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CNN Live At Daybreak

Prince Rainier Funeral; Fugitive Arrests; Cyber Bullies

Aired April 15, 2005 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, a royal farewell. We'll take you live to Monaco for the funeral this hour for Prince Rainier of Monaco.
Plus, putting the cuffs on criminals. A nationwide roundup.

Also, a tense moment between the Yankees' Gary Sheffield and a fan. Ooh. That was one heated game between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Could -- should Gary Sheffield have been ejected?

Also this. With titles like "Please Scratch My Back" and "Let's Go Outside," what's not to love? Our Jeanne Moos and must-have music for your pup.

It's Friday, April 15, Tax Day. 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," it's a busy day for insurgents in Baghdad. A suicide car bomber targets a U.S. military convoy, killing five civilians nearby. Later, a roadside bomb goes off alongside an Iraqi army convoy, killing one civilian and wounding three others.

In the City of Lights a nightmare. This is central Paris, where a fire has killed 15 people and injured 65 more. Many of the victims are children. We'll take you live to Paris at the half-hour.

John Negroponte is one step closer to becoming the nation's national intelligence director. The Senate Intelligence Committee has approved his nomination. That nomination now goes to the full Senate.

And what's your filing status? That form 1040 is due by midnight. And if you are just getting to it, you are probably out of luck. The National Taxpayers Union estimates it takes 27 hours to fill out this form.

That's just wrong, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And probably 28 this year, because everybody should check if they have to owe AMT, alternative minimum tax.

COSTELLO: I know I did.

MYERS: Yes, me, too.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: And that's another hour just to put that form back together. So everybody that didn't check for AMT that thinks they're getting money back...

COSTELLO: Think again.

MYERS: ... they have something to say about that when they get your numbers.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: We begin this hour with the funeral of Prince Rainier of Monaco. Heads of state and members of other European royal families are there. So let's head live there now to our Becky Anderson. She's overlooking the famous harbor in Monaco.

Good morning, Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A very good morning to you, Carol. And a very sad day here in Monaco.

The Monegasque, the citizens of Monaco, all dressed in black. And the flags, of course, flying at half-staff and colored in black ribbons.

Three thousand Monegasque gathered outside the prince's palace to bid farewell to their father, quite literally. And heads of state, as you say, and dignitaries from around the world have been arriving in the past hour at the prince's palace. They've been paying their last respects to Prince Rainier, who lies in state in the Palatine Chapel at the palace.

And then they've been walking the stairs to the -- what's known as the Salon Bleu, the apartments where Prince Albert, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie and their children are gathered and the dignitaries, VIPs and members of Europe's royal families have been paying their respects to the family.

In the next hour, also, everybody will leave from there and move to Monaco's cathedral, where the funeral mass will begin -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Becky Anderson live in Monaco. We'll get back to you throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK. Thank you.

More than 10 million of you are victims of identity theft every year. And now Congress is under pressure to make businesses tell you if your personal information is stolen. Information broker LexisNexis now says that personal information on 310,000 may have been stolen. That's 10 times the number it estimated just last month. And in February, ChoicePoint revealed that about 145,000 personal identities were stolen by an organized crime ring.

For years, government policy has often shielded corporations by keeping identity theft crimes out of the headlines. But a California law now requires businesses to disclose thefts of consumer data. Some 30 other states are now pondering similar laws.

It appears a thief at upscale retailer Polo Ralph Lauren may have ridden away with thousand of credit card numbers. "The Wall Street Journal" reporting about 180,000 customers who used General Motors- branded MasterCards may have been affected. The credit company says the cards need to be replaced.

A massive law enforcement operation may have really taken a bite out of crime. The well-choreographed fugitive hunt netted more than 10,000 bad guys. CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena takes a closer look at Operation FALCON.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Officials say just about everyone with a badge and a pair of handcuffs was asked to help and did. In just one week, more than 10,000 fugitives across the nation were captured, more than three quarters had prior arrest records.

ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: We know from history and from the bitter experiences of far too many victims, that a fugitive with a rap sheet is more desperate, more predatory and more likely to commit the crimes that plague citizens and communities.

ARENA: The results are significant, 162 people accused or convicted of murder now in custody, along with 638 wanted for armed robbery. And more than 500 wanted for rape or sexual assault.

BENIGNO RENYA, U.S. MARSHALS DIRECTOR: While we can quantify arrest numbers and the types of crime, the reduction of criminal activity created when dangerous individuals are behind bars and the pain and suffering of victims that it will prevent is incalculable.

ARENA: In Chicago, Marshal Sharon Metzger led the capture of a fugitive who's been on the run for eight years after escaping from a federal prison. She's part of the Great Lakes Regional Task Force. CNN spent several days with the force back in February.

SHANNON METZGER, U.S. MARSHAL: When you're working multiple cases at one time and running into dead ends, it's easy to throw the folder in your drawer and say, that's enough, let's go on to something else. But the good investigator keeps plotting along and works at it, and feels a real sense of accomplishment when you arrest somebody like that.

ARENA: The nationwide effort was led by the U.S. Marshals to coincide with Victims' Protection Week. Officials say it costs $900,000, most spent on overtime for state and local officials who joined in the effort. Marshals across the nation are hoping the strong results bring new attention and more resources to the agency. Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We'll have more on Operation FALCON coming up later on CNN. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will join us on "AMERICAN MORNING." That gets under way at 7:00 a.m. Eastern, which is, of course, just about two hours from now.

President Bush says he's eager to sign a new law making it harder for you to follow for bankruptcy to avoid paying your debts. The president praised lawmakers for "acting in a bipartisan fashion to curb abuses of the bankruptcy system." Major parts of the bill go into effect in six months, and that leaves some to predict an onslaught of bankruptcy filings very soon.

A new law in the pipeline means you go to Canada or Mexico for a day trip, you will need a passport to get back home. But President Bush is now saying, wait a minute. He says he was surprised to read about the proposed rules in the newspapers. He says he thinks there's a better way to expedite the legal flow of traffic and people between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I've talked to Condi about -- and the Homeland -- Homeland Security people about making -- seeing if there's some flexibility in the law that will allow for, for example, a finger imaging to serve as the so- called passport for daily traffic. If people have to have a passport, it's going to disrupt honest flow of traffic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: In other news "Across America" now, the search for a missing Florida teenage is growing. Among those joining the search for 13-year-old Sarah Lunde are air and marine search crews and the father of Jessica Lunsford. Lunde was last seen on Saturday night. The Hillsborough County sheriff says there's now a $10,000 reward for her safe return.

Los Angeles police still looking for a truck that caused a tragic accident on a major freeway. Two men were killed when a large metal clamp fell off a truck and crashed through their windshield. Four other people in the van escaped injury.

And police were called in after a big fight broke out at a Los Angeles high school. At least 100 students were involved, forced to lock (ph) down at the school. Three people were hurt in the end.

Another -- well, almost another brawl in sports. It happened last night in Boston at the Yankees-Red Sox game. Take a look at this.

That's Gary Sheffield. You see him kind of throwing a punch at a fan. He was trying to field a ball into right field, Chad. He says the fan punched him and split his lip. And then he went back. He started yelling at the fan. As you can see, his teammates had to come out and subdue him. And also, security came out.

Now, the fan was ejected, but not Gary Sheffield. And there's some controversy about that. Listen to what Sheffield has to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY SHEFFIELD, YANKEE OUTFIELDER: It's just a baseball game. You're trying to go out here and represent the game the right way, and to get punched in the mouth, you know, you don't expect that at a baseball game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MYERS: I don't see a split lip.

COSTELLO: I was just looking at his mouth to see if it really did slip his lip. I couldn't tell.

MYERS: I couldn't tell either. And I've actually -- we have a way to play it over and over and over here. And it looks like the fan is looking down the line, looking for the ball, but does make type of a swing.

Whether he's trying to interfere with the play a little bit or whatever, you can't tell from that one. But this next one you can see he's looking down the field and then makes some kind of a swiping move. You can't tell whether his fist is closed or not.

But, you know, there was -- I don't think both -- either party is innocent in all this, Carol. I really don't. I'm not sticking up for Sheffield, because I'm glad he doesn't play for the Braves anymore. But I don't think that he is the only guilty party here.

But we want to know what the people out there think.

COSTELLO: Well, I want to read you what else Gary Sheffield had to say. He says the -- he says, "The first thing that came to mind was this basket brawl." Of course everybody remembers that. And that's why he did react.

He thought of the consequences. But he did throw that roundhouse punch. He just missed.

MYERS: Yes. But he did come back and say -- and think to himself, I'm going to hit this guy. And then he restrained himself and didn't. And that was the second part of his little quote, saying, you know, "I'm glad I didn't, I'm glad I didn't lose it," is what he said.

COSTELLO: I don't know. You know me...

MYERS: You make the call. COSTELLO: Yes. We would like you to make the call. Should Sheffield have been ejected?

You know what I think.

MYERS: I know what you think, Carol. But I'm sticking up for the player in this one because I don't think either party is completely innocent.

COSTELLO: He threw a punch before he threw the ball in!

Anyway, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. E-mail us, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

MYERS: See, you're looking from New York. I'm looking from Atlanta. We have two different angles.

COSTELLO: But I'm not a Yankees fan.

MYERS: Well, I am.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: See, and there's the rub, isn't it? Because if you look at the Boston papers and the New York papers this morning, they tell two very different stories.

MYERS: All right. Fair enough.

COSTELLO: DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Still to come, is your son or daughter wallowing in a world you know nothing about? That nether world of cyber bullies could be right there in the next room. Shocking details from Adaora Udoji in 12 minutes-plus.

In Florida, an exhausting and frustrating search for a missing teenage girl. We'll have an update for you in 25 minutes.

And in Palm Beach, you might not want to go into the water, or maybe not even near it. The teeth of that tale in seven minutes.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The international markets all looking lower this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei down by 192 points. The London FTSE lower by 42. The German DAX down 73.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:15 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Dignitaries have gathered in Monaco for the funeral of Prince Rainier. Europe's longest-reigning monarch died last week. The funeral procession is scheduled to get under way in just about 30 minutes.

In money news, the House has approved the bankruptcy bill. And President Bush could sign it as early as next week. The bill, which already passed the Senate, makes it more difficult for you to follow for bankruptcy.

In culture, Rosa Parks has settled her lawsuit against best- selling group Outkast. The civil rights pioneer sued after her name appeared on one of the group's CDs. The deal calls for the group and its record company to establish educational programs that promote Rosa Parks' legacy.

In sports, President Bush was just a little on target with his first pitch at the Washington Nationals home opener. But it did turn out to be good luck for the home team. They beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3.

They're having a great season, Chad.

MYERS: Yes, they sure are. Just a little outside. But you know what? He gets out there and he fires from the mound.

He doesn't go halfway and kind of throw some little ball. He actually goes up there and throws the ball. I like that.

COSTELLO: Have you ever done that?

MYERS: Have I ever thrown out a first pitch? No.

COSTELLO: I have. It's really hard, because you're nervous. You feel like everyone is watching you. They are.

MYERS: And you probably weren't wearing a bulletproof vest either.

COSTELLO: No, I wasn't.

MYERS: And I'm not sure he was, but he looks pretty big in that jacket.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: That's great.

MYERS: Yes, that's an old one there. But there you go.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you this morning. Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers" now.

Anyone for a dip? All right, maybe not. This is Palm Beach, Florida, where the sharks are swarming.

We don't know what kind they are. Basically, a shark is a shark to most of us. Maybe it's time to get out the bucket and shovel and go build a sand castle.

Meet Theresa Anderson. Well, this is Theresa's belly. Pregnant with not one, not two, not three, not four, but five little ones in the oven, all boys.

Mrs. Anderson is a surrogate mom for a childless couple in Arizona. And get this... she's decided not to accept any money because of the expense the parents will be facing with five boys. That's really nice, I must say.

In San Diego, a little protest, and we do mean little. These kids were marching to protest changes "Sesame Street" plans to make with the Cookie Monster. Maybe you've heard, fewer cookies, a leaner...

MYERS: No cookies, no peace? What?

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: They don't want a leaner monster. These kids aren't having any of it. They were chanting, "No cookies, no peace," as you said. "Cookies for everyone," they say.

MYERS: The broccoli monster.

COSTELLO: So cute.

Just ahead on DAYBREAK, he just went through the harrowing experience himself. Now Mark Lunsford is helping another father look for his missing daughter.

And we'll hear from a former POW about what it was like two years after her famous rescue.

You are watching DAYBREAK for Friday, April 15, Tax Day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A boy charged with murder after hitting a friend with a baseball bat will appear in juvenile court today. In California, a 13-year-old cannot be tried as an adult. Authorities say the boy hit is 15-year-old friend in the head with a bat after losing a baseball game.

Ballparks aren't the only place kids may face bullying. A huge majority of young people say they've gotten harassed online. CNN's Adaora Udoji has the story of a boy who seemed to have everything going for him until he logged on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Everyone says Ryan Halligan had a wicked sense of humor. So funny, he dreamed of becoming a comedian. But at 13 Ryan committed suicide.

KELLY HALLIGAN, RYAN'S MOTHER: He was very carefree, very generous spirit.

UDOJI: His shattered parents, at a loss, have relived moments over and over again, looking for clues. Ryan struggled academically, but he had lots of friends. And he loved being online.

HALLIGAN: He was a well-liked, good-looking kid who fell under everybody's radar in terms of being a typical kid that's bullied.

UDOJI (on camera): So what happened?

JOHN HALLIGAN, RYAN'S FATHER: I had to spend a lot of time reconstructing, going back.

UDOJI: What Ryan's parents did not know at the time was that their son was getting bullied here at school and the bullies were following him home in cyberspace.

(voice-over): Ryan spent hours online, following his parents rules, no talking to strangers, no pornography sites, no giving out personal information. But his father discovered a chilling world of instant messages and e-mails. The real problem, people Ryan knew. Some taunted him about girls he liked; others hurled homophobic accusations.

J. HALLIGAN: I found just some very hurtful stuff. "Hey, Ryan. I'm gay. I like you." You know, "I want to do this to you, I want to" -- you know, very graphic sexual kind of stuff.

UDOJI: One so-called friend encouraged Ryan to kill himself.

J. HALLIGAN: Where the kid said, you know, "You're finally going to stop complaining." And my son, "Yeah, tonight's the night I'm going to do it. You'll read about it in the papers tomorrow."

K. HALLIGAN: Talking about killing himself.

J. HALLIGAN: And the kid said, "It's about (EXPLETIVE DELETED) time."

UDOJI: Ryan's friends say the Halligans stumbled into a world many parents don't know exists, an anonymous cyber world where everyone is a potential victim.

MATT CONN, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: You can say whatever you want to them because you know they can't get you back. I mean, because you're just kind of like a nameless face out there.

UDOJI: They describe a sometimes vicious place of back-biting, where teens even send nasty notes under assumed or stolen names.

(on camera): How many of you have been called a name or teased online while you were instant messaging?

(voice-over): An i-SAFE America survey found nearly 80 percent of teens said they'd been threatened or bullied online. Few complained, fearing their parents will pull computer privileges or make things worse by irritating the bullies.

(on camera): So then why don't you guys just stay off the computer?

ELLEN SHEEHEY, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: Because the computer is, like, your link to everything, like, now. Like, for us, like, that's what we do.

SARAH SNOW, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: If you're not there when they -- when everyone's, like, making the plans and stuff, you'll probably be locked out for a lot of stuff.

UDOJI (voice-over): They don't think adults take cyber bullies and their victims.

SNOW: ... they thought of doing it, they wouldn't get in trouble as much if they punched him. And verbal can be worse. It is worse.

UDOJI (on camera): Because?

SNOW: Because it hurts you.

ASHLEY FAY, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: Because it like...

(CROSSTALK)

SNOW: Yes.

FAY: Physical, like, yeah, you'll have a bruise for a little while. But you'll get over it.

SNOW: But it's nothing like...

FAY: But, like, when someone tells you something hurtful, it really stays with you.

UDOJI (voice-over): The Halligans don't blame cyber bullies for Ryan's death. They only wish they knew what was going on so they could have intervened, which is why John successfully pushed for a cyber bullying law in Vermont, one of the few in the country. Now he also talks to groups about a problem he says is growing fast.

J. HALLIGAN: The advice I give to parents is, I think you should go ahead and install those programs that help you monitor the activity that's going on in your computer. To me, it's the trust and verify approach. Right? I trust you, and we're going to verify that things are going OK.

UDOJI: Their story, he said, is a cautionary tale. Parent's can't take the computer lightly. They must get involved, he says, even more than they think necessary. Their child's health may be at stake.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, Burlington, Vermont.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.

French firefighters work to save people trapped in a burning Paris hotel. A live report from the scene straight ahead.

And a reminder. Our e-mail "Question of the Morning," you make the call. Should Gary Sheffield have been ejected for throwing a roundhouse punch at a fan even though he missed? Send your comments to us, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 15, 2005 - 05:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, a royal farewell. We'll take you live to Monaco for the funeral this hour for Prince Rainier of Monaco.
Plus, putting the cuffs on criminals. A nationwide roundup.

Also, a tense moment between the Yankees' Gary Sheffield and a fan. Ooh. That was one heated game between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Could -- should Gary Sheffield have been ejected?

Also this. With titles like "Please Scratch My Back" and "Let's Go Outside," what's not to love? Our Jeanne Moos and must-have music for your pup.

It's Friday, April 15, Tax Day. 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," it's a busy day for insurgents in Baghdad. A suicide car bomber targets a U.S. military convoy, killing five civilians nearby. Later, a roadside bomb goes off alongside an Iraqi army convoy, killing one civilian and wounding three others.

In the City of Lights a nightmare. This is central Paris, where a fire has killed 15 people and injured 65 more. Many of the victims are children. We'll take you live to Paris at the half-hour.

John Negroponte is one step closer to becoming the nation's national intelligence director. The Senate Intelligence Committee has approved his nomination. That nomination now goes to the full Senate.

And what's your filing status? That form 1040 is due by midnight. And if you are just getting to it, you are probably out of luck. The National Taxpayers Union estimates it takes 27 hours to fill out this form.

That's just wrong, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And probably 28 this year, because everybody should check if they have to owe AMT, alternative minimum tax.

COSTELLO: I know I did.

MYERS: Yes, me, too.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: And that's another hour just to put that form back together. So everybody that didn't check for AMT that thinks they're getting money back...

COSTELLO: Think again.

MYERS: ... they have something to say about that when they get your numbers.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: We begin this hour with the funeral of Prince Rainier of Monaco. Heads of state and members of other European royal families are there. So let's head live there now to our Becky Anderson. She's overlooking the famous harbor in Monaco.

Good morning, Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A very good morning to you, Carol. And a very sad day here in Monaco.

The Monegasque, the citizens of Monaco, all dressed in black. And the flags, of course, flying at half-staff and colored in black ribbons.

Three thousand Monegasque gathered outside the prince's palace to bid farewell to their father, quite literally. And heads of state, as you say, and dignitaries from around the world have been arriving in the past hour at the prince's palace. They've been paying their last respects to Prince Rainier, who lies in state in the Palatine Chapel at the palace.

And then they've been walking the stairs to the -- what's known as the Salon Bleu, the apartments where Prince Albert, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie and their children are gathered and the dignitaries, VIPs and members of Europe's royal families have been paying their respects to the family.

In the next hour, also, everybody will leave from there and move to Monaco's cathedral, where the funeral mass will begin -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Becky Anderson live in Monaco. We'll get back to you throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK. Thank you.

More than 10 million of you are victims of identity theft every year. And now Congress is under pressure to make businesses tell you if your personal information is stolen. Information broker LexisNexis now says that personal information on 310,000 may have been stolen. That's 10 times the number it estimated just last month. And in February, ChoicePoint revealed that about 145,000 personal identities were stolen by an organized crime ring.

For years, government policy has often shielded corporations by keeping identity theft crimes out of the headlines. But a California law now requires businesses to disclose thefts of consumer data. Some 30 other states are now pondering similar laws.

It appears a thief at upscale retailer Polo Ralph Lauren may have ridden away with thousand of credit card numbers. "The Wall Street Journal" reporting about 180,000 customers who used General Motors- branded MasterCards may have been affected. The credit company says the cards need to be replaced.

A massive law enforcement operation may have really taken a bite out of crime. The well-choreographed fugitive hunt netted more than 10,000 bad guys. CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena takes a closer look at Operation FALCON.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Officials say just about everyone with a badge and a pair of handcuffs was asked to help and did. In just one week, more than 10,000 fugitives across the nation were captured, more than three quarters had prior arrest records.

ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: We know from history and from the bitter experiences of far too many victims, that a fugitive with a rap sheet is more desperate, more predatory and more likely to commit the crimes that plague citizens and communities.

ARENA: The results are significant, 162 people accused or convicted of murder now in custody, along with 638 wanted for armed robbery. And more than 500 wanted for rape or sexual assault.

BENIGNO RENYA, U.S. MARSHALS DIRECTOR: While we can quantify arrest numbers and the types of crime, the reduction of criminal activity created when dangerous individuals are behind bars and the pain and suffering of victims that it will prevent is incalculable.

ARENA: In Chicago, Marshal Sharon Metzger led the capture of a fugitive who's been on the run for eight years after escaping from a federal prison. She's part of the Great Lakes Regional Task Force. CNN spent several days with the force back in February.

SHANNON METZGER, U.S. MARSHAL: When you're working multiple cases at one time and running into dead ends, it's easy to throw the folder in your drawer and say, that's enough, let's go on to something else. But the good investigator keeps plotting along and works at it, and feels a real sense of accomplishment when you arrest somebody like that.

ARENA: The nationwide effort was led by the U.S. Marshals to coincide with Victims' Protection Week. Officials say it costs $900,000, most spent on overtime for state and local officials who joined in the effort. Marshals across the nation are hoping the strong results bring new attention and more resources to the agency. Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We'll have more on Operation FALCON coming up later on CNN. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will join us on "AMERICAN MORNING." That gets under way at 7:00 a.m. Eastern, which is, of course, just about two hours from now.

President Bush says he's eager to sign a new law making it harder for you to follow for bankruptcy to avoid paying your debts. The president praised lawmakers for "acting in a bipartisan fashion to curb abuses of the bankruptcy system." Major parts of the bill go into effect in six months, and that leaves some to predict an onslaught of bankruptcy filings very soon.

A new law in the pipeline means you go to Canada or Mexico for a day trip, you will need a passport to get back home. But President Bush is now saying, wait a minute. He says he was surprised to read about the proposed rules in the newspapers. He says he thinks there's a better way to expedite the legal flow of traffic and people between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I've talked to Condi about -- and the Homeland -- Homeland Security people about making -- seeing if there's some flexibility in the law that will allow for, for example, a finger imaging to serve as the so- called passport for daily traffic. If people have to have a passport, it's going to disrupt honest flow of traffic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: In other news "Across America" now, the search for a missing Florida teenage is growing. Among those joining the search for 13-year-old Sarah Lunde are air and marine search crews and the father of Jessica Lunsford. Lunde was last seen on Saturday night. The Hillsborough County sheriff says there's now a $10,000 reward for her safe return.

Los Angeles police still looking for a truck that caused a tragic accident on a major freeway. Two men were killed when a large metal clamp fell off a truck and crashed through their windshield. Four other people in the van escaped injury.

And police were called in after a big fight broke out at a Los Angeles high school. At least 100 students were involved, forced to lock (ph) down at the school. Three people were hurt in the end.

Another -- well, almost another brawl in sports. It happened last night in Boston at the Yankees-Red Sox game. Take a look at this.

That's Gary Sheffield. You see him kind of throwing a punch at a fan. He was trying to field a ball into right field, Chad. He says the fan punched him and split his lip. And then he went back. He started yelling at the fan. As you can see, his teammates had to come out and subdue him. And also, security came out.

Now, the fan was ejected, but not Gary Sheffield. And there's some controversy about that. Listen to what Sheffield has to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY SHEFFIELD, YANKEE OUTFIELDER: It's just a baseball game. You're trying to go out here and represent the game the right way, and to get punched in the mouth, you know, you don't expect that at a baseball game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MYERS: I don't see a split lip.

COSTELLO: I was just looking at his mouth to see if it really did slip his lip. I couldn't tell.

MYERS: I couldn't tell either. And I've actually -- we have a way to play it over and over and over here. And it looks like the fan is looking down the line, looking for the ball, but does make type of a swing.

Whether he's trying to interfere with the play a little bit or whatever, you can't tell from that one. But this next one you can see he's looking down the field and then makes some kind of a swiping move. You can't tell whether his fist is closed or not.

But, you know, there was -- I don't think both -- either party is innocent in all this, Carol. I really don't. I'm not sticking up for Sheffield, because I'm glad he doesn't play for the Braves anymore. But I don't think that he is the only guilty party here.

But we want to know what the people out there think.

COSTELLO: Well, I want to read you what else Gary Sheffield had to say. He says the -- he says, "The first thing that came to mind was this basket brawl." Of course everybody remembers that. And that's why he did react.

He thought of the consequences. But he did throw that roundhouse punch. He just missed.

MYERS: Yes. But he did come back and say -- and think to himself, I'm going to hit this guy. And then he restrained himself and didn't. And that was the second part of his little quote, saying, you know, "I'm glad I didn't, I'm glad I didn't lose it," is what he said.

COSTELLO: I don't know. You know me...

MYERS: You make the call. COSTELLO: Yes. We would like you to make the call. Should Sheffield have been ejected?

You know what I think.

MYERS: I know what you think, Carol. But I'm sticking up for the player in this one because I don't think either party is completely innocent.

COSTELLO: He threw a punch before he threw the ball in!

Anyway, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. E-mail us, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

MYERS: See, you're looking from New York. I'm looking from Atlanta. We have two different angles.

COSTELLO: But I'm not a Yankees fan.

MYERS: Well, I am.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: See, and there's the rub, isn't it? Because if you look at the Boston papers and the New York papers this morning, they tell two very different stories.

MYERS: All right. Fair enough.

COSTELLO: DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Still to come, is your son or daughter wallowing in a world you know nothing about? That nether world of cyber bullies could be right there in the next room. Shocking details from Adaora Udoji in 12 minutes-plus.

In Florida, an exhausting and frustrating search for a missing teenage girl. We'll have an update for you in 25 minutes.

And in Palm Beach, you might not want to go into the water, or maybe not even near it. The teeth of that tale in seven minutes.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The international markets all looking lower this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei down by 192 points. The London FTSE lower by 42. The German DAX down 73.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:15 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Dignitaries have gathered in Monaco for the funeral of Prince Rainier. Europe's longest-reigning monarch died last week. The funeral procession is scheduled to get under way in just about 30 minutes.

In money news, the House has approved the bankruptcy bill. And President Bush could sign it as early as next week. The bill, which already passed the Senate, makes it more difficult for you to follow for bankruptcy.

In culture, Rosa Parks has settled her lawsuit against best- selling group Outkast. The civil rights pioneer sued after her name appeared on one of the group's CDs. The deal calls for the group and its record company to establish educational programs that promote Rosa Parks' legacy.

In sports, President Bush was just a little on target with his first pitch at the Washington Nationals home opener. But it did turn out to be good luck for the home team. They beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3.

They're having a great season, Chad.

MYERS: Yes, they sure are. Just a little outside. But you know what? He gets out there and he fires from the mound.

He doesn't go halfway and kind of throw some little ball. He actually goes up there and throws the ball. I like that.

COSTELLO: Have you ever done that?

MYERS: Have I ever thrown out a first pitch? No.

COSTELLO: I have. It's really hard, because you're nervous. You feel like everyone is watching you. They are.

MYERS: And you probably weren't wearing a bulletproof vest either.

COSTELLO: No, I wasn't.

MYERS: And I'm not sure he was, but he looks pretty big in that jacket.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: That's great.

MYERS: Yes, that's an old one there. But there you go.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you this morning. Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers" now.

Anyone for a dip? All right, maybe not. This is Palm Beach, Florida, where the sharks are swarming.

We don't know what kind they are. Basically, a shark is a shark to most of us. Maybe it's time to get out the bucket and shovel and go build a sand castle.

Meet Theresa Anderson. Well, this is Theresa's belly. Pregnant with not one, not two, not three, not four, but five little ones in the oven, all boys.

Mrs. Anderson is a surrogate mom for a childless couple in Arizona. And get this... she's decided not to accept any money because of the expense the parents will be facing with five boys. That's really nice, I must say.

In San Diego, a little protest, and we do mean little. These kids were marching to protest changes "Sesame Street" plans to make with the Cookie Monster. Maybe you've heard, fewer cookies, a leaner...

MYERS: No cookies, no peace? What?

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: They don't want a leaner monster. These kids aren't having any of it. They were chanting, "No cookies, no peace," as you said. "Cookies for everyone," they say.

MYERS: The broccoli monster.

COSTELLO: So cute.

Just ahead on DAYBREAK, he just went through the harrowing experience himself. Now Mark Lunsford is helping another father look for his missing daughter.

And we'll hear from a former POW about what it was like two years after her famous rescue.

You are watching DAYBREAK for Friday, April 15, Tax Day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A boy charged with murder after hitting a friend with a baseball bat will appear in juvenile court today. In California, a 13-year-old cannot be tried as an adult. Authorities say the boy hit is 15-year-old friend in the head with a bat after losing a baseball game.

Ballparks aren't the only place kids may face bullying. A huge majority of young people say they've gotten harassed online. CNN's Adaora Udoji has the story of a boy who seemed to have everything going for him until he logged on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Everyone says Ryan Halligan had a wicked sense of humor. So funny, he dreamed of becoming a comedian. But at 13 Ryan committed suicide.

KELLY HALLIGAN, RYAN'S MOTHER: He was very carefree, very generous spirit.

UDOJI: His shattered parents, at a loss, have relived moments over and over again, looking for clues. Ryan struggled academically, but he had lots of friends. And he loved being online.

HALLIGAN: He was a well-liked, good-looking kid who fell under everybody's radar in terms of being a typical kid that's bullied.

UDOJI (on camera): So what happened?

JOHN HALLIGAN, RYAN'S FATHER: I had to spend a lot of time reconstructing, going back.

UDOJI: What Ryan's parents did not know at the time was that their son was getting bullied here at school and the bullies were following him home in cyberspace.

(voice-over): Ryan spent hours online, following his parents rules, no talking to strangers, no pornography sites, no giving out personal information. But his father discovered a chilling world of instant messages and e-mails. The real problem, people Ryan knew. Some taunted him about girls he liked; others hurled homophobic accusations.

J. HALLIGAN: I found just some very hurtful stuff. "Hey, Ryan. I'm gay. I like you." You know, "I want to do this to you, I want to" -- you know, very graphic sexual kind of stuff.

UDOJI: One so-called friend encouraged Ryan to kill himself.

J. HALLIGAN: Where the kid said, you know, "You're finally going to stop complaining." And my son, "Yeah, tonight's the night I'm going to do it. You'll read about it in the papers tomorrow."

K. HALLIGAN: Talking about killing himself.

J. HALLIGAN: And the kid said, "It's about (EXPLETIVE DELETED) time."

UDOJI: Ryan's friends say the Halligans stumbled into a world many parents don't know exists, an anonymous cyber world where everyone is a potential victim.

MATT CONN, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: You can say whatever you want to them because you know they can't get you back. I mean, because you're just kind of like a nameless face out there.

UDOJI: They describe a sometimes vicious place of back-biting, where teens even send nasty notes under assumed or stolen names.

(on camera): How many of you have been called a name or teased online while you were instant messaging?

(voice-over): An i-SAFE America survey found nearly 80 percent of teens said they'd been threatened or bullied online. Few complained, fearing their parents will pull computer privileges or make things worse by irritating the bullies.

(on camera): So then why don't you guys just stay off the computer?

ELLEN SHEEHEY, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: Because the computer is, like, your link to everything, like, now. Like, for us, like, that's what we do.

SARAH SNOW, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: If you're not there when they -- when everyone's, like, making the plans and stuff, you'll probably be locked out for a lot of stuff.

UDOJI (voice-over): They don't think adults take cyber bullies and their victims.

SNOW: ... they thought of doing it, they wouldn't get in trouble as much if they punched him. And verbal can be worse. It is worse.

UDOJI (on camera): Because?

SNOW: Because it hurts you.

ASHLEY FAY, RYAN'S CLASSMATE: Because it like...

(CROSSTALK)

SNOW: Yes.

FAY: Physical, like, yeah, you'll have a bruise for a little while. But you'll get over it.

SNOW: But it's nothing like...

FAY: But, like, when someone tells you something hurtful, it really stays with you.

UDOJI (voice-over): The Halligans don't blame cyber bullies for Ryan's death. They only wish they knew what was going on so they could have intervened, which is why John successfully pushed for a cyber bullying law in Vermont, one of the few in the country. Now he also talks to groups about a problem he says is growing fast.

J. HALLIGAN: The advice I give to parents is, I think you should go ahead and install those programs that help you monitor the activity that's going on in your computer. To me, it's the trust and verify approach. Right? I trust you, and we're going to verify that things are going OK.

UDOJI: Their story, he said, is a cautionary tale. Parent's can't take the computer lightly. They must get involved, he says, even more than they think necessary. Their child's health may be at stake.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, Burlington, Vermont.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.

French firefighters work to save people trapped in a burning Paris hotel. A live report from the scene straight ahead.

And a reminder. Our e-mail "Question of the Morning," you make the call. Should Gary Sheffield have been ejected for throwing a roundhouse punch at a fan even though he missed? Send your comments to us, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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