Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Explosions Rock Basra; Rescuers Search For Twister Survivors; Victory Junction

Aired April 21, 2004 - 15:00   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN's LIVE FROM. I'm Kyra Phillips.
Here are the latest headlines this hour.

A deadly tornado and the search for survivors. Crews in Utica, Illinois, are still combing through the rubble of a building flattened by a tornado last night. Four bodies have been pulled from the debris of what was a tavern. Much of that town was devastated by the storms.

The death toll rises in the Saudi capital, 10 people now reported dead, at least 130 injured in a suicide bomb attack outside police offices in Riyadh. The attack apparently could have been worse. Saudi officials say a tip revealed six explosions were found. They found and defused five bombs.

International travelers to the U.S. are supposed to have fingerprints added to their passports by October. Secretary of State Colin Powell is asking lawmakers to postpone that deadline by more than two years. He says other countries need extra time to comply with that regulation.

From Washington to Baghdad, condemnation, yet determination in the wake of another bloody day. Bombs ripped apart one Iraqi city which has hardly seen any violence in the past year. In a more volatile area, another firefight with U.S. Marines right in the middle of it.

This is Fallujah, where insurgents have been battling for control for weeks and where civic leaders are trying to get them to give up. Early this morning, around 40 of them tried to take on the Marines with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Nine of the fighters were reported killed. Three Marines were wounded.

President Bush talking to newspaper editors last hour says the growing violence will not deter America from its mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: People want to stop the advance of freedom. That's why. They can't stand the thought of Iraq being free. The stakes are high. They view freedom as a real threat to their ambitions. And the Iraqi people are looking -- you know, they're looking at America and saying, are we going to cut and run again? That's what they're thinking as well. And we're not going to cut and run if I'm in the Oval Office. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: To the horrific scenes now in the southern city of Basra. Dozens of people are dead after a series of car bombs, some of them the most innocent of victims.

CNN's Jim Clancy in Iraq brings us the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Charred passenger cars smoldered outside Iraqi police station in the southern city of Basra Wednesday after a series of coordinated attacks claimed a heavy toll among civilians. We were in the house and heard a really loud explosion throughout the city, said this man. We ran out to try to help people and help the wounded. When we arrived we found bodies everywhere.

At least 10 of the victims killed are said to be Iraqi preschoolers on their way to classrooms. Around 7: 15 in the morning local time the van, used as their school bus, was charred. The seats shredded by the force of the blasts according to eyewitnesses.

Ambulances evacuated the wounded while doctors at nearby hospitals tried to treat their wounds and save the lives of others. Three police stations and a police training facility were the apparent targets of four car bombs.

A fifth explosion was also reported by coalition officials in Baghdad. Some Iraqi police were among the victims but the early morning attacks clearly aimed to exact a heavy toll among civilians in the predominantly Shia Muslim city. Basra is the second largest population center in all of Iraq after Baghdad. Basra has been spared much of the violence that wracked other regions of the country during the month of April. But the well- coordinated attacks Wednesday shook any notion it was beyond the reach of violence.

Jim Clancy, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, as you know, some coalition partners may call it quits. Some have already and some like Poland are thinking about it. Already Spain, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic have ordered their troops to start packing for home ahead of schedule. Italy, on the other hand, says its troops are in for the long haul.

Back in the U.S., rescuers are battling crumbling debris and time as they search for survivors. Last night, deadly twisters hit Central Indiana and Northern Illinois.

Our Lisa Leiter is in Utica, hit so hard by the storms. The Illinois governor has just declared it a disaster area.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA LEITER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This tiny town of 1,000 people 90 miles southwest of Chicago the hardest hit by these deadly tornadoes.

Residents returning to their homes this morning and this afternoon, devastated by both the loss of life and their homes, dozens of houses in the area severely damaged. People started the cleanup late this morning, picking up all their belongings, loading up trucks full of things that they could recover. They were cutting down trees that had been splintered by the tornadoes and sweeping up broken glass caused by the deadly storms.

Now, the Red Cross is here in the area as well. They are helping to provide food and shelter to those in need. About 30 people were evacuated from Utica last night and were put up in shelters at both local hotels and a nearby state park.

Now, the elementary school right next to where we're standing was severely damaged in the storm as well. It's unclear when that school will reopen and where students will attend school in the meantime. Clearly, this is a town that will take quite some time to recover from this disaster.

In Utica, Illinois, I'm Lisa Leiter reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras tell us it's now been categorized as an F3.

Other news across America now.

Economic recovery on track for us. That means a rise in interest rates. Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan told Congress today short-term interest rates will rise at some point, but he didn't say when.

Gone from "U.S. Today." The top editor of the nation's largest newspaper, Karen Jurgensen, has resigned amid charges that star reporter Jack Kelley made up portions of his stories. No word yet on a possible replacement.

A call to prayer is being met with controversy in Michigan. The Hamtramck City Council gave unanimous approval for a local mosque to send out the call over loudspeakers five times a day. Some non- Muslims complain it is loud and elevates Islam above other religions.

Hundreds of people are expected at a prayer service in Ohio tonight for Matt Maupin, the Army reservist being held captive in Iraq. Maupin's family has been overwhelmed by support from neighbors, one in particular.

CNN's Chris Lawrence has the story.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The moment Jacob Kelch starts reading, it is easy to see he's not your normal sixth grader.

J. KELCH: I wrote you this letter to tell you that I'm in deep sorrow and grief for your son.

LAWRENCE: Jacob started writing when he watched a captured Private Maupin and thought of the family living a few blocks down.

J. KELCH: Well, I just kind of tried to feel what they were feeling and give them like the words that they might need to hear.

LAWRENCE: The day after he delivered it to the Maupin's mailbox, Jacob was asked to read the letter in front of the whole sixth grade and a special guest who came to meet him, Matt Maupin's dad.

J. KELCH: It was the first time he left his house since he received the news that his son was missing.

LAWRENCE: Jacob's parents still can't believe what their son has written.

SHANNON KELCH, MOTHER OF JACOB: And it makes me feel good to think that he thinks of others and that he wishes the best for others.

LAWRENCE: Private Maupin has become something of a hero to Jacob, who one day wants to join the Army.

S. KELCH: It scares me, but it makes me proud at the same time.

LAWRENCE: Proud of his selflessness, scared for his safety.

S. KELCH: To lose my son some day.

MICHAEL KELCH, FATHER OF JACOB: To have my son be held for something, and that's what Mr. Maupin has to be going through.

LAWRENCE: Twelve today, 18 tomorrow, but, in any sense of the word, Jacob Kelch may already be a man.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Batavia, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: The star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing trial against Terry Nichols is back on the stand today facing some pretty tough questions. We're live from McAlester, Oklahoma, next.

A Wall Street giant in hot water over allegations of sexual discrimination.

And later, how about checking into Camp Petty? The legendary racing family is revving up a new project. The Victory Junction Gang Camp is inspiring America's kids.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER UPDATE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The judge hearing the Oklahoma City bombing trial issues a couple of major rulings.

Susan Candiotti is covering that trial. She joins us now with the latest -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

Well, after hearing two weeks of testimony, the trial judge refused to throw out state's case against Terry Nichols, as the defense had asked, Judge Steven Taylor mincing no words, calling the defense motion full of speculation, not evidence.

Here are his words: "This motion is laced with melodrama and hyperbole, but no substance." Now, the Nichols defense team had argued that the state and federal government, including the FBI, had held back information that others besides Timothy McVeigh may have been involved in the Oklahoma City bombing. The judge ruled, however, no evidence presented by the defense that McVeigh ha any help.

And that reassured victims' families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DARLENE WELCH, AUNT OF VICTIM: It was a huge relief to all of us. And as stressful as it was, I feel like that motion actually ended up being a blessing in disguise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: A blessing in disguise, that victim's relative says, because the judge, for example, dismissed a defense motion that maintained that a videotape exists that shows three or four people getting out of the Ryder bomb truck about three minutes before the blast. Again, the judge saying there is absolutely no evidence after hearing all the testimony that any such videotape exists.

Now, also today, the defense began cross-examination of the state's star witness against Terry Nichols, his name Michael Fortier. Now, Fortier's testimony has put Nichols squarely in the middle of the bomb plot with Tim McVeigh. And while Fortier admits that it was McVeigh that told him that Terry Nichols was involved in the bomb plot and had gathered a lot of evidence -- rather, ingredients -- for the truck bomb, that Nichols himself never discussed the bomb plot directly with Michael Fortier.

However, again, some victims' relatives said that doesn't matter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WELCH: I don't think it changes the fact that Terry Nichols was participating, even though he was not discussing with Fortier. It doesn't surprise me that he was not discussing with Michael Fortier, because Terry Nichols' and Michael Fortier's relationship was not the same as it was with Tim McVeigh or as Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, so far, Fortier's testimony echoes exactly what he said in both federal trials. And you'll recall that, of course, that jury convicted Terry Nichols and sentenced him to life. Of course, this is a different jury and this time the state of Oklahoma is seeking the death penalty -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Susan Candiotti, thank you.

Well, straight ahead, racing royalty. The Petty family getting behind a new project for kids. They're with us live and it's in honor of one of their own. If there's a NASCAR fan in the house, gather around. We're going to be talking to them.

Hi, guys.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(FINANCIAL UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: Well, compassion hits the fast lane.

A NASCAR dynasty is helping sick children find hope and inspiration at a very special summer camp. It's called the Victory Junction Gang Camp. NASCAR legends Richard and Kyle Petty are part of it. So is Kyle's wife, Pattie. They're joining us from Randleman, North Carolina, where the camp is located.

Great to see all three of you.

RICHARD PETTY, RETIRED NASCAR DRIVER: Great to be here.

PATTIE PETTY, CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST: Nice to be here.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kyle, let's start with you. And tell me why you got involved. Why did you put together this Victory Junction Gang Camp?

KYLE K. PETTY, NASCAR DRIVER: Well, I'll tell you what.

I went to a camp in Florida, the Boggy Creek Gang Camp. And we went over there, did a motorcycle ride over there on our Victory motorcycles and had just a big time, and took Adam over there and showed him the place. And, at the same time, we do a cross-country ride, our Chick-Fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.

We were stopping at children's hospitals. Adam was doing stuff at that time in his life with Starbright World and Starbright Foundation, connecting different children's hospitals. And then Adam's accident happened. And when Adam's accident happens, we had talked about bringing that type of facility to North Carolina, but that pretty much concreted what we wanted to do.

We wanted to build something in memory of him and kind of keep his memory and spirit alive. And that's what you see behind us, is the camp. PHILLIPS: Well, let me ask your wife, Pattie, about that. Let's talk about Adam, Pattie, and this camp, picked in honor of him. Do you feel his spirit when you sit here where you are and look at this camp finally coming to fruition?

It's very emotional. Kyra, it's exciting and humbling that it's actually coming into fruition. Adam would I think be so proud of every person and every company, every corporation that has given to make this facility possible. He was all about making children happy. He loved racing. He loved life. He loved what he did. And that's what this camp is going to do. It's going to give us an opportunity to take 140 chronically ill children every week and enhance and empower their lives.

PHILLIPS: Richard, you donated the land here. Tell me why you did that and how do you hope this camp empowers these kids that are suffering from some pretty powerful diseases?

R. PETTY: Well, really, you know, Adam sort of got me interested in this kind of operation.

And, in fact, right before he had his accident, he had been around trying to figure out where to put this thing, had some land up close to Kyle, but it was going to cost a lot of money to get it started. And he was out trying to drum up some money. Then everything happened and we kind of put it on hold for four or five, six months. And then Kyle and Pattie came back and said, we really want to do this now for Adam.

And I said OK. We've got plenty of land over there. We'll just go back part of the our farm here. And we gave them about 65 acres and I think we bought 10 acres. So we got 75 acres right here that the whole facility is on. And then we've got some more up right above it that we're going to give them for trails for the horses and four- wheelers and all this kind of stuff. So we're getting pretty involved in it.

PHILLIPS: Wow. So horses, four wheeling. What else will these kids get to do, Richard?

R. PETTY: Well, they get to do a little of everything. They've got 16 cabins for them to stay in. They come down. They've got a swimming pool. Really, it's a water park. They've got all kinds of different things that they can do around the water park.

And then we'll have the regular different things that you know, from the theater. We've got a gym, you know, all this kind of stuff it, hobby shop up there where they can do all their things, painting or carving or whatever. And, you know, then we've got a little beauty shop if girls or boys, either one of them, want to go in and get their hair all fixed up and a regular shop. If they get forget their toothpaste, we've got some of that for them.

And we've got a horse. We've got a barn down here so that they can ride the horses. And we got a petting zoo. You name it, I think we're trying to get it done. PHILLIPS: Wow. That's amazing.

Pattie, tell us about the kind of kids that will come to this camp. Tell us the type of diseases and the -- what they're dealing with.

P. PETTY: The first week, the disease we'll see is hemophilia. Only little boys get hemophilia. In fact, I learned that. And little girls of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. That will be our first week on June 20.

We hope to see 16 different disease groups this summer, which will be 16 weeks. Actually, right now, we're trying to reach out to the medical communities on the Eastern Seaboard to give us camper referrals. These doctors need to refer these children. Their practitioners need to refer them to us. Go to VictoryJunction.org, on their Web site, and turn in their camper lists. And we need campers. We need volunteers. We need doctors and practitioners.

So we're trying to drive the project forward that we are just about to completion behind us and building and we're ready for counselors and children.

PHILLIPS: Wow, you talk about medical experts and counselors.

Kyle, you know, you and your family and you and your wife, of course, experienced the death of your son. It was a very difficult time. Now you will be surrounded by children, many of them struggling to stay alive. I'm curious how you are going to identify with these kids and what are you going to be able to say to them. And, no doubt, you're going to be able to empower them with more than just activities, but your own personal experiences.

K. PETTY: Yes, you know, I think that's going to be the special part for me, is just being around these kids, because it's like I said a minute ago.

Adam did so much with different children's hospitals in the short time that he was here with us. And with our Charity Ride and that type stuff, we've done a lot. But to be around these kids, these kids are so full of life. They fight so many different battles that we praise God may never have to fight and hopefully we never do have to fight.

But to be around these kids -- I told them, I said, to be around these kids and watch them come to camp and then watch 120 to 140 campers leave on Sunday afternoon, then, for me, if they leave with a little bit of Adam Petty with them and a little Adam Petty smile on their face, then I think that will be something special for me. And I think they'll give more to me, believe me, than I could ever get from them.

PHILLIPS: Kyle, you bring up a great point. Adam was full of life and now his spirit is living through all three of you. This project is a prime example. We're going to follow it. Hopefully, you'll come back with some of the kids once it gets up and running. And we appreciate your time today. Thank you so much.

(CROSSTALK)

K. PETTY: God bless you.

PHILLIPS: Absolute pleasure.

And we do have a graphic for folks that want to get involved, volunteer, find out more about the Victory Junction Camp. There's the address. There's the number. Get involved.

That wraps it up here on LIVE FROM.

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 April 21, 2004 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN's LIVE FROM. I'm Kyra Phillips.
Here are the latest headlines this hour.

A deadly tornado and the search for survivors. Crews in Utica, Illinois, are still combing through the rubble of a building flattened by a tornado last night. Four bodies have been pulled from the debris of what was a tavern. Much of that town was devastated by the storms.

The death toll rises in the Saudi capital, 10 people now reported dead, at least 130 injured in a suicide bomb attack outside police offices in Riyadh. The attack apparently could have been worse. Saudi officials say a tip revealed six explosions were found. They found and defused five bombs.

International travelers to the U.S. are supposed to have fingerprints added to their passports by October. Secretary of State Colin Powell is asking lawmakers to postpone that deadline by more than two years. He says other countries need extra time to comply with that regulation.

From Washington to Baghdad, condemnation, yet determination in the wake of another bloody day. Bombs ripped apart one Iraqi city which has hardly seen any violence in the past year. In a more volatile area, another firefight with U.S. Marines right in the middle of it.

This is Fallujah, where insurgents have been battling for control for weeks and where civic leaders are trying to get them to give up. Early this morning, around 40 of them tried to take on the Marines with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Nine of the fighters were reported killed. Three Marines were wounded.

President Bush talking to newspaper editors last hour says the growing violence will not deter America from its mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: People want to stop the advance of freedom. That's why. They can't stand the thought of Iraq being free. The stakes are high. They view freedom as a real threat to their ambitions. And the Iraqi people are looking -- you know, they're looking at America and saying, are we going to cut and run again? That's what they're thinking as well. And we're not going to cut and run if I'm in the Oval Office. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: To the horrific scenes now in the southern city of Basra. Dozens of people are dead after a series of car bombs, some of them the most innocent of victims.

CNN's Jim Clancy in Iraq brings us the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Charred passenger cars smoldered outside Iraqi police station in the southern city of Basra Wednesday after a series of coordinated attacks claimed a heavy toll among civilians. We were in the house and heard a really loud explosion throughout the city, said this man. We ran out to try to help people and help the wounded. When we arrived we found bodies everywhere.

At least 10 of the victims killed are said to be Iraqi preschoolers on their way to classrooms. Around 7: 15 in the morning local time the van, used as their school bus, was charred. The seats shredded by the force of the blasts according to eyewitnesses.

Ambulances evacuated the wounded while doctors at nearby hospitals tried to treat their wounds and save the lives of others. Three police stations and a police training facility were the apparent targets of four car bombs.

A fifth explosion was also reported by coalition officials in Baghdad. Some Iraqi police were among the victims but the early morning attacks clearly aimed to exact a heavy toll among civilians in the predominantly Shia Muslim city. Basra is the second largest population center in all of Iraq after Baghdad. Basra has been spared much of the violence that wracked other regions of the country during the month of April. But the well- coordinated attacks Wednesday shook any notion it was beyond the reach of violence.

Jim Clancy, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, as you know, some coalition partners may call it quits. Some have already and some like Poland are thinking about it. Already Spain, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic have ordered their troops to start packing for home ahead of schedule. Italy, on the other hand, says its troops are in for the long haul.

Back in the U.S., rescuers are battling crumbling debris and time as they search for survivors. Last night, deadly twisters hit Central Indiana and Northern Illinois.

Our Lisa Leiter is in Utica, hit so hard by the storms. The Illinois governor has just declared it a disaster area.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA LEITER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This tiny town of 1,000 people 90 miles southwest of Chicago the hardest hit by these deadly tornadoes.

Residents returning to their homes this morning and this afternoon, devastated by both the loss of life and their homes, dozens of houses in the area severely damaged. People started the cleanup late this morning, picking up all their belongings, loading up trucks full of things that they could recover. They were cutting down trees that had been splintered by the tornadoes and sweeping up broken glass caused by the deadly storms.

Now, the Red Cross is here in the area as well. They are helping to provide food and shelter to those in need. About 30 people were evacuated from Utica last night and were put up in shelters at both local hotels and a nearby state park.

Now, the elementary school right next to where we're standing was severely damaged in the storm as well. It's unclear when that school will reopen and where students will attend school in the meantime. Clearly, this is a town that will take quite some time to recover from this disaster.

In Utica, Illinois, I'm Lisa Leiter reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras tell us it's now been categorized as an F3.

Other news across America now.

Economic recovery on track for us. That means a rise in interest rates. Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan told Congress today short-term interest rates will rise at some point, but he didn't say when.

Gone from "U.S. Today." The top editor of the nation's largest newspaper, Karen Jurgensen, has resigned amid charges that star reporter Jack Kelley made up portions of his stories. No word yet on a possible replacement.

A call to prayer is being met with controversy in Michigan. The Hamtramck City Council gave unanimous approval for a local mosque to send out the call over loudspeakers five times a day. Some non- Muslims complain it is loud and elevates Islam above other religions.

Hundreds of people are expected at a prayer service in Ohio tonight for Matt Maupin, the Army reservist being held captive in Iraq. Maupin's family has been overwhelmed by support from neighbors, one in particular.

CNN's Chris Lawrence has the story.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The moment Jacob Kelch starts reading, it is easy to see he's not your normal sixth grader.

J. KELCH: I wrote you this letter to tell you that I'm in deep sorrow and grief for your son.

LAWRENCE: Jacob started writing when he watched a captured Private Maupin and thought of the family living a few blocks down.

J. KELCH: Well, I just kind of tried to feel what they were feeling and give them like the words that they might need to hear.

LAWRENCE: The day after he delivered it to the Maupin's mailbox, Jacob was asked to read the letter in front of the whole sixth grade and a special guest who came to meet him, Matt Maupin's dad.

J. KELCH: It was the first time he left his house since he received the news that his son was missing.

LAWRENCE: Jacob's parents still can't believe what their son has written.

SHANNON KELCH, MOTHER OF JACOB: And it makes me feel good to think that he thinks of others and that he wishes the best for others.

LAWRENCE: Private Maupin has become something of a hero to Jacob, who one day wants to join the Army.

S. KELCH: It scares me, but it makes me proud at the same time.

LAWRENCE: Proud of his selflessness, scared for his safety.

S. KELCH: To lose my son some day.

MICHAEL KELCH, FATHER OF JACOB: To have my son be held for something, and that's what Mr. Maupin has to be going through.

LAWRENCE: Twelve today, 18 tomorrow, but, in any sense of the word, Jacob Kelch may already be a man.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Batavia, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: The star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing trial against Terry Nichols is back on the stand today facing some pretty tough questions. We're live from McAlester, Oklahoma, next.

A Wall Street giant in hot water over allegations of sexual discrimination.

And later, how about checking into Camp Petty? The legendary racing family is revving up a new project. The Victory Junction Gang Camp is inspiring America's kids.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER UPDATE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The judge hearing the Oklahoma City bombing trial issues a couple of major rulings.

Susan Candiotti is covering that trial. She joins us now with the latest -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

Well, after hearing two weeks of testimony, the trial judge refused to throw out state's case against Terry Nichols, as the defense had asked, Judge Steven Taylor mincing no words, calling the defense motion full of speculation, not evidence.

Here are his words: "This motion is laced with melodrama and hyperbole, but no substance." Now, the Nichols defense team had argued that the state and federal government, including the FBI, had held back information that others besides Timothy McVeigh may have been involved in the Oklahoma City bombing. The judge ruled, however, no evidence presented by the defense that McVeigh ha any help.

And that reassured victims' families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DARLENE WELCH, AUNT OF VICTIM: It was a huge relief to all of us. And as stressful as it was, I feel like that motion actually ended up being a blessing in disguise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: A blessing in disguise, that victim's relative says, because the judge, for example, dismissed a defense motion that maintained that a videotape exists that shows three or four people getting out of the Ryder bomb truck about three minutes before the blast. Again, the judge saying there is absolutely no evidence after hearing all the testimony that any such videotape exists.

Now, also today, the defense began cross-examination of the state's star witness against Terry Nichols, his name Michael Fortier. Now, Fortier's testimony has put Nichols squarely in the middle of the bomb plot with Tim McVeigh. And while Fortier admits that it was McVeigh that told him that Terry Nichols was involved in the bomb plot and had gathered a lot of evidence -- rather, ingredients -- for the truck bomb, that Nichols himself never discussed the bomb plot directly with Michael Fortier.

However, again, some victims' relatives said that doesn't matter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WELCH: I don't think it changes the fact that Terry Nichols was participating, even though he was not discussing with Fortier. It doesn't surprise me that he was not discussing with Michael Fortier, because Terry Nichols' and Michael Fortier's relationship was not the same as it was with Tim McVeigh or as Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, so far, Fortier's testimony echoes exactly what he said in both federal trials. And you'll recall that, of course, that jury convicted Terry Nichols and sentenced him to life. Of course, this is a different jury and this time the state of Oklahoma is seeking the death penalty -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Susan Candiotti, thank you.

Well, straight ahead, racing royalty. The Petty family getting behind a new project for kids. They're with us live and it's in honor of one of their own. If there's a NASCAR fan in the house, gather around. We're going to be talking to them.

Hi, guys.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(FINANCIAL UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: Well, compassion hits the fast lane.

A NASCAR dynasty is helping sick children find hope and inspiration at a very special summer camp. It's called the Victory Junction Gang Camp. NASCAR legends Richard and Kyle Petty are part of it. So is Kyle's wife, Pattie. They're joining us from Randleman, North Carolina, where the camp is located.

Great to see all three of you.

RICHARD PETTY, RETIRED NASCAR DRIVER: Great to be here.

PATTIE PETTY, CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST: Nice to be here.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kyle, let's start with you. And tell me why you got involved. Why did you put together this Victory Junction Gang Camp?

KYLE K. PETTY, NASCAR DRIVER: Well, I'll tell you what.

I went to a camp in Florida, the Boggy Creek Gang Camp. And we went over there, did a motorcycle ride over there on our Victory motorcycles and had just a big time, and took Adam over there and showed him the place. And, at the same time, we do a cross-country ride, our Chick-Fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.

We were stopping at children's hospitals. Adam was doing stuff at that time in his life with Starbright World and Starbright Foundation, connecting different children's hospitals. And then Adam's accident happened. And when Adam's accident happens, we had talked about bringing that type of facility to North Carolina, but that pretty much concreted what we wanted to do.

We wanted to build something in memory of him and kind of keep his memory and spirit alive. And that's what you see behind us, is the camp. PHILLIPS: Well, let me ask your wife, Pattie, about that. Let's talk about Adam, Pattie, and this camp, picked in honor of him. Do you feel his spirit when you sit here where you are and look at this camp finally coming to fruition?

It's very emotional. Kyra, it's exciting and humbling that it's actually coming into fruition. Adam would I think be so proud of every person and every company, every corporation that has given to make this facility possible. He was all about making children happy. He loved racing. He loved life. He loved what he did. And that's what this camp is going to do. It's going to give us an opportunity to take 140 chronically ill children every week and enhance and empower their lives.

PHILLIPS: Richard, you donated the land here. Tell me why you did that and how do you hope this camp empowers these kids that are suffering from some pretty powerful diseases?

R. PETTY: Well, really, you know, Adam sort of got me interested in this kind of operation.

And, in fact, right before he had his accident, he had been around trying to figure out where to put this thing, had some land up close to Kyle, but it was going to cost a lot of money to get it started. And he was out trying to drum up some money. Then everything happened and we kind of put it on hold for four or five, six months. And then Kyle and Pattie came back and said, we really want to do this now for Adam.

And I said OK. We've got plenty of land over there. We'll just go back part of the our farm here. And we gave them about 65 acres and I think we bought 10 acres. So we got 75 acres right here that the whole facility is on. And then we've got some more up right above it that we're going to give them for trails for the horses and four- wheelers and all this kind of stuff. So we're getting pretty involved in it.

PHILLIPS: Wow. So horses, four wheeling. What else will these kids get to do, Richard?

R. PETTY: Well, they get to do a little of everything. They've got 16 cabins for them to stay in. They come down. They've got a swimming pool. Really, it's a water park. They've got all kinds of different things that they can do around the water park.

And then we'll have the regular different things that you know, from the theater. We've got a gym, you know, all this kind of stuff it, hobby shop up there where they can do all their things, painting or carving or whatever. And, you know, then we've got a little beauty shop if girls or boys, either one of them, want to go in and get their hair all fixed up and a regular shop. If they get forget their toothpaste, we've got some of that for them.

And we've got a horse. We've got a barn down here so that they can ride the horses. And we got a petting zoo. You name it, I think we're trying to get it done. PHILLIPS: Wow. That's amazing.

Pattie, tell us about the kind of kids that will come to this camp. Tell us the type of diseases and the -- what they're dealing with.

P. PETTY: The first week, the disease we'll see is hemophilia. Only little boys get hemophilia. In fact, I learned that. And little girls of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. That will be our first week on June 20.

We hope to see 16 different disease groups this summer, which will be 16 weeks. Actually, right now, we're trying to reach out to the medical communities on the Eastern Seaboard to give us camper referrals. These doctors need to refer these children. Their practitioners need to refer them to us. Go to VictoryJunction.org, on their Web site, and turn in their camper lists. And we need campers. We need volunteers. We need doctors and practitioners.

So we're trying to drive the project forward that we are just about to completion behind us and building and we're ready for counselors and children.

PHILLIPS: Wow, you talk about medical experts and counselors.

Kyle, you know, you and your family and you and your wife, of course, experienced the death of your son. It was a very difficult time. Now you will be surrounded by children, many of them struggling to stay alive. I'm curious how you are going to identify with these kids and what are you going to be able to say to them. And, no doubt, you're going to be able to empower them with more than just activities, but your own personal experiences.

K. PETTY: Yes, you know, I think that's going to be the special part for me, is just being around these kids, because it's like I said a minute ago.

Adam did so much with different children's hospitals in the short time that he was here with us. And with our Charity Ride and that type stuff, we've done a lot. But to be around these kids, these kids are so full of life. They fight so many different battles that we praise God may never have to fight and hopefully we never do have to fight.

But to be around these kids -- I told them, I said, to be around these kids and watch them come to camp and then watch 120 to 140 campers leave on Sunday afternoon, then, for me, if they leave with a little bit of Adam Petty with them and a little Adam Petty smile on their face, then I think that will be something special for me. And I think they'll give more to me, believe me, than I could ever get from them.

PHILLIPS: Kyle, you bring up a great point. Adam was full of life and now his spirit is living through all three of you. This project is a prime example. We're going to follow it. Hopefully, you'll come back with some of the kids once it gets up and running. And we appreciate your time today. Thank you so much.

(CROSSTALK)

K. PETTY: God bless you.

PHILLIPS: Absolute pleasure.

And we do have a graphic for folks that want to get involved, volunteer, find out more about the Victory Junction Camp. There's the address. There's the number. Get involved.

That wraps it up here on LIVE FROM.

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