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CNN Live At Daybreak
Another Rejection for Terri Schiavo's Parents; American Kidnapped in Iraq; Joan Kennedy Recovering
Aired March 31, 2005 - 05:00 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.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, her father says she's still fighting to live. But there has been yet another legal setback in the Terri Schiavo case.
Plus, white farmers in Zimbabwe lose their land to black settlers. It is a government policy that's been called a disaster. Zimbabwe's president says the policy is fair.
And a former teacher and current first lady talking about education in Afghanistan.
It is Thursday, March 31st, and this is DAYBREAK.
Good Thursday morning to you. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello. Here are some stories "Now in the News."
Another rejection for Terri Schiavo's parents. The U.S. Supreme Court late last night again refused to hear an emergency appeal for the brain-damaged woman. Her feeding tube was removed on March 18.
A presidential commission will report this morning on intelligence failures regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. An official says the panel will recommend a new national security division within the Justice Department.
The State Department confirms an American has been abducted in Iraq. We still don't know if he is one of the men shown here with three Romanian journalists taken Monday. The kidnappers so far have made no demands.
Voters in Zimbabwe are casting ballots in landmark parliamentary elections today. The party of Robert Mugabe, the president criticized for owning white-owned farms and giving them to blacks, hopes to tighten his 25-year grip on power.
And look at this. Lightning hitting the top of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. The state was slammed with wind, rain, hail, lightning, as you see there, and snow.
To the Weather Center now in Atlanta and Chad Myers.
Chad, are they going to get any relief on this day?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, the day is gone now.
WALLACE: Well, that's good.
MYERS: That whole storm has moved to the East. But actually, that's not as rare as you might think, Kelly.
WALLACE: Really?
MYERS: That happens all the time. But it's actually very safe for it to hit that. As well as they have it grounded. That lightning strike goes right into the ground, and nobody even -- other than the sound of it, nobody in the Space Needle even knows that it happens.
WALLACE: Incredible to see.
MYERS: Yes. And you know what? They say that the Empire State Building in New York City gets hit almost 30 times a year. But because it's grounded so well, that nobody even knows it. Obviously you hear it.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Chad, we're already spoiled here.
MYERS: I know.
WALLACE: And I saw a headline in the newspaper the other day. It said, "Sunshine, At Least for One Day."
MYERS: Right.
WALLACE: We'll take what we can get and when we can get it.
MYERS: OK. Yes.
WALLACE: OK, Chad. We'll talk to you in a few minutes. Thanks so much.
Our top story now, the Terri Schiavo case. And here the latest for you.
The Supreme Court refusing once again to hear an emergency appeal by Schiavo's parents. The legal maneuver sought a temporary restraining order to force the reinsertion of Schiavo's feeding tube.
It is the second time in just a week the high court declines to intervene. The justices ruled just hours after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals also declined to get involved and intervene.
So Terri Schiavo lies dying, now beginning her 13th day without food and water.
Let's go live now to CNN's Sean Callebs at the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Good morning to you, Sean. Our first question to you, any word about Terri Schiavo's current condition? SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we talked with Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo, not terribly long ago. He actually spent the night in a building not terribly far from where we are. A very difficult time for the family right now.
They want to go in and spend as much time as they can with Terri Schiavo. But the Schindler family can't go in while Michael Schiavo is in there. And by all accounts, her condition is deteriorating.
We don't know how bad it is. But it's the first time I've seen family members spend the night here. So that's about the best information I can give you.
And just think back. Twenty-four hours ago we were talking about the possible ray of hope for the Schindler family. They had followed an appeal with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta and hoped that would go somewhere. But harsh reality has set in over a matter of hours.
The U.S. Supreme Court said they would not weigh into this case. The sixth time they have chosen not to intervene in this case. And the U.S. Court of Appeals saying that it would not review the case either.
Late yesterday afternoon, the attorney for the Schindler family came out and said what we had hear before, that apparently all legal avenues are exhausted at this point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID GIBBS, SCHINDLER FAMILY ATTORNEY: We did put it to the court and, you know, it appears that that will be the last meaningful legal appeal at this time, unless something comes up. And so continue to pray for the Schindlers, continue to pray for Terri. And again, she is demonstrating really sort of an amazing sparkle and desire to live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: Somewhat of contrasting opinions, however. The attorney for Michael Schiavo, George Felos, has said that Terri Schiavo appears very restful, very calm, and that death is coming upon her very slowly, and not in a painful fashion.
Now, Felos yesterday released nine videotapes that were taken back in 2002. And what the attorney says, this bolsters Michael Schiavo's claim that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state.
The video shows doctors off camera trying to touch her arm, trying to get some kind of response out of Terri Schiavo. There you see. And basically getting very little response, if any.
That contrasts with what the family has been saying. They say that Terri -- that Terri Schiavo has been very vocal, that she is fighting to live. Very agonizing time for both sides. And Kelly, as you mentioned at the top of the show, in a matter of hours, Terri Schiavo will enter her 14th day without the feeding tube inserted. And we all know that doctors said once the tube was removed back on the 18th that she could live somewhere between a week and two weeks. So clearly, that window is closing rapidly -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right, Sean. A tough time for all the families and everyone involved. We'll be talking to you throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK. Sean Callebs reporting from Florida. Thanks so much.
News about Iraq now. A U.S. Marine was killed Wednesday in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. The Marine was taking part in a patrol hit by a landmine near the Syrian border. Also on Monday, an American citizen was kidnapped in Iraq, along with three Romanian journalists.
CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman in Baghdad has more.
Aneesh, good to see you. What's the latest from there?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kelly, good morning to you.
Continued violence in Iraq. A suicide car bomb detonating this morning north of the capital city near the town of Kirkuk. That as an Iraqi police convoy was passing by. One Iraqi policeman was killed, eight others were wounded. Also, reports of civilian casualties in that attack.
Now, this comes, as you say, as video released confirms the latest kidnapping in Iraq. This kidnapping including, it now seems, an American.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN (voice-over): In the most disturbing of insurgent tactics, another kidnapping, another hostage video. Airing Wednesday on Al- Jazeera, three Romanian journalists are shown sitting on the floor as two masked men, their group unknown, stand by armed with guns. The hostages appeared calm. One simply said, "We have been kidnapped."
A fourth hostage in the tape is unidentified. But the U.S. State Department confirmed an American citizen was taken at the same time as the Romanians.
In a statement, they called for the immediate and safe recovery of all hostages in Iraq, including the American citizen and three Romanian journalists.
Abducted Monday night, the journalists who work for Romania's Prima TV were covering a visit of their president to Iraq. As they were taken, reporter Marie Jeanne Ion sent her mother a text message. It read, "We're kidnapped. This is not a joke. Help."
In Romania, family members are reeling from shock.
"I implore you to do everything you can," said Ion's sister. "She is guilty of nothing."
A faithful U.S. ally, Romania has shown steadfast support for the war in Iraq, with 800 troops on the ground. The Romanian government has established a crisis committee to handle the situation. President Traian Basescu following events closely. So far, no demands have been made.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: Now, Kelly, there have been over 200 foreigners kidnapped in postwar Iraq. Over 50 of them have been killed -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Aneesh Raman reporting from Baghdad this morning. We appreciate it. Thanks so much.
News "Across America" now.
Florida lawmakers considering a bill that calls for global positioning of convicted sex offenders. The bill is named the Jessica Lunsford Act. Jessica's father pleaded for tougher laws after convicted sex offender John Couey confessed to killing his daughter. That bill would pertain to offenders released after the law is passed.
In Atlanta, a sheriff's deputy had requested extra security for Brian Nichols just days before investigators say Nichols shot and killed a judge and court reporter. A sheriff's department spokesman says the request was made after Nichols was found trying to smuggle a weapon into court. And that deputy was not on duty the day of the shooting.
Investigators say Nichols also killed another deputy and a Customs agent.
A former high-ranking official with the Boy Scouts of America plead guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. Douglas Smith's plea means he'll face a minimum of five years but no more than 20 years in prison. The Boy Scouts organization says Smith was in an administrative position and didn't come in contact with students.
Some residents in West Warwick, Rhode Island, were evacuated after an abandoned mill caught fire. Look at these pictures here.
The building destroyed by this massive fire. Some houses near the mill were doused with water following reports that their vinyl siding was melting from the heat.
Well, it is being called a major legal victory for older workers who say they face discrimination. The Supreme Court has ruled that workers over 40 can sue over pay or benefit plans that favor younger employees. And they can sue even if no evidence of deliberate discrimination exists.
While the ruling means employers can be held liable even if they didn't intend to harm older workers, it also says employers can still make hiring and firing decisions about older workers if they can show a reasonable explanation for doing so, such as cost-cutting measures. And that brings us to our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day." Do most workplace policies favor younger workers? Let us know what you think at DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
And Chad, many of us yesterday were very interested in how this ruling talked about older workers over...
MYERS: Right.
WALLACE: ... the age of 40.
MYERS: Yes. And now older.
WALLACE: It caused a little bit of concern for many of us very close to that number.
MYERS: Exactly, yes.
WALLACE: All right. Well, we'll see. What did you think of the ruling?
MYERS: You know, I looked at everything and then all of a sudden it kind of got convoluted at the end when they said, yes, we said all this, but you can do this if it's this.
WALLACE: They still can do it, exactly, if they can prove, you know, reasonable...
MYERS: Wait a minute. But obviously -- right.
WALLACE: I know. It will be so interesting. And we're going to talk about this with Carrie Lee in business later, the impact on businesses and what this could mean.
MYERS: Yes.
WALLACE: Again, we want to hear from you. Send us your e-mails. Chad and I will go through them at DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
Well, news about the pope. He is now receiving nutrition through a feeding tube. It's similar to the procedure that has kept Terri Schiavo alive all these years.
We will draw the parallels between the cases and outline the differences. That's just ahead on DAYBREAK.
Presidential elections today in Zimbabwe. We'll meet two farmers who say they'd rather die than give up their farm.
And the former wife of Senator Ted Kennedy depends on the kindness of a stranger after an incident in Boston. We'll update you on Joan Kennedy's health and her ongoing struggles just ahead on CNN.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: The international markets are all looking a bit brighter this morning. The Nikkei is up 103 points. London's FTSE is higher, nearly 27. And Germany's DAX up nearly 20 points.
Your news, money, weather and sports -- it's about 16 minutes after the hour, and here is what is all new this morning.
Late last night, the U.S. Supreme Court refusing to hear an emergency appeal by Terri Schiavo's parents. The decision came several hours after a federal appeals court refused to hear the appeal.
Indonesians remain on edge after a strong aftershock hit along the same fault line as Monday's major quake. Around 600 people were killed by Monday's earthquake. Tons of food and medical supplies have been sent to the area.
In money, the sixth "Harry Potter" book is already set to break a record. The book's publisher says a record 10.8 million copies are being published. Incredible. That's four million more than the last "Harry Potter" book. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" comes out July 16.
In culture, rap music mogul Suge Knight has been ordered to pay $107 million in damages by a Los Angeles judge. He was sued by a woman who claimed she helped found Knight's Death Row Records label.
In sports, the United States soccer team notched another victory in its bid to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Eddie Johnson scored the first goal and set up the second to lead the U.S. team to a 2-0 win over Guatemala.
So Chad, in Atlanta -- Chad, are you a big soccer fan?
MYERS: Hey. Well, I am not. But you know what? A lot of people across the country are. So that's really great news for the U.S.
WALLACE: Team USA, exactly.
MYERS: Yes, exactly.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: All right, Chad. Talk to you in a few minutes. Thanks so much.
Turning now to news about the former wife of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy. She is recovering this morning from a concussion and broken bones after a stranger found her passed out on a Boston street. As Jason Carroll reports, this is the latest in a long history of difficult times for Joan Kennedy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The once glamorous former wife of Senator Ted Kennedy is now recovering in a hospital with a concussion and a broken shoulder. This after a passerby found her unconscious, lying on a Boston street early Wednesday morning.
There is no police report. Authorities and family have not explained what happened.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: This has been a sad time. But I think she's -- we're all hoping for the best.
CARROLL (on camera): What impact is this having on the kids?
KENNEDY: Well, they're very loyal and work with her. So -- and that's enormously reassuring. I'm very proud of them.
CARROLL (voice-over): Just last month, Joan Kennedy's children were named her legal guardian, citing concern for her medical care. Kennedy has been battling alcohol addiction for years. Her son, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, widely known to be close to his mother, announced Wednesday he would not run for Senate. In the same announcement, he thanked for everyone for supporting his mother, saying, "My family means everything to me, and I would appreciate you respecting my family's privacy at this time."
Over the past few decades, Kennedy has been in and out of courtrooms and treatment centers. Police arrested her at least four times for drunk driving. As far back as 1981, she spoke about being a recovering alcoholic.
JOAN KENNEDY, FMR. WIFE OF SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY: Stopping drinking was wonderful for my self-esteem, you know, just to begin with. To go back to school and realize that I could think and feel and do homework and succeed in something, that was wonderful for my self-esteem.
CARROLL: Laurence Leamer has written books about the Kennedys. He says Joan Kennedy's problems began with her own family.
LAURENCE LEAMER, AUTHOR: Her marriage certainly made difficulties for her. But there was alcoholism in her family. Her mother was an alcoholic, there are other members of the family who've had serious alcohol problems. And the all the difficulties of being a Kennedy woman made it infinitely more difficult for her.
CARROLL: Leamer says the toughest time was 1969. Kennedy supported her husband after a car he was driving with another woman plunged into a river in Chapaquitic Island. The woman died in the crash.
LEAMER: Chapaquitic just dramatized everything that was going on before. That summer, her mother, Joan's mother, was in England. And she had to be institutionalized. That's how bad her drinking became that summer. And for Joan, it was if there was no way out from the shame and embarrassment.
CARROLL: Years later, Kennedy told "McCall's" magazine her husband's infidelities drove her to drink. "I found that alcohol could sedate me, so I didn't care as much.
(on camera): The hospital is not releasing any information about her condition. As guardians, Joan Kennedy's three children will decide what happens when she's released.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: Tough time for the family of Joan Kennedy.
News now about the first lady. Her first priority has long been education, and that was first on her agenda during Wednesday's trip to Afghanistan. We'll have the highlights just ahead.
And later, white farmers in Zimbabwe are anxiously watching and waiting to see if a new government will be elected today. At stake, their livelihoods and possibly more.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, March 31. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: Chad, you ready to laugh a little bit?
MYERS: I'm ready.
WALLACE: There's been so much sad news lately.
MYERS: I was sleeping when all of this happened. So let's get to something fun.
WALLACE: I know. Let's get to something fun.
Well, you know, the comics had a couple things on their minds, giant potholes, super-sized fast food, to really big gas prices. They took on all things large and small last night. Let's listen to David Letterman and Jay Leno for the best of the laughs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, "THE LATE SHOW": Giant potholes. We're not talking about little dinky things. We're talking about enormous, huge -- so massive, so deep, that the Feds -- the Feds actually think that Osama bin Laden is hiding in one on 8th Avenue.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": I stopped by Burger King today. They were giving away balloons. Not for the kids -- for your angioplasty. You know, clear your arteries. (LAUGHTER)
LENO: Well, have you heard about this new breakfast item they have? This is unbelievable, The Enormous Omelet Sandwich. That's the real name of it. It's 730 calories, 47 grams of fat. See, here's another reminder to get that living will in order. You might want to think about that.
Gasoline prices continuing to rise here in California. Now the highest in the nation, well over $3 in a lot of places. Isn't that unbelievable?
Like the gas station near my house, they have a slot for your credit card and another one for your 401(k). Just put that in there...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: You know, Chad, Jay likes that omelet sandwich. Wasn't he talking about it the other night as well?
MYERS: I think he was.
WALLACE: He talked about sort of, what, a heart attack in a minute there?
MYERS: He said he could -- he could eat it while riding his Harley. That's what he liked about it.
WALLACE: Exactly. All right. Well, they were OK. I'm a little disappointed, I'll be honest.
MYERS: I know. I think Letterman needs a little writing help.
WALLACE: I know.
MYERS: Yes. Pothole? Whatever.
WALLACE: Oh well. Anyone listening, send you resumes, David Letterman.
All right, Chad. Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener" this morning.
The oldest public unpaved road in Silicon Valley is getting a much anticipated upgrade. San Jose lawmakers approved a measure to finally pave Towers Road more than 40 years after they first promised to do the job.
Chad, one resident who has lived on the dirt road since 1947 says she's waited a very long time for this.
And a yard art dealer in Bartholomew County, Indiana, has been told to hide his naked statues. County officials say zoning laws prohibit nudity near children and that the statues are considered obscene. The naked statues include versions of the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo's David.
Two men have begun their journey across the Bering Strait. They started in Alaska, where temperatures are a steady 30 below zero. The plan is to ski and to row across the mostly frozen strait to Russia. Only one other pair has ever accomplished the trek on foot. You can watch their progress at beringodyssey.com.
Pretty incredible.
Well, Chad, we're not getting a lot of e-mails, OK?
MYERS: We're not? OK.
WALLACE: So we're soliciting e-mails once again, talking about the Supreme Court ruling yesterday. We want you to know -- or ask you, do most workplace policies favor younger workers? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. After the Supreme Court ruling saying that those over 40 can sue for alleged age discrimination.
MYERS: Right. Do they favor younger workers -- favor younger workers, or just cheaper ones?
WALLACE: Exactly. Well, this -- you know, I'm surprised we haven't gotten more e-mails. So send us your thoughts. We want to hear. Interested on what impact this is going to have on businesses across the country and on you.
Here is what is all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.
It is election day in Zimbabwe. We'll visit with two men faced with losing their livelihood and possibly more.
This is DAYBREAK again. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired March 31, 2005 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, her father says she's still fighting to live. But there has been yet another legal setback in the Terri Schiavo case.
Plus, white farmers in Zimbabwe lose their land to black settlers. It is a government policy that's been called a disaster. Zimbabwe's president says the policy is fair.
And a former teacher and current first lady talking about education in Afghanistan.
It is Thursday, March 31st, and this is DAYBREAK.
Good Thursday morning to you. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello. Here are some stories "Now in the News."
Another rejection for Terri Schiavo's parents. The U.S. Supreme Court late last night again refused to hear an emergency appeal for the brain-damaged woman. Her feeding tube was removed on March 18.
A presidential commission will report this morning on intelligence failures regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. An official says the panel will recommend a new national security division within the Justice Department.
The State Department confirms an American has been abducted in Iraq. We still don't know if he is one of the men shown here with three Romanian journalists taken Monday. The kidnappers so far have made no demands.
Voters in Zimbabwe are casting ballots in landmark parliamentary elections today. The party of Robert Mugabe, the president criticized for owning white-owned farms and giving them to blacks, hopes to tighten his 25-year grip on power.
And look at this. Lightning hitting the top of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. The state was slammed with wind, rain, hail, lightning, as you see there, and snow.
To the Weather Center now in Atlanta and Chad Myers.
Chad, are they going to get any relief on this day?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, the day is gone now.
WALLACE: Well, that's good.
MYERS: That whole storm has moved to the East. But actually, that's not as rare as you might think, Kelly.
WALLACE: Really?
MYERS: That happens all the time. But it's actually very safe for it to hit that. As well as they have it grounded. That lightning strike goes right into the ground, and nobody even -- other than the sound of it, nobody in the Space Needle even knows that it happens.
WALLACE: Incredible to see.
MYERS: Yes. And you know what? They say that the Empire State Building in New York City gets hit almost 30 times a year. But because it's grounded so well, that nobody even knows it. Obviously you hear it.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Chad, we're already spoiled here.
MYERS: I know.
WALLACE: And I saw a headline in the newspaper the other day. It said, "Sunshine, At Least for One Day."
MYERS: Right.
WALLACE: We'll take what we can get and when we can get it.
MYERS: OK. Yes.
WALLACE: OK, Chad. We'll talk to you in a few minutes. Thanks so much.
Our top story now, the Terri Schiavo case. And here the latest for you.
The Supreme Court refusing once again to hear an emergency appeal by Schiavo's parents. The legal maneuver sought a temporary restraining order to force the reinsertion of Schiavo's feeding tube.
It is the second time in just a week the high court declines to intervene. The justices ruled just hours after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals also declined to get involved and intervene.
So Terri Schiavo lies dying, now beginning her 13th day without food and water.
Let's go live now to CNN's Sean Callebs at the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Good morning to you, Sean. Our first question to you, any word about Terri Schiavo's current condition? SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we talked with Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo, not terribly long ago. He actually spent the night in a building not terribly far from where we are. A very difficult time for the family right now.
They want to go in and spend as much time as they can with Terri Schiavo. But the Schindler family can't go in while Michael Schiavo is in there. And by all accounts, her condition is deteriorating.
We don't know how bad it is. But it's the first time I've seen family members spend the night here. So that's about the best information I can give you.
And just think back. Twenty-four hours ago we were talking about the possible ray of hope for the Schindler family. They had followed an appeal with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta and hoped that would go somewhere. But harsh reality has set in over a matter of hours.
The U.S. Supreme Court said they would not weigh into this case. The sixth time they have chosen not to intervene in this case. And the U.S. Court of Appeals saying that it would not review the case either.
Late yesterday afternoon, the attorney for the Schindler family came out and said what we had hear before, that apparently all legal avenues are exhausted at this point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID GIBBS, SCHINDLER FAMILY ATTORNEY: We did put it to the court and, you know, it appears that that will be the last meaningful legal appeal at this time, unless something comes up. And so continue to pray for the Schindlers, continue to pray for Terri. And again, she is demonstrating really sort of an amazing sparkle and desire to live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: Somewhat of contrasting opinions, however. The attorney for Michael Schiavo, George Felos, has said that Terri Schiavo appears very restful, very calm, and that death is coming upon her very slowly, and not in a painful fashion.
Now, Felos yesterday released nine videotapes that were taken back in 2002. And what the attorney says, this bolsters Michael Schiavo's claim that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state.
The video shows doctors off camera trying to touch her arm, trying to get some kind of response out of Terri Schiavo. There you see. And basically getting very little response, if any.
That contrasts with what the family has been saying. They say that Terri -- that Terri Schiavo has been very vocal, that she is fighting to live. Very agonizing time for both sides. And Kelly, as you mentioned at the top of the show, in a matter of hours, Terri Schiavo will enter her 14th day without the feeding tube inserted. And we all know that doctors said once the tube was removed back on the 18th that she could live somewhere between a week and two weeks. So clearly, that window is closing rapidly -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right, Sean. A tough time for all the families and everyone involved. We'll be talking to you throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK. Sean Callebs reporting from Florida. Thanks so much.
News about Iraq now. A U.S. Marine was killed Wednesday in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. The Marine was taking part in a patrol hit by a landmine near the Syrian border. Also on Monday, an American citizen was kidnapped in Iraq, along with three Romanian journalists.
CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman in Baghdad has more.
Aneesh, good to see you. What's the latest from there?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kelly, good morning to you.
Continued violence in Iraq. A suicide car bomb detonating this morning north of the capital city near the town of Kirkuk. That as an Iraqi police convoy was passing by. One Iraqi policeman was killed, eight others were wounded. Also, reports of civilian casualties in that attack.
Now, this comes, as you say, as video released confirms the latest kidnapping in Iraq. This kidnapping including, it now seems, an American.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN (voice-over): In the most disturbing of insurgent tactics, another kidnapping, another hostage video. Airing Wednesday on Al- Jazeera, three Romanian journalists are shown sitting on the floor as two masked men, their group unknown, stand by armed with guns. The hostages appeared calm. One simply said, "We have been kidnapped."
A fourth hostage in the tape is unidentified. But the U.S. State Department confirmed an American citizen was taken at the same time as the Romanians.
In a statement, they called for the immediate and safe recovery of all hostages in Iraq, including the American citizen and three Romanian journalists.
Abducted Monday night, the journalists who work for Romania's Prima TV were covering a visit of their president to Iraq. As they were taken, reporter Marie Jeanne Ion sent her mother a text message. It read, "We're kidnapped. This is not a joke. Help."
In Romania, family members are reeling from shock.
"I implore you to do everything you can," said Ion's sister. "She is guilty of nothing."
A faithful U.S. ally, Romania has shown steadfast support for the war in Iraq, with 800 troops on the ground. The Romanian government has established a crisis committee to handle the situation. President Traian Basescu following events closely. So far, no demands have been made.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: Now, Kelly, there have been over 200 foreigners kidnapped in postwar Iraq. Over 50 of them have been killed -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Aneesh Raman reporting from Baghdad this morning. We appreciate it. Thanks so much.
News "Across America" now.
Florida lawmakers considering a bill that calls for global positioning of convicted sex offenders. The bill is named the Jessica Lunsford Act. Jessica's father pleaded for tougher laws after convicted sex offender John Couey confessed to killing his daughter. That bill would pertain to offenders released after the law is passed.
In Atlanta, a sheriff's deputy had requested extra security for Brian Nichols just days before investigators say Nichols shot and killed a judge and court reporter. A sheriff's department spokesman says the request was made after Nichols was found trying to smuggle a weapon into court. And that deputy was not on duty the day of the shooting.
Investigators say Nichols also killed another deputy and a Customs agent.
A former high-ranking official with the Boy Scouts of America plead guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. Douglas Smith's plea means he'll face a minimum of five years but no more than 20 years in prison. The Boy Scouts organization says Smith was in an administrative position and didn't come in contact with students.
Some residents in West Warwick, Rhode Island, were evacuated after an abandoned mill caught fire. Look at these pictures here.
The building destroyed by this massive fire. Some houses near the mill were doused with water following reports that their vinyl siding was melting from the heat.
Well, it is being called a major legal victory for older workers who say they face discrimination. The Supreme Court has ruled that workers over 40 can sue over pay or benefit plans that favor younger employees. And they can sue even if no evidence of deliberate discrimination exists.
While the ruling means employers can be held liable even if they didn't intend to harm older workers, it also says employers can still make hiring and firing decisions about older workers if they can show a reasonable explanation for doing so, such as cost-cutting measures. And that brings us to our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day." Do most workplace policies favor younger workers? Let us know what you think at DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
And Chad, many of us yesterday were very interested in how this ruling talked about older workers over...
MYERS: Right.
WALLACE: ... the age of 40.
MYERS: Yes. And now older.
WALLACE: It caused a little bit of concern for many of us very close to that number.
MYERS: Exactly, yes.
WALLACE: All right. Well, we'll see. What did you think of the ruling?
MYERS: You know, I looked at everything and then all of a sudden it kind of got convoluted at the end when they said, yes, we said all this, but you can do this if it's this.
WALLACE: They still can do it, exactly, if they can prove, you know, reasonable...
MYERS: Wait a minute. But obviously -- right.
WALLACE: I know. It will be so interesting. And we're going to talk about this with Carrie Lee in business later, the impact on businesses and what this could mean.
MYERS: Yes.
WALLACE: Again, we want to hear from you. Send us your e-mails. Chad and I will go through them at DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
Well, news about the pope. He is now receiving nutrition through a feeding tube. It's similar to the procedure that has kept Terri Schiavo alive all these years.
We will draw the parallels between the cases and outline the differences. That's just ahead on DAYBREAK.
Presidential elections today in Zimbabwe. We'll meet two farmers who say they'd rather die than give up their farm.
And the former wife of Senator Ted Kennedy depends on the kindness of a stranger after an incident in Boston. We'll update you on Joan Kennedy's health and her ongoing struggles just ahead on CNN.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: The international markets are all looking a bit brighter this morning. The Nikkei is up 103 points. London's FTSE is higher, nearly 27. And Germany's DAX up nearly 20 points.
Your news, money, weather and sports -- it's about 16 minutes after the hour, and here is what is all new this morning.
Late last night, the U.S. Supreme Court refusing to hear an emergency appeal by Terri Schiavo's parents. The decision came several hours after a federal appeals court refused to hear the appeal.
Indonesians remain on edge after a strong aftershock hit along the same fault line as Monday's major quake. Around 600 people were killed by Monday's earthquake. Tons of food and medical supplies have been sent to the area.
In money, the sixth "Harry Potter" book is already set to break a record. The book's publisher says a record 10.8 million copies are being published. Incredible. That's four million more than the last "Harry Potter" book. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" comes out July 16.
In culture, rap music mogul Suge Knight has been ordered to pay $107 million in damages by a Los Angeles judge. He was sued by a woman who claimed she helped found Knight's Death Row Records label.
In sports, the United States soccer team notched another victory in its bid to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Eddie Johnson scored the first goal and set up the second to lead the U.S. team to a 2-0 win over Guatemala.
So Chad, in Atlanta -- Chad, are you a big soccer fan?
MYERS: Hey. Well, I am not. But you know what? A lot of people across the country are. So that's really great news for the U.S.
WALLACE: Team USA, exactly.
MYERS: Yes, exactly.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: All right, Chad. Talk to you in a few minutes. Thanks so much.
Turning now to news about the former wife of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy. She is recovering this morning from a concussion and broken bones after a stranger found her passed out on a Boston street. As Jason Carroll reports, this is the latest in a long history of difficult times for Joan Kennedy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The once glamorous former wife of Senator Ted Kennedy is now recovering in a hospital with a concussion and a broken shoulder. This after a passerby found her unconscious, lying on a Boston street early Wednesday morning.
There is no police report. Authorities and family have not explained what happened.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: This has been a sad time. But I think she's -- we're all hoping for the best.
CARROLL (on camera): What impact is this having on the kids?
KENNEDY: Well, they're very loyal and work with her. So -- and that's enormously reassuring. I'm very proud of them.
CARROLL (voice-over): Just last month, Joan Kennedy's children were named her legal guardian, citing concern for her medical care. Kennedy has been battling alcohol addiction for years. Her son, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, widely known to be close to his mother, announced Wednesday he would not run for Senate. In the same announcement, he thanked for everyone for supporting his mother, saying, "My family means everything to me, and I would appreciate you respecting my family's privacy at this time."
Over the past few decades, Kennedy has been in and out of courtrooms and treatment centers. Police arrested her at least four times for drunk driving. As far back as 1981, she spoke about being a recovering alcoholic.
JOAN KENNEDY, FMR. WIFE OF SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY: Stopping drinking was wonderful for my self-esteem, you know, just to begin with. To go back to school and realize that I could think and feel and do homework and succeed in something, that was wonderful for my self-esteem.
CARROLL: Laurence Leamer has written books about the Kennedys. He says Joan Kennedy's problems began with her own family.
LAURENCE LEAMER, AUTHOR: Her marriage certainly made difficulties for her. But there was alcoholism in her family. Her mother was an alcoholic, there are other members of the family who've had serious alcohol problems. And the all the difficulties of being a Kennedy woman made it infinitely more difficult for her.
CARROLL: Leamer says the toughest time was 1969. Kennedy supported her husband after a car he was driving with another woman plunged into a river in Chapaquitic Island. The woman died in the crash.
LEAMER: Chapaquitic just dramatized everything that was going on before. That summer, her mother, Joan's mother, was in England. And she had to be institutionalized. That's how bad her drinking became that summer. And for Joan, it was if there was no way out from the shame and embarrassment.
CARROLL: Years later, Kennedy told "McCall's" magazine her husband's infidelities drove her to drink. "I found that alcohol could sedate me, so I didn't care as much.
(on camera): The hospital is not releasing any information about her condition. As guardians, Joan Kennedy's three children will decide what happens when she's released.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: Tough time for the family of Joan Kennedy.
News now about the first lady. Her first priority has long been education, and that was first on her agenda during Wednesday's trip to Afghanistan. We'll have the highlights just ahead.
And later, white farmers in Zimbabwe are anxiously watching and waiting to see if a new government will be elected today. At stake, their livelihoods and possibly more.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, March 31. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: Chad, you ready to laugh a little bit?
MYERS: I'm ready.
WALLACE: There's been so much sad news lately.
MYERS: I was sleeping when all of this happened. So let's get to something fun.
WALLACE: I know. Let's get to something fun.
Well, you know, the comics had a couple things on their minds, giant potholes, super-sized fast food, to really big gas prices. They took on all things large and small last night. Let's listen to David Letterman and Jay Leno for the best of the laughs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, "THE LATE SHOW": Giant potholes. We're not talking about little dinky things. We're talking about enormous, huge -- so massive, so deep, that the Feds -- the Feds actually think that Osama bin Laden is hiding in one on 8th Avenue.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": I stopped by Burger King today. They were giving away balloons. Not for the kids -- for your angioplasty. You know, clear your arteries. (LAUGHTER)
LENO: Well, have you heard about this new breakfast item they have? This is unbelievable, The Enormous Omelet Sandwich. That's the real name of it. It's 730 calories, 47 grams of fat. See, here's another reminder to get that living will in order. You might want to think about that.
Gasoline prices continuing to rise here in California. Now the highest in the nation, well over $3 in a lot of places. Isn't that unbelievable?
Like the gas station near my house, they have a slot for your credit card and another one for your 401(k). Just put that in there...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: You know, Chad, Jay likes that omelet sandwich. Wasn't he talking about it the other night as well?
MYERS: I think he was.
WALLACE: He talked about sort of, what, a heart attack in a minute there?
MYERS: He said he could -- he could eat it while riding his Harley. That's what he liked about it.
WALLACE: Exactly. All right. Well, they were OK. I'm a little disappointed, I'll be honest.
MYERS: I know. I think Letterman needs a little writing help.
WALLACE: I know.
MYERS: Yes. Pothole? Whatever.
WALLACE: Oh well. Anyone listening, send you resumes, David Letterman.
All right, Chad. Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener" this morning.
The oldest public unpaved road in Silicon Valley is getting a much anticipated upgrade. San Jose lawmakers approved a measure to finally pave Towers Road more than 40 years after they first promised to do the job.
Chad, one resident who has lived on the dirt road since 1947 says she's waited a very long time for this.
And a yard art dealer in Bartholomew County, Indiana, has been told to hide his naked statues. County officials say zoning laws prohibit nudity near children and that the statues are considered obscene. The naked statues include versions of the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo's David.
Two men have begun their journey across the Bering Strait. They started in Alaska, where temperatures are a steady 30 below zero. The plan is to ski and to row across the mostly frozen strait to Russia. Only one other pair has ever accomplished the trek on foot. You can watch their progress at beringodyssey.com.
Pretty incredible.
Well, Chad, we're not getting a lot of e-mails, OK?
MYERS: We're not? OK.
WALLACE: So we're soliciting e-mails once again, talking about the Supreme Court ruling yesterday. We want you to know -- or ask you, do most workplace policies favor younger workers? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. After the Supreme Court ruling saying that those over 40 can sue for alleged age discrimination.
MYERS: Right. Do they favor younger workers -- favor younger workers, or just cheaper ones?
WALLACE: Exactly. Well, this -- you know, I'm surprised we haven't gotten more e-mails. So send us your thoughts. We want to hear. Interested on what impact this is going to have on businesses across the country and on you.
Here is what is all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.
It is election day in Zimbabwe. We'll visit with two men faced with losing their livelihood and possibly more.
This is DAYBREAK again. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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