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Do They Have Him or Don't They?; Counting is the Next Step; Last Push for Health Reform

Aired March 08, 2010 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR, "CNN NEWSROOM": Good morning guys. And welcome to Monday.

Let's go ahead and get this show on the road, shall we?

Here is a question you might ask in the next couple of months. Where the heck is my tax refund? The government didn't hesitate to take your money out of your check, so why the delay?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're cutting the library. They're cutting the music.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really worried about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: OK, fellow grown-ups, let's be quiet for a minute. What do the kids think about budget cuts to their schools? They're the ones who have to deal with it, right?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am having an abortion -- right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: OK. Thanks for sharing, but why did you put that on Twitter and YouTube?

Also this morning, so did Pakistan nab al Qaeda's American-born mouthpiece or some other guy? It's hard to get a concrete answer. Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is on it.

Arwa Damon is in Baghdad. It's vote counting time but the weekend election costs some people their lives.

And to the White House. How many more health care reform pitches does the president have left in him?

So do they have him or don't they? The uncertainty surrounding the arrest of al Qaeda's American-born mouthpiece, Adam Gadahn, is still in question right now. Pakistani say that they've got him and they arrested him yesterday in Karachi. As for the U.S., not so sure. Pakistan under intense pressure to capture al Qaeda and Taliban leaders.

And as you may remember, Gadahn is a 31-year-old California native and Muslim radical, and he's documented his extreme beliefs in al Qaeda videos espousing the terrorist cause.

There is a $1 million bounty actually on Gadahn's head compliments of the U.S. Justice Department.

CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson has been on this story since the beginning.

And Nic, a lot of mixed signals. Why?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's not clear at the moment why we have two senior Pakistani government sources saying yes, he's been captured. One of them even saying that this shows how the Pakistani government is turning the tides on terrorism, that they want their friends to -- their friends to sort of recognize what they're doing.

And here, specifically, talking about the United States, so it's strange that we haven't had confirmation from any U.S. officials about this, and also strange now daytime in Pakistan that we've -- Pakistani government hasn't given further clarification on this.

There could be any number of reasons -- confusion among some top ranks of Pakistani officials. That's a possibility. A sudden realization that it's not smart to put this information out that you captured Adam Gadahn because his arrest might lead to the capture and apprehension of other al Qaeda figures if you can sort of keep their arrest secret, get whatever information out of him you can quickly, and act on that.

So there could be a number of reasons. Pakistan has a very, very active media there. They're very competitive. A small piece of information from a local security source or one of these news agencies could then perhaps spark more information, triggered up the line, and again causing this confusion but we're trying to (INAUDIBLE) still right now -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, well, keep us posted by the minute. Nic Robertson, thanks so much.

Let's talk more about this reputed arrest and what it could mean on a larger scale. Ken Robinson is a national security expect with more than 30 years of government service.

So, Ken, what's your take? What are your sources telling you? You've been involved in these types of raids and taking in key terrorists like this in your career.

Do you think that they have him or not? KEN ROBINSON, FMR. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: It looks like they do. The -- it's important, just as Nic just said, the guy has perishable information that 48 hours from now won't mean anything because people now know that allegedly he's been captured and they changed their methods, they change locations, they change their plans.

So it's a very short period of time that the United States government or the Pakistanis can exploit the fact that they potentially have him in custody.

PHILLIPS: Considering the U.S. relationship with Pakistan, the fact that al Qaeda terrorists are a growing force in that country, the CIA works in cahoots constantly with Pakistani intel.

Wouldn't we be able to confirm this, put eyes on him as a U.S. force, if indeed they got somebody this big?

ROBINSON: Well, it's not whether we could do it or not, it's whether we should. I believe that if they're going to exploit anything from this guy it's not in the interest of anyone to talk about it until they've had an opportunity to see what they can get because they want to get the bigger fish.

They want to get the core leadership. They want to find out where Zawahiri is. They want to find out where bin Laden is. And there's no interest in the United States in talking about the arrest until they've exploited the information from the source.

PHILLIPS: So, Ken, if indeed, they've got him -- they say they picked him in Karachi, do you find that odd? I mean most of these guys are supposed to be hiding out to somewhere in mountainous regions.

ROBINSON: Yes, they like to live comfortably. If you look at all of the arrest that they have been made of significant al Qaeda, they've all been found in Pakistani cities, not up in the caves, not up in the mountains.

And it's probably where they'll find some of the most senior leadership as well, in a comfortable place, not up in a cave somewhere. The -- it's not unusual to me because the pustules (ph) have migrated to all of these cities especially in the south, in Karachi, based on the attacks that have been run by the Pakistani military and the ISI.

So they feel comfortable moving amongst the human terrain of the population. And $1 million means something to someone in a city in Pakistan in terms of a reward. It doesn't mean much to a guy who's tending goats in a mountain in Pakistan.

PHILLIPS: Final question. If they do have him, what do we gain from this guy? I mean he's got the American tie. Is he more apt to roll over and give information than someone born in country?

ROBINSON: I doubt that. I think he'll be resistant to interrogation. What we do gain is a Tokyo rose has been taken off the radio. He is a guy who appeals to the west. He's a mouthpiece for al Qaeda in their recruitment and retention.

And they appeal to disenfranchised youth on the Internet, and that's how they train. That's how they do their distance learning. That's how they recruit.

And so it's one less guy out there helping them get their message across, but there will be another one, and probably another after that. It's a long global war.

PHILLIPS: Ken Robinson, always appreciate your insight.

Attacking the interrogators in Pakistan. A suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's second biggest city targeted the special investigations agency. That's where they interrogate suspected militants. The blast in Lahore killed 11 people, 60 others were injured.

And the votes are in. Iraqis cast their ballots over the weekend, choosing the direction for their future. And they brave brazen attacks by insurgents hell-bent on keeping people away from polls. Like many elections, the next step could be pretty messy. Counting the votes and transitioning to possible new leadership. President Obama offered these words of encouragement as it all went down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We support the right of the Iraqi people to choose their own leaders and I commend the Iraqi government to put plans in place to extend security and basic services for the Iraqi people during this time of transition.

We know that there will very difficult days ahead in Iraq. And there will probably be more violence, but like any sovereign, independent nation, Iraq must be free to chart its own course.

No one should seek to influence, exploit or disrupt this period of transition. Now is the time for every neighbor and nation to respect Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Preliminary results are still a few days away. CNN's Arwa Damon was there watching -- the voting the Baghdad. She joins us live now.

Arwa?

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. One really have to admire the Iraqis because despite the violence, despite the fact that at least 38 people were killed, they went out and cast their votes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON (voice-over): Little 5-year-old Youssif may not be eligible to vote, but he's certainly practicing for that day. "After we heard the explosion this morning we decided not to come," his mother Dianna (ph) says, "but he insisted and said no, we have to vote."

Despite the violence, despite the insurgent threats, Iraqis came to the polls. Families with children dressed in their best outfits, more excited than their parents for a special day out. But no one is expecting immediate change, as (INAUDIBLE), one of the volunteers here tells us.

"We've had such a hard time. We just want something better for our children."

(On camera): Among the many Iraqis we've been talking to there is a sense of defiance, and there is also hope or, as Iraqis say, (speaking in foreign language), god willing, the risk that they just took in coming here is going to be worth it. That the next government that comes into power will provide them the things they so desperately need.

(Voice-over): At this polling center, some like these two women were unable to vote, told their names were not on the voters' list.

What most Iraqis want out of this election is the same thing they wanted when they voted five years ago. What the current government failed to deliver -- basic services, jobs and most of all, still, security.

This time, though, political blocs are all trying to appear to cross sectarian lines and people are quickly realizing the power of their vote. The next lesson of democracy however will be for the politicians themselves.

AD MELKERT, U.N. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE: I think the most important thing after these elections is that the results will be accepted, that winners and losers understand and acknowledge mutual responsibilities as government party, as opposition party. They're all essential for a true Democratic process.

DAMON: All indications point to a close race. Preliminary results won't be available for days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON: And, Kyra, we're expecting the Independent High Electoral Commission to announce the final number on voter turnout within the hour. Estimates are that it is around 60 percent.

PHILLIPS: We'll follow-up. Arwa Damon, thanks so much.

Getting a firsthand status report on Afghanistan now. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived this morning. He's talking with U.S. military and Afghan leaders about the ongoing offensive in Marjah in southern Afghanistan, also future missions.

Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was actually also supposed to be there, but Iranian media reports say that his trip has been delayed.

Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden arrives in the Middle East. His first stops are in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Then later today, Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano expected to introduce President Obama's latest nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration. According to a source, it's Retired Army Maj. General Robert Harding who brings 33 years of experience with him including stints as intel chief for the Army's southern command and is director for operations at a defense intelligence agency.

If confirmed, Harding would be the TSA's first African-American administrator.

President Obama on message and on the road. Is this his final push for health care reform? We're going to show you how he's reaching out to the American public.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Finally some spring-like temperatures over the weekend. But how long will it last? Weather is coming up after the break. Stay there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The battle for health care reform. President Obama takes his campaign on the road in what may be his last-ditch push for an overhaul.

Let's get a preview of this morning's speech just outside of Philadelphia. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joining us.

Suzanne, what's at stake today for the president?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kiran, certainly what's at stake, you mentioned this is really the finish line for the president. This is his top domestic priority and he's been trying to get this -- move the ball forward for a whole year now.

He would like to pivot to focusing on jobs. And so really, that's what's at stake. Also the ability for lawmakers -- Democrats -- who have the majority in both House and Senate, as well as here at the White House, whether or not they can actually govern and get something done. That's what the White House and the president has been arguing to the Democrats.

He is also going to say today in the Philadelphia area, Kiran, that essentially this is about 31 million people getting health insurance, that this is going to make a difference in peoples' lives and that there will be an immediate impact.

Here's how the president put it this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OBAMA: If we let this opportunity pass for another year or another decade or another generation, more Americans will lose their family's health insurance if they switch jobs or lose their job. More small businesses will be forced to choose between health care and hiring.

More insurance companies will raise premiums and deny coverage. And the rising costs of Medicare and Medicaid will sink our government deeper and deeper into debt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And, Kiran, one of the reasons why he's actually going to Philadelphia, the Philadelphia area, in the suburbs there, is because there are surveys that show that in that region that the percentage of doctors who specialize in say, OB/GYN, they have the lowest percentage of those who actually accept Medicaid patients.

And one of the reasons why is because the state of Pennsylvania takes a long, long time to actually give those doctors -- get those doctors their Medicaid reimbursements. It's one of the things that the president is going to be talking about, how resolved that those types of issues by looking at the health care reform legislation and addressing it. Kiran?

PHILLIPS: Well, what's the realistic timetable, Suzanne, you think for getting this done?

MALVEAUX: Kyra, I'm sorry I keep calling you Kiran. I've been talking to Kiran --

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: All morning.

PHILLIPS: It's OK. Kyra, Kiran -- go ahead, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: I apologize.

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: Oh no, no. Not Suzanne.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: You know I love you. Go ahead.

MALVEAUX: I love you back there. But the timetable here, what we're talking about is essentially that the president would like to see that the House address this and pass the Senate bill -- the version on the Senate side by the time he goes overseas to Indonesia. That's next Thursday.

Now if that slips and they expect it could slip, you're talking about lawmakers trying to get this done over the Easter recess. And what the problem is going to be is some of those moderate Democrats, if they go back to their own home states, their constituents are really -- might give them an earful on this because they're not particularly happy with this bill.

They may decide that they don't want to support it and vote for it ultimately. So that is why you see the president here really pushing forward, trying to capitalize off of the momentum that he's been building over the last couple of weeks to get this done.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne, thanks so much.

MALVEAUX: Kyra.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: And we will have live coverage of the president's speech this morning. Suzanne will be following that, of course. It's due to get under way 11:00 Eastern.

We've got yet another powerful earthquake to tell you about this morning. Just before dawn a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck a mountainous region of southeastern Turkey. At least 51 people are confirmed dead right now. Crews are searching the rubble of older homes that had collapsed. That area has also been jolted by dozens of powerful aftershocks.

Rob Marciano, got your hands full again, too. This time, Texas, Oklahoma --

MARCIANO: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Not looking so good.

MARCIANO: No -- well, and as far as the earthquakes go, Kyra, you know, it's just -- the last couple of weeks have been incredibly active. And that's basically the only explanation I can get out of a seismologist. It's just -- we're in a kind of an active period. Anytime you get a big jolt like we had last week you can get some weakness in other places.

This particular area, you've got the Arabian plate. You've got the African plate. And you've got the -- your Asian plate, pretty much all coming around Turkey. So Turkey, if you didn't know -- you do now -- is pretty active -- for earthquakes.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Indeed. Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, guys.

PHILLIPS: So just what was it that killed off the dinosaurs? What did it and Dino (ph) gave T-Rex and friends the big pink slip from existence? Scientists say they figured out the final score. Asteroids 1, dinosaurs, nothing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Two information technology workers at a suburban Philadelphia school district accused of viewing school-issued laptops to spy on students. They have been put on paid leave.

We've been following this story for a while now and the school district says that the move should not be considered a reelection upon the employee or reflection, rather, upon the employees.

That case is actually part of a current FBI wire tap investigation now.

Ben Franklin getting a face-lift. The U.S. Treasury rolling out a new design for the $100 bill next month. Of course Franklin is still on the front. It's an effort to stay ahead of counterfeiters. You've already seen the same types of changes with the 5, 10, and 50. The C-note is the largest bill in wide circulation.

Some affirmation to the question that's long haunted mankind. Just exactly how did the dinosaurs become extinct? Well, a team of scientists theorized that it was a massive asteroid strike upon the earth 65 million years ago that led to the dinosaurs' demise. They point to 125-mile wide, 24-mile deep crater in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as the, quote, "smoking gun."

Packing up and pulling out. U.S. troops withdraw from one disaster zone and that's sending new shockwaves through an earthquake- ravaged country. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: In Chile, a nation remembers the hundreds of people killed by the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Masses were held across the country to mark the beginning of three days of mourning. People are being told to hang the country's flag in memory of the victims.

Now to another earthquake zone. U.S. troops withdrawing from Haiti's capital two months after the killer earthquake struck. Many Haitians and aid workers criticizing that move and questioning whether U.N. peacekeepers and local police can maintain order.

More than half a million people are homeless and living in crowded camps.

Crunching numbers, counting days. Your state's budget problem may cost you a speedy tax refund and we're going to tell you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It's the pill with two letters, three numbers and a lot of controversy. We'll answer questions that you might have about the abortion pill RU-486 at the top of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Stocks rallied last week and the NASDAQ closed at its highest level in 18 months. One-hit wonder or will the rally continue?

Stephanie Elam, what do you think?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I think that when you're seeing numbers like we did last week, Kyra, with Dow gaining 2 percent, it's probably safe to say that we won't see a lot going on today. We had a nice rally and there's no economic report today, so we probably want you in big bets that futures are ever so slightly higher.

We do have, though, a new round of deal-making. And that can help. AIG is selling an overseas life and health insurance business to MetLife for more than $15 billion in cash and stock. It's AIG's second major asset sale this month. AIG will use a big chunk of the profit to pay down that $130 billion bailout it got from the government. And the bank failure tally is growing. It's now a 25 for the year. Banks in Florida, Illinois, and Maryland fell over the weekend. The FCIC expects the phase of bank seizures to pick up in coming months.

All right. So now, we got the early going numbers. Take a look. The Dow on the upside by 5 whole points, so we're up, just not stellar rating 10, 569, NASDAQ barely below the flat line, and the S&P 500 barely above it at this time.

And finally, Kyra, before I go, there was some drama last night with the Oscars. At least here in the New York are, three million cablevision subscribers in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut did get to watch the Academy Awards last night; however, they didn't start airing until 08:45 p.m. which was 50 minutes after the award show began. ABC had pulled this programming early Sunday because of a pricing dispute with cable vision, but then the two sides reached into their agreement, and programming was restored.

The Oscars are one of the most watched TV events of the year, and that means all those people missed Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin at the beginning of the show. And also I guess, they also missed another musical number to enter the show, too. So, they missed out on some of the fun.

PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Steph.

American motorists, buckle up because gas prices could get ugly. We have already seen the national average climb 10 cents a gallon over the past couple of weeks, and one expert says that's just the beginning. Energy analyst, Peter Pitel (ph), warns the gas prices could hit $3.50 a gallon by Memorial Day. It's 75 cents a gallon more than what we're paying now.

All right. So, our gas pedals might be locking, but our electronics are just fine, thank you, and that's what Toyota will try to prove today in a web cast. A college professor in Illinois told Congress last month that he fiddled with the Toyota's electronics and actually got the car to accelerate suddenly. Toyota says its recall is about faulty gas pedals and not electronics. The company is asking the expert from Stanford to debunk those claims. And as General Motors getting its groove back, maybe. Company will let 661 dealer ships keep their franchises after all. Remember last year, GM pulled the plug on about 2,000 dealerships across the country, but that was so 2009. It's 2010, so bring on the bucks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL KAHN, STILLWATER MOTORS GENERAL MANAGER: Back in the Buick business, I'm not going to sign up for 60 cars, like right now. Bring me the inventory. Let's go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: This dealership in Minnesota is downright giddy. Regal Sedan (ph) got a double whammy last year feel it's bad news came month after Chrysler yanked its jeep franchise.

And if you've already set off your tax return, there is no need to rush out to the mailbox. This year, cash strapped states are going to be much slower in issuing your refund. Here to tell you why, Christine Romans at CNN money team. She joins us from New York. Christine, not a good thing to be dealing with right now

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: No.

PHILLIPS: Not coming up on the holiday?

ROMANS: No, and these states have such big budget crisis. In many cases, they don't have a choice. Look, they have not been able to hire the people who usually do this work, right? The people usually are doing your tax refund. They don't have the money to hire the people, so they don't even have all the people in place to do this. In some cases, these states need your money a little bit longer to help them fill some budget holes. So think of it, Kyra, as a no- interest loan to your state that you don't have any control over.

Hawaii has already said that you could expect your refund July 1st. That is a delay due to the state's current fiscal situation. July 1, 2010, no surprise there. Look, that's going to give them a little bit of $275 million pot that they are going to go towards balancing the state budget. North Carolina has said that they're not giving date for people, but that they're going to go on a week by week basis because of the affects of the slow economy. They are managing the distribution of refunds as a result, so they won't give a date, but it could be anytime.

So, if you are in North Carolina, you're in Hawaii, or you're in a number of other states, actually, who have said we are considering this, and it may very well be that it's going to be a little bit slower for you. In some states, they're just slowing the processing a little bit. In other states, as I mentioned, they don't have the people that actually do the work because of state budget crunches. You can expect that this year, next year, and a few states did this last year. Look, I mean, this is the way it is. They don't have any money, and that means they're going to have to hold on to your money a little bit longer. A couple things I wanted to add. That means, of course, filing your taxes, the sooner the better. I also means if you need to think about your own budget crisis, you should start thinking about an extension. You can get another six months to pay your own taxes, and Kyra, this is critical. Everybody out there who is out there looking for a job, please, keep all of your receipts because you're going to be able to file -- you're going to be able to try and get money back for the expenses that you have passed out for trying to get a job, and that means plane tickets; it means your resume; it means any kind of career counseling, so keep track of all that stuff. You can write that off on your taxes this year-- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. And apparently the IRS looking at us with a closer eye as well. Apparently, they are going to be more audits is the word.

ROMANS: They need every single penny of our tax money because this is a job story. Jobs have disappeared, right? That means there's left money coming in. That means they're going to scrutinize. They need every penny that is owe to them yet.

PHILLIPS: Christine Romans, thanks, but no thanks.

ROMANS: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Right.

It's like an alligator with a fly swatter. Local police give way to professional cowboys in corralling this out of control bull. We're going to shoot straight with the story, I promise.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Animal control, we have a problem. Too much out of control bull. That was exactly the case outside Houston's Alliance Stadium yesterday when the bad boy bull named Hardball made a break from his rodeo duties and made a fuddle dash for freedom. Police trying to chase her, the bull was like hitting a gaudier a fly swatter. Police ultimately gave way to professional wranglers who took no bull from Hardball, safely depositing him back into his bullpen.

All right. Checking top stories. A brazen robbery live on TV. It happened at a poker tournament in Berlin, Germany. Check this out how it all goes. You can actually see the players scramble when the four thieves stormed in with guns and machetes. They made off with part of $1.6 million in the jackpot. Police described it as an amateurish robbery, and say that thieves should be easy to find, though, they haven't caught them yet.

Battle with New York governor, David Paterson says he isn't going anywhere despite growing calls for his resignation. Paterson telling parishioners of a Brooklyn church yesterday, he won't be daunted or distracted from the job at hand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON, (D) NEW YORK: I do not have any plans to resign. I am working on the business of the people of New York State. The most urgent of which is that we pass a budget that deficit is now ballooned to $9.1 billion, and at a certain point, I will cooperate with the investigations and will be clearing my name.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Governor Paterson is the focus of two separate state ethics pros. He says he is the victim of rumor, innuendo, gossip and absolute lies.

A funeral is being held today in Utah for Marie Osmond's son. Los Angeles police say that 18-year-old, Michael Bryan committed suicide by jumping from an eight-floor apartment. A picture of 8- year-old Michael holding Marie's hand, police are still waiting for final autopsy results.

All right. We always like to see what's happening on cnn.com. Just kind of fill in the banks in case we've missed anything, something that interesting to you. Right now, the most popular stories that be go to cnn.com and click on the news polls page, academy award winners. Not a lot of surprises last night. "The Hurt Locker" came out pretty well, also Jeff Bridges getting best actor for "Crazy Heart".

You haven't seen the "The Hurt Locker". You haven't seen "Crazy Heart". Even Sandra Bullock getting best actress for "The Blind Side." Outstanding movies. All three of them must see. So, you can see some of the most popular stories right now are all Oscar related. If you want something a little fun, newsroom brawl, down there in one of the top stories. That's right. They come out from behind a desk in a local newsroom and duke it out live on television. And an interesting talker, the sister of Natalie Wood wants her case re- opened. One of the most popular stories right now on cnn.com. Just go to our website, that page is updated every 15 minutes.

All right, boys and girls. We've heard the grown-ups talk now. What do you think about budget cuts to your school?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN MALE: They are cutting the library, and they are cutting the music.

UNKNOWN FEMALE: I am really worried about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Yes, we don't blame you. These grade-schoolers putting their reading and writing skills to good use sending the governor a big fat message.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Talk about a radical plan. Money is so tight in Kansas City, Missouri. The school district might close almost half of its schools. There is a plan to close 29 of 61 schools to deal with the $50 million budget short fall. Superintendents talking about cutting 700 jobs, that's more than a quarter of the payroll. School board votes on the plan Wednesday. You can expect the community to have a lot to say about this plan before then.

As far as California's education crunch goes, Governor Schwarzenegger can expect a lot of letters from some concerned citizens. Letters written in pencil on lined paper, no cursive, and name might be a little butchered.

Here's CNN's Thelma Gutierrez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a little secret that State of California is having money problems or that schools are having a tough time surviving, but what exactly does the budget crisis mean to schoolchildren? We came to Wonderland School in Hollywood Hills to see what the kids had to say.

After all, they are the ones dealing with this mess.

UNKNOWN MALE: They are cutting the library; they're cutting the music.

UNKNOWN FEMALE: I'm really worried about this.

GUTIERREZ: The school has already lost office staff and an assistant principal and stand to lose several teachers at the end of the year.

So the kids in this second grade classroom at Wonderland Avenue Elementary School are about to launch a protest in the way 7 and 8- year-old can. They're writing letters to the man in charge.

Who are you writing to?

UNKNOWN MALE: Governor Snortsanager.

GUTIERREZ: OK, so they don't know his name, but they do have a serious message to send him.

UNKNOWN FEMALE: At my school, I would not want to lose the librarian, coach, teachers, and the nurse.

I am concerned because people are cutting money from our school.

ETHAN BLITZ, 2ND GRADER: I love my school, so can you stop cutting budgets? I really want to keep my school.

SOO IN CHO, 2ND GRADER: I am concerned that you will make our teachers, coaches, our mom and dad and other people that are poor lose their jobs. Please don't make them lose their jobs.

MOSES BARYOTAM, 2nd GRADER: So this is what I am saying, please don't take money from our school. I would even help you if you can do this one favor, so please can you do it so I am begging.

GUTIERREZ: Well, that's a really good letter. I could tell you put a lot of thought into it. Yes?

All right, so Soo In's letter is one of about 500 that were written here at the school. Where did the teacher go?

Jody Hoffman is the second grade teacher here. Jody, if I could ask you a quick question?

JODY HOFFMAN, TEACHER: Hi, sure.

GUTIERREZ: Tell me why this letter-writing campaign -- what are you hoping to do?

HOFFMAN: Well, we're hoping to show the governor how important schools are and how well this children are doing and how much they care.

GUTIERREZ: In writing to the governor, do you think you can make a difference?

GILLIAN BALK, 2nd GRADER: Yes, I do.

GUTIERREZ: Why?

BALK: I don't think that just parents should worry about it. I think that kids and parents should worry about it.

GUTIERREZ: So beware Governor, hundreds of letters are heading your way, and they should be in your mail box soon.

I talked to the principal of the school and he says that 500 letters are now on their way to Sacramento. The students' next project, YouTube videos to California legislators.

Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Rob Marciano, possibility of some severe weather across another part of the country? First we are worried about New York and Georgia and now it's moving to Oklahoma and Texas.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, well, we haven't -- had to speak too much about severe weather this past winter and you know, it's usually it happens in spring. But during the wintertime especially in El Nino years, Florida will get a ton of severe weather. We haven't seen that this year so far. Thank goodness.

Today we do have a threat; we're seeing a little bit of severe weather right around this part of the country, just a slight risk at this point, but the next two days is when we'll see that as this piece of energy begins to come out of the Rocky Mountains and the desert southwest, where it did a decent amount of snow. Just check out some of these numbers, it's just kind of weird to see some of these numbers out of say Las Vegas, Ski Las Vegas, outside of town, obviously; seven inches of snow there; Grand Canyon, the northern rim, eight inches of snow; Durango, Colorado seeing nine; Ski Santa Fe, nine inches; And Arizona Snow Bowl seeing a foot of snow.

So this guy is going to come out into the plains and as it does so, it's beginning to see more strata-form type of rain as it begins to tap into parts of the Gulf of Mexico. So, some light rain from Houston back through Corpus Christi, stretching up towards Dallas. Nothing too severe right now, but later today we might see a couple of thunderstorms pop up that may develop into something that will be worth worrying about.

It's 60 degrees in Dallas for a high today, 69 in Atlanta, take that, 57 in New York. So everything from two or three degrees warmer today than it was yesterday; so, not a bad day to take a snow day or play hooky on this Monday. Tomorrow the forecast brings the storm into the Great Plains and as it does so it begins to tap a little bit more in the way of moisture so the rains will begin to spread a little bit more towards the east.

We do have a little problem with fog this morning from Minneapolis back through Chicago, so dense fog advisories are in effect if you're traveling there. And right now we don't have any delays in those two airports, but we have delays in San Francisco, 15 minutes; Houston, 30 minutes; and Phoenix seeing a 20-minute delay.

That's the latest from here. Kyra, we'll keep you posted if any thunderstorms develop, but right now all is good. Back over to you.

PHILLIPS: And we like that, when all is good. Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: Got it.

PHILLIPS: Sexting? Let's see, is that word a verb, a noun, considered creative writing maybe? Well, why don't we ask the English teacher, the one accused of trying to get one of her students into bed?

And coming up in just about 15 minutes, would you announce that you're having an abortion on Twitter and YouTube? Well, this woman did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGIE JACKSON, TWEETED ABOUT HAVING AN ABORTION: I am having an abortion, right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And now, Angie Jackson is getting death threats. We're going to talk to her live at the top of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: If there were such a thing as the "Mary Kay Letourneau Teacher of the Year" award we might have a candidate for you. We'll have to see if the charges stick first.

Yes. A high school English teacher in New Hampshire, 41 years old, arrested; accused of sexting a 15-year-old boy student. The court papers say that she e-mailed the kid pictures of herself naked and sent him a bunch of text messages telling him that she wanted to have sex with him. And you thought sexting was just for kids.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATHAN GREENBERG, LONDONDERRY SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT: Many times when I talk to people about this, I use the "mom and dad rule" which is what you are doing, is it acceptable if your parents saw it? Would you be embarrassed if your parents saw it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope that she's gone and she's not able to teach again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, the pics of her started getting around the school. Shocking, I know. The teacher texter is charged with indecent exposure and is on leave for now. She might be wearing a pink slip even an orange jump suit pretty darn soon.

We're just getting started this morning on this Monday. Here's what's ahead in the next hour in the CNN NEWSROOM.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elizabeth Cohen in Atlanta. A woman tweets her own abortion with a medicine called RU-486. How does the drug work? I'll have that at the top of the hour.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dan Lothian at Arcadia University just outside Philadelphia where President Obama is on a road show pushing health care reform. I'll have all the details at the top of the hour.

MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. February was unusually quiet for severe weather. But today we have a slight chance of seeing that kind of stuff this afternoon. We'll run it down in the next hour.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys.

All that plus the wrap from last night's Oscars presentation. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: For a lot of you out there, the Oscars are not just about the movies, they're also about what the stars are wearing. And last night's fashion show had trend experts gushing. Critics noticed a refreshing sense of fun in the dresses, bold color choices, different shapes and a sense of glamour.

Now to the movies. For the four actor winners and the best director it took just a few small steps to elevate them to a place they'd never been before in Hollywood.

CNN's Kareen Wynter wraps up the night for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: The lights. The cameras. The action. It's why nearly 2,000 journalists flocked to the Red Carpet to capture the glamour and millions of people around the world tuned in to watch the drama unfold at the Academy Awards. Oscars' biggest showdown -- Best Picture.

TOM HANKS, ACTOR: And the winner is -- "The Hurt Locker".

WYNTER: The small budget movie with a huge impact blew out nine other Best Picture contenders to take home the night's top prize.

MARK BOAL, WRITER, "THE HURT LOCKER": This was really, truly, honestly never part of anything we even imagined in our wildest dreams.

WYNTER: In all "The Hurt Locker" swept six categories including Best Director. Kathryn Bigelow made history by becoming the first woman ever to win a directing Oscar.

KATHRYN BIGELOW, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST DIRECTOR: There's no other way to describe it. It's the moment of a lifetime.

WYNTER: In the acting face-off, Sandra bullock won Best Actress for playing a tough talking mother in "The Blind Side".

SANDRA BULLOCK, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST ACTRESS: You threaten my son, you threaten me.

Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down.

WYNTER: Bullock emotionally shared the honor with her fellow nominees including Meryl Streep who received her record 16th Oscar nomination as Julia Child in "Julie and Julia" and with who Bullock has had an ongoing faux feud.

BULLOCK: I thank you so much for this opportunity that I share with these extraordinary women and my lover Meryl Streep. Thank you.

WYNTER: Actor Jeff Bridges, widely considered the front-runner in the Best Actor race, finished first and won his first Oscar for his performance as a hard-drinking country singer in "Crazy Heart".

Bridges remembered his late parents whose footsteps he followed into acting.

JEFF BRIDGES, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST ACTOR: I feel an extension of them. This is honoring them as much as it is me. WYNTER: The Best Supporting Actress showdown was no surprise. Comedian Mo'nique captured the gold with her dramatic performance in "Precious".

MO'NIQUE, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Real women sacrifice.

WYNTER: Mo'nique paid tribute to the first African-American awarded an Oscar.

MO'NIQUE: I want to thank Ms. Hattie McDaniel for enduring all she had to so that I would not have to.

WYNTER: Austrian actor Christoph Waltz took home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds".

CHRISTOPH WALTZ, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Oscar and Penelope, that's an uber-bingo.

WYNTER: So where do the stars celebrate Oscar gold? First stop, the Governor's Ball.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now we celebrate.

BRIDGES: Yes. Now, there you go.

BULLOCK: I don't know how I came home with Oscar.

WYNTER: Kareen Wynter, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)