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U.S. Troops Pull out of Iraqi Cities, Violence Ensues; Did Michael Jackson Leave a Will?; Gay Soldier Speaks Out about Military Policy; States May Need to Cut Services; British Royal Family Asks for More Money

Aired June 30, 2009 - 13:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Kyra Phillips.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Tony, thanks so much.

When you're talking about money, things can get heated. Big money, things can get explosive. We're pushing forward today on Michael Jackson's finances, his family, and his final wishes. What and where is the last will for the Thriller?

U.S. troops and the flag they serve pull back from Iraqi cities. Iraqi citizens wonder and worry about the withdrawal. Our Michael Ware is live from Baghdad.

And the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, no-longer-on-the-market medicine? Could be, once FDA advisers vote on combo cold meds.

Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hopes and fears meeting head-on right now in Iraq, on this day when U.S. troops complete their pullback from Iraqi cities and towns. Insurgents respond in deadly ways. In Kirkuk, at least 25 people killed; at least twice that number hurt in the latest bombing. Houses, shops destroyed. The bombing is just the latest in a series over the last ten days that have left hundreds of people dead in that country, including four of our U.S. soldiers that were killed yesterday.

Iraq's renewed sense of national pride coming with a cost. Still, the American military believes Iraqi police and soldiers can handle it all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, COMMANDER, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCES IN IRAQ: We've been out of the cities, a large majority of the cities now, for the last eight months. So, it's really only Mosul and the last remnants that we've had in Baghdad that have pulled out over the last few weeks. So we've actually been implementing this in many parts of Baghdad for a long time. And they understand what their mission is. They understand what we expect them to do and...

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: Well, things are playing out just like many Iraqi and American politicians and military types had predicted. We've got the story covered in Baghdad with our Michael Ware and also CNN's Atia Abawi is in Afghanistan. Some troops leaving Iraq will end up there at some point on a new assignment.

Michael, let's go ahead and go to you first. What do you think? Do U.S. troops there really think that Iraq's police and military are ready for this?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra -- excuse me. Kyra, that's a yes and a no answer. In a vacuum, the Iraqi security forces simply are not yet up to this fight. There's hundreds and thousands of them in the Iraqi Army, the police, the national police. But their loyalties can be a question. Their equipment also may not be up to what they need.

And their procedures, despite endless hours of American training, they insist on doing it the way they prefer. And that's the way they knew under Saddam.

So, yes, can they hold the line right now? They can. General Ray Odierno is correct. But that's only because 130,000 American combat troops are still here on the ground.

Now, as you say, they've pulled out of the cities and retreated to pre-designated bases outside of the populated centers. They're not far away. But they cannot operate on their own in the urban environment, which, as you know, has been the heart of this war. They're in a supporting role, the U.S. forces. They must either ask for the Iraq's government permission to act, or they have to wait for an invitation.

Nonetheless, it's their presence, their helicopters, their air power, their heavy weaponry that's underwriting or acting as the insurance for these still rather nascent Iraqi security forces to hold the line against this bombing campaign that's been going for years.

This has been conducted not by the insurgency. The insurgency's playing a political game. This has been done by the extremists. In this case, these hideous bombings like the one we've just seen that's killed 30 -- 30 -- and many of them women and children by al Qaeda in Iraq and its allies, who are trying to return Iraq to sectarian civil war.

Meanwhile, you have Iranian-backed extremists, Shia militants, who are still lobbing missiles and rockets on their U.S. embassy and the Green Zone. The Iraqi security forces alone can't bring that to an end as it stands, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And you bring up such a good point. You talk about still this cultural difference of what you have to fight a war that many of these Iraqis haven't -- have never had to deal with before. I mean, you've talked to Iraqis; I've talked to Iraqis. They said, you know, "We never knew how to deal with a terrorist until this war started." So, what are the Iraqis telling you? What are the members of the police and the Iraqis you know that live there and members of the military? I mean, do they think they can handle this? Or are they scared to death to lose U.S. troops, who are still training them?

WARE: Some feel positive, rightly or wrongly, they can handle this. "Let us do it in the Iraqi way," is what they say.

And, Kyra, I think you know as well as I do what they mean by that. Either way, even those who are a bit more realistic or a bit less callous, shall we say, there's a point where they don't care. People are just so happy that the U.S. phase of this war, the U.S.-led phase, is over. No matter how you look at it, to the Iraqis, it's been a foreign occupation. That's now over. And if the price of that is they have to face the militants alone, by and large, despite the apprehension, they're ready to pay that price, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Michael Ware, I know it's been a long day and a long night for you. Appreciate you staying up for us.

WARE: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Well, the next big deadline for American forces in Iraq is August 2010. and that's when President Obama says that all U.S. combat troops will be gone, and they pack up and pull out. Many are headed to a very different war in Afghanistan.

CNN's Atia Abawi joins us now live from Kabul.

Atia, you talked a little bit about this yesterday, but for troops, you know, now in Afghanistan. They're also served in Iraq. I mean, there's a big difference between these two wars on many levels.

ATIA ABAWI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kyra. Many of the soldiers that we spoke to when we were on patrol with them, these are soldiers who are both in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they're saying they're already pointing to the terrain and the culture.

We have to remember Afghanistan has some of the most treacherous terrains in the world, and we experienced it with these soldiers when our MRAP vehicles got stuck three times, whether it was in the mud, whether it was in the creek.

Time stopped, any kind of real infrastructure stopped, here in Afghanistan in 1979. So they have to deal with these primitive dirt roads with these alleyways in these big vehicles.

But also culture. Any province that you go to, you will find a different Afghan, and these soldiers have to adjust to these different Afghans, from the different cities, from the different provinces. But at the same time, the soldiers that we spoke to told us that they agree with the shift in the focus of the war on terror, from Iraq back to Afghanistan.

Let's listen to what one -- what one soldier had to say to us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CPL. JEFFERY DESROSIERS, U.S. ARMY: I support it, because Afghanistan's been going on for a lot longer. So, I mean, it's time to focus on this a little more, because Iraq was, like, the, you know, the Hollywood type of thing going on. So, everybody was going over there; all the news was focused there.

Now Afghanistan's, you know -- feels like it's pretty close to the end here, though, because having drive by and all the little kids got their thumbs up to you. Everyone is waving and all this stuff. But every place has bad people that need to be taken care of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABAWI: Kyra, let's remember that this is a different soldier that we deal with today. These are soldiers that are dealing with two very bloody, very different, and very challenging wars. And although none of the soldiers would say it on camera, they did tell us off camera that it is affecting them. It is affecting their families, as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Atia, appreciate your report. We're going to listen live next hour when President Obama is expected to comment on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from cities and towns in Iraq.

A massive rescue effort is under way this hour for possible survivors of a Yemeni jetliner that crashed into the Indian Ocean. A Yemeni Airways chairman tells CNN that at least one child survived.

There were 153 people on board that plane. The Airbus A-310 crashed while trying to land in very bad weather on the former French island of Comoros. France banned the A-310 several years ago because of safety concerns.

The Yemeni plane is the second Airbus to crash into the sea this month. An Air France Airbus A-330 crashed into the Atlantic on June 1, killing all 228 people on board.

On the East Coast, Michael Jackson fans flocked to the Apollo in a final show of respect. On the West, his family fights for control of his kids, his estate, his memory, and his money.

Here's the latest.

Los Angeles police are piecing together the singer's involved medical history. They're trying to track down all the different doctors who have treated him, going back years and years. Meantime, Jackson's three children remain at the family compound just outside of L.A. His mom Katherine, named temporary guardian, is still fighting for legal custody, as well.

Well, he was always said to be a control freak. So, you'd figure Michael Jackson would have had a will. Well, where is it? CNN's Don Lemon is working that angle in L.A.

Don, where is it? DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is a very good question, Kyra. "Where is it," or "where are they" might be better questions.

I just got off the phone no more than ten minutes ago with the family lawyer. His name is L. Londell McMillan. I spoke with him this weekend about a lot of things involving the Michael Jackson situation.

Now, here's what he tells me. It has been reported that there was a will from 2002 from an attorney named John Branca, who was working with Michael Jackson, a will which names John Branca as the executor of Michael Jackson's will. It also names music veteran executive John McClain as an executor to Michael Jackson's will.

During those filings yesterday, no will had been presented. And the attorney -- the now attorney -- McMillan said -- said yesterday that nothing had come up. The family had not seen a will. No will had been presented in court.

Well, as of this morning, when I called him a couple of minutes ago, he said he has now seen that 2002 will, and it does, indeed, name certain people as the executor of Michael Jackson's will. Or his property, I should say.

But he says -- here's what McMillan says. He says it came up after the filings. And I'm taking -- this is straight from my notes. He says he believes this is one of many. This is the first, and this is the way the process works. He says he has to look at those documents, and he can't disclose at liberty -- he's not at liberty to disclose everything that's in those documents. But he has to see -- he has to see if there are other wills. And all of them, including this one, has to be probated.

In the meantime, he said that Katherine Jackson, the matriarch of the Jackson family, had a very successful day in court yesterday. Not only was she granted temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson's three children; she was also made temporary administrator of his property. And he said the reason that he did that was because he wanted to make sure that Michael Jackson's property wasn't looted, that third parties weren't going in and running amok and taking Michael Jackson's property.

When we were there yesterday, I asked him about a truck that was brought back in on a flatbed to what appeared to be Michael Jackson's property. And he said, yes, they are gathering Michael Jackson's property from people who may have it, other parties who may have had it, maybe driving him around or what have you. And they're bringing it back to make sure that all of his property is secure.

I've also talked to Mr. McMillan on Sunday, just two days ago, about those rental trucks that were at the home where Michael Jackson collapsed. And here's what he had to say to me about the things that were being removed from that property.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LONDELL MCMILLAN, JACKSON FAMILY LAWYER: The family want to protect -- protect his possessions and make sure that they are -- they're in great safekeeping. Michael Jackson was not just a phenomenal performer, but he was a phenomenal person with great spirit and energy that touched so many people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So again, Kyra, as you said, where is that will? Well, it's very interesting. Where are those wills or what's going to happen with all of these things? It appears, as you heard the attorney said, there could be one will. There could be two. There could be three. Three could be others. They don't know.

And simply, right now Katherine Jackson is trying to protect her son's property as well as his children, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, any idea when this -- or if this 2002 will could become public?

LEMON: I will know that as soon as I get off of TV with you, and I can call him back. We're going to go to try to interview him and speak to him.

But he doesn't know. But as he said, this has to go through the court. It has to go through probate and what have you, and they have to make sure that all of this is legal, that Michael Jackson -- you know this -- was in sound mind and body when he did all of this. So it's got to go through the court process first before it can be released. But I want to clarify a lot of with attorney McMillan before I put it on the air, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Don Lemon from L.A. Thanks so much.

LEMON: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, to New York now, where crowds are lining up to pay special tribute to Michael Jackson. You're looking live at the Apollo Theater, where a musical memorial is set to get under way. We're going to take you inside and show you what fans are encouraged to do outside the Apollo, coming up a little later.

Family and friends of Farrah Fawcett will say their final good- byes to the actress this afternoon in L.A. A private funeral service begins just a few hours from now. As you know, Fawcett died last Thursday from cancer. She was 62.

Her son, Redmond O'Neal, will be allowed to attend the funeral. O'Neal is serving time in jail on drug charges right now.

A gay Air Force colonel facing discharge from the military speaks one-on-one with President Obama. He's here to tell us what the president told him about "don't ask, don't tell."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Some British taxpayers are howling about this one. Queen Elizabeth asking for more money to prop up the monarchy. Does she really need the cash? We're going to find out what Buckingham Palace is saying.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Army Lieutenant Dan Choi could find out his fate today. He's an Army National Guard officer who publicly announced that he's gay. Choi is facing discharge under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. A military board is meeting about his case today in Syracuse.

Watching that case very closely, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fahrenbach. In his 19-year career, he's received nine medals for bravery as a combat pilot. He was handpicked to patrol the air space over Washington after 9/11. He's got 400 flight hours and has flown 88 combat missions, but he's also facing discharge because an acquaintance that revealed to the top brass that Fahrenbach is gay.

Last night he talked to President Obama at the White House. The gathering commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Stone Wall Rebellion, a raid on a New York gay nightclub that started the modern gay rights movement. Colonel Fahrenbach joins me live from Washington.

Victor, good to see you again.

VICTOR FAHRENBACH, FACING DISCHARGE FOR BEING GAY: Thank you, Kyra, good to be here.

PHILLIPS: There you were, with a chance to say everything you wanted to with -- to the president about the situation that you are fighting for, which is your job, and to get rid of "don't ask, don't tell." How did you make your way to the president for a one-on-one?

FAHRENBACH: I was actually just in a lucky spot. Just as he came out of the Red Room, I happened to be right one-on-one with him as he -- as he exited. And basically introduced myself, told him I was a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force for 18 years and that I was being discharged under "don't ask, don't tell."

PHILLIPS: And he knew who you were, right?

FAHRENBACH: He did. He looked like he knew who I was and what my situation was. So I told him, you know, the situation for me was urgent and that I needed his help, and he looked me directly in the eye and said, "We are going to get this done."

PHILLIPS: What else did you tell him? Because I know this has weighed heavily on your heart for a very long time.

FAHRENBACH: It has.

PHILLIPS: And this has been really frustrating for you...

FAHRENBACH: It has.

PHILLIPS: ... because you think that you could be discharged at any moment.

FAHRENBACH: Right.

PHILLIPS: So what -- what did you tell him, and what did he tell you that gives you, I guess, hope or at least a positive feeling that he is going to get rid of this?

FAHRENBACH: Like you mentioned, it is urgent for me. I've got -- got about five or six months perhaps. I'm on the clock, as they say.

The president went on to say, you know, we've got a lot of people behind this. You know, he's obviously showed his -- that it's the top of his agenda, and he said, "We've got the Congress. They're behind it, and we've got 75 percent of the American people that are behind -- behind repealing this law." So, he said, "You know, what it is, really, is a generational gap, basically." He said, "We've got some convincing to do to the senior leaders in the older generation."

And that's actually what I expected all along, that that might have been the problem.

PHILLIPS: As in the senior leaders in the older generation within the military, right now the active force?

FAHRENBACH: That's -- that's what I think it might be. Because, you know, I go to work every day. I'm still doing the job that I did before any of this came to light. And, you know, everyone I worked with has shown total support, and they've been professional. And they've gone about the mission.

I've also received about 5,000 messages, a lot of those from guys I've flown with in combat and people who have worked with me and for me in the military, and I've gotten nothing but support. So I can tell you from firsthand experience that the younger officer corps and the young enlisted corps are 100 percent behind repealing this law. They're 100 percent behind the president implementing his new policy of nondiscrimination.

I think it may be the senior leaders who might be the ones resisting this. It's like I said: the American public is behind it; the Congress is behind it; and the younger military force is behind it.

PHILLIPS: Did he give a timeline?

FAHRENBACH: No. I suspect that -- I hope it will be within 6 to 12 months. So, I think that I may end up being discharged at the end of the day, but if the law's repealed, then that's -- that's for the greater good. I hope that, if it is repealed, then maybe I can come right back in the military and finish out my career.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know either way, you've got quite a decorated career, and you will also remain an activist. That's for sure. Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fahrenbach, appreciate it.

FAHRENBACH: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, back in the day, the Jackson 5 had the moves, and he helped put them in motion. The group's publicist talks about young Michael.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, it hasn't happened in Indiana since the Civil War, but today the Hoosier State, along with four others, face a government shutdown unless their legislatures can solve multibillion- dollar budget gaps. Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange with more.

Susan, you know, we know consumers and companies are hurt by this recession. Is this just another extension of that?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's a very good analysis, Kyra. You know, we know that we're spending a lot less. Our lack of spending translates into the bottom line, which means companies are earning less.

So, states are taking in a lot less in taxes. You name it; whether it's personal income tax, corporate taxes, they're really hurt by this deep recession.

And it's come down to the fact that legislatures in Arizona, California, Indiana, Mississippi and Pennsylvania are facing government shutdowns. If they don't resolve these budget gaps, you're going to see a real problem immediately. Things like DMVs, state- regulated casinos, parks will be closed. And over time, the number of agencies, more critical agencies will also have to be shut down, Kyra. A scary situation, obviously.

PHILLIPS: Well, going down to the wire is one thing, but how normal is it for a state to actually shut down?

LISOVICZ: Well, that's a good question. We have certainly seen many states go down to the wire. In terms of shutdowns, far fewer. Since 2002, the National Conference of State Legislatures tells us it's happened five times. And in Michigan, for instance, happened just for a few hours before emergency measures were passed.

But this is unusual, that it's gotten to this point. I mean, Indiana, as you noted, hasn't missed its budget deadline since the Civil War. Arizona has never missed a deadline. So, you know, this is another example of just how states are suffering.

And, remember, when the unemployment rate is rising, they're also spending a lot more in social services. You know, we do expect a lot of these states that are coming down to the wire on this final day of the fiscal year for so many of them to hammer out a plan at the eleventh hour, at least we're hoping so, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Susan. Thanks. LISOVICZ: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's a royal ruckus in Britain. The queen could soon run out of cash to pay her aides and keep up her palaces unless taxpayers pitch in more money. Critics say the costs are totally out of line. Here's a look at the whole story from ITN's Tim Ewart.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIM EWART, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The queen was at Culloden in Scotland, site of the last major battle on British soil more than 250 years ago. There's a battle looming now over the royal purse. The queen is facing an unseemly scrap over how much of our money she should receive. Next year, she's going to ask for more.

The queen cost the taxpayer 41.5 million pounds last year, an increase of 1.5 million pounds. It amounts to 69 pence for each man, woman and child in the country, up from 66 pence the year before.

Much of the controversy will revolve around the royal family's travel costs, revealed today. Trips by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to South America and the far east cost 1.3 million pounds. The Duke of Gloucester, the queen's cousin, went to a coronation in the South Pacific. The bill, 150,000. And Prince Andrew chartered a plane to an economic summit in Egypt, costing 55,000 pounds.

ROBERT JOBSON, ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Prince Andrew going to Egypt, 55,000 pounds? When the cost of a first-class ticket -- and a first- class ticket, not an economy ticket -- is extremely -- it's just a matter of a few thousand pounds. So I think in these current economic times, it's difficult to justify.

EWART: travel is covered by an annual grant, but running the royal household comes from the civil list. It's been frozen, at just under 8 million pounds a year, for 20 years. And the palace say a private fund used to top it up will run out in three years. So, should the civil list be increased?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, I want to take you out to Los Angeles now. Our Kara Finnstrom there at the Neverland Ranch, getting word now when that funeral is going to be for Michael Jackson -- Kara.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, what CNN has been able to confirm now is that Jackson's body will be driven back here to his Neverland Ranch late on Thursday. A source tells CNN that a motorcade of upwards of 30 cars, including the one that will be carrying Jackson's body, is due to arrive back here late Thursday.

We're also told that there will be a public viewing on Friday. And on Sunday, a private memorial for the family only.

So, again, what CNN has now been able to confirm is that Jackson's body will be brought back here, via motorcade, late Thursday. We're told security arrangements are being made right now. Obviously, a lot of concerns about traffic.

We don't have plans specifically about his burial. We're not aware of those yet, Kyra. Obviously, there will be some permits involved there. And I can tell you that in this community, you know, we're out in the grasslands here, some rolling hills. There have been a lot of concerns voiced already about all the traffic that will be coming down this, you know, country lane road, bringing his body back in.

So, this all set to take place starting, Kyra, on Thursday.

PHILLIPS: And no doubt we'll be covering it. Kara, thanks so much.

Well, a moment in history. What thousands of Michael Jackson fans are lining up to experience right now. We're going to take you there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, it's the first day of the rest of Iraq's freedom. The training wheels coming off, you might say. It's brought out joy. It's brought out fear and violence. And at least 30 people have now been killed in Kirkuk, just today, as U.S. troops pull out of Iraq's cities and towns. Kirkuk just the latest, though, in an outbreak of attacks over the last 10 days that have left hundreds of people dead. Even four U.S. soldiers were killed yesterday.

In the next half hour or so, President Obama is expected to talk about the withdrawal and we'll take it live.

And amid the celebrations in Baghdad today, a high stakes game was being played out involving the country's black gold. The first bidding in more than 30 years for development rights to some of Iraq's massive oil fields. International firms apparently surprised Iraqi officials by demanding better terms.

CNN's Jim Boulden joins us now from London.

Jim, the massive potential here for U.S. oil companies as well.

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, companies like ExxonMobil, Conoco Phillips -- they were there today to bid on these contracts. But, Kyra, only one of the eight contracts actually was agreed to and that was with a consortium led by BP, the British oil company. So it didn't go at all as planned.

The Iraqi oil ministry wanted a lot more from these oil companies and the oil companies say, look, it may be high reward, but it's also high risk here. Some of the contracts weren't bid on at all because it's a dangerous area and there's no guarantee there won't be political interference or sectarian interference or sectarian interference.

So while there's just unbelievable potential here for oil companies and Iraq needs this money, they just weren't able to get together today. And so we're going to have to see what happens over the next few days. Some of the bidding we thought might actually take place again this afternoon and it hasn't. So, we're going to have to wait to see how this plays out.

PHILLIPS: Well, you bring up a good point, because the U.S. gets oil from so many different places. So, what would be the advantage of taking oil out of Iraq? Because if you -- a number of these other countries don't have that terrorist factor like Iraq does. And security could be extremely expensive for these companies.

BOULDEN: Yes. But if you assume in the long term that Iraq stays as a friend of the U.S. then U.S. oil companies would benefit the way they do in Saudi Arabia.

These are 20-year contracts. There's billions of dollars at stake for these companies. And there's so much untapped potential. That's the thing, we're talking about proven oil. These are just proven oil contracts. There's a massive amount of unproven oil. Iraq could one day be number two to Saudi Arabia, as much as for the exporting of oil.

So, that's why you see 30 to 35 oil companies in there right now trying to get these contracts. And that's just for the next few years. A 20-year contract to try to increase the amount of oil coming out of there. But the hope is for them is to be there obviously for very long term. But today didn't get off very well.

PHILLIPS: We'll keep following it.

Jim Boulden, live from London.

Thanks, Jim.

About a half hour from now, the stage that helped launch Michael Jackson in to stardom will become the site of a memorial in his honor. Fans are lining up outside already at Harlem's Apollo Theater to pay tribute to the music icon in an extremely unique way.

CNN's T.J. Holmes, live at the Apollo. Perfect assignment for T.J.

What's it like with all the people there, T.J.?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, hey there. Oh, this is what it's like, Kyra. I hope you're hearing me all right down there.

PHILLIPS: I'm trying to find you.

HOLMES: Are you seeing all right down here?

PHILLIPS: No, where are you?

HOLMES: Here I am. The guy waving. The guy waving next to the tree. That's me, Kyra. I hope you can see me all right down here. But that's not even the point. But the point is for you to see --

PHILLIPS: Oh, there you are.

HOLMES: Yes, here I am.

But to give you an idea of the flavor. Go down there and look. We'll show you the marquee that you see down there, the Apollo Theater. Again, that's where Michael Jackson got his start, made his debut in New York, here at this famed Apollo Theater in New York.

Now take a look just down the street. We've got (INAUDIBLE) up there on the roof. She's the one doing our glorious work up there --

PHILLIPS: Oh, my girl, Pellen.

HOLMES: But just pan -- yes, Pellen. She's working up there. I know you know it. She says hello.

But, take a look down the street of what's happening. Because a lot of these folks started showing up really last night to line up. And what's happening is they get to line up and they get to go in about 600 people at a time to be a part of this tribute. There's going to be a video tribute. There's going to be music playing. I assume you can hear this music behind me.

But the scene here is just insane, quite frankly. Michael Jackson fans and then you have Michael Jackson fanatics. There's a lady to my right down here, you're not going to be able to see her, but she had a glittery jacket on. She was just down here moon walking and whatnot. And it's just an unreal scene, a lot of families.

I'm going to bring in two people here right now -- Jasmine and her mom Angela. I'm going to get all to angle this way because we're talking to the roof. But this is Jasmine and Angela, her mom.

You all came from Pennsylvania.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we did.

HOLMES: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had to be near Michael. I mean, we would have gone to L.A. if we could but we got our tickets, Amtrak, and came on in. We shopped. We --

HOLMES: Now you have a teenage daughter here, Jasmine. So, I imagine there's some things that mom and daughter can share. But sometimes that's a generational gap. But this is something that you all can both enjoy and share because you're both fans of this guy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, he's an amazing person. He just inspired the world with his music and without him there would be no one else around today for me to listen to, for my generation to listen to.

HOLMES: Now what -- just one more thing here. Describe this scene. Did you think it would be like this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got here very early.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we've been here since 9:00 this morning so --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got -- we left our house at 4:00 in the morning and got here at 9:00 and we got -- we were lucky to get here. But I didn't think it was going to be this. I'm so happy about the outpouring of love and the crowd, the people. It's so respectful for Michael and --

HOLMES: Well, Angela and Jasmine -- thank you both for stepping out of line. Hopefully nobody took your spot there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

HOLMES: But, thank you both.

But, Kyra, I've been hearing stories like this all day essentially, folks, people from Connecticut and Pennsylvania, there's a lady here we might talk to a little later from Florida, as well. But the scene is as such. And it is a hot, hot Harlem day. People and here are waving and whatnot. I'm going to step down. I mean, you know how this is. There's Michael Jackson music blaring all over the place. Most of the people are --

PHILLIPS: Are you going to go over to Sylvia's for lunch?

HOLMES: I am not going to Silvia's for lunch. We are not going to be able to get away. We're here to do something for your show, Kyra. We're working.

But again, 600 at a time. This is supposed to start at 2:00. There's a moment of silence at 5:26 when he was declared officially dead out in L.A. But a moment of silence. It's going to be a eulogy essentially that happened today. But 600 at a time get to go in. They get to go in for about a half hour, 45 minutes. Then another 600 and they're going to do this until at least 8:00 this evening.

So we'll be here, Kyra. Just wanted to give you an idea. I know it's a little chaotic. But still, I wanted to bring you and the viewers into exactly what's happening out here.

PHILLIPS: I appreciate and you and Pellen both, for doing that for us.

We'll continue to go back to you, of course, live throughout the next hour and a half or so, T.J.

We're also going to talk to the man whose father actually owned the Apollo and hired the Jackson 5 to perform there. We're going to tell you all about that. We've also just found out that apparently the 2002 will that we've been talking about -- that the Jackson family lawyer was mentioning, has been located. The family lawyer, Londell McMillan, says there will be a public viewing also on Friday, at the Neverland ranch and a memorial is scheduled for Sunday.

So, three developments there in the Jackson story. A 2002 will has been located. We're hoping to be able to get a chance to hear exactly what is in that will. And then a memorial service and then a memorial service for Michael Jackson will be held at the Neverland ranch at the end of the week. And we, of course, will take you live there.

Well, he was there from the very first days of Michael Jackson's career and followed him to the last days of his life. Some insight from the Jackson 5's publicist from Carla Scallan from our affiliate KFSM.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARLA SCALLAN, KFSM REPORTER (voice-over): It was around the year 1968 in Hollywood. Don Berrigan was doing publicity work for Capitol Records.

DON BERRIGAN, PUBLICIST, THE JACKSON 5: I had a mentor named Fred Rice who kind of got me going into the business. He was good friends with Barry Gordy of Motown. And they said Barry has a new band and he'd like to us come over and talk see if we can work something and help them.

SCALLAN: That new band was the Jackson 5. Berrigan would be part of the team that helped launch the group into stardom.

BERRIGAN: One of the things we needed right away was a big shooting session for the magazine and publicity and things like that. And so, we did that up at my house. I had a cat named Mustard, a yellow tiger-cat that took a liking to Michael. I don't know what it was because he didn't like anybody else.

SCALLAN: Berrigan remembers 12-year-old Michael Jackson as a quiet but normal little boy with a ton of talent.

BERRIGAN: Michael was kind of a little standoffish. You know how -- way out front and exciting he was on stage. It was just kind of the opposite in person.

SCALLAN: Berrigan says the little boy he once knew was worlds away from the eccentric king of pop he became.

BERRIGAN: He would never have suspected that when he was 12. There was nothing except a smart, cute, talented, normal kid, you know. Over the years Michael changed a lot.

SCALLAN: Berrigan believes drug use may have led to some of those changes and ultimately Michael's death which is why he said he wasn't shocked to hear the news. BERRIGAN: I felt disappointed. But somehow I wasn't surprised.

SCALLAN: Carla Scallan, 5 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: We're actually going to talk to Don live, coming up in the next hour.

Well, if you've ever had the cold or the sniffles, you've probably reached for one of these. But they might soon be hard to find. Why combination cold medicines could soon be pulled from the store shelves.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, you probably got one or more over-the-counter cold medicines in your medicine cabinet right now, but they may present unexpected dangers. An FDA vote expected today could spell trouble for the likes of Nyquil and Theraflu.

Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen here to explain what exactly the problem is with the products. I have both.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Many people do. There are a lot of Nyquil fans in this news room and Theraflu and all that stuff.

PHILLIPS: It's like a hot tea.

COHEN: Yes, it's amazing. I had no idea that so many of my colleagues were taking these kinds of products.

The problem is not with the products per se, the problem is they contain acetaminophen and people take them and they'll also take, let's say, a Tylenol at the same time so they are getting too much acetaminophen. Now, the problem with acetaminophen, if you get too much, it can cause liver failure.

So, let's take a look at acetaminophen poisonings over the years, between 1990 and 1998, over the eight-year period there were 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations due to acetaminophen poisoning and 458 overdose-related deaths each of those years. And part of the problem is there's kind of a fine line between OK amounts of acetaminophen and too much acetaminophen.

PHILLIPS: So, are they just going to pull the stuff from the shelves or --

COHEN: They may. They're voting on it this afternoon, maybe even as we speak. They're going to vote on whether or not they should pull the so-called combination products that contain acetaminophen and the other things.

Let's take a look at what some of these products are. I think a lot of people don't realize that certain products contain acetaminophen. Sudafed Sinus has it, Benadryl Allergy, Excedrin, Midol -- all of these have acetaminophen. And again, if you take it plus something like Tylenol, you're getting a pretty high dosage.

PHILLIPS: All right. So, what about Tylenol? Would they ever get rid of that?

COHEN: You know what? That is on the chopping block. That's not even on the table to be taken off the shelves. And I think the reason is, I think people get it when they're taking Tylenol, they're taking acetaminophen. It's very clear that's what it is. It's the combination products that I think probably are confusing for some people.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll follow-up.

Thanks, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: Well, obese patients who need ambulance will soon have to pay more for the ride in Kansas. Rates for people weighing 350 pounds or more are nearly doubling. Supporters defend the price hike saying that hefty patients need more equipment and care.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEN KELLER, AMR OPERATIONS MANAGER: These are patients that need resources that are stronger to support them, wider to support them, but also allow us to move them in a safer manner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, ambulance tax to transport obese patients in Topeka are also required to take additional training to meet their critical care needs. In a report last year, Kansas was ranked as the 23rd most obese state in America.

The country came to know a Nebraska father when he abandoned his nine kids at a hospital and walked away. Well, wait until you hear the update that we've got on this guy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Iraq's new day. Celebration and joy in many spots. Violence and death in others. We're going to find out what President Obama has to say about it.

Plus, before the moonwalk, the glove, the tabloid stories, there was little Michael Jackson, the incredibly talented kid from Gary. We're talking to the man who was there when the star was born.

Well, here's one that'll have you raising your eyebrows. Remember the father who dropped off his nine kids at hospital and walked away under Nebraska's Safe Haven law? Well, he's about to be a father again. The "World Herald" is reporting that Gary Satton's (ph) girlfriend is pregnant. He surrendered his kids to the state last year saying that he couldn't take care of them after his wife's death. His decision raised question about whether Nebraska's law was too broad. When asked about the baby on the way, here's what Satton said, quote, "Do you think I'm going to raise this one alone?"

Well, how could it happen? A 6-year-old girl drowns in a pool with eight lifeguards on duty and up to 35 people were in the water. It happened in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The girl was with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club and chaperones were there. Well, the child's grandfather says he wants someone to tell him why all those lifeguards didn't see his granddaughter go under water. We want to know, too.

It was once a sanctuary of refuge. Could it now become his resting place? Michael Jackson's body being returned to Neverland ranch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Michael Jackson returning to his beloved Neverland ranch. We're learning that his body will be taken back there Thursday, where his fans should be able to pay their respects.

Kara Finnstrom is at the ranch there in Los Olivos, California, with the details -- Kara.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Well, CNN has now learned that Michael Jackson's body will be brought back here to this 2,500-acre ranch late Thursday morning. A source telling CNN that a motorcade of upwards of 30 cars, including the one that will be carrying Jackson's body will make its way to from a Los Angeles area to this kind of really remote area in Santa Barbara County, up in the hills here, we're talking about some 130 miles.

Right now, law enforcement is talking about the traffic concerns that obviously will be there as well as security. We have also learned that a public viewing will be held for Michael Jackson on Friday, with a private memorial for the family only on Sunday.

Now, I have to say that we've been speaking with fans as well as people locally here, who have been very concerned about traffic coming to their area. They say they don't want to see this become a Graceland of sorts to Michael Jackson. So some concerns obviously here in the community.

The other thing we don't know about right now is the actual burial plans. No word on that yet. But again, we have learned that his body will be driven back here to Neverland late Thursday for a public viewing on Friday, and a private memorial on Sunday.

Also, want to briefly tell you. Kyra, that we don't really know exactly what may become of Neverland. Because it's really changed from what most of the public remembers it as. Those pictures of the ferris wheel, all those amusement park rides, the train that ran through the zoo when Michael Jackson opened it up some 20 years ago. Yesterday, we took an aerial view of Neverland and what we saw were large cement slabs where those amusement park rides used to be. Also, you know, the train is gone. Now the house, itself, is pretty well kept. The grounds around it are being manicured and kept up by the company that stepped in when Michael Jackson was close to foreclosure in 2008. We did check in with them. And Kyra, they say they have no plans that they can share with us at this point as to the future of Neverland.

PHILLIPS: All right. Now, there's also been some activity today since you've been there at the ranch.

Is there anything specifically going on right now?

FINNSTROM: Right now, it is quiet. You can see there's a couple of fans behind us.

But, just about an hour and a half ago, there was a large moving can -- an Allied moving van -- that made its way through the gates. It was marked as being from the Beverly Hills, Los Angeles area. We did talk to the driver. He said he was making a delivery but he couldn't tell us exactly what that delivery was or where he came from.

And we can also tell you that, you know, over the last 24 hours, we've seen lots of trucks coming and going. Most of them landscaping vehicles. I mean, this is a huge property and you can only imagine the upkeep that's involved with that.

PHILLIPS: Yes, no doubt. All right, Kara. We'll keep following up with you, thanks.

Well, we're pushing forward now. A live look at the White House where President Obama is expected to speak about today's deadline for U.S. troops to pull out of Iraq's towns and cities. Also he's drawing attention to nonprofit groups and all the good work that they do here at home.

And we're live at New York's famed Apollo Theater, as well, where Michael Jackson fans are already gathering by the thousands to pay tribute to the king of pop five days after his death.

In his white house remarks just moments from now, President Obama will highlight the innovative problem solving that nonprofit groups are doing and he'll challenge others to do the same. Invited to the White House for the occasion, one of our CNN heroes. We recently featured Alfa and the good work that she does. She's an immigrant from Ethiopia, who's helping others with the American dream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALFA DEMMELLASH, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: My name is Alfa Demmellash and I co-founded an organization that provides business education to women and minority entrepreneurs like my mom.

We believe in your dreams and what that makes possible. We launched a pool so that people can go in and really work on the hands-on, management side of their business. We focus on providing people quality coaching so that they can take their products and services and sell them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was thinking about closing but once I started taking these classes, I found that the fire come back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: We're going to go live to the White House as soon as the president begins his remarks.