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Vote on Mosque at Ground Zero; Clerk Uses Faith to Stop Robber; Clerk Stops Robber By Talking About Jesus; More Sophisticated Weapons Being Used in Mexico's Drug War; Death Toll Reaches 1,500 in Pakistan Floods; Dow Surged 200 Points Yesterday, Pullback Expected Today; UAE to Suspend Blackberry Service; 1,500 Dead in Pakistan Floods; Fleeing Arizona; Mystery Killings in Panama
Aired August 03, 2010 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right Kiran and John, good morning. Thank you very much.
Good morning, everybody, I'm Don Lemon. Kyra's off today.
I want you to take a look at three stories that we will have for you.
That just gives you an idea right there of what life and death are like in Juarez, Mexico, the murder capital right next door. Drug cartel killers get more sophisticated and threaten at least one American lawman.
The robber has got a gun, the clerk has got her faith. Clerk wins. We're talking to her about this life-altering experience.
And you'd know if a man's role model is Tony Soprano, some bad things can probably happen. It could explain why this man is accused of killing up to 10 people.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Boy, it is August and it is a meltdown. Much of the nation baking in triple-digit temperatures. We've seen record-setting heat already this week. And more of the same right on the way.
Break out the sunscreen, pump up the air conditioner, keep a bottle of water handy. Of course, when the sun beats down like this it's not just uncomfortable it is downright dangerous.
Tennessee is among the states that are really sweltering and sweating under all of this blanket of oppressive heat. It's so stifling in Memphis, in that area, a man actually died while mowing his lawn. And the Health Department says the high temperatures certainly played a role.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEITH MCGOLDRICK, NEIGHBOR: And I tried CPR and I wasn't successful. The paramedics came within probably less than five minutes. I did -- I only got about 60 compressions in. He was a good man. He was a man of god.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That man, 66-year-old Stuart Evans, is the ninth person to die of heat-related complications in the area so far this summer.
Heading west now to Arkansas, high temperatures and no water. Faucets are running dry in parts of Van Buren County after a man -- after a main water pump and a backup pump both failed.
So the Arkansas National Guard is trucking in thousands of gallons of water for thirsty residents there.
CNN's Rob Marciano tracking all the extreme temperatures for us.
Rob, what's on tap today?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, I think similar to what we saw yesterday, Don.
Check out these high temperatures. These are record highs and they are striking. And again, I say this all the time but it bears repeating. All these numbers are measured in the shade and they don't take into account humidity.
So you go out in the sun, you include that humidity, and these numbers feel a lot worse than they are right here.
Nonetheless, 108 degrees was the record-high temperature yesterday in Wichita, Kansas, Joplin, Missouri, 102, Portsmouth, Arkansas, 107, Little Rock got 106, 106 in Monroe, Louisiana. Memphis, Tennessee hit 100. Jackson, Mississippi, 105. And all the way into Alabama as well.
So across the border, we're seeing some serious heat air and it continues today with the heat indices here going up at maybe as high as 118. Again, you factor in that humidity and that really limits the amount of evaporation off your skin, so you heat up real quick.
And a lot of states not only under heat advisories but pink areas that excessive heat warnings and that is just dangerous, dangerous heat. So take the necessary precautions you need in order to get that wet.
We're going to see a little bit of a cool-off but not really until the end of this week and the weekend. So the heat, I think, is going to be here to stay for a couple of more days.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: All right, Rob, thank you very much.
MARCIANO: You got it.
LEMON: There's some developing news to tell you about. New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission votes today on the fate of a building set to become an Islamic center and mosque.
There's been a lot of heated debate leading up to this day. The issue is its proximity to ground zero in Lower Manhattan, two blocks from where the World Trade Center once stood.
CNN's senior correspondent Allan Chernoff is at Pace University. This is a few blocks from ground zero where the commission will vote.
Allan, walk us through what's supposed to happen today.
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, let's talk about first what's at stake here. Now what is at stake is the future of the building, not its actual use.
So this morning the Landmarks Preservation Commission here in New York City is going to vote on whether to grand landmark status to that building on Park Place, two blocks north of where the World Trade Center used to stand.
The developer intends to create an Islamic center there including a mosque. And as you know that has generated a tremendous amount of controversy. Now if the Preservation Commission does grant landmark status that means the exterior of the five-story building is protected. The developer would have to work with that exterior would not be able to touch it.
However, if the commission votes against landmark status, the developer can just knock the building down and create whatever he wants. The plans have called for a building at least 13 stories high for this Islamic center.
The takeaway here, the most important thing for people to recognize is that this Islamic center is going forward unless the developers and the people behind this initiative decide to listen to the protesters and do it elsewhere.
But for now, they are planning to move forward. And Don, what's really interesting here is the fact is that for weeks now that building actually has been hosting Muslim prayers every single day during the workweek, from Monday to Friday.
People today will be gathering there and praying, peacefully, two blocks north of the World Trade Center site -- Don.
LEMON: Allan, can you talk a little bit more about what developers have in mind for this Islamic center? It will be more than just a mosque, right?
CHERNOFF: Exactly. Their basis -- their idea is to create an Islamic YMCA, which also, they say, would be a place to reach out to all the religions, other people, to basically make people understand what Islam is all about.
They want to have a community center, a pool, perhaps a gym, and of course a mosque as well. But it's based upon the YMCA concept, they say. LEMON: All right, CNN's Allan Chernoff in Lower Manhattan. Allan, thank you very much. We'll follow up on this story throughout the day.
You know it is day 106 of the Gulf oil disaster and this could mark a turning point in shutting down the ruptured well. BP plans to carry out a test that will decide whether it can move ahead with the static kill operation that is the first phase of a two-step process to permanently seal the well.
The static kill operation was delayed yesterday when a small leak was found. Scientists now say some 4.9 million barrels -- 4.9 million barrels -- of oil poured into the Gulf of Mexico. That new estimate is pretty close to what had been called the worst-case scenario.
Mexico says it will sue BP and possibility the U.S. government even though no oil has been found in Mexican waters. Mexico has spent about $35 million monitoring the spill.
A secret weapon that scared away a would-be robber.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
NAYARA GONCLAVES, STORE CLERK: The Jesus I got before you leave.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless you for that.
GONCLAVES: I'm Christian.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That woman you hear there, she came face-to-face with a gun and pulled out her own arsenal of faith. We talk live with the store clerk who credits her survival to a divine intervention.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Time right now to buckle up and hit the road because we're going to go cross country. First stop, Maricopa County, Arizona. Its most famous resident, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, maybe the target of Mexican drug lords.
A Mexican drug cartel is reportedly offering a million bucks to anyone who kills the headline-grabbing lawman. Lately Arpaio has been in the news for his tough enforcement of Arizona's controversial crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Now we move on to Shreveport, Louisiana and the tragic drowning of six teenagers. Unbelievable. They had waded into the Red River but then stepped off an abrupt ledge into deeper and treacherous water. Three of the victims were brothers and one member of the group was rescued.
And finally, a new lease on life for actor Charlie Sheen. The actor dodged jail time and struck a deal in Aspen, Colorado. He faced charges of domestic violence there after a Christmas Day scuffle with his wife.
He has been sentenced to 30 days in a Malibu rehab center but will be on hand today when the shooting begins on a new season of the sitcom "Two and a Half Men."
Let's go to Bell, California right now. The tiny poor town where some officials were making outlandish salaries before they resigned. People in Bell say they know where some of that money was coming from.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICIA HAGGAN, BELL RESIDENT: So it just seemed to be another way just to get -- to tax the community without calling it a tax.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Some folks think the city used tow trucks to help pay the now-former city manager $800,000 per year. Nice salary. For the now- former police chief, more than $450,000 per year.
Impounding cars for minor violations and then charging the owners hundreds of dollars to get them out of the tow yard.
A source in the Bell Police Department told KTLA that cops had a quota. Impound at least two cars and write three citations every day. No one from the city of Bell is talking but folks there say fewer cars are now getting towed away.
We're following a breaking story for you now. This one is out of Connecticut. Take a look. Local reports say at least three people are dead at a shooting at a beer distribution company in the town of Manchester.
Police say the shooting started around 8 a.m. Eastern Time and that the gunman is dead. The "Hartford Current" talked with the director at Hartford Distributors and he told the paper that the shooter was an employee.
The director also says about 35 to 40 people were in the warehouse when the shots were fired and shifts were changing out.
We'll follow that breaking news for you today on CNN.
A South Florida store clerk is targeted by a gunman. She is armed with only her religion, but it proves to be more than enough to protect her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't be scared.
GONCLAVES: I'm not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, nice and calm. GONCLAVES: What? I know you can do whatever you want. I'm going to talk to you about the Jesus I have.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
GONCLAVES: The Jesus I got, before you leave.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless you for that.
GONCLAVES: I'm Christian.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So am I. And I absolutely hate doing this.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, the story gets even more remarkable. The woman tells the gunman that she'll have to repay the money so he has a change of heart. And as he is leaving, he tells her it was only a BB gun.
The 20-year-old Nayara Gonclaves is in Pompano Beach, Florida headed back to work. She joins us on the phone now this morning to talk about the ordeal.
Thank you. How are you doing?
GONCLAVES: Hey, I'm good. How are you, Don?
LEMON: I'm doing great. Hey, again, thanks for joining us.
So, Nayara, you see the man walk in the store and you say you instantly had a feeling something bad was about to happen.
GONCLAVES: Yes, I actually did. The way he was wearing.
LEMON: So what happened? Tell us what -- take us through t.
GONCLAVES: Well, it was Friday the 23rd, it was raining and he came to the store. He was a customer. He asked for a phone price. I told him what it was, then he looked down. He took out the gun from his pocket. He showed me, he said, "Oh, I hate doing this, but --"
And he showed met gun, he didn't ever point it at me at any at any time. "I need the money from the register."
I said, "Well, I just opened. There's no money in the register."
And then, he was like, "There's no way you don't have any money."
And then I stopped for a few seconds. He said, "Calm down. It's OK."
I said, "I'm calm, it's OK."
And he was like, "I want the money." I said, "Well, before you do anything, I know have a gun, you're going to do whatever you want, before you do anything, I want to tell you about Jesus. I want to tell you about God. I'm Christian.
And he was like, "Oh, God bless you for that."
And then we started to talk and I realized he wasn't a bad person. I felt like he wasn't a criminal. So, when he said "God bless you," I felt a little bit more comfortable talking to him about God and he listened to me. I did talk to him about Jesus, how he can save you, how he can change your life. And he listened to me.
LEMON: From his body language and the way he spoke to you, you had some idea that maybe he wasn't a violent person? It gave you some indication into who he -- the kind of person he was?
GONCLAVES: Correct.
LEMON: So you took a chance there?
GONCLAVES: Yes.
LEMON: Were you surprised that he turned around and didn't take the money and told you it was a BB gun?
GONCLAVES: Very. Very surprised. After he left, I've got to confess, I started to cry, I -- There was when I realized what was happening and how God protected me. If it was wrong -- something went wrong, I could have -- I don't know, some -- Everything has happened and I'm glad that nothing happened. I'm glad he was a good person, he didn't do anything, he didn't take any money or he didn't point the gun at me at any time. I'm glad he listened to what I said.
LEMON: Nayara, stand by real quickly, because we have a little bit more surveillance tape that we want to play about how the entire ordeal came to an end. Hang on one second. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBBER: I'm not doing this.
GONCLAVES: You know what? I can try to help you try and find a job. I have a lot of friends at church.
ROBBER: I have a job.
GONCLAVES: You do? Then why are you doing this?
ROBBER: Because I'm going to be evicted if I don't come up with $300. And I wouldn't be hurting you. I'm sorry, I have to take every step. I'm sorry.
GONCLAVES: They will charge me for it.
ROBBER: They'll charge you for it?
GONCLAVES: I'm the one responsible.
ROBBER: I don't want to do that to you. I'm sorry. The gun, it's not real, it's a BB gun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Hmm. It is a BB gun. So you know, as they say in Christian faith, some people are saved. Do you think you saved him?
GONCLAVES: I hope so. I can't tell you. I just -- I really feel like something touched him. That's why he left. You know, if he didn't feel anything, he would have took the money and left, but he didn't. So I believe somehow, something I said touched him about Jesus, and I'm sure.
LLEMON: Are you going to reach out to him?
GONCLAVES: I don't think so.
LEMON: Nayara Gonclaves, Thank you. Pompano Beach, Florida. We're glad you're safe, and we appreciate you joining us on CNN, OK?
GONCLAVES: Thank you so much. God bless you guys.
LEMON: Thank you. Thank you very much. The suspect, 37-year- old Israel Camacho, was arrested just a few hours later after he robbed a nearby shoe store. He faces one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted robbery.
The bad guys are using more than bullets in Mexico's drug war. That was an attack, guess what? On police. It include the launch of an explosive projectile. We'll tell you about another weapon that's new to the war.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Want to check your top stories right now on CNN. Perhaps day 106 in the Gulf oil disaster will be the day. Perhaps. BP today is trying to permanently shut down that gushing well head. The process is called static kill, it involves pouring mud and cement into the well to seal it.
And in New York, New York City's landmark preservation commission votes this hour on the status of a controversial building near Ground Zero. Developers want to put an Islamic center and mosque on that site. The commission can't prevent developers from establishing a mosque, but it can designate the building a city landmark and that would prevent developers from tearing down the building or significantly altering its exterior.
In Washington, military sources say the leading suspect in the leaking of thousands of military documents to WikiLeaks had been disciplined at least twice in the previous three years. Despite that, Private First Class Bradley Manning maintained his security clearance. Manning is being held in solitary confinement at the Quantico Marine Base in Virginia We're back in a moment here on CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: More sophisticated weapons are being used in Mexico's drug war. Suspected drug traffickers launched an explosive projectile at police in Juarez on Sunday night. This follows the first-time use of a car bomb in the city. Last month's attack killed four people. Sunday's blast caused no damage. Hundreds of people have been killed this year in fights between rival cartels or cartels and police.
How dangerous are the cartels? A senior FBI agent who works on the border says, "We think al Qaeda is bad, but they've got nothing on these cartels." The agency is downplaying the quote, which appears on an FBI Web site. An FBI spokesman says the quote is the opinion of one agent.
Going overseas now to the devastating floods in Pakistan. We start with a bird's eye view of how this year's monsoon rains have contributed to the disaster. NASA satellite images taken before and after look at the Indus River in northwest, Pakistan. One year ago, there were patches of dry or nearly dry ground in the river valley. Today, water not only covers those areas, but it's also flooded the river's tributaries.
Now the view from the ground. Looking more like the sea. As many as 1500 people, 1500 people have been killed, and the death count could go higher. Nearly 2.5 million people have been affected by the flooding, but the roads -- but with roads, highways and bridges washed out, rescuers can't reach many of them.
The rains have stop for now in one district of Pakistan, but with thousands of homes destroyed, many residents don't know where to turn to next. CNN's Dan Rivers reports next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): So you can see here in this town of Nowshera, people are beginning to come back to their homes and assess the damage. And all the floodwater has subsided here.
But you can say on this side, still some places where it's still very water-logged. These homes are going to be a very long way from being habitable.
All around this area, the damage is very patchy. Some places were buildings have been destroyed, some where they're still standing. I don't know if you can see over here, that gives you an idea how high the water was. On the side of that building, you can see clearly the tide mark running along the side there.
Over here, got a lot of walls that have come down and a lot of power cables as well that have been knocked out. This whole area hasn't got electricity. The people we're talking to say the big problem is a lack of clean water.
We talked to doctors just up the road. He said they're treating a lot of people for gastroenteritis, stomach problems, skin diseases, and so on.
So this is the picture where we are, here in Nowshera. One where the water is receding, the river is just on the other side of these buildings. It's still very swollen, but the waters are going down. We've had some heavy showers in the last couple of hours, but at the moment, thankfully, the rain has held off. And now everyone's wondering if the forecast for more heavy rain is going to come true and whether all this is once again going to be completely inundated. Dan Rivers, CNN, Nowshera, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, Dan, thank you very much.
Violence erupted in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi overnight after the killing of a political party leader. At least 43 people were killed and 72 others injured. Vehicles, shops and gas stations were set on fire. The politician was gunned down at a mosque while attending a relative's funeral.
Here is a look at dangerous, illegal work in Niger's delta -- Nigeria's Niger delta. Young men are risking their lives refining stolen oil into diesel for the black market. They stoke fires, heating barrels of oil to explosive temperatures. Many of these homemade refineries blow up. Oil companies complain that not only are these men stealing oil, they are also causing oil spills.
So secure it's dangerous. It is -- we're talking about the ever- popular BlackBerry. Two of them to show you about here, and why one nation is threatening to jettison these things, ban them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: There we go. You see the applause there down on Wall Street, the opening bell moments away if it hasn't already happened. The stocks kicked off August with a huge rally, really. The Dow surged more than 200 points yesterday -- there's that bell. Slight pullback is expected in today's open, though.
Consumer spending, of course, a concern today. Disappointing earnings from Procter & Gamble. That's because of that and products giant also -- that products giant lowered estimates for the full year. Investors also worried about personal income and spending, which were flat in June. So, we're going to be watching the bell today down on the New York Stock Exchange. We'll get to that in just a little bit.
Meantime, let's talk about the Blackberry, shall we, the blackberry. Because, you know, they're going to try to ban in some polices. Now, the United Arab Emirates is threatening to ban this ever-popular Blackberry that's never so far from our hands, saying the device's encryption codes are so secure that Blackberry poses a potential security threat. CNN's Lisa Sylvester has a breakdown and reaction.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The convenience of modern technology at your fingertips, e-mails, web browsing and text messages, using your Blackberry that all goes away for visitors and residents in the United Arab Emirates come October, not welcomed news.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That would be a disaster for me. I'm using my Blackberry 12 hours a day or 24 hours a day at least.
SYLVESTER: The country's Telecommunication's Regulatory Authority banned the mobile device services citing national security concerns. In an online posting, the UAE government says Blackberry's suspension will remain in place until quote, "Blackberry applications are in full compliance with UAE regulations." The Blackberry is unique from other smart phones.
It's made by Canadian company research in motion or R.I.M., which uses its own special encryption and network of secure operation centers around the world. Telecom experts says that makes it secure enough for use by President Barack Obama and the U.S. military.
ABDEL RAHMAN MAZI, SAUDI TELECOM EXPERT: Blackberry is one of the most secure system. It is so secure that nobody can break the security of Blackberry.
SYLVESTER: The conservative UAE says it worries that air-tight system makes it harder to monitor security threats, but the Blackberry ban, if it takes effect, will impact business and tourists in some high-profile places.
JOHN ALTERMAN, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: A lot of people who go to the UAE to do business. It's a great environment to do business and people come from all over Asia and the Arab world and Africa and Europe to do business in the UAE, largely in Dubai, but also in Abu Dhabi. I think it's a black eye for the UAE. It's also a black eye for Blackberry that they can't work out some way to keep people from using Blackberries for terrorism.
SYLVESTER: In a statement, R.I.M. says it provides a security architecture that is widely accepted by security-conscious customers and governments around the world. R.I.M. respects both the regulatory requirements of government and the security and privacy needs of corporations and consumers.
SYLVESTER (on-camera): None of this is finalized, though. The ban doesn't take effect until October 11th. The company and the UAE are in discussions to try to find some middle ground. R.I.M. stays it won't disclose any specifics of their confidential regulatory discussions.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Lisa, thank you. More news about the Blackberry today. Today, in New York, Blackberry's maker is set to unveil its latest offering into the ever-competitive and growing smart phone market. Research in motion's updated version of the Blackberry will reportedly have a touch screen in its effort to give Apple's iPhone and Google's Android a proverbial -- first day with the new mouth -- run for their money and market share. We'll see how that happens.
We want to get live to New York now. We told you about that controversial proposed mosque down near ground zero. You see the commission there, New York City's Landmark Preservation Commission. They are taking up that case today. They're going to vote in about 30 minutes. Again, this is just down from ground zero. It's expected to start, right now, at 9:30. So, they started on time. Again, vote today. They're going to vote by a show of hands, yes or no.
As of now though, there are no protesters outside, but as we heard from our senior correspondent, Allan Chernoff, there in New York that there were some protests planned and some praying and what have you down near that proposed mosque where ground zero once stood. We'll continue to follow this developing story up in New York City with the Landmark and Preservation Commission right here on CNN, so don't go anywhere.
In the meantime, it is the list of cars that owners with rather steer clear of, the Highway Loss Data Institute's latest roundup of hot wheels is out, and we have it for you right now the vehicles most popular among thieves between 2007 and last year are -- at number five, you guys have a drum roll for me? No. Is the infinity G37 Coupe. Then there is a Chevy Avalanche, followed by the Dodge Charger and the second spot, Chevy's Silverado pickup truck. Which model tops the list? You'll have to wait until after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Welcome back everyone. Don Lemon in today. Kyra is off. Lucky, lucky Kyra. All right.
So, before the break, we talked about the number one car most stolen? So, what's America's most wanted vehicle among car thieves? Roll it, Scotty. You don't have it? Come on, man. There we go. Here it comes. Come on. No drum roll. We'll move on. We gave you the top four before the break, but again, here it is. Since 2002, it's Cadillac's Escalade SUV again this year. It's number one despite the automaker's anti-theft initiatives, such as engine immobilizers that prevent hot wiring.
Breaking down the numbers that rating means of every 100 cars stolen in America, one is an Escalate. What are the least stolen? Saturn VUE and Nissan Murano SUVs. That's what you should buy if you don't want a stolen car.
Let's check our top stories right now. BP is running a few more tests before executing its static kill plan to help permanently seal that damaged oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. If it works, they'll follow up with a bottom-kill maneuver.
The Pakistani government is raising its estimated death toll to 1500 after record monsoon rains inundate the nation's northwest frontier. Relief workers are having a tough time getting to storm victims marooned in remote areas. Emergency rations and other supplies are being airlifted into the disaster areas by the U.S. military.
And in New York City, we've been following this story this morning as our top story. There you see the live picture of the Landmarks and Preservation's Commission there, having a hearing. A controversial vote is being held this hour that will likely allow a mosque to be built near the city's ground zero site. Details to come. Live reports here on CNN.
Attention star gazers. You got quite a sight in store of you tonight. Better believe it. The fabled northern lights, there they are, right there they're beautiful. Those rippling curtains of green and red. Ireporter, Jamen Percy, (ph) shot the last astro lights show a few years ago, but the astronomers say this year's will be even better as this eruption of ionized atoms coming from the sun will be coming right at earth. Best show times for you, late tonight or early tomorrow morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Let's get you back now to New York City, where that - they're talking about that proposed mosque. It's controversial to be built -- well, actually put there near ground zero because there's already a building there, and the people who live there, of course, are concerned. You're looking at the hearing now there at the New York City Landmarks and Preservations Commission. As a matter of fact, that's Robert B. Tierney, who is the head of the commission, speaking there.
They're going to hold a vote in just a short while, but what they're trying to do, they probably can't stop this mosque from being built, but the commission will put an injunction so that if the mosque is put there, they can't change the building substantially. So, that's their options right now. We're following it for you live. As soon as there's a vote, we'll bring it back to you.
In the meantime, we're going to talk about election, balloting. The heart land heads to ballot box today. Primary candidates in Kansas, Michigan and Missouri will learn who is out and who continues on the campaign trail to the big November vote. There's already been a heated nasty political season, and we're still 91 days from the general elections.
CNN's Josh Levs joining us now live. Josh, what races should we be keeping an eye on?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Some big ones. In fact, the races I'm going to tell you about right now involve federal health care law, an incarcerated former mayor and battles over some of the biggest issues in America. Let's start off right here with what's going on in Michigan today. You got the Michigan GOP primary. It's a battle for that GOP nomination. What you have is Congressman Peter Hoekstra. He's the senior Republican on the House Intel Committee up against Attorney General Mike Cox and businessman, Rick Snyder.
Now, that's one thing going on in Michigan, but there's something else. Take a look at this. This is a congressional race that the nation is watching. It's the battle for Bart Stupak's seat. Now, as you know, there's a nine-term conservative Democrat who was targeted by tea party groups. He ended up retiring. They are now six republicans fighting for the GOP nomination for that seat, and the winner will face state Rep. Gary Mcdowell (ph) in the fall.
And more in Michigan, big trouble in Michigan today. You have another race affected by a story that got a lot of national attention. You may remember former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is now incarcerated. His mother, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, is in a tough race as she is vying for her ninth term in the House. State Senator Hansen Clarke is leading a pack of challengers there. We also have race in Kansas I want to tell you about. This one here, the GOP Senate primary, and it will likely decide who takes the seat of Senator Sam Brownback, two congressman, they got in here, Jerry Moron and Toad Tiahrt, are both running for that.
Finally, two big votes today to tell you about in Missouri. One of them is that they are also having Senate primaries, way too many candidates to stick on the screen for you there, but look at what else is going on in Missouri today. Proposition C. This is a ballot initiative, and it's challenging federal health care law. It's specifically asking people if they believe that the state should be allowed to opt-out from the rule that there's mandatory health insurance coverage. Now, if the state does indeed vote to opt-out of what the federal law is calling for, there's widely expected to be a court challenge.
So, this is one case, emblematic of what we're seeing around the country, some states trying to take actions to block parts of that federal health care law. Let me show you where you can get more information throughout the day, breaking news, details and all the rest at CNN.com/politics. Go to the elections center. And what we have here is lots of explanation about what the basics are, what you need to know today. Also, what I like, a calendar that tells you when the races are going to hit your area, right up there, part of our own special political coverage at CNN.com. So, Don, lots of races to watch out for today. We got our eye on them all.
LEMON: Thank you, Josh.
LEVS: You bet.
LEMON: Arizona's controversial crackdown. It's chasing illegal immigrants out of one state and into another, and that state, believe it or not, is welcoming the undocumented workers. Gary Tuchman has that story straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back, everyone.
Supporters of Arizona's get-tough policy say they're already working by chasing illegal immigrants back across the border, but not to Mexico. Many of them are heading to New Mexico.
CNN's Gary Tuchman has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hector is new here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is 34, looking for work. And like many other illegal immigrants, you could say he is here because he felt he had to get out of Arizona.
(on camera): How long have you lived in New Mexico?
HECTOR: New Mexico, two weeks.
TUCHMAN: Two weeks? And you lived in Arizona before that?
HECTOR: Yes, for 12 years.
TUCHMAN: Twelve years?
(voice-over): In Arizona, Hector had a full-time job as a car mechanic but with the state's new immigration law, he realized something. He did not want to be arrested.
(on camera): You were afraid?
HECTOR: Yes.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): This man is also an illegal immigrant, Pedro, also just arriving here in New Mexico from Arizona.
So now, he too, is looking for steady work like he used to have. In fact, by comparison to Arizona, New Mexico is welcoming to illegal immigrants. We met Pedro at a free lunch supplied by a church in Santa Fe.
(on camera): Were you scared to stay in Arizona?
PEDRO: Well, yes. I'm really scared.
TUCHMAN: And how do you feel now in New Mexico?
PEDRO: Well, very comfortable.
TUCHMAN: It's easy to see why New Mexico could be a more comfortable atmosphere for an illegal immigrant. Here illegal immigrants can get driver's licenses in Arizona they can't. They can also get in-state tuition at colleges, in Arizona they can't. But here is something else they are also finding out, there are far fewer jobs than in Arizona.
(voice-over): Advocates who help immigrants in New Mexico say that while they are welcomed here they also warn them there is not a lot of work for them.
MARCELA DIAZ, SOMOS UN PUEBLO UNIDO: We don't have a very large percentage of immigrants in part because we are a very poor state.
TUCHMAN: We don't know how many illegal immigrants from Arizona are now heading to New Mexico but Paul Morrison, chairman of the Santa Fe County Republican Committee says the state needs to draw a line.
(on camera): Do you feel illegal immigrants who can't get legal status should go back to Mexico?
PAUL MORRISON, SANTA FE COUNTY GOP COMMITTEE: Probably yes, on balance, although I would rather they got a legal way in.
TUCHMAN: But most of them said they can't get it. So what do you advise them to do?
MORRISON: I don't know. I don't have any answer.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): We've heard the same story from many illegal immigrants; becoming legal is not easy. Pedro says he paid an immigration lawyer to help him.
(on camera): So you gave this lawyer $5,000 to see if he can make you a citizen. He told you --
PEDRO: No, no chance.
TUCHMAN: No chance?
PEDRO: Right.
TUCHMAN: And what happened to the money you gave him, the $5,000?
PEDRO: He gave me $2,500.
TUCHMAN: He gave half of it back?
PEDRO: Yes.
TUCHMAN: But he kept $2,500?
PEDRO: Yes.
TUCHMAN: Other illegal immigrants we've talked with who have been here for years said they haven't taken steps to become legal citizens because they don't want to be sent back to Mexico to wait out the process. Often, their entire families are in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Hector left his wife and four children behind in Arizona until he finds steady work but if he doesn't, he's come to a conclusion, a conclusion he never imagined.
HECTOR: Maybe I'll wait for a couple more weeks and no work, maybe -- maybe I will go to Mexico.
TUCHMAN: To Mexico?
HECTOR: Mexico.
TUCHMAN: Back home?
HECTOR: Yes.
TUCHMAN: For people like Hector, fleeing Arizona may ultimately lead to a return to Mexico which is precisely what many want from the new immigration law.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And the immigration debate has gotten so hot, it has at least three U.S. senators suggesting a change to the U.S. Constitution -- the 14th Amendment to be specific. This is the amendment that says "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they preside -- or reside."
This basically guarantees if immigrants have children in the U.S., the kids automatically are citizens.
Well, Senator Jon Kyl wants to hold hearings and maybe alter the amendment. He and others think the 14th amendment was never meant to apply to illegal immigrants that it was intended to guarantee citizenship for African-Americans after the Civil War.
Well, some scholars say that isn't exactly true; that the 14th amendment was also designed to create a national standard of citizenship for everybody, like the children of Irish and Chinese immigrants.
Here is some of the debate, from "AC360"; first with an Arizona state senator who co-wrote the state's tough new immigration law and then with a history professor.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSSELL PEARCE, ARIZONA STATE SENATE: The 14th amendment was written in 1866, ratified in 1860, belonged to one group of people only, African-Americans, to give them their rightful place at the table that they were being denied after that war, had nothing to do with foreigners at all, legal or illegal.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, "AC360": Right, -- we'll actually that's I have just got to jump in because actually that's -- that's not true.
PEARCE: What do you mean it's not true?
COOPER: Well, the Congressional Research --
PEARCE: Well, Hang on, hang on. And let me --
COOPER: Let me just say the Congressional research -- PEARCE: Hang on and let me finish.
COOPER: Ok, well, in 2005, the Congressional Research Group did a report and they point out that the original debate over the 14th amendment while overwhelmingly about African-Americans it was also among both proponents and opponents about Chinese immigrants here and whether the children of foreign workers, of Chinese workers should actually --
PEARCE: No, hang on.
COOPER: -- get citizenship.
PEARCE: That's -- ok, let's -- let's go back to the case. That's not true. First of all, it was clear on the debate of the floor, Jacob Howard and Senator Cowan both of those senators made it clear was -- it did not apply to aliens or foreigners in any manner.
That was the debate on the floor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC FONER, HISTORY PROFESSOR, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: The 14th amendment was debated for months, and the wording was very, very carefully worked out. If they have meant to exclude any kind of people, aliens, children of aliens, they wouldn't have done so.
COOPER: It wasn't just about African-Americans?
FONER: No. It was primarily to establish this unquestionable citizenship of African-Americans which before the Civil War, the Dred Scott decision had said, "No black person could be a citizen".
But it was also to create a national standard of citizenship for everybody, not just black people -- children of immigrants, Irish immigrants, anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Senators Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell also support taking another look at the 14th amendment.
Why don't we get a look and see what we're working on for next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. We begin with Poppy Harlow in New York.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Is this in the country still ripping apart the American dream; you know, it's estimated that about 1 million homes in the country will be repossessed by the end of this year, and that means American families on the street. We're going to show you in the next hour the face of foreclosure. Who's behind all those numbers? That's straight ahead.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Tropical depression number four was upgraded to a tropical storm overnight. We'll have a forecast track. Plus, another day of record-breaking heat, dangerous heat. That's in the next hour.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elizabeth Cohen in Atlanta. With that record-breaking heat, you need to know the signs when your body has had too much and you need to go inside to the air conditioning. Do you know the signs of heat stroke? I'll tell you the signs at the top of the hour.
LEMON: All right. Thanks to all of you.
Also, next hour, a CNN exclusive, the journey home for America's wounded troops. More surviving from injuries that years ago would have proved fatal. A behind-the-scenes look at how it's being done.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: An American man fascinated with fictional mobsters and non-fictional fascists is now in jail accused of killing as many as ten people in a resort town in Panama. Rafael Romo is CNN's senior Latin American affairs editor. And Rafael this is a story that -- it reads just like a movie.
The man's name is William Dathan Holbert, right? He and his girlfriend accused of targeting people who owned property in this tourist area of Panama. Basically befriending folks and then finding a way to worm their way into their lives and sell their property and then kill them. Right?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERIAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: It's an incredible case, Don, and the lead prosecutor in this case has confirmed to us that they're traveling to the area of Bocas del Toro, this is in Panama, where they will look for the bodies of some of the people who may have been killed by William Holbert.
Panamanian prosecutor Angel Calderon says Holbert has confessed that he killed five people. Calderon also says that they're also investigating the disappearances of five Panamanian nationals who were also in touch with the 30-year-old American body builder and his girlfriend, identified as 27-year-old Laura Michelle Reese.
Officials say they both fled from Panama to Costa Rica last week on Monday, traveled by land through Costa Rica and were captured while crossing the border in Nicaragua. They were extradited back to Panama last Thursday.
Panamanian authorities say both Holbert and Reese were traveling with fake Dutch passports. It's a very, very interesting case -- Don.
LEMON: And apparently Holbert was quite a character. He had a fascination with fictional mobsters. He was also apparently a body builder. He supposedly and even admired Adolf Hitler and belonged to a white supremacist group?
ROMO: There was a letter found in North Carolina where he used to live and in the letter he said that he himself was one of the leaders of an organization called the Southern National Patriots. And apparently in that letter was resigning from it, so we don't know if he still had ties to that organization but yes, a very interesting way of acting.
LEMON: Take us through. What's next for this couple?
ROMO: Right now, they're trying to get legal defense. We called the embassy. They don't know if they're going to represent him, but basically, if convicted and found guilty, he faces up to 50 years behind bars in Panama.
LEMON: All right. Thank you. Rafael Romo, we appreciate your reporting on that.
We want to move on now, talk about a story that is developing now. We're watching for an important vote in New York City; it could happen at any minute. It's a commission there that governs the city's landmarks. Basically they will decide if an Islamic center and mosque in lower Manhattan will go forward.
The building is just two blocks from Ground Zero. And its proximity to the World Trade Center site has really fanned heated debate, both pro and con. CNN's senior correspondent, Allan Chernoff is at Pace University (ph) near where the commission is meeting right now.
Allan, tell us what's at stake here.
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: The commission actually is speaking right behind me here at Pace University. And the decision pretty much has been made.
Seven of the commissioners have already said they will not vote for landmark status. There are 11 commissioners. That means the building two blocks north of the World Trade Center slated to be an Islamic center and mosque will not -- will not receive landmark status.
What does that mean? It actually means that the developer will be able to knock the building down and go forward with whatever plans he has, and the plans right now call for an Islamic Center that will contain a mosque.
As you know, there's been tremendous opposition, but it is important to note also that that is not what these commissioners have been deciding. They have been weighing the architectural and the historic merit of the building.
(on camera): Seven of them thus far has said it does not rise to the level of landmark here in New York City, and, so, again, the decision here is going to be no landmark status.
The developer, Sojo Properties, can move forward and do whatever it wants with the building, and the plans in the past have called for a building at least 13 stories high, an Islamic center that would contain a mosque.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Allan, let's talk about this, all the consternation that this has caused, a lot of folks are against it. There were some who were pro saying why not let, it's a free country. But all the consternation now, they can take this building, do whatever they want, two blocks from ground zero. This isn't the end of it, at least with the protests, I'm sure.
CHERNOFF: Oh, no, certainly not. And it's also important to note, obviously, the developer can change his mind. If they choose to move that Islamic center elsewhere, that's certainly a possibility but it's not what the developer has said he has in mind.
So, again, let's basically anticipate that, yes, an Islamic center and a mosque will be constructed two blocks north of ground zero where the World Trade Center once stood.
LEMON: Hey, Allan, holding that thought. Again, what has the developer - has he said what he has in mind? Has he given specifics about what he wants to see there exactly?
CHERNOFF: Yes. There's an organization called the Cordoba Initiative, and they are essentially basing their plan on a YMCA. They're saying this will be a community center. It will include a pool, a community center and will also have a mosque as well.
LEMON: All right. Listen, who proposed that the building be given landmark status and then all of a sudden it was voted down? Whose idea was it, the protesters or someone on the commission?
CHERNOFF: Don, very interesting. This goes all of the way back to 1989. Back in 1989, the request was made by a group that wanted to have the historical district in Tribeca, the lower Manhattan neighborhood of Tribeca declared a landmark area. Many buildings did receive that status. This building at the time didn't get a vote.
Now, years later, they are going to vote, in just a few minutes, but as I said, it's a foregone conclusion after hearing the comments of the commissioners. Don.
LEMON: Thank you very much. Allan Chernoff at Pace University in Manhattan. We'll follow up with you.
