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Alabama Spared by Tropical Storm Cindy; Judge to Determine Fate of Reporters; London Wins 2012 Summer Olympics; Court Documents Reveal Details of Groene Kidnapping, Murders

Aired July 06, 2005 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, HOST: Cindy storms ashore, packing powerful winds and heavy rain and it's not over yet. Tropical Storm Dennis gathering strength in the Caribbean. And even if this storm doesn't directly hit you, it's already raising oil prices. We're tracking both storms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACQUES ROGGE, IOC PRESIDENT: The games of the xxx Olympiad in 2012, are awarded to the city of London!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And Britain beats the Big Apple for the Olympic prize. We're live from London.

From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Kyra Phillips. CNN's LIVE FROM begins right now.

Grand Isle, New Orleans, Gulf Port, Biloxi and points north, places threatened by a tropical depression, downgraded from Tropical Storm Cindy, weakening, but still bringing lots of rain and wind as it exits Mississippi, crosses Alabama and eyes the Appalachians.

We get the latest now from reporter Adam Walser of CNN affiliate WALA in the Alabama town of Gulf Shores -- Adam.

ADAM WALSER, REPORTER, WALA: Hello, Fredricka.

With the sun shining behind me, there's little evidence that Tropical Storm Cindy was here just a Matter of a few hours ago, unless you look out at the Gulf of Mexico, which is still extremely churned up. There's been a high undertow and rip currents there.

Vacationers are out here, but they're telling them to stay out of the water, because it's extremely dangerous now.

Another sign that Cindy was here is the wind, which continues to blow. Right now, we're getting gusts of about 35 miles an hour. They were about twice that strong earlier today.

This storm also brought a tremendous amount of rainfall with it. In parts of the Gulf Coast, we got from four to 10 inches of rain in local areas. And that caused some flooding. And one of the main problems that came out of this storm here in Alabama was power outages. About 20,000 power customers were without electricity for a period of time earlier this morning. And of course, Alabama Power and Light is trying to get those customers turned back on as quickly as possible.

We're only a little more than a month into the hurricane season and this is the second tropical storm that we've seen right here in the Gulf Shores area. Tropical Storm Eileen -- Arlene, rather, passed through here about a month ago, and it didn't inflict that much damage.

But, of course, as many of your viewers may remember, this was where Hurricane Ivan hit so hard last September. About 30 percent of the lodging here, the hotel rooms, the condos, is still being repaired from damage inflicted by Hurricane Ivan.

Now this is the busiest beach week of the year here at the Alabama Gulf Coast. There are thousands of visitors. Luckily, this storm didn't do too much damage, and most of those folks stayed inside until the brunt of the storm was out of the way. Now they are getting out and about on the beaches and taking a look just to see what a tropical storm looks like.

Now the concern is Hurricane -- Tropical Storm, rather, Dennis, which is looming just off to the south of us and could be here in a Matter of a few days -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. And let's hope it perhaps weakens. But we're not really sure about that. Now what about all these evacuees in that area? When are they going to get the final OK to come back home?

WALSER: Well, there are a couple of storm shelters in Mobile County, which is just to the west of us. We are in Baldwin County, Alabama. So most of the evacuees are further west of us.

I think it's a kind of go as you see it. And as these -- as the conditions improve down here, they will be sending those folks back to their homes.

So far, no significant damage here. Probably, the most significant damage is that a lot of this sand is blowing out into the streets or washing out into the ocean. The city of Gulf Shores, the city of Orange Beach, they spent about $23 million replenishing this sand after Hurricane Ivan.

WHITFIELD: All right.

WALSER: And they'll just have to look and see how much of that was blown away today.

WHITFIELD: All right. Adam Walser, thanks so much, of our affiliate, WALA. Appreciate it.

Well, lurking in the Caribbean, meanwhile, just south of Hispaniolo, soon to be Hurricane Dennis. Forecasters say the season's fourth named tropical storm is almost guaranteed to strengthen as it batters or brushes past Haiti, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cuba over the next couple of days.

After that it will likely move into the Gulf of Mexico and eventually come ashore somewhere between New Orleans and Tampa, Florida, early on Monday.

CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano is watching all the tropical turbulence from our weather center and joins us now.

Rob, how's it looking out there?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, you said something that's extraordinary. You said this is our fourth tropical storm of the season. This is the earliest we've ever seen four named storms in a hurricane season, since they've been keeping records, for about 60 years now. So already an historic hurricane season.

This was Tropical Storm Cindy being torn apart now. Only winds of about 35 miles an hour. The winds not any longer the case, really. But as it tracks upward toward the Appalachian Mountains, the rainfall and some of that is going to be very heavy, will be causing some flooding across this corner of the U.S. In areas, in some spots, it's already saturated as far as the soil's concerned.

We've already seen over six inches of rainfall in big cities like Mobile, Alabama, and points to the west. So that's going to be the main issue with Cindy.

Now let's talk about Dennis. Still a tropical storm with winds about 70 miles an hour. But this one looks much more impressive. It's in the Caribbean Sea. There's really nothing to hold it back from strengthening. We do think it's going to strengthen here, likely become a hurricane sometime today.

Here's Jamaica. Here's the island of Hispaniola. Right now, it's about 220 miles south of Haiti. And it's continuing its trek to the west, northwest. Looks like Jamaica is right in the path of this storm. And we do expect it to make inroads there tonight.

So here's the forecast track out of the National Hurricane Center. A west-northwesterly movement will continue for the next 24 or 48 hours. Jamaica could easily see Category 1 to Category 2 force winds tomorrow. Then on Friday, looking at the western tip of Cuba. Over the weekend it looks like it gets into the Gulf of Mexico, potentially as a Category 3 or a major hurricane.

What it does from there, we just don't know yet. Looks like landfall Sunday, somewhere. We'll keep you abreast of that situation.

But the main point is we do expect it to get to Category 3 status. That means winds of over 110 miles per hour, storm surge, 9 to 12 feet. And really, we call it a major hurricane, because it has the ability to do damage to, you know, structures like small residents. It also brings a lot of water in there, Fredricka, very quickly. The water's the main reason that people get hurt or even die in hurricanes.

So we don't take major hurricanes -- we take them quite seriously. And this one, we'll have a few days to plan for it, so we'll keep you abreast as we go on through town (ph).

WHITFIELD: All right, Rob. It would be nice if it did lose strength. But we know as it gets into those warm Gulf waters, that's where the problem persists. Thanks so much.

Well, talk about deadlines. "TIME" magazine's Matt Cooper and Judith Miller of "The New York Times" may have just another hour to tell a special prosecutor what he wants to know or go to jail.

For two years now, both reporters have refused to say who in the government leaked the name of a CIA operative. And both have been in contempt of court for months now. Adding to the controversy, Miller didn't even write about the spy in question. And "TIME" magazine has surrendered Cooper's notes.

Free speech advocates are outraged at the lack of a federal shield law allowing journalists to protect their confidential sources. And we get a preview of today's pivotal federal hearing from CNN's Bob Franken, who's at the D.C. courthouse, where things have yet to get under way, right Bob?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, right. They will in about an hour.

The two are just really the latest to be involved in that long- standing struggle between the power of government to enforce its laws and the power of the press to oversee that government.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Matt Cooper's bosses at "TIME" magazine had already turned over the documents, including his notes and e- mails, over his objections. But the prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, insists in papers filed by the court, "That's not enough. Cooper must also testify or face jail."

As for Judith Miller, her employer, "The New York Times," has not budged, and neither has she. And she, too, faces the prospect of incarceration after the court hearing.

Fitzgerald also opposed requests from the reporters for the judge to impose house arrest if the judge does sentence them.

All of this because somebody blew Valerie Plame's cover, which might have been illegal. Plame, we now know, was an undercover CIA operative. She's also the wife of Joe Wilson. Wilson was the former diplomat who was charging the administration had put out misleading information about Iraq's nuclear efforts. Columnist Robert Novak reported the information, citing administration sources. Miller did not. Cooper wrote about it in "TIME" after the Novak column appeared.

"TIME," by the way is owned by Time Warner, which also owns CNN.

Fitzgerald was named a special investigator to find out who leaked the information and whether it was illegal. The records "TIME" magazine turned over show that Cooper spoke in that critical week of July 2003 to Karl Rove, now the White House deputy chief of staff.

Rove's lawyer insists his client did not give out confidential information on Valerie Plame. The attorney goes on to say he has been assured that Rove is not a suspect.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: But it is not Karl Rove who is the subject of today's hearing. The judge will decide whether Cooper and Miller are the ones who go to jail -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Bob Franken, thanks so much from Washington, D.C.

Remember those cracks from the president about France, about the shortcomings of British cuisine? Well, the Brits sure don't, not after today's announcement that London beat Moscow, Madrid, New York and, yes, Paris, thank you very much, to host the 2012 Olympics.

Jolly old England has rarely been jollier, though there won't be time to celebrate before the real work begins.

We get an update now from CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney in Trafalgar Square, where the folks there are exuberant, aren't they?

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, they are still exuberant, Fredricka, some six hours now after that announcement was made from Singapore.

As you say, the work about to begin. Tony Blair, the British prime minister, saying that the work would begin straight away, that no time would be lost.

But it was a very different scene here in Trafalgar Square at about 1 local time, as more than 10,000 people gathered here in central London, to await that all-important announcement from Singapore.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SWEENEY (voice-over): To Londoners it seems like the longest wait in the world, the tension too much for some of Britain's Olympic stars. But when the announcement came...

ROGGE: The International Olympic Committee has the honor of announcing that the games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of London.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Amazing! I never thought it would happen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's brilliant. I think we deserved to win. I think we put the best bid in and I can't wait for 2012.

SWEENEY: Jubilation, too, among British Olympic gold medalists.

KELLY HOLMES, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: It's going to motivate, inspire so many youngsters in different generations, something that's going to last -- last a lifetime.

SWEENEY: London was never considered the favorite, but Londoners knew it was always going to be a close race with their historic rival, Paris. A strong bid and last-minute lobbying by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who flew to Singapore to press the flesh, paid off.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's not often in this job that you sort of punch the air and do a little jig and embrace the next -- person standing next to you. So you know, there are -- that's -- I think that's between me and them. But -- no, so it's a fantastic thing and I'm absolutely thrilled, obviously, I am.

SWEENEY: He left Singapore before the vote, racing to Scotland to host the G-8 summit, leaving behind him, a very happy British delegation, including a royal former Olympic athlete.

PRINCESS ANNE, UNITED KINGDOM: I had every confidence in the team, and I'm delighted for them that we have succeeded. And I do have every confidence in them for the future.

SEBASTIAN COE, BRITISH OLYMPIC TEAM: I always felt that London had an outstanding chance of taking the prize, as long as we decided what it really was that we wanted to say about ourselves and what it was we really wanted to achieve. And it was my natural instinct to make our -- to make our strategy based around sport.

SWEENEY: Much of the east end of the city, sometimes called the forgotten London, will now be regenerated, a point not lost on the IOC voting members.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SWEENEY: And, indeed, that endorsement from the IOC has made most people in London here extremely happy. Perhaps none more so than the British prime minister, Tony Blair, who, as I mentioned, has raced back to Scotland to host the G-8 summit tomorrow, a very crucial summit.

One late arrival will be the French president, Jacques Chirac, who at this moment is winging his way back from Singapore -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, and sort of in the dog house from Brit standards, right? Fionnuala Sweeney, thanks so much, from Trafalgar Square.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we're going to Alabama next week and we're going to have a funeral.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That sure?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm optimistic.

WHITFIELD: Volunteers take you inside the search for Natalee Holloway in Aruba.

Later on LIVE FROM, emergency calls in a war zone.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This one, for example, arrived on the scene of a suicide bombing, only to be bombed itself.

WHITFIELD: Risking it all to rush aid to the injured in Iraq.

Also ahead, the protests, the parties and the purpose of the G-8 summit. How will this gathering of world leaders affect you?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's smiling. She's playing with her cousins at the hospital and stuff and showing them everything and -- just like a little girl, you know, just like our little Shasta Ray (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Even as Shasta Groene's grandmother expresses relief the little girl is now safe, horrifying and heartbreaking details are emerging from Idaho.

At this point, 8-year-old Shasta appears to be the only survivor of an ordeal that she says began when this man appeared at her house and began tying up everyone inside. Joseph Edward Duncan, a convicted sex offender, now charged with multiple crimes.

Our Sean Callebs is in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, with more on a case that could result in the death penalty -- Sean.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office as well as other investigators wanted information and this finding of probable cause document sealed. However, the judge in the case said it was a matter of public record. This document details conversations that 8-year-old Shasta Groene had with lead investigators in the case. In it, Shasta Groene says that it was 42-year-old Joseph Duncan who tied up her mother, 13-year- old brother and her mother's boyfriend. The next day, those three were found savagely beaten to death.

Shasta Groene also tells investigators it was Duncan who took her and Dylan Groene from the house, later taking them to two campsites, where the two children were repeatedly sexually molested.

Shasta Groene remains at a local hospital. Authorities and the family say she is doing remarkably well, considering everything she has been through over the past seven weeks.

Duncan had his first appearance in court yesterday. He was wearing a brightly colored jump suit and also shackled at the time. He spoke with the judge via a video hookup. He's charged with two count of first degree kidnapping with intent to commit rape. Now in Idaho, those are charges that could carry the death penalty.

Meanwhile, about 95 miles to the east of us in Montana, federal authorities say they wrapped up work on a crime scene there, where they found what they believe to be human remains. The remains have not been positively identified yet. However, they have been sent to an FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, and they expect DNA testing will be wrapped up there in the next day or two.

Sean Callebs, CNN, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now claims and counterclaims in Aruba, where Natalee Holloway's family is determined to get to the bottom of the story. The Kalpoe brothers, released from jail due to a lack of evidence, continue to say they're innocent. Meanwhile, the missing teen's father, Dave Holloway, says the FBI is telling the family to prepare themselves for the worse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE HOLLOWAY, NATALEE'S FATHER: Well, the FBI told us about two weeks ago that things didn't look good. In fact, that they felt like foul play was involved and don't expect a miracle, that type of stuff. Of course, we still hold one thread of hope that -- realistically, they told us that, you know, she's probably not alive, or likely not alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Also today, the mother of the missing teen tells CNN that she's got information she can't disclose that links the freed Kalpoe brothers to her daughter's disappearance, but she says she won't say more for fear of jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.

CNN's David Mattingly, with more now from Aruba.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The family for Natalee Holloway trying to keep the pressure on in the search for their daughter today. Natalee's mother, Beth Twitty, described how emotionally difficult it was for the family when an Aruban judge ordered the release of two more suspects in the case.

They also responded to a public demonstration we saw here yesterday. Aruban residents actually rallied in response to criticism. They supported their government and its handling of the investigation.

BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, NATALEE'S MOTHER: After something like that happens, as it did Monday, it takes me -- it takes me a couple of days to -- to really regroup and see where we are and where I am and how I'm feeling.

And I'm slowly coming out -- I mean, yesterday, was -- was so difficult and even last night, you know -- but as each day comes, today is -- today is getting a little more -- I'm getting a little more strength and, you know, that optimism back that we can keep going.

MATTINGLY: After a practice run yesterday, Dutch F-16s will be in the air again, beginning their high-tech searching of the island today. They'll be using infrared devices and special cameras to look for Natalee Holloway in ways that the hundreds of searchers on the ground could not.

David Mattingly, CNN, Palm Beach, Aruba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: We want to show you live pictures now of a remarkable attempted rescue under way in Michigan. Take a look at this. This is taking place in Bay City, Michigan, where apparently, a worker is trapped underground some 18 feet deep underground. He was working on a sewer line when something went wrong.

And now rescuers, including firefighters, are there, trying to retrieve him. And while they're trying to get to them, meantime, they're trying to give him some supplies so that perhaps he can help himself, by handing him pieces of wood so that perhaps he can build some sort of wall inside of the trench to stop any more dirt from piling up on him. And they're also trying to give him some oxygen so he could stay revived there, as well.

Firefighters have been working on this since early this morning around 10:30 Eastern Time this morning. That's the scene right there in Bay City, Michigan. When we get more information about his hopeful rescue, we'll bring that to you.

Well, some of those searching for Natalee Holloway are volunteers from the United States. A little later on LIVE FROM, the searchers allow CNN's cameras to follow them as they brave rough seas to find the young woman from Alabama. And one of the most common cancer screening tests for men may not be the most effective after all. Details on that straight ahead.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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WHITFIELD: News from the good health front now.

One of the most common screening procedures for prostate cancer gets low marks from a university study. Researchers report this week the so-called PSA test produces too many hit or miss results. It's in the latest "Journal of the American Medical Association."

And another published report, this one in "The Journal of Pediatrics," takes issue with how the government reports the number of autism cases in America. The Education Department shows autism is on a sharp rise. The study's author isn't so sure and points out that there is no national standard for identifying the disorder.

And the morning after pill. Still stirring the nation's moral medical debate. The marketing firm surveyed doctors across the country and found a majority of them believe pharmacists should not only have the authority to dispense emergency contraception, but should do so despite any ethical questions they may have. It's divided the medical community, and several states have pending bills on that very issue.

For the latest medical stories, special reports and a health library, you can log on anytime to CNN.com/health.

Wall Street is keeping a close eye on the progression of two tropical storms we've been following. To explain the connection between stocks and storms, Kathleen Hays joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange.

Kathleen, even though one has been downgraded to a tropical depression.

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