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CNN Live Today
U.S. Terrorists?; Missing in Aruba; Jackson Trial; Navigating Mortgage Rate Waters; Cnnmoney.com Tips
Aired June 08, 2005 - 10:00 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Two suspects arrested in connection with a missing Alabama student in Aruba are expected before a judge today. Natalee Holloway disappeared nine days ago. Police, volunteers and an FBI dive team are resuming the search for her. A defense attorney says authorities have mentioned charging the suspects with murder.
Federal agents search the homes of two Islamic leaders in Lodi, California, as part of a terror probe. Four people have been arrested since Sunday. Two of them are a father and a son who allegedly lied about the younger man attending an al Qaeda training camp.
In eastern Afghanistan today, two U.S. troops were killed when a mortar was fired into a forward operating business. Eight others Americans were wounded. The troops were preparing to unload supplies from a helicopter at the time. Rebels have recently launched a series of small scale but deadly attacks in the region.
An Alabama woman has given birth after undergoing the first known successful ovary transplant in the U.S. Twenty-five-year-old Stephanie Yarber gave birth to a baby girl on Monday night. Last year a doctor transplanted ovarian tissue from the women's sister to make her fertile.
And good morning to you on this Wednesday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
We're going to begin this hour with our "CNN Security Watch," which takes us to California. Four people are arrested in a terror investigation there. They include a father and a son accused of attending al Qaeda camps in Pakistan. According to the son's alleged statement, they went, according to the son, to learn how to kill Americans. CNN's Chris Lawrence is in Lodi. That's close to Sacramento, California, in the northern part of the state.
Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Just to get you right up to date. In the last 10 minutes we saw a car pull up here at this house right here. The wife of one of the men who has been detained got out and went inside. One of the other men who was in the car said he was surprised at two of the men who were detained. They are imams, or spiritual leaders, here in the community. He said he was surprised by that and he said he has never witnessed any kind of illegal or - activity going on here. Now, to get to the other house. This home was raided yesterday along with several other locations in the area, including a mosque and two private homes. Federal agents have arrested two U.S. citizens. They are Umer Hayat and his son Hamid Hayat.
Now, the federal criminal complaint that we have read shows that this investigation began more than a week ago when Hamid Hayat was on a flight from Pakistan to San Francisco. That flight was diverted because Hamid Hayat's name popped up on the no fly list. He was allowed it enter the country but that's where FBI agents started to question him.
In the affidavit, it says that Hamid Hayat admitted and later described how he attended an al Qaeda training camp in Pakistan. He said the camp was designed to train people how to kill Americans. Giving them instructions in weapons and explosives, including sessions where photos of President Bush were pasted on to targets that the trainees would then shoot at. Court documents (INAUDIBLE) primary target in this area would be hospitals and grocery stores. His father, Umer Hayat, allegedly paid for his son's flight to Pakistan and paid him an allowance while he was training.
Daryn.
KAGAN: And so how serious are these charges at this time?
LAWRENCE: Well, right now, from what we understand, they have both been charged with giving false statements to a federal agent. Like I said, this investigation started about more than a week ago and it also involves two other men, local imams or spiritual leaders of a mosque here in Lodi. They were detained after FBI agents say they were spotted meeting with Umer Hayat, the younger Hayat's father, over the weekend. They have been detained on immigration charges. So right now it involves four people, two U.S. citizens arrested, two other imams or spiritual leaders detained.
KAGAN: Chris Lawrence in Lodi, in Northern California.
Chris, thank you.
A detention hearing is scheduled this hour for a Florida physician accused of supporting terrorism. Federal prosecutors say Dr. Rafiq Sabir had agreed to provide medical surgeries - treatment to insurgents in Saudi Arabia. A detention hearing for him is scheduled now in Fort Pierce. Another man, a self-described martial arts expert, is being held in New York after allegedly vowing to provide combat training to terrorists.
Live this hour on Capitol Hill, lawmakers debate the Patriot Act. The measure which granted broader law enforcement powers after the 9/11 attacks is set to expire later this year. The House Judiciary Committee holds this latest hearing on re-authorizing that. On a related note, the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday approved an expansion of the FBI powers outlined in the Patriot Act.
Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
We might learn more this hour about the disappearance of an Alabama teenager. She vanished 10 days ago on Aruba. A judge is expected to rule on whether there's enough evidence to hold the two local men for investigation of murder and kidnaping. Our Karl Penhaul will join us when that hearing ends. First, though, he filed this piece to set the stage.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): In twin raids Sunday, police arrested two hotel security guards, a 28 and a 30-year- old, in connection with Natalee's disappearance. Their attorney, Chris Lejuez, says they've been formally accused of multiple crimes.
CHRIS LEJUEZ, ATTORNEY FOR SUSPECTS: They are mentioning murder, accomplice to committing murder, homicide, accomplice to committing homicide, and kidnaping with the consequence of death.
PENHAUL: But investigators have not yet offered any conclusive proof whether Natalee is dead or alive. Lejuez says his clients were not at work near the Holiday Inn where Natalee was staying on the night she disappeared. One was out partying with his wife.
Prosecutors have not publicly revealed what evidence led them to arrest these men who are now being held in separate jail cells at opposite ends of Aruba.
LEJUEZ: Both of them are very concerned. They are nervous. They know that they are being suspected of something very, very heavy, very serious. But they are confident, both of them, and they have shown that confidence to me, that they very categorically deny being involved in this case.
PENHAUL: At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, prosecutors said the two suspects would be held for at least another week while they gather more evidence.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Aruba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And once again, Karl Penhaul is in the courthouse where those two suspects are having a hearing. When that's over, he'll come out and bring us the latest.
Meanwhile, Natalee Holloway's family members say they too are hoping that more information will be released in this hour's court hearing. Earlier on CNN, we spoke with the teenager's stepfather.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S STEPFATHER: It's just that the laws in Aruba are different and the way they do their investigations are totally different than they do in the United States. And it's difficult, it's frustrating. But, on the other hand, I do feel like that they're doing everything they can to try to find Natalee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Both Twitty and the teen's mother have vowed not to leave the island until she is found. The international publicity over Natalee Holloway's disappearance has helped recall the mystery of another American woman. Twenty-three- year-old Amy Bradley disappeared back in 1998 during a family cruise to the Caribbean. Aruba was one of the ship's stops. She even was invited to the same night spot where Natalee Holloway was last seen, Carlos and Charlie's. Amy Bradley was never found.
If you have any information, please call the FBI office in Richmond, Virginia. The number there, 804-261-1044. Bradley's family is offering a $250,000 reward for her return.
Jurors in the Michael Jackson case are to begin their third full day of deliberations. That's next hour. They're considering 10 felony counts against the singer, including child molestation and conspiracy. CNN's Kareen Wynter has the latest from Santa Maria, California.
Kareen, good morning.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.
And since Friday, jurors have deliberated for a total of 14 hours. Now there is one big issue that has already come out of their discussions this week and that has to do with what happened when the panel informed the judge on Monday, Monday afternoon, that they had a question. The judge, in turn, called in the prosecution and defense. They spoke. But the contents of what happened was not disclosed.
So attorneys representing an array of media outlets have filed motions seeking transcripts of those closed door proceedings. They also want access to any questions from the jury and any proceedings concerning those questions. In addition to that, they want public access to the jury forms, Daryn, so that they can accurately - the media can accurately report the verdict once it comes in. So we're waiting to see the outcome of that.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Yes, when do we expect the judge to rule on that motion?
WYNTER: Well, we haven't received any word on that right now, but they're definitely pushing to see because the judge has run such a tight courtroom since the very beginning, just being very private. The court observers say it's deliberate in that the judge wants to make sure that Michael Jackson has a fair trial, the other party has a fair trial. So it's very typical of what we've been seeing. But still, this is a matter of public record, which these questions are. These attorneys are fighting to have that.
KAGAN: This is, obviously, file tape we're look at of Michael Jackson coming into the courthouse. He's waiting about 45 minutes away at his Neverland Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley?
WYNTER: He's waiting the verdict there. It's about an hour drive from the courthouse, so he can get here in the time the judge has allotted. We haven't heard from the pop star since he spoke briefly last week saying that he was OK when asked a question by a reporter.
Who we have been hearing from has been the Reverend Jesse Jackson. No relation to Michael Jackson but he is a spiritual adviser to the family. And he, in essence, shed some light on the singer's frame of mind. That he's in excruciating pain following several trips to the hospital. But inevitably he remains quite optimistic that he will be acquitted here. He says that the singer has a lot of faith in the justice system and the fact that the jury will be fair in its ruling.
Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Kareen Wynter in Santa Maria.
Thank you.
We'll have you standing by in case there is any verdict.
A lot more news to get to this morning, including world news. U.S. and Iraqi troops are sweeping through an Iraqi city looking for insurgents. They're on the ground in the midst of the operation. It's a story you'll see only here on CNN.
And be careful whose children you mess with. The mother just might huff and puff and tear your house down. That story straight ahead.
Plus, hands were clapping and feet were stomping at the White House to the sounds - the gospel sounds of Mary Mary. The gospel duo will join me a little bit later this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Check some weather picture for you.
A powerful storm ripping through Raleigh, North Carolina. Utility crews now working to fully reconnect power lines that were snapped by Tuesday's thunderstorm. Thirteen drivers were trapped in their cars. More thunderstorms are forecast for today.
Seems like the whole Southeast is kind of in that late afternoon thunderstorm pattern.
Rob Marciano is here with weather across the country.
Hey, Rob.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Still to come, talk about dedicated to your job. A pizza delivery man continues his route after he was shot. Yes, shot, Gerri, that is that true.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's unbelievable to me.
KAGAN: That would be five tips on being a good employee. Number one, if you're shot . . .
WILLIS: Oh, my goodness. I couldn't recommend that.
KAGAN: Continue to deliver the pizza.
What do you have for us coming up?
WILLIS: We have some good news for consumers. Mortgage rates are headed down. And we'll tell you how to take advantage of it when CNN continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check in on the markets. They've been opened about 51 minutes. Thing looking rather chipper this morning. The Dow is up 33 points and the Nasdaq in positive territory as well. It is up 4 points.
Let's talk a different type of numbers. Mortgages. Let's talk that for a moment. If you think you've missed the low interest rate run, well you might want to think again. Whether you're being, selling or refinancing, our "Top Five Tips" can help you save money. Here's CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis.
Hi, Ger.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn, good to see you.
Today, mortgage rates are down, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, to 5.5 percent. That is just luscious.
So what do you need to know? Tip number one, get the big picture. While it's great news for consumers, the experts out there are worried about the impact of continuing low rates on the real estate market. You know what's going out there. Red hot markets. People buying frenetically in some of them. And there's a worry out there, Daryn, that things could become even hotter, even more intense, if you can imagine that. And remember that as prices go up, afford- ability declines.
Let me give you an example. If you took out a loan for $200,000 last year, you would have paid $1,199 a month. This year, with the appreciation that's gone in the market, despite the fact interest rates have gone down, you would pay $52 more a month on that mortgage. So you can see there's a tradeoff going here that may ultimately not be in the best interest of buyers.
KAGAN: Right. So don't get greedy about trying to get - like wait till its totally bottomed out. Lock in now.
WILLIS: Yes, definitely lock in now. The long-term average, 8 percent. We're at 5.5 percent on a 30-year fixed rate, as I said. So this is really great news.
And remember, each half point that rates go down, you get $30 per month on $100,000 loan over the life of the loan. You're talking about a lot of money. As much as $10,000 on each $100,000 you borrow For each half percent rate difference.
KAGAN: Why is this good news for sellers, Gerri?
WILLIS: Well, sellers are seeing the appreciation. And great news for them if you want to sell your house, you're going to lock in gains that, you know, you otherwise might not have seen. But keep in mind, real estate, as they say, is very local. So you need to understand your local market, what's going on there.
You know, Daryn, some markets, prices have actually gone down this year.
KAGAN: What if you have an adjustability rate mortgage or interest only loan?
WILLIS: Well, you might want to think about refinancing now. It's a great deal. As a matter of fact, that activity is picking up right now. The rule of thumb, you want a half percentage difference between the rates that is available to you right now in the marketplace and what you paid on your loan.
Keep in mind though, this is just a great thing for people to be thinking about right now because you can not only reduce your rate, right? You can maybe get out of that jumbo loan, if you had a jumbo loan which is typically more expensive, and you may be able to get rid of private mortgage insurance. That's what people have to pay if they don't put down 20 percent.
KAGAN: And what about people who are just looking to get some money out of their house?
WILLIS: Well, if you want to tap your equity, rates are down. A home equity loan or a line of credit is going to be a lot cheaper, so now's the time to get busy and get that kitchen redone.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Lovely. But then somebody would expect you to cook.
WILLIS: But that's not a bad thing.
KAGAN: Unless you come to my house.
Thank you, Gerri.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
KAGAN: All right. Once you find the right rate, you might want to find the perfect home. Cnn.com offers some tips for you on finding something new or just fixing up the home you already own. Here now is CNN's Christina Park from the Dotcom desk. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM: If you want to spruce up your house or buy that dream home at the beach, cnnmoney.com is your guide. Go to the renovations section for a few tips on what you can do to bring your home to the digital age. Install a wireless home monitoring system to control the temperature, turn lights on and off, and run a security camera while you're away. All you need is access to the Internet.
If you travel and worry about you've left the coffee maker on, another device will let you know whether you did. It will also check for any leaky pipes. And a wireless remote can control all the lights in your home. Just don't lose it.
How about that dream home at the beach? Check out this gallery highlighting some of the most affordable places to make that dream come true. From sunny Florida's forgotten coast, to the cooler Prince Edward Island in Canada. That's all on line at cnnmoney.com/your home.
Reporting from the Dotcom Desk, I'm Christina Park.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: So you know mothers can get a little bit protective. Well, like any caring mother, this one got upset when she thought someone was trying to harm her young. Still to come, things get out of control after a misunderstanding between mamma bear and the neighbors.
No cold pizzas here thanks to one pizza man who continued to deliver the goods even after he was shot. His story coming up.
And it's Black Music Month and there's gospel at the White House with the sounds of Mary Mary. The sisters join me live coming up a bit later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Coming up on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Here's what's happening "Now in the News."
This hour in Aruba, a judge is considering charges against two men held in the disappearance of an Alabama teenager. Natalee Holloway was last seen 10 days ago during a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean islands. An attorney for one of the men says authorities have considered filing murder and kidnaping charges.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a long-awaited final vote on one of President Bush's judicial nominees. A nearly two year filibuster blocked the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown to the U.S. Appeals Court in D.C.
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 8, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Two suspects arrested in connection with a missing Alabama student in Aruba are expected before a judge today. Natalee Holloway disappeared nine days ago. Police, volunteers and an FBI dive team are resuming the search for her. A defense attorney says authorities have mentioned charging the suspects with murder.
Federal agents search the homes of two Islamic leaders in Lodi, California, as part of a terror probe. Four people have been arrested since Sunday. Two of them are a father and a son who allegedly lied about the younger man attending an al Qaeda training camp.
In eastern Afghanistan today, two U.S. troops were killed when a mortar was fired into a forward operating business. Eight others Americans were wounded. The troops were preparing to unload supplies from a helicopter at the time. Rebels have recently launched a series of small scale but deadly attacks in the region.
An Alabama woman has given birth after undergoing the first known successful ovary transplant in the U.S. Twenty-five-year-old Stephanie Yarber gave birth to a baby girl on Monday night. Last year a doctor transplanted ovarian tissue from the women's sister to make her fertile.
And good morning to you on this Wednesday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
We're going to begin this hour with our "CNN Security Watch," which takes us to California. Four people are arrested in a terror investigation there. They include a father and a son accused of attending al Qaeda camps in Pakistan. According to the son's alleged statement, they went, according to the son, to learn how to kill Americans. CNN's Chris Lawrence is in Lodi. That's close to Sacramento, California, in the northern part of the state.
Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Just to get you right up to date. In the last 10 minutes we saw a car pull up here at this house right here. The wife of one of the men who has been detained got out and went inside. One of the other men who was in the car said he was surprised at two of the men who were detained. They are imams, or spiritual leaders, here in the community. He said he was surprised by that and he said he has never witnessed any kind of illegal or - activity going on here. Now, to get to the other house. This home was raided yesterday along with several other locations in the area, including a mosque and two private homes. Federal agents have arrested two U.S. citizens. They are Umer Hayat and his son Hamid Hayat.
Now, the federal criminal complaint that we have read shows that this investigation began more than a week ago when Hamid Hayat was on a flight from Pakistan to San Francisco. That flight was diverted because Hamid Hayat's name popped up on the no fly list. He was allowed it enter the country but that's where FBI agents started to question him.
In the affidavit, it says that Hamid Hayat admitted and later described how he attended an al Qaeda training camp in Pakistan. He said the camp was designed to train people how to kill Americans. Giving them instructions in weapons and explosives, including sessions where photos of President Bush were pasted on to targets that the trainees would then shoot at. Court documents (INAUDIBLE) primary target in this area would be hospitals and grocery stores. His father, Umer Hayat, allegedly paid for his son's flight to Pakistan and paid him an allowance while he was training.
Daryn.
KAGAN: And so how serious are these charges at this time?
LAWRENCE: Well, right now, from what we understand, they have both been charged with giving false statements to a federal agent. Like I said, this investigation started about more than a week ago and it also involves two other men, local imams or spiritual leaders of a mosque here in Lodi. They were detained after FBI agents say they were spotted meeting with Umer Hayat, the younger Hayat's father, over the weekend. They have been detained on immigration charges. So right now it involves four people, two U.S. citizens arrested, two other imams or spiritual leaders detained.
KAGAN: Chris Lawrence in Lodi, in Northern California.
Chris, thank you.
A detention hearing is scheduled this hour for a Florida physician accused of supporting terrorism. Federal prosecutors say Dr. Rafiq Sabir had agreed to provide medical surgeries - treatment to insurgents in Saudi Arabia. A detention hearing for him is scheduled now in Fort Pierce. Another man, a self-described martial arts expert, is being held in New York after allegedly vowing to provide combat training to terrorists.
Live this hour on Capitol Hill, lawmakers debate the Patriot Act. The measure which granted broader law enforcement powers after the 9/11 attacks is set to expire later this year. The House Judiciary Committee holds this latest hearing on re-authorizing that. On a related note, the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday approved an expansion of the FBI powers outlined in the Patriot Act.
Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
We might learn more this hour about the disappearance of an Alabama teenager. She vanished 10 days ago on Aruba. A judge is expected to rule on whether there's enough evidence to hold the two local men for investigation of murder and kidnaping. Our Karl Penhaul will join us when that hearing ends. First, though, he filed this piece to set the stage.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): In twin raids Sunday, police arrested two hotel security guards, a 28 and a 30-year- old, in connection with Natalee's disappearance. Their attorney, Chris Lejuez, says they've been formally accused of multiple crimes.
CHRIS LEJUEZ, ATTORNEY FOR SUSPECTS: They are mentioning murder, accomplice to committing murder, homicide, accomplice to committing homicide, and kidnaping with the consequence of death.
PENHAUL: But investigators have not yet offered any conclusive proof whether Natalee is dead or alive. Lejuez says his clients were not at work near the Holiday Inn where Natalee was staying on the night she disappeared. One was out partying with his wife.
Prosecutors have not publicly revealed what evidence led them to arrest these men who are now being held in separate jail cells at opposite ends of Aruba.
LEJUEZ: Both of them are very concerned. They are nervous. They know that they are being suspected of something very, very heavy, very serious. But they are confident, both of them, and they have shown that confidence to me, that they very categorically deny being involved in this case.
PENHAUL: At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, prosecutors said the two suspects would be held for at least another week while they gather more evidence.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Aruba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And once again, Karl Penhaul is in the courthouse where those two suspects are having a hearing. When that's over, he'll come out and bring us the latest.
Meanwhile, Natalee Holloway's family members say they too are hoping that more information will be released in this hour's court hearing. Earlier on CNN, we spoke with the teenager's stepfather.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S STEPFATHER: It's just that the laws in Aruba are different and the way they do their investigations are totally different than they do in the United States. And it's difficult, it's frustrating. But, on the other hand, I do feel like that they're doing everything they can to try to find Natalee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Both Twitty and the teen's mother have vowed not to leave the island until she is found. The international publicity over Natalee Holloway's disappearance has helped recall the mystery of another American woman. Twenty-three- year-old Amy Bradley disappeared back in 1998 during a family cruise to the Caribbean. Aruba was one of the ship's stops. She even was invited to the same night spot where Natalee Holloway was last seen, Carlos and Charlie's. Amy Bradley was never found.
If you have any information, please call the FBI office in Richmond, Virginia. The number there, 804-261-1044. Bradley's family is offering a $250,000 reward for her return.
Jurors in the Michael Jackson case are to begin their third full day of deliberations. That's next hour. They're considering 10 felony counts against the singer, including child molestation and conspiracy. CNN's Kareen Wynter has the latest from Santa Maria, California.
Kareen, good morning.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.
And since Friday, jurors have deliberated for a total of 14 hours. Now there is one big issue that has already come out of their discussions this week and that has to do with what happened when the panel informed the judge on Monday, Monday afternoon, that they had a question. The judge, in turn, called in the prosecution and defense. They spoke. But the contents of what happened was not disclosed.
So attorneys representing an array of media outlets have filed motions seeking transcripts of those closed door proceedings. They also want access to any questions from the jury and any proceedings concerning those questions. In addition to that, they want public access to the jury forms, Daryn, so that they can accurately - the media can accurately report the verdict once it comes in. So we're waiting to see the outcome of that.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Yes, when do we expect the judge to rule on that motion?
WYNTER: Well, we haven't received any word on that right now, but they're definitely pushing to see because the judge has run such a tight courtroom since the very beginning, just being very private. The court observers say it's deliberate in that the judge wants to make sure that Michael Jackson has a fair trial, the other party has a fair trial. So it's very typical of what we've been seeing. But still, this is a matter of public record, which these questions are. These attorneys are fighting to have that.
KAGAN: This is, obviously, file tape we're look at of Michael Jackson coming into the courthouse. He's waiting about 45 minutes away at his Neverland Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley?
WYNTER: He's waiting the verdict there. It's about an hour drive from the courthouse, so he can get here in the time the judge has allotted. We haven't heard from the pop star since he spoke briefly last week saying that he was OK when asked a question by a reporter.
Who we have been hearing from has been the Reverend Jesse Jackson. No relation to Michael Jackson but he is a spiritual adviser to the family. And he, in essence, shed some light on the singer's frame of mind. That he's in excruciating pain following several trips to the hospital. But inevitably he remains quite optimistic that he will be acquitted here. He says that the singer has a lot of faith in the justice system and the fact that the jury will be fair in its ruling.
Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Kareen Wynter in Santa Maria.
Thank you.
We'll have you standing by in case there is any verdict.
A lot more news to get to this morning, including world news. U.S. and Iraqi troops are sweeping through an Iraqi city looking for insurgents. They're on the ground in the midst of the operation. It's a story you'll see only here on CNN.
And be careful whose children you mess with. The mother just might huff and puff and tear your house down. That story straight ahead.
Plus, hands were clapping and feet were stomping at the White House to the sounds - the gospel sounds of Mary Mary. The gospel duo will join me a little bit later this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Check some weather picture for you.
A powerful storm ripping through Raleigh, North Carolina. Utility crews now working to fully reconnect power lines that were snapped by Tuesday's thunderstorm. Thirteen drivers were trapped in their cars. More thunderstorms are forecast for today.
Seems like the whole Southeast is kind of in that late afternoon thunderstorm pattern.
Rob Marciano is here with weather across the country.
Hey, Rob.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Still to come, talk about dedicated to your job. A pizza delivery man continues his route after he was shot. Yes, shot, Gerri, that is that true.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's unbelievable to me.
KAGAN: That would be five tips on being a good employee. Number one, if you're shot . . .
WILLIS: Oh, my goodness. I couldn't recommend that.
KAGAN: Continue to deliver the pizza.
What do you have for us coming up?
WILLIS: We have some good news for consumers. Mortgage rates are headed down. And we'll tell you how to take advantage of it when CNN continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check in on the markets. They've been opened about 51 minutes. Thing looking rather chipper this morning. The Dow is up 33 points and the Nasdaq in positive territory as well. It is up 4 points.
Let's talk a different type of numbers. Mortgages. Let's talk that for a moment. If you think you've missed the low interest rate run, well you might want to think again. Whether you're being, selling or refinancing, our "Top Five Tips" can help you save money. Here's CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis.
Hi, Ger.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn, good to see you.
Today, mortgage rates are down, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, to 5.5 percent. That is just luscious.
So what do you need to know? Tip number one, get the big picture. While it's great news for consumers, the experts out there are worried about the impact of continuing low rates on the real estate market. You know what's going out there. Red hot markets. People buying frenetically in some of them. And there's a worry out there, Daryn, that things could become even hotter, even more intense, if you can imagine that. And remember that as prices go up, afford- ability declines.
Let me give you an example. If you took out a loan for $200,000 last year, you would have paid $1,199 a month. This year, with the appreciation that's gone in the market, despite the fact interest rates have gone down, you would pay $52 more a month on that mortgage. So you can see there's a tradeoff going here that may ultimately not be in the best interest of buyers.
KAGAN: Right. So don't get greedy about trying to get - like wait till its totally bottomed out. Lock in now.
WILLIS: Yes, definitely lock in now. The long-term average, 8 percent. We're at 5.5 percent on a 30-year fixed rate, as I said. So this is really great news.
And remember, each half point that rates go down, you get $30 per month on $100,000 loan over the life of the loan. You're talking about a lot of money. As much as $10,000 on each $100,000 you borrow For each half percent rate difference.
KAGAN: Why is this good news for sellers, Gerri?
WILLIS: Well, sellers are seeing the appreciation. And great news for them if you want to sell your house, you're going to lock in gains that, you know, you otherwise might not have seen. But keep in mind, real estate, as they say, is very local. So you need to understand your local market, what's going on there.
You know, Daryn, some markets, prices have actually gone down this year.
KAGAN: What if you have an adjustability rate mortgage or interest only loan?
WILLIS: Well, you might want to think about refinancing now. It's a great deal. As a matter of fact, that activity is picking up right now. The rule of thumb, you want a half percentage difference between the rates that is available to you right now in the marketplace and what you paid on your loan.
Keep in mind though, this is just a great thing for people to be thinking about right now because you can not only reduce your rate, right? You can maybe get out of that jumbo loan, if you had a jumbo loan which is typically more expensive, and you may be able to get rid of private mortgage insurance. That's what people have to pay if they don't put down 20 percent.
KAGAN: And what about people who are just looking to get some money out of their house?
WILLIS: Well, if you want to tap your equity, rates are down. A home equity loan or a line of credit is going to be a lot cheaper, so now's the time to get busy and get that kitchen redone.
Daryn.
KAGAN: Lovely. But then somebody would expect you to cook.
WILLIS: But that's not a bad thing.
KAGAN: Unless you come to my house.
Thank you, Gerri.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
KAGAN: All right. Once you find the right rate, you might want to find the perfect home. Cnn.com offers some tips for you on finding something new or just fixing up the home you already own. Here now is CNN's Christina Park from the Dotcom desk. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM: If you want to spruce up your house or buy that dream home at the beach, cnnmoney.com is your guide. Go to the renovations section for a few tips on what you can do to bring your home to the digital age. Install a wireless home monitoring system to control the temperature, turn lights on and off, and run a security camera while you're away. All you need is access to the Internet.
If you travel and worry about you've left the coffee maker on, another device will let you know whether you did. It will also check for any leaky pipes. And a wireless remote can control all the lights in your home. Just don't lose it.
How about that dream home at the beach? Check out this gallery highlighting some of the most affordable places to make that dream come true. From sunny Florida's forgotten coast, to the cooler Prince Edward Island in Canada. That's all on line at cnnmoney.com/your home.
Reporting from the Dotcom Desk, I'm Christina Park.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: So you know mothers can get a little bit protective. Well, like any caring mother, this one got upset when she thought someone was trying to harm her young. Still to come, things get out of control after a misunderstanding between mamma bear and the neighbors.
No cold pizzas here thanks to one pizza man who continued to deliver the goods even after he was shot. His story coming up.
And it's Black Music Month and there's gospel at the White House with the sounds of Mary Mary. The sisters join me live coming up a bit later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Coming up on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Here's what's happening "Now in the News."
This hour in Aruba, a judge is considering charges against two men held in the disappearance of an Alabama teenager. Natalee Holloway was last seen 10 days ago during a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean islands. An attorney for one of the men says authorities have considered filing murder and kidnaping charges.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a long-awaited final vote on one of President Bush's judicial nominees. A nearly two year filibuster blocked the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown to the U.S. Appeals Court in D.C.
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