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CNN Live At Daybreak

Fugitives Caught; Smoking Ban; Facing Terror in Iraq

Aired August 11, 2005 - 06:29   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Thanks for waking up with us this morning. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Carol Costello.
Coming up this half-hour, a fugitive couple is caught after a 400-mile run. We'll have a live report.

And health concerns are leading another big city to consider a smoking ban. We'll look at who's next and why.

But first, "Now in the News."

Just minutes ago, a British court decided against immediate extradition for suspected terrorists. The U.S. Justice Department says Haroon Rashid Aswat (ph) tried to build a terror training camp in Oregon. The Associated Press reports that the court ordered Aswat held until September 8 in Britain.

One of two students who killed four middle school kids and a teacher gets out of prison today. It's been seven years since those school shootings in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Today is the convicted shooter Mitchell Johnson's 21st birthday. He was prosecuted as a juvenile. And since he's not one anymore, he gets out.

A new wildfire in Washington State has prompted more evacuations. Dozens of people have been moved out of their homes near Spokane. But firefighters are making some progress against a four-day-old fire that has destroyed as many as 100 residences.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: A captured Tennessee fugitive is expected in federal court today. George Hyatte and his wife were caught by U.S. marshals, police and the FBI late last night in Columbus, Ohio. The couple fled Kingston, Tennessee, after Jennifer Hyatte allegedly helped her husband escape from custody. They were found in a motel room nearly 400 miles away and across state lines.

CNN's Alina Cho has more now on how the couple met.

BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was prison that brought them together. He was said to be a smooth-taking inmate and a ladies' man. She was a nurse at the prison. They met last year. And before long, they were in love.

MICHAEL HYATTE, BROTHER OF GEORGE HYATTE: The thing is, he's a nice, loving, easy-going guy.

CHO: The courts saw things a bit differently. George Hyatte is a violent career criminal, a career that began at age 9. His wife of three months, Jennifer, has never been in trouble with the law -- until now.

(on-camera): Why they came together is still a mystery. Yet, this much is known. Shortly after Jennifer began working at the prison, and the two met, she smuggled in food, considered contraband. She later admitted it was for George. And because of that, and for what the prison called her inappropriate relationship with him, she was fired.

(voice-over): That was August of last year. The very next month, George Hyatte was transferred to another Tennessee prison. Jennifer followed him, moving to Nashville. Two months later, the couple applied for a marriage license. When the warden granted them the license, they married in prison, in May.

Fast forward to earlier this week. Jennifer Hyatte, police say, is determined to set her husband free. Regina Bishop is George Hyatte's sister.

REGINA HYATTE, SISTER OF GEORGE HYATTE: The escape thing, both of them's fault. Murder, her fault. And I'm putting it that way, because she pulled the trigger.

CHO (voice-over): We may not know much about Jennifer, about what makes her tick. We do know that, for whatever reason, she was desperate enough, apparently, to do anything to be with the man she loved.

Alina Cho, CNN, Dayton, Tennessee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The news of Peter Jennings' death and Dana Reeve's lung cancer diagnosis apparently prompted a significant jump in calls to the American Cancer Society's quit line. Calls on Monday and Tuesday were up about 50 percent from last week. You can call, too. The toll-free number at the American Cancer is 1-877-937-7848 or 1- 877-yes-quit.

Cancer fears and concerns over secondhand smoke have led many cities to enact smoking bans. Now, Kentucky's largest city is next up. Leaders in Louisville are expected to begin debated a proposed smoking ban today. The state already has the highest adult smoking rate at more than 27 percent. Kentucky also has the highest number of lung cancer deaths, and they spend nearly $1.5 billion a year on smoking-related health problems.

For more on the proposed ban we're joined by Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy. He's on the phone with us.

Thanks so much for being with us, Jim.

JIM WATERS, BLUEGRASS INST. FOR PUBLIC POLICY: It's very nice to be here them. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: So, the argument will be that this kind of ban will be effective; effective in terms of health issues or economic-related issues.

WATERS: Well, there's certainly no doubt that lung cancer is a big problem, and we think that people need to be informed. We dislike the effects of secondhand smoke as much as anyone. But a smoking ban in private businesses enforced by government, the question is: Should government in this be -- should its role be more like the rudder that guides the ship rather than the engine that propels it? And we think there are some better and more effective ideas than bans that address both the health issue and the economic issue.

WHITFIELD: Such as what?

WATERS: I'm sorry?

WHITFIELD: Such as what? You said you believe there are better ideas.

WATERS: Well, we think, for example, in Great Britain, they have enacted what's called the Public Places Charter that allows businesses to post signage -- or it actually requires them to post signage indication what their smoking policies are. And this way, customers or potential customers can be informed about the smoking policy of that business and whether they want to take the risk that comes with secondhand smoke. And also that protects the private property rights of restaurant owners.

And so, we think it's a better solution than an all-or-nothing approach.

WHITFIELD: So, you see the advantages of the businesses having the discretion to have -- to allow smoking or to designate certain areas for smokers or nonsmokers, et cetera?

WATERS: Yes, right. You know, we think that the health issue needs to be addressed. People -- if it is a health issue, if we're looking at it from that angle, then it should be about informing people about what the policies are, so they can make a decision that's best for their health.

But we also think that -- you know, that the private property rights of business owners should be protected. And this is a way to do that. This is a way to address both issues.

WHITFIELD: So, the debating of law among lawmakers in Louisville begins today. How impactful will the Peter Jennings' death and the recent diagnosis of Dana Reeve be on the debate today?

WATERS: Well, I don't know how much that will impact this debate in particular, but I think it should be a wake-up call to smokers. And Kentucky, of course, has some of the highest rates of smoking and lung cancer in the nation. And certainly people should be aware of the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke, no doubt about it. But in Louisville, Councilman Robin Ingle (ph) has proposed a similar proposal, as we were talking about with the Public Places Charter, and we think that that is the best proposal. And we're concerned that maybe some of the discussion lately has moved away from that. But we hope that lawmakers will really give that serious consideration.

If the issue is health, then it should be more about government playing the role of informing consumers rather than a heavy-handed enforcement and encroachment on important rights that are still, you know, in the Constitution.

WHITFIELD: Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy. Thanks so much for joining us on the phone this morning.

Coming up, facing terror up close and personal. And living to tell a harrowing tale. The story of an international missionary ambushed in Iraq.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The international markets are mixed this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is higher by 165 points. The London FTSE is down 11 points. And the German DAX is lower by 37.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is now about 17 minutes before the hour. And here's what's all new this morning.

A fugitive couple from Tennessee surrendered peacefully last night. Their desperate dash across two states ended in Columbus, Ohio. Their big mistake? Hailing a cab from Cincinnati to Columbus. The cabbie tipped off police.

In money, Whirlpool as upped the ante on a possible buyout of Maytag. It's now offering about $1.8 billion in cash and stock. The deal would create the world's largest appliance company.

In culture, Jessica Simpson is going from Daisy Dukes to lots of denim. The star of "The Dukes of Hazzard" has put her name on a new line of plus-size jeans. A spokeswoman says Simpson understands that her fans come in all sizes from 90 to 300 pounds.

In sports, Tiger Woods begins his chase for a third major win of the year. The PGA championship tees off today in Springfield, New Jersey. Woods already won the Masters and the British Open this year. So, he's going to keep the momentum going.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, facing terror in Iraq and fighting for the right to carry on. We'll meet a U.S. missionary who was injured in an ambush in Iraq, but vows she'll go back someday, despite all that she's lost. And she has lost a lot. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, welcome back. It's about 12 minutes before the hour. And here's what making news today.

First-degree murder charges are expected against a Tennessee prisoner and his wife, who were captured after a nationwide manhunt. Police say George Hyatte escaped on Tuesday with his wife after she traded gunfire with prison guards, killing one of them. The couple was napped late last night in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's who one of the guys who helped get them described the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLEN, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE: Yes, the call was strategic. We waited until we were actually right outside the door. We placed a telephone call to see if anybody would answer, and that way we would certainly have an indication that somebody was inside.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: President Bush is hosting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today at the western White House. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will also be a party at the gathering at the president's ranch in Crawford.

NASA has got a new mission on its mind. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter takes off this morning. But don't expect updates from the red planet anytime soon. It will take seven months for the unmanned craft to get there.

Much more information is still coming out of the capture of the Tennessee fugitives. CNN's Soledad O'Brien is on top of that for a look at what's ahead on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Good morning to you.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Fred, good morning to you.

Yes, we're going to be talking to the U.S. Marshal who was in charge of last night's big arrest. He'll tell us how it all unfolded, starting with that crucial tip. And he'll also tell us why he thinks the violent escape ended so peacefully.

Then, the rock legends Rolling Stones. Are they bashing the president? They've got a new CD out, and a song on it is called "Sweet Neo Con." It seems to be a not-so-veiled attack on President Bush and the war in Iraq. We'll talk to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards about that.

That's all ahead this morning on "AMERICAN MORNING." We start in about 11 minutes or so.

WHITFIELD: All right, the countdown is on. Thanks so much, Soledad.

A woman who has faced the kind of loss few of us can comprehend still wants to keep giving. Carrie McDonnall is an international aid worker, who is the sole survivor of an insurgent attack in northern Iraq. She lost her husband in that ambush. Three others were also killed. Now she's telling her story in the new book, "Facing Terror."

Carrie is joining us now from Dallas.

Good morning to you.

CARRIE MCDONNALL, "FACING TERROR": Good morning.

WHITFIELD: After all of this loss, what has the last year been like for you?

MCDONNALL: It's been one -- it's been a hard year. It's been a hard year of just recovering physically and also grieving for my husband. But I've been able to go through and overcome a lot of this with the help of my family and my faith in Jesus.

WHITFIELD: Take us back then to March 2004, when the attack occurred, causing the loss of life of your husband and three others. At the time, were aid workers being targeted?

MCDONNALL: At that time actually no. They were not directly. We had the IEDs, but the words "soft target" hadn't been really heard of in the media. And it was not a secure situation, but at that time they weren't targeting aid workers.

WHITFIELD: What kind of work were you all doing?

MCDONNALL: We were doing relief and development work. At that particular day, we were doing surveys for doing water projects, meeting basic needs for Iraqis.

WHITFIELD: And now, since that time, a number of NGOs, non- government organizations, have decided to pull out. What happened to you all was in part an impetus to get a lot of aid workers to discontinue their work. Knowing what you know about the region, about the people there and the needs, how much has that kind of pullout shortchanged the men, women and children in Iraq?

MCDONNALL: You know, I don't know what (INAUDIBLE) have been over this past year, because I've been in the states. But I do know that there is a lot of need still there in Iraq, and the Iraqis need a helping hand.

WHITFIELD: And now I understand that you're willing to go back.

MCDONNALL: You know, I've got to be obedient to what God has for me. And if that means go to a foreign land, then I want to go and help those who have a need.

WHITFIELD: When might you do that?

MCDONNALL: As soon as the Lord calls me to.

WHITFIELD: Now, in your book, you focus on the type of missionary work that you and your husband were doing. Is it your feeling that because of the number of casualties, both on the civilian and military side in Iraq, that perhaps this current state of affairs might discourage other missionaries or other aid workers from wanting to reach out and help out?

MCDONNALL: It might. There is a bit of fear when you go into a war zone anywhere. But I think a lot of people know that other people need help, and if they have the skills and the desire to go do so, I think that will overcome the fear.

WHITFIELD: Was writing this book in any way cathartic for you?

MCDONNALL: It certainly was being able to go and just go through and relive those memories and be able to write them down. And it was hard, but it was also a bittersweet kind of thing, where I was able to remember the good moments that I had with my husband and the times that we were able to share together.

WHITFIELD: Carrie McDonnall. The book is "Facing Terror." Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

MCDONNALL: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.

MCDONNALL: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: When we come back, more headlines and a look at your travel forecast. This is DAYBREAK for a Thursday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, happy birthday if today is your day. I'd say now is a good time, Chad, to give away a mug.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We are going to give it away. Maybe it will be even to a person that does have a birthday today. You know, you never know.

WHITFIELD: Wouldn't that be a bonus?

MYERS: Here are the questions that we answered -- asked from you yesterday. How much did Microsoft win in its anti-spam lawsuit? And that was $7 million. And how big is the transportation that President Bush just signed? How big is that bill? And that number is $280.4 billion. Congratulations, Alaska. You get $1,500 per person. Sorry about you in New York. You only get $52 per person in that transportation bill.

But the winner, the winner of the DAYBREAK coffee mug is from New York. I guess it's just kind of because you get so little of the transportation bill back. Adam Hutchinson, congratulations. At least you get to ride around in your car on those bumpy roads, because there's no money to fix them, with a DAYBREAK coffee mug.

Now the questions for today. How much is Space Adventures charging to fly tourists to the moon, or theoretically will they charge you?

WHITFIELD: Right.

MYERS: It's a lot of money. It's even more than Alaska gets. And how much does Delta Airlines claim to lose per year when oil prices rise by just $1 per barrel? Because they're buying so much fuel obviously.

Go to cnn.com/daybreak.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, "Now in the News."

A short time ago, a British court decided against immediate extradition for a suspected terrorist. The U.S. Justice Department says Haroon Rashid Aswat (ph) tried to build a terror training camp in Oregon. The Associated Press reports that the British court ordered Aswat held until September 8.

Experts have serious concerns over Iran's resumption of nuclear activity. The U.N.'s watchdog agency meets again today to discuss possible sanctions. Iran unsealed equipment at one plant to begin processing uranium. They also warned that oil prices could rise if there is too much opposition to their nuclear activities.

In Oklahoma, a man is accused of trying to take a bomb onto a plane. Twenty-four-year-old Charles Drylie (ph) was arrested at the airport in Oklahoma City. An airport security employee is credited with spotting the device. The FBI won't say, however, if the bomb war armed.

From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "AMERICAN MORNING" begins right now.

O'BRIEN: Thanks, Fredricka. I'm Soledad O'Brien. Captured after a day on the run, the husband/wife duo wanted for a deadly ambush of a Tennessee prison guard hunted down and caught in an Ohio motel.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello. Seven years ago, this student admitted to murdering four classmates and a teacher at his Jonesboro, Arkansas, middle school.

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