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CNN Live At Daybreak

The Need for Oil; Why Some Picking a Campus with the Higher Power

Aired April 26, 2005 - 06:00   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: America's reliance on oil is just one part of it. What's the real image of the U.S. abroad, especially in the Middle East? And is it affecting us at the pump?
Plus, the decision looming for thousands of high school seniors, where to go for a higher education. We find out why some are picking a campus with the higher power.

And a Marine Corps mom shares the proud story of her son's experience on the front lines.

It is Tuesday, April 26.

You are watching 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, a milestone in Lebanon. Lebanese and Syrian military officials completed a Syrian farewell ceremony just about an hour ago in the Bekka Valley. Syria is ending nearly 30 years of military influence in Lebanon. You're looking at a live shot in Lebanon this morning.

Rescuers in Japan have pulled two survivors from the wreckage of that deadly train crash. The seven car train smacked into an apartment building yesterday, killing at least 73 people.

In Colorado's back country, a 55-year-old cross country skier is rescued after eight days with little food or water. He broke his leg at the beginning of what was to have been a one day trip near his Steamboat Springs home.

Possibly coming in the mail to you soon, notice from G.M. It's recalling more than two million vehicles. The world's biggest car maker says almost one-and-a-half million SUVs and pickups are in the recall. The reason? Problems with the design of back seat safety belts.

To the Forecast Center and Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT) COSTELLO: We start this hour with a tragedy. It happens in a flash. A mom turns her head and her two young children bolt out the door. In East Georgia, that scenario has apparently played out. Searchers have found the bodies of two toddlers in an algae covered sanitation pond. Foul play is not suspected. The autopsy results could be available as early as today. Two-year-old Nicole Payne and her 3-year-old brother Jonah had been missing since Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS PAYNE, FATHER: It takes one minute. Don't turn your back on those kids, because they all outdo you. And you can't beat that minute. It doesn't matter. You're still going to turn your back on them for one minute, they'll still get out of there. And that's why I'm trying to teach these people who are starting a family, be on guard. Be alert.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Just after the half hour, we'll talk about what investigators go through in such cases. We'll talk to a former FBI agent.

The Transportation Security Agency tested a new high tech scanner in Boston. Passengers in more than 150 airports will see it by the start of next year. The so-called "puffer" machine detects microscopic traces of explosives and identifies potential threats to security screeners.

A former homeland security adviser is warning that chemical plants across the United States are vulnerable to terrorists. Richard Falkenrath and another high level investigator will testify tomorrow before a Senate subcommittee. Both told "USA Today" that chemical plants and rail cars that transport deadly chemicals need more security.

And safety concerns will delay the opening of New York City's Freedom Tower. Police officials would not specify, but said more could be done to secure the building, which is scheduled to open in 2009. The Tower will be built on the World Trade Center site.

Bologna. No, it's not. Well, yes it is. Oddly enough, Border Patrol agents stopped 825 pounds of illicit bologna from crossing the border. A man had hidden the meat under his clothes, in his 14 suitcases. He hid it everywhere. Homeland security says he was headed to Albuquerque, where he planned to sell the lunch meat for triple the price. They picked him up at the border crossing at Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

A major player in the drug war is under arrest in New York. Bashir Noorzai is accused of trafficking as much as $50 million worth of heroin out of Afghanistan. But what makes him even more dangerous may be his suspected ties to al Qaeda and the Taliban. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN GILBRIDGE, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION: Noorzai is known to the Drug Enforcement Administration as the Pablo Escobar of heroin trafficking in Asia. Noorzai is one of the world's top drug traffickers, whose organization was responsible for the production and smuggling of hundreds of kilograms of heroin into the United States and other countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Officials say he supplied guns to the Taliban and continues to work with al Qaeda.

The FBI is looking around for the clown. Agents announced that reputed mob boss Joseph "the Clown" Lombardo is among 11 men indicted for conspiracy to commit murder. Lombardo is currently missing.

Many of the 18 murders in the indictment have gone unsolved for decades. Among those murdered was Tony "the Ant" Spilotro. His life was the basis for Joe Pesci's character in the movie "Casino."

On Capitol Hill, there could be a deal in the works to end the stand-off over President Bush's court nominees. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and Republican leader Bill Frist are talking and there is word that Reid may be willing to let two controversial nominations go through.

What do the Democrats want in return? Well, Republicans have been threatening to ban the filibusters that have been stalling the nominees. The Democrats want those threats dropped. But any deal might not end the stand-off. Reid and other Democrats are apparently still opposed to four conservative nominees for appeals courts. They are Priscilla Owen, Janis Rogers Brown, William Myers and William Pryor.

President Bush has other things on his mind today. He'll host a talk on Social Security reform in Galveston, Texas. Yesterday, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah visited the president's ranch. The topic? Soaring oil prices. Abdullah says Saudi Arabia plans to pump more oil. But does that mean you will see relief at the gas pump any time soon? Analysts say probably not.

But what does the president say?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Do you think gas prices can be any lower than it is today.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That depends on the supply and demand. One thing is for certain, the price of crude is driving the price of gasoline. The price of crude is up because not only is our economy growing, but economies such as India and China's economies are growing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The need for oil -- we want to get some more analysis on this.

Ian Armstrong does that for Brewin Dolphin Securities in London.

He is an oil analyst and he joins us live there now.

Good morning.

IAN ARMSTRONG, OIL ANALYST, BREWIN DOLPHIN SECURITIES: Good morning.

COSTELLO: You know, we've seen a lot of friendly pictures of the president and Prince Abdullah. In fact, on the front page of most of the papers in America, we can see them holding hands.

Should we read anything into this?

ARMSTRONG: Well, the Saudis have said that they do want to try and increase production in May by another 300,000 barrels a day. But to be honest, it's not really going to help the American situation, because we're into the driving season and the driving season is where the demand for the lighter crudes -- and that's the crudes that come from the North Sea and from the Gulf of Mexico -- are in much higher demand than the crudes from OPEC.

So really what OPEC is trying to do is look forward to the fourth quarter, when you get back into the heavier crude demand season, when you need it for heating oil.

COSTELLO: I was just going to ask you that. Why is the United States talking to Saudi Arabia, then, if that's not the kind of crude oil that we need to bring gas prices down now?

ARMSTRONG: Well, really, because it's probably too -- it's too late to try and get an immediate change. But if you don't start to act in the future, then you're going to store yourself up even more problems by the fourth quarter.

COSTELLO: So, if Saudi Arabia says it's pumping all of the oil it possibly can, should we believe them?

ARMSTRONG: Well, yes, you should, because you get a very dangerous level with regards to the excess of reserves versus capacity. And if that gets to too dangerous a level, like something like less than, say, 10 percent -- i.e., there's 10 percent reserves in the ground relative to the capacity being pumped out -- then the oil market will get very excited and the oil price will go even higher.

COSTELLO: OK, so bottom line here, here in the United States, we should expect gas prices to remain high for the summer at least, right?

ARMSTRONG: I don't think they're going to come down much below $1.30, which is what they are just now.

COSTELLO: Ian Armstrong, thank you for joining us this morning.

You see the gas prices throughout the United States. The average price still about $2.20 per gallon.

Thank you, Ian.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, it might have you saying hands off. You will not believe what the government wants to do with your Social Security checks. More on our "Business Buzz."

Also, screams for help from a child's bedroom. We'll have details.

And how would you feel if you were wrongly accused in a shocking case that has grabbed national headlines? One man talks about his ordeal.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 6:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

Autopsy reports are expected later today for two young Georgia children. The bodies of 3-year-old Jonah Payne and his 2-year-old sister Nicole were found in a sanitation pond near their home.

In money news, more than $700 million being set aside for investors hurt by the collapse of Adelphia Communications. Company founder John Rigas was convicted of conspiracy and fraud last year.

In culture, comedian George Lopez is recovering in a Los Angeles hospital after undergoing kidney transplant surgery. The replacement kidney was donated by his wife. His kidney problems were caused by a genetic condition.

In sports, the Houston Rockets have jumped out to a commanding two games to nothing lead in their play-off series against the Dallas Mavericks. Yao Ming led the way with 33 points in last night's two point win -- oh, I wish we could see Yao Ming, but he's somewhere on the court there.

MYERS: No, that's not him either.

COSTELLO: That's not him either -- Chad.

MYERS: No. No. If we will probably play it long enough he'll show.

COSTELLO: There he is!

MYERS: He'll show up.

COSTELLO: Hugging his teammates.

MYERS: Well, yes, way above their head. I love that, how tall he is.

Hey, Carol, have you heard about the Chicago White Sox this year?

They are six...

COSTELLO: They're pretty good.

MYERS: They're 16 and four. They're already five games up in the American League Central.

COSTELLO: They're good.

MYERS: Amazing.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: That's a look at the latest headlines for you this morning.

Time now for a little "Business Buzz."

Should the government be able to use your Social Security payments to cover your student loan debts? Yes, can they garnish your Social Security payments? The Supreme Court is going to decide.

Carrie Lee joins us now with more.

I'm not quite understanding this.

So they wait until you retire?

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it sounds a little bit harsh. A lot of people don't have money coming in until they receive Social Security. So this is what the Supreme Court is going to look at.

The case is called "Lockhart v. the United States." And the question to be decided is whether the government can seize Social Security checks as payment for student loans which are more than 10 years old.

Now, James Lockhart is a disabled man who says he needs his monthly check to pay for food and medication. Well, two laws seem to send conflicting messages. The Higher Education Act eliminated the 10-year time limit on seizure of payments, but the Debt Collection Act kept the time limit for Social Security payments. And according to the government court filing side, there's nearly $7 billion in delinquent student loan debt, half of which is more than 10 years old. A 10-year time limit would substantially hinder government collection efforts, since most debtors don't receive Social Security, obviously, until retirement age.

So, the case is likely to be heard in October. It sounds a little harsh for these folks, Carol, but, you know, this belong trade deficit, budget deficit, the government does need all the money it can get and people do owe it.

COSTELLO: So in other words, if you're getting your income from Social Security, that would be just like garnishing your wages?

LEE: Exactly. Exactly. So the Supreme Court will decide this in October. We'll see which way they go.

COSTELLO: It does sound harsh.

LEE: It does.

COSTELLO: A quick look at the futures?

LEE: Futures looking a little bit weak for today's session. We did see the major market indices gain some ground yesterday.

Martha Stewart reporting profits this morning for the first time since she's come out of jail. Crazy. She was in jail for five months. Her stock did very well. She came out, it took a hit. We'll see what happens today.

COSTELLO: She's in trouble again.

LEE: She's in trouble again.

COSTELLO: So it went up again.

LEE: Every day a new Martha Stewart story.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie.

LEE: Sure.

COSTELLO: Finding the money to pay for college is just half the battle. Coming up, why some kids face a decision of biblical proportions when it comes to choosing a campus in the first place.

And later, it was the case that absorbed America in 1989 -- the rape of the Central Park jogger. Now, one of the young men convicted in that crime shares what he knows about life and justice as a free man, when DAYBREAK continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In other "Stories Across America" this Tuesday, a Phoenix, Arizona woman faces child cruelty charges for locking her 7- year-old daughter in a bedroom. The young girl screamed for help at a passerby, who then called police. The girl had been given a bottle of water, but no food since Saturday.

In California, the widow of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy is suing the transit agency. Deputy James Tutino was among the 11 people killed in January when the Metrolink commuter train crashed.

Here's a wake up call for moms and dads. Girls as young as nine years old are trying steroids. While some want to perform better in sports, most are trying to get that sculpted muscular look of models. One professor says other than pedophilia, steroids is the most secret behavior he's ever seen.

This week, high school seniors are making some tough decisions. They must choose which college to attend by this Sunday. And while there are plenty of state universities, a growing number of kids are choosing to become missionary students. In other words, they're attending religious-based colleges in increasing numbers.

It's the topic of "God On the Quad."

And author Naomi Schaeffer Riley joins me now.

Good morning, Naomi.

NAOMI SCHAEFFER RILEY, AUTHOR, "GOD ON THE QUAD": Good morning.

COSTELLO: So really how many more kids are opting to go to religious schools?

RILEY: Well, if you take a look at evangelical colleges, for instance, between 1990 and 2002, enrollment at those schools grew 60 percent, which is really quite incredible because enrollment at state and other, and private schools, really didn't fluctuate much in that time at all. Students are really interested in these kind of colleges.

COSTELLO: Why did you decide to write this book?

RILEY: Well, I was looking at a couple of colleges that opened up in the fall of 2000 -- Patrick Henry College in Virginia and the Ave Maria School of Law in Michigan. And I thought to myself, don't we have enough colleges in this country? I couldn't believe people were opening more. And I thought they must have a really distinctive mission if they're going to all the trouble to open a new school.

And when I went to visit those two schools, I found the students were very bright. They were turning down schools like Harvard to attend these schools which were, as of yet, unaccredited. And I thought there really must be something here that's attracting them.

COSTELLO: But what is -- is it the religious aspect of it or is it something else?

RILEY: Well, I think part of it is definitely a reaction to how religious students are sometimes treated at secular universities. It's hard for them being in coed dorms and being in an atmosphere where there's a lot of drinking and drugs and other sorts of behaviors they don't approve of going on.

But there's also something positive at these schools. They like the fact that faith is integrated into the classroom, that they can get what they feel is a broader perspective on anything from English literature to, you know, to history, because of the religious nature of the classroom.

COSTELLO: And these religious-based schools have done something very smart. They've really increased their curriculum. I mean they really pay attention to what students learn, too, whereas before they only concentrated on the religious aspects.

RILEY: Right. They've become much more academically rigorous in recent years, which is, I think, why so many bright students are really giving them a second look. You know, in previous years, they might have thought well, can I get a job coming out of this college? Is it going to be easy to get to graduate school? And Wheaton College, for instance, where House Speaker Dennis Hastert went to school, now ranks eighth in the country in the percentage of students who go on to receive Ph.D.s.

So I think students are really thinking this is a viable alternative for me.

COSTELLO: Do students go there who are not particularly religious? Are they choosing that because they don't want to go to traditional party schools? I mean they're really interested in learning and they know by going to this sort of university it's a little more serious?

RILEY: Occasionally you get that. For instance, I went to Brigham Young University and there are 2 percent of the population there who are not Mormon. Some Muslim students might choose to attend there because of the rules about drinking and sex and they might feel it's a calmer atmosphere.

But they do have to take seven Mormon theology classes. So it's kind of a high bar. You have to be willing to deal with all of that in terms of the religious identity of the school.

COSTELLO: And, of course, I would guess that some religious- based universities have problems, just like public universities, when it comes to students partying. We don't want to excuse them altogether.

RILEY: No, I don't think so. I think that the difference with religious colleges is not that every student is perfectly behaved, but rather that the administrations feel they can set a standard. They can say look, this is what we expect of you, and they're very transparent about it. If students are applying from high school, you know, the first thing they should look for is, you know, I want to know everything I can about this school. I don't want to get there and have any surprises. And students have to be willing to sign on to, oftentimes, a behavioral code.

So between the administration setting the standards and the students really agreeing to live by those rules, I think that they're, you know, pretty safe and often do have sort of better behavior overall on campus.

COSTELLO: Naomi, thank you for being with DAYBREAK this morning.

RILEY: Thank you.

COSTELLO: The book is called "God On the Quad."

Thank you.

Still to come in the last half hour of DAYBREAK, her hero, her son -- a young Marine facing his own mortality in Iraq. What happened next saved American lives. We'll share his story.

But first, a look at some of the familiar faces celebrating birthdays today.

This is DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, in East Georgia, the bodies of two toddlers have been found in an algae-covered sanitation pond. Police say there are no signs of foul play. They're still investigating, though. The 2- and 3-year-old sister and brother were reported missing on Saturday.

Syria has completed its withdrawal of troops from neighboring Lebanon. Syria has had political and military influence over Lebanon for 30 years. The assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister triggered the international call for Syria's withdrawal.

An al Qaeda terrorist will appeal his conviction and seek a new trial this morning. Wadih El Hage is currently serving a life sentence for his role as a facilitator in the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa. Two hundred twenty-four people, including 12 Americans, died in those attacks.

To the Forecast Center -- good morning, Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: A military hearing begins today to determine whether a U.S. Marine will be charged with murder in a combat shooting. Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano is accused of killing two Iraqis last year during a search for a terrorist hideout. Defense attorneys say Pantano was just doing his job. Prosecutors say they'll present evidence to the contrary at the Camp Lejeune hearing.

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 26, 2005 - 06:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: America's reliance on oil is just one part of it. What's the real image of the U.S. abroad, especially in the Middle East? And is it affecting us at the pump?
Plus, the decision looming for thousands of high school seniors, where to go for a higher education. We find out why some are picking a campus with the higher power.

And a Marine Corps mom shares the proud story of her son's experience on the front lines.

It is Tuesday, April 26.

You are watching 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, a milestone in Lebanon. Lebanese and Syrian military officials completed a Syrian farewell ceremony just about an hour ago in the Bekka Valley. Syria is ending nearly 30 years of military influence in Lebanon. You're looking at a live shot in Lebanon this morning.

Rescuers in Japan have pulled two survivors from the wreckage of that deadly train crash. The seven car train smacked into an apartment building yesterday, killing at least 73 people.

In Colorado's back country, a 55-year-old cross country skier is rescued after eight days with little food or water. He broke his leg at the beginning of what was to have been a one day trip near his Steamboat Springs home.

Possibly coming in the mail to you soon, notice from G.M. It's recalling more than two million vehicles. The world's biggest car maker says almost one-and-a-half million SUVs and pickups are in the recall. The reason? Problems with the design of back seat safety belts.

To the Forecast Center and Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT) COSTELLO: We start this hour with a tragedy. It happens in a flash. A mom turns her head and her two young children bolt out the door. In East Georgia, that scenario has apparently played out. Searchers have found the bodies of two toddlers in an algae covered sanitation pond. Foul play is not suspected. The autopsy results could be available as early as today. Two-year-old Nicole Payne and her 3-year-old brother Jonah had been missing since Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS PAYNE, FATHER: It takes one minute. Don't turn your back on those kids, because they all outdo you. And you can't beat that minute. It doesn't matter. You're still going to turn your back on them for one minute, they'll still get out of there. And that's why I'm trying to teach these people who are starting a family, be on guard. Be alert.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Just after the half hour, we'll talk about what investigators go through in such cases. We'll talk to a former FBI agent.

The Transportation Security Agency tested a new high tech scanner in Boston. Passengers in more than 150 airports will see it by the start of next year. The so-called "puffer" machine detects microscopic traces of explosives and identifies potential threats to security screeners.

A former homeland security adviser is warning that chemical plants across the United States are vulnerable to terrorists. Richard Falkenrath and another high level investigator will testify tomorrow before a Senate subcommittee. Both told "USA Today" that chemical plants and rail cars that transport deadly chemicals need more security.

And safety concerns will delay the opening of New York City's Freedom Tower. Police officials would not specify, but said more could be done to secure the building, which is scheduled to open in 2009. The Tower will be built on the World Trade Center site.

Bologna. No, it's not. Well, yes it is. Oddly enough, Border Patrol agents stopped 825 pounds of illicit bologna from crossing the border. A man had hidden the meat under his clothes, in his 14 suitcases. He hid it everywhere. Homeland security says he was headed to Albuquerque, where he planned to sell the lunch meat for triple the price. They picked him up at the border crossing at Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

A major player in the drug war is under arrest in New York. Bashir Noorzai is accused of trafficking as much as $50 million worth of heroin out of Afghanistan. But what makes him even more dangerous may be his suspected ties to al Qaeda and the Taliban. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN GILBRIDGE, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION: Noorzai is known to the Drug Enforcement Administration as the Pablo Escobar of heroin trafficking in Asia. Noorzai is one of the world's top drug traffickers, whose organization was responsible for the production and smuggling of hundreds of kilograms of heroin into the United States and other countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Officials say he supplied guns to the Taliban and continues to work with al Qaeda.

The FBI is looking around for the clown. Agents announced that reputed mob boss Joseph "the Clown" Lombardo is among 11 men indicted for conspiracy to commit murder. Lombardo is currently missing.

Many of the 18 murders in the indictment have gone unsolved for decades. Among those murdered was Tony "the Ant" Spilotro. His life was the basis for Joe Pesci's character in the movie "Casino."

On Capitol Hill, there could be a deal in the works to end the stand-off over President Bush's court nominees. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and Republican leader Bill Frist are talking and there is word that Reid may be willing to let two controversial nominations go through.

What do the Democrats want in return? Well, Republicans have been threatening to ban the filibusters that have been stalling the nominees. The Democrats want those threats dropped. But any deal might not end the stand-off. Reid and other Democrats are apparently still opposed to four conservative nominees for appeals courts. They are Priscilla Owen, Janis Rogers Brown, William Myers and William Pryor.

President Bush has other things on his mind today. He'll host a talk on Social Security reform in Galveston, Texas. Yesterday, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah visited the president's ranch. The topic? Soaring oil prices. Abdullah says Saudi Arabia plans to pump more oil. But does that mean you will see relief at the gas pump any time soon? Analysts say probably not.

But what does the president say?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Do you think gas prices can be any lower than it is today.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That depends on the supply and demand. One thing is for certain, the price of crude is driving the price of gasoline. The price of crude is up because not only is our economy growing, but economies such as India and China's economies are growing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The need for oil -- we want to get some more analysis on this.

Ian Armstrong does that for Brewin Dolphin Securities in London.

He is an oil analyst and he joins us live there now.

Good morning.

IAN ARMSTRONG, OIL ANALYST, BREWIN DOLPHIN SECURITIES: Good morning.

COSTELLO: You know, we've seen a lot of friendly pictures of the president and Prince Abdullah. In fact, on the front page of most of the papers in America, we can see them holding hands.

Should we read anything into this?

ARMSTRONG: Well, the Saudis have said that they do want to try and increase production in May by another 300,000 barrels a day. But to be honest, it's not really going to help the American situation, because we're into the driving season and the driving season is where the demand for the lighter crudes -- and that's the crudes that come from the North Sea and from the Gulf of Mexico -- are in much higher demand than the crudes from OPEC.

So really what OPEC is trying to do is look forward to the fourth quarter, when you get back into the heavier crude demand season, when you need it for heating oil.

COSTELLO: I was just going to ask you that. Why is the United States talking to Saudi Arabia, then, if that's not the kind of crude oil that we need to bring gas prices down now?

ARMSTRONG: Well, really, because it's probably too -- it's too late to try and get an immediate change. But if you don't start to act in the future, then you're going to store yourself up even more problems by the fourth quarter.

COSTELLO: So, if Saudi Arabia says it's pumping all of the oil it possibly can, should we believe them?

ARMSTRONG: Well, yes, you should, because you get a very dangerous level with regards to the excess of reserves versus capacity. And if that gets to too dangerous a level, like something like less than, say, 10 percent -- i.e., there's 10 percent reserves in the ground relative to the capacity being pumped out -- then the oil market will get very excited and the oil price will go even higher.

COSTELLO: OK, so bottom line here, here in the United States, we should expect gas prices to remain high for the summer at least, right?

ARMSTRONG: I don't think they're going to come down much below $1.30, which is what they are just now.

COSTELLO: Ian Armstrong, thank you for joining us this morning.

You see the gas prices throughout the United States. The average price still about $2.20 per gallon.

Thank you, Ian.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, it might have you saying hands off. You will not believe what the government wants to do with your Social Security checks. More on our "Business Buzz."

Also, screams for help from a child's bedroom. We'll have details.

And how would you feel if you were wrongly accused in a shocking case that has grabbed national headlines? One man talks about his ordeal.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 6:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

Autopsy reports are expected later today for two young Georgia children. The bodies of 3-year-old Jonah Payne and his 2-year-old sister Nicole were found in a sanitation pond near their home.

In money news, more than $700 million being set aside for investors hurt by the collapse of Adelphia Communications. Company founder John Rigas was convicted of conspiracy and fraud last year.

In culture, comedian George Lopez is recovering in a Los Angeles hospital after undergoing kidney transplant surgery. The replacement kidney was donated by his wife. His kidney problems were caused by a genetic condition.

In sports, the Houston Rockets have jumped out to a commanding two games to nothing lead in their play-off series against the Dallas Mavericks. Yao Ming led the way with 33 points in last night's two point win -- oh, I wish we could see Yao Ming, but he's somewhere on the court there.

MYERS: No, that's not him either.

COSTELLO: That's not him either -- Chad.

MYERS: No. No. If we will probably play it long enough he'll show.

COSTELLO: There he is!

MYERS: He'll show up.

COSTELLO: Hugging his teammates.

MYERS: Well, yes, way above their head. I love that, how tall he is.

Hey, Carol, have you heard about the Chicago White Sox this year?

They are six...

COSTELLO: They're pretty good.

MYERS: They're 16 and four. They're already five games up in the American League Central.

COSTELLO: They're good.

MYERS: Amazing.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: That's a look at the latest headlines for you this morning.

Time now for a little "Business Buzz."

Should the government be able to use your Social Security payments to cover your student loan debts? Yes, can they garnish your Social Security payments? The Supreme Court is going to decide.

Carrie Lee joins us now with more.

I'm not quite understanding this.

So they wait until you retire?

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it sounds a little bit harsh. A lot of people don't have money coming in until they receive Social Security. So this is what the Supreme Court is going to look at.

The case is called "Lockhart v. the United States." And the question to be decided is whether the government can seize Social Security checks as payment for student loans which are more than 10 years old.

Now, James Lockhart is a disabled man who says he needs his monthly check to pay for food and medication. Well, two laws seem to send conflicting messages. The Higher Education Act eliminated the 10-year time limit on seizure of payments, but the Debt Collection Act kept the time limit for Social Security payments. And according to the government court filing side, there's nearly $7 billion in delinquent student loan debt, half of which is more than 10 years old. A 10-year time limit would substantially hinder government collection efforts, since most debtors don't receive Social Security, obviously, until retirement age.

So, the case is likely to be heard in October. It sounds a little harsh for these folks, Carol, but, you know, this belong trade deficit, budget deficit, the government does need all the money it can get and people do owe it.

COSTELLO: So in other words, if you're getting your income from Social Security, that would be just like garnishing your wages?

LEE: Exactly. Exactly. So the Supreme Court will decide this in October. We'll see which way they go.

COSTELLO: It does sound harsh.

LEE: It does.

COSTELLO: A quick look at the futures?

LEE: Futures looking a little bit weak for today's session. We did see the major market indices gain some ground yesterday.

Martha Stewart reporting profits this morning for the first time since she's come out of jail. Crazy. She was in jail for five months. Her stock did very well. She came out, it took a hit. We'll see what happens today.

COSTELLO: She's in trouble again.

LEE: She's in trouble again.

COSTELLO: So it went up again.

LEE: Every day a new Martha Stewart story.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie.

LEE: Sure.

COSTELLO: Finding the money to pay for college is just half the battle. Coming up, why some kids face a decision of biblical proportions when it comes to choosing a campus in the first place.

And later, it was the case that absorbed America in 1989 -- the rape of the Central Park jogger. Now, one of the young men convicted in that crime shares what he knows about life and justice as a free man, when DAYBREAK continues.

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COSTELLO: In other "Stories Across America" this Tuesday, a Phoenix, Arizona woman faces child cruelty charges for locking her 7- year-old daughter in a bedroom. The young girl screamed for help at a passerby, who then called police. The girl had been given a bottle of water, but no food since Saturday.

In California, the widow of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy is suing the transit agency. Deputy James Tutino was among the 11 people killed in January when the Metrolink commuter train crashed.

Here's a wake up call for moms and dads. Girls as young as nine years old are trying steroids. While some want to perform better in sports, most are trying to get that sculpted muscular look of models. One professor says other than pedophilia, steroids is the most secret behavior he's ever seen.

This week, high school seniors are making some tough decisions. They must choose which college to attend by this Sunday. And while there are plenty of state universities, a growing number of kids are choosing to become missionary students. In other words, they're attending religious-based colleges in increasing numbers.

It's the topic of "God On the Quad."

And author Naomi Schaeffer Riley joins me now.

Good morning, Naomi.

NAOMI SCHAEFFER RILEY, AUTHOR, "GOD ON THE QUAD": Good morning.

COSTELLO: So really how many more kids are opting to go to religious schools?

RILEY: Well, if you take a look at evangelical colleges, for instance, between 1990 and 2002, enrollment at those schools grew 60 percent, which is really quite incredible because enrollment at state and other, and private schools, really didn't fluctuate much in that time at all. Students are really interested in these kind of colleges.

COSTELLO: Why did you decide to write this book?

RILEY: Well, I was looking at a couple of colleges that opened up in the fall of 2000 -- Patrick Henry College in Virginia and the Ave Maria School of Law in Michigan. And I thought to myself, don't we have enough colleges in this country? I couldn't believe people were opening more. And I thought they must have a really distinctive mission if they're going to all the trouble to open a new school.

And when I went to visit those two schools, I found the students were very bright. They were turning down schools like Harvard to attend these schools which were, as of yet, unaccredited. And I thought there really must be something here that's attracting them.

COSTELLO: But what is -- is it the religious aspect of it or is it something else?

RILEY: Well, I think part of it is definitely a reaction to how religious students are sometimes treated at secular universities. It's hard for them being in coed dorms and being in an atmosphere where there's a lot of drinking and drugs and other sorts of behaviors they don't approve of going on.

But there's also something positive at these schools. They like the fact that faith is integrated into the classroom, that they can get what they feel is a broader perspective on anything from English literature to, you know, to history, because of the religious nature of the classroom.

COSTELLO: And these religious-based schools have done something very smart. They've really increased their curriculum. I mean they really pay attention to what students learn, too, whereas before they only concentrated on the religious aspects.

RILEY: Right. They've become much more academically rigorous in recent years, which is, I think, why so many bright students are really giving them a second look. You know, in previous years, they might have thought well, can I get a job coming out of this college? Is it going to be easy to get to graduate school? And Wheaton College, for instance, where House Speaker Dennis Hastert went to school, now ranks eighth in the country in the percentage of students who go on to receive Ph.D.s.

So I think students are really thinking this is a viable alternative for me.

COSTELLO: Do students go there who are not particularly religious? Are they choosing that because they don't want to go to traditional party schools? I mean they're really interested in learning and they know by going to this sort of university it's a little more serious?

RILEY: Occasionally you get that. For instance, I went to Brigham Young University and there are 2 percent of the population there who are not Mormon. Some Muslim students might choose to attend there because of the rules about drinking and sex and they might feel it's a calmer atmosphere.

But they do have to take seven Mormon theology classes. So it's kind of a high bar. You have to be willing to deal with all of that in terms of the religious identity of the school.

COSTELLO: And, of course, I would guess that some religious- based universities have problems, just like public universities, when it comes to students partying. We don't want to excuse them altogether.

RILEY: No, I don't think so. I think that the difference with religious colleges is not that every student is perfectly behaved, but rather that the administrations feel they can set a standard. They can say look, this is what we expect of you, and they're very transparent about it. If students are applying from high school, you know, the first thing they should look for is, you know, I want to know everything I can about this school. I don't want to get there and have any surprises. And students have to be willing to sign on to, oftentimes, a behavioral code.

So between the administration setting the standards and the students really agreeing to live by those rules, I think that they're, you know, pretty safe and often do have sort of better behavior overall on campus.

COSTELLO: Naomi, thank you for being with DAYBREAK this morning.

RILEY: Thank you.

COSTELLO: The book is called "God On the Quad."

Thank you.

Still to come in the last half hour of DAYBREAK, her hero, her son -- a young Marine facing his own mortality in Iraq. What happened next saved American lives. We'll share his story.

But first, a look at some of the familiar faces celebrating birthdays today.

This is DAYBREAK.

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COSTELLO: Good morning.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, in East Georgia, the bodies of two toddlers have been found in an algae-covered sanitation pond. Police say there are no signs of foul play. They're still investigating, though. The 2- and 3-year-old sister and brother were reported missing on Saturday.

Syria has completed its withdrawal of troops from neighboring Lebanon. Syria has had political and military influence over Lebanon for 30 years. The assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister triggered the international call for Syria's withdrawal.

An al Qaeda terrorist will appeal his conviction and seek a new trial this morning. Wadih El Hage is currently serving a life sentence for his role as a facilitator in the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa. Two hundred twenty-four people, including 12 Americans, died in those attacks.

To the Forecast Center -- good morning, Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: A military hearing begins today to determine whether a U.S. Marine will be charged with murder in a combat shooting. Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano is accused of killing two Iraqis last year during a search for a terrorist hideout. Defense attorneys say Pantano was just doing his job. Prosecutors say they'll present evidence to the contrary at the Camp Lejeune hearing.

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