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Three Construction Workers Killed in Accident at Indiana Mine; Massive Montana/Idaho Wildfires; Stocks Very Volatile; The Gay Vote; Third Suspect in Newark Killings Arrested; Monster Truck Veers into Illinois Crowd

Aired August 10, 2007 - 14:00   ET

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

HOLMES: Digging, drilling, that's all tough, but the waiting may be even tougher in Utah. You know, that's not the only accident, the only incident, we're following at a mine. We're following something else. Breaking news out of Indiana. That's ahead.
PHILLIPS: And Space Shuttle Endeavor makes it look easy. Pose for some pictures, turn a few flips, folks at the International Space Station. We're following all of the twists and turns.

Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

HOLMES: I'm T.J. Holmes sitting in for Don Lemon you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

A new mine accident today, this one near Princeton, Indiana, that is in southwestern Indiana, just north of Evansville. The Gibson County coroner's office say three people are dead. The accident reportedly happened outside of the mine, while construction work was being done over an air shaft about two hours ago.

Jondi Schmidt is a reporter for "The Princeton Daily Clarion", she joins us now by phone.

Jondi, can you bring us up to date?

JONDI SCHMIDT, "PRINCETON DAILY CLARION": At this point, the people that are at the mine probably know more than I do. But I can describe the scene.

The Indiana State Mine Rescue just showed up about 10 minutes ago. And there's probably about 40 people suited up in hardhats and suits perhaps maybe to go in and get the three bodies.

PHILLIPS: So, Jondi, do we know if these were mine workers or construction workers? Because I understand it was a --

SCHMIDT: They were construction workers.

PHILLIPS: They were construction workers?

SCHMIDT: Yes. This was actually a construction site accident and not a mine accident. The company called Frontier Kemper out of Evansville. PHILLIPS: Do you have any idea what went wrong when they were working on this air shaft?

SCHMIDT: At this point, I do not. They have not issued a statement at least at the level that I'm at. And I do not know the details at all.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're losing Jondi Schmidt, she's on a cell phone. She's a reporter for "The Princeton Daily Clarion".

As you heard from her, though, it was three construction workers that were killed while working on an air shaft there at the Gibson Mine in Princeton, Indiana. We'll continue to follow everything form that investigation as we get it.

HOLMES: And we want to bring you new pictures we're just getting now, out of space. The Space Shuttle Endeavour has done it. We've been watching the pictures there, live -- here now. Of course, I wish we had our Miles O'Brien up right now to explain to us exactly what we are seeing.

I'm told what we are seeing is Space Shuttle Endeavour has linked up with the International Space Station. We were waiting on this to happen. We're watching a live picture. You see several different pictures of it. But the space shuttle, of course, a short time ago -- here we go. You can see it, what's supposed to be happening there, getting close to docking, ever so gently, ever so slowly. A delicate, delicate dance, a delicate ballet being done in space.

This just happened moments ago. It's going a little slow there, but you can see the Space Shuttle Endeavour there docking up with the International Space Station on this latest mission.

We'll probably going to get our Miles O'Brien back in a little bit. But we wanted to bring you the latest pictures, I don't think I'll be able to talk until that thing actually gets there.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: So we will just leave you with those pictures.

PHILLIPS: It is pretty cool, though, when it connects and they open the hatch and they connect with the other astronauts that are the International Space Station. They ring the bell, which is a tradition that they do. So, when it does happen -- and you're right, T.J., it's a long time to vamp. We'll take it live.

OK, we are being told it did happen, it's already connected, so that's video from just prior.

HOLMES: Those are the latest pictures. All right. We'll stay on top of that and bring you the details about that latest space mission of the Endeavour.

Meanwhile, we'll turn to Utah, and the rescue crews there holding out hope that six miners are still alive. A bore hole completed last night showed no signs of activity, but a second, wider hole still being drilled. Our Ed Lavandera joins us now live with the latest.

Hello, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, T.J.

Well, there had been a lot of hope riding on that smaller drill hole that was being dug into this mountain. So far, officials here say that has proven inconclusive. They have dropped a microphone into that area and there have been no sounds that they have picked up.

And now they're starting to think that perhaps they have reached the wrong area. At least that is what the hope is right now. They're now in the process of dropping some surveying equipment into the area, so that they can try to figure out if, indeed, they are in the wrong place.

In the meantime, that wider hole is being dug, about an eight- inch hole being dug, and they have more control over the way that drill goes into the ground. The smaller one just went straight in. They couldn't really control where it went. Now they're hoping -- and progress, they say, is good. But Bob Murray, the owner of the mine, had said last night that that hole should reach the miners where they are sometime late today, maybe early tomorrow.

However, officials this morning wouldn't put any time frame on it, stepping away from that. And they say despite there being no signs of life, so far, that there's still reason to remain hopeful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD STICKLER, MINE SAFETY & HEALTH ADM.: I think we all should continue to have hope. We have no indication that there's any indication that we should not have hope. So, we're going to continue to work as hard as we can, as fast as we can, doing everything we can to achieve our goal. And that is to rescue the miners.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And one of the reasons they're really hoping, essentially, that this first drill hole reached the wrong place is because the oxygen levels that they are taking from that area, where the sensors are now, are not enough to sustain life. Initially, they had taken oxygen samples, and put it in the 20 percent range, which is what we breathe out here, essentially, enough to sustain life.

Anything below 15 percent starts getting into a very risky range. And it's at 7 percent, so they're hoping they're in the wrong area, and this other drill hole will reach the area where they suspect the miners are -- T.J.

HOLMES: Right there, when you said, "suspect the miners are." Real quickly, you said it's possible they missed. Let's say that they did hit the exact area they were trying to hit. How confident are they that area is, in fact, where the miners are?

LAVANDERA: Well, they're confident they're close, as good as they can say at this point. But they anticipate they're probably a couple different areas where they could be. So, obviously, given the information they've gotten from this first area, essentially they don't want that to be the case. They want the miners to be in this other area where this eight-inch drill hole is going to be focusing on.

They're a little more confident about hitting that area because of that ability to control where that drill goes from the ground level. The smaller drill used in that case because they didn't have the capacity for that. This other machine that's being used is more capable of doing that and offers a little more pinpoint precision -- T.J.?

HOLMES: Ed Lavandera for us with the latest.

Ed, thank you so much.

PHILLIPS: Another record-breaking scorcher; we're already seeing triple-digit readings in the Southeast and The Plains, feeling the heat for a fifth straight day. These kids are trying to stay cool, running in and out of the fountains. The next best thing is staying indoors where there's air conditioning. Power companies reporting record usage, but so far they've kept up with demand.

A number of cities are sending volunteers door to door to check on folk who is might not have air conditioning, or might be reluctant to turn it on, concerned about their power bills. Some relief, right, Bonnie Schneider, somewhere?

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: A not guilty plea in a triple homicide that shocked the city of Newark, New Jersey. Jose Carranza and a Spanish interpreter went before the judge this morning. Carranza is charged with robbing and killing three college students last weekend. Carranza's lawyer confirms his client is an illegal immigrant from Peru.

Carranza turned himself in to Newark's mayor yesterday. He's being held on $1 million bond. A 15-year-old was also charged in the case and pleaded not guilty yesterday. The prosecutor wants to try the teen as an adult. Police say they are looking for three more suspects.

Newark police say four students were hanging out at an elementary school. The killers approached, slashed, and shot one of them, forced the other three against a wall and gunned them down. The ruthlessness is shocking even a city that thought it had seen it all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR CORY BOOKER, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY: That is what's sort of the evilness of this, more than any of the other murders I saw, which are heinous enough of themselves. But there seems to be no motivation, no provocation. This was just a disgusting, vicious attack. And it's just troubling, because it's at the core, really what they're attacking was not only these amazing children, and their families, but attacking at the core what Newark really is about. Most of our children overwhelmingly are phenomenal young people, doing the right thing, and they went after the fruits -- the best illustration of who we are as a people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Police say the one survivor, 19-year-old Natasha Aeriel has been helping with the investigation despite a gunshot wound to her head. She's said to be getting better every day.

PHILLIPS: Volatile day on Wall Street, a ripple effect of the worst credit crisis. At this hour, Dow Jones industrial down 90 points. It tumbled early on more than 200 points for second straight day. The Federal Reserve is trying to calm fears, pumping billions of dollars into the banking system and promising more money as needed.

Also today, reports that federal investigators are combing through the records of major Wall Street banks to determine their exposure home loan defaults. Susan Lisovicz with all the details, live from the New York Stock Exchange in just minutes.

HOLMES: Divers are back in the Mississippi River looking for more victims from last week's bridge collapse in Minneapolis. They recovered more remains yesterday, but a question of just exactly how many people did they find. The latest coming up here in the NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Scorched Earth, wildfires devouring millions of acres. We're going to take you on an aerial tour in Idaho.

And did some people see the Virginia Tech gunman go through the motions two days before the killings? That is coming up here, in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It's 2:14 Eastern Time. Three people are dead after a construction accident just outside a coal mine in Princeton, Indiana. The victims were contractors replacing an air shaft. Plans are being made to retrieve bodies right now.

The rescue effort continues at coal mine in Utah. The first hole drilled deep into the mine shows no signs of life. Officials say it may have ended up in the wrong chamber. Rescuers say there's no reason to give up, as they continue drilling a second hole.

The Federal Reserve has been pumping extra money into the banking system today to head off problems linked to the mortgage crises. Later in this hour, CNN's Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis will join us to look at how the mortgage crisis could affect you.

HOLMES: A man slipped past airport screeners and apparently made it onto a passenger plane at the Charlotte airport today. Flights were cancelled, but about a dozen planes took off before authorities even realized what happened. Officials say the man who bypassed security likely had boarded one of those planes, which one? Still don't know. The planes will be searched reaching their destination. PHILLIPS: Almost four months later, new details are coming out in the Virginia Tech shooting case. Witnesses have told authorities they saw a suspicious looking man in Norris Hall two days before the massacre. Was it Sang He Cho (ph) on a practice run? Police aren't sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUPT. STEVEN FLAHERTY, VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: Let me point out that we don't know for sure that it was Cho. If I'm correct, the information was that it was a male student with a hood, pulled down. And, of course, then the doors were discovered, or reported to have been chained at some point in time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Two days later, on April 16th, Cho (ph) chained the doors shut on Norris Hall and killed 30 people before killing himself. The fall semester begins at Virginia Tech August 20th.

Now, in the tiny town of Laceyville, Pennsylvania, this yellow tape represents a mystery that's left a lot of people numb. The town's former fire chief, his wife, and their 36-year-old son were all found dead inside this home. Police say this is not a murder-suicide. Each family member had been shot in the head with a shotgun. Autopsies are scheduled today.

Joseph Colgrove (ph), had been with the fire department 40 years. His wife drove a school bus for two decades. Everybody in Laceyville knew them.

HOLMES: Along the fire front now, in Montana, about half the families evacuated from the resort town of Seeley Lake are being allowed to go home. They live east of Highway 83. About 375 families are still waiting for the green light as fire crews trying to corral this huge wildfire that's burned well over 18,000 acres in a week.

That's just one of 35 major fires burn across the country, all but one happening out West. Most are in Montana and neighboring Idaho. In that state, millions of acres of scorched forest and range land, and the Interior secretary just took an aerial tour, and so did CNN's Sean Callebs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Thick, white smoke as far as the eye can see. Looks almost harmless from up here. But it's a graphic reminder that much of the Northwest is burning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What a very sad view.

CALLEBS: Here in Idaho, the wildfires have named like Rattlesnake, Shower Bath and Middle Fork.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for what you're doing.

CALLEBS: But all that really matters to the gritty troops on the front lines is making it through another hot, difficult, 16-hour day.

DANE VAN HOOSER, FIREFIGHTER: They seem to be starting really early every year and being very busy. So things are hot and dry and we're in August now and could go on for another month and a half until we get some snow or rain.

CALLEBS: It has been a fire season of historic proportions. So far, authorities tell us, 5 million acres have burned around the country, that's roughly the size of the state of New Jersey.

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, INTERIOR SECRETARY: This is America the beautiful. And we're seeing that some of it is absolutely on fire.

CALLEBS: Idaho is home for the Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. He's a former two-term governor here.

KEMPTHORNE: We may get one that takes off, and it is not unusual, out here in the high country, that some of these forest fires will not be put out until the snow flies.

CALLEBS: He is not exaggerating. Fires are so intense that in states like Idaho and Colorado, they will burn until the first significant snowfall. This is the National Interagency Fire Center, from this room, all major wildfires are managed. The thousands of crews, all the air tankers, all the supplies, and resources are so thin right now that when homes and people are not threatened, the NIFC has had no choice, at times, but to let the fires burn.

TOM BOATNER, NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER: If you're out in the field and you have a fire burning, and you are not getting what you need to deal with it, that's a huge frustration. And hearing that you're low on the priority list is not necessarily what you want to hear. But that's the reality of the world we're operating in these days in the fire community.

CALLEBS (on camera): Right now, the center is monitoring close to three dozen severe wildfires. Most are in Montana, Idaho, or eastern Washington State. Now, every day a situation report comes out that details the number of acres that have gone up in smoke. The crews that are out fighting the lines, even the cost of battling the wildfire. They also get constant weather updates. And one thing is for sure, they say there is no immediate break in the dry conditions out West for weeks to come. Sean Callebs, CNN, Boise, Idaho.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Roads, fields, and towns under water. A major river is closed to shipping till tomorrow at the earliest. You're looking at monumental flooding along the Rhine in southwest Germany, the result of two days of torrential rains. One community recorded nearly 27 feet of water. The flooding is blamed for at least two deaths.

A monster truck with monster problems. The damage straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange, where the market is selling off again, even after the Dow's second worst point loss of the year. The numbers, the damage report, next. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: A new accident to tell you about at a mine today. This was near Princeton, Indiana, in southwestern Indiana, north of Evansville. These are pictures, the newest we have from our affiliate WTHR. The Gibson County coroner's office saying to us now that three people are dead. This reportedly happened outside of the mine, while construction work was being done over an air shaft.

Officials say the incident happened about noon Eastern Time. You can stay here with us for the latest day details, as we get them, on what happened there in Princeton.

Also, heads-up for employers. The Department of Homeland Security is examining Social Security rolls to try to pinpoint workers who don't have documentation. Starting next month, employers will start receiving no-match letters. When workers' records don't check out. Those cases will have to be resolved in 90 days, or the workers fired. The government says the only employers who need to worry about anything are the ones who are breaking the law.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SEC., HOMELAND SECURITY: The person who does their best, in good faith, has nothing to fear from this. This should be welcomed to them because we're giving them clear guidance on a safe harbor. But the person who -- and we've seen this in cases -- systematically goes out to provide phony documentation, or to tell people how they can lie on their records in order to have -- you know, work here when they're out of status, that's the person who does have to fear vigorous enforcement on the criminal side.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: That provision announced today is part of a push against illegal immigration in the absence of formal immigration reform. For more on this story, tune in to Lou Dobbs tonight at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

PHILLIPS: We're seeing a global market sell off today that began in Asia, extended through Europe, and is now playing out on Wall Street. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange to explain what central banks around the globe are doing to avert a crisis of confidence.

Hi, Susan.

LISOVICZ: Hi, Kyra. The Federal Reserve and central banks around the world have injected $100s of billions of cash into their banking systems over the past two days and they say they are willing to provide more. This is the first time the banks have worked in tandem like this since right after the September 11th attacks. What they're doing is providing liquidity, the ability for banks to make loans to each other, and to customers big and small. Just as importantly, it's an effort to reassure investors, who are increasingly concerned about a credit crunch. And credit, whether its for buying a car, or a company, is the gasoline that fuels the economy.

The Federal Reserve said today it was taking action to, quote, "facilitate the orderly functioning of financial markets", end quote. The Fed, you may recall, acknowledged earlier this week that credit conditions have tightened. And given all the bad news that's come out since then, the betting on Wall Street now is that policymakers will cut interest rates at next month's meeting. That is a big change in the betting, just in the last couple of days, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, why is the market still selling off?

LISOVICZ: Right. It's a good question. We saw it before the market opened, and that when we heard about the Federal Reserve that the drastic sell off that we were looking at did seem to pare the losses. The Fed's move alleviating some of the selling at first, but the bottom line is there's more bad news today, and that's not helping things.

Earlier today, lending giants Countrywide Financial and Washington Mutual warned the collapsing subprime mortgage market would hurt their earnings further. And there are also reports that government regulators are combing through the books at several top Wall Street firms to make sure they aren't hiding subprime losses.

All this news has been sending stocks on another wild ride. The Dow industrials, which had been down more than 200 points this morning, right now, just modest losses; 75 points is only .5 percent. The Nasdaq, meanwhile, the down 18 points or .75 percent.

In the next hour of NEWSROOM, why the U.S. subprime mortgage crises has the power to cause a global sell off. A primer, if you will, Kyra, on another tumultuous day on Wall Street.

Back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. See you again in a little bit. Thanks, Susan.

LISOVICZ: You got it.

HOLMES: Pieces of a murder puzzle coming together in Newark, New Jersey. The latest on the murder case that shocked a city that thought it had seen it all. That's ahead here in the NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Divers are back in the Mississippi River looking for more victims from last week's bridge collapse in Minneapolis. They've recovered more remains, but the question is, how many people did they find? The latest coming up in the NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: And how hot can it get and when will it cool off? We've got these temperatures, and Kyra Phillips, so you know we are sizzling in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kyra Phillips live in the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: I'm T.J. Holmes sitting in for Don Lemon.

Miners trapped underground, their fate uncertain.

PHILLIPS: Their families trapped above, grounded by agonizing emotions of hope, anxiety, fear. They're just waiting for the news, any news.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: Workers say they are making good progress drilling a second hole into the cave and coal mine where six miners may be trapped there in Utah. The first hole was finished late yesterday allowing crews to lower a microphone and a steel tube to sample the air. The microphone failed to pick up signs of activity. Officials say it's possible the hole was drilled into the wrong chamber.

RICHARD STICKLER, MSHA, ASST. SECRETARY OF LABOR: Now, there's no reason to lose hope. There are certainly possibilities that these miners are still alive, because we don't know for sure where this bore hole drilled in. We're trying to confirm that. We don't know a lot of things about the underground environment.

HOLMES: The location of the second hole is expected to be more precise. It's also wider than the first; big enough to lower a camera, food, and water, could be completed by tonight.

PHILLIPS: The trapped miners' families are themselves trapped in an agonizing cycle of fear, hope, and uncertainly right now.

CNN's Ted Rollins reports.

TED ROLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With news of their loved ones' fate possibly a short time eight away, family members of the six trapped miners spent another excruciating day waiting.

JOHN BAZA, UTAH DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES: I don't think any of us can imagine the fear and the concern that those families have. As I look into their faces, it's touching to me. I think there's a great deal of worry, there's a great deal of anxiety over what all this will turn out to be.

ROLLINS: The news, good or bad, will be delivered to the families at this local school. Throughout the day, relatives had updates from mine officials and a visit from the governor of Utah.

GOV. JON HUNTSMAN, UTAH: The only thing that would be worse than being trapped in a mine right now so far as I'm concerned would be to be waiting as a family member. I'm praying for a new ROLLINS: Hundreds of people joined family members at a candlelight vigil. Many attended a special prayer service.

BISHOP JOHN C. WESTER, DIOCESE OF SALT LAKE CITY: They're very sad. I think they're very tired. They look emotionally exhausted. I think they're just -- they're just, they look very tired.

ROLLINS: Ted Rollins, CNN, Huntington, Utah.

PHILLIPS: Don't ask, don't tell definitely a topic, but certainly not the theme of a landmark presidential forum on gay issues last night in Los Angeles. Six democrats took part in the forum that aired on the Logo Network. Logo says it's the first 24/7 television network aimed at a gay audience.

CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley was there and joins was the highlights. You know, Candy, we have a woman; we have a black male, a Hispanic male running in this election, and now a forum on a gay-oriented network. I mean, the entire run-up to the presidential election is historic.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It absolutely is. And what was historic about this was not just that it was the first televised forum talking about issues of interest in the gay community, but it also drew all the top candidates. They've had forums before. Some of the candidates haven't shown up. What this tells you is the -- of the increasing clout of the community.

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about how powerful the gay vote is. Put it into perspective for us.

CROWLEY: Well, in numbers it's small. Only about three percent of those who voted in 2006 self-identified as gay and lesbian. Nonetheless, they're very activists and tend to give money, so those are two things obviously politicians are drawn to. This is a group that can provide foot soldiers as well as cash, so that's why they're courting them.

PHILLIPS: Whether it's Melissa Etheridge during the forum last night or other members of the gay community, it seems Dennis Kucinich continually comes out a favorite among the gay community. Let's take a listen. I want to ask you about that.

REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What we're really talking about here is who you love. And there's no power on this earth greater than human love. And when you understand what really quality is, you understand that people who love each other must have the opportunity to be able to express that in a way that is meaningful. And that the state should not be intervening against people. The state should be there on behalf of people to make sure that that love has a chance to be facilitated.

PHILLIPS: I guess when you hear him talk about love the way he does, it does make you want to love him. And he is into that. That is for sure. He's a very spiritual-type person. What is it about him that makes him a rock star? CROWLEY: One of the questions last night, the opening question by a journalist said, so, is there anything with which you disagree -- over which you disagree with the gay community? And there was sort of dead silence from Kucinich. There really isn't anything. He is on their issues. And they love him.

PHILLIPS: Is there anyone that seemed completely clueless when it came to gay issues?

CROWLEY: I wouldn't say completely clueless, but we had a faux pas when Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, was asked whether he thought being gay was something, you know, you were born that way or whether it was a choice, and he said a choice and went on to say even when he was given another chance by the questioner, Melissa Etheridge, who said I'm not sure you're understanding what I'm asking you, and asked the question again, he said, well, I'm not a scientist. Even they knew that this was a big mistake, and within an hour after the debate, his office put out an explainer and said no, actually, he believes it is not a matter of choice.

PHILLIPS: Two big issues, gay marriage, don't ask, don't tell. Hillary Clinton did tackle one of those for sure. Let's take a listen.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: It just struck me that it wasn't working and that what we need to do was try to move us toward using the code of military justice and judge people on conduct, not status, no matter whether you're, you know, gay or straight, that's the way it should be. It should be evenhanded across the entire services.

PHILLIPS: So, what do you make of that considering where the Clinton family has stood on that issue in the past?

CROWLEY: Well, absolutely. And this has been something that Hillary Clinton has been asked before, because as you know, don't ask, don't tell was the policy that was adopted under her husband's administration. Now she sort of has to embrace it and walk away from it, which is hard to do. Nonetheless, what she says is listen, at the time, that was the best we can do. Now I look back on it, I think it is not the right policy now, and we need to push ahead.

So, you know, it's tough, and I have to tell you, there was another moment that was very tough for her last night when, again, Melissa Etheridge said, you know, your husband threw us under the bus. We had such great hope, and yet all these promises to us were broken, and I think it took her aback somewhat. She said, look, Hillary Clinton said I don't agree with you, but I understand your frustration.

PHILLIPS: Now, 2004, gay marriage came up. Democrats really didn't make much of it. It just wasn't an issue like it is right now. So, how is the gay community supposed to believe, trust, in this party and how much of all of this do you think is just sort of posturing to say what they need to say because they know the gay vote is getting more popular and gay issues are hot on the agenda? CROWLEY: Well, let's first say there was a lot of pandering that went on here, as does all members of the base of which the gay and lesbian is for the democrats.

Look, what the gay community thinks now is that they do have a number of candidates that they can work with. Now, four of those candidates, the top tier, in fact, don't believe in gay marriage, and that was a huge topic of conversation last night. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, John Edwards, all believe in civil unions. Now, they were pressed very hard on that last night. They didn't budge.

So, it's not everything that the gay and lesbian community is looking for, but it's a lot more than they've gotten from this administration. They believe this is a really important election coming up and they are promising to be activists. I talked to a number of people in the community last night, and I said so, do you get a sense of who everyone is backing? I mean, is there a candidate on which there's a consensus? And they say no, actually. There are a loft candidates out there that are appealing.

PHILLIPS: Candy Crowley, always great to see you.

CROWLEY: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thank you. You can see all the day's political news anytime day or night on CNN.com/ticker. We're constantly updating it for you with the latest from the campaign trail.

HOLMES: An update on the recovery efforts in Minneapolis at that bridge collapse, the I-35W Bridge. Well, more human remains have been found according to the sheriff's office there. We can confirm at least six deaths now in this bridge collapse. However, the recovery efforts have been slow, not have a good, hard count from officials exactly how many bodies, how many people might still be trapped or still be in that water, how many people died in that water. But also it appears that human remains, according to the press release from the sheriff's office, have been found. Not clearly stated they're exactly recovering bodies, so it's tough to get an exact number of how many possibly have been recovered, how many confirmed dead now. But we can tell you that more human remains have been found according to the sheriff's office. The worker's beginning now to identify those remains and get word to the family members. So, we're continuing to follow that.

Also, a U.S. helicopter is forced down in Iraq. Two U.S. soldiers heard it happened in Yusufiyah about ten miles from Baghdad. We don't know the circumstances exactly of what happened here. Other operations going on, as well, the U.S. military has killed five insurgents, more than 30 others detained in central and northern Iraq over the past couple days.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, ambush on a woodland trail.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I let go of it, it would have chased after them or bitten me, so I strangled it to death. PHILLIPS: Find out what she strangled straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: Also, a monster truck with a monster of an issue. The damage coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: This just in to CNN. According to WABC, one of our CNN affiliates, they are reporting a third suspect has been arrested in the Newark killings. You remember the three college students killed execution style over the weekend. That makes three individuals, a 28-year-old suspect, the one just arrested according to WABC, in addition to Jose Carranza, 28, who's being held on a $1 million bail, and also the 15-year-old boy being held right now pending a detention hearing. So, the latest in on the Newark killings, a third suspect in custody. We'll follow the investigation and bring you more as we get it.

HOLMES: A monster truck demonstration goes out of control leaving nine people hurt. Take a look at this amateur video. You can hear the crowd react there knowing that something has gone terribly wrong. This is in Illinois. The truck veered into the crowd on the side street yesterday. Three adults and six children were hurt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People were just grabbing people and screaming and yelling and running. And people falling and that type of thing. That's I think why there were so many cuts and stuff because of all the people. They were trying to get out of the way.

HOLMES: A mother and her 4-year-old daughter still in the hospital in serious condition. The rest of the injured were treated and released.

Thousands of San Francisco 49ers fans gathering in Monster Park this hour to bid farewell to legendary football coach Bill Walsh. The private ceremony was held yesterday in Palo Alto. A number of prominent coaches, players and political figures were on hand, including Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana, who teared up as he remembered his beloved coach, saying, "I live my life partly because of the way he molded me." Walsh died July 30 after a battle with leukemia. He was 75 years old.

PHILLIPS: Man against beast in the woods of central Connecticut. Make that mom against rabid raccoon. The sick and deranged animal picked the wrong family to pounce on. We hear from our Bob Wilson with CNN's affiliate WTNH in New Haven.

DENISE MORRISON, STRANGLED RABID RACCOON: With his teeth barred the whole bit and I just knew right there that it was -- there was something wrong with it.

BOB WILSON, WTNH: A mother and three boys were walking home from a creek near their house in Cheshire when a raccoon foaming at the mouth charged them from the wood and attacked the 5-year-old boy. JAMESON MORRISON, WITNESSED ATTACK: Both jaws just pierced into his leg, and then he wouldn't let go. He was moving his leg and he would not let go. He just kept biting it and just holding on and it looked like it was gnawing on his leg.

MORRISON: I got on top of it with my knees, and I tried to open its mouth away from his leg, but I couldn't, and so I just put more and more pressure on him with any my knees and I started choking him and that loosened his jaws, and that's when I got his leg away.

WILSON: The boys ran for safety while the mom stayed and wrestled with the rabid raccoon.

MORRISON: I had to stay there till it was dead because if I let go of it, it would have chased after them or bit me, so I strangled it to death.

LT. JAY MARKELLA, CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT POLICE: You've got to commend the woman. I mean, she was able to get the raccoon off the child, keep the raccoon, which was important, because we do have to have it tested.

WILSON: The police don't want to alarm or panic anyone saying it is very rare people are attacked by a rabid animal. However, they say this is Cheshire. It's very rural and they do have their share of rabid animals. So they want you to please take precautions.

MARKELLA: Staggering a little bit, doesn't appear right, not afraid of people, approaches you. That's a good indication that it is sick.

PHILLIPS: The heat is on and outdoor activities off. Triple- digit temps keep a lot of us indoors pool.

HOLMES: And lawn mowers, they're not just for mowing the law anymore. The latest in crime fighting just ahead in the NEWSROOM.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. You'll be shocked to find out why superstar Brad Pitt was in court yesterday.

We'll have the details when the NEWSROOM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: As we reported a few minutes ago, we want to follow up on this news regarding the execution-style killings of three college students in Newark, New Jersey. We are told a third suspect has been arrested. This is according to WABC, an affiliate out of New York. That means three men now have been arrested in association with these murders. This 28-year-old suspect that pled not guilty earlier today in addition to Jose Carranza who appeared before a court today, also entering a non-guilty plea, and also there's a 15-year-old by who's being held pending a detention hearing. Three suspects in custody now with regard to those Newark murders.

CNN's Allan Chernoff is live from Newark at the top of the hour.

HOLMES: Well, a celebrity in court. That usually means somebody's clashed with the law, but not this time with this latest case of Hollywood superstar making a court appearance.

Sibila Vargas here with the big old healthy chunk of entertainment news for us. Hello there Sibila.

VARGAS: Hi T.J. Well, he may be used to private jets, red carpet arrivals, all things VIP but when it comes to jury duty, Brad Pitt had to show up like everyone else.

Reportedly after filing multiple extensions, the world famous actor showed up for his civic duty yesterday at a Los Angeles courthouse. According to tmz.com, Pitt showed up in a t-shirt, jeans, a ball cap and even wore a juror badge. Pitt's rep tells "People" magazine he, "served just like everybody else does." Sadly though, anyone who may have had fantasies of serving with him not getting their wish. He was released yesterday without being selected. No word on whether he'll be assigned to a future duty so perhaps, T.J., perhaps there is still hope.

HOLMES: Still hope that you could serve on the jury with Brad Pitt.

VARGAS: Brad Pitt.

HOLMES: All right. Well, you told us yesterday Luciano Pavarotti who is in the hospital. Another singer now to talk about who's checked in for some care. Who do we got?

VARGAS: Absolutely. CNN has confirmed that David Crosby has been hospitalized. Now, according to his publicist, the Crosby, Stills and Nash crooner has been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital for what they're calling stomach issues. Thankfully we're told his condition is not life-threatening and they'll get more information when they get the result from tests done today. Both fans and insiders at the Crosby Camp are definitely hopeful for a speedy recovery as the 65-year-old entertainer and his group are set to go on tour this fall.

HOLMES: All right. Still talking "Sopranos" and I cannot get it go because this was one of my favorite -- maybe my favorite show on television before it went away. And I still contend that Tony survived. But that's not the point. Folks can take a piece of their favorite show home with them literally.

VARGAS: Absolutely. You might call this Bada-Bing, Bada-quick buck. Fans of the recently terminated hit show can actually buy bricks T.J. from one of the mob family's most popular hangouts. The New Jersey building that was the site of the fictional Satriale's Pork Store, do you remember that? It's selling the white bricks that made up the store's facade before the place is demolished next month.

The building owner, Mani Costiera (ph), says the 2,000 stones will sell online for about $25 to $50 a piece and will include a serial number and certificate of authenticity. Kind of crazy, actually. Costiera (ph) tells the Jersey Journal that came up with this idea when they started getting angry e-mails from people asking why he was tearing down Tony's joint. As for what will be replacing the famous store, a new condominium complex called, what do you think, T.J.? What do you think it will be called?

HOLMES: Not Bada-Bing, is it?

VARGAS: No. The Soprano.

HOLMES: Very nice.

VARGAS: Very nice. Well, let me tell you what's coming up on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." why do so many stars make sex tapes? You ever think about that? And why do they make mistakes of having really bad plastic surgery? Two investigations on TV's most provocative entertainment news show, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. Something to think about, though.

HOLMES: We'll go right now and give it some thought. Sibila Vargas, thank you so much. Good to see you.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, METEOROLOGIST: I'm meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. Ten U.S. cities have already shattered their records for high temperatures for today. And it's not over yet. I'll have a complete report on weather and when we'll get some relief from the heat coming up next on CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Also, mixed signals on the fate of six trapped Utah miners. One bore hole is completed, the other almost there. The latest coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.

SUSAN LISCOVICZ, NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE: I'm Susan Liscovicz at the New York Stock Exchange where we are fast approaching the final hour of trading. Will the bulls try to make a stand and end this tumultuous week on a positive note? We're riding it out together. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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