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Obama Student Speech Controversy; Labor Day No Picnic for Jobless; Inside A Health Care Co-Op; Parents' Differing Views About Obama's Schoolhouse Speech; Kentucky Church Plans to Ordain Registered Sex Offender; Three Guilty Verdicts Against British Muslims Charged With Plotting Terrorism; Crowds on America's Roads on the Rise After Over a Year; Family of Three Killed in Rocket Attack Today in Afghanistan
Aired September 07, 2009 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, a look at some of the top stories we are following for you this morning. NATO's top commander for Afghanistan talking to the people there in a rare television appearance. General Stanley McChrystal promised to conduct an open investigation into the recent air strike that reportedly killed dozens of civilians.
These pictures just in from Mexico, where recovery efforts are under way right now. Heavy rains from two tropical storms triggered flash floods and deadly mudslides. The "New York Times" is reporting three people were killed when their homes were buried in one of those mudslides. 50,000 people have fled their homes since the storms began.
Late this morning, word of a dramatic rescue from that huge ferry that sank off the coast of the Philippines. A Philippine Air Force helicopter has rescued a woman who spent more than 30 hours drifting in the choppy seas. A massive operation scheduled, rescued nearly a thousand people from the ship. Nine people died, one person is still missing.
President Obama back from vacation and back to work on this Labor Day. He looks to the high stakes of a busy week. Today the White House will release transcripts of his televised address to school children. The administration is trying to quiet critics who say tomorrow's speech will contain liberal propaganda. President Obama also getting ready for a critical speech on health care reform. On Wednesday, he is due to address the nation and a joint session of Congress.
We have a lot of ground to cover this morning. Let's get right to our senior White House correspondent Ed Henry now. Good morning to you once again.
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
COLLINS: How exactly is the White House handling this controversy now surrounding the speech? I guess we're possibly just a few minutes away from actually being able to see it ourselves? HENRY: That's right, any time later this morning the White House is expected to post the speech online they want critics to see for themselves that the president is planning to give a pretty non- controversial address. They say previous Republican presidents gave this including the first President Bush in 1991.
And Education Secretary Arne Duncan says, look, if anything, he's surprised that more presidents since 1991 haven't stepped up and given a speech like this, basically just urging kids to stay in school, study hard. Take a listen to what he said yesterday on CBS.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNE DUNCAN, SECRETARY OF EDUCATION: Schools can do this, they cannot do it, they can watch it during the school day. Children can watch it at home with their families. They watch it a month from now. They could never watch it. It's purely voluntary. But I think all the drama, all the hoopla, at the end of the day the president motivates one "C" student to become a "B" student or one "B" student become an "A" student or one student who is thinking about dropping out to stay in school, and take their education seriously, it's all worth it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: The White House obviously thinking it's worth it, however the sort of lesson plan that the Department of Education under Arne Duncan originally sort of attached to this speech, sort of encouraging students to write essays and do things about how they could help the president of the United States, what they admire about him, that kind of thing. That's where conservatives felt originally that it had crossed the line a little bit. But certainly now that the Education Department has pulled back that lesson plan. Here at the White House, they think this is much adieu about nothing frankly. Heidi.
COLLINS: Well, also, they think, again, this is going to go down without a hitch now that the lesson plan had been taken out of the mix.
HENRY: Absolutely. And they think again, that this is the kind of thing that presidents of either party should be doing. Obviously we've been talking a lot about the need for the health care system in the United States to be fixed and there will be a lot more talk about that Wednesday night. But the president also believes the education system needs work as well. Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, and as you've mentioned what's going to be happening Wednesday with Congress, do we have actually any idea of what exactly the president will be saying?
HENRY: I think the key is that he wants the strike according to a senior advises are kind of conciliatory tone, say that after some of the angry town hall meetings and what not, it's time to come together, maybe his last chance to sort of reach out to Republicans. So they're not expecting a very much, if not any support, from Republicans. The key is how he threads the needle, if you will, between liberal and conservative Democrats.
The indications are that the president will give another push for the public option but also is also, according to his advisers, sort of making it clear that the public option's up for grabs if he needs to drop essentially in order to get a deal on health care reform. The big question is going to be whether liberals revolt if, in fact, he drops that after the speech. Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. And also isn't it -- very quickly, Ed, a question of independence here too, where they're going to go if this will happen?
HENRY: Sure. I mean, we've seen in the president's approval ratings certainly support among independent voters, which is so critical to him in the last election. It really dropped significantly. So that's important. And so that's why while we talk a lot about the sparring back and forth between the two parties, independent voters folks in the middle who might be open to the idea of reform but want to hear more really about what the president would specifically do because he hasn't really laid out the specifics. They're going to be looking closely because his top aides say he will finally really put the specifics on the table, Heidi.
COLLINS: OK. We will all be watching. Thanks so much. Our senior White House correspondent, Ed Henry, this morning. Thank you, Ed.
At the bottom of the hour, a closer look at president's speech to school kids that we were telling you. We're going to be talking with parents on either side of the argument and also an educator who is trying to bridge that divide.
Meanwhile, also this hour, keeping a close eye on Capitol Hill. Congress returned, as you know, and so does that focus on health care. President Obama getting ready for that critical speech on reform Wednesday, due to address the nation and also the joint session of Congress that we were talking with Ed about.
And CNN congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar is watching that, joining us now from our Washington bureau this morning. So, Brianna, the question for you is where we stand with regard to the public option in Congress?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, Democrats are so eager to hear what President Obama is going to say on Wednesday. But as a whole, I would say the rhetoric is starting to move away from the so-called public option. Now certainly some liberal members of the House, as you heard, Ed reference there, are not moving away from it, but speaking in terms of an average.
So in the Senate, we've known this for some time now, there is this lack of support, not only among Republicans but among key Democrats like Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. He indicating yesterday though that he could support what's what's being called a trigger for a so-called public option, a government-run insurance plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE OF SENATOR BEN NELSON (D), NEBRASKA: Well I think he has to say if there's going to be public option, it has to be subject to a trigger, in other words, if somehow the private market doesn't respond the way that it's supposed to, then it would trigger a public option or government-run option, but only as a fail-safe backstop to the process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: So, this would go into effect only if certain goals are not met in a certain amount of time, for instance, getting enough people insurance coverage or bringing costs down a sufficient degree. Main Republican Olympia Snowe, a key senator involved in bipartisan negotiations, Heidi. She has been discussing this very idea with the White House. So some idea here that maybe this is where some moderate Democrats and some moderate Republicans may find some common ground in the Senate where they're struggling to do so at the time.
COLLINS: All right. What about the House?
KEILAR: Yes. It's a different story in the House. This idea is getting a cool reception from many rank and file liberal Democrats who think that health care reform, without a public option, is not reform. And to them a trigger is just a way of setting up a plan for government-run health insurance that never actually goes into effect. So you can see here the disparate factions of Democrats that President Obama really has to juggle when he addresses Congress on Wednesday night.
COLLINS: Yes. No question. All right. We appreciate it. Congressional correspondent, Brianna Keilar this morning.
Also this programming note, I want to let you know, we'll have live coverage of President Obama's Labor Day remarks and his expected announcement of a new adviser for manufacturing policy. That will be scheduled for 1:15 Eastern today.
A political career badly damaged over a 9/11 controversy. Van Jones, President Obama's adviser on green jobs is stepping down now for signing a petition in 2004 that suggested the government let the 9/11 attacks to happen. The administration says the president did not force him to resign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president and the CEQ accepted his resignation because Van Jones, as he said in his statement, understood that he was going to get in the way of the president and ultimately this country, moving forward on something as important as creating jobs in a clean energy economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Jones did apologize, and now says he doesn't agree with the petition. But he also claims opponents of the president's health care plan are smearing him. Jones also drew fire for making insulting comments about Republicans.
In Oakland now, about 260,000 vehicles may need an alternate route when the work week begins tomorrow. Transportation officials say a crack discovered in the Bay Bridge's structure has delayed ongoing routine repairs. Giving you some live picture of the Bay Bridge right now. Probably usually a lot more traffic at this time. Repair crews hope to finish all of the work before Tuesday but officials are warning drivers the bridge may be closed for yet another day.
Fire crews, meanwhile, working on that massive station fire. It's been burning for nearly two weeks near Los Angeles. Well now they have that blaze more than half contained. But it certainly took a heavy toll. Two firefighters died, 78 homes are destroyed, nearly 246 square miles of the Angeles National Forest have burned. Fire agencies spent more than $50 million fighting the blaze. Full containment is not expected for another week. Officials have ruled the cause of the fire as arson. And because two firefighters are died, they have also opened a homicide investigation.
It is Labor Day, as everybody knows right now, and a lot of people out there trying to enjoy a beautiful day, we hope. But depending where you live, obviously Reynolds Wolf will tell you what to expect.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I tell you, Heidi, there are going to be some great places along the coast. Most of the Eastern seaboard, parts of the northeast conditions are going to be picture-perfect. But farther, deeper out in the ocean, we're going to see a little bit of an issue. We're watching one wave that is coming off the African coast right into the Cape Verde islands. There is a possibility this may become a named storm.
And if it does become a named storm, the name of this particular storm will be, ready for this, wish we had a drum roll, Fred. Fred will be the name of the storm. Yes. I don't name these things. We're going to keep a sharp eye on it. As of now it does not pose a threat to land but there's always that possibility. Of course, we at CNN, we're the hurricane headquarters, we're going to be focused on this like a laser beam.
Meanwhile, what we're seeing is some heavy rainfall possible in parts of the Midwest. We're talking about of course, places like say Cincinnati, where you have an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms, high temperatures today. They're going up to 78 degrees. That's a chance it's already happened though in parts of say the northwest. And now, Washington state, sure, last night, we had some rough stuff. We have storm damage there.
In Seattle though, take a look at the live image that we have for you. And off in the distance right there you see, of course, the mountains, a bit of the Emerald City there. Of course, the Space Needle. Right there on the lens cap you see some raindrops. Expect more rain there in the forecast for the day. As we go back to the weather computer, places like the Red River Valley, you could see some scattered showers. Parts of the Ohio Valley as we mentioned, could also see some rain.
But also look for a chance of thunder boomers in the sunshine state of Florida, Orlando. If you're going to any of the parks today, you're have an issue with rain. Same story could be expected for Island (INAUDIBLE), maybe even Key West, you could see some raindrops there. So, certainly keep that in mind because high temperatures going into 80s, 90s for parts of the sunshine state. 85 here in Atlanta. 97 in Dallas, 83 in Denver, 76 in Billings and back over to Chicago, outside of Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, 76 degrees will be the expected high. That is the look. Let's send it back to you.
COLLINS: Yes, not too shabby. Hey, next time we talk with you, Reynolds, a special treat for the folks at home. Shhh, don't tell them.
WOLF: Looking forward to it.
COLLINS: All right. See you in a few minutes.
WOLF: You bet.
COLLINS: With unemployment at an all-time high, Labor Day has new meaning for the millions of people out of work this year. But what will it take to get folks back in the workplace?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Time now for a story that has definitely gotten a lot of us talking here in the NEWSROOM. So we wanted to put it you on our blog, which as you know, you could just go to cnn.com/heidi. We're talking about this story right now.
A sex offender from Louisville, Kentucky will be ordained as a minister of a church. That's going to happen this Sunday. Well, the church says he deserves a new chance and he deserved forgiveness but some think the congregation is taking way too big of a risk.
So of course, we want to know what you think. You also send great comments to us. Just log on to cnn.com/heidi, and give us your thoughts on that. We'll put some in the show later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: While some of you are enjoying a day off this Labor Day, many of your are not. Instead, you are looking for work. With the unemployment rate at a 26-year high this day truly has new meaning for people without a job. So when will things going to turn around?
Roben Farzad is a senior writer for "Business Week." He's joining me from New York this morning to talk a little bit more about it. Robin, thanks for being with us this morning.
ROBEN FARZAD, SENNIOR WRITER, "BUSINESS WEEK": Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Tell us a little bit more about what makes this recession, this unemployment rate, so vastly different from others that this country has seen.
FARZAD: Well, for starters, you're talking about a rate at least not only we haven't seen since 1983, and who can even remember which songs were at the top of the billboard charts in '83.
COLLINS: Yes.
FARZAD: You know, 10 percent is a daunting number but I think the scarier number is the one that's not as reported, is the under employment rate. People that are either frustrated and that they're forced to take part-time work and those who have altogether stopped looking for a job. That's closer to 17 percent.
COLLINS: Yes.
FARZAD: So that is the primary overhang right now. If you're employed you're not gainfully employed. If you're unemployed it's harder than it is in recent memory to find a job.
COLLINS: Yes. No question about it. I also like to talk about and maybe this has changed a little bit since last we spoke about it, but I'm kind of thinking not. Those that are a little bit older and would be considering retirement right now are not retiring. They're staying in the jobs and, therefore, taking up a certain portion of them that maybe perhaps younger people just entering the job market could be taking. Of course, you've got the experience that sort of differs there. But still, overall, I imagine there are less jobs because of that issue alone.
FARZAD: There are. And there are multiple headwinds if you're approaching retirement right now. The stock market has had its worst decade, I believe, since 1900. It's harder than ever to really assume that you're going to have enough to tide you over for your golden years. And on top of that, as you mentioned if you do have a job, you covet that job, you hang on to it. And you have to pry it from somebody's cold, dead hands.
And what that ends up doing is backlogging the entire workforce. But I mean, it's a nice dilemma to have, if only we had all of these jobs to backlog. Unfortunately, there just aren't enough jobs for the number of people we're looking.
COLLINS: All right. So when you look at this problem, and I know, you have been for a very long time now, what do you see as something, anything, or maybe a combination of things, that could help lift us out?
FARZAD: Well, you have central banks bringing interest rates down to zero. So this is a hyper stimulative global monetary policy. You have governments the world over throwing hundreds of billions, trillions of dollars at this. You have green jobs planned. You have cash for clunkers. You have these ideas of high-speed rail.
COLLINS: Yes.
FARZAD: And on top of that, there's this idea, it's almost a dream at this point, that we can have green jobs. Just the same way the internet browser came out of left field and dotcom took us out of the early recession of the 1990s, maybe another killer app will just, you know, hit us like this asteroid and lift us out of it.
But certainly, I mean, there are lots of hopes, lots of expectations and just the possibility of options. And might I say, I, myself, feel underemployed. If you have any sort of appetite for a dashing financially savvy multicultured journalist, I'm all yours.
COLLINS: Oh, boy. Shameless. Shameless.
FARZAD: You've got to do what you've got do, Heidi.
COLLINS: You do, that's right. Roben, it's a pleasure talking with you.
FARZAD: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Roben Farzad, of course, from "Business Week." Thank you so much.
The health care debate and one proposal that's already taking root in the heartland. We take you inside a health care cooperative and reveal what it would mean to you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Just a week away before the NFL season kicks off, an arrest involving a San Diego Chargers player, star line backer Shawne Merriman was arrested early Sunday. He's accused of choking and restraining reality TV show star Tila Tequila at an after party at Merriman's home. The attorney for the football player denies the assault allegations. He says Tequila was drunk and Merriman simply tried to make arrangements for her to leave the house.
Several prisoners are being treated under guard this morning, according to the "Associated Press" after their private transport van crashed on interstate 59 around Hattiesburg, Mississippi, yesterday. The van was moving nine prisoners when it hit an embankment and some trees and then flipped over. The driver died. One guard and two prisoners were last listed in critical condition. Authorities are investigating but do not suspect foul play.
What if someone baptized your child without your permission? That's what exactly a mother in Breckenridge County, Kentucky says happened to her son on a school trip. According to the "Louisville Courier Journal," a public school coach took about 20 of his players on a retreat to his Baptist Church last month. About half of them were baptized.
One mom called a lawyer after hearing the superintendent was there and did nothing to stop it. The superintendent says, she did not seek consent because she thought the kids were old enough.
The battle over health care reform, the debate lurches back into gear this week, as vacationing lawmakers return to Capitol Hill. One of the options to consider is creating a health care co-operative, what would that mean? Chief national correspondent John King has some lessons from the heartland.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 280 cows here. Each eats about 100 pounds of feed a day. Three milking cycles, not to mention tending to the corn and other crops. A family farm is a long, hard day's work. With milk prices down, a profit is hard to come by. It makes Bob Topel, all the more grateful for his invisible partner.
BOB TOPEL, WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMER: Seed, fuel, fertilizer, feed, everything we buy is pretty much through a cooperative. We market our milk through a cooperative. If there is profit made the profit returns to the owner so the more you use the co-operative, the more earnings you get back. Co-ops have been around for over a hundred years in agriculture.
KING: And for the past 10 months, Topel his has turned to the co-op approach for something far more personal, his health care. Joining a 2 1/2-year-old farmers' cooperative, he said should be a model as Washington looks for way to force private insurance companies to compete more for their business.
TOPEL: Step it up. There's a lot of farmers who had individual health insurance elsewhere came to us and saw their premiums go down, and the other benefit we saw was there was farmers who didn't come to farmers health but by putting an extra layer of competition in the marketplace, their premiums went down just to meet what the farmers' health is putting out.
KING (on camera): Now I got it. All right.
(voice-over): Competition and choice are the main goals and co- op fans say their way makes more sense than a new government-run health insurance option.
BILL DEMICHEN, COOPERATIVE NETWORK PRESIDENT & CEO: 85 percent of the members of the farmer's health cooperative, for example, reported to us either their premiums fell or they stayed somewhat similar to what they had before but it's important is 65 percent of them said their health benefits actually increased substantially over what they had before. So where co-ops are they tend to be very, very high quality because it is the consumer who owns them, making sure that their health care providers are quality health care provider.
KING: In addition to expanding choice and competition, Bill Demichen of the Cooperative Network says the plans are helping with another big problem.
About 12 percent of our members were previously uninsured. So we think we've had a real impact on bringing in producers who previously couldn't get access to health insurance.
KING: Wisconsin has a dozen health care co-ops in all. Some hire doctors directly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You took x-rays today.
KING: Others used their pooled purchasing power to negotiate better rates with private insurers. Plans are widely accepted across the state, including this clinic in Monroe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No numbness or tingling?
KING: Bob Topel knows critics suggest what works in rural areas or small cities might not fit in more diverse suburbs or in urban America, but he's just as skeptical that government has the answer.
TOPEL: To me, just looking at the way the government managed the clunkers program and managed FEMA and Katrina and all of those things I don't want to turn my health care over to a government agency and try to get my round peg in a square hole and if it doesn't fit I'm caught in some bureaucratic red tape. With the co-op system I know the people that I can call and they're going to take care of me because I'm an owner versus just a number.
KING: John King, CNN, Waterloo, Wisconsin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Breaking news we want to get out to you. Right now a verdict in the case of three men accused of conspiring to kill thousands of people by blowing up flights in midair with liquid explosives. This is the case that started the whole three ounces or less wide-ranging rules on carrying liquids on your flights. We're going to have a live report of this straight from London in just a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.
COLLINS: Well, it's a working holiday for President Obama. This hour he leave for a Labor Day picnic in Ohio. He is meeting with the organized labor group, the AFL-CIO. Also today the White House will release transcripts of the president's televised address to school kids. The administration is trying to quiet critics who say that speech will contain liberal propaganda.
Well, the text for the President Obama's school speech will be released today so parents can take a look at it themselves. Originally there was controversy over the lesson plan the White House sent out. It asked students to write letters about what they can do to help the president. But that has since been revised. Some parents feel the classroom is not the place for politics while others think this will be great for the kids.
Joining me to discuss the issue are Amy Veasley and Bill Hogsett, both parents from Dallas, Texas. Also from Dallas, Sheri Fowler. She's the spokeswoman from the Rockwell Independent School District. Welcome to all of you. Listen, I know that this issue has brought up a lot of different opinions if you will, so really we wanted to make sure that we included them all. Amy, I want to start with you. What do you think about this? What is your opinion?
AMY VEASLEY, PRO-OBAMA SPEECH PARENT: My opinion is that we should allow our children to view this speech and hear President Obama. I feel like we as parents often put our children in front of professional athletes and movie stars and singers, and we don't question their political viewpoints. The president of our country wants to call our students to action to do goals in school.
COLLINS: Does it make a difference, Amy, that when that happens, when we see athletes and so forth, we do it at home, or we have a choice about it, or we don't do it at school?
VEASLEY: Yes, we definitely have a choice about it but I feel like, you know, in my particular school district, in the Rockwell Independent School District, we have been given the option to allow our children to view this. I think that's a very fair and equitable way to do this. But you know, it almost seems -- you know, I'm not sure why parents wouldn't want their students to hear out the leader of our country.
COLLINS: OK, well, let's find out. Sitting right next to you is Bill Hogsett, who does not agree. Bill, what's your thought on this? Bill, you're not happy about it.
BILL HOGSETT, ANTI-OBAMA SPEECH PARENT: No, I have a couple different problems with. Number one is that the president's speeches tend to be what's wrong with the country and what we can do to fix it. And I believe this is the greatest country on earth and I try to teach that to my children and I don't want them hearing there's a fundamental flaw in the country and the kids need to go forward to fix it. Until I see the text of the speech, I'm a little concerned.
COLLINS: Well, exactly. And I did want to be fair about that. Because obviously, no one has. This has not gone online yet. It could happen any minute. We're watching out for that so everyone has a very informed opinion.
But Sheri, I want to get to you -- Sheri Fowler, spokesperson for the Rockwell Independent School District because I'd love to know how this decision came about. What does your district think about this? How did it come to the point where you said yes, we're going to go ahead and do this and offer it up to our students?
SHERI FOWLER, ROCKWELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT: Well, it came about in an interesting way. On Wednesday morning, we became acutely aware of the speech because we began getting a lot of parent phone calls. And I have taken more than probably 50 parent phone calls myself.
COLLINS: What do they say?
FOWLER: Well, they're running a huge spectrum. If I had to pick out two things, I would probably say the two things were parents want a choice, and parents also would like to preview what's in the speech.
So, as we were developing our district plan regarding President Obama's message, we decided that we would look at those two things as being very, very important. And so our policy is that it is going to be shown live on every campus, but not in the classroom. So, students have the option to come out if their parents want to and watch the speech.
In addition, we're really pushing our Web site option also, which is those parents that want to preview the speech are able to look at it through a link on our Web site after the fact and then watch it at home with their own children that evening.
COLLINS: OK. Well, it seems like a pretty fair approach. But, Bill, I'd love to know what you think about that, because I'm not sure what your plan was today. If you get online and you see this text and you're not happy with what the president will be offering your kids, what you going to do?
HOGSETT: Well, I'm in Frisco (ph). I'm in a different ISD, and they're doing an optional program but it's going to be based on curriculum. They're not going to show it the same day as the speech. I believe they'll use it where they think it's appropriate. And I am pretty sure it's not going to shown to kindergartners now.
COLLINS: OK. Understood. What about you, Amy? If you happen to find a surprise, you end up being concerned after you look at the text, what are you going to do about it?
VEASLEY: I've already made my decision that my children are going to view this speech. I feel like, you know, I trust the leader of our country and if, you know, there are things that he does that I don't agree with, you know -- I don't completely agree with some of the health reforms that are being discussed, you know, but I feel like I have the capability, you know, that evening to talk with my children and educate them and discuss our political views.
COLLINS: Is there anything in there that either of you are looking for with regard to issues? You mentioned health care reform -- that you really want your children to hear from the president? Bill?
HOGSETT: Actually, I don't want them to hear anything from the president in kindergarten. So regardless of what's in the speech, I'd probably be against it just at his age.
COLLINS: Understood. Amy, you already mentioned health care reform.
So, to the three of you, we certainly appreciate it. Again, want to remind everyone we are waiting for the text of the president's address to the schoolchildren to come out any minute now so everyone can get a look and decide for themselves what they will do.
Amy Veasley, Bill Hogsett, and Sheri Fowler, thanks so much.
VEASLEY, HOGSETT AND FOWLER: Thank you.
COLLINS: A registered sex offender will be the newest minister at a Kentucky church. One of the pastors says he's proven that he's changed. But as Adam Walser from affiliate WHAS says, not everyone feels quite so forgiving.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAM WALSER, WHAS-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): City of Refuge Church proclaims that everyone is welcome. That's probably what attracted Mark Hourigan. Hourigan was charged back in 1998 with sodomizing, sexually abusing and intimidating an 11-year-old boy. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, served time in prison and agreed not to serve as a leader in any church where he would have contact with children. But Hourigan's probation is over, even if his sex offender registration will never end.
PASTOR RANDY MEADOWS, CITY OF REFUGE WORSHIP CENTER: But us as a society, we can't forget. We can't move on. And I preach in this church to try to allow God to move you on to a better life.
WALSER: Pastor Randy Meadows says the Lord has touched Hourigan's heart. Hourigan now leads praise and worship at the church and he will become an ordained minister next Sunday.
MEADOWS: If we show people that someone with Mark's background, Mark's past can become someone that will be productive in society, then - who else could reach out to other people but Christ's people?
WALSER: But former Church Deacon Kevin Pickerrell says Hourigan was never straightforward about his past until he was confronted.
KEVIN PICKERRELL, FORMER CHURCH DEACON, CITY OF REFUGE WORSHIP CENTER: So I had, of course, my piece of paper that I did my research on and I handed it to him and I said, "This is the problem." And his reaction was, "Oh, you found out."
WALSER: Pickerrell fears Hourigan may be tempted by children who gather at the church for weekly Sunday School. He worries he could reoffend.
PICKERRELL: Maybe he's going to fall in that category of the low percentage that doesn't, but I don't want to take the chance.
WALSER: Pastor Meadows says Hourigan will sign an agreement not to minister to children.
MEADOW: God is a God of love and a forgiving God, and I'm doing what He's telling me to do. And if that's not popular, well, Jesus wasn't either, so...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLLINS: Alright, so it's a story we have been talking about in the NEWSROOM, and we opened it up to you. Want to hear what you think. We've gotten something like 100 responses already on this. Many of you giving your perspective on this controversial decision to let a registered sex offender become an ordained minister.
Here's what some of you had to say. I hope I'm going to do this right. There we go, to the Heidi Mac now.
"The church is all about forgiveness. So, I don't see this as surprising. Hopefully, this will keep him away from children. If I was a parent at that church, I would probably leave or keep an extra- close eye on my child. The people attending the church have a decision to make. If there is a negative outcome, they'll have to live with that decision."
And then this one: "I was an offender, not a sex offender, but an offender nevertheless. I think he should be given a chance to prove to himself that God is greater than his demons. I wish him well. If it wasn't for rehab or people wanting to give me another chance, I wouldn't be who I am today."
And this one says: "I'm all for being forgiving, but not when it comes to jeopardizing the welfare of children. Children are the most vulnerable, most impressionable, most easily abused human beings. Anyone who takes advantage of a child's innocence and inability to protect him or herself does not merit the respect due to a minister."
Finally this one, sort of a flavor here of what everyone is writing in. "It's wonderful this church is able to forgive Mr. Hourigan. But inviting him to become ordained clergy is plainly irresponsible. Mr. Hourigan can serve his church without being elevated to such an important position of trust."
So again, just some of the opinions that you were able to write in it us on the blog. You can weigh in, CNN.com/heidi.
Breaking news right now. Got to get it out to you. We have a verdict in the case of three British Muslims accused of plotting the biggest terror attack since September 11. CNN international security correspondent Paula Newton in London for us this morning.
So, Paula, this is pretty incredible. This is the entire case that has us all carrying tiny bottles of liquid on to planes.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Heidi. If you're wondering why we do it, it goes back to this plot in 2006. Eight were standing trial, three convicted of conspiracy to murder.
Heidi, I have to point out, this was a retrial. These three had already been convicted of conspiracy to murder. But it was the plot, the plot itself, that the first jury just never bought. They said, look, we don't have enough proof here to say that these men actually intended to blow up as many as eight aircraft crossing the Atlantic and kill tens of thousands of people.
This time, the prosecution got a measure of victory here. They certainly didn't get what they wanted against all of the defendants. One man walking free of all charges. Certainly four others have been sentenced prior to charges in connection with this plot. But right now, these three guilty verdicts, Heidi, mean that the British government can say to themselves, look, we proved it. They were going to blow up airplanes with soft drink bottles. We proved scientifically this can happen. They were saying look, we were justified these new security measures have really been put into place worldwide. Heidi?
COLLINS: No question. We have something or our screen, that said one ounce -- I believe it's three ounces. I just want to make sure. We all go through that process every time we fly. And it all goes back to this. So, Paula Newton is covering this story for us. Thanks so much, Paula, live from London this morning. Appreciate that.
Oprah did it, now a rap star is doing it, too. Giving away cars. Why Ludacris decided to give more than a dozen people a new ride.
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COLLINS: Some people without wheels now have transportation, thanks to a rapper and actor. Ludacris partnered with A dealership in suburban Atlanta and gave away 20 cars to people who nearly lost their jobs because they did not have transportation. About 4,000 people submitted essays to the rapper's foundation saying why they deserved a car.
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LUDACRIS, RAPPER AND ACTOR: We have our own stimulus plan. We're doing our part as a foundation, as an organization to give back. We know it's hard economic times. Like I said, Luda Day Weekend. A whole a list of events towards charity, giving back, leading by example. With great power comes great responsibility. I'm just doing my part.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Along with the free car, winners also get free gas for 30 days.
Americans heading back to work tomorrow may find it's taking them longer to get where they're going. But the longer commute may be a sign of economic recovery. Stephanie Elam has the "Breakdown" from New York. Hi there, Stephanie.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. After a year and a half of decreased congestion, it's getting a little more crowded on America's roads. That's according to Enrick (ph), a company that monitors traffic pattern nationwide by using a million GPS-enabled cars and truck.
Now, the average American will spend about 30 hours stuck in traffic this year. That's a slight increase from 2008 but still well off the 41-hour average that Americans spent in traffic in 2007, back before the recession began. Enrick says the increase is due to lower fuel prices and increased economic activity. In some cities, that means more people going work. Washington, D.C., for example, one of the biggest increases in travel times -- a result of more government workers, but it's not just the jobs. Enrick says its numbers take into account several factors, including more shipping and freight activity as well, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. And what about construction? Sitting in your car waiting on construction crews, is that in there? I don't know.
ELAM: Probably has a lot to do with different cities, that's for sure.
COLLINS: Exactly. What about the federal stimulus package? Is a lot of the money, of course, meant to fund road projects. So, also contributing to this increase, yes?
ELAM: No doubt about it, that is true. Department of Transportation received 27.5 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. So far, that funded over 6,000 road projects nationwide, which Enrick says has led to a 40 percent increase in delays during off-peak construction hours from the first half of 2008 to the first half of this year.
Now, this map I'm about to show you shows where the biggest delays are. Take a look at this. Albuquerque, New Mexico, the I-40 project there. Also in St. Louis, multiple interstate projects in the works. I can testify to that. We were almost late to a wedding because of that. You have to get off the freeway and back on on the other side of the construction. That was a nightmare.
And the Massachusetts Accelerated Bridge Program has Boston, Worcester, and Springfield all in the top ten in terms of increased overnight delays. Number one on the list, Portland, Maine. There are plans to redesign I-295, one of the area's main arteries. Follow the recovery at every angle at CNNmoney.com, including a related story about the some of the more unusual stimulus projects, Heidi.
COLLINS: Love it. All right. Stephanie Elam with "The Breakdown" this morning. Thanks, Stephanie.
ELAM: Sure.
COLLINS: Claims that U.S. troops tied up hospital guards and burst into women's wards in Afghanistan. Who were they looking for? And why some say they went too far.
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COLLINS: In Afghanistan today, a family of three killed by a rocket attack and claims that U.S. troops overstepped their bounds in a hospital. Our Atia Abawi is working on this story. She will be with us from Kabul as soon as she becomes available.
Meanwhile, beginning tonight, Anderson Cooper takes you inside Afghanistan live from the battle zone. An "AC 360" special report. You can watch that, beginning at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time. Hitting the beach this Labor Day. Our Rob Marciano is already there this morning in Cocoa Beach, Florida. We'll take you there live in just a couple of minutes.
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COLLINS: Quickly want to get you back to our Atai Abawi, joining us from Kabul, Afghanistan, this morning to talk a little bit more about a rocket attack there, and also something that happened with U.S. troops inside a hospital there. Some allegations, I should say. Apparently, I'm being told that communication has once again been lost. We'll continue to work on that story. Of course, we'll have it throughout here the day on CNN.
Right now we want to get you over to Reynolds Wolf, who is our constant man at ready.
WOLF: I don't know if that's good or bad.
COLLINS: Good morning to you -- it's great. We love you. And really, across the country, I don't know if there's -- it's a nice Labor Day in most parts, right?
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WOLF: All right, you're up to speed. Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Yes. We don't have a lot of things right now, but we do have this. Check this out. I just saw for the first time, my little tiny child - oh, yes -- no, this isn't it. We do have live pictures. I think that's of Cocoa Beach of Rob Marciano, who will be joining us shortly.
But Reynolds, I was going to share this with you. On my husband's birthday, Matt Collins today, our child walked for the first time. This video just in moments ago. Owen Edward, his brother Riley there, taking his first steps. How about that, right?
WOLF: Congratulations! That is tremendous, tremendous. Before you know it, he'll be walking over to the counter, picking up the car keys and driving away.
COLLINS: Yes. Hopefully not the TV remote, though, to shut us off. Thanks for sharing that with me, Reynolds. Appreciate it.
WOLF: Awesome.
COLLINS: All right. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back in the CNN NEWSROOM.
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COLLINS: If you haven't already heard, swimming in some beaches around Cape Cod this Labor Day is a no-no unless you want to get in the water with these. Four great white sharks have been sighted swimming along the shorelines. A marine expert managed to tag two predators. In fact, it's the first time anyone has tag a great white in U.S. waters in the Atlantic Ocean. Huge!
Sand and surf sounds pretty good now, as long as you're not there. Rob Marciano is not. He's in Cocoa Beach, Florida at the annual NKF Pro-Am Surf Festival. And Rob, what a surfer you are. Good morning .
ROB MARCIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, the crazy mad skills I've exhibited this morning, I'm glad you appreciate that.
It ain't about me, Heidi. It's about people around here surfing. Women's long board competition happening now. They're out there waiting for a good set to come in. Little bit farther down the beach, we've got the men's division. They're waiting for a good set.
Haven't had huge waves. Come on, it's the Florida coastline. Pretty good ground swell. It happens during morning time because winds are lighter, lets waves set up a little bit better. Afternoon sea breezes kicks in. Oh, that's nice. Eighty-four degrees. That feels good on the tootsies. Great weekend to be at the beach, you better believe it.
Let's see what this guy does. Going left, little kick off the top. Don't know what they call that. Another kick off the top.
COLLINS: Well, you get serious points for that, coming out and going back in so quickly.
MARCIANO: That was sweet. In style, all the way down. He's doing that for cameras. Amazing what this camera will do to these guys for inspiration. They're also inspired by a gentleman who for 24 years has been the forefront of the event. Retired surfer. He's had not one but three kidney transplants, and for 24 years, he's raised between $4 million and $5 million for the National Kidney Foundation of Florida. So, not only a great event to come out watch surfers take it to the waves but, you know, get you in the heart as well.
COLLINS: Absolutely.
MARCIANO: Live from Cocoa Beach, Heidi. You know, this is not Major Nelson's Cocoa Beach anymore. It has changed since the days of "I Dream of Genie" and a nice place to hang out for Labor Day. Love my job today for sure.
COLLINS: That's for sure. It looks gorgeous. Please don't hurt yourself working too hard. Rob Marciano, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Thank you, Rob.
That will do it for us. I'm Heidi Collins. CNN NEWSROOM continues now with Tony Harris.
