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CNN Live At Daybreak
Hamas Spiritual Leader Killed; Hunt for Al Qaeda in Pakistan
Aired March 22, 2004 - 06:30 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Welcome back to DAYBREAK. I'm Carol Costello. It's Monday, March 22. Let me bring you up-to-date now.
In Washington, the Supreme Court hears a case involving an arrest and conviction for not producing an I.D. when demanded by police. The violation of privacy case challenges a Nevada law.
In New York, arraignment is set today for two Unitarian ministers. They're charged with marrying 13 gay couples without a license.
Some overseas students of the University of Massachusetts are refusing to pay a new student fee designed in part to track international students.
Australia is conducting counterterrorism drills for the next five days. This car being blown to smithereens is a mock attack on a prime minister's car. The exercises are designed to test the ability of government agencies to respond to terror incidents.
We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next update comes your way at 6:45 Eastern.
Militant groups are promising revenge against Israel for today's killing of Hamas founder and spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
Here's CNN's Chris Burns with the latest for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Israeli authorities have clamped down here at the Erez border crossing between Gaza and Israel, allowing just a handful of journalists in at this moment -- normally a place where thousands of Palestinians cross in and out to work inside Israel.
The Israeli government is now very much on edge, expecting some kind of retaliation for the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Tens of thousands, meanwhile, are protesting in the streets. Over my shoulder inside Gaza City, smoke is rising in the sky and people lighting bonfires.
Calls for revenge among Hamas, there is a call to shake Israel like an earthquake, calling this all-out war. The Al Aqua Martyrs Brigade, an offshoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, is saying that it is war against what they call the sons of Zion. So, very much high emotions among the Palestinians, who are outraged by how a 67-year-old quadriplegic spiritual leader of Hamas could be killed in his wheelchair as he left a mosque. The Israeli government, however, is saying that this was very much a long time in coming, that Mr. Yassin was marked for death for quite a long time, and he had to die now because of so many suicide attacks that he was supporting.
Chris Burns, CNN, at Erez Crossing, Israel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: U.S.-trained Afghan troops are keeping order in the city of Herat. Violence erupted there after gunmen assassinated the minister there. His father was a very powerful governor of Herat. The minister's death was reportedly part of a power struggle between the governor and the city's military commander.
There's been a lull in fighting along the Afghan-Pakistani border. The Pakistani military is giving negotiations a chance.
In the meantime, as CNN's Nic Robertson reports, there is still confusion over whether al Qaeda's No. 2 man is even in the area.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Pakistani military officials are giving local tribesmen another opportunity, a second round of talks with Pakistani tribal elements who are aiding and abetting al Qaeda in Waziristan at this time. It is not clear what the parameters of the negotiations are.
We do understand from Pakistani intelligence sources the al Qaeda elements have captured a number, about 20 or so fighters associated with the Pakistani army. They are being held captive at this time.
The Pakistani military officials say that this is a window of opportunity for al Qaeda and the tribesmen supporting them to surrender at this time. The fighting has been very ferocious in the early days of the battle in Waziristan. It's not clear if these tribal elements and al Qaeda with them are likely to surrender anytime soon.
We have also learned from Pakistani military officials that a number of bodies have been removed from the area. Pakistani intelligence sources have promised that U.S. officials will be performing DNA analysis on those bodies. It is not clear, however, and it's certainly not being indicated to us here, that any of those bodies could be Ayman al-Zawahiri, or any other leading al Qaeda figures.
At this time, Pakistani officials indicate the high-value target that could be in that area could be an Uzbek Islamic militia commander. It could also be a local criminal associated with a tribe in that area -- that according to Pakistani military officials.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: In Mexico, it's the annual right of spring. That means Infernal Equinox. Decked out in eagle feathers and lucky amulets, hundreds of thousands converged on Teotihuacán. I probably pronounced that wrong. But it's -- let's see what that is. You can't -- actually, they're climbing the 248 steps to the top of the ancient pyramid. That's what that is. It's the pyramid -- there they are -- the pyramid of the sun. That's a good way to get closer to the sun, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is. And because on that Equinox day, the sun rises directly in the east, sets directly in the west, there are shadows there that obviously the ancients built that thing. They know where and why and when that Equinox was happening, because of how the shadows are falling on the ground.
COSTELLO: Fascinating.
MYERS: Obviously getting a little eroded now. You know, I mean, with people climbing up it, but obviously just time and weathering taking place. But it still works.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Hey, it's time for our "Picture of the Day."
MYERS: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: We didn't get to it earlier, because we ran a little long on that segment. But let's take a look at it again.
MYERS: It's a little scary. Are those fingers? I don't know.
COSTELLO: I don't know. Let's see.
MYERS: Is that a baby?
COSTELLO: Let's see. It is a little boy checking out the baby bearded dragon lizards at a reptile expo in Kansas City, Missouri, over the weekend. Is that not odd?
MYERS: Yes. Great photo, though.
COSTELLO: Great picture.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Somebody should win an award for that one.
MYERS: There you go.
COSTELLO: All right.
MYERS: It stumped me. COSTELLO: Yes, it stumped me, too.
We all remember those first few times we heard from Scott Peterson. It was just after his wife disappeared. Now, the judge decides if those TV interviews will be used in his murder trial.
Plus, prescriptions for pot filled in Canada? Find out why our northern neighbor is lighting up the idea.
Plus, making history with one of the most famous practical jokes in the book.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In California, another change of location. That's what Scott Peterson's attorneys want. It seems they're having trouble seating a jury everyone can be satisfied with in San Mateo, California. But where? When?
It's time for some "Coffey Talk." Our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, joins us live from Miami.
Kendall, this is crazy. Why can't they seat a jury there that everybody can be happy with?
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, the reality is that you can't find anyplace in California where there aren't very strong feelings about the case. Even nationally, Carol, some of the polls have shown that as many as 58 percent of the people think that Scott Peterson was definitely involved or probably involved. Maybe 5 percent think he's innocent.
So, wherever they go, there are going to be problems in finding a jury that hasn't heard about this case and doesn't have some feelings about it.
COSTELLO: And, Kendall, there's a very interesting article in "The Modesto Bee," the local paper there, where Scott Peterson is from. He says they're having trouble finding any jurors who want to sit on a jury for that long. In fact, prospective jurors are going to great lengths to get out of service.
COFFEY: Well, you start out with any case that's this long, say five months, you're going to lose a lot of jurors from the get-go. So, for example, on the initial data so far, 60 percent of the jurors that they're looking at in San Mateo right from the beginning -- whether it's hardship, whether it's just can't sit that long, or whether it's very strong feelings about the case -- are eliminated. And the questions haven't even begun from the council in terms of examining how the jurors really feel about Scott Peterson.
COSTELLO: We have some statistics from this article of 1,000 San Mateo County residents who filled out those jury questionnaires, 317 were excused for hardship, such as having jobs that wouldn't pay during a six-month absence. And also, some prospective jurors came up with fairly creative non-verbal ways to display disdain. Consider the many who unrolled a yoga mat and laid down amid astonished potential jurors in a narrow courtroom aisle.
COFFEY: Well, there are going to be all kinds of reactions to this case.
One of the things that Scott Peterson's attorneys have asked for in this case, of course, is to move the case to Los Angeles. They say based on the 1970s decisions involving cult killer Charles Mansion that when you get into a community that big, you're sure to be able to find enough jurors. And by the way, since Scott Peterson's team really wants to put the police on trial, claiming this was a bungled investigation that locked in on Scott Peterson, wouldn't they like to try the case of Scott Peterson in Los Angeles?
COSTELLO: Interesting. In light of the O.J. Simpson case, you mean.
COFFEY: Of course.
COSTELLO: Why not just move the trial out of California?
COFFEY: Well, you can't do it. It's a California case, and they're going to have to find a jury somewhere.
And I think one of the things that the judge is going to be able to look at today when this comes up is: Can you simply make it more fair by giving both sides more strikes? You know, they get preemptory challenges, which means they can excuse any juror for cause, because if you've got hundreds of thousands of people in that community, sooner or later you're going to be able to find 12 that aren't biased, that will have an open mind, and will consider the facts and the evidence as to whether Scott Peterson really murdered his wife and his unborn son.
COSTELLO: Some legal "Coffey Talk" with Kendall Coffey this morning. We appreciate it.
COFFEY: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:44 Eastern Time. Here are the latest headlines.
Just about an hour ago, thousands of supporters jammed the streets for the funeral of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Yassin was killed just a few hours before that in an Israeli attack.
Army Chaplain James Yee faces a disciplinary hearing today on charges of adultery and pornography, but he's expected to be allowed to return to his post in Washington State. The army dropped espionage charges against the Muslim chaplain last week.
Health officials in Canada are planning to stock pharmacies with medical marijuana for patients without prescriptions. Holland is the only other country with a similar program.
In money, Wal-Mart tops the Fortune 500 for the third straight year; $259 billion in revenues makes it the top publicly-traded company.
In sports, a shocker. Kentucky joins Stanford as No. 1 seeds on the sidelines. A (UNINTELLIGIBLE) lost to Alabama, Birmingham 76-75 in Sunday's NCAA tournament action.
In culture, Janet Jackson was the special guest for the annual Soul Train Awards over the weekend. She was honored with a lifetime achievement award. No wardrobe malfunctions reported.
And in weather, smooth sailing across much of the country with good weather expected from coast to coast, albeit a little chilly.
Those are the latest headlines.
Let's head to New York and "AMERICAN MORNING" to check in with Bill and Soledad.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Here we go.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning.
COSTELLO: What are you guys doing in there?
O'BRIEN: What are we doing?
HEMMER: The sun has just entered the studio, Carol. I don't know if you can see it. But it is a very bright light.
O'BRIEN: They just turned this big light on. Oh, hey! Good morning.
HEMMER: And it's only 6:45.
O'BRIEN: Wow!
HEMMER: Hey, Carol, listen, a packed show today. Condoleezza Rice, our guest in the 7:00 hour, talking about these charges last night that first aired on "60 Minutes," the book by Richard Clarke. We'll get to that this morning.
O'BRIEN: And we're going to talk about the fallout from the assassination of the Hamas leader. You've been showing pictures of that funeral and the crowds there. We're going to continue to cover that.
HEMMER: Also from Mars, and the solar system is a pretty big out space there, a lot of real estate and a lot of...
O'BRIEN: Thanks, Dr. Hemmer.
HEMMER: You got it.
O'BRIEN: Ph.D.
HEMMER: That's why they hired me, Carol. Jack Horkheimer is back with us today, too. Also, Jack Cafferty, too, e-mail question about this whole situation with Richard Clarke against George Bush and Condoleezza Rice. We'll get all of that and more on a Monday. I'll be good, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: A very big space, Carol. Very, very big space.
HEMMER: Real estate. Location, location, Carol.
COSTELLO: I understand.
HEMMER: See you at 7:00.
COSTELLO: Thanks. We'll see you in a bit.
HEMMER: Bye-bye.
COSTELLO: More on DAYBREAK right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Headlines across America this Monday morning.
A deadly crash involving a medical helicopter happened about 40 miles southeast of Odessa, Texas. Four people, including a 3-month- old patient, were killed in the crash. The baby's mother had brought the baby across the border from Mexico for medical treatment. In addition to the child, the mother, a paramedic and the pilot were killed.
In Washington State, a lesbian Methodist pastor says she hopes to return as a minister in her church. She was acquitted over the weekend of violating a church ban on ordaining self-avowed practicing homosexuals.
All of you demolition lovers, take a look at this. Philadelphia's veteran stadium is a massive pile of rubble this morning. The former home to the Phillies and Eagles was imploded to make way for a parking lot. It took about 3,000 pounds of explosives and only 60 seconds to bring down all of that concrete and steel. A new stadium is going to be built soon.
Time for a little business buzz now. Soon, you may not need a Blackberry and a cell phone.
Carrie Lee tells us why. She's live at the Nasdaq Marketsite.
Ooh, a new gadget.
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Always the goal to make these things smaller and easier to use, right?
Well, "USA Today" is reporting that Internet service provider Earthlink will begin selling cell phone service on Blackberry e-mail devices in May. We're expecting the official announcement from Earthlink later today. The move shows how similar Internet and phone companies have really become. The voice service is going to cost about $40 to $75 a month, pretty much in par with what cell phone companies charge. Earthlink says deals with other phone makers are in the works as well.
Earthlink already offers wireless data services for e-mail devices. They say customers simply asked for an upgrade for a Blackberry device that can also receive calls.
So, Internet companies getting into phone services. Some phone companies getting into Internet services. More choices for consumers are always a good thing. More competition means good pricing levels. It could make it a little bit more confusing, though, Carol, when you get all of these solicitations and see all of these ads.
So, bottom line, competition is usually good for the end user, which is us.
So, that's the latest from "USA Today."
COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie Lee, live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
Time for the DAYBREAK "Coffee Quiz."
Hello -- Chad.
MYERS: Hello, Carol.
COSTELLO: You're going to help me do this, right?
MYERS: I'm going to try.
COSTELLO: Of course you were paying close attention to me this morning, right?
MYERS: Most of the time.
COSTELLO: Oh, sure. Well, here are the questions to win the beautiful DAYBREAK mug. No. 1: Veterans who cannot make a trip to Normandy to observe D-Day this year can go to this city instead. What is the city?
MYERS: Got it.
COSTELLO: And, a government-certified medical marijuana program could come to this country. Which one?
MYERS: Hmmm.
COSTELLO: So, e-mail your answers to DAYBREAK.
MYERS: So, I was paying attention 50 percent of the time.
COSTELLO: Uh-oh! E-mail your answers to Daybreak@CNN.com. Daybreak@CNN.com. Our mailboxes are open.
MYERS: All right.
COSTELLO: All right. Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you for "The Lightning Round."
MYERS: Captain Kirk is 73.
COSTELLO: Isn't that amazing?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: I just remember as a girl watching "Star Trek" I thought he was really hot.
MYERS: Well, he was young then, but go ahead.
COSTELLO: Chad! All right, let's get on with "The Lightning Round," shall we?
Ever wonder what people with too much time -- too much free time, I should say, do to occupy themselves? Well...
MYERS: They sit down.
COSTELLO: Yes, you're right, Chad. They do indeed sit down. In Illinois, thousands showed up to place their posteriors on the line in an effort to break the record, oh, for breaking -- put in your own verb here -- with a whoopee cushion.
MYERS: It reminds me of the song, "Too Much Time on my Hands."
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Let the games begin, Chad. Beautiful, isn't it? In case you don't recognize the tune, this is "Flight of the Bumblebee." It was the winning tune in the 42nd Conk (ph) shell blowing contest in Key West, Florida.
MYERS: Nice.
COSTELLO: OK, watch this. Yes, we have pig races this morning for you from Moscow. It looks like a ham sandwich against a BLT.
MYERS: It does not.
COSTELLO: It does. And the winner by a snout would be the ham sandwich.
MYERS: All right.
COSTELLO: After the race, Chad, it was time for a big bacon breakfast.
MYERS: No, they didn't eat of -- they had chicken biscuits.
COSTELLO: I'm sure they had chicken biscuits instead.
OK, enough of humans and hams. Now to the robot Olympics. These little mechanical marvels...
MYERS: Whoa!
COSTELLO: ... battled in a wide array of events from Sumo wrestling to boxing to doing pushups. Look there. Is that exciting or what?
MYERS: Remember rock-'em, sock-'em robots? Boy, have we come a long way from rock-'em, sock-'em robots.
COSTELLO: Yes, boy, they look a lot different from those things.
MYERS: Awesome! That's very cool.
COSTELLO: That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
MYERS: See you tomorrow.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Pakistan>
Aired March 22, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Welcome back to DAYBREAK. I'm Carol Costello. It's Monday, March 22. Let me bring you up-to-date now.
In Washington, the Supreme Court hears a case involving an arrest and conviction for not producing an I.D. when demanded by police. The violation of privacy case challenges a Nevada law.
In New York, arraignment is set today for two Unitarian ministers. They're charged with marrying 13 gay couples without a license.
Some overseas students of the University of Massachusetts are refusing to pay a new student fee designed in part to track international students.
Australia is conducting counterterrorism drills for the next five days. This car being blown to smithereens is a mock attack on a prime minister's car. The exercises are designed to test the ability of government agencies to respond to terror incidents.
We update our top stories every 15 minutes. The next update comes your way at 6:45 Eastern.
Militant groups are promising revenge against Israel for today's killing of Hamas founder and spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
Here's CNN's Chris Burns with the latest for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Israeli authorities have clamped down here at the Erez border crossing between Gaza and Israel, allowing just a handful of journalists in at this moment -- normally a place where thousands of Palestinians cross in and out to work inside Israel.
The Israeli government is now very much on edge, expecting some kind of retaliation for the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Tens of thousands, meanwhile, are protesting in the streets. Over my shoulder inside Gaza City, smoke is rising in the sky and people lighting bonfires.
Calls for revenge among Hamas, there is a call to shake Israel like an earthquake, calling this all-out war. The Al Aqua Martyrs Brigade, an offshoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, is saying that it is war against what they call the sons of Zion. So, very much high emotions among the Palestinians, who are outraged by how a 67-year-old quadriplegic spiritual leader of Hamas could be killed in his wheelchair as he left a mosque. The Israeli government, however, is saying that this was very much a long time in coming, that Mr. Yassin was marked for death for quite a long time, and he had to die now because of so many suicide attacks that he was supporting.
Chris Burns, CNN, at Erez Crossing, Israel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: U.S.-trained Afghan troops are keeping order in the city of Herat. Violence erupted there after gunmen assassinated the minister there. His father was a very powerful governor of Herat. The minister's death was reportedly part of a power struggle between the governor and the city's military commander.
There's been a lull in fighting along the Afghan-Pakistani border. The Pakistani military is giving negotiations a chance.
In the meantime, as CNN's Nic Robertson reports, there is still confusion over whether al Qaeda's No. 2 man is even in the area.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Pakistani military officials are giving local tribesmen another opportunity, a second round of talks with Pakistani tribal elements who are aiding and abetting al Qaeda in Waziristan at this time. It is not clear what the parameters of the negotiations are.
We do understand from Pakistani intelligence sources the al Qaeda elements have captured a number, about 20 or so fighters associated with the Pakistani army. They are being held captive at this time.
The Pakistani military officials say that this is a window of opportunity for al Qaeda and the tribesmen supporting them to surrender at this time. The fighting has been very ferocious in the early days of the battle in Waziristan. It's not clear if these tribal elements and al Qaeda with them are likely to surrender anytime soon.
We have also learned from Pakistani military officials that a number of bodies have been removed from the area. Pakistani intelligence sources have promised that U.S. officials will be performing DNA analysis on those bodies. It is not clear, however, and it's certainly not being indicated to us here, that any of those bodies could be Ayman al-Zawahiri, or any other leading al Qaeda figures.
At this time, Pakistani officials indicate the high-value target that could be in that area could be an Uzbek Islamic militia commander. It could also be a local criminal associated with a tribe in that area -- that according to Pakistani military officials.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: In Mexico, it's the annual right of spring. That means Infernal Equinox. Decked out in eagle feathers and lucky amulets, hundreds of thousands converged on Teotihuacán. I probably pronounced that wrong. But it's -- let's see what that is. You can't -- actually, they're climbing the 248 steps to the top of the ancient pyramid. That's what that is. It's the pyramid -- there they are -- the pyramid of the sun. That's a good way to get closer to the sun, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is. And because on that Equinox day, the sun rises directly in the east, sets directly in the west, there are shadows there that obviously the ancients built that thing. They know where and why and when that Equinox was happening, because of how the shadows are falling on the ground.
COSTELLO: Fascinating.
MYERS: Obviously getting a little eroded now. You know, I mean, with people climbing up it, but obviously just time and weathering taking place. But it still works.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Hey, it's time for our "Picture of the Day."
MYERS: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: We didn't get to it earlier, because we ran a little long on that segment. But let's take a look at it again.
MYERS: It's a little scary. Are those fingers? I don't know.
COSTELLO: I don't know. Let's see.
MYERS: Is that a baby?
COSTELLO: Let's see. It is a little boy checking out the baby bearded dragon lizards at a reptile expo in Kansas City, Missouri, over the weekend. Is that not odd?
MYERS: Yes. Great photo, though.
COSTELLO: Great picture.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Somebody should win an award for that one.
MYERS: There you go.
COSTELLO: All right.
MYERS: It stumped me. COSTELLO: Yes, it stumped me, too.
We all remember those first few times we heard from Scott Peterson. It was just after his wife disappeared. Now, the judge decides if those TV interviews will be used in his murder trial.
Plus, prescriptions for pot filled in Canada? Find out why our northern neighbor is lighting up the idea.
Plus, making history with one of the most famous practical jokes in the book.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In California, another change of location. That's what Scott Peterson's attorneys want. It seems they're having trouble seating a jury everyone can be satisfied with in San Mateo, California. But where? When?
It's time for some "Coffey Talk." Our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, joins us live from Miami.
Kendall, this is crazy. Why can't they seat a jury there that everybody can be happy with?
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, the reality is that you can't find anyplace in California where there aren't very strong feelings about the case. Even nationally, Carol, some of the polls have shown that as many as 58 percent of the people think that Scott Peterson was definitely involved or probably involved. Maybe 5 percent think he's innocent.
So, wherever they go, there are going to be problems in finding a jury that hasn't heard about this case and doesn't have some feelings about it.
COSTELLO: And, Kendall, there's a very interesting article in "The Modesto Bee," the local paper there, where Scott Peterson is from. He says they're having trouble finding any jurors who want to sit on a jury for that long. In fact, prospective jurors are going to great lengths to get out of service.
COFFEY: Well, you start out with any case that's this long, say five months, you're going to lose a lot of jurors from the get-go. So, for example, on the initial data so far, 60 percent of the jurors that they're looking at in San Mateo right from the beginning -- whether it's hardship, whether it's just can't sit that long, or whether it's very strong feelings about the case -- are eliminated. And the questions haven't even begun from the council in terms of examining how the jurors really feel about Scott Peterson.
COSTELLO: We have some statistics from this article of 1,000 San Mateo County residents who filled out those jury questionnaires, 317 were excused for hardship, such as having jobs that wouldn't pay during a six-month absence. And also, some prospective jurors came up with fairly creative non-verbal ways to display disdain. Consider the many who unrolled a yoga mat and laid down amid astonished potential jurors in a narrow courtroom aisle.
COFFEY: Well, there are going to be all kinds of reactions to this case.
One of the things that Scott Peterson's attorneys have asked for in this case, of course, is to move the case to Los Angeles. They say based on the 1970s decisions involving cult killer Charles Mansion that when you get into a community that big, you're sure to be able to find enough jurors. And by the way, since Scott Peterson's team really wants to put the police on trial, claiming this was a bungled investigation that locked in on Scott Peterson, wouldn't they like to try the case of Scott Peterson in Los Angeles?
COSTELLO: Interesting. In light of the O.J. Simpson case, you mean.
COFFEY: Of course.
COSTELLO: Why not just move the trial out of California?
COFFEY: Well, you can't do it. It's a California case, and they're going to have to find a jury somewhere.
And I think one of the things that the judge is going to be able to look at today when this comes up is: Can you simply make it more fair by giving both sides more strikes? You know, they get preemptory challenges, which means they can excuse any juror for cause, because if you've got hundreds of thousands of people in that community, sooner or later you're going to be able to find 12 that aren't biased, that will have an open mind, and will consider the facts and the evidence as to whether Scott Peterson really murdered his wife and his unborn son.
COSTELLO: Some legal "Coffey Talk" with Kendall Coffey this morning. We appreciate it.
COFFEY: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:44 Eastern Time. Here are the latest headlines.
Just about an hour ago, thousands of supporters jammed the streets for the funeral of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Yassin was killed just a few hours before that in an Israeli attack.
Army Chaplain James Yee faces a disciplinary hearing today on charges of adultery and pornography, but he's expected to be allowed to return to his post in Washington State. The army dropped espionage charges against the Muslim chaplain last week.
Health officials in Canada are planning to stock pharmacies with medical marijuana for patients without prescriptions. Holland is the only other country with a similar program.
In money, Wal-Mart tops the Fortune 500 for the third straight year; $259 billion in revenues makes it the top publicly-traded company.
In sports, a shocker. Kentucky joins Stanford as No. 1 seeds on the sidelines. A (UNINTELLIGIBLE) lost to Alabama, Birmingham 76-75 in Sunday's NCAA tournament action.
In culture, Janet Jackson was the special guest for the annual Soul Train Awards over the weekend. She was honored with a lifetime achievement award. No wardrobe malfunctions reported.
And in weather, smooth sailing across much of the country with good weather expected from coast to coast, albeit a little chilly.
Those are the latest headlines.
Let's head to New York and "AMERICAN MORNING" to check in with Bill and Soledad.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Here we go.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning.
COSTELLO: What are you guys doing in there?
O'BRIEN: What are we doing?
HEMMER: The sun has just entered the studio, Carol. I don't know if you can see it. But it is a very bright light.
O'BRIEN: They just turned this big light on. Oh, hey! Good morning.
HEMMER: And it's only 6:45.
O'BRIEN: Wow!
HEMMER: Hey, Carol, listen, a packed show today. Condoleezza Rice, our guest in the 7:00 hour, talking about these charges last night that first aired on "60 Minutes," the book by Richard Clarke. We'll get to that this morning.
O'BRIEN: And we're going to talk about the fallout from the assassination of the Hamas leader. You've been showing pictures of that funeral and the crowds there. We're going to continue to cover that.
HEMMER: Also from Mars, and the solar system is a pretty big out space there, a lot of real estate and a lot of...
O'BRIEN: Thanks, Dr. Hemmer.
HEMMER: You got it.
O'BRIEN: Ph.D.
HEMMER: That's why they hired me, Carol. Jack Horkheimer is back with us today, too. Also, Jack Cafferty, too, e-mail question about this whole situation with Richard Clarke against George Bush and Condoleezza Rice. We'll get all of that and more on a Monday. I'll be good, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: A very big space, Carol. Very, very big space.
HEMMER: Real estate. Location, location, Carol.
COSTELLO: I understand.
HEMMER: See you at 7:00.
COSTELLO: Thanks. We'll see you in a bit.
HEMMER: Bye-bye.
COSTELLO: More on DAYBREAK right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Headlines across America this Monday morning.
A deadly crash involving a medical helicopter happened about 40 miles southeast of Odessa, Texas. Four people, including a 3-month- old patient, were killed in the crash. The baby's mother had brought the baby across the border from Mexico for medical treatment. In addition to the child, the mother, a paramedic and the pilot were killed.
In Washington State, a lesbian Methodist pastor says she hopes to return as a minister in her church. She was acquitted over the weekend of violating a church ban on ordaining self-avowed practicing homosexuals.
All of you demolition lovers, take a look at this. Philadelphia's veteran stadium is a massive pile of rubble this morning. The former home to the Phillies and Eagles was imploded to make way for a parking lot. It took about 3,000 pounds of explosives and only 60 seconds to bring down all of that concrete and steel. A new stadium is going to be built soon.
Time for a little business buzz now. Soon, you may not need a Blackberry and a cell phone.
Carrie Lee tells us why. She's live at the Nasdaq Marketsite.
Ooh, a new gadget.
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Always the goal to make these things smaller and easier to use, right?
Well, "USA Today" is reporting that Internet service provider Earthlink will begin selling cell phone service on Blackberry e-mail devices in May. We're expecting the official announcement from Earthlink later today. The move shows how similar Internet and phone companies have really become. The voice service is going to cost about $40 to $75 a month, pretty much in par with what cell phone companies charge. Earthlink says deals with other phone makers are in the works as well.
Earthlink already offers wireless data services for e-mail devices. They say customers simply asked for an upgrade for a Blackberry device that can also receive calls.
So, Internet companies getting into phone services. Some phone companies getting into Internet services. More choices for consumers are always a good thing. More competition means good pricing levels. It could make it a little bit more confusing, though, Carol, when you get all of these solicitations and see all of these ads.
So, bottom line, competition is usually good for the end user, which is us.
So, that's the latest from "USA Today."
COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie Lee, live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
Time for the DAYBREAK "Coffee Quiz."
Hello -- Chad.
MYERS: Hello, Carol.
COSTELLO: You're going to help me do this, right?
MYERS: I'm going to try.
COSTELLO: Of course you were paying close attention to me this morning, right?
MYERS: Most of the time.
COSTELLO: Oh, sure. Well, here are the questions to win the beautiful DAYBREAK mug. No. 1: Veterans who cannot make a trip to Normandy to observe D-Day this year can go to this city instead. What is the city?
MYERS: Got it.
COSTELLO: And, a government-certified medical marijuana program could come to this country. Which one?
MYERS: Hmmm.
COSTELLO: So, e-mail your answers to DAYBREAK.
MYERS: So, I was paying attention 50 percent of the time.
COSTELLO: Uh-oh! E-mail your answers to Daybreak@CNN.com. Daybreak@CNN.com. Our mailboxes are open.
MYERS: All right.
COSTELLO: All right. Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you for "The Lightning Round."
MYERS: Captain Kirk is 73.
COSTELLO: Isn't that amazing?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: I just remember as a girl watching "Star Trek" I thought he was really hot.
MYERS: Well, he was young then, but go ahead.
COSTELLO: Chad! All right, let's get on with "The Lightning Round," shall we?
Ever wonder what people with too much time -- too much free time, I should say, do to occupy themselves? Well...
MYERS: They sit down.
COSTELLO: Yes, you're right, Chad. They do indeed sit down. In Illinois, thousands showed up to place their posteriors on the line in an effort to break the record, oh, for breaking -- put in your own verb here -- with a whoopee cushion.
MYERS: It reminds me of the song, "Too Much Time on my Hands."
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Let the games begin, Chad. Beautiful, isn't it? In case you don't recognize the tune, this is "Flight of the Bumblebee." It was the winning tune in the 42nd Conk (ph) shell blowing contest in Key West, Florida.
MYERS: Nice.
COSTELLO: OK, watch this. Yes, we have pig races this morning for you from Moscow. It looks like a ham sandwich against a BLT.
MYERS: It does not.
COSTELLO: It does. And the winner by a snout would be the ham sandwich.
MYERS: All right.
COSTELLO: After the race, Chad, it was time for a big bacon breakfast.
MYERS: No, they didn't eat of -- they had chicken biscuits.
COSTELLO: I'm sure they had chicken biscuits instead.
OK, enough of humans and hams. Now to the robot Olympics. These little mechanical marvels...
MYERS: Whoa!
COSTELLO: ... battled in a wide array of events from Sumo wrestling to boxing to doing pushups. Look there. Is that exciting or what?
MYERS: Remember rock-'em, sock-'em robots? Boy, have we come a long way from rock-'em, sock-'em robots.
COSTELLO: Yes, boy, they look a lot different from those things.
MYERS: Awesome! That's very cool.
COSTELLO: That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
MYERS: See you tomorrow.
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