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Interview with Mexican President Vicente Fox; Suspicious Package Outside Police Station in Los Angeles; Murder Suspect David Ludwig in Police Custody; Medicare Maze

Aired November 14, 2005 - 14:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Sticks and stones and a sticky political divide in Latin America. Venezuela and Mexico are recalling their ambassadors to each other's countries over disparaging remarks about the Mexican president from the president of Venezuela.
Vicente Fox of Mexico is a strong supporter of the Bush administration's plans for a hemispheric free trade zone. And Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, by contrast, is a self-styled protege of Fidel Castro and no friend of Washington, or apparently Mexico City.

At the recent Summit of Americas, Mr. Fox suggested that Mr. Chavez wasn't serving his country by opposing the trade deal.

Mr. Chavez, in turn, said this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUGO CHAVEZ, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It makes one sad to see the sellout of President Fox. Really, it makes one sad. How sad that the president of a people like the people of Mexico let's himself become the puppy dog of the empire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And of course for a response now, joining me from Mexico City, Mexican President Vicente Fox.

Mr. President, it's a pleasure to have you. Thank you.

PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX, MEXICO: Kyra, same on my side. A pleasure to be with you on your program, and with the United States audience.

Let me be clear also about the discussion on a free trade agreement for the Americas. This is an agreement that we, all together, 34 countries of the Americas, backing Quebec, decided to construct and to put into practice. So it's not United States the promoter of the agreement. It's every single economy of America.

Although Venezuela we thought (ph) putting very strong opposition to the project. But the rest, we are full speed ahead trying to build up a trade agreement.

This time, (INAUDIBLE) decided this is four economies. They decided that it was not the right time, that it should be right after the next round of the WTO in Hong Kong. But we all are for the agreement except Venezuela.

PHILLIPS: That's right, Mr. President. And you've made it very clear that you are in support of the free trade area of the Americans. And Hugo Chavez has made it clear that he is not.

Now there is this name-calling going on, and you are responding to his comments. Why respond to his comments? Why just -- why not stick to supporting this agreement or this proposal and moving on? Why is it bothering you what Hugo Chavez is saying?

FOX: Well, let me tell you, there is no response. My response to his comments -- and never I would do any personal comments. And let me tell you that the conversations and the discussions back in Argentina in Mar del Plata are confidential conversations between presidents and our respective teams.

I don't know who took out the tapes or the images, which should not have happened. It just happens to be that Venezuela has got the copies. How can you explain that?

But there's no comments on my side except a very strong passionate defense of trading, because Mexico today is the seventh largest trading balance (ph) in the world thanks to NAFTA.

PHILLIPS: Well, Mr. President, there are members -- there are members of your cabinet that are -- that are asking for an apology from Hugo Chavez. Do you think that is important? Do you want an apology from President Chavez and what he has said?

FOX: Of course. My minister of foreign relations and most of the people in Mexico are demanding that apology because he used very strong words directly...

PHILLIPS: Do you want an apology?

FOX: No. No, not me. Mexico wants it. And now we withdraw our ambassador. We are doing so because they already withdrew theirs.

PHILLIPS: That's true. They withdrew their...

FOX: So relationships between Mexico and Venezuela will come to a minimum. That's his desire, not mine. We love to deal with everybody in the world.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. And he's -- he's withdrawing his -- the ambassador, you're withdrawing Venezuela's ambassador from Mexico. Why do that? And is the next step...

FOX: Because we have dignity. Because we have dignity.

I mean, other countries might accept his wording and the way he attacks everybody and he attacks institutions. We're not willing to do that in Mexico. We have dignity in this country. We have institutions. And that's the only reason that we're doing what we're doing. PHILLIPS: And Mr. President, could the next step be cutting off diplomatic relations with Venezuela completely? Would you consider that?

FOX: If we keep hearing what we have been hearing, yes, of course. We have not demanded nothing up to when he repeatedly and repeatedly has been attacking. And so we have dignity. That's -- that's the case.

PHILLIPS: Are you concerned about an economic fallout, about a cultural fallout if indeed you cut off those diplomatic relations with Venezuela?

FOX: You know, it's one of the countries who with we have a trade agreement. But nothing happens with a trade agreement. And it happens everything with the other trade agreements we have with the rest of the world.

We trade with Chile, exceptionally high levels. We trade with Costa Rica. We trade with Central America. We trade with China. We have a trade agreement with Japan. We have it with all of Europe, with the European Union, and everything goes well for us.

So, simply, if Venezuela thinks that they should not trade with anybody except oil, well, fine, it's their decision. I respect it very much.

PHILLIPS: So it wouldn't -- you don't think it would hurt Mexico if indeed that trade agreement -- you're saying that not much is happening anyway, so if you cut off diplomatic relations it won't affect Mexico and it wouldn't bother you?

FOX: Not at all. Not at all, Mexico. But here also, we're defending economic principles that are good for the world: stability, order in finances, (INAUDIBLE) on the budget, and trading and investment. And these we do well with the rest of the world.

Mexico is now the tenth largest economy. It trades more than all of Latin America together. We have the highest per capita income in all of Latin America today.

So we know our way and our path. And we defend it in all forms. This is why I'm coming to Korea to meet with this 21 economies, the largest in the world.

Sixty percent of gross world product. And we are -- we all are there for trading: Russia, China, United States, Canada, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Australia, (INAUDIBLE), everybody. So we will continue our way.

PHILLIPS: Mr. President, just one final question, please, I have to ask you while I have you...

FOX: Yes?

PHILLIPS: ... and that's the issue of illegal immigration. As you know, a very controversial issue. I want to know what you you are doing right now in Mexico to make life better for the people of Mexico that would help alleviate the controversy surrounding illegal immigration.

FOX: Well, first of all, to us, migration is an opportunity for both of our countries. And we're trying to convince the U.S. government and the U.S. public opinion that we all benefit from migration.

Now, what are we doing? Growing our economy at a rate of 3.5 percent, creating just this year 750,000 new jobs, having on all border towns a figure close to full employment. And I know we have a lot more to do, and we're trying hard, working hard. And this is why we believe in trading and this is why we have such a strong association with the United States on NAFTA, because we believe in those kinds of issues and programs to be able to build up the opportunities in Mexico for our own people.

Nobody in Mexico wants to just go out to another country. They find the opportunities here, they stay here. And we're working with all of our muscle and with all of our talent and with all of our associations with different countries in the word to bring those opportunities to our people here in Mexico.

PHILLIPS: Mexican President Vicente Fox.

Thank you, sir, for your time.

FOX: Mucho gracias. Adios.

PHILLIPS: Asi, tambien. Gracias.

We're getting some break news here in our newsroom. Tony Harris working it for us right now.

Tony, what's the deal?

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, good to talk to you, Kyra.

We're going to take a look at live pictures here together from our affiliate in Los Angeles, KABC. You're going to see the scene right now.

Police are checking out a suspicious package that has been found, left outside of a Los Angeles police precinct. And this is, to be precise, the southwest division precinct in Los Angeles.

I know, Kyra, you're familiar with that area.

The package was found in front of the police station at around 9:30 a.m. local time. Coming up on just about 11:08 now, coming up on a couple of hours ago now.

The bomb squad has been called in to check the situation out. We understand that the precinct building has been evacuated, but, Kyra, the surrounding areas is that neighborhood so far have not been evacuated.

So just to recap it for you, police are checking out right now reports of a suspicious package. In fact, that package has been found. It was placed in front of police station at about 9:30 a.m. local time. The bomb squad has been called in to check it out.

We'll continue to follow developments here and get back to you with new information as soon as we get it -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Tony Harris. Thank you so much.

HARRIS: Sure.

PHILLIPS: We're also continuing to follow that breaking news story out of Indiana. Actually, it's a developing news story now, and that's the 18-year-old boy allegedly killing the parents of his girlfriend, the 14-year-old, Kara Borden.

We told you they are both in police custody right now after a police chase. Their car crashed in Indiana. It was a story that started in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania. We're working this story for you. Going to bring more information to you right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A massive search is over for two Pennsylvania teens, one of whom police say killed the other's parents. Eighteen-year-old David Ludwig and 14-year-old Kara Borden were taken into custody about 90 minutes ago in Indiana. Authorities had been searching for the teens since yesterday, when Borden's parents were found dead in their home in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania.

CNN's Allan Chernoff is there with the very latest on the capture and the investigation -- Allan.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the capture occurred about 550 miles away from here. The manhunt had been under way since about 9:00 yesterday morning.

David Ludwig, 18 years old, now in custody with his girlfriend, Kara Borden, 14 years old. This after the car chase. And it of course had ended with Ludwig crashing his car.

The police say that Ludwig and Borden are OK.

Now, the police over here are saying that all of this really happened after Ludwig came to the home of Kara Borden yesterday morning after keeping her out all night. The parents questioned Ludwig. He then shot them, according to the police, shot the father and the mother, Michael and Cathryn Borden, and then left with Kara Borden.

According to the district attorney here, Mr. Ludwig could face life in prison.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

The defendant, David Ludwig, has been charged with two counts of criminal homicide, one count of kidnapping, and one count of recklessly endangering another person. We have reason to believe at this point in time with the evidence through the course of the investigation this was premeditated, deliberate, intentional. And as such, it would be, with a first-degree murder conviction, life in prison.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: What makes this story even more tragic is the simple fact that Kara's young brother and sister were at home when this all occurred. The sister is telling police that she actually saw Mr. Ludwig kill her father, hid in the bathroom then while Mr. Ludwig killed her mother. Afterwards, they fled the home, called police, stayed with neighbors.

Now, a big question here, did Kara Borden actually participate with her boyfriend in the killing, or at least plan any of it. We of course don't know any of that. But we do know that on Mr. Ludwig's Web site, Kara Borden had recently written, "Because I need you and I miss you."

So apparently, at least from that, we can infer that she certainly did have feelings towards David Ludwig, 18 years old -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Allan Chernoff. Thank you so much.

Well, one of things in that story that took us by surprise was the fact that both teens had their own Web sites. Allan talked about one of them. And one of them even kept a blog.

So do a lot of teenagers have their own blogs? And are they really that far ahead of adults when it comes to the Internet?

Here's the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS (voice over): Among American teenagers that use their Internet, one in five has created his or her own blog. Now, compare that to only seven percent of adults. Eighty-seven percent of teens use the Internet regularly, and more than half of them have created something online, whether it's a picture, a Web site or a blog.

Researchers say the main reason they blog is to stay in touch with each other.

What about e-mail? Well, in focus groups, teenagers say e-mail is just for communicating with adults. To communicate with each other, teens say they prefer posting on each other's blogs or instant messaging.

(END VIDEOTAPE) PHILLIPS: So -- all right. We're going to have more on the riots that have been taking place in France. We had thought that things had calmed down about a week ago, but they haven't. They're still intensifying. Cars being set on fire every day.

We're going to go back there and check in on the situation in France.

Also, much more ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, as we reported, French President Jacques Chirac wants to extend France's state of emergency. Cars were torched in Lyon overnight, showing once again that even though attacks have diminished, France still has a problem.

With us now from Paris, CNN's Jim Bittermann.

And Jim, it was just last week we were talking about how we thought things were calming down and there was communication between these -- the immigrants in the suburbs and the president, that something was going to be done about this. But do we have the wrong idea?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I don't think so, Kyra. I think that we actually have seen a great decrease in the number of incidents that have taken place overnight. It's down considerably from the high point it reached about a week ago. So I don't think that on the street level that anything is really bubbling in the way it was in the last few days.

However, one of the things that we just saw just a few minutes ago is the appearance of the Jacques Chirac addressing the nation. He came out to talk to people. And I think did a lot to acknowledge the fact that he realizes there is a major problem.

Here's a little bit of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, FRANCE (through translator): People have burned down cars of their neighbors, they have burned down schools, gymnasiums. It is a crisis of meaning, an identity crisis. We will reply by being strong and firm, by being loyal to the values of France.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BITTERMANN: So the president taking two lines there. First, he's going to be firm and make sure that the people that violate the law are punished. But also, secondly, making the point very strongly in his speech tonight that he understands the problems of the suburbs and the government is going to take action to solve them -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jim Bittermann. We've got some developing news. We'll try and get back to you of course within the next hour.

Let's go right to the newsroom. Tony Harris with more on that suspicious package outside of the police station in L.A.

What do we know -- Tony.

HARRIS: That's right, Kyra. Police in Los Angeles are checking out a suspicious package that was left in front of the southwest division police building. We have Lieutenant Paul Vernon of the Los Angeles Police Department on the phone with us.

Lieutenant, hello. How are you, sir?

LT. PAUL VERNON, LAPD: Good afternoon.

HARRIS: Give us a sense of what it is you're dealing with at this time.

VERNON: Well, all we really have is just information here of a suspicious package left in front of the police station here. And obviously we always take great care in those kinds of things when we don't know the nature and the origin of the package. And so we're going to handle it with, you know, not wanting to take...

HARRIS: Sure. Lieutenant, can you describe the package for us?

VERNON: No, I don't. I actually haven't been able to see it here. All I have is a description of a package left in front of the building here. And our bomb squad is looking at it right now.

HARRIS: In the front of the building?

VERNON: Yes, it was left in the front of the building.

HARRIS: OK. Lieutenant, give us, if you could -- construct a bit of a timeline for us. When was this package discovered?

VERNON: It was discovered about 9:45 this morning Pacific Coast time.

HARRIS: And did the officers move on it quickly?

VERNON: Well, any time they find something like this, you don't touch it. You get away from it. And we've evacuated the police station there. And we have -- we have plans set up of how to deal with that when we have to evacuate a police station. And we're still able to still conduct business and then investigate the nature of what the package is about.

HARRIS: The bomb squad called in?

VERNON: Yes, the bob squad was called in. They'll be looking at the package.

HARRIS: Any other evacuations in the area?

VERNON: No other evacuations that I know of at this time. Our bomb squad is very adept at dealing with these, and has many similar types of call-outs all over the city like this about suspicious packages. And we really err on the side of caution by looking at them and investigating, making sure what they're about.

HARRIS: And Lieutenant, sort of give us a better fix on that neighborhood. What communities are we talking about?

VERNON: Actually, this is just a little bit south of Exposition Park and the USC area. A few blocks south of USC.

HARRIS: Oh, I see. OK. Lieutenant Paul Vernon, with the Los Angeles Police Department. We thank you for your time. Thank you, sir.

VERNON: OK, thanks. Bye.

HARRIS: Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Tony. We'll keep checking in with you. Thank you so much.

Meanwhile, we're talking intrigue and outrage, relief and regret surrounding those brazen hotel attacks in Amman. The outrage and the regret center on the 57 people killed in three suicide bombings claimed by al Qaeda in Iraq.

The relief, that a fourth attacker failed and was caught. This, by all accounts, is she, Saijida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi from Iraq's notorious Sunni Triangle.

In a three-minute confession on Jordanian TV, al-Rishawi explains how she and her husband planned to blow up a wedding reception at the Radisson hotel last Wednesday. Her husband's bomb vest went off and -- as did those of the other attackers in other hotels. Al-Rishawi's did not.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAIJIDA MUBARAK ATROUS AL-RISHAWI (through translator): My name is Saijida Mubarak Atrous, born in the '70s, Iraqi national, and I reside in Ramadi.

On November 5, I accompanied by husband to Jordan, carrying a fake Iraqi passport. When his was (INAUDIBLE) and mine was (INAUDIBLE).

We waited until a White car picked us up. There was a driver and another man, and we entered Jordan together.

My husband who is the one who organized everything. I don't know anything else.

My husband wore an explosive belt, and he put one on me. And he taught me how to use it.

The targets were hotels in Jordan. We took a car, and we went to November 9 to hotel.

We went into the hotel. My husband took a corner and I took another one. There was a wedding in the hotel. There were women and children.

My husband executed and detonated his belt. I tried to detonate mine, but I failed. People fled running, and I left running with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Al-Rishawi didn't give a motive, and her matter-of- fact demeanor does nothing to explain the inexplicable, the mind of a suicide bomber.

Mia Bloom has investigated that topic extensively and reported her findings in the book "Dying to Kill." She joins me today from Cincinnati.

And Mia, the first thing I thought of is, here she is talking about women and children, and yet I'm wondering, I wonder if she's a mother?

MIA BLOOM, AUTHOR, "DYING TO KILL": She is actually a mother, at least according to her jihad name. She was Uma Ubaid (ph), and her husband was Abu Ubaid (ph), which says to me that they have a son named Ubaid (ph).

PHILLIPS: So why -- why would a mother do this? And are more women being recruited, or are they just doing what their husbands tell them to do? Because she said, "My husband planned this whole thing."

BLOOM: You know, she did say that her husband planned the whole thing, and yet she is the sister of a very well known insurgent who was associated with Zarqawi. His name was Samir Mubarak Rishawi (ph). And so this is a trend that we're seeing, that the sisters or the daughters or the close relatives who are females to a well known insurgent very often get involved in the insurgency or get involved in terrorism. But she's not the first mother.

Hamas used a woman, Rim Riashi (ph), who had two children. And in fact, she even posed for the cameras with her child right before she detonated her explosive device.

PHILLIPS: How -- it just -- it's so hard to comprehend that a mother could stand there with their child and commit an act like this. I mean, this is some hard-core brain washing.

BLOOM: It's definitely very hard for us to understand. And in fact, I think it's precisely our shock that the organizations that are involved in terrorist activities are taking advantage of. In other words, they know we're not expecting women, mothers, pregnant women, and that's precisely why they are working so hard at recruiting them. PHILLIPS: Now, have you ever been able to sit down face to face with a potential suicide bomber and have this conversation, or has it had to go through a third party?

BLOOM: I had to go through third parties occasionally with Islamic bombers because I had somewhat of an impediment. I speak Arabic, but my last name is Bloom. And I think they figured out my ethnicity.

But I have spent several months in Sri Lanka with a number of people involved in various levels of the LTT, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. And what was so interesting to me is, whether it's a secular or a religious organization, a lot of the personal motivations are quite similar.

PHILLIPS: And tell me the motivations. Tell me what they -- what they tell you. Is it always in the name of religion? Is it always because somehow a family member or someone they loved had been killed?

What does it seem to be?

BLOOM: You know, very often, whether it's religious or it's secular, they talk about the humiliation. And they feel that they want to do something for their community, and this is what they can contribute.

But very often with the women, there are very personal reasons, as well. Either because they feel a personal loss. The women in Chechnya who are called black widows, they've lost a loved one. Some of the women are victims of sexual abuse, maybe even rape. And so this is their way of protesting or expressing their outrage. They also at some level also think that by doing this, they're helping other women in their society, which very often are patriarchal and women are second-class citizens.

PHILLIPS: So If you would have had a chance to sit down with Al- Rishawi, what would you have asked her? What would you ask her?

BLOOM: You know, I think I would ask her who's taking care of your son? But I think I would also try to figure out why is it that Zarqawi would take four Iraqis and send them to Jordan and not use them in Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Final question. Where is the money coming from? I mean, this is not coming out of their own pockets, right?

BLOOM: No, it's not necessarily coming out of their own pockets. A lot of the money has gone through -- the Internet has been a great source of financing for terrorism. Previously, the Saudi government was quite generous, or extended versions of the Saudi government, up until about March 2003. And Osama also has large holdings.

But what Osama bin Laden has been able to do through the al Qaeda network is create a series of businesses, both legal and illegal, to fund terrorism. And so terrorism can come from sources as diverse as drug money or even those illegal videotapes you buy on the streets to Yemen honey production.

PHILLIPS: Mia Bloom. The book is "Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terror." Thanks for your time today.

BLOOM: Thank you so much for having me.

PHILLIPS: My pleasure.

Well, if you're on Medicare or know someone who is, you're facing a deadline to pick up a prescription drug plan. And a consumer healthcare expert will answer your questions about the confusing array of choices. It's happening right now. LIVE FROM has all the news that you want this afternoon. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: On Medicare and struggling to pay for prescriptions? Well, the government is making an offer it claims could save you 50 percent. Sounds like a plan. The problem is, there are dozens of drug benefit plans at each state. Which one is right for you or your parents, and how much will it really save? Sign-up starts tomorrow, but it might take you to the middle of May to figure it all out.

Here to help, Dr. Todd Cooperman a noted expert on consumer healthcare issues. Good to see you.

DR. TOD COOPERMAN, CONSUMER HEALTH EXPERT: Hi, Kyra, thanks for having me on.

PHILLIPS: My pleasure. And I thought the best way to do this is just get hands on. So for those watching, and they're interested in this subject matter and they're confused by the dozens and dozens of programs, you can go to Web site. I know there are other web sites, too. But let's just start at your Web site and take our viewers through how we can make this a little easier for them. Medicare, drug plans, dot-com.

COOPERMAN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: So let's just take a state, for example. My parents are from California. So let's click on the California. Sonia's (ph) going to kind of take us through the Web site here. And it brings up California and it brings up all these choices. Now, tell me what I find out by -- there's a number of different plans. So I can click on to a plan, let's say Aetna Premiere.

COOPERMAN: Right.

PHILLIPS: And what am I going to learn?

COOPERMAN: The plans differ in terms of the deductibles that they have -- what you'll see there in I think the third or fourth column there. How much you actually have to pay before the plans start kicking in and saving you money.

PHILLIPS: So $51.84 for this plan. COOPERMAN: Actually, that's the monthly premium. That's how much you'll have to pay every month. I can't see the screen that well from here. But that's how much you pay every month. And that will vary, anywhere from $5 to over $100, depending on the plan that you choose.

PHILLIPS: And it says the plan will cover 97 out of the top 100 drugs. Can I actually go on and find out what drugs would be covered?

COOPERMAN: Unfortunately, at this point, it's very difficult to find that out. Medicare itself has a site called medicare.gov. They have a formula finder, where you can type in the name of your drug and try to find out which plans cover it.

It won't tell you how much you're actually paying for that drug and that plan, but it will tell you if it's covered or not. And that's critical information, because you want to join plans that cover your drugs. So that is a good place to start.

PHILLIPS: OK, so you can go to medicare.gov to find out exactly what drugs are covered. But on your Web site, you can talk -- you go through all the different programs, the monthly premium, the deductible. What about -- is there gap coverage? Is that explained here?

COOPERMAN: Yes, the gap coverage is very important. Basically, this plan, which is why it's so confusing to people -- is that basically you have no coverage in the beginning, then you have coverage up to about a little over $2,000. Then the coverage kicks out until you have spent a total of $3,600 on your drugs. Then it kicks back in again.

During that gap, though, between about $2,000 and $3,600, some of the plans will cover generic drugs. They'll give you -- some will give you a discount on branded drugs. So you want to look at whether they -- what they do for you during that gap period.

PHILLIPS: Now, could this affect any other coverage that someone might have?

COOPERMAN: It's a good question. It can affect other coverage. And there's no kind of clear decision on how it affects all plans or not. You need to contact the plan that you're currently using if you're a retiree and ask them whether it actually might be helping you. They may be enriching the plan you're currently in, or they may be picking out of their plan if you even, you know, join one of these Medicare drug plans.

PHILLIPS: All right, Tod, as you can imagine, we're getting a number of e-mails from viewers. So I hope you don't mind if I throw some questions at you. Is that all right?

COOPERMAN: Sure, please do.

PHILLIPS: OK, this one from Ohio. Toledo, Ohio. Suzanne says: "I'm 69 years old and in excellent health. I use less than $100 of medications per year, so paying for government plans would cost me more. What do you suggest I do?"

COOPERMAN: You know, it's an excellent question. The big benefit of these plans is it has a catastrophic drug coverage, so that your experiences will never go much over $3,600, you know, in the worst case. So a person like that actually might find a plan with a very low deductible. Again, there are some there as low as $5 a month.

So for, say, $65 a year, at least you've locked yourself into some catastrophic coverage. Plus, there's a penalty if you don't join these plans by May 15th. So by locking in now, you can -- you'll be in the plan and you can change every year. So that person might want to lock into a very low premium plan just to kind of safeguard themselves.

PHILLIPS: OK. This one coming from Marco Island, Florida. Tonya says: "A Medicare rep called my husband last week for enrollment. He told my husband the prescription supplement must be purchased through Medicare, about $70 per month. Is this mandatory or is there another option?"

COOPERMAN: You know, it raises two issues. First, there are some scams out there. People should not be approaching you at your home. If people are doing that, basically taking people's money, getting critical financial information, be careful not to give away your information, unless you're absolutely sure of who this plan is.

In terms of how much this plan was charging, $70 a month, that's about twice the average that we see in the country for a monthly premium, which is more about $35, $37 a month.

PHILLIPS: And even if you look at your web site, you sort of see. I don't even think I saw something that was $70 or over.

COOPERMAN: There are some that high. We have seen one in so far. We sold over $100 a month.

PHILLIPS: Oh wow.

COOPERMAN: It may have a richer benefit.

Basically, people may want to just kind of lock in something that's inexpensive now if they are not sure. Although they should wait until May 15th. They have that much time to think through things.

On our web site people will be also rating these plans. So, you can find out...

PHILLIPS: Put down your own comments.

COOPERMAN: Right. See how other people like these plans starting after January 1st. Or if you just have questions, you can post it there.

PHILLIPS: Well, do you always get more for your money? Say, you pick the $100 versus the $5, are you always going to have better coverage?

COOPERMAN: Not necessarily. You really have to do your research, and you also have to weigh this against your other options. Perhaps going to Canada and checking the prices there where you can save often 50 percent of your money.

PHILLIPS: Yes, I know a lot of people go there on buses.

COOPERMAN: Yes, we have a pharmacy checker web site where you can check those prices as well so you can see all your options.

PHILLIPS: And compare.

Dr. Tod Cooperman thank you so much. Interesting stuff. Consumerlab.com and also medicaredrugplans.com. Sure appreciate your time.

COOPERMAN: My pleasure.

PHILLIPS: All right.

Chad Myers has the latest on tropical depression number 27 and amazing tornado video. That's next on LIVE FROM. Stay with us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHANNON COOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In less than a quarter century, the Internet has revolutionized everyday life.

CNN.com asked what specific role it has played in changing your life. And here's what some of you had so say.

Megan from Arlington, Texas, says the web helped her lose weight. She says she shed almost 70 pounds in 59 weeks by joining Weight Watchers online.

Rebecca from Hilliard, Ohio, says she met her husband on the Internet. No, not by an online dating service, but as competitors in the online game Everquest.

Jim from Hawaii says e-mail and instant messaging enables him to work as a computer programming consult without having to leave his island home. He writes, I take lunch breaks with my boogie board in the ocean.

Next, we want to know just how Internet savvy you think you are. Take our poll by logging on to CNN.com/online.

For the dot com desk, I'm Shannon Cook.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the number of grizzly bears roaming the area around Yellowstone National Park is on the rise. So much, in fact, that the bears could be taken off the endangered species list.

A proposal to do just that is expected to be announced next week. Federal wildlife officials estimate that some 600 grizzlies live in that region surrounding Yellowstone.

Thirty years ago there were less than half as many. Stripping the bears of protection could clear the way for hunting of grizzlies just outside the park.

And tornadoes in November in Iowa just aren't supposed to happen. Those words from Governor Tom Vilsack as he toured communities torn apart by those wicked twisters over the weekend.

And weather experts say that the storms packed winds up to 150 miles per hour.

One woman was killed when her home collapsed on top of her. And dozen of other homes in Stratford and Woodward also reduced to rubble.

Dazed victims now trying to salvage everything that they can. Many of them were caught off guard, and the terrifying moments were recorded by an amateur photographer by the name of Jeremiah Nanstz (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Duchess, get over here. Get my dog. Yes, yes, yes.

Is there anybody else in there with you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you need help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there anybody else down here? Is everybody accounted for?

Oh, my -- natural gas. Oh, my Jesus Lord. Oh, Jesus.

Come here. Are you all right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm OK. Will you ask if they have a pair of pants or sweat pants that I could put on?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Oh, my Lord.

All right. Come on, let's go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was one of many Gulf Coast communities shattered by Hurricane Katrina. And it will be a long time before anything approaching normal, everyday life resumes.

But thanks to some determined people, one cherished autumn tradition did come back, high school football.

CNN's Kathleen Koch has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the day before the game and the Bay High Tigers are getting a workout.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just, kind of, ripping out sheet rock and gutting and everything. This is us every day. I mean, morning time until evening time, then we go straight to football practice. That's it. This is our life until we go back to school.

KOCH: Schools in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, like nearly everything else were heavily damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

But the high school football coach didn't want his team, especially the seniors, to lose their season, too.

BRENAN COMPRETTA, TIGERS' COACH: These are things that they remember for the rest of their lives. And I wanted them to be able to have those memories.

KOCH: So cell phones started ringing and players started answering.

TYLER BRUSH, QUARTERBACK: Our coach called mea and said that he was going to try to get the team together. At first, I mean, it was tough because no one had houses, but now there's the FEMA trailers. Most of the players don't have anything else to lose.

We lost our homes and most people lost their cars. They don't have anything. Football is the only thing that a lot of people on our team do have. That's our two or three hours to get away from all this, to go out and just have fun and be teenager again.

KOCH: There's a lot to get away from. Buddy Schulz's grandmother died in the hurricane.

BUDDY SCHULZ, OFFENSIVE TACKLE: You can take anger out. You just lost a whole bunch and it makes you mad, so you can take it out on the field instead of walking around all day and being mad.

COMPRETTA: You come out and play hard every single play.

KOCH: Finally, it's game day, minus the scoreboard -- that blew away -- minus their band, the instruments ruined by the storm surge. So the Army National Guard fills in. Two field goals give the Tigers an early lead. But then, the Friday night lights start to go out. The power boxes on the light poles were under water too long during the hurricane. They keep shorting out just like the team's energy.

A final push, a touchdown with less than four minutes to play. But it's not enough. The Tigers lose 33-20. A tough blow for a team that was playing as much for the town as for itself.

BRUSH: We played hard and came up short. It hurts.

KOCH: You've been hurt worse?

BRUSH: Yes, yes, I have. This is definitely -- this is nothing compared to what I've been through for the past two months. At least we're out here playing football.

KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Despite that loss, the Tigers compiled a record that was good enough to get them into the playoffs. And even though they lost their final playoff game Friday, the 2005 Bay St. Louis Tigers will be remembered for years to come as a team of champions.

LIVE FROM kicks off a hot third hour of news for you right after this.

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