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CNN Live Today

Eye on Arlene; Bush on Terror; Missing Student; Summer Solutions

Aired June 10, 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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. We want to thank you for joining us today. I'm Betty Nguyen at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Here's what's happening right "Now in the News."
We are tracking the first storm with a name this Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Arlene is moving northward through the Gulf of Mexico right now. Its winds have strengthened to 55 mile answer hour. Now the storm has been lashing Western Cuba with heavy rains. A tropical storm watch is now up for Central Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. The region was hit hard during last year's hurricane season. Forecasters are not expecting Arlene to develop into a hurricane. The storm, though, is expected to make landfall over the weekend.

The Michael Jackson verdict wait goes on outside the courthouse in Santa Maria, California. The jury resumes deliberations next hour. Jurors have met for more than 22 hours since getting the case last Friday.

And the House Judiciary Committee is meeting again this morning to discuss extending the Patriot Act. The hearing comes as President Bush prepares to make his case for the law this hour. Portions of the post-9/11 act are set to expire this year unless congress re- authorizes them.

Happy Friday to you. I'm Betty Nguyen. Daryn Kagan is off today.

The Gulf Coast is bracing for Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the new Atlantic hurricane season. A tropical storm watch now covers the Gulf Coast from Central Louisiana, all the way to the Florida Panhandle.

You hear that? Rain. Not winds or surf. That's what's considered to be the biggest threat posed by Arlene. The storm could dump as much as 10 inches of rain on Western Cuba and flooding is possible.

I want to give you a live picture now from WEAR TV in Pensacola. You can see the gray skies right there. Arlene could dump up to five inches of rain on the Panhandle, which is already saturated from two weeks of heavy rains.

Flash floods and tornadoes are also possible along much of the Gulf Coast, which is still reeling from last year's hurricane season. I want to give you a live picture of New Orleans right now. You see a little sun out there. We'll be check in. CNN affiliate WDSU giving us this picture.

OK. So let's get the latest from the CNN Weather Center and Meteorologist Jill Brown on Arlene. Is she gaining some ground or is this just going to be a rain event?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Hurricane weary Floridians shuttered at the predictions of an active hurricane season. And now, just nine days into the season, here comes Arlene. This storm is already blamed for the death of one woman. She apparently had gone into the pounding surf to help someone who was in trouble. Well, she was overtaken by the waves. CNN's John Zarrella is in Miami with the latest on Arlene.

Is the rain coming down? I see the wind is out.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Betty.

Yes, the rain's coming down a little bit periodically but the wind is certainly the issue here along Haulover Beach, which is on the north end of Dade County, just before you get into Broward County. And as you were mentioning, already one death attributed to the tropical storm. A woman on Miami Beach. In fact, there were four people on Miami Beach early this morning, had gone into the water. Terrible rip currents. Those rip currents getting a hold of one of the women. Another went in to try and rescue her. Both were caught in the water.

Fire Rescue Miami Beach went there. Then got both women out. The first woman who had been in the water about 20 minutes, she, her lungs were filled with water. They tried to resuscitate her on the beach. She later died at the hospital. The condition of the second woman, who had gone in to try and rescue the first woman, is at this point unknown. But already Tropical Storm Arlene blamed, at least indirectly, for the death of one person here in Southeast Florida.

Now you can see the waves there are just ripping in here along Miami Beach. This is the counterclockwise circulation of the storm, bringing the winds in from the Atlantic, from the Southeast. And the problem we have here is that it has been raining in South Florida, Southeast Florida since the end of May with little breaks in that activity. And there is a flood watch here. And in the southwest part of Florida, down around Fort Myers, they've had nine inches of rain in the first seven days of June, which is more than they get usually in the entire month of June.

So there's serious flood concerns throughout Southeast Florida. There have been some surfers out here this morning. We haven't seen anybody in. But you can, of course, see the tremendous waves that are just pounding in. And police and fire rescue and lifeguards, all along Southeast Florida beaches warning people to stay out of the water. Is clearly unsafe. And one woman has already paid the ultimate price for venturing out into that water down on South Beach.

Conditions, again, here, a lot of wind, a little bit of rain, gusty squalls moving through from Tropical Storm Arlene. Betty.

NGUYEN: John, although it's going to be a lot of rain, the good news is, no hurricane, at least at this point. But still, a lot of construction still underway. People still recovering from the hurricanes of last year. This can't be good news with some nearly 10,000 people still in temporary shelters?

ZARRELLA: No, it certainly isn't. There are people all over Southwest Florida where you had Hurricane Charlie and up where Hurricane Ivan hit, where this storm is likely to go. Who still have blue tarps on the roof. There's still lots of debris on the ground. It's a tough, tough situation.

Now, it's not unusual to get a hurricane or tropical storm in early June. In fact, 4 percent of the seasonal hurricane activity takes place in June. So this is not an atypical situation to have a system like this forming in the Caribbean and then moving up into the Gulf of Mexico.

But it is not good news. And with predictions of up to 14 or 15 named storms this year, to have the "A" storm out of the way so early is indicative, perhaps, of a season ahead that could be very, very troublesome for people all along the hurricane prone coastlines. Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and up into the Carolinas. So this could well, Betty, be a long season ahead for all of us.

Betty.

NGUYEN: The bottom line, the season is expected, it's just not wanted.

John Zarrella, thank you so much for that report.

Western Cuba could see flooding, even though Arlene's fully defined center has passed north of the island. CNN's Lucia Newman is the Havana bureau chief there and she joins us by telephone with the situation.

Are you seeing flooding already, Lucia?

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.

Well, here in Havana, the rain is already subsiding, although it had been raining nonstop last night. The same thing and even more intensely in neighboring Pinar del Rio provinces, which is just on the western tip of Cuba. So far there are not reports of flooding or of major flooding here.

But the tropical storm, while not a hurricane, did prompt authorities on Thursday afternoon to do something that's routine here. They evacuated thousands of people living in low-lying coastal areas in Pinar del Rio just as a precaution. And, in fact, all schools were suspended in both Havana and Havana province and Pinar del Rio for all of today.

But the worst of the storm seems to have passed. The eye passing about two hours ago on the tip of Western Cuba.

Now, unlike what John was saying in Florida, Cuba is witnessing its worst drought in a century. So general terms, this rain, Betty, is actually very, very welcomed here. Although too much of a good thing, of course, could be damaging, especially to the tobacco crop, which is used to make Cuba's famous cigars.

Betty.

NGUYEN: But this is just the beginning of this hurricane season. Much more is to come.

How are Cubans preparing for a busy season?

NEWMAN: Absolutely. From everything that we've heard from the experts and the weather center, this season is supposed to be as bad, if not worse, than last year. And there are still thousands of people here in Cuba living in shelters from after having lost their homes and everything they had last year. After Ivan and Charlie passed.

So the Cuban authorities are very good at evacuating people, getting them out of harm's way from the actual storm. The real crisis in Cuba usually comes in the aftermath. Trying to pick up the pieces. This country doesn't have the resources to do that, Betty.

NGUYEN: Lucia Newman, we thank you for that report out of Havana today.

And, of course, you can follow Arlene and the changing weather forecast on our Web site. All you have to do is click on cnn.com/weather.

In our "Security Watch" today, President Bush is focusing this hour on terrorism and the nation's efforts to combat it. Right now he's at the nation's new Counterterrorism Center, the hub of Washington's war on terror. And later he will meet with South Korea's leader. CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the White House with a closer look.

Good morning, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.

As we speak, President Bush is in Tyson's Corner, Virginia, touring the National Counterterrorism Center. And he'll be speaking with workers there and, for a second day in a row, making a pitch to renew some expiring measures of the Patriot Act. Now, though some charge that certain provisions of the Patriot Act do give law enforcement too much power and violate American civil rights, President Bush yesterday told an audience in Ohio the act has, instead, kept Americans safe from terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At the end of this year, 16 critical provisions of the Patriot Act are scheduled to expire. Some people call these sunset provisions. It's a good name because letting that -- those provisions expire would leave law enforcement in the dark.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: When President Bush returns to the White House later this morning, he'll be meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. On their agenda, topping it, is how to deal with North Korea's expanding nuclear program. President Bush wants to get Pyongyang to return to the six-party nuclear disarmament talks that have been stall for nearly a year. President Bush even saying that U.N. sanctions are an option down the road, but that's not an option that South Korea supports. The President Roh, instead, is expected to press Mr. Bush to use diplomacy to end the stalemate calling a military solution unacceptable.

Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Kathleen Koch.

Thank you.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are also focusing on the Patriot Act. Members of the House Judiciary Committee are discussing renewal of the legislation. This is a live look at that right now. They are hearing from representatives of various rights groups who argue that the Patriot Act can trample civil rights. Or civil liberties. Earlier on "American Morning," the federal government's top lawyer addressed those concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALBERTO GONZALEZ, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I believe the protection of civil liberties and our privacy rights is extremely important. That is one of my priorities at the Department of Justice. Protection of our country is an equal priority. I do not believe that they are exclusive. I believe that we can have both and I think the Patriot Act shows that we can have both.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Gonzalez also says that careful scrutiny after 9/11 helped bring about changes that leave the United States in a much better position to guard against future terror attacks.

The Justice Department has issued a blistering report of what it called the FBI's missed opportunities to unravel the terrorist's 9/11 plans. The report cites five chances to uncover important information about the terrorists months before they hijacked the airliners. Now they include the FBI seemingly lackluster investigation of two Saudi men suspected of terrorist highs. They would later helped commandeer the airliners. And the report says the FBI didn't follow a lead provided by one of its own agents. He told his superiors that there was a coordinated effort by Osama bin Laden to send students to the U.S. to study plots involving aircraft.

You'll want to be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. Well, there is more drama from the Jackson trial. One overly zealous fan gets the judge's attention. We'll tell you how.

Plus, a judge's son is among the latest arrested in the case of a missing girl until Aruba. We'll have more detail about the suspects. That is coming up.

And later, she's only 17 years old and she is trying to change the law. Hear what this teenage has to say to members of Congress.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We turn now to the case of a missing Alabama student on Aruba. We're learning more about one of those arrested in this investigation. CNN's Karl Penhaul has been covering the story and has this update.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In handcuffs, a towel draped over his head, this is one of three new suspects police arrested in the hunt for Natalee Holloway. In total, five men are now in custody, but there's no sign of the missing teenager. No clue whether she's alive or dead.

KARIN JANSSEN, ARUBA CHIEF PROSECUTOR: At this stage, we can't say what we are presuming at this moment. We have too little details to say -- we -- all options are open.

PENHAUL: Natalee drove away from Carlos 'n Charlie's bar in the wee hours of May 30th with the three teenagers now held in police cells, according to their own statements. Police said she'd met 17- year-old Joran Van Der Sloot, the son of an island justice official, at the Holiday Inn where Natalee was staying a day before she disappeared.

JAN VAN DER STRATEN, ARUBA CHIEF POLICE COMM.: They met each other in the -- in the casino.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That day or a previous day or . . .

VAN DER STRATEN: The day before.

PENHAUL: The two other men detain Thursday are brothers, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe. There's been no statement yet on their behalf. The other suspects detained at the weekend are security guards. Their defense attorneys' insist they had nothing to did with Natalee's disappearance. Police previously interviewed the teenagers but waited until Thursday, 11 days after Natalee's disappearance, to arrest them. They confiscated property, including a car and a computer.

JANSSEN: It is because of technical reasons we didn't do that at another moment.

PENHAUL: Relatives of the first two suspects fear wealth and race issues may cloud the investigation. MIKEY JOHN (ph): And it's something about money wise, who's rich and who's poor.

PENHAUL: That's Mickey John, one of the first two suspects detained from a black immigrant family from the poorer east end of Aruba. That's Van Der Sloot, from an influential family from the richer west end. Prosecutors say evidence, not prejudice, will be the key.

JANSSEN: The suspicion of a suspect has nothing to do with the color of his skin. It has to do with the results of the investigation. If there are grounds for suspicion.

PENHAUL: Karl Penhaul, CNN, Palm Beach, Aruba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: This just in. We have a developing story out of San Antonio, Texas.

Take a look at this. In the middle of your screen in an 18 wheeler that is flip on its side. Now as you can see, there's no traffic around this. This has happened in Northeast San Antonio with Interstate 35 and at the 410 exchange there. Traffic has been put to a standstill here. The lanes have been shut down because of this accident.

And here is why. Not only is this tanker truck on its side involving a rollover, but it is carrying what is believed to be explosive material. We understand from fire officials that the truck's manifest shows that its carrying a ton and a half of material used to ignite explosives and they also contains highly explosive ammonium nitrate.

Now, the homes and businesses around this area, they are being evacuated. All the homes and businesses within a half-mile radius. As you can see, the freeway has been shut down. This is in Northeast San Antonio where an 18 wheeler has overturned. We're getting this video or actually this live picture from our affiliate WOAI. And, of course, we will monitor this situation and bring you the latest as it comes in to us.

Still ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY, she's only 17-years-old and she is trying to protect other children from facing the pain she did. Her message coming up.

Plus, Gerri Willis joins us live.

Hi, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Betty, good to see you.

We're going to tell you how to keep your kids safe and busy this summer when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: This just in to CNN. Take a look at these pictures. It's a busy day on the freeways across America.

This is in Boca Raton, Florida, where a bus carrying children was in an accident with an 18 wheeler. Many of the children were injured. You're seeing rescue crews right now on the scene treating those children. We understand as many as 24 children have been hurt in this accident. Some of them even ejected from the bus.

And when we get a wider picture here, you will see traffic is backed up because of this accident. One side of the freeway, in fact, is shut down. There's no traffic on that side.

But the immediate concern right now are the people injured in this accident. An 18 wheeler right there, as you seer, slammed into a bus. We don't know exactly how it occurred but a bus carrying children. Many of those children are injured. As many as 24 have sustained some type of injuries. And we understand some of the children were, in fact, ejected from the bus upon collision.

I'm also being told that Florida Highway Patrol is trying to get a rescue helicopter to this scene, which gives you an idea of how these -- how really important these injuries are -- life-threatening these injuries are involving this accident with that white school bus that you see in the middle of your screen right now and that 18 wheeler, which may be carrying a load of some type of wood.

But the most important thing right now are the people injured. You can see many crews on the scene right now. Fire and rescue crews treating the injured. Some of them -- we don't know exactly how this happened or when it happened but, of course, it is slowing traffic down.

As for the bus driver, we have not been told about that person's condition, nor the driver of the 18 wheeler. But we do know at this point that some 24 children have been hurt in this accident. Again, some of them ejected from this bus, which can cause major injuries. And Florida is trying to get a rescue helicopter to the scene to carry some of the injured to a nearby hospital and get them immediate treatment.

Of course, we'll continue to follow all of this and bring you the latest developments as they come in to CNN.

All right. Perhaps you have a teenager just hanging around the house this summer. Well, it's not too late to provide a valuable experience for them and give yourself a break, too. CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here with today's "Top Five Tips."

And I guess one of the tips is, get out there, go to work, would you, already?

WILLIS: That's not a bad idea, right? You learn important skills in the workplace.

Listen, the problem with getting a job for teenagers right now is that they're competing with seniors, they're competing with underemployed 20-somethings. So it can be tough to find a good job. But I don't think they have to be satisfied with the typical mall job. Look, if you look a little harder, you can find something more interesting and where you can make more money. Non-traditional jobs like managing in-store promotions can pay as much as $14 an hour compared to $5.15 minimum wage. So check out teensforhire.com for more ideas about finding that special job that will give you a real skill set too when you get to the real workplace.

NGUYEN: All right, Gerri, besides a job, are there other ways for teenagers to build skill, leadership skills during the summertime?

WILLIS: I think volunteerism (ph) is a great idea. And there's a particularly interesting program from Habitat for Humidity. A two week special program where they put kids to work building houses for people who are less fortunate. It's called their Summer Youth Blitz. Now, they don't get paid but room and board is included and what a fabulous experience this is! Working on these houses, you learn how to work on a house. You learn just really great values on the scene there.

NGUYEN: And it's very rewarding.

You know, something else that is rewarding is going back to school, but is that just too cruel to ask since they just got out of school?

WILLIS: I don't know. Maybe you should -- I think it's a good idea. Look, if you're worried about your child getting into the best possible college, there are great programs to go to over the summertime where they can sharpen their academic skills, they don't have to spend the whole summer there. And from what we've found, some of these courses are for as little as $1,000, compared to $1,500 for a usual summer camp. So it compares favorably. You get tutoring, internships. I think it's a good idea, not for all kids, but some kid.

NGUYEN: I know when I was on summer break as kid growing up, I'd always take a trip with the family. And you know what, Gerri, I learned a lot from that. That should be a valuable tool, right, take a trip with the kids?

WILLIS: And from the parents' point of view, you've got to find something that's fun for them, but also allows you to relax a little bit. Who about going to a dude ranch because you can find something to do, they can find something to do. That's a great idea. You can also, if you decide to vacation in the city, think about getting in contact with childrensconcierge.com. Now, Betty, listen to this. I couldn't believe this. This group of people, they put together special behavioral games to help . . .

NGUYEN: What?

WILLIS: That help your kids play better together, react well. You know, they learn life lessons. I thought it was great.

NGUYEN: Behavioral games. Sounds like a lot of fun there, Gerri. All right!

WILLIS: Check out familytravelnetwork.com too for some ideas on how to travel together as a family.

NGUYEN: All right. And, you know, a lot of -- I see on the screen right here, a lot of folks are saying, hey, get out of there. Go to China. Go somewhere far away.

WILLIS: Well, you can literally do that. There's a program where you send your kids away for six weeks. They take these kids to developing countries all over the world and they learn all about these cultures. What a special situation that is.

If you want to do that, the program is called, wheretheybedragons.com. You can find it on the Web, but it is pricey. You pay a lot money for the privilege of sending your kids on road for six months, Some $4,800. So it depends on how desperate you are.

NGUYEN: Yes, if you need that much time by yourself without the kids. For some people, it may be worth the money.

All right, Gerri Willis, thank you so much.

WILLIS: Thank you.

NGUYEN: We are following a developing story out of South Florida. Take a look at this live picture right now. As many as two dozen children have been injured in a school bus accident in Boca Raton. Apparently the vehicle was struck by a lumber truck. Now, we don't have any word on the extent of injuries, but we are keeping a close eye on this, and we'll bring you any developments.

Well, this is Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The maximum sustained winds have increased to about 55 miles an hour. It's primarily a flood threat from western Cuba to Florida' Keys and the West Coast. It's expected, though, to hit the Gulf Coast Sunday.

Now tropical storm watch stretches from central Louisiana all the way to the Florida Panhandle.

This is the view from South Florida, where memories of last year's record hurricane season are still painfully fresh. Arlene is not expected to reach hurricane strength. So rain and flooding are the primary fears for Floridians. Many also see it as an unsettling reminder that forecasters predict this will be a very active hurricane season.

In Iraq, witnesses say at least 16 bodies have been found scattered in a town near the Syrian border. At least one victim had been beheaded; 11 had their hands tied behind their back. All wore civilian clothing. The area is considered an insurgent stronghold.

And Bush administration officials say they are deeply concerned with what Syria is doing in Lebanon. A State Department source tells CNN the U.S. believes Syrian operatives plan to try to assassinate senior Lebanese politicians. The source also says Syrian military intelligence forces are returning to Lebanon with a campaign of intimidation. Syrian forces pulled out of Lebanon this spring. The move followed global pressure in the wake of a former Lebanese leader's assassination.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, a horse-drawn buggy is no match for a core on an Ohio road. We'll look at what caused the accident, coming up.

And later, one 17-year-old has an important message, and she is taking it all the way to Capitol Hill. A look at how it can help keep your children safe.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Looking now to other stories making news coast to coast. A small child died in suburban Milwaukee after being left inside a hot day care van for most of the day. Police say the two-year-old girl was accidentally left behind in the vehicle in the morning, and wasn't discovered until mid-afternoon. Outside temperatures yesterday were in the 80s. No charges have been filed.

In Ohio, hospital officials say none of the injuries from this horrific crash appeared to be life threatening. Four adults and five children were thrown from an Amish buggy when it was rear-ended by a car around dusk on a country road.

And in Los Angeles, two separate shootings yesterday along the freeways. Police say one man was wounded in a gang-related shooting between two vehicles on the Century Freeway. That highway was shutdown for about an hour. In another incident, a bullet hit an ambulance on the Long Beach Freeway. No one was hurt.

Now, another type of violence. The sexual abuse of children. When we think of such attacks, we usually think of the abuser being an adult, but the number of sexual offenders who are juveniles might surprise you. The statistics we have are not current, but they do give a picture of the problem. Juveniles account for about 16 percent of forcible rape arrests in 1995, and 17 percent of those arrested for other sex offenses.

Amie Zyla was eight years old when she was sexually assaulted by a teenager. A decade later, Amie has gone public with the story of her molestation. Her campaign to protect children has led to the passage of Amie's Law in her home state of Wisconsin. Now, Amie and her father are working to make that law a national one.

CNN's Ed Henry spoke with them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like many high school juniors, 17-year-old Amie Zyla is busy mulling her future with her father's help.

A. ZYLA: I want to become a hair designer and open up my own salon.

HENRY: But they're also still dealing with Amie's past. At the age of 8, she was sexually assaulted by a family friend, a memory so raw, this shy young lady still has trouble talking about the incident that shattered her childhood in Wisconsin.

The abuser was 14-year-old Joshua Wade, who didn't just sexually assault Amie.

MARK ZYLA, FATHER OF AMIE: He also had threatened her life. He was building a bomb with her name on it after she had turned him in.

HENRY: Wad was prosecuted and convicted in juvenile court for what he did to Amie. He was sent off to Ethan Allen School, a youth correctional center outside Milwaukee. That helped Amie and her family start the process of healing, secure in the notion that Wade could not abuse any other kids.

That's why the Zylas were stunned in January, when they saw the face of Wade, now 23 years old, pop up on the local TV news, charged with more crimes against children.

M. ZYLA: And, all of a sudden, he walks on to the television screens and just kind of walks back into our lives. This can't be. What is he doing out? And why don't we know it? You know, and I was angry. I was confused.

HENRY: After being released from the detention facility, Wade became a youth mentor. He later admitted to police he had videotaped more than 30 kids in his bathroom with a hidden cam and had sexually assaulted some of the kids repeatedly.

A. ZYLA: It scared me and made me mad, because knowing that he was out there and doing it to other kids made me mad. Like, what he did to me didn't count. Like, what happened to me didn't matter to anybody, because he was out and able to do it to so many other kids.

HENRY: After he served his sentence for abusing Amie, Wade was required to register as a sex offender with the Wisconsin police. But there was a glitch. Since Wade was a juvenile at the time of the crime, the police didn't notify the local community, because Wisconsin law prohibited disclosures of juvenile sex offenses. So, his background appeared to be squeaky clean. And the Zylas had no idea Wade was back on the streets.

M. ZYLA: Why don't I know that he's out, you know? This is a man who sexually abused my daughter, threatened her life, and now is just out doing it again. We were appalled, I think, is a good word for it.

HENRY: Despite that horror, they decided it was time to take action.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. This just in. We want to get you an update on this accident in Boca Raton, Florida, which involved an 18-wheeler and a bus carrying many children have been injured because of this incident.

We on the phone with us, Captain Don DeLucia, Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue. Captain DeLucia, talk to us about exactly what happened here. What caused this accident?

CAPT. DON DELUCIA, PALM BEACH CO. FIRE RESCUE: I don't have all the specifics as to what caused this. Hold on a second. I'm getting information as we're talking.

NGUYEN: Sure.

DELUCIA: It appears to have been an accident between a flatbed semi loaded with wooden pallets and a small -- not really a typical yellow school bus. This one says Migrant Association of South Florida on it. The semi appears to be into the side of the bus. The bus, they're telling me, had a total of 25. Can you hear me still?

NGUYEN: I can hear you. 25 students on that bus.

DELUCIA: With about 25 total. At this point, it looks like five children have -- are being considered trauma alerts. They're being taken to the local trauma center. And...

NGUYEN: So these are major life-threatening injuries that we're talking about?

DELUCIA: I believe some of them are. They have to be serious enough to go to the trauma center. If it's life-threatening, that's where they're going.

NGUYEN: OK. So five injuries in that category. What about the rest of the children?

DELUCIA: don't have an exact count. There are quite a few ambulances here, quite a few rescue trucks, and they're all working on patients. So there's going to considerably more going to the hospital, with lesser injuries. I just can't give you an exact head count at this time.

NGUYEN: Do we have any idea about the ages of these children?

DELUCIA: It appears that the age group is like between eight and 14. And that's just a guess from looking at the faces. So it's a mixed group.

NGUYEN: Do you know where they were headed?

DELUCIA: I do not.

NGUYEN: OK. So what time did this accident happen? Was this a rush hour situation?

DELUCIA: Well, on the turnpike, the traffic is pretty heavy. I would -- I'm estimating it happened about within the last hour. NGUYEN: OK. And traffic is, obviously, at a standstill. Has parts of the freeway there been shut down?

DELUCIA: Yes, they have. They have shut it down thoroughly in this area and the on-ramp around Del Ray and Boca in this area have been shut down.

NGUYEN: We're looking at live pictures now of this tractor- trailer carrying -- actually, these are taped pictures now with our affiliate WSBN -- of this tractor-trailer carrying these wooden pallets. It looks like it slammed into the side and it's still lodge into the bus right now?

DELUCIA: Yes.

NGUYEN: And what about the driver of both of these vehicles? What do you know about those people?

DELUCIA: At this point, I've only been here probably less than ten minutes. I don't know the status of the drivers. Just -- you know, all I've been able to give you is the head count on the children at this point.

NGUYEN: We're looking right now at a picture of a helicopter there on the scene, which is carrying -- you said there was five students who need some immediate care, at trauma facilities that are nearby. There were 25 children on this bus. How long is this scene going to be up and running? I mean, are you just overwhelmed with the amount of people needing treatment?

DELUCIA: At this point, we've got a lot of units here, both rescue trucks, ambulances, engines. A lot of crews are working on patients. I'm sure it's going to be ongoing for at least another hour, another few more hours after that, easily, for the investigation part.

NGUYEN: Besides the children needing to get to the hospital and be treated for their injuries, is there any concern about the vehicles involved? Any possibility that something could ignite?

DELUCIA: I don't believe so at this time.

NGUYEN: OK. So traffic is backed up. Do you have any idea how long this situation is going to be there on the roadways or when folks can actually be diverted to a detour and get about their way today?

DELUCIA: You might want to check with the highway patrol on that, but I'm sure it's going to be shut down for quite a few hours.

NGUYEN: All right. We want thank you for your time, Captain Don DeLucia with Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue there. We're looking at a live picture right now of the helicopter, which is taking children to a nearby trauma center. Five children having some major injuries because of this accident.

Again, to recap, this accident between a school bus and a flatbed 18-wheeler carrying wooden pallets. The truck is lodged still inside the side of that bus. We, of course, will continue to follow this developing story and bring you the latest information as 25 children were onboard, many of them injured.

NGUYEN: We want to shift gears to another accident, as well, that we are still learning information about. This one in Texas. San Antonio, Texas, in fact, in the northeastern sector of the city. That in the bottom right-hand side of your screen towards the middle is an 18-wheeler on its side. It has flipped over in an accident today. This is I-35, near the 40 -- 410 Interchange, that is, in San Antonio.

The situation here is that this tractor-trailer is carrying what is believed to be explosives. That's because fire officials say that the truck's manifest shows that it's carrying a ton and a half of a material used to ignite explosives and may also contain highly explosive ammonium nitrate. As you can see in this live picture right now, there are no cars on the freeway and we are being told that it's going to be some 16 hours before this section of the interstate will be reopened.

And just as a precaution in the area, rescue crews are making sure that homes and businesses within a half-mile radius are being evacuated, just in case something might ignite with this 18-wheeler that is tipped on its side, that you see right there in this live picture.

Again, an 18-wheeler in an accident, in northeastern San Antonio, off of Interstate 35, and the 410 Interchange. This 18-wheeler is carrying explosives, so a lot of precaution's being taken and the highway's going to be shut down for some 16 hours.

We'll continue to keep you posted. You're watching CNN's LIVE TODAY.

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(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: Are you still alive, baby?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Lots of movies out there this weekend, but this is the one getting all of the buzz. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play husband and wife assassins, ultimately hired to take out each other. Sounds like a fairly typical marriage to me.

Mr. Moviefone, also known as Russ Leatherman, has seen it, and he joins us from Los Angeles, with our Friday preview of the new releases.

Let me ask about this. All right, we've heard about the alleged romance and we've seen all the billboards, the promos. Does this movie really live up to the hype?

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Well, the odd thing is that the movie has nothing to do with the hype, right? We actually get to talk about the movie, which is so weird. You're right. This isn't the first round of the sort of tomcat, "Bradgelina" publicity.

NGUYEN: Bradgelina, yes.

LEATHERMAN: You like that one, don't you?

Yes, and you described the movie. It's about a married couple. They're bored, and they discover that each other assassins when they're hired to kill each other.

Now let me tell you what I thought about this movie. There's been so much hype, so much talk about the publicity. I don't think the movie is as good, frankly, as the love hype publicity.

NGUYEN: Really?

LEATHERMAN: Well, here's why. I thought it was pretty tedious. I thought the plot was really thin. Now you have two beautiful people on screen, almost the most beautiful people in the world, other than say maybe you and me.

NGUYEN: We're the only ones voting.

LEATHERMAN: And no one wants to watch them just try to kill each other an hour and a half either. I thought the movie was tedious. I knew a half hour in exactly what we were going to get, and they're going after each other, and it's all going to good in the end.

NGUYEN: Well, that's the promo. You already know that before you go in.

LEATHERMAN: You really do.

NGUYEN: So for those who want to see this movie just to see if you can see an inkling of this romance between the two, do you see any of that on screen?

LEATHERMAN: Well, you do a little bit, but there are only really two very short love scenes. And like I said, the movie's going to be more interesting to see as sort of a pop culture phenomenon than it is a good movie. But you know what, these are two beautiful people. You saw Brad running around in his underwear there. Angelina...

NGUYEN: Not bad.

LEATHERMAN: That's not bad. Angelina is vamping more than she is acting, but for a lot of people, that's going to be enough. So it's going to make a bazillion dollars, and you check it out.

NGUYEN: And the rest is history. All right, we've got to move quickly to "The Honeymooners." Let's talk about this film. Is it as good as the popular television series? LEATHERMAN: Well, let's just say that Jackie Gleason is probably rolling in his grave right now, and we can make this short by simply saying this is probably one of the worst movies of the year.

NGUYEN: Really?

LEATHERMAN: Yes, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps. You they are scheming, plotting guys, and really, there's barely a funny line in the movie. So I would say if you're looking for a comedy, you probably got to look elsewhere.

NGUYEN: No good news from Mr. Moviefone on this Friday. OK, thank you.

LEATHERMAN: By the way, you got to go see "Cinderella Man." If you're looking for a good movie, "Cinderella Man" the one to see.

NGUYEN: OK. I hear it's the best.

Thank you.

LEATHERMAN: Bye-bye.

NGUYEN: We do have a developing story that we are following out of Boca Raton, Florida, where a collision between an 18 wheeler and a bus -- you see it right there -- has left at least five children in serious condition. We'll have the latest from there coming up.

And a verdict could come any hour in the Michael Jackson case. But in the meantime, an army of journalists are camped out in Santa Maria, California. We'll look at the media circus and hear how local residents feel about all this attention.

The seconds hour of CNN LIVE TODAY right after this.

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Aired June 10, 2005 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. We want to thank you for joining us today. I'm Betty Nguyen at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Here's what's happening right "Now in the News."
We are tracking the first storm with a name this Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Arlene is moving northward through the Gulf of Mexico right now. Its winds have strengthened to 55 mile answer hour. Now the storm has been lashing Western Cuba with heavy rains. A tropical storm watch is now up for Central Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. The region was hit hard during last year's hurricane season. Forecasters are not expecting Arlene to develop into a hurricane. The storm, though, is expected to make landfall over the weekend.

The Michael Jackson verdict wait goes on outside the courthouse in Santa Maria, California. The jury resumes deliberations next hour. Jurors have met for more than 22 hours since getting the case last Friday.

And the House Judiciary Committee is meeting again this morning to discuss extending the Patriot Act. The hearing comes as President Bush prepares to make his case for the law this hour. Portions of the post-9/11 act are set to expire this year unless congress re- authorizes them.

Happy Friday to you. I'm Betty Nguyen. Daryn Kagan is off today.

The Gulf Coast is bracing for Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the new Atlantic hurricane season. A tropical storm watch now covers the Gulf Coast from Central Louisiana, all the way to the Florida Panhandle.

You hear that? Rain. Not winds or surf. That's what's considered to be the biggest threat posed by Arlene. The storm could dump as much as 10 inches of rain on Western Cuba and flooding is possible.

I want to give you a live picture now from WEAR TV in Pensacola. You can see the gray skies right there. Arlene could dump up to five inches of rain on the Panhandle, which is already saturated from two weeks of heavy rains.

Flash floods and tornadoes are also possible along much of the Gulf Coast, which is still reeling from last year's hurricane season. I want to give you a live picture of New Orleans right now. You see a little sun out there. We'll be check in. CNN affiliate WDSU giving us this picture.

OK. So let's get the latest from the CNN Weather Center and Meteorologist Jill Brown on Arlene. Is she gaining some ground or is this just going to be a rain event?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Hurricane weary Floridians shuttered at the predictions of an active hurricane season. And now, just nine days into the season, here comes Arlene. This storm is already blamed for the death of one woman. She apparently had gone into the pounding surf to help someone who was in trouble. Well, she was overtaken by the waves. CNN's John Zarrella is in Miami with the latest on Arlene.

Is the rain coming down? I see the wind is out.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Betty.

Yes, the rain's coming down a little bit periodically but the wind is certainly the issue here along Haulover Beach, which is on the north end of Dade County, just before you get into Broward County. And as you were mentioning, already one death attributed to the tropical storm. A woman on Miami Beach. In fact, there were four people on Miami Beach early this morning, had gone into the water. Terrible rip currents. Those rip currents getting a hold of one of the women. Another went in to try and rescue her. Both were caught in the water.

Fire Rescue Miami Beach went there. Then got both women out. The first woman who had been in the water about 20 minutes, she, her lungs were filled with water. They tried to resuscitate her on the beach. She later died at the hospital. The condition of the second woman, who had gone in to try and rescue the first woman, is at this point unknown. But already Tropical Storm Arlene blamed, at least indirectly, for the death of one person here in Southeast Florida.

Now you can see the waves there are just ripping in here along Miami Beach. This is the counterclockwise circulation of the storm, bringing the winds in from the Atlantic, from the Southeast. And the problem we have here is that it has been raining in South Florida, Southeast Florida since the end of May with little breaks in that activity. And there is a flood watch here. And in the southwest part of Florida, down around Fort Myers, they've had nine inches of rain in the first seven days of June, which is more than they get usually in the entire month of June.

So there's serious flood concerns throughout Southeast Florida. There have been some surfers out here this morning. We haven't seen anybody in. But you can, of course, see the tremendous waves that are just pounding in. And police and fire rescue and lifeguards, all along Southeast Florida beaches warning people to stay out of the water. Is clearly unsafe. And one woman has already paid the ultimate price for venturing out into that water down on South Beach.

Conditions, again, here, a lot of wind, a little bit of rain, gusty squalls moving through from Tropical Storm Arlene. Betty.

NGUYEN: John, although it's going to be a lot of rain, the good news is, no hurricane, at least at this point. But still, a lot of construction still underway. People still recovering from the hurricanes of last year. This can't be good news with some nearly 10,000 people still in temporary shelters?

ZARRELLA: No, it certainly isn't. There are people all over Southwest Florida where you had Hurricane Charlie and up where Hurricane Ivan hit, where this storm is likely to go. Who still have blue tarps on the roof. There's still lots of debris on the ground. It's a tough, tough situation.

Now, it's not unusual to get a hurricane or tropical storm in early June. In fact, 4 percent of the seasonal hurricane activity takes place in June. So this is not an atypical situation to have a system like this forming in the Caribbean and then moving up into the Gulf of Mexico.

But it is not good news. And with predictions of up to 14 or 15 named storms this year, to have the "A" storm out of the way so early is indicative, perhaps, of a season ahead that could be very, very troublesome for people all along the hurricane prone coastlines. Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and up into the Carolinas. So this could well, Betty, be a long season ahead for all of us.

Betty.

NGUYEN: The bottom line, the season is expected, it's just not wanted.

John Zarrella, thank you so much for that report.

Western Cuba could see flooding, even though Arlene's fully defined center has passed north of the island. CNN's Lucia Newman is the Havana bureau chief there and she joins us by telephone with the situation.

Are you seeing flooding already, Lucia?

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.

Well, here in Havana, the rain is already subsiding, although it had been raining nonstop last night. The same thing and even more intensely in neighboring Pinar del Rio provinces, which is just on the western tip of Cuba. So far there are not reports of flooding or of major flooding here.

But the tropical storm, while not a hurricane, did prompt authorities on Thursday afternoon to do something that's routine here. They evacuated thousands of people living in low-lying coastal areas in Pinar del Rio just as a precaution. And, in fact, all schools were suspended in both Havana and Havana province and Pinar del Rio for all of today.

But the worst of the storm seems to have passed. The eye passing about two hours ago on the tip of Western Cuba.

Now, unlike what John was saying in Florida, Cuba is witnessing its worst drought in a century. So general terms, this rain, Betty, is actually very, very welcomed here. Although too much of a good thing, of course, could be damaging, especially to the tobacco crop, which is used to make Cuba's famous cigars.

Betty.

NGUYEN: But this is just the beginning of this hurricane season. Much more is to come.

How are Cubans preparing for a busy season?

NEWMAN: Absolutely. From everything that we've heard from the experts and the weather center, this season is supposed to be as bad, if not worse, than last year. And there are still thousands of people here in Cuba living in shelters from after having lost their homes and everything they had last year. After Ivan and Charlie passed.

So the Cuban authorities are very good at evacuating people, getting them out of harm's way from the actual storm. The real crisis in Cuba usually comes in the aftermath. Trying to pick up the pieces. This country doesn't have the resources to do that, Betty.

NGUYEN: Lucia Newman, we thank you for that report out of Havana today.

And, of course, you can follow Arlene and the changing weather forecast on our Web site. All you have to do is click on cnn.com/weather.

In our "Security Watch" today, President Bush is focusing this hour on terrorism and the nation's efforts to combat it. Right now he's at the nation's new Counterterrorism Center, the hub of Washington's war on terror. And later he will meet with South Korea's leader. CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the White House with a closer look.

Good morning, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.

As we speak, President Bush is in Tyson's Corner, Virginia, touring the National Counterterrorism Center. And he'll be speaking with workers there and, for a second day in a row, making a pitch to renew some expiring measures of the Patriot Act. Now, though some charge that certain provisions of the Patriot Act do give law enforcement too much power and violate American civil rights, President Bush yesterday told an audience in Ohio the act has, instead, kept Americans safe from terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At the end of this year, 16 critical provisions of the Patriot Act are scheduled to expire. Some people call these sunset provisions. It's a good name because letting that -- those provisions expire would leave law enforcement in the dark.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: When President Bush returns to the White House later this morning, he'll be meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. On their agenda, topping it, is how to deal with North Korea's expanding nuclear program. President Bush wants to get Pyongyang to return to the six-party nuclear disarmament talks that have been stall for nearly a year. President Bush even saying that U.N. sanctions are an option down the road, but that's not an option that South Korea supports. The President Roh, instead, is expected to press Mr. Bush to use diplomacy to end the stalemate calling a military solution unacceptable.

Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Kathleen Koch.

Thank you.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are also focusing on the Patriot Act. Members of the House Judiciary Committee are discussing renewal of the legislation. This is a live look at that right now. They are hearing from representatives of various rights groups who argue that the Patriot Act can trample civil rights. Or civil liberties. Earlier on "American Morning," the federal government's top lawyer addressed those concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALBERTO GONZALEZ, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I believe the protection of civil liberties and our privacy rights is extremely important. That is one of my priorities at the Department of Justice. Protection of our country is an equal priority. I do not believe that they are exclusive. I believe that we can have both and I think the Patriot Act shows that we can have both.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Gonzalez also says that careful scrutiny after 9/11 helped bring about changes that leave the United States in a much better position to guard against future terror attacks.

The Justice Department has issued a blistering report of what it called the FBI's missed opportunities to unravel the terrorist's 9/11 plans. The report cites five chances to uncover important information about the terrorists months before they hijacked the airliners. Now they include the FBI seemingly lackluster investigation of two Saudi men suspected of terrorist highs. They would later helped commandeer the airliners. And the report says the FBI didn't follow a lead provided by one of its own agents. He told his superiors that there was a coordinated effort by Osama bin Laden to send students to the U.S. to study plots involving aircraft.

You'll want to be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. Well, there is more drama from the Jackson trial. One overly zealous fan gets the judge's attention. We'll tell you how.

Plus, a judge's son is among the latest arrested in the case of a missing girl until Aruba. We'll have more detail about the suspects. That is coming up.

And later, she's only 17 years old and she is trying to change the law. Hear what this teenage has to say to members of Congress.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We turn now to the case of a missing Alabama student on Aruba. We're learning more about one of those arrested in this investigation. CNN's Karl Penhaul has been covering the story and has this update.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In handcuffs, a towel draped over his head, this is one of three new suspects police arrested in the hunt for Natalee Holloway. In total, five men are now in custody, but there's no sign of the missing teenager. No clue whether she's alive or dead.

KARIN JANSSEN, ARUBA CHIEF PROSECUTOR: At this stage, we can't say what we are presuming at this moment. We have too little details to say -- we -- all options are open.

PENHAUL: Natalee drove away from Carlos 'n Charlie's bar in the wee hours of May 30th with the three teenagers now held in police cells, according to their own statements. Police said she'd met 17- year-old Joran Van Der Sloot, the son of an island justice official, at the Holiday Inn where Natalee was staying a day before she disappeared.

JAN VAN DER STRATEN, ARUBA CHIEF POLICE COMM.: They met each other in the -- in the casino.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That day or a previous day or . . .

VAN DER STRATEN: The day before.

PENHAUL: The two other men detain Thursday are brothers, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe. There's been no statement yet on their behalf. The other suspects detained at the weekend are security guards. Their defense attorneys' insist they had nothing to did with Natalee's disappearance. Police previously interviewed the teenagers but waited until Thursday, 11 days after Natalee's disappearance, to arrest them. They confiscated property, including a car and a computer.

JANSSEN: It is because of technical reasons we didn't do that at another moment.

PENHAUL: Relatives of the first two suspects fear wealth and race issues may cloud the investigation. MIKEY JOHN (ph): And it's something about money wise, who's rich and who's poor.

PENHAUL: That's Mickey John, one of the first two suspects detained from a black immigrant family from the poorer east end of Aruba. That's Van Der Sloot, from an influential family from the richer west end. Prosecutors say evidence, not prejudice, will be the key.

JANSSEN: The suspicion of a suspect has nothing to do with the color of his skin. It has to do with the results of the investigation. If there are grounds for suspicion.

PENHAUL: Karl Penhaul, CNN, Palm Beach, Aruba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: This just in. We have a developing story out of San Antonio, Texas.

Take a look at this. In the middle of your screen in an 18 wheeler that is flip on its side. Now as you can see, there's no traffic around this. This has happened in Northeast San Antonio with Interstate 35 and at the 410 exchange there. Traffic has been put to a standstill here. The lanes have been shut down because of this accident.

And here is why. Not only is this tanker truck on its side involving a rollover, but it is carrying what is believed to be explosive material. We understand from fire officials that the truck's manifest shows that its carrying a ton and a half of material used to ignite explosives and they also contains highly explosive ammonium nitrate.

Now, the homes and businesses around this area, they are being evacuated. All the homes and businesses within a half-mile radius. As you can see, the freeway has been shut down. This is in Northeast San Antonio where an 18 wheeler has overturned. We're getting this video or actually this live picture from our affiliate WOAI. And, of course, we will monitor this situation and bring you the latest as it comes in to us.

Still ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY, she's only 17-years-old and she is trying to protect other children from facing the pain she did. Her message coming up.

Plus, Gerri Willis joins us live.

Hi, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Betty, good to see you.

We're going to tell you how to keep your kids safe and busy this summer when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: This just in to CNN. Take a look at these pictures. It's a busy day on the freeways across America.

This is in Boca Raton, Florida, where a bus carrying children was in an accident with an 18 wheeler. Many of the children were injured. You're seeing rescue crews right now on the scene treating those children. We understand as many as 24 children have been hurt in this accident. Some of them even ejected from the bus.

And when we get a wider picture here, you will see traffic is backed up because of this accident. One side of the freeway, in fact, is shut down. There's no traffic on that side.

But the immediate concern right now are the people injured in this accident. An 18 wheeler right there, as you seer, slammed into a bus. We don't know exactly how it occurred but a bus carrying children. Many of those children are injured. As many as 24 have sustained some type of injuries. And we understand some of the children were, in fact, ejected from the bus upon collision.

I'm also being told that Florida Highway Patrol is trying to get a rescue helicopter to this scene, which gives you an idea of how these -- how really important these injuries are -- life-threatening these injuries are involving this accident with that white school bus that you see in the middle of your screen right now and that 18 wheeler, which may be carrying a load of some type of wood.

But the most important thing right now are the people injured. You can see many crews on the scene right now. Fire and rescue crews treating the injured. Some of them -- we don't know exactly how this happened or when it happened but, of course, it is slowing traffic down.

As for the bus driver, we have not been told about that person's condition, nor the driver of the 18 wheeler. But we do know at this point that some 24 children have been hurt in this accident. Again, some of them ejected from this bus, which can cause major injuries. And Florida is trying to get a rescue helicopter to the scene to carry some of the injured to a nearby hospital and get them immediate treatment.

Of course, we'll continue to follow all of this and bring you the latest developments as they come in to CNN.

All right. Perhaps you have a teenager just hanging around the house this summer. Well, it's not too late to provide a valuable experience for them and give yourself a break, too. CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here with today's "Top Five Tips."

And I guess one of the tips is, get out there, go to work, would you, already?

WILLIS: That's not a bad idea, right? You learn important skills in the workplace.

Listen, the problem with getting a job for teenagers right now is that they're competing with seniors, they're competing with underemployed 20-somethings. So it can be tough to find a good job. But I don't think they have to be satisfied with the typical mall job. Look, if you look a little harder, you can find something more interesting and where you can make more money. Non-traditional jobs like managing in-store promotions can pay as much as $14 an hour compared to $5.15 minimum wage. So check out teensforhire.com for more ideas about finding that special job that will give you a real skill set too when you get to the real workplace.

NGUYEN: All right, Gerri, besides a job, are there other ways for teenagers to build skill, leadership skills during the summertime?

WILLIS: I think volunteerism (ph) is a great idea. And there's a particularly interesting program from Habitat for Humidity. A two week special program where they put kids to work building houses for people who are less fortunate. It's called their Summer Youth Blitz. Now, they don't get paid but room and board is included and what a fabulous experience this is! Working on these houses, you learn how to work on a house. You learn just really great values on the scene there.

NGUYEN: And it's very rewarding.

You know, something else that is rewarding is going back to school, but is that just too cruel to ask since they just got out of school?

WILLIS: I don't know. Maybe you should -- I think it's a good idea. Look, if you're worried about your child getting into the best possible college, there are great programs to go to over the summertime where they can sharpen their academic skills, they don't have to spend the whole summer there. And from what we've found, some of these courses are for as little as $1,000, compared to $1,500 for a usual summer camp. So it compares favorably. You get tutoring, internships. I think it's a good idea, not for all kids, but some kid.

NGUYEN: I know when I was on summer break as kid growing up, I'd always take a trip with the family. And you know what, Gerri, I learned a lot from that. That should be a valuable tool, right, take a trip with the kids?

WILLIS: And from the parents' point of view, you've got to find something that's fun for them, but also allows you to relax a little bit. Who about going to a dude ranch because you can find something to do, they can find something to do. That's a great idea. You can also, if you decide to vacation in the city, think about getting in contact with childrensconcierge.com. Now, Betty, listen to this. I couldn't believe this. This group of people, they put together special behavioral games to help . . .

NGUYEN: What?

WILLIS: That help your kids play better together, react well. You know, they learn life lessons. I thought it was great.

NGUYEN: Behavioral games. Sounds like a lot of fun there, Gerri. All right!

WILLIS: Check out familytravelnetwork.com too for some ideas on how to travel together as a family.

NGUYEN: All right. And, you know, a lot of -- I see on the screen right here, a lot of folks are saying, hey, get out of there. Go to China. Go somewhere far away.

WILLIS: Well, you can literally do that. There's a program where you send your kids away for six weeks. They take these kids to developing countries all over the world and they learn all about these cultures. What a special situation that is.

If you want to do that, the program is called, wheretheybedragons.com. You can find it on the Web, but it is pricey. You pay a lot money for the privilege of sending your kids on road for six months, Some $4,800. So it depends on how desperate you are.

NGUYEN: Yes, if you need that much time by yourself without the kids. For some people, it may be worth the money.

All right, Gerri Willis, thank you so much.

WILLIS: Thank you.

NGUYEN: We are following a developing story out of South Florida. Take a look at this live picture right now. As many as two dozen children have been injured in a school bus accident in Boca Raton. Apparently the vehicle was struck by a lumber truck. Now, we don't have any word on the extent of injuries, but we are keeping a close eye on this, and we'll bring you any developments.

Well, this is Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The maximum sustained winds have increased to about 55 miles an hour. It's primarily a flood threat from western Cuba to Florida' Keys and the West Coast. It's expected, though, to hit the Gulf Coast Sunday.

Now tropical storm watch stretches from central Louisiana all the way to the Florida Panhandle.

This is the view from South Florida, where memories of last year's record hurricane season are still painfully fresh. Arlene is not expected to reach hurricane strength. So rain and flooding are the primary fears for Floridians. Many also see it as an unsettling reminder that forecasters predict this will be a very active hurricane season.

In Iraq, witnesses say at least 16 bodies have been found scattered in a town near the Syrian border. At least one victim had been beheaded; 11 had their hands tied behind their back. All wore civilian clothing. The area is considered an insurgent stronghold.

And Bush administration officials say they are deeply concerned with what Syria is doing in Lebanon. A State Department source tells CNN the U.S. believes Syrian operatives plan to try to assassinate senior Lebanese politicians. The source also says Syrian military intelligence forces are returning to Lebanon with a campaign of intimidation. Syrian forces pulled out of Lebanon this spring. The move followed global pressure in the wake of a former Lebanese leader's assassination.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, a horse-drawn buggy is no match for a core on an Ohio road. We'll look at what caused the accident, coming up.

And later, one 17-year-old has an important message, and she is taking it all the way to Capitol Hill. A look at how it can help keep your children safe.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Looking now to other stories making news coast to coast. A small child died in suburban Milwaukee after being left inside a hot day care van for most of the day. Police say the two-year-old girl was accidentally left behind in the vehicle in the morning, and wasn't discovered until mid-afternoon. Outside temperatures yesterday were in the 80s. No charges have been filed.

In Ohio, hospital officials say none of the injuries from this horrific crash appeared to be life threatening. Four adults and five children were thrown from an Amish buggy when it was rear-ended by a car around dusk on a country road.

And in Los Angeles, two separate shootings yesterday along the freeways. Police say one man was wounded in a gang-related shooting between two vehicles on the Century Freeway. That highway was shutdown for about an hour. In another incident, a bullet hit an ambulance on the Long Beach Freeway. No one was hurt.

Now, another type of violence. The sexual abuse of children. When we think of such attacks, we usually think of the abuser being an adult, but the number of sexual offenders who are juveniles might surprise you. The statistics we have are not current, but they do give a picture of the problem. Juveniles account for about 16 percent of forcible rape arrests in 1995, and 17 percent of those arrested for other sex offenses.

Amie Zyla was eight years old when she was sexually assaulted by a teenager. A decade later, Amie has gone public with the story of her molestation. Her campaign to protect children has led to the passage of Amie's Law in her home state of Wisconsin. Now, Amie and her father are working to make that law a national one.

CNN's Ed Henry spoke with them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like many high school juniors, 17-year-old Amie Zyla is busy mulling her future with her father's help.

A. ZYLA: I want to become a hair designer and open up my own salon.

HENRY: But they're also still dealing with Amie's past. At the age of 8, she was sexually assaulted by a family friend, a memory so raw, this shy young lady still has trouble talking about the incident that shattered her childhood in Wisconsin.

The abuser was 14-year-old Joshua Wade, who didn't just sexually assault Amie.

MARK ZYLA, FATHER OF AMIE: He also had threatened her life. He was building a bomb with her name on it after she had turned him in.

HENRY: Wad was prosecuted and convicted in juvenile court for what he did to Amie. He was sent off to Ethan Allen School, a youth correctional center outside Milwaukee. That helped Amie and her family start the process of healing, secure in the notion that Wade could not abuse any other kids.

That's why the Zylas were stunned in January, when they saw the face of Wade, now 23 years old, pop up on the local TV news, charged with more crimes against children.

M. ZYLA: And, all of a sudden, he walks on to the television screens and just kind of walks back into our lives. This can't be. What is he doing out? And why don't we know it? You know, and I was angry. I was confused.

HENRY: After being released from the detention facility, Wade became a youth mentor. He later admitted to police he had videotaped more than 30 kids in his bathroom with a hidden cam and had sexually assaulted some of the kids repeatedly.

A. ZYLA: It scared me and made me mad, because knowing that he was out there and doing it to other kids made me mad. Like, what he did to me didn't count. Like, what happened to me didn't matter to anybody, because he was out and able to do it to so many other kids.

HENRY: After he served his sentence for abusing Amie, Wade was required to register as a sex offender with the Wisconsin police. But there was a glitch. Since Wade was a juvenile at the time of the crime, the police didn't notify the local community, because Wisconsin law prohibited disclosures of juvenile sex offenses. So, his background appeared to be squeaky clean. And the Zylas had no idea Wade was back on the streets.

M. ZYLA: Why don't I know that he's out, you know? This is a man who sexually abused my daughter, threatened her life, and now is just out doing it again. We were appalled, I think, is a good word for it.

HENRY: Despite that horror, they decided it was time to take action.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. This just in. We want to get you an update on this accident in Boca Raton, Florida, which involved an 18-wheeler and a bus carrying many children have been injured because of this incident.

We on the phone with us, Captain Don DeLucia, Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue. Captain DeLucia, talk to us about exactly what happened here. What caused this accident?

CAPT. DON DELUCIA, PALM BEACH CO. FIRE RESCUE: I don't have all the specifics as to what caused this. Hold on a second. I'm getting information as we're talking.

NGUYEN: Sure.

DELUCIA: It appears to have been an accident between a flatbed semi loaded with wooden pallets and a small -- not really a typical yellow school bus. This one says Migrant Association of South Florida on it. The semi appears to be into the side of the bus. The bus, they're telling me, had a total of 25. Can you hear me still?

NGUYEN: I can hear you. 25 students on that bus.

DELUCIA: With about 25 total. At this point, it looks like five children have -- are being considered trauma alerts. They're being taken to the local trauma center. And...

NGUYEN: So these are major life-threatening injuries that we're talking about?

DELUCIA: I believe some of them are. They have to be serious enough to go to the trauma center. If it's life-threatening, that's where they're going.

NGUYEN: OK. So five injuries in that category. What about the rest of the children?

DELUCIA: don't have an exact count. There are quite a few ambulances here, quite a few rescue trucks, and they're all working on patients. So there's going to considerably more going to the hospital, with lesser injuries. I just can't give you an exact head count at this time.

NGUYEN: Do we have any idea about the ages of these children?

DELUCIA: It appears that the age group is like between eight and 14. And that's just a guess from looking at the faces. So it's a mixed group.

NGUYEN: Do you know where they were headed?

DELUCIA: I do not.

NGUYEN: OK. So what time did this accident happen? Was this a rush hour situation?

DELUCIA: Well, on the turnpike, the traffic is pretty heavy. I would -- I'm estimating it happened about within the last hour. NGUYEN: OK. And traffic is, obviously, at a standstill. Has parts of the freeway there been shut down?

DELUCIA: Yes, they have. They have shut it down thoroughly in this area and the on-ramp around Del Ray and Boca in this area have been shut down.

NGUYEN: We're looking at live pictures now of this tractor- trailer carrying -- actually, these are taped pictures now with our affiliate WSBN -- of this tractor-trailer carrying these wooden pallets. It looks like it slammed into the side and it's still lodge into the bus right now?

DELUCIA: Yes.

NGUYEN: And what about the driver of both of these vehicles? What do you know about those people?

DELUCIA: At this point, I've only been here probably less than ten minutes. I don't know the status of the drivers. Just -- you know, all I've been able to give you is the head count on the children at this point.

NGUYEN: We're looking right now at a picture of a helicopter there on the scene, which is carrying -- you said there was five students who need some immediate care, at trauma facilities that are nearby. There were 25 children on this bus. How long is this scene going to be up and running? I mean, are you just overwhelmed with the amount of people needing treatment?

DELUCIA: At this point, we've got a lot of units here, both rescue trucks, ambulances, engines. A lot of crews are working on patients. I'm sure it's going to be ongoing for at least another hour, another few more hours after that, easily, for the investigation part.

NGUYEN: Besides the children needing to get to the hospital and be treated for their injuries, is there any concern about the vehicles involved? Any possibility that something could ignite?

DELUCIA: I don't believe so at this time.

NGUYEN: OK. So traffic is backed up. Do you have any idea how long this situation is going to be there on the roadways or when folks can actually be diverted to a detour and get about their way today?

DELUCIA: You might want to check with the highway patrol on that, but I'm sure it's going to be shut down for quite a few hours.

NGUYEN: All right. We want thank you for your time, Captain Don DeLucia with Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue there. We're looking at a live picture right now of the helicopter, which is taking children to a nearby trauma center. Five children having some major injuries because of this accident.

Again, to recap, this accident between a school bus and a flatbed 18-wheeler carrying wooden pallets. The truck is lodged still inside the side of that bus. We, of course, will continue to follow this developing story and bring you the latest information as 25 children were onboard, many of them injured.

NGUYEN: We want to shift gears to another accident, as well, that we are still learning information about. This one in Texas. San Antonio, Texas, in fact, in the northeastern sector of the city. That in the bottom right-hand side of your screen towards the middle is an 18-wheeler on its side. It has flipped over in an accident today. This is I-35, near the 40 -- 410 Interchange, that is, in San Antonio.

The situation here is that this tractor-trailer is carrying what is believed to be explosives. That's because fire officials say that the truck's manifest shows that it's carrying a ton and a half of a material used to ignite explosives and may also contain highly explosive ammonium nitrate. As you can see in this live picture right now, there are no cars on the freeway and we are being told that it's going to be some 16 hours before this section of the interstate will be reopened.

And just as a precaution in the area, rescue crews are making sure that homes and businesses within a half-mile radius are being evacuated, just in case something might ignite with this 18-wheeler that is tipped on its side, that you see right there in this live picture.

Again, an 18-wheeler in an accident, in northeastern San Antonio, off of Interstate 35, and the 410 Interchange. This 18-wheeler is carrying explosives, so a lot of precaution's being taken and the highway's going to be shut down for some 16 hours.

We'll continue to keep you posted. You're watching CNN's LIVE TODAY.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: Are you still alive, baby?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Lots of movies out there this weekend, but this is the one getting all of the buzz. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play husband and wife assassins, ultimately hired to take out each other. Sounds like a fairly typical marriage to me.

Mr. Moviefone, also known as Russ Leatherman, has seen it, and he joins us from Los Angeles, with our Friday preview of the new releases.

Let me ask about this. All right, we've heard about the alleged romance and we've seen all the billboards, the promos. Does this movie really live up to the hype?

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Well, the odd thing is that the movie has nothing to do with the hype, right? We actually get to talk about the movie, which is so weird. You're right. This isn't the first round of the sort of tomcat, "Bradgelina" publicity.

NGUYEN: Bradgelina, yes.

LEATHERMAN: You like that one, don't you?

Yes, and you described the movie. It's about a married couple. They're bored, and they discover that each other assassins when they're hired to kill each other.

Now let me tell you what I thought about this movie. There's been so much hype, so much talk about the publicity. I don't think the movie is as good, frankly, as the love hype publicity.

NGUYEN: Really?

LEATHERMAN: Well, here's why. I thought it was pretty tedious. I thought the plot was really thin. Now you have two beautiful people on screen, almost the most beautiful people in the world, other than say maybe you and me.

NGUYEN: We're the only ones voting.

LEATHERMAN: And no one wants to watch them just try to kill each other an hour and a half either. I thought the movie was tedious. I knew a half hour in exactly what we were going to get, and they're going after each other, and it's all going to good in the end.

NGUYEN: Well, that's the promo. You already know that before you go in.

LEATHERMAN: You really do.

NGUYEN: So for those who want to see this movie just to see if you can see an inkling of this romance between the two, do you see any of that on screen?

LEATHERMAN: Well, you do a little bit, but there are only really two very short love scenes. And like I said, the movie's going to be more interesting to see as sort of a pop culture phenomenon than it is a good movie. But you know what, these are two beautiful people. You saw Brad running around in his underwear there. Angelina...

NGUYEN: Not bad.

LEATHERMAN: That's not bad. Angelina is vamping more than she is acting, but for a lot of people, that's going to be enough. So it's going to make a bazillion dollars, and you check it out.

NGUYEN: And the rest is history. All right, we've got to move quickly to "The Honeymooners." Let's talk about this film. Is it as good as the popular television series? LEATHERMAN: Well, let's just say that Jackie Gleason is probably rolling in his grave right now, and we can make this short by simply saying this is probably one of the worst movies of the year.

NGUYEN: Really?

LEATHERMAN: Yes, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps. You they are scheming, plotting guys, and really, there's barely a funny line in the movie. So I would say if you're looking for a comedy, you probably got to look elsewhere.

NGUYEN: No good news from Mr. Moviefone on this Friday. OK, thank you.

LEATHERMAN: By the way, you got to go see "Cinderella Man." If you're looking for a good movie, "Cinderella Man" the one to see.

NGUYEN: OK. I hear it's the best.

Thank you.

LEATHERMAN: Bye-bye.

NGUYEN: We do have a developing story that we are following out of Boca Raton, Florida, where a collision between an 18 wheeler and a bus -- you see it right there -- has left at least five children in serious condition. We'll have the latest from there coming up.

And a verdict could come any hour in the Michael Jackson case. But in the meantime, an army of journalists are camped out in Santa Maria, California. We'll look at the media circus and hear how local residents feel about all this attention.

The seconds hour of CNN LIVE TODAY right after this.

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