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Blackwater Workers Accused of Arms Smuggling, Flu Vaccines for the Upcoming Flu Season, "Claytronics" Communications of the Future, Surfer's Healing Foundation Teaches Autistic Children to Surf, Monterey Jazz Festival, Spears Charged with Hit and Run, Clooney's Motorcycle Accident, Circus Of The Kids.

Aired September 22, 2007 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN, ANCHOR: Up next in the NEWSROOM -- new charges against pop diva, Britney Spears, that could send her to jail for six months.
Also, words from the prosecutor in the rape trial of self- proclaimed prophet, Warren Jeffs. He tells the jury, "no means no." Plus this -

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

WHITFIELD: The march to support the Jena Six gets a not so welcome response from white supremacist.

Welcome to the NEWSROOM, I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Michael Bell of the Jena Six remained in jail today. His faith still far from certain despite a court's decision to vacate the teen's conviction in a racially charged beating in Louisiana. Two days after a peaceful march in support of Bell and his co-defendants, disturbing signs are emerging of a possible racial backlash. The story now from CNN's David Mattingly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN, NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The website proudly displays a swastika on its homepage. 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 could 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. If they acquit or if they let off on these convictions for beating this white child."

MATTINGLY: Asked if he brought any harm to the Jena Six 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.

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

Do you think the chance was there that someone could have gotten hurt?

CASANOVA LOVE, I-REPORTER: Possibly. Possibly. You never know. It's 50-50, it's a 50-50 chance.

MATTINGLY: It happened right here on main street. A large crowd had gathered at this bus station after the rally. People wanted to catch a bus and go home that night. That's when someone in the crowd noticed the pick up 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. 18-year-old Jeremiah Manson was booked on misdemeanor charges of inciting a riot, driving while intoxicated and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is 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 that any group was involved.

Was it a prank?

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

MATTINGLY: 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 on CNN, Judgment in Jena. An encore presentation of the CNN's special investigations unit report. We hope you will join Shera Philips at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific.

And this may be a sign of a wider backlash and again maybe not. Students at a school in North Carolina were greeted Friday morning by a frightening sight, nooses. With the Elizabeth Wenger of CNN affiliate WBXII. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH WENGER, WBXII (voice-over): A startling site as students and teachers arrived at Andrews High School Friday morning. Two nooses hanging from a tree. Police later found two more on campus.

SONYA CONWAY, GUILDFORD CO., N.C. SCHOOLS: I think any time something like this happens, you're shocked. Extremely disappointed.

WENGER: Police are investigating the incident but are quick to say they have no motive in this case. They warned it may be a hate crime but it may also be a horrible joke or a high school football ritual or something else.

LT. KEN STEELE, HIGH POINT, N.C. POLICE: We don't know what it is right now and it's too early to talk about crimes or charges right now until we find out what the motivation is behind it.

WENGER: It's timely in light of Thursday's rally in Jena, Louisiana. Tens of thousands protested the treatment of six black teenagers accused of beating a white student after nooses were found hanging from a tree outside a Louisiana high school. The Guilford County School District calls what happen here a serious matter.

CONWAY: We also recognized that the more attention, ideas start bubbling up that maybe weren't there to begin with so we hope that you all work with us and also convey how serious something like this is.

WENGER: Meanwhile, students posted signs on campus showing their anger over the incident.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's pretty stupid. It's childish especially with what's going in at Jena Six.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITEFIELD: That story from High Point, North Carolina, from Elizabeth Wenger of CNN affiliate, WXII.

Fifty years later, a grainy look at a moment in American history. The integration of Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas. The previously undisclosed amateur film, a gift to the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies by an anonymous donor. It shows nine black students reporting to school under armed guard on September 25, 1957. The integration of Central High required the intervention of President Dwight Eisenhower in the face of defiance by segregationist Governor Orval Faubus.

So, police in Dover, Delaware, say that they don't yet have a suspect in the shootings of two students at Delaware State University. However, a short time ago authorities did brief reporters and the university president indicated student e-mails suggest a possible turf battle. With the story for us live, CNN'S Kathleen Koch, what does that mean exactly? KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're really actually playing that down, Fredricka. They had actually, also several students at the press conference, who described Delaware State University as a place where people are one big family and where the student body leader says there are no gangs on campus. There are those students with different backgrounds. Now, the important thing that the University President Dr. Allen Sessoms did announce is that as of tomorrow this university campus will be back, open and classes will resume as per normal Monday morning.

Now also, the police chief, Chief James Overton, took questions from reporters and he talked about the level of cooperation they are getting in the interviews that they are conducting with students.

CHIEF JAMES OVERTON, DELAWARE STATE UNIVER. POLICE: We had two persons of interest. Those persons were interviewed and released. They did provide the information to us that was very useful. It has led us to more witnesses that we are seeking now and one other person of interest. We hope it will shed light on this investigation.

KOCH: Now, according to the Chief Overton, they still believe that the gunman is a male, that he's a student here at Delaware State University and that he is no longer on campus. He said they are very confident of that, that they really combed the entire 300-acre campus yesterday and they feel that students now can come back to class and can be safe. We obviously quizzed him on that. Well. if you don't know who he is and you won't release his name, how do you know that he is not on campus and he is not a threat to students. And Chief Overton simply said that we can't release any more information on that at this time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH (on-screen) Implying basically, Fredricka, that they may know the gunman's name but are simply not ready to release it. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, still early in the investigation. Our Kathleen Koch, thanks so much.

Meantime, in Chicago, a missing woman's car has been found in nearby Hammond, Indiana. The 28-year-old, Nailah Franklin, was last heard from Tuesday when she sent text messages to family and friends. This morning divers searched a pond near where the car was found but turned up no trace of her. Police don't yet know if it's related but Franklin filed a report last week alleging threats and harassment by an acquaintance. She had not sought an order of protection.

In Denver, the search for a missing 3-year-old girl has turned into a murder investigation. Police had issued an Amber alert for the (Nivea Gallegos), yesterday but then later cancelled it. They now believe the girl was killed and her body dumped in a Denver neighborhood. Police arrested a registered sex offender on an investigation of a murder charge. They also arrested the girl's mother on investigation of accessory to murder. The search for the little girl's body continues. And people living along the Gulf Coast are breathing a sigh of relief. A tropical depression came ashore before strengthening into a tropical storm as many had feared it might. Looks like they didn't need all those sandbags after all.

Still rainfall of up to six inches is possible in some areas. Still, the system is projected to move westward along the Alabama- Mississippi coast. Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras to find out what more of a threat this system could be. It kind of swirled around and caused a little bit of, I guess, damage in some places and just a nuisance in others.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, yes. And the tornado problems, you know, into Florida. That was all caused from this system before it turned into technically TV number 10. So, that's something that you're going to have to deal with. But overall, this is really very good news. I want to show you. This is where the showers and thundershowers are right now across the southeast. Now, check out the drought monitor. And all the dark reds that you see is where we have extreme and even exceptional drought, it's right here across Alabama into Georgia and into Tennessee so these people are really, really happy to be getting the showers and thunderstorms and we're really not anticipating anything severe today and the rainfall amounts shouldn't be too much really to aggravate any type of flood situation.

A nice soaking here from St. Petersburg on up towards Tampa Bay. That rain pushing in towards Gainesville and into Tallahassee. The panhandle in particular really could use the rain with deficit of more than a foot here. Showers and thunderstorms from Savannah to Charleston. Look at the big area offshore, that should moving in a bit later on tonight. The rainfall totals have been not too bad, look at this, just two to three inches for Crestview, Florida. Apalachicola had about two and a quarter, about an inch and half there in Valparaiso, and Dothan, Alabama had about half of an inch.

In the west, we got a system here and in fact this one could end up being a bigger story, Friedrika. it's a very potent storm right now, bringing in plenty of rain across parts of California and snow into the higher elevations. You can see as much as a foot by tonight in the higher elevations of the (Sierra).

WHITFIELD: That's nice. All right. Thanks so much, Jacqui.

All right. Coming up, he's coming to the United States but he won't be getting near ground zero. What is the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad going to be doing in New York any way? Our reporter, Jim Acosta at the U.N. with the story.

And Castro speaks out in a televised interview. But will he be back in power?

And another day, another charge -- Britney has more legal problems. Poor girl. That's straight ahead. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A surprise appearance by Fidel Castro yesterday on Cuban TV. It's the first time we've seen and heard from the ailing dictator since early June. In the pre-taped interview, the 81-year- old Castro mocked rumors that he had died talked about the war in Iraq and made a prediction about what would happen if the U.S. would ever to attack Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FIDEL CASTRO, CUBAN LEADER (through translator): A war of this time can be turned into a very powerful force. One of religion if they launch war against Iran and that's when they, the Iranians will really become a frightening adversary.

WHITFIELD: Castro ceded power to his brother, Raul, last year when he had to have intestinal surgery and he has laid low ever since.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Iraq's future is the big focus at the United Nations today. Holding talks there ahead of next week's U.N. General Assembly, several key players including the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Joining us now live from the U.N., CNN's Jim Acosta. Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN, GENERAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi Friedrika. That's right. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and the Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice are meeting now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Video coming in just a few moments ago actually showing those officials meeting behind closed doors, very shortly will be meeting behind closed doors. This brief photo opportunity just came to us a few moments ago. And this is a essentially a meeting that is being held to hopefully according to Iraqi officials get a greater security presence in the capital of Iraq, not just with American troops but a greater security presence, U.N. presence. They would like to see a more U.N. officials in Baghdad. All of that remains to be seen. This is also the first meeting between Nouri Al-Maliki and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice since that shootout in Baghdad involving security guards from the contracting firm Blackwater. So it will be interesting to see whether or not that subject comes up.

There's a press conference that's being scheduled after this meeting in which there will be some reporters there asking that very question as to whether or not that issue did come up during their talks. Earlier today Nouri Al-Maliki met with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon and he made a brief statement to reporters saying that he believes the security situation in Baghdad is improving.

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

ACOSTA: Now, that comment that Baghdad today is not Baghdad yesterday almost flies in the face of what was being said in front of Congress last week when General David Petraeus testified on Capitol Hill that really the improvements that are taking place in Iraq are in the Anbar province and not really in Baghdad. That of course is something that the prime minister would like to see happen. He would like to see security improve there but in the meantime, his main goal here is to try to improve and strengthen that U.N. presence in Baghdad and that is high on his mind as he makes these rounds today here at the United Nations.

WHITFIELD: All right. Should be an interesting weekend and week indeed. Thanks so much, Jim.

President Bush is reportedly planning to ask Congress to approve an Iraq war spending measure that's much bigger than expected. The "Los Angeles Times" quoting Pentagon officials says the request will total nearly $200 billion. That's $47 billion more than the administration had projected earlier in the year. The money would fund the war through 2008. The paper says the troop increases and new battlefield gear are the reasons for the beefed up budget.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is scheduled to unveil the spending request at a Senate hearing this Wednesday.

And a million baby cribs have been recalled. That story straight ahead.

Then take a look at this. The young man in that burning car actually had about a minute to live and he did. Thanks to a quick thinking and quick moving police officer.

Plus, will a jury send polygamous Warren Jeffs to jail? We'll catch up on that trial. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Topping your news Across America. One of the largest baby crib recalls in U.S. history is under way. It applies to an estimated one million cribs under the Simplicity and Graco brand names. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the cribs were sold from January 1998 to May of this year.

A 10-year-old boy from Greenville, Ohio, faces delinquency charges of murder and arson after police say he confessed to burning down the house he lived in. The boy's mother, sister and three other children died in the blaze last Sunday. Police don't have a motive. And it's uncertain what penalty the boy may face if convicted.

And a disease known as blue tongue is being blamed for estimated 2,000 deer deaths in Kentucky with additional cases reported in Ohio and Indiana. Blue tongue is also known as EHD or ebisudic hemorrhagic disease. And it usually kills in a matter of days. Biologists say it is spread by biting gnats but cannot be contracted by people. And a sickening attack caught on tape in San Diego. A surveillance camera captures this purse snatching in progress right there. As you can see, the senior citizen put up a pretty good fight but was no match for her attacker. She came out of the fight minus her purse but not apparently not seriously hurt but boy that's hard to watch. No word on what if anything happened to that robber.

Sad news out of South Florida -- one of the nation's first televangelist, the Reverence Rex Humbard has died. Humbard's family said the 88-year-old patriarch of broadcast ministry passed away Friday from natural causes.

And it is extremely rare when a suspected drunk driver is thankful to see the blue lights of the law but such was the case this past February when a Pensacola college student refused a traffic stop but what Scott Sampson didn't know was that the police officer would prove to be his life saver. He is finally speaking out about it right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT SAMPSON, RESCUED MOTORIST: I didn't realize the police officer was behind me. And I guess, I tried to pull over and hit a tree. And the car burst into flames. I was knocked out at that point. I went to the door to the driver's side door and it was blocked.

PATROLMAN OZZIE TEETERS, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA POLICE: I was trying to check on his condition. There was no response. I had seen that the fire was coming through dashboard, coming up under the floor mat.

WHITFIELD: So, wow. Officer Teeters got Sampson out of the car just moments before it was fully engulfed. Sampson says he can't remember the accident but won't forget the officer who actually saved him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Coming up, Blackwater Security agents are back at work in Iraq less than a week after a deadly incident.

And Warren Jeffs waits while the jury decides his fate. Is he an accomplice to rape?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The jury is deliberating the fate of polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs. They had the weekend to reflect upon emotional testimony. The 51-year-old former leader of the FLDS Church is being tried on rape by accomplice charges. The district attorney says Jeffs coerced the marriage of a 14-year-old child bride to a member of his church. But in yesterday's closing argument, Jeffs' defense lawyer suggested another possible motivation for his client's prosecution.

WALTER BUGDEN, WARREN JEFFS' ATTORNEY: His church, his religious beliefs, his religion is what's on trial here being dressed up as a crime called rape. If anyone told a 14-year-old girl that she must get married and that she must do it and if she said no, he would be here, too.

WHITFIELD: So, jurors will resume deliberations on Monday. If convicted on both counts, Jeffs could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

More worries for Blackwater. Federal prosecutors are investigating allegations that employees of the private security firm may have been engaged in armed smuggling. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, Blackwater guards are back on the job today protecting state department employees, U.S. State Department employees and operations had been suspended in the wake of shooting involving Iraq civilians. More now from our Susan Simons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN SIMMONS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just days ago, the Iraq government wanted them gone accusing Blackwater employees of opening fire on civilians indiscriminately last Sunday. According to an initial incident report by the state department provided by an industry source to CNN, Blackwater employees were responding to hostile firing so great it disabled one of their vehicles.

But Iraqi witnesses said they were targeted for no reason. Depending on whose account you believe, as many as 20 people were killed. Then Friday, without further explanation, an about face. The company is resuming normal operations in Iraq without any resolution to the incident that outraged the Iraqi government and left the state department all but paralyzed when it came to movement outside of the Green Zone. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, reiterated the government's need for private security companies.

CONDOLEEZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNITED STATES: It is extremely important that we recognize we are doing important work there and we need protect for our diplomats and I'm quite certain that with good will we can resolve this.

SIMON: The White House didn't offer further explanation but focused instead on a joint U.S. Iraqi commission set up to investigate.

DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Loss of life was deeply regrettable. That's why Secretary Rice and Prime Minister Malicky have decided to set up that joint commission and we'll see where it takes us.

SIMON: But it was a different story among lawmakers who are calling for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to private security contracts that cost taxpayers billions of dollars. That's where the Senate Democratic Policy Committee focused its commission on Friday.

SENATOR JAMES WEBB (D), VIRGINIA: It's been kind of amazing to me in the nearly a year now that we have been up here with all of the legislation moving so fast and our attempt to bring some accountability in the larger sense to the war and to American strategy at large and all of these other things that this particular problem has kind of flown by us.

SIMON: It's an issue not likely to go away as the government strives to bring more troops home while admitting it couldn't do the job in Iraq without hired help. Suzanne Simon, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Flu season is on the way. So is our doctor and he's got good news about fighting those nasty germs.

Plus, the parents are a little freaked but the kids are at peace. A different kind of camp for a different kind of kid. We'll be right back.

First, today's news quiz, what is the wind speed range for a tropical storm? Your answer right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Alright, before the break we asked you weather buffs this question. What is the wind speed range for a tropical storm? If you said 39 to 73 miles per hour then this question was a breeze for you.

Flu season is just around the corner. Despite recent mild flu years, the CDC says this is not the time to get complacent. Health officials say since vaccine supplies are plentiful this year more people need to step up and get the shot but there are alternatives to the dreaded needle stick. Dr. Bill Lloyd joins us from San Antonio, Texas, with more on this. Good to see you.

DR. BILL LLOYD, SURGEON: Hi Fredricka, you know, over the past two years there have been all kinds of problems with the flu season and getting those immunizations. They didn't predict the right strain, they had trouble with the distribution. Some of the batches actually were contaminated but this year they've got it right and there are over 132 million doses ready to go.

WHITFIELD: Alright, so who needs to be protected? Not everybody opts for this shot.

LLOYD: Anyone over the age of six months ought to get a flu shot. So that means children, preschool children, between six months and five years can do it and if they don't want the shot, they're now safe enough, children two and older, to get the nasal spray instead of the vaccination which provides the same protection to the same strains of flu. We also have several other groups we want to talk about, pregnant woman for example, ought to get the flu shot. Adults over 50 ought to get the flu shots. And, folks who are chronically ill, diabetics, people with heart disease, people who would be in trouble if they contracted the flu.

WHITFIELD: When you mention kids between six months and five years, I'm going to ask you to go back on that because I do remember reading last year how there was mercury content that made it rather dangers, the vaccines or some of the vaccines, for kids this age. So, how do you discern the mercury-based ones versus the ones that are not?

LLOYD: Well, the CDC has come out and said, "Let's just stop the dialogue about this." The flu vaccine compared to some DPT and other vaccines is safe for everyone over the age of six months unless you have a problem with a previous reaction to a flu shot.

WHITFIELD: So those who need to avoid it might opt for, like, the nasal spray.

LLOYD: If they opt against the needle, you're exactly right. They'll get the same protection. It takes two to four weeks to protect yourself from the flu and even though the flu season begins in February, there are already cases being reported in the United States so you can't be too early to get in line for your flu protection.

WHITFIELD: And so, when do we need to start thinking about these shots? We're in September now.

LLOYD: Yeah, the distribution has already begun. It goes state by state. Contact your local clinic and even pharmacies are having it now. As you know, folks over 65, eligible for Medicare, they get it for free and we're shooting for 90% participation in senior citizens in getting their flu shot because every one of them is high risk for other medical complications if they contract the flu.

WHITFIELD: Wow, shooting for 90%, all right, that's impressive. Thanks so much, Dr. Bill Lloyd, good to see you.

LLOYD: We'll talk again soon.

WHITFIELD: Have a great weekend. Alright, well how about this? Big surfboards, pounding waves, a pretty unlikely backdrop for autistic children, well Gary Nuremburg introduces us to 'The Surf Camp' that is providing good vibrations for parents and kids. He'll bring us that story another time.

Meantime, in trouble again, Britney faces new charges. That is straight ahead. And then, we're live from the Monterey Jazz Festival with Brook Anderson. Just listen in. Just a taste of what you will get a chance to hear in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CORRESPONDENT: Todd Mowry and, fellow developer, Seth Goldstein have come up with an idea to revolutionize long distance communication. It's called 'Claytronics.' Different from holograms and claymation, it's a new form of matter that can be controlled using software.

TODD MOWRY, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY: So if you want to have a conversation with somebody who lives in a different city you could interact with each other in a more natural way than a videoconference. What we would like to do is have physical 3-D objects that you can hold in your hand and interact with that can also be controlled the same way. They could ache on any shape.

CORRESPONDENT: The shapes are formed by claytronic atoms, or catoms, that act as a programmable clay. When instructed by software, the catoms can morph into any person or object taking on their physical makeup. Mowry and his team hope to have this technology available in at least ten years. (END EXPLORERS VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It turns out big waves and autistic children are a great healing combination. Gary Nuremburg introduces us to 'The Surf Camp'

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ready to go surfing?

GARY NUREMBURG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It teaches children with autism how to surf, you repeatedly hear one word.

UNIDENTIFIED BOY: It's awesome! You will have the most fun of your life.

JOSHUA PASKOWITZ, SURFER VOLUNTEER: It's an awesome event just to see the kids out there having fun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was awesome, awesome.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was awesome, it was incredible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get the kids out in the ocean and get them up and riding.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The parents are flabbergasted; the parents are freaked out because they never thought their children could do it.

NUREMBURG: Izzy Paskowitz started the Surfer's Healing Foundation after he saw his autistic son find peace riding the waves. Now he helps other children with autism find the same thing. Nine- year-old, Matt Clutts, got used to the surfboard on the beach worried about wipe outs.

MATT CLUTTS: If I did fall down,

DEBBIE CLUTTS, MATT'S MOM: Then what will happen?

MATT: Game over.

CHE PILAGO, SURFING INSTRUCTOR: They're a little bit shy. A lot of them are crying and screaming. You sit out there and let them flow with the water. It's so calm and soothing.

NUREMBURG: Studies show that forms of water therapy can help put them at ease.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand up, we're going to walk out and then we'll get you on the board.

NUREMBURG: Matt gave it a shot. (inaudible) volunteers, he waded into the surf. Saw some of those wipe outs but moved forward as his nervous mom took pictures and he waited for a wave.

DEBBIE CLUTTS: It was so emotional to see my child on a surfboard. You don't anticipate they will have these opportunities.

NUREMBURG: But here they do. That's Lisette Enriquez's(ph) daughter, Keti(ph).

When you have a child with autism...

ISRAEL "IZZY" PASKOWITZ, SURFERS HEALING FOUNDATION: It affects the whole family. So, we live for our good days and we created Surfers Healing to try to give that good day -- this might be the best day they ever had.

NUREMBURG: Might be.

JOSHUA PASKOWITZ: You got to try it sometime, people out there.

NUREMBURG: Gary Nuremburg, CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I love that. That was great.

WHITFIELD: Surfing is fun.

HARRIS: Give them a day.

WHITFIELD: How are you? Welcome back.

HARRIS: Good to be back.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic job in Jena.

HARRIS: Thank you, thank you.

WHITFIELD: You were on all day and all night as well.

HARRIS: We arrived at the crack of dawn down there. Actually before, about 5:00 a.m. local time there in Jena, which is between Monroe and Alexandria. Just a small town of just 3,000 people and you have been seeing the reports and hopefully you watched our coverage and, certainly, watched Kyra Phillips in that fantastic special where you will see it this evening but coming up at 5:00, here's what we're going to do -- since that Thursday, an incredible Thursday, we have been flooded with all kinds of e-mails from people giving their thoughts about Jena, about these kids and the serious charges that they face and the criminal justice system. So, what we've done is invite Veronica De La Cruz from our dot-com desk, and she's doing a little bit of everything these days, but we've invited her to come up here and join us at 5:00 and sort through some of the e-mails with us and then, during the course of that we try to make that show and all of these "NEWSROOM" shows interactive as possible so it will be a good opportunity to share with you some of your thoughts and the thoughts of other viewers on what was an incredible day in Jena, Louisiana in 2007.

WHITFIELD: Incredible, in part, because it really did get a lot of people's attention. I think folks initially thought, well maybe a few hundred folks would turn out but to see the thousands that did, they certainly got folks to take notice. In Jena and outside.

HARRIS: Outside as well, anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 people. We talked to people who had no idea about the particulars of the case but felt it was the beginning of a new movement, perhaps, the dawn of a new Civil Rights Era Movement, and felt they just needed to be there in Jena for that initial moment so we'll talk about all of that coming up in the 5:00 hour. Wish you were there but I'm glad you were here on the set.

WHITFIELD: Well, yeah, you did a great job and it was just nice to hear so many people who were there about their journeys and why they chose to be there.

HARRIS: Many felt it was a pilgrimage. Which is an interesting choice of a phrase there. They thought it was a pilgrimage.

WHITFIELD: Right, alright, well great reporting. Good job, Tony. We'll watch later in the evening, too.

A golden anniversary heralded with some golden notes as well. For 50 years, Monterey, California, has hosted its famous jazz festival. And it kicked off again this weekend, and our Entertainment Correspondent, Brooke Anderson, so lucky to be there. And it looks like a lot of other folks feel lucky because they're there in great numbers.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: They are indeed, Fredricka. In fact, 50,000 jazz fans are expected to be here this weekend and it's the first time that non-arena tickets have sold out according to the organizers. A lot of people are anticipating the music of Grammy Award winning singer, Diana Krall, she's one of the headliners here. We caught up with her and she told us not only her music but also her recent family additions have given her a new perspective on life.

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ANDERSON: Around the state, and beyond, to be here at this prestigious annual event the Monterey Jazz Festival. One of the headliners this year, Grammy Award winning, Diana Krall, whose music and recent family additions have given her a whole new perspective on life. If ice could smolder, this is how it might look and sound.

Diana Krall's cool sensuality has catapulted her to the top of both the jazz and pop charts and her golden girl looks have cemented her appeal with a crossover crowd.

DIANA KRALL, JAZZ MUSICIAN: I wore some really killer, like really high heels last night and I joked with the audience that the height of my high heels has nothing to do with the way I interpret Cole Porter.

ANDERSON: In high school her girlfriends in British Columbia were enamored with rock stars of the early '80s. But, Krall's taste in music harkened back to the '30s, '40s, '50s, and 60's.

KRALL: I was playing Fats Wohler(ph) tunes and listening to Annette Hanshaw(ph), and Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole, and everybody else was listening to Elvis Costello but I got the last laugh, so, ha- ha.

ANDERSON: In December 2003, she tied the knot with Rock N' Roll Hall of Famer, Elvis Costello. It was the bright spot on a troublesome time for the singer-pianist. A year earlier her mom passed away after a long battle with cancer.

KRALL: The songs that I felt such joy in expressing myself, I wasn't able to do after I lost my mother.

ANDERSON: Her signature tunes are back in her repertoire this weekend at the 50th annual Monterey Jazz Festival and they're front and center on her first ever greatest hits collection, "The Very Best of Diana Krall." At 42, she has a brand new outlook that may have something to do with the addition of twin boys to the Krall-Costello household.

KRALL: I'm happy in my marriage. I'm a mom with two beautiful little 8-month-old babies and that's my focus. I am really enjoying myself much more than I have in a long time.

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ANDERSON: And tonight, not only will Diana perform but, Fredricka, she will also present jazz lover, Clint Eastwood, with an honorary degree from the Berkeley College of Music. So, an exciting night for, not only Krall, but Clint Eastwood as well.

WHITFIELD: And so fitting because, you know, Clint has such history not just in jazz music but in that whole region of the country of California as well. How about other entertainment stories that you have been following. One being Britney Spears and then George Clooney. What's going on with them?

ANDERSON: Right, Fredricka, you know the hits keep coming for Britney Spears and I'm not talking about musical hits, unfortunately for her. Prosecutors on Friday charged her with misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run driving and, also, driving without a valid license. Now this stems from an August 6 incident. Paparazzi video caught Spears steering her Mercedes into another car as she tried to pull into a parking spot and then, apparently, the video shows her checking the damage to her car only and then leaving, walking away, and the owner of the other vehicle filed a police report. If Spears is convicted she faces up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine for each count. So it's been a tough time for Britney Spears. This comes just days after a court ordered her to do random drug and alcohol testing twice a week and, also, to spend time with a parent counselor among other things.

But also, George Clooney - you mentioned George Clooney, he's a very lucky man today because yesterday he escaped a motorcycle incident with just one broken rib and a few bumps and bruises. According to authorities, Clooney and his girlfriend, Sara Larson, were cruising along on his motorcycle when they tried to pass a vehicle on the right. Problem was that vehicle was trying to take a right turn at the same time so they collided. It's still under investigation. He was treated at a hospital and released, and his girlfriend, poor thing, she suffered a broken foot.

WHITFIELD: Oh man, won't be wearing those cute shoes for a while.

ANDERSON: She'll be on crutches, probably, for a while.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, well, I'm glad the injuries were minor. That's the only reason I'm making a little fun. We wish the best to both of them. Thanks, Brooke.

Alright, well it's been a childhood quest for many -- the dream of running off to join the circus. Looks kind of fun. Next in the NEWSROOM, some children who did just that; the story coming up.

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WHITFIELD: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the big top. But, look closely, these death-defying stunts are performed not by professionals but by middle-schoolers. Our Rusty Dornin got into the act.

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RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ever cautious 12-year-old Emily Morrison never liked to take risks. Then two weeks ago she joined the circus. How scary was it the first time you had to flip up into that chair?

EMILY MORRISON, CIRCUS STUDENT: Really scary. I stood on the board for ten minutes because I couldn't do it. I was way too scared.

DORNIN: A traveling education program called, "Circus of the Kids," created by Bruce Pfeffer in 1982, tricks of the trade taught to middle-schoolers at St. Jude the Apostle in Atlanta for a flat $2,000 fee and $150 for students.

BRUCE PFEFFER, CIRCUS OF THE KIDS: It's not competitive sports and it's kind of performing arts but it is different and we're able to reach kids who just aren't involved in other things.

ALEXANDRA BARTON, CIRCUS STUDENT: I do that by launching straight up on him when you sit on the hands. DORNIN: Flying through the air with the greatest of ease? Not in her wildest dreams says this 12-year-old, Alexandra Barton. Are you sort of amazed that you are doing the things you're doing?

BARTON: Yeah, I would never have thought I could learn that in this short of a time.

DORNIN: There are plenty of fumbles and oops, and downright misses and the fear factor. What's the scariest thing about the tricks you do on this?

BARTON: The death drop where you climb to the top, you pull through the slats and you drop all of the way to the bottom and it catches you right before you hit the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is self-confidence and team work.

PATTY CHILDS, PRINCIPAL, ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE: I like the team work we see in the classroom that we see in the hallways. These kids are a little cult among themselves.

DORNIN: Trust, teamwork and practice every day for nearly two weeks. But only about 15 hours in all and then --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the circus of the kids!

DORNIN: ... it's show time.

MARY TWINER, PARENT: The difference from day one until now is like a universe. It has changed all of these kids and the acts have really, really come a long way.

DORNIN: For Richard Barton, his daughter's trapeze act was heart stopping.

RICHARD BARTON, PARENT: It was amazing, absolutely amazing.

DORNIN: Could it really be that easy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to stand on the end of the board, clap your arms like this.

DORNIN: Well, maybe for a 12-year-old. But failure was not something my new found teammates were going to accept. Big top material I am not. But these pint-sized performers proved they were more than ready, for center ring. Rusty Dornin, CNN, Atlanta.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good night, everybody!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Go Rusty! "A" for effort! Alright, from the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The next hour of the NEWSROOM with Tony Harris right now.

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