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More Information on the Utah Mine Collapse and the Rescue Effort of Six Trapped Miners; Election Day in Sierra Leone; President Bush Meets With President Sarkozy of France

Aired August 11, 2007 - 10:00   ET

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

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ... and they've been saying in the overnight hours that it was in the, had gone into a wrong area. So, that's kind of unclear why they're pumping that oxygen down there. T.J.?
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: All right, John Zarrella for us on the scene. John thank you so much and you are watching CNN breaking news.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: We're following breaking news this hour in the Utah mine collapse. We are waiting for workers to lower a camera into a cavity where six miners are believed to be trapped. That expected to happen later this morning, perhaps in two and a half hours. This follows a major development earlier this morning when a second larger drill broke through into that cavity. Rescue crews are hoping to get the first clues about the fate of the trapped miners. And let's head back to Huntington, Utah where John Zarrella is following this unfolding situation.

ZARRELLA: Brianna, I think a lot of what we learned just a few moments ago, what was some good new information from Mr. Murray, the owner and the operator of the mine here, that in fact, it is still going to be another couple of hours before they can put the camera down inside that 8 5/8 inch hole. What they're doing now is retracting that drill bit and once they do that, they have to put a casing down inside of the hole and then lower the camera in there. And so it may be a couple, three more hours.

The other big piece of information he gave us was that work was actually proceeding slowly. It didn't go as fast in these overnight hours inside the main shaft, inside the tunnel where the actual collapse occurred and where the rescue teams are working some 42 men at a time to bring out the debris, remove the debris. He told us earlier today that debris is stacked up six feet high in most places and they have to dig all that out. And as they're moving along in that process, every two feet they have to put in and install a lot of support.

So, very slow work. It may still be another four to five days, he said, before they could actually get the rescue workers into that area where they believe the miners are trapped. Brianna?

KEILAR: John, this 8 5/8 inch hole isn't the first hole. There was another smaller one. They obviously didn't make any contact with the miners. But Murray, Bob Murray, owner of this mine, said something during a live interview just a couple minutes ago that struck you as odd, that they were pumping oxygen in through that smaller hole. Why did that strike you as odd?

ZARRELLA: Well, because they had said yesterday, you know initially they were trying to get that smaller hole down into the exact spot where they thought the miners were and put a microphone in there. When they of course went down there they found out the oxygen levels, at first they thought they were acceptable, then they found out that the oxygen level was very low in there.

But then they also said that that drill bit had actually shifted as it was going down into the ground and they didn't believe it had hit the pocket where the miners were, that it was off into another area of the mine. So why would they be pumping oxygen into an area of the mine, that's what strikes me, which I want to try and get cleared up with Mr. Murray, if that's not where they think the miners might be, unless this is just some precaution in case they happen to be in this other area.

KEILAR: All right John, thank you so much for that report. John Zarrella working around the clock on this story for us. We will continue to check in with him throughout the day.

HOLMES: Of course a lot of information coming out on the scene that we're bringing to you, but a lot of stuff of course on the Internet about this. Josh Levs joining us now with some of that stuff.

JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, hey, guys. You know what we want to do is help everyone get as clear a sense as possible of what's really going on there. We know this is confusing. I'm going to show you some things online, but before I do, here is something much simpler than the information super highway. That's this. If you've been following us during the week, this is the size of the drill that was physically put into the mine before. They were creating a hole. They put a microphone down there looking for any signs of sound. They also did oxygen tests.

Now here's why for the first time today we're expecting to see camera images because of this. This new drill hole has been put into the mine. This is the size that's necessary because it's a whole different piece of equipment. What they're going to do with this is get that camera in there, which has adequate area. You can see from another perspective. That's the size. There you go. It has adequate perspective to allow them to see pretty far away from the camera itself.

Otherwise, teeny little camera down a small hole might have been useless. They might not have been able to see anything. They need a bigger device, in order to be able to tell if anyone is there, if they're going to the right area. So today that camera is going to go down that hole and that hole can also be used for food and supplies and also those holes can be used to pump oxygen depending on what's found. Some oxygen efforts are already going on.

Now let me show you where you can go in order to get a map of what this really looks like. We want you to understand what the map is like. That's right there, cnn.com. That's part of the main story. If you go there right now, what you can see is this very helpful interactive map that designs out for you how this mine works and where the drill holes are and also where it's believed that these miners are. Obviously a lot of people concerned about them. We want you to have the best sense possible of where this mine is. So that's a great place to go, cnn.com.

Now, I also want to show you some images from the Associated Press, from the vigil last night. The candle light vigil, really moving images. You can see right there. This entire community is feeling this. People around the country are feeling this. People around the world are sending in their thoughts, their responses.

As part of this yesterday we got this brief statement I'm going to read to you now from three of the families. The families of three of the men trapped down there, Carlos Payan, Luis Hernandez and Arturo Sanchez. A statement says, "We these families want to thank you immensely for your prayers in this difficult moment. During this we feel the loving presence of God in the midst of our pain. We ask you to continue praying for our six miners trapped in the mine. From the bottom of your hearts we thank you again for all your support."

So that's a statement from three of the families. Obviously a lot of the people all over the country, again, all over the world, thinking about them. And we're going to be all over this story throughout the day. We have everything as it comes in for you, so guys we'll follow it online and also here, obviously here on TV.

KEILAR: All right, thanks Josh.

LEVS: All right thank you.

HOLMES: And another major story unfolding this morning. Word of a possible terror threat against three major U.S. cities. This time involving radioactive materials. Our Allan Chernoff has been all over this story for us. A lot of activity been going on there. He's live in New York City with the latest for us, good morning to you again Allan.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J. What we have here is another unverified report of an al Qaeda threat against the United States. Here you see the immediate response by the New York City police department. Officers pulling over vehicles and checking for radiological material in vehicles entering lower Manhattan. Wall Street, by the way, just about 10 blocks south of where we are right now.

Now, that unverified report is on an Israeli-based Web site called (INAUDIBLE). It is a private Web site, it's a counter terrorism Web site and it does report that on Thursday there was chatter on internal al Qaeda Web sites, threats against the U.S. First of all, a report saying that there was a threat of a truck filled with radiological material that would enter New York City and target Wall Street. Also, another threat saying that New York, Miami, and Los Angeles would all be targeted.

Now, let's emphasize here there has been absolutely no verification. The FBI has checked it out. The Department of Homeland Security and the New York City Police Department. They all say not verified. Nonetheless, the NYPD is taking these precautionary measures. What you have behind me, you can see the officer in the cap is holding a detector, a detector of radiological material. It would beep, it would show signals if in fact, any of these vehicles actually did have any of that radiological material.

So far, they have not found anything, to our knowledge. They did, though, stop a truck a little while ago that was listed as being stolen. But, again, this is all a precautionary measure, one of several checkpoints here in New York City. T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: All right, always a scary sight to see activity like that going on in New York. But, again, unsubstantiated this threat. Allan Chernoff on this story for us this morning. Allan, thanks so much.

KEILAR: From outrage to mourning, funeral services underway right now for one of the victims of the New Jersey execution style killings. Later this morning, services are taking place for the other victims. All were Delaware University students killed in an apparent robbery attempt last weekend. Meantime, a third suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was arrested yesterday in connection with the killings. Earlier in the day, another suspect, Jose Carranza, pleaded not guilty to the killings. And another 15-year-old boy pleaded not guilty on Thursday.

HOLMES: Two more bodies pulled from the wreckage of the Minnesota bridge collapse have been identified. Navy divers recovered the remains of a woman and her 22-month-old daughter from the Mississippi River on Thursday. Authorities say the woman was a nursing student from Somalia. A family spokesman says the woman was five months pregnant. So far eight bodies have been recovered. Five people still unaccounted for.

KEILAR: Nice wake-up call there. The shuttle's astronauts facing a busy day after that early morning wakeup, the first of three space walks is scheduled to begin just after 12:30 p.m. eastern time. Mission specialist Rick Mastrachio(ph) and Dave Williams will spend six hours out there working on the international space station. Also right now, officials at NASA, they're worried about a gouge in "Endeavour's" belly. The astronauts will inspect the area tomorrow to see if maybe it might need some repairs.

HOLMES: And certainly the story we are watching closely this morning, going to keep you updated on the breaking news out of Utah and the mine rescue effort happening there. Overnight we got word, 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning actually is what we were told by the mine owner, 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning local time there in Utah, a second larger drill punched through the cavity where six miners are believed to be trapped.

Now, we don't know exactly what's going on in that cavity yet because they now have to pull out the drill bit and then go through the process of dropping a camera down into that hole in an attempt to locate those miners. That camera may give us the first real answers, first real indication, of what may have happened to these men. The mine operator says it's going to be another two hours or so before the camera can even start its journey down that hole.

So we are watching this story closely. Going to be several developments already this morning we have seen, but there are going to be certainly more throughout the morning and throughout the day. And you certainly can depend on CNN to bring that to you when it does happen.

And the race for the White House, we're certainly going to be talking about that. And as you know, it's more diverse than it has ever been.

KEILAR: Yet Barack Obama keeps getting asked this question, are you black enough? Obama talks with CNN's Don Lemon about that question later this hour.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And America's beaches the question is a little different. Are they safe enough? There's a new report on water quality that may surprise you, coming up.

HOLMES: Also, the great white shark and the great white lie. The latest summer hoax that has some beach goers staying dry.

REYNOLDS WOLF: And 102 degrees. That's your expected high in Memphis. 99 for Atlanta and 99 in Dallas. How long is this heat wave going to continue? I'll let you know coming up in just a few moments. Plus we'll have an update on the tropics right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. See you then.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, not just sea shells down by the sea shore this time of year. Actually going to be picking up some other stuff on some of the nation's beaches this summer. A new report says you might also take home pink eye, a rash, maybe even an upset stomach. Our Gary Nurenberg is checking out North Beach, Maryland. I don't see the pink eye, I don't see a rash on you just yet. How's the stomach doing?

NURENBERG: Doing pretty well, T.J. It's a beautiful day here at North Beach on the Chesapeake Bay. We're here because of that new report you talked about by the Natural Resources Defense Council, it takes a look at more than 3,000 beaches in the year 2006. Here are some of the numbers you may find disturbing. In 2006, there were beach closing and swimming advisories on 25,643 days, up 28 percent over the year before. 92 beaches in 19 states violated standards on more than 25 percent of the tests.

What are the causes for these beach closings? Dirty water and storm runoff accounted for 10,597 days. Sewage spills and overflows, 1301 days. Fecal bacteria, the source unknown, 14,167 days. The NRDC says governments are not doing enough to determine the sources and without knowing the source, you can't take remedy. But you have to know that whenever you're talking about fecal bacteria, that can't be good.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NANCY STONER, DIR., NRDC'S CLEAN WATER PROJECT: There's an increased risk to swimmers that they'll get sick if they swim in beaches that have excessive bacterial contamination. Most often people get severe stomach upset but they could also get pink eye, ear ache, sore throat, acute respiratory illness, and even very serious illnesses like meningitis and encephalitis.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

NURENBERG: The NRDC is suing the EPA to come up with better tests and faster ones. The EPA in response to the report says let's keep some perspective.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN H. GRUMBLES, EPA: We think that the key statistic is that 95 percent of the time America's beaches are open and safe. That doesn't mean the other 5 percent should be ignored. We think that means we all need to work harder and collectively to prevent pollution upstream.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

NURENBERG: Although the NRDC says there was particularly heavy rain last year which lead to storm runoff causing much of the problem it says despite that, it expects the numbers to go up in continuing years. T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: That does not sound good. Gary Nurenberg, sir, enjoy the rest of your assignment.

NURENBERG: OK.

KEILAR: Well, a tornado hits a major U.S. city. Another U.S. city, this twister in Pittsburgh. The weather service now determining Thursday's storm included a tornado. Winds up to 85 miles per hour and a micro burst. Power was out in some areas and hundreds of homes flooded.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KEILAR: Let's update the breaking news unfolding in the Utah mine rescue effort. Right now we're waiting for workers to lower a camera into a cavity where six miners are believed to be trapped. Earlier this morning a second larger drill punched through into that cavity. And just within the last half hour the mine operator said it could take another two hours at least for workers to remove the drill and insert that camera.

Now, John Zarrella has been working this story around the clock for us. He is there on the scene. As soon as there are developments we are going to get them right to you. But stay with CNN for the very latest on this story.

HOLMES: Also, I need to tell you about a historic day in Sierra Leone. KEILAR: Elections, at last, after a decade of war the African nation heads to the polls and our Betty Nguyen is there. She's going to join us live with exclusive coverage.

HOLMES: Also, you remember that Los Angeles hospital where a woman died in the ER while crying for help? New developments about that hospital, that's right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Former senate majority leader George Mitchell has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Mitchell's doctor says the cancer can be effectively treated and the 73-year-old's prognosis is good. Mitchell is currently leading an investigation into steroid use in Major League Baseball. But Mitchell says his cancer treatment should not delay the probe.

HOLMES: Critical condition, that usually applies to a patient. This time we're talking about a hospital itself, the emergency room at the troubled Martin Luther King Harbor Hospital in Los Angeles has been closed. Officials say patients will be moved to other hospitals in two weeks. This comes after federal regulators announced they were pulling $200 million in funding from the troubled facility, saying it failed two federal inspections.

KEILAR: Like it or not, and you probably don't, waiting in line at the airport, well, it's a fact of life. Even though the average wait time in the U.S. was just 13 minutes last month, many lines can be much longer. This week's on the go has some tips on how to avoid the wait.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURA BEGLEY, TRAVEL + LEISURE: Are you tired of waiting in long lines at the airport? Here are some tips to get you to the gate faster. One important tip to keep in mind is that the smaller the airport the shorter the lines. If you're choosing between several airports in your home city, go for the smaller one. Or, if you're looking at a city to connect through, choose the smaller airport, because it'll be easier to get through.

It's a good idea to travel during off-peak times. According to the TSA, the peak times are 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The TSA has a useful function on its Web site that will allow you to see average wait times at airport security gates across the United States. Know the regulations about liquids, take your laptop out of your bag, take your shoes off in advance. If you can, print out your boarding pass at home. It's one less line to wait in at the airport.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And of course we are right here keeping you updated on the breaking news situation that's happening in Utah. We've been following this story all morning, but in case you are just getting up with us, the update is, a major update, is that a second larger drill broke through into the cavity where the six miners are believed to be trapped. Been trapped almost a week now.

We don't know word on their fate just yet but we are waiting for workers to now lower a camera into that second hole, a larger hole in an attempt to locate the miners. That camera will be able to take a peek around and see possibly and get real answers to the fate of these miners. However, we still have a couple more hours at least to wait for that. The mine operator said it's going to take another couple of hours to actually pull out the drill bit and then the camera can be lowered.

We don't know how long it will take to get that camera down there and then up and operating. But, we'll have developments all morning and we've had them all morning and we will have them throughout the day, throughout the afternoon, so stay right here with CNN for that.

To presidential politics now. Barack Obama, he's the only black candidate in the race and the only one to get this question, are you black enough? We're going to be talking about that later this hour.

KEILAR: And look, in the water. Is that what I think it is?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: It's a great big fish tale, British style.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen live in Sierra Leone where people have come in droves to cast their ballot in this historic presidential election. We'll have much more coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: We've got breaking news coming into the CNN NEWSROOM right now.

In the search for the six miners trapped in a Utah mine, there is new information. So let's get straight to Ed Lavandera. He is in Huntington, Utah. What's the very latest, Ed?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Brianna.

Well, Bob Murray and mine officials have arrived. They've come down the mountain. They're about 10 miles away from where the command center has been. We're just a few miles away from that, where the nine operations and the rescue operations continue.

Mr. Murray and other officials have arrived here at the school where, throughout the week, the families of the trapped miners have been gathering and getting their updates from these mine officials.

But, more importantly, they have been getting, also, the updates, over the last few days, several of the family -- the key family members of these trapped miners have been going up and watching and witnessing firsthand the rescue operations that have been going on and reporting back to these families.

So, as you heard Mr. Murray mention a short while ago here on our air that he had some new information to pass along to these families. And this has been kind of the drill every day. Some of the families kind of come from around the area. They gather here at this school and they get their updates.

One of the things that they'll be paying close attention to as we're here in this waiting period, they've brought the drill and they're dropping in that camera. One of the important things to follow here in the coming hours is not only when they drop in the video images and the sound, but when they drop in the equipment that will measure oxygen levels inside the cavity where they suspect the miners are. Those readings will be vital.

Anything below 15, 16 percent will be extremely bad news. That is not enough oxygen levels, we're told, to keep people alive for any extended period of time. And, of course, we're going on almost a week that these miners have been below ground.

So they -- these oxygen levels really need to be around the 20 percent range to keep people here upbeat about the situation. And if there are no initial signs that that video camera doesn't work, anything -- they will be really focusing on that -- on those oxygen levels. So it's something to keep in mind here as we move in the hours ahead. And we suspect that after they're done here, what has been going on is that Mr. Murray and other mine officials will leave back up here, go back up to the mountain and brief news media about what is going on. We'll see if that happens here in the coming hours -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Well, do we know, is it Bob Murray himself who is briefing the families or is he aided by some other folks?

LAVANDERA: It's a combination. I think he does a lot of the talking, as well. And then I think for the more technical questions there's also some translation issues. They have -- they say they have improved that in bringing people in who will communicate to the families.

One of the family members who is actually a miner and has been going up there and witnessing firsthand what is going on is a Spanish speaker. So we're told that he has been doing some of the translating and the communication with the families that don't speak English as to what is going up on the mountain top.

KEILAR: All right, thank you so much for that report.

Ed Lavandera live for us there from Huntington, Utah.

HOLMES: And just minutes ago, I talked with the mine operator, Bob Murray. He's the president and CEO of Murray Energy. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB MURRAY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MURRAY ENERGY: The hole was precisely where we thought it should be, within a fraction of an inch. It was drilled off of the side of a very steep mountain, 1,886 feet deep. We are now in the process of withdrawing the drill steel and inserting a casing so that we can then insert the camera into the mine. That will require another two-and-a-half hours.

I have 134 men on site. I have had all week. I have had tens of thousands of tons of machinery moved in. We've given them everything we can.

The problem is, sir, from the disturbance from the quake and the seismic activity and then the activity that has been ongoing. It's been very slow progress because we have to shore up the mine entries so that the rescue workers are well protected. And that is a very slow effort.

It's going according to plan. There's been no mistakes in the rescue at all, but it's just too slow to suit me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right. We do want to show you now -- as we were just hearing from our Ed Lavandera, reporting a short time ago -- that the families now are being briefed outside of that site where the mine rescue efforts are going on.

This has been kind of common practice all week that as they get information from the actual site, they do then trickle that information down to the families. And he goes there personally and has been updating those families himself.

Here now are the pictures that I'm looking at here. We'll bring them to you. You can see them there.

A tired man, no doubt. We've been seeing his face all week. And he told me earlier he didn't even know what day it was the other day. Somebody had to correct him.

But there he was in that SUV. He drive down, I believe it's an area to a school there, where they're gathered and updates the families.

So, as soon as we get more word on what he possibly said to them -- and he did say he had new information to pass along to them and maybe some new stuff to pass along to us. But we're monitoring that.

We'll continue to bring you those updates.

KEILAR: Less than an hour from now, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife are expected to lunch at the Bush family home in Maine. The Sarkozys have been vacationing in nearby New Hampshire and President and Mrs. Bush are spending the weekend at Kennebunkport, which is also where our Elaine Quijano is. Let's go live to her now. Hi there, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Brianna.

That's right, President Bush is spending the weekend here in Kennebunkport, attending a family friend's wedding. But as you just noted, the president, a short time from now, in fact, will be playing host to the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been vacationing nearby in New Hampshire.

Now, the White House describes this as a casual lunch. It's going to include some traditional American fare -- hamburgers and hot dogs, we're told. Still, a number of topics could come up, of course, including Lebanon, climate change and the Sudan.

Meantime, in his radio address this morning, President Bush focused, in large part on Iraq, and specifically the surge. The president acknowledged that political progress in Baghdad has been slower than the U.S. had hoped. But the president said that Iraqi forces aided by the U.S. surge are taking over security responsibilities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The enemy in Iraq is still dangerous and the surge is still in its early stages. Changing conditions on the ground is difficult work. But our troops are proving that it can be done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: The president's embattled attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, is apparently in Iraq today. According to the Justice Department, he arrived today in order to thank Justice officials who are helping to rebuild the legal and law enforcement infrastructure of Iraq. And Gonzales apparently also met with General David Petraeus and is slated to meet with the ambassador, Ryan Crocker, during his stay -- Brianna.

KEILAR: And Elaine, I have to ask you, because we just saw -- I'm not sure if you have a return in to monitor there at Kennebunkport, but we just saw ...

QUIJANO: I don't.

KEILAR: Yes, I figured you didn't.

We saw some of the video and it looked like someone on a scooter. Do you know the video I'm talking about?

QUIJANO: You know, I'm not -- I think you might be talking about the president's mother.

Is that what you think ...

KEILAR: Yes. And that's who it appeared ... QUIJANO: ...it looked like?

KEILAR: I didn't want to throw that out there. That's who it appeared to be to me.

QUIJANO: That's right.

KEILAR: So what's ...

QUIJANO: Well, you know ...

KEILAR: What's going on there?

QUIJANO: Well, it's interesting because that is not an uncommon site at all. In fact, Walkers Point, the video you're looking at is actually quite visible to the cameras. And so that's not the first time that we've seen those kinds of images. It's basically a family get-together, the time here at Walkers Point, which is less than a mile from where we are, is often spent the way most families kind of spend their time, just sort casually hanging out.

And it's not at all uncommon to see people taking a stroll or, in some cases, I guess, on this scooter. It's not quite a Segue, I was told, because it looks like it's almost got some training wheels, someone was joking ...

KEILAR: Well, and that's exactly what I was going to say. I thought I was -- I thought I saw Barbara Bush on a Segue and it was distracting to me.

But, thank you, Elaine, so much for your report.

QUIJANO: Sure. Yes, you're welcome.

HOLMES: Well, an historic day for the African nation of Sierra Leone. The nation has been emerging from years of brutal civil war and today it's holding presidential and parliamentary elections.

And my partner, who is usually sitting next to me, Betty Nguyen, not next to me today. She's actually there. She's made the trip.

And there she is. She is there to witness history and witness the event -- Betty, so good to see that face of yours. And tell us just how is the mood and how have things been going on election day?

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, T.J. it's great to hear your voice.

And I've got to tell you, things have been working so well today. As you can look behind my shoulder, you'll see that the lines aren't long anymore, but that really speaks to how well this process is moving along today on this historic election. And it also has a lot to do with the fact that people came out in droves very early on this morning, wanting to cast their vote, especially those who were marred by a civil war in this country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Natadawale (ph) is preparing for a short trip down the road, but he says it's one of the most important journeys he's ever taken. And getting there is no easy task. He lost his leg during Sierra Leone's civil war. He says rebels stormed into the diamond mine where he was working and fired a rocket propelled grenade.

NATADAWALE: It took them off by fragments of the -- the artery.

NGUYEN: Natadawale didn't think he'd survive, let alone see the day when he would vote in his country's second presidential election since emerging from war. He wants to see the winner bring about change.

NATADAWALE: What this country needs, one, good medical facilities, good road infrastructure, good education.

NGUYEN: So with the help of his wife, Natadawale is doing his part to make that happen, and he is certainly not alone. People started filing in overnight, so many that when the gates opened, it was a mad dash.

(on camera): The lines are long, but it often doesn't compare to the confusion. Many don't know which of these polling stations to go to. And after standing in line for hours, sometimes in the rain, you can understand the frustration.

(voice-over): Some 2.6 million people have registered to vote. That's 90 percent of the eligible population, according to Victor Angelo with the United Nations.

VICTOR ANGELO: The Sierra Leoneans want their voice to be heard, want to make sure their choice of the future is very clear.

NGUYEN: That's because there's a lot of work to be done. Sierra Leone remains the second poorest country in the world, with unemployment at a staggering 70 percent. And most people are still without electricity and clean water. In fact, Natadawale was being treated for cholera when he checked himself out of the hospital just so he could vote. And because he is an amputee, he avoids waiting hours in line. But still, it was not easy.

Now having made the journey, Natadawale knows exactly who he wants to win. His vote is quickly cast and his finger placed in ink, so the stains of democracy are there for all to see. And as he slowly heads home, the excitement hasn't diminished.

NATADAWALE: Oh, I'm happy.

NGUYEN: The question now is whether that enthusiasm will fade once the votes are counted.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And, T.J., there is a lot to be decided today. There are seven presidential candidates, 566 people vying for 112 seats in parliament. There's a lot of change on the horizon here.

But when it comes to this election, I do have to tell you, we have spoken with reporters all across the country and there have been no signs of violence. And that really speaks to the fact that Sierra Leone is standing on its own two feet -- T.J.

HOLMES: And, Betty, just a couple things before I let you go.

How long before people actually know the results of these elections, first of all? And, also, the mood today. I know people are upbeat. But they seem festive, as well. Are people just in a good mood and jolly and having a good time today?

NGUYEN: Absolutely. People were excited as they were standing in those long lines for hours on end. You know, you would think they would be frustrated, they would be tired. It was raining outside. No. They were just wanting to come here and cast their ballot. They were so excited once they got in the gates and they continued to stand in line that once they got that ink on their finger, it really was a symbol to them. And as they walked home, that excitement really didn't diminish at all.

Now, the votes still have to be counted, and that's going to take a little while. It's expected for a few days now before we'll get those final results.

And it is also expected that we will see a runoff, because when it comes to the president, that candidate has to get 55 percent of the vote. That's a whole lot and it's not expected that that's going to happen. So we're pretty much probably going to see a runoff in this election -- T.J.?

HOLMES: Oh, all right. Excitement. People excited to be standing in voting lines. Betty, maybe our election here in the U.S. next year, folks will be excited to be standing in voting lines here, as well. But I somehow doubt it.

Betty, so good to see you.

NGUYEN: One day, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

HOLMES: Yes. We won't hold our breath for it.

Betty, good to see you.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HOLMES: Great stuff you're doing over there. And we will see a lot more of you as you're reporting from Africa.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

HOLMES: Thanks so much. Good to see you.

And, folks, we -- another story -- we turn back here now. A story we've been updating you on all morning, a breaking story. The developments just keep coming in to us and expected developments -- possibly the development we've been waiting on in this mine rescue story out of Utah.

We're waiting for workers now to lower a camera down into the cavity where six miners are believed to be trapped. Earlier, a second larger drill punched through into that cavity. And just within the last half hour or so now, the mine operator said it's going to take two hours for the workers to remove the drill equipment and then they'll possibly start lowering the camera down into that hole and look around that cavity.

They don't know how long that journey will take for that camera to make it down there, but that camera will be able to look around 360 degrees and look into that cavity.

Still not clear what it may be able to see and there is a possibility it might not be able to see anything or it could give us the answers we've been waiting on on the fate of these six men.

So stay tuned here with us here for all of those developments.

KEILAR: And we're going to take a short break.

But right after this, a young woman who is committed to saving children from AIDS. She is a CNN Hero and her story is ahead.

Stay right here with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, time to talk about our heroes now. And this one involves tiny miracles and big sacrifices.

KEILAR: Our search for CNN Heroes takes us to Africa this morning. And that's where we find a young woman struggling to help her country battle HIV and AIDS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, it's a tricopene (ph).

NTHABELENG LEPHOTO: Personally, I have had people very close to me dying of HIV/AIDS. This stupid virus is tearing lives apart.

My name is Nthabeleng Lephoto coming from Touching Tiny Lives. We support orphaned and vulnerable infants. Our safe house is for critically ill or in need children. For us, it's babies come first. We have to give them medication, even if sometimes they have to cry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no, no.

But it's not just the medication. They start feeling loved.

Eighty percent of the children we help are in the rural areas. We go to each individual household. We give them nutrition like foodstuff packages and medication. We want to discuss their own problems, where they feel free.

It's HIV/AIDS leaving the children with grandmothers. They shouldn't be doing this, but they have to. I need to support these people. It's going to go on and on.

Believe me, there are times when I really say this is too much. But to see them smile, starting to enjoy life as it comes, makes me want to help more and more and more and more.

If there's no Touching Tiny Lives, honestly, all these children that we have helped would have died.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: If you'd like to make a contribution to her work or nominate someone you think deserves special recognition for a CNN hero award, you'll find out details at cnn.com/heroes.

And let's get you updated now on that breaking news unfolding in the Utah mine rescue effort.

Right now, the families of the trapped miners are being briefed on this morning's developments. You can see, that's Bob Murray, the owner of the mine, arriving in a school where they are to update them.

We'll have more on his visit when we come back.

HOLMES: We're just taking a quick break here. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: We have breaking news coming in to the CNN NEWSROOM on the effort to rescue six miners trapped in Utah.

Let's get you straight to Josh Levs. He has the very latest.

HOLMES: He has.

KEILAR: What's up, Josh?

LEVS: Yes, hey there, Brianna.

You know, what we're trying to do is bring you all everything as soon as we get it. There are some new pictures that we're getting now of the rescue efforts as they were being organized and getting underway today.

I want to start off with this one, because there's an important device that you can see in this photo that we're getting from the Associated Press. That's Bob Murray wearing that, who, as you know, is the operator of the mine.

Now, we're told by the A.P. that device gives you an hour's worth of breathable air. And this is saying that device is the same device that the trapped miners had with them. That's very significant. As oxygen will begin to disappear, they would need that when the air stops being breathable. And this says they had one hour's worth from that.

Let me also show you this, because it gives you a sense of how far this rescue has been going. We have another picture of him today. I think we have this. There you go.

And you can see, I mean at this point, people are, you know, beginning to lose it sometimes and needing what they can. And we're told there it was cold and they were getting rest when they could. He told us today, after all of these days of the search, and he told T.J. a bit earlier, he forgets what day it is sometimes.

Obviously, this is going on around the clock. They're doing everything they can to get these guys.

And, also, really quickly, we have a statement from some families today, two of the families, the Payan and Hernandez families, that are saying: "To all people across America, we wish to thank you for your concern and your prayers."

And that information, guys, just came in.

We're going to keep up with the latest here at the breaking news desk -- back to you.

KEILAR: All right, thanks, Josh, for that.

LEVS: Thanks.

HOLMES: And it's time for us now to take another quick break.

KEILAR: But stay right here, because workers are preparing to lower a camera into that hole at that Utah mine disaster site. It could take as much as one-and-a-half to two hours. We're going to bring you the latest as it happens.

Stay here with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, it's time for us now to check in with Kiran Chetry for a look at the big stories of last week and see what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING" on Monday.

Hello there, Kiran.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, T.J. It's great to see you.

You know, this week it was all about the breaking news here on "AMERICAN MORNING". All week we've been following the latest on the rescue efforts for the trapped miners in Utah.

We were also on the air as New York City was brought to its knees, not by terror, but by Mother Nature. A powerful line of storms flooding the city's subway system, essentially stranding millions of people.

Now, it happened within days of the deadly bridge collapse in Minneapolis and that got us wondering what has to be done to keep our roads, our rails and our bridges safe and working?

We talked to New York Senator Charles Schumer about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: A recent nationwide study had New York's transportation infrastructure as one of the five worst in the nation. This study says that 37 percent of bridges are considered structurally deficient in our state.

What can we do to fix that?

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER, (D), NEW YORK: Well, Kiran, all of this points up a bigger problem, and that is that we probably put too much emphasis throughout the country at the federal and local level on building new things and not enough on maintaining the old. And I think the whole thing has to be flipped around.

We have to emphasize maintenance that's not exciting or interesting. Nobody gets up there and cuts a ribbon. But it's necessary, important, and we have to put much more emphasis on maintenance rather than new construction. And that applies the bridges. That applies to highways. That applies to sewer and water systems, as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: So that was New York Senator Charles Schumer here on "AMERICAN MORNING". So how do we pay for all of that maintenance? We are taking a closer look at that question, as well, next week -- T.J.

HOLMES: Kiran Chetry, John Roberts, "AMERICAN MORNING," weekdays, beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern.

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