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President Bush Prepares to Deliver State of the Union Address; Violence Erupts in Kenya

Aired January 28, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Six hours to go until President Bush gives his final State of the Union speech. One hour until Wall Street rings the closing bell. And who knows how long before Congress passes an economic stimulus plan.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: We're covering all the angles, all of which are connected and all of which affect your money.

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. You're live in CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: And we start the 3:00 p.m. Eastern hour of the CNN NEWSROOM with some breaking news. It's happening in Washington, right across the street from the White House.

We're being told it's happening in Lafayette Park. The Secret Service has arrested a man for allegedly making threats to the president of the United States. We're also being told an item he had is being checked out and reporters are currently being kept off the North Lawn.

Again, they have taken a man into custody in Lafayette Park just across the street from the White House, a man believed to have made a threat against the president. We are going to continue to check on this and bring you more on the developing story right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: President Bush will devote a big bunch of tonight's speech to prodding Congress to pass an economic stimulus plan. But some Senate Democrats want to amend the plan.

Let's get straight to Kathleen Koch. She's at the White House.

Kathleen, does the White House think the plan is in jeopardy?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it's too early to say that. But certainly these new changes are disturbing to many.

Let me tell you what is being proposed. An aide to Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Max Baucus, says that the senator plans to introduce his own economic stimulus package this week. And what it will include is a tax rebate for senior citizens and also an extension of unemployment benefits. Neither of those items is in the stimulus package deal that was reached between the president and the House last week, and already Senate Republicans are coming on and saying that Democrats should not make this plan costlier than it already is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A number of senators have expressed a desire to add tens of billions of dollars in spending on contentious programs to this package. But we don't have the time for ideological debates. In order for this plan to work, Congress needs to act and to act at once.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now, Deputy Press Secretary, Tony Fratto, also criticized any plans by Democrats to make major changes in this deal saying, "risking upending a bipartisan compromise and delaying assistance that the U.S. economy needs. They should not cause partisan gamesmanship at a time when Americans are expecting swift action" -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Meanwhile, the big speech is tonight, or some I guess are dubbing it the big speech. What can you tell us about the State of the Union? Do you know anything yet so far?

KOCH: Kyra, we have learned a lot.

Just briefly, the president did his final run-through this morning. The speech, we're told, will last about 40 minutes. And President Secretary Dana Perino says the president is very comfortable with it.

And she actually gave CNN a tidbit on something that I think will please you, please me, and anyone who holds fortunes of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast near and dear to their hearts. The president, Perino say, in the speech tonight will announce that the North American Leaders' Summit, which it is the United States' turn to host this year, that he decided to host it in the city of New Orleans in April this year.

And he's doing that as a signal to the world and notably to our allies in Canada and New Mexico, who he's hosting at this summit, about the financial fortunes of the city of New Orleans, to give the city a boost.

The president will also of course talk about the stimulus package, trying to get it through the Senate, trying to extend his tax cuts which expire in 2010, also, obviously, talk about Iraq, the U.S. troop surge there, and how the president says to keep the gains that he has made in that respect in Iraq, the U.S. wants to be careful not to bring all U.S. forces home too soon -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, that's good news about New Orleans.

KOCH: Quite so.

PHILLIPS: Louisiana is dear to both of our hearts. Kathleen Koch, appreciate it.

KOCH: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Well, President Bush's final State of the Union, CNN's special live coverage starts at 8:00 Eastern tonight, followed by the president's speech at 9:00. Then we are going to wrap it all up with the best political team on television.

CNN is your home for politics. The president's address is also available online at CNN.com/live. You can watch multiple live streaming angles. Again, that's CNN.com/live.

LEMON: Right now, I guess you can definitely say this is good news, because it's a pleasant surprise to the start of the week on Wall Street. After watching markets fall to Europe and Asia, the Dow goes in the other direction.

And Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange, that is up.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Don.

And they were going down because of fears that the U.S. economy, the world's biggest, will fall into recession. But, yes, we have a quiet rally going on. I say quiet because there's not a whole lot of volume behind it. And that makes some people question whether we're going to see a lot of momentum.

But it's exactly what Kyra and Kathleen were just talking about. The State of the Union address is just one of the many important events that are supposed to take place this week, as well as the Federal Reserve, a decision on interest rates, first look at fourth- quarter GDP, jobs report, lots of earnings.

So, maybe it's the calm before the storm. We are seeing the Dow hold on to its gains, the Nasdaq as well, but we're seeing a couple big movers, McDonald's out with its earnings today. It's moving to the downside not because the earnings were poor, and its strong international demand, but softer consumer spending here.

And then something we talked about last hour, Don, and that is new homes sales, as expected, falling dramatically year over year, more than 40 percent, home prices down as well. But, believe it or not, homebuilding shares are up today. Nonetheless, these are challenging times for retailers to sell just about anything. And that's why there are changes at the very top of one of the nation's largest retailers.

Poppy Harlow has got that story uptown at the Nasdaq market site.

Hi, Poppy.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Susan.

Yes, that's right. We're seeing modest gains here at the Nasdaq, but Sears Holding, which is a major component, a major stock traded here at the Nasdaq, is seeing some gains. News out of Sears that its CEO is stepping down. Also last week, Sears said that it's reorganizing its structure there in the hope of turning things around and increasing profit for that company.

Sears operates -- Sears Holding, rather, operates Sears and Kmart stores. Think about it. Homeowners rely on getting products like washing machines and sponges at these stores, and, so, these stores rely on homeowners. So, those disappointing housing numbers we got out this morning might weigh on companies like Sears.

Let's take a look at some of the other big movers here at the Nasdaq today. Yahoo! under pressure, down to close to 6 percent. We are going to get earnings from that online search engine on Tuesday after the closing bell. People on Wall Street hoping to get some confirmation of those rumored layoffs at Yahoo!

Also, Sirius and XM, though, satellite radio providers, it's been about a year in the making, this deal. They're waiting still for the approval by the government and the FCC. But there is speculation that that deal could be finalized some time this week. We will keep an eye on that for you.

One trader I spoke with today on Wall Street told me his feeling really is everyone just needs to calm down, let the Fed do their job, and we're probably going to be just fine. So, that may be why we're seeing this slight rally here at the Nasdaq and also down there with Susan.

Of course, tonight, all eyes on the president as President Bush gives his final State of the Union address and then a quick shift to all eyes on the Fed. We will hear from the Fed on Wednesday afternoon to see if we will get yet another interest rate cut -- Susan.

LISOVICZ: Yes. And actually the federal funds future rate, which bets on those things, is certainly betting with almost 100 percent conviction that we will see another interest rate cut. That may be, Poppy, why we are seeing financial stocks on the rise today and stocks overall on the rise.

We will take it, right, Don, what we saw overseas -- back to you.

LEMON: Susan Lisovicz, Poppy Harlow, thanks to both of you.

PHILLIPS: Leading our political ticker now, a Democratic dynasty chooses sides in the race for the White House. Senator Edwards Kennedy and his son Congressman Patrick Kennedy are backing Barack Obama.

The endorsements came a short time ago in Washington. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president, endorses Obama over the weekend. Liz Cheney, Vice President Cheney's older daughter, is joining Mitt Romney's campaign. She had campaigned for Fred Thompson, who dropped out last week, before that, worked in the State Department. She will advice Romney on foreign policy.

Florida Republican, Governor Charlie Crist, throwing his weight behind John McCain. Crist campaigned with McCain over the weekend in Tampa. The state's primary is tomorrow. And McCain says that the governor's endorsement will give him momentum heading into Super Tuesday.

The all-important delegate count, in the end, that is what really matters in the race for the White House. As it stands, Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic field with 230 delegates. Barack Obama has 152, and John Edwards 61. The number includes delegates won in state contests, plus super-delegates. Those are Democratic office holders and party leaders who have announced their support for a candidate. The magic number for nomination is 2,025.

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney leads with 73 delegates. John McCain has 38, Mike Huckabee 29, Ron Paul six, and Rudy Giuliani two. The GOP count includes delegates won in states and commitments from Republican National Committee members. The magic number for Republicans 1,191.

And to find out more about the delegate count, click on to our Web site, CNNPolitics.com. Well, time is winding down and the race is heating up. For the freshest, polls, the latest fights, the political ticker blog more, just check out CNNPolitics.com.

LEMON: Wondering what that is? Of course, screams of panic, because it's a painstaking rescue. Weymouth, Massachusetts, that's where it happened. A man walking home in a middle of the night mistakes a frozen pond for a road. He thought it was a road. He's in the icy water for almost half-an-hour before firefighters finally reach him. They have to cut through ice to maneuver a canoe. The 27- year-old is being treated for hypothermia.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Amid calls for her boss to step down, the Detroit mayor's chief of staff announced her resignation today. Christine Beatty and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick have been swept up in a perjury investigation over text messages that were supposed to stay private. Both testified in a whistle-blower trial last summer that they have never had an affair. But messages obtained by "The Detroit Free Press" reveal otherwise. The county prosecutor is investigating and two city council members are calling for an independent probe.

LEMON: It's not funny, but it's certainly interesting. You've heard of "Dial M For Murder"? Remember that?

Well, this time, you can type M for murder. A Michigan woman misses the mark big time when she allegedly solicits a hitman online. The FBI says she posted notice -- a notice on craigslist advertising a "freelance job." Several people who responded were startled by an offer of 5,000 bucks to be a silent assassin. Agents say the suspect also sent details about her intended victim, the wife of a man with whom she had been having an affair.

PHILLIPS: It's about as big as a school bus and is headed straight for Earth. But when and where is this spy satellite going to hit?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Chaos plaguing Kenya erupted again today. In the country's Rift Valley, riot police separated armed mobs.

Rival ethnic factions squared off in this town, where more than 20 people were burned, hacked and clubbed to death yesterday. One death is reported today, a driver who was burned in his minibus. Widespread rioting and arson erupted in the nearby city of Kisumu.

CNN's Zain Verjee is covering the story for us. Today, she returned to the Rift Valley, a place she knows from her youth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): This is the Great Rift Valley. It is one of the wonders of the world. I have been coming here to this very location with my family for years. We have been having picnics here and we enjoy the spectacular view. That mountain over there is called Mount Longonot. We have all climbed it.

There are also some really lovely lakes here and amazing pink flamingos that sit on the lakes. The tribes here are many and they are very, very rich in culture. But the most saddening part of what is happening now is that the tribes are beginning to turn on each other.

They're killing each other, hacking each other to death, burning each other's homes down, shooting one another with poisoned arrows. The thing I would like to share with you about the Great Rift Valley is this. This is some of the most fertile and volcanic land in the country. Really, this is the breadbasket of Kenya.

The other key thing to understand here is that the fight here is really about land and who owns it. It all started back a few decades ago during independence in 1963, when more of this land was allocated to one particular tribe through political patronage. And the other tribes felt that was really unfair. So, what's happening now is that those old resentments are beginning to surface and we're seeing it in the kind of violence that has manifested in people's lives today.

Zain Verjee, CNN, in the Great Rift Valley.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Zain just returned from Nairobi. She joins us live now.

And, Zain, you went to one Rift Valley town. Can you tell me what that was like?

VERJEE: It was really tense and difficult to see. We went to Naivasha. That's a place that many people from Nairobi will go weekends with their family or friends or go on picnics or just to relax. But the road from Nairobi to Naivasha was really, really difficult to get through. There were people, gangs out on the streets, burning tires. They had barricaded the roads. And what they were looking for is people from another ethnic group to terrorize or to attack.

Once we actually got into the town, Kyra, it was, again, very tense, people looking for groups, people of different ethnic groups. And when they walked down the street, some of them had to be escorted by security forces and police. While we were there, women and children were herded into a house and they were burned alive -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, what's the government doing to stop this violence?

VERJEE: Well, the government is engaged in political negotiations. But the problem is that there's so much bad blood between the government and opposition here is that they're not getting anywhere. Kofi Annan is here to do some diplomacy. And he is making strides. But there's bad blood and big egos that tend to get in the way.

Also, the government, both sides, actually, haven't really gone out to their people and said, hey, stop the violence, this is about reconciliation. And, in some instances, too, there are reports that the police are almost complicit. They just stand by when some of these attacks happen. And the police, also, are overstretched. So, it seems as though the state has lost a degree of control over parts of the Rift Valley -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, you're in Nairobi now. Is it safe?

VERJEE: Well, in some areas of Nairobi, you are fairly safe. The middle -- upper-middle class areas, you go home, you operate as per usual in Nairobi. But when you turn on the TV, you think, my God, is this really what happened today?

But in the slum areas on the outskirts of Nairobi, there is a huge amount of ethnic tensions. There are gangs from different tribal groups that tend to operate. They ask for protection fees to keep people safe. And they go about stealthily killing as well. And it's driven again by ethnicity -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Zain Verjee covering the story right there in her home country of Kenya.

Appreciate it, Zain.

LEMON: Here's something they're talking about in the political world today, the Bill Clinton factor. Did it play a role in Hillary Clinton's defeat in South Carolina? We will get some insight from our very own Mr. Bill Schneider.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, American spy satellites out of control and spinning back to Earth. We can't tell you when it's going to hit or where. Some details are classified, some are anybody's guess.

Government officials say they expect the satellite to come down sometime next month, or maybe the month after. Whenever it does, our space correspondent , Miles O'Brien, reminds us that 75 percent of the Earth is water. He says that the odds of getting hit per one in a trillion.

LEMON: Still the one.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Still the one, Miles. Come on, man.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

PHILLIPS: If you want to start a business or expand an existing one, chances are you will need to get a loan. But in developing countries, that can be nearly impossible. One organization is trying to change that.

And, if you have just $25 and an e-mail address, you can help.

Here's Christine Romans with "Right on Your Money."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Miyanaga, Kenya, it's about as far as you can get from a major stock exchange. But that hasn't stopped Metrine Wandera and her cereal business from investors.

DAN BEEVE, KIVA LENDER: About a year ago we lent $25 to Metrine in Kenya to expand her cereal business.

ROMAN: Dan Beeve is a project manager for a manufacturing company in Chicago. He found Wandera through KIVA, a nonprofit helping people in developing countries. Here's the way it works. Loans are offered interest free to people with a business plan and a dream in the most impoverished countries. Loans as small as $25 or $100 can change the course of a life. Wandera needed just $150 to increase her product line and raise profits. Her earnings send her children to school.

JEFFREY SACHS, UNITED NATIONS ADVISER: These modest investments help people to get on the first rung of the ladder of economic development.

ROMANS: Dr. Jeffrey Sachs is a United Nations adviser and a leader in the fight against poverty.

SACHS: If microfinances combined with investments in community infrastructure, such as safe water and a clinic, the school and the road, the combination is very powerful and it can help lift a whole village out of poverty.

ROMANS: Many lenders share their wealth, again and again.

BEEVE: When a loan is repaid to us, we reinvest it and reloan it to another borrower.

ROMANS: KIVA warned lenders that they may lose their money but very few have. The loan default race is less than one percent. While lenders don't make a profit, the emotional return is impossible to quantify.

Christine Romans, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Hey, want some adventure? Well, if you've got six months and a bicycle, the United States is waiting. Yes. We'll talk with a man who hit the road and found a world within himself along the way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. I want to take you to some breaking news that is just in, just seconds ago, into the CNN NEWSROOM. You're looking at live pictures here. This is the PG&E Building in San Francisco, 1000 Evans Avenue, if you're there. And just so you know, this information, according to our affiliate KGO -- we appreciate the pictures and the information. They're telling us that several people have been trapped here. Some have been rescued in a reported collapsed boiler inside of the former PG&E company building. That's according to fire officials there.

They're telling us that the call game in about noon their time. They reported some sort of boiler accident that trapped several people. That's according, again, to a fire department spokesperson. At least one person escaped with life-threatening injures.

Again, one person escaped with life-threatening injures here. Two to three people have had to be rescued from this building. Fire and emergency personnel on the scene. All of this, again, according to our affiliate KGO in San Francisco. This happening at the former PG&E Building. Details to come right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: And the race for the White House heads toward Super Tuesday. Next week's big event includes nominating contests in two dozen states. Today, a huge endorsement for Democratic contender Barack Obama. Senator Edward Kennedy, his son, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and his niece, Caroline Kennedy, well, they're all backing the senator from Illinois.

Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, joins us now live from Washington -- Bill will these endorsements have a big impact?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, the Kennedy endorsements are likely to. That could be a key to a Democratic base for Barack Obama. He does well with the African- American voters, but there are other parts of the Democratic base vote where Hillary Clinton has been very strong -- women, seniors, union members and especially Latino voters. She's done very well in those groups. They're very important -- particularly Latinos -- on Super Tuesday. And the Kennedy name has a lot of power in that Democratic base vote.

PHILLIPS: So what about Bill Clinton's role in Hillary's campaign? Will we see less of him after what happened in South Carolina? SCHNEIDER: You probably will, because it obviously did not help Hillary Clinton's campaign in South Carolina. It created a lot of resentment, some backlash among both black and white voters. And one of those who seemed to respond to it was Edward Kennedy, who had a discussion with Bill Clinton about his role in South Carolina. Kennedy did not like what Bill Clinton did and ended up endorsing Barack Obama.

PHILLIPS: So, what about John Edwards? Is he going to make it to the convention? Third place in his home state. It had to be disappointing for him.

SCHNEIDER: Well, he's lost the battle for momentum so far. He hasn't won any states. But right now, it's not momentum they're, after it's hunt for delegates, because it's a separate contest in every Congressional district. And he is picking up delegates. And he's, I guess, expecting that if nobody goes into the convention with a majority, he may still have a chance.

A lot of people think he wants to be a spoiler, that he wants to be the candidate who holds onto a group of delegates that can make either Obama or Clinton the nominee. There's another scenario, whereby Obama and Clinton are so divided that they can't support eve other and so maybe they'll say well, you know what?

Let's make a compromise. Let's support John Edwards and maybe he can peel off enough delegates from the other two contenders to build his own majority. So he's still in the game.

PHILLIPS: It's interesting to see all the things that have been happening. It's going to be an interesting year, no doubt.

Bill Schneider, thanks.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Don.

LEMON: OK, well, thank you very much, Kyra and Bill.

While strategists use polls and surveys to measure how Hispanic voters in Florida and other states will respond to the presidential candidates, our next guest used two wheels and his own legs. That's a great shot there. As a matter of fact, I think that's from his Web site.

He traveled nearly 12,000 miles across mountains to Great Lakes, New England to Florida and back again. University of Minnesota Professor Louis Mendoza joins us today from Minneapolis.

Hello to you, Louis. You started out in California in July -- hello.

PROF. LOUIS MENDOZA, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: Hi. How are you doing?

LEMON: It's hard (LAUGHTER)...

MENDOZA: Thanks very much for having me here, Don.

LEMON: Great to have you. Thanks. Why July? Why didn't you wait until it was cooler, at least, in the rest of the country?

MENDOZA: Well, I'm from Texas so I was used to the hot weather and I figured I just needed to get a start.

LEMON: So you were ready.

MENDOZA: And I didn't want to deal with too much cold weather.

LEMON: Yes. Folks are going to wonder why you did this. I think it was a sabbatical and you were just going to do something interesting.

Actually, what, was it to lose weight and then this sort of turned into a life-altering adventure for you?

MENDOZA: Absolutely. I wanted to exercise. But more importantly, I wanted to get off the beaten path. And I decided going 35 miles a day versus 35 miles an hour would force me to get off that path and go through the small towns and talk to people, to get food, water, lodging. And I met a really interesting array of people. And I wanted to also travel the natural environment to experience the weather, the climate, the terrain that has really been a part of our migration experience in the United States.

LEMON: OK. So as we look at some of these pictures -- and we're not going to explain all of them, because I think they sort of speak for themselves. But you wanted to experience -- and I think this is your quote -- you said "the Latinization of America?"

MENDOZA: The Latinoization, yes.

LEMON: Latinoization of America?

MENDOZA: Yes.

LEMON: What does that mean and what did you see if you mean the Latinoization, you saw people in jobs or some controversial (ph) saying jobs that Americans don't necessarily want to do. Explain to us what you saw along this journey as we look at these pictures.

MENDOZA: Well, for the last few years, we've been going through an ongoing process of demographic change in this country, with an upsurge in immigration from Latin America. And part of this is the process of cultural change that comes with it, certainly the process of the new geography of Latino immigration. Because we're no longer just confined to Southwest, Northeast and the Southern part of the country. We're all over the place now and I think it's important to understand that.

LEMON: Yes. MENDOZA: And so what I learned firsthand was how this new geography of Latino immigration has really helped save small town America. The economy of small town America, which has experienced low growth -- low population growth. And people have decided not to -- to no longer work in the industry of their parents, so they've left town. And there was an active effort to seek newcomers to come in and help those industries survive. And so I saw a grand appreciation for those efforts...

LEMON: OK.

MENDOZA: ... and a lot of people getting along despite the fact that you hear so many stories, this anti-Latino, anti-immigrant legislation in small places, there were hundreds and hundreds of places where people are actually getting along quite well.

LEMON: OK. You know, I was looking at -- just doing some of the research here today and also last week when I found out you were going to be on. It's saying by 2050, the Census Bureau estimates Hispanics will comprise nearly 25 percent of the U.S. population. And those big states -- New Mexico, California, Texas, Nevada and Florida -- as we move into tomorrow, with the GOP candidates, what were folks telling you -- especially since this is an election year -- about what they'd like to see from the candidates? And are they taking advantage of this new sort of power that they have with voting?

MENDOZA: Well, I think the electoral power of Latinos is still -- still emerging. And it's still a force -- it's a force to be reckoned w. And I do think the candidates recognize that. But many Latinos across the country are very profoundly disappointed that Congress and our politician have not been able to find -- provide national leadership on this issue, to create sort of a just and humane and fair immigration policy. So I think it's a burning issue, but it's important to keep in mind that many issues concerning the Latino community -- education, health care...

LEMON: Yes.

MENDOZA: ... of course...

LEMON: And, one, immigration. I mean that has been a huge topic, not just this year -- it's heating up now -- but for the last couple of years. What are finding or what did you find that people in these communities, these towns that you went through, what were they saying about it? How do they feel about it...

MENDOZA: Well, they were concerned that the -- it's been framed in very narrow terms as an us versus them. And they feel that there's this been this denial of Latinos longstanding presence in the United States, that precedes the presence of the country, and our role of helping build this country. So I think it's a profound disappointment that it's framed as Latinos against whites in this country and that sort of racialization and the consequence -- the sort of racial profiling that comes with the very harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric, that it's very damaging to relations in this country. LEMON: Oh. That's -- I wish we could elaborate more, but we don't have time today. That is actually very interesting that you say that.

You have -- your background is Hispanic, right? Your family is from where?

MENDOZA: Yes. My grandparents are from Mexico. I'm a second- generation immigrant.

LEMON: And I thought it was very interesting, though. You don't speak fluent Spanish.

MENDOZA: No. That's, again, a consequence of our former educational policies that didn't allow us to grow up speaking Spanish in the schools. And so my parents made the decision -- a very hard decision -- to not raise us bilingually...

LEMON: OK...

MENDOZA: ... although I have learned it since.

LEMON: OK, listen, I want you to keep in touch with me. I want you to -- you're going to watch the State of the Union tonight, I'm sure...

MENDOZA: Absolutely.

LEMON: ... and the topic of immigration may come up. And -- border I'd like to get you back and talk about all of these primaries and what have you...

MENDOZA: Sure.

LEMON: ... and get your perspective on that, since you've traveled across the country. Louis Mendoza, thank you very much. Good luck to you.

MENDOZA: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: And you lost 25 pounds. I want to tell everybody that.

MENDOZA: OK.

LEMON: So if you get on a bicycle, that could happen to you, too. Thank you very much for that.

MENDOZA: Thank you. I appreciate it.

LEMON: We want to tell you, time is winding down and the race is heating up. For the freshest polls, the latest fights, our Political Ticker blog and more, check out CNNPolitics.com.

PHILLIPS: Live to Los Angeles, California right now. These pictures coming to us via our affiliate KCAL out of L.A. . We thought we had a situation, where there was a threat of a hijacking. We're now being told it was a hoax. So a waste of time, a waste of money for people. It was a United flight that had just left JFK Airport out of New York. It was headed to LAX. Apparently there was a hijack threat that was called in.

The plane landed safely here at LAX. And then just moments ago, we got word that it has been declared a hoax. The FBI determining that it was a hoax. The plane there now at LAX. It appears that everybody has been taken off the plane. A little of a scare there for a moment, but it's ended up to be OK.

We're going to take a quick break. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: And we told you about that scare at the White House just moments ago involving a man that the Secret Service has arrested -- had arrested because he had some suspicious object. They were checking him out, checking that object out. Well, we're getting the all clear now from the White House and from the Secret Service. We're not exactly sure if they let the man go or what happened there. But we're being told all clear -- no worries at the White House. If we get any more information, we'll let you know right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: It's been two days since an American aide worker and her local driver were kidnapped in Afghanistan and still no claim of responsibility or ransom demand. Afghan police say that intelligence agents are trying to track down the captors.

Meantime, Cyd Mizell's friends describe someone with a big heart and a big mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY RODGERS, FRIEND OF CYD MIZELL: And she went to Afghanistan just as a real concern for the people there and the turmoil within the country and just as far as trying to reach out to women.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Colleagues say that Mizell has taught English at Kandahar University and given embroidery lessons at a girl's school.

LEMON: With the fight in Iraq shifting north, five American troops were killed today in the Northern province of Nineveh. The U.S. military says their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Gunmen then opened fire from a mosque.

Iraqi is sending reinforcements to the Northern city of Mosul for a major offensive. Iraqi forces are expected to take the lead in the battle against Islamic fighters loyal to Al Qaeda. The campaign was ordered after last week's explosion, that left a huge crater and killed some 60 people. U.S. officials consider Mosul to be al Qaeda's last urban stronghold in Iraq. PHILLIPS: How about a little dog therapy for stressed American troops? It's just what the doctor ordered and one of the last places you'd expect to find it.

CNN's Michael Holmes has more from Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boe is out for a walk. But she's no ordinary dog and her daily walks aren't ordinary either, because, you see, Boe is based at Camp Speicher in northern Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A couple of places we've been they had dogs that they adopted. And everybody just loves them. I mean, it takes a little edge off, I guess. It makes you feel like you're back at home.

HOLMES: That's the idea. You see, Boe, or, more accurately, First Sergeant Boe, 85th Medical Detachment, is a combat stress dog flown in from the U.S. after months of specialist training. And she's good at what she does.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good dog, Boe.

CAPT. JOY BALDWIN, U.S. ARMY SOCIAL WORKER: It's almost like she smells out their stress. And if a soldier is very stressed, she will go up to them and calm down her behaviors and just relax in front of them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, she's a cutie.

HOLMES: Boe's primary job is to be with soldiers clinically stressed either by problems back home or the things they've seen and experienced on the battlefield. She has a secondary role, though -- wandering the base and simply being there for any soldier who passes by.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People love dogs. And regular dogs are just happy to see you. And when they just come up, they're just excited to see you. I mean it makes you feel good inside.

BALDWIN: Dogs have this unique way of not judging humans. And instead of being someone that you have to be afraid of what they think about you, you can just kind of relax around the dog and allow them to absorb your stress like a giant sponge.

HOLMES: And it seems to work. First Sergeant Boe provides a few laughs, as well, when soldiers notice she out-ranks them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know how she got promoted so fast.

HOLMES: Boe has a partner, Budge (ph), currently based further north in Mosul. Captain Baldwin hopes more dogs will be posted to Iraq and travel to other bases. Judging by the soldiers' reactions to Boe, they'll be welcome recruits.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it brought a smile to my face, so -- and that was -- that was very good.

HOLMES: Michael Holmes, CNN, Tikrit, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Well, when you head to the vending machine, you expect to see some chips, some cookies and candy, right?

But when you slide your quarters into this machine you'll get more than a sugar high. You'll get a high, but it won't be a sugar high. We'll tell you, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, this certainly got everyone's attention here. We're going to see what's clicking on CNN.com -- some of our most viewed videos. This story is what I'm talking about. You might do a double take as you pass this vending machine. It will sell medical marijuana. Look for one some time next week in Los Angeles. Patients show their prescriptions, then they're fingerprinted and given an access card to use the machine after hours. There you go.

A busted U.S. spy satellite could pose a danger to Earthlings. The satellite, about the size of a small bus, is expected to plunge to the ground or sea in the next month or so. They're not sure exactly where it's going to land. And chilling screams caught on tape after a Massachusetts man falls through ice on a frozen pond. He was there almost a half an hour before rescuers could pull him out.

Check this story out and much, much more, including that medical marijuana vending machine story at your finger tips, CNN.com.

PHILLIPS: Dry grass and strong winds are ideal conditions for wildfires and the reason more than a third of the State of Oklahoma is under a red flag warning. And it's expected to stay windy at least through Wednesday.

Chad Myers following the situation in the Weather Center -- Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: OK, a CEO who some don't consider to be very sweet is giving up some of his fortune. We'll tell you how much -- it's a lot -- straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.

LEMON: Susan Lisovicz is standing by with a final quickly at the trading day -- Susan, we were -- it was in positive territory. We aren't sure. Is it still there?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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