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Bell Denied Bail; Delaware State University Shootings; O.J. Simpson Case; Phil Spector Trial; Nooses Found At North Carolina High School; Tornado Hits Central Florida.

Aired September 22, 2007 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: But an Ivy League university is welcoming him with open arms. We'll tell you why they won't take back their invitation. Plus, George Clooney's crash; the Hollywood heart throb ends up in the hospital. Find out how he's doing straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
Up first, growing outrage that Mychal Bell is spending another weekend behind bars. Bell is the only one of the, so-called, Jena 6 still in jail. From among the 6 black teens charged in the beating of a white classmate, a judge denied bail for Bell, even though his conviction in the beating was tossed out. A massive rally on behalf of the Jena 6 is now leading to disturbing signs of racial backlash.

Details now from CNN's David Mattingly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Web site proudly displays a swastika on its home page. Inside one posting reveals the addresses of the Jena 6 saying, "in case anyone wants to deliver justice." The site is edited by a white supremacist, whose own words can be heard in this streaming audio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to go down there and put a bullet in each one of those little black kids that they've acquitted or they've let off on these convictions for beating this white child.

MATTINGLY: Asked if he brought any harm to the Jena 6 with his postings, the editor told CNN, "I don't know that doing justice can be considered doing harm." Just 24 hours after a massive, violence-free rally in the Louisiana town of Jena, the FBI is looking into a racist backlash, seemingly menacing acts online and on the streets.

Forty-five minutes south of Jena, two teens were caught on tape in this exclusive CNN I-report in Alexandria. They had nooses tied to the back of their pickup and driving past crowds of people who had attended the marches and rallies. Alexandria resident and I-report contributor Casanova Love couldn't believe his eyes.

(on camera): Do you think that the chance was there that somebody could have gotten hurt?

CASANOVA LOVE, I-REPORT CONTRIBUTOR: Possibly, possibly. You never know. It's 50/50. It's a 50/50 chance. MATTINGLY (voice-over): It happened right here on Main Street. A large crowd had gathered at this bus station after the rally, people wanting to catch a bus and go home that night. That's when someone in the crowd noticed the pickup truck driving by with the nooses attached. There was a police officer on duty right here. He was alerted and that truck was stopped in just a matter of blocks.

Another exclusive I-report shows the police taking one of the two into custody. Eighteen-year-old, Jeremiah Munson, was booked on misdemeanor charges of inciting a riot, driving while intoxicated and contributing to the delinquency of a minor; he's out on bail. His 16- year-old companion remains in juvenile custody, accused of underage drinking and a probation violation. In the arrest report, the teen tells police he has a KKK tattoo and his parents were active in the Klan. Alexandria police say there is no indication any group was involved.

(on camera): Was it a prank?

DAREN COUTEE, CHIEF, ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT: Obviously more of a prank than anything else. We think so anyway but during this kind of an atmosphere, of course, pranks like that don't go over very well.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): The crowd applauded as police took them away. Officers found an unloaded rifle and brass knuckles in the car. But, investigators do not believe the two suspects intended to use them. Police and the mayor say felony charges are being explored as well as charges of hate crimes.

David Mattingly, CNN, Alexandria, Louisiana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And tonight, Kyra Phillips gets to the heart of the crisis gripping the small southern town of Jena. "Justice in Black and White," an encore presentation of "Judgment in Jena," a can't miss CNN "SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT" special tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

More nooses found at a school, this time in North Carolina. Students and faculty say four nooses were hung from a tree at Andrews High School in High Point. School officials quickly called in police and sent out a letter to parents informing them of the incident and vowing to prosecute those found responsible.

Delaware State University has reopened for limited student activities one day after a gun attack that wounded two students there. CNN's Kathleen Koch has an update; Kathleen, any closer to making any arrests or figuring out the motive of these shootings?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A little bit closer to the motive, Fredricka, but no arrests yet; the gunman still at large in this case. Now, university officials did tell us this morning that campus police are getting cooperation from those who they've interviewed, two persons of interest they've talked to yesterday. One of the victims, 17-year-old Nathaniel Pew of Washington D.C. who was shot in the ankle, and numerous other students.

Now, Delaware State University spokesman, Carlos Holmes, says that police have not talked to the other victim in the shooting, 17- year-old ShaLida Middleton of Washington, D.C. She was shot twice in the abdomen in the early morning altercation on campus yesterday. She's in serious condition. And Holmes was asked by reporters, what is taking police so long to identify the gunman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLOS HOLMES, SPOKESPERSON, DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY: The question is who shot the gun. That's what you're trying to figure out. You had some groups, you had some students outside at night, OK? And I don't know. Maybe people didn't see where the gun came from, where the gunshots came from. Maybe the information they're getting is conflicting, OK? But, you know, when you put a description out, you want to be reasonably comfortable with that description in terms of believing that it's a good, accurate description.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Holmes could not confirm that the Friday morning altercation on campus was any part of a turf battle between students from two different cities. He did say there was apparently some sort of disagreement that broke out in this campus dining hall before the group of eight to ten left the campus dining hall some time after midnight on Friday morning ended up in a nearby pedestrian mall and some four to six shots were fired, striking two of the students. And, Fredricka, university officials also say they have not yet decided when the classes will resume on campus.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Kathleen Koch in Dover, Delaware.

Meantime, in California, one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws is out of action today; actually, in New York. Well, George Clooney is nursing a broken rib, scrapes and bruises after a motorcycle spill. He and his companion, Sarah Larson, collided with a car outside New York City. Clooney's spokesman says the actor is in a lot of pain, but he insists the accident won't disrupt filming on Clooney's new movie with Brad Pitt.

And as if she didn't already have enough legal trouble, here we go again. Britney Spears has been charged with two misdemeanors in connection with that August fender bender in Studio City, California. The pop star is charged with hit and run driving and driving without a license and could get up to six months in jail if she is convicted. No comment yet from her attorney.

And, he was one of the earliest and most successful television evangelists. The Reverend Rex Humbard died yesterday at his Florida home. He launched his television ministry in the early 1950s. And at one point, the broadcast aired on more than 600 stations around the world. His "Cathedral of Tomorrow" in Ohio held 5,000 seats, and he spoke at Elvis Presley's funeral as well in 1977. Reverend Humbard was 88-years-old. And, she played the kooky family friend on "Designing Women," Alice Ghostley, she died Friday at the age of 81. Her character, Bernice always a little off kilter, always saying the wrong thing at the worst time but that's what made it so funny. Ghostley was also the Disney witch "Esmeralda" on "Bewitched." Remember that? She acted in 30 films, including the classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Graduate."

Coming up next, our legal ladies are joining us here in the NEWSROOM to discuss the O.J. Simpson case. What happened that night in the Las Vegas hotel room? Well, it depends on who you talk to. Our legal ladies will be covering all the angles in the case.

Also, severe weather, even a tornado hits the Sunshine State. We've got the latest from Florida straight ahead.

And all that jazz, music fans flocking to Monterey. We'll take you there live and introduce you to a new generation of jazz musicians.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, we've got a month before O.J. Simpson appears in court on charges stemming from the Las Vegas incident. Our legal experts will be here in a moment. But first, Anderson Cooper and the different stories that people are telling about what actually happened in that hotel room.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What happened in the Palace Station Hotel and Casino depends on whom you ask. And, just about everyone who was inside Room 1203 is talking. Let's start with one of the alleged victims, Bruce Fromong, a former salesman for Simpson. He says he owns a valuable collection of O.J. Simpson memorabilia and was approached by a business acquaintance, Alfred Beardsley, about a potential buyer at the casino.

BRUCE FROMONG, MEMORABILIA DEALER: He asked that we meet there and, so, we took the stuff there to meet him. We were talking about a deal that approximately could have been as much as $75,000 to $100,000 worth of stuff on the retail market.

COOPER: Beardsley, arrested on a California fugitive warrant told CNN the man who arranged the meeting was Thomas Riccio, the auction house owner and ex-con. Riccio said he had a buyer, but he also had a secret. He told us the collection was stolen from Simpson and was going to surprise them with O.J. himself.

THOMAS RICCIO, AUCTION HOUSE OWNER, EX-CON: The original plan was O.J. was going to come to my hotel room, identify the stuff and then he would give them the option of turning the stuff over or calling the police.

COOPER: So, on September 13th, Beardsley, Fromong and Riccio were in Room 1203 and items for sale were on the bed. Then Riccio left to get, what they believed, was his client.

FROMONG: The gentleman that set us up, I use that term loosely, said that my buyer is here. Let me go get him. About a minute later, the door burst open. Guys came rushing in, one after another. The second one had a gun drawn.

COOPER: Fromong told police that Simpson and five other men burst into the room, two of them holding guns. Riccio says he recorded what happened next on his cell phone.

It was over in minutes. Beardsley says it was terrifying.

ALFRED BEARDSLEY: When you're a victim of a violent setting like this, you just -- it's like somebody telling you that somebody in your family passed away. You know how you get the cold chill through your body? I mean, it was scary.

COOPER: Riccio knew Simpson would enter the room, but claims he had no idea there would be guns.

LARRY KING, "LARRY KING LIVE" HOST: Did you know he would be coming with other people to get that merchandise back?

RICCIO: I knew he would be coming with a couple of other people, yes.

KING: Did you think he would be coming with people who were armed?

RICCIO: I never knew it was going to be that many people and definitely didn't know it was going to be armed.

COOPER: But one co-defendant points the finger at Riccio, saying Simpson was tricked.

WALTER ALEXANDER, CO-DEFENDANT: I believe he was setup. I believe the whole thing was a setup, you see it was taped, you know, I believe that it was a setup. It's very obvious that Thomas Riccio had intentions to set O.J. up and that's what happened.

COOPER: But Simpson says it was not an armed robbery and no guns were involved. He says he was conducting a sting operation to retrieve items he claims were stolen from him. One room, one night, too many stories to count. Who's telling the truth? In yet another Simpson criminal case, it may be impossible to know for sure. Anderson Cooper, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, let's see what our legal experts think of the case. Avery Freeman and Richard Herman, our regulars, have the day off so joining us today, Civil Rights Attorney Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, good to see you, in Miami and Nelda Blair and former Prosecutor, good to see you as well, you're joining us from Houston.

Alright ladies, where in the world do we begin? This O.J. Simpson case, based on the different bits you hear, whether it be from that piece and other publications, O.J. had no gun in his hand. He was threatening to call police and then you hear from his friends who say that he was actually set up. Lida let me begin with you, where does the defense begin on this one?

LIDA RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: I think the defense begins that these people are all unsavory characters, that they took his stuff, that he was just trying to retrieve what he believed belonged to him, that there was no robbery because if it belongs to you, obviously you're not trying to steal it from somebody and that there were no guns involved. Whether or not that's provable, we'll see.

WHITFIELD: Alright Nelda, what does the prosecution have in its favor?

NELDA BLAIR, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well the prosecution has a lot of witnesses, a tape and possibly a video as well in its arsenal of evidence. And, you know what? The problem is going to be -- I will agree with Lida -- who is believable? Whose friends are savory enough to be believable to a jury? But the prosecution has a pretty darn good case against O.J. Simpson and all the rest of the defendants. Now whether or not the defendants start testifying against each other, we have yet to find out.

WHITFIELD: OK and why do you say they have a pretty good case against all of the defendants?

BLAIR: Because they have evidence. They have people that were there, eyewitnesses, more than one.

WHITFIELD: But placing them there isn't enough.

BLAIR: Absolutely putting them there is enough. It's eyewitness testimony. In other words, it's not hearsay. It's not circumstantial evidence. It's direct testimony as to what actually happened there; it's eyewitnesses.

WHITFIELD: So, based on some of the eyewitness accounts that we've been hearing or reading about, et cetera, you're talking about O.J. Simpson there, along with a number of friends. But if two of the participants there had guns and not necessarily O.J. Simpson, who was the one who was initially held without bail and eventually was out on the greatest amount of bail, I don't know, I mean, it almost sounds like there are a lot of discrepancies here about what defines a good case.

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: Fredricka, you're absolutely right and the issue here is if O.J. Simpson can prove that he went in there, trying to retrieve his stuff and that he didn't know people had guns and that he had no intention of using a weapon and that he didn't know and he wasn't holding one, he has a pretty good argument; even if these other people are unsavory. The thing that Nelda is not telling you is that these tapes actually cut against this evidence that she says that they have, actually cuts against the prosecution. Because it makes it appear as though he is trying to retrieve stuff that is his. WHITFIELD: And still what has to be determined, I guess, or I haven't heard the final conclusion on, if this is a state where it was, what, one-party consent or two-party consent when it comes down to audiotapes.

BLAIR: On the audio but the real problem is whether it was his own belongings. Just because somebody else has something that is yours, a pawn shop or anyone else, you can't walk in and take it from them. You don't conduct your own sting operation because you're O.J. Simpson. That's something for the law. And so, no matter if it was his, he still retrieved it illegally.

WHITFIELD: All right, now, his attorney is saying that his hands are pretty tied over the next couple of months and he doesn't see any real movement in terms of courtroom activity except for one appearance that is scheduled for next month until early next year. So, you have to wonder, Nelda, is this a case where, perhaps, there is time to have some sort of out-of-court settlements, plea deals, et cetera, if this might not get to the courtroom until at least January?

BLAIR: Right, not an out-of-court settlement, of course, it's not a civil case, but there could be a plea deal. And there is no question that time is on the side of the defense in that situation. The longer the delay, the better it is for the defense and it's that way all the time. I think Lida will agree with that.

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Alright, well we're going to be talking to you ladies again on some other pretty interesting topics that have kind of gotten everybody in the country talking.

Coming up a little bit later in the newscast, more of that discussion; we'll be talking about the Polygamist Sect Leader, Warren Jeffs, will a jury send him to jail? And, a mission to bring clean water to the children of Haiti; not necessarily a topic for our legal segment, but it's something you want to hear about, how one young man is considered a CNN hero. All that, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Imagine declaring that you will eradicate a disease plaguing millions of people worldwide. That's what CNN's hero has vowed to do. Twenty-five-year-old Aaron Jackson, has dedicated his life to orphaned children in the poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON JACKSON: Haiti is the most water-poor country in the world. It's probably the most environmentally destroyed country in the world. In Haiti, people get their water sometimes from puddles, streams. I've seen kids playing in sewage and also drinking from the same water. Haiti not having proper sanitation, a lot of people are infected with intestinal parasites. When you see a child with a distended belly, that's intestinal worms, the average worm eats up to about 20% of the child's nutritional intake a day, this is the difference between life and death in a lot of situations. My name is Aaron Jackson and it's my goal to de-worm the entire world. I grew up in Destin, Florida, playing golf every day of my life. I decided to travel and when I traveled, it really opened my eyes to what the world was really like. In Haiti we have four orphanages, an intestinal parasite program and also medical clinics.

When we show up to a community to de-worm, we educate the people on ways to prevent to getting worms again. Washing the vegetables, cooking the meat a little longer, wearing shoes when you go outside are ways to help prevent catching the worms. When we first go into an orphanage and de-worm them, the children look very zombie-like, no livelihood in their face.

It's a scary thing, because you have to tell kids that tonight worms will be leaving your body in some shape or form. Then after we de-worm, they come back to life. Literally within weeks, you can see that they're playing again and smiling. For a pack of cigarettes you can de-worm 250 children, a whole school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a good person and I'm so blessed to know him and work together with him. Investing in children is investing in the country, and that will make things different in the future.

JACKSON: Well me and the children, we've become like family, you know. They call me Papa Jackson. These kids are my kids.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow! That's remarkable. Go to CNN.com/heroes to check out Aaron Jackson in the streets of Port Au Prince, visiting one of his orphanages.

Coming up in the NEWSROOM Phil Spector waits to hear his fate as the jury deliberates. Our legal ladies will be joining us for more on that.

And Jacqui's in the Weather Center. What's cooking?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We're keeping our eye on what was tropical depression number 10 bringing much-needed rain across parts of the Southeast and snow, believe it or not -- yeah, mid- September. We'll show you where, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Here's what's happening right now in the news. Four nooses found at a school in North Carolina. Students and faculty say that the nooses were hung from a tree at Andrews High School in High Point. School officials quickly called in police and an investigation is now underway.

And still no suspect in custody in a double shooting at Delaware State University. Both victims identified as 17-year-olds. Authorities say the female was shot twice and is in serious condition. The male shot once and is in stable condition. Investigators say the attacks were not random.

Dealing with the severe weather from Florida to the Pacific Northwest; first to the central Florida area in the town of Eustis, a tornado ripped through the town overnight uprooting trees and damaging about 50 homes. Only two people suffered minor injuries. The National Weather Service says winds reached 105 miles an hour.

The same system caused damage in parts of south Georgia as it moved north. More than an inch of rain fell in Albany, and the storm turned over trailers and uprooted trees, as you can see right there. No reports of injuries, that's good news.

And in Washington state, firefighters are making some progress battling a wildfire. Most residents among the Columbia Gorge are back in their homes today after being forced to evacuate earlier this week. The fire destroyed six homes near White Salmon and burned 150 acres.

And then, take a look at this. I know, adjust your eyes. Signs of things to come, perhaps? Well, right now, it's an early snowfall in California's Sierra Nevada, which caught hikers and a lot of campers by surprise. As much as five inches fell in places on Thursday, and more snow is expected this weekend. That is tremendous.

Jacqui Jeras is in the severe weather center. Bet you didn't expect this one, huh?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, now, new developments involving a missing Chicago woman. Police say they have found Nailah Franklin's car near an abandoned building in Hammond, Indiana. They're searching the car for clues in Franklin's disappearance. The 28-year-old Franklin has not been heard from since Tuesday when she text messaged her boyfriend. Police say Franklin filed a police report last week concerning telephone threats that she had received.

Well, a couple of other cases in our Legal Briefs this week. Music producer Phil Spector gained fame for his Wall of Sound. But the jury in his murder trial has mostly given us the sound of silence. Spector is charged with killing actress Lana Clarkson at his home four years ago. He says she shot herself. The jury first got the case ten days ago and seems hopelessly deadlocked.

And then in Utah, jurors deciding the fate of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. They'll get back to business on Monday. Jeffs is accused of being an accomplice to rape. Prosecutors say Jeffs forced a 14-year-old girl into an unwanted marriage with her 19-year- old cousin.

Let's bring back our legal experts, Lida Rodriguez-Taseff and Nelda Blair. All right ladies, let's tackle the Warren Jeffs case first, so he is charged as being an accomplice to rape. His defense says the young lady was a willing participant, but then the young lady says that her crying was evidence of the fact that she was not a willing participant.

So, Nelda, you first. What exactly does the jury have to consider?

BLAIR: Well, they have to figure out who they believe. But this young lady was on the stand for three days, crying and telling her story and trying to make jurors believe that this is not something she wanted, No. 1.

No. 2, we need to look at this as though it were any other adult enticing a child and she was a child. If you see those pictures and the fact that she was 14-years-old, you'll know that. Enticing a child into doing something that they didn't want to do.

And if it were a person who had kidnapped a child and said, well, I'm going to kill your family if you don't do this, we wouldn't have any trouble. Well, this is the same thing. This man was a religious leader, a trusted teacher. He told her that she was bound for eternal damnation if she did not do what he told her to do. And therefore, she did it.

WHITFIELD: So Lida, you have to agree, it's a very complicated case and they have a lot to consider.

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: Not that complicated, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Really?

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: No, absolutely not. Here are the issues, and I think that the defense had listed 70 witnesses, and they only called 10 in the defense, and after Mr. Steed, they rested. And the reason is this.

Fact No. 1, this woman did not bring criminal charges until after a civil action had been initiated, a civil action in which she and her sisters were seeking money damages from Mr. Jeffs. No. 2, the -- Mr. Steed's testimony, if you listen to it carefully, was incredibly persuasive that this was a relationship, maybe it was a bad marriage, but it was not a relationship that appeared to be unwanted.

No. 3, if the prosecution really wanted to go after Mr. Jeffs in -- rather than go after his religion, they would have charged him with officiating an unlawful marriage because she was 14, he was 19. Instead, they charged him with being an accessory to rape, a rape that Mr. Steed was not interviewed about until after the prosecution, until after the state had brought criminal charges against Mr. Jeffs.

WHITFIELD: All right.

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: This is going to be a very, very close call. And I think he's going to walk.

WHITFIELD: Wow! All right. Well, starting Monday, they'll be back into deliberations.

So, close call is the case of Phil Spector where these jurors have said we're hopelessly deadlocked. There was some consideration of making them reconsider the deliberations on a lesser charge. That didn't work. And so now, it's back to giving them new instructions.

So, what, Lida, might the instructions be to kind of clarify things for the jurors?

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: These instructions did not clarify. In fact, the contrary happened. When judges charge a jury, which is what happens at the end of the case, when they tell them here is what the evidence needs to show in order for you to convict. Those instructions are negotiated by counsel and by the judge.

What this judge has done is he has withdrawn one of the instructions he gave them seven days after they were already deliberating. He said, oops, I made a mistake. I shouldn't have instructed you that. I should have instructed you something different. And the defense is now crying foul, saying this never happens and this benefits the prosecution.

WHITFIELD: Oh, interesting. All right, Nelda, so in what way has the circumstances benefitted the prosecution?

BLAIR: Well, I don't think it has benefited the prosecution. I think what it's done, it has endangered the case for appeal for the prosecution. Even if the judge's actions have helped the fact that the jury might convict this man, it will go up on appeal and it will be a bad situation.

Pulling away instructions to the jury days after they've been deliberating -- you know, the prosecution really did a really good job on this case. They had it set out correctly. They sent the jurors away with the right evidence. The problem is, after the jurors got back in the room, the judge started changing what their instructions were. And they're human, they're going to listen to what the judge first said and then when he says, oh, no, never mind that, they're still going to remember it. And that's what an appeals court is going to hear.

You know, in my opinion at this point, the prosecution might consider agreeing to a mistrial, take their losses now and start over.

WHITFIELD: Ooh, all right. I thought you couldn't start over.

BLAIR: You could start over.

WHITFIELD: Really?

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: When it's a mistrial, you absolutely can, yes. Nelda is correct.

WHITFIELD: OK, all right, Nelda Blair, Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, thanks so much.

BLAIR: Thank you.

RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF: Thank you. WHITFIELD: Well, he looked very thin, and there were some long pauses, but Fidel Castro discussed a wide range of topics during a taped interview on Cuban television. It was his first TV appearance since June. And it may have been an attempt to knock down rumors that the ailing Cuban leader is dead.

An outrage in some corners, but Columbia University, they're not bending. Iran's president speaks there Monday. But a requested visit to Ground Zero, well, that won't happen.

Here now is CNN's Mary Snow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New York's message to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "Go to hell," reads one tabloid headline. "Axis of evil" reads another.

Even though the Iranian president's request to Ground Zero was denied, outrage is building. Columbia University is opening its doors to the man who denies the Holocaust ever happened and who said he wants to wipe Israel off the map.

Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel for one, says, if it were up to him, he'd expel Ahmadinejad.

ELIE WIESEL, NOBEL LAUREATE: This man is a disgrace, a disgrace to diplomacy, a disgrace to international relations, a disgrace to culture.

SNOW: Columbia University says it wants to challenge Ahmadinejad first hand on his beliefs.

PROF. RICHARD BULLIET, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: I think that the idea that exposing our students and faculty to a firsthand look at a major world figure is a certainly satisfactory rationale.

SNOW: City council speaker Christine Quinn says she's all for free speech, and says Ahmadinejad could practice it on any sidewalk in New York, but ...

CHRISTINE QUINN, N.Y. CITY COUNCIL: There is no reason why he should be extended the privilege -- not the right, but the privilege of an invitation to such a prestigious university where he will use that stage to spew his hate.

SNOW: Quinn is calling on the university to withdraw its invitation., but Columbia is holding firm.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain also turned up the pressure, referring to Iranian-made bombs and rockets used by Iraqi insurgents. "A man who is directing the maiming and killing of American troops," he says, "should not be given an invitation to speak at an American university."

But Professor Richard Bulliet says it is because of war that Ahmadinejad should be heard.

BULLIET: Here, we have an opportunity in a situation where there's potentially another war, to hear directly from the president of the country that we could find ourselves at war with.

SNOW (on camera): Interest to hear Ahmadinejad at Columbia is intense. The university says it gave way about 600 tickets for the event within the span of an hour.

Now, Columbia is one of the places Ahmadinejad will be allowed to visit in New York when he attends the U.N. General Assembly. His movements are restricted to within a 25-mile radius of Manhattan once he's here.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al Maliki is already at the U.N. He is there for high-level meetings ahead of the general assembly.

Let's check in now with Jim Acosta at the U.N. Headquarters where it seems there's absolutely no controversy as it pertains to al Maliki's visit -- Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, that's right. This visit from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki is almost sort of a warm-up act here at the United Nations, which is a very interesting comment on the state of affairs on the international stage right now as so many people are paying attention to this visit to the U.N. by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

But earlier today, yes, the prime minister from Iraq, Nouri al Maliki met with the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. This is the second time these two men have met since earlier this year, back in March. The U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was in Baghdad when we heard and saw that infamous flinch on the part of Secretary General Ban.

There it is right there. And this is a very important video to show, because this is really why the prime minister is here. He's here to hopefully get the support of the United Nations to expand the role of the United Nations in Baghdad, in Iraq and so far, the discussions have been going on, but no decisions have been made in that regard. And the prime minister would like to see that.

And so, earlier today, when he was speaking to reporters briefly, he did say that he believes the security situation is improving in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NOURI AL MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The security situation, as you know, started to improve in Baghdad today is not Baghdad yesterday. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: And those are interesting words that the prime minister chose there, that Baghdad today is not Baghdad yesterday, because that has been -- that point exactly right there has been hotly contested here in the United States.

In Washington, we heard General Petraeus, the military commander for the U.S. in Iraq on Capitol Hill basically saying that the greatest progress in Iraq from a security standpoint has been in the Anbar Province.

And there is much debate over whether or not the security situation has improved in Baghdad. And that, of course, is what the prime minister is trying to say, is that it is getting safer and better in terms of security for expanding the U.N.'s role in the Iraqi capital -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, big weekend as a prelude to a big week at the U.N. Thanks so much, Jim Acosta.

And then out west, pretty big weekend there too, 50 years and counting. The Monterey Jazz Festival, going pretty strong. But what about the next generation of jazz musicians? We'll introduce you to a couple of those cool cats.

And gorillas gone wild or something. What's happening in the streets of London. Find out who these hairy folks are. What kind of monkey business are they up to anyway?

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WHITFIELD: Well, good luck finding a ticket if you're headed to the Monterey Jazz Festival. The biggest bargain in town is sold out this weekend. The annual event is celebrating its golden anniversary, and our Brooke Anderson is lucky enough to have a ticket and a front row seat. And so what, it's raining water out there ...

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: So what.

WHITFIELD: ...it's also pouring great music.

ANDERSON: It certainly is. Well said, Fredricka. Bring your umbrellas if you're coming out this weekend. But the festival, a really three-day -- a really treasured event every single year. And it kicked off last night with a performance by the five-piece jazz combo, "Along Came Betty." They have actually opened the festival a couple of times over the years, so a bit of a tradition for them.

And it's a tradition for jazz fans from all over. And if you look behind me, they are braving the wet weather to be here today and listen to some of their favorite jazz bands.

A number of jazz greats who performed here at the inaugural festival back in 1958 will be here to take the stage again this year, including 86-year-old jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. Also, Sonny Rollins and Ernestine Anderson.

Now, the mission of the Monterey Jazz Festival from the beginning has been to promote and perpetuate jazz all over the world. Young jazz artists from all over can participate in the festival's year- round jazz education programs and compete to get a seat in the very prestigious next generation jazz orchestra.

I caught up with an 18-year-old jazz drummer who really hopes to rise to the top here at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON (voice-over): Adam Starkopf, at 18, just a kid. But on the drums, wise beyond his years.

Starkopf and fellow classmates from the Los Angeles County School for the Arts boarded a bus this spring with a dream: to take part in a competition put on by the Monterey Jazz Festival to find the best high school bands in the country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Monterey and let her rip.

ANDERSON: Take a look. These young virtuosos could be the future of jazz. The competition is a cornerstone of the Monterey Jazz Festival's efforts to promote jazz education.

TIM JACKSON, MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL: Going through our programs from the '70s and '80s, pretty much every year you can spot somebody who has gone on to have, you know, a recognizable national, international jazz career.

ANDERSON: Saxophone players Joshua Redman and Dave Kaus (ph) are just a couple of the jazz greats who have benefitted from the festival's programs. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard, Monterey's artist in residence this year, helped mentor and educate the students.

TERENCE BLANCHARD, MUSICIAN: When you walk around this conference hall and you see all of these kids who are really interested in playing this music, it's really exciting.

ANDERSON: Adam's school dominated the competition, winning three major awards.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And our top ensemble from Los Angeles County High School ...

ANDERSON: And this teenage phenom walked away with an individual win, earning him a seat in the Next Generation Orchestra, the festival's high school all-star band, which recently played at New York's Lincoln Center. The Next Generation Orchestra will play this weekend on the festival's prestigious main stage, a golden opportunity Adam hopes is a launching pad for a future filled with the rhythm of jazz.

ADAM STARKOPF, JAZZ DRUMMER: I'd like to play, just play music professionally and just like, have that lifestyle and be happy. (END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And he's certainly well on his way to a successful jazz career.

And Fredricka, the festival pours $700,000 annually into jazz education.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my god. That's so great and so inspiring. What cool cats at such a young age.

ANDERSON: Absolutely, yes.

WHITFIELD: Love that. All right, thanks a lot, Brooke.

ANDERSON: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: Well, coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM, this is just what it looks like. Three little bears with a new hammock, sort of, and having some fun in a backyard. One lady's backyard, who actually has a pretty good sense of humor about it all. More when we come right back.

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WHITFIELD: Oh, this poor guy. Oh, ow! Definitely not smarter than the average bear. That hurt. So, he learned a painful lesson in gravity. He had made his way to Reno in search of food and water. And then, after his tumble -- well, at least he seemed to be OK. And a biologist took him back to the wilderness. Oh, I can't look at that one more time.

All right. Next bear story, even bears need to take a little break once in a while. These guys had fun. Three bears tried to chill out in a backyard hammock in New Jersey, which they did. And the homeowner, well, she shot these pictures. Hey guys, you'll get more time in the hammock if you just simply wait your turn. One at a time, please.

Well, meanwhile, in London, it's gorillas gone wild, sort of. Not real gorillas, but it's a real charity event. People run about four miles, dressed in gorilla suits. They're raising money to save the last 700 mountain gorillas still living in the wild. So, all for a good cause.

Coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, we have good news if you get a flu shot every year. Dr. Bill will be here to tell us all about it.

And a check of the day's headlines is next and then CNN "SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT: Lifting the Veil."

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WHITFIELD: Hello, again. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here's what's making news right now. One day after a Louisiana judge denied bail to Mychal Bell, he's now the only one in the Jena 6 still in jail.

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