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Big Republican Wins; More Bodies in Backyard; Philly Transit Strike; Protests on Hostage Anniversary; 5,000 Vaccine Doses Ruined; Health Care Reform Deadline in Danger?; Obama One Year Later; Teachers Killed in Taliban Ambush; Mission of Partnership in Afghanistan; Gaza Free of H1N1 Virus

Aired November 04, 2009 - 09:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, good morning, John and Kiran. That's right. Here's what we're working on today.

Election winners. Republicans take two governors races. We'll tell you all about that. And CNN's Deborah Feyerick is also covering a House race with the GOP split that's got people talking. And this morning we'll get to that.

Also this story and an incredible one it is. Susan Candiotti has this story. Ten bodies that were found at a home. A convicted rapist is in court this morning as the search expands for even more victims. We'll get you updated on that.

Plus, a school storage snafu. Of what? Thousands of swine flu vaccine doses are ruined by improper refrigeration.

Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR-ELECT: Tomorrow we're going to take back New Jersey for our neighbors. Tomorrow we're going to take back New Jersey for the least fortunate among us who do not want the government to fix every problem. They just want to give a hand's up so they can build opportunity for themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: A new beginning in New Jersey. Today Republicans are celebrating key victories and Democrats are grappling with ominous signs that voters are unhappy. Incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine paid the price for his unpopularity. He is ousted and Republican Chris Christie will become New Jersey's next governor.

And in Virginia, conservative Republican Bob McDonnell wrestles the office from Democrat control. He won with the backing of independents who helped elect Barack Obama just one year ago.

Democrats can find some comfort in upstate New York for the first time in more than a century, a Democrat has won Congressional District 23. Bill Owens beat out conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman. Key Republicans like Sarah Palin had earlier spurned the GOP candidate saying she was too moderate. She withdrew and in an extraordinary twist endorsed the Democrat.

And CNN's Deborah Feyerick is in Saranac Lake, New York with the very latest on all of this.

So, Deb, what's going on with the Republicans up there in northern New York now?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's what's really interesting. Political experts say that this race really shined a spotlight on divisions within the Republican Party that when Newt Gingrich and other Republicans take a moderate candidate to run that they made a very big mistake and miscalculated the depth of anger that that would incur amongst conservatives in the party.

Well, the conservatives did take advantage and put up their own candidate, Doug Hoffman, a certified public accountant, he then was backed by Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, Rush Limbaugh and the state's top conservative says this was really a move to take back America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this race is proven that people are rising up. There's a grassroots movement not only in this district but across the country. People are trying to get the attention of Washington, they want their country back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: So, the conservatives, they are really sending a strong message to people within their own party -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Well, Deb, I wonder what kind of effect this might have on other moderate Republicans who may be planning to run.

FEYERICK: Absolutely. Well, the message that was sent is that it's OK to be moderate as long as you have a conservative record. It is not OK to be moderate if you have a liberal record which is exactly what happened here. The candidate here was pro-choice, also supported same-sex marriage and that simply did not cut it amongst the conservatives here.

Now I did speak to somebody who has covered politics from this year for more than 30 years, and he says it wasn't just about Republican anger towards their own party where Republican anger to what's going on in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG HOFFMAN (R), CONSERVATIVE PARTY CANDIDATE: Thank you every single person out there that joined my team and fought back for America. You have to stand up and we have to fight against the Nancy Pelosi agenda. We have to watch out for spending money that we don't have, that -- that our kids and grandkids won't be able to pay back. (END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Now there are about 60 people in the room last night, Heidi. Not a big deal by any stretch of the imagination but when you think about the fact that when Doug Hoffman initially announced he was running that only three people showed up, well, he certainly did have a little bit of momentum last night -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, people might be curious, too, Deb, about what's going to happen to Dede Scozzafava. Where will she go next?

FEYERICK: Absolutely. Well, you know, the Republicans accused her of losing this race on their behalf, but really, the party excluded her, relentlessly attacked her, so the big deal wasn't the fact that she backed a Democrat just days before the election. The big deal was that her name was on the ticket. She got enough of the vote so it definitely swayed the election in favor of that Democrat -- Heidi.

COLLINS: From Saranac Lake, New York, Deb Feyerick this morning. Sure do appreciate that, Deb. Thanks.

As we predicted this time yesterday it will take another round of voting to decide the mayors of two major American cities. In Atlanta a December 1st runoff will needed between Councilwoman Mary Norwood and former state senator, Kasim Reed. Norwood is trying to become Atlanta's first white mayor since 1973.

And in Houston, city comptroller Annise Parker is trying to become that city's first openly gay mayor. She's going to be facing former city attorney Gene Locke.

In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will return for a third term now. His re-election didn't come cheap, though. It's believed the independent billionaire shelled out more than $100 million of his own money. That would shatter the record for personal spending in any American campaign.

A setback for the gay rights movement. Voters in Maine rejected a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. The repeal of the law passed by the Maine legislature last spring, legalizing gay marriage. Gay marriage has now lost in all 31 states in which it has been put up for a popular vote.

New developments now in a story we've been following in Cleveland, Ohio. Four more bodies found in the backyard of a registered sex offender's house. Ten bodies found so far. The suspect is in court this morning, facing murder and rape charges.

CNN's Susan Candiotti is live for us in Cleveland with the very latest.

Susan, good morning to you.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. This first court appearance wrapped up just a little while ago and the suspect in this case, his name is Anthony Sowell, 50 years old, an ex-Marine who was laid off from his job, according to his public defender, about two years ago.

He didn't say much in court except when he was asked one question by the judge as to whether he had any money to hire an attorney, and he quietly responded, "No, sir." Above and beyond that, when the prosecutor read off some of the charges against him including five aggravated counts of murder, kidnapping, assault, and rape, he was emotionless.

He showed nothing on his face at all as the prosecutor talked about this. And just to recap here, the prosecutor told the judge that they had found 10 bodies so far and a skull. The victims so far in this case have only been described as African-American women and that at least some of them appear to have been strangled.

An interesting appearance because of this also, judges don't usually make comments at this early stage of the proceedings, but this one did. And he said, because this was also a bond hearing, he noted that, in his words, this is without question some of the most serious allegations I have heard, and then he added given the, quote, "gruesomeness of what's facing you," he said he was not going to schedule any bond which certainly is no surprise in this case.

We also learned the prosecutor laid the groundwork for seeking the death penalty in this case. But a grand jury would still have to meet. This man has not been indicted as yet.

And Heidi, we learned something else now from the -- one of the police investigators outside the courtroom. He said that they are in the process of seeking an additional search warrant because they intend to go back inside the house today, keep tearing down walls.

COLLINS: Yes.

CANDIOTTI: Looking through floors, ceilings to see whether they can find any more victims or evidence -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes. Understand. They're going to be looking very hard and I know that that process will take some time.

Susan Candiotti, we'll stay in touch with you on that story. An unbelievable one. Thanks so much.

Bus drivers on strike in Philadelphia. The nation's sixth largest public transit system at a standstill. Commuters forced to find another way to work. And that goes for school kids, too.

Plus this. Protests on the streets of Iran's capital. On the 30th anniversary of the student uprising that ended with Americans held hostage.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And that Phillies strike nice enough to wait until a little after the World Series game five was over. Game six tonight should be OK but we've got a little something that's coming through Chicago, Detroit, moving across parts of the Ohio River Valley. That'll be heading into the New York area tomorrow, if there is by chance a game seven.

Meanwhile, warm out west, 93 degrees in Phoenix. It'll be 77 degrees in Dallas, and 69 degrees in Atlanta. Believe it or not, we have something brewing in the tropics. It's still hurricane season. We'll talk about that in about 30 minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Today a new group of commuters joined those having to find another way to go because of the transit strike happening in Philadelphia. And that is school kids. Tens of thousands of school kids use public transit in order to get to school.

We're talking about it now joining me on the phone from Philadelphia is Paul Nussbaum, transportation writer for the "Philadelphia Inquirer" newspaper.

Thanks for being with us. We're trying to get a little bit of perspective, Paul, on how bad this is. We know yesterday was Election Day, so schools were closed. Today a different story.

PAUL NUSSBAUM, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER (via telephone): Today schools are open. Everybody, including schoolchildren, is trying to get to work or to class. And so it's been a mess. And then to add to everybody's woes there was a fire on one of the commuter trains on the busiest train route coming in.

The trains are still running. But that route was closed for several hours because of the fire. So yes, it's been a mess.

COLLINS: Yes. Been a mess, obviously, it is now 9:15 in the morning so well into the rush hour, if you will. What exactly is the city doing to help commuters out?

NUSSBAUM: Well, they are limited options for the city. The city, as an employer, has given its workers flexible work hours and it's encouraging other private employers to do the same thing. Encouraging them to do flex hours or to work from home or, if they have to, to take the day off. But there's not a lot they can do in terms of getting people to work.

COLLINS: Yes, understood. Listen. I guess we should mention to everybody what this is all about. Some of the issues that the union is very upset about and had to walk away from some of the negotiations that were going on. Wage, pension, health care issues. Is there any chance that any of this stuff is going to get worked out?

NUSSBAUM: Yes, I think there's a chance that it will get worked out relatively quickly. The two sides were pretty close when the strike happened on Monday morning. The union -- I'm sorry, on Tuesday morning.

The union is still seeking higher contributions to its pension plan. It wants more of a wage increase in the first year of the contract. But I think, generally, everybody that has looked at this contract including the governor and the mayor who were involved in the negotiations, has told the union that this is a pretty good contract.

They are unlikely to get a much better contract and they should take this and be happy with it. But so far the union says that it wants more contributions to its pension plan.

COLLINS: Yes. Yes. Understood. So they're both sticking to their guns on this. Right now, boy, the people are feeling it in Philadelphia.

All right, Paul Nussbaum, thanks so much. From "Philadelphia Inquirer." Appreciate it.

Fading hopes of getting health care reform done by the end of the year. Senate majority leader Harry Reid is refusing to give a time table now for when his chamber will pass a bill. It could mean he's having trouble getting his party's full support. President Obama has made it clear that he wants to sign a bill by the end of the year.

Meanwhile 6,000 H1N1 vaccine doses now in the trash. And a single refrigerator may be to blame.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Protests in Iran as the country marks 30 years since the takeover of the U.S. embassy there. Iran made this day an official holiday. And obviously not everyone there feels like celebrating.

Reza Sayah is joining us now live from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Reza, good morning to you. Give us the latest now on some of these protests that we've been hearing about this morning.

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. This was the return of Iran's opposition movement. They have been absent in the streets for about six weeks but they came back in pretty strong numbers today according to witnesses in the tens of thousands.

What the government has done to the opposition movement is to ban them from holding these types of rallies. But what the opposition movement has done has very effectively zero in on target calendar days, big anniversary days in Iran and essentially high-jack the event sanctioned by the government.

And today was a huge event put on by the government, the 30-year anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. embassy back in 1979, a huge symbol of the Islamic republic. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters showed up. We heard familiar anti-government chants we've heard before. But we also heard some new chants.

One of them for U.S. president, Barack Obama, the chant said, "Obama, you're either with us or with them." An apparent call to the U.S. president to support the opposition movement.

The video also showed a rare scene that really illustrates the intensity of this movement. The video showed protesters walking all over a picture of supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini, something that was unthinkable about a year or two ago.

Also showing up today huge numbers of riot police that's been a recipe for violent clashes. Once again, Heidi, we saw violent clashes, dozens of them. Witnesses and sources on the ground in Tehran telling CNN that members of the Basij and riot police beat up a lot of people including women.

For the most part it looks like this huge show of force by the government managed to neutralize this opposition movement, but again, you have the opposition movement making another statement that they are still here with a lot of momentum and they're still a force to be reckoned with -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes. And very interesting that it's happening all on this 30th anniversary where there were dozens of Americans that were held hostage for 444 days. It was kind of the beginning of the end of the diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran.

You have to wonder now, fast forward, if the opposition movement is gaining anything by going out there and continuing to protest.

SAYAH: Well, what they have to gain is making statements that they are still there, and they are still a force to be reckoned with. The big question is what have they achieved and what can they achieve?

There is a school of thought that says they haven't achieved any concrete results, they wanted a revote back on June 12th after the elections. They didn't get it. President Ahmadinejad is still the president and there really hasn't been a shift of power within the establishment.

But there's also a school of thought that says that this movement has made unprecedented change in Iran, that if the leadership makes the right moves, this is going to be a political force that's going to be a voice of opposition for years to come -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Absolutely. We'll be continuing to cover the story. Reza Sayah from Tehran, Iran. Thanks, Reza.

Another story this morning. Pretty unbelievable out of Pennsylvania. Listen to this -- 5,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine in the trash after they were stored at a too low temperature and the school refrigerator last night -- excuse me, last Friday morning, the Stroudsburg area school district got the doses and put them inside the refrigerator.

Well, the temperature inside the fridge was between 35 and 46 degrees. And the vaccines have to be stored at that in order to stay viable. But when a janitor checked the temperature on Saturday morning, it had dropped to 30 degrees somehow and the Pennsylvania Health Department said the vaccines were unusable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHN TOLENO, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: We felt like the refrigeration side of it was a no-brainer. Put it in a refrigerator. So we did. Little did we know it was going to get too cold. I'm realizing it's a mechanical fault. We've been monitoring that refrigerator ever since that point in time and we've been right in the 40s. So there's really just no explanation for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: To help us understand this story a little bit more we bring in our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen.

So Elizabeth, when we talk about all of these doses of vaccine for H1N1 that were basically scrapped, you think about the shortage, and there's a lot of people still, I know you're one of them, trying to find the H1 vaccine.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right.

COLLINS: H1N1 vaccine.

COHEN: Right. It's such a pity to have those doses, you know, 5,000 doses just thrown out. But here's why. Sanofi Pasteur, which makes those -- which makes that vaccine, they test for efficacy in that temperature range, between 35 and 46 degrees.

COLLINS: Sure.

COHEN: They know it works at that temperature. Below it, they don't know if it's still going to work. Above it, they don't know if it's going to work. And we asked Dr. Thomas Frieden, the head of the CDC about this yesterday. Let's take a look at it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS FRIEDEN, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: Keeping the cold chain at the right temperature in any vaccination program is extremely important. And it's obviously frustrating and we regret it when there is any loss of vaccine. But when you think about the fact that we've now had 30 million doses out there and there really have been only a few examples of improper handling that have led to vaccine having to be discarded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: I mean it is possible that that vaccine would still work at that lower temperature, but you better safe than sorry.

COLLINS: Yes.

COHEN: Got to throw them out.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: And good to understand the perspective, too, 30 million doses, this is 5,000. COHEN: Right.

COLLINS: I mean, still a shame but where are we, in fact, overall, with vaccine distribution?

COHEN: Still a shortage, still less than they said there would be at the beginning of the flu season. But let's take a look at the actual numbers, what they predicted and what actually happened.

The prediction was -- or the intention was 41 million doses by the end of October. Well, guess what, there were 32 million doses by November 3rd. Yesterday. So there's an obvious shortfall there but the government says we're going to get 10 million new doses on the market every week. We'll see if that happens.

COLLINS: Yes. Starting?

COHEN: Starting now.

COLLINS: Starting right now.

COHEN: Right.

COLLINS: So next time I talk to you, next week, we'll have 10 million more in the system?

COHEN: Theoretically. That's the intention.

COLLINS: OK. OK. We'll see back.

COHEN: We'll check. Yes, all right.

COLLINS: Very good. Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.

President Obama wants a health care reform bill passed this year. We've heard this before. But now more signs in the Senate there could be a big delay.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.

COLLINS: It's a big day on Wall Street. We have two fresh reports on the labor market and later today a decision from the Federal Reserve.

Susan Lisovicz in New York now with the details.

People at home, Susan, might be saying woo-hoo, reports from the labor market. Tell us what it means.

(LAUGHTER)

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it means jobs that -- the economy still losing them but at a slower pace. COLLINS: Yes.

LISOVICZ: And that is good news in a very tough environment. Meantime, we're expecting a modestly higher open.

Let's start with the first report, that's from payroll processing firm ADP says just over 200,000 jobs were lost in October, which is a slight improvement from the previous month.

Now, remember, this is an economy that is so big that should be creating at least 100,000 jobs a month. But remember, earlier this year that same report showed more than 700,000 jobs lost in a month.

A separate report showed planned layoff slowed in October. So two good trends, again, in a very tough environment. Later today we expect to hear what the Federal Reserve has to say about jobs and whether the economy is still so fragile that borrowing costs need to be kept at historic lows. Policymakers are almost certain likely to keep interest rates close to zero, but investors will be looking closely at the accompanying statement to see if policymakers think the economic growth we saw in the last quarter is sustainable.

GM, walking away from a deal to sell Opel. Its European subsidiary to Canada's Magna. GM says Europe's business environment is improving. We're also expecting to hear from Fiat today. The new owner of Chrysler plans to present its five-year turnaround plan for the American automaker.

Finally, Disney now has a green light to build a theme park in Shanghai. The House of Mouse already has a resort in Hong Kong, but the Shanghai Park will mark Disney's first foray into mainland China, and one of China's biggest foreign investment projects ever. So put that on your calendar, Heidi, the next few years, bring the boys out there.

In the meantime, we're looking at some great arrows across the board there. Up about half a percent, each for the three average - Heidi.

COLLINS: OK. We will continue to hope for more green arrows.

Thank you, Susan. Check back later.

COLLINS: First, the House and Senate missed the August deadline for health care reform. Now it appears it may miss another deadline getting a bill to the president's desk before the end of the year. So what does that mean to you?

Congressional reporter Jonathan Allen from Politico.com is joining us live from Capitol Hill to talk a little bit more about this.

Thanks for being with us, Jonathan. As we said, there's some delays here. We expected some delays. We talked about a lot of different meetings that were going on. A lot of people having to come together to agree on things. But basically we're still talking about public option and cost here, right?

JONATHAN ALLEN, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, POLITICO: Well, I think those are part of what the conversation is. But there are a lot of issues that, you know -- the closer you get to the floor of the House or the Senate, the more issues come up. And the House right now, they are dealing with Democrats who are worried about abortion language that's in the bill. You've got some concerns about immigration, and whether illegal immigrants would have access to a public health care exchange or not.

And what happens here at the end is a lot of issues crop up. And we're still, I say the end, we're at the end for bills coming to the floor in the House and the Senate. Not at the end of them getting passed. The House is probably going to try to do that as early as the wee hours of Saturday morning, late hours of Friday night. The senate we're still not entirely sure when they are going to be able to get moving. But the Senate may take weeks and weeks to actually get a bill off the floor.

I think Senator Harry Reid suggested yesterday and then took back something that most people expect at this point on Capitol Hill, which is it's unlikely that they're going to have anything done and sent to the president by the end of this year.

COLLINS: Well, everybody at home, the general public, what are they supposed to think about that?

ALLEN: Well, I think that for most of the general public, they will take the macro view, and they don't pay attention to the daily maneuvering on Capitol Hill. And they should not expect it like I said to happen this year. If they do expect that to happen, they're probably going to be disappointed.

COLLINS: Well, do they not have the votes? I mean, is that what we're talking about here? The quest for the 60 votes?

ALLEN: Well, that's part of what we're talking about here. But, you know, you've got a House version that's paid for in large part by increasing taxes on wealthy Americans and by cutting Medicare to some degree. Democrats say it's waste, fraud and abuse. Republicans say that it will lead to service cuts. On the Senate side, you've got to finance in a completely different way, and so those things have to be reconciled. And that's just once the House and Senate actually get their bills through their chamber. You know, this is not an easy process.

COLLINS: Hey, what do you think about what Joe Wilson has been saying out of South Carolina. A lot of people know him for his outburst during the president's last address to Congress saying you lie, when he was talking about some of the health care issues. He hosted his news conference with a bunch of other lawmakers to announce an amendment now to the House health care bill that you were just talking about to automatically enroll all senators and members of Congress in the public option.

Let's listen for a moment. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOE WILSON (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: We'll be introducing an amendment that does require members of Congress to take the government run option. We know why the majority of the Pelosi takeover bill does not provide this. They do know that the government-run option will not be in the interest of the American people, either individually or for the American citizens at large. And so, I'm very hopeful that they will reconsider that they will understand if it's good enough for the American people, then it's also good enough for Congress.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: So John, what is he trying to do here? He's starting to say that if Congress will take this public option, that it must be OK for the rest of America.

ALLEN: Well, I think that will make him popular outside the beltway, very unpopular in the cloak rooms, I should say, in the interest of full disclosure. My wife works for a senator, so that's the kind of thing that could affect my benefits. That said there are some issues here.

If you reduce Congress's benefits that way, it breaks Obama's promise not to hurt anybody's current health care system. And if you increase their benefits, you might run into a constitutional principles issue. There is a constitutional amendment that prevents congressman for voting itself a pay raise should that public option actually end up giving better benefits. And I don't anyone expects it will, than members of Congress currently get, that could be an issue, too.

COLLINS: Your wife going to take a public option, Jon?

(CROSSTALK)

ALLEN: I'm sorry?

COLLINS: I said your wife going to take the public option?

ALLEN: I don't know if that's going to be available to her. I guess we'll have to review all the choices and see. And by the way, that's no fun reviewing all those choices. Having choice is a good, but having to read through all of these plans could be very difficult.

COLLINS: Well, hey, the bill is about 2,000 pages as we know it right now. So Jon Allen, we sure do appreciate it. Politico.com, this morning.

ALLEN: Take care.

COLLINS: One year ago today, were you cheering or jeering? November 4, 2008, Barack Obama stepped before an adoring crowd in Chicago and celebrates his election as the 44th president of the United States. Well, his priorities today are much the same as they were then. Fixing the economy, reforming health care, and improving America's educational system. Today he visits a middle school in Madison, Wisconsin.

Another of Barack Obama's pledges was to improve America's relationship with other countries. Has that goal been realized? We're tapping into CNN's vast resources now to get some feedback from other world capitals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN NEILL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Morgan Neill in London, where one year after Barack Obama's election, one difference is particularly striking. These days European leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown vy for, compete for meetings with the U.S. president or even just photo ops. But another part of the so-called Obama effect has yet to be defined, and that's because many here are waiting to see what the U.S. president does on Afghanistan. A war which many here see as one that was started by the U.S., but that has exacted a very high toll in terms of British lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Now let's go to the Russian capital of Moscow. CNN's senior international correspondent Matthew Chance has the view from there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Matthew Chance in Moscow. What a difference a year makes. Russia and the United States have been suffering some of their most strained relations since the end of the cold war, until that is President Obama declared that he wanted to re-set relations with Moscow and try and find areas of common ground. Crucially unites the you turn on missile defense in Eastern Europe, a plan that had been fiercely opposed by the Kremlin. The question now is will these warmer ties mean closer U.S. cooperation with Russia on issues like Iran's controversial nuclear program.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Barack Obama's election as the first African-American president sent waves of elation through Kenya, where his father was born. So how is the president viewed one year later?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm David McKenzie in Nairobi, Kenya. This is an organized protest, protesting that President Obama must do more to fight malaria and AIDS in Africa. Of course, President Obama has a strong connection to the continent because his family comes from Kenya. But many Kenyans have been surprised that over the past few months his administration has had tough talk and strong action against what they say could be corrupt leadership in Africa. But, still, the people here, the on-the-ground people really are huge fan of President Obama, and some of his policies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: President Obama elected one year ago today. We do want to know what your thoughts are over this last year. How do you think he's doing in the position of president of the United States?

Go ahead and let us know on our blog -- CNN.com/Heidi. We'll check out all of your responses coming up a little bit later right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Iran looking back today, to mark the anniversary of a dark event for the United States. President Obama is looking ahead to a new chapter in the two country's relationship.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Checking our top stories now.

Pakistan's Taliban targeting teachers, again. A Pakistani official in the Bajur tribal regions say militants ambushed a van near the town of Khar. Two women teachers were killed, two other passengers were wounded. The Taliban strongly oppose modern education particularly for girls, and have blown up schools and attacked teachers.

As Iran marks the 30th anniversary of the U.S. embassy takeover today, President Obama is challenging Tehran government to choose a positive future relationship with the United States. In a statement released by the White House, the president said in part, quote, "It is time for the Iranian government to decide whether it wants to focus on the past, or whether it will make the choices that will open the door to greater opportunity, prosperity and justice for its people.

Thirty years ago today, 66 workers at the American embassy in Tehran were taken hostage. Most of them would remain in custody for the next 444 days. Here is a closer look at how the Iran hostage crisis unfolded.

On November 4th, 1979, 500 Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 66 embassy workers hostage. Their demand, extradition of the Shah, who had come to the U.S. for medical treatment. Two days later Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iran Revolutionary Council took power.

Then on November 17th Khomeini released 13 of the hostages, later on another hostage was released due to illness. 52 hostages remained. April 7th, 1980, after months of diplomatic wrangling, the U.S. cut diplomatic ties with Iran and imposed economic sanctions. April 24th, 1988, U.S. servicemen lost their lives during a failed rescue attempt. January 19th, 1981, the U.S. and Iran reach an agreement for the release of all of the hostages, in exchange $8 billion in Iranian assets were unfrozen.

One day later, on January 20th, the same day, Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. The remaining 52 hostages were released and flown to Germany.

Rob Marciano standing by now in the severe weather center. A little bit different picture than we had yesterday. Is that right?

MARCIANO: Well, we still have one more month or at least three and a half more weeks.

And as luck would have it we've got a little something-something percolating down here in the extreme southwestern Caribbean, near Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. This has flared up in the last few hours. They're going to send a hurricane hunter aircraft into it this afternoon, so it could very well be a tropical depression or even a tropical storm. And it's forecast to drift toward the Gulf of Mexico.

So, that obviously has a lot of folks, you know, at least keeping an eye on it; places in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, which have seen all a lot of rain the last weeks, don't necessarily need a tropical system.

This is the shot from the ATL downtown Centennial Park. And a lot of blue sky which will remain in the forecast I think for several days to come.

We've got a pretty wild (ph) weather pattern shaping up across parts of the northwest and northeast, pretty quiet. But in the center part of the country we're looking at a little storm that's trying to gather a little bit more strength and make its way towards the New York City area.

But right now it's in Chicago, in New York, heading towards Pittsburgh. A little bit of light rainfall, a little bit of a snow mixed in but it shouldn't really amount to much of anything.

As far as the forecast today, 77 in Dallas; warming up across the southwest and some of that heat will building into places like Denver which will be in the 60s today. It could be in the 70s tomorrow and remember that snowstorm they had last week, well, that's all gone bye- bye.

And baseball maybe going bye, bye after tonight -- 52 degrees for the game six there in the Bronx, Heidi, it could be a game seven.

COLLINS: Are you making predictions or what?

MARCIANO: That's what I do. Not always right.

COLLINS: Sure, well, we won't talk about that. All right. We'll keep our eye on that game definitely and come back and you can tell me off camera what your prediction is.

MARCIANO: Victory.

COLLINS: All right, Rob thanks. Yes.

A Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry an interracial couple has resigned his post now. Keith Bardwell got a lot of criticism and got slapped with a federal discrimination lawsuit from the couple. The two were married by another justice of the peace. Bardwell told CNN affiliate WBRZ he was advised to step down because he would lose the discrimination suit in court. Bardwell, told the "Hammond Daily Star" (ph) last month he did not marry the couple because he was concerned for the children they might have. He also felt most interracial marriages do not last.

A mission of partnership: U.S. troops working with Afghan soldiers and civilians moving forward in dangerous areas of Afghanistan.

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COLLINS: Five British soldiers in Afghanistan are dead. NATO officials say they were shot by an Afghan national policeman at a checkpoint in the Helmand province. The commander of International Security Forces, General Stanley McChrystal says the attack won't change the mission of partnership with the Afghan Forces.

CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence is embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan carrying out that very mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fight the Taliban.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looking good.

LAWRENCE: Engage civilians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go.

LAWRENCE: Train the Afghan Forces. That's the mission here and it's even tougher than it sounds.

First, the Taliban don't stand their shooting so troops are wondering how do you fight a hidden bomb.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just sit there thinking how much of a coward the person is to blow you up and hide and run away. I'd much rather get in a confrontation where we could use -- at least use our tactics on them.

LAWRENCE (on camera): Engaging the population requires troops to get off their bases and out of their armored vehicles. It helps civilians see the soldiers but also puts them at greater risk.

(voice-over): We watch soldiers walk through remote villages across southern Afghanistan. Some say villagers may know about an upcoming Taliban ambush but are often scared to speak up.

SPEC. BRIAN SCHOENBECK, U.S. ARMY: Right now they're just playing the middle man because they're afraid that the Taliban is going to kill them.

LAWRENCE: And when it comes to NATO troops training Afghans, the issue of trust goes both ways.

SPEC. LOUIS LOFTUS, U.S. ARMY: A lot of these guys are new soldiers that have never been deployed. They're nervous around local nationals.

LAWRENCE: But some say this will pay off in time.

SPEC. LUKE ADLER, U.S. ARMY: People in America expect nations to be built like that instantly. Don't understand our capital was burnt to the ground by British 50 years after we existed in a civil war 100 years after.

LAWRENCE: U.S. Army specialist Luke Adler grew up in Iowa and Dublin, Ireland. He says strengthening Afghanistan's own security is worth the effort.

ADLER: Whether or not it's -- can work the right word that's irrelevant because it's the only way that you have to do it unless you want us to be over here doing this for decades more.

LAWRENCE (on camera): We've been watching these soldiers assess the risk, talk to Afghan civilians, try to figure out who is Taliban and who is not. There is a lot of frustration with the counterinsurgency strategy. There's also a lot of faith.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Kandahar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: We do have an awful lot going on this morning. CNN crews are in place to bring it all to you. Let's check in with our correspondents now, starting with Poppy Harlow in New York. Hi Poppy.

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Good morning Heidi. Well, its five months after Chrysler went into bankruptcy emerging what is now owned by an Italian automaker Fiat. We're going to hear what their turnaround plan is for this company. A lot of folks want to know that. And the bigger question Heidi is, will it be enough to save this U.S. automaker. That's coming up. More details at the top of the hour.

SAYAH: I'm Reza Sayah. It was the return of Iran's opposition movement today. Anti-government protesters hit the streets in Tehran again today but this time protesters had a message for U.S. President Barack Obama. We'll tell you what they were chanting, Heidi, that's coming up in the next hour.

COHEN: I'm Elizabeth Cohen in Atlanta. A child goes in for eye surgery and comes out with a tonsillectomy. It's one of a slew of medical errors, surgical errors actually that are going on hospitals in Rhode Island. It's a problem around the country. I'll tell you how you can avoid becoming a victim. I'll have that at the top of the hour.

COLLINS: All right, yes big issue. Thanks so much, guys.

Also ahead, a look at last night's Republican rebound and what it could mean for the future balance of power in Washington.

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COLLINS: Gaza has its share of problems but they don't include H1N1 right now. The virus hasn't shown up there yet. But as Paula Hancocks tells us, neither has the vaccine.

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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Around 4,000 people per square kilometer Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. Disease here can spread like wildfire.

Swine flu is not yet in Gaza. Some joke it's the only good thing about Israel's blockade on the territory.

MOAIN KARIRI, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH EDUCATION, MOH: It might not be here nowadays but it could be tomorrow or the day after so -- you know there is no borders among the bacteria and viruses.

HANCOCK: No swine flu but no vaccines either. Just posters telling people to wash their hands and an educational film to try and educate Gazans to the dangers of H1N1.

Gaza on the West Bank have been promised 20,000 initial vaccinations for a population of some 4 million but they haven't arrived yet. The focus right now is on Gaza's border and screening the few people that are still allowed to cross.

(on camera): This is the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Everyone who crosses through here comes through this metal detector but now there's a new machine to try and target swine flu.

Every passenger will be picked up on this thermal imaging camera and if any part of my body heat is more than 37 degrees it will be detected on this monitor in which case I'll be taken to the clinic to be tested.

(voice-over): The highest risk, 4,000 pilgrims who will be leaving soon for Mecca and the Haj (ph). When they return to Gaza, doctors say they will be closely monitored.

DR. MAJDI DHAIR, DIRECTOR, PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE, MOH: To follow them to checking them to examining them at the border and to follow them for the whole incubation period which means seven days at their homes.

HANCOCKS: Gaza's Health Ministry is ready to close schools if the virus spreads. These school girls are being taught how to lower the risk of catching the disease. These younger children are being taught the art of washing their hands and faces. In the absence of medical vaccines, there really is little more they can do.

One of the teachers says, "We have gifts for the cleanest child in the kindergarten and we tell stories about personal hygiene." Lessons on personal hygiene may be a fun game for children but the message is serious. Living in such close proximity means it could take one case for the virus to torch a pandemic here.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)