteria?

MILLER: I was hospitalized about four days after the visit to the zoo. That was on the weekend, that Friday. And that Monday I found out that I had E. coli. They had tested -- ran some tests on me, and they tested my stool and it came back positive for the E. coli.

O'BRIEN: Why the four-day delay? Did it take that long before you realized that you were sick?

MILLER: Well, I actually thought it was a small case of food poisoning. I didn't think it was anything that serious. You know how you sometimes eat something and you get an upset stomach? And that's what I thought it was. But by Friday, I had blood in my stool, and that triggered me to go to the hospital.

O'BRIEN: Give me a sense of some of your other symptoms as well.

MILLER: I had severe abdominal cramps. I had a fever, chills, weak, tired.

O'BRIEN: You were hospitalized, as you said, for five days.

MILLER: That is correct.

O'BRIEN: Finally, they determined that you had E. coli bacteria. You were given a transfusion, I understand.

MILLER: Yes. O'BRIEN: Two transfusions. One was a platelet transfusion, one a blood transfusion as well. Was there any point in the hospital where you thought you may not make it?

MILLER: Yes, I did.

O'BRIEN: Really?

MILLER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: How bad did it get?

MILLER: It got really bad, really scary. Really bad.

O'BRIEN: You are now suing the company, Ag-Venture Farm Shows, that put on the petting zoo. Let's meet your lawyer this morning. His name is Bill Marler, and he's acting as an attorney for Yvonne Miller.

Thanks for talking with us, Mr. Marler. Give me a sense of what your strategy is here? And what do you want out of this lawsuit?

BILL MARLER, ATTORNEY FOR YVONNE MILLER: Well, I think the important thing is to know that, you know, Yvonne didn't go to the petting zoo. And I think one of the questions you could ask is, well, why are we suing the petting zoo? I mean, we know that the Ag-Venture Farm brought these animals in that they all tested positive for the exact genetic strain that sickened Yvonne and sickened a lot of other people, many children who are still hospitalized.

I have done these kinds of cases before, E. coli cases, all over the country. And I think what it points out is that petting zoos and county fairs are not as safe as they were when, you know, I was a kid. And I think parents need to understand and the fairs need to understand that they need to change their behaviors.

O'BRIEN: Meaning what? It's the first time in 11 years that this organization, Ag-Venture Farm Shows, has reported any kind of problem.

MARLER: Well...

O'BRIEN: Why sue them as opposed to getting a warning, having them clean up their act?

MARLER: Well, you know, it's not just Ag-Venture's problem. I mean, we're having outbreaks of E. coli 057H7, which is a deadly form of this bacteria, every year at petting zoos and county fairs throughout the United States. We've seen over two dozen E. coli and bacteriological outbreaks tied to petting zoos and county fairs since 1995.

O'BRIEN: But you think there should just be no petting zoos?

MARLER: No, no, I don't -- I mean, look, I grew up on a farm. I took animals to the fair. I have three kids, none of whom go to petting zoos and none of whom go to county fairs. But the reality is that the CDC in 2001 set out guidelines to make petting zoos and county fairs safer. And in the last three years, there have been three outbreaks, none of which followed -- none of which the fairs followed any or most of the guidelines the CDC set down. The CDC...

O'BRIEN: How...

MARLER: Excuse me. The CDC also set down guidelines that came out just in March of this year. Again, none of these petting zoos are following their guidelines.

O'BRIEN: How much money are you going for in this lawsuit?

MARLER: You know, Yvonne's case, fortunately, she was very ill, almost suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is the bad outcome for these cases. But, you know, you're looking at hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for all of these people who got sick. If you took this outbreak and put it in one of the food outbreaks that I've been involved in, you're looking at $50 million to $100 million in damages.

O'BRIEN: I'm not sure that you answered my question. How much money are you going for in this particular lawsuit?

MARLER: Well, we'll deal with that as the case goes along. But the important thing is, is that fairs and petting zoos need to clean up their act, and, you know, that they need to follow the CDC guidelines that have been set down for the last four years.

O'BRIEN: Attorney Bill Marler and Yvonne Miller in Orlando. Bill Marler is in Seattle. Thanks to both of you. Appreciate your time.

MARLER: Thank you very much.

MILLER: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: Bill.

HEMMER: There is major money to fight AIDS from former President Bill Clinton. His foundation announcing on Monday it will donate $10 million to expand treatment for children with AIDS in 10 countries, especially on the continent of Africa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've got a long way to go in the fight against AIDS, but I'm hopeful that steps like the ones we announced today will make a difference. Together, we can save millions of lives and help bring quality health care to the world's children and to people living in poor, rural areas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: The U.N. says an estimated 39 million people living today with AIDS, more than 2 million of them are children.

Back to the weather.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Already out of prison, Martha Stewart makes a bid for even more freedom. Andy will explain. He's "Minding Your Business" just ahead.

HEMMER: Also a bit later, 10-year-old girl who says she likes to make boys cry on the wrestling mat. She's also making history while she's at it.

Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: All right, here's a good one. It seems the majority of Americans would rather go to the dentist than file their taxes. Well, duh! According to an Associated Press poll, 49 percent say that they prefer the dentist. Maybe part of the problem is that the majority of those polled, 70 percent, say the federal tax system is too complicated, which it is. Either way, you only have until Friday's deadline to mail in your return or file an extension. Guess which one I'm going to be doing?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Oh, the extension for you.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I can't get it together.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: You were away, and then you got called back because of the pope. You've been very busy.

O'BRIEN: I have a guy who does my taxes, and I'm still going to file them.

CAFFERTY: Well, he's busy, too.

SERWER: He's the late guy.

CAFFERTY: Yes, but you have to get him the material, right?

O'BRIEN: Yes, that's the problem.

CAFFERTY: He can't do anything until you give him the stuff.

O'BRIEN: He can't just make it up, as much as I'd like him to.

HEMMER: And you definitely don't want to drive to that meeting, too.

CAFFERTY: You got extra deductions, right? Yes, I know, that's a good transition.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Wow!

CAFFERTY: OK. Are we all set here?

O'BRIEN: Yes.

CAFFERTY: Are the cameras in this room, or did they move them across the street?

O'BRIEN: They're part of it.

CAFFERTY: The freak summer -- oh, no. The peak summer driving season isn't here yet, but gas prices are already hitting all-time highs. The Lundberg survey now pegs the nationwide average for unleaded regular at 2.29 a gallon. And the Department of Energy says it will probably go to 2.35 next month.

California has seen prices above $3 a gallon. A Gallup poll taken last month found the concerns about the cost of gasoline now rival worries about unemployment, jobs and wages.

The question this morning is: Have gasoline prices changed your lifestyle?

Randy in Cooperstown, Pennsylvania: "I used to view my motorcycle as a recreational vehicle. Now it's a necessity to be able to afford the high gas prices. It's a little rough on these 32-degree Pennsylvania mornings."

Robert in Tacoma, Washington: "My wife is self-employed. It costs her $200 a week to drive. We've even quit smoking to help ease the cost, but it keeps going up. We will be out of business by the end of the year if something doesn't give."

Steve in New York: "My schedule sure has changed. I live, work and drive in New York City. If that wasn't bad enough already, now I get mugged at the gas station every day."

SERWER: Right.

CAFFERTY: John in San Clemente, California: "We have definitely changed our driving habits. My daughter, wife an I all work in the same town 30 miles from here. Our work hours are different, but we're car pooling. I found a bargain yesterday, though, cheap unleaded, 2.59 a gallon."

And S. in South Hampton, Pennsylvania: "No, but it's made the people I'm bumming rides off of grumpier than usual."

SERWER: Yes.

HEMMER: Well, there's room in that car. Thank you, Jack.

O'BRIEN: It's nice to hear that people are making some changes.

CAFFERTY: Huh?

O'BRIEN: It's nice to hear people are making some changes.

SERWER: They have to.

O'BRIEN: I wouldn't have guessed it.

CAFFERTY: Yes, it's getting to that place.

O'BRIEN: Business news now. A judge is deciding whether to free Martha of her house arrest. With that and a look at the markets, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."

SERWER: So Judge Miriam Suderbahn (ph) yesterday ruling that Martha will not be footloose and fancy free sooner than she had wanted. She said that she won't modify Martha Stewart's sentence. Martha wanted to reduce. It's not modify. It's reduce.

And here's what the judge said, just a couple of sentences from her ruling. I think they are very on topic. "Defendant Stewart should not be treated differently from any other person convicted of the crimes of which she was convicted." It makes sense.

How about this one? "Home detention is imposed as an alternative to imprisonment. It's designed to be confining."

That's in response to Martha complaining that it was confining. That's what it's supposed to be. It's confining. It's confinement.

O'BRIEN: It's prison. It's not supposed to be fun.

SERWER: That's right, exactly.

Let's talk a little bit -- oh, look, first of all, the stock, I just want to point out, that it's down 40 percent since she's gotten out of the joint. And so she'll be done with her home confinement, I believe, in early August, because she started in early March, five months.

Let's talk a little bit about the markets yesterday, a kind of a little bit of a bummer yesterday for investors, at least in the Dow and the Nasdaq down 12 points. Very, very light trading. The lightest trading day of the year, which suggests that investors are tiring of the up and the down and the up and the down.

CAFFERTY: The markets are going nowhere.

SERWER: Yes, just a big nowhere this year.

O'BRIEN: All right, Andy, thanks.

SERWER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: In a moment here, we'll go to the mat with a 10-year-old girl who is taking on the boys in a big way. She's beating them now in record fashion. But first, though, our quiz question of the day. Joannie Laurer is the real name of which former women's professional female wrester, Jack? Is it Kimona, Lady Victory or Chyna?

CAFFERTY: I'm not up on Lady Victory.

HEMMER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: I'm going with Chyna.

HEMMER: Oh, you're going with Chyna?

O'BRIEN: Yes, Chyna.

CAFFERTY: That's not how you spell Chyna either.

HEMMER: Don't go anywhere, Jack. The answer is after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Before the break, we wanted to know, Joannie Laurer is the real name of which former professional female professional wrestler? The answer is c. Soledad wins. Chyna. The first woman to win a men's pro wrestling title. And now you know.

Makeba Elliott is only 10 years old, and she's already a national girls' wrestling champ. But Makeba is also the boys' wrestling champ in her home state of Illinois. She beat the best of the boys as well a year ago, the first girl ever to do that.

And Makeba and her father, Mike Elliott, are my guests now in Chicago.

It's nice to see you. Good morning to both of you.

MIKE ELLIOTT, FATHER OF WRESTLING CHAMP: Good morning.

HEMMER: Hey, Makeba, what makes you so good?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT, ILLINOIS BOYS STATE WRESTLING CHAMP: My wresting team and my coaches and teammates, and they gave me a lot of support. And I'm just really dedicated to the sport, and I know nobody can beat me. So I just do my best.

HEMMER: You speak with a lot of confidence. What's wrapped around your neck there, Makeba?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: My medals. I have three boys' state medals and three girls' national medals.

HEMMER: Wow! You're doing all right so far, aren't you? Hey, Mike, three years ago, when your daughter came to you and said she wanted to wrestle, what did you think?

MIKE ELLIOTT: Well, actually, it was four years ago. And I had no qualms about it, because she's always been a natural athlete. She's always been really good at what she did. At a very early age, she did karate and soccer, and she excelled at that. And I had no doubt about it.

HEMMER: I understand your wife doesn't share your enthusiasm, though, does she?

MIKE ELLIOTT: Not for wrestling. My wife is very supportive of Makeba's track and field events. Makeba runs track and field also. She qualified in three events in the Junior Olympics two years in a row. But no, she doesn't share my enthusiasm about her wrestling.

HEMMER: That is so...

MIKE ELLIOTT: She's a little girl on the mat with boys.

HEMMER: Yes. Hey, Makeba, what is it about wrestling boys? I read some comments here that you like to see them cry.

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: I like to see their coaches cry -- I mean, see them cry and their coaches yell at them. And the way when they see that I'm a girl, they start crying even more (UNINTELLIGIBLE) crying off the mat.

HEMMER: Well, you haven't won every match, though. What happens when you lose?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: I don't want to be around anybody, and I write their name down.

HEMMER: You write their name down?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: So the next time I wrestle them I know who they are and I beat them.

HEMMER: So you've got a little list working there in Chicago, too, don't you? Yes?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: Yes.

HEMMER: So, Makeba, what do you want to do when you grow up?

MAKEBA ELLIOTT: I want to be a physical doctor, a physical therapist, and then I want to win the Olympics and win the world trials.

HEMMER: Well, listen, good luck to you. And have a great summer, too, OK? It's coming up soon. Makeba, thanks. And Mike Elliott also there in Chicago.

MIKE ELLIOTT: Thank you.

HEMMER: All right, keep it going. Here's Soledad.

O'BRIEN: In a moment, a look at today's top stories, plus a potential breakthrough for millions of Americans who suffer from migraines. The surgery to stop the pain also helps them look younger at the same time. We are paging D. Gupta just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: In a moment, money that was meant for homeland security is paying for air conditioning on garbage trucks. The lawmaker who wants to change that is our guest next.

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