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Oil-for-Food Scandal Involves Russians; Cleaner Energy Sources Will Improve Air Quality; Koran desecration story retracted.
Aired May 16, 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: A House panel is holding a hearing on the U.N.'s oil-for-food scandal. They're discussing documents that claim to show an effort by Saddam Hussein's government to influence individuals. Meanwhile, a Senate report today accused top Russian politicians of illicit transactions in it's own oil-for-food probe.
It's been a long time coming, but women in Kuwait have won the right to vote and to run for parliament, provided they abide by Islamic law. The historic bill passed 35-23 with only one abstention. The next parliamentary election is two years away.
The pilot of that Cessna that breached the no-fly zone around the White House could face some sort of penalty. CNN has learned that the FAA is expected to take action within the next 48 hours. The FAA could suspend or revoke the pilot's license, among a number of other things.
The man convicted of killing 5-year-old Samantha Runnion will face the death penalty. Jurors in Santa Ana, California, recommended execution for Alejandro Avila. He was convicted last month of kidnapping and killing Samantha in the summer of 2002. Her death led to California's Amber Alert system for child abductions.
With a lot of energy, President Bush pushed alternative fuels today after touring a Virginia refinery that makes biodiesel from soybeans. The president encouraged Congress to push through an energy bill. The House has already approved a plan with many of the elements that the president wants.
And President Bush is not the only one praising the virtues of biodiesel. Singer Willie Nelson is a big supporter. Our Kathleen Hays has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Willie Nelson is on the road again. But these days, it's not about a music tour like the one those famous lyrics celebrate. It's a new venture that's always on his mind these days -- biodiesel fuel. Willie's in the business of marketing this clean-burning fuel called Biowillie.
WILLIE NELSON, SINGER: When I first heard about it, my wife told me -- this is a couple years ago -- said, you know, I want to buy this car that runs on vegetable oil. I said, okay. So I bought a Mercedes. And it's never had anything in it except vegetable oil. HAYS: Yes, biodiesel is made from vegetables, soybeans, even animal fats. Biowillie is a blend of pure biodiesel and petroleum diesel known as B20. But even blends reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
Cleaner air is one big reason the government agencies are using it. The U.S. Navy recently ordering that all Navy and Marine non- tactical diesel vehicles operate on B20 blend biodiesel by the end of June 1st of this year.
It's in all of Willie's tour buses. In fact, any diesel-burning car or truck can run on it, even school buses, without making any special changes to the engine.
Right now, biodiesel is sold at over 300 service stations across the country. Willie and his partners hope that by getting Biowillie distributed at more truck stops, more people will start using it.
It's still a niche project though. The Energy Information Agency estimates that 44 million barrels of pure biodiesel will be sold this year. That compares with 44 billion barrels of petroleum and 142 billion barrels of gasoline.
FRED MAYES, ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION: It has a lot of promise for reducing pollution, but it's still far too early to determine whether it will become viable, you know, in the marketplace.
HAYS: The government is doing its part to promote biodiesel. It provides generous subsidies to biodiesel producers. And President Bush signed a bill in October setting up tax breaks that producers can pass on to people who use biodiesel.
Willie says he's not in it for the money. He's hoping biodiesel can help America's family farmers get back on their feet.
NELSON: I want to see millions of acres and millions of farmers, new farmers, old farmers back out there growing fuel for America.
HAYS: It's a cause that gives the words of Willie's famous song a whole new meaning.
(MUSIC: "On the road again.")
HAYS: Kathleen Hays, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, still ahead, the amazing story of a sailor just about to ship off to war and finds his long-lost brother on the same military base. It's true. Hear their story in their own words.
And is the new "Star Wars" movie trying to send out a message about the war in Iraq? We're live from L.A.
An Indy rookie Danica Patrick revs up to the fans, making history for women on the racetrack. We're going to talk about it. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: News around the world now. French transit employees are on strike. They ignored a government call to do an extra day's work for free today. It's a holiday in France, and French President Jacques Chirac had hoped for a day of solidarity. Instead, it's chaos.
The world's richest man proving he is not stingy. Microsoft mogul Bill Gates doubled his contribution to global health research. He's giving $450 million. Speaking to the World Health Organization's opening session, Gates says he expects more scientific advances in the next decade than we've seen in the last 50 years.
Ambitious talks between the two Koreas today. South Korea says it made a significant proposal to get North Korea to return to six- nation nuclear talks. The talks, which included the U.S., have been stalled for almost a year.
Out of Iraq, a story of brothers in arms. Two sailors discover they're more than just shipmates. They're long-lost brothers. The men shared their heart-warming story on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALBERT HENDRICK, JR., SEAMAN, U.S. NAVY: Well, we were two days out of our deployment, leaving for our deployment, actually, and we were playing cards. We were playing spades in the lounge, which is a company office also. And one of my shipmates was behind me playing pool. And me and Sean were partners. And my shipmate behind me asked me to turn around so I could look at his shot.
But when he asked me, he called me by my first name. And Sean heard him say my first name. And he asked me, like, "What did that guy call you? What did he call you?" And I said, "He called me by my first name," you know, looking at him kind of strange, like, "Why is he asking me?" And he asked me, was I a junior? And I said, "Yes, I am a junior." And then he said, "Well, after the game, I've got to ask you something."
So, we finished playing cards, and he pulled me over to the side and he asked me did my father drive the bus for the city of New York. And I said, "Yes, he drove the bus. He drove in Brooklyn. He retired." And he's like, "Well." He paused for a minute, and then, he said, "Well, we might be brothers." And, you know, that just came as a shock to me, and I couldn't believe it.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Sean, you thought you were an only child, right? Did you have any idea that you might have a brother?
SEAN HURLEY, PETTY OFFICER, U.S. NAVY: Well, I knew I had an older brother that I was told about. But as for a younger brother, no I didn't have any idea that he existed.
O'BRIEN: And this was because your mom, after the relationship with your dad, actually took you to St. Croix, right? HURLEY: That's right, ma'am.
O'BRIEN: Now, Albert, you get on the phone, because you want to call your dad. You want to tell him two things. One, you're heading off to Iraq in just a couple of days. But then you have something else to tell him as well. You have a brother. What's your dad's reaction?
HENDRICK: Well, my father was just, like, real shocked and amazed. And he kind of got teary-eyed. It sounded like he was getting teary-eyed on the phone. And he was just like, "Oh, my god, I can't believe it. Albert, I haven't seen Sean in over 20 years, and I didn't have no contact with him." And it's just unbelievable. He couldn't believe it when it I told him.
O'BRIEN: Now, give Sean back the microphone, because I want to ask, Sean, what was your conversation with your dad like? You hadn't even spoken to him or seen him for 20-plus years.
HURLEY: It was pretty amazing. Like I said, I hadn't spoken to him in over 20 years, so, of course, I had a lot of questions, you know, as for, you know, what happened, you know, where was he all this time? So, it was a pretty good feeling talking to my dad in over 20 years. I had always planned to look for him someday and, you know, find out where I come from, from the other side, you know, of the family line. So, it was a pretty good experience to talk to my dad once again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, the brothers also made another discovery. It turns out that Albert's wife runs a day-care center at Camp Lejeune, and one of the children she looks after is Sean's daughter, her niece.
Well, straight ahead, will everybody miss Raymond, and may the force be with them at Cannes. Hi, Sevila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. The force is strong. "Star Wars"-mania in Cannes, France. And the cast of "Everybody Loves Raymond" is moving on. All of that when we LIVE FROM continue.
PHILLIPS: And she's got the need for speed. Indy rookie Danica Patrick makes racing history. We're going to pull a few Gs on that one right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: We've been talking a lot about that controversial article that "Newsweek" ran about the desecration of the Koran by detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Well, just not long ago, White House spokesperson Scott McClellan gave his comments briefly. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: The damage has been done. And what this report did was provide people who are opposed to the United States and who are on the other side of the war on terrorism with ability to go out and exploit this report for their own purposes. They've used it to incite violence, violence that has led to the deaths of individuals. Some 15, 16, 17 individuals have lost their lives in the aftermath of this report. And we're going to have to continue reaching out to our friends in the Muslim world and asking them to help us make clear to people what we stand for and to reject those who would incite violence to try to undermine what we are working to achieve in the world.
QUESTION: Some would argue, though, that given the abuses that have been documented at Gitmo, at Abu Ghraib, that the fires were already out there. Maybe "Newsweek" made the situation worse, but is it also fair to say that perhaps that anger in the Muslim world was already there?
MCCLELLAN: Well, I think what we have to do is continue to show the Muslim world that if there is wrongdoing here in the United States, we take swift action to not only correct it, but to bring people to account. And that is something that we have done in those instances that you mention, and that is something we would continue to do if we see any wrongdoing.
The United States of America, in contrast to some countries around the world, believes very strongly that certain values must be upheld. And the value in this instance that we're talking about is the value of the people to be able to worship as they so choose, to be able to worship freely and practice their religion as they see fit. And that's something we hold very dearly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: White house Spokesperson Scott McClellan there, saying that it's puzzling that while "Newsweek" acknowledges that they got the story wrong, they still refuse to retract the story.
Our Ed Henry got that interview with Scott McClellan. He'll be at the top of the 3:00 with more on that and the fallout from that "Newsweek" report.
Well, moving on to entertainment now, everybody prepares to say good-bye to Raymond, and comparisons between "Star Wars" and the war in Iraq. That's interest. We'll tell you what film-goers in France are saying now. CNN's entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas has the scoop live from L.A.
VARGAS: Hey, Kyra. "Star Wars" fans here in the states are definitely champing at the bit to see the last installment of the franchise. Well, some lucky fans got a sneak peek at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was a hit.
George Lucas and his posse, including Hayden Christianson, Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson were the toast of the town as the last installment of the franchise played. Although "Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith" was not part of the official competition, many appeared to be cheering its references, which suggest a comparison between Darth Vader's evil empire and President George W. Bush's administration. Lucas and the cast got a standing ovation from a black-tie crowd at the beginning and end of the film. The director says that when he wrote it, the war in Iraq didn't exist, but the parallels of what we did in Vietnam and Iraq are unbelievable. Lucas also acknowledged an uncomfortable feeling that the U.S. was in danger of losing its democratic ideals.
Well, lately everybody's been wondering what in the world is going on with Dave Chappelle. Well, now the comedian is speaking out in an interview with "Time" magazine.
Chappelle tells the publication, "I'm not crazy. I'm not smoking crack. I'm definitely stressed out." The comedian is trying to set the record straight more than a week after his hit Comedy Central show was suspended. Chappelle also said that he was not in a mental facility in South Africa. He says he was in Dhurban, South Africa, staying with friends. The funnyman says he hopes to start up the show again. No word though on when he will return.
Well, for nearly a decade, they've had people in stitches. But tonight, they'll say their final farewell.
After nine seasons and a total of 12 Emmy Awards, the show is calling it quits. The series centered around Ray Romano's character and his family. Romano told reporters that "Everybody Loves Raymond" is his legacy, and that's what he will be remembered for. The 210th episode airs tonight on CBS, and it will be preceded by a one-hour Raymond retrospective.
So just like that, another comedy out the door.
Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Sibila Vargas. Thank you for the scoop. Well, we got another big scoop for you. She's breaking barriers at more than 200 miles per hour and proving that women can drive. Danica Patrick has qualified for the Indy 500. CNN SPORTS' Steve Overmyer is here to tell us about it. This girl, I love it. Live fast, drive fast.
STEVE OVERMYER, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: It's incredible. She is, absolutely. You know, I mean, and she's really helped bring, I guess, life to a sport that really has lost its luster, the Indianapolis 500. And now this is not just -- the story is not just the novelty of a female racing at the Indianapolis 500. She's actually very good. She's much more than a novelty. At practice, she posted the best practice speeds out there. And in qualifying, she qualified fourth. In fact --
PHILLIPS: She could win this race.
OVERMYER: She absolutely could win this race. She is -- she really could win this race. She is a top contender. There are some odds on that are saying that she could be the favorite to win the Indianapolis 500. That's how good she is. That's how good of a car that she has.
I mean, what really inspired me this past weekend when she ended up qualifying fourth, which is an incredible, incredible qualifying position, she was so mad and she wanted pole position so much she wanted to scrap that qualifying and go out there and try it again. That's the competitive spirit she has.
PHILLIPS: Now you mentioned how great her car is. But you've got to have mental discipline and you've got to have skill to be able to drive that car.
OVERMYER: Sure. Sure. I mean, she's not just some sort of a "Johnny-come-lately," even though she is a rookie. She's 24 years old. She's one of the youngest in the field. She's actually the second youngest in the field. She's got some experience. Look at the disappointment after she was fourth place there.
PHILLIPS: I'm curious. How are all the men reacting to her?
OVERMYER: I think it's kind of a mixed bag. I think most of the guys at first were saying kind of like what some of the drivers were saying, which is, "I can't believe I got beat by a girl." Now, you've just got to tip your cap to her and, I mean, success is success, and she says it the best. The car does not know whether or not she's male or female. And you know what, these drivers don't care whether she's male or female. If she's beating them, you've got to tip your cap to her.
PHILLIPS: So where did it all start? How'd she get interested. Who's been her role model?
OVERMYER: She was 10 years old when she first started at go- carts, racing go-carts.
PHILLIPS: That's like every NASCAR driver says the same thing, every stock car driver.
OVERMYER: And by the age of 12, she was national champion. Then at the age of 16, she goes over and starts racing in Europe and finishes with a runner-up position in the Formula IVs, which, by the way, is the best finish, Kyra, for an American ever in Europe. So, you know, she's certainly got the star power. She's certainly someone the media is embracing right now. And again, she's more than just a novelty.
PHILLIPS: And she's been given no easy in at all.
OVERMYER: Oh, no.
PHILLIPS: I mean, she completely paid her --there were no special circumstances?
OVERMYER: No, not whatsoever. I mean, we're talking about some million-dollar race cars here, and the biggest race in the history, this is the greatest spectacle in racing. You don't --
PHILLIPS: This is David Letterman's team, right?
OVERMYER: It is also David Letterman's team.
PHILLIPS: Right. Right.
OVERMYER: But she also made history just for qualifying alone. She's qualifying fourth, which by the way, is the best for any female that has ever qualified at the Indianapolis 500. She's already made history, and she's looking to make history again in about a month, at the end of the month, when she's going to try to win the Indianapolis 500.
PHILLIPS: We're going to be watching. We're all keeping our fingers crossed. All right, Steve, thank you so much.
Also, Danica Patrick is going to be our guest. You might want to piggy-back with us on this.
OVERMYER: Oh, yeah. Please.
PHILLIPS: She's going to be on LIVE FROM... next week, 3:00 p.m. Easter, noon Pacific. And then Overmeyer's going to grab her, and you'll see her on HEADLINE NEWS.
OVERMYER: There you go.
PHILLIPS: All right. Very good.
Well, it may be one of the hottest-selling cars on the market, but even Toyota's Prius is not immune to problems. Kathleen Hays has the story, live from the New York Stock Exchange.
Kathleen, I don't know if that car goes over 200 miles an hour.
HAYS: No. Well, you know --
PHILLIPS: Unless of course our girl's driving it.
HAYS: There you go. Well, I know you're probably like me. You love to drive fast. But, you know, you could have a problem if you're driving a Prius, a problem that could stop you dead in your tracks, so to speak.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received complaints from Prius owners who say that the gas-electric hybrids lose power while traveling at high speeds. According to "The Wall Street Journal," a software glitch is behind the problems. There have been several reports of engine shutdowns, but no injuries or fatalities have been linked to the problem.
The "Journal" says Toyota has identified the software error, and is telling Prius owners to bring their cars into dealers for an hour- long upgrade. Apparently, Kyra, it's Priuses made the 2004 year and then early 2005, for anybody who's out there and hasn't had this checkup yet.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, let's switch gears a little bit.
Not everyone excited about old Howard Stern coming to satellite radio.
HAYS: Interesting, isn't it. You know, many Hyundai customers -- these are the group -- apparently don't want Sirius Satellite Radio installed in their cars because they object to the shock jock. According to an auto news website, Hyundai surveyed some of its customers about which service it should choose, and customers went with Sirius competitor XM, due to negative comments about Howard Stern.
And Hyundai drivers aren't the only ones choosing XM these days. The company says it now has more than 4 million subscribers, and it expects to add another million and a half by year's end.
Turning to the market, where stocks are sharply higher. The Dow Industrials are up 78 points. The Nasdaq Composite is up about a half a percent.
That's the latest from Wall Street. Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kathleen Hays, thank you very much.
Well, we're going to update our top stories next. Plus the remarkable story of a small corporate jet that misses the runway and ends up in the water. Oh, yeah, we got details for you.
And the bad news about hurricane season. We could be seeing a lot more of this stuff.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Now in the news magazine fallout, "Newsweek" backs off a report that sparked deadly violence in the Muslim world. The White House wants more. We're going to take you there in just a minute.
A recommendation of death. After deliberating seven hours over two days, jurors decide that Alejandro Avila should be executed for kidnapping and killing little Samantha Runnion. The 5-year-old's death led to the Amber Alert system in California.
Picking a jury -- the process is underway in the trial of a former college professor accused of aiding terrorists. Sami Al-Arian is charged with raising money for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. His attorneys want the trial moved out of Florida, citing politics and publicity.
And out of hiding from -- from Baghdad, rather, Muqtada al Sadr demands coalition forces leave Iraq, and calls for Saddam Hussein to be punished. The Shi'ite Muslim cleric hasn't been seen in public since last August, when his Mehdi Army battled U.S. forces in Najaf.
END
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Aired May 16, 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: A House panel is holding a hearing on the U.N.'s oil-for-food scandal. They're discussing documents that claim to show an effort by Saddam Hussein's government to influence individuals. Meanwhile, a Senate report today accused top Russian politicians of illicit transactions in it's own oil-for-food probe.
It's been a long time coming, but women in Kuwait have won the right to vote and to run for parliament, provided they abide by Islamic law. The historic bill passed 35-23 with only one abstention. The next parliamentary election is two years away.
The pilot of that Cessna that breached the no-fly zone around the White House could face some sort of penalty. CNN has learned that the FAA is expected to take action within the next 48 hours. The FAA could suspend or revoke the pilot's license, among a number of other things.
The man convicted of killing 5-year-old Samantha Runnion will face the death penalty. Jurors in Santa Ana, California, recommended execution for Alejandro Avila. He was convicted last month of kidnapping and killing Samantha in the summer of 2002. Her death led to California's Amber Alert system for child abductions.
With a lot of energy, President Bush pushed alternative fuels today after touring a Virginia refinery that makes biodiesel from soybeans. The president encouraged Congress to push through an energy bill. The House has already approved a plan with many of the elements that the president wants.
And President Bush is not the only one praising the virtues of biodiesel. Singer Willie Nelson is a big supporter. Our Kathleen Hays has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Willie Nelson is on the road again. But these days, it's not about a music tour like the one those famous lyrics celebrate. It's a new venture that's always on his mind these days -- biodiesel fuel. Willie's in the business of marketing this clean-burning fuel called Biowillie.
WILLIE NELSON, SINGER: When I first heard about it, my wife told me -- this is a couple years ago -- said, you know, I want to buy this car that runs on vegetable oil. I said, okay. So I bought a Mercedes. And it's never had anything in it except vegetable oil. HAYS: Yes, biodiesel is made from vegetables, soybeans, even animal fats. Biowillie is a blend of pure biodiesel and petroleum diesel known as B20. But even blends reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
Cleaner air is one big reason the government agencies are using it. The U.S. Navy recently ordering that all Navy and Marine non- tactical diesel vehicles operate on B20 blend biodiesel by the end of June 1st of this year.
It's in all of Willie's tour buses. In fact, any diesel-burning car or truck can run on it, even school buses, without making any special changes to the engine.
Right now, biodiesel is sold at over 300 service stations across the country. Willie and his partners hope that by getting Biowillie distributed at more truck stops, more people will start using it.
It's still a niche project though. The Energy Information Agency estimates that 44 million barrels of pure biodiesel will be sold this year. That compares with 44 billion barrels of petroleum and 142 billion barrels of gasoline.
FRED MAYES, ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION: It has a lot of promise for reducing pollution, but it's still far too early to determine whether it will become viable, you know, in the marketplace.
HAYS: The government is doing its part to promote biodiesel. It provides generous subsidies to biodiesel producers. And President Bush signed a bill in October setting up tax breaks that producers can pass on to people who use biodiesel.
Willie says he's not in it for the money. He's hoping biodiesel can help America's family farmers get back on their feet.
NELSON: I want to see millions of acres and millions of farmers, new farmers, old farmers back out there growing fuel for America.
HAYS: It's a cause that gives the words of Willie's famous song a whole new meaning.
(MUSIC: "On the road again.")
HAYS: Kathleen Hays, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, still ahead, the amazing story of a sailor just about to ship off to war and finds his long-lost brother on the same military base. It's true. Hear their story in their own words.
And is the new "Star Wars" movie trying to send out a message about the war in Iraq? We're live from L.A.
An Indy rookie Danica Patrick revs up to the fans, making history for women on the racetrack. We're going to talk about it. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: News around the world now. French transit employees are on strike. They ignored a government call to do an extra day's work for free today. It's a holiday in France, and French President Jacques Chirac had hoped for a day of solidarity. Instead, it's chaos.
The world's richest man proving he is not stingy. Microsoft mogul Bill Gates doubled his contribution to global health research. He's giving $450 million. Speaking to the World Health Organization's opening session, Gates says he expects more scientific advances in the next decade than we've seen in the last 50 years.
Ambitious talks between the two Koreas today. South Korea says it made a significant proposal to get North Korea to return to six- nation nuclear talks. The talks, which included the U.S., have been stalled for almost a year.
Out of Iraq, a story of brothers in arms. Two sailors discover they're more than just shipmates. They're long-lost brothers. The men shared their heart-warming story on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALBERT HENDRICK, JR., SEAMAN, U.S. NAVY: Well, we were two days out of our deployment, leaving for our deployment, actually, and we were playing cards. We were playing spades in the lounge, which is a company office also. And one of my shipmates was behind me playing pool. And me and Sean were partners. And my shipmate behind me asked me to turn around so I could look at his shot.
But when he asked me, he called me by my first name. And Sean heard him say my first name. And he asked me, like, "What did that guy call you? What did he call you?" And I said, "He called me by my first name," you know, looking at him kind of strange, like, "Why is he asking me?" And he asked me, was I a junior? And I said, "Yes, I am a junior." And then he said, "Well, after the game, I've got to ask you something."
So, we finished playing cards, and he pulled me over to the side and he asked me did my father drive the bus for the city of New York. And I said, "Yes, he drove the bus. He drove in Brooklyn. He retired." And he's like, "Well." He paused for a minute, and then, he said, "Well, we might be brothers." And, you know, that just came as a shock to me, and I couldn't believe it.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Sean, you thought you were an only child, right? Did you have any idea that you might have a brother?
SEAN HURLEY, PETTY OFFICER, U.S. NAVY: Well, I knew I had an older brother that I was told about. But as for a younger brother, no I didn't have any idea that he existed.
O'BRIEN: And this was because your mom, after the relationship with your dad, actually took you to St. Croix, right? HURLEY: That's right, ma'am.
O'BRIEN: Now, Albert, you get on the phone, because you want to call your dad. You want to tell him two things. One, you're heading off to Iraq in just a couple of days. But then you have something else to tell him as well. You have a brother. What's your dad's reaction?
HENDRICK: Well, my father was just, like, real shocked and amazed. And he kind of got teary-eyed. It sounded like he was getting teary-eyed on the phone. And he was just like, "Oh, my god, I can't believe it. Albert, I haven't seen Sean in over 20 years, and I didn't have no contact with him." And it's just unbelievable. He couldn't believe it when it I told him.
O'BRIEN: Now, give Sean back the microphone, because I want to ask, Sean, what was your conversation with your dad like? You hadn't even spoken to him or seen him for 20-plus years.
HURLEY: It was pretty amazing. Like I said, I hadn't spoken to him in over 20 years, so, of course, I had a lot of questions, you know, as for, you know, what happened, you know, where was he all this time? So, it was a pretty good feeling talking to my dad in over 20 years. I had always planned to look for him someday and, you know, find out where I come from, from the other side, you know, of the family line. So, it was a pretty good experience to talk to my dad once again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, the brothers also made another discovery. It turns out that Albert's wife runs a day-care center at Camp Lejeune, and one of the children she looks after is Sean's daughter, her niece.
Well, straight ahead, will everybody miss Raymond, and may the force be with them at Cannes. Hi, Sevila.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. The force is strong. "Star Wars"-mania in Cannes, France. And the cast of "Everybody Loves Raymond" is moving on. All of that when we LIVE FROM continue.
PHILLIPS: And she's got the need for speed. Indy rookie Danica Patrick makes racing history. We're going to pull a few Gs on that one right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: We've been talking a lot about that controversial article that "Newsweek" ran about the desecration of the Koran by detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Well, just not long ago, White House spokesperson Scott McClellan gave his comments briefly. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: The damage has been done. And what this report did was provide people who are opposed to the United States and who are on the other side of the war on terrorism with ability to go out and exploit this report for their own purposes. They've used it to incite violence, violence that has led to the deaths of individuals. Some 15, 16, 17 individuals have lost their lives in the aftermath of this report. And we're going to have to continue reaching out to our friends in the Muslim world and asking them to help us make clear to people what we stand for and to reject those who would incite violence to try to undermine what we are working to achieve in the world.
QUESTION: Some would argue, though, that given the abuses that have been documented at Gitmo, at Abu Ghraib, that the fires were already out there. Maybe "Newsweek" made the situation worse, but is it also fair to say that perhaps that anger in the Muslim world was already there?
MCCLELLAN: Well, I think what we have to do is continue to show the Muslim world that if there is wrongdoing here in the United States, we take swift action to not only correct it, but to bring people to account. And that is something that we have done in those instances that you mention, and that is something we would continue to do if we see any wrongdoing.
The United States of America, in contrast to some countries around the world, believes very strongly that certain values must be upheld. And the value in this instance that we're talking about is the value of the people to be able to worship as they so choose, to be able to worship freely and practice their religion as they see fit. And that's something we hold very dearly.
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PHILLIPS: White house Spokesperson Scott McClellan there, saying that it's puzzling that while "Newsweek" acknowledges that they got the story wrong, they still refuse to retract the story.
Our Ed Henry got that interview with Scott McClellan. He'll be at the top of the 3:00 with more on that and the fallout from that "Newsweek" report.
Well, moving on to entertainment now, everybody prepares to say good-bye to Raymond, and comparisons between "Star Wars" and the war in Iraq. That's interest. We'll tell you what film-goers in France are saying now. CNN's entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas has the scoop live from L.A.
VARGAS: Hey, Kyra. "Star Wars" fans here in the states are definitely champing at the bit to see the last installment of the franchise. Well, some lucky fans got a sneak peek at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was a hit.
George Lucas and his posse, including Hayden Christianson, Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson were the toast of the town as the last installment of the franchise played. Although "Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith" was not part of the official competition, many appeared to be cheering its references, which suggest a comparison between Darth Vader's evil empire and President George W. Bush's administration. Lucas and the cast got a standing ovation from a black-tie crowd at the beginning and end of the film. The director says that when he wrote it, the war in Iraq didn't exist, but the parallels of what we did in Vietnam and Iraq are unbelievable. Lucas also acknowledged an uncomfortable feeling that the U.S. was in danger of losing its democratic ideals.
Well, lately everybody's been wondering what in the world is going on with Dave Chappelle. Well, now the comedian is speaking out in an interview with "Time" magazine.
Chappelle tells the publication, "I'm not crazy. I'm not smoking crack. I'm definitely stressed out." The comedian is trying to set the record straight more than a week after his hit Comedy Central show was suspended. Chappelle also said that he was not in a mental facility in South Africa. He says he was in Dhurban, South Africa, staying with friends. The funnyman says he hopes to start up the show again. No word though on when he will return.
Well, for nearly a decade, they've had people in stitches. But tonight, they'll say their final farewell.
After nine seasons and a total of 12 Emmy Awards, the show is calling it quits. The series centered around Ray Romano's character and his family. Romano told reporters that "Everybody Loves Raymond" is his legacy, and that's what he will be remembered for. The 210th episode airs tonight on CBS, and it will be preceded by a one-hour Raymond retrospective.
So just like that, another comedy out the door.
Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Sibila Vargas. Thank you for the scoop. Well, we got another big scoop for you. She's breaking barriers at more than 200 miles per hour and proving that women can drive. Danica Patrick has qualified for the Indy 500. CNN SPORTS' Steve Overmyer is here to tell us about it. This girl, I love it. Live fast, drive fast.
STEVE OVERMYER, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: It's incredible. She is, absolutely. You know, I mean, and she's really helped bring, I guess, life to a sport that really has lost its luster, the Indianapolis 500. And now this is not just -- the story is not just the novelty of a female racing at the Indianapolis 500. She's actually very good. She's much more than a novelty. At practice, she posted the best practice speeds out there. And in qualifying, she qualified fourth. In fact --
PHILLIPS: She could win this race.
OVERMYER: She absolutely could win this race. She is -- she really could win this race. She is a top contender. There are some odds on that are saying that she could be the favorite to win the Indianapolis 500. That's how good she is. That's how good of a car that she has.
I mean, what really inspired me this past weekend when she ended up qualifying fourth, which is an incredible, incredible qualifying position, she was so mad and she wanted pole position so much she wanted to scrap that qualifying and go out there and try it again. That's the competitive spirit she has.
PHILLIPS: Now you mentioned how great her car is. But you've got to have mental discipline and you've got to have skill to be able to drive that car.
OVERMYER: Sure. Sure. I mean, she's not just some sort of a "Johnny-come-lately," even though she is a rookie. She's 24 years old. She's one of the youngest in the field. She's actually the second youngest in the field. She's got some experience. Look at the disappointment after she was fourth place there.
PHILLIPS: I'm curious. How are all the men reacting to her?
OVERMYER: I think it's kind of a mixed bag. I think most of the guys at first were saying kind of like what some of the drivers were saying, which is, "I can't believe I got beat by a girl." Now, you've just got to tip your cap to her and, I mean, success is success, and she says it the best. The car does not know whether or not she's male or female. And you know what, these drivers don't care whether she's male or female. If she's beating them, you've got to tip your cap to her.
PHILLIPS: So where did it all start? How'd she get interested. Who's been her role model?
OVERMYER: She was 10 years old when she first started at go- carts, racing go-carts.
PHILLIPS: That's like every NASCAR driver says the same thing, every stock car driver.
OVERMYER: And by the age of 12, she was national champion. Then at the age of 16, she goes over and starts racing in Europe and finishes with a runner-up position in the Formula IVs, which, by the way, is the best finish, Kyra, for an American ever in Europe. So, you know, she's certainly got the star power. She's certainly someone the media is embracing right now. And again, she's more than just a novelty.
PHILLIPS: And she's been given no easy in at all.
OVERMYER: Oh, no.
PHILLIPS: I mean, she completely paid her --there were no special circumstances?
OVERMYER: No, not whatsoever. I mean, we're talking about some million-dollar race cars here, and the biggest race in the history, this is the greatest spectacle in racing. You don't --
PHILLIPS: This is David Letterman's team, right?
OVERMYER: It is also David Letterman's team.
PHILLIPS: Right. Right.
OVERMYER: But she also made history just for qualifying alone. She's qualifying fourth, which by the way, is the best for any female that has ever qualified at the Indianapolis 500. She's already made history, and she's looking to make history again in about a month, at the end of the month, when she's going to try to win the Indianapolis 500.
PHILLIPS: We're going to be watching. We're all keeping our fingers crossed. All right, Steve, thank you so much.
Also, Danica Patrick is going to be our guest. You might want to piggy-back with us on this.
OVERMYER: Oh, yeah. Please.
PHILLIPS: She's going to be on LIVE FROM... next week, 3:00 p.m. Easter, noon Pacific. And then Overmeyer's going to grab her, and you'll see her on HEADLINE NEWS.
OVERMYER: There you go.
PHILLIPS: All right. Very good.
Well, it may be one of the hottest-selling cars on the market, but even Toyota's Prius is not immune to problems. Kathleen Hays has the story, live from the New York Stock Exchange.
Kathleen, I don't know if that car goes over 200 miles an hour.
HAYS: No. Well, you know --
PHILLIPS: Unless of course our girl's driving it.
HAYS: There you go. Well, I know you're probably like me. You love to drive fast. But, you know, you could have a problem if you're driving a Prius, a problem that could stop you dead in your tracks, so to speak.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received complaints from Prius owners who say that the gas-electric hybrids lose power while traveling at high speeds. According to "The Wall Street Journal," a software glitch is behind the problems. There have been several reports of engine shutdowns, but no injuries or fatalities have been linked to the problem.
The "Journal" says Toyota has identified the software error, and is telling Prius owners to bring their cars into dealers for an hour- long upgrade. Apparently, Kyra, it's Priuses made the 2004 year and then early 2005, for anybody who's out there and hasn't had this checkup yet.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, let's switch gears a little bit.
Not everyone excited about old Howard Stern coming to satellite radio.
HAYS: Interesting, isn't it. You know, many Hyundai customers -- these are the group -- apparently don't want Sirius Satellite Radio installed in their cars because they object to the shock jock. According to an auto news website, Hyundai surveyed some of its customers about which service it should choose, and customers went with Sirius competitor XM, due to negative comments about Howard Stern.
And Hyundai drivers aren't the only ones choosing XM these days. The company says it now has more than 4 million subscribers, and it expects to add another million and a half by year's end.
Turning to the market, where stocks are sharply higher. The Dow Industrials are up 78 points. The Nasdaq Composite is up about a half a percent.
That's the latest from Wall Street. Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kathleen Hays, thank you very much.
Well, we're going to update our top stories next. Plus the remarkable story of a small corporate jet that misses the runway and ends up in the water. Oh, yeah, we got details for you.
And the bad news about hurricane season. We could be seeing a lot more of this stuff.
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PHILLIPS: Now in the news magazine fallout, "Newsweek" backs off a report that sparked deadly violence in the Muslim world. The White House wants more. We're going to take you there in just a minute.
A recommendation of death. After deliberating seven hours over two days, jurors decide that Alejandro Avila should be executed for kidnapping and killing little Samantha Runnion. The 5-year-old's death led to the Amber Alert system in California.
Picking a jury -- the process is underway in the trial of a former college professor accused of aiding terrorists. Sami Al-Arian is charged with raising money for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. His attorneys want the trial moved out of Florida, citing politics and publicity.
And out of hiding from -- from Baghdad, rather, Muqtada al Sadr demands coalition forces leave Iraq, and calls for Saddam Hussein to be punished. The Shi'ite Muslim cleric hasn't been seen in public since last August, when his Mehdi Army battled U.S. forces in Najaf.
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