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Denver Shuttle Bus Driver Facing more Questions; First Lady Joins the Health Care Battle; Conservatives Gather; Cracker Barrel Beating

Aired September 19, 2009 - 12:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Got lots going on beginning with what's taking place out of the Denver area. A Denver shuttle bus driver is facing a fourth day of questions from the FBI about an alleged terror plot.

CNN's Homeland Security correspondent , Jeanne Meserve, now in Denver.

So Jeanne, this 24-year-old Afghan, Najibullah Zazi, he is not in custody?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: No he's not at this time.

First, let me bring you up to date on a couple new tidbits about the investigation into this alleged plot. A spokeswoman for U-Haul tells CNN a U-Haul location in Queens, New York was searched on Thursday by the FBI. She says that U-Haul is cooperating with that investigation.

Secondly, we're told by two sources familiar with this investigation that Najibullah Zazi is this 24-year-old Afghan, who you mentioned, who's at the center of this investigation, was in possession of video of Grand Central Station when he traveled to New York last week. It was that trip which triggered the searches in New York and Denver and on to what's happening today.

Now, Zazi was scheduled to come here to the FBI for a fourth day of questioning, today. We do not know if he's arrived or not. We've seen no indication of his arrival here, thus far. We don't know exactly what that situation is.

And we have differing versions of what's happened so far. An administration official familiar with the matter tells CNN that Zazi has admitted to ties with al Qaeda, but Zazi's lawyer says that's not so. He told CNN this morning, no. He did not admit to having ties to al Qaeda and this attorney Arthur Folsum adds that Zazi did not attend an al Qaeda train camp as has been reported in some places.

Now, Zazi as you mentioned not under arrest. He was allowed to go home to his house last night where his attorney described him as resting comfortably. We do know from the administration official that the government was in the process yesterday of exploring what sort of charges they might be able to bring against him and, also, there was the possibility of a plea bargain at some point in this process. Meanwhile, the attorney general, Eric Holder, spoke yesterday. He said the FBI is working this case in New York, in Denver, and in other cities around the country around the clock but, he said, he was not aware of any imminent threat, but the Department of Homeland Security last night did put out an advisory note to transit systems and also to law enforcement to be vigilant, to be on the lookout. Fred, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jeanne Meserve, thanks so much for that update out of Denver.

Well, Germany has bumped up its terror alert level this weekend. An al Qaeda video threatens attacks after this month's national elections. The speaker warns German voters to support candidates who favor pulling German troops from Afghanistan. The man tells Muslims in Germany to stay out of public during the first two weeks after the election.

The first lady joining the president of this country this week on a media blitz to push health care reform. This after Senator Max Baucus released his version of a compromise bill. White house correspondent Dan Lothian joins us with details on that.

So Dan, the president has really beefed up his effort to keep the momentum going on health care and now his wife being very involved.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The president as you pointed out has really ramped things up and yesterday we saw the first lady jump into the battle, she was speaking at an event put on by the Council for Women and Girls here at the White House. And she talked about how her family had dealt with some health care hurdles, her father, she said, had multiple sclerosis, one of her young daughters, Sasha, when she was just a few months old had meningitis. And so she was telling a personal story, putting a personal touch and a human face on the fight for health care reform.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): In the push for health care reform, First Lady Michelle Obama appealed directly to women.

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: No longer can we sit by and watch the debate take on a life of its own. It is up to us to get involved.

LOTHIAN: Speaking to a diverse group of women, the first lady tied the issue of equality to the need for reform.

M OBAMA: For two years on the campaign trail, this was what I heard from women, that they were being crushed -- crushed by the current structure of our health care. This is why we are fighting so hard for health insurance reform. This is it. This is the face of the fight.

LOTHIAN: The first lady, who in CNN's most recent poll, remains a popular figure with a 67 percent favorable opinion has made a healthy lifestyle her signature issue, planting a vegetable garden and shopping at a farmer's market a few steps away from the White House. Now she is stepping out in a more public way for health care reform, as the White House put it, to amplify the president's message.

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY: If she can help out we're happy to have her.

LOTHIAN: She is join a fight in high gear. The president's tone appeared more campaign style at Thursday's university of Maryland rally.

BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: Fired up! Ready to go!

LOTHIAN: And he's pitching health care and other issues on five Sunday talk shows.

GIBBS: I think it is important that the president continue to speak to a host of different audiences, to reach as many people as possible to talk about the benefits of health care reform.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN: Now, the White House is encouraged by that Baucus proposal, even though it does not have a public option, but there are still a lot of skeptics both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, of the gang of six, where you had the three Republicans and three Democratic senators, none of the Republicans to this point are supporting that Baucus proposal although they have not walked away from the table. So, a lot of negotiations still taking place up on Capitol Hill -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, wonder Dan, have there been discussions within the White House that they can talk about this issue too much, that the president or even the topic can be over exposed?

LOTHIAN: Over exposure has been the big question this week and what Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, will tell you is that there was a time when reporters kept peppering the White House with questions about when is the president going to get more involved? When is he going to jump into the fray, if you will, and push a lot harder for health care reform? And now that he's doing that and getting out and talking about health care reform, now they're posing questions about over exposure.

No. They are not at all concerned about over exposure. They believe there are a lot of people with a lot of questions. They think there is a lot of misinformation out there and still a lot of minds to be changed across the country and up on Capitol Hill and they believe that the president is the best spokesman to push health care reform and clear things up.

WHITFIELD: Both on defense and offense.

LOTHIAN: That's right.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dan Lothian, thanks so much from the White House.

LOTHIAN: OK.

WHITFIELD: Tomorrow morning at 9:00 Eastern, President Obama sits down with our john king on health care reform, the economy, and a whole lot more. Get the full story on STATE OF THE UNION, tomorrow morning 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

His words are reverberating across the nation's capitol after he heckled the president. So what's Joe Wilson saying now that he's back in South Carolina? And a look at how folks there actually feel about him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, with Democrats controlling Congress and the White House, in Washington, social and religious conservatives are meeting today trying to keep their movement on the radar. CNN's deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, is at the Values Voter Summit.

Paul, exactly what's happening there today?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIR: Well, Fred, this is the fourth year they've gotten together here in Washington, social conservatives from across the country. Right behind me you see a lot of the organizers and exhibitors, they have booths and talk about their conservative and social conservative message.

Fred, we just saw Mitt Romney, he just spoke to the crowd a couple minutes ago. Of course, the former governor of Massachusetts and former Republican presidential candidate and it sounded like a presidential campaign. He was critical of the president on health care, on cap and trade and also criticized the president on foreign policy. Take a listen to Mitt Romney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIT ROMNEY (R), FMR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: American president journeys abroad, it's always nice to see him applauded and praised, but when the price for that adoration is one apology after another for alleged offenses of the United States of America, it is not worth it. Frankly, I'd rather see a president greeted abroad by complete silence as long as he is defending our country's character and not playing to our country's critics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: And Mitt Romney, Fred, is one of four people, four Republicans who may -- may want to run for the nomination for their party in 2012. Last night we also heard from Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota governor, Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and Mike Pence, congressman from Indiana.

Later today we'll find out the results of a straw poll. People here, about 2,000 people who have been attending this conference are voting in the straw poll. An early look for preferences for the next race for the White House -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: So Is that at the heart of what's really at issue here, trying to find that next leader, or are they trying to flesh out certain topics to make sure everyone is onboard with how to approach certain topics?

STEINHAUSER: Exactly. That's only one small part, the presidential politics. Really what this is a way for social conservatives to talk about the issues that are important to them and of course things like guy marriage and abortion are big topics here, but also health care as you can imagine and there's a lot of opposition here to what the president and the Democrats are proposing, cap and trade and other clean energy issues as well and this is really a way for them to energize and talk about how they want to take back the agenda from the Democrats in Congress and the White House -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much. We'll be checking back with you throughout the weekend on this.

All right, a wet one is on tap again for much of the south. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis is in the Severe Weather Center and when it rains, it pours. It has been unrelenting, unbelievable.

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I saw you coming in yesterday with your hat on and everybody carrying an umbrella.

WHITFIELD: Don't want to get wet.

MAGINNIS: I know. I'm a novice gardener. My garden has taken a terrible beating with this heavy rainfall.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MAGINNIS: Wow, wacky weather. Just extremes everywhere.

WHITFIELD: It is. you're right.

MAGINNIS: All right, thanks Karen.

WHITFIELD: Well, he has felt the ire of Democrats and a public rebuke for heckling the president, but Republican congressman Joe Wilson says he wants to put it behind him. Now he's back home in South Carolina and despite the cold shoulder that he's gotten in Washington and elsewhere, his constituents are welcoming him with open arms.

Here now is Brianna Keilar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson is back in his home state facing constituents and local media, telling them it's time to move on.

REP JOE WILSON (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: And I, of course, as a gentleman, immediately contacted the White House, apologized. It was accepted numerous times. Let's close the book on last week. Let's look ahead to work together for real health insurance reform.

KEILAR: The Friday evening news conference was Wilson's first public event in his home district since he let out the shout heard round the country.

WILSON: You lie!

(BOOS)

KEILAR: Wilson's office encouraged supporters to attend and a small contingent showed up. Wilson got choked up as he left the podium. His office says he was simply moved by the outpouring of support he has gotten over the last week-and-a-half.

In this Republican stronghold, Congressman Wilson is known simply as "Joe." And while people we talked to thought his outburst was inappropriate, they, too, take issue with President Obama's efforts to overhaul the health care system.

BRIGETTE HEMMING, VOTER: There's a time and there's a place for that kind of a statement and that venue was not it. I believe that we're -- we're becoming socialism in -- in sort of a way. We're borrowing money from other people. We're doing these programs that are really taking away a lot of the choices from individual people.

DANIEL MORALES, VOTER: I'm somewhere between embarrassed and proud of him. I would say thanks for trying to stand up for the truth, but maybe next time do it in a little bit more of an effective way that doesn't cast a bad shadow on -- on who you are.

KEILAR: Congressman Wilson's office says he is very eager to move on from the last week-and-a-half. They say he held this event just to answer the questions of local media because he hadn't had a chance to do that until now.

Brianna Keilar, CNN, West Columbia, South Carolina.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: So, what do you think? Have Americans lost their manners? We'll focus on that question in the NEWSROOM at 4:00 Eastern Time, 1:00 Pacific. And you can join in on the conversation. Check my page on Facebook at Frederica Whitfield CNN leave a comment or you can share your thoughts on my blog at our CNN Web site, go to CNN.com/Fredricka. We want to hear from you. Are we losing it? Do we need a crash course on manners these days?

So, what makes for a hate crime? And does the beating of an African-American woman last week, here in Georgia, define it? The latest in the case plus some legal insight straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Bargain hunters, get ready. Now is the time to find some great deals if you want to get away this fall. CNN's Rochelle Carey has more in this week's edition of "On the Go."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROCHELLE CAREY, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bargain hunters can make the most of traveling off-season.

CHRIS MCGINNIS, EXPEDIA.COM: Fall is usually the best time of year to travel. You'll find the cheapest flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The opposite is true at hotels. Week day rates are very high, but on weekends you can still find some very good deals.

CAREY: You can also sail away at a fraction of the cost in the fall.

MCGINNIS: A lot of travelers (INAUDIBLE) cruising during the hurricane season. When the demand goes down this forces cruise lines to really cut their fares to the bone, so expect to find really good Caribbean cruises as low as $50 a night. And remember, this includes room, food, and entertainment.

CAREY: But these deals may come at a price. Some airlines like Delta and USAirways are planning to cut many nonstop flights.

MCGINNIS: Travelers will still be able to get nearly everywhere they went before, but they are going to take one or two stops if they live in a small town that's not an airline hub.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: A look at the top stories right now. Another day of questioning is set for the 24-year-old Afghan national suspected in a potential terror plot against the U.S. An administration official familiar with the case says Najibullah Zazi has admitted connections with al Qaeda, but Zazi's lawyer denies that. Zazi was picked up earlier this week in Denver following terror raids in New York.

Seven former CIA directors have written President Obama urging him to stop a criminal investigation of CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists. The former directors say the justice department move puts intelligence officers in continuous jeopardy and makes them less willing to take risks.

And take a look at this, dramatic video of a deadly subway shooting. It happened during rush hour yesterday in Mexico City. Take a look, as the subway station was jam packed with people. Check the security camera video very closely, you can see the gunman in the doorway of the subway car brandishing a weapon. Two people were killed and eight were wounded. And listen to this witness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAURICIO PEREZ, WITNESS (through translator): All of a sudden the shooting started and people started running like crazy. And the man started yelling, "I have nothing against you, it's the government. It's the government!" And he started shooting again. And he ran out of ammunition then people, a man dove at him. He was killed. The gunman shot at him and then shot at him again and then there were no more shots and people came down on him and that's when they grabbed him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So police say the shooting began after they tried to stop the man from writing antigovernment graffiti on a wall.

All right, following last week's beating of a female Army Reservist at one of its restaurants, Cracker Barrel, the restaurant, says it has banned the alleged attacker from all of its eateries for the rest of his life, but some community activists want more, especially from police. Tom Jones from CNN affiliate WSB explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DERRICK BOAZMAN, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: Who believes that this man should be at home facing what is the equivalent of a jaywalk charge?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was only charged a misdemeanor charge.

TOM JONES, WSB REPORTER (voice-over): Community activists are still upset after police charged Troy West with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct in the brutal beating of Tasha Hill at this Cracker Barrel. Officers say west kicked and repeatedly pummeled Hill and called her racial slurs after she asked him to be careful when the restaurant's door almost hit her daughter.

BOAZMAN: How did the officer saying this woman injured and seeing the beating that she described she took make the decision that was a simple battery?

JONES: I took that question to the police.

(on camera): Why didn't you charge Mr. West with aggravated battery?

CAPT JAMES CALLOWAY, MORROW, GEORGIA POLICE: For the charge of aggravated assault the code section says with the intent to murder, rape, or rob and that didn't fit the code section.

JONES (voice-over): Captain James Calloway says he saw no visible injuries on Hill. He says that doesn't mean she wasn't hurt. He also points out West was charged with felony child cruelty since the attack happened in front of Hill's child.

JONES (on camera): Captain, are you comfortable with how your department has handled this investigation?

CALLOWAY: I'm extremely comfortable with the way our department has handled this.

JONES (voice-over): Community activists say they will not stop until West is back behind bars.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We really want these charges upgraded.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, the FBI is investigating the case as a possible hate crime. Any hate crime charge would have to come from the federal level. As Georgia is one of a handful of states with no hate crime law on the books. So, does this case rise to the level of a hate crime? Our legal guys are out this week, so joining me today we got a lot of girl power going on. Attorney Tonya Acker and criminal defense attorney Jennifer BonJean.

Good to see both of you.

OK, so Tanya, let me begin with you. What's the criteria of a hate crime? What will federal investigators be looking for in this case?

TANYA ACKER, ATTORNEY: Well, investigators are going to look for evidence of racial bias or animus in the commission of this attack. And all the reports suggest that in the course of this beating and certainly the district attorney hasn't released the video. Cracker Barrel has reportedly been asked not to -- been asked by the D.A. not to release the video, but there are reports that in the course of this beating this accused was calling this Army Reservist a number of racial slurs and a gender-related slurs, so it certainly stands that there may have been that sort of racial bias or animus in this course of this attack.

WHITFIELD: And so when you say the D.A. has asked Cracker Barrel not to release the video, to the public or are we talking to federal investigators?

ACKER: No, not to release it to the public. And the reason for that is because they don't want to taint the jury pool. But, the reports are that the beating that was recorded on this tape shows both this woman being kicked and hit in front of her child and also being subject to a number of race related slurs that the accused is alleged to have said.

WHITFIELD: So, Jennifer, obviously eyewitness accounts, testimony from eyewitnesses, is going to be crucial in the fed's probe on this?

JENNIFER BONJEAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTONREY: That's right. But hate crimes are a very unique type of crime and kind of difficult to prove.

WHITFIELD: Why?

BONJEAN: Because, what you're punishing is someone's belief, what they were motivated by. And the question was, did he call her names sort of after the fact or was he motivated to assault her because of her race?

WHITFIELD: But, why would that make a difference?

BONJEAN: Because the crime of a hate crime, the state is going to have to prove, on in this case, the government will have to prove, that it was motivated by race, that he did what he did because she was a person of color, not because he got angry for some independent reason and then perhaps called her some terrible names as an after effect. But, certainly there is a good inference to be drawn from the use of the language, the racial slurs that he used, that that was his motivation for actually assaulting her.

WHITFIELD: OK, so this case on the investigative end still in its infancy. Let's now talk about another case, which essentially case closed, we're talking about Hofstra University an 18-year-old student at Hofstra University accusing four young boys of rape and now she recants her story and the four young men, right here, all being released. But, Tanya, this may be cut and dry in that case closed, but it's not cut and dry that there is still something else to this. These young boys' their lives might be ruined for quite a bit, because they've got to deal with these charges still hanging over their heads, which are now being dismissed.

ACKER: Fredricka, that's absolutely right. I mean, rape is one of those allegations that's very much like child molestation, you kind of don't get away from it. I mean, I have to tell you, I was on a broadcast where we discussed this issue right after these allegations were made and, you know, while none of us said these guys are guilty, we certainly became part of a chorus that talked about the epidemic of violence against women on campuses.

And so, for this woman to make these allegations is both irresponsible, not just in terms of ruining these young men's' lives, but also in terms of discrediting later allegations that real victims will have.

WHITFIELD: So now, Jennifer, what does this mean for this young lady? She is recanting the story, but her story is what precipitated the charges, now might she be facing some charges?

BONJEAN: Yeah, she absolutely could be facing charges and probably should be. But see, for me the real issue here is it underscores how likely it can be for someone to be charged wrongfully, convicted wrongfully because the police did not do a thorough investigation. They took her story, hook, line, and sinker, ran to the media outlets and did nothing to test the truthfulness.

They went out, they arrested him and sort of said, well, you know, after the fact we'll figure out whether it's true or not. That's not what should be happening. We should have wait -- and if there was no videotape, I'm pretty sure these guys would still be sitting in jail, I'm afraid.

WHITFIELD: Right.

All right, Jennifer, Tanya, we're going to talk again. I'm going to see you again in a few more minutes, because we have other cases we want to delve into, too, and now we're out of time on this segment, but I'll see you again in a few minutes.

All right, she is a one-woman community crusader. Meet the Florida lady who transforms lives by getting free cars for people who actually need wheels.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The stress of keeping a job in this ailing economy is weighing on a lot of folks during the recession, but imagine trying to keep your job when you struggle to get to work because you don't have a car.

That's where CNN hero nominee Susan Jacobs steps in. Watch how she helps one low income family get free wheels.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN "Heroes."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a single mom. Not having a car, I have to take three buses every morning. I also depend on a friend of mine to get my kids to daycare because of the way the buses run. I'm unable to do it and get to work on time.

SUSAN JACOBS, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: I know what it's like to have the fear of losing my job because I can't get to work. I was hitchhiking. That didn't last long because of the kindness actually of a stranger. He said, I'll let you use one of my vehicles. He was put in my path to help me move forward and made me realize I could make it.

I'm Susan Jacobs and I provide working wheels to keep families working. This is Susan with Wheels of Success. Our goal is to try to step in to work with employers so that before they lay someone off, hopefully we have a solution.

The cavalier is done too?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

JACOBS: We started taking donated cars and doing repairs. Our recipients do pay a monthly payment for a year based on a sliding scale and also give three volunteer hours a month back to the organization.

Jessica?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just wanted to tell you thank you so much.

JACOBS: You're so welcome.

Receiving a car is more than just the car. People literally see how their life's going to change.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is awesome. I got my own car. JACOBS: I love what I do. My life has made a difference.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And CNN will announce the top 10 heroes of the year in two weeks and then, you can join Anderson Cooper on Thanksgiving night as CNN presents an all star tribute honoring their efforts to help others. That's November 26th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

All right, digging up the back yard, investigators may have more evidence against alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido. Our legal experts will be weighing in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories. An Afghan national living in Denver is facing more tough questions today by the FBI about an alleged terror plot. An Obama administration official tells CNN that 24-year-old Najibullah Zazi has admitted to ties with al Qaeda. Zazi's lawyer, however, denies that. Officials are investigating an alleged terror plot possibly involving mass transit in New York City.

The G-20 summit is meeting in Pittsburgh next week and in his weekly address, President Obama said the world's leading economic powers have made real progress in stabilizing the global financial system since their last summit in April. But, he says, they still need to close some of the gaps in regulation that allow the, quote, "reckless risk taking and irresponsibility."

And police in central Virginia are investigating a quadruple homicide. Police say they found four bodies Friday afternoon in a home near the campus of Longwood University. The cause of death has not been released and police are looking for a 20-year-old suspect described as armed and dangerous.

All right, we've got a lot of legal cases on tap and we have invited back two special ladies who are filling in for Avery and Richard who are out this weekend. So, we're joined again by Tanya Acker and criminal defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean.

All right, ladies. Let's begin with the Phillip Garrido case and the fact that more bones or at least fragments have been found in his back yard. Jennifer, I'll let you tackle this one first because first, they have to determine, right, whether these are animal or human bones?

BONJEAN: Yes, there's a lot of forensic work that needs to be done before any conclusions can be drawn. Obviously, there's a lot of work to be done there. It sounds like this place was monstrous with all these sheds and all this material and it looks like the cadaver dogs are certainly giving some indication that there's human remains there or human bones of some type, but there's a lot of forensic work that can be done before we can draw any conclusions from what's going on. WHITFIELD: And Tanya, it seems as though there are a lot of obstacles here in this continued search. What might some of them be as they try to discern, you know, what's in his yard or what happens to be in the neighbor's yard? Because I remember there were some fragments that were found in the neighbor's yard that they definitely want to associate with Garrido.

ACKER: That's right. I mean, you know, just as it's unclear what the genesis of these bones are, are they human or are they animal, you know, could this be some lost burial ground? I mean, there are a number of Is to dot and Ts to cross in terms of drawing any conclusions.

But I think that also, you know, we're talking about whether or not we could link -- whether or not a possible link could be made between these new bones and old cases and other kidnappings. And it's just -- you know, you're talking about a length of time which could make some of these issues kind of difficult to determine.

Now, given where we are forensically and in terms of the technologies we have to draw some of these conclusions, it might be a little more -- it might be a little easier, but we still have a lot of hurdles before we draw any conclusions here.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and investigators want to see if there's any connection between these bones, bone fragments, and possibly two girls reported missing back in the '80s and whether indeed there is a relationship here.

Let's talk about what's taking place in Florida, and we're talking about school prayer which always seems to pop up in some school district somewhere at some time.

BONJEAN: In Florida.

WHITFIELD: So, here we go again, Jennifer and Tanya. And this time, we're talking about administrators who were facing some time in a federal court trying to defend themselves as to why was there prayer involved at this Pace Academy and, you know, there is some precedent at this school, as well, Tanya, that apparently some school kids said that once upon a time years back, school officials were encouraging school prayer then as well. So, where do we go from here?

ACKER: That's exactly right, Fredricka. What happened in this case is that the ACLU got involved in a lawsuit and brought a charge against the school district, claiming that they were endorsing religion and there were two parents of two students who were involved in that case. Now, the school district didn't want to fight it, they instead engaged into -- they entered into a consent to create a settlement really with the ACLU.

Now, the ACLU recently with the case that we're talking about now claimed that the district was violating that settlement when these two officials gave a prayer at a school event. The judge has reportedly ruled that because the prayer was unintentional and there was no real intent to violate the order, that these men weren't going to be charged or put in jail or charged with violating the settlement.

But I think it really does raise a lot of very interesting issues. You know, it was a Christian prayer that's familiar to us. I wonder whether or not there might have been a different outcome if we were talking about a Muslim event where, you know, Muslim officials were giving ...

WHITFIELD: Yes.

ACKER: ...a similar prayer in a public school.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right, and Jennifer, we're going to jump to yet one more case because we only got about a minute left here. So, Jennifer, I'll let you tackle this one.

BONJEAN: OK.

WHITFIELD: We're talking about community service now in Virginia involving singer Chris Brown. I'm wondering why Virginia when the alleged offense or I shouldn't say alleged anymore because, right, he was found guilty of the assault of singer Rihanna in California. So, what's going on in Virginia?

BONJEAN: Well, a lot of times when defendants enter into agreements to plead guilty and they are going to be sentenced to some type of community service or probation, they can get leave to discharge their obligations, to do their sentence so to speak in another state. That's not that unusual, quite honestly, for someone like, you know, this notable celebrity, that would be very common. And you know, a lot of people are complaining that, you know, the punishment wasn't hard enough.

WHITFIELD: 180 days and I guess ...

BONJEAN: Right, but ...

WHITFIELD: ...there were some concerns that good behavior, just like in jail, sometimes good ...

BONJEAN: Right.

WHITFIELD: ...behavior means you get out early. Might 180 become less?

BONJEAN: Well, I suppose it could. I kind of doubt that, but listen. This is -- would be normal, in a -- with a non-celebrity defendant.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BONJEAN: He's a first-time offender.

WHITFIELD: A first-time offender.

BONJEAN: And this is pretty typical.

WHITFIELD: OK.

BONJEAN: He shouldn't be punished more simply because he's a celebrity, in my view.

WHITFIELD: OK, all right. Jennifer Bonjean, Tanya Acker, thanks so much, ladies, for joining us. And hopefully, we'll have you again.

BONJEAN: Thank you. Great to be here.

ACKER: Great to see you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, not too long ago, I met a pretty remarkable young man looking for a cure for a fatal illness. He's got an incredibly uplifting story and it was actually chronicled in a film called "Darius Goes West." You'll meet him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Next weekend, a young Georgia man turns 20, a particularly huge milestone given that he has the same deadly disease that took his brother's life at the age of 19. His journey to help find a cure is the subject of a film called "Darius Goes West."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (voice-over): He is welcomed like this at schools across the United States. He is not a rock idol or TV star, but he is a man with a mission. Darius Weems has devoted his life to finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common fatal genetic disorder to affect children around the world.

The disease causes every skeletal muscle in the body to slowly deteriorate, a fact Weems knows all too well. He has felt the full force of Duchenne muscular dystrophy since he was a child. When he was just 11, he began using a walker while he watched his older brother, Mario, succumb to the disease.

DARIUS WEEMS, HAS DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY: A 100 percent fatal disease and I lost my brother at 19.

WHITFIELD: His brother's death brought Weems a life changing friendship when Mario asked camp counselor Logan Smalley to look after Darius.

LOGAN SMALLEY, DIRECTOR, "DARIUS GOES WEST": When Mario first asked me to take care of Darius, I definitely didn't understand what exactly it meant, but then it was through our relationship that I -- that's when I realized, you know, how much Darius had in him.

WHITFIELD: Logan and 10 other camp counselors decided to take Darius on the ultimate road trip across the country.

WEEMS: Ah ha!

WHITFIELD: Their adventure to seize life that led Darius to the ocean and the Grand Canyon for the first time also led him to realize what is possible. And the trip became the award-winning documentary "Darius Goes West."

(on camera): Initially, their effort was driven by one goal, fulfill a promise to Darius's dying brother, Mario. After thousands of miles, lots of laughs, film festivals, and awards, a realization that this project had a reach well beyond Darius and his 11 friends.

(voice-over): It also brought attention to Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the quest to find a cure became their cause. With a campaign to sell DVDs of the film, they have been raising funds for medical research through the nonprofit Charley's Fund. To increase their reach and raise greater awareness, they launched an innovative pay it forward campaign.

SMALLEY: You can go to our Web site and you'll see a place where you can click to watch the entire movie for free. You get your own distinct link to the film. So, if you share it, you can track how much awareness you raise for DMD and you can track how much money.

WHITFIELD: They also created the DGW Know About It program, offering teachers viewing guides, lesson plans, and discussion questions. Over 200 schools have adopted this program, increasing awareness and raising over $85,000 from middle and high school students across America. To bring attention to this program, Darius and his team spent most of his 19th year on the road, visiting as many schools as possible.

(on camera): So, you've been able to really get the message out in so many different kinds of ways and people are catching on.

SMALLEY: Oh, yes. I'd definitely say that we, you know, with this RV and with our leader here, we've started a small fire in a ton of places across the country.

WHITFIELD (voice-over): The extensive traveling is a heavy investment of time for Darius, who does not know how much time he has left. As he turns 20, he thinks often about his brother, who never reached this milestone.

WEEMS: It was off my brother's idea of telling Logan to watch over me, so you know, this -- what I'm kind of doing to the kids that got the same disease I got, so when I leave this world there's still going to be some left behind to help others kind of like my brother did. So, I call the younger generation my brothers. You know, I'm trying to save them.

WHITFIELD: To help those that will be afflicted with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a life mission bringing these young men and thousands of American children together through one remarkable journey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And so, next weekend Darius Weems turns 20 and MTV is actually throwing him a huge birthday party and will actually air that documentary "Darius Goes West" that evening. All right, well, in a story, lines that have been bent, twisted, even gone in circles for decades, now the show some may call the grandmother of all soap operas is fading to black. A look at the final curtain call.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Another look at our top stories. It's another day of FBI questioning for 24-year-old Afghan national living in Denver. An administration official familiar with the case says Najibullah Zazi has admitted to having connections with al Qaeda. Zazi's lawyer, however, denies that. Zazi was picked up earlier this week following terror raids in New York.

And gunfire erupts during an afternoon rush hour in this Mexico City subway station. Police say they stopped a suspected graffiti artist who pulled a gun and opened fire on the train platform yesterday, killing two people. Eight others were wounded either by gunfire or in the ensuing stampede while trying to escape. The suspect faces a litany of charges, including murder.

After decades of drama, kidnappings, who done it scandals, you name it, and of course the traumatic medical maladies, "Guiding Light" is ending its run. The soap opera has been a guiding force on radio and television for more than 70 years.

Here now is Alina Cho.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some might say it's ridiculous to call this ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) Springfield.

CHO: ...an institution. But "Guiding Light" is an institution, the longest running drama in history.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Only love can save the world.

CHO: The CBS soap opera started on the radio back in 1937 and moved to TV in 1952, 72 years of over-the-top lies ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If this is some kind of plan to extort money, you can forget it.

CHO: Cheating ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You, me, sex now.

CHO: ...and pure drama.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!

GRANT ALEKSANDER, ACTOR: Even if you see the body, even if you see the body cut up, it doesn't really matter. Nobody is ever really dead.

KEVIN BACON, ACTOR: I'm not hooked on alcohol.

CHO: "Guiding Light" also helped launch more than a few careers. It was one of the first soap operas to introduce leading African- American actors and tackle social issues that once were taboo.

ELLEN WHEELER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "GUIDING LIGHT": This show was doing uterine cancer stories when you couldn't say uterus on television.

CHO: But the show is ending. "Guiding Light" is the latest victim of low ratings and increased competition.

KIM ZIMMER, ACTRESS: The show is an heirloom. It gets passed down from generation to generation.

CHO: Like the King family in Connecticut.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody feels high.

CHO: Four generations of "Guiding Light" fans.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some people knit together. Some people drink together. Some people play cards. We watch "Guiding Light."

CHO: The family has never missed an episode.

DEBBIE KING, "GUIDING LIGHT" FAN: When you watch every day like we do, you know, it becomes a part of your life.

CHO: For the actors, too. Many have been with the show for decades.

ROBERT NEWMAN, ACTOR: I signed a three-year deal 28 years ago. I got no complaints.

CHO: No regrets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The scene has closed. 26 years!

ALEKSANDER: Whatever anybody may feel about soap operas and where they rank in the artistic pantheon, to have any enterprise like this for a 72-year period, I don't think anybody will ever beat that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's a wrap.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So, "Guiding Light" saw its viewership peak in the 1970s and of the 16 soaps that were on the air back then, only seven have survived.

All right, 4:00 Eastern time today, we're going to be talking about civility from West to Williams to Wilson. You know what I'm talking about. We're asking the question, are we out of control? What do you think? We want to hear from you. You can phone us at 877-742-5760 or you can certainly send us your thoughts in the spoken word, in the written word I should say by sending your e-mails to my blog or at weekends as well at CNN. And we'll get some of your comments on the air 4:00 Eastern time.

"YOUR MONEY" begins right now.