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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Fires Burning in Five California Counties; Halloween Gun Scare Spooks Capitol Hill

Aired October 30, 2003 - 19:00   ET

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

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


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST (voice-over): The latest on the California inferno. A firefighter dead. How did it happen?

Our special series, "Infidelity." Tonight, how to catch a cheater online.

Countdown to America Rocks the Vote. What do young people really know about politics?

Here, there, everywhere. The Smart family media blitz.

Rosie in court. The queen of nice in a nasty legal battle.

And the other victims of wildfires. Saving pets in the fire zone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.

COOPER: And good evening. Thanks for joining us on 360. A lot happening tonight.

We are following a raw and terrifying glimpse of Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Disturbing videotape of alleged torture at the hands of Saddam's henchmen. We'll show you that coming up.

But first, the fires. Southern California, where changes in the weather are proving to be a blessing and a curse. Light rain, cooler temperatures are a relief in some areas. But winds up to 60 miles an hour in other spots are simply fanning the flames.

The numbers tell the story -- 650,000 acres charred, at least 2,600 homes destroyed. Almost 13,000 firefighters fatigued, but still fighting hard. The estimated damage so far, $2 billion.

Right now, the fires are burning in five counties. The battle zone stretches from San Diego County north through the mountains into Ventura County.

Our first stop tonight, Julian, California, in San Diego County, where firefighters are pushing themselves to the limit trying to save the historic goldmining town. CNN's Bob Franken is on the front lines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rain and fog were the good news, turning the more than 270,000 acres of the so- called Cedar fire into smoldering embers. But winds that gust to more than 40 miles per hour threatened to reignite the embers back into a raging inferno.

Already, the Cedar fire is the largest single brush fire in recorded California history. Fourteen people are known to have lost their lives, including one firefighter. More than 1,700 structures have been destroyed, most of them homes. And officials haven't been able to get to all areas.

Before they can make any final assessment of the toll, they have to spend several more hard days at the ready for a new battle as a fire that is described as down, but not out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And the latest report from fire officials really tells the story. Contained, describes the story that is surrounded. Controlled means that it is out. Thirty-eight percent of the fires have been contained. Zero percent have been out -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right. Bob Franken, thanks very much for the update.

Now, the fires are bad enough, made worse by the way some of them have started, arson. There's a big reward if you can help investigators track down a man suspected of starting one of the fires. The sheriff's deputies have released this sketch of the suspect. Now, the award for his arrest is $110,000.

Witnesses say the suspect started the old fire, which has now merged with the Grand Prix blaze. They say on Saturday, he threw something out of a van into the brush.

Well, the death toll from the fires now stands at 20. That includes a firefighter who died while battling the Cedar fire. Today, that man's best friend, the man who brought him into the fire department, remains on the job working through his grief. There's no other option.

Here's CNN's Jason Carroll.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Those who knew him say Steve Rucker loved being a firefighter. He was an 11-year veteran of the Novato Fire Department in northern California and he was the first firefighter to die while battling these California wildfires. JEFF MESTON, CHIEF, NOVATO CALIFORNIA FIRE DEPT.: It's devastating because not only is it one of my employees, but it's one of my friends, it's one of my brothers. So it was tough.

CARROLL: Fire Chief Jeff Meston recruited Rucker, and he now has the emotionally challenging responsibility of finding out what led to his friend's death. It happened Wednesday afternoon just outside the mountain community of Julian, north of San Diego. Winds were erratic. Rucker and about 20 other firefighters were trying to save a home.

MESTON: As they were operating, the weather changed pretty significantly. They made a decision that the safest place for them was to be inside the home. So they worked their way to the home.

Our two firefighters actually did entry. And then the whole house started to burn down. So then they again fled the home, jumped in their fire engine and drove until it got clear.

CARROLL: Rucker never made it to the house. The fire overtook them. Another firefighter, Captain Doug McDonald, escaped with severe burns. He's still in critical condition. Two others suffered minor injuries and were released, but unable to talk about their experience.

MESTON: As a firefighter, we all generally understand that our occupation is very dangerous and there could be that time you have to make the ultimate sacrifice. But, like myself, I believe that most of us think that that's not very likely. And when it occurs, it cuts to the bone of every firefighter in the nation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: The chief told me that they are going to be trying to determine if there are any lessons that can be learned from all of this. At the same time, they're going to be providing as much support for Rucker's family, as well as the other firefighters who worked with him -- Anderson. '

COOPER: Jason, is much known about Rucker's family? I mean, did he have a wife, kids?

CARROLL: Well, he was 38 years old. He is survived by his wife and two small children. We are also told that he was very active in his community.

He used to participate in Toys for Tots whenever he had extra time. He was out there volunteering -- Anderson.

COOPER: Our thoughts are with them and everyone else suffering tonight. Thanks very much, Jason.

Let's get some perspective on how the Cedar fire compares to the California's costliest wildfire. Now, that was in 1991, the Oakland Hills fire. Twenty-nine hundred homes lost, $1.7 billion paid out in insurance claims. Now, it is still very early to predict losses in this fire, but as we mentioned earlier, the governor's office is estimating $2 billion in damages, which would surpass the '91 fire. And so far 3,611 insurance claims for homes, autos and commercial structures have been filed. So far, we should point out.

On to the fire front. It is not all doom and gloom. There is some encouraging news out of Colorado. Changing weather has subdued two wildfires there that were threatening hundreds of homes.

The fire south of Denver and northwest of Boulder, forced a number of evacuations, but rain, sleet, some colder temperatures and diminishing winds helped firefighters get a handle on those flames. Crews battling the Cherokee Ranch fire in Douglas County say they expect to have it 100 percent contained tonight. And that is certainly some good news for Colorado residents.

Not so encouraging news from New Mexico, however, where a wildfire continues to force people to flee their homes. The Ski Run fire in Lincoln National Forest jumped a fire line, prompting evacuation warnings for about 20 homes. Officials still hope to have the blaze contained by Saturday.

In "Justice Served," another day of emotional and dramatic testimony in the Virginia Beach courtroom, where D.C. sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad is on trial. The jury heard a chilling 911 tape from the distraught husband of a slain FBI analyst.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A piece of lumber smacking the pavement. That's what William Franklin thought he heard in the Home Depot parking lot. Only later did he realize that the spray he felt on his face was his wife Linda's blood.

In court Thursday, his frantic 911 call was played. Panic pitched his voice so high the dispatcher first thought Franklin was a woman. He is heard sobbing and wailing as he tells the dispatcher, "My wife, she's been shot in the head."

Defense attorneys strenuously objected to the use of the 911 tape, which moved jurors to tears. A few members of the public were also in the courtroom.

TIM WALKER, COURTROOM OBSERVER: He was standing over the top of his wife who had been shot directly in the head. And my heart went out for him and his family.

MESERVE: Gruesome crime scene and autopsy photographs showing portions of Franklin's head blown away were also exhibited, despite objections from the defense that they were prejudicial.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was very, very shocked. And you don't think a rifle round could do such damage to someone's skull.

MESERVE: Jurors were also shown the tarot card inscribed with the words "Call me god" found at one shooting scene and a note discovered at another, which demanded $10 million or prepare body bags.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: Sniper survivor Jeffrey Hopper testified how he and his wife avoided stopping in Washington, D.C. for food and gas because of the sniper shootings. But when he stepped out of a restaurant in Ashland, Virginia, he said he heard a sound, felt a shock wave, and realized he, too, had been shot -- Anderson.

COOPER: Jeanne Meserve, thank you very much.

An anxious hour and a half in the nation's capitol today. A toy gun mistaken for a real one. A misunderstanding that shut the House of Representatives and raised concerns about capital security.

Congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl on how it all happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even while the Capitol Police rushed SWAT teams into a capitol office building in search of what they thought was a renegade gunman, one congresswoman who was in the building at the time says the emergency warning system failed completely.

REP. CAROLYN MCCARTHY (D), NEW YORK: The TV knew before we did. How did you guys hear about it? We didn't hear about it.

KARL: The incident appears to have been caused by a little more than a distracted police officer who didn't notice the image of the suspected gun on the X-ray until the person carrying it had already gone into the building. But it leaves a haunting question. What if the gun had been real?

CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, CAPITOL HILL POLICE: The very fact that someone brought a toy gun in and it was on the X-ray and got further into the building than I prefer, it does show that we have to re- evaluate how the X-ray machines are run. So to that extent, it's another lesson learned.

KARL: The incident comes after extraordinary and costly efforts to tighten security on Capitol Hill in the wake of September 11th.

MCCARTHY: I'm not concerned. I'm mad. We have had a number of drills since August.

This is a system that is supposed to be working, and it has failed. Now, you know, the whole system has failed. Number one, they got through the X-ray machines. How did that happen?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARL: The incident didn't end until two staffers for Congressman John Shimkus called the Capitol Police to tell them about the toy gun that was in their Halloween costume. The congressman says he deeply regrets what he calls an unfortunate misunderstanding, one that managed to shut down the House of Representatives for more than an hour today.

And, Anderson, you are wondering what the costume was? The staffer was hoping to dress up as the CIA agent Sydney Bristol (ph) from the ABC hit series "Alias."

COOPER: Probably not a great idea today. All right. Jonathan Karl, thanks very much for that.

Let's flash back right now to another incident on Capitol Hill five years ago. 1998, Russell Weston (ph), an Illinois man with a history of mental illness, was accused of shooting his way into the U.S. Capitol, killing two guards, injuring others. He was ruled incompetent to stand trial.

A judge ordered him to take antipsychotic drugs. Since then, Weston's (ph) condition is said to have improved. He remains, however, in custody.

Well a number of other stories here at home. Let's take a look "Cross Country."

Atlantic City, New Jersey: deadly collapse. One person missing, four people dead, after a parking deck under construction collapsed. Twenty-one others are hurt. The accident happened outside the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Seattle, Washington: plea deal. The suspected Green River killer is suspected to plead guilty next week. Seattle's TV and newspapers report Gary Leon Ridgway (ph) will admit he murdered at least 40 women, mostly prostitutes and runaways. They say some of the women aren't even on the investigations official victims list. Ridgway (ph) will face life in prison without parole, and he avoids the death penalty.

Washington, D.C.: sizzling economy. The Commerce Department says third quarter Gross Domestic Product surged at a strong 7.2 percent, its best showing in nearly two decades.

And in Columbus, Ohio, President Bush says his tax cut plan got the job done. He says the economy's stunning growth is an indication his economic plan is working.

Nationwide: a one, two, three punch. Yet another solar storm hitting Earth right now. This one should stick around until tomorrow morning. No word on any troubles.

That's a look at stories "Cross Country" tonight.

Well, brutal Saddam Hussein torture tapes. See for yourself the cruel methods of a deposed dictator. A first-hand look at the horror.

Plus, countdown to Rock the Vote. Who is making the best pitch so far to young voters? We'll take a closer look.

And "Broken Vows: Infidelity in America." Find out how to catch a cheat.

First, let's take a look "Inside the Box" at the top stories on tonight's network newscasts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, for years, we've heard tales of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. Today, CNN has obtained a tape from independent sources not released by the Pentagon showing the extent of the horror and the cruel punishment administered during the former dictator's rule.

We think it's important you see this tape, but we warn you, even with the most explicit scenes edited out, which we have, the tape is extremely graphic. Here's CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The tape is of poor quality, but what it shows is undeniably shocking. Iraqis whipped, beaten with sticks until their wrists are broken, even thrown off buildings high enough to mame, but not to kill.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They portray a regime that was about as vicious as any regime could conceivably be.

MCINTYRE: According to a U.S. military analysis, the victims, including this man about to be beheaded by sword, all appear to be members of the Fedayeen Saddam, who have been accused of crimes ranging from desertion to disobeying orders. Other segments of the tape show parts of fingers and tongues being cut off, all in public, to instill fear in anyone who would oppose Saddam Hussein.

The gruesome videos were recovered back in April by soldiers from the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade in Baghdad. The tapes were not released by the Pentagon, but obtained by CNN from independent sources. It's not clear when they were made. But for the Pentagon, they have obvious value.

RUMSFELD: When you have people filming in front of crowds, cheering and clapping, you have people cutting off people's tongues and cutting off people's heads and chopping off their fingers and chopping off their hands, throwing them off three-story buildings, you learn something about a group of people and how they live their lives and how they treated their people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: And Anderson, these tapes are believed to be authentic, although they were recovered from U.S. -- by U.S. troops in Baghdad and then reviewed by a U.S. military analyst who produced what they believe is the best accounting of what they think is on the tape -- Anderson.

COOPER: They certainly look incredibly authentic to me. Jamie McIntyre, thanks very much for that.

Some stories to tell you about overseas now. Let's check the "UpLink."

Baghdad, Iraq: blue helmets pull out just days after a suicide bombing at Red Cross headquarter. The U.N. is temporarily pulling out all of its international staff because of the escalating violence in the country. A U.S. raid in Tikrit led to the arrest of 13 suspected loyalists to Saddam Hussein.

In Mexico city, Mexico, an unbelievable helicopter crash. A helicopter hit several cars when it was forced to make an emergency landing in the parking lot of an upscale restaurant. The pilot and three passengers were injured.

Toronto, Canada: the international rock, paper, scissors championship. Well, apparently so. Contestants from around the world geared up for the big day by getting their respective costumes and preparing for battle.

A British and American team also joined in to try to get the $3,750 prize. But the new champion was a proud Toronto native, I'm told.

Rome Italy: it's all about amore. Or is it amore. Even in high office, despite his busy schedule trying to run a country, Italy's billionaire prime minister has found the time to write some songs from the hear. The CD will be released tomorrow, but he doesn't sing any of the songs on the album. So don't rush out to stores.

That's tonight's "UpLink."

Rosie O'Donnell goes to court. Find out what's at stake in this $100 million battle.

Also tonight: how to catch a cheat. Part of our weeklong series, "Broken Vows: Infidelity in America."

And a little later on: count down to Rock the Vote. Find out what's driving some young people to the polls in 2004.

First, we want to hear from you. Are young voters more conservative than their parents? What do you think? You can vote now: cnn.com/360, or you can vote by using your cell phone. Text message your answer, yes or no, to 26688, which is CNN TV on your mobile phone keypad. The results at the end of the show.

COOPER: Well, in just about 40 minutes, the lights go up on tonight's performance of "Taboo," a new Broadway musical starring Boy George, produced by Rosie O'Donnell. Somehow my tickets must have gotten lost in the mail.

She had a major drama going on downtown as well. Opening statements in a fierce courtroom battle between Rosie O'Donnell and former publishers of "Rosie" magazine.

CNN's Mary Snow has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "The Sopranos" stars are all smiles. But this magazine cover triggered what lawyers from magazine publisher Gruner & Jahr say was a foul-mouthed temper tantrum by Rosie O'Donnell. A fight that eventually erased her from the cover and a fight that O'Donnell says was part an effort to erase her editorial control of the magazine, a magazine bearing her name.

She left and the magazine publishers sued her for $100 million for breach of contract. O'Donnell counter-sued for $125 million, saying it was the publisher who breached the contract by seizing control. And in court today, her lawyers detailed the behind-the- scenes power struggle, alleging G & J of inflating revenue numbers to keep her from walking away. Lawyers for the publisher detailed her behavior, including a bad temper.

ROSIE O'DONNELL, FMR. TALK SHOW HOST: I'm very loud. But know this, no matter who I yell at, no matter what I say, I always apologize as soon as I calm down.

SNOW (on camera): For someone used to being in the limelight, even Rosie O'Donnell admitted to having butterflies before coming to court. But she says she's ready to testify. The question is: will she win over the judge the way she has her fans?

Mary Snow, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: All right. Joining us to talk about what could be an epic and very, very ugly fight is Andy Serwer of "Fortune" magazine.

Andy, good to see you. Why not just settle this thing?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Well, apparently they can't come to terms, Anderson. It's a lot of money, $100 million on each side. And they must be deadlocked.

You know I guess Rosie has a lot of time and money on her side. She's also doing this for principles. I mean, she says that they changed the editorial direction. But things could get ugly and they could hurt her, because if she gets people on the stand there or if the defense gets people on the stand saying that she's a nasty tyrant, et cetera, she did this, she threw paint at me or something like that, it's going to make her look really bad.

COOPER: Is any company in the future going to want to invest in a magazine solely based on one person? I mean, this example, you have Martha Stewart's magazine as well. I mean it shows what happens when the whole magazine is riding on one personality.

SERWER: Well, that's right. I mean, there's a lot at risk. Of course you look at "Oprah" being the exception there, which has been phenomenally successful. I mean, it is all based on one personality. And, in fact, that's what they were trying to do with "Rosie," of course, was to mirror what they did with "Oprah." The thing is, "Oprah" is all about puppies and feeling good and discovering yourself.

"Rosie" kind of started out that way, got edgier, started to yell at Tom Selleck about gun control, and then she wanted to take control of the editorial direction or keep control. The magazine people said that stuff is not playing in our magazine. And that's what the debate was all about.

COOPER: I think I see a big "Andy" magazine coming out.

SERWER: Or an "Anderson" magazine.

COOPER: Or it could be "Andy" and it could be both of our magazines.

SERWER: Let's give it a shot.

COOPER: All right. Andy Serwer, thanks.

SERWER: Thanks, Anderson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Rescuing pets from wildfires.

And cyber sex and infidelity. Is it really cheating?

We'll be right back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Let's check the "Reset."

California wildfires. Some 13,000 firefighters continued to battle the flames that have so far destroyed an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. Weather is playing a factor.

For a closer look at that lets got to Meteorologist Orelon Sidney at the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Anderson, thanks a lot. Things are actually looking better. The winds are expect to die down as early as tonight, even though I did see a wind gust Mohave at 53- miles-an-hour. It should being dying down tonight. But probably still in about the 20, 25-mile-an-hour range and then continuing to drop over the weekend.

Good news is, you're going to have some Pacific moisture working in. You already do. You've got quite a marine layer now across southern California. Chances for rain go up to about 40 percent for Friday and they continue to be very good on Saturday. Could even see more rainfall across southern parts of California. Certainly going to help the fire to die down.

Another thing that's going to help is the cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Some humidity is reported around 100 percent. That's excellent news and the temperatures should be in the 60s during the day, the 50s and 40s over night.

COOPER: All right Orelon Sidney, thanks very much.

It's not just people who face dangers from the flames. Animals are also in harm's way. Look at this deer scrambling to escape a blaze. Terry Crisp is the director of Noah's Wish, a group that helping rescue animals of all sizes from the flames. She has one lucky animal with her, tonight. She joins us from Los Angeles. Terry thanks for being with us.

Is that a puppy who was rescued from the fire?

TERRY CRISP, NOAH'S WISH: This belongs to a family that was evacuated. They brought me the mother and the two puppies.

COOPER: How do you -- people drop off animals at the shelter. How do you go about rescuing animals?

CRISP: We've been working with the animal control agencies in Victorville and they have been the ones that have been outgoing and doing the rescue of the animals. But we are taking care of the animals at the Victorville fair grounds. And we currently have 991 displaced animals.

COOPER: Does everyone then come back and get their animal or in past instances, do people just let their animals -- forget about them, I guess?

CRISP: The majority of them will come back and reclaim them. What we're going to be doing is working with them to find foster homes for those animals that have no home to go back to, and we want to be sure that during the time, as their owners are looking for new living arrangements, that when they find them, they'll be able to take those animals back home.

COOPER: I mean, it may be a stupid question. Do you find animals burned, suffering from smoke inhalation. What condition are the animals in?

CRISP: Yes, we've had some animals come in that have been injured and there have been reports of animals that didn't survive. But we're doing everything we can to encourage people to evacuate their animals ahead of the fire so that those kinds of things don't happen.

COOPER: What do you advise people to do with their pets? I mean in a case like this, you have 20 minutes to leave your home, what can you do to prepare?

CRISP: What we're really encouraging people to do is the first sight of any danger coming their way to get their animals moved to safety, to find a way in which to safely transport them. And if they are in the fire areas where we're working, which is the fires up around Arrowhead and Big Bear, then they can bring them to the fair grounds in Victorville. We also have very good disaster preparedness tips on our Web site and that's www.noahswish.org.

COOPER: We're looking, also, at the little kitty that was rescued along with the puppy. Terry Crisp, we appreciate you joining us to talk about it.

CRISP: Hey, our pleasure. Thank you.

COOPER: All right. We move to the Scott Peterson preliminary hearing in its second day in Modesto, California. CNN's San Francisco affiliate KTVU TV has obtained a letter it says was written by Scott Peterson from jail to an unidentified friend. CNN's David Mattingly has details.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, these letters, according to KTVU were written by Scott Peterson here at the Stanislaus County Jail. They are dated in April, shortly after the time he was arrested.

In these letters, Peterson is quoted talking about the day he was arrested saying it was Modesto police who told him the bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Connor had been recovered on the shores of San Francisco Bay.

He is quoted writing, "I was told they were gone on the car ride back to Modesto by the detectives. I didn't believe, I wouldn't believe it. I only knew it was true the next morning when I saw a paper." He goes on to write, "I am finding it so difficult to grieve for them here. AT night I have my head buried in a blanket. I don't want other inmates to see the tears."

He writes about his life behind bars in another letter. He's also quoted saying, "the highlight of the day was the shower. You get to move around a room that is 8 by 20 without chains on. I try to spend as much time there as possible."

Peterson is in a maximum security cell at the Stanislaus County Jail, much like the one we're looking at here. He's alone or under guard at all times, in part, for his own protection.

Again, according to KTVU, Peterson is also complaining about the food here at the Stanislaus County Jail saying it's not much to his liking and we have all remarked here, Anderson, Peterson is noticeably slimmer than he was at the time of his arrest.

COOPER: David Mattingly, thanks very much.

We turn now to a segment we call "Overkill." It's our weekly look at the one story of the week that the news media lunged for like a kid at a door step Halloween night. Tonight, "Overkill" has a name and it's a young -- it's a story about Elizabeth Smart. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Hard to recall, but there once was a time when Elizabeth Smart was actually sheltered from the media.

TOM SMART, ELIZABETH'S UNCLE: We want her to have privacy. There are no plans for her right now to come out and make a statement or be in front of the media.

COOPER: That was then. This is now. What a difference a book deal makes. The Smarts are making the rounds, as they say, promoting their new book, bringing Elizabeth home.

It started with an hour-long look with a prime-time special on CBS then an exclusive interview with Katie Couric and then an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

And there's more to come. The Smarts have sold the rights of their daughter's story to CBS. America, mark your calendars, on November 9 at 9:00 p.m, you'll have to decide between "Saving Jessica Lynch" and the "Elizabeth Smart Story."

According to "TV Guide," Elizabeth Smart actually wanted to play herself, but was turned down. What's next for her parents? Who knows. But don't be surprised if one day you hear the words, I'll take Ed Smart to block.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, America Rocks the Vote, ahead on our event with the Democratic candidates next week.

Jason Bellini coming up. Hits the college campus to hear what some students know about this very big pack of contenders.

Also tonight, our special series on infidelity goes deep inside the place that holds so many of a cheater's secret. Their computer.

And a little bit later, is Britney bound for Britain? Could it be? One of the hot stories tonight in "The Current."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Countdown to "Rock The Vote." Our Web question is this, "Are young voters more conservative than their parents?" Vote now, right now at CNN.com/360, or vote by using your cell phone, text message your answer, yes or no to 26688, which is CNN TV on your mobile phone keypad. The results at the end of the program.

On now to America Rocks The Vote. Our special week-long look at young voters. There's often an impression that young people are more liberal than the general public. But As we said this week, the latest polls simply do not show it.

A CNN/USA today/Gallup poll found that 62 percent of those in the 18 to 29 age group approve of how President Bush is doing his job. Now that compares with 53 percent of those 30 and older. And when young people were asked who they were more likely to vote for -- President Bush or the Democratic candidate -- 46 percent said President Bush, 40 said the Democrat.

The Democratic presidential contenders may have some hard work ahead of them, made all the harder by the fact that there are nine of them right now.

This week, CNN's Jason Bellini went out to ask some West Coast college students what they knew, or, in some cases didn't know, about the Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Among the Democrats, do you know who is running for president?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who aren't there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Who isn't running? John Kerry, Lieberman, General Clark -- yes -- Howard Dean from Vermont.

BELLINI: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Gary Coleman..

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gary Coleman's not running -- is he? Well, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Al Gore?

BELLINI: No. No Al Gore.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank God. I don't know, man. I'm serious.

BELLINI: You don't know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

BELLINI: Don't you care?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I really don't care about...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do I know who's running for president? No.

BELLINI: No? No idea? You don't know any of them?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't -- Arnold is our governor. No, he's not yet. He's the governor in training.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You got Howard Dean. You got Dennis Kucinich. You got John Kerry. You got Dick Gephardt. That crazy South Carolinian guy. Pseudo Clinton. Edwards, I think his name is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think there's, like, some, like, general dude. I think there's him. BELLINI: That would be Wesley Clark.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That would be Wesley Clark. Yes, my dad, he likes -- I hear he likes Wesley Clark, because he's like -- he -- I don't know -- he kind of likes that war stuff.

BELLINI: If you could ask all these guys one question -- if they were all assembled together and you could ask them one question, what would you it be?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to know more details about how they're going to approach health care.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How they'd work to fix the economic crisis we're in right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How they plan to balance the budget.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why should I vote for you without giving you some cheesy canned political answer? Like I'm going to bring America back to the values it once held, which we all know is just something that their person thought of 10 minutes before. Something real.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Something real. All right. Here comes my big plug yet again.

I hope you'll join me next Tuesday -- that's November 4, 7:00 p.m., right here on CNN. I'm hosting America Rocks the Vote live from Boston, where the Democratic contenders will square off and answer questions from young voters, hopefully keeping it real.

And you can now Rock the Vote from your cell phone. If you want to receive text message alerts and vote on our online poll, sign up now at cnn.com/360 and click on the "Rock the Vote" link.

All right. Still to come this evening -- to catch a cheat. The Internet is being used to conduct a lot of affairs. But it's also being used to uncover affairs. We'll talk with a P.I. and Court TV's Lisa Bloom about that and whether cybersex is really cheating.

Also tonight, the very latest on how Roy of Siegfried and Roy is doing and one theory on why his tiger might have turned on him.

Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right. We'd like to hear from you. If you are in a relationship, "What do you think. " Is online romance cheating? E- mail us now. Log on to cnn.com/360. Have some of your e-mails later on in the show.

That brings to our weeklong long at broken vows, infidelity in America. Tonight, "To Catch a Cheat." These days, you don't need a gum shoe on the case to do it. With the Internet, aiding and abetting so many affairs, you just need some stealthy software. Now if you're suspicious about your partner's long hours, just log on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): In the movies, catching a cheating spouse often looks like this.

But the reality today, often looks more like this.

There are now dozens of Web sites promising to help you catch a loved one fooling around online.

JOHN LASAGE, CHATCHEATERS.COM: I created the Web site after my wife left the country for someone she met on the Internet.

COOPER: John Lasage sells software that can record every keystroke typed on a computer.

LASAGE: Yes, you install it, and it runs in a stealth mode. So it's very difficult to find out that it's on the machine. And then when you're ready you type in a password and it pops up everything they did.

COOPER: The software is cheap and easy to find. Web sites have names like chatcheaters.com and cheatinghusbands.com.

Some concerned spouses resort to hidden cameras or recording calls. There are even GPS trackers that can be placed on cars.

Online monitoring technology was originally created to help parents track their children's Internet use. But tracking cheaters is increasingly popular.

LASAGE: It is sad that you would have to monitor your spouse, but in some cases it must be done.

COOPER: Lawyers and counselors say that online affairs are now one of the leading causes of divorce. And the best way to track it may be to go online yourself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: And when doing it yourself isn't enough, you can always call a private investigator.

Jeanne Holleway, who tracks down cheaters for a living -- she joins us from Houston.

And we're joined here by Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom with her thoughts on catching a cheat, and the question that's getting a lot of you riled up -- is cybersex really cheating?

Welcome to both of you. Jeanne, let me start off with you. You used to offer some of this software on your own Web site. How popular is it?

JEANNE HOLLEWAY, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: It's very popular, Anderson. Thanks for having me.

We have found that there has been an increased number of sales for this computer spy program. And it's very beneficial to us and our investigative work.

COOPER: All right. Now, Lisa, is -- I mean, is this legal for a spouse to basically spy on their spouse?

LISA BLOOM, COURT TV: Well, of course, the law varies from state to state, the safe answer. But generally it is. If you are doing something within your own marriage, you're bugging your own computer, you're putting a GPS on your own car, generally you're OK. If you're going into your divorced partner's home, you're trespassing, then you're on shaky legal ground. But I think what she's doing for the most part is fine.

COOPER: Jeanne, what's the best way you have found to track down, you know, infidelities? I mean, is it -- I understand you even have people rout through people's garbage?

HOLLEWAY: Oh, yes. That's very popular these days. The garbage collection we do provides us with leads, especially if you have a spouse that has gone out of town for the weekend. It leaves the other spouse at home and, of course, they try and discard everything. So we go through the trash.

COOPER: What else? Cell phone records, I guess? Credit cards?

HOLLEWAY: Cell phone. Exactly. Exactly. Even drug use, sex paraphernalia. It's amazing what we can find.

COOPER: Lisa, routing through garbage? That's OK? It's all...

BLOOM: Well, there's got to be a certain humiliation factor here, right? I mean, you're going through your spouse's garbage. You got to ask about the level of trust and respect in your own relationship. What the heck are you doing when you're doing when you're digging through garbage?

COOPER: I mean, I know in a lot of courts now -- I mean, there are no-fault divorces. It doesn't matter whether or not you are carrying on an affair.

BLOOM: Well, that's right.

COOPER: But online cheating -- I mean, do some courts consider it cheating?

BLOOM: For the most part, it's not going to help you in court. You're not going to get more money in a divorce settlement. Things are going to be split up 50/50 for the most part. Child custody isn't going to be affected. So you're really just doing this for your own peace of mind or lack thereof.

COOPER: Jeanne, when clients come to you -- I mean, what are the signs that they see and that you tell them they should look for, for someone who may be cheating?

HOLLEWAY: Well, there's lying, unaccountable times, mood swings, a change in their physical appearance, change in financial status. Some of them resort back to their youth.

COOPER: It's -- I mean, I guess it's sad it gets to this. Jeanne, do you get depressed in the work you do?

Do you distrust people?

HOLLEWAY: Absolutely not. This is reality. There is cheating 24/7, 365, and it just secures my job, and my job at (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Investigations. We're here. We're going to stay.

COOPER: Has the law caught up with all the ways there is to cheat?

BLOOM: It's a good question. The law looks at a reasonable expectation of privacy. You can go through garbage because we don't expect any privacy in our garbage. But I wonder, Jeanne, if I may ask you, do you ever tell people, what are you doing spending all this time looking for your cheating spouse. If you are suspicious, they probably are cheating, why don't you just move on?

HOLLEWAY: It not only provides proof that some court will recognize in situation depending on which state. Sometimes it's not always split 50/50. Sometimes if you can prove infidelity, adultery, the assets are split 75/25 instead of just 50/50.

COOPER: Have you ever been on a case where a spouse thought their love one was cheating and it turned out they weren't or is it pretty much always right.

HOLLEWAY: No, we have -- that is one thing. One reward of our job. We'd love to be able to go back to all of our clients and say, I'm sorry, but your spouse is not cheating. We have followed him for days. We've checked out the computer spy programs and there's nothing they are doing wrong. But unfortunately we can't.

BLOOM: But there's also people that go the other way. Look at Clara Harris in Texas who ended up running over her husband who she found out was cheating from a private investigator. Some people completely snap and lose it and there's actually violence as a result.

COOPER: Yes, certainly is.

All right fascinating discussion. Lisa Bloom, thanks very much.

Jeannie Holleway, thanks very much.

HOLLEWAY: Thank you, Anderson. COOPER: All right. Well, Friday is the conclusion to our week- long look at "Broken Vows: Infidelity in America." Tomorrow, meet a couple who survived betrayal. Find out how they faced the worst and manage to stay together.

So, what do Britney, Paul McCartney and Harry Potter, and Roy Horn have in common?

Well, tonight they are all together in "The Current."

Britney's, snob and Madonna has apparently left her (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You liked that Lisa didn't you. Britney has told reporters she might follow in her idol's footsteps and move to Britain. We're shocked. No word if she'll adopt a fake accent as well.

A real Brit, Sir Paul McCartney has a new baby girl. Beatrice Milly McCartney was born Tuesday night, to McCartney and his wife Heather Mills. I wanted to make some clever illusion to a Beatles song but I don't know any Beatles songs. Sorry it's my demo.

A doctor in Washington says he has seen a mysterious condition in a handful of kids and get this he's blaming Harry Potter. The strain of reading the books. He calls the pain "Hogwarts Headache." Potter's publisher didn't comment but Hermione Granger was heard to mutter something about Muggles trying to spoil our fun. I don't know she's bitter.

And Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy has been transfer from a Vegas Hospital to UCLA. He's in serious but stable condition. Meanwhile the "New York Post" suggested that Manticore, the tiger that bit Roy, may have had a deep-seeded grudge against him because he was taken from his mother tiger too soon. In other words, they are hinting Manticore has emotional baggage. Then again, don't we all.

And that's a check of "The Current."

Coming up -- fame calling to the "Nth Degree" and the answer to the burning question, what is Kato Kaelin up to these days?

First, todays the "Rock the Vote Web Question," are young voters more conservative than their parents? Vote now a couple seconds left. cnn.com/360 or you can vote using your cell phone. Text messenger answers yes or no to 26688 which is CNN TV on your mobile phone keypad. We don't need to tell Lisa Bloom that. Results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time for our "Rock the Vote Web Question." Are young voters more conservative than their parents. More than 100,000 of you have voted. 39 percent said, yes, 61 percent voted, no. Certainly not a scientific poll. Just viewer buzz. More than 100,000 voters. Thank you very much.

Now to some of your "Instant Feedback." Bill from Brownsville had this to say, "If it happens online and stays exclusively online," talking about cheating, "then it is absolutely not cheating." All right.

But Deb from Melbourne weighed in with a women's prospective and said, "Of course online relationships are cheating. I've had guys try to have cybersex with me, and I have told them that my criteria is this: if their wife were sitting there, would they be saying the same things to me?" Not a bad idea there, Deb.

Send us your "Instant Feedback." Log on any time, day or night to cnn.com/360.

Finally from us -- fame calling to the "Nth Degree."

You ever wonder what happens to some celebrities when the clock hits 16 minutes and the residual checks have slowed to a trickle?

Have you ever wish you could give them a helping hand?

Well, now you can thanks to hollywoodiscalling.com. Here's how it works. Maybe it's your birthday and you want TV's Todd Bridges to wish you well or say you get a promotion and you want Kato Kaelin to say, well done. After all, he was awesome in O.J. Well, for 30 bucks you can pen your own message and a celebrity will call it in. Frankly, I didn't believe this actually exists but my crack staff got a mystery celebrity to leave me a message. I have not heard it yet, honestly. Have no clue who it's from. Let's check my voice mail.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

COOPER: Hey, it's Anderson, please leave a message.

ANORLD HORSHACK, HOLLYWOODISCALLING.COM: Hello, Anderson. How do? this is Arnold Horshack from hollywoodiscalling.com. Good luck on your big event on Tuesday. "America Rocks the Vote" with all the Democratic candidates, and if you hear some teenage in the audience yelling out, "Oh, oh, oh, Mr. Cooper, I have a question for General Clark," just put them in their place. It worked for Mr. Carter. The message will be saved.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

COOPER: I'm not going to delete that message for a very long time. Nice to know I guess, some stars never fade. That raps up our program for tonight. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





911 Tape Played; Capitol Confusion: Toy Gun Spurs Alarm>


Aired October 30, 2003 - 19:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST (voice-over): The latest on the California inferno. A firefighter dead. How did it happen?

Our special series, "Infidelity." Tonight, how to catch a cheater online.

Countdown to America Rocks the Vote. What do young people really know about politics?

Here, there, everywhere. The Smart family media blitz.

Rosie in court. The queen of nice in a nasty legal battle.

And the other victims of wildfires. Saving pets in the fire zone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.

COOPER: And good evening. Thanks for joining us on 360. A lot happening tonight.

We are following a raw and terrifying glimpse of Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Disturbing videotape of alleged torture at the hands of Saddam's henchmen. We'll show you that coming up.

But first, the fires. Southern California, where changes in the weather are proving to be a blessing and a curse. Light rain, cooler temperatures are a relief in some areas. But winds up to 60 miles an hour in other spots are simply fanning the flames.

The numbers tell the story -- 650,000 acres charred, at least 2,600 homes destroyed. Almost 13,000 firefighters fatigued, but still fighting hard. The estimated damage so far, $2 billion.

Right now, the fires are burning in five counties. The battle zone stretches from San Diego County north through the mountains into Ventura County.

Our first stop tonight, Julian, California, in San Diego County, where firefighters are pushing themselves to the limit trying to save the historic goldmining town. CNN's Bob Franken is on the front lines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rain and fog were the good news, turning the more than 270,000 acres of the so- called Cedar fire into smoldering embers. But winds that gust to more than 40 miles per hour threatened to reignite the embers back into a raging inferno.

Already, the Cedar fire is the largest single brush fire in recorded California history. Fourteen people are known to have lost their lives, including one firefighter. More than 1,700 structures have been destroyed, most of them homes. And officials haven't been able to get to all areas.

Before they can make any final assessment of the toll, they have to spend several more hard days at the ready for a new battle as a fire that is described as down, but not out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And the latest report from fire officials really tells the story. Contained, describes the story that is surrounded. Controlled means that it is out. Thirty-eight percent of the fires have been contained. Zero percent have been out -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right. Bob Franken, thanks very much for the update.

Now, the fires are bad enough, made worse by the way some of them have started, arson. There's a big reward if you can help investigators track down a man suspected of starting one of the fires. The sheriff's deputies have released this sketch of the suspect. Now, the award for his arrest is $110,000.

Witnesses say the suspect started the old fire, which has now merged with the Grand Prix blaze. They say on Saturday, he threw something out of a van into the brush.

Well, the death toll from the fires now stands at 20. That includes a firefighter who died while battling the Cedar fire. Today, that man's best friend, the man who brought him into the fire department, remains on the job working through his grief. There's no other option.

Here's CNN's Jason Carroll.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Those who knew him say Steve Rucker loved being a firefighter. He was an 11-year veteran of the Novato Fire Department in northern California and he was the first firefighter to die while battling these California wildfires. JEFF MESTON, CHIEF, NOVATO CALIFORNIA FIRE DEPT.: It's devastating because not only is it one of my employees, but it's one of my friends, it's one of my brothers. So it was tough.

CARROLL: Fire Chief Jeff Meston recruited Rucker, and he now has the emotionally challenging responsibility of finding out what led to his friend's death. It happened Wednesday afternoon just outside the mountain community of Julian, north of San Diego. Winds were erratic. Rucker and about 20 other firefighters were trying to save a home.

MESTON: As they were operating, the weather changed pretty significantly. They made a decision that the safest place for them was to be inside the home. So they worked their way to the home.

Our two firefighters actually did entry. And then the whole house started to burn down. So then they again fled the home, jumped in their fire engine and drove until it got clear.

CARROLL: Rucker never made it to the house. The fire overtook them. Another firefighter, Captain Doug McDonald, escaped with severe burns. He's still in critical condition. Two others suffered minor injuries and were released, but unable to talk about their experience.

MESTON: As a firefighter, we all generally understand that our occupation is very dangerous and there could be that time you have to make the ultimate sacrifice. But, like myself, I believe that most of us think that that's not very likely. And when it occurs, it cuts to the bone of every firefighter in the nation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: The chief told me that they are going to be trying to determine if there are any lessons that can be learned from all of this. At the same time, they're going to be providing as much support for Rucker's family, as well as the other firefighters who worked with him -- Anderson. '

COOPER: Jason, is much known about Rucker's family? I mean, did he have a wife, kids?

CARROLL: Well, he was 38 years old. He is survived by his wife and two small children. We are also told that he was very active in his community.

He used to participate in Toys for Tots whenever he had extra time. He was out there volunteering -- Anderson.

COOPER: Our thoughts are with them and everyone else suffering tonight. Thanks very much, Jason.

Let's get some perspective on how the Cedar fire compares to the California's costliest wildfire. Now, that was in 1991, the Oakland Hills fire. Twenty-nine hundred homes lost, $1.7 billion paid out in insurance claims. Now, it is still very early to predict losses in this fire, but as we mentioned earlier, the governor's office is estimating $2 billion in damages, which would surpass the '91 fire. And so far 3,611 insurance claims for homes, autos and commercial structures have been filed. So far, we should point out.

On to the fire front. It is not all doom and gloom. There is some encouraging news out of Colorado. Changing weather has subdued two wildfires there that were threatening hundreds of homes.

The fire south of Denver and northwest of Boulder, forced a number of evacuations, but rain, sleet, some colder temperatures and diminishing winds helped firefighters get a handle on those flames. Crews battling the Cherokee Ranch fire in Douglas County say they expect to have it 100 percent contained tonight. And that is certainly some good news for Colorado residents.

Not so encouraging news from New Mexico, however, where a wildfire continues to force people to flee their homes. The Ski Run fire in Lincoln National Forest jumped a fire line, prompting evacuation warnings for about 20 homes. Officials still hope to have the blaze contained by Saturday.

In "Justice Served," another day of emotional and dramatic testimony in the Virginia Beach courtroom, where D.C. sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad is on trial. The jury heard a chilling 911 tape from the distraught husband of a slain FBI analyst.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A piece of lumber smacking the pavement. That's what William Franklin thought he heard in the Home Depot parking lot. Only later did he realize that the spray he felt on his face was his wife Linda's blood.

In court Thursday, his frantic 911 call was played. Panic pitched his voice so high the dispatcher first thought Franklin was a woman. He is heard sobbing and wailing as he tells the dispatcher, "My wife, she's been shot in the head."

Defense attorneys strenuously objected to the use of the 911 tape, which moved jurors to tears. A few members of the public were also in the courtroom.

TIM WALKER, COURTROOM OBSERVER: He was standing over the top of his wife who had been shot directly in the head. And my heart went out for him and his family.

MESERVE: Gruesome crime scene and autopsy photographs showing portions of Franklin's head blown away were also exhibited, despite objections from the defense that they were prejudicial.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was very, very shocked. And you don't think a rifle round could do such damage to someone's skull.

MESERVE: Jurors were also shown the tarot card inscribed with the words "Call me god" found at one shooting scene and a note discovered at another, which demanded $10 million or prepare body bags.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: Sniper survivor Jeffrey Hopper testified how he and his wife avoided stopping in Washington, D.C. for food and gas because of the sniper shootings. But when he stepped out of a restaurant in Ashland, Virginia, he said he heard a sound, felt a shock wave, and realized he, too, had been shot -- Anderson.

COOPER: Jeanne Meserve, thank you very much.

An anxious hour and a half in the nation's capitol today. A toy gun mistaken for a real one. A misunderstanding that shut the House of Representatives and raised concerns about capital security.

Congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl on how it all happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even while the Capitol Police rushed SWAT teams into a capitol office building in search of what they thought was a renegade gunman, one congresswoman who was in the building at the time says the emergency warning system failed completely.

REP. CAROLYN MCCARTHY (D), NEW YORK: The TV knew before we did. How did you guys hear about it? We didn't hear about it.

KARL: The incident appears to have been caused by a little more than a distracted police officer who didn't notice the image of the suspected gun on the X-ray until the person carrying it had already gone into the building. But it leaves a haunting question. What if the gun had been real?

CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, CAPITOL HILL POLICE: The very fact that someone brought a toy gun in and it was on the X-ray and got further into the building than I prefer, it does show that we have to re- evaluate how the X-ray machines are run. So to that extent, it's another lesson learned.

KARL: The incident comes after extraordinary and costly efforts to tighten security on Capitol Hill in the wake of September 11th.

MCCARTHY: I'm not concerned. I'm mad. We have had a number of drills since August.

This is a system that is supposed to be working, and it has failed. Now, you know, the whole system has failed. Number one, they got through the X-ray machines. How did that happen?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARL: The incident didn't end until two staffers for Congressman John Shimkus called the Capitol Police to tell them about the toy gun that was in their Halloween costume. The congressman says he deeply regrets what he calls an unfortunate misunderstanding, one that managed to shut down the House of Representatives for more than an hour today.

And, Anderson, you are wondering what the costume was? The staffer was hoping to dress up as the CIA agent Sydney Bristol (ph) from the ABC hit series "Alias."

COOPER: Probably not a great idea today. All right. Jonathan Karl, thanks very much for that.

Let's flash back right now to another incident on Capitol Hill five years ago. 1998, Russell Weston (ph), an Illinois man with a history of mental illness, was accused of shooting his way into the U.S. Capitol, killing two guards, injuring others. He was ruled incompetent to stand trial.

A judge ordered him to take antipsychotic drugs. Since then, Weston's (ph) condition is said to have improved. He remains, however, in custody.

Well a number of other stories here at home. Let's take a look "Cross Country."

Atlantic City, New Jersey: deadly collapse. One person missing, four people dead, after a parking deck under construction collapsed. Twenty-one others are hurt. The accident happened outside the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Seattle, Washington: plea deal. The suspected Green River killer is suspected to plead guilty next week. Seattle's TV and newspapers report Gary Leon Ridgway (ph) will admit he murdered at least 40 women, mostly prostitutes and runaways. They say some of the women aren't even on the investigations official victims list. Ridgway (ph) will face life in prison without parole, and he avoids the death penalty.

Washington, D.C.: sizzling economy. The Commerce Department says third quarter Gross Domestic Product surged at a strong 7.2 percent, its best showing in nearly two decades.

And in Columbus, Ohio, President Bush says his tax cut plan got the job done. He says the economy's stunning growth is an indication his economic plan is working.

Nationwide: a one, two, three punch. Yet another solar storm hitting Earth right now. This one should stick around until tomorrow morning. No word on any troubles.

That's a look at stories "Cross Country" tonight.

Well, brutal Saddam Hussein torture tapes. See for yourself the cruel methods of a deposed dictator. A first-hand look at the horror.

Plus, countdown to Rock the Vote. Who is making the best pitch so far to young voters? We'll take a closer look.

And "Broken Vows: Infidelity in America." Find out how to catch a cheat.

First, let's take a look "Inside the Box" at the top stories on tonight's network newscasts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, for years, we've heard tales of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. Today, CNN has obtained a tape from independent sources not released by the Pentagon showing the extent of the horror and the cruel punishment administered during the former dictator's rule.

We think it's important you see this tape, but we warn you, even with the most explicit scenes edited out, which we have, the tape is extremely graphic. Here's CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The tape is of poor quality, but what it shows is undeniably shocking. Iraqis whipped, beaten with sticks until their wrists are broken, even thrown off buildings high enough to mame, but not to kill.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They portray a regime that was about as vicious as any regime could conceivably be.

MCINTYRE: According to a U.S. military analysis, the victims, including this man about to be beheaded by sword, all appear to be members of the Fedayeen Saddam, who have been accused of crimes ranging from desertion to disobeying orders. Other segments of the tape show parts of fingers and tongues being cut off, all in public, to instill fear in anyone who would oppose Saddam Hussein.

The gruesome videos were recovered back in April by soldiers from the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade in Baghdad. The tapes were not released by the Pentagon, but obtained by CNN from independent sources. It's not clear when they were made. But for the Pentagon, they have obvious value.

RUMSFELD: When you have people filming in front of crowds, cheering and clapping, you have people cutting off people's tongues and cutting off people's heads and chopping off their fingers and chopping off their hands, throwing them off three-story buildings, you learn something about a group of people and how they live their lives and how they treated their people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: And Anderson, these tapes are believed to be authentic, although they were recovered from U.S. -- by U.S. troops in Baghdad and then reviewed by a U.S. military analyst who produced what they believe is the best accounting of what they think is on the tape -- Anderson.

COOPER: They certainly look incredibly authentic to me. Jamie McIntyre, thanks very much for that.

Some stories to tell you about overseas now. Let's check the "UpLink."

Baghdad, Iraq: blue helmets pull out just days after a suicide bombing at Red Cross headquarter. The U.N. is temporarily pulling out all of its international staff because of the escalating violence in the country. A U.S. raid in Tikrit led to the arrest of 13 suspected loyalists to Saddam Hussein.

In Mexico city, Mexico, an unbelievable helicopter crash. A helicopter hit several cars when it was forced to make an emergency landing in the parking lot of an upscale restaurant. The pilot and three passengers were injured.

Toronto, Canada: the international rock, paper, scissors championship. Well, apparently so. Contestants from around the world geared up for the big day by getting their respective costumes and preparing for battle.

A British and American team also joined in to try to get the $3,750 prize. But the new champion was a proud Toronto native, I'm told.

Rome Italy: it's all about amore. Or is it amore. Even in high office, despite his busy schedule trying to run a country, Italy's billionaire prime minister has found the time to write some songs from the hear. The CD will be released tomorrow, but he doesn't sing any of the songs on the album. So don't rush out to stores.

That's tonight's "UpLink."

Rosie O'Donnell goes to court. Find out what's at stake in this $100 million battle.

Also tonight: how to catch a cheat. Part of our weeklong series, "Broken Vows: Infidelity in America."

And a little later on: count down to Rock the Vote. Find out what's driving some young people to the polls in 2004.

First, we want to hear from you. Are young voters more conservative than their parents? What do you think? You can vote now: cnn.com/360, or you can vote by using your cell phone. Text message your answer, yes or no, to 26688, which is CNN TV on your mobile phone keypad. The results at the end of the show.

COOPER: Well, in just about 40 minutes, the lights go up on tonight's performance of "Taboo," a new Broadway musical starring Boy George, produced by Rosie O'Donnell. Somehow my tickets must have gotten lost in the mail.

She had a major drama going on downtown as well. Opening statements in a fierce courtroom battle between Rosie O'Donnell and former publishers of "Rosie" magazine.

CNN's Mary Snow has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "The Sopranos" stars are all smiles. But this magazine cover triggered what lawyers from magazine publisher Gruner & Jahr say was a foul-mouthed temper tantrum by Rosie O'Donnell. A fight that eventually erased her from the cover and a fight that O'Donnell says was part an effort to erase her editorial control of the magazine, a magazine bearing her name.

She left and the magazine publishers sued her for $100 million for breach of contract. O'Donnell counter-sued for $125 million, saying it was the publisher who breached the contract by seizing control. And in court today, her lawyers detailed the behind-the- scenes power struggle, alleging G & J of inflating revenue numbers to keep her from walking away. Lawyers for the publisher detailed her behavior, including a bad temper.

ROSIE O'DONNELL, FMR. TALK SHOW HOST: I'm very loud. But know this, no matter who I yell at, no matter what I say, I always apologize as soon as I calm down.

SNOW (on camera): For someone used to being in the limelight, even Rosie O'Donnell admitted to having butterflies before coming to court. But she says she's ready to testify. The question is: will she win over the judge the way she has her fans?

Mary Snow, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: All right. Joining us to talk about what could be an epic and very, very ugly fight is Andy Serwer of "Fortune" magazine.

Andy, good to see you. Why not just settle this thing?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Well, apparently they can't come to terms, Anderson. It's a lot of money, $100 million on each side. And they must be deadlocked.

You know I guess Rosie has a lot of time and money on her side. She's also doing this for principles. I mean, she says that they changed the editorial direction. But things could get ugly and they could hurt her, because if she gets people on the stand there or if the defense gets people on the stand saying that she's a nasty tyrant, et cetera, she did this, she threw paint at me or something like that, it's going to make her look really bad.

COOPER: Is any company in the future going to want to invest in a magazine solely based on one person? I mean, this example, you have Martha Stewart's magazine as well. I mean it shows what happens when the whole magazine is riding on one personality.

SERWER: Well, that's right. I mean, there's a lot at risk. Of course you look at "Oprah" being the exception there, which has been phenomenally successful. I mean, it is all based on one personality. And, in fact, that's what they were trying to do with "Rosie," of course, was to mirror what they did with "Oprah." The thing is, "Oprah" is all about puppies and feeling good and discovering yourself.

"Rosie" kind of started out that way, got edgier, started to yell at Tom Selleck about gun control, and then she wanted to take control of the editorial direction or keep control. The magazine people said that stuff is not playing in our magazine. And that's what the debate was all about.

COOPER: I think I see a big "Andy" magazine coming out.

SERWER: Or an "Anderson" magazine.

COOPER: Or it could be "Andy" and it could be both of our magazines.

SERWER: Let's give it a shot.

COOPER: All right. Andy Serwer, thanks.

SERWER: Thanks, Anderson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Rescuing pets from wildfires.

And cyber sex and infidelity. Is it really cheating?

We'll be right back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Let's check the "Reset."

California wildfires. Some 13,000 firefighters continued to battle the flames that have so far destroyed an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. Weather is playing a factor.

For a closer look at that lets got to Meteorologist Orelon Sidney at the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Anderson, thanks a lot. Things are actually looking better. The winds are expect to die down as early as tonight, even though I did see a wind gust Mohave at 53- miles-an-hour. It should being dying down tonight. But probably still in about the 20, 25-mile-an-hour range and then continuing to drop over the weekend.

Good news is, you're going to have some Pacific moisture working in. You already do. You've got quite a marine layer now across southern California. Chances for rain go up to about 40 percent for Friday and they continue to be very good on Saturday. Could even see more rainfall across southern parts of California. Certainly going to help the fire to die down.

Another thing that's going to help is the cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Some humidity is reported around 100 percent. That's excellent news and the temperatures should be in the 60s during the day, the 50s and 40s over night.

COOPER: All right Orelon Sidney, thanks very much.

It's not just people who face dangers from the flames. Animals are also in harm's way. Look at this deer scrambling to escape a blaze. Terry Crisp is the director of Noah's Wish, a group that helping rescue animals of all sizes from the flames. She has one lucky animal with her, tonight. She joins us from Los Angeles. Terry thanks for being with us.

Is that a puppy who was rescued from the fire?

TERRY CRISP, NOAH'S WISH: This belongs to a family that was evacuated. They brought me the mother and the two puppies.

COOPER: How do you -- people drop off animals at the shelter. How do you go about rescuing animals?

CRISP: We've been working with the animal control agencies in Victorville and they have been the ones that have been outgoing and doing the rescue of the animals. But we are taking care of the animals at the Victorville fair grounds. And we currently have 991 displaced animals.

COOPER: Does everyone then come back and get their animal or in past instances, do people just let their animals -- forget about them, I guess?

CRISP: The majority of them will come back and reclaim them. What we're going to be doing is working with them to find foster homes for those animals that have no home to go back to, and we want to be sure that during the time, as their owners are looking for new living arrangements, that when they find them, they'll be able to take those animals back home.

COOPER: I mean, it may be a stupid question. Do you find animals burned, suffering from smoke inhalation. What condition are the animals in?

CRISP: Yes, we've had some animals come in that have been injured and there have been reports of animals that didn't survive. But we're doing everything we can to encourage people to evacuate their animals ahead of the fire so that those kinds of things don't happen.

COOPER: What do you advise people to do with their pets? I mean in a case like this, you have 20 minutes to leave your home, what can you do to prepare?

CRISP: What we're really encouraging people to do is the first sight of any danger coming their way to get their animals moved to safety, to find a way in which to safely transport them. And if they are in the fire areas where we're working, which is the fires up around Arrowhead and Big Bear, then they can bring them to the fair grounds in Victorville. We also have very good disaster preparedness tips on our Web site and that's www.noahswish.org.

COOPER: We're looking, also, at the little kitty that was rescued along with the puppy. Terry Crisp, we appreciate you joining us to talk about it.

CRISP: Hey, our pleasure. Thank you.

COOPER: All right. We move to the Scott Peterson preliminary hearing in its second day in Modesto, California. CNN's San Francisco affiliate KTVU TV has obtained a letter it says was written by Scott Peterson from jail to an unidentified friend. CNN's David Mattingly has details.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, these letters, according to KTVU were written by Scott Peterson here at the Stanislaus County Jail. They are dated in April, shortly after the time he was arrested.

In these letters, Peterson is quoted talking about the day he was arrested saying it was Modesto police who told him the bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Connor had been recovered on the shores of San Francisco Bay.

He is quoted writing, "I was told they were gone on the car ride back to Modesto by the detectives. I didn't believe, I wouldn't believe it. I only knew it was true the next morning when I saw a paper." He goes on to write, "I am finding it so difficult to grieve for them here. AT night I have my head buried in a blanket. I don't want other inmates to see the tears."

He writes about his life behind bars in another letter. He's also quoted saying, "the highlight of the day was the shower. You get to move around a room that is 8 by 20 without chains on. I try to spend as much time there as possible."

Peterson is in a maximum security cell at the Stanislaus County Jail, much like the one we're looking at here. He's alone or under guard at all times, in part, for his own protection.

Again, according to KTVU, Peterson is also complaining about the food here at the Stanislaus County Jail saying it's not much to his liking and we have all remarked here, Anderson, Peterson is noticeably slimmer than he was at the time of his arrest.

COOPER: David Mattingly, thanks very much.

We turn now to a segment we call "Overkill." It's our weekly look at the one story of the week that the news media lunged for like a kid at a door step Halloween night. Tonight, "Overkill" has a name and it's a young -- it's a story about Elizabeth Smart. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Hard to recall, but there once was a time when Elizabeth Smart was actually sheltered from the media.

TOM SMART, ELIZABETH'S UNCLE: We want her to have privacy. There are no plans for her right now to come out and make a statement or be in front of the media.

COOPER: That was then. This is now. What a difference a book deal makes. The Smarts are making the rounds, as they say, promoting their new book, bringing Elizabeth home.

It started with an hour-long look with a prime-time special on CBS then an exclusive interview with Katie Couric and then an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

And there's more to come. The Smarts have sold the rights of their daughter's story to CBS. America, mark your calendars, on November 9 at 9:00 p.m, you'll have to decide between "Saving Jessica Lynch" and the "Elizabeth Smart Story."

According to "TV Guide," Elizabeth Smart actually wanted to play herself, but was turned down. What's next for her parents? Who knows. But don't be surprised if one day you hear the words, I'll take Ed Smart to block.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, America Rocks the Vote, ahead on our event with the Democratic candidates next week.

Jason Bellini coming up. Hits the college campus to hear what some students know about this very big pack of contenders.

Also tonight, our special series on infidelity goes deep inside the place that holds so many of a cheater's secret. Their computer.

And a little bit later, is Britney bound for Britain? Could it be? One of the hot stories tonight in "The Current."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Countdown to "Rock The Vote." Our Web question is this, "Are young voters more conservative than their parents?" Vote now, right now at CNN.com/360, or vote by using your cell phone, text message your answer, yes or no to 26688, which is CNN TV on your mobile phone keypad. The results at the end of the program.

On now to America Rocks The Vote. Our special week-long look at young voters. There's often an impression that young people are more liberal than the general public. But As we said this week, the latest polls simply do not show it.

A CNN/USA today/Gallup poll found that 62 percent of those in the 18 to 29 age group approve of how President Bush is doing his job. Now that compares with 53 percent of those 30 and older. And when young people were asked who they were more likely to vote for -- President Bush or the Democratic candidate -- 46 percent said President Bush, 40 said the Democrat.

The Democratic presidential contenders may have some hard work ahead of them, made all the harder by the fact that there are nine of them right now.

This week, CNN's Jason Bellini went out to ask some West Coast college students what they knew, or, in some cases didn't know, about the Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Among the Democrats, do you know who is running for president?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who aren't there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Who isn't running? John Kerry, Lieberman, General Clark -- yes -- Howard Dean from Vermont.

BELLINI: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Gary Coleman..

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gary Coleman's not running -- is he? Well, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Al Gore?

BELLINI: No. No Al Gore.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank God. I don't know, man. I'm serious.

BELLINI: You don't know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

BELLINI: Don't you care?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I really don't care about...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do I know who's running for president? No.

BELLINI: No? No idea? You don't know any of them?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't -- Arnold is our governor. No, he's not yet. He's the governor in training.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You got Howard Dean. You got Dennis Kucinich. You got John Kerry. You got Dick Gephardt. That crazy South Carolinian guy. Pseudo Clinton. Edwards, I think his name is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think there's, like, some, like, general dude. I think there's him. BELLINI: That would be Wesley Clark.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That would be Wesley Clark. Yes, my dad, he likes -- I hear he likes Wesley Clark, because he's like -- he -- I don't know -- he kind of likes that war stuff.

BELLINI: If you could ask all these guys one question -- if they were all assembled together and you could ask them one question, what would you it be?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to know more details about how they're going to approach health care.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How they'd work to fix the economic crisis we're in right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How they plan to balance the budget.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why should I vote for you without giving you some cheesy canned political answer? Like I'm going to bring America back to the values it once held, which we all know is just something that their person thought of 10 minutes before. Something real.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Something real. All right. Here comes my big plug yet again.

I hope you'll join me next Tuesday -- that's November 4, 7:00 p.m., right here on CNN. I'm hosting America Rocks the Vote live from Boston, where the Democratic contenders will square off and answer questions from young voters, hopefully keeping it real.

And you can now Rock the Vote from your cell phone. If you want to receive text message alerts and vote on our online poll, sign up now at cnn.com/360 and click on the "Rock the Vote" link.

All right. Still to come this evening -- to catch a cheat. The Internet is being used to conduct a lot of affairs. But it's also being used to uncover affairs. We'll talk with a P.I. and Court TV's Lisa Bloom about that and whether cybersex is really cheating.

Also tonight, the very latest on how Roy of Siegfried and Roy is doing and one theory on why his tiger might have turned on him.

Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: All right. We'd like to hear from you. If you are in a relationship, "What do you think. " Is online romance cheating? E- mail us now. Log on to cnn.com/360. Have some of your e-mails later on in the show.

That brings to our weeklong long at broken vows, infidelity in America. Tonight, "To Catch a Cheat." These days, you don't need a gum shoe on the case to do it. With the Internet, aiding and abetting so many affairs, you just need some stealthy software. Now if you're suspicious about your partner's long hours, just log on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): In the movies, catching a cheating spouse often looks like this.

But the reality today, often looks more like this.

There are now dozens of Web sites promising to help you catch a loved one fooling around online.

JOHN LASAGE, CHATCHEATERS.COM: I created the Web site after my wife left the country for someone she met on the Internet.

COOPER: John Lasage sells software that can record every keystroke typed on a computer.

LASAGE: Yes, you install it, and it runs in a stealth mode. So it's very difficult to find out that it's on the machine. And then when you're ready you type in a password and it pops up everything they did.

COOPER: The software is cheap and easy to find. Web sites have names like chatcheaters.com and cheatinghusbands.com.

Some concerned spouses resort to hidden cameras or recording calls. There are even GPS trackers that can be placed on cars.

Online monitoring technology was originally created to help parents track their children's Internet use. But tracking cheaters is increasingly popular.

LASAGE: It is sad that you would have to monitor your spouse, but in some cases it must be done.

COOPER: Lawyers and counselors say that online affairs are now one of the leading causes of divorce. And the best way to track it may be to go online yourself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: And when doing it yourself isn't enough, you can always call a private investigator.

Jeanne Holleway, who tracks down cheaters for a living -- she joins us from Houston.

And we're joined here by Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom with her thoughts on catching a cheat, and the question that's getting a lot of you riled up -- is cybersex really cheating?

Welcome to both of you. Jeanne, let me start off with you. You used to offer some of this software on your own Web site. How popular is it?

JEANNE HOLLEWAY, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: It's very popular, Anderson. Thanks for having me.

We have found that there has been an increased number of sales for this computer spy program. And it's very beneficial to us and our investigative work.

COOPER: All right. Now, Lisa, is -- I mean, is this legal for a spouse to basically spy on their spouse?

LISA BLOOM, COURT TV: Well, of course, the law varies from state to state, the safe answer. But generally it is. If you are doing something within your own marriage, you're bugging your own computer, you're putting a GPS on your own car, generally you're OK. If you're going into your divorced partner's home, you're trespassing, then you're on shaky legal ground. But I think what she's doing for the most part is fine.

COOPER: Jeanne, what's the best way you have found to track down, you know, infidelities? I mean, is it -- I understand you even have people rout through people's garbage?

HOLLEWAY: Oh, yes. That's very popular these days. The garbage collection we do provides us with leads, especially if you have a spouse that has gone out of town for the weekend. It leaves the other spouse at home and, of course, they try and discard everything. So we go through the trash.

COOPER: What else? Cell phone records, I guess? Credit cards?

HOLLEWAY: Cell phone. Exactly. Exactly. Even drug use, sex paraphernalia. It's amazing what we can find.

COOPER: Lisa, routing through garbage? That's OK? It's all...

BLOOM: Well, there's got to be a certain humiliation factor here, right? I mean, you're going through your spouse's garbage. You got to ask about the level of trust and respect in your own relationship. What the heck are you doing when you're doing when you're digging through garbage?

COOPER: I mean, I know in a lot of courts now -- I mean, there are no-fault divorces. It doesn't matter whether or not you are carrying on an affair.

BLOOM: Well, that's right.

COOPER: But online cheating -- I mean, do some courts consider it cheating?

BLOOM: For the most part, it's not going to help you in court. You're not going to get more money in a divorce settlement. Things are going to be split up 50/50 for the most part. Child custody isn't going to be affected. So you're really just doing this for your own peace of mind or lack thereof.

COOPER: Jeanne, when clients come to you -- I mean, what are the signs that they see and that you tell them they should look for, for someone who may be cheating?

HOLLEWAY: Well, there's lying, unaccountable times, mood swings, a change in their physical appearance, change in financial status. Some of them resort back to their youth.

COOPER: It's -- I mean, I guess it's sad it gets to this. Jeanne, do you get depressed in the work you do?

Do you distrust people?

HOLLEWAY: Absolutely not. This is reality. There is cheating 24/7, 365, and it just secures my job, and my job at (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Investigations. We're here. We're going to stay.

COOPER: Has the law caught up with all the ways there is to cheat?

BLOOM: It's a good question. The law looks at a reasonable expectation of privacy. You can go through garbage because we don't expect any privacy in our garbage. But I wonder, Jeanne, if I may ask you, do you ever tell people, what are you doing spending all this time looking for your cheating spouse. If you are suspicious, they probably are cheating, why don't you just move on?

HOLLEWAY: It not only provides proof that some court will recognize in situation depending on which state. Sometimes it's not always split 50/50. Sometimes if you can prove infidelity, adultery, the assets are split 75/25 instead of just 50/50.

COOPER: Have you ever been on a case where a spouse thought their love one was cheating and it turned out they weren't or is it pretty much always right.

HOLLEWAY: No, we have -- that is one thing. One reward of our job. We'd love to be able to go back to all of our clients and say, I'm sorry, but your spouse is not cheating. We have followed him for days. We've checked out the computer spy programs and there's nothing they are doing wrong. But unfortunately we can't.

BLOOM: But there's also people that go the other way. Look at Clara Harris in Texas who ended up running over her husband who she found out was cheating from a private investigator. Some people completely snap and lose it and there's actually violence as a result.

COOPER: Yes, certainly is.

All right fascinating discussion. Lisa Bloom, thanks very much.

Jeannie Holleway, thanks very much.

HOLLEWAY: Thank you, Anderson. COOPER: All right. Well, Friday is the conclusion to our week- long look at "Broken Vows: Infidelity in America." Tomorrow, meet a couple who survived betrayal. Find out how they faced the worst and manage to stay together.

So, what do Britney, Paul McCartney and Harry Potter, and Roy Horn have in common?

Well, tonight they are all together in "The Current."

Britney's, snob and Madonna has apparently left her (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You liked that Lisa didn't you. Britney has told reporters she might follow in her idol's footsteps and move to Britain. We're shocked. No word if she'll adopt a fake accent as well.

A real Brit, Sir Paul McCartney has a new baby girl. Beatrice Milly McCartney was born Tuesday night, to McCartney and his wife Heather Mills. I wanted to make some clever illusion to a Beatles song but I don't know any Beatles songs. Sorry it's my demo.

A doctor in Washington says he has seen a mysterious condition in a handful of kids and get this he's blaming Harry Potter. The strain of reading the books. He calls the pain "Hogwarts Headache." Potter's publisher didn't comment but Hermione Granger was heard to mutter something about Muggles trying to spoil our fun. I don't know she's bitter.

And Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy has been transfer from a Vegas Hospital to UCLA. He's in serious but stable condition. Meanwhile the "New York Post" suggested that Manticore, the tiger that bit Roy, may have had a deep-seeded grudge against him because he was taken from his mother tiger too soon. In other words, they are hinting Manticore has emotional baggage. Then again, don't we all.

And that's a check of "The Current."

Coming up -- fame calling to the "Nth Degree" and the answer to the burning question, what is Kato Kaelin up to these days?

First, todays the "Rock the Vote Web Question," are young voters more conservative than their parents? Vote now a couple seconds left. cnn.com/360 or you can vote using your cell phone. Text messenger answers yes or no to 26688 which is CNN TV on your mobile phone keypad. We don't need to tell Lisa Bloom that. Results when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Time for our "Rock the Vote Web Question." Are young voters more conservative than their parents. More than 100,000 of you have voted. 39 percent said, yes, 61 percent voted, no. Certainly not a scientific poll. Just viewer buzz. More than 100,000 voters. Thank you very much.

Now to some of your "Instant Feedback." Bill from Brownsville had this to say, "If it happens online and stays exclusively online," talking about cheating, "then it is absolutely not cheating." All right.

But Deb from Melbourne weighed in with a women's prospective and said, "Of course online relationships are cheating. I've had guys try to have cybersex with me, and I have told them that my criteria is this: if their wife were sitting there, would they be saying the same things to me?" Not a bad idea there, Deb.

Send us your "Instant Feedback." Log on any time, day or night to cnn.com/360.

Finally from us -- fame calling to the "Nth Degree."

You ever wonder what happens to some celebrities when the clock hits 16 minutes and the residual checks have slowed to a trickle?

Have you ever wish you could give them a helping hand?

Well, now you can thanks to hollywoodiscalling.com. Here's how it works. Maybe it's your birthday and you want TV's Todd Bridges to wish you well or say you get a promotion and you want Kato Kaelin to say, well done. After all, he was awesome in O.J. Well, for 30 bucks you can pen your own message and a celebrity will call it in. Frankly, I didn't believe this actually exists but my crack staff got a mystery celebrity to leave me a message. I have not heard it yet, honestly. Have no clue who it's from. Let's check my voice mail.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

COOPER: Hey, it's Anderson, please leave a message.

ANORLD HORSHACK, HOLLYWOODISCALLING.COM: Hello, Anderson. How do? this is Arnold Horshack from hollywoodiscalling.com. Good luck on your big event on Tuesday. "America Rocks the Vote" with all the Democratic candidates, and if you hear some teenage in the audience yelling out, "Oh, oh, oh, Mr. Cooper, I have a question for General Clark," just put them in their place. It worked for Mr. Carter. The message will be saved.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

COOPER: I'm not going to delete that message for a very long time. Nice to know I guess, some stars never fade. That raps up our program for tonight. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





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