Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

New Zealand Earthquake Kills 65; Somali Pirates Kill Four American Hostages; Inside Libya's Uprising

Aired February 22, 2011 - 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: Frantically searching the rubble, looking for survivors.

We're also watching Bahrain. Take a look. At least 30,000 protesters jamming the streets of the capital. Most of them shouting for the regime to go.

We start, though, with the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that hit New Zealand's south island. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just the darkest day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see the walls trembling.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Dozens of people reported dead now, hundreds of people still trapped in that rubble. The quake hit just before 1:00 p.m. Tuesday local time, 7:00 p.m. on the East Coast, and was centered just a few miles from Christchurch.

It toppled buildings, cracked roads, knocked out phone lines. At least 65 people were killed at that point. Thousands were already made homeless. The three main welfare centers are already filling up and about 1200 people have taken refuge at Addington Raceway, that's a horse track right there in Christchurch.

Now the hospital is operational but only for emergencies, while dozens of life flights have transported the injured to cities just outside the quake zone.

Gary Denvir is a reporter for New Zealand's Newstalk ZB. He joins us now on the phone from Auckland.

So, Gary, what's the latest from there?

GARY DENVIR, NEWSTALK ZB NEWS: Yes, hi, Kyra.

Look, we're still sitting at this stage with a death toll of 65 but we expect that to be revised upward probably after daylight. The search and rescue staff are still out, trying to dig through the rubble looking for more survivors. They've pulled 120 people from the rubble since that announcement of 65 dead, 120 people alive from the rubble. So there is some good news stories coming out. But still a significant number of people unclear exactly how many who are unaccounted for at this stage.

PHILLIPS: So, now, how would you describe the damage? We're seeing some video here of some buildings, it looks like the main center there of Christchurch. We're actually watching some of the buildings topple -- come toppling down. It was caught on phones there in Christchurch. But how significant is the damage? What types of buildings? Types -- is it just downtown?

DENVIR: It's devastated quite a bit of the region. The central city certainly had been hit the hardest. And some buildings. The quake hasn't been particularly fussy on the buildings. Some of the older buildings have come down but there's also been some new buildings which have been affected, that collapsed like decks of playing cards. Incredible, the devastation.

And it's -- the hardest thing I guess for the residents is that it comes just five months after they were hit by a 7.1 magnitude quake. That's probably the reason for so much damage. Buildings were weakened by that 7.1 quake five months ago and now the 6.3 quake which was much closer to the city and a lot shallower at five kilometers deep has caused such destruction. It's a devastating blow for the residents.

PHILLIPS: Well, Gary Denvir is a reporter for New Zealand's Newstalk ZB.

Gary, we'll keep talking. Appreciate you calling in. Thanks so much.

And we've got the latest now on those -- uprisings, rather, in parts of North Africa and the Middle East. Let's go ahead and start in Bahrain where protesters there are holding the biggest anti-government rally since demonstrations began last week. Some 30,000 protesters are marching through the capital right now.

Protesters first took to the streets last week to demand reform and a constitutional monarchy. But now there are calls for the removal of the royal family. Government says seven people have died in those protests and the leader of Bahrain's largest opposition party is expected to arrive back in the country today.

Hassan Mushaimaa's return comes after the king has closed some cases of those accused of plotting against the government.

All right, let's head to Libya now. The big question is, is this Moammar Gadhafi's last day in power? Libya's ambassador to the U.S. is saying Gadhafi must resign. And this hour, the United Nations meets to figure out a response to the bloody crackdown on anti- government protesters. Now one human rights group thinks that up to 400 people have now been killed.

Expect Libya's deputy ambassador to ask the world for help, too. He claims that Gadhafi is using his military, planes, gunships, snipers to commit genocide now.

Gadhafi was on state television for just a few seconds last night to prove he was still in the country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER (Through Translator): I want to have some rest because I was talking to the young man at the Green Square and I want to stay the night with them but then start raining. I want to show them that I'm in Tripoli, not in Venezuela. Don't believe those dogs in the media.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And just getting word now -- we're going to get back to these protests happening across the Arab nations. But we're getting word, the other -- one of the stories that we've been following are those four Americans that were captured by Somali pirates. Getting word now that they have been found dead.

Our Chris Lawrence, Pentagon correspondent, on the phone with us now.

Chris, can you give us -- what details can you give us?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Yes, not a lot of details on how this happened, Kyra, but we can confirm from a Defense official with knowledge of U.S. and military operations in that region that all four hostages are now dead.

We knew at the last check that the hijacked yacht was somewhere in the waters between Yemen and Somalia, but was still a ways out from the coast of Somalia. And that had been the big concern not only by the U.S. military, but a lot of the officials in the region, NATO as well, that once the hijacked yacht was able to make it to the shores of Somalia, that then hostages could be taken inland and rescuing them would be that much more difficult.

So again, no exact details on how this went down but again a very sad ending to what we learned was really a journey of faith and adventure for this Seattle couple and their two friends. They were retired. Friends say they weren't the kind of people who were rich.

They had poured a lot of their net worth, a lot of their money into that yacht. They wanted to sail the world. They wanted to share their faith. One friend told us yesterday this wasn't a matter of trying to push their Christian faith in the Muslim lands. They actually had gone to the Pacific Area, specifically Thailand, to sort of share their Christian faith with other Christians.

They were part of a group of yachters and they had rounded the southern tip of India. They were going by Amman and we're going to stop in Djibouti to refuel before heading out to the Mediterranean. And actually the wife, Jean Adam, had blogged earlier that that was really where their concern was.

They didn't know what would happen when they had to make the major refueling stop in Djibouti. Unfortunately, they never made it there because off the coast of Amman, they were hijacked by those pirates.

PHILLIPS: And --

LAWRENCE: Kyra?

PHILLIPS: And Chris, just to remind our viewers, you were talking about their faith and the fact that they wanted to travel the world and share that. I mean they were actually passing out bibles and ministering to people along this trip, right?

LAWRENCE: Exactly. Exactly, Kyra. It was -- like I said it was sort of a mix of faith and adventure. This was someone who had retired. Scott Adam had earned a master of theology degree. And he really -- they were sending e-mails to friends, talking about what this trip meant.

We spoke with one of those friends yesterday and he said that was really -- that was their passion. It was sailing around the world, the feeling of freedom, and as they saw it, serving God.

And again, I just -- I bring that up because I don't want people to draw religious implications from what happened. You know, there's no evidence of that. In fact, most of the pirates that come from the northern part of Somali -- Somalia are not radical Islamists. So --

PHILLIPS: And they're just looking for money. I mean they're just looking for a chance to make money off these hostage situations, right, Chris?

And also while I've got you, do we know if it was military activity? Was there possibly a rescue that was in place here and do we know any details about how they were killed and, if, indeed, any of the pirates were killed as well?

LAWRENCE: That I have no indication of, no knowledge of. We do know that the U.S. military and NATO had eyes on the situation, was monitoring the situation, but they were very hesitant to say exactly where they were and what relation to the ship. Obviously for good reason not to give away their entire location, but we don't know exactly how this happened, that the pirates came to kill the four hostages.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Chris Lawrence, our Pentagon correspondent. Chris, thanks so much. Well, let us know as you get more details.

LAWRENCE: Sure.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's get you back to Libya now.

Libyan state TV now reporting that Moammar Gadhafi will address the Libyan people shortly. We're going to bring you that live as soon as it happens. Meantime, CNN's Ben Wedeman is the first and only western journalist reporter -- television reporter, rather, to get inside and report from Libya during this crisis and he just was able to file this report from us from eastern Libya.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We were able to go to the city of Tobruk in eastern Libya where we saw that despite what Colonel Gadhafi is saying he is not in control of the eastern part of the country.

There's no army, no police on the streets. The anti-Gadhafi protesters have been able to burn down the police station, burn down party headquarters, burn down the intelligence headquarters. They are in open revolt. Some of the protesters telling us they not only want to overthrow the regime of Moammar Gadhafi, they want to see him killed or put on trial in the international court of The Hague.

We also heard from some people that they have a plan to cut the export of oil from eastern Libya. Eastern Libya is where much of Libya's oil comes from and this they say they will do unless the massacres, as they decide them, committed by the Gadhafi regime are put to an end.

Otherwise the situation in the heart of the country seems fairly calm. Gas stations are open and some stores are open, although, clearly people are not going about their normal lives.

One of the big concerns here is that the Libyan Air Force which has been used against protesters in Tripoli could be used again in this area to punish the people of eastern Libya for trying to overthrow the regime of Moammar Gadhafi.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from eastern Libya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Priests accused of sexually molesting children in their care. The story is sadly familiar but a sickening case in Philadelphia is a bit different. It could set a precedent in the way these cases are prosecuted.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Just a moment ago, we were telling you that the four Americans that were being held aboard their yacht by Somali pirates had been killed.

We're talking about the yacht S/V Quest. It was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, you may remember, last Friday. On board Jean and Scott Adam of California, also Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle from Seattle. As our Chris Lawrence was reporting a trip of faith and, of course, adventure. And then we got word that they had been held hostage by some Somali pirates.

We're now getting word after Chris just reported that they were killed, and this is coming straight from CENTCOM and its commander that it was this afternoon negotiations apparently were ongoing to try and secure the release of these four hostages. U.S. forces were involved with those negotiations.

And then, apparently, gunfire was heard aboard that pirated vessel, the SV Quest. So, US forces responded to that gunfire. As soon as they got on board the Quest, they discovered that all four hostages had been shot by their captors.

It looks like they were trying to negotiate with the pirates. They were trying to save the lives of these four Americans, but they ultimately died of gunshot wounds once that gunfire broke out.

US CENTCOM commander, General James Mattis, saying, "We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives that callously were lost aboard the Quest."

So, it looks like there was -- there was an attempt to negotiate with these pirates. Those failed. Gunfire erupted. Once US officials got on board that yacht, they realized that the four hostages, four American hostages, had been killed. We'll continue to update you on this story.

Far more quiet day weather-wise for much of the US. That's pretty good. Meteorologist Rob Marciano, live in the Severe Weather Center. Quiet but, still, there's parts of the country that are getting plowed with snow.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, and the folks that got ice yesterday are still dealing with that, because it's not melting all that quickly.

Want to show you some video coming out of northern Ohio, where that state, northern part of that state, northern part of Indiana, southern parts of Michigan, just pummeled with anywhere from a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of ice, and that's enough, certainly, to take down tree limbs, if not trees altogether and power lines as well.

At one point this morning, over a hundred thousand people still without power in southern Michigan, and over 20,000 in Ohio itself.

All right. The other piece of video I want to show you is something that's going to become more common as we go through the next couple of months. Ice jams on the Des Moines River. This is Ft. Dodge, Iowa. And as the ice began to melt, they jammed up a little further downstream, and this community had to be evacuated. A couple of dozen folks, and we're really worried about the Red River as we go through the next couple of months, that's for sure.

More snow for you across the tri-state area. These are suburbs of New York City, New York proper. Got 2.5 inches of snow with this system. And that snow beginning to taper off. Although, the backside of it in places like Chicago seeing some lake effect snow showers, here, and that could pile up in a hurry.

There was a ground stop -- actually, still is -- for the next few minutes, here, at Chicago O'Hare. And also some ground delays at parts of Philadelphia.

These are the daytime highs. It'll be chilly across Chicago, New York and DC, certainly cold enough to sustain snow. And the heat, we're holding on it down South. More record highs across parts of the southeast yesterday, with the daytime highs once again getting into the lower 80s in places like St. Simons island, southeast Georgia. Nice spot during the summer.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is.

MARCIANO: And really, this time of year, as well.

PHILIPS: Beautiful water, vacation, golf, tennis.

MARCIANO: Sounds like a long weekend.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Man, I'm ready. Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right. See you in a bit.

PHILLIPS: You need another reason to visit Chattanooga? Well, we got it in our look Cross Country this morning. Monday, zoo officials unveil the scenic city's newest attraction, the snow leopard cub. OK, the collective "Ah!" goes right here. She is about a month old, and zookeepers say that she's doing great. The only thing that she's lacking, now, is a name. If you've got any ideas, let them know.

Check out this supermarket security camera near Detroit. What's that, you say? Well, watch again. Yes. A bunch of snow. Cleanup needed on aisle six, please. Luckily, the collapse at More Food 4 Less grocery store in downtown Pontiac, well, it happened around 2:00 in the morning when the store was closed.

And more snow-based drama, this time in Government Camp, Oregon. A snowboarder spent a pretty harrowing night lost in subfreezing temps atop Mount Hood. He says he lost all sense of direction in the near- blizzard conditions on Sunday, forgot his GPS. But a National Guard helicopter spotted him Monday morning and, thank goodness, rescued him soon afterward.

Well, stories of struggling teachers, schools, and students straight ahead, including a Detroit proposal that would put 60 students in every classroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We're getting some sad news into us, now, about those four Americans that were being held hostage by Somali pirates. Those four Americans that were on an adventure trip of faith, passing out Bibles and ministering to people along the way.

We got reports that they had been killed and, now, we're getting the back story. Apparently, US forces were trying to negotiate with the Somali pirates that had taken these four Americans hostage.

During those negotiations, the forces heard gunshots being fired, boarded that yacht, and discovered that all four of those passengers had been killed. Scott Adam of California, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle from Seattle, also Jean Adam of California as well. The yacht SV Quest was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, you may remember, on Friday. And now, we're learning the sad news that they -- all four have been killed by their hostage-takers.

Well, we could be talking about a real game-changer in the prosecution of sexual predators in priests' clothing. Not just the accused perverts getting prosecuted, but the church investigators who are supposed to police their parish. Their alleged silence and deception an unforgivable sin in the eyes of the law.

CNN's Susan Candiotti tells about a sickening case in Philadelphia that could now change everything.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Despite efforts to change its ways, Philadelphia's archdiocese again is facing damning allegations from a grand jury, including a child sex abuse cover-up.

DANIEL THOMAS, BISHOP, ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA: It's clear that more needs to be done.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): These two priests, Edward Avery and Charles Engelhardt, and a lay teacher, Bernard Shero, now stand accused of raping the same boy between 1998 and 2000. Father James Brennan is charged with assaulting a different boy in 1996. But allegations against a fourth priest is setting the case apart.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Here's what makes this case different. It appears to be the first time a priest, who's not accused of being an abuser himself, is charged with going out of his way to put dangerous priests into contact with more children who, in turn, also were abused.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): He's Monsignor William Lynn, from 1992 to 2004, the man tapped by the archdiocese to investigate abuse. Lynn faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of endangering the welfare of two children, allegedly raped by other priests. Priests Lynn allegedly knew to be sex offenders.

R. SETH WILLIAMS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PHILADELPHIA: This is about evil men being held accountable for doing despicable acts.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): District attorney Seth Williams is bringing the charges that at least one respected analyst agrees could rock the Vatican.

WILLIAMS: They say this is a precedent. This is the first time in American prosecution that we are holding accountable a person who didn't do the abusing but was, we believe, negligent in his authority.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): According to the grand jury report, Monsignor Lynn learned that one of the priests under his direction had fondled a young boy. That priest was sent to a sex offender program yet, Monsignor Lynn allegedly lied about what happened to parishioners and called it all a rumor.

When that priest was released from the program, he was ordered to stay away from young people yet, just the opposite happened. The archdiocese assigned him here, to St. Jerome church and school.

According to the grand jury, that priest, father Edward Avery, allegedly raped a young boy here. That same boy was allegedly raped by another priest here and a lay teacher.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Bishop Daniel Thomas was assigned by the cardinal to talk with CNN about the grand jury's report. The bishop points out the DA credits the archdiocese with providing victim counseling, and now reporting some accused abusers to police, including the four now charged.

In response to the report, the archdiocese has just hired a former local prosecutor, who sits on a church board, to review the grand jury's recommendations. The bishop promises things will be different.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Why should people believe the archdiocese this time?

THOMAS: Some have said this is too little, too late. But the reality is, it's never too late to make it right.

GINA MAISTO SMITH, ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA: This is an opportunity to make a difference.

CANDIOTTI: However, the DA and grand jury say there is credible evidence that 37 additional active priests are alleged abusers. The archdiocese has put three of those priests on administrative duty, but disputes it knows of credible information about any of the 37 at this time. It vows a complete review.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Philadelphia's district attorney urges any victim to come to them directly, adding, quote, "there's no need to go to the archdiocese first." We're talking to the DA next hour. Going to read you some of that grand jury's shocking report.

And Monsignor Lynn and Father Engelhardt have pleaded not guilty, by the way. And the lawyer for the lay teacher accused in this case says his client will enter a "not guilty" plea.

New Zealand's prime minister calling it his country's darkest day. We'll head back to Christchurch, where a desperate search is still on for quake survivors.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Let's take you to New Zealand now and update you on quake news. We're now calculating that at least 65 people have died and hundreds of people are still believed to be trapped inside the buildings that you're seeing here that have collapsed. It's following a 6.3 earthquake that hit the south island. That quake hit around lunch time locally, that was 7:00 p.m. on the East Coast yesterday. It shook buildings to rubble, it twisted roads into ruins. We've been getting video in through the night. Now, the phone lines are down. Residents actually turned to social media to search for missing friends and family.

And an online people finder that was developed by Google volunteers for the Haiti earthquake, that has been put into action for this Christchurch earthquake. And the three main welfare centers are filled with people that are homeless now. Also, a horse track in Christchurch now houses about 1,200 people.

Tom McRae of CNN affiliate TVNZ actually takes a look at the destruction from ground zero and brings us this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM MCRAE, TVNZ REPORTER (voice-over): In one moment, total, utter chaos. And for the second time, nowhere in Christchurch is safe. People take to the streets. This time, it's worse. They work frantically to free the trapped. Some emerging hurt, but alive. Others didn't make it.

From the window of this 17-story building, rescuers take desperate measures to get workers out. A collapsed stairwell trapping staff inside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely frightening. It was by far and away the roughest ride we've ever had and we're pretty good at bloody living through an earthquake.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Once again, that was Tom McRae of TV New Zealand.

We're going to keep following the aftermath and, of course, aftershocks there in New Zealand and bring you the latest pictures and information as we get them.

Let's go ahead and check other big stories that we've been following for you.

We're following the breaking news still of the four Americans on board that yacht that was hijacked by Somali pirates. We got word from U.S. forces that those four hostages are now dead. The quest was being shadowed by the Military after captured off the coast of Oman last week. U.S. forces boarded that yacht after they heard gunfire and we're told that they were able to kill two of the pirates, detaining 13 others. But, unfortunately, the four hostages were shot dead.

Libya's ambassador to the U.S. is urging Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to resign. That call came in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," where the ambassador also said he was stepping down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALI SULEIMAN AUJALI, LIBYAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: I resign from serving the current dictatorship regime, but I will never resign from serving our people until their voices reach the whole world and until their goals are achieved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Libyan state TV is reporting that Gadhafi will address the nation shortly and we will take that live.

Some 30,000 protesters are marching in Bahrain's capital today. It's the country's biggest anti-government rally since demonstrations began last week. The leader of Bahrain's biggest opposition group is expected to return home from exile today.

And competing chants at those weeklong demonstrations in Madison, Wisconsin. While most in the crowds have been opposed to removing bargaining rights for organized labor, others showed up to back the plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: Shame on them, shame on them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Fourteen Democratic senators fled the state last week, preventing the Senate from considering the legislation for a lack of quorum. They say that they won't return until the government negotiates. Governor Scott Walker says he's not budging.

And across the country, state leaders with tough budget choices are taking aim at the influence of organized labor. Their actions drawing protests in several states today. Besides Wisconsin, demonstrations are going on in Ohio, Massachusetts, and California. Organized labor in Ohio is opposing a measure similar to the one in Wisconsin.

Well, think back to high school. How many people were in your math or science class? Thirty, twenty, maybe less? There's a new plan in Detroit that would actually pack 60 students, possibly more, into one classroom. Why? Well, it's trying to eliminate the $327 million state deficit. It would also eliminate half of the public schools.

Detroit's cuts and budget woes have been Poppy Harlow's beat for a while now.

So, Poppy, is this really the best option at this point?

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: I think it's the only option, Kyra. I mean, what is going on in Detroit is what Education Secretary Arne Duncan has called ground zero for the education crisis in this country.

Students are literally fleeing Detroit. When you take a look at the last decade, 2000 to 2010, the population of the city fell 20 percent. But their public schools -- the enrollment fell by half, 50 percent. Parents are picking up their students, taking them out of Detroit, putting them in the suburbs.

And I want to show you the man trying to fix it. We'll play some video for you. His name is Robert Bob. We've been reporting on him for a long time. He's the Emergency Financial Manager.

And Detroit's public schools, they have poured money into each and every student. When you look at these numbers it's astonishing that their school system is struggling so much. Detroit spends the fourth most in the country, Kyra, on each of its students. Take a look at that -- right under Washington, New Jersey and New York. There's Michigan. But, yet, they are still struggling. And this is how much they're struggling.

That $327 million budget deficit that this man, Robert Bob, is trying to close. And what has happened, the latest development, Kyra, is that he has proposed a plan to close that gap. Take a look what this would do. They would close 70 more public schools in Detroit. That would leave only 72 schools opened by 2014. To give you perspective, last year alone they closed 59 schools. So cutting the amount of schools more than in half. What that would do is put 60 students in each high school class.

Now, to clarify, Kyra, Robert Bob does not want to do this. State law is making him, as the financial manager, put forward a plan. And he said, look, this is the only viable plan that can get that big, big budget deficit down to zero. But he said it's not a viable plan and the reason why is if you have a class of 60 students, what kid, what parent is going to want their kids in that class?

So this is going to cause, he says, parents to pull their kids from these classes and take them to the suburbs. Well, each time you take a kid out of a Detroit public school class, the funding falls, Kyra. So, it's a vicious cycle, but that's the latest development.

PHILLIPS: All right. You keep us posted, Poppy. Thanks so much.

HARLOW: You got it.

PHILLIPS: We're also continuing to follow that tragic story of the four Americans now report killed by the pirates near Somalia. We've got more details for you, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Some stories we'll be talking about later today on CNN.

A federal agent killed last week will be laid to rest. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano expected to attend today's funeral for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jaime Zapata. That'll be in Brownsville, Texas. Zapata was killed white sitting in his car in Mexico. It's suspected that he was targeted by drug cartel members.

And remember that city pay scandal in Bell, California? Four current and two former members of the city council due back in federal court today. In October, eight current or former officials pleaded not- guilty to corruption charges in L.A. County Superior Court.

Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has planned a fireside for Wisconsin residents, tonight at 6:00 Wisconsin time. The fireside chats, as you know, were made popular by Franklin Roosevelt during World War II. Walker's latest budget plan would remove most bargaining rights for teachers and public workers.

The governor of Virginia says if called, he would serve. Bob McDonald talks about the possibility of being a White House running mate. Our political update stories coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Rahm Emanuel the favorite in today's Chicago mayoral election. But will he emerge a clear winner or possibly pushing to a runoff? I bet Mark Preston has pretty good idea. Hey, Mark.

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, how are you, good morning, Kyra, 25 degrees right now in Chicago, Illinois. Polls have been open for a couple of hours. And the big question today is will Rahm Emmanuel get the 50 plus one percent in order to become the mayor of Chicago.

A couple of other people who are running -- big names that are running for the seat include former senator Carol Moseley Brown and the former Chicago school board head, Gary Chico. Now, our own Jessica Yellin and Tim Bonner (ph) are out there today, giving us the latest on this race.

And of course, this is a -- very much watched not only in Chicago but throughout the nation because Rahm Emanuel, as our viewers remember, is the former Chief of Staff to President Obama.

Down in Virginia, one of the rising stars of the Republican Party says that he won't rule out perhaps joining the vice presidential ticket, if asked. Bob McDonald he is the governor of Virginia, he was elected in 2009, again, considered a rising star. He was asked by CNN affiliate WWBT if he would join the presidential ticket, if asked in 2012. He said he probably would.

However, McDonald did note that he is focused on running for governor. McDonald, again, one of these rising stars, one of these rising Republican governors here in the nation.

And then what is going to happen to Mike Huckabee? Will he run in 2012? Will he decide to stay as a commentator on Fox News and continue to write books? Well, he says he's going to use his new book tour to figure out if he can gain enough support to run again for the president. A -- a simple government; 12 things we really need from Washington releases today. Huckabee told us yesterday that he's going to feel it out. He's going to travel the nation and see what people are telling him -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Mark thanks so much.

We'll have your next political update in just about an hour. And a reminder, you can always go to our Web site 24/7, CNNPolitics.com.

Somali pirates shot and killed four American -- hostages, rather during negotiations today. We'll have more details straight ahead.

But first, today's "Flashback". Before it would become known as the Sunshine State the Florida territory was held by the government of Spain up until the early 1800s. But in 1821 U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams brokered the Florida Purchase Treaty with the Spanish government for $5 million. The state of the Florida would be admitted to the union some 24 hours later.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We've got more now on our breaking news this hour.

The four Americans taken hostage by Somali pirates late last week have been shot to death.

CNN international anchor, Zain Verjee is live in London. Zain, you've been doing so many stories and following the issue of these pirates out on the high seas.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes.

PHILLIPS: And this is a situation that we don't like to see. Apparently negotiations were going forward but it didn't -- it didn't work out.

VERJEE: No. This is a really devastating and ominous development because, you see, Kyra, what's been going on is that the pirates take the hostages and then they use them as assets and they basically keep them, to make sure that they're ok. They may beat them and intimidate them a little, but they trade them for money, because that's the goal. They get something like $3 million to $4 million, at times, sometimes more for exchanges for hostages for ransom.

What's been happening lately, is that suddenly the pirates -- pirates taking a very violent turn. They've been doing things like threatening beheading, attacking crews in safe rooms, they -- torturing hostages. There are multiple examples to show that, even taking hostages to help them hijack.

It's ominous because it seems as though the violence is now specifically targeting Americans. What has happened also in the last few weeks is that the Irene SL, another ship that was bound for the United States with $200 million worth of crude was also targeted.

Many worry that what we're seeing could be a retaliation by pirates for, one, the Somali man that was sentenced in New York for the Maersk Alabama and the hijacking there for 2009, he was sentenced to 33 years. Or it could be retaliation from pirates just angry with navies around the world for attacking them and killing pirates.

I just got off the phone with one expert who -- who is very close to events unfolding and knows a lot about maritime security and says the community right now is really worried that the pirates will start killing the other hostages that they have in their hands, and that's more than 600 people.

PHILLIPS: And as you pointed out, Zain, I mean, the whole point here is -- is to get money. And -- and so do we have any idea why this is -- this dynamic is changing? Because this -- this is -- we don't often see them, the hostages, killed. We usually see the negotiations go on for a while until the pirates get what they want.

VERJEE: Kyra, that is an excellent question because that is the question everyone in the maritime security community is asking. What the answer is -- is there is a fear that Islamic extremism has now crept into piracy. What they're going to do is look at who were the pirates that hijacked these four Americans.

There are many different pirate factions, and the answer lies on shore. Because you see Al-Shabaab has taken control of most of Somalia and it is also dealing with the pirates, it's arguing with the pirates for more money and there's basically a power struggle going on. Many people think that Al-Shabaab could be involved and there's some kind of element of extremist violence and this is what we're seeing.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Our Zain Verjee on the story for us today; we'll keep updating our viewers. Zain thanks so much.

We're also following a number of other developments for the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Let's go ahead and check in first with meteorologist Rob Marciano -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Good morning again. Yes, we're going to talk about the earthquake over in New Zealand and how it relates to the one that happened in September. This one was smaller but rocked the area with more devastation. That's coming up in the next hour.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kate Bolduan, in Madison, Wisconsin where this budget battle -- epic budget battle here is entering a second week, neither side showing signs of giving much ground at all, if you will.

So where do they go from here? I talk to one of the Republicans involved at the top of the hour -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, guys.

Well, do you ever wonder what it's like to be poor in America, just struggling to make ends meet? To make tough choices about paying rents, caring for your pet, feeding your child? Well, that's a reality for millions of Americans and it can be your virtual reality, too.

Our producer Pete Seymour playing a new video game called "Spent". We're going to be talking about it and its impact.

Coming up in the next of the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right, Jeff Fischel, blockbuster basketball trade to talk about?

JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS ANCHOR: It could not get more complicated. Three teams 12 players have been talked about for weeks. I'll tell you what, New York fans it's time to get mellow as in Carmelo Anthony. Traded from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks. He made it no secret, he wanted to go home and play for either the Knicks or New Jersey Nets.

Just before the trade was announced, he was on Conan last night. If Carmelo knew something, he wouldn't say, so Conan gave him a jersey not just any jersey. It had all three teams he might be wearing on it, the Nuggets, the Knicks and the Nets. But again, Carmelo was very quiet about it all.

Charles Barkley is in a new -- oh there it is --, Charles Barkley is a new cell phone ad where his catch phrase have been set to music and auto tunes (INAUDIBLE) and now there's a video, too.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHARLES BARKLEY AD)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FISCHEL: Oh, Charles, if you are going to do it, don't hold back. You know what, Spike Lee made the video. Spike Lee having fun with the joke, too. It's getting tons of hits online, of course. I like the painter Charles.

A 36-year-old woman made it to the big leagues. Growing up Justine Siegal always wanted to play baseball for the Cleveland Indians, her hometown team. The Indians have made her dream come true. Yesterday, she pitched batting practice at spring training. She's the first woman ever to do it. She says she used to be able to throw 70 miles per hour or more. The Indians said, you know what, as hard as she was throwing, it was plenty good for batting practice.

She was really firing them in there. She said -- tell you what, Kyra. She said she was super nervous first. The first throws were all over the place. But then after she got that out of her system, she was right on target. Manager Manny Acta said she did a great job, players said she could come on back --

PHILLIPS: Are they going to take her?

FISCHEL: -- and do it again, she was that good.

PHILLIPS: Come on. Let's recruit her, let's get her.

FISCHEL: She had been trying for months to do this. She wrote letters to every team. She said I want to do this. I mean, she loves baseball. Her dad, her grandfather are Indian season ticket holders and she would not give up. And finally, the Indians said, absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Love it. That's great.

FISCHEL: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Great story. Thanks, Jeff