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CNN Live Saturday

Officials Warn Of Drug Resistant New Strain Of AIDS; Police Thwart "Suicide Party" In Oregon

Aired February 12, 2005 - 18:00   ET

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

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


ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, a new report on one that did and the horrible consequences that followed in Iran.
And is Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld trying to soften his image? You might think so when you hear what he had to say overseas.

It is Saturday, February 12. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Coming to you from CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Erica Hill in for Carol Lin. Here's a look at what's happening right now in the news.

New details are emerging about a bizarre plan allegedly organized in a cyberspace chat room by the man you see here. Authorities now say women from England as well as the United States and Canada may be involved in a Valentine's Day suicide pact. We'll have a live report coming up in just a moment.

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean is the new chief of the Democratic Party. He was elected to head the Democratic National Committee today and he's already laying out his game plan. Dean says he'll focus on organizing efforts at the local level to rebuild the strength of the party.

Unpleasant predictions from the Bush administration. In his weekly dress, President Bush emphasized the need to overhaul Social Security. The president maintains the program is heading toward bankruptcy and warns Americans could see tax hikes or benefit cuts if it not revamped.

And now, to fall out from last month's submarine collision in the Western Pacific -- the sub's commander is being relieved of his command following the incident but he will not face criminal charges. One sailor was killed, 20 others were injured when the USS San Francisco hit an underwater mountain.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's travels took him from Iraq to Germany today. Rumsfeld was in Munich attending a security conference that turned into a fence-mending mission of sorts. CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is traveling with the defense secretary.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: It's good to be back with you. JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a self-proclaimed new Donald Rumsfeld who arrived in Munich for a brief charm offensive. No more comparisons of Germany to Libya and Cuba from the often confrontational U.S defense secretary, no more references to Germany and France, who opposed the war in Iraq, as old Europe.

RUMSFELD: One WAG said, "That should be an interesting trip after all that's been said." I paused and thought for a moment and replied, "Oh, that was old Rumsfeld."

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld fresh from his unannounced inspection tour of Iraq, insisted the Iraqi people are embracing democracy. And instead of urging European allies to do more, he thanked them for what they've already done -- sending troops, equipment or providing training for Iraqi security forces.

RUMSFELD: These are welcome and encouraging signs and the Iraqi people are grateful. It sends an important message to the extremists that they are on the wrong side of history.

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld acknowledged differences over Iraq but said such issues among long-time friends are not new. He called for unity against a common enemy, terrorist extremists. But Rumsfeld sidestepped questions about whether the United States would work more closely with Europe to pressure Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions, insisting there's not much day daylight between the U.S. and European approach. And Rumsfeld reserved judgment on a German proposal unveiled at the Munich conference to convene a panel of experts to come up with ways to revitalize transatlantic ties.

(on camera): Rumsfeld's conciliatory tone was applauded by the delegates at this informal but prestigious gathering, who are already feeling better about U.S./European relations after the recent visit of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rumsfeld left as fast as he came, before he had a chance to say anything that might undo the good will.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, Munich.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Within hours Iraqis will know the winners of their first free election in 50 years. The results are to be announced tomorrow, exactly two weeks after the historic vote. But the violence continues in that country. South of Baghdad, a suicide car bomber blew himself up at a police checkpoint today. Seventeen people were killed; six of them were Iraqi security guards. More than two dozen were wounded.

In the southern city of Basra, gunmen riding a motorcycle assassinated a prominent Iraqi judge. Two of his bodyguards were wounded. Police speculate the judge was targeted because of his work with the new government.

In the meantime, police in Mosul made a grisly discovery. The bullet-riddled bodies of six Iraqi National Guardsmen were found along a highway and a note on one of the men accused them of participating in the offensive against Falluja.

Turning our attention to news across America, rising rivers have forces dozens of people to flee their homes in Central Arizona. A mean winter storm has triggered flash flood watches across much of the state. Several rivers and streams are at or near flood stage.

Heavy rains also causing problems in California, and these dramatic pictures you see here, firefighters plucked a 13-year-old boy out of the Los Angeles River yesterday. The boy clung to the side of a 40-foot high concrete channel on the river's edge before a firefighter managed to grab him.

A two-day-old newborn is doing fine today. Police are still considering what action, if any, to take against his mother. She claimed she rescued the baby after it was tossed out of a moving car. Police now say that story was a lie. Authorities are seeking court permission to take the woman's 10-year-old son into custody while she is evaluated.

And tonight at 10:00, we'll hear more details on this unbelievable story. We're going to speak with Broward County sheriff, Ken Jenne. You'll want to stay with us for that.

Police in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky say a 9 months pregnant woman resists and killed a knife-wilding attacker who may have been trying to steal her baby.

Denison Keller (ph) from affiliate WKRC in nearby Cincinnati has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In life and ultimately death, one theme resurfaced time and again with Katie Smith, a fascination with pregnancy. She told people over and over she was expecting. In fact, her neighbor and landlord thought that was the extent of the trouble at her apartment house on Thursday.

UNIDENTIFIED NEIGHBOR: But I thought you know, that she had had her baby or that she was in labor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But police say an autopsy revealed that Smith was not pregnant and there was no evidence of any recent pregnancies. Sarah Brady (ph), the woman who killed Smith in what may have been an act of self defense, is pregnant. Her family says Smith lured her to the apartment claiming to have a baby gift delivered to Smith by mistake. And police say that's not the only baby gear Smith had.

UNIDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICER: Katie Smith has a complete nursery with all of the furniture. She has baby clothes, diapers, formula, everything that a parent expecting a newborn should have.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Smith had a rough childhood. She graduated from Ludlow High School but grew up in this house in Independence. Her father, Timothy Smith, is serving 20 years in prison for molesting Katie, a conviction based largely on Katie's recollection of events she claimed was repressed for years. Timothy Smith's family wrote the judge, claiming Katie had a history of making up stories and as a junior high school student, she announced she was pregnant.

Shelly Schmidt (ph), a neighbor, said Katie had been back to the neighborhood recently to visit and told her she was expecting.

UNIDENTIFIED NEIGHBOR: She was pregnant and she was excited about it. And she was just saying that she was due any time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Katie Smith's family would not agree to an interview but a spokesperson for the family read this prepared statement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What occurred yesterday was a terrible tragedy. Our prayers and sympathy go out to Sarah (ph) and her family. Remember we are also a grieving family and please respect that. We are doing everything we can to cooperate with the police and cannot comment further on the pending investigation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: And thanks to WKRC reporter Denison Keller (ph) for that story. Attackers in recent years have killed several women and removed their fetuses, sometimes to pass the children off as their own.

Making a pact in an Internet chat room to commit suicide on Valentine's Day, that is exactly what police say over two dozen women did. Their accused ringleader, an Oregon man is now under arrest. And CNN has learned the alleged suicide pact was not limited to the U.S. and Canada. For more now on this new development, we go live to CNN's Kimberly Osias in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Kimberly, good evening.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Erica. That's exactly right. In fact, authorities just this afternoon now say that England is involved as well. They believe that dating back to July of 2003, Mr. Gerald Krien may have tried to solicit women via the Internet through an Internet site called www.wannado.com. That was in England. They're also starting to notice a theme emerging as well. Yesterday, a shackled 26-year-old Gerald Krien walked from jail cell into police questioning room. He has been charged with solicitation to commit murder. It was all done via the Internet, more recently in a chat room titled "Suicide Party 2005" where everybody was talking about the same methodology. Now police are actually looking through a number of chat room site conversations and finding out a little bit more of a theme, the fact that they all wanted to hang themselves via a beam. And they're looking at instant message conversations that went back and forth to various women and Mr. Krien. That is what they are doing right now.

Joining me now from the Klamath County Sheriff's Department is Sheriff Tim Evinger. And again, noticing this theme, of course, people, of course, hearken back to Heaven's Gate. And you, of course, have said that there was no real religious overtones, but you're noticing some of a sexual nature now. Can you share with us a little bit about that?

SHERIFF TIM EVINGER, KLAMATH COUNTY, OREGON: Certainly, there seems to be a common theme that the people that are coming forward are women. There have been comments about sex acts being performed whether it's by Internet or in person and then followed by a suicide.

OSIAS: Now, talking about the fact that this is an Internet crime of solicitation, how tough is it to actually find these people, and what are you all doing to expedite that?

EVINGER: Well, we have a pretty good team working on this now. We've also enlisted the help of the FBI and also Oregon Department of Justices assisting us at this point. There's a lot of records to go over, a lot of chat rooms to look at and some forensics should be done on that computer hardware.

OSIAS: You know the question that everybody always asks is why is this not a hoax or how do you know it's not a hoax? Obviously, you were operating on these inside tips. Can you share with us about that?

EVINGER: Well, it becomes more than a hoax to us when the woman from Toronto calls us, indicates that she's going to commit suicide. If he's trying to get people to commit suicide all over the world, all over the nation and especially here in Klamath Falls, we take that very seriously.

OSIAS: And talking about the woman from Canada, there was a woman and two young children that were involved. How -- what is the safety and where are they now? Do you know anything more about that?

EVINGER: As woman have come forward, the media coverage on this has been great. It's been very helpful in the investigation. People across the U.S. have come forward, one in Virginia, one in Missouri in the past. They both had two children that they say were invited to come to this suicide party. That's when these women got out as well.

OSIAS: Thank you very much. This is Sheriff Tim Evinger from Klamath Falls and the as far as 26-year-old Gerald Krien, he will -- he is still behind bars on a $100,000 bond. His attorney has not made any kind of statement at all. I did speak with his mother this morning, briefly, in terms of motivation, only hinting at -- that he was bullied as a young child and perhaps this may very well be a rather macavor way of lashing out -- Erica.

HILL: Macavor is right. Kimberly Osias, so many questions, thanks for answering them for us tonight.

First lady Laura Bush has a new program aimed at keeping kids out of gangs. It's all part of her husband's plan to help young people in some of the nation's toughest communities. But will it work? We'll speak with a long-time educator.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SGT. CHRIS TUCKER, U.S. ARMY: You see a certain scene or, you know, a certain situation that just horrifies and just stucks in you -- it sticks in your memory forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: On the front lines, Sergeant Chris Tucker (ph), a childhood troublemaker grows up in Iraq.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: New details are emerging in a chilling story of spying, mistakes, and murder. It involves a CIA spying network that went bad in Iran and resulted in the death of several informants. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is following the story for us from her post at the White House -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a story really that's causing concern not only about an intelligent failure that happened 15 years ago but also about the U.S. ability to assess Iran's intelligence threats today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): Dozens of Iranians were passing information to the CIA were jailed or executed in the early 1990s after their spy network, set up at the request of the Pentagon, was discovered by Iranian counterintelligence. That according to two knowledgeable former U.S. officials who tell CNN the incident was not a particularly pretty story. Part of that story was recently revealed by former Pentagon official and long-time critic of the CIA, Richard Perle, who testified before Congress.

RICHARD PERLE, FORMER PENTAGON OFFICIAL: And I imagine there are many on the Committee who are familiar with the terrible set back that we've survived in Iran a few years ago when in a display of unbelievable careless management, we put pressure on agents operating in Iran to report with greater frequency. It didn't provide improved communications -- channels for them to do it. The Iranian intelligence authorities quickly saw the surge in traffic. And as I understand it, virtually, our entire network in Iran was wiped out.

MALVEAUX: The two former U.S. officials who spoke with CNN call Perle's version of the story "exaggerated, inaccurate in key details and timed to mislead." They discredit Perle as one who's had a beef against the CIA. Perle told CNN in a telephone conversation while he didn't know when the incident happened or the details, his point remains the same.

PERLE: I think we're in bad shape in Iraq.

MALVEAUX: And the shape of U.S. intelligence gathering in Iran has quickly become a battle over credibility.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, Iran remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve.

MALVEAUX: President Bush's statement alarmed some overseas and at home who recalled the faulty U.S. intelligence claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, the U.S.'s central justification for going to war. While the U.S. insists it is not pursuing military action with Iran, some analysts are concerned about the administrations' ability to assess Iran's threat.

DAVID KAY, FORMER CHIEF U.S. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: My suspicion is that we're going to find out in Iran, just like in Iraq, we had no human operatives on the ground and that our best source of information were people who had defected and had other agendas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: But U.S. officials say that that is not fair. Despite the executions of these Iranian agents back in the 90's, they say there has been a lot of success. They point to the fact that U.S. intelligence actually identified some of those nuclear sites in Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency -- Erica.

HILL: All right, Suzanne Malveaux live at the White House for us, thanks.

Turning our attention now to some news around the world. Militant leaders in the Middle East will apparently keep the peace at least for now. They promised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to maintain a truce of sorts (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Abbas' new cease fire deal with Israel.

Rescue crews are scouring Afghanistan for survivors after a week of heavy rains and snow. Flood waters inundating a dam near the coast, causing it to collapse. Almost 300 deaths have been blamed on the flooding.

More emergency crews have been raced to Northern Pakistan. There, several avalanches in the Himalayan territory of Kashmir are blamed for dozens of deaths.

And New York Giants football player, Kurt Warner and his teammate, Amani Toomer, are doing their part for tsunami relief efforts. Both players, along with their wives are in Aceh, Indonesia trying to raise awareness and money for long term relief needs but are also lending a hand unloading relief supplies and trying to cheer up some of the tsunami victims.

We're going to journey to the front lines next on CNN LIVE SATURDAY. A young man witnesses war firsthand but despite the images that haunt him, one deployment wasn't enough. We profile Sergeant Chris Tucker.

And flowing in fabric, the purpose behind this bright and huge new exhibit in New York's Central Park.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HILL: Every week, we bring you personal stories from the front lines. Today, we profile a soldier, rather, from a small town in Georgia, a young man who had a troubled childhood but excelled in the Army and is credited with saving many of his comrades serving in Iran. CNN's Michael Shilder (ph) reports now a story of bravery, determination, and a burning desire to make a difference.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TUCKER: I'm looking forward to doing what we're about to do, make a part of history. Who knows? We'll see.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The night before the U.S. invaded Iraq, Chris Tucker, a 20-year-old tanker and ammunition loader is preparing for his first battle.

TUCKER: This is it. This is the big day. We're leaving now and going across the berm into Iraq. Here we go. We're about to make history. We're here inside Iraq. So maybe I'll make it home to tell you all about it. I hope so. We'll see.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chris Tucker did make it home.

TUCKER: The whole time, it was like an emotional roller coaster, so yes, it definitely takes you back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, he's heading back to Iraq with a big promotion and a deep appreciation of the horrors of war.

TUCKER: So we're in a big firefight out here right outside of Baghdad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're so proud of you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll be praying for you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, well, we've been praying for you and we're very proud.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are proud of Chris Tucker in his hometown of Jasper, Georgia. It wasn't always so.

TUCKER: For some reason everywhere I went, I just kept getting in trouble. I would pick on people. I would beat people up. I would -- I was like a big bully at school. I got involved with drugs. I was going on the wrong track.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was the wrong tack in many ways.

TUCKER: Throughout life, I was in and out of foster homes and I stayed in a lot of trouble.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then Chris Tucker got a break. A youth minister took him into his home. And when the minister got married, the wife agreed to make Chris part of their family, even naming their son after him. TUCKER: Shoot the basketball, Tucker.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good shot. We have a wedding picture of me and Steve and Chris, and when people look at that wedding picture, they ask, well, who are you married to just because Steve is seven years older than me and Chris is seven years younger than me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tucker's high school football coach saw the evolution, saw the hard work that No. 42 put in on the field and off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. 42 comes up with it. He wasn't the most talented kid in the world but he worked hard at it and he had a good attitude. And he gave us everything he had and that's all we could ask.

TUCKER: When I got out of high school, I wanted to be a police officer. And everywhere I went, everyone said you don't have any experience, you don't have any experience.

This is the basic training. This is my first MRE of...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The police force said no, the Army said yes.

TUCKER: I joined after 9/11 because after the terrorist attacks and September 11, it makes you -- you know you're like I'm an American. That's my job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Private First Class Tucker was one of the first Americans to enter Baghdad.

TUCKER: I was the fourth tank back in the E-column.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His commanders credit him with saving many soldiers' lives. He earned a fast track promotion, skipping a rank to Sergeant. The former bully is now the protector.

TUCKER: Now I have two soldiers that are under me, that pretty much their life depends on me doing my job and training them to know their job inside and out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As we said, Sergeant Tucker has a deep appreciation off the horrors of war. He doesn't talk much about the details that weigh on him only the effects.

TUCKER: Yes, I can't sleep at night at all. My job and things that I've seen will be running through my head or I'll see a certain scene or you know a certain situation that just horrifies and just stucks in your -- sticks in your memory forever. I've been through counseling and things like that to deal with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant Tucker received his honorable discharge in November after three years of service, but his story does not end there. He struggled with whether to reenlist, heavily factoring the Pentagon's Stop Loss Program, under which it can send members of the Armed Services back to Iraq even after their enlistment period is up. TUCKER: Me and some of my buddies, we said I thought about. We're like hey, we might as well reenlist because we'll get a bonus now. We'll get duty station of choice. It's either that or getting nothing and still go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (on camera): What was the bonus?

TUCKER: It was $7,000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): And so, with an extra $7,000 in the bank, Chris Tucker and his buddies are packing up for their second tour of duty.

(on camera): Do you still feel the 9/11 connection to the mission now or is it something else?

TUCKER: September the -- it motivated me to join the Army and to do something more with my life. But going to Iraq the first time, it was like -- it was part of your job. And then you lose a friend or something like that over there and then it -- your motivation is totally different.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

TUCKER: I mean it's like, OK, well, they want to keep killing our people -- we're losing soldiers every day, and that's your motivation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tucker relishes his role as leader and he tries to hide the psychological burdens of his first deployment from those under his command.

TUCKER: I don't want to them that hey, when I come back I'm messed up and I won't be able to sleep all -- you know I'll be having dreams and all this because then they might -- it might affect how they do their job. And so, my job is to make sure hey, I come to work and I'm the same person every day, and they think everything is just great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The brave face of Sergeant Chris Tucker.

Michael Shilder (ph), CNN, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: A brave face indeed. Well, the hour's top stories are just ahead right here on CNN LIVE SATURDAY; also the first lady focuses on kids at risk. Will her plans to keep them out of gangs work?

And will Usher be the big winner tomorrow at the Grammy Awards. CNN's Toure tells why it's only appropriate for the show to be held in February. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Here's what's happening now in the news.

A suicide car bombing in a town south of Baghdad today killed 17 people and wounded 26. It happened at a police checkpoint near a hospital. Police say six Iraqi security guards are among those killed.

Howard Dean has been elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. All six of his opponents dropped out of the race before today's vote. The former Vermont governor and presidential candidate vows to rebuild the Democratic Party from the grassroots up.

And in New York, a farewell to actor Ossie Davis. Mourners, including his wife of 56 years, actress Ruby Dee. Former President Bill Clinton and film director, Spike Lee, were also in attendance. Ossie Davis died last week at the age of 87.

The FBI is noticing a disturbing trend. Street gangs are more heavily armed and more violent than they used to be. CNN's justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports now on a community outside Washington where authorities are taking their anti-gang message right to the gang members themselves.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's early evening in Northern Virginia and these members of the Gang Task Force are getting ready to head out into the streets. Their targets are young, at times as young as seven or eight, and dangerous. Earlier in the week, an alleged gang member wilding a machete cut three fingers off his victim's left hand. This night could bring similar violence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They'll throw some signs or flash some hand signs to see whether they're friend or foe. And if they're foe, that's where you get your assaults.

ARENA: Both men who work undercover and wanted their faces hidden give extra scrutiny to young Latinos. That's because they are primarily on the hunt for members of the Latin street gang known as MS 13. The ATF, which has been fighting gangs for decades, says the increased use of violence MS 13 and others is alarming.

MIKE BOUCHARD, ATF: They're arming themselves much better than before. In fact, in many cases, they're arming themselves better than the police.

ARENA: The Justice Department estimates there are more than 21,000 gangs nationwide.

(on camera): And the FBI says juvenile gang murders have shot up 25 percent since 2000. CNN has learned as a result, the FBI is preparing a new gang offensive.

(voice-over): Among the changes, to reclassify gangs as criminal organizations just like traditional, organized crime families.

SGT. RON HAUGHSDAHL, VA GANG TASK FORCE: They are organized. They do keep notes and that means they do collect dues. They do have bank accounts where they're paying canteen funds for members that are locked up.

ARENA: Part of the gang offensive includes outreach. Many task force members work with organizations like The Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America. This Aberdeen, Maryland chapter sponsored a roundtable discussion after an alleged gang-related murder in the area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, gangs present themselves before you; tell them, I don't want to be a loser. I want to be a winner, because a loser took my best friend's life.

ARENA: Some of the young people in this room have been asked to join gangs.

DAYRON WINCHESTER, 17 YEARS OLD: They still cuss at me, I mean, a little bit, flip me off, cuss, try to hurt my feelings, you know what I mean, because I didn't join them.

ARENA: These kids are well aware of the problem. Often, their parents are not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of these parents have no idea or they say they have no idea that their child is involved in this stuff. And that's what shocks me.

ARENA: Both gang task force members are parents too, fathers of young children, making their battle a very personal one.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: First lady Laura Bush is heading up the president's new Anti-Gang Initiative, a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that's helping at risk kids, mainly young men, avoid the world of gangs, and she's expected to promote intervention programs across the U.S Linda Chinnia has been working on an experimental plan to help at risk kids in Maryland for a number of years now. She is the chief academic officer of the Baltimore Public Schools.

We appreciate you taking the time to join us tonight.

LINDA CHINNIA, BALTIMORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Thank you.

HILL: As we mentioned, your involvement with the Baltimore schools, you're actually working on experimental plans to help at risk kids. Talk to us about the plan that has been put in place in Baltimore.

CHINNIA: Well, over the past 20 years, we really have been looking at the impact on aggressive students and at risk students as early as first grade. And so, we developed a program and actually -- did some studies on that program called the Good Behavior Game. It's a game of strategy for classroom management that divides the class into three teams. The teacher actually is teaching the children pro- social skills and the teams work to help each other to become more positive and to learn how to be good students and succeed.

HILL: They also learn how to be good students. They also learn to be more polite. The game starts out initially where the students are timed and then it just sort of becomes the way things are in the classroom and then it's not a game anymore. It also -- the initiatives there are also trying to draw in the parents. We heard one of the officers in Kelli Arena's story mention that he was concerned that maybe parents don't know enough about what their kids are doing.

CHINNIA: Well, that's correct. And the Good Behavior Game, for us, is now a part of a program which is called The Whole Day of First Grade, which has three very important components -- one is the classroom management, one is obviously the academic component, but the very -- third one, which is very much important, is the parent involvement. And parents actually come into the classroom, watch the game, work with the teachers and facilitators so that they can carry this over into their homes and help their children that way.

HILL: Go through, if you could, for some of us, what are some of the changes that you've seen as a result of these programs?

CHINNIA: Well, in Baltimore, since we've been doing this for about 20 years, since 1984 when we really looked at the students who were in the classes back as early as 1984 with the Good Behavior Game, more than 86 percent of those students finished high school versus about 19 percent of their peers who were at risk students in classes that did not have the Good Behavior Game. Where 66 percent of those students used illicit drugs, more than 99 percent of the other students did. So we've seen very positive results.

HILL: And specifically, you mentioned drugs and gangs, two of the biggest concerns.

We mentioned the first lady's gang initiative. The president, in his State of the Union address, ear-marked $150 million over three years for certain programs. What needs to be done add a national level? Is that enough? Based on your experience with your program, would it work on a national level?

CHINNIA: I think that's a good start in terms of a national level. I think what the proposal brings forth is the need for groups to come together. I think that the -- what has happened in Baltimore has been the result of a partnership with prevention research and the Education Department. And based on the mission and goals that we all have, and that is for young people to succeed and to be healthy and to be productive citizens. So I see that as a good start. I think that we probably do need much more, but it involves the entire community.

HILL: You mention, of course, that it involves the entire community. I know you've sharing though some of your success. Real quickly, what others states, what other cities have contacted you based on your success with this program?

CHINNIA: We have heard -- at this point, we have been hearing from Philadelphia, who is interesting in looking at the Good Behavior Game and several other of the districts within Maryland itself. We have presented the game and our program nationally, and look forward to partnering and sharing our successes and our lessons learned with anyone who would be interested.

HILL: Linda Chinnia, best of luck to you and continued success as you move forward with the Good Behavior Game. Thanks for being with us.

CHINNIA: Thank you very much.

HILL: It claims to be a whole new way to diet. So what's different here, you ask? Well, we'll get the answer when we ask the authors of "Fill Up To Slim Down." It sounds good, yes?

Also ahead, a massive masterpiece unfurled in Central Park. What is this new art exhibit that's taking over city all about?

And John Mayor is just one of the stars warming up for tomorrow night's Grammys. A preview of music's big night. That's ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: An eye sore or art? A huge one of a kind exhibit called The Gates went on display in New York's Central Park today, drawing oohs and a few uh-ohs from thousands of eager visitors. Among them, our very own Alina Cho.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Central Park these days is a sea of saffron.

JEANNE-CLAUDE, ARTIST: We chose the color of saffron because we like it esthetically. It's not related to the color of my hair.

CHO: Christo and Jeanne-Claude are the husband and wife team behind The Gates. From high above, the city's biggest ever public art project is on full display. Seventy-five hundred gates each with a floating ribbon lining 23 miles of walkways.

(on camera): You say that if you're young, you should walk all 23 miles and if you're old, maybe...

CHRISTO, ARTIST: Two hundred feet.

(LAUGHTER)

CHO (voice-over): Free to the public, The Gates will only be up for 16 days.

JEANNE-CLAUDE: When you are in the presence of The Gates, you are already feeling the absence.

CHO: Which is why hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world are flocking to New York. Hotels, normally quite in February, say bookings are up 30 percent. Places like the Mandarin Oriental are offering specials.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As part of The Gates package, we're going to be including these binoculars.

CHO: Over at the Plaza Athenee, a special Gates menu.

(on camera): So this is the lamb. This is on the menu.

BERNARD LACKNER, HOTEL PLAZA ATHENEE: That's right.

CHO: Saffron infused.

LACKNER: This is his creation of -- our chef -- of lamb, rack of lambs, saffron infused.

CHO (voice-over): Germans, Horst (ph) and Crystal Marshall say they didn't need an incentive. They were there 10 years ago when Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped Germany's parliament building in a shimmery silver gown.

CRYSTAL MARSHALL, GERMAN TOURIST: All the people -- there were many, many people, and everybody was laughing and smiling. It was such a good feeling. And I look at the people here, and I think they smile, too.

CHO: And this assessment from 9-year-old New Yorker Jonathan Rawls (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I like the way the wind goes on it and makes it flow.

CHO: So do Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who will spend up to $21 million to pay for the project. It won't cost the city a dime and yet, New Yorkers and the world will enjoy it until The Gates come down, until Central Park turns from saffron to green.

Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: It has health officials concerned. A strain of HIV that regressed to full blown AIDS within months of diagnosis. That is just ahead.

Also, you've tried to lose weight, but you can't quite do it. We'll talk to the authors of a diet book. They promise a healthier lifestyle without sacrificing what you eat.

And be sure to log on to CNN.com to check out the most popular story this hour. Read about a reservist with 11 children who's headed to Iraq.

Also, how ex-Hewlett Packard CEO, Carly Fiorina could pocket $42 million.

And a new legislation in one state would ban professional athletes from charging fans for their autographs. You can get all the details at CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: The AIDS virus appears to be mutating, even becoming more dangerous. Health officials are raising alarms over a strain of HIV that is highly resistant to drugs. It can progress to full blown AIDS in just months rather than years. A case in New York City suggests this form of the AIDS virus may be spreading among gay and bisexual men who use a crystallized form of methamphetamines known as crystal meth.

Well, many more Americans face the threat of early death from the effects of common obesity. A new diet book offers the tantalizing prospect of eating until you're full and still losing weight. Joining us from Phoenix are the authors of "Fill Up To Slim Down," Dr. Edward Diethrich, founder of the Arizona Heart Institute and nutritionist, fitness expert Jyl Steinbeck.

Welcome to the both of you. Thanks for being with us.

DR. EDWARD DIETHRICH, AUTHOR, "FILL UP TO SLIM DOWN": Thank you. Nice to meet you.

HILL: All right, this sounds a little too good to be true. I eat until I'm full and then I lose weight. Dr. Diethrich, how does this work?

DIETHRICH: Well, it's a little different approach and it's something we've been talking about for the last, almost 30 years at the Arizona Heart Institute. We think one of the problems is that people were going to diet on a fad diet, but it really isn't something that takes care of their total recreational dieting, presentive medicine, and so forth. And so what we try to do in this book is to present -- Jyl's done a great job -- presenting a series of very good recipes that allow you to feel satisfied and filled up and happy with what you're eating. At the same time, being very nutritious and without some of the things we're seeing right now, the saturated fats, and then combine that with some exercise programs and some stress management.

HILL: So this sounds a lot like what our doctors tell us, you know, eat better, exercise more. Jyl, what are some of the things that we're eating? What makes this program different?

JYL STEINBECK, AUTHOR, "FILL UP TO SLIM DOWN": Well, it's kind of fun. The top subtidy (ph) food -- I'm going to make a new buzz word -- which means foods that fill you up and satisfy you, is potatoes. How great is that? Bring them back. Come on.

HILL: But they're full of carbs, Jyl. Nobody eats carbs anymore.

STEINBECK: They are healthy carbs and they're good for the body and it's what you need with it. It's everything in moderation. But cod is the second subtidy (ph) food. Then you have your fruits and vegetables, actually your apples and your oranges, and then you have your whole wheat pasta. It's got popcorn, all kinds of foods that you love. And when you do balance and you have it all around your plate and all the colors, those potatoes are perfect. And they are delicious.

HILL: You mentioned balance. Is that really one of the key components then to your plan, is keeping everything in balance?

STEINBECK: Absolutely, moderation, balance -- go ahead.

DIETHRICH: Well, we're really seeing -- I was telling Jyl (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the screen that we -- when I went through the cafeteria this morning early -- I did an early operation -- and the food service there has actually been on our diet, Jyl, and she says she's now going to start using some of these for the pancakes in the morning at the heart hospital. I think that's a great thing.

STEINBECK: It is great.

HILL: You bring up an interesting point there, Doctor, because one of the things that I think is really tough for people is we are so stressed and everybody is moving so fast that a lot of times it's tough to have the time to make your food to bring to work. What do you do when you're stuck with the cafeteria at work and the choices don't look that great or they're full of fat or you're traveling and you're at the airport, how do you deal with that?

DIETHRICH: Well, that's a great question because we were talking about that earlier. If you look at the way the book is put together and you begin to look at the food substances and be able to plan on a daily basis, when you travel, go through cafeteria lines and so forth, Jyl, it becomes natural, doesn't it?

STEINBECK: It absolutely becomes natural and you need to come prepared. I always go with a cooler, a little lunch box, something easy. You know the number one time that we eat anything possible is right after work. So if I brought a cooler in my car with some of the subtidy (ph) foods, the foods that fill you up, when I get home, I'm not opening that refrigerator door and saying, "OK, I'm going to eat the whole thing."

HILL: I'll take that leftover piece of pizza. We only have about 10 seconds, but I think we all need to know, Valentine's Day is Monday. Can we eat chocolate on this plan?

STEINBECK: Absolutely.

HILL: OK.

STEINBECK: Chocolate is a super food and it is a good food in moderation.

HILL: All right. Well, that's good to hear. Jyl Steinbeck, Dr. Edward Diethrich, thanks so much for being with us. The authors of "Fill Up, Slim Down." Best of luck.

STEINBECK: Thanks. HILL: It may be the most anticipated moment of this year's Grammy awards. Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez -- you may know her as Jo-Lo -- together on stage. CNN's Toure has a preview of the big show, but first, here's Al Hunt to tell us what's ahead on "THE CAPITAL GANG" -- Al.

AL HUNT, CO-HOST, "THE CAPITAL GANG": Democrat Ken Conrad is our guest as the president submits a whopper of a budget. And the RNC is just wild about Harry, Harry Reid, that is. But Senate Democrats are not so wild about the RNC. All that and more next on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Had a look for you there at the Empire State Building in New York, lit up on red, white, and blue on this Saturday evening. Saffron in Central Park, red, white, and blue, a little more in the midtown area, the Empire State Building in New York.

In the meantime, all the way on the other coast, the Staples Center in Los Angeles may be the scene of big drama tomorrow night as the music industry pumps up the volume for the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Our pop culture correspondent, Toure, previews the nominees.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: It's Toure in L.A. at the Grammys. We're at the Staples Center where the Lakers lose. The big show is tomorrow night. Who's going to win and more importantly, who's going to perform, here's a breakdown.

(voice-over): It's apropos that the Grammys are in February, Black History month, because this year, it's all about black music. The four most nominated artists are all deeply rooted in soul music. Usher, for his slickly produced suite of hits, "Confessions," Alicia Keys for her 70's throw back soul album, "The Diary of Alicia Keys," Conyae West (ph) for his intellectual approach to hip hop on "College Dropout," and the late, legendary Ray Charles for his collection of duets, "Genius Loves Company."

Now, the night could belong to Green Day, the punk trio that some say saved rock and roll with their album "American Idiot," which grabbed five nominations. Also, with five, Prince for his comeback album, "Musicology," and country icon, Loretta Lynn for her collaboration with edgy Jack White of The White Stripes on "Vanlere (ph) Rose."

But at the Grammys it's often less about the awards and more about the awards show. This year's lineup makes for an incredible concert which you can watch from the comfort of your own home for free. Check out this value pack: Green Day, Conyae, U2, Alicia Keys duetting with Jamie Foxx. That's right, Jamie "Oscar Darling" Foxx. And at no extra cost and what'll surely be the most yapped about moment of the night, the first ever live performance by that happy husband and wife team, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. Gossip queens start your engines. (on camera): I can't wait to see what the Anthonys are going to do. For once, a suspenseful awards show. In L.A., it's your man Toure.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: We'll be looking forward to it. That's all we have for this hour for time anyway. But coming up at 7:00 Eastern is "THE CAPITAL GANG." You'll want to stay with us for that. At 8:00 Eastern on "CNN PRESENTS: FAT CHANCE." America is facing a fat epidemic. We examine how people shed pounds and keep them off. Then at 9, "LARRY KING," you'll meet the beauty queen who suffered a stroke at 26, plus, encouraging stories from other survivors. And I'll be right back here at 10 Eastern for "CNN SATURDAY NIGHT." We hope you'll join us.

But right now, here's what's happening now in the news.

"CAPITAL GANG" in just a moment, but first a look at what's happening now in the news. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean is the new chief of the Democratic Party. He was elected to head the Democratic National Committee today and he's already laying out his game plan. Dean says he'll focus on organizing efforts at the local level to rebuild the strength of the party.

Unpleasant predictions from the Bush Administration. In his weekly radio address, President Bush emphasized the need to overhaul social security. The president maintains that the program is heading toward bankruptcy and he said Americans could see tax hikes or benefit cuts if it's not revamped.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired February 12, 2005 - 18:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, a new report on one that did and the horrible consequences that followed in Iran.
And is Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld trying to soften his image? You might think so when you hear what he had to say overseas.

It is Saturday, February 12. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Coming to you from CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Erica Hill in for Carol Lin. Here's a look at what's happening right now in the news.

New details are emerging about a bizarre plan allegedly organized in a cyberspace chat room by the man you see here. Authorities now say women from England as well as the United States and Canada may be involved in a Valentine's Day suicide pact. We'll have a live report coming up in just a moment.

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean is the new chief of the Democratic Party. He was elected to head the Democratic National Committee today and he's already laying out his game plan. Dean says he'll focus on organizing efforts at the local level to rebuild the strength of the party.

Unpleasant predictions from the Bush administration. In his weekly dress, President Bush emphasized the need to overhaul Social Security. The president maintains the program is heading toward bankruptcy and warns Americans could see tax hikes or benefit cuts if it not revamped.

And now, to fall out from last month's submarine collision in the Western Pacific -- the sub's commander is being relieved of his command following the incident but he will not face criminal charges. One sailor was killed, 20 others were injured when the USS San Francisco hit an underwater mountain.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's travels took him from Iraq to Germany today. Rumsfeld was in Munich attending a security conference that turned into a fence-mending mission of sorts. CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is traveling with the defense secretary.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: It's good to be back with you. JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a self-proclaimed new Donald Rumsfeld who arrived in Munich for a brief charm offensive. No more comparisons of Germany to Libya and Cuba from the often confrontational U.S defense secretary, no more references to Germany and France, who opposed the war in Iraq, as old Europe.

RUMSFELD: One WAG said, "That should be an interesting trip after all that's been said." I paused and thought for a moment and replied, "Oh, that was old Rumsfeld."

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld fresh from his unannounced inspection tour of Iraq, insisted the Iraqi people are embracing democracy. And instead of urging European allies to do more, he thanked them for what they've already done -- sending troops, equipment or providing training for Iraqi security forces.

RUMSFELD: These are welcome and encouraging signs and the Iraqi people are grateful. It sends an important message to the extremists that they are on the wrong side of history.

MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld acknowledged differences over Iraq but said such issues among long-time friends are not new. He called for unity against a common enemy, terrorist extremists. But Rumsfeld sidestepped questions about whether the United States would work more closely with Europe to pressure Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions, insisting there's not much day daylight between the U.S. and European approach. And Rumsfeld reserved judgment on a German proposal unveiled at the Munich conference to convene a panel of experts to come up with ways to revitalize transatlantic ties.

(on camera): Rumsfeld's conciliatory tone was applauded by the delegates at this informal but prestigious gathering, who are already feeling better about U.S./European relations after the recent visit of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rumsfeld left as fast as he came, before he had a chance to say anything that might undo the good will.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, Munich.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Within hours Iraqis will know the winners of their first free election in 50 years. The results are to be announced tomorrow, exactly two weeks after the historic vote. But the violence continues in that country. South of Baghdad, a suicide car bomber blew himself up at a police checkpoint today. Seventeen people were killed; six of them were Iraqi security guards. More than two dozen were wounded.

In the southern city of Basra, gunmen riding a motorcycle assassinated a prominent Iraqi judge. Two of his bodyguards were wounded. Police speculate the judge was targeted because of his work with the new government.

In the meantime, police in Mosul made a grisly discovery. The bullet-riddled bodies of six Iraqi National Guardsmen were found along a highway and a note on one of the men accused them of participating in the offensive against Falluja.

Turning our attention to news across America, rising rivers have forces dozens of people to flee their homes in Central Arizona. A mean winter storm has triggered flash flood watches across much of the state. Several rivers and streams are at or near flood stage.

Heavy rains also causing problems in California, and these dramatic pictures you see here, firefighters plucked a 13-year-old boy out of the Los Angeles River yesterday. The boy clung to the side of a 40-foot high concrete channel on the river's edge before a firefighter managed to grab him.

A two-day-old newborn is doing fine today. Police are still considering what action, if any, to take against his mother. She claimed she rescued the baby after it was tossed out of a moving car. Police now say that story was a lie. Authorities are seeking court permission to take the woman's 10-year-old son into custody while she is evaluated.

And tonight at 10:00, we'll hear more details on this unbelievable story. We're going to speak with Broward County sheriff, Ken Jenne. You'll want to stay with us for that.

Police in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky say a 9 months pregnant woman resists and killed a knife-wilding attacker who may have been trying to steal her baby.

Denison Keller (ph) from affiliate WKRC in nearby Cincinnati has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In life and ultimately death, one theme resurfaced time and again with Katie Smith, a fascination with pregnancy. She told people over and over she was expecting. In fact, her neighbor and landlord thought that was the extent of the trouble at her apartment house on Thursday.

UNIDENTIFIED NEIGHBOR: But I thought you know, that she had had her baby or that she was in labor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But police say an autopsy revealed that Smith was not pregnant and there was no evidence of any recent pregnancies. Sarah Brady (ph), the woman who killed Smith in what may have been an act of self defense, is pregnant. Her family says Smith lured her to the apartment claiming to have a baby gift delivered to Smith by mistake. And police say that's not the only baby gear Smith had.

UNIDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICER: Katie Smith has a complete nursery with all of the furniture. She has baby clothes, diapers, formula, everything that a parent expecting a newborn should have.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Smith had a rough childhood. She graduated from Ludlow High School but grew up in this house in Independence. Her father, Timothy Smith, is serving 20 years in prison for molesting Katie, a conviction based largely on Katie's recollection of events she claimed was repressed for years. Timothy Smith's family wrote the judge, claiming Katie had a history of making up stories and as a junior high school student, she announced she was pregnant.

Shelly Schmidt (ph), a neighbor, said Katie had been back to the neighborhood recently to visit and told her she was expecting.

UNIDENTIFIED NEIGHBOR: She was pregnant and she was excited about it. And she was just saying that she was due any time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Katie Smith's family would not agree to an interview but a spokesperson for the family read this prepared statement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What occurred yesterday was a terrible tragedy. Our prayers and sympathy go out to Sarah (ph) and her family. Remember we are also a grieving family and please respect that. We are doing everything we can to cooperate with the police and cannot comment further on the pending investigation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: And thanks to WKRC reporter Denison Keller (ph) for that story. Attackers in recent years have killed several women and removed their fetuses, sometimes to pass the children off as their own.

Making a pact in an Internet chat room to commit suicide on Valentine's Day, that is exactly what police say over two dozen women did. Their accused ringleader, an Oregon man is now under arrest. And CNN has learned the alleged suicide pact was not limited to the U.S. and Canada. For more now on this new development, we go live to CNN's Kimberly Osias in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Kimberly, good evening.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Erica. That's exactly right. In fact, authorities just this afternoon now say that England is involved as well. They believe that dating back to July of 2003, Mr. Gerald Krien may have tried to solicit women via the Internet through an Internet site called www.wannado.com. That was in England. They're also starting to notice a theme emerging as well. Yesterday, a shackled 26-year-old Gerald Krien walked from jail cell into police questioning room. He has been charged with solicitation to commit murder. It was all done via the Internet, more recently in a chat room titled "Suicide Party 2005" where everybody was talking about the same methodology. Now police are actually looking through a number of chat room site conversations and finding out a little bit more of a theme, the fact that they all wanted to hang themselves via a beam. And they're looking at instant message conversations that went back and forth to various women and Mr. Krien. That is what they are doing right now.

Joining me now from the Klamath County Sheriff's Department is Sheriff Tim Evinger. And again, noticing this theme, of course, people, of course, hearken back to Heaven's Gate. And you, of course, have said that there was no real religious overtones, but you're noticing some of a sexual nature now. Can you share with us a little bit about that?

SHERIFF TIM EVINGER, KLAMATH COUNTY, OREGON: Certainly, there seems to be a common theme that the people that are coming forward are women. There have been comments about sex acts being performed whether it's by Internet or in person and then followed by a suicide.

OSIAS: Now, talking about the fact that this is an Internet crime of solicitation, how tough is it to actually find these people, and what are you all doing to expedite that?

EVINGER: Well, we have a pretty good team working on this now. We've also enlisted the help of the FBI and also Oregon Department of Justices assisting us at this point. There's a lot of records to go over, a lot of chat rooms to look at and some forensics should be done on that computer hardware.

OSIAS: You know the question that everybody always asks is why is this not a hoax or how do you know it's not a hoax? Obviously, you were operating on these inside tips. Can you share with us about that?

EVINGER: Well, it becomes more than a hoax to us when the woman from Toronto calls us, indicates that she's going to commit suicide. If he's trying to get people to commit suicide all over the world, all over the nation and especially here in Klamath Falls, we take that very seriously.

OSIAS: And talking about the woman from Canada, there was a woman and two young children that were involved. How -- what is the safety and where are they now? Do you know anything more about that?

EVINGER: As woman have come forward, the media coverage on this has been great. It's been very helpful in the investigation. People across the U.S. have come forward, one in Virginia, one in Missouri in the past. They both had two children that they say were invited to come to this suicide party. That's when these women got out as well.

OSIAS: Thank you very much. This is Sheriff Tim Evinger from Klamath Falls and the as far as 26-year-old Gerald Krien, he will -- he is still behind bars on a $100,000 bond. His attorney has not made any kind of statement at all. I did speak with his mother this morning, briefly, in terms of motivation, only hinting at -- that he was bullied as a young child and perhaps this may very well be a rather macavor way of lashing out -- Erica.

HILL: Macavor is right. Kimberly Osias, so many questions, thanks for answering them for us tonight.

First lady Laura Bush has a new program aimed at keeping kids out of gangs. It's all part of her husband's plan to help young people in some of the nation's toughest communities. But will it work? We'll speak with a long-time educator.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SGT. CHRIS TUCKER, U.S. ARMY: You see a certain scene or, you know, a certain situation that just horrifies and just stucks in you -- it sticks in your memory forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: On the front lines, Sergeant Chris Tucker (ph), a childhood troublemaker grows up in Iraq.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: New details are emerging in a chilling story of spying, mistakes, and murder. It involves a CIA spying network that went bad in Iran and resulted in the death of several informants. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is following the story for us from her post at the White House -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a story really that's causing concern not only about an intelligent failure that happened 15 years ago but also about the U.S. ability to assess Iran's intelligence threats today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): Dozens of Iranians were passing information to the CIA were jailed or executed in the early 1990s after their spy network, set up at the request of the Pentagon, was discovered by Iranian counterintelligence. That according to two knowledgeable former U.S. officials who tell CNN the incident was not a particularly pretty story. Part of that story was recently revealed by former Pentagon official and long-time critic of the CIA, Richard Perle, who testified before Congress.

RICHARD PERLE, FORMER PENTAGON OFFICIAL: And I imagine there are many on the Committee who are familiar with the terrible set back that we've survived in Iran a few years ago when in a display of unbelievable careless management, we put pressure on agents operating in Iran to report with greater frequency. It didn't provide improved communications -- channels for them to do it. The Iranian intelligence authorities quickly saw the surge in traffic. And as I understand it, virtually, our entire network in Iran was wiped out.

MALVEAUX: The two former U.S. officials who spoke with CNN call Perle's version of the story "exaggerated, inaccurate in key details and timed to mislead." They discredit Perle as one who's had a beef against the CIA. Perle told CNN in a telephone conversation while he didn't know when the incident happened or the details, his point remains the same.

PERLE: I think we're in bad shape in Iraq.

MALVEAUX: And the shape of U.S. intelligence gathering in Iran has quickly become a battle over credibility.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, Iran remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve.

MALVEAUX: President Bush's statement alarmed some overseas and at home who recalled the faulty U.S. intelligence claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, the U.S.'s central justification for going to war. While the U.S. insists it is not pursuing military action with Iran, some analysts are concerned about the administrations' ability to assess Iran's threat.

DAVID KAY, FORMER CHIEF U.S. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: My suspicion is that we're going to find out in Iran, just like in Iraq, we had no human operatives on the ground and that our best source of information were people who had defected and had other agendas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: But U.S. officials say that that is not fair. Despite the executions of these Iranian agents back in the 90's, they say there has been a lot of success. They point to the fact that U.S. intelligence actually identified some of those nuclear sites in Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency -- Erica.

HILL: All right, Suzanne Malveaux live at the White House for us, thanks.

Turning our attention now to some news around the world. Militant leaders in the Middle East will apparently keep the peace at least for now. They promised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to maintain a truce of sorts (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Abbas' new cease fire deal with Israel.

Rescue crews are scouring Afghanistan for survivors after a week of heavy rains and snow. Flood waters inundating a dam near the coast, causing it to collapse. Almost 300 deaths have been blamed on the flooding.

More emergency crews have been raced to Northern Pakistan. There, several avalanches in the Himalayan territory of Kashmir are blamed for dozens of deaths.

And New York Giants football player, Kurt Warner and his teammate, Amani Toomer, are doing their part for tsunami relief efforts. Both players, along with their wives are in Aceh, Indonesia trying to raise awareness and money for long term relief needs but are also lending a hand unloading relief supplies and trying to cheer up some of the tsunami victims.

We're going to journey to the front lines next on CNN LIVE SATURDAY. A young man witnesses war firsthand but despite the images that haunt him, one deployment wasn't enough. We profile Sergeant Chris Tucker.

And flowing in fabric, the purpose behind this bright and huge new exhibit in New York's Central Park.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HILL: Every week, we bring you personal stories from the front lines. Today, we profile a soldier, rather, from a small town in Georgia, a young man who had a troubled childhood but excelled in the Army and is credited with saving many of his comrades serving in Iran. CNN's Michael Shilder (ph) reports now a story of bravery, determination, and a burning desire to make a difference.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TUCKER: I'm looking forward to doing what we're about to do, make a part of history. Who knows? We'll see.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The night before the U.S. invaded Iraq, Chris Tucker, a 20-year-old tanker and ammunition loader is preparing for his first battle.

TUCKER: This is it. This is the big day. We're leaving now and going across the berm into Iraq. Here we go. We're about to make history. We're here inside Iraq. So maybe I'll make it home to tell you all about it. I hope so. We'll see.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chris Tucker did make it home.

TUCKER: The whole time, it was like an emotional roller coaster, so yes, it definitely takes you back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, he's heading back to Iraq with a big promotion and a deep appreciation of the horrors of war.

TUCKER: So we're in a big firefight out here right outside of Baghdad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're so proud of you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll be praying for you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, well, we've been praying for you and we're very proud.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are proud of Chris Tucker in his hometown of Jasper, Georgia. It wasn't always so.

TUCKER: For some reason everywhere I went, I just kept getting in trouble. I would pick on people. I would beat people up. I would -- I was like a big bully at school. I got involved with drugs. I was going on the wrong track.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was the wrong tack in many ways.

TUCKER: Throughout life, I was in and out of foster homes and I stayed in a lot of trouble.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then Chris Tucker got a break. A youth minister took him into his home. And when the minister got married, the wife agreed to make Chris part of their family, even naming their son after him. TUCKER: Shoot the basketball, Tucker.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good shot. We have a wedding picture of me and Steve and Chris, and when people look at that wedding picture, they ask, well, who are you married to just because Steve is seven years older than me and Chris is seven years younger than me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tucker's high school football coach saw the evolution, saw the hard work that No. 42 put in on the field and off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. 42 comes up with it. He wasn't the most talented kid in the world but he worked hard at it and he had a good attitude. And he gave us everything he had and that's all we could ask.

TUCKER: When I got out of high school, I wanted to be a police officer. And everywhere I went, everyone said you don't have any experience, you don't have any experience.

This is the basic training. This is my first MRE of...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The police force said no, the Army said yes.

TUCKER: I joined after 9/11 because after the terrorist attacks and September 11, it makes you -- you know you're like I'm an American. That's my job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Private First Class Tucker was one of the first Americans to enter Baghdad.

TUCKER: I was the fourth tank back in the E-column.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His commanders credit him with saving many soldiers' lives. He earned a fast track promotion, skipping a rank to Sergeant. The former bully is now the protector.

TUCKER: Now I have two soldiers that are under me, that pretty much their life depends on me doing my job and training them to know their job inside and out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As we said, Sergeant Tucker has a deep appreciation off the horrors of war. He doesn't talk much about the details that weigh on him only the effects.

TUCKER: Yes, I can't sleep at night at all. My job and things that I've seen will be running through my head or I'll see a certain scene or you know a certain situation that just horrifies and just stucks in your -- sticks in your memory forever. I've been through counseling and things like that to deal with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant Tucker received his honorable discharge in November after three years of service, but his story does not end there. He struggled with whether to reenlist, heavily factoring the Pentagon's Stop Loss Program, under which it can send members of the Armed Services back to Iraq even after their enlistment period is up. TUCKER: Me and some of my buddies, we said I thought about. We're like hey, we might as well reenlist because we'll get a bonus now. We'll get duty station of choice. It's either that or getting nothing and still go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (on camera): What was the bonus?

TUCKER: It was $7,000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): And so, with an extra $7,000 in the bank, Chris Tucker and his buddies are packing up for their second tour of duty.

(on camera): Do you still feel the 9/11 connection to the mission now or is it something else?

TUCKER: September the -- it motivated me to join the Army and to do something more with my life. But going to Iraq the first time, it was like -- it was part of your job. And then you lose a friend or something like that over there and then it -- your motivation is totally different.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

TUCKER: I mean it's like, OK, well, they want to keep killing our people -- we're losing soldiers every day, and that's your motivation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tucker relishes his role as leader and he tries to hide the psychological burdens of his first deployment from those under his command.

TUCKER: I don't want to them that hey, when I come back I'm messed up and I won't be able to sleep all -- you know I'll be having dreams and all this because then they might -- it might affect how they do their job. And so, my job is to make sure hey, I come to work and I'm the same person every day, and they think everything is just great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The brave face of Sergeant Chris Tucker.

Michael Shilder (ph), CNN, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: A brave face indeed. Well, the hour's top stories are just ahead right here on CNN LIVE SATURDAY; also the first lady focuses on kids at risk. Will her plans to keep them out of gangs work?

And will Usher be the big winner tomorrow at the Grammy Awards. CNN's Toure tells why it's only appropriate for the show to be held in February. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Here's what's happening now in the news.

A suicide car bombing in a town south of Baghdad today killed 17 people and wounded 26. It happened at a police checkpoint near a hospital. Police say six Iraqi security guards are among those killed.

Howard Dean has been elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. All six of his opponents dropped out of the race before today's vote. The former Vermont governor and presidential candidate vows to rebuild the Democratic Party from the grassroots up.

And in New York, a farewell to actor Ossie Davis. Mourners, including his wife of 56 years, actress Ruby Dee. Former President Bill Clinton and film director, Spike Lee, were also in attendance. Ossie Davis died last week at the age of 87.

The FBI is noticing a disturbing trend. Street gangs are more heavily armed and more violent than they used to be. CNN's justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports now on a community outside Washington where authorities are taking their anti-gang message right to the gang members themselves.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's early evening in Northern Virginia and these members of the Gang Task Force are getting ready to head out into the streets. Their targets are young, at times as young as seven or eight, and dangerous. Earlier in the week, an alleged gang member wilding a machete cut three fingers off his victim's left hand. This night could bring similar violence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They'll throw some signs or flash some hand signs to see whether they're friend or foe. And if they're foe, that's where you get your assaults.

ARENA: Both men who work undercover and wanted their faces hidden give extra scrutiny to young Latinos. That's because they are primarily on the hunt for members of the Latin street gang known as MS 13. The ATF, which has been fighting gangs for decades, says the increased use of violence MS 13 and others is alarming.

MIKE BOUCHARD, ATF: They're arming themselves much better than before. In fact, in many cases, they're arming themselves better than the police.

ARENA: The Justice Department estimates there are more than 21,000 gangs nationwide.

(on camera): And the FBI says juvenile gang murders have shot up 25 percent since 2000. CNN has learned as a result, the FBI is preparing a new gang offensive.

(voice-over): Among the changes, to reclassify gangs as criminal organizations just like traditional, organized crime families.

SGT. RON HAUGHSDAHL, VA GANG TASK FORCE: They are organized. They do keep notes and that means they do collect dues. They do have bank accounts where they're paying canteen funds for members that are locked up.

ARENA: Part of the gang offensive includes outreach. Many task force members work with organizations like The Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America. This Aberdeen, Maryland chapter sponsored a roundtable discussion after an alleged gang-related murder in the area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, gangs present themselves before you; tell them, I don't want to be a loser. I want to be a winner, because a loser took my best friend's life.

ARENA: Some of the young people in this room have been asked to join gangs.

DAYRON WINCHESTER, 17 YEARS OLD: They still cuss at me, I mean, a little bit, flip me off, cuss, try to hurt my feelings, you know what I mean, because I didn't join them.

ARENA: These kids are well aware of the problem. Often, their parents are not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of these parents have no idea or they say they have no idea that their child is involved in this stuff. And that's what shocks me.

ARENA: Both gang task force members are parents too, fathers of young children, making their battle a very personal one.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: First lady Laura Bush is heading up the president's new Anti-Gang Initiative, a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that's helping at risk kids, mainly young men, avoid the world of gangs, and she's expected to promote intervention programs across the U.S Linda Chinnia has been working on an experimental plan to help at risk kids in Maryland for a number of years now. She is the chief academic officer of the Baltimore Public Schools.

We appreciate you taking the time to join us tonight.

LINDA CHINNIA, BALTIMORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Thank you.

HILL: As we mentioned, your involvement with the Baltimore schools, you're actually working on experimental plans to help at risk kids. Talk to us about the plan that has been put in place in Baltimore.

CHINNIA: Well, over the past 20 years, we really have been looking at the impact on aggressive students and at risk students as early as first grade. And so, we developed a program and actually -- did some studies on that program called the Good Behavior Game. It's a game of strategy for classroom management that divides the class into three teams. The teacher actually is teaching the children pro- social skills and the teams work to help each other to become more positive and to learn how to be good students and succeed.

HILL: They also learn how to be good students. They also learn to be more polite. The game starts out initially where the students are timed and then it just sort of becomes the way things are in the classroom and then it's not a game anymore. It also -- the initiatives there are also trying to draw in the parents. We heard one of the officers in Kelli Arena's story mention that he was concerned that maybe parents don't know enough about what their kids are doing.

CHINNIA: Well, that's correct. And the Good Behavior Game, for us, is now a part of a program which is called The Whole Day of First Grade, which has three very important components -- one is the classroom management, one is obviously the academic component, but the very -- third one, which is very much important, is the parent involvement. And parents actually come into the classroom, watch the game, work with the teachers and facilitators so that they can carry this over into their homes and help their children that way.

HILL: Go through, if you could, for some of us, what are some of the changes that you've seen as a result of these programs?

CHINNIA: Well, in Baltimore, since we've been doing this for about 20 years, since 1984 when we really looked at the students who were in the classes back as early as 1984 with the Good Behavior Game, more than 86 percent of those students finished high school versus about 19 percent of their peers who were at risk students in classes that did not have the Good Behavior Game. Where 66 percent of those students used illicit drugs, more than 99 percent of the other students did. So we've seen very positive results.

HILL: And specifically, you mentioned drugs and gangs, two of the biggest concerns.

We mentioned the first lady's gang initiative. The president, in his State of the Union address, ear-marked $150 million over three years for certain programs. What needs to be done add a national level? Is that enough? Based on your experience with your program, would it work on a national level?

CHINNIA: I think that's a good start in terms of a national level. I think what the proposal brings forth is the need for groups to come together. I think that the -- what has happened in Baltimore has been the result of a partnership with prevention research and the Education Department. And based on the mission and goals that we all have, and that is for young people to succeed and to be healthy and to be productive citizens. So I see that as a good start. I think that we probably do need much more, but it involves the entire community.

HILL: You mention, of course, that it involves the entire community. I know you've sharing though some of your success. Real quickly, what others states, what other cities have contacted you based on your success with this program?

CHINNIA: We have heard -- at this point, we have been hearing from Philadelphia, who is interesting in looking at the Good Behavior Game and several other of the districts within Maryland itself. We have presented the game and our program nationally, and look forward to partnering and sharing our successes and our lessons learned with anyone who would be interested.

HILL: Linda Chinnia, best of luck to you and continued success as you move forward with the Good Behavior Game. Thanks for being with us.

CHINNIA: Thank you very much.

HILL: It claims to be a whole new way to diet. So what's different here, you ask? Well, we'll get the answer when we ask the authors of "Fill Up To Slim Down." It sounds good, yes?

Also ahead, a massive masterpiece unfurled in Central Park. What is this new art exhibit that's taking over city all about?

And John Mayor is just one of the stars warming up for tomorrow night's Grammys. A preview of music's big night. That's ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: An eye sore or art? A huge one of a kind exhibit called The Gates went on display in New York's Central Park today, drawing oohs and a few uh-ohs from thousands of eager visitors. Among them, our very own Alina Cho.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Central Park these days is a sea of saffron.

JEANNE-CLAUDE, ARTIST: We chose the color of saffron because we like it esthetically. It's not related to the color of my hair.

CHO: Christo and Jeanne-Claude are the husband and wife team behind The Gates. From high above, the city's biggest ever public art project is on full display. Seventy-five hundred gates each with a floating ribbon lining 23 miles of walkways.

(on camera): You say that if you're young, you should walk all 23 miles and if you're old, maybe...

CHRISTO, ARTIST: Two hundred feet.

(LAUGHTER)

CHO (voice-over): Free to the public, The Gates will only be up for 16 days.

JEANNE-CLAUDE: When you are in the presence of The Gates, you are already feeling the absence.

CHO: Which is why hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world are flocking to New York. Hotels, normally quite in February, say bookings are up 30 percent. Places like the Mandarin Oriental are offering specials.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As part of The Gates package, we're going to be including these binoculars.

CHO: Over at the Plaza Athenee, a special Gates menu.

(on camera): So this is the lamb. This is on the menu.

BERNARD LACKNER, HOTEL PLAZA ATHENEE: That's right.

CHO: Saffron infused.

LACKNER: This is his creation of -- our chef -- of lamb, rack of lambs, saffron infused.

CHO (voice-over): Germans, Horst (ph) and Crystal Marshall say they didn't need an incentive. They were there 10 years ago when Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped Germany's parliament building in a shimmery silver gown.

CRYSTAL MARSHALL, GERMAN TOURIST: All the people -- there were many, many people, and everybody was laughing and smiling. It was such a good feeling. And I look at the people here, and I think they smile, too.

CHO: And this assessment from 9-year-old New Yorker Jonathan Rawls (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I like the way the wind goes on it and makes it flow.

CHO: So do Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who will spend up to $21 million to pay for the project. It won't cost the city a dime and yet, New Yorkers and the world will enjoy it until The Gates come down, until Central Park turns from saffron to green.

Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: It has health officials concerned. A strain of HIV that regressed to full blown AIDS within months of diagnosis. That is just ahead.

Also, you've tried to lose weight, but you can't quite do it. We'll talk to the authors of a diet book. They promise a healthier lifestyle without sacrificing what you eat.

And be sure to log on to CNN.com to check out the most popular story this hour. Read about a reservist with 11 children who's headed to Iraq.

Also, how ex-Hewlett Packard CEO, Carly Fiorina could pocket $42 million.

And a new legislation in one state would ban professional athletes from charging fans for their autographs. You can get all the details at CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: The AIDS virus appears to be mutating, even becoming more dangerous. Health officials are raising alarms over a strain of HIV that is highly resistant to drugs. It can progress to full blown AIDS in just months rather than years. A case in New York City suggests this form of the AIDS virus may be spreading among gay and bisexual men who use a crystallized form of methamphetamines known as crystal meth.

Well, many more Americans face the threat of early death from the effects of common obesity. A new diet book offers the tantalizing prospect of eating until you're full and still losing weight. Joining us from Phoenix are the authors of "Fill Up To Slim Down," Dr. Edward Diethrich, founder of the Arizona Heart Institute and nutritionist, fitness expert Jyl Steinbeck.

Welcome to the both of you. Thanks for being with us.

DR. EDWARD DIETHRICH, AUTHOR, "FILL UP TO SLIM DOWN": Thank you. Nice to meet you.

HILL: All right, this sounds a little too good to be true. I eat until I'm full and then I lose weight. Dr. Diethrich, how does this work?

DIETHRICH: Well, it's a little different approach and it's something we've been talking about for the last, almost 30 years at the Arizona Heart Institute. We think one of the problems is that people were going to diet on a fad diet, but it really isn't something that takes care of their total recreational dieting, presentive medicine, and so forth. And so what we try to do in this book is to present -- Jyl's done a great job -- presenting a series of very good recipes that allow you to feel satisfied and filled up and happy with what you're eating. At the same time, being very nutritious and without some of the things we're seeing right now, the saturated fats, and then combine that with some exercise programs and some stress management.

HILL: So this sounds a lot like what our doctors tell us, you know, eat better, exercise more. Jyl, what are some of the things that we're eating? What makes this program different?

JYL STEINBECK, AUTHOR, "FILL UP TO SLIM DOWN": Well, it's kind of fun. The top subtidy (ph) food -- I'm going to make a new buzz word -- which means foods that fill you up and satisfy you, is potatoes. How great is that? Bring them back. Come on.

HILL: But they're full of carbs, Jyl. Nobody eats carbs anymore.

STEINBECK: They are healthy carbs and they're good for the body and it's what you need with it. It's everything in moderation. But cod is the second subtidy (ph) food. Then you have your fruits and vegetables, actually your apples and your oranges, and then you have your whole wheat pasta. It's got popcorn, all kinds of foods that you love. And when you do balance and you have it all around your plate and all the colors, those potatoes are perfect. And they are delicious.

HILL: You mentioned balance. Is that really one of the key components then to your plan, is keeping everything in balance?

STEINBECK: Absolutely, moderation, balance -- go ahead.

DIETHRICH: Well, we're really seeing -- I was telling Jyl (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the screen that we -- when I went through the cafeteria this morning early -- I did an early operation -- and the food service there has actually been on our diet, Jyl, and she says she's now going to start using some of these for the pancakes in the morning at the heart hospital. I think that's a great thing.

STEINBECK: It is great.

HILL: You bring up an interesting point there, Doctor, because one of the things that I think is really tough for people is we are so stressed and everybody is moving so fast that a lot of times it's tough to have the time to make your food to bring to work. What do you do when you're stuck with the cafeteria at work and the choices don't look that great or they're full of fat or you're traveling and you're at the airport, how do you deal with that?

DIETHRICH: Well, that's a great question because we were talking about that earlier. If you look at the way the book is put together and you begin to look at the food substances and be able to plan on a daily basis, when you travel, go through cafeteria lines and so forth, Jyl, it becomes natural, doesn't it?

STEINBECK: It absolutely becomes natural and you need to come prepared. I always go with a cooler, a little lunch box, something easy. You know the number one time that we eat anything possible is right after work. So if I brought a cooler in my car with some of the subtidy (ph) foods, the foods that fill you up, when I get home, I'm not opening that refrigerator door and saying, "OK, I'm going to eat the whole thing."

HILL: I'll take that leftover piece of pizza. We only have about 10 seconds, but I think we all need to know, Valentine's Day is Monday. Can we eat chocolate on this plan?

STEINBECK: Absolutely.

HILL: OK.

STEINBECK: Chocolate is a super food and it is a good food in moderation.

HILL: All right. Well, that's good to hear. Jyl Steinbeck, Dr. Edward Diethrich, thanks so much for being with us. The authors of "Fill Up, Slim Down." Best of luck.

STEINBECK: Thanks. HILL: It may be the most anticipated moment of this year's Grammy awards. Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez -- you may know her as Jo-Lo -- together on stage. CNN's Toure has a preview of the big show, but first, here's Al Hunt to tell us what's ahead on "THE CAPITAL GANG" -- Al.

AL HUNT, CO-HOST, "THE CAPITAL GANG": Democrat Ken Conrad is our guest as the president submits a whopper of a budget. And the RNC is just wild about Harry, Harry Reid, that is. But Senate Democrats are not so wild about the RNC. All that and more next on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Had a look for you there at the Empire State Building in New York, lit up on red, white, and blue on this Saturday evening. Saffron in Central Park, red, white, and blue, a little more in the midtown area, the Empire State Building in New York.

In the meantime, all the way on the other coast, the Staples Center in Los Angeles may be the scene of big drama tomorrow night as the music industry pumps up the volume for the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Our pop culture correspondent, Toure, previews the nominees.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOURE, CNN POP CULTURE CORRESPONDENT: It's Toure in L.A. at the Grammys. We're at the Staples Center where the Lakers lose. The big show is tomorrow night. Who's going to win and more importantly, who's going to perform, here's a breakdown.

(voice-over): It's apropos that the Grammys are in February, Black History month, because this year, it's all about black music. The four most nominated artists are all deeply rooted in soul music. Usher, for his slickly produced suite of hits, "Confessions," Alicia Keys for her 70's throw back soul album, "The Diary of Alicia Keys," Conyae West (ph) for his intellectual approach to hip hop on "College Dropout," and the late, legendary Ray Charles for his collection of duets, "Genius Loves Company."

Now, the night could belong to Green Day, the punk trio that some say saved rock and roll with their album "American Idiot," which grabbed five nominations. Also, with five, Prince for his comeback album, "Musicology," and country icon, Loretta Lynn for her collaboration with edgy Jack White of The White Stripes on "Vanlere (ph) Rose."

But at the Grammys it's often less about the awards and more about the awards show. This year's lineup makes for an incredible concert which you can watch from the comfort of your own home for free. Check out this value pack: Green Day, Conyae, U2, Alicia Keys duetting with Jamie Foxx. That's right, Jamie "Oscar Darling" Foxx. And at no extra cost and what'll surely be the most yapped about moment of the night, the first ever live performance by that happy husband and wife team, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. Gossip queens start your engines. (on camera): I can't wait to see what the Anthonys are going to do. For once, a suspenseful awards show. In L.A., it's your man Toure.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: We'll be looking forward to it. That's all we have for this hour for time anyway. But coming up at 7:00 Eastern is "THE CAPITAL GANG." You'll want to stay with us for that. At 8:00 Eastern on "CNN PRESENTS: FAT CHANCE." America is facing a fat epidemic. We examine how people shed pounds and keep them off. Then at 9, "LARRY KING," you'll meet the beauty queen who suffered a stroke at 26, plus, encouraging stories from other survivors. And I'll be right back here at 10 Eastern for "CNN SATURDAY NIGHT." We hope you'll join us.

But right now, here's what's happening now in the news.

"CAPITAL GANG" in just a moment, but first a look at what's happening now in the news. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean is the new chief of the Democratic Party. He was elected to head the Democratic National Committee today and he's already laying out his game plan. Dean says he'll focus on organizing efforts at the local level to rebuild the strength of the party.

Unpleasant predictions from the Bush Administration. In his weekly radio address, President Bush emphasized the need to overhaul social security. The president maintains that the program is heading toward bankruptcy and he said Americans could see tax hikes or benefit cuts if it's not revamped.

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