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CNN Live At Daybreak

Courthouse Shootout; Gaza Pullout; Iran Nuclear Crisis

Aired August 10, 2005 - 5:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It is Wednesday, August 10. A bold and deadly courthouse escape. An explosion of gunfire in Tennessee. A Bonnie and Clyde-style shootout leaves a guard dead and police anxious to find his killer.
Fire in the night. And the warning to nearby residents: run.

Also ahead, are weapons crossing the border from Iran to Iraq? And are they helping the insurgents? Our Barbara Starr has that story.

Good morning from the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in today for Carol Costello.

We'll have more on that courthouse shooting in a moment.

Also this hour, heading back to the mound. Kenny Rogers gambles and comes out a winner.

And later, why 50 Cent may be hanging out at a bookstore near you.

But first, "Now in the News."

Four U.S. soldiers have been killed and six others wounded in an attack on their patrol in northern Iraq. The attack occurred in the oil refining town of Baiji. That area is patrolled by members of the 42nd Infantry Division.

In Afghanistan, another deadly attack on U.S. troops. One soldier is dead, another is recovering from wounds. They were the victims of an improvised explosive device.

President Bush walks his boots or wing tips today. He takes a break from a vacation at his Texas ranch to sign a massive transportation bill. But not all of the bill deals with roads and bridges. We'll dish up the pork about a quarter after the hour.

After a trip of more than five-and-a-half million miles, finally the last leg of the NASA shuttle crew's trip home. They leave California and will be in Houston, Texas, later today at the NASA space center.

And Chad, good morning to you.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Fredricka.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: A brazen breakout in Tennessee shocked a crowd outside a courthouse in the small town of Kingston. Police are searching for a man and his wife after the two escaped following the man's court appearance.

CNN's David Mattingly is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inmate George Hyatte walked out of the county courthouse in Kingston, Tennessee, looking at 30 more years in prison when he took matters into his own hands.

JIM WASHAM, KINGSTON POLICE CHIEF: When the correctional officer brought him out and was loading him back up, a dark colored SUV appeared behind a van. Mr. Hyatte hollered, "Shoot him!"

MATTINGLY: According to authorities, Hyatte's wife, a former prison nurse, opened fire, killing one officer. The two escaped, but it's believed one of them was wounded in the shootout.

WASHAM: We did find the vehicle they escaped in. It is a blue Explorer SUV. There is blood in the driver's side. The other correctional officer did get a shot off, apparently striking one of the individuals. We don't know which one yet. But it appears that most of the blood is on the driver's side.

MATTINGLY: Hyatt's wife is identified as Jennifer Hyatte, who, according to a corrections spokeswoman, lost her job as a prison nurse because of her romantic relationship with the inmate she later married.

George Hyatte has a long and violent criminal history. He escaped from jail twice before, once in 1998 and again in 2002. Both times he was recaptured in other states.

MARK GWYN, TBI DIRECTOR: I guess they just made the decision that they didn't have anything to lose and now was the most opportune time to make a break, and that's what they did.

MATTINGLY: The parking lot where it all took place was easily accessible and unguarded. As investigators trace the path of the flurry of bullets, it's a wonder bystanders were not shot as well. From this point, the state line is just an hour away, but the question remains, how far could they go?

George Hyatte was wearing handcuffs, leg irons and waste chains. And either he or his wife may need medical attention.

(on camera): And yet, there are leads to be checked out, according to investigators, coming in from hundreds of miles away as the scope of this manhunt continues to grow.

David Mattingly, CNN, Kingston, Tennessee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And for more on this story, stay close. Kingston, Tennessee, police chief Jim Washam is joining me live in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

News "Across America" this morning.

It's a regular "Dante's Inferno." The ground shook and flames shot high into the air when a huge fire broke out last night at a suburban Detroit chemical plant. Hundreds of homes in the communities of Romulus and Wayne were evacuated. One official says a tank exploded and set off several others. No injuries have been reported.

A jury in Alabama rejects the claim by a murdered defendant's attorney who says the video game "Grand Theft Auto" and child abuse were behind the shootings. Twenty-year-old Devon Moore was convicted of killing two Fayette police officers and a dispatcher in 2003. The prosecutor called him a "cold-blooded killer."

The spigots are dry in parts of the Midwest. A drought has gripped the region. Some farmers compare it to the drought of 1988. And Illinois agriculture officials say only five percent of croplands have adequate moisture.

And it's play ball in New Bedford, Rhode Island. Several games were canceled last week after two fights involving parents. One parent is barred. Makeup games for the Wheeling City Little League resume this week. But the league's top official says there is now zero tolerance for a fight.

An arbitrator has overruled Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and reinstated Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers. Rogers had been suspended for 20 games after a confrontation with two television cameramen. Now Rogers will be allowed to play tomorrow, after sitting out just 13 games, and that has Selig seeing red.

Selig says, "It sends the wrong message to every one of our constituents, the fans, the media, and our players. There is a standard of behavior that is expected of our players, which was breached in this case. In my opinion, the decision is seriously ill- conceived."

Chad, what do you think about that? I know you're a big baseball fan.

MYERS: I can't believe he's not in jail. I mean, obviously, either the guy didn't press charges or something. People are in jail for a lot less serious stuff than that.

WHITFIELD: Yes. I mean, that is assault.

MYERS: You bet. Absolutely. So we want to know what you think as well. That is our email DAYBREAK "Question of the Day."

Play Ball. Should Kenny Rogers have been reinstated? And, you know, in fairness to baseball, baseball said no.

This is an arbitrator. This is some -- this may be arbitrary. The arbitrator came up with this that said, hell, 13 games is enough, he can go back.

Go to DAYBREAK@CNN.COM -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Chad. Thanks so much.

MYERS: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: Well, tensions are running on edge in the Jewish settlements in Gaza. Israeli troops and settlers begin a controversial pullout on Monday.

Live now, let's go to our Guy Raz in Gaza.

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, as each day passes here in the Gaza settlement, the reality of the demise of this project is setting in more and more. We are in Nevedeh Khalin (ph). This is the largest of the 21 Jewish settlements here in Gaza.

Over my shoulder you can see some of the red roof homes of this community. It's a community that sits right on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. And for 30 years, successive Israeli governments encouraged its citizens to come and settle here in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

Now, about 8,500 Israelis did just that, building these communities all thought would become permanent. All of that, of course, is soon to come to an end, when the Israeli government begins the process of removing all of its citizens from this strip of land it first occupied in 1967.

Now, many of the settlers have already started to move out. They started to pack up. Most of them will relocate just a few miles north of here within the recognized boundaries of Israel. And each family will receive a compensation package of $250,000 to $500,000.

Now, anyone who remains in these settlements after the 14th of August at midnight will be considered illegal. And at that point, the Israeli army will begin the process of forcibly removing them from their homes -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Guy, you said most have already left, leaving about how many behind that would have to be ushered along come Monday?

RAZ: Well, it's estimated that about a third of the residents here in these settlements will stay throughout the evacuation period. The fear among security services in Israel is that there are between 1,500, perhaps as many as 2,000 outsiders who have come into these settlements in the past few weeks and months. And those supporters, hard-line supporters of this settlement movement, may be very difficult to remove from these areas. And that is where we expect to see some of the clashes, if there are any, during this three-week period of evacuation here in Gaza -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Guy Raz. Thanks so much, from Gaza.

Coming up, lung cancer, it's not just a smoker's disease. Coming up, we'll tell you who's in danger of coming down with this debilitating illness.

And we're ferreting out the pork in a massive spending bill on its way to the president. Can you smell the bacon cooking?

And in Florida, they're ferreting out a pest of another kind. We'll tell you about something that sounds like a snipe hunt. But I promise this one's for real.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The international markets are all looking brighter this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is up almost 200 points. The London FTSE is higher by eight. And the German DAX is up 35.

The Iranian nuclear crisis has reached a critical point. Today, the Iranian government plans to break the seals on their nuclear plant and resume uranium conversion activities. Those seals were put on by the International Atomic Energy Agency. There's a diplomatic scramble to find a solution to this crisis.

CNN's Walter Rodgers joins us live from the IAEA headquarters in Vienna -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna is going to meet again this afternoon to give the Iranians one more chance to come into compliance with what the western powers want. What the western powers want is Iran to completely shut down its uranium enrichment process at its nuclear reactor at Isfahan.

Now, that has been temporarily -- or partially restarted, and it will be fully restarted later today if the Iranians make good on their pledge to remove the seals from some of the rooms and some of the equipment in Isfahan. The seals are about the size of this two euro coin or about the size of an American dollar. They have a small wire going through them, and it's kind of like a lock which determines whether someone has tampered with machinery in this uranium enrichment process or gone into a control room which has been shut down.

The Iranians say the seals are coming off today, they are going to go full bore, full throttle. That presents the United Nations and the western community in particular with a real dilemma, because these -- this uranium enrichment process has a dual purpose.

The Iranians say it will produce fuel to power their nuclear reactors that produce electricity, which they say they need. That is true. It's all quite legitimate.

On the other hand, that same uranium enrichment process also produces weapons-grade uranium which the Iranians could use to build a nuclear arsenal. And that's what everyone's struggling with here at this time -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Walter Rodgers in Vienna. Thanks so much.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is now 15 minutes after the hour. And here's what's all new this morning.

Police in Tennessee are searching for an escaped inmate and his wife after the two got away by firing on armed guards outside a courthouse. One guard was killed in the shootout.

How much did U.S. intelligence officials know about some of the hijackers before the September 11 terrorist attacks? The 9/11 Commission is looking into that. They want to know if U.S. defense intelligence officials identified ringleader Mohammed Atta and three other hijackers as a likely part of an al Qaeda cell more than a year before the hijackings but didn't tell law enforcement.

In money, the Federal Reserve raised the target for short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point. It's the tenth consecutive increase. Fed chairman Alan Greenspan says we can expect another hike next month.

In culture, some of the biggest names in jazz are headed to the Hall of Fame. The 12 inductees include Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman and Count Basie. The jazz hall opened at Lincoln Center last year.

In sports, defending NASCAR champion Kurt Busch is changing teams. Busch signed a deal to drive for Penske Racing starting in 2007. He is expected to drive the number two car that's being vacated by the retiring Rusty Wallace.

And in weather -- Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: President Bush is set to sign a massive highway bill later on today. Critics say too much of the $286 billion is tied up in pork barrel politics. Those projects include a Henry Ford museum in -- in Michigan, rather, a snow mobile trail in Vermont, and a $2 million parking structure in Montana.

CNN Congressional Correspondent Joe Johns has more on what the highway bill is all about. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's about highways, bridges, and other transportation improvements, and it's about bringing goodies to the folks back home, goodies that help get members of Congress reelected. Goodies that make members of Congress look like they're doing something on Capitol Hill.

KEITH ASHDOWN, TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE: It's packed with pork for every congressional district in the nation. It's too expensive, and it really doesn't deal with the nation's transportation problems, like congestion.

JOHNS: The numbers are staggering. More than 6,300 projects worth an estimated $24 billion, according to a watchdog group, Taxpayers for Common Sense. A $200 million bridge in Alaska named for Don Young, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, more than $16 million just for bike paths in the Minnesota congressional district of the committee's top Democrat, Jim Oberstar.

All told, Oberstar's district will get more than $120 million for transportation projects, almost 10 times more than the average congressman. Why?

REP. JAMES OBERSTAR (D), MINNESOTA: Because I've put in the most time, put in 31 years in the Congress.

JOHNS: The bill also funds horse trails, traffic lights, and transit systems. Even a daycare center in Illinois. Many members of Congress defend the bill as a creator of jobs.

OBERSTAR: This legislation is -- is a real shiny example of using our transportation funds to make society better.

JOHNS: While watchdog groups complain that the bill costs too much, some states are already arguing that they did not get their fair share.

Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Still to come this morning, as Dana Reeve's diagnosis proves lung cancer doesn't only strike smokers, a closer look at this disease straight ahead.

You're watching DAYBREAK for Wednesday, August 10.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MYERS: Well, we're getting some good answers this morning. Not many of you on Kenny Rogers' side.

Play ball. Should Kenny Rogers have been reinstated? MLB didn't do it. Baseball didn't do it. An arbitrator said, oh, 13 games is enough. And if he's a pitcher, what is that, maybe three games? Because you only pitch every one out of five.

DAYBREAK@CNN.COM, tell us what you think -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much.

And chances are if you're awake with us right now you slept through the late night talk shows.

MYERS: Oh, I certainly did.

WHITFIELD: Well, no worries. We've got some better punch lines straight ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID LETTERMAN, "THE LATE SHOW": Have you heard about this? Yesterday, here in New York City, scientists conducted a simulated gas attack in New York City yesterday. Simulated gas attack. And you could tell because the rats are running around holding hankies up to their faces.

I believe it was the biggest release of gas in Manhattan since -- well, I guess since the Republican convention. I don't know.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": "Dukes of Hazzard number one movie, taking in over $30 million. As Willie Nelson calls that, back taxes, basically, is what that is.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Time for some eye openers.

Chad, guess what -- it is opening season on what?

MYERS: The iguana.

WHITFIELD: Can you believe it? In the Florida Keys.

MYERS: Well, yes.

WHITFIELD: Apparently -- you know, apparently, there has been a real boom in the reproduction of these iguanas. And so, apparently now the officials are saying it's open season on hunting the iguanas.

MYERS: You know, I've had iguana in Curacao and it's not that good.

WHITFIELD: Really? MYERS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Ooh. Do you think the folks in Florida are actually considering putting it on a plate once they hunt them?

MYERS: I don't know. I hope not.

WHITFIELD: Well, apparently, banned are the use of firearms...

MYERS: Oh, OK.

WHITFIELD: ... when looking for them. Ooh, god, they -- OK, now it's creepy when you start seeing them jump into the water. Otherwise, I was kind of like, I think they're rather charming.

All right. Well, apparently, folks are putting the blame -- or placing the blame on pet shop owners. You know? And apparently, a lot of folks in Florida, they get -- they decide that it's just too much of a handful and they let them go.

MYERS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, how about the baby panda?

MYERS: Ah.

WHITFIELD: Take a look at this. And officials are saying, guess what? It is still a boy.

MYERS: All right.

WHITFIELD: After a second examination -- oh, my gosh. Is that not too adorable?

MYERS: Love those eyes. Wow.

WHITFIELD: Two-and-a-half pounds. Oh, but those eyes, they're not opened yet.

MYERS: They're not?

WHITFIELD: No, not quite. Not yet, even though it looks like it because of the markings. But it will be a little bit before it happens.

Well, let's hope this isn't the first thing the panda sees when those eyes do open.

MYERS: Butter.

WHITFIELD: Butter sculptures. OK.

MYERS: Parkay.

WHITFIELD: I have to say, this is a little strange. It's artful, but don't you think it's a little strange? That is a sculpture of Tiger Woods.

MYERS: Oh.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

MYERS: I didn't get it.

WHITFIELD: I don't know. I don't know. Butter, Tiger Woods. I don't get it either.

MYERS: It's not nice to full Mother Nature.

WHITFIELD: But, you know, that -- that artist is rather proud of that lion. She's known as the butter cow lady.

MYERS: They do that at the Ohio State Fair as well.

WHITFIELD: Do they?

MYERS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Well, maybe it's not so strange.

MYERS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right.

MYERS: You have to do something with all that butter.

Hey, DAYBREAK "Question of the Day." Play ball. Should Kenny Rogers have been reinstated by that arbitrator?

And from Barry -- it doesn't say from where, but it says, "Kenny Rogers didn't ruin anyone's career. How about Todd Bertuzzi being reinstated to the NHL for being allowed to represent the country in the Olympics? Now there's a disgrace you should cover."

And from Trevor, "These players should take their steroid rage off on Gatorade coolers, not innocent cameramen."

And then Don from North Carolina, "I think today's topic, Kenny Rogers, should have been banned full term, the entire season. Fans and children don't deserve to have to put up with some punk slapping a cameraman. He's biting the hands that feeds him. The press should be allowed to photo him because he makes millions of dollars and he's a public guy."

Here, "Dear Sir" -- from Michael in Westerville, Ohio -- "Kenny Rogers is not above the law. He should be in jail, not playing baseball. When are we going to stop tolerating this type of violent behavior from these players? We are showing our children that violence is acceptable. Nice example."

And then from Bud Selig -- I want you to know, Bud Selig says, "I strongly disagree with the arbitrator's decision today. It sends the wrong message."

And yes, it does. But that is what Major League Baseball is saying. MLB didn't reinstate him, an arbitrator did.

WHITFIELD: Maybe a little anger management course or something might be helpful.

MYERS: A couple of them.

WHITFIELD: Golly. Talk about short-tempered.

MYERS: Keep sending them in, though. We'll read more.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot, Chad.

MYERS: OK.

WHITFIELD: Here's what's all new in the next half-hour.

Lots of security checks before you get on a plane, but what about the cargo?

And an honor to be bestowed on U2. We'll tell you all about it later on DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Good morning. From the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in today for Carol Costello.

Welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK.

Coming up in the next 30 minutes, space shuttle Discovery is safely on the ground. We'll hear Commander Collins talk about the journey to outer space.

And later, why does lung cancer strike nonsmokers? We'll take a look.

But first, "Now in the News."

President Bush takes another break from his vacation in Texas. This time it's to sign into law the massive $286 billion highway bill. He'll do it at the Caterpillar Plant in suburban Chicago. The bill has come under tremendous criticisms for the amount of pork it includes.

Watch out, Hillary Clinton. Here comes Jeanine Pirro. The high- profiled New York district attorney will announce today that she's seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Senator Clinton's run for reelection next year.

And in Montana, firefighters are battling a 4,300-acre wildfire along Interstate 90.

I imagine it's very dry out there, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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