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Brothers Seeking Help to Avoid Deportation; Secretaries Rice and Gates Meeting With Middle East Allies

Aired July 31, 2007 - 14:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Don Lemon.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Happening now out of Phoenix, Arizona, hundreds of people showing up here to attend a memorial service for two television journalists who were killed in a fiery helicopter crash over Phoenix last week. Media, friends, family they were all invited to the ceremony for KTVK TV pilot Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox at First United Methodist Church.

About 800 people they're expecting to come here. An overflow site has even been set up at a nearby church so the public can watch these proceedings on closed-circuit television.

You'll remember that Bowerbank and Cox had died Friday when their helicopter collided with another news chopper, carrying KNXV pilot and reporter Craig Smith and veteran photojournalists Rick Krolak. Their memorial service is set possibly for the end of the week.

We're going to monitor this, obviously, and dip in and hear what the community is saying about two photojournalists that were loved and respected tremendously in that community.

LEMON: In the meantime, searching for clues at a gruesome crime scene. Maryland mom Christy Freeman is charged with first and second- degree murder and manslaughter after police found the body of her newborn son. Investigators have since uncovered the remains of three other pre-term infants at her home. Experts are testing genetic material today to learn how each died.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF BERNADETTE DIPINO, OCEAN CITY POLICE: All the evidence that we have right now leads us to believe that they all belong to Ms. Freeman, but we aren't ruling out anything and we'll wait for a DNA analysis to get a final determination. But we're working in cooperation with the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And it will take at least several months, if not up to a year, to be able to determine a lot of this information, but we're going to be aggressively investigating this case.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Cadaver dogs have indicated there could be more human remains on Freeman's property. So far, none has been found.

PHILLIPS: Well, a pressing issue for the chief justice of the U.S. This time it's not legal or constitutional. It's personal.

John Roberts walked out of a Maine hospital today, a day after suffering a seizure at his vacation home and going through a round of tests. Doctors were unable to pinpoint a cause. And we talked to our own medical expert Dr. Sanjay Gupta about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Any time somebody has a seizure, and an otherwise healthy person, there's a lot of things that come to mind. Certainly, you'd want to look at whether he had started any new medications, for example, whether all of his electrolytes and his blood work was normal. If all that was normal, then he would certainly need to get a brain scan.

And, you know, as you know, and as we discussed when he was nominated, he did have a seizure in '93. At that point, it sounds like he had a complete evaluation and nothing turned up. So, they referred to that as idiopathic, meaning there's no known cause.

With the second seizure now even 14 years later, you know, it would be important to look in the brain again to determine if there was something, what we would say, structural, within the brain that might be causing this. And that would sort of be the first step. If he has no more seizures, you know, within a -- within a relatively short time period, I'm not sure that he would be given the diagnosis of epilepsy per se, but he would probably need to stay on some anti- seizure medications for some time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The White House says that Roberts talked with President Bush by phone and told the president he's fine.

Roberts is the youngest member of the highest court in the land. He was sworn in as chief justice of the United States in September 2005. President Bush originally nominated him to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, but Roberts became chief justice instead after William Rehnquist died.

Roberts had earlier served on the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia. He's the father of two young children. In 2001, he described his health as excellent. He also suffered a seizure in 1993.

LEMON: A California transplant surgeon accused of giving death a push so he could harvest a dead man's organs. Prosecutors in San Luis Obispo County say Dr. Hutan Rusra (ph) prescribed drugs to speed up a comatose patient's death last year. Apparently, the man didn't die fast enough after he was taken off life support. State law forbids transplant surgeons to intervene with potential organ donors before they're declared dead. The doctor is charged with three felonies but not charged with murder. His lawyer says this case amounts to a witch hunt.

Most bosses terminate employees with pink slips. Well, police near Atlanta say a car dealer used a gun.

Police say the boss admitted he was under a lot of stress and snapped when the victims kept asking for pay raises. Rolandas Millinavicius is accused of killing a man and woman. The suspect and both victims are natives of Lithuania. Their company shipped American cars to that country.

PHILLIPS: Well, two students' deportation fight has bounced from south Florida, to the Internet, to Capitol Hill. Juan and Alex Gomez could be kicked back to their native Colombia because their parents overstayed their U.S. visa. The boys arrived here when they were toddlers.

Now college age, they could be expelled from the country unless the government steps in. A couple of lawmakers are trying to.

CNN's Brianna Keilar live in D.C.

Brianna, who showed up today?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it wasn't just lawmakers. It was Juan Gomez's friends, who are really bringing this issue into the spotlight.

Juan is a recent high school grad. He was a straight A students, and his former high school principal in Miami told me that he actually graduated in the top 20 of his class of about 800 seniors last year. Well, nine of Juan's friends were on Capitol Hill today, and there are even more on the way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT ELFENBEIN, GOMEZ FRIEND: I hope you guys have about an hour, because that's, you know, what it's going to take to describe him in full. I can give you adjectives and describe him as humble, selfless, giving, brilliant. A treasure, a best friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: The Gomez family overstayed a six-month visa that was granted to them in 1990. And ultimately, in 2002, the decision of a federal immigration judge to refuse them residency was upheld.

So, at that point, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, instead of leaving the country, Juan and Alejandro's parents ignored the order and they stayed in Florida with their boys. Well, last week, they were detained in a raid.

And his friends are on the Hill today. They met with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida today. She's pushing legislation that's called The Dream Act. It's already in the pipelines on Capitol Hill, but it would protect grown children like Juan and Alex, who even though they aren't legally in the U.S., they may have worked hard and they know no other home. Then the U.S. would protect them from being deported.

Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R), FLORIDA: To punish him for whatever faults his parents may have committed in not fully documenting their status, I think goes against the grain of the generosity of this wonderful country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: And that's kind of a very general bill, but Florida Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart has also introduced a measure that would also protect just Juan and Alejandro Gomez -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So what are the chances that the Gomez boys will be able to stay in the U.S.?

KEILAR: Well, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen says she's hopeful, but she also concedes that she's really got a tough fight ahead of her. And one immigration lawyer that I spoke with says the chances are really very slim, and that's from a man who thinks that the Gomez boys should be able to stay.

And the thing is, this case really isn't unique. That same immigration lawyer estimated that there are tens of thousands of people who are really in the same position that these two young men are.

PHILLIPS: All right, Brianna. Thanks.

LEMON: Love, understanding and meditation, not the things Democrats and Republicans talk about when they debate Iraq. But coming up, we're going to introduce you to a man who says that's exactly what Iraq needs for peace.

PHILLIPS: Plus, the vice president talked Iraq with Larry King. He didn't recommend love, understanding or meditation, though. But Larry King is joining us live to tell us all about that interview.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: America's Middle East allies are getting a double dose of diplomacy this week. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates are making the rounds on multiple matters.

CNN's State Department Correspondent Zain Verjee is here with all the details for us. Hi, Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Don.

Well, the U.S. really has two major goals here on this trip in the region.

Firstly, they want to unite the Arab allies against Iran. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today called Iran destabilizing and the biggest challenge to U.S. interests in the Middle East.

You know, Arab countries have been very, very nervous about the increasing influence of Iran in the region. A senior State Department official, Don, that we talked to today said, look, basically, the billion-dollar arms sales deal to Arab allies is really in part to assure them, to make them feel a lot more secure and confident that the U.S. is with them and on their side.

Secretary Rice says the U.S. wants to make sure that Arab allies feel well protected. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: The United States is determined to assure our allies that we are going to be reliable in helping them to meet their security needs. We have a lot of interests in common in this region in the fight against terrorism and extremism, in protecting the gains of peace processes of the past and in extending those gains to peace processes of the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: The U.S. has a second goal here on this trip, Don, and it's really to try and get Arab allies to play a more constructive role in Iraq. U.S. officials have said that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have really not been helpful in Iraq and are really undermining U.S. efforts in that country. So, they really want to see, and they have an expectation that Saudi Arabia and their other Arab allies will step up -- Don.

LEMON: So, Zain, the reaction from lawmakers?

VERJEE: Well, Democratic lawmakers today, many of them really not happy about this, particularly the arms deal, specifically with Saudi Arabia. They say that, look, Saudi Arabia is not a friend to the U.S. Many of them want to basically introduce legislation to block this arms sales deal from even going through. They say they want to do it the minute Congress is officially notified.

Here's what one Democratic lawmaker had to say about Saudi Arabia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK: They are a country that sends 70 percent of the suicide bombers on extremist Web sites around the world, are Saudi citizens, and they are the funders of 50 percent of all international terrorism. They are not a nation that should be rewarded with a $20 billion, a $10 billion, or a $5 billion arms deal from this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: The congressman is from New York, particularly sensitive, because as you know, Don, 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. To be fair, too, though, the Bush administration, as well as Saudi officials, have said that Saudi Arabia has taken tangible and definitive steps to combat terrorism -- Don.

LEMON: CNN's Zain Verjee.

Thank you, Zain.

PHILLIPS: Want to take you live once again to Phoenix, Arizona. A very emotional memorial service going on right now.

We're told possibly 800 people have shown up to this memorial service for those two television journalists who were killed in that helicopter crash over Phoenix last weekend. You may remember the two KTVK TV pilots, Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox.

This is being held at First United Methodist Church. They even set up an overflow site at a nearby church so the public can watch the proceedings on closed-circuit television.

This particular memorial service just for media, friends and family. You can see how these two were deeply loved and respected in that community.

Bowerbank and Cox were killed when their helicopter collided with another news chopper. They were actually covering a police chase live on the air. And when that crash happened, it's one of those moments a television anchor never, ever wants to experience.

But it happened on live television, and the news anchors obviously openly were shocked and started crying on the air. And it really moved the community and has brought up a lot of questions about high-speed chases and also the regulations of those choppers.

Investigators are now looking into that incident. They're expected to have a full report on it in about nine months.

And the man who actually led police on that chase has remained in jail. He's held on a $1 million bond.

And then a memorial service like this one is going to be held at the end of the week for the other two reporters and pilot from KNXV, the other station there in Phoenix. They were in the other helicopter that this one collided with.

So, we're monitoring this memorial service, honoring those two photojournalists. And just -- we'll bring you moments from it throughout the day.

LEMON: It is 15 past the hour. Here are three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Drivers are in for some major detours in the northern California city of Oroville after the collapse of an unfinished bridge. Rescuers had to cut a driver from a FedEx truck that was partially crushed by a steel beam. He is said to be badly hurt. At least two other injures are reported as well.

Senator Ted Stevens getting a lot of unwelcome company. Federal agents have searched his Alaska home and reportedly zeroed in on cases of wine. Stevens is under federal investigation for his ties to a contractor convicted of bribing lawmakers.

And you're seeing a radar image of the third named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Chantal has formed off the East Coast, but it's not expected to directly threaten the United States.

Well, after a surprise interview yesterday, only silence today from Michael Vick and his camp on statements by one of Vick's co- defendants who struck a plea deal. Tony Taylor pleaded guilty yesterday to dog fighting conspiracy charges, or a charge of dog fighting conspiracy, and confirmed he'll cooperate with prosecutors.

They submitted a document signed by Taylor that said Vick was the man who financed Bad News Kennels and its gambling activities. The Atlanta quarterback and two friends go on trial November 26th. Taylor will be sentenced after that.

Pro-football star, hard worker takes care of family. Now alleged dog fighting organizer. Who is the real Michael Vick?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON (voice over): Until he started working his magic as a college and pro quarterback, life was far from a piece of cake for Michael Vick. His teenage mother and father got married several years after Vick was born in Newport News, Virginia, in 1980.

Vick took up football at a young age. By high school, his exploits on the gridiron won him a scholarship at Virginia Tech, where he led the Hokies to a national championship game.

In 2001, the Atlanta Falcons selected Vick as the number one pick in the first round of the NFL draft. Family, friends, teammates, coaches all describe Vick as quiet, hardworking, and one who cares for those around him.

But before the dog fighting allegations, there were other legal bumps for Vick and a younger brother. Marcus Vick, a football star in his own right, was kicked out of Virginia Tech for repeated misbehavior.

Two years ago, Michael Vick was sued by a woman who claimed Vick gave her a venereal disease. The lawsuit was settled out of court.

Earlier this year, Vick was stopped at the Miami airport carrying a water bottle with a secret compartment that reportedly smelled of marijuana. The case was dropped when tests failed to find any sign of drugs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, the U.S. Army has 20,000 reasons for you to join up. But will a five-figure bonus attract enough quick shippers? It's our e-mail topic of the day.

Stick around to hear more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Job cuts, plant closures, big losses -- these words have become synonymous with the American auto industry. But now we've got a new one for you -- profits.

Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange with all the details.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

LEMON: Well, it's hot and it's muggy in a lot of places today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, one man with a mission and message in Iraq -- give peace a chance. Did Iraqis listen? Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar joins us in the NEWSROOM to talk about his trip to the war-torn country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Hello everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.

Powerful, controversial, secretive and tonight taking questions from our very own Larry King.

PHILLIPS: Coming up this hour, Larry King joins us live to talk about his interview with vice president Dick Cheney. Iraq, Alberto Gonzales, the executive branch all part of the conservation and you're live in the CNN NEWSROOM to hear it.

LEMON: Security in Iraq, it's not great, but it's better than it was. That's the assessment from Admiral Michael Mullen, President Bush's choice to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He's being grilled today by the Senate Armed Services Committee which has to approve his nomination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ADM. MICHAEL MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS CHMN. NOMINEE: Security is critical to providing the government of Iraq the breathing space it needs to work toward political national reconciliation and economic growth, which are themselves critical to a stable Iraq. Barring that, no amount of troops in no amount of time will make much of a difference.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The admiral added there is no doubt U.S. forces in Iraq, particularly the ground troops, are stretched thin, but morale, in his view, is high.

PHILLIPS: They say money talks and the army sure hopes that's true. Stretched thin with tough enlistment targets, the army is offering a $20,000 bonus to new recruits willing to ship out for training within 30 days. The so-called quick-shipper bonus is in addition to other incentives offered now to new soldiers. Now, we asked you what you thought about this bonus. Here are some of your e- mails.

LEMON: Michele writes, "It's a great incentive. Many young people have no direction and the military can be a great career starter. I am a professional who has two daughters, one Army, one Navy, who have chosen to serve. They have both been to Iraq and have come home safely."

PHILLIPS: And Christy writes, "I can't think of a single parent who would trade their child's life for $20,000. The risks are too high. That money should be used to rebuild Iraq once U.S. troops have left. Pull out should begin immediately."

LEMON: And Billy writes, "As a recent college graduate I can honestly say the $20,000 offer from the army does very little to entice me to enroll. With the war in Iraq presumably continuing for some time, joining the army is a sure-fire way to get deployed there."

PHILLIPS: And Lesley is holding out for more, "You can't put a price on people's lives, but if they're willing to pay $20,000 a day, then we'll talk." Send us your e-mails at cnnnewsroom@cnn.com. We'll have more later in the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: Well it's almost tomorrow in Iraq and the month of July will close out with the lowest U.S. troop death toll since November. CNN's Dan Rivers looks al the role the American buildup has played in the mixed bag that is Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The surge has kicked in, but is it working? The end of the month figures are being pored over by both the supporters and opponents of the strategy for clues as to whether it's having the desired effect. In the last year, the number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq has fluctuated from month to month, reaching a peak in May at 126. This month, according to CNN's count, it's 73 and may rise, that's the lowest monthly count this year but still much more than in July last year when 43 were killed. Some say the fall in the U.S. military deaths is a result of fields caught with Sunni militia and tribal leaders, once insurgents, these men used to be considered part of the problem. Now they're seen by U.S. military commanders as part of the solution.

LT. GEN. RAY ODIERNO, CMDR., MULTI-NATL. CORPS IRAQ: We have Sunnis and some groups reaching out to us to reconcile.

RIVERS: Reconcile or grab some power. The groups now being courted by the U.S. were until recently part of the enemy.

MICHAEL WILLIAMS, MILITARY ANALYST: They certainly have cut some political deals at the very least with the militias, which, again, is something that they said they wouldn't do and have ultimately ended up doing. And not quite sure about the wiseness of the strategy, sort of robbing Peter to pay Paul in terms of what, you're trying to achieve.

RIVERS: And bringing Sunni militias on side has come with a political price. It's infuriating the Shiite-dominated government, which sees the move as a betrayal. U.S. commanders say it's not.

ODIERNO: We are not providing arms to anybody. But what we are doing is we are having groups come to us that say we want to fight Al Qaeda and we want to become part of the apparatus of the government of Iraq security forces.

RIVERS (on camera): It's clear the number of attacks has dropped and the number of U.S. casualties has fallen. But the situation here is still bleak. Every day, U.S. soldiers are dying. The green zone is being regularly monitored and outside these walls half of the city are still lawless and hostile.

(Voice-over): What senior commanders are hoping is that the reduction in U.S. casualties is the beginning of a trend, not simply a one-off dip. A trend that if it continues will allow them to bring peace to the Iraqi people and to hand more responsibility to the Iraqi forces. If things go wrong, critics say the U.S. will simply have fostered another armed faction in Iraq to counterbalance Iranian- controlled militia, a recipe for civil war. Dan Rivers, CNN, Baghdad.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: You can see explosions, assassinations, troop presence, political negotiations. What will ever stop the violence in Iraq? A worldwide spiritual leader says just spell the ways of Mahatma Ghandi, take on hatred and killing through meditation, love and understanding. Well India spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar took his message of nonviolence to Iraq. He met with political and spiritual leaders, and he listened to war widows and their children. I had the chance to talk with Sri Sri, who has visited disaster zones in all parts of the world, about his message for Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR, SPIRITUAL LEADER: In other parts of the world the suffering is due to natural calamities. Here, it's inflicted by their own anger, by one's own frustration. It's a man- made calamity, you know?

PHILLIPS: That's interesting. You talk about this anger because I was listening to you talk about meeting with tribal sheikhs and on one hand they said, oh you're bringing so much peace to our people, they're less angry, they're meditating, but at the same time they said to you, please, we need them to be angry to be able to fight back in this war. How did you respond to that, and what do you make of that?

SHANKAR: You know, I took the message of nonviolence of Mahatma Ghandi in that whatever ends that you want to see, that you can achieve through nonviolent, democracy and peaceful manner, you know. Sit together with all the communities, the nations with which you don't see eye to eye with each other, and dialogue and discussions can prevail for it. And it is so sad; I said you have given a chance for violence so long, four years been fighting against each other in different communities. Now why not give nonviolence a chance? Keep aside the gun and talk to each other, whether it's the communities or political leaders.

PHILLIPS: Well, and it was amazing for me to see all the people that you met with, from the head of Iraq to so many different types of Iraqi people. We were able to hear from some of the Iraqis and this is how they responded to your trip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MS. WAFA, IRAQ: He saved my life. We hope to spread this knowledge in Iraq and bring happiness in Iraq.

(INAUDIBLE)

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now Sri Sri, here's what's interesting. In a country that is torn apart by different religions, they're finding an attraction to Indian spirituality. Why is that?

SHANKAR: Because spirituality has something to offer that unites people, India has demonstrated that, you know. India itself is an amalgamation of different nationalities, different languages, different, you know, religions, and sex. They're all living peacefully for so long and spirituality has the strength to do that.

PHILLIPS: What did Nuri al Maliki say to you? What did you talk about with him when you sat down with him?

SHANKAR: You know, we talked about presidency, rehabilitation, how to change the hearts and minds of the people and how to bring about the lack, that youths are experiencing, spiritual vacuum that the youths are facing, how to feel that gap. These are the things that we were discussing.

PHILLIPS: This is a tremendously dangerous country. I saw the videotape of you with armed guards and massive security when you went into Najaf and other places at night. So, how do you find the balance, because it is a dangerous place to be? SHANKAR: Of course, you know, that's where you really need to work more. In a very peaceful green zone, talking about peace has no meaning. I need to step into the red zones and have dialogue with people right there who are filled with anger or frustration or you know it's wounding their hearts and minds. That's where healing is most needed at.

PHILLIPS: And when you went into those dangerous areas, did you honestly feel ...

SHANKAR: No, I didn't have any fear at all.

PHILLIPS: You felt no fear.

SHANKAR: Absolutely not.

PHILLIPS: Why not? When there are people there dying every single day?

SHANKAR: You know that's the strength of spirituality. It brings such an inner strength to you and gives such enormous strength and confidence in the power of love.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And for more information on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's nonprofit foundation, you can click on artofliving.org.

LEMON: Massive steel beams raining onto a roadway. You're looking at Orville in northern California where a bridge under construction collapsed. At least three people were hurt, including the driver of a FedEx truck that was partially crushed by a beam. Rescuers managed to cut the man free. He wanted to know why the road was open in the first place. Here's what a state transportation spokesman said just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOICE OF MARK DINGER, CALIF. TRANSPORTATION DEPT.: Well, Don, last night we actually had this highway closed while we were erecting this (INAUDIBLE). It was reopened at around 6:00 a.m. this morning. At 7:15 is when the (INAUDIBLE) work actually collapsed. One of the workers from our contractor was actually on top of that structure and rode it 50 feet down all the way to the roadway. So, the road was closed when we were actually working on the (INAUDIBLE). It had just been reopened a little over an hour when this mishap occurred.

LEMON: You said one of your workers rode this debris 50 feet down?

DINGER: That's correct.

LEMON: That doesn't sound like it's doable to me, but if you say so, then ...

DINGER: It doesn't sound doable. I'm having a hard time believing it myself, Don, but that's what we're hearing from reports here at the scene.

LEMON: OK, this is the only injury we know about, correct?

DINGER: Actually, two -- there's been three injuries. Two with the fallsworth (ph) collapse itself, and we also had a driver injured when they ran into one of the Cal Trans vehicles that was helping the California Highway Patrol with traffic control around the scene of this mishap this morning.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The FedEx driver reportedly suffered major injuries. No word on his condition.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, we're going to talk to our very own Larry King about his interview with Vice President Dick Cheney, straight ahead from the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Two years ago, vice president Dick Cheney told Larry King the insurgency in Iraq was in its last throws. A lot has happened since then. Larry asked the vice president today about that comment and about more recent developments in the administration, like the firings of U.S. attorneys.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHENEY: With respect to the U.S. attorney, there had been I think a bit of a witch-hunt on Capitol Hill as they keep rolling over rocks hoping they can find something, but there really hasn't been anything come up that would suggest there was any wrongdoing of any kind.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Larry joins us now to talk more about that interview, it airs tonight at 9:00 but Larry we couldn't wait that long. Thanks for being with us.

LARRY KING: Thank you, Kyra. Good to be here.

PHILLIPS: That part of the interview that we just saw, what would you like to add to that? How did you feel about your conversation with regard to this witch-hunt comment?

KING: He was very, very supportive of Attorney General Gonzales, saying that the administration would stick by him. I then followed up by asking, sometimes if someone is an embarrassment to an administration or harmful to an administration, shouldn't they quit. Even if they feel they are right. And he had a kind of I would say nebulous answer in that that can be, but he stands by him fully. That's what this administration is doing. I did not think, and everyone's impression will be their own, that it was a firm 100 percent we love you General Gonzales.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's take a listen. You asked him, you followed up about that subject matter and this is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Alberto Gonzales. Do you stand by him?

CHENEY: I do. Al's a good man, a good friend, in a difficult assignment.

KING: Are you troubled by what appears to have happened with, the appearance of him not telling the truth?

CHENEY: Well, I don't want to get into the specifics with respect to his testimony and the questions that were asked. I just know Al on a personal and a professional basis and I hold him in high regard.

KING: You're going to stand by him.

CHENEY: Yes, sir.

KING: No doubt about that.

CHENEY: Correct.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: So Larry, standing by him, but, boy, there were some hardcore allegations about Alberto Gonzales going to the hospital bed of John Ashcroft to try to pressure him about the surveillance program under the Bush administration.

KING: I asked the vice president about that and the story that he was the one that asked him to go, and he said he had no recollection. So, I then said, wouldn't that be something you would recollect? And he said he stuck by that he had no recollection of asking him to go. He did not want to deal with specifics, which tells me they're looking at trouble. If you don't want to deal with specifics, if you don't want to say, well, he said this and he didn't mean that, I think you're looking at trouble and you're looking the other way if you're denying it.

PHILLIPS: Wow, it's one of those infamous lines, right, Larry? "I do not recall" or "I don't have a recollection."

KING: How could you not recall? You two guys, you go over to that guy in the hospital bed and you tell him to sign this. Did you say that? "I don't recall."

PHILLIPS: I love how you just lay it out, Larry. I love it. All right, you asked about Iraq as well. Does he have any regrets about Iraq knowing what he knows now, would he have still gone to war?

KING: Are you going to play the clip, or do you want me to answer?

PHILLIPS: Well, we only had the choice of three clips because you just did this interview and we had to quick turn, so I'm leaving it to you, Larry.

KING: He said he would. He stands firmly by that. I asked him, and you'll find this fascinating when you watch it I think, not only if he had to do it over again would he, but does he ever look in the mirror and say maybe I'm wrong, and he does not. Despite the opposition of Republican senators and the majority of the public, he does not. He said other people in power have -- had people against them and proven to be right and he wouldn't come off that at all. So, there was no introspection. I was surprised at that. I was surprised -- you would think anybody would at one point, making decisions, look in the mirror and say, I hope I'm right, or maybe I'm wrong, or I hope I'm not wrong. And he does none of that. Here's a sign into his own character. Which by the way, if you're a fan of the vice president's, that's a plus that he is that constant is to you I think, a plus.

PHILLIPS: Now, you asked him also if he'd be running in 2008. What did he tell you?

KING: No, he's not. He's running home.

PHILLIPS: He's like I had enough of this?

KING: The end of January 2009 he said he would support whoever's elected on the Republican ticket if elected. He would not serve -- he held out as a slight opening if the job were right, he would serve in a Republican administration. But he doesn't plan to, and he certainly had enough of -- he'll never run for office again.

PHILLIPS: Wow, well we sure look forward to the entire interview. Larry, thanks so much for taking the time out to talk to me.

KING: Thanks, Kyra. I think you'll enjoy it.

PHILLIPS: All right. Remember, you can catch the entire interview tonight with Larry, 9:00 eastern right here on CNN.

LEMON: Lemonade for a cause. A kid in Colorado sells tangy treats to help his diabetic brother. You won't believe how much he's raised.

A.J. HAMMER: I'm A.J. Hammer in New York. Well, it was one of the worst-kept secrets in Hollywood, but Star Jones is finally coming clean about her weight loss. We're going to tell you how she shed those pounds, coming up next in the NEWSROOM.

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LEMON: Their marriage lasted almost three whole years, it produced two kids and thousands of tabloid headlines. Britney Spears, in case you were wondering, and K-Fed are officially divorced. Showbiz Tonight's A.J. Hammer is here to give us the last divorce update on this couple. A.J. it's finally over, in three years. That's a long time for Hollywood, by Hollywood standards, right?.

HAMMER: Yeah. We have to give them some credit there. That's quite a stretch, three years. But we are here to report that Britney and Kevin Federline are officially over. An L.A. court officially ended their marriage yesterday and set up alimony for Federline and joint custody of the couple's two sons.

Now, the agreements were sealed although one attorney for Spears said that she was OK with the settlement and that it, "tracks with the prenup," which presumably means Federline didn't take her to the cleaners in this whole deal.

Now this, of course, was a marriage made in tabloid heaven, the pop princess and her then anonymous dancer husband got married back in October of 2004. The two get married, Federline left his pregnant girlfriend with their 2-year-old daughter so he could marry the pop superstar. This was the second wedding in an eight-month period for Spears after her first marriage to a childhood friend was annulled.

Don, I would like to say that people thought it would last, but the truth is, nobody really did. So now, it is officially over.

LEMON: Three years, like I said, by Hollywood standards, that's an eternity.

HAMMER: Exactly.

LEMON: You know I'd just been wondering, haven't heard word from her, so I'm just going to ask you. What's going on with Paris Hilton? Have you spoken to her lately?

HAMMER: You know I haven't had a conversation with her lately but there's something going on with her to talk about every single day. And today Don, she is selling her house in Hollywood hills. So let's take a look at this beast. For $4.25 million you too, can own this 1926 Spanish-style house that the hotel heiress called home. It is a 4 bedroom, 3-1/2 bathroom house. That according to the realtor's Web site, has old Hollywood glamour. I'm sure the neighbors are particularly excited over the prospect of somebody moving in who doesn't really attract those hoards of paparazzi and news crews and all the helicopters that fly overhead.

It was also announced that Hilton's reality TV show "The Simple Life" is no more. The last episode in the series putting socialites Hilton and Nicole Richie into every day situations with regular people, airs on Sunday on the E-channel. All of the publicity that the stars have generated with their multiple run-ins with the law haven't really helped the show's ratings. They've actually fallen off 20 percent since last season. Don you'll remember when the show debuted with much fanfare on FOX back in 2003. Will it be missed? I don't think so.

LEMON: And, you know, looking at her house, it looks barely used, like she was out all the time on red carpets and stuff ...

HAMMER: That is exactly where she was.

LEMON: It's probably true.

So, Star Jones has decided to come clean about how she lost weight. I wonder what happened.

HAMMER: Well the truth is Don as we know she's never owned up to it before, exactly how it was done. There's always been speculation that she lost the weight with gastric bypass surgery, and now we do know that's exactly how she did lose the 160 pounds over a three-year period. In an essay that's going to be published in "Glamour Magazine," Jones says she never admitted to the procedure before because she was scared of what people might think. Remember, this is a woman who put herself out there on "The View" every single day.

Well after her 40th birthday, Joan said she started gaining weight. At one point she was tipping the scales at 307 pounds before she had the operation back in August of 2003. After the surgery, of course, everybody wanted to know her secret and how she had the dramatic weight loss. Jones said that she was intentionally evasive because she was ashamed of not being able to get her weight under control without the operation.

We should set the record straight that Jones is currently in production on a new TV show that's part of the "Time Warner" corporate family, which of course, includes CNN. Tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," twinkle, twinkle, little star. We're going to tell you more about how Star Jones has finally admitted to the worst-kept secret in Hollywood. But why did she come clean now? Well, you will find out tonight on TV's most provocative entertainment news show, it's "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." We will see you at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CNN Headline Prime.

LEMON: Yeah, that sure was a tough choice. Because seriously she was an advocate of what they call BBW. Big, beautiful women, and now she's a tiny thing.

HAMMER: It was a tough decision for her, I'm sure, but I think she just finally had to put it out there.

LEMON: Thank you A.J., we'll be watching.

HAMMER: You got it Don.

PHILLIPS: Is the grim reaper moving a little too slowly for one doctor? Did he give death some help so he could take a dying man's organs? It's not a horror movie but it sure sounds like one. Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

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