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Setback in Search for Miners; New Nuclear Treaty Signed; U.S. Interests in Kyrgyzstan; Toyota Internal E-Mails Being Reviewed by Feds; Tax Tips For Late Filers

Aired April 08, 2010 - 11:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, man. Just roll a couple of kids in there and it's all good. All right.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Boy, you could stuff a lot of food and, you know, a couple of kids in there.

HARRIS: There you go.

Oh, Kyra, you have a great day. Thank you, lady.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Tony.

HARRIS: Here are the big stories for you in the CNN NEWSROOM for this Thursday, April 8th.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States and Russia account for 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. And given this legacy of the Cold War, it is critical for us to show significant leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The U.S. and Russia sign a treaty, cutting nuclear warheads to levels last seen in the 1950s.

Plus, America's jobless.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JADEN FISHER, MEG FISHER'S SON: It makes me just question what's going to happen? What are we going to do? How are we going get through this?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: How are we going to get through? From unemployed to the boss lady, a frustrated job seeker stitches herself a home-based business.

And Tiger Woods tees off at the Masters today. What do you think of his week in the spotlight?

And how about this? What do you think of his new TV ad? Our blog question today at CNN.com/Tony.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Those stories and your comments right here, right now, in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We start with a setback in the search for four missing coal miners in West Virginia. Rescue crews made it inside the mine, but they were forced to turn back because of the terrible air quality.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN STRICKLIN, FEDERAL MINE SAFETY OFFICIAL: They are in danger, and that's the whole intent of evacuating them from the mine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: OK. CNN's Brooke Baldwin now live from the scene in Naoma, West Virginia.

And Brooke, first, good to see you.

The setback has got to be really tough to take for the family members waiting for any news at this point.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, I think a setback is probably an understatement.

Even among members of the media, we've been living, eating, breathing the story for the last four days. And when Mr. Stricklin, with MSHA, said it is a setback, they outlined these three different scenarios that these rescue crews really had in going in that mine. And, of course, we were all hoping for scenario number one, that they would be able to reach 5,000 feet in, either one or both of those rescue chambers, where if there's any hope that any of these four missing miners had survived, the fact that they would be in the rescue chambers.

That, unfortunately, was not the case because the air quality, those methane levels, the carbon monoxide, was so awful, they could not risk these 32 rescue crew members' lives. So they had to retreat. And now they have to dig or continue digging that second borehole to try to help the ventilation to go back for round two.

That's that part of the story. But, again, this is still a rescue mission, and that is certainly good news here.

If I may bring in Andrea Cook. And she's been gracious enough to chat with me. We've been chatting for the last 20 minutes. Andrea's husband works for Massey.

You know, you're a member of the family. It's how you say it here in West Virginia.

What is the family and why are you wearing the stripes today?

ANDREA COOK, HUSBAND WORKS FOR MASSEY: In support of my mining family. Whether we are related or we're not, we're all a mining family. We support each other. We're there for each other regardless of what the event, and this is one event that we're supporting each other for.

BALDWIN: It's amazing to me to hear that even the families who are waiting to hear the fates of their loved one, the word we keep hearing is they're understanding of not wanting to risk the rescue members' lives. And so they're saying, OK, bring them out.

Everyone is empathetic with the situation, whether they have someone directly involved or not. Earlier, you were almost -- your eyes were almost welling.

Why is this emotional for you? You don't have a family member in there, a blood family member.

COOK: No. I have friends that are there. And, you know, we're close knit around here. You know, you see for yourself the area. We're bringing food to you, we support you. If you're good us to, we're good to you.

BALDWIN: What do you want people to know about West Virginia?

COOK: We're good people here. We're not what other people have tried to say. We're not stupid. We're not dumb.

We are smart people. Our husbands know the danger that they go into every day, but they're there for their families. And we do love our families, and we love each other.

BALDWIN: And obviously, we're all hoping -- we're hoping for good news.

COOK: Yes, we are. Yes.

BALDWIN: Andrea, thank you --

COOK: Thank you.

BALDWIN: -- so, so much for talking.

And it's just interesting, Tony. And she's right. You know, these communities, they have been bringing us loads of food here at this elementary school where, really, it's been this media staging area. It's been pretty phenomenal, how they've treated us, and we're all hoping and waiting for that second hole to get down, to help the ventilation, for a rescue effort -- really, I guess it would be around 3:00 -- to begin.

HARRIS: Oh, boy. Good stuff, Brooke. And our thanks to your guest as well.

Brooke Baldwin for us.

Brooke, thank you.

A community's heartbreak over the deadly mine explosion. Ed Lavandera talks to people dependant on mining but aware of its dangers. He reports on the sadness that runs through the Coal River Valley. That's 10 minutes, straight ahead.

(NEWSBREAK)

HARRIS: A fresh start. The American and Russian leaders today signed a treaty to cut nuclear warheads.

Let's get you to our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson. Nic is in Prague.

And Nic, fair to say that the ceremony at the Prague castle signals a bit of a fresh start for the Obama/Medvedev relationship?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Tony. And you look at the body language today, and it was warm and friendly and courteous.

President Obama is calling this a reset in relations. President Medvedev talked about it being a win-win for both countries, make both countries more secure.

The losers in this, if you like, are North Korea and Iran, particularly Iran. President Obama seems to have here President Medvedev's support for taking the Iran issue back to the U.N. Security Council. That's exactly what President Obama wants to hear.

President Obama had something President Medvedev wanted to hear as well, further talk on the missile defense systems that so troubled the Russians in trying to work out this current treaty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: It is just one step on a longer journey. As I said last year in Prague, this treaty will set the stage for further cuts. And going forward, we hope to pursue discussions with Russia on reducing both our strategic and tactical weapons, including non-deployed weapons.

President Medvedev and I have also agreed to expand our discussions on missile defense. This will include regular exchanges of information about our threat assessments, as well as the completion of a joint assessment of emerging ballistic missiles. And as these assessments are completed, I look forward to launching a serious dialogue about Russian-American cooperation on missile defense.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: President Obama also said that he was looking forward to getting ratification of this treaty from the Senate within the year. President Medvedev said he'll be doing the same with the Russian parliament, wanting to synchronize this ratification. Both presidents seeming to wanting to not only sign it, but get it ratified and into action as quickly as possible -- Tony.

HARRIS: Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, in Prague as history was made today.

President Obama's stated vision, a world without nuclear weapons. Anti-nuclear activists are walking from Tennessee to the United Nations in New York to help make that vision a reality. They started at the Oak Ridge nuclear facility in February. At last report, the group was making its way across Pennsylvania.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCUS ATKINSON, FOOTPRINTS FOR PEACE: We want to move forward in real negotiations on nuclear disarmament. The governments around the world need to pull their money out of upgrading nuclear weapons facilities and put it back into hospitals, schools and social services, where it should be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The walkers will meet up with two other groups at the U.N. just as the body reviews a major nuclear treaty.

Sadness in Coal River Valley, a mining community in mourning. Ed Lavandera takes us inside a close-knit region coping with the loss of 25 coal miners.

And wet weather moving east. Rob Marciano tracking the line of showers and thunderstorms. Maybe we can get an update on weather conditions at the Masters, Augusta, Georgia, in about an hour and a half or so east.

Two hours east of Atlanta?

OK. You're working on that? Where's your mike?

We'll talk to Rob in just a couple of minutes.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, rescuers have suffered a setback in the search for four missing coal miners in West Virginia. They've had to evacuate because of dangerous gases.

The explosion that killed 25 other miners sent shock waves through the close-knit community.

Here's CNN's Ed Lavandera.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, there is a great deal of sadness flowing through this part of southern West Virginia. Mining may be the way of life around here, but it doesn't make this ordeal any easier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (voice-over): State Highway 3 takes you through the heart of this southern coal mining region in West Virginia.

(on camera): Signs of coal mining are everywhere. These conveyor belts bring the coal down the mountain. They are put on trucks and hauled out. Those belts even cross over the only highway coming through here.

One resident described this forgotten stretch to me as no man's land.

(voice-over): To Donna Harper, there is no place like it. We found her spending a quiet morning with her grandchildren.

(on camera): What's it like to live around here?

DONNA HARPER, COAL RIVER VALLEY RESIDENT: Well, to most people, it is slow. It's boring. If I had my choice to live anywhere in the world, right here would be it.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): That's why when 25 miners die in an explosion and four more are trapped, she says, this valley becomes family, even if it is remote in every way.

(on camera): The Coal River winds its way through this mountain valley. As you drive up and down the banks of this river, it is where you will meet countless mining families. But one of the first things you will realize when you set foot here is that it is probably one of the few places in the country where you can't get cell phone service.

HARPER: No, no. We are country. We are country. It may be, it may be and maybe if we are lucky, we won't get it.

LAVANDERA: What's it like around here when a tragedy like this happens?

HARPER: We all try to be there for each other. You know, that's one reason I love this place so much is because everybody sticks together.

LAVANDERA: We'll keep walking with you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sure.

LAVANDERA: Let's not lose momentum her.

(voice-over): This is one of the poorest places in the country. Cecilia Davis picks up aluminum cans along the highway for extra money.

LAVANDERA: Is it devastating for everybody?

CECILIA DAVIS, COAL RIVER VALLEY RESIDENT: West Virginians people, they really get devastated by all of this. So my heart is broken today.

LAVANDERA: And coal miners are forced to face their darkest fear. JOHN CLEMONS, COAL MINER: (INAUDIBLE) anything could happen.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Do you worry about your loved ones and your friends going back to work in the mines?

HARPER: I don't want them in the mines. To be honest, I don't want them in the mines but without the mines, there would be no us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: Donna Harper's comments there at the end really capture the complex relationship people around here have with the mining industry. As much as they love what the jobs provide, they hate the danger -- Tony.

HARRIS: All right, Ed. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Question for you -- just how much do Americans rely on the coal industry? Our Josh Levs is working on that story for us. Plus, he is looking into the uprising in Kyrgyzstan and what it could mean for U.S. interests there.

Did you just pull up a map there?

OK. Good stuff, Josh.

And he is checking out what you're checking out online in our "What's Hot?" segment, keeping Josh busy.

I'll cut him a really nice check. He's coming up next, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Boy, uncertainty in Kyrgyzstan. The president has fled the capital, but reportedly vows not to resign despite a bloody uprising. The former Soviet republic borders China in Central Asia, and the U.S. has a major air base there vital to the mission in Afghanistan.

The former foreign minister says the parliament has been dissolved and she will head an interim government until elections are held in about six months, or so is our understanding.

At least 75 people were killed yesterday when anti-government protesters clashed with police.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): First it was the Akayev regime, now it is the Bakiyev regime. People aren't happy.

Look around here. Young people, we are all poor. No jobs.

They are shooting at people. You can see for yourselves. After this, I think there will be blood for blood. UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I was on the square with other people and they were shooting with submachine guns. And one bullet hit me here and went out there. Two people were killed nearby.

Why are they shooting at the people?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: So what does all this mean, this bloody violence, this government instability? What does it mean for the United States and the air base there?

Josh Levs is looking into that for us.

Josh, could this impact the war in Afghanistan?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Definitely, yes. In fact, this base that we have there, people have heard about, is critical. And the numbers of troops that are going through, huge. So it could have a big impact.

Let's do this -- I like to start off on America and then zoom eastward just to kind of put it in context for you. So we're going to go over to Kyrgyzstan, then we're going to zoom in way there. You guys can take it full, be able to see it a little bit better.

HARRIS: That's good.

LEVS: Basically, the first thing to understand about this country before we deal with the base is that it's more than five million people. It's three-quarters Muslim and it's a friend to the United States.

Keep in mind, big picture here, the U.S. needs all the Muslim nation friends it can, and it needs peace within those nations. The last thing it needs is instability in another country.

Now we're going to zoom into that base, which is Manas Air Base. Now, that base is really important to the United States and has been for a long time.

The United States actually set this up after 9/11, just a couple of months after 9/11. What happened was the U.S. went to this old airport that the Soviet republic had once set up in that area, in Manas inside Kyrgyzstan, and turned it into an air base, and has used it ever since for carrying out operations in the war on terror.

There you go, back on Google Earth, which has a lot of pretty clear images of what goes on there.

And I was just looking at some of the numbers. "The Wall Street Journal" wrote this up really well. They call it vital to the war in Afghanistan.

Listen to this, Tony. Last month alone, more than 50,000, U.S. and coalition troops passed through that base en route to Afghanistan. More than 200,000 troops have deployed to Afghanistan through Manas, and that's just since last October.

So, at the very least, if there were to be so much instability that the U.S. could no longer access that base, we're talking a lot more expense, a lot more inconvenience for operations. And it could impact how many people the U.S. can get there, how quickly the U.S. can get supplies into that region. All important.

One more thing. Let's zoom out. I want to give everyone the big context, Tony, for where it falls within there.

We know there's a lot of "istans" that we hear about a lot. So, Kyrgyzstan is basically just north of Afghanistan. And you can see it there, across Tajikistan. And that's why you can see the proximity is so significant, having that big operating base.

We can just zoom into Afghanistan with whatever you need. Critical there -- Tony.

HARRIS: I get this question a lot, so I'm going to throw it at you. Why so many "stans"? We're talking about Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan?

Why so many "stans"?

LEVS: Yes, there's Waziristan that we were talking about, where it's believed that Osama bin Laden is most likely hiding in that region. Here's why.

Let's take this full again. I want everyone to see.

There's actually seven countries that are "istans," and you've got them all labeled there. And there's a good explanation on a Web site, about.com.

They point out that in Persian, the suffix "stan" means place of, and in Russian it means settlement. And a lot of these, most of those that you're looking at there, used to be called of the Soviet Republic, but obviously you're also in an area in which there would be Persian history and Persian influence, hence a lot of "stans" that we all know. It can get confusing sometimes.

HARRIS: Yes. I did OK. I think I got five of the "stans."

LEVS: Yes?

HARRIS: Yes.

LEVS: You did good.

HARRIS: You threw in Waziristan.

All right, Josh. See you next hour.

LEVS: Thanks, Tony. See you.

HARRIS: All right. Let's get you caught up on our top stories right now.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, days before Toyota's massive recall in January, a warning to the company from one of its executives.

We will go live to New York to find out what this internal memo had to say.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Two hours into the trading day. Let's get a quick market check for you right now. You know, it's not just the Dow that is down, the Nasdaq is down as well.

Marty, did you give me a number on the Nasdaq? I forgot it already.

But as you can see, the Dow is down 29 points. Again -- down eight? Nasdaq is down eight. Just two hours into the trading day. We'll follow this number, both sets of numbers throughout the day for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

How about this? Here's the quote, "We need to come clean, the time to hide on this one is over." That warning from a Toyota executive to his colleagues just days before the automaker's massive recall in January. CNN's Deborah Feyerick live now from New York.

And, Deb, huh, tell us more about this internal memo.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Tony, this is really strong language coming from inside Toyota. You really get a sense of what was going on, the conversations that were being had.

But in January, Toyota was scrambling to figure out the best way to deal with this major accelerator problem and in an e-mail obtained by the Associated Press, one of the top executives warned that the company needs to, quote, "come clean" about the sticking pedals. The executive saying that Toyota was, quote, "not protecting customers by keeping quiet about this."

Now, in the e-mail by recently retired U.S. Vice President Irv Miller, he writes, "We have the tendency for mechanical failure in accelerator pedals." Now he says, "The time to hide on this one is over." The e-mail was sent in January, days before Toyota's massive recall. What's more, Toyota had failed to alert U.S. regulators even though the automaker was busy addressing sticky pedal problems in 31 European countries and Canada.

Now Toyota's new chief quality officer for North America spoke about that disconnect, the ability to translate the information between continents last week at the inauguration of Toyota's Committee for Global Quality.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE ST. ANGELO, CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER FOR TOYOTA, NORTH AMERICA: Because we're not perfect. And we didn't share the experience that we had in Europe. We didn't know about it in North America.

That's why they're putting these processes in place. We are looking for our weak points. We are looking for -- where we need to improve. And that's why I believe these six points that Akio Toyoda has put upon us, his direction is going to make us a stronger and better company.

We've never said we were perfect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And clearly, one of the weak points, that ability to communicate what's going on in different branches of the company.

Now CNN did try to reach the author of that e-mail. That e-mail is now in possession of U.S. investigators who are looking into this, they've been gathering documents from all over the place. The January e-mail, the author of that was hopeful that government regulators would work with Toyota to find a workable solution so that Toyota was not put out of business.

But you see the gravity of what was going on inside that company as all of this was coming to light. Again, if it had known what was going on in Europe, could that have made that easier in terms of communicating that to the public in the U.S.? All of that should come out in the long run.

HARRIS: Well, the PR people, it sounds like here, were trying to do some work on this. And, you know, you send a memo like this, that's like standing on the desk and screaming. But maybe one of them should --

(CROSSTALK)

FEYERICK: Absolutely, it's all about the debate.

HARRIS: Yes.

FEYERICK: It's all about the debate, it's all about the conversations that were going on in the company. This gentleman retired then back in December. It's not clear whether this was sort of his parting shot, whether this was something that he had been thinking about. Again, all of that right now under investigation.

HARRIS: All right, Deb, good stuff. Deborah Feyerick for us in New York.

A disappointing report on the employment front, maybe that is weighing down on the markets right now. Initial claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week to 460,000, that's 18,000 more than the previous week. But -- big but here -- some good news, just over 4.5 million people filed continuing claims. Now that is a drop of 131,000 from the week before and that is the lowest level in more than 15 months. So, a mixed view here.

If you have a job, you may find it changing. What once was considered blue-collar work is now becoming just as much brain as brawn.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

I love it. It's a passion. It's something that I've been doing most of my time. So you get to see the finished work is what I really love about it. We make -- we take what's on paper and we bring it to life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: OK, so consider this for a moment. A computer programmer and machinist rolled into one. Look, as old manufacturing goes by the wayside, high-tech, high-skilled workers are finding new careers. My special report, "The New Blue-Collar Worker," that is tomorrow, noon Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So Tiger Woods tees off at the Masters in just a couple of hours, marking his much-anticipated return to golf. Woods is also making a return to TV advertising in a new Nike commercial. Christine Romans of our Money Team live from New York.

You know, I'm curious to see what the economic impact beyond this commercial of Tiger Woods' return to golf will be, but this ad, I don't know how you feel about it, but it features the voice of Tiger Woods' late father, correct?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Correct. And I'm not sure how many Nike products they will sell with this ad, but the point here is that this is the rehabilitation of the corporate machine, the sponsorship machine that is Tiger Woods.

Let's listen to that ad. It's the voice of his deceased father. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EARL WOODS, TIGER WOODS' LATE FATHER: Tiger, I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. I want to find out what your thinking was, I want to find out what your feelings are and did you learn anything?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Whoa. That is kind of chilling.

ROMANS: Tony, Nike says that it supports Tiger and his family, and that as he makes his re-entry into competitive golf that they wanted to use the words of his father, the powerful words of his father to address his time away from the game.

This is the second time this week we've sort of seen these steps, these small steps that Tiger Woods is trying to take. Earlier this week, on Monday, he addressed what he hopes to become again in the eyes of his sponsors in corporate America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: Hopefully, I can prove to the other companies going forward that I am a worthy investment, that I can help their company, help their company grow and represent them well. I felt like I was representing companies well in the past, but then again, I wasn't doing it the right way because of what I was engaged in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: A worthy investment, Tony, that brought him in maybe -- what? -- $100 million a year in sponsorships? Some of his corporate sponsors just, you know, stepped back. Nike did not, Electronic Arts is using his imagery again in promoting a -- a video game, a Tiger Woods video game.

It's interesting. He went from champion, corporate-sponsorship titan to utter disgrace and a mess of sex scandals.

HARRIS: A chump. A champ to chump.

ROMANS: How do you make that comeback? In a way, we're watching it cringing and watching each step Tiger Woods is trying to make.

HARRIS: I have to tell you something, a couple of things, first of all, you win. That's one way to start and if you're winning with what appears to be a good, positive effect. I mean, if you're smiling more than you're frowning; if you're signing autographs as opposed to walking past kids and that's -- in combination with winning, that's the other piece of this.

But, you know, there's already reaction, as you know to this, Christine. Oh, take a look at this clip from Jimmy Kimmel live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE": There's another commercial premiering tomorrow, another Tiger Woods commercial. This one featuring the voice of his mother called Tida Woods.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Tiger, what the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) were you thinking you stupid, stupid boy! Always using your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) instead of your brain. Didn't I always tell you not to sleep with (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You (EXPLETIVE DELETED)!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: That's why it's so difficult when you're a corporate sponsor icon to come back from something like this because it's --

HARRIS: It's fodder, right? All of its going to be fodder. All right, Christine, we will turn to more weighty matters next hour at the top of the hour with you. All right, Christine. Appreciate it, thank you.

You know, we asked you what you think about the new Nike ad with Tiger Woods. Here's what some of you have to say.

From Martha, "I was most distressed and disturbed to view the new Tiger Woods Nike ad. Not only is Tiger's marital infidelity ad unbecoming of a spokesperson, but now he's allowing Nike to exploit his dead father!" Boy.

From Carla, "I think this is a very positive ad. Maybe people will think about how their actions will be perceived by their parents or others that they love and respect. A very powerful message to our children saying to think before you act."

And this from Bob, "It is awkward and weird, and it doesn't exactly help Tiger's image if he is profiting from his behavior by accepting payment for this ad. But it is undeniably good marketing for Nike, as everyone is talking about it."

You keep the conversation going -- we would love to have that happen -- by leaving a comment on my blog at CNN.com/Tony.

And let's get you caught up with top stories right now.

Hopes are dashed at a West Virginia coal mine. Dangerous levels of gas underground have forced rescue and recovery teams to turn back. They're trying to find four missing miners after the explosion. The explosion on Monday killed 25 other miners.

President Obama and Russian President Medvedev signed a document they say will make the world safer. Their new START treaty is intended to reduce nuclear arsenals to their smallest size in decades.

Two hundred and twenty miles above the Earth, the Shuttle Discovery crew is getting ready to unpack the Leonardo module. Basically, it's a 21-foot long, 15-foot wide moving van. Leonardo is holding eight tons of cargo and the last crew quarters to be delivered to the International Space Station.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's see here, where are we? Only one week until Tax Day. Have you filed yet? Have you? Have you? Have you? If not, listen up. Stephanie Elam here with some tips for all of you last- minute filers.

It is crunch time, Stephanie. STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Seven days left, Tony for all those people who have been procrastinating. Of course, it's still plenty of time if you need to go ahead and file your taxes. Whether you plan on having someone else do them for you or do it yourself online or break out the number 2 pencil and work them out by hand, whatever you plan on doing, this is the time to get cracking on it. You have a little bit more time.

If you need it, you can go ahead and file for an extension by the 15th of April. This will give you an additional six months until October 15th to file your return. To get an extension, you must file form 4868 and you can find it online at IRS.gov.

Now, whether you're filing now or getting an extension, make sure you take advantage of all of the new tax credits and deductions available for 2009, like the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Credit for Credit for college students -- we've talked a lot about these -- and the Residential Energy Property Credit for greening up your home.

But remember, just because you file an extension does not mean you get to not pay them. You're still required to pay on time, Tony.

HARRIS: Wait, wait, wait, wait a minute. What about those folks who owe and, you know, might not be able to pay? What's next for them?

ELAM: Yes, no, it's true. There's a lot of people who are concerned about that right now. Even if you can't pay what you owe right now, it's extremely important to file your return on time to avoid paying a late-filing penalty. Why pay taxes and then pay a penalty? That penalty is 5 percent a month and it adds up quickly and will end up costing you much more than the late payment penalty in the end.

Start by paying as much as you can with your return to help reduce interest and penalty charges, then you can request to pay the remainder in monthly installments. If you need to do that, you're going to look for form 9465 and file that with your return. List the amount you propose to pay each month and the IRS will let you know if your request is accepted.

But keep in mind there is a one-time $105 fee for entering into this agreement. The fee is reduced to $52 bucks if you make your payment electronically. And if you think you can pay the amount you owe in full in 120 days, the IRS will waive that fee. Simply sign up for the online payment agreement instead.

The idea here, though, Tony, action is much better than not doing anything at all.

HARRIS: No, that makes sense.

Hey, are you hosting "YOUR BOTTOM LINE" this weekend?

ELAM: I am indeed, and we are talking about all those last- minute things you need to know. All of that advice you need to have for your tax get you ready there.

We're also going to take a look at good ways to keep your credit in good standing, we'll talk about that as well. And we'll take a look at some of the things in health reform that may not have gotten all the attention while the law is being passed, but we'll talk about those too this weekend 9:30 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN on Saturday morning, Tony.

HARRIS: I was going to ask you if you were rolling Tiger Woods into the program in any way, shape or form. I don't know what happens to my mind sometimes.

ELAM: I think we'll stay Tiger-free.

HARRIS: Yes, please. I don't know what happens.

ELAM: We're going to be on the Tiger-free diet on Saturday morning, at least in my half hour.

HARRIS: Stephanie, see you next hour.

ELAM: OK.

HARRIS: What is wrong with me?

Former Citigroup executives got a real grilling at Capitol Hill over their involvement in risky investments that helped trigger the 2008 financial crisis. We are going to check in on the hearing with our Christine Romans at the top of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: I got to tell you, with job opportunities scarce, a growing number of unemployed people are looking to themselves and their passions for work. The goal? Become their next boss.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS (voice-over): These days Meg Fisher spends a lot of time in her sewing room. More than a year ago, she lost her job as a legal secretary making $59,000. Finding a new job to replace that level of income has been tough.

MEG FISHER, ELITETALLIT.COM: I have 22 years of experience, so usually you would get a call at least. This time around, never even hear from them.

HARRIS: Meg says the initial rejection was hard to deal with, but now she's hoping she can turn her misfortune into a business opportunity that incorporates her passion. In September, Meg started doing small clothing alterations for her friends, and then --

M. FISHER: One of them came over one day and she goes to my synagogue and she said, you know, I really think you should make a tallit. HARRIS: That's a Jewish prayer shawl typically worn on special occasions like for Bat Mitzvahs and weddings. Meg made a couple, took them over to a local business, and they sold a few days later.

M. FISHER: We were like, wow, we're kind of on to something here.

HARRIS: And this really needs to work. Meg's husband suffers from a severe dyslexia that, according to the family, has significantly impaired his earning potential. Scott makes just $20,000 a year. Eleven months after Meg lost her job, the Fishers filed for bankruptcy. They still risk losing their house, even their children are worried.

JADEN FISHER, MEG FISHER'S SON: Makes me just question what's going to happen. What are we going to do? How are we going to get through this?

HARRIS: For now, Meg sits and sews. She started a website elitetillit.com and she attends trade shows. Meg says she's had 15 orders so far. It's not nearly enough to turn a profit yet, but Meg is hoping she can eventually turn this into a lucrative career.

M. FISHER: When my unemployment runs out, if I'm still not able to do it, and I -- then obviously I'm going to have to -- I may have to work at McDonald's or, you know, do just anything.

But for now, I'm trying to find a real job, you know, that pays something like what I used to have or keep doing this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: We'll continue to update this story for you.

Here's what we're working on for the next hour on CNN NEWSROOM.

Playing out on Capitol Hill today, former high-ranking Citigroup executives defend their actions before the subprime mortgage crisis.

And governors' proclamations usually don't get much attention. We will tell you why one from Virginia's governor is getting blasted over what it left out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: West Virginians are strong and resilient people. And times of tragedy and in times of need, we pull together to give and to be here for our family, our friends, and our neighbors. And we're family, blood or not blood.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The coal-mining community in West Virginia comes together to mourn 25 miners killed in Monday's explosion. They gathered for a candlelight vigil late yesterday. Four other miners are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams were forced to turn back today because of explosive gasses inside the mine.

You know, the mother of one of the miners killed in the explosion says she felt in her heart Monday that something was wrong. She says she also believes her son knew something was going to happen. She shared her story and his with our John Roberts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What were your feelings when he came to you and said, mom, I want to be a miner?

PAM NAPPER, MOTHER OF MINER KILLED MONDAY: Honestly, at first, I said no. I didn't want him to come because my brothers were there. My brothers have been hurt several times in the mines. And I begged him not to. But he said, please mom. And then I said, OK. You're 25, I have to let you go. I have to let you make your own decisions in life.

And so I gave my brother my blessing. My brother had to have blessings from me first before he would hire him. And I gave him my blessings.

He come home that weekend and --

ROBERTS: At Easter?

NAPPER: At Easter. He wanted to come home, be with his family. And he went to church with us, and he kind of fought things in church. He actually got up and left church and came back in. And they called -- wanted us to bow our heads, whoever needed Jesus in their life raise their arms, and he did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Boy, oh, boy.