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A Piece of Air France Flight's Tail Found; Fiat Says It Won't Walk Away From Chrysler; North Korea Threatens to Use Nuclear Weapons "If Provoked"; High Schooler Attends Graduation Via Skype; Study Shows Links Between Lack of Sleep and Disease; Some Question How Many Jobs Stimulus Has Created; Iranians Try to Get Out the Vote; Republicans and Democrats Spar Over Public Insurance Option; Fisherman Lands Live Missile

Aired June 09, 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: A Florida fisherman reels one in and he lets the live round stay on his boat for 10 days.

And two more reasons you need your sleep. Head off risks of high blood pressure and diabetes.

It is Tuesday, June 9th. Hi, everybody, I'm Heidi Collins, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

CNN crews are working hard to bring you the stories today from land, sea, and air. In fact, Karl Penhaul is following the Air France crash in the Atlantic Ocean. Will new discovers of wreckage help determine the cause of the tragedy?

And Elaine Quijano is covering Chrysler's fight to survive. Will the Supreme Court steps in, a white knight stays put and the White House speaks out?

And Christine Romans is, of course, as usual, following the bottom line to all of this. What does a pending deal mean to a very troubled industry?

Here's the very latest now on the Air France investigation. First off, a piece of the tail section has been recovered. And aviation experts say it could provide clues as to why Flight 447crashed last week.

It could also help search crews locate the plane's so-called black boxes. The flight data recorder and the voice recorder are located near the plane's tail. And so far, 24 bodies have been recovered now. 228 people were aboard, making this the worst aviation accident since 2001.

I want to get the very latest now from CNN's Karl Penhaul. He is on the island of Fernando de Noronha. That is right off Brazil. He's joining us live via broadband today.

So, Karl, many of the answers may, of course, depend on finding the voice and data recorders. Are searchers facing any long odds in recovering those? Because primarily of the depth of the sea that we're talking about. KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are huge problems associated with the haul of this search and recovery effort. At least one of the chapters of that effort is now just -- that behind as a black hawk helicopter, black hawk helicopter has just landed and that is bringing with it the first eight bodies that have been recovered from this crash.

Those have been winched off the deck of the Navy ship that is now sitting about 30 miles off the coast of Fernando de Noronha island. That brought those bodies from this absolutely massive search.

More bodies will be brought here to this airstrip later in the day along with some of the pieces of debris that have so far been found. One of the biggest pieces so far found, in fact, was yesterday. The vertical stabilizer from the tail section of the plane.

But yes, the hunt for the voice and data recorders goes on. The French Navy has said that it is sending a nuclear submarine to join that hunt. That is expected to be in the search area by tomorrow.

The U.S. Navy, as well, is also contributing with some acoustic detectors. And what they will do is be dragged across the ocean surface listening for the pings from the black box. But the big problem here, Heidi, is that those black boxes may be simply too deep to be recovered.

COLLINS: Well, understood, certainly a lot of challenges there. We sure do appreciate it. Karl Penhaul coming to us live via broadband this morning.

Thanks so much, Karl. We'll check back with you later on.

And tragedy averted. This hour, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is in Washington to talk about the so-called miracle landing of his U.S. Airways airliner on the Hudson River. Flight 1549 was brought down in January when a flock of Canadian geese knocked out both engines.

The National Transportation Safety Board is opening a three-day hearing on the growing threats posed by collisions like this. Many bird populations have increased in recent years. And at the same time, there are rising numbers of commercial flights.

We do have an update on what may be Chrysler's last chance at staying in business. Italian car maker Fiat says it won't walk away from a controlling stake despite a Supreme Court decision that throws the deal into limbo.

Let's get the very latest now from CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning.

So, Elaine, I imagine they are keeping a pretty close eye on this decision from the Supreme Court, right?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, Heidi. Officials are certainly keeping very close tabs on this situation. And just how are they interpreting this action by the Supreme Court? What are officials here thinking?

Well, here's what a senior administration official told my colleague Suzanne Malveaux yesterday after Justice Ginsburg ordered that delay. The officials said, quote, "We understand this to be an administrative extension designed to allow sufficient time for the court to make a determination on the merits of a request for a stay."

Now what does that mean in English? Well, a number of experts say do not read anything into this delay. They say that in and of itself it does not have any legal significance and that it certainly should not be read as any kind of indication as to how the high court might actually rule.

Well, that said, that is certainly not what the Obama administration wants to see. They, of course, wanted to see Chrysler move through this bankruptcy process very quickly, they wanted to see this deal with Fiat move through.

So Heidi, you can imagine, they are watching with bated breath to see what the Supreme Court's next actions are going to be here. Heidi?

COLLINS: Yes, a lot of people very interested in this one, that's for sure. All right. So we go from the state of Chrysler's health to the nation's health, our health. President Obama later on today is going to make a speech about how the government spends money. What do you have for us on that? What are we going to hear?

QUIJANO: Right. Financial health is the name of the game here. Later today, we're going to hear President Obama, who's expected to make remarks on what's known as the pay-go principle. And it's exactly what it sounds like. It's where the government basically would pay for things like tax cuts, say, or entitlement programs as you go.

Why is this a big deal? Well, the Obama administration, President Obama has been taking a lot of heat, not just from Republicans, but from some fiscally conservative Democrats, as well, about deficit spending. So this will be a chance for President Obama to try and push back against some of that.

We'll wait to see if he makes any kind of announcements or proposals. But that's what we're expecting to hear the president talk about this pay-go principle later this afternoon. Heidi?

COLLINS: Yes. OK. All right. Well, we'll be watching for that. Elaine Quijano, sure do appreciate it from the White House this morning.

For Chrysler, of course, time is money. Money lost, that is. And will the pending ripple far beyond just this one automaker? Here with a closer look at that, Christine Romans of our CNN money team.

So, Christine, what is the significance of this delay we were just talking with Elaine about?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, essentially, the Supreme Court putting the pause button on this whole process. So it's the first sort of roadblock in what was promised to be a surgical quick bankruptcy of Chrysler led by the White House.

And it is, in fact, that. It is the pause button on that process. We just don't know how long that's going to last. But we do -- and what happens next in terms of legal rulings. But we know that every minute, every day that goes by, there are concerns about jobs lost and concerns about supplier bankruptcies.

So we're watching that. And also, a lot of folks are pointing out, this is the first sort of review, if you will, of the president's strategy here, unprecedented intervention in the American economy and the auto sector. So this is the Supreme Court checks and balances could be actually, you know, acting on that and actually the first real review of what we're doing here.

COLLINS: So who are the creditors? And what do they want?

ROMANS: Well, their challenge is that look, we are a small group of Indiana pensioners. You know we are firefighters, we are teachers, we have $42 million that we loaned to Chrysler, and you're going to give us 29 cents on the dollar back. That's not fair, and that is against all precedent in bankruptcy court.

So they're challenging that saying, essentially, that the bankruptcy plan with the judge and the administration has steam rolled their interests and the bondholders say that it is a small victory, this pressing the pause button is a small victory for them. So this is a small group of Indiana investors, $42 million invested in this company, and sounds like they're going to have more time for the court to review their request for a stay in this whole sale.

COLLINS: Yes. It does sound like it. What about the "Romans' Numeral" for today?

ROMANS: "Romans' Numeral". This is 69,444. Of course, "Romans' Numeral", a number that we kind of like to give you a little bit of texture on the story of the day.

Heidi, this is how much money Chrysler loses every minute.

COLLINS: Every minute.

ROMANS: Think of that.

COLLINS: Of every day.

ROMANS: Every minute of every day. That's why every second really counts here. That's why so many of the suppliers are concerned about a slowdown in the process. And we are funding. American taxpayers are providing the operating capital for this company while it's operating in bankruptcy.

COLLINS: That's right.

ROMANS: So just to give you a little bit of context of what's ailing this company and how much money is losing every single minute.

COLLINS: All right. I don't know if we want to keep watching that or not. Yikes.

(LAUGHTER)

COLLINS: All right. Christine Romans with the "Romans' Numeral".

ROMANS: Very important stuff.

COLLINS: Thank you.

ROMANS: You're welcome.

COLLINS: We'll check back on later on.

A developing story that we are following here today. Also a Guantanamo Bay detainee indicted in a 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in east Africa is in New York today to face criminal charges.

Ahmed Ghailani, who is from Tanzania, is the first detainee held at Guantanamo to be transferred to the United States to face criminal prosecution. Now he has been held at the camp in Cuba for nearly three years. So we'll watch that one for you here.

Defiant and unrepentant. North Korea has strong words for the international community.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Seven reports of tornadoes across the Midwest yesterday, more likely to fire in Kansas today and the Northeast getting rocked right now. Delays, air travel across the board.

The CNN NEWSROOM is coming right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: North Korea is not backing down after violating U.N. sanctions by conducting a nuclear test last month. The communist nation has a message for the international community. Now it says it will use nuclear weapons in a, quote, "merciless offensive if provoked."

CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us now live with more on this.

So Barbara, put this in perspective for us. When we hear words like that, it certainly is alarming, is it not?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, here at the Pentagon, I have to tell you, Heidi, they're taking all of North Korea's rhetoric very seriously and they are seeing new evidence that North Korea may be getting ready for another round of missile launches.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): Spy satellites over North Korea have observed vehicles and other activities at west coast missile launch sites, indicating Pyongyang may be preparing to launch a long-range missile capable of hitting the U.S. and medium-range missiles that could hit Asian neighbors.

Tensions on the rise. North Korea just accused the south of sending patrol boats into a disputed area off the western coast. And off the eastern port of Wonsan, shipping has been banned until the end of the month.

The Pentagon joined the tough U.S. talk, making clear Defense secretary Robert Gates...

GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: Is sick of responding to North Korean provocations by making concessions that get you back to the status quo ante only to see this all unfold again.

STARR: Gates is now looking at military options if North Korea doesn't stop its nuclear program.

MORRELL: He has tasked his policy team with trying to figure out creative and prudent ways to bolster defenses.

STARR: Morrell wouldn't be specific. But what about stopping North Korean weapon exports on the high seas, denying Pyongyang that cash flow? Experts warn it could get very nasty.

JOHN PARK, U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE: The North Koreans will not view this as something that is standard procedure or supported by international law. For them, it would be akin to a violation of their sovereignty and as they stated, a declaration of war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: So, Heidi, one of the questions is, what is really going on here? What's North Korea really up to? The U.S. intelligence community believes part of this may all be about a succession crisis.

Kim Jong-Il has appointed one of his sons to succeed him when he dies and there may be a lot of maneuvering going on at the highest levels in North Korea as that struggle for power goes on. All of it very unsettling, very dangerous. Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr for us this morning. Thanks, Barbara.

More on North Korea now. The families of two American journalists imprisoned there are hoping for an act of clemency from the communist government. In a joint statement, the families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee urge the government to show the young women some compassion.

The U.S. could send an envoy to help negotiate their release. The two journalists were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.

The CIA is asking a federal court to keep its interrogation records classified. Director Leon Panetta says releasing those records compromises national security. Critics of the agency say some of those interrogation methods amounted to torture.

Panetta says he's not trying to spare the CIA any embarrassment. He insists making the records public would give al Qaeda ammunition for its propaganda war against the United States.

Rob Marciano standing by now in the Severe Weather Center. Talking about everybody's biggest nightmare, sitting around in the airport for a really long time.

MARCIANO: Yes, luckily Tuesday not the biggest travel day of the week. But certainly folks who are trying to get from here to there are having a hard time.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: Yes. Yes. Summer weather just now beginning it seems like. All these not fun tornadoes. Five we had in Colorado yesterday, too? Right?

MARCIANO: Yes...

COLLINS: That was over the weekend.

MARCIANO: That was the day before yesterday. It was pretty active across parts of -- and congratulations to the Vortex mission. Didn't get to say this on Friday after over three weeks, Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes.

MARCIANO: Remember we went (INAUDIBLE) in the beginning. They were -- it was a complete bust for 25 days and finally on Friday, they were able to chase one down...

COLLINS: Really?

MARCIANO: ... and got some good data out of that. And they'll probably be able to chase one down, I think, in Kansas today.

COLLINS: Interesting. All right. As long as everybody's safe, we know that's a big success for them.

MARCIANO: Yes.

COLLINS: All right. Rob Marciano, thank you. We'll check back later on with you.

MARCIANO: You got it.

COLLINS: Sure, lack of sleep may make you pretty irritable, but there are also two long-term health risks you face if you're not getting enough shut-eye. We'll tell you about it. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: The custody fight over an American boy living in Brazil is still the big story right now on our blog. In fact, a lot of you have commented on the case. And later in the show, we're going to read some of your comments on this case.

You still have time to tell us what you think. Just go to CNN.com/newsroom and then click on my picture.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Steven Lee wasn't able to go to his high school graduation after being diagnosed with leukemia. But he was able to virtually attend the ceremony via Skype, the webcam Internet service. While Steven watched from a hospital 100 miles away, his mom picked up his diploma.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN LEE, GRADUATE: It's quite an experience especially being here in the hospital and deal with the IT guys and at the same time dealing with my house, as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: That virtual stuff only goes so far. After the ceremony, Steven's mom hurried to the hospital so he could hold the diploma in his own hands.

Congratulations to him.

Well, anyone who has tried to burn the candle at both ends knowing functioning on just a couple hour's sleep can leave you pretty fuzzy headed. But science is now showing it can also be bad for your long-term health.

Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here now with the very latest on this.

So, Sanjay, we joke a lot around here about, you know, I got two hours last night.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Big fuzzy headed. Yes.

COLLINS: And we kind of compete a little bit.

GUPTA: Yes.

COLLINS: But when it comes down to it, I mean, there are other things you really need to worry about when you're not getting enough sleep.

GUPTA: Yes, we're getting a much better understanding of what sleep does or if you get lack of sleep, what it that does to your body. What was interesting is, as much as we talk about sleep, Heidi, how few people are getting the recommended amount. This was part of a new study, as well. Just about 1 percent of people are getting the recommended eight hours of sleep. But...

COLLINS: Is it still eight hours?

(LAUGHTER)

GUPTA: I know. It almost seem ridiculous, eight hours anymore.

COLLINS: It does.

GUPTA: Most people are sort of woven that six-hour range, which simply isn't enough and it causes a cascade of things in the body, really, when you're not getting enough sleep.

Some new studies coming out specifically looking at the lack of sleep, and when they say insomnia, you know, getting less than five hours on average a night. So you might have a couple of good nights here and there. But less than five hours a night, you really start to increase your risk of diabetes, for example, three times risk of diabetes.

Now to be fair, it doesn't mean that if you haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately that you're going to become diabetic suddenly. But there are these real risks and these real changes that happen in the body. For every hour of sleep that you start to lose over a period of time, you're also going to start to increase your likelihood of developing high blood pressure.

Now I should point out, you're looking at a sleep study there.

COLLINS: Yes, I remember that.

GUPTA: I was fascinated by sleep and they put the bandanna on to keep those electrodes in my head not because I was going to a punk rock concert.

COLLINS: Or you had really bad hair.

GUPTA: That's right.

(LAUGHTER)

A really bad hair. But the -- I fell asleep, like, in three minutes despite all of the cameras and the electrodes in my head. I was so sleep deprived. But the idea that, you know, if you're not getting enough sleep, over time you start to develop the sleep debt. So losing an hour a night, every night of the week, by the seventh night it's almost like you didn't get any sleep at all.

COLLINS: Yes.

GUPTA: So you really do accumulate all that.

COLLINS: Yes. It's -- wow. I don't get it, though. Why diabetes in particular? I kind of understand high blood pressure. But I'm not sure I get...

GUPTA: They're not entirely sure why. But they think there's a bunch of stress hormones that are released. Cortisol, for example, is a hormone that's released in response to stress. Not getting enough sleep is a type of stressor on the body. And one of the things that happens is you mobilize sugar into your bloodstream.

COLLINS: Sure. OK.

GUPTA: As a result of the stress hormone. That could be it, but you know, frankly, researchers really aren't sure about that.

COLLINS: Yes. All right. Well, any tips on ways to fall asleep faster? I mean you fell asleep in three minutes.

GUPTA: I thought -- I mean you can just be really tired all the time. That's one thing.

(LAUGHTER)

But you know, I almost feel silly giving tips on falling asleep or getting the sleep because, I mean, a lot of it is basic. You know, trying to -- make your room as dark as possible, find the right temperature between 70 and 74 degrees, no electronics, no exercising, no alcohol before bed.

COLLINS: Yes.

GUPTA: Couple of other things I think that are helpful is really giving yourself a period of time to unwind for a little bit between shutting off the laptop and getting to bed. Ten minutes. Take 10 minutes. It's all worth it.

Also after 15 minutes, if you're an insomniac and you're simply just lying there, looking at your BlackBerry, Heidi Collins.

(LAUGHTER)

COLLINS: Me?

GUPTA: Get up out of bed and go somewhere else in the room, some place other than your bed and finish off your activities, then get back to bed.

COLLINS: OK.

GUPTA: Fifteen minutes.

COLLINS: OK. If it didn't have that little blinking light.

(CROSSTALK)

GUPTA: Who's writing me, I've got to know.

COLLINS: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks, appreciate that.

GUPTA: Thank you.

COLLINS: The fight over your future health care. The president and congressional Democrats want a public insurance option, but Republicans say not so fast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: On Wall Street, stocks managed to eke out a little bit of a gain in yesterday's final minutes of trading. But today there are questions about the nation's biggest banks as we listen to the opening bells on this Tuesday morning. And Chrysler's plan to exit bankruptcy has hit a detour now, too.

Our Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with a preview of the trading day.

Hi there, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. Yes, questions, no answers, but you know what? We had a big turn around late in the session yesterday where the Dow is off 130 points and managed to eke out a gain of one point. We're expecting, well, slightly higher open, that's what we're seeing in the first seconds of trading.

That's what we're seeing in the first seconds of trading. Let's get to one of the big questions. Of course, it surrounds the fate of Chrysler. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg late yesterday delayed the automaker's exit from bankruptcy by granting a request that a group of Indiana pension funds sought. The delay may only be temporary. Justice Ginsberg could decide on her own to end this day or ask the full court to decide. But time's certainly a big issue for Chrysler.

Congress, meanwhile, will take up the issue of TARP today. A joint Senate House Committee will hold the hearing on the government's bailout efforts. And the Obama administration is expected to announce that up to 10 banks will be allowed to repay the loans they received from the government. Several reports say the payments could top $50 billion.

And finally, tech giant, Texas Instruments, has raised its quarterly profit and sales outlook due to strength in Asia. T.I. shares right now are up 6.5 percent. And that's big, Heidi, because Texas instruments makes chips. Chips are in everything, not only cookies these days.

Checking the numbers, the Dow is up 10, the NASDAQ is up 7. Unfortunately, oil is up, too, trading right now $69.50 a barrel.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. A lot of people really watching the gas prices, too.

LISOVICZ: It affects us all.

COLLINS: Yes, it does. All right, Susan. We'll check back later. Thank you.

LISOVICZ: See you later.

COLLINS: President Obama's push for health care reform has run up against a Republican road block. It's over a public insurance option.

CNN's Dana Bash with the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do want to thank you so much for coming.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this Virginia living room...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a time in history when there may be a chance to change things.

BASH: ...President Obama's foot soldiers recruiting grassroots help for his looming battle -- health care reform.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To get this done, I need your voice to be part of the debate.

BASH: But, even as Democratic organizers start to rally thousands of activists across the country, Republicans are firing a warning shot, calling the president's push to expand health coverage with a new government insurance option a deal-breaker.

SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: There are a lot of people in my party, on the Republican side, who want to work with Democrats, who want to get this done, but who are totally against a public plan.

BASH: Orrin Hatch is one of nine Republicans on the powerful Senate Finance Committee who wrote the president arguing, a government-run program competing with private insurers, would, quote, "inevitably doom true competition."

GOP senators insist that would jeopardize quality.

HATCH: There is no way that we can be for a public-plan option, because that will put the government between you and your doctor. It will raise cost dramatically.

BASH: But many Democrats, from the president on down, argue, Americans will benefit from a public plan that gives private insurers competition.

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D), IOWA: It is both about coverage and cost, because we believe, you know, with a public-option plan, that will act as a crosscheck on the insurance companies. And I think that's a good thing.

BASH: So far, Ted Kennedy is the only key Democrat to draft health care legislation. It would require all Americans to have health insurance and create a government-run insurance program that would offer essential benefits, including doctor and hospital care and prescription drugs.

Most Democrats like Kennedy's plan, but many also say it has no chance of getting bipartisan support. So more centrist Democrats are considering ideas to scale back the government insurance program to put assurances in that a public plan can compete fairly with private insurers.

Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: President Obama is focusing today on how the government plans to pay off its enormous tab. He will talk about what's known in Washington as the pay-go or pay-as-you-go system. President Obama says it's based on a very simple concept. He says you don't spend what you don't have. And you want to spend, well, you need to find somewhere else to cut.

A lot of people are saying the White House was wrong in its prediction about jobs in America. So what happened? And how many jobs is the stimulus plan really building?

Our Josh Levs is here now with a reality check of all of that.

Hi there, Josh. What did you find out?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You got it, Heidi.

Yes. Well, they were wrong about something. I'll tell you. Back in January, top economic officials in this administration gave a specific prediction. Also, it's here on a graphic. They said if the stimulus plan passed, that unemployment was going to top off at 8 percent this year in September.

Well, we know the stimulus plan did pass, but look what happened. This is where things are now, 9.4 percent. And that's with the stimulus. So top economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden gave this explanation yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED BERNSTEIN, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: When we made our initial estimates, that was before we had fourth quarter results on GDP, which we later found out was contracting on an annual rate of six percent, far worse than we expected at that time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: And Heidi, they argue that there are still more jobs than there would be without the stimulus having passed.

COLLINS: So how many more? I mean, what are the numbers that we're talking about? They threw out a lot of numbers in the beginning. And I wondered, you know, where did they find that? What's the research to show?

LEVS: Right. In fact, there's one particular number the president has been giving.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In these last few months, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has saved or created nearly 150,000 jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: That's the big figure you've been hearing. But the Bureau of Labor and Statistics says you really can't know at this point how many jobs have been created. And PolitiFact.com, which is this great reality checking Web site. They say this. I have a quote for you.

They said, "The figure is really not much better than a guess presented as a fact." They raised that statement barely true. And it boils down to some attempts to do calculations, but honestly right now we cannot know how many jobs have been created by the stimulus.

COLLINS: Well, some of the jobs created by the stimulus aren't what many people think of, though, when they hear the word jobs either.

Right?

LEVS: Another good point. Yes.

And, in fact, you can get more details here, cnn.com/jobs. But what we're talking about here is that some of the jobs are short-term work on construction sites.

So, you know, when you and I here about jobs, we're thinking about lasting job, maybe benefits. In some cases, these are jobs that you get as a construction worker or some kind of contract gone in a couple of weeks.

COLLINS: Yes. Temporary. All right. All right, well, we appreciate the information. I know you'll keep looking into it.

Josh Levs for us. Thank you, Josh.

LEVS: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: An Oregon woman charged with murdering her pregnant friend may face an additional charge in the baby's death. The suspect Korena Roberts appeared in court yesterday, but did not enter a plea in the murder charge. Police say Roberts cut open Heather Snively's abdomen to take her baby and pass it off as her own. Snively's body was found Friday in the crawl space of Roberts' home. Investigators are waiting on test results to determine whether Snively's baby had breathed even once before he died. That could lead to another charge against Roberts.

Authorities in Mexico say a day care center fire may have been started in an adjacent building. Investigators are looking at a possible short circuit or overheating in air-conditioning system. The death toll has risen to 44 children. More than 30 children and adults with severe burns and smoke inhalation are struggling to survive, including three toddlers being cared for in a California hospital.

The election race really heating up in Iran. Voters choose a president on Friday.

Our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour tells us why this race could go down to the wire.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: With just days to go before Iran's presidential election, Tehran seems to be in the midst of a giant get-out-to-vote street party.

Bidding a wishful farewell to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, supporters of the leading opposition candidate Mir Hossein Musavi organized a human chain from the north of town all the way down to the south.

(on camera): In the last week, the election here has suddenly taken a much more energetic turn. Rallies for all of the candidates, particularly the top two, are jamming the streets. Here, up in the (INAUDIBLE) part of Tehran, young people, women wearing all manners of the head scarf as required by the law. And it will in the end be the turnout that makes the difference.

(voice over): Women appear to be leading the charge. They say they want more freedom and equal rights, even those who don't feel safe enough to reveal their faces, just their hopes. Police watch but don't intervene.

This young man, like so many, says he's simply fed up with life in Iran today. I can take it no more, his sign proclaims. Go green for Musavi. So green some have leaves strapped to their bodies. They want jobs, better pay, more opportunities.

And when one of President Ahmadinejad's supporters strays into this opposition stronghold, the mood is ruckus as the two camps try to drown each other out. Further downtown, the president's supporters are preparing a big rally in a mosque complex.

"I support Ahmadinejad," says this man, "because he built up the country, he's sincere and he's not corrupt."

"Mr. Ahmadinejad, the best man, the most powerful man, he will definitely win," says this woman, "we believe in him."

Experts believe Iran will continue its nuclear program no matter who wins. And when it comes to relations with the U.S. and President Obama -- MOHAMMAD MARANDI, HEAD OF N. AMERICAN STUDIES, TEHRAN UNIV.: I think that either of the two candidates, they would respond positively to the United States if they feel that the United States makes a significant move towards improving relations.

I think that neither of the two candidates, they would respond positively to the united states if they feel that the united states makes a significant move towards improving relations.

AMANPOUR (on camera): And this, of course, would come just a week after the elections in Lebanon which saw the pro-Western coalition winning there just this past weekend. And here in Tehran, it's really been unprecedented with many, many more thousands of supporters of the opposition coming out than expected in that human trade, which was really some 17 kilometers all the way from up town to downtown with people coming out not just in the chain but also from apartments, to shops, from restaurants, to look at what was going on and to join in.

Very heated, unprecedented live television debates have added a real sense of a race here. And once he had a front-runner status, Ahmadinejad, the sitting president, but now it is anybody to win. And there are some polls here who are suggesting that the main reformist candidate Mousavi may indeed win. But still we have to caution that polls here not always reliable and we'll wait for Friday to know for sure.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Yes. Well, it will be very interesting to watch. That's for sure.

Our international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour.

Christiane, thank you.

COLLINS: Twenty-four people, including a 4-year-old child, injured in the latest acid attack in Hong Kong. Yesterday's attack was the third in the same district in the past six months. Officials are reviewing surveillance tapes right now looking for clues. They say a bottle containing acid was tossed off the top of the building. They think all of the attacks may have been carried out by the same person.

Newt Gingrich tries to pump up the Republican Party. His advice on how the GOP can retake the majority.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We want to head back over to severe weather center with Rob Marciano standing by because there's some nasty, nasty weather in the northeast, and a lot of people probably sitting at airports.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: It ain't easy being green. Kermit the Frog was telling it like it is, especially when it comes to safely getting rid of old TVs, computers and other electronics that you might have. So how do you get rid of them?

CNN's personal finance editor, Gerri Willis, joins us with some recycling answers.

And Gerri, I want to talk to you about my old grill has been sitting outside, too. But let's start with this -- the TVs. A lot of people getting rid of them right now.

How exactly is the TV recycled?

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Well, Heidi, you know, after June 12th this year when most television station will broadcast only in digital, and that means there could be a tsunami of old analog sets heading for the trash can. If you're getting rid of your old TV, look for opportunities to recycle.

Here's some places to check out, earth911.com, mygreenelectronics.org and the National Recycling Coalition and nrcrecycle.org.

Look, many charitable organizations will no longer be accepting analog TVs. Please check with the organization before you drop it off because they may turn you away.

COLLINS: Yes, wow. Well, what about recycling your computer? And, you know, you and I have talked many times about somehow getting them to a school systems that normally wouldn't be able to afford, you know, a computer.

WILLIS: Well, it gets a little tricky. Yes, I think that's a great idea. But you may find that the company you buy your next computer from will take the old one off your hands either for free or at a nominal cost. Manufacturers like Apple, Dell, HP, provide computer recycling services.

Keep in mind, some manufacturers will pick up your old computers and hardware, but other manufacturers require that you ship the electronics to them, and that can cost you $30.

Look, if you want to recycle your iPod or your cell phone, you can do that at an Apple store. And companies also accept used ink and toner cartridges. I've done this myself since they can be filled and resolved. That's the smart thing to do.

And it's not only manufacturers, retailers accept used computer equipment for recycling. Some retailers like Best Buy sponsor recycling events. There's often a little box you can drop the stuff off at the front of the store. Check on the retailer Web site to see if there's an upcoming event in your neighborhood.

COLLINS: All right. Some great ideas.

Thanks so much, Gerri.

People always wondering what to do with that stuff. Don't want to waste it.

WILLIS: My pleasure.

COLLINS: Gerri Willis, our personal finance editor. Thanks.

Fisherman reels in danger. It's a live air to air guided missile. And it stayed on the boat for ten days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Here's a look now at what's making headlines in Capitol Hill. Some banks eager to pay back the billions of dollars they receive in federal bailout money could find out today if the government will actually let them do that. The banks don't want the federal strength that come with the so called TARP money. Some experts say the payback could widen the gap between healthy and weak banks.

Former speaker Newt Gingrich is urging the Republican Party to be inclusive as it tries to retake the majority. He was the keynote speaker last night at the fund-raising dinner for the Senate and House Republican campaign committees. Gingrich talked about Republicans Reaching out to the American people and making sure President Obama only serves one term.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: Now, history teaches us that there's a clearer road back to a majority. That this is a time for optimism, for solutions and for a focus on hope and opportunity. We must focus on solving America's problems and creating solutions for America. The American people will take care of the Republican Party if we will work with them and focus on helping them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin appeared at the dinner. Organizers said she wavered for weeks on whether she would show. She didn't make a speech, but the crowd was happy to see her.

There is an awful lot going on this morning, and CNN crews are in place to bring it to you.

Let's begin with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon this morning.

Hi, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. More unsettling moves by North Korea. We'll have that at the top of the hour.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jim Acosta in Washington where the battle lines are being drawn over health care. I'll have that story coming up in NEWSROOM.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Christine Romans in New York. Were the stress tests for the banks stressful enough? We'll talk about whether the assumptions in those stress test might not have been good enough?

Heidi?

COLLINS: All right. Thanks, guys. Appreciate that.

Also the custody fight over an American boy living in Brazil is still the big story right now on our blog. Give a look at this, cnn.com/newsroom. We have been taking your comments for a couple of days now. It's doing a lot on the story here and we have gotten a series of response. You can read the story first, or at least the updates on it, and then go ahead and post your comment.

Right now, we've got about 84 comments that you can see on this. We want to bring some of them to you. And, of course, we will do that coming up in just a little while.

What will happen to the boy and what will happen to his father and their relationship as well.

We're back in a moment right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Well, it's a whopper, but it's no fish tail. A fisherman hooked a live missile 50 miles off Panama City, Florida. The air-to-air guided missile was onboard Rodney Soloman's boat for ten days before he returned to port.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL O'NEILL, CREW MEMBER: I had it on my shoulder. I dropped it on the concrete. You know, I think if it was going to blow when it hit the ground, it should have.

RODNEY SOLOMAN, HOOKED MISSILE: I'm almost kind of afraid. And they were like, wow, man, they say, you always took a big chance of bringing in this missile. You have it on the boat for ten days. At any time it could explode on you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The MacDill Air Force base bomb squad dismantled the missile properly.