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Former Iranian President Visits New York; President Bush Defends Iraq War

Aired September 05, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We have got a breaking -- or a developing story, rather, coming right in.
A.J., thanks.

This is coming out of Auburn, Massachusetts, just west of Boston. State police say that 15 people have been taken to area hospitals, after a tour bus rolled over in Auburn. The accident occurred about 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on the off-ramp from Route 290 to Exit 7. We're getting these live pictures in. It's a little shaky, because of the helicopters, our affiliate, WCVB, out of Boston, Massachusetts, there.

Now we're back to tape.

We're being told that all the injuries are being categorized as minor at this time. Also, the bus may have carried -- or had 50 to 60 people on board. It's not known how many for sure, but the bus could carry 50 to 60. The cause of the accident still is not yet known. But, at this point, we are being told these injuries are -- are minor, after state police say that 15 people have been taken to area hospitals, after this tour bus rolled over in Auburn. That's just west of Boston, Mass.

We will keep you updated throughout the next hour.

Now we're going to get him? Now you're -- well, going to get out of our way.

New York State Troopers tell hunters to stay out of the woods until they track down a fugitive nicknamed "Bucky." Recess will have to wait, too, for hundreds of schoolkids.

CNN's Allan Chernoff is in Fredonia.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Kyra.

And there certainly is a change of attitude around here. People typically are used to driving fast and furious along the roads. But we certainly have not been seeing that recently. In fact, on our way here, we were stopped at three separate police checkpoints, police searching furiously for Ralph Phillips. There is a massive manhunt under way -- hundreds of local state and even federal officials now searching for Ralph Phillips.

It is particularly intense after the shooting last week of two state officers, one of whom died on Sunday, Joseph Longobardo. Another officer is in critical condition. He has fallen back into critical condition. And that is Donald Baker.

Now, the police believe Phillips is actually hiding in the woods. And, according to local hunters, that will make it very difficult to find Phillips.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's very thick down here, really overgrown, grown in thick. You can't see deer. They can be 20 feet from you, and you won't even see them.

CHERNOFF: So, that would make it pretty tough for the officers to find him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, very hard, very hard, especially if he's in camouflage. You ain't going to find him -- a very hard time finding him.

CHERNOFF: And, if you are a good hunter, you could be out there for months?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. He could stay out there for a long time down here. There's water. There's plenty of deer, turkeys. There's plenty of game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: Ralph "Bucky" Phillips escaped from the Erie County Federal Center five months ago. And he actually did it by using a can opener to cut open a hole in the ceiling above the kitchen. It was just four days before his scheduled release for serving three months for violating parole -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Allan Chernoff, we will stay on the manhunt for Ralph "Bucky" Phillips. That's for sure.

Now, what happens in Vegas isn't necessarily staying in Vegas, at least not for Warren Jeffs. It has been nine days since the fugitive polygamist was snared -- snared in a routine traffic stop. But now he's in Purgatory -- Purgatory jail, that is, in Saint George, Utah.

Our Gary Tuchman is also there.

Gary, he arrived there not long ago.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, what happened in Las Vegas definitely, in this case, did not stay in Vegas.

Warren Jeffs, arrested 20 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada, on Interstate 15 eight days ago, is back home, back home in Washington County, Utah. We're 25 miles north of his power base, where thousands of his followers still live in the towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. And, as we speak, the 50-year-old polygamist, fundamentalist Mormon leader is inside this facility behind me -- his helicopter landing just minutes ago -- it's not his personal helicopter -- it's a police helicopter that picked him up for the 120-mile right from Las Vegas to here. He waived his rights to an extradition hearing and arrived here under a lot of security.

The reason for all the security, what is interesting about this man being on the top 10 most wanted list, usually, these are people like Osama bin Laden, who is currently on the list, who are considered threats to America as a whole. This man wasn't considered a threat to America as a whole, but they -- it gives an idea of how the authorities regard crimes against children.

And it's believed, according to authorities, that Warren Jeffs has arranged hundreds of marriages, many of which are to men to underage girls. So, his charge here in Utah, which he will ultimately be standing trial for, unless there's a settlement beforehand, the charge is rape as an accomplice. It's not said, it's not alleged that he raped anybody. But it's alleged that he arranged a marriage to an underage girl, and the person who married that girl had sex with that girl.

So, he's in jail now under heavy security. This Purgatory facility -- that is the name of it, the Purgatory Correctional Facility -- in the town of Hurricane, Utah, is a minimum- to medium- security facility. This is just where Jeffs will be held as he goes through the legal process.

Tomorrow, or the next day, he is expected to have an initial appearance in Saint George, Utah, court. And then it's expected, within 10 days, he will have a preliminary hearing. In that preliminary hearing, the prosecution has to convince the judge they have probable cause to continue this case against Jeffs.

Jeffs took off from Las Vegas an hour-and-a-half ago. He's now here. And a news conference will be held shortly to give us details about Jeffs' transportation, what his attitude was. Maybe we will learn that. But the fact is, the security was here because so many of Jeffs' followers are nearby. They have a concern that some of his angry followers might come out to this facility.

If they have come out, we haven't seen them -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Gary Tuchman, thanks.

Men without conscience, men with evil intentions, but not madmen -- that's how President Bush describes the hijackers who attacked the U.S. five years ago this month and the terrorists who remain a threat today. You may have caught the president's speech on CNN just a couple hours ago.

Let's catch up with Elaine Quijano at the White House -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Kyra. That's right. And President Bush today, interestingly, cited Osama bin Laden's own words and intentions, in trying to make the case that withdrawing U.S. forces prematurely from Iraq would be a mistake. The president made his arguments in a speech to a friendly audience, the Military Officers Association of America.

Now, this was the second in a series a speeches, the latest round, really, of speeches, to try rally public support behind the president's foreign policy. With this, of course, being an election year and the five-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks just around the corner, the president reiterated his argument that success in Iraq remains integral in keeping America safe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For al Qaeda, Iraq is not a distraction from their war on America. It is the central battlefield where the outcome of this struggle will be decided.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, the president's speech, of course, came as the U.S. is now three-and-a-half years into the Iraq war, also just two months out until those congressional midterm elections, at the time when Democrats have been trying to seize on the unpopularity of the Iraq war.

They blame the Republicans and President Bush for what they say are failed policies in Iraq, and for they also say is a failure to change direction. The White House has been aggressively pushing Back against that idea, insisting that there have been course directions as needed, as the enemy has changed -- in fact, the White House releasing, as well, this document.

It's basically an update to the national strategy in fighting terrorism, releasing that to coincide with, again,the September 11 attacks right around the corner and those congressional midterms just weeks away -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Elaine Quijano, at the White House, thanks.

And, after the president's speech, I spoke with Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha, a very vocal critic of Mr. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq.

Here is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Well, this is a failed policy wrapped in illusion.

And I have said this before. He brings in 9/11. Everything directed towards the al Qaeda in Afghanistan was absolutely right. Then, when the -- when the military asked for more troops in Afghanistan, instead, he diverted himself to Iraq, where there were no weapons of mass destruction, no al Qaeda.

The incidents have increased since the governor -- since the government election is over, almost doubled to 800 a week. More people are being killed every day. Electricity, oil production, everything is below pre-war level. We need a change in direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, Murtha says he believes diplomacy, not more military might, is needed in Iraq.

This weekend, get a look at the man who brought terror to America. Watch "In the Footsteps of bin Laden," a "CNN PRESENTS" special investigation. The encore presentation airs Saturday and Sunday night, 7:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is resting up from surgery this hour. But hold the Purple Hearts. Doctors fixed what's being called an old athletic injury to Rumsfeld's shoulder.

CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre on this story.

Bragging about how he was known for those one-armed pushups.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

When Rumsfeld was in college, he used to make money doing one- armed pushups.

(LAUGHTER)

MCINTYRE: You know, this -- this injury and surgery may earn him some bipartisan get-well cards, but probably not too much sympathy from Democrats, who are hoping to bring to a vote this week a vote of no-confidence in Defense Secretary Rumsfeld for his part in the Iraq policy.

Rumsfeld did go into the hospital this morning for a previously scheduled surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder that had been giving him trouble. It was elective surgery, on the recommendation of his doctor. We are told that it was completed in about two hours, under local anesthesia, but Rumsfeld did turn over the reins of power and the chain of command to his deputy defense secretary, Gordon England.

He is expected to stay in the hospital overnight, and be out of the hospital, if not back at work, tomorrow, or certainly later this week. Rumsfeld, of course, is facing increasing criticism from members of Capitol Hill, particularly for that speech in which he drew a comparison between those who appeased the Nazis during World War II and those who are questioning the policies of the administration now, a theme that was also echoed by President Bush today.

But one thing that seems increasingly clear, Rumsfeld is not going anywhere, not for health or other reasons. The Rums -- the -- the White House today gave him another resounding vote of confidence. And Tony Snow said, for those who are calling for him to step down that -- quote -- "It's not going to happen" -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jamie McIntyre, thank you.

The whole world knew and loved the crocodile hunter, but only Australia could claim Steve Irwin as its own. Now, it seems, Australians are unable to think of anyone or anything else.

ITN's Seth Conway has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SETH CONWAY, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): At the family's Australia Zoo home, flowers and tributes have been laid for the larger-than-life conservationist.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was a good man. And we have lost something very precious.

CONWAY: The stingray's deadly blow was caught on camera at Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Mr. Irwin was filming his latest documentary, and his support team has moved quickly to deny any suggestion that he was aggravating the creature.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did see the footage. And it's shocking. It shows that the -- Steve came over the top of the ray, and then the tail came up and spiked him here, and he pulled it out. And, the next minute, he's gone.

CONWAY: Although Steve Irwin was famous for tackling crocodiles, police have confirmed no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. His loss has even been marked at the highest level.

JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: There was nothing contrived. He was a genuine, well-off, remarkable Australian individual. And I am distressed at his death. And I think I speak for millions of people around Australia.

CONWAY: As Mr. Irwin's body was taken home, his final documentary, "Ocean's Deadliest," could not have had a more prophetic title.

Seth Conway, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And tonight, on "LARRY KING LIVE," you are going to hear from Steve Irwin's longtime friend and manager, John Stainton. He witnessed Irwin's fatal attack. That's on "LARRY KING LIVE" tonight, at 9:00 Eastern, only on CNN.

This just coming across the wires -- according -- according to the Associated Press, a federal bankruptcy judge approves Delta Airlines' request to terminate its pilots' pension plan -- once again, this just crossing the wires -- Ali Velshi working the story for us right now. We will try and get you more information of what it means -- now CNN confirming, a federal bankruptcy judge approving Delta Airlines' request to terminate its pilots' pension plan.

We will see how this plays out for employees there at Delta. And, of course, we will talk more about, ever since 9/11, how the airlines industry has been affected.

Well, out of control, burning everything in its path -- a closer look at the nation's number-one firefighting priority.

And a storm named Flo, where is it headed? How bad could it be?

It's all ahead from the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Final word on the Mexican president.

Just a short time ago, Mexico's electoral tribunal named Felipe Calderon president-elect. Calderon won the July 2 election by fewer than a quarter-million votes. Still, supporters of Calderon's rival, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, vows civil disobedience. And Lopez Obrador may set up a parallel government.

Khatami in America -- the U.S. tour of the former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami takes him today to U.N. headquarters in New York.

And that takes us to CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra -- an interesting tour for the former Iranian president.

He has been in the American Midwest, Boston, Harvard University. And he will be delivering a speech Thursday at the National Cathedral in Washington, first visit of its kind by a former senior Iranian or current Iranian leader since the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations in 1979.

Now, he is here at U.N. headquarters for a meeting of the so- called Alliance of Civilizations. You will see some other familiar faces around this table. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is there.

This is a -- a meeting that is coming up with a report about the growth of extremism and how can Muslim cultures and Western societies get along better, a mission established by Secretary-General Annan.

The Iranian leader, the former Iranian president, says the United States should not be worried about Iranian intentions about developing a bomb. It's not going to do so.

Nevertheless, elsewhere in the U.N., I asked U.S. Ambassador John Bolton about Khatami's remark.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHN BOLTON, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS: I think we are still waiting for the governor of Iran to comply with Resolution 1696, and suspend their enrichment-related activities. And then the United States and the others would be pleased to sit down and talk to him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The former Iranian president is not going to meet with any Bush administration officials.

And while he's here talking about a dialogue among civilizations, President Bush said the U.S. and the world will not bow down before tyrants, who he says are leading Iran right now.

There are also threats to impose sanctions from this very U.N. building on Khatami's Iran, if the nation does not freeze uranium enrichment, and start cooperating with U.N. inspectors -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, a conservative fundamentalist president is currently in power in Iran, as we know. And here's Khatami, who was seen a reformist politician when he was president. He's now on tour in the U.S. What do you think are the political implications and goals of this two-week trip?

ROTH: Well, U.S. State Department officials say it's a two-track approach. They are trying to show that they are certainly willing to talk with moderates and other officials in Iran, though human rights groups have criticized Khatami for allowing abuses of minorities, journalists and many others while he was administration.

And there has always been a lot of questions about how much real power he had, while the clerics and religious authorities are the ones who call the shots in Iran.

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, live from the U.N., thanks.

Well, a close call for a key figure in Lebanon's war on terror -- a bomb filled with nails went off just south of Beirut today near a convoy carrying the deputy head of the country's internal security forces. Samir Shehade was wounded, but four of his aides and bodyguards were killed -- no claim of responsibility so far. Shehade played a big role in investigating last year's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Free sailing in 48 hours? U.N. chief Kofi Annan tells reporters, he expects constructive news -- and soon -- concerning a lifting of Israel's air and sea blockade of Lebanon. Annan spoke in Egypt, where he met with President Hosni Mubarak, before flying on to Turkey. He has been crisscrossing the region, trying to keep the Israeli- Hezbollah truce from cracking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: The war in Lebanon has been a wakeup call for many leaders around the world. And they are becoming more and more convinced that we need to deal with the root causes of the problem. We need to settle the issue of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. We need to look at comprehensive peace in the region, based on U.N. resolutions, and -- and the concept of land for peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now, Annan is also working behind the scenes to broker the release of two kidnaped Israeli soldiers.

Call it a crude jackpot, a vast oil field in America's own backyard. Ali Velshi has the details from the NEWSROOM, what the new discovery could mean for you -- straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A mighty mess in Southern California.

Eight -- count, eight -- separate mudslides on one road in Riverside County. Before they knew it, 19 drivers found themselves stuck in the mud. All but one eventually managed to drive out. The last car had to be pulled out. Authorities blame it all on a sudden summer storm.

This was the scene after bad storms blew through Tampa, Florida. Drivers were caught off-guard by flash floods in parts of the city that don't usually flood. South of Tampa, in Fort Myers, a teenager was killed when lightning struck the tree that he was standing under.

Four days, no lights -- about 64,000 people just north of New York City haven't had power since the aftermath of Ernesto. Uprooted trees are tangled up. But downed power lines and slowly downed utility crews -- And it's slowing down those utility crews, rather. Con Edison hopes to have everyone hooked up by Thursday.

Ali Velshi, what is going on with Delta?

First of all, welcome back.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: I haven't seen you.

VELSHI: But what's going on with Con Ed?

PHILLIPS: Yes.

VELSHI: They -- they had...

(LAUGHTER)

VELSHI: The -- the power was out before I went on vacation, weeks ago.

PHILLIPS: I know. We don't know what is going on. We're -- we're tracking it. But Ernesto really hurt folks, hundreds of thousands of folks, with regard to power. And it has been a real struggle.

VELSHI: Yes. No, it's crazy.

Delta -- you were just talking about Delta. Just...

PHILLIPS: Right.

VELSHI: ... got news in. We have just confirmed with Delta that they have been granted approval by a judge, Kyra, to terminate their pension plan, effective September 2, which was Saturday. This, we have been expecting. We obviously knew Delta was asking about this.

Here's the thing. The Delta pilots' pension plan was a particularly good one. It allowed pilots to retire at the age of 50, and it allowed them to take a lump-sum payment, which is not typical of most pension plans, as you know. Most people would like to take a lump-sum payment, given how pension plans have been going.

Anyway, the judge has approved this -- not a big surprise. It has approved the same thing for United, back in 2004. Delta says that, if it wants to emerge from bankruptcy protection by next summer, it had to have this.

Interestingly enough, the current pilots, Delta's current pilots, their -- their organization, we are going to get a formal response from them. But they weren't really objecting to this. They knew that it was part of the concessions package they were going to have to give up.

Delta says that, even after terminating the pension plan, if the pilots go to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, that government insurance program for pensions, the average pilot should get about $75,000.

Now, it sounds like a lot of money, but it -- you know, if you are a pilot who has been putting into the pension plan all your career, it's still a bit...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: I will tell you. Since 9/11, it has been so rough.

VELSHI: Yes.

PHILLIPS: And I can't tell you how many pilots I know that had to retire or...

VELSHI: That's right.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it has been tough.

VELSHI: And the part that smarts right now is that the industry is coming back. Save for the recent terrorist plot that was uncovered, that the -- their planes are fuller than they have ever been. The airlines are making money. The stocks are going up. So, it does hurt a little now for workers of the airlines to say, you know, it has been going on for a few years. We are taking our licks now. We hope we get it back when -- when things start going better.

We never know. We will keep an eye on it.

PHILLIPS: Black gold in the Gulf of Mexico.

(LAUGHTER)

VELSHI: Yes.

And, you know, what -- it -- the -- the Gulf of Mexico is a quarter of the oil we get anyway. But Chevron and a couple other companies decided to drill deeper in a different location, about 175 miles off the coast, five -- more than five miles under -- below -- below sea level. And they found oil. They are estimating that there are between three and 15 billion barrels of oil under there.

Now, that's a pretty big range, Kyra, between three and 15 billion. But, if there is all that oil, that's a good sign. And, as you can see, oil is down on the day. I will bring you the updated numbers at the end of the market day, in about a half-an-hour -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sounds great. Great to see you back.

VELSHI: Good to see you.

PHILLIPS: Well, this story outraged us. It's going to outrage you, too -- a brutal crime, a senseless -- senseless killing. This man survived Vietnam, survived diabetes, survived a double -- double amputation. Well, today, he is dead, after a horrific ordeal.

We will have the details from the NEWSROOM -- coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Police in Houston are searching today for the killer or killers of a disabled Vietnam vet. Barney Goodman, confined to a wheelchair, was robbed of his disability check Friday night, then beaten, thrown off a bridge and left to die -- not without fighting though. Goodman managed to crawl to the highway and flag down an off- duty police officer. He died later at the hospital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD FORD, BARNEY GOODMAN'S BROTHER: You know, I just hate to see that someone could take him up here and drop him off this bridge and he didn't have any feet, he had diabetes. And so we're going to find out who did this.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: And we want to stay on top of the story as well. We are were told that Goodman gave police a description of his killer. His family is offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest.

St. Rita's strikes back. The owners of St. Rita's nursing home in suburban New Orleans say that they are being unfairly blamed for the deaths of 34 patients during Hurricane Katrina. Now they're suing the government for failing to evacuate the helpless. Sean Callebs is in New Orleans with more -- Sean?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. The owners of that nursing home filed a lawsuit, actually filed it just before the anniversary of Katrina and basically charged that federal, state and local officials didn't do their part.

It was actually those entities responsible for the deaths of the 38 elderly patients. Now Salvador and Mable Mangano operated St. Rita's in nearby St. Bernard Parish and they have been arrested, although they have not been charged. The grand jury is expected to meet at some point this month to determine whether involuntary manslaughter charges should be brought against the two.

The Manganos attorney James Cobb says that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, as well as the state's attorney general Charles Foti failed to heed their own emergency plans. And he says that it was actually up to the state to evacuate all the patients out of the privately operated St. Rita's. The Manganos attorney says there should be no criminal charges filed against his clients and that they are not responsible for the deaths of the 34 people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES COBB, MANGANOS' ATTORNEY: We do not hold people criminally liable for making a decision in the face of the worst emergency in the history of the United States. It's unfair, it's an abuse of discretion and shame on them for doing it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Now, state law enforcement officials told me the timing of this lawsuit is really suspect because the grand jury is expected to meet soon to see if charges should be brought against the two. And Cobb says there was no written emergency evacuation plan. He says that is very crucial to his argument despite the fact the governor and a number of other people were on radio and T.V. in days leading up to Katrina telling people in low-lying areas to evacuate.

There were three other nursing homes in St. Bernard's Parish as well. All three of those evacuated ahead of the storm. Three people all told died from those three nursing homes. We also contacted the governor's office and the A.G.'s office. The attorney general says they need more time to review the lawsuit before they comment. The governor says it was a privately operated facility, and therefore St. Rita's was responsible for evacuating all those patients -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Sean, any civil suits?

CALLEBS: Yes, actually there are 34 civil suits and Cobb, the attorney for the Manganos say that is the reason they filed this lawsuit contending that no civil action should be brought. Even though there are 34 people who died, not everyone who passed away has filed a lawsuit. Some of those suits actually stem from people who were injured. There were 50-some patients who actually survived during the aftermath of Katrina as well -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right, Sean Callebs, thanks so much.

A tiny state, but a gigantic jury pool. Almost 800 potential jurors summoned in Warwick, Rhode Island for a manslaughter trial arising from the Station night club fire in 2003. Jury selection is likely to be tough, since so many Rhode Islanders know at least one of the victims or their families. Club owner Michael Derderian is the first to stand trial. His brother Jeff will be tried separately. Each faces 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts for each person killed. The fire began when a pyrotechnic display for the rock band Great White ignited a flammable ceiling.

Still ahead from the newsroom, a football coach can't believe his eyes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For a parent/coach to come out and attack one of my kids, it's terrifying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now this tackler are faces a big penalty. And for Steve Irwin, danger always came with a smile. CNN's Jeanne Moos looks at the Crocodile Hunter's famous humor, straight ahead from the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: And we're just getting this word out of Pantego, Texas. A suspected carbon monoxide leak at a day care center. We're getting this from one of our affiliates. Apparently it sickened a number of children and at least one adult. The students are from Gail's Academy day care center. Apparently they fell ill around noon. Eight children were transported to area hospitals for treatment, including at least five to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, where they are reported to be in good condition right now.

The hospital was told to prepare for as many as 25 patients. At least one adult was transported to another center, Methodist Medical Center in Dallas, which has a hyperbaric chamber that can be used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning. We don't have any other details at this point, but we are working this story for you out of Pantego (ph).

Once again, a suspected carbon monoxide leak at the Gail's Academy Day Care Center. We will let you know more as soon as we get it. Here's why they call them wildfires. Hundreds of people are out of their homes in Montana where fire has blackened 280 square miles and is still spreading. More than two dozen homes have been lost and crews say that this fire stays active well into the night rather than quieting down as so many other fires do.

More smoke than fire in the Lake Tahoe basin, and crews quickly corralled this blaze in the Eldorado National Forest, holding it to about 12 acres. In fire-ravaged northeastern Nevada though, thunderstorms spark even more fires. The state has seen a thousand wildfires so far this year. So much range land has burned, in fact, experts say what's left can't support all the antelope, so the state is allowing hunters to thin the herd by about 200.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Out of bounds in every sense of the term.

A football couch in California faces child abuse charges after running on the field, mid game, and knocking down a player on the other team. We will get the story from our Rich Ibarra of CNN affiliate KCRA.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUDY GARRIDO, STOCKTON BEARS COACH: Once he seen him charge and hit him like that, on the back of the head, I mean...

RICH IBARRA, KCRA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Stockton Bears coach Rudy Garrido shows how the assistant coach from the opposing team put the hurt on one of his players, rushing to hit the player from behind and knocking him to the ground.

GARRIDO: For a parent/coach to come out and attack one of my kids, it's just something that is just terrifying.

IBARRA: The Stockton Bears, in the dark uniforms, faced the Redskins from River Bank. It was towards the end of the game, less than a minute to play. The score the Redskins leading 16-6 and then a second after the play ended, a late hit. The Redskin player hit by a Stockton Bear and right after that the Redskin player's father, who was also an assistant coach, runs onto the field to deliver his own knockdown tackle.

Immediately after that, fans from both teams crowded onto this field and they started to trade punches. Among those at the game was Jose Santillanes and his 11 year-old son Joseph, who was playing for the Bears.

JOSE SANTILLANES, PARENT OF BEARS PLAYER: The majority of them were just trying to get -- everybody just rushed in all at the same time and they were just trying to get everybody away from everybody, trying to make sure the kids were safe.

. JOSEPH SANTILLANES, STOCKTON BEARS PLAYER: It was scary. The guy just grabbed that kid and threw him and everybody just rushed in. I was scared.

IBARRA: The assistant coach made a get-away over a tall fence but later surrendered to police.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Once again, that report from Rich Ibarra of CNN affiliate KCRA.

The picture of health? Maybe not, but new photos and quotes from a convalescing Castro are comforting his comrades and (INAUDIBLE) his enemies. It's all ahead from the CNN NEWSROOM.

Plus, larger than life even in death, friends and fans honor and mourn the late Steve Irwin. Australia even offers a state funeral for its beloved native son. NEWSROOM's got the details straight ahead.

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PHILLIPS: Fidel Castro says the worst is over. Cuban media released new photos of the 80 year-old president along with a statement from the patient himself. Castro says he's lost more than 40 pounds since intestinal surgery in July, but adds his stitches are out and he's recovering well. Video released over the winner shows a thinner but animated Castro, chatting from his sick bed with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

In his final moments, crocodile hunter Steve Irwin stoically yanked a sting ray's barb from his chest, then collapsed and died. Like so much of his life, his death was captured on videotape that only police and his closest companions have seen. By all accounts, it's horrifying to watch. On Australia's Sunshine Coast, tributes are piling up at Irwin's zoo. The ones from his young fans are the most poignant. Legions of kids around the world have grown up watching Irwin's antics. Animal Planet says it will keep airing "The Crocodile Hunter," and says it may set up a fund in Irwin's name to support wildlife protection and education.

Most of us wouldn't be smiling if a crocodile were trying to eat us, or a python were killed around our necks, but that's what made Steve Irwin Steve Irwin, and that's what made Steve Irwin so much fun to watch.

Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Maybe you didn't know him by name...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Steve Irwin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mean that guy in the khaki shorts?

MOOS: The khaki shorts. Always evading the snapping jaws. And always with a snappy sense of humor. STEVE IRWIN, CROCODILE HUNTER: And woof.

MOOS: But when he faced a storm of criticism for feeding a crocodile holding his infant son it was hard to stay mad at a guy who seemed to be having so much fun.

IRWIN: Mmm. You can kiss him on the lips. And she's a pretty good kisser.

MOOS: Whether kissing snakes or cubs. Those who knew him say he was exactly the same off screen as on.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL, PRESIDENT, DISCOVERY NETWORKS: I've never seen a guy that has that much energy, it's almost like electric.

MOOS: He and his animals great for those late-night comedy bits.

IRWIN: There we go. When they get upset like that, mate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it upset?

IRWIN: No, no. No. There we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a baby. It needs to nurse.

IRWIN: I don't think you lactate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would be surprised. Moving around in there.

IRWIN: Stimulating?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of nice.

MOOS: For the sake of comedy, he was always getting bitten. For instance in this Fed-Ex commercial.

IRWIN: Oh. No worries, mate. Luckily, we have the anti-venom sent by America by Fed-Ex. In my line of work, if you are not absolutely sure, you are absolutely dead.

MOOS: Talk about a bit part. He was bitten by a talking alligator in "Dr. Doolittle."

IRWIN: Now!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, oh, oh.

IRWIN: Crikey! Me arm.

MOOS: With his earthy delivery, we learned that crocodiles do burp.

IRWIN: Give them a big food source, they'll swallow it down and they'll just go wah! MOOS: He knew how to tell a story, for instance, the story of how he met the woman that became his wife as he was doing a live crocodile demonstration.

IRWIN: And I looked in to the crowd and I'm like, you're kidding. This beautiful woman's like staring at me and she had the look, mate. She is like, you know, doing the -- the thing. The crowd left and she stayed.

MOOS: And now he's gone. What might Steve Irwin say of his own demise?

IRWIN: Oh, crikey.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE," you're going to hear from Steve Irwin's longtime friend and manager, John Stainton. He witnessed Irwin's fatal accident. That's on "LARRY KING LIVE" tonight, 9:00 Eastern only, on CNN.

Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour -- hey, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Kyra, thanks very much.

As we approach the five-year anniversary of 9/11, President Bush is stepping up his campaign in the war on terror. Is America, though, getting any closer to getting Osama bin Laden? And would it be a significant enough blow to America's enemies? My one-on-one interview with the attorney general, Alberto Gonzales. That's coming up.

Plus, she made waves in 2000 and she's back in the spotlight. That would be Katherine Harris. Could she win her fight for a seat in the United States Senate? We have an update for you. That's coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

Also, we're learning some new details about the surprising death of Australia's crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin.

All that, much more, coming up at the top of the hour -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sounds great. Thanks, Wolf.

The closing bell and a wrap of the action on Wall Street. Ali Velshi joins us from the "CNN NEWSROOM," straight ahead.

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PHILLIPS: Tiger on a roll. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The British, Buick, the PGA, the Royal Dow (ph) championship, and now the Deutsche Bank championship. Tiger has won five in a row!

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PHILLIPS: In case you're not counting -- five in a row. That's right. Fifth straight tournament win came yesterday in suburban Boston. It began in July with the British Open and the first victory after the death of his father. Woods' best streak was six straight wins, but Byron Nelson holds the all-time all-time record with 11 straight in 1945.

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