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CNN Live At Daybreak

Shifting Hills; Backfire; Prisoner Release

Aired June 02, 2005 - 5:00   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: It is Thursday, June 2. Mudslides devastate California as a small town wakes up today to pick up the pieces. DAYBREAK starts right now.
A hilltop house comes crumbling down. Cracking noises signal the inevitable, the mudslides are coming.

Also ahead, Israel released some 400 Palestinian prisoners. We'll take you there live.

And finally, news of a potion that can make you more trustful. Is it witchcraft or reality?

ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK, with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.

COSTELLO: And good morning, everyone. We'll have more on the massive destruction from the mudslides in California in just a minute.

Also ahead, the Dutch say no way to the EU constitution. What does this mean for Europe and the United States?

And would former President Bill Clinton like to see his wife in the White House? We'll let you know.

But first, ""Now in the News," at least 13 people have been killed in a series of suicide car bombings in Iraq this morning. This damage is from Kirkuk, where the bomber was targeting an American diplomatic convoy. The blast killed a child.

A leading anti-Syrian journalist has been killed in Beirut when a bomb in his car exploded. Security sources say the bomb went off when he started the car. He wrote for Lebanon's biggest selling daily newspaper.

President Bush is heading to Kentucky today to promote his plan for changing the Social Security system. The president then makes a stop in St. Louis before going on to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

A landslide has forced as many as a thousand people from their homes in Laguna Beach, California. Eighteen luxury homes were damaged or destroyed in the slide. Luckily, only two people suffered minor injuries.

It's a strange thing, Chad, because it wasn't raining over the last several days there. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, it has not rained literally more than a trace of rain there, Carol, in 28 days. The difference is it had over 28 inches -- that area had over 28 inches of rain in the winter total, more than double what they should have. In some spots, even record amounts of rain. So the land was still saturated.

There were four homes on top of that hill that had been red- marked already, where people couldn't live there because the land had already begun to move a little bit, just enough. And I would be very curious to see if maybe there wasn't a little water main break under it that kept that ground very saturated and all that land just continued to slide and slide and slide. And once it started to give way, obviously there's nothing to hold onto it, nothing there. When you get a crack like that, the land just starts to slide away at about 10 miles per hour or so.

But people heard the cracking, they got out of their homes. And everyone was good. Four minor injuries, which is pretty amazing, actually -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, I thought you were going to go on to your weather forecast now. But we're going to talk more about these shifting hills in California.

MYERS: Sure, yes.

COSTELLO: Several families were allowed back into their homes to retrieve their belongings, but then they were escorted back out to watch helplessly as their homes dangled dangerously close to construction.

CNN's Liz Habib begins our coverage from Laguna Beach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My house is ruined.

LIZ HABIB, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Jill Lockhart's (ph) home was one of more than a dozen that came crashing down. At the crack of dawn, multimillion-dollar homes started cracking and folding and sliding down the hill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We ran down the front side of the mountain. And we could hear this house collapsing behind us, sinking in. And I guess the driveway moved 200 feet as we were running down it.

HABIB: Sherry Way (ph) lives in this gray house, and that's her SUV, now sitting at an angle. She says the whole thing started with a noise.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know that crackling candy that you eat?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pop Rocks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. That's exactly what it's like.

HABIB: Some people thought it was an earthquake. They got out with what they could carry or what they could cart. Dr. Jeff Jacobs (ph) left surgery worried about getting what his kids need.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clothing for myself and a whole thing of dolls for my kids, sippy cups, cereal.

HABIB: David and Sarah Vandervene (ph) had been in the process of remodeling their million-dollar dream home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There will be big sliders that open across so that the whole house will open up basically like a lanai.

HABIB: Now they can only watch helplessly from a distance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obviously it's changed, and we're definitely sad. Had a tough morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sad for our neighbors. I cried a little. And, you know, it's just -- we just -- there's a lot we don't know at this point. We're hoping for the best but we're really sad for our neighbors.

HABIB: It could be two to three days before they and everyone else can get in to see the damage.

(on camera): Nearly 20 homes have been damaged. The latest report is nearly seven homes completely destroyed, uninhabitable.

This is still an active mudslide. That hill back there is still moving. This is all going on because during the winter months we had record rainfall here in southern California, and all that water has now seeped into the mountainside, and it's beginning to slide down, taking the homes with it.

Liz Habib, CNN, Laguna Beach.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You know, that Laguna Beach landslide brings back memories of a similar shift earlier this year. These amazing pictures came to us from La Conchita, California, back in January. Let's take a look.

Ten people were killed in this mudslide, Chad.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: More than a dozen homes completely destroyed. Tell us the difference.

MYERS: The difference, this was actually a high liquid, high volume density slide. It had been raining for days, the ground had become saturated, and when you start to get the dirt molecule, you get down to the particle of dust, the particle of dirt, there was water between every particle. It was so super-saturated there that the land wasn't touching itself anymore.

I have a little experiment here, Carol. This is just a regular old tape slide here, tape machine. You put that on there and it's not wet. You're actually going to have a pretty good traction, as they call it.

Now, we put this on here, get a little bit of -- just some wetness on this side, put this over here, and it doesn't take very much once it starts to slide to get it to keep right on going. And that's about the speed that that land goes, just about like that. It's the friction, it's the static cling, if you will, where the dirt is touching itself when it's dry. You get a little water in between, it's like putting oil in your engine, and then it just begins to move -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Wow. Just like Bill Nye the Science Guy.

MYERS: Yes, but he makes a lot more money than I do.

COSTELLO: Isn't that always the truth? Thank you, Chad. That was fascinating.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: In other news "Across America" this morning, police in Richmond, Virginia, are investigating a pair of murders of possible hate crimes. The suspects still on the loose.

Witnesses say the African-American suspect made racist statements before shooting two men. One of the victims was Middle Eastern, the other was Korean. That same suspect is wanted for another murder that was committed 10 minutes earlier.

A standoff in Shelbyville, Indiana, is well into its 17th hour this morning. Police continue to talk with the armed suspect, who is holding one woman hostage. The man ducked into the store after firing at police at the end of a 35-mile chase. He was being pursued as a burglary suspect.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial. Jackson's spokeswoman says the entertainer was nervous and upset while the judge gave final instructions to the jury. The jury is expected to get the case sometime tomorrow.

A San Francisco 49ers training video is the gossip of the Bay area. The 15-minute film features racist jokes, lesbian soft porn and topless blondes. Sorry, you won't see any of that here. Mike Shuman of CNN affiliate KGO in San Francisco has the other stuff for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIRK REYNOLDS, FIRED 49ERS PR DIRECTOR: So remember, be mindful of your actions, be mindful of your teammates. You don't want to do anything that's going to impact the team in a negative way.

MIKE SHUMAN, REPORTER, KGO (voice-over): And those statements are having a negative impact on Curt Reynolds. But he knows the team is behind him. REYNOLDS: They understood what the intention was. And I'm sure that now they also, too, understand that the envelope was pushed too far. And I recognize that, and I accept that -- I accept that responsibility, and I apologize for it.

SHUMAN: 49ers team owners John and Denise York reacted today with this statement: "We deeply regret that anyone from our organization would produce such senseless, inexcusable material. Policies are being put into place to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again." And 49er coach Mike Nolan backed up his team owners.

MIKE NOLAN, 49ERS HEAD COACH: So the players that are here that were -- that did see the tape before, or the players that are new to our football team, everyone's got the same message, and that is exactly that, this will not be tolerated and this is not what the 49ers organization is about.

REYNOLDS: So just remember, if you're ever in a...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

REYNOLDS: Well, I'll tell you what not to do, don't drop the soap.

SHUMAN: 49er linebackers Jeff Ulbrich and Julian Peterson participated in the video. And today, Julian was apologetic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you get a job, OK?

JULIAN PETERSON, 49ERS LINEBACKER: I tried to.

I know it wasn't intentionally met to be negative towards anybody or no particular culture or anything like that. It was just pretty much an in-house thing at the end of camp. It wasn't really meant to -- like I said, to harm anybody, or, you know, be any kind of negative type of fashion at all.

SHUMAN: Dr. Harry Edwards is a sports psychologist and 49er consultant. And he was appalled when he heard about the tape.

HARRY EDWARDS, 49ERS CONSULTANT: It was an extreme case of poor judgment, insensitivity, and I have to say that at some level it -- it probably borders on stupidity.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Again, that report from Mike Shuman of KGO, our San Francisco affiliate. That video, by the way, was meant to teach the football players about how to deal with the media. We'll get another angle on the big gossip in the Bay area. The NFL is weighing in on this as well. That's ahead in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

The once world renowned news scoopers admit they got scooped this time. You've heard about it by now. Former number two man at the FBI, Mark Felt, revealed in a "Vanity Fair" article that he was the FBI insider the "Washington Post" reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein nicknamed "Deep Throat."

Woodward says this morning in an article in "The Washington Post," "With a story as enticing, complex, competitive and fast- breaking as Watergate, there was little tendency or time to consider the motives of our sources. What was important was whether the information checked out and whether it was true. There was no time to ask why they were talking or whether they had an ax to grind."

Well, I hope you don't plan to work late today, because this is National Leave the Office Earlier Day, incase you didn't know. Chad and I will be leaving before the 6:00 hour ends.

Oh, boy, it's such a week...

MYERS: We hope you enjoy those 60 minutes of commercials.

COSTELLO: Yes, whatever.

MYERS: Just kidding.

COSTELLO: You know, people across the country, though, Chad, are working more than ever before.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Paid time off for vacations, holidays, personal and sick leave is at an all-time low. This is all according to "Worthwhile" magazine. The cover story demonstrates how to work less and achieve more. Quite a task in a world where companies believe the more hours you put in the more you are able to produce.

MYERS: Yes, they did a little research saying that they think some CEOs, not all of them, actually enjoy seeing you be away from your family. And they think that's a little bit of a -- a little bit of a power grab, because they can keep you away from your family and away from things you like to do by making you work 60, 70, 80 hours a week, whatever it might be.

COSTELLO: But you have to be honest, though. Some of that is built inside of us, because -- you're from the Midwest.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: That work ethic, you know, the harder you work, the more positive things it will bring. I feel guilty when I'm not at work for longer...

MYERS: Really?

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: Oh, you and I should have dinner. I can -- I can explain a lot of things to you.

Can you work less and achieve more? What are you doing to maybe make this happen? What are you doing to make that 40-hour work week 30 or the 60-hour work week 40? Are you telecommuting? Are you doing more work from home? If you do work less, can you get more done because you're not as tired?

E-mail us, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, Palestinian prisoners come home. At a quarter after the hour, we'll take you live to Jerusalem for the latest on this release. And at the bottom of the hour, we'll take you to the front lines of Operation Lightning, as U.S. and Iraqi troops strike at insurgents.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, the international markets all lower this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei down by almost 50 points. The London FTSE lower by four. The German DAX down just a smidge, I believe it's called.

To the business of peacemaking now. Israel has released some 400 Palestinian prisoners as part of a cease-fire agreement. Let's head live there now to Guy Raz for more details.

Good morning, Guy.

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Israel is calling it a goodwill gesture, but Palestinian officials are simply dismissing the move as a publicity stunt. Nevertheless, 400 men, of course, are now free.

Now, this is part of an agreement that was reached last February between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a landmark peace summit in Egypt. Now, then, they agreed that a total of 900 prisoners would be set free. Five hundred of them were already let go back in February. Today, 400 more were freed.

Now, none of these prisoners was directly involved in an attack that -- where somebody was killed or injured. Some were administrative detainees, some were convicted of plotting to carry out suicide bombings. Others were involved in militant groups.

And there are still about 8,000 Palestinian prisoners who remain incarcerated inside Israeli jails. Ultimately, Carol, Palestinian officials would like to see those prisoners freed as well.

Meanwhile, the prisoner release comes as the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, announced that he will meet his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, later in June. This will be the second time these two leaders meet. It's a summit designed to restart, perhaps, the peace process that's been on hold for so many years -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We hope so. Guy Raz reporting live from Jerusalem this morning. Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:17 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Three suicide car bombs killed at least 13 people in Iraq this morning. More than three dozen others were wounded. One attack targeted bodyguards for Iraq's deputy prime minister, another target was a U.S. diplomatic convoy.

Can you spell flamboro (ph)? Fifty-one contestants are still standing for round two of the National Spelling Bee in Washington. The 78th annual spelling be started yesterday with 273 competitors ages 9 to 14. The finals today. The winner will be announced tomorrow.

In money news, a week after announcing that they won't be serving pretzels anymore, Northwest Airlines say no magazines for you, either this time. As I said, it's dropping magazines from planes in airport lounges. The move is expected to save Northwest more than $560,000 next year, so bring a book if you're in first class.

In culture, Britney Spears, guess what she's craving, Chad?

MYERS: I don't know.

COSTELLO: Pickles and ice-cream.

MYERS: Oh.

COSTELLO: She's a mother to be, you know.

MYERS: Of course, right. Right. Right.

COSTELLO: And she makes that startling revelation in this week's edition of "PEOPLE" magazine. She also says she doesn't want to know the sex of the baby yet, but admits it makes it really, really, really hard to pick a name.

MYERS: Well, it could be a little early, too, to find that out.

COSTELLO: True.

In sports, the Detroit Tigers, my Tigers, used some great defense to finally stop the Texas Rangers. The Tigers' 6-4 win ends the Rangers' nine-game winning streak.

And may I remind you, Chad...

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: ... that the Tigers recently swept the Baltimore Orioles, who are atop the division.

MYERS: But Carol, you know, you should go see Comerica Park. What a beautiful place to play baseball.

COSTELLO: I have been there. MYERS: Oh, you have played -- oh, OK. Well, there you go.

COSTELLO: Of course.

MYERS: Well, that's -- yes, I knew you'd probably take care of that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

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

Still to come on DAYBREAK, U.S. and Iraqi forces try to secure Baghdad after weeks of raids against insurgents. We'll bring you an update.

And you are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, June 2.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, our DAYBREAK "Question of the Day." It is, of course, National Leave Week Early Week this week.

MYERS: Is it a whole week? No, it's a day. It's just today, Carol. Come on.

COSTELLO: Oh, can't it be a week?

MYERS: No. It's National Leave the Office Earlier Day.

COSTELLO: All right. Anyway, that does bring us to our e-mail "Question of the Day," Chad.

MYERS: Can you leave off work early and still get something done? No. No. Can you work less, but achieve more because you're more rested, I guess?

COSTELLO: Well, not only more rested, but time management is important, don't you think?

MYERS: Well, you know, a lot of people do creative work. Very few creative things happen in a cubicle. Most of the things that I think about coming to work, whether I want to do a weather segment or something, I'm in my car driving, I'm thinking about it there. I think about things all the time, not when I'm sitting here in my little office.

COSTELLO: Don't you think you should be paid for that?

MYERS: No. I'm already...

COSTELLO: I do.

MYERS: I'm already paid.

COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers" now. Oh, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: Please give us your thoughts this morning.

Here's a nice serene scene from Denver. This little squirrel decided to skip his normal meal and went straight to dessert. He's eating what's left of a lollipop.

MYERS: He then bounced off all the trees because of the sugar.

COSTELLO: I don't think he knows that.

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: Now for something not quite as calming. A driving lesson went horribly wrong in Wisconsin. The learner lost control, drove straight through the garage and into the back yard. No one was seriously injured, but the owners of the house will have to relocate for a little while, and that student driver did not get his license.

Here's an odd way to spend your birthday. Ninety-nine-year-old Pauline Mackie (ph) said she wanted to take a ride on an all terrain vehicle to celebrate her big day. And away she went with her granddaughter. After the ride was over, Chad...

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: ... Pauline (ph) said she wasn't done, wanted to go again and again and again.

MYERS: And next year she wants to go sky diving.

COSTELLO: I bet she will, too. How cute.

Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.

Are you not that trustful? Well, help may be on the way. Could a nose spray, a nasal spray, make you more trusting? We'll explore that burning question in the next half-hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK, with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.

COSTELLO: And good morning, everyone. Thank you for waking up with us. Welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK.

Coming up in the next 30 minutes, California hit by mudslides again. Now it's time to clean up the destruction.

And can a nasal spray make you more trusting? How you can find trust in a bottle later on DAYBREAK.

But first, ""Now in the News," three suicide car bomb attacks have killed at least 16 people in Iraq. In Kirkuk, an American diplomatic convoy was targeted but missed. That bombing killed an Iraqi child, though. Eight people were killed by a bomb at a restaurant in a northern Iraqi town. The third bombing killed a local politician and three of his bodyguards.

Israel releasing about 400 more Palestinian prisoners. Busloads of Palestinians are being released into the West Bank and Gaza under an agreement made between the two sides in February. Five hundred other Palestinians have already been released.

Attention poker fans. The first event of the 2005 world series of poker begins today in Las Vegas. It will be the first of 45 events that culminate with the final table on July 15.

MYERS: That's amazing how poker has just taken off lately because of that show. That is really very, very funny.

COSTELLO: Even high schoolers are hosting poker parties.

MYERS: Well...

COSTELLO: And their parents are allowing it. I don't understand that.

MYERS: Well, if it's penny, nickel, dime, or something a little small, or if you're playing for paperclips or something...

COSTELLO: But you know how addiction starts, Chad.

MYERS: Absolutely. And they start early. You bet they do.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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Aired June 2, 2005 - 5:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is Thursday, June 2. Mudslides devastate California as a small town wakes up today to pick up the pieces. DAYBREAK starts right now.
A hilltop house comes crumbling down. Cracking noises signal the inevitable, the mudslides are coming.

Also ahead, Israel released some 400 Palestinian prisoners. We'll take you there live.

And finally, news of a potion that can make you more trustful. Is it witchcraft or reality?

ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK, with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.

COSTELLO: And good morning, everyone. We'll have more on the massive destruction from the mudslides in California in just a minute.

Also ahead, the Dutch say no way to the EU constitution. What does this mean for Europe and the United States?

And would former President Bill Clinton like to see his wife in the White House? We'll let you know.

But first, ""Now in the News," at least 13 people have been killed in a series of suicide car bombings in Iraq this morning. This damage is from Kirkuk, where the bomber was targeting an American diplomatic convoy. The blast killed a child.

A leading anti-Syrian journalist has been killed in Beirut when a bomb in his car exploded. Security sources say the bomb went off when he started the car. He wrote for Lebanon's biggest selling daily newspaper.

President Bush is heading to Kentucky today to promote his plan for changing the Social Security system. The president then makes a stop in St. Louis before going on to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

A landslide has forced as many as a thousand people from their homes in Laguna Beach, California. Eighteen luxury homes were damaged or destroyed in the slide. Luckily, only two people suffered minor injuries.

It's a strange thing, Chad, because it wasn't raining over the last several days there. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, it has not rained literally more than a trace of rain there, Carol, in 28 days. The difference is it had over 28 inches -- that area had over 28 inches of rain in the winter total, more than double what they should have. In some spots, even record amounts of rain. So the land was still saturated.

There were four homes on top of that hill that had been red- marked already, where people couldn't live there because the land had already begun to move a little bit, just enough. And I would be very curious to see if maybe there wasn't a little water main break under it that kept that ground very saturated and all that land just continued to slide and slide and slide. And once it started to give way, obviously there's nothing to hold onto it, nothing there. When you get a crack like that, the land just starts to slide away at about 10 miles per hour or so.

But people heard the cracking, they got out of their homes. And everyone was good. Four minor injuries, which is pretty amazing, actually -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, I thought you were going to go on to your weather forecast now. But we're going to talk more about these shifting hills in California.

MYERS: Sure, yes.

COSTELLO: Several families were allowed back into their homes to retrieve their belongings, but then they were escorted back out to watch helplessly as their homes dangled dangerously close to construction.

CNN's Liz Habib begins our coverage from Laguna Beach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My house is ruined.

LIZ HABIB, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Jill Lockhart's (ph) home was one of more than a dozen that came crashing down. At the crack of dawn, multimillion-dollar homes started cracking and folding and sliding down the hill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We ran down the front side of the mountain. And we could hear this house collapsing behind us, sinking in. And I guess the driveway moved 200 feet as we were running down it.

HABIB: Sherry Way (ph) lives in this gray house, and that's her SUV, now sitting at an angle. She says the whole thing started with a noise.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know that crackling candy that you eat?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pop Rocks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. That's exactly what it's like.

HABIB: Some people thought it was an earthquake. They got out with what they could carry or what they could cart. Dr. Jeff Jacobs (ph) left surgery worried about getting what his kids need.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clothing for myself and a whole thing of dolls for my kids, sippy cups, cereal.

HABIB: David and Sarah Vandervene (ph) had been in the process of remodeling their million-dollar dream home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There will be big sliders that open across so that the whole house will open up basically like a lanai.

HABIB: Now they can only watch helplessly from a distance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obviously it's changed, and we're definitely sad. Had a tough morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sad for our neighbors. I cried a little. And, you know, it's just -- we just -- there's a lot we don't know at this point. We're hoping for the best but we're really sad for our neighbors.

HABIB: It could be two to three days before they and everyone else can get in to see the damage.

(on camera): Nearly 20 homes have been damaged. The latest report is nearly seven homes completely destroyed, uninhabitable.

This is still an active mudslide. That hill back there is still moving. This is all going on because during the winter months we had record rainfall here in southern California, and all that water has now seeped into the mountainside, and it's beginning to slide down, taking the homes with it.

Liz Habib, CNN, Laguna Beach.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You know, that Laguna Beach landslide brings back memories of a similar shift earlier this year. These amazing pictures came to us from La Conchita, California, back in January. Let's take a look.

Ten people were killed in this mudslide, Chad.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: More than a dozen homes completely destroyed. Tell us the difference.

MYERS: The difference, this was actually a high liquid, high volume density slide. It had been raining for days, the ground had become saturated, and when you start to get the dirt molecule, you get down to the particle of dust, the particle of dirt, there was water between every particle. It was so super-saturated there that the land wasn't touching itself anymore.

I have a little experiment here, Carol. This is just a regular old tape slide here, tape machine. You put that on there and it's not wet. You're actually going to have a pretty good traction, as they call it.

Now, we put this on here, get a little bit of -- just some wetness on this side, put this over here, and it doesn't take very much once it starts to slide to get it to keep right on going. And that's about the speed that that land goes, just about like that. It's the friction, it's the static cling, if you will, where the dirt is touching itself when it's dry. You get a little water in between, it's like putting oil in your engine, and then it just begins to move -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Wow. Just like Bill Nye the Science Guy.

MYERS: Yes, but he makes a lot more money than I do.

COSTELLO: Isn't that always the truth? Thank you, Chad. That was fascinating.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: In other news "Across America" this morning, police in Richmond, Virginia, are investigating a pair of murders of possible hate crimes. The suspects still on the loose.

Witnesses say the African-American suspect made racist statements before shooting two men. One of the victims was Middle Eastern, the other was Korean. That same suspect is wanted for another murder that was committed 10 minutes earlier.

A standoff in Shelbyville, Indiana, is well into its 17th hour this morning. Police continue to talk with the armed suspect, who is holding one woman hostage. The man ducked into the store after firing at police at the end of a 35-mile chase. He was being pursued as a burglary suspect.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial. Jackson's spokeswoman says the entertainer was nervous and upset while the judge gave final instructions to the jury. The jury is expected to get the case sometime tomorrow.

A San Francisco 49ers training video is the gossip of the Bay area. The 15-minute film features racist jokes, lesbian soft porn and topless blondes. Sorry, you won't see any of that here. Mike Shuman of CNN affiliate KGO in San Francisco has the other stuff for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIRK REYNOLDS, FIRED 49ERS PR DIRECTOR: So remember, be mindful of your actions, be mindful of your teammates. You don't want to do anything that's going to impact the team in a negative way.

MIKE SHUMAN, REPORTER, KGO (voice-over): And those statements are having a negative impact on Curt Reynolds. But he knows the team is behind him. REYNOLDS: They understood what the intention was. And I'm sure that now they also, too, understand that the envelope was pushed too far. And I recognize that, and I accept that -- I accept that responsibility, and I apologize for it.

SHUMAN: 49ers team owners John and Denise York reacted today with this statement: "We deeply regret that anyone from our organization would produce such senseless, inexcusable material. Policies are being put into place to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again." And 49er coach Mike Nolan backed up his team owners.

MIKE NOLAN, 49ERS HEAD COACH: So the players that are here that were -- that did see the tape before, or the players that are new to our football team, everyone's got the same message, and that is exactly that, this will not be tolerated and this is not what the 49ers organization is about.

REYNOLDS: So just remember, if you're ever in a...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

REYNOLDS: Well, I'll tell you what not to do, don't drop the soap.

SHUMAN: 49er linebackers Jeff Ulbrich and Julian Peterson participated in the video. And today, Julian was apologetic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you get a job, OK?

JULIAN PETERSON, 49ERS LINEBACKER: I tried to.

I know it wasn't intentionally met to be negative towards anybody or no particular culture or anything like that. It was just pretty much an in-house thing at the end of camp. It wasn't really meant to -- like I said, to harm anybody, or, you know, be any kind of negative type of fashion at all.

SHUMAN: Dr. Harry Edwards is a sports psychologist and 49er consultant. And he was appalled when he heard about the tape.

HARRY EDWARDS, 49ERS CONSULTANT: It was an extreme case of poor judgment, insensitivity, and I have to say that at some level it -- it probably borders on stupidity.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Again, that report from Mike Shuman of KGO, our San Francisco affiliate. That video, by the way, was meant to teach the football players about how to deal with the media. We'll get another angle on the big gossip in the Bay area. The NFL is weighing in on this as well. That's ahead in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

The once world renowned news scoopers admit they got scooped this time. You've heard about it by now. Former number two man at the FBI, Mark Felt, revealed in a "Vanity Fair" article that he was the FBI insider the "Washington Post" reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein nicknamed "Deep Throat."

Woodward says this morning in an article in "The Washington Post," "With a story as enticing, complex, competitive and fast- breaking as Watergate, there was little tendency or time to consider the motives of our sources. What was important was whether the information checked out and whether it was true. There was no time to ask why they were talking or whether they had an ax to grind."

Well, I hope you don't plan to work late today, because this is National Leave the Office Earlier Day, incase you didn't know. Chad and I will be leaving before the 6:00 hour ends.

Oh, boy, it's such a week...

MYERS: We hope you enjoy those 60 minutes of commercials.

COSTELLO: Yes, whatever.

MYERS: Just kidding.

COSTELLO: You know, people across the country, though, Chad, are working more than ever before.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Paid time off for vacations, holidays, personal and sick leave is at an all-time low. This is all according to "Worthwhile" magazine. The cover story demonstrates how to work less and achieve more. Quite a task in a world where companies believe the more hours you put in the more you are able to produce.

MYERS: Yes, they did a little research saying that they think some CEOs, not all of them, actually enjoy seeing you be away from your family. And they think that's a little bit of a -- a little bit of a power grab, because they can keep you away from your family and away from things you like to do by making you work 60, 70, 80 hours a week, whatever it might be.

COSTELLO: But you have to be honest, though. Some of that is built inside of us, because -- you're from the Midwest.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: That work ethic, you know, the harder you work, the more positive things it will bring. I feel guilty when I'm not at work for longer...

MYERS: Really?

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: Oh, you and I should have dinner. I can -- I can explain a lot of things to you.

Can you work less and achieve more? What are you doing to maybe make this happen? What are you doing to make that 40-hour work week 30 or the 60-hour work week 40? Are you telecommuting? Are you doing more work from home? If you do work less, can you get more done because you're not as tired?

E-mail us, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, Palestinian prisoners come home. At a quarter after the hour, we'll take you live to Jerusalem for the latest on this release. And at the bottom of the hour, we'll take you to the front lines of Operation Lightning, as U.S. and Iraqi troops strike at insurgents.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, the international markets all lower this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei down by almost 50 points. The London FTSE lower by four. The German DAX down just a smidge, I believe it's called.

To the business of peacemaking now. Israel has released some 400 Palestinian prisoners as part of a cease-fire agreement. Let's head live there now to Guy Raz for more details.

Good morning, Guy.

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Israel is calling it a goodwill gesture, but Palestinian officials are simply dismissing the move as a publicity stunt. Nevertheless, 400 men, of course, are now free.

Now, this is part of an agreement that was reached last February between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a landmark peace summit in Egypt. Now, then, they agreed that a total of 900 prisoners would be set free. Five hundred of them were already let go back in February. Today, 400 more were freed.

Now, none of these prisoners was directly involved in an attack that -- where somebody was killed or injured. Some were administrative detainees, some were convicted of plotting to carry out suicide bombings. Others were involved in militant groups.

And there are still about 8,000 Palestinian prisoners who remain incarcerated inside Israeli jails. Ultimately, Carol, Palestinian officials would like to see those prisoners freed as well.

Meanwhile, the prisoner release comes as the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, announced that he will meet his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, later in June. This will be the second time these two leaders meet. It's a summit designed to restart, perhaps, the peace process that's been on hold for so many years -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We hope so. Guy Raz reporting live from Jerusalem this morning. Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:17 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Three suicide car bombs killed at least 13 people in Iraq this morning. More than three dozen others were wounded. One attack targeted bodyguards for Iraq's deputy prime minister, another target was a U.S. diplomatic convoy.

Can you spell flamboro (ph)? Fifty-one contestants are still standing for round two of the National Spelling Bee in Washington. The 78th annual spelling be started yesterday with 273 competitors ages 9 to 14. The finals today. The winner will be announced tomorrow.

In money news, a week after announcing that they won't be serving pretzels anymore, Northwest Airlines say no magazines for you, either this time. As I said, it's dropping magazines from planes in airport lounges. The move is expected to save Northwest more than $560,000 next year, so bring a book if you're in first class.

In culture, Britney Spears, guess what she's craving, Chad?

MYERS: I don't know.

COSTELLO: Pickles and ice-cream.

MYERS: Oh.

COSTELLO: She's a mother to be, you know.

MYERS: Of course, right. Right. Right.

COSTELLO: And she makes that startling revelation in this week's edition of "PEOPLE" magazine. She also says she doesn't want to know the sex of the baby yet, but admits it makes it really, really, really hard to pick a name.

MYERS: Well, it could be a little early, too, to find that out.

COSTELLO: True.

In sports, the Detroit Tigers, my Tigers, used some great defense to finally stop the Texas Rangers. The Tigers' 6-4 win ends the Rangers' nine-game winning streak.

And may I remind you, Chad...

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: ... that the Tigers recently swept the Baltimore Orioles, who are atop the division.

MYERS: But Carol, you know, you should go see Comerica Park. What a beautiful place to play baseball.

COSTELLO: I have been there. MYERS: Oh, you have played -- oh, OK. Well, there you go.

COSTELLO: Of course.

MYERS: Well, that's -- yes, I knew you'd probably take care of that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

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

Still to come on DAYBREAK, U.S. and Iraqi forces try to secure Baghdad after weeks of raids against insurgents. We'll bring you an update.

And you are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, June 2.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, our DAYBREAK "Question of the Day." It is, of course, National Leave Week Early Week this week.

MYERS: Is it a whole week? No, it's a day. It's just today, Carol. Come on.

COSTELLO: Oh, can't it be a week?

MYERS: No. It's National Leave the Office Earlier Day.

COSTELLO: All right. Anyway, that does bring us to our e-mail "Question of the Day," Chad.

MYERS: Can you leave off work early and still get something done? No. No. Can you work less, but achieve more because you're more rested, I guess?

COSTELLO: Well, not only more rested, but time management is important, don't you think?

MYERS: Well, you know, a lot of people do creative work. Very few creative things happen in a cubicle. Most of the things that I think about coming to work, whether I want to do a weather segment or something, I'm in my car driving, I'm thinking about it there. I think about things all the time, not when I'm sitting here in my little office.

COSTELLO: Don't you think you should be paid for that?

MYERS: No. I'm already...

COSTELLO: I do.

MYERS: I'm already paid.

COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers" now. Oh, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: Please give us your thoughts this morning.

Here's a nice serene scene from Denver. This little squirrel decided to skip his normal meal and went straight to dessert. He's eating what's left of a lollipop.

MYERS: He then bounced off all the trees because of the sugar.

COSTELLO: I don't think he knows that.

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: Now for something not quite as calming. A driving lesson went horribly wrong in Wisconsin. The learner lost control, drove straight through the garage and into the back yard. No one was seriously injured, but the owners of the house will have to relocate for a little while, and that student driver did not get his license.

Here's an odd way to spend your birthday. Ninety-nine-year-old Pauline Mackie (ph) said she wanted to take a ride on an all terrain vehicle to celebrate her big day. And away she went with her granddaughter. After the ride was over, Chad...

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: ... Pauline (ph) said she wasn't done, wanted to go again and again and again.

MYERS: And next year she wants to go sky diving.

COSTELLO: I bet she will, too. How cute.

Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.

Are you not that trustful? Well, help may be on the way. Could a nose spray, a nasal spray, make you more trusting? We'll explore that burning question in the next half-hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK, with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.

COSTELLO: And good morning, everyone. Thank you for waking up with us. Welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK.

Coming up in the next 30 minutes, California hit by mudslides again. Now it's time to clean up the destruction.

And can a nasal spray make you more trusting? How you can find trust in a bottle later on DAYBREAK.

But first, ""Now in the News," three suicide car bomb attacks have killed at least 16 people in Iraq. In Kirkuk, an American diplomatic convoy was targeted but missed. That bombing killed an Iraqi child, though. Eight people were killed by a bomb at a restaurant in a northern Iraqi town. The third bombing killed a local politician and three of his bodyguards.

Israel releasing about 400 more Palestinian prisoners. Busloads of Palestinians are being released into the West Bank and Gaza under an agreement made between the two sides in February. Five hundred other Palestinians have already been released.

Attention poker fans. The first event of the 2005 world series of poker begins today in Las Vegas. It will be the first of 45 events that culminate with the final table on July 15.

MYERS: That's amazing how poker has just taken off lately because of that show. That is really very, very funny.

COSTELLO: Even high schoolers are hosting poker parties.

MYERS: Well...

COSTELLO: And their parents are allowing it. I don't understand that.

MYERS: Well, if it's penny, nickel, dime, or something a little small, or if you're playing for paperclips or something...

COSTELLO: But you know how addiction starts, Chad.

MYERS: Absolutely. And they start early. You bet they do.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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