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CNN Live Today

Senate Nears Vote on Janice Rogers Brown; U.S.-Iraqi Offensive Under Way in Northern Iraq

Aired June 07, 2005 - 10:59   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: While awaiting a verdict, Michael Jackson is said to be having health problems. Is it stress? Rusty Dornin takes a closer look.
And millions of Americans' identities have been compromised by a lost package. Hear what you can do to make sure no one is using your idea.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Let's start the hour by taking a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

Money to ease suffering in Africa tops the agenda when President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair meet today. An official says the Bush administration will announce plans to spend $674 million for humanitarian emergencies.

Citigroup is the latest company to report losing consumers' personal information. The company is in the process of notifying nearly four million CitiFinancial customers. Computer tapes containing personal information were lost by UPS on the way to a credit bureau. Citigroup says it has found no evidence of theft or fraud.

No indication from North Korea that it's ready to resume nuclear talks. That is the word today from the White House. The Bush administration is trying to get the north to return to six-party talks. Representatives for the U.S. and North Korea met in New York yesterday.

General Motors plans to cut 25,000 jobs over the next three-and- a-half years. That's about 17 percent of its U.S. workforce. The CEO of GM made the announcement at a shareholders' meeting this morning. The struggling automaker also plans to buy more parts from suppliers outside the U.S.

Checking the time around the world, 8:00 a.m. in San Francisco; 11:00 a.m. in Palm Beach, Aruba; 7:00 p.m. in Baghdad. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

Up first this hour, a justice delayed but no longer denied. The Senate is nearing a vote on a judicial nomination that was blocked by Democrats for a year and a half. A deal last month cleared the way for that to move forward.

Our details now from Congressional Correspondent Ed Henry, live this morning from Capitol Hill.

Ed, good morning.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

A major victory coming for President Bush in his effort to reshape some of the most influential courts in America. Conservatives trying to tip the balance on some of these big, hot-button issues, like abortion, same-sex marriage.

Many conservatives feel that the appeals courts across America are basically a last bastion of liberalism. They feel the Republicans have control of Congress, they have control of the White House. But they feel that liberal judges are legislating from the bench and thwarting President Bush's agenda.

Democrats, of course, reject that view. They say in fact what the president is trying to do is pack some of these courts with radical judges. That's why the battle is joined, this debate is so passionate and important.

It's not just a debate about procedure and filibusters. It's about real issues affecting people all across the country.

That brings us to today, where now we're about to see part two of that historic filibuster deal come through by which seven moderate Republicans said that they -- last month that they would not vote for the nuclear option, and seven moderate Democrats said that they would no longer support filibusters against some of President Bush's judicial nominees like Janice Rogers Brown.

Now, the first part of that deal was cut last month, when Priscilla Owen got the 60 -- more than enough, more than 60 votes to break off the filibuster and actually get approved by the Senate. Now the second one is Janice Rogers Brown today.

As you mentioned, she's been blocked by Democrats for almost two years. The president nominated her to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, a very influential court. It's known as the second most powerful court in the land right beneath the Supreme Court.

In fact, Janice Rogers Brown has popped up on some of the short lists as a potential Supreme Court nominee if there's a vacancy. She's obviously someone to keep an eye on.

The debate has been very passionate so far. Here's Democrat Dick Durbin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL), MINORITY WHIP: Janice Rogers Brown is one of President Bush's most ideological and extreme judicial nominees. This is not just my opinion.

I invite anyone, please, read her speeches. Read her opinions. They reflect the views of a judicial activist and a person who is, in fact, an ideological warrior.

They reflect the views of someone who is outside of the mainstream of American thought. They reflect the views of someone who should not be given a lifetime appointment to the second highest court in America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, you can see Republican Senator Orrin Hatch among the many Republicans on the Senate floor now rejecting that view from Dick Durbin and other Democrats. Just a few moments ago, Republican Jeff Sessions, a very influential member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was out front and on the attack, trying to defend Janice Rogers Brown against Democrat Chuck Schumer, who had basically accused Janice Rogers Brown of wanting to be a dictator on the federal bench. Senator Jeff Sessions a few moments ago rejected that strongly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: And they she said -- he said this: "Did she want to be a grand exalted ruler?" Was that some reference to the Ku Klux Klan?

This African-American from my home state of Alabama who left as a teenager, I'm sure one reason to go to California, one reason she left, was for discrimination and segregation that existed in rural Alabama where she grew up at that time, the daughter of sharecroppers. To have it suggested that somehow her ideas are consistent with the Ku Klux Klan is really offensive to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: You can see this debate getting very hot. It's expected to end at about noon, when there will be a cloture vote.

What that means, basically, is that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is going to need to get 60 votes to break off a filibuster. He's expected to get that because of that deal that's in place.

Then at about 2:00, there will be a straight up-or-down vote on Janice Rogers Brown. Again, she's expected to win confirmation. And then Frist is hoping to move on to a third judge, William Pryor -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And Ed, as you were saying yesterday, this is all warm-up for what could be a Supreme Court nomination in this summer perhaps even?

HENRY: Oh, absolutely. And I can tell that you Republican leaders like Bill Frist are already preparing for that in a way in that they're trying next week, for example, to move quickly to the energy bill, move also to the highway bill and other legislation like that.

They want to clear as much of President Bush's agenda now as possible, because they fear that if there is a Supreme Court nomination fight that gets very ugly, the highway bill, the energy bill, all of that will be thrown by the wayside because all of the agenda will be stopped because all focus will be on the Supreme Court. That's why they're trying to get as much done as possible in preparation for that possible high court battle -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed henry, on Capitol Hill. Ed, thank you.

Other Washington news today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair visiting the White House this afternoon. Today they're talking about Africa.

President Bush and Prime Minister Blair will announce a joint initiative for humanitarian emergencies on the poverty-stricken continent. The U.S. will pitch in $674 million. This would be on top of nearly $1.5 billion the U.S. is already spending on Africa this year.

Blair wanted Washington to double that amount. Blair's making Africa a focus of next month's G8 summit in Scotland.

And the gentlemen will hold a joint news conference this afternoon. CNN will bring it to you live at 4:45 p.m. Eastern.

In CNN "Security Watch," research paper or roadmap for terrorists? The government wants to stop publication of a paper that details how terrorists could contaminate the nation's milk supply.

A Health and Human Services official says the paper contains precise information on how much poison is needed to kill large numbers of people. The paper also has safety recommendations. Officials at HHS and the scientific community meet today to talk about that.

The search for a missing Alabama teenager in Aruba has turned up items, including sunglasses and a blood-stained man's shirt. So far, nothing has been tied to Natalee Holloway.

She's been missing for more than a week now. Her uncle spoke with CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" about the search and the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL REYNOLDS, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S UNCLE: I believe there was some piece of evidence that they may have found. The search was an extraordinary event. The government allowed the employees to leave early yesterday in order to assist with the search.

There were hundreds of searchers, busloads of people involved. The police were searching, the military, helicopters, four-wheelers, an amazing outpouring of support.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Searchers scoured the beaches and brush along the eastern tip of the island. That area is near the town where two hotel security guards were arrested Sunday in connection with Holloway's disappearance. They could appear in court tomorrow. One American soldier and four suspected insurgents are dead in a new offensive in Iraq. Hundreds of U.S. and Iraqi troops rolled into the remote city of Tal Afar before dawn. That is in the north near Syria.

The U.S. Army says the target is insurgents who have been attacking civilians. Almost two dozen suspects were apprehended in door-to-door raids.

The operation comes amid a fresh wave of insurgent violence which has claimed more U.S. and Iraqi lives. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston is keeping a close eye on all the developments from Baghdad and joins us live -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, a relentless campaign of terror continued in Iraq Tuesday. A trio of suicide car bombers struck three Iraqi army checkpoints within an hour of each other in Hawija in northern Iraq. Fourteen people were killed, including four Iraqi soldiers. And 39 people were wounded.

Now, Daryn, in the last two months, the U.S. military recorded some 130 suicide attacks, an increasingly familiar and deadly tactic employed by the insurgency. Now, Iraqi and U.S. officials say the counterinsurgency offensive dubbed Operation Lightning is beginning to stem the tide of violence in the capital city, but the offensive failed to prevent 28 Iraqis from being wounded Tuesday morning when a car bomb exploded outside of a cafe here in northwestern Baghdad. And to the west of the capital, in the volatile Anbar province, two Marines were killed in the past two days, Daryn, in separate roadside bomb attacks -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Jennifer Eccleston, live from Baghdad. Thank you.

Other news today, the personal information of millions of Citigroup customers could be at risk. Is there any protection for victims? I'll talk to an I.D. theft expert later in the show to find out what's being done.

A young boy is savagely killed by the family's pitbull. His mother's surprising reaction to his death is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Big news from General Motors, announcing plans to cut thousands of jobs. It's an effort to rev up its business. That announcement came at a shareholders' meeting this morning.

Our Chris Huntington joins us from New York with details.

Chris, hello.

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, hello to you.

Well, it's not a huge surprise to anybody who's been following the declining fortunes of GM closely. GM officially today saying it will now cut or plans to cut 25,000 jobs, about 8 percent of its workforce, from U.S. plants between now and 2008.

That announcement coming from GM chairman and CEO Rick Wagner at the company's shareholder meeting that's ongoing as we speak. Other features of what Wagner had to talk about, he said the main reason for the cuts that are necessary, health care costs, hugely rising health care costs. And GM is continuing to negotiate with the United Auto Workers Union about how to try to bring down those healthcare costs.

That essentially means GM wants to try to reduce the coverage available to some of its workers. The goal is to save $2.5 billion a year. That's a big chunk of change.

GM just in its North American unit lost more than more than $1 billion in the first quarter, and the main reason, terrible sales of big full-size SUVs: Chevy Suburbans, Cadillac Escalades, the big SUVs that are built essentially on pickup truck platforms.

There's a lot of dispute in the industry about why that's happening. Frankly, the market seems to be doing it on the basis of gas prices.

Industry folks are trying to hold on to the notion that, in fact, it's just because folks have already -- that market for SUVs is saturated, and folks are moving on to new generation of wagons that are coming out, these so-called mid-sized wagons that are trying to bridge the gap between the SUVs and cars.

Now, Wagner is under a huge amount of pressure. GM market share -- GM used to have nearly 50 percent of the market back in the '50s. Now down to 26 percent in the United States. Big, big problem, as you well know.

GM slashing prices. They say the priorities now are going to be to try to put out more fuel efficient cars.

You may have noticed recently General Motors advertising its so- called 30 under 30. These are the cars made by the GM that get better than 30 miles to the gallon. There's no question that higher fuel prices are playing a huge role in the way GM is trying to turn this situation around -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Chris Huntington, live from New York City. Thank you.

Michael Jackson awaiting a verdict. He is said to be having health problems. Is the trial taking a physical toll? Our Rusty Dornin takes a closer look after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This hour in California, jurors in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial resume their deliberations. On Monday, they met for six hours without coming to a verdict. They did send one question to the judge, though, but there's no word on exactly what the jurors asked the judge.

While he awaits his fate, the singer is said to be grappling with health concerns. Jackson's handlers say he has chronic back pain, just one of the many items on a long list.

Here now is CNN's Rusty Dornin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An incredible athlete on stage. Offstage, Michael Jackson's health often seemed fragile. His longest ongoing health issue, says his biographer, has been panic attacks.

RANDI TARABORRELLI, JACKSON BIOGRAPHER: There have been instances when he's had to perform on stage, and he was upset about one thing or another, and he would have a panic attack, and actually has been hospitalized.

DORNIN: In the '70s, he broke his nose in a dancing accident, which began a series of plastic surgeries. Jackson will only admit to two. In the '80s, Jackson's hair caught on fire during a commercial. He was hospitalized and forced to undergo scalp surgery. During that same time, Jackson's skin began to appear much lighter. He claimed he had a skin condition.

TARABORRELLI: Vitiligo is a true condition. It's not a made-up Michael Jackson fantasy. He was diagnosed with it back in the 1980s. He does have it. And you know it is an issue in his life.

DORNIN: In 1993, following the previous allegations of sexual abuse, Jackson admitted problems with prescription drugs.

MICHAEL JACKSON, SINGER: After my tour ended, I remained out of the country undergoing treatment for a dependency on pain medication.

DORNIN: Then in '94, he fell off a stage in Germany injuring his back, a problem that Jackson says plagues him to this day.

During jury selection, Jackson went to the hospital with flu symptoms. Through the rest of the trial, it was his back that sent him to the hospital twice, complaining of debilitating pain. He even showed up for court in his pajamas. Then he went to the hospital last week because a family friend thought he looked dehydrated.

TARABORRELLI: It always is a big drama around Michael Jackson. I mean, he's always, you know, dehydrated, or he's exhausted, or...

DORNIN (on camera): So is he sick? Is he really sick?

TARABORRELLI: He is. I mean, I could tell you from my own sources in the Jackson camp that he is very sick right now and has been for quite some time. It is the back. It's not an exaggeration.

DORNIN (voice-over): Some close to the superstar say his health always deteriorates when the pressure is on.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Santa Maria.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: A follow-up now on the deadly dog mauling that we've been covering in San Francisco. Mayor Gavin Newsom has appointed a panel to find ways to prevent such attacks. This could eventually lead to restrictions on certain breeds.

The mayor's move follows the death of 12-year-old Nicholas Faibish, who was mauled by one of or both of his family pitbulls. His mother, though, has put a message out for people: don't be angry at the dogs.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

MAUREEN FAIBISH, MOTHER: I don't want people to make this a dog thing. It was an accident. It was something that happened.

And think god has a plan for everybody, and it was time for Nicky to go. And, you know, I have a lot of guilt, but, you know, I have to -- I have to realize that this is -- it was -- he was destined to go at this time.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

KAGAN: One of the pitbulls was shot and killed by a police officer. Animal control officials took custody of the other dog.

Looking at milk, it helps kids grow healthy bones, but it could also be hurting their waistlines.

And another firm has lost data belonging to millions of customers. A little later in the show, we'll tell you what to do if you become a victim.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's check in on weather. Jacqui Jeras is here for us.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Another banking firm loses personal and financial data belonging to millions of customers. How did this keep happening? We'll talk to an I.D. theft expert about this recurring problem and how to find out how to protect yourself.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: SI.com examines the poker across the country, from college campuses to the Internet, in a special report, Poker Nation.

With poker's popularity booming, Web sites are cashing in. The sites make their money through tournaments and ring games. Most tournaments have an entering fee, while ring games are raked, meaning a fixed percentage of the pot is taken out.

According to a tracking service, pokerpolls.com, players pour nearly $200 million a day into online ring game pots. With a potential for huge profits, making sure no one cheats is a major concern. At Party Poker, the industry's largest site, more than 50 investigators monitor for suspicious activities.

Aside from the Internet, poker clubs are popping up across college campuses, like the Penn Poker Club at the University of Pennsylvania, which receives an average of $1,000 every semester from their student activities council.

For more on the game's popularity, you can log on to si.com/poker.

From the .com news desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, coming up on the half-hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening "Now in the News."

The Senate is set to move on another one of President Bush's controversial judicial nominees. A vote to end debate over California judge Janice Rogers Brown could be just a half-hour away. Critics say Brown infuses her political views into her rulings.

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 June 7, 2005 - 10:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: While awaiting a verdict, Michael Jackson is said to be having health problems. Is it stress? Rusty Dornin takes a closer look.
And millions of Americans' identities have been compromised by a lost package. Hear what you can do to make sure no one is using your idea.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Let's start the hour by taking a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

Money to ease suffering in Africa tops the agenda when President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair meet today. An official says the Bush administration will announce plans to spend $674 million for humanitarian emergencies.

Citigroup is the latest company to report losing consumers' personal information. The company is in the process of notifying nearly four million CitiFinancial customers. Computer tapes containing personal information were lost by UPS on the way to a credit bureau. Citigroup says it has found no evidence of theft or fraud.

No indication from North Korea that it's ready to resume nuclear talks. That is the word today from the White House. The Bush administration is trying to get the north to return to six-party talks. Representatives for the U.S. and North Korea met in New York yesterday.

General Motors plans to cut 25,000 jobs over the next three-and- a-half years. That's about 17 percent of its U.S. workforce. The CEO of GM made the announcement at a shareholders' meeting this morning. The struggling automaker also plans to buy more parts from suppliers outside the U.S.

Checking the time around the world, 8:00 a.m. in San Francisco; 11:00 a.m. in Palm Beach, Aruba; 7:00 p.m. in Baghdad. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

Up first this hour, a justice delayed but no longer denied. The Senate is nearing a vote on a judicial nomination that was blocked by Democrats for a year and a half. A deal last month cleared the way for that to move forward.

Our details now from Congressional Correspondent Ed Henry, live this morning from Capitol Hill.

Ed, good morning.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

A major victory coming for President Bush in his effort to reshape some of the most influential courts in America. Conservatives trying to tip the balance on some of these big, hot-button issues, like abortion, same-sex marriage.

Many conservatives feel that the appeals courts across America are basically a last bastion of liberalism. They feel the Republicans have control of Congress, they have control of the White House. But they feel that liberal judges are legislating from the bench and thwarting President Bush's agenda.

Democrats, of course, reject that view. They say in fact what the president is trying to do is pack some of these courts with radical judges. That's why the battle is joined, this debate is so passionate and important.

It's not just a debate about procedure and filibusters. It's about real issues affecting people all across the country.

That brings us to today, where now we're about to see part two of that historic filibuster deal come through by which seven moderate Republicans said that they -- last month that they would not vote for the nuclear option, and seven moderate Democrats said that they would no longer support filibusters against some of President Bush's judicial nominees like Janice Rogers Brown.

Now, the first part of that deal was cut last month, when Priscilla Owen got the 60 -- more than enough, more than 60 votes to break off the filibuster and actually get approved by the Senate. Now the second one is Janice Rogers Brown today.

As you mentioned, she's been blocked by Democrats for almost two years. The president nominated her to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, a very influential court. It's known as the second most powerful court in the land right beneath the Supreme Court.

In fact, Janice Rogers Brown has popped up on some of the short lists as a potential Supreme Court nominee if there's a vacancy. She's obviously someone to keep an eye on.

The debate has been very passionate so far. Here's Democrat Dick Durbin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL), MINORITY WHIP: Janice Rogers Brown is one of President Bush's most ideological and extreme judicial nominees. This is not just my opinion.

I invite anyone, please, read her speeches. Read her opinions. They reflect the views of a judicial activist and a person who is, in fact, an ideological warrior.

They reflect the views of someone who is outside of the mainstream of American thought. They reflect the views of someone who should not be given a lifetime appointment to the second highest court in America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, you can see Republican Senator Orrin Hatch among the many Republicans on the Senate floor now rejecting that view from Dick Durbin and other Democrats. Just a few moments ago, Republican Jeff Sessions, a very influential member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was out front and on the attack, trying to defend Janice Rogers Brown against Democrat Chuck Schumer, who had basically accused Janice Rogers Brown of wanting to be a dictator on the federal bench. Senator Jeff Sessions a few moments ago rejected that strongly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: And they she said -- he said this: "Did she want to be a grand exalted ruler?" Was that some reference to the Ku Klux Klan?

This African-American from my home state of Alabama who left as a teenager, I'm sure one reason to go to California, one reason she left, was for discrimination and segregation that existed in rural Alabama where she grew up at that time, the daughter of sharecroppers. To have it suggested that somehow her ideas are consistent with the Ku Klux Klan is really offensive to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: You can see this debate getting very hot. It's expected to end at about noon, when there will be a cloture vote.

What that means, basically, is that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is going to need to get 60 votes to break off a filibuster. He's expected to get that because of that deal that's in place.

Then at about 2:00, there will be a straight up-or-down vote on Janice Rogers Brown. Again, she's expected to win confirmation. And then Frist is hoping to move on to a third judge, William Pryor -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And Ed, as you were saying yesterday, this is all warm-up for what could be a Supreme Court nomination in this summer perhaps even?

HENRY: Oh, absolutely. And I can tell that you Republican leaders like Bill Frist are already preparing for that in a way in that they're trying next week, for example, to move quickly to the energy bill, move also to the highway bill and other legislation like that.

They want to clear as much of President Bush's agenda now as possible, because they fear that if there is a Supreme Court nomination fight that gets very ugly, the highway bill, the energy bill, all of that will be thrown by the wayside because all of the agenda will be stopped because all focus will be on the Supreme Court. That's why they're trying to get as much done as possible in preparation for that possible high court battle -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed henry, on Capitol Hill. Ed, thank you.

Other Washington news today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair visiting the White House this afternoon. Today they're talking about Africa.

President Bush and Prime Minister Blair will announce a joint initiative for humanitarian emergencies on the poverty-stricken continent. The U.S. will pitch in $674 million. This would be on top of nearly $1.5 billion the U.S. is already spending on Africa this year.

Blair wanted Washington to double that amount. Blair's making Africa a focus of next month's G8 summit in Scotland.

And the gentlemen will hold a joint news conference this afternoon. CNN will bring it to you live at 4:45 p.m. Eastern.

In CNN "Security Watch," research paper or roadmap for terrorists? The government wants to stop publication of a paper that details how terrorists could contaminate the nation's milk supply.

A Health and Human Services official says the paper contains precise information on how much poison is needed to kill large numbers of people. The paper also has safety recommendations. Officials at HHS and the scientific community meet today to talk about that.

The search for a missing Alabama teenager in Aruba has turned up items, including sunglasses and a blood-stained man's shirt. So far, nothing has been tied to Natalee Holloway.

She's been missing for more than a week now. Her uncle spoke with CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" about the search and the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL REYNOLDS, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S UNCLE: I believe there was some piece of evidence that they may have found. The search was an extraordinary event. The government allowed the employees to leave early yesterday in order to assist with the search.

There were hundreds of searchers, busloads of people involved. The police were searching, the military, helicopters, four-wheelers, an amazing outpouring of support.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Searchers scoured the beaches and brush along the eastern tip of the island. That area is near the town where two hotel security guards were arrested Sunday in connection with Holloway's disappearance. They could appear in court tomorrow. One American soldier and four suspected insurgents are dead in a new offensive in Iraq. Hundreds of U.S. and Iraqi troops rolled into the remote city of Tal Afar before dawn. That is in the north near Syria.

The U.S. Army says the target is insurgents who have been attacking civilians. Almost two dozen suspects were apprehended in door-to-door raids.

The operation comes amid a fresh wave of insurgent violence which has claimed more U.S. and Iraqi lives. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston is keeping a close eye on all the developments from Baghdad and joins us live -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, a relentless campaign of terror continued in Iraq Tuesday. A trio of suicide car bombers struck three Iraqi army checkpoints within an hour of each other in Hawija in northern Iraq. Fourteen people were killed, including four Iraqi soldiers. And 39 people were wounded.

Now, Daryn, in the last two months, the U.S. military recorded some 130 suicide attacks, an increasingly familiar and deadly tactic employed by the insurgency. Now, Iraqi and U.S. officials say the counterinsurgency offensive dubbed Operation Lightning is beginning to stem the tide of violence in the capital city, but the offensive failed to prevent 28 Iraqis from being wounded Tuesday morning when a car bomb exploded outside of a cafe here in northwestern Baghdad. And to the west of the capital, in the volatile Anbar province, two Marines were killed in the past two days, Daryn, in separate roadside bomb attacks -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Jennifer Eccleston, live from Baghdad. Thank you.

Other news today, the personal information of millions of Citigroup customers could be at risk. Is there any protection for victims? I'll talk to an I.D. theft expert later in the show to find out what's being done.

A young boy is savagely killed by the family's pitbull. His mother's surprising reaction to his death is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Big news from General Motors, announcing plans to cut thousands of jobs. It's an effort to rev up its business. That announcement came at a shareholders' meeting this morning.

Our Chris Huntington joins us from New York with details.

Chris, hello.

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, hello to you.

Well, it's not a huge surprise to anybody who's been following the declining fortunes of GM closely. GM officially today saying it will now cut or plans to cut 25,000 jobs, about 8 percent of its workforce, from U.S. plants between now and 2008.

That announcement coming from GM chairman and CEO Rick Wagner at the company's shareholder meeting that's ongoing as we speak. Other features of what Wagner had to talk about, he said the main reason for the cuts that are necessary, health care costs, hugely rising health care costs. And GM is continuing to negotiate with the United Auto Workers Union about how to try to bring down those healthcare costs.

That essentially means GM wants to try to reduce the coverage available to some of its workers. The goal is to save $2.5 billion a year. That's a big chunk of change.

GM just in its North American unit lost more than more than $1 billion in the first quarter, and the main reason, terrible sales of big full-size SUVs: Chevy Suburbans, Cadillac Escalades, the big SUVs that are built essentially on pickup truck platforms.

There's a lot of dispute in the industry about why that's happening. Frankly, the market seems to be doing it on the basis of gas prices.

Industry folks are trying to hold on to the notion that, in fact, it's just because folks have already -- that market for SUVs is saturated, and folks are moving on to new generation of wagons that are coming out, these so-called mid-sized wagons that are trying to bridge the gap between the SUVs and cars.

Now, Wagner is under a huge amount of pressure. GM market share -- GM used to have nearly 50 percent of the market back in the '50s. Now down to 26 percent in the United States. Big, big problem, as you well know.

GM slashing prices. They say the priorities now are going to be to try to put out more fuel efficient cars.

You may have noticed recently General Motors advertising its so- called 30 under 30. These are the cars made by the GM that get better than 30 miles to the gallon. There's no question that higher fuel prices are playing a huge role in the way GM is trying to turn this situation around -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Chris Huntington, live from New York City. Thank you.

Michael Jackson awaiting a verdict. He is said to be having health problems. Is the trial taking a physical toll? Our Rusty Dornin takes a closer look after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This hour in California, jurors in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial resume their deliberations. On Monday, they met for six hours without coming to a verdict. They did send one question to the judge, though, but there's no word on exactly what the jurors asked the judge.

While he awaits his fate, the singer is said to be grappling with health concerns. Jackson's handlers say he has chronic back pain, just one of the many items on a long list.

Here now is CNN's Rusty Dornin.

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RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An incredible athlete on stage. Offstage, Michael Jackson's health often seemed fragile. His longest ongoing health issue, says his biographer, has been panic attacks.

RANDI TARABORRELLI, JACKSON BIOGRAPHER: There have been instances when he's had to perform on stage, and he was upset about one thing or another, and he would have a panic attack, and actually has been hospitalized.

DORNIN: In the '70s, he broke his nose in a dancing accident, which began a series of plastic surgeries. Jackson will only admit to two. In the '80s, Jackson's hair caught on fire during a commercial. He was hospitalized and forced to undergo scalp surgery. During that same time, Jackson's skin began to appear much lighter. He claimed he had a skin condition.

TARABORRELLI: Vitiligo is a true condition. It's not a made-up Michael Jackson fantasy. He was diagnosed with it back in the 1980s. He does have it. And you know it is an issue in his life.

DORNIN: In 1993, following the previous allegations of sexual abuse, Jackson admitted problems with prescription drugs.

MICHAEL JACKSON, SINGER: After my tour ended, I remained out of the country undergoing treatment for a dependency on pain medication.

DORNIN: Then in '94, he fell off a stage in Germany injuring his back, a problem that Jackson says plagues him to this day.

During jury selection, Jackson went to the hospital with flu symptoms. Through the rest of the trial, it was his back that sent him to the hospital twice, complaining of debilitating pain. He even showed up for court in his pajamas. Then he went to the hospital last week because a family friend thought he looked dehydrated.

TARABORRELLI: It always is a big drama around Michael Jackson. I mean, he's always, you know, dehydrated, or he's exhausted, or...

DORNIN (on camera): So is he sick? Is he really sick?

TARABORRELLI: He is. I mean, I could tell you from my own sources in the Jackson camp that he is very sick right now and has been for quite some time. It is the back. It's not an exaggeration.

DORNIN (voice-over): Some close to the superstar say his health always deteriorates when the pressure is on.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Santa Maria.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: A follow-up now on the deadly dog mauling that we've been covering in San Francisco. Mayor Gavin Newsom has appointed a panel to find ways to prevent such attacks. This could eventually lead to restrictions on certain breeds.

The mayor's move follows the death of 12-year-old Nicholas Faibish, who was mauled by one of or both of his family pitbulls. His mother, though, has put a message out for people: don't be angry at the dogs.

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MAUREEN FAIBISH, MOTHER: I don't want people to make this a dog thing. It was an accident. It was something that happened.

And think god has a plan for everybody, and it was time for Nicky to go. And, you know, I have a lot of guilt, but, you know, I have to -- I have to realize that this is -- it was -- he was destined to go at this time.

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KAGAN: One of the pitbulls was shot and killed by a police officer. Animal control officials took custody of the other dog.

Looking at milk, it helps kids grow healthy bones, but it could also be hurting their waistlines.

And another firm has lost data belonging to millions of customers. A little later in the show, we'll tell you what to do if you become a victim.

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KAGAN: Let's check in on weather. Jacqui Jeras is here for us.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Another banking firm loses personal and financial data belonging to millions of customers. How did this keep happening? We'll talk to an I.D. theft expert about this recurring problem and how to find out how to protect yourself.

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VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: SI.com examines the poker across the country, from college campuses to the Internet, in a special report, Poker Nation.

With poker's popularity booming, Web sites are cashing in. The sites make their money through tournaments and ring games. Most tournaments have an entering fee, while ring games are raked, meaning a fixed percentage of the pot is taken out.

According to a tracking service, pokerpolls.com, players pour nearly $200 million a day into online ring game pots. With a potential for huge profits, making sure no one cheats is a major concern. At Party Poker, the industry's largest site, more than 50 investigators monitor for suspicious activities.

Aside from the Internet, poker clubs are popping up across college campuses, like the Penn Poker Club at the University of Pennsylvania, which receives an average of $1,000 every semester from their student activities council.

For more on the game's popularity, you can log on to si.com/poker.

From the .com news desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

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KAGAN: Well, coming up on the half-hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening "Now in the News."

The Senate is set to move on another one of President Bush's controversial judicial nominees. A vote to end debate over California judge Janice Rogers Brown could be just a half-hour away. Critics say Brown infuses her political views into her rulings.

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