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Iraqi Truckers Running on Empty; Purple Heart Medals Revoked; Millions in Danger of Losing Tax Refunds from Previous Years

Aired February 09, 2005 - 14:30   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An earthquake sparked panic today in Indonesia's Aceh province. Buildings shook and people ran screaming into the streets. It was a powerful reminder of the December 26th earthquake and tsunamis which killed more than 100,000 Indonesians.
An American cardinal led Ash Wednesday prayers at the Vatican. It's the first time Pope John Paul II has missed the services in his papacy. The pontiff invited doctors to Mass at the hospital, where he's still recovering from the flu.

And more than 40 people are injured after a car bombing in Madrid. A caller claiming to be with the Basque separatist group ETA phoned in a warning shortly before that explosion. It happened near a convention center where Spain's king and the president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, were there to appear.

Moving on to Iraq. This shouldn't happen in an oil-rich country, but every day Iraqis have to cope with fuel shortages and long lines at the gas pumps. Now the country's truckers are saying they have had enough. They want the interim government to take action. CNN's Jane Arraf reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): It's a weekday morning at a gas station in oil-rich Iraq and the drivers are seething. Ahmed Khadem and his friends say they've been waiting for seven hours now to be let through this gate to fill their tanks.

"This is Bush and Allawi's democracy," Khadem says, referring to the Iraqi prime minister, "no oil, no diesel, no gasoline, no country."

The fuel shortage is one of the biggest problems in Iraq. In some places, a tax on every part of the oil industry have brought fuel distribution to a virtual halt. It's a problem that U.S. forces will be handing over to a newly elected Iraqi government.

(on camera): The U.S. military still plays a large role in most parts of the country. But, increasingly, people here seem to be blaming their problems on Iraqi leaders, rather than American officials and looking to Iraqi leaders to solve them.

"Let Allawi come here. Iyad Allawi, Iyad Allawi, where are you?" shouts Salah Hasanobas (ph). He says he's been waiting since 4:00 a.m., trying to make enough money to feed his seven children. "This never happened in Saddam's time," he adds.

At about five cents a liter, this is some of the cheapest diesel in the world, but there isn't enough of it. Moufed Fleiyeh brings foodstuffs from the port of Baquba in Jordan. He says he's allowed only 300 liters of diesel at a time.

MOUFED FLEIYEH, IRAQI CITIZEN (through translator): I can't even get to the border on that. I spend 10 or fifteen days to get enough gas for the trip.

ARRAF: Even before the results are announced, these men have high expectations that a new Iraqi government will be able to solve problems the Americans didn't.

Jane Arraf, CNN, near Maqtoviah (ph), Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Taking back purple hearts. That's what the military has done to 11 marines who, it turns out, received the awards in error. Make no mistake, they were injured, but by friendly forces in non-combat situations. And that, according to the rules, means that they don't qualify for the award. CNN's Ed Lavandera has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marine Corporal Travis Eichelberger keeps his Purple Heart in the same box it came in, hidden away in his father's closet.

CPL. TRAVIS EICHELBERGER, MARINE CORPS: It's for safety. That's dad's idea actually.

LAVANDERA: In the first weeks of the Iraq war, the 21-year-old Marine was run over by a U.S. military tank while he was sleeping. He suffered major injuries to his pelvis and legs. His mother says his knees looked like pancakes. He was awarded the Purple Heart in a hospital bed.

EICHELBERGER: I did kind of feel, you know, like, you know, you felt good about yourself. Like, you know, people were going to recognize you more.

LAVANDERA: To receive a Purple Heart, a service member must be injured directly or indirectly by an enemy attack. The Marines Corps says that's why Eichelberger and 10 other Marines should not have received the Purple Heart. About two years after he was injured on the battlefield, Eichelberger was told the medal had been revoked.

EICHELBERGER: It kind of seems like I've told a lie almost. You know, I've put in job applications that says I am a Purple Heart recipient.

LAVANDERA: The Marine Corps is taking full responsibility for putting these young Marines in an awkward situation. A Marine spokesman says the medals had to be taken away to protect the honor and integrity of the award, and that the Marine Corps made a mistake in rushing to award these Marines before having all of the relevant facts.

After receiving the Purple Heart, Eichelberger returned to a hero's welcome in his small hometown of Atchison, Kansas, a parade in his honor.

EICHELBERGER: Thanks isn't enough. I can't say thanks to you guys enough.

LAVANDERA: He bought a new truck, complete with the Purple Heart license plate.

EICHELBERGER: So, I'm going to have to change that thing out.

LAVANDERA: Eichelberger says he was shocked to learn he didn't deserve the Purple Heart. Now, he worries about what others will think of his service in Iraq.

EICHELBERGER: And it's to the point now that if something does come out of all of this media coverage and they just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and let us keep it, then it's kind of like, oh, well, I'm just getting to keep it because we made, you know, a fuss about it. So, either way, it's tarnished it.

LAVANDERA: The Marines say they spent almost a year reinvestigating the cases of these 11 Marines. That's little solace to Corporal Eichelberger, who says he's the one who has to explain to his neighbors why his Purple Heart was taken away.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Atchison, Kansas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: A quarter that's worth $600? That's right. A design malfunction could pay off big if you're lucky enough to snap up one of the coins.

And she's believed to be the tiniest baby ever born, weighing less than a soda can. CNN talks to a parent (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

Then, meet an amazing dancer, choreographer and role model. Judith Jamison is the artistic director for the famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She's here making sure I'm saying everything right.

This is actually "Revelations." Her mentor did this productions. But we're going to talk about hers, too, right? All right. We're coming up right after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Armed, dangerous and on the run. Florida authorities are searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting. When officers responded to a domestic violence call today, the man allegedly killed one deputy and wounded two others. The suspect, 29-year-old Jason Lee Wheeler, apparently fled the scene on a motorbike that he later ditched.

And it's happened again. Federal agents are investigating another incident where a laser beam was flashed in the cockpit of an American airlines plane. It happened on a flight from San Antonio to Dallas, Texas, Sunday night. The pilot landed the plane safely. He's been examined, and there is no permanent damage to his eyes.

Worth more than two bites. Some Wisconsin quarters issued last year are becoming valuable collector's items. That's because the quarters are flawed and have an extra marking near the leaf of the ear of the corn. Well, some of the coins are selling for up to $600.

When she was born, she could fit in the palm of your hand. It's just -- I can't believe this story. The video blows me away. Rumaisa Rahman weighed about eight and a half ounces in September. Now she's believed to be the world's tiniest surviving baby. After spending near six months in an Illinois hospital, she now tops the scales at more than five pounds. She went home with her parents and much larger twin sister on Tuesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED ABDUL RAHMAN, FATHER: We're home now, so we're going to be busy for some time, at least. So we've had, you know, very bad when we were taking Eva (ph) home because we couldn't take Rumaisa with her. So now they both are now. So it's good. We are really excited.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Rumaisa still needs oxygen around the clock for her developing lungs, but doctors expect the rest of her development to be perfectly normal.

Well, she has a way of taking soulfulness, grace, power and turning them into dance. As a child, Judith Jamison studied piano and the violin, but her parents had a better idea for their tall and talented 6-year-old -- dance. And you know what? They were right. As soon as legendary choreographer Agnes DeMille saw Judith perform, well, her career leapt into center stage. Now the dancer is the driving force behind the critically acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Judith Jamison joins us live here in Atlanta as we all celebrate Black History month and, of course, your career.

JUDITH JAMISON, ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER: How are you?

PHILLIPS: Nice to have you here.

JAMISON: It's nice to meet you and it's certainly wonderful to be back in Atlanta. We love being in Atlanta.

PHILLIPS: And you're talking about all the shows. I can't wait to go. JAMISON: We have a history performing here. Sometimes we used to stay here. I know all the mayors, you know, all the way back to Andrew Young, and I know your mayor now because she studied at the same dance school I did when I was a child. But what's amazing to me is I get fascinated looking at my dancers, still. You know? It's an amazing idea Alvin Ailey had.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's interesting. Well, let's talk about Alvin Ailey. Incredible mentor for you.

JAMISON: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Why?

JAMISON: The man was from Rogers, Texas. A little tiny town in Rogers, Texas, right?

PHILLIPS: Right.

JAMISON: He started studying athletics when his parents, his mother, moved him to California, and Carmen De Lavallade, one of the greatest modern dance artists in the world, took him to his first dance class when he was a teenager. In 1958 he started this company called the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with a single performance. He did a piece in 1960 called "Revelations," which we still perform to this day, and we'll be at the Fox Theater, which you're coming to.

PHILLIPS: That's right.

JAMISON: Starting on Thursday through Sunday, we'll be performing that.

PHILLIPS: And we're looking at "Revelations" right now.

JAMISON: And you're looking at "Revelations" right now.

PHILLIPS: Now, let me tell you, this is such a beautiful -- just all parts of this, what would I -- can I call it a vignette?

JAMISON: It's an American dance classic. That's what it is.

PHILLIPS: And it's got spiritual...

JAMISON: And it's separated into three sections. The first section is the is "Pilgrims of Sorrow." And it includes -- I want to be -- it includes "I've Been (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I've Been Scorned." It includes six new Jesus, all negro spirituals. The second section is "Move, Members, Move," and that includes "Waiting in the Water" and "I Want To Be Ready." And the last section is "Rockin' My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham," and...

PHILLIPS: We heard that in the beginning.

JAMISON: Yes, yes. It's joyous, it's triumphant. It engages dancers who have been doing it for -- they understand its history. And I have dancers who have been in the company for 25 years, 40 years, six years, seven years.

PHILLIPS: Judith, not only is the dancing beautiful and graceful, and you see all different types of elements of dance in this, but it tells stories. It talks about black culture. I mean, you...

JAMISON: Some of the dancers do. There are 180 dollies (ph) in our repertory. We're only showing you about seven of them.

PHILLIPS: It's amazing.

JAMISON: There are 180 dollies (ph), 75 of which Alvin Ailey created. But you see, his idea was to celebrate the African-American experience and the modern dance tradition. And the all-inclusive -- in other words, that embrace of our African-American heritage, about being able to embrace everyone. And so he invited choreographers from all over the world. So you'll be able to see pieces like "Revelations," of course...

PHILLIPS: How about yours?

JAMISON: ... "Vespers," and "Love Stories." You're looking at "Wading in the Water" right now.

PHILLIPS: All right, we've got "Love Story." Let's roll a little bit of "Love Story."

JAMISON: No, this is "Sinner Man." This is still a part of "Revelations." Now, this is "Love Stories."

PHILLIPS: There we go.

JAMISON: And "Love Stories" is a collaboration I did with Rennie Harris (ph), who was a great concert hip-hop artist -- concert dance hip-hop artist. And Robert Battle (ph), who's a great concert modern dance choreographer. And I collaborated with these two choreographers. And this is "Love Stories" meaning love of dance, love of Alvin, love of our circumstance, love of how far we've come.

PHILLIPS: And you've done so much with multiculturalism, too, and incorporating it -- all different -- it's not just black culture, but you go around the globe and incorporate it.

JAMISON: It's about universality. It's about being specific about who we are, and that, in being that specific, it involves being generous and not being isolated. We don't dance in a vacuum. Alvin thought dance came from people and ought to be delivered back to the people, and that's what we do. Right now some of my dancers, some of the artists that you will see on Thursday, Friday and Saturday matinee and evening and Sunday -- I can't help myself -- at the Fox Theater...

PHILLIPS: Plug, plug, plug.

JAMISON: ... are out doing lecture demonstrations and master classes with children. Part of what Alvin wanted dance to do was to touch everyone, especially young people, and make sure that they knew the life that was in them, that creative life that's in all of us that sometimes we forget about. But especially children should know that they have these creative juices inside of them, that they're able to create, they're able to give. They're able to be valid participants in life and contribute to the world in any way, not just dance, not just in the arts, but as human beings.

And you can get that from -- just by seeing an artist from Ailey who is so committed and dedicated and loves what they're doing and keeps a sense of humor about themselves. But they're the best at this. Alvin wanted excellence. So along with that excellence, he was able to produce a company that said something about diversity, about artistry, about stepping onto a precipice and always never being afraid of challenge.

PHILLIPS: Well, have you have carried on that tradition. I can't wait to see the show. Thank you so much. I didn't make it in ballet, but I can salsa.

JAMISON: All right. We teach that at our new school.

PHILLIPS: I know you do. Thank you so much.

We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, if you're thinking about a Valentine's Day present for next year, here's an idea. Another star is launching her own perfume line. With more on that and some Oscar insights, let's go to CNN entertainment reporter Sibila Vargas in L.A. Hi, Sibila. Did you get a little water there?

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you heard that. Darn it.

PHILLIPS: I'm sorry. Want to make sure you're OK.

VARGAS: Thank you. I'm fine. Thanks, Kyra. But scoot over, J. Lo, Britney and Paris. Sarah Jessica Parker is the latest star to sweeten the fragrance counter. The former "Sex and the City" star is teaming up with Coty Inc. to launch her very own line of perfumes. While the name and exact scent are still in the works the stylish star says it will be, quote, "fresh and intentionally quiet," whatever that means. You can take a whiff starting this fall.

Now, speaking of famous New Yorkers, can't get enough of the Donald? Fear not. Donald Trump the movie is headed to a small screen near you. That's right. ABC, which is already soaring in the ratings, has found yet another way they hope to trump the competition. The network has approved a two-hour biopic exploring the life of "The Apprentice" mogul. The project will focus on the last 25 years of Trump's life including the ups and downs of his professional and personal life, much of which has been headline news in the tabloids. Trump is reportedly not cooperating with the ABC pick which is set to start casting immediately. But you know who is cooperating with ABC? Oscar advertisers. The alphabet network has officially sold out their Oscar ad time ringing up an average cost of, get this, $1.6 million per spot. Can you say ka-ching? -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: I know someone else who says ka-ching every time he does a movie, old Martin, your good friend that you're always meeting with.

VARGAS: That's right. I did. I met with him just recently. A lot has been said about Martin Scorsese who has been nominated five times for best director but has yet to take home the gold. When I spoke to him, Scorsese said it's not about winning, it's about how you play the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SCORSESE, BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEE: If you like me and my movies, they've already been done and I didn't receive any Oscar for best director. And it was almost done by the grace of the system in an interesting way, which means that people believed in me out here. It's quite -- that's more important than any award they give you. I would like to win. I'd like the film to get some awards. I'd love my actors to get something, but what happens will happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: Interestingly, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Robert Altman are all legendary directors who have never received Oscars. But you know what, gold or not, he's got 11 nominations for "The Aviator," so he's already a winner.

PHILLIPS: Isn't that the truth? Sibila Vargas, thank you so much.

Well, millions of procrastinators are in danger of losing tax refunds from previous years unless they act soon. Susan Lisovicz joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange for that story. I think a lot of people just woke up, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you better quickly, Kyra. Your unclaimed money could soon become the property of the U.S. Treasury. About 1.7 million people are missing out on more than $2 billion in refunds for taxes that they paid three years ago. If taxpayers don't act by April 15 to claim a refund for 2001 taxes, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

High school or college students, retirees or the self-employed might not realize how much money they're giving up. According to the IRS, more than half of the people owed refunds could claim close to $500 each. If you're filling out a return from a past year, you should remember that you'll need that year's wage and income information. You can get that information through your employers, financial institutions or the IRS -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We're talking about student loans and consolidation? LISOVICZ: Yes, absolutely. You know, it's on the block, the ax. The president's new budget proposal scraps a popular student loan consolidation program. In recent years, millions of people have signed up for the government-backed program which lets them consolidate multiple borrowings into a single fixed-rate loan at below market interest rates. But with rates on the rise and the potential for elimination, experts say graduates and students graduating this year should put in their consolidation applications as soon as possible.

Now let's look at the numbers on Wall Street. Stocks are moving lower. The Dow Industrials down 44 points, despite that 5 percent runup in shares of Hewlett-Packard on the surprise news of Carly Fiorina's resignation as chief executive. Nasdaq meanwhile losing more than 1 percent. And that's the latest from Wall Street. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right Susan, thanks so much.

How many powerful female CEOs can you name? Ahead on LIVE FROM, Carly Fiorina is out at Hewlett-Packard. We're going to look at how many other women still rule the roost in the corporate world.

And in case you missed it earlier, we'll replay the Beijing New Year's video, the video of the day, video of the year, you don't want to miss it. Talk about the traditional Chinese calendar a little bit more, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's hard enough for some of us to balance our own checkbooks but are you aware of how President Bush wants to handle America's budget? We've done the math for you at CNN.com where you can get the highlights of President Bush's $2.57 trillion budget plan and track how America is spending your money. All you have to do is log on to CNN.com/politics to judge for yourself on how lean and mean this proposal really is. Our interactive gallery breaks it down for you and your family,

For instance, did you know the plan increases school lunch spending by $515 million? And if you're sending a child to college, you'll be glad to know that the plan includes nearly $18 billion in Pell grants, an increase of 45 percent.

Outside defense, homeland security and hefty programs like Social Security, President Bush wants to cut spending for the rest of the government by 0.5 percent. It's all supposed to fulfill the president's campaign promise to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

Weigh in on what supporters and critics have to say and then decide for yourself which side you're on. It's all about the economy at CNN.com. I'm Christina Park at the dot-com desk.

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


Aired February 9, 2005 - 14:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An earthquake sparked panic today in Indonesia's Aceh province. Buildings shook and people ran screaming into the streets. It was a powerful reminder of the December 26th earthquake and tsunamis which killed more than 100,000 Indonesians.
An American cardinal led Ash Wednesday prayers at the Vatican. It's the first time Pope John Paul II has missed the services in his papacy. The pontiff invited doctors to Mass at the hospital, where he's still recovering from the flu.

And more than 40 people are injured after a car bombing in Madrid. A caller claiming to be with the Basque separatist group ETA phoned in a warning shortly before that explosion. It happened near a convention center where Spain's king and the president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, were there to appear.

Moving on to Iraq. This shouldn't happen in an oil-rich country, but every day Iraqis have to cope with fuel shortages and long lines at the gas pumps. Now the country's truckers are saying they have had enough. They want the interim government to take action. CNN's Jane Arraf reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): It's a weekday morning at a gas station in oil-rich Iraq and the drivers are seething. Ahmed Khadem and his friends say they've been waiting for seven hours now to be let through this gate to fill their tanks.

"This is Bush and Allawi's democracy," Khadem says, referring to the Iraqi prime minister, "no oil, no diesel, no gasoline, no country."

The fuel shortage is one of the biggest problems in Iraq. In some places, a tax on every part of the oil industry have brought fuel distribution to a virtual halt. It's a problem that U.S. forces will be handing over to a newly elected Iraqi government.

(on camera): The U.S. military still plays a large role in most parts of the country. But, increasingly, people here seem to be blaming their problems on Iraqi leaders, rather than American officials and looking to Iraqi leaders to solve them.

"Let Allawi come here. Iyad Allawi, Iyad Allawi, where are you?" shouts Salah Hasanobas (ph). He says he's been waiting since 4:00 a.m., trying to make enough money to feed his seven children. "This never happened in Saddam's time," he adds.

At about five cents a liter, this is some of the cheapest diesel in the world, but there isn't enough of it. Moufed Fleiyeh brings foodstuffs from the port of Baquba in Jordan. He says he's allowed only 300 liters of diesel at a time.

MOUFED FLEIYEH, IRAQI CITIZEN (through translator): I can't even get to the border on that. I spend 10 or fifteen days to get enough gas for the trip.

ARRAF: Even before the results are announced, these men have high expectations that a new Iraqi government will be able to solve problems the Americans didn't.

Jane Arraf, CNN, near Maqtoviah (ph), Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Taking back purple hearts. That's what the military has done to 11 marines who, it turns out, received the awards in error. Make no mistake, they were injured, but by friendly forces in non-combat situations. And that, according to the rules, means that they don't qualify for the award. CNN's Ed Lavandera has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marine Corporal Travis Eichelberger keeps his Purple Heart in the same box it came in, hidden away in his father's closet.

CPL. TRAVIS EICHELBERGER, MARINE CORPS: It's for safety. That's dad's idea actually.

LAVANDERA: In the first weeks of the Iraq war, the 21-year-old Marine was run over by a U.S. military tank while he was sleeping. He suffered major injuries to his pelvis and legs. His mother says his knees looked like pancakes. He was awarded the Purple Heart in a hospital bed.

EICHELBERGER: I did kind of feel, you know, like, you know, you felt good about yourself. Like, you know, people were going to recognize you more.

LAVANDERA: To receive a Purple Heart, a service member must be injured directly or indirectly by an enemy attack. The Marines Corps says that's why Eichelberger and 10 other Marines should not have received the Purple Heart. About two years after he was injured on the battlefield, Eichelberger was told the medal had been revoked.

EICHELBERGER: It kind of seems like I've told a lie almost. You know, I've put in job applications that says I am a Purple Heart recipient.

LAVANDERA: The Marine Corps is taking full responsibility for putting these young Marines in an awkward situation. A Marine spokesman says the medals had to be taken away to protect the honor and integrity of the award, and that the Marine Corps made a mistake in rushing to award these Marines before having all of the relevant facts.

After receiving the Purple Heart, Eichelberger returned to a hero's welcome in his small hometown of Atchison, Kansas, a parade in his honor.

EICHELBERGER: Thanks isn't enough. I can't say thanks to you guys enough.

LAVANDERA: He bought a new truck, complete with the Purple Heart license plate.

EICHELBERGER: So, I'm going to have to change that thing out.

LAVANDERA: Eichelberger says he was shocked to learn he didn't deserve the Purple Heart. Now, he worries about what others will think of his service in Iraq.

EICHELBERGER: And it's to the point now that if something does come out of all of this media coverage and they just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and let us keep it, then it's kind of like, oh, well, I'm just getting to keep it because we made, you know, a fuss about it. So, either way, it's tarnished it.

LAVANDERA: The Marines say they spent almost a year reinvestigating the cases of these 11 Marines. That's little solace to Corporal Eichelberger, who says he's the one who has to explain to his neighbors why his Purple Heart was taken away.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Atchison, Kansas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: A quarter that's worth $600? That's right. A design malfunction could pay off big if you're lucky enough to snap up one of the coins.

And she's believed to be the tiniest baby ever born, weighing less than a soda can. CNN talks to a parent (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

Then, meet an amazing dancer, choreographer and role model. Judith Jamison is the artistic director for the famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She's here making sure I'm saying everything right.

This is actually "Revelations." Her mentor did this productions. But we're going to talk about hers, too, right? All right. We're coming up right after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Armed, dangerous and on the run. Florida authorities are searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting. When officers responded to a domestic violence call today, the man allegedly killed one deputy and wounded two others. The suspect, 29-year-old Jason Lee Wheeler, apparently fled the scene on a motorbike that he later ditched.

And it's happened again. Federal agents are investigating another incident where a laser beam was flashed in the cockpit of an American airlines plane. It happened on a flight from San Antonio to Dallas, Texas, Sunday night. The pilot landed the plane safely. He's been examined, and there is no permanent damage to his eyes.

Worth more than two bites. Some Wisconsin quarters issued last year are becoming valuable collector's items. That's because the quarters are flawed and have an extra marking near the leaf of the ear of the corn. Well, some of the coins are selling for up to $600.

When she was born, she could fit in the palm of your hand. It's just -- I can't believe this story. The video blows me away. Rumaisa Rahman weighed about eight and a half ounces in September. Now she's believed to be the world's tiniest surviving baby. After spending near six months in an Illinois hospital, she now tops the scales at more than five pounds. She went home with her parents and much larger twin sister on Tuesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED ABDUL RAHMAN, FATHER: We're home now, so we're going to be busy for some time, at least. So we've had, you know, very bad when we were taking Eva (ph) home because we couldn't take Rumaisa with her. So now they both are now. So it's good. We are really excited.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Rumaisa still needs oxygen around the clock for her developing lungs, but doctors expect the rest of her development to be perfectly normal.

Well, she has a way of taking soulfulness, grace, power and turning them into dance. As a child, Judith Jamison studied piano and the violin, but her parents had a better idea for their tall and talented 6-year-old -- dance. And you know what? They were right. As soon as legendary choreographer Agnes DeMille saw Judith perform, well, her career leapt into center stage. Now the dancer is the driving force behind the critically acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Judith Jamison joins us live here in Atlanta as we all celebrate Black History month and, of course, your career.

JUDITH JAMISON, ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER: How are you?

PHILLIPS: Nice to have you here.

JAMISON: It's nice to meet you and it's certainly wonderful to be back in Atlanta. We love being in Atlanta.

PHILLIPS: And you're talking about all the shows. I can't wait to go. JAMISON: We have a history performing here. Sometimes we used to stay here. I know all the mayors, you know, all the way back to Andrew Young, and I know your mayor now because she studied at the same dance school I did when I was a child. But what's amazing to me is I get fascinated looking at my dancers, still. You know? It's an amazing idea Alvin Ailey had.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's interesting. Well, let's talk about Alvin Ailey. Incredible mentor for you.

JAMISON: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Why?

JAMISON: The man was from Rogers, Texas. A little tiny town in Rogers, Texas, right?

PHILLIPS: Right.

JAMISON: He started studying athletics when his parents, his mother, moved him to California, and Carmen De Lavallade, one of the greatest modern dance artists in the world, took him to his first dance class when he was a teenager. In 1958 he started this company called the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with a single performance. He did a piece in 1960 called "Revelations," which we still perform to this day, and we'll be at the Fox Theater, which you're coming to.

PHILLIPS: That's right.

JAMISON: Starting on Thursday through Sunday, we'll be performing that.

PHILLIPS: And we're looking at "Revelations" right now.

JAMISON: And you're looking at "Revelations" right now.

PHILLIPS: Now, let me tell you, this is such a beautiful -- just all parts of this, what would I -- can I call it a vignette?

JAMISON: It's an American dance classic. That's what it is.

PHILLIPS: And it's got spiritual...

JAMISON: And it's separated into three sections. The first section is the is "Pilgrims of Sorrow." And it includes -- I want to be -- it includes "I've Been (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I've Been Scorned." It includes six new Jesus, all negro spirituals. The second section is "Move, Members, Move," and that includes "Waiting in the Water" and "I Want To Be Ready." And the last section is "Rockin' My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham," and...

PHILLIPS: We heard that in the beginning.

JAMISON: Yes, yes. It's joyous, it's triumphant. It engages dancers who have been doing it for -- they understand its history. And I have dancers who have been in the company for 25 years, 40 years, six years, seven years.

PHILLIPS: Judith, not only is the dancing beautiful and graceful, and you see all different types of elements of dance in this, but it tells stories. It talks about black culture. I mean, you...

JAMISON: Some of the dancers do. There are 180 dollies (ph) in our repertory. We're only showing you about seven of them.

PHILLIPS: It's amazing.

JAMISON: There are 180 dollies (ph), 75 of which Alvin Ailey created. But you see, his idea was to celebrate the African-American experience and the modern dance tradition. And the all-inclusive -- in other words, that embrace of our African-American heritage, about being able to embrace everyone. And so he invited choreographers from all over the world. So you'll be able to see pieces like "Revelations," of course...

PHILLIPS: How about yours?

JAMISON: ... "Vespers," and "Love Stories." You're looking at "Wading in the Water" right now.

PHILLIPS: All right, we've got "Love Story." Let's roll a little bit of "Love Story."

JAMISON: No, this is "Sinner Man." This is still a part of "Revelations." Now, this is "Love Stories."

PHILLIPS: There we go.

JAMISON: And "Love Stories" is a collaboration I did with Rennie Harris (ph), who was a great concert hip-hop artist -- concert dance hip-hop artist. And Robert Battle (ph), who's a great concert modern dance choreographer. And I collaborated with these two choreographers. And this is "Love Stories" meaning love of dance, love of Alvin, love of our circumstance, love of how far we've come.

PHILLIPS: And you've done so much with multiculturalism, too, and incorporating it -- all different -- it's not just black culture, but you go around the globe and incorporate it.

JAMISON: It's about universality. It's about being specific about who we are, and that, in being that specific, it involves being generous and not being isolated. We don't dance in a vacuum. Alvin thought dance came from people and ought to be delivered back to the people, and that's what we do. Right now some of my dancers, some of the artists that you will see on Thursday, Friday and Saturday matinee and evening and Sunday -- I can't help myself -- at the Fox Theater...

PHILLIPS: Plug, plug, plug.

JAMISON: ... are out doing lecture demonstrations and master classes with children. Part of what Alvin wanted dance to do was to touch everyone, especially young people, and make sure that they knew the life that was in them, that creative life that's in all of us that sometimes we forget about. But especially children should know that they have these creative juices inside of them, that they're able to create, they're able to give. They're able to be valid participants in life and contribute to the world in any way, not just dance, not just in the arts, but as human beings.

And you can get that from -- just by seeing an artist from Ailey who is so committed and dedicated and loves what they're doing and keeps a sense of humor about themselves. But they're the best at this. Alvin wanted excellence. So along with that excellence, he was able to produce a company that said something about diversity, about artistry, about stepping onto a precipice and always never being afraid of challenge.

PHILLIPS: Well, have you have carried on that tradition. I can't wait to see the show. Thank you so much. I didn't make it in ballet, but I can salsa.

JAMISON: All right. We teach that at our new school.

PHILLIPS: I know you do. Thank you so much.

We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, if you're thinking about a Valentine's Day present for next year, here's an idea. Another star is launching her own perfume line. With more on that and some Oscar insights, let's go to CNN entertainment reporter Sibila Vargas in L.A. Hi, Sibila. Did you get a little water there?

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you heard that. Darn it.

PHILLIPS: I'm sorry. Want to make sure you're OK.

VARGAS: Thank you. I'm fine. Thanks, Kyra. But scoot over, J. Lo, Britney and Paris. Sarah Jessica Parker is the latest star to sweeten the fragrance counter. The former "Sex and the City" star is teaming up with Coty Inc. to launch her very own line of perfumes. While the name and exact scent are still in the works the stylish star says it will be, quote, "fresh and intentionally quiet," whatever that means. You can take a whiff starting this fall.

Now, speaking of famous New Yorkers, can't get enough of the Donald? Fear not. Donald Trump the movie is headed to a small screen near you. That's right. ABC, which is already soaring in the ratings, has found yet another way they hope to trump the competition. The network has approved a two-hour biopic exploring the life of "The Apprentice" mogul. The project will focus on the last 25 years of Trump's life including the ups and downs of his professional and personal life, much of which has been headline news in the tabloids. Trump is reportedly not cooperating with the ABC pick which is set to start casting immediately. But you know who is cooperating with ABC? Oscar advertisers. The alphabet network has officially sold out their Oscar ad time ringing up an average cost of, get this, $1.6 million per spot. Can you say ka-ching? -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: I know someone else who says ka-ching every time he does a movie, old Martin, your good friend that you're always meeting with.

VARGAS: That's right. I did. I met with him just recently. A lot has been said about Martin Scorsese who has been nominated five times for best director but has yet to take home the gold. When I spoke to him, Scorsese said it's not about winning, it's about how you play the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SCORSESE, BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEE: If you like me and my movies, they've already been done and I didn't receive any Oscar for best director. And it was almost done by the grace of the system in an interesting way, which means that people believed in me out here. It's quite -- that's more important than any award they give you. I would like to win. I'd like the film to get some awards. I'd love my actors to get something, but what happens will happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: Interestingly, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Robert Altman are all legendary directors who have never received Oscars. But you know what, gold or not, he's got 11 nominations for "The Aviator," so he's already a winner.

PHILLIPS: Isn't that the truth? Sibila Vargas, thank you so much.

Well, millions of procrastinators are in danger of losing tax refunds from previous years unless they act soon. Susan Lisovicz joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange for that story. I think a lot of people just woke up, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you better quickly, Kyra. Your unclaimed money could soon become the property of the U.S. Treasury. About 1.7 million people are missing out on more than $2 billion in refunds for taxes that they paid three years ago. If taxpayers don't act by April 15 to claim a refund for 2001 taxes, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

High school or college students, retirees or the self-employed might not realize how much money they're giving up. According to the IRS, more than half of the people owed refunds could claim close to $500 each. If you're filling out a return from a past year, you should remember that you'll need that year's wage and income information. You can get that information through your employers, financial institutions or the IRS -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We're talking about student loans and consolidation? LISOVICZ: Yes, absolutely. You know, it's on the block, the ax. The president's new budget proposal scraps a popular student loan consolidation program. In recent years, millions of people have signed up for the government-backed program which lets them consolidate multiple borrowings into a single fixed-rate loan at below market interest rates. But with rates on the rise and the potential for elimination, experts say graduates and students graduating this year should put in their consolidation applications as soon as possible.

Now let's look at the numbers on Wall Street. Stocks are moving lower. The Dow Industrials down 44 points, despite that 5 percent runup in shares of Hewlett-Packard on the surprise news of Carly Fiorina's resignation as chief executive. Nasdaq meanwhile losing more than 1 percent. And that's the latest from Wall Street. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right Susan, thanks so much.

How many powerful female CEOs can you name? Ahead on LIVE FROM, Carly Fiorina is out at Hewlett-Packard. We're going to look at how many other women still rule the roost in the corporate world.

And in case you missed it earlier, we'll replay the Beijing New Year's video, the video of the day, video of the year, you don't want to miss it. Talk about the traditional Chinese calendar a little bit more, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's hard enough for some of us to balance our own checkbooks but are you aware of how President Bush wants to handle America's budget? We've done the math for you at CNN.com where you can get the highlights of President Bush's $2.57 trillion budget plan and track how America is spending your money. All you have to do is log on to CNN.com/politics to judge for yourself on how lean and mean this proposal really is. Our interactive gallery breaks it down for you and your family,

For instance, did you know the plan increases school lunch spending by $515 million? And if you're sending a child to college, you'll be glad to know that the plan includes nearly $18 billion in Pell grants, an increase of 45 percent.

Outside defense, homeland security and hefty programs like Social Security, President Bush wants to cut spending for the rest of the government by 0.5 percent. It's all supposed to fulfill the president's campaign promise to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

Weigh in on what supporters and critics have to say and then decide for yourself which side you're on. It's all about the economy at CNN.com. I'm Christina Park at the dot-com desk.

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