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New Trouble for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; Tragedy at Walt Disney World; Former NFL Quarterback Steve McNair Found Dead; Fans Checking E-Mail for Tickets to Michael Jackson's Memorial Service

Aired July 05, 2009 - 16:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Iran turmoil. New trouble for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Top clerics might be turning against him.

And who gets the tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial service, 1.6 million fans checking their e-mail right now.

And the holiday ended in tragedy down in Walt Disney World.. A 21-year-old monorail operator is dead.

Hello, I'm Brooke Baldwin sitting in for Fredricka Whitfield today. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I want to begin this hour with new information on the death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. You heard from Nashville Police on CNN just a short time and officially classified McNair's death as a homicide but they are not ready to say whether or not it was actually a murder-suicide. McNair's body was found in a downtown national condominium just yesterday along with the body of 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, described her as a woman McNair had been dating for several months. Both of them died of gunshot wounds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON AARON, NASHVILLE POLICE SPOKESMAN: While it was it is clear that Steve McNair's death is a homicide as a result of being shot four times, the police department is not yet classifying Ms. Kazemi's death. She does have a single gunshot wound to the side of the head but there is more investigation required. We're going to be interviewing persons throughout the day today and probably for the next several days. I would expect it would be a number of days before the classification is placed on Miss Kazemi's death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Miss Kazemi was a waitress at a local restaurant and workers there says McNair and his family were frequent customers. He has four young boys. Steve McNair, if you know this, you know that he played 13 seasons for the Houston Oilers, the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens before retiring at the end to of the 2007 season. He led the Titans to the Super Bowl back in 2000 and then three years later he shared the NFL's MVP award with Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.

The monorail train at Florida's Disney World normally carry about 150,000 riders each and every day but they are idle today after a 2 a.m. crash killed a train operator, pictures look you are looking at from an I-reporter earlier this morning. The victim identified as 21-year-old man Austin Wuennenberg. I spoke with the witness who shot these pitchers, who wants to remain anonymous but her told me that a moving monorail train ran into the back of a stationary train.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We literally tried to gain access into where the driver would be. We were able to gain access into the rear part of the red one and that's the one that was park and there was nobody inside there. But like I said, the blue was so mangled up that we couldn't get access into that to see that trying to pry apart the doors and there was no way we could get in there. Once fire rescue and the police showed up, they asked us to step back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Authorities say one operator was pronounced dead at the scene, as we said that the 21-year-old. They also say the operator of the other train was uninjured but certainly shaken up emotionally, as you can imagine there are no reports of serious injuries to any of the passengers who are on board.

Mike Griffin, Disney's vice president for public affairs did release this statement this morning. Here it is he said, "today we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and a co-worker. The safety of guests and cast members is always our top priority, so the monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the appropriate next steps."

In Iran, descent from one of the country's most influential religious groups, the Gum(ph) clergy is what they're called. They are made up of top religious clerics and seminary students and today they issued a statement questioning the outcome or as they say the legitimacy of Iran's recent presidential election recently. And this statement is seen as a significant strike against Iran's supreme leader and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ten minutes ahead here, we will discuss this later development with Iranian expert Stanford professor Abbas Milani.

Vice president Joe Biden says the Obama administration underestimated the depths of the recession just a few months ago and he talked about it. And he talked about the president's economic stimulus package was put together during an appearance on this week on "Today."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: The truth is there was a misreading of just how bad an economy we inherited. Now, I'm not laying assignment, it is now our responsibility. So the second question becomes, did the economic package we put in place, including the Recovery Act, is it the right package given the circumstances we are in?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The vice president went on to say he believes stimulus money will create more jobs but he also says talk of a possible second stimulus package is premature.

In four hours now, President Barack Obama leaves for Russia, the highlight of a two-day summit with his Russian counterpart but Mr. Obama will also speak to college graduates. CNN foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty has more now from Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Moscow's new economics school, when graduate students told their friends their commencement speaker was going to be Barack Obama, president of the United States, they didn't believe it.

YEVGENIYA CHERNINA, STUDENT: They all were saying, wow, and many else actually thought that's just a joke.

DOUGHERTY: But Mr. Obama did choose the school, founded just 17 years ago but already a world-class institution and a hot bed of new thinking.

EDUARD URASJULOV, STUDENT: I like Barack Obama (inaudible).

DOUGHERTY: Most of the students we talked with are fans of Mr. Obama. Some of them say they agree with his policies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it is impossible now to solve international problems using powerful arms but instead, one should the power of negotiations.

DOUGHERTY: Almost all of them zeroed in on Mr. Obama's favorite slogan, change.

OLDA KOTSUR, STUDENT: You know, Russia now is very dynamic. It's not -- it's very vibrant right now.

DOUGHERTY: Very vibrant?

KOTSUR: Right. Right. Very vibrant. Lots of change happening.

DOUGHERTY: But Russia also is being hit hard by the economic crisis.

ANTON SMISLOV, STUDENT: This crisis is like a ton of changes and economic science is changing. So it's probably the best time for economists to start a career.

YAROSLAV GONISCHAROV, STUDENT: I think he's a great revolutionary president.

DOUGHERTY: You know, you have your own young president. You have president Medvedev.

GONISCHAROV: There are some concerns about our president but yes generally I'm hopeful about the relationship between Medvedev and Mr. Obama.

DOUGHERTY: And there is another favorite word that President Obama that these students quote.

VALERY SOROKIN, STUDENT: I heard that Obama's name is associated with the word hope. Right? Hope for change. So actually what I would like to hear from him is probably some good news, that we have something to hope for, that at times, the time we are approaching right now are really tough but there's something that's in our future and he is the first guy who believes in it.

DOUGHERTY: A sampling of the young people President Obama will be speaking to, a new generation that could be shaping Russia's future. Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: U.N. officials say 16 U.N. workers have been kidnapped in Eastern Afghanistan. Local police say the Afghan workers received by gunmen while at a mine clearing mission near the province of Paktia. Officials say they have no lead as to who the gunmen might have been or perhaps their motive.

Investigators say a submarine has picked up signals from the flight recorders of a Yemeni Airways jet that crashed last week. Search teams hope to recover the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder in the next few days. That, they say, could contain key information as to what caused the crash. The Yemenia jet went down in the Indian Ocean Tuesday killing 152 people. There was one sole survivor, a 13-year-old girl.

New developments in the public memorial for Michael Jackson and could there be another honor for the pop icon? Getting new information here. We will tell you who is calling for a national day of mourning.

And Iran's disputed election now has some of the country's top religious leaders taking on the Ayatollah.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Ira's disputed election is now drawing some fire from some of the country's top religious leaders. The Gam(ph) clergy seen as the backbone of the nation's religious establishment released a statement saying the election was skewed. Here is what part of the statement said. Take a look here. It say.

"How can one accept he legitimacy of the election just because the Guardian Council says so? Can one say that the government borne out of the infringement is a legitimate one?" Of course, the controversial election prompting a partial recount and two weeks of street protests. Abbas Milani is the director of Iranian studies at Stanford University and he joins me live right now from Palo Alto. Dr. Milani, before I get the reaction specifically from the statement here. I want you to first explain to me because a lot of people don't know who is this group of clerics and what kind of power perhaps influence do they have on the people of Iran and perhaps more importantly, the Ayatollah.

ABBAS MILANI, DIR. OF IRANIAN STUDIES, STANFORD UNIV.: The most important seminary in sheism in Iran is a place called Hosea (INAUDIBLE). It's a seminary in Gam and it's a scholar, teachers are the most important sources of Shiite theology in Iran and maybe around the world.

Najaf is only the other center that competes with them. Around 1961, '62, Ayatollah Khomeini organized something called the committee or the assembly of teachers and scholars of Jose. It was his creation and their job was to stand against the Shah and propagate these ideas.

BALDWIN: Right. Stand together, stand united, powerful body of religious clerics?

MILANI: Very powerful body.

BALDWIN: I know you are - I want to just get to your reaction of the statement, because I know you are familiar with it, it is obviously questioning the election's legitimacy, and clearly siding with the reform movement and Mir Hossein Mousavi. How is it significant and is it historic here?

MILANI: I think it is historic. We have to remember that this - this group, there was a split within it and the Khomeini government tried to make it part of the government establishment and the ones who refused to accept that continue that tradition of opposition and that is the group that issued this and it is, I think, historic, because it comes on the heel of several other equally important announcements by other grand Ayatollahs.

These are the equivalents of cardinals in Catholicism who have also doubted the veracity of this election, also considered a sin to beat on people, inviting the revolutionary guards to cease their brutality. So when you put all of these together and when you remember that Rafsanjani yesterday met with the families of those arrested by this regime and suggested that the situation is untenable, all of this put together is, I think, creating the historic challenge to the regime and to Khomeini's leadership.

BALDWIN: They have to know how powerful and how historic their coming out and speaking out today in light of the statement that they've made but then why since this election was two weeks ago. Why had it taken so long to respond?

MILANI: Well, some of them responded earlier, the other point we have to remember about the Shiite clergy is that they are cautious. They move with enormous caution. And they waited and they waited and from what I understand they try to use the back doors of private discussions to try to get the regime to back down and when that proved futile. When they realized that Mr. Khomeini is sticking with this man, Mr. Ahmadinejad. They decided to go public but they used everything they had in their power to convince the regime that the path they're on is untenable path.

BALDWIN: And perhaps this statement from this clergy group will serve as a catalyst for other voices to speak up, perhaps even lead to a nullification of the election. Dr. Abbas Milani, director of Iranian studies at Stanford University, thank you for joining us.

MILANI: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Investigators - nope, sorry about that let me catch up with where we are going, missed you in my ear.

New developments in the public memorial for Michael Jackson and could there be another honor for the pop icon? We will tell who is calling for a national day of mourning.

Iran's disputed election, as we were just discussing, has some of the country's top religious leaders taking on the Ayatollah.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I want to start off with a developing story here in Honduras. Ousted President Manuel Zelaya says he is returning to his country today but the military-backed government which took him out of power says his plane will not be allowed to land. Our Karl Penhaul is there for this looming showdown. He joins now on the phone. Karl, I know they're saying, he can't land and if he does the military will arrest him?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is certainly the situation. That's certainly the word from both the military here and the interim government. They said they have been denied any landing permission for Zelaya's plane and they say they will arrest and try him on charges including treason if he does try to land.

Now we do understand that President Zelaya is actually now in the air. He left Washington after an Organization of American States meeting last night. And he is now headed for Honduras, we understand, but the flash point is going to be around the airport. Already, thousands and thousands of his supporters are on the perimeter of the airport in Tegucigalpa, the capital and they are in front of hundreds of riot police and also soldiers.

So far, both sides have been trying to keep the peace, even the borders, for Manuel Zelaya himself to try to refrain from throwing sticks and stones, as we saw, in confrontation about a week ago now just after the coup. So far, things are maintaining a calm. It is certainly a lot of tension here because it will only take one stick or one stone to set this thing off but the key issue is going to be what are they going to do when Mr. Zelaya's plane is about to land?

Because essentially, these supporters really have to take control of the airport. They have to take control of the airstrip if they are going to protect their president. Because if not, as we are saying, the interim government is going to go ahead and arrest him, Brooke.

BALDWIN: We are looking at video of thousands of the same supporters in Tegucigalpa just from yesterday, Karl, and I imagine the scene is similar as you describe there outside of the airport. And you mentioned the key phrase there keeping the peace. But what kind of ramification might this have if Zelaya is, in fact, arrested, when it comes to turmoil in the streets of Tegucigalpa?

PENHAUL: Well, certainly, his supporters will try and not let it get to that stage. Certainly, his supporters, from what they are telling us, will try to ensure that from the moment he lands, that they can surround him and protect him, but if they do try and take the airport, then when many people here, both on the riot police side and on the side of his supporters, say that there will be clashes but many of his supporters, it could be bravado, but many of them say they are ready to fight if necessary. Some are even saying they are ready to die if necessary. But if they are kept away from the air strip, Mr. Zelaya is in fact, arrested when he reaches this country, again that could be the trigger (inaudible) in other parts of the capital. It's something, in fact, that the main Catholic clergyman here, Archbishop Walter Rodriguez had warned against. He warns that if Zelaya does arrive here there could be a bloodbath. It has to be said that that cardinal is firmly on the side of the coup leaders, Brooke.

BALDWIN: What a scene. Karl Penhaul, please stay safe. We will check back in with you as soon as we get word that that Manuel Zelaya's plane is on the ground there at the air strip at Tegucigalpa. Karl, thank you.

A frightening end to a July 4th celebration in India. At least 16 - Indiana, I should say. At least 16 people were injured when a pedestrian bridge collapsed in Merrillville near Chicago. A fireworks display had just ended and about 100 people were on that bridge when it fell into the lake below.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

It couldn't have happened at a worse time. Luckily, we had ambulances on the scene and we had fire trucks on the scene and we were able to get to the people quickly enough, but there was a hampered response due to the chaos of people leaving and nobody being aware of - that there was an emergency going on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Emergency crews formed a human chain to get people out of the water. Police say none of the injuries is life-threatening. One person did manage to suffer a broken leg but most of the victims injuries there were scrapes, bruises and twisted ankles.

North Carolina's outer banks a memorial parade is under way now to honor three people killed yesterday when a truck carrying fireworks blew up on the southern end of Ocracoke Island. Authorities say they were just offloading the truck when it detonated. Take a look at the aftermath there. Two others were injured in that blast and the ATF is investigating that one. And this was one of the barges Macy's used to shoot off fireworks in this year's fourth of July display there in New York. The fire hoses? Yes, shortly after the fireworks last night it caught on fire. Crews quickly putting out the flames.

And a fourth of July weekend has been hot as a firecracker for some of us but showers and storms tamping temperatures down just a little bit there. Our meteorologist Karen Maginnis in the CNN weather center with more on that, like a little bit rain, Karen. Not so bad.

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not too much. Enough to get the ground wet, and kind of restore a little bit of the moisture that the southeast still needs in some areas. I want to show you what's going across the southeast. We got a severe thunderstorm watch. It expires at 9:00 p.m. tonight. What we're expecting out of this is some pretty heavy rainfall in some isolated areas. The possibility of hail. I want to point out if you're headed to Savannah, the temperatures there in the 90s and Atlanta, we're staying cool, mostly into the 70s across North Georgia.

Well, let's go ahead and tell you about what's happening across the west. We got another severe thunderstorm watch out just to the south of Denver and not quite to Albuquerque. And we think some of the storms will fire up as we go throughout the afternoon here as well. There if you look over across Texas this is kind of the same line of storms that we saw yesterday. Right across the same area near Dallas, moving in across Odessa, also toward mid land, Texas, as well.

And for the west coast, we've seen this ridge of high pressure in control for the last couple of days. Yesterday, Seattle was 87. They typically would be around 74, 75 degrees. So, you have got one more day all around the Columbia River basin. Those temperatures, 80s, 90s inland, we could see some 100-degree temperatures and what we are looking at is this little weather disturbance moving in and that will cool things down to more near-seasonable levels and it was one of the coolest Junes on record in New York where temperatures were pretty much 70s and 80s. We're seeing 70s today, Brooke, that is my kind of weather.

BALDWIN: That is a nice welcome relief because it's so hot with that concrete and the buildings. It is nice. Karen, thank you.

MAGINNIS: All right, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Can you imagine a town now really just in the grip of terror? South Carolina police circulate this picture here. They are hoping to stop a serial killer before he strikes again.

And Michael Jackson fans getting the word on whether they can attend Tuesday's memorial service.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Half off the hour. And here is what is happening, a surprising voice of dissent in Iran. Some tough religious clerics are questioning the legitimacy of the country's controversial presidential election.

And just one day after finding the body of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, police in Nashville are still not ready to say if he was, in fact the victim of a murder-suicide. Police say they found a gun under the body of a 20-year-old woman at the scene. She suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.

Here to CNN, getting new information about the private funeral of Michael Jackson. L.A. Police say Forest Lawn Cemetery is working with the family to develop a plan, that coming down just a short time ago. Meanwhile, preparations are under way at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for Tuesday's public memorial.

Also today, the Reverend Al Sharpton calling for a national day of mourning for the entertainer. Our Susan Roesgen is in Los Angeles with more of those details.

Susan, did the reverend say anything more about this private funeral?

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No he really didn't, Brooke. In fact, we asked him several times pointedly when and where is the funeral and both times he said with a wink, the public memorial is Tuesday at 10 a.m. I followed that up again. The funeral, in case he misheard me, the public memorial is Tuesday at 10 a.m.

So, he does not want to say publicly anything about when the actual private, we assume private funeral will be, what he did here Brooke is this famous African American church behind me, famous in Los Angeles at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church is he gave a fiery sermon. He had the congregation on its feet, when he said that the media has been disrespectful of Michael Jackson in his coverage of his death and he said that Michael Jackson is not being treated fairly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. AL SHARPTON, POLITICAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST: We come to L.A. for Michael Jackson, because there's a double standard, because when you had had other entertainers that had questions in their life, you did not degrade and denigrate them before their funeral like you've done Michael Jackson.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: Now, Reverend Sharpton said he is as eager as anyone to find out what the investigation reveals about Michael Jackson's death what ever those details might be but he said let's not focus on that until after the funeral. Again, he wouldn't say when the funeral was but he followed that up Brooke, with I will' be joining that investigation along with everybody else on Wednesday.

So, read into it what you will. The main focus today from Reverend Sharpton, Civil Rights activist, was, again, that the media is not paying enough tribute to Michael Jackson, to his life, to his record-breaking career. But of course as you know, Brooke and everyone who has been watching CNN over the last week and a half knows that CNN has done quite a few tributes to Michael Jackson and has focused on his fantastic record, his 13 number one hits, his best-selling album of all time, "Thriller" which sold 50 million copies. We are certainly here at CNN reminding folks of the fantastic history that Michael Jackson has in American music.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. I know you, yourself have spent countless hours in recent days covering the story as have many of our CNN staffers, were on top of it. And let me ask you, we are also on top of any other additional memorials, and hearing anything in the Los Angeles area that might be popping up for next week?

ROESGEN: No but I it think what we are hearing here, Brooke, is that when Reverend Al Sharpton talks about a national day of mourning, according to the NAACP, who is here as well what he is really calling for is not a holiday, not a congressional-approved holiday but to turn Tuesday into a national day of mourning, mostly obviously for Michael Jackson fans. Even at the church behind me here, they are going to have a broadcast, a simulcast of the actual memorial service for all the people who can't get into the Staples Center. Reverend Sharpton says let's have what he calls love vigils around the country on Tuesday. Let's have a show of love for Michael Jackson and his wonderful career.

BALDWIN: It will be a master show. A lot inside the Staples Center and in many homes around the world. Susan Roesgen live for us, thank you.

Make sure to join us Tuesday for our around the clock coverage of this memorial, as I mentioned, family and friends and fans all saying good-bye to a worldwide music icon, Michael Jackson, the memorial, CNN, all day Tuesday, starting on "American Morning" at 6:00 Eastern Time.

A small town terrorized by a killer on the loose. Police search car by car, house by house, trying to stop a serial killer who is striking again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Two sisters as you are about to see, two twins had the kind of memories of Jackson other fans really can just dream of. Michelle Brown Carson and Micheon Brown first met Jackson when they were teens back in the '80s and kept a friendship with the pop stars all these years. Ladies, thanks for joining us.

MICHELE BROWN CARSON, FREQUENT VP GUEST OF JACKSON: Thank you, Brooke.

MICHEON BROWN, FREQUENT VP GUEST OF JACKSON: Thanks Brooke.

BALDWIN: I know you all have been in that Dallas bureau since 2:00, ready to talk about Michael Jackson. Let me first is ask you, Michelle, you go -- both of you go way back with Michael Jackson, back as in backstage.

CARSON: Yes.

BALDWIN: How did that come about?

CARSON: Yes, we met Michael back in Houston, Texas, when we were teenagers and the Jackson's had a concert and Michael and his brothers were getting ready to go on. He saw us, noticed us and he walked right over to us and he said, you guys twins? We say, yes. He said, Tito, Jackie, guys come over here. He said, you look so much alike, it's incredible. We asked, could we take pictures, he said, sure, but wait till I come offstage because the flash will blind me and we said OK.

BALDWIN: Right.

CARSON: And when he came from offstage, he kept his promise. He came right back over us to and said, OK, guys, you want to take those pictures? We say, yes, so we took lots of pictures. He said, well, are you going to come back tomorrow night and we said, well, we were just guests -- we had passes for tonight.

BALDWIN: Wait, Michael Jackson said, hey come back tomorrow night?

CARSON: He said come back tomorrow. He said you will be my guests.

BALDWIN: Oh, my gosh.

CARSON: For the next two nights, we were Michael Jackson's personal guests at the show. Can you imagine that?

BALDWIN: Ladies, dreams coming true, I'm sure your friends were so jealous. Not only that but you-all remained friends with Michael Jackson to his death. Did I read you-all had tickets to go to the London show?

BROWN: Actually, we wanted to go to that show, we were waiting to hear the dates and see if they would come to the states so we didn't have a chance to make those plans because of his death. We didn't get a chance to do that. And one special memory that we had when he did see us backstage; he also noticed some outfits that we had on.

BALDWIN: I was about to ask you about that, ladies. Show them off; go for it explains what they are.

CARSON: Yes. Yes.

BROWN: This is the actual outfit. He said, I love your outfits.

CARSON: He said those are so cool. And we had this on and he loved it and so we preserved it.

He hugged us and kissed us.

BALDWIN: And you never washed it ever since?

CARSON: Never washed it. Kept it -- this is ours and we have a jacket to match. And we have something so memorable. But Brooke, what is also so cool was once we were watching a video, "Can you Feel it" with the Jackson's and we saw the Jackson's sprinkle this will love dust over the city and all of a sudden, all of them had on these cool outfits that were gold.

BALDWIN: So, Michael Jackson's dancers --

CARSON: Just like this one.

BALDWIN: His brother --

CARSON: Gold outfit idea. We had a special memory.

BROWN: We love the fact that it was --

CARSON: This is why he liked it so much.

BALDWIN: All right.

CARSON: They had one.

BALDWIN: Ladies, let me ask you this question and I have a feeling judging by the fact you still have these gold outfits 20 years later, the answer is going to be yes, did you register for the memorial service?

BROWN: We did. Yes. Yes, we did.

BALDWIN: Final question, how will you remember him? First, Michelle then Micheon?

CARSON: I will remember how kind and sweet and loving and caring Michael Jackson is. He was just so magnetic. He had this aura that was around him that when you were in his space, you -- it was so magical.

BROWN: It was.

CARSON: The energy, you could not believe that came forth. So, he loved god and he knew that he was blessed. And he just wanted to share some of that with others and we are honored that he shared some of that with us. And we love you, Michael, and we will never, ever, ever forget you.

BROWN: And my memory --

BALDWIN: Go ahead.

BROWN: Is that Michael is god's greatest gift to entertainment. Michael -- I mean, we all copied his dance and his singing was angelic and his kind spirit and the fact that we were ordinary twins from Dallas, Texas, and he took the time to treat us special whenever we were in his presence.

And so we appreciate that. One thing that he said to us --

CARSON: Yes.

BROWN: He said "I will never forget you" he appreciated the bond that we had. He said that, you guys are so close and you have each other. And I think he was longing for that, being regular, being a regular guy.

CARSON: Yes.

BROWN: And he didn't get that while he was here on earth and we just hope that he can get that in heaven.

CARSON: Yes.

BROWN: Bless your family, Michael.

CARSON: We do.

BROWN: Your mom, dad, your sisters and brothers, your children, your family. Our prayers are with you, we love you and thank you for the special memories that you have given us.

CARSON: Yeah.

BALDWIN: It is amazing.

Thank you, ladies, Michele and Micheon Brown; it is obvious he touch so many fans, musicians, obviously family members as well. Thank you for coming on and sharing your thoughts and your '80s gold outfit. Thank you.

BROWN: Thank you.

CARSON: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Well tonight, CNN's Don Lemon will be taking an in- depth look at Michael Jackson's life and his legacy; we will be talking about his childhood, his music, his finances and his influence. You won't want to miss this, this is CNN Presents special, "Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror" 8:00 Eastern, only on CNN.

A killer terrorizes a small South Carolina town. Police searching car by car and house by house, trying to stop the serial killer from striking again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A serial killer has people in Gaffney, South Carolina so frightened that even a minister is keeping a gun in his church office. Five people here, five, have been killed in the past week. A massive search, as you can imagine, is under way and CNN's Richard Lui is in Gaffney and filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RICHARD LUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Abby Tyler, a much- loved 15-year-old died Saturday morning two days after being shot. The Cherokee County sheriff says she is the fifth victim of a serial killer within one week. Her pastor remembered Abby.

CLYDE THOMAS, VICTIM'S PASTOR: Very vivacious. Very -- a quick smile. She lived her faith every day. She got that faith from her mother, her father, and her grandparents. She lived that faith every day of her 15 years. She was a good model for all of us.

LUI: Abby was with her father at the family business on Thursday when she was shot. Her father was pronounced dead at the scene. This picture of the family is from her church. The killings began a week ago with the shooting of peach farmer Klein Clash at his home. On Wednesday, the bodies of 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her daughter were found, bound and shot. Police have issued this sketch of the suspect, a white male in his 40s with salt and pepper hair.

The town of Gaffney, population 13,000, is on edge trying to celebrate the holiday weekend under a blanket of fear. Taking precaution but also scared, one shop owner and resident told us how his son reacted to the concern of a serial killer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was actually fearful and scared and asked me not to stay open late because he was afraid something would happen at the house because of what he hears it is constantly in the news. People are talking. That's what they have been hearing for the last few days. So he was fearful. He was scared and he was concerned for my safety.

ROBERT BROWN, GAFFNEY RESIDENT: Anybody works up here; somebody has a firearm at all the time up here, just for protection.

LUI: Do you always wear it?

BROWN: No just working up here, I wear it here working, but all the time, I carry it in my car all the time.

LUI: That is a more common reaction in this town as dozens of federal, state and local investigators work to track down the killer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Richard Lui now joining us on the phone from Gaffney, South Carolina. Richard, I heard in your piece, population of Gaffney, 13,000. So to have five murders in the span of a week has to be unfathomable.

LUI: It is Brooke, unfathomable, not only to the town of Gaffney but also the county of Cherokee home to about 54,000 people. They have in total, only six homicides in all of 2008 and they had half of that the year before. So five homicides just for this one town in Cherokee County certainly is very shocking. And we look at this they are trying to understand as being a small town who might this person be? They say they know everybody in the town but is this person amongst one of the people that live here? They don't know but they certainly are living in a bit of fear.

BALDWIN: Richard, the last time we chatted was about two hours ago, you were at a memorial for a mother and daughter two teachers that have been killed. What were those people saying there?

LUI: People here are really remembering both of the victims as well the extended family of the victims at this moment, giving stories of how they worked with them, how they knew the community and how it they contributed to the community. They have come out in numbers, Brooke. Sitting in one of two parking lots that are absolutely packed. The service is going on right now, about 100 feet away from us at First Baptist Church. It should finish in about 10 to 15 minutes, then we will see, no doubt, an outpouring of emotion as they finish remembering both of the two teachers, Gina Parker and Hazel Linder.

BALDWIN: Final question. More on the investigation side, you are learning that two additional people in Gaffney have died since we last reported the five deaths. Now, I know you said that these two additional deaths have not yet been connected to the serial killing, correct?

LUI: That is correct, Brooke. We had one death on July 3rd, that was a 35-year-old female in a traffic incident she committed suicide. Now according to the public information officer from Cherokee County, she is telling us that is not related to the hunt for what they are calling this serial killer. Then again overnight, July 4th, July 5th, there was a male. That death happening. The coroner said no immediate connection, however saying specifically, he needs to perform an autopsy, which may happen today. But again, the county being very mum about details as they go forward and try to find the suspect.

BALDWIN: Tough story to have to cover, tough story to have to live through on a holiday weekend. Richard Liu, appreciate all you're reporting on Gaffney, South Carolina, for us.

A special music program for at-risk youth it is blossoming in New Orleans. We will show you how it is changing lives for the better.

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BALDWIN: Iranian TV is reporting that Tehran has released a "Washington Times" journalist who was detained after the election more than two weeks ago. These are, here they are, file pictures of Jason Stouten, he holds dual British and Greek passports. He was arrested on June 23rd with no reason given. Iran is still holding several other British embassy workers but one, we are told, is expected to be released today.

After some shocking news to the nation with her sudden and unexpected resignation, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin going online to explain. Check out her Facebook page. According to Governor Palin's blog entry on her page there, she says she is leaving the Alaska governor's post to answer a higher calling, without explaining what exactly that calling might be. But she also took the opportunity to slam national media. Palin's resignation takes effect later this month. Former President George W. Bush did a little bit of traveling over this holiday weekend. He and the former first lady, Laura, celebrated the Fourth of July in Woodward, Oklahoma. Mr. Bush was the featured speaker for the 80th anniversary of a park there.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE U.S: I am often asked what I miss the most about being president of the United States. Well, I can get by with the traffic jams. I sure miss Air Force One, but I really miss being the commander in chief of such fine men and women.

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BALDWIN: Woodward in Northwest Oklahoma is the latest stop in a number of out-of-the-way places the former president has visited since leaving office.

What began as a summer program to keep New Orleans kids off of the city streets is now blossomed into a year-round music haven. CNN's Fredricka Whitfield shows us how it is changing lives.

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FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The powerful booming reach of rebirth, one of the popular brass bands in New Orleans, just got bigger. A year ago, I told you about how far members of this nine-piece ensemble worked to return home to this city and their most loyal fans after hurricane Katrina scattered everyone across the country. For drummer, Derrick Tabb, their gift of music is to reach another audience, one with an even greater con (ph) to fill.

DERRICK TABB, COFOUNDER, THE ROOTS OF MUSIC: That music really saved me from a lot of stuff that was going on in the street and I figured I could do the same thing with a lot of other kids.

WHITFIELD: He came up with an idea.

TABB: I had them out after my junior high band director.

WHITFIELD: Offer kids ages 9 to 14 a chance to learn music for free.

TABB: That was the new advertisement. And that and just word of mouth.

WHITFIELD: No strings attached, no instruments needed, just bring yourself.

TABB: I call it the no excuse process. I give them a bus. I give them the transportation, I give them the instruments, I give them the tutors, I give them the teachers, you don't have no excuse why you not here.

WHITFIELD: At first, 42 kids showed up.

TABB: In a week and a half, we had like 65, 70 kids.

WHITFIELD: A year later.

TABB: Like about 100 kids in the program right now still. And 400 almost still on the waiting list.

WHITFIELD: A year-round music education program for at least three hours a day, five days a week, known as the Roots of Music, fueled by donations, volunteers and lots of love.

For kids like 9-year-old Jeremiah Russell, who first picked up a trumpet just seven months ago, even riding the program bus 20 minutes is an exercise in discipline. His mother sees the transformation.

CONNIE RUSSELL, JEREMIAH'S MOTHER: Ever since he has been in the band, he has been a much better child, academically as well as his behavior. Better.

WHITFIELD: How has Jeremiah changed over the last few months?

JEREMIAH RUSSELL, STUDENT: Cause they taught me how to behave and how to sit down and listen to the teachers and stuff.

TABB: Actually learning how to do music and to take that further in school and every day life.

WHITFIELD: Thirteen year-old Brianna Smith was bringing home from school. Clarinet now has her hitting higher notes and better grades.

BRIANNA SMITH, STUDENT: What keeps me coming is that I know that by me playing in the band is -- I have fun doing it.

WHITFIELD: The fun isn't just here but here, too.

ALLISON REINHARDT, PROGRAM COFOUNDER: OK. 10 to the second power.

WHITFIELD: Program co-founder Allison Reinhardt helps make even math something to smile about.

REINHARDT: All of our kids have gone up a letter grade in mathematics and language arts.

WHITFIELD: A success rate worth bragging.

TABB: I see only like one kid who came here who wasn't really interested and changed his mind. He is actually a band captain right now. He is doing the number one kid in my program.

WHITFIELD: That would be tuba player Terrance Knockum, who loves the lesson he is now teaching other kids.

TERRANCE KNOCKUM, BAND MEMBER: Just keep doing it until you good at it. WHITFIELD: This 15-year-old about to graduate from the program has big plans, just like Roots of Music founder Derek Tabb playing in his school band before one day earning a spot in a big band like Rebirth, on a big stage.

Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, New Orleans.

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BALDWIN: I caught Rebirth live in person. Great show.

In the past year kids from the Roots of Music have already marched in five Mardi Gras parades, the New Orleans Jazz Fest and other Louisiana festivals. How fun.

Well, Motown's planning to remember Michael Jackson. Hear those and see the famous glove and hat worn by Michael Jackson when you join Don Lemon in the CNN NEWSROOM starting at 6:00 Eastern time. Thanks for joining me this Sunday.

I'm Brooke Baldwin, Fareed Zakaria, "GPS" is next.