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At Least Six People Dead after Windstorm in Pacific Northwest; Doctors Say Tim Johnson is Getting Better; Hamas Denounces Mahmoud Abbas's Latest Move; Scheduled Work at International Space Station Today
Aired December 16, 2006 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, the worst wind storm to hit the Pacific Northwest in more than a decade downs trees and power lines, and kills at least six people.
We have a live report coming up.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Doctors say Senator Tim Johnson is getting better. The South Dakota Democrat is still in critical condition after brain surgery, but the hospital says he opened his eyes and reached out to his wife after she spoke to him.
NGUYEN: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he will schedule early elections in a big to end the growing violence between his Fatah faction and the ruling Hamas Party. Mr. Abbas says presidential and legislative elections will take place within three months.
Now, Hamas is denouncing this move.
HOLMES: Astronauts may make another attempt today to fix a solar panel outside the International Space Station. The panel won't retract and that could cause problems down the road.
The astronauts have other tasks planned for today's scheduled space walk, but they'll take another look at the panel if they have some time.
NGUYEN: Well, hello, everybody.
Good morning to you.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes.
The news is unfolding live this Saturday, the 16th of December. And you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: In the Pacific Northwest, struggling to stay warm this morning after the worst wind storm in a decade.
HOLMES: Also, prostitutes being murdered in Ipswich, England, reminders of an earlier British stalker. NGUYEN: And parents on the front lines -- how one cartoon character connected a father in Iraq to his daughter right here at home.
We're connecting you this morning through THE NEWSROOM.
There is a state of emergency in the Pacific Northwest after the worst wind storm to slam that region in more than a decade. Today, it is a struggle to stay warm. The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. At least half a dozen deaths are now reported. And the winds, they are fierce, with gusts topping 100 miles an hour in some areas.
And along with an effort to stay warm, a serious concern -- carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities are warning people not to take their outdoor grills inside for cooking and heating. Dozens of carbon monoxide cases already reported.
We have a live report straight ahead.
HOLMES: And keeping an eye on all this weather for us, our Reynolds Wolf -- good morning to you again, sir.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning to you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: And on Oregon's highest mountain, the search for three missing climbers is expected to get back on track this morning. A blizzard kept search crews on the sidelines yesterday, but today a full scale assault is planned. Rescuers want to reach the 10,000-foot level of Mount Hood, heading up the south side of the mountain. It's a climb that could take more than six hours.
NGUYEN: Well, search crews believe they may find one of the missing climbers holed up in a snow cave.
We have more now on the search and rescue efforts from CNN's Dan Simon.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CAPT. CHRIS BERNARD, 304TH RESCUE SQUADRON: Right here.
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A small orange piece of paper raised hopes that three climbers are still alive. A note left by the trio at this ranger station one day before their journey up the mountain. It's one of several notes the group left along the way.
BERNARD: They outline what they have: "We have food, fuel, ropes, shovel, bivy sacks, heavy parkas, etc. We have experience on Rainier, Denali, South American expedition, etc."
SIMON: Authorities had known about the note for several days. It wasn't clear why they never mentioned it before. But its revelation reinforced optimism that the climbers have the necessary resources to survive.
BERNARD: I always knew that they were a, you know, squared away climbing group here. But it's just one more -- one more piece that, you know, highlights that, that they did all the right things. They're doing all the right things. They took all the right gear.
FRANK JAMES, KELLY JAMES' BROTHER: These three guys got -- dotted all their Is and crossed all their Ts.
SIMON: But the search was stymied by the second straight day of blizzard like conditions. The mountain and its surrounding towns took a beating last night and today. It got so bad that most of the rescue teams had to come off the mountain. They had been hunkering down at 6,000 feet, far below the location where they believe one of the climbers, Kelly James, is holding out. That's at the 10,000-foot level, where the situation resembles something like this from a few days ago.
Still, the Nevada Air National Guard was able to put up one of its planes, a C130 with thermal imaging. It was unable to detect anything, but more missions were planned.
CAPT. JOHN PROHEL, 152ND AIRLIFT WING: Darkness is not too much of a factor, because we can still get an infrared capability looking for a heat signature. But, of course, if they're in a snow cave, we probably won't be able to see them.
SIMON: The families have shown remarkable strength while waiting for information about their loved ones' fate. But today, there was visible emotion as Jame's wife talked about his and the other climbers' strength.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "AMERICAN MORNING")
KAREN JAMES, KELLY JAMES'S WIFE: They're fighting so hard to do everything they can to get down to us. And that's what we take. Because they're not quitters. I mean, Kelly, this is a thing in our house, you can't say can't. And that's just how they are.
And so we know that their number one goal right now is to hunker down, make it through it and come back to us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON: And with an expected break in the weather Saturday, rescuers plan an aggressive search to find the missing men.
Dan Simon, CNN, Parkdale, Oregon.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HOLMES: And you can stay with CNN for the very latest developments on this story as they unfold. And coming up at 12:00 Eastern, we do have live coverage of a news conference updating the search efforts. The mothers of the missing climbers will be at that news conference. NGUYEN: A serial killer on the loose in Great Britain. The most recent killings echo one of history's most notorious criminals.
We're going to take a look back at Jack The Ripper. That's just ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
And later...
HOLMES: And the new Democratically controlled Congress gets started in January.
But will the new leadership be any more effective than the old one?
A reality check is ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: This is the wheel and this is where my dad is.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: He's a whole half a map away
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: He took like...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been away from their families for a very long time now; some would say far too long. But a cartoon character is taking on the challenge of keeping children connected with their soldier parents. We'll explain how.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: More than one-and-a-half million homes and businesses lost power in yesterday's savage wind storm in the Pacific Northwest. Many are still without electricity and it's going to be a chilly weekend.
Gary Chittim of CNN affiliate KING is just outside of Seattle -- good morning to you, Gary.
GARY CHITTIM, KING CORRESPONDENT: Gunman, T.J.
Yes, you can add up those numbers. You heard that 60 to 70 mile per hour gusts. Two inches of rain. All kinds of problems here. Add it up and this is what you get -- power outages, widespread, all around, just outside of the Seattle area here. You see this stuff around every corner, on ever rural road, every city block and even in the urban roads.
These are power lines that were knocked down by fallen trees. They were blown over by those powerful winds. Power crews are doing their best, but the temperature is plunging and they have had their hands full all night long. (AUDIO GAP)
HOLMES: Uh-oh, it looks like we might have lost Gary Chittim there. He's still there, but I don't think he's hearing us.
CHITTIM: I'm here. I was waiting. I thought for a moment we were going to get a prepared piece.
But let me throw you some more numbers, if you can still hear me.
HOLMES: Yes, we're still with you, Gary.
Go ahead, buddy.
CHITTIM: The numbers lately -- OK.
We've got three quarters of a million people who are still without power -- 500,000 on one power supplier out here. They have 80 of their main transmission lines went out. Only 20 of them are back online.
So this thing, when it came through, everyone in an urban area and not accustomed to trying to survive in sub-freezing conditions overnight, had to try and suddenly find places to get, whether there were those burning logs that you can put in your fireplace or some other type of heat source and a lot of bad decisions have been made.
People have been bringing barbecues into their houses. There have been dozens of people brought in for carbon monoxide poisoning. There are house fires reported all over the region. And, again, outages just as immense as you can imagine -- some three quarters of a million people.
Reporting live from near snow cave, I'm Gary Chittim for CNN -- back to you.
HOLMES: All right, Gary.
Thank you so much this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHMOUD ABBAS (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We will not allow to be drawn into a civil war. Palestinian blood will remain to be a taboo for all of us, despite all what has happened against the democratic process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And that declaration by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas kicks off our Going Global segment. Mr. Abbas said he'll schedule early elections to be held within the next three months, in a bid to end growing violence between his Fatah movement and Hamas, which controls the current government. Hamas denounced his move and called for Mr. Abbas to resign. NGUYEN: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is on a tour of the Middle East. He says the next few weeks will be critical to the peace process there.
Mr. Blair discussed the situation during a stop in Turkey.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The most important thing is that on the Palestinian side, one way or another, we have a fully functioning authority with which the rest of us can deal, support, give financial help to, improve the living conditions of Palestinians and start to create the structures on the Palestinian side that then allow a negotiation for peace with Israel to go forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Heavy turnout for elections in Iran to tell you about, but it may be several hours before we hear the results. Voters were filling seats on local councils. But observers will use the results to judge the popularity of hard line President Mahmood Ahmadinejad, a fierce critic of the United States and Israel.
NGUYEN: Police are searching for an apparent serial killer in Ipswich, England, and they're asking for the public's help. Today, they released this surveillance video showing one of the victims on a train. You see her there. This was taken a week before her body was found.
And Anneli Alderton is one of five Ipswich prostitutes found dead. Today, the crowd at a soccer match in Ipswich joined in a prayer and a moment of silence.
HOLMES: Well, some news accts are referring to the Ipswich investigation as the Ipswich Ripper Case.
NGUYEN: Yes, that is a reference, of course, to England's most notorious serial killer, who targeted London prostitutes in the 19th century. We're talking about Jack The Ripper.
CNN's Kyra Phillips looks into our continuing fascination with Jack The Ripper.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): He wasn't the first serial killer. He was far from the deadliest. But as soon as the news broke about the Ipswich slayings, many of us thought about Jack The Ripper.
Nearly 120 years after he is said to have stalked the streets of London, Jack The Ripper still holds us enthralled in his murderous grip.
We've seen it played out again and again, in dozens of movies -- the gas lit streets of Victorian England. A sinister figure emerging from the night. The scream, a struggle, then silence. Except maybe for the footsteps of a killer disappearing into the London fog.
It may be part of our collective memory, but we really know very little. From 1888 to 1891, 11 prostitutes died gruesome deaths on the streets of Whitechapel, in London's gritty East End. It's generally believed that four, five, maybe six of them, were victims of a single killer, who may or may not have called himself Jack The Ripper.
A letter that made its way to Scotland Yard carried that signature and regardless of whether it was written by the actual killer, that brutally vivid nickname is one reason we still remember the Whitechapel murders.
There are others. The newspaper industry was growing and despite everything you've hard about Victorian morals, lurid stories about prostitution and murder sold papers -- not just in London, but all over the world.
Police investigated the murder spree under intense public scrutiny, but never solved it -- another reason for our enduring fascination.
For all over a century, amateur sleuths have walked the streets of Whitechapel, speculating about Jack The Ripper's true identity.
Was he a laborer? A doctor? Maybe even royalty? There's been speculation that one of Queen Victoria's grandsons was "The Ripper." No one knows.
Aided by modern forensic science, today's Scotland Yard detectives may well discover the identity of the Ipswich killer. But Jack The Ripper? Nearly 120 years later, his true identity is still shrouded in the London fog.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE SPEAKER ELECT: You cannot advance the people's agenda unless you drain the swamp that is Washington, D.C.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, Democrats got the swamp drained, to their liking, at least.
But will the new Congress be any more effective than the old one?
NGUYEN: And soldiers trying to stay in touch with their children back home. Hope comes in the form of a PBS special featuring an animated rabbit.
We'll tell you all about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Since 1927, "Time" editors have named a Person of the Year on the cover of a special issue of that magazine.
NGUYEN: Yes. The title is given to someone or something that has affected the world and the way that we live, for better or for worse. So now the decision is just hours away.
Here's a look at some of this year's contenders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMESH RATNESAR, "TIME" WORLD EDITOR: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is the president of Iran, this year kind of emerged as, you know, a dominant player on the world stage.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iran's president also emerges as a candidate for "Time" magazine's Person of the Year.
Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, gets a nod as Person of the Year after he uses the United Nations as a bully pulpit.
Rounding out the list for global influence, North Korea's leader, Kim Jung Il.
RATNESAR: The real concern with Kim Jung Il is not so much that he would ever use a nuclear weapon, but that as the head of a really desperate, poor, starving country, he would be tempted to sell some of the technology needed to develop the weapon to other states that are interested, or even to terrorist groups.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: On the domestic front, the nominees are Donald Rumsfeld, who stepped aside as secretary of defense.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes the list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: Thank you all very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: As does incoming speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH," COURTESY PARAMOUNT CLASSICS)
AL GORE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I used to be the next president of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Former Vice President Al Gore gets a nomination for jumping back into the public spotlight with his film on global warming.
JOSH TYRANGIEL, MENTIONING EDITOR, TIME.COM: You're a politician and you are associated with an ideology -- Democratic, Republican. And what he did is strip all that context away and come off as a guy who cares very much about a particular issue. That's a magnificent transformation.
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Person of the Year doesn't have to be a person. YouTube is nominated for kicking off a revolution, as millions of people share videos on the World Wide Web.
TYRANGIEL: So many of the interesting YouTube videos have been from American soldiers in Iraq. And you actually get to connect with them on a -- in a way that the nightly news never shows you, that newspapers can't convey in the same emotional level.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So, the president, America's main diplomat or the lady who could rule the House -- who has made the greatest impact this year?
Find out who will be voted "Time" magazine's 2006 Person of the Year. That is tonight, 8:00 p.m. only on CNN.
And don't forget this. You can vote for who you think should be the Person of the Year. Just log onto cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, the new session of Congress doesn't begin until next month, of course. But this week, leaders on both sides the political aisle issued calls for action, looking for the 110th Congress to do what the 109th did not -- tackle those really tough issues.
Is that realistic, Josh? Is it?
Joshua Levs here with us for the reality check.
So tell us, it is possible?
JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it all boils down to whether you believe the promises or not. And that's what it seems to keep happening.
Every couple of years when there's this new session of Congress, it seems like hope springs eternal. And you've always got these politicians who are ready to say you know what? The new Congress is going to come along and it's going to tackle all the big problems and we're going to move on.
Is that realistic in this case?
Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
LEVS (voice-over): The White House wants support on Iraq. TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Both houses of Congress know that there is -- and both parties understand that this is time for the political class to deliver.
LEVS: Homeland Security wants new, tougher laws to track down identity thieves.
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: So we can further protect Americans from identity theft and protect our borders against illegal immigration.
LEVS: It seems like everyone in Washington is looking to Congress to fix what's broken -- the same place that just said good- bye to what many Democrats call the...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do nothing Congress.
LEVS: Remember what leaders in that Republican-controlled Congress had vowed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll be working on lobbying and earmark reform.
LEVS: Nothing came of it, which Republican Senator John McCain has called unacceptable.
What about the immigration issue?
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: It is one that is enormously urgent from a national security perspective.
LEVS: Congress did pass a bill to build a fence, but nothing comprehensive.
And when it came to Social Security...
GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And every year we fail to act, the situation gets worse.
LEVS: More talk, no reform.
So, who says things will or should change with the Democrats in power?
They do.
PELOSI: You cannot advance the people's agenda unless you drain the swamp that is Washington, D.C.
LEVS: The Democrats say they'll provide badly needed oversight and slash the power of special interests.
Republicans say they'll do that, too.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), INCOMING MINORITY LEADER: We're going to work as a team and we are going to earn our way back into our majority.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LEVS: But keep in mind that as a new Congress is coming in, you've always got promises like that flying around. And right now lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are saying that because of all the things that were not done in the last Congress, the one that's coming in in January, T.J. is going to face some especially daunting challenges.
HOLMES: Hey, but I'm going to believe this is the one.
LEVS: Well, I'll tell you what, Congress, we've got our eye on you, all right?
HOLMES: Yes.
LEVS: We're watching you.
HOLMES: All right.
Thanks, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks.
NGUYEN: Yes, you guys are scaring me.
Here's a question for you, though -- what would you do, what would happen if you missed a single paycheck? Could you get by?
Two thirds of Americans say no.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many of us, if we look at ourselves and look at our incomes, have security, income security?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: This weekend on CNN NEWSROOM, why are so many Americans living paycheck to paycheck and who's to blame?
Plus, how can people make sure it doesn't happen to them.
You have to tune in Saturday night for "A Paycheck Away." That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. I don't even know why we're saying Saturday night. It's tonight. Set your clocks. Make sure you're there -- 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.
HOLMES: All right.
And just how ready are Iraqi forces to take over security operations?
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fifty-five.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fifty-five Humvees?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROBERTSON: That's good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROBERTSON: Do you need more?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Sure.
ROBERTSON: How many more?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five hundred.
ROBERTSON: You need 500?
You have 55 and you need 500?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HOLMES: The situation is improving, but even Iraq's best forces are still leaning heavily on their U.S. support.
NGUYEN: Speaking of support, U.S. soldiers prepare to spend the holiday season thousands of miles from home and from their loved ones. We're going to look at one television program trying to help bridge the distance between soldiers and their families.
That's ahead right here in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Now in the news, about a million homes without power this morning in the Pacific Northwest. A major, winter storm just ripped across Washington and Oregon. Wind gusts topped 100 miles an hour in places. You can see the damage there. The storm is blamed for six deaths and three dozen cases of carbon monoxide sickness.
HOLMES: A Los Angeles hospital shutting its neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Seven children infected with a common but virulent bacteria, a bug that's no problem for most of us, but deadly for premature babies and others with weakened immune systems. Doctors blame improperly cleaned medical equipment. The infection may have killed one infant.
NGUYEN: Discovery astronauts will venture outdoors this afternoon. What they're hoping to do is complete a rewiring job on the international space station. If there's time, they will also check out a retractable solar panel. It's being stubborn and it won't fold up properly. HOLMES: Iraq holding a national reconciliation conference today. The prime minister opening the door to soldiers who served under Saddam Hussein. He also reached out to members of the outlawed Baath party, those not involved in criminal activity however.
NGUYEN: The Associated Press is quoting a senior U. S. defense official as saying there are plans in place to deploy an additional brigade to Kuwait shortly after the New Year. Now the official says the move is part of a possible temporary surge of U.S. forces in Iraq.
HOLMES: Additional U.S. help would be welcome news to some, needing more not less help from the U.S. The Iraq army's wish list is growing and CNN's Nic Robertson reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Show his face. But the Iraqi army general with his back to the camera, General Nasir (ph) is the epitome of success, according to the U.S. military. His brigade almost stands alone. In the west of Baghdad, he controls several square miles with a little over 2,000 Iraqi soldiers and no U.S. forces, except 44 military trainers. But as I'm finding out, it's far from self-sufficient.
TRANSLATOR: Anything that we need to make a change or need, to make Americans do.
ROBERTSON: He needs American helicopter gun ships for big shootouts and U.S. Army medics to fly in and treat his casualties. Even at a relatively simple checkpoint like this, the Iraqi army still needs U.S. support to build the guard towers here. They need heavy lifting equipment. They don't have that. Among General Nasir's military trainers or mid-teams (ph), there is no doubt. The Iraqi army needs more, not less, including more mid teams.
COL. KENNETH STONE, MILITARY ADVISER: And after a while, you're walking zombies. So when you have more people, you can be with the Iraqis 24 hours a day and they run 24 hour off, so that's just more training we can provide them.
ROBERTSON: As General Nasir takes me on a tour of his base, he makes it clear. He's counting on more U.S. support. These are your Humvees here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. This American Humvee.
ROBERTSON: How many Humvees do you have?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now in the brigade?
ROBERTSON: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 55.
ROBERTSON: 55 Humvees. That's good. Do you need more?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROBERTSON: How many more?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 500.
ROBERTSON: You have 55 and need 500?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROBERTSON: He jokes about needing 500 Humvees. The truth is, it's not far short of that number. Without U.S. backing, Nasir says he'll be fighting a losing battle. What is it going to take to win the battle against your enemy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Training.
ROBERTSON: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And intel services.
ROBERTSON: It's a view shared by U.S. military advisers.
COL. JIM GRIESE, MILITARY ADVISER: Clearly that's our ticket out of here. That is our -- in keeping with our national strategy.
ROBERTSON: I asked General Nasir the multibillion-dollar question. When will the army be ready? How long before can you stand up on your own?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I need the equipment and I need the training on the equipment. Then (INAUDIBLE)
ROBERTSON: Iraq's army is going to be a very expensive U.S. ticket back home. Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The PBS show, "Postcards from Buster," is helping solve a mystery. How do military families stay in touch when they're thousands of miles apart? Well for clues, the hit documentary show went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. And our buddy Buster met 10- year-old Erin Munoz. She helped Buster solve a mystery as she was talking about and he helped her stay in touch with her dad in Iraq. They're going to talk about all of this and Erin and her mom, Cheri, along with her little sister, Hannah, who is with us in the red there. They're joining us from Missouri. And the show's producer, Jeanne Jordan, joins us from Boston. We're all excited about this.
And let me start with you, Cheri because when we saw that little clip, you could tell the excitement in Erin's eyes when she was talking about Buster and the show. But then when she was talking to her dad about how much she loved him, it got serious. You could see and you could feel that the distance is having an impact on your children's lives, with your husband being in Iraq. So how has the show really helped you talk to your children about that? CHERI MUNOZ, HUSBAND STATIONED IN IRAQ: The show's allowed us to be expressive, to discuss the distance that we're not alone, that there's people out there, just like we are. And that we'll just take it one day at a time and everything will be OK.
NGUYEN: Well, everything is OK. And Erin, you've been such a trooper. You're actually on the show. Tell us a little bit about what you're able to do on the show. That's got to be pretty exciting for you.
ERIN MUNOZ, DAD STATIONED IN IRAQ: It was exciting. I was able to help a lot of kids understand that, well, like military kids, that they're not alone and help kids who don't have a parent or family member in the military, to understand what it is like. It's not just the news headlines.
NGUYEN: So what is it like? What is it like having a father so far away serving in the military?
E. MUNOZ: It's really hard. But other times it makes me feel proud.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, I know that you made your father really proud as a part of this show. Didn't he call unexpectedly? Tell me about that.
E. MUNOZ: He did. The crew was just kind of looking around the house. And then he called. It was a big rush to get all the cameras and everything ready and they were hooking up cords. It was kind of cool.
NGUYEN: I bet it was cool. Jeannie, let me talk to you for a minute. What a perfect moment for you. Who knew that was going to happen? That must have made that particular part of the show just really work.
JEANNE JORDAN, PRODUCER: We were very excited that it happened that way.
NGUYEN: And talk to me about the show. This is your first animated series. It's done so well. Where did the inspiration come? For those who aren't familiar with Buster, what does Buster do and who is Buster?
JORDAN: Well, Buster and "Postcards from Buster," is an offshoot of "Arthur," a PBS children's television show and Buster is Arthur's best friend. And he travels around the country and meets kids from all over and takes video postcards and sends them back to Arthur and his friends and his friends out in viewing land. And he's a really great way for kids to get to know about other kids' lives.
NGUYEN: And how did he meet Erin?
JORDAN: Well, basically, what we do, it's part live-action and part animation. We try to find stories that we think will really introduce kids to things they might not know about. And I grew up in the Midwest and I have a family in the military. And I knew that growing up in the military is a really interesting thing. I have two nieces who have lived in Okinawa, all over the world. So, we looked around and we found these girls. And it just seemed like a great way for kids to understand what it's like to live on a military base. And also just to understand, that everything about Erin and Hannah and their life.
NGUYEN: Well, I want to show a little clip from this. And, Erin, you are just so precious in it. This is when you're talking to your father. Let's take a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
E. MUNOZ: Hi, poppy. I love you and I miss you and I'm really happy we solved the case for Buster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: What I love about this is that it just really shows you. It shows you what life is like walking in your shoes, Erin. Talk to me about the postcard that you made for your father. What was it that you really wanted him to see and wanted him to know being so far away, especially during the holiday season?
E. MUNOZ: I wanted him to know that he's not forgotten. And I really love him.
NGUYEN: I bet you do. And for all the other kids out there who have a similar experience or are without their mothers or fathers right now because they are serving in the military, what kind of advice do you have for them?
E. MUNOZ: Just to take it one day at a time. They're not alone. And other kids are out there like them, too. And just, whenever their parent or family member does call, then to really like savor every moment of it.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. We can't wait for you to have your dad home hopefully very soon, but in the meantime, happy holidays to all of you. We really appreciate you coming on the show and talking about this.
E. MUNOZ: Thank you.
NGUYEN: And you may remember, though, this footnote, Buster picked up a little bit of controversy last year. In a show about families, Buster visited a lesbian couple and their daughter. The Education secretary complained about public funds being used to make the show and PBS dumped it. But a few stations did air it anyway.
HOLMES: Also ahead, her story made head lines. Now, news of the woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape is pregnant. And the judge in the case wants to know who the father is. That's next in the newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Across America this weekend, he's out even before he ever really got in. Indiana Senator Evan Bayh says he won't be a presidential candidate in 2008. Bayh set up an exploratory committee just days ago, but the Democrat tells the "Indianapolis Star" the odds are just too great.
NGUYEN: A family in tears because a loved one's execution was botched. Florida is putting executions on hold now, until at least March. Angel Nievez (ph) Diaz was put to death by lethal injection on Wednesday. But it took twice as long as it normally does and that is because prison workers shot the poisonous chemicals into his flesh and not into his veins. A medical examiner won't say if Nievez suffered.
HOLMES: A Federal judge in California halting execution there. He says the state's method of lethal injection may violate the ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The judge did indicate California's death penalty could be fixed to pass constitutional requirements.
NGUYEN: Well, new bombshells are rocking the Duke rape case. A DNA expert testifies that he and the district attorney agreed not to disclose results favorable to the lacrosse players. And there's more. Here's correspondent Joe Johns.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What will most likely end here, began here, on the night of March 13th, an off-campus party by Duke University lacrosse players. Two exotic dancers hired to perform, showed up at the door. One of them claims she was gang-raped in a bathroom by Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann. All three Duke players were indicted for rape. All three say they're innocent. And in a case full of surprises comes three new huge bombshells. First, the accuser is pregnant and the prosecutor says she's due in February. But sources tell CNN, she could give birth at any time. The defense and the prosecution believe none of the players is the father. The judge has ordered a paternity test. Then there's this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He looks just like him without the mustache.
JOHNS: You're looking at something we rarely see, part of an actual police lineup tape, showing the alleged victim in the station being asked to point on a screen if she recognizes the suspects.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was the one that was standing in front of me.
JOHNS: Defense attorneys allege the lineup was biased because it consisted only of the Duke lacrosse players wearing the team uniform. The judge will decide if it's admissible.
LISA PINTO, LEGAL EXPERT: They showed her photos of lacrosse players. There was no control here. There were no photos of other guys from the street. So clearly, the police were involved in pushing her to make an identification of some kind. And then what stems from that should be thrown out of the courtroom. JOHNS: There's more. Outside the courthouse, a shocking charge from the defense. Accusing the district attorney of burying evidence, holding on to it for months, when he should have handed it over immediately. The lawyer says the prosecutor knew a DNA report found no match between the accuser and the defendants. He wants to know why it took so long to tell him so.
JOSEPH B. CHESHIRE, ATTORNEY: We are extremely troubled by that. We will get all of what was said today and we will look at it and we will review it and we will act on it.
JOHNS: There's been a lot of talk about how important DNA is to this case. But one legal expert says, science shouldn't be the ultimate factor.
PINTO: The trouble with DNA nowadays, with all the TV shows and the crime scenes and people in lab coats is that the American jury believes that there should be some compelling forensic evidence in order to convict a defendant of a crime. But that's not what the law says.
JOHNS: Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: We got more of the newsroom coming up at the top of the hour. Always good to see you Fredricka.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Always good to see you all as well. Have you finished your Christmas and Hanukkah shopping?
NGUYEN: Oh my goodness, don't even talk about it, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Even started maybe?
NGUYEN: I have three gifts that I purchased and a whole list.
WHITFIELD: I'm not going to rag on you because you're three ahead of me. Coming up in the noon hour, we've got lots of great gift ideas all under $50. Everything from things you can use in the kitchen, things to use in your garden and even other places outdoors, great gift ideas. That's in the 12:00 hour.
And then, in the 2:00 hour, our legal eagles will be joining us to talk about the latest twist in that Duke lacrosse rape case. Here's the question -- should the players -- is their case being considered, in terms of whether their civil rights were violated, the players? Were there civil rights violated? That's something our guys are going to tackle
NGUYEN: There's been some new twists in that, very interesting. OK Fred, looking forward to that.
WHITFIELD: It's been a strange case from the very beginning and it gets stranger every month, it seems.
HOLMES: Will be to the end.
NGUYEN: Thanks, Fred.
HOLMES: We will see you then and we will see Veronica de la Cruz right now. Keep on eye on the web. Everybody's been surfing right. We're going to talk about surfing this morning.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: That's right TJ. Coming up, we're going to show you what our I-reporters have been sending in. That's next in the newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, our I-reporters have been hard at work. That's a good thing.
HOLMES: Veronica de la Cruz, they turn in all their assignments to you, I believe?
DE LA CRUZ: Me and other people.
NGUYEN: It's like a teacher.
DE LA CRUZ: They turn them in to cnn.com. They've been staying on top of the severe weather in the northwest. As you know, the storm has taken out trees. Power lines blocked roads and left many without power. Take a look at this. This picture sent in to us from Joe Bruzda. He says approximately 30 fir trees that were at least 100 feet tall, were blown down within 400 yards of his home in Corvalis, Oregon. He says he heard cracking and then an amazing thud as the trees came crashing down. But Joe didn't say whether or not that was his car.
NGUYEN: Hopefully, it wasn't. And if it is, Joe, hope you have some good insurance.
DE LA CRUZ: This next photo is from Barbara Page. This is a photo of Heather Bosich (ph) and her son, Nick, reassessing the damage from the 70 mile per hour winds that hit central park near Aberdeen, Washington. Look how big that tree is. Her home amazingly enough suffered only minor damage.
More damage here. Even concrete couldn't hold this tree in place as heavy rains and winds combined toppling this tree located at a building in Corvalis, Oregon, once again. And we'd like to thank Kay Shaw for this photo. And thanks to all of you who have sent us an I- report. For more, you can always log onto our website at cnn.com/exchange and it won't be just me looking at the pictures. Just so you guys know.
NGUYEN: A whole team at work on this. Not to worry. Thank you, Veronica.
HOLMES: Thanks Veronica. And of course CNN newsroom continues with Fredricka Whitfield.
NGUYEN: Right after this break. Have a great day, everybody.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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