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Bangor Airport Plays Key Role in Air Security; End in Sight for Jackson Trial
Aired June 02, 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush nominates Representative Christopher Cox to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. If confirmed by the Senate, the Republican congressman will replace William Donaldson. Cox was an adviser to President Ronald Reagan.
And a prominent journalist in Lebanon killed today when a bomb, apparently placed beneath his car, exploded in Beirut. Samir Qaseer was known for his reporting, critical of Syria's involvement in Lebanon. He wrote for a daily newspaper. His wife hosts a talk show on the Arabic language network al Arabiya.
In our CNN security watch today, an airport in a small city in Maine is instrumental in securing the nation's skies. The government diverts flights with potential terror threats to the international airport in Bangor in east central Maine. CNN's Dan Lothian has more on why this airport is so important to homeland security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Bangor International Airport Operation Center.
REBECCA HUPP, BANGOR AIRPORT DIRECTOR: Where we coordinate with all of the federal agencies via radio.
LOTHIAN: Airport director Rebecca Hupp has been on the front lines of a government effort to keep potential terrorists out of the country. Some flights from Europe, with passengers suspected of being on a federal no-fly list, are diverted here.
HUPP: Ideally, it's because of our geographic location as the first point of entry into the United States.
LOTHIAN: And the runway, at more than 11,000 feet, one of the longest on the East Coast. It can handle any size aircraft.
HUPP: I think we're proud and happy to do our part.
LOTHIAN: Since 9/11, four flights have been diverted here when some passengers appear to be on the no-fly list. Two last month, one a false alarm, the other a match. However, the passenger who was deported was of no interest to the FBI.
And there's the highly publicized case of the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens. He was diverted, then deported, last year. Homeland security officials say Bangor is a critical lay-over. ELAINE DEZENSKI, DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY: We can take a determination as to whether we need to interdict a person and take the necessary action to reduce or mitigate that potential threat.
LOTHIAN (on camera): Even before 9/11, this airport has been assisting inbound international flights in emergencies. For example, when there's an unruly passenger on board, or engine trouble, or a medical problem.
(voice-over): And as a re-fueling stop for planes bringing troops back from overseas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome back to the states.
LOTHIAN: Volunteers have greeted more than 180,000 soldiers here since the first Gulf War. But the no-fly diversions have attracted more attention, drawing some criticisms for the inconvenience to passengers, and prompting calls for name checks before planes lift off. Homeland security officials say, that's the ultimate goal.
DEZENSKI: We just need to figure out how to set up our systems to be able to get that information and, again, perform the necessary screening functions before that flight takes off.
LOTHIAN: One airport's role, for now, helping to secure America's borders.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Bangor, Maine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: So what happens if you end up on that no-fly list and you're pulled off an airplane, but you're not a threat to national security?
Well, Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joins me from Washington with more on a new program, Jeanne? What is it called?
JEANNE MESERVE, HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's in development. It's called Secure Flight. And final interim rules are expected to be rolled sometime in the next month or so. The TSA has said they hope to have this operational by the end of the year. But there are some questions about it.
Basically, here's how it goes. Right now, when you make an airplane reservation, you give your name and address. Under Secure Flight, you would also have to give your birth date. Authorities say that would help them differentiate between a Fred Jones, let's say, who was born in 1952, who had some association with terrorists and a Fred Jones who was born in 1970 who did not.
Another difference is that right now it is the airlines that run the checks. They take the passenger list and data, they run that against the no-fly list and the selectee (ph) list. In the future, it will be the Transportation Security Administration running the checks. And they will run the names not just against those no-fly and selectee (ph) lists, but also other terror watch list, that to now, are not given to the airlines because they're considered highly confidential and secure.
LIN: That's a lot of personal information. I mean, your birth date, your home address. Are there critics to this program?
MESERVE: Oh, there certainly are critics to this program. They say that they're worried about how that data is going to used and whether or not it's going to be given to commercial outfits. The TSA has talked in the past about running some of this data against commercial databases to get a better fix on exactly who individuals are and what sort of flight risk they pose.
TSA says right now they are only in the testing phase on that. They haven't made any decisions about whether that's going to be something that's worthwhile for them to do. But there are concerns from the critics.
LIN: So in the meantime, if you do end up on one of those no-fly lists, what do you do to get off those lists?
MESERVE: Well, as you know, right now, it's really hard. We've all heard those stories about people who have found themselves on these lists and been unable to clear their names. Under Secure Flight, what the TSA says they're going to do is establish something called the Office of Passenger Advocate. This will be a place where travelers can go directly to try and get themselves removed from the list, if they think they're on there wrongly. The TSA says this will be one-stop shopping for those who have complaints.
LIN: All right, thanks very much. Jeanne Meserve, with that update. In the meantime, CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on safety. So stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
All right, it looks like the end is in sight for the Michael Jackson trial. Closing arguments have begun and then it's up to the jury.
CNN's Ted Rowlands, out of the courtroom now in Santa Maria, California. Ted, what's going on right now?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we're on a short break here. Ron Zonen is the prosecutor delivering the close arguments for the prosecution and he has come out on fire and has attacked Michael Jackson. He's talking about the molestation that he says was at the hands of Michael Jackson. He detailed what he called as the grooming process. He said children are separated from their parents at Neverland and separated from authority and discipline. At night, they enter the world of the forbidden. He said, quote, they learn about human sexuality from someone who is more than willing to be the teacher.
He attacked the defense theory that the family, specifically the mother, made up all of these claims, saying the suggestion that all of this is planned is nonsense, unmitigated rubbish. He defended the mother in this case, comparing her to other mothers of other accusers.
He put a photograph of Jackson up. In the middle of the photograph was Michael Jackson. On the outside was three or four other alleged victims, including three alleged victims from Jackson's past, one of them who came into court and testified. He said if you believe that individual, then Michael Jackson is a child molester.
He also showed photographs of nude boys, which were found at Neverland Ranch and he showed pornography that was also found at the ranch that the boy and his brother say Jackson showed to him. He said the heterosexual pornography was not for him -- talking about Jackson -- it was for the children in his room. He said Michael Jackson has a drinking problem and he gave the boys alcohol. Ron Zonen was animated, clear, very focused, and by all accounts, he is delivering an outstanding closing argument.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURIE LEVENSON, LEGAL ANALYST: As he came right out of the blocks, defending the mother who the defense tried to put on trial in this case. And instead, the prosecutor put the defense lawyer, Tom Mesereau, on trial, saying he made many promises in his opening statement and he did not deliver.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: Zonen's been at it for more than two hours. Both sides have a total of four hours. It's unclear how much longer he'll go now because the prosecution also has a rebuttal. And it's safe to say they'll want to save some time for that.
The defense is up next. They'll have their opportunity to influence this jury before the jury gets this case. They're expected to get it either by the end of today or early tomorrow. -- Carol.
LIN: Ted, what's the jury reaction so far?
ROWLANDS: They're listening intently. Some taking notes. Most are not. Just taking it all in. There's no visible reaction from Jackson. He is here with family members. Two of his brothers, Randy and Jermaine, and his parents are in the courtroom. But it is quiet and people are very focused. And Ron Zonen seems to be, at least this far, has been very clear and very focused as well, keeping everybody's attention.
LIN: Ted Rowlands, thank you very much. Thanks for getting to us during this courtroom break.
Well, it was supposed to be a light-hearted commercial, but one fast food ad is leaving some viewers with a bad taste in their mouth.
And it's a nerve-racking final day of the National Spelling Bee. Who will survive? We are live from Washington.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Sibila Vargas. In Hollywood, one reality contest winner is living the life of a Hollywood star and several others are dreaming of doing so. I'll have the whole story when CNN's LIVE FROM continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Now 25 years of CNN.
Today, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani pays tribute to the men and women who covered the 9/11 tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: The story of September 11 is the significant amount of courage that it took for those photographers and reporters to go down there, to remain there, and not just on the day it happened, but on the days after that because the site was a dangerous one for quite some time.
And CNN's coverage was very valuable and very important and done very well. All those scenes that we now have of the attack, of the fire, search and rescue effort -- the photographers and reporters that had to go there and do that took a tremendous risk.
Well, I think that CNN helped the people of New York by showing us what was happening and as it was happening, including the relief and recovery effort, but giving us a sense that we were sharing it with the whole world.
CNN being there and knowing that it was broadcasting it all over the world and then seeing the reaction that people had, the support that we got, the people who came, it really helped our recovery. It really helped that psychological part of the recovery that said, "You're not alone."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: In entertainment news, a new show could make your dream of being in Hollywood a reality.
And the new American Idol is ready to record.
CNN's entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas is live from L.A. with the scoop -- Sibila?
So another new day for the show.
VARGAS: Another new day, and another new day for country singer Carrie Underwood. She stole our hearts on the tube singing those country songs and now she's cashing in big time on her "American Idol" fame. The 22-year-old is rolling in the dough, so to speak. She just signed a reported seven-figure record deal with Arista Records. Her debut single, "Inside Your Heaven," hits stores June 14th and you can catch the country cutie as she makes her debut at the Grand Ole Opry June 10th.
By the way, according to Nielsen, for a second straight season, "American Idol"'s Tuesday edition was TV's most watched show.
Well, Sylvester Stallone is tapping into his tough side and putting on the headband once again. That's right, he's going to star in "Rambo IV."
That's right, the Vietnam vet turned commando has been living the quiet life with his wife and a 10-year-old daughter when he's called back into action. The one-man war originally drew "First Blood" in 1982, and was followed by Part II in 1985 and Part III in 1988. Follow that?
Stallone will be 59 next month, starts shooting the action film in India, Bulgaria and here early next year.
Well, have you ever had dreams of living the life of a movie star, going beyond the velvet rope?
Well, here's your chance. The new reality show "Going Hollywood" is looking for a few good interns. This dream job could have you working alongside Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey at his Trigger Street Productions, or with top Hollywood producer Robert Evans at his company, or in the music industry with rapper Method Man. The Tinseltown series won't just be glamorous premieres and jet-set travel. No, no, no. You'll get a sneak peek at behind the scenes hard work too. They'll be mentoring these future stars this fall on the cable network TLC.
Well, they sound like some great gigs. Now, where was this internship when I was growing up?
LIN: I don't know. I'm asking the same question myself.
VARGAS: Right?
(LAUGHTER)
LIN: But we're having fun.
(CROSSTALK)
LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Sibila.
VARGAS: You're welcome.
LIN: Well, it's crunch time in Washington. That's C-R-U-N-C-H time. The National Spelling Bee competition goes into the final round. That was an easy one compared to what these kids are spelling these days.
Our Kimberly Osias is monitoring all of the nation's capital.
How are those kids doing, Kimberly?
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh my goodness, it is a tense time, a real nail biter here, Carol.
There are about 15 anxious spellers on the stage now. But first, there were 273. More than half sat down yesterday. One of them, a young California woman, a woman from an underperforming school, a woman that battled all kinds of odds just to get here to Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): For 14-year-old Christian Yvette Perez, it isn't as much about winning as it is about getting in the game.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm happy she even made it out here.
OSIAS: Getting to the stage and round two was harder for Christian than most competitors here.
(on camera): What did it feel like inside for you?
CHRISTIAN PEREZ, CONTESTANT: I was hoping that I would get the word right.
OSIAS (voice-over): Blind from birth, it's just one of the obstacles she's overcome. She lost her mother to cancer at age 4, lacked basic communication skills, even displayed echalela (ph), a symptom often associated with autism. Instead of actually seeing words and writing them out like most kids, Christian uses a braille notepad to feel and imagine them.
ELLEN LOPEZ, TEACHER: When I saw her up there, you're just like clenching your fists and hoping that she gets the word. I never even heard of that word that she had gotten.
PEREZ: Pyregeometer. P-Y-R-E-G-E-O-M-E-T-E-R.
OSIAS: Christian didn't advance to the next round, but she's been chronicling her adventure on her local paper's Web site.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I sat down and I kind of write up just what she's explained to me, and as we go through it, then I read it back to her and make sure it's what she wants.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: And the aspiring playwright has lots of edits for the blog.
Today, after she had a tour of the Capitol, Christian has been cheering in the audience, hoping a new friend of hers will win.
And for all of those inquiring minds out there wanting to know just what pyregeometer means, like me, well, it's an instrument for determining the radiation from the Earth's surface into space -- Carol.
LIN: Good heavens.
And what a remarkable young woman.
Thanks, Kimberly. That was a phenomenal story.
OSIAS: Indeed she is.
LIN: Yes.
All right. Wish all those kids well.
In the meantime, E-Bay is a favorite site for many online shoppers. Now E-Bay is going on a shopping spree of its own. Find out what's in it for you.
Some families in Laguna Beach might get to go back home today. We're going to update that story.
And here comes the bride, on her way to court. Jennifer Wilbanks learns her punishment for lying to the police.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: KFC is ruffling some feathers in England but it has nothing to do with fried chicken.
Allan Chernoff has that story live from the New York Stock Exchange -- Allan?
Talking Chicken?
CHERNOFF: That's right Carol.
The British think a new ad for the KFC fast food chain is in poor taste. As you'll see it shows workers at a call center singing with their mouths full, which as mom always told us is impolite. The commercial is now Britain's most controversial ad.
More than 1500 people have contacted the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority. Some of the offended viewers say it encourages bad manners in children.
Now KFC has told the Brits to lighten up. The commercial is supposed to be funny. Viewers who found KFC's wishbone-humor not exactly tickling their funny bone can rest easy, the commercial has finished its run and the company has no plans to air it again -- Carol.
(MARKET REPORT)
LIN: Well, will residents in Laguna Beach get to go back home today? We're going to update the conditions in California after that big landslide. And the tale of two brothers trying to get out of Cuba. Would you be willing to give up your freedom so your brother could have his?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 June 2, 2005 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush nominates Representative Christopher Cox to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. If confirmed by the Senate, the Republican congressman will replace William Donaldson. Cox was an adviser to President Ronald Reagan.
And a prominent journalist in Lebanon killed today when a bomb, apparently placed beneath his car, exploded in Beirut. Samir Qaseer was known for his reporting, critical of Syria's involvement in Lebanon. He wrote for a daily newspaper. His wife hosts a talk show on the Arabic language network al Arabiya.
In our CNN security watch today, an airport in a small city in Maine is instrumental in securing the nation's skies. The government diverts flights with potential terror threats to the international airport in Bangor in east central Maine. CNN's Dan Lothian has more on why this airport is so important to homeland security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Bangor International Airport Operation Center.
REBECCA HUPP, BANGOR AIRPORT DIRECTOR: Where we coordinate with all of the federal agencies via radio.
LOTHIAN: Airport director Rebecca Hupp has been on the front lines of a government effort to keep potential terrorists out of the country. Some flights from Europe, with passengers suspected of being on a federal no-fly list, are diverted here.
HUPP: Ideally, it's because of our geographic location as the first point of entry into the United States.
LOTHIAN: And the runway, at more than 11,000 feet, one of the longest on the East Coast. It can handle any size aircraft.
HUPP: I think we're proud and happy to do our part.
LOTHIAN: Since 9/11, four flights have been diverted here when some passengers appear to be on the no-fly list. Two last month, one a false alarm, the other a match. However, the passenger who was deported was of no interest to the FBI.
And there's the highly publicized case of the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens. He was diverted, then deported, last year. Homeland security officials say Bangor is a critical lay-over. ELAINE DEZENSKI, DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY: We can take a determination as to whether we need to interdict a person and take the necessary action to reduce or mitigate that potential threat.
LOTHIAN (on camera): Even before 9/11, this airport has been assisting inbound international flights in emergencies. For example, when there's an unruly passenger on board, or engine trouble, or a medical problem.
(voice-over): And as a re-fueling stop for planes bringing troops back from overseas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome back to the states.
LOTHIAN: Volunteers have greeted more than 180,000 soldiers here since the first Gulf War. But the no-fly diversions have attracted more attention, drawing some criticisms for the inconvenience to passengers, and prompting calls for name checks before planes lift off. Homeland security officials say, that's the ultimate goal.
DEZENSKI: We just need to figure out how to set up our systems to be able to get that information and, again, perform the necessary screening functions before that flight takes off.
LOTHIAN: One airport's role, for now, helping to secure America's borders.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Bangor, Maine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: So what happens if you end up on that no-fly list and you're pulled off an airplane, but you're not a threat to national security?
Well, Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joins me from Washington with more on a new program, Jeanne? What is it called?
JEANNE MESERVE, HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's in development. It's called Secure Flight. And final interim rules are expected to be rolled sometime in the next month or so. The TSA has said they hope to have this operational by the end of the year. But there are some questions about it.
Basically, here's how it goes. Right now, when you make an airplane reservation, you give your name and address. Under Secure Flight, you would also have to give your birth date. Authorities say that would help them differentiate between a Fred Jones, let's say, who was born in 1952, who had some association with terrorists and a Fred Jones who was born in 1970 who did not.
Another difference is that right now it is the airlines that run the checks. They take the passenger list and data, they run that against the no-fly list and the selectee (ph) list. In the future, it will be the Transportation Security Administration running the checks. And they will run the names not just against those no-fly and selectee (ph) lists, but also other terror watch list, that to now, are not given to the airlines because they're considered highly confidential and secure.
LIN: That's a lot of personal information. I mean, your birth date, your home address. Are there critics to this program?
MESERVE: Oh, there certainly are critics to this program. They say that they're worried about how that data is going to used and whether or not it's going to be given to commercial outfits. The TSA has talked in the past about running some of this data against commercial databases to get a better fix on exactly who individuals are and what sort of flight risk they pose.
TSA says right now they are only in the testing phase on that. They haven't made any decisions about whether that's going to be something that's worthwhile for them to do. But there are concerns from the critics.
LIN: So in the meantime, if you do end up on one of those no-fly lists, what do you do to get off those lists?
MESERVE: Well, as you know, right now, it's really hard. We've all heard those stories about people who have found themselves on these lists and been unable to clear their names. Under Secure Flight, what the TSA says they're going to do is establish something called the Office of Passenger Advocate. This will be a place where travelers can go directly to try and get themselves removed from the list, if they think they're on there wrongly. The TSA says this will be one-stop shopping for those who have complaints.
LIN: All right, thanks very much. Jeanne Meserve, with that update. In the meantime, CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on safety. So stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
All right, it looks like the end is in sight for the Michael Jackson trial. Closing arguments have begun and then it's up to the jury.
CNN's Ted Rowlands, out of the courtroom now in Santa Maria, California. Ted, what's going on right now?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we're on a short break here. Ron Zonen is the prosecutor delivering the close arguments for the prosecution and he has come out on fire and has attacked Michael Jackson. He's talking about the molestation that he says was at the hands of Michael Jackson. He detailed what he called as the grooming process. He said children are separated from their parents at Neverland and separated from authority and discipline. At night, they enter the world of the forbidden. He said, quote, they learn about human sexuality from someone who is more than willing to be the teacher.
He attacked the defense theory that the family, specifically the mother, made up all of these claims, saying the suggestion that all of this is planned is nonsense, unmitigated rubbish. He defended the mother in this case, comparing her to other mothers of other accusers.
He put a photograph of Jackson up. In the middle of the photograph was Michael Jackson. On the outside was three or four other alleged victims, including three alleged victims from Jackson's past, one of them who came into court and testified. He said if you believe that individual, then Michael Jackson is a child molester.
He also showed photographs of nude boys, which were found at Neverland Ranch and he showed pornography that was also found at the ranch that the boy and his brother say Jackson showed to him. He said the heterosexual pornography was not for him -- talking about Jackson -- it was for the children in his room. He said Michael Jackson has a drinking problem and he gave the boys alcohol. Ron Zonen was animated, clear, very focused, and by all accounts, he is delivering an outstanding closing argument.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURIE LEVENSON, LEGAL ANALYST: As he came right out of the blocks, defending the mother who the defense tried to put on trial in this case. And instead, the prosecutor put the defense lawyer, Tom Mesereau, on trial, saying he made many promises in his opening statement and he did not deliver.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: Zonen's been at it for more than two hours. Both sides have a total of four hours. It's unclear how much longer he'll go now because the prosecution also has a rebuttal. And it's safe to say they'll want to save some time for that.
The defense is up next. They'll have their opportunity to influence this jury before the jury gets this case. They're expected to get it either by the end of today or early tomorrow. -- Carol.
LIN: Ted, what's the jury reaction so far?
ROWLANDS: They're listening intently. Some taking notes. Most are not. Just taking it all in. There's no visible reaction from Jackson. He is here with family members. Two of his brothers, Randy and Jermaine, and his parents are in the courtroom. But it is quiet and people are very focused. And Ron Zonen seems to be, at least this far, has been very clear and very focused as well, keeping everybody's attention.
LIN: Ted Rowlands, thank you very much. Thanks for getting to us during this courtroom break.
Well, it was supposed to be a light-hearted commercial, but one fast food ad is leaving some viewers with a bad taste in their mouth.
And it's a nerve-racking final day of the National Spelling Bee. Who will survive? We are live from Washington.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Sibila Vargas. In Hollywood, one reality contest winner is living the life of a Hollywood star and several others are dreaming of doing so. I'll have the whole story when CNN's LIVE FROM continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Now 25 years of CNN.
Today, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani pays tribute to the men and women who covered the 9/11 tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: The story of September 11 is the significant amount of courage that it took for those photographers and reporters to go down there, to remain there, and not just on the day it happened, but on the days after that because the site was a dangerous one for quite some time.
And CNN's coverage was very valuable and very important and done very well. All those scenes that we now have of the attack, of the fire, search and rescue effort -- the photographers and reporters that had to go there and do that took a tremendous risk.
Well, I think that CNN helped the people of New York by showing us what was happening and as it was happening, including the relief and recovery effort, but giving us a sense that we were sharing it with the whole world.
CNN being there and knowing that it was broadcasting it all over the world and then seeing the reaction that people had, the support that we got, the people who came, it really helped our recovery. It really helped that psychological part of the recovery that said, "You're not alone."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: In entertainment news, a new show could make your dream of being in Hollywood a reality.
And the new American Idol is ready to record.
CNN's entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas is live from L.A. with the scoop -- Sibila?
So another new day for the show.
VARGAS: Another new day, and another new day for country singer Carrie Underwood. She stole our hearts on the tube singing those country songs and now she's cashing in big time on her "American Idol" fame. The 22-year-old is rolling in the dough, so to speak. She just signed a reported seven-figure record deal with Arista Records. Her debut single, "Inside Your Heaven," hits stores June 14th and you can catch the country cutie as she makes her debut at the Grand Ole Opry June 10th.
By the way, according to Nielsen, for a second straight season, "American Idol"'s Tuesday edition was TV's most watched show.
Well, Sylvester Stallone is tapping into his tough side and putting on the headband once again. That's right, he's going to star in "Rambo IV."
That's right, the Vietnam vet turned commando has been living the quiet life with his wife and a 10-year-old daughter when he's called back into action. The one-man war originally drew "First Blood" in 1982, and was followed by Part II in 1985 and Part III in 1988. Follow that?
Stallone will be 59 next month, starts shooting the action film in India, Bulgaria and here early next year.
Well, have you ever had dreams of living the life of a movie star, going beyond the velvet rope?
Well, here's your chance. The new reality show "Going Hollywood" is looking for a few good interns. This dream job could have you working alongside Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey at his Trigger Street Productions, or with top Hollywood producer Robert Evans at his company, or in the music industry with rapper Method Man. The Tinseltown series won't just be glamorous premieres and jet-set travel. No, no, no. You'll get a sneak peek at behind the scenes hard work too. They'll be mentoring these future stars this fall on the cable network TLC.
Well, they sound like some great gigs. Now, where was this internship when I was growing up?
LIN: I don't know. I'm asking the same question myself.
VARGAS: Right?
(LAUGHTER)
LIN: But we're having fun.
(CROSSTALK)
LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Sibila.
VARGAS: You're welcome.
LIN: Well, it's crunch time in Washington. That's C-R-U-N-C-H time. The National Spelling Bee competition goes into the final round. That was an easy one compared to what these kids are spelling these days.
Our Kimberly Osias is monitoring all of the nation's capital.
How are those kids doing, Kimberly?
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh my goodness, it is a tense time, a real nail biter here, Carol.
There are about 15 anxious spellers on the stage now. But first, there were 273. More than half sat down yesterday. One of them, a young California woman, a woman from an underperforming school, a woman that battled all kinds of odds just to get here to Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS (voice-over): For 14-year-old Christian Yvette Perez, it isn't as much about winning as it is about getting in the game.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm happy she even made it out here.
OSIAS: Getting to the stage and round two was harder for Christian than most competitors here.
(on camera): What did it feel like inside for you?
CHRISTIAN PEREZ, CONTESTANT: I was hoping that I would get the word right.
OSIAS (voice-over): Blind from birth, it's just one of the obstacles she's overcome. She lost her mother to cancer at age 4, lacked basic communication skills, even displayed echalela (ph), a symptom often associated with autism. Instead of actually seeing words and writing them out like most kids, Christian uses a braille notepad to feel and imagine them.
ELLEN LOPEZ, TEACHER: When I saw her up there, you're just like clenching your fists and hoping that she gets the word. I never even heard of that word that she had gotten.
PEREZ: Pyregeometer. P-Y-R-E-G-E-O-M-E-T-E-R.
OSIAS: Christian didn't advance to the next round, but she's been chronicling her adventure on her local paper's Web site.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I sat down and I kind of write up just what she's explained to me, and as we go through it, then I read it back to her and make sure it's what she wants.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OSIAS: And the aspiring playwright has lots of edits for the blog.
Today, after she had a tour of the Capitol, Christian has been cheering in the audience, hoping a new friend of hers will win.
And for all of those inquiring minds out there wanting to know just what pyregeometer means, like me, well, it's an instrument for determining the radiation from the Earth's surface into space -- Carol.
LIN: Good heavens.
And what a remarkable young woman.
Thanks, Kimberly. That was a phenomenal story.
OSIAS: Indeed she is.
LIN: Yes.
All right. Wish all those kids well.
In the meantime, E-Bay is a favorite site for many online shoppers. Now E-Bay is going on a shopping spree of its own. Find out what's in it for you.
Some families in Laguna Beach might get to go back home today. We're going to update that story.
And here comes the bride, on her way to court. Jennifer Wilbanks learns her punishment for lying to the police.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: KFC is ruffling some feathers in England but it has nothing to do with fried chicken.
Allan Chernoff has that story live from the New York Stock Exchange -- Allan?
Talking Chicken?
CHERNOFF: That's right Carol.
The British think a new ad for the KFC fast food chain is in poor taste. As you'll see it shows workers at a call center singing with their mouths full, which as mom always told us is impolite. The commercial is now Britain's most controversial ad.
More than 1500 people have contacted the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority. Some of the offended viewers say it encourages bad manners in children.
Now KFC has told the Brits to lighten up. The commercial is supposed to be funny. Viewers who found KFC's wishbone-humor not exactly tickling their funny bone can rest easy, the commercial has finished its run and the company has no plans to air it again -- Carol.
(MARKET REPORT)
LIN: Well, will residents in Laguna Beach get to go back home today? We're going to update the conditions in California after that big landslide. And the tale of two brothers trying to get out of Cuba. Would you be willing to give up your freedom so your brother could have his?
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