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CNN Live Today

Bombings Shake Up Jordan; Caught In The Middle in Iraq; Tips on Fighting Eminent Domain

Aired November 10, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We will go ahead and get started. Let's do that by taking a look at live pictures this hour from Amman, Jordan. This is the Radisson Hotel, one of three hotels targeted less than 24 hours ago by suicide bombers. More than 50 people were killed, more than 100 injured in the blasts. Extensive live coverage of the attacks, new information about the suspected bombers and preventative measures being taken here in the U.S., all this hour on CNN LIVE TODAY.
First, though, let's take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

Two California men face charges of plotting to smuggle handheld anti-aircraft missiles into the U.S. The Chinese made weapons weigh about 40 pounds. They're capable of shooting down a plane 10,000 feet in the air. The two were indicted after allegedly attempting to arrange the deal with an undercover FBI agent.

Fires again dotted the landscape in France. A 14th straight night of violence. Hundred of cars were set on fire and vandals attacked power stations causing blackouts in Leon (ph). Most cities have refused to impose a curfew authorized by the government. France's interior minister has called for foreigners convicted in the rioting to be deported.

There could be a nuclear deal in the works for Iran. According to "The New York Times," the United States and Europe would allow Iran to pursue nuclear energy. But the process of enriching uranium would have to be done on Russian soil.

And a plan to open Alaska's arctic national wildlife refuge to oil drilling has been booted from the House budget bill. But that's not a done deal. It remain in the Senate budget and supporters are expected to push for its inclusion in the final budget bill.

I'm Daryn Kagan in CNN Center in Atlanta. Good morning.

Earlier this morning, the militant group al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for that nearly simultaneous bombings of three hotels in Amman, Jordan. The first and most powerful explosion ripped through a wedding reception at the Radisson Hotel. Those guests accounted for most of the casualties and almost all are said to be Jordanian.

Another suicide bomb that exploded just a few hundred yards away at the Grand Hyatt. The bomber apparently wore an explosive belt. And minutes later, a car failed to breach a security barrier at the Days Inn and exploded outside the hotel. Four guests were wounded there. In all, more than a hundred people are wounded, 56 others are confirmed dead. One American is among the fatalities.

Though it's impossible to verify the claim by al Qaeda and Iraq, its leader was an immediate suspect. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was born in Jordan and has long condemned the country's ties to the U.S. and Israel. And as a precaution, New York police have mobilized special teams to the city's hotels, even though no specific threat has been made. Our Business Correspondent Chris Huntington has that story, our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr has new information on the suicide bombers and in Amman, we're going to begin with CNN's Hala Gorani.

Hala.

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, I'm standing outside of the Radisson Hotel, the site of the explosion that caused the most casualties. What we're getting in to CNN right now are pictures of the wedding celebration. Of course, before the tragedy. The suicide bomber apparently detonated explosives strapped to his body in the middle of this wedding party. And we're seeing there the bride and the groom and their parents before the explosion went off.

We have been able to speak to the groom in the last 24 hours and he said that 10 members of his family were killed. Our Brent Sadler was at the forensic investigation unit in Amman and he said he saw him personally load two bodies of his family members on to a truck for burial. According to Muslim custom, burial must happen within 24 hours of death. So this, of course, when it was all smiles at this wedding celebration, in the -- and close to the lobby of the hotel, the Radisson, one of the sites of three explosions here in Amman.

I was able to speak to Jordan's tourism minister. I started by asking her why there weren't more security measures at the doors, at the entrances of these hotels where there weren't even any metal detectors. This is what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Some people say, they say, you know, we were shocked that this happened, but we were not surprised. There wasn't that much security in the hotels. No metal detectors at the door. What do you answer to those people who said this was a catastrophe waiting to happen in Amman (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not at all. The security is there, Hala. The security is there.

GORANI: But there were no metal detectors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No metal detectors, yes, but actually the suicide bombers wanted to, you know, do this in a wedding. Nothing would stop them. I mean, this is something that is predetermined in his criminal mind that he wants to damage and he wants to kill people. GORANI: So how do you prevent this then? If a determined individual will do it no matter what the security measures, then how do you make sure it doesn't happen again?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think by getting together, by (INAUDIBLE), and that is by (INAUDIBLE) of the Jordanians. By the fact that we all stand together, as you see today, in terms of being together. This is something that has, you know, has its impact. As I said, Hala, from the very beginning, this (INAUDIBLE) today. Today is a different day. Today, as we speak, a ship -- two ships actually, docked in Asava (ph) carrying 1,000 tourists coming from the states, from the U.K., as well as from Australia. They opted to come to Jordan. They opted not to change their (INAUDIBLE) and they're now, as we speak, on their way to (INAUDIBLE) where (INAUDIBLE) and the other Jordanian city.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: One Jordanian official there, Alia Goran (ph), the country's tourism minister. Of course, tourism a vital industry for Jordan, reacting in the aftermath of these deadly bombings in the Jordanian capital.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Hala Gorani live from Amman. Thank you.

And as we were mentioning just a couple minutes ago, we now have new developments to report in the bombing investigation. Our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr has new information on the suicide bombers who carried out those attacks.

Barbara, hello.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Well, CNN has learned now that two of the suicide bombers have been identified as being Iraqi, as coming into Jordan from Iraq. It is now believed they entered the hotels, that they may have even spoken to some people. There are reports of witnesses. They had conversations with them. That at least they were cool, calm, collected. One of the suicide bombers apparently even ordering a drink at a hotel bar before detonating his bomb.

It is now believed that these Iraqis were indeed wearing suicide vests that included ball bearings as part of the explosive device. Not clear yet what the explosive material was. But those ball bearings, of course, log a hallmark of suicide bombs aimed at causing maximum death and destruction.

All of this now, because they were Iraqis coming into the country, of great concern to Jordanian security services. They are going to now focus on looking for any facilitators, if you will, inside Jordan. Clearly, these people must have had help. Somehow coming into the country, making their way around Amman, making their way into these targets. That is something the Jordanians will focus on. A source indicates that at least for the moment, the Jordanian government will decline very politely, the U.S. administration's offer of assistance through the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The feeling in Jordan is that they have sufficient security, forensic, legal law enforcement capabilities to deal with the investigation themselves. They will, of course, they have indicated behind the scenes to U.S. officials, share information and intelligence as it becomes available. But they plan, at this point, to continue in the lead in this investigation.

Ironically, on the question of metal detectors, we are told that about 60 metal detectors actually arrived in Amman yesterday. They were earmarked for public buildings to improve security at doors in public buildings. Of course, now this similar type of equipment is expected to be installed in hotels. The working assumption continues both in Washington and Amman that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his network were behind this, perhaps underscored by the assessment now that two of the bombers were Iraqis.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and, Barbara, that wouldn't just be a new development in this case. That would be a new trend. The concern has been of terrorists crossing over into Iraq to commit suicide bombings there, not from leaving the country and doing it elsewhere.

STARR: That is why, yes, indeed, it is of such concern. Because, of course, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has made recent, public statements about wanting to spread his violence, his network, his attacks beyond Iraq and carry them to outside the borders of Iraq. That would be something, obviously, of very great concern. And, of course, the number two man in al Qaeda, Zawahiri, has recently indicated that perhaps that's something that needs to be rethought. Because what we are seeing emerge on the streets of Amman this morning, of course, is a backlash by the people of Jordan who are very upset, who are demonstrating against this attack in their country and it is clearly the people of Jordan who have suffered the most fatalities in these attacks. A very direct impact on those people.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you.

Back here to the U.S. where police in New York City have stepped up patrols at hotels in Manhattan, even though they point out there's not been a specific threat for New York City. For the latest, let's go to our Business Correspondent Chris Huntington who's outside the Ritz in lower Manhattan.

Hello.

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Good morning, Daryn.

Well, we're at the Ritz-Carlton here at Battery Park City, just blocks from the New York Stock Exchange, from the World Financial Center where many of the major investment banks are based. Just a few blocks from the World Trade Center site. You can see here we've got relatively heavy presence of uniformed police officers. Just half an hour ago there were about a dozen police officers here.

Earlier this morning, we were at a staging area of about 70 police cruisers. What's known as the CRV unit, the Critical Response Vehicle unit. This is something that the New York City Police Department deploys every single day. Seventy police cruiser, approximately. In some cases as many as a couple of hundred officers fanning out around the city for different missions.

Today, for obvious reason, the deployment is focusing on the hotels. But there is plenty of other police presence, particularly stepped up in the transportation system. As you well remember, about a month ago there was a threat of arguable credibility that Mayor Bloomberg decide he was not going to wait on and respond to. So the situation here, Daryn, is that the police department says they have not dramatically increased their deployment of officers in the city, but they have shifted them primarily to the hotels for now.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Chris Huntington live in New York City in Manhattan.

Thank you, Chris.

Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

And this programming note for you. Our colleagues at CNN International are putting together a special program on the bombings in Jordan, from survivor stories to the threat of al Qaeda and the implications here in the U.S. Details beginning at noon Eastern.

Meanwhile, much more on the bombings ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY. People coming and going. How do you protect hotels from terrorists? A CNN security analyst offers his thoughts.

Also ahead, caught in the cross-hairs of war. An emotional look at innocent Iraqis literally caught in the middle between U.S. forces and the insurgents they're targeting.

And she drowned her five children in the bathtub but Andrea Yates may be getting a new trial. What her ex-husband told Larry King ahead this hour on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Another deadly day in Iraq. Police say at least 34 people died when a suicide bomber detonated himself inside a restaurant in central Baghdad early today. The restaurant is a popular breakfast spot for Iraqi police. It was one of the biggest attacks in the Iraqi capital in recent months.

And in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, police say a suicide car bomb exploded outside of a medical center where Iraqi army recruits were gathered. Four recruits were killed, 13 others were wounded.

Defense lawyers for Saddam Hussein are seeking what they call neutral international intervention to guarantee their safety and they say they'll boycott the next trial session unless the Iraqi court accepts their demand for protection. Their declaration comes a day after a second defense lawyer in the case was gunned down in Baghdad. Hussein and seven co-defendants are on trial in the 1982 massacre of Shiite Muslims. The next court date is set for November 28th.

Iraqi soldiers went about the grim task today of helping fellow civilians bury their dead after the U.S. Marine offensive in Husayba. At least 24 civilians from four families died in air strikes on Monday on a neighborhood believed to be a haven for insurgents. The U.S. military says it takes extra precaution to minimize what it calls collateral damage. But as CNN's Aneesh Raman reports, the pain and grieving goes on for the families of those caught in the cross-hairs of war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They emerged waving white flags. These Iraqis whose lives were only last week ruled by insurgent fear, now confronting the unintended consequence of urban war. Most of Husayba's 30,000 residents left here after the war began when law and order broke down. But a few thousand of them stayed and for the past four days they lived on a battlefield as a massive, military operation secured what had been for months a significant insurgent command post. Going thousand house, behind every door a possible death trap. Residents told to signal they are friendly.

They said stay in your homes, says this woman, and leave your doors open. Everyone acknowledges insurgents were hiding in buildings, but in the aftermath, a CNN crew embedded with U.S. forces was taken to homes hit by air strikes where locals say there were no insurgents, only civilians. In the first, seven bodies lay covered, blood still seeping through. Two of them were children. Their relatives crippled by pain.

At a second site a top a pile of debris, a frantic search for 17 family members buried beneath. In a war where friend and foe look identical, where houses are used often as insurgent outposts, civilians are caught in-between.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You feel terrible about it. I mean, there's no question about that. Nobody enjoys destroying things. Nobody enjoys causing pain and causing death. But that, unfortunately, is the reality of war. Again, how we get around that, get around that, by giving us the information that we need.

RAMAN: All over Iraq, information is the only way this fight will change. Better intelligence on where insurgents are as they move among civilians is what allows for more precise strikes.

LEITH KUBBA, IRAQI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: (INAUDIBLE) that's killed Iraqi army units. The key in this war is not the bullet, it's the intelligence. We have, unfortunately, using a lot of bullets and not as much intelligence.

RAMAN: But there's another catch in the complexity of a guerilla war. One the residents here already fear. With Iraqi security forces set to stay behind, the insurgents could return. An enemy stronghold liberated, in turn, becoming a target. It's happened before. And so while the insurgents are now gone, the fighting now over, the people of Husayba now surrender to uncertainty.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Teenagers are stepping up in a remarkable way to help people in need thousands of miles away. Ahead this hour, two youngsters who have been honored to help fight global poverty.

And Gerri Willis is here with some tips on how you can protect the property, not from criminals, from the federal government.

Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. I have two words for you today, Daryn, eminent domain. We'll show you how to fight back. "Five Tips" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: If you own your home, that is probably your most valuable and cherished possession. But what happens when the government uses eminent domain procedures to forcibly buy your property. Typically the government gets what it wants, but you can some small steps to protect your interests. Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here with her "Top Five Tips."

Hi, Ger.

WILLIS: Hey, Daryn, good to see you.

This is a big issue for a lot of home owners. And you're really at risk if you live in one of those small, blue collar neighborhoods. Maybe you're in the city. Maybe you've got great views or just access to transportation. Those are all of the earmarks of property that could be subject to eminent domain. And I've got to tell you, Daryn, there are a bunch of state where eminent domain is sort of typically used for redevelopment. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, California and Connecticut. So if you live in those places, you want to pay attention.

KAGAN: So how did you research to find out if you're at risk?

WILLIS: Well, if you're at risk, you want to make sure that you listen to what city hall is doing. Look, the federal government doesn't have to tell you if this is going to happen to you and it's usually local officials who are driving the car on this because they get big tax breaks, big benefits, cash money from the federal government if they redevelop. So what you want to do, put your ear to the ground because, you know, these local officials, that yammer about this for months before anything happens. And if you just read your local newspaper or get to know people in city hall, you'll be able to find out what's going on happen before it happens.

KAGAN: Let's talk about fighting back. How do you gather the troops?

WILLIS: All right. Well, a, number one, you want to listen for the wart-blighted. If your neighborhood is labeled blighted, that's when the locals can do anything they want to. They can condemn your property any time in the next 10, 20, 30 years, depending on where you live. And you may only have 30 days to challenge that designation. But blighted is what gives them the real power.

So you want to call the neighbors, tell them what's going on, raise their awareness. I'm talking going door to door here, Daryn, to let people know what's going on happen to the neighborhood.

KAGAN: What about local meetings?

WILLIS: Definitely want to sit in on planning commissions, city hall, you name it. You know, some people take pictures of the neighborhood, of their kids in the driveway and bring them to city hall, put it on the docket so that everybody knows what's at risk if the areas is redeveloped. And look, you know, we're talking about the homeowners' point of view here and what they really care about and that's sort of who we're representing in this conversation.

KAGAN: You're even suggesting to make a picket line?

WILLIS: Yes, make a picket line. You know, make a big stink. That's what typically works in this country. Get some publicity. Get your views aired.

You know, Daryn, we're going to be talking about more on this topic Saturday morning at 9:30 on "Open House." We've got a lot of great topics to cover, including fortifying your windows against drafts. You know, energy costs are going up. We're going to tell you how to fight that. And, is it the right time to buy? Prices, they're looking a little wonky out there. Can you take advantage of it? How do you do it?

KAGAN: All right. We look forward to that. Gerri Willis, thank you.

WILLIS: Thank you.

KAGAN: And we have more ahead on our top story ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY. Digging for clues amid the rubble in Jordan. How were bombers able to strike with such deadly force? The latest from Amman. And what can be done to better protect hotels around the world, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: We are coming up on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening "Now in the news."

Baseball slugger Rafael Palmeiro is again under the microscope today. Nearly eight months after he testified on Capitol Hill about steroid use in the major leagues. Next hour, the chairman of that house committee, Tom Davis, will release a report on whether Palmeiro perjured himself when he denied ever using steroids and later failed a test. Yesterday, Palmeiro repeated his claim that a vitamin shot may be to blame.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad went on the offensive this morning lashing out at international suspicions that his country played a role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The Syrian leader says his country will cooperate with the U.N. investigation to a point. That probe has implicated five Syrian officials, including the president's brother. The Syrian president denies any involvement.

The U.S. embassy has lifted its advisory that American tourists should be wary of a possible terror threat against hotels in China. The withdrawal of the warning came just hours after Beijing cast doubt on that. China's government dismissed the threat as "a sham fabricate by some foreign citizens."

Back to our top story.

Al Qaeda in Iraq is claiming responsibility for yesterday's apparent suicide bombings at three hotels in Amman, Jordan. And U.S. intelligence officials say they view the climb as credible. The explosions at the Grand Hyatt, Days Inn and Radisson hotels killed at least 56 people and wound more than a hundred. Most of the casualties occurred at a wedding party being held at the Radisson.

Just a moment ago, Jordan's ambassador to the United Nations reacted to the bombings and the subsequent investigation. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZAYED AL-HUSSEIN, JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: What would any country like to see when its people have been attacked. Of course, it's obvious, that it has to be brought before the judicial authorities. Once we -- an investigation has been conducted.

This was an awful crime, and Jordan is a small country. The victims are our brothers and sisters, they are our mothers and fathers, our uncles. They are people from villages, from towns. They are Arabs, they are Muslims. And the people who committed this crime are criminals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Joining us from Washington is CNN security analyst Richard Falkenrath. Richard, good to see you, .

RICHARD FALKENRATH, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: What do these attacks thousands of miles away in Amman, Jordan, mean to security here in the U.S.?

FALKENRATH: Well, they -- I don't think they mean anything directly to the security in the U.S. We've known that our soft targets also are very vulnerable. An attack like this could happen at any time in any place in the United States. But we don't have any information that links the plot in Amman to any ongoing plot in the United States. So I'm not sure whether this necessarily raises the alarm here in Washington.

KAGAN: But millions of Americans do travel around the world, and they might be likely to pick a western hotel like the three that were targeted in Amman. The Radisson Hotel, where the biggest attack took place, not even a metal detector at the door.

FALKENRATH: Yes, they've had pretty lax security. I've certainly traveled in the region and many of the hotels where I've stayed in have quite tight security. The bags are screened, there's metal detectors, there's perimeter barriers. And it sounds like this was not the case in these Jordanian hotels. I'm sure the Jordanian authority's going to be looking at that.

But they have been a fairly peaceful country. There have been some plots and few minor attacks over the last two, three years, but most -- by and large, they've avoided the really terrible attacks that other countries have experienced.

KAGAN: What can a hotel really do to protect itself? By the nature of what it is and how it operates, a number of openings of people coming and going, and people wanting the freedom to be able to do that.

FALKENRATH: That's right. There is no silver bullet. And there's basic threats. One threat is the penetration of a human being with a small explosive on their person. And to deal with that, you need to screen everybody anything coming into the hotel. You need to limit the number of entry points and also exit points, and you need to run them through metal detectors, search their bags, search their persons. It's very labor intensive and time consuming.

You also have to worry about vehicle-borne explosives, like the attack that occurred in Indonesia a couple of years ago. And to deal with that, you need to extend the security perimeter even further out and to literally stop vehicles, you know, yards -- if better yet, dozens of yards -- away from the building and screen them for bombs.

KAGAN: What do you make of the target of this attack, and that you have Iraqis crossing over into Jordan to attack Jordanians?

FALKENRATH: Yes, it's -- there are a lot of Iraqis in Jordan. That's no question. Hotel's a very soft target. This is a civilian population. This is a primarily Jordanian population. And so this is an attack that really shows wanton disregard for life, and an absolute willingness to attack Arabs, not necessarily Westerners. Really primarily an Arab population, even though the hotels were Western- owned.

KAGAN: And Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, has made known his desire to move past the border of Iraq. And it is his group that's claiming responsibility. Do you think this shows success on his part?

FALKENRATH: Well, I think we need to learn a little bit more. His group has claimed credit for it. But these groups are very loosely-connected networks, and whether he personally had anything to do with this attack remains to be seen. It is entirely possible that a very small number of individuals came together and of their own conceived and executed this plan without any direction from Zarqawi or his unit presumably operating in Iraq.

So that -- we have a lot more to learn. They are certainly the prime candidate. All indications seem to point to Zarqawi and his fellow travelers, but I think we're going to be getting more information about that in the days and weeks ahead.

KAGAN: Richard Falkenrath, thank you.

FALKENRATH: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, it should come as little surprise that Jordan would be the target of terrorist attacks. The moderate Arab state has a history of sympathizing with the West and fending off attacks by al Qaeda. We'll have more on that a little bit later.

First, though, much more on the suicide bombings ahead over the next hour and 25 minutes, right here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

Also other stories ahead. Andrea Yates. She drowned her five children in a bathtub, but as we told you here yesterday, she might be getting a new trial. Last night, her ex-husband talked to Larry King. He shares what he and Andrea Yates talked about during his prison visit, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And now the latest on the story we broke for you here yesterday on CNN LIVE TODAY. An attorney for Andrea Yates says he hopes his client doesn't have to relive the horror of her children's death in a new trial. George Parnham says that he'll look for a plea deal.

Yesterday a Texas court cleared the way for Yates to be retried on capital murder charges. Yates is serving a life sentence for drowning her children in a bathtub in 2001.

Yates' former husband Russell told CNN's Larry King that he remains convinced she was suffering from postpartum depression.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: You've forgiven her right?

YATES: Oh, yes, yes ...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: What about her parents?

YATES: Well, her mom is still alive and her mom, you know, supports her too. We have a slightly different understanding of the case but, you know, all the family is supportive of her and everyone who knows her knows she's a wonderful person, just a very kind, loving person and, like I said, would never, ever harm her own children were it not for the fact she became dramatically psychotic.

KING: You filed for divorce. Where does that stand?

YATES: That's final. I filed for divorce I believe it was last -- like a year ago July and it was final in March I believe.

KING: Are you out dating? Are you living a life, Rusty?

YATES: I'm, you know, seeing somebody now and that's going well so, you know, it's -- and Andrea has actually been pretty supportive of it, you know. I've been up front with Andrea about it and she -- she understands and we both support each other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE," journalist Judith Miller, the woman who spent 85 days in jail refusing to give up her source in the CIA leak investigation, talks about her stormy relationship with the "New York Times" and what she plans to do now that she's retired. That's 9:00 Eastern, tonight on CNN.

(MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Well, there's some fantastic teenagers to go around. You'll meet two of them that are making a difference. They made a commitment to help those in need around the world, and they have succeed in a big way. I'll talk with two young women who have been honored by a United Nations group when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's take a look at news coast to coast. To Vegas, authorities say a retired Elvis impersonator helped nab a thief who was suspected of stealing memorabilia from the Elvis-O-Rama Museum. Duke Adams says the suspect tried to sell them one of the items. Police say they recovered a 41-carat ruby-and-diamond ring, a golden black onyx medallion, and a gold-plated Smith & Wesson .38 special.

An 18-year-old high school student is launching a political career in Hillsdale, Michigan. Michael Sessions was elected the city's mayor this week, and he wasn't even on the ballot.

Roshini Rajkumar with our affiliate WDIB has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROSHINI RAJKUMAR, WDIB REPORTER (on camera): He always knew he wanted to be a leader, and no one here at his high school seems to surprised he'll be running state at the tender age of 18.

RAJKUMAR: Hillsdale, Michigan, population: 8200.

Take a look at its new leader.

MICHAEL SESSION, HILLSDALE, MICHIGAN MAYOR-ELECT: I'm ready to serve this community the best way as I can.

RAJKUMAR: Hillsdale High senior Michael Sessions gets a lot of attention as the city's youngest mayor-elect. A past track and cross country runner, he ran an aggressive write-in campaign, beating out the 51-year-old incumbent.

SESSION: I got fire departments' endorsement. You know, I've several articles. I've made public appearances, and I've got these yard signs out.

SCOTT SESSIONS, FATHER: I don't know if it will really affect our family so much, but I know Michael's going to be busy.

RAJKUMAR: Busy one day after the big win, means just dropping in on English class. The only one old enough to vote in the room doesn't mind he can't stay today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This young man has a future ahead of him, and I'm very proud of him as he represents the city of Hillsdale.

RAJKUMAR: But soon Michael, or Mayor Sessions to some, will have to get back to this reality.

(on camera): How will you balance high school with this new job as mayor, Michael?

SESSIONS: Just so you on know, I'm a student from 7:50 to 2:30 each day, and then from 3:00 to 6:00, I'll be doing mayor business.

RAJKUMAR: The new mayor takes office November 21. He tells me he looks forward to giving Hillsdale a fresh start.

At Hillsdale High, Roshini Rajkumar, local 4.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, if you want to talk super-duper teenagers, you're about to meet a couple of them. For 17-year Katie Reed, a commitment to service began when she heard the story of a bright Ugandan girl unable to complete her education because she's an AIDS orphan. Reed begin a campaign to build a partnership between her school and the girl's struggling Ugandan school.

And a commitment to service began for Katharine Kendrick when she teamed up with a classmate to help Sudanese refugees by selling pin and ribbons, and they raised thousands of dollars as their campaign spread to other high schools.

Kendrick and Reed were honored in New York last night by NetAid. That is a U.N. organization fighting global poverty, and I am honored to have them join me here this morning.

Ladies, congratulations and good morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

KAGAN: And so we have Katharine and Katie.

Katharine, we'll start with you. What was it that sparked your interest in your cause?

KATHARINE KENDRICK, 2005 NETAID AWARD RECIPIENT: A year ago I saw a documentary about the genocide in Rwanda a decade ago, and the film was completely devastating to me. And the next morning when I opened the newspaper and read that a similar situation was happening in Darfur, I felt that I needed to do something.

And my friend and I, at the beginning of our senior year, started brainstorming how we could start a project in our community to make a difference in Darfur. And so we started selling these green ribbons to raise awareness about the issue and the genocide occurring and also fundraise for refugee camps.

KAGAN: And where -- how, ultimately, did you get the money where you wanted it to go?

KENDRICK: By the sale of the green ribbons, we worked with Relief International, which is a humanitarian aid group in Los Angeles. And we were able to fund two projects. First, a livestock project to provide refugee families with live chickens, which can be a step toward restoring daily life and a source of income for the families. And we also founded a temporary school program in one of the camps.

KAGAN: Excellent. Katie, what about you? For you, it was Uganda that caught your interest.

KATIE REED, 2005 NETAID AWARD RECIPIENT: I was able to work with a native Ugandan last year, and we worked closely supporting girls' education who had been orphaned by AIDS in a small village called Matal (ph), Uganda. And there we worked to provide education for kids who otherwise would not have had a chance to go to school.

KAGAN: And how did you make your connection between what you wanted to do and actually getting the money and the support where you wanted it to go?

REED: So my high school in Beaverton, Oregon, worked closely with the school in Uganda. And between the two schools, we worked on projects that would really support each other, that would be sustainable. And through that, we worked with donors to raise -- it was $200 to cover a student's tuition, books, uniforms, fees, and some of the only meals that kids would receive during the day. And also through other development programs.

KAGAN: Katherine, you know, kids, young people, get such a bad rap. You know, teenagers are a problem, this and that. What do you think that's different about you and the others who have won this award that you're putting your lives in such a positive direction?

KENDRICK: Well, I think it's...

KAGAN: Katharine and Katie. It's confusing. Katie. You take it.

REED: I think it's the only way that I think we're ever going to make a difference, is if we just start locally and then are thinking globally and we just react that way. Otherwise, I think if we become isolated and only look around our surroundings, there's no way we can become a global community.

KAGAN: And Katharine, what about you? What do you think?

KENDRICK: Well, I think, in many ways, we didn't do this project in spite of being young, but its success came from the fact that we were young. And we weren't sure initially what the response of our community and our peers would be, but we found soon that everyone was willing and energized and ready to get involved. It was just a matter of providing the opportunity.

KAGAN: I get the feeling this is just the beginning of fantastic things we're going to see from you young women. Katie, what are your future plans?

REED: Hopefully school next year. I'm a senior right now in high school. So the project will keep going this year and we'll keep working on it, and making it even better and working to develop it even further between the two schools.

KAGAN: What's your dream school? Because I know those applications are out there.

REED: I just submitted my application to Harvard right now.

KAGAN: All right, Harvard, you hear that? A winner right here!

KAGAN: And Katharine, what about for you.

KENDRICK: I'm a freshman at Yale right now, but I'm continuing the project with my friend from college and a couple of high schools in San Francisco and the Bay Area are starting it now. And we're hoping that it might go statewide soon.

KAGAN: Well, I have no doubt. And I would bet on both of you young women. Congratulations on being NetAid honorees. And thanks for making time to joining us -- to join us.

KENDRICK: Thank you.

KAGAN: Thank you, Katharine Kendrick and Katie Reed. Well, for those of you around the country who have had some unusually warm temperature, yes, the cold stuff finally on the way. Chad Myers is going to tell us more on that, just ahead, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's show you live pictures of what's happening in downtown, Atlanta. Atlanta police looking for an escaped suspect. Apparently the suspect was being transported by Fulton County sheriff's deputies and is on the loose, they believe, in downtown Atlanta.

This is going to bring flashbacks to a situation that happened here in Atlanta back in March, when a suspect, Brian Nichols -- when suspect Brian Nichols at the time back in March was escaped from sheriff's deputies at the courthouse in downtown Atlanta. He is now charged with going on to kill four people. There's been an extensive review of the sheriff's department and their security procedures since that time and there has been much criticism of how the sheriff's department handled that situation.

But once again, Atlanta police on the lookout right now for a suspect. We're not sure what crime the suspect charged with in this case, but did escape from Fulton County sheriff custody while being transported through downtown Atlanta.

We'll get more on that story as it becomes available in Atlanta.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Ahead in the next hour of "CNN LIVE TODAY," what was the motive for the shootings in a Tennessee high school earlier this week? We'll have the latest on the search for an answer.

And there's a growing rift between President Bush -- could there be -- and Vice President Cheney? The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

And we want to update you on a story we are following in downtown Atlanta. These live pictures from our affiliate here in Atlanta, WSV. A manhunt is underway in downtown Atlanta for an escaped suspect. The man was in the custody of the Fulton County Sheriff's Department.

This, in a lot of ways, is going to remind people of what took place back in March, when suspect Brian Nichols escaped from a downtown Atlanta courthouse. He now is charged with going on to kill four people, including a judge and a court reporter and a sheriff's deputy.

We're not sure at this point what the manhunt and what this particular suspect is charged with. We'll bring you the latest as it becomes available.

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