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JonBenet Ramsey Murder Suspect to Appear in Court Monday; Gerald Ford Undergone Angioplasty; Families of Soldiers Who Died in Iraq Want Financial Support They Deserve; Aircraft Diverted; Life After Work; DNA Tests Confirm 18-year-old in Austria is Former Schoolgirl Missing Since 1998; Dekalb County Officials Impose Fine For Causing Accidents While On Cell Phones

Aired August 25, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Straight to the newsroom now, Fredricka Whitfield -- more details on a developing story -- Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A reported threat to the airline, that is what the TSA says was taking place with American Airlines Flight 55. And that's why it was diverted to Bangor, Maine, from Manchester, England.

Let's go to straight to America's bureau -- Jeanne Meserve in Washington there with more on this investigation -- Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you know, Fredricka, authorities at a very high state of alert, because of that purported thought -- threat that was broken up a short time ago, about blowing up aircraft with gels and liquids, mixing them into explosives in the air -- particular concern about flights from Britain to the U.S.

As you say, the official statements from the Transportation Security Administration and the FBI refer to a reported threat to the aircraft while it was in flight. We are also hearing from sources that there was an individual on board this plane that authorities want to talk to.

And, so, the decision to put it down in Bangor, Maine, where authorities have now deplaned the passengers, and are going through the aircraft, questioning passengers, and, if there is indeed, this individual on board, indeed, questioning him thoroughly -- a number of different law enforcement agencies involved in this effort, as they try to get to the bottom of exactly what might have been happening on board this jet -- back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jeanne, thanks so much.

Another flight that we have been keeping a close watch on, this being a domestic-bound flight, this from Phoenix to Charlotte, North Carolina -- a U.S. Airways jet was diverted to Oklahoma City. And now investigators there are questioning passengers, but, particularly, they are questioning one, where, reportedly, air marshals had to subdue one passenger who was involved in some sort of incident with a flight attendant on this plane while it was en route from Phoenix to Charlotte, North Carolina, Carol. And, so, right now, the spokesperson for the airline said that the airplane that has landed there at Will Rogers Airport continues to be scoped right there, as they continue to interview those passengers, particularly that one passenger, who apparently caused quite a disruption with that flight attendant on board -- Carol.

LIN: Not an easy day to travel today, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Not at all.

LIN: This also just into the -- to CNN -- Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans is responding to his critics this hour. Just a few minutes ago, we told you about some comments he made, comparing the damage in New Orleans to the hole left behind at the World Trade Center site, after the 9/11 attack.

Here's what Mayor Nagin said moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Do you regret your comments to "60 Minutes"?

RAY NAGIN (D), MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS: I don't know. I haven't seen them. "60" -- it's supposed to be a big deal, huh?

QUESTION: Have you had a call from Mayor Bloomberg?

NAGIN: I have not. But I saw an e-mail with his comments. His comments were more concerned with making sure people understood Lower Manhattan was OK. But they still are planning on how to restore that site. That's the point.

(CROSSTALK)

NAGIN: And we're only a year into this.

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: In case you missed it, this is what Mayor Nagin said. He was defending the slow rebuild in New Orleans by saying, "New York can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it has been five years."

You know, we are going to have more on New Orleans' recovery efforts. Coming up on LIVE FROM, Gulf Coast rebuilding coordinator Donald Powell joins me live from New Orleans.

In the meantime, we have got a lot of stormy weather to talk about already in the Tropics. How dangerous could it really get?

Reynolds Wolf tracking it from the CNN Weather Center.

Reynolds, when are we going to have a tropical storm?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well... LIN: Officially?

WOLF: ... you know, to tell you the truth, that could happen within the next hour or so, maybe even sooner.

We are watching Tropical Depression Five. And, at this time, it is showing some signs of strengthening. We are going to zoom in into the Caribbean, the eastern Caribbean, at this point, where the storm has just past the Windward, Leeward islands. The -- it looks like it's pretty well formed. We have got some pretty good outflow to the north and to the eastern half of the storm.

The latest we have from -- the latest forecast path from the National Hurricane Center shows, the storm is expected to take more of a westerly push. And it should -- again, with winds at 35 miles an hour, it should strengthen, with winds about 45, at least by Saturday morning, 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, if not before.

And, once it crosses 39 miles per hour, into the 40-mile-per-hour range, it will then be classified as a tropical storm, Tropical Storm Ernesto, the fifth storm of the season.

Then, as we -- let's move ahead, all the way to 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. It should be just south of Jamaica, with winds at 65. So, we're expecting some very rapid strengthening with the storm system. By the time we get to Monday morning, 8:00 in the morning, maximum sustained winds at 75, putting the storm as a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, again, a weak hurricane, with winds just over that threshold point, but still, nonetheless, a hurricane.

Then, as we make that jump from Monday into Tuesday, the storm continues its march to the northwest, moving just off the western tip of Cuba, and near the Yucatan Peninsula, and then deeper into the Gulf of Mexico by the time we get to 8:00 in the morning on Wednesday.

Remember, though, you can't just follow that one particular line. You still have to know that the storm can move a little more to the north, crossing over parts of Cuba, which would cause the storm to weaken, because it would be away from its primary power source, being that warm water.

Or it can move a bit farther to the south, and strengthen even more. So, there's a lot that can happen between now, tomorrow, and -- shoot -- all the way into Wednesday. So, we will watch it for you very carefully, and give you play-by-play. As we get that information, Carol, we will pass it on to you.

LIN: But, right now, this is a tropical depression.

WOLF: Just a depression...

LIN: If it becomes a hurricane -- right, but it could...

WOLF: You got it.

LIN: ... be the first storm, hurricane, to make landfall this hurricane season in -- here in the United States...

WOLF: It's...

LIN: ... right?

WOLF: ... certainly possible.

You will remember, we had Alberto, which hit parts of Florida. Rob Marciano was up on the beach then, when the storm made landfall. But that, of course, was just a tropical storm, was not a hurricane. This could be our first big one. So, we will it very carefully.

LIN: All right, Reynolds, thank you.

WOLF: You bet.

LIN: Well, they finally got him in Boulder, but have they got him for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey?

Prosecutors haven't laid out their cards yet on the table about John Mark Karr. But we could get our first clue about their case on Monday, when Karr makes an initial court appearance to hear the charges against him.

Ed Lavandera standing by with the very latest in Boulder, Colorado.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

Well, you know, the main question here is, until DNA evidence comes back, and either exonerates or convicts, essentially, John Mark Karr, he is here in the county jail. And the question is, is this his first time in Boulder, or has he been here before? And, of course, investigators have been spending the better part of the last two weeks, trying to figure just that out.

So -- but they have remained steadfastly quiet about what they have in this case. We tried again yesterday, repeatedly, to get information from them. And they say, they just have no comment about the evidence in this case -- but now the legal process starting to move forward a little bit -- John Mark Karr expected to make his first court appearance for -- to be advised of his rights in this case.

That will take place Monday afternoon, 4:30, Mountain Time, 6:30 Eastern. It will be a very quick court appearance. And we also understand that there are -- just a few days away from authorities here having to file charges against him, if not ask a judge for a little bit more time to do that.

So, the charges that he was arrested for are murder, kidnapping and sexual assault. But the authorities so far have not filed those charges officially against him.

One interesting note, that, just a short while ago, court documents filed here in Boulder County showed that John Mark Karr has requested to be represented by the Colorado public defender's office -- two attorneys in that. He had to put that request in writing, apparently. And because of that, those attorneys are now asking a judge to make sure that that request, that form, that paper that he signed and wrote on, remains sealed -- kind of -- essentially, kind of an interesting bit.

It would be an easy look to compare handwriting notes. So, of course, the handwriting sample will be another portion of key evidence in this case, because of the ransom note left at the murder scene, where JonBenet Ramsey was murdered 10 years ago -- so, an interesting bit of lawyering going on here this morning -- Carol.

LIN: Wow, a lot happening. Ed, thank you.

Now, first this hour, more on a developing story out of Minnesota -- former President Gerald Ford has undergone an angioplasty procedure to reduce blockages in his coronary arteries. Ford is 93 years old. And he's being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

And that's where we find our Keith Oppenheim standing by there.

How is the former president doing, Keith?

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are told, Carol, that he's resting comfortably in his room at the Mayo Clinic with his wife, Betty, and family.

The procedure happened yesterday. A doctor put stents into two coronary arteries to increase the blood flow for those arteries. Keep in mind that Gerald Ford has been hospitalized four times since December. And he has been here at the Mayo Clinic for a week-and-a- half.

On Monday, doctors here inserted a pacemaker. So, the question is, is he struggling somewhat and in a weakening condition, or is he doing generally OK?

As a general rule of thumb, when doctors feel that a patient feels -- the patient is well enough to go through the angioplasty procedure, the prognosis is generally quite good -- Carol.

LIN: All right, thanks very much, Keith.

Also, in talking earlier with own Dr. Sanjay Gupta, he said that what he's going to be looking for over the weekend is to see Gerald Ford released from that hospital. That would be a good sign, indeed.

Now we want to give an update on yesterday's school shooting in Essex, Vermont, which went down in the mid-afternoon. Well, 26-year- old Christopher Williams appeared in court today . And authorities say Williams wanted to kill his ex-girlfriend yesterday, but ended up killing two other women instead.

They said, he first shot and killed his ex-girlfriend's mother, and then went to the school where his former girlfriend teaches. Williams didn't find her, but police say he shot two other teachers, killing one of them. The school had not reopened for the fall, so, no classes were in session -- no kids on campus. Police say, Williams then fled to a condominium complex, where he wounded a man, and then wounded himself, which is why he's sitting there in a wheelchair in court.

Now, up next, we're going to update you on those two diverted flights: a domestic flight forced to land in Oklahoma, and an international flight forced to land in Bangor, Maine.

More LIVE FROM next -- you are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: In southern Iraq, chaos of a different sort today hundreds of Iraqis swarmed into a former British military base, and carried off virtually everything. This is what's left.

The looters took some -- they were wielding guns. And they -- they first showed up shortly after British troops pulled out yesterday. Their rampage carried over into today, as they made off with everything from doors and window frames, to corrugated roofing and metal pipes. The British troops were redeployed along the border with Iran.

Now, killing and dying certainly are a part of daily life in Iraq, but, two years ago, one murder was particularly cold-blooded and gruesome. The beheading of American worker Jack Hensley was videotaped by his kidnappers and released on the Internet.

Now Hensley's wife and daughter are suing the Syrian government for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The suit claims, Syria aided and supported Hensley's kidnappers. Joining in the lawsuit is the family of another American who was also beheaded, Eugene Armstrong. The two are believed to have been killed by al Qaeda in Iraq, by leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Now, you will recall, al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. strike in June.

Now, more than 2,600 U.S. troops have died during the Iraq war. And some of the families left behind are now asking whether they are getting the financial support they deserve.

CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr took a look at what is being called the widow tax.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The day before he left for Iraq in February 2004, Sergeant Major Michael Stack did one last thing -- took pictures with his children.

On Easter Sunday, he died in a firefight. Michael Stack was awarded the Silver Star for valor. He kept firing until he died, so his fellow soldiers could escape. SUZANNE STACK, WIDOW OF KILLED U.S. SOLDIER: I want him back. And he was an amazing man.

STARR: Like thousands of other war widows, Suzanne Stack struggles to put her life back together. Now she has a new fight. She is one of many widows urging Congress to give them all the benefits they believe their husbands paid for so dearly.

The current law requires survivor benefits from the Defense Department's annuity plan to be deducted from the benefits paid by a Veterans Administration plan. That means widows' monthly benefits are being slashed.

For example, a widow of a typical Army staff sergeant would be eligible for $13,332 a year from the DOD program, and an additional $12,396 a year from the V.A., a total of about $25,000. But, currently, the DOD payment is reduced dollar for dollar by the V.A. payment, leaving that widow with about half of what she expects.

STACK: The widows that are affected are very young. And we're all working. We're just trying to raise our family and continue on, the way that we had intended to do with our husbands, if they had lived.

STARR: Congress is divided on changing the law. The Pentagon wants to leave it all alone. The Defense Department declined an interview request, but said, in a statement, "There is no apparent need to provide both benefits."

Suzanne Stack says, her husband would have wanted everyone to get all of their benefits.

STACK: He would be furious. This is not what he had been told would be for me and for the children. It's a sad day, when the widows have to go and make the effort to get things changed, so that we can -- can live, and -- and live on the benefits that were promised to our husbands when they left.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: You can see more of Barbara Starr's report on "AMERICAN MORNING." Watch Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien weekdays at 6:00 a.m. Eastern.

In Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai has ordered an investigation into a U.S. raid that killed eight people. U.S. military officials say the targets of yesterday's attacks were members of al Qaeda. They say, the troops were fired on, and they returned fire, killing seven suspected al Qaeda members, as well as a child.

Now, local police in Eastern Kunar Province tell a different story. They say U.S. and Afghan forces attacked a building where two families were trying to resolve a dispute, and that civilians died in that attack.

A young Austrian girl named Natascha kidnapped on her way to school -- eight years later, a young woman turns up, saying she is Natascha. Now the DNA test results are in.

We are going to tell you about them, when LIVE FROM continues.

And it's a hot topic today. Careers and marriage, do they mix? Well, we asked you to hit send. And we are going to see what you wrote in your e-mails to LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Straight to the newsroom now -- Fredricka working this developing story about planes diverted -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: That's right.

That American Airlines Flight 55 on the way from Manchester, England, on the way to Chicago, still on the ground there in Bangor, Maine, which is where it was diverted because of a reported threat to the aircraft.

The director of media relations for American Airlines out of Fort Worth, Texas, Tim Smith, is on the line with me now.

Tim, what we understand from the TSA is, because of this reported threat, that was the reason why this plane was taken to Bangor. What's your understanding of the procedure that has taken place since?

TIM SMITH, DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS, AMERICAN AIRLINES: Well, the reason, obviously -- I think your map kind of shows the route between the U.K. and Bangor would actually be, in reality, more across the North Atlantic than what it shows there.

So, as you come down from the North Atlantic, past the eastern shore of Canada, the first airport that you would typically fly over would be in Bangor. So, that's why we were directed to put the aircraft down there, basically, the first U.S. airport, so that, as a precautionary measure, the federal authorities, TSA, FBI, could -- you know, take a look at things, investigate it, and see exactly what they had.

They had directed us to land there. It was not something that occurred on board the aircraft.

WHITFIELD: And is it your understanding that any particular passengers are being questioned right now because of these security concerns?

SMITH: Yes, yes.

The FBI is talking to the passengers. You can see there in the open door of the -- one of the cargo holds of the aircraft that they are handling some of the bags, and doing some checks there. So, that would also be a routine part of checking out a situation like this.

WHITFIELD: And that would include having, like, the TSA canines that are helping to inspect and sniff any of that cargo?

SMITH: That's right, and remove anything that might be necessary, of course.

WHITFIELD: How concerned are you, in this state of heightened security, that, as we're seeing more and more planes being diverted, whether it be for something rather innocuous, or something of a legitimate security concern? How much is it is impacting air travel altogether?

SMITH: Well, when you look at the total number of flights each day, you know, there are literally thousands and thousands of them. American and our affiliate, American Eagle, operate more than 4,000 flights a day. And, obviously, this does not occur every day. So, while it's not unprecedented, it is very, very rare, and, at this stage, even is still considered an anomaly.

WHITFIELD: When are you expecting to get information about the specifics about what kind of security threat the incident or the person or passengers might have been?

SMITH: We have been briefed on that by TSA and FBI. But, since it's their investigation at that point, they are the ones who would have to release the exact nature of what the concern was.

Our job, of course, is to, you know, act on any of those concerns that are passed on to us, and at the discretion of security agencies in the U.K. and...

WHITFIELD: And did some...

SMITH: ... certainly the...

WHITFIELD: And did that something or someone become a concern while in the air, after already departing from that Manchester, England, airport?

SMITH: We were advised of this after we were already approaching the U.S. mainland, yes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Tim Smith, director of media relations for American Airlines, out of Fort Worth, thanks so much for your time.

SMITH: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: Carol, we are continuing to keep tabs on this unfolding investigation of American Airlines Flight 55.

LIN: Yes, and a good thing, because there are so many questions. What happened? What would have tipped them off? And why go to this extreme measure of...

WHITFIELD: Yes. This is...

LIN: ... landing there?

WHITFIELD: ... something very alarming.

LIN: All right, interviewing passengers and crew, I'm sure.

All right. We're also getting some breaking news on a possible Northwest Airlines flight-attendants' strike.

Cheryl Casone, live from the New York Stock Exchange, with more on that -- Cheryl.

CHERYL CASONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hi there, Carol.

We have been, actually, waiting to hear from the judge in this case today, this case being heard here in New York -- the federal judge in the case, Northwest, blocking the flight attendants' request to go on strike, basically. That strike could have happened as early as tonight, but the judge saying that, basically, he needs more time to think about it.

Let me read you a quote from the judge here. He says, "The court believes time for consideration, for examining the body's arguments more exhaustively is essential."

He basically is saying that he's going to hear more arguments from the flight attendants. What the flight attendants want, they want a new contract. Northwest, obviously, like many airlines in the nation, is under extreme financial pressure. And some experts have said that, if the flight attendants went on strike against Northwest, if this did go through, that Northwest could be facing liquidation, basically -- Northwest certainly not a healthy airline, when it comes to the industry overall.

We have certainly seen lots of problems in the industry since September 11, and then other terrorist activities we have had in last couple of years.

So, anyway, that's the latest. They were threatening CHAOS. It's not going to happen. CHAOS is when they kind of do these mini- strikes.

LIN: Right.

CASONE: Flight attendants not going to do that.

LIN: Good.

CASONE: So, that is what we have got going.

LIN: Good. All right.

Thirty-four minutes to the closing bell -- anything happening on Wall Street??

CASONE: Really, the markets have been pretty quiet today.

As I mentioned earlier, you know, the Dow is down just a fraction right now, eight points or so. The NASDAQ is barely up -- oil prices up a little bit, though. And that is something that I'm going to be talking about when we come back for the closing bell, in just a few minutes.

LIN: All right.

Actually, Cheryl, I want you to stick around. You and I were kind of messaging earlier about this "Forbes" magazine article...

(CROSSTALK)

CASONE: Oh, boy.

LIN: ... this writing saying that men...

CASONE: Oh.

LIN: ... should not marry career women, because they are more likely to cheat. All right.

CASONE: Don't get me going on that one.

LIN: And then, they had -- it's sort of like dueling "Forbes" columnists.

And, in fact, the advice from that male writer, saying, guys, don't marry career girls. He cites several studies, including one which says women are happier when their husbands are the breadwinners. Hmm.

A rebuttal from a female writers says, women should steer clear of -- quote -- "lazy men," And men should marry career women if they want an exciting life.

So, we asked, what do you think? Career and marriage, do you mix -- does it mix?

Well, here's what you have to say.

We heard from Kathy in Massachusetts, who says: "Of course career women are more likely to cheat and get divorced. They are far more likely to meet men than stay-at-home moms. And, when they do, they are more financially independent, giving them the 'freedom' to divorce."

Cheryl, do you think Kathy -- is that why Kathy would stay in a marriage, you know, for the pocketbook issue?

CASONE: Yes, certainly not so.

(LAUGHTER)

CASONE: I mean, come on. I mean...

LIN: Yes.

CASONE: ... you know, really, I mean, making over $30,000, and then your home is going to be dirty, and -- I'm sorry, but I know a lot of men out there that would be more than happy to marry a woman... LIN: Oh, yes.

CASONE: ... that made more money, and they could stay home and not work.

LIN: You know, there's a handful of female executives here who have stay-at-home husbands. So, does that mean the husbands are -- well, anyway.

CASONE: Yes.

LIN: All right.

So, we heard, also, from Larry, who said: "Today's economy does not afford most of us men to 'allow' our wives to stay home." "Allow."

CASONE: Hmm.

LIN: "More importantly, why should she have to, if she can bring home the bacon? After all, aren't two incomes better than one?"

CASONE: Larry, I like how you think.

LIN: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

CASONE: I'm a fan of Larry.

LIN: Dual income, sometimes, no kids. Let's see.

All right, we also heard from Melissa Gall. She said: "So, being a female CHO, chief household officer" -- good for you, Melissa -- "with the daily responsibilities for raising, feeding, cleaning, entertaining, and educating our husband's children is not a career to this author? Tell him to try it for a few days."

You know, Cheryl, it takes some skill. When, you know, you have a small person clinging to your chest, and you are trying to make dinner, that requires some skill, balance, and a little bit of education.

CASONE: I like the -- the writer at "Forbes," the female writer, saying, where -- where's the men in all of this? You know, what are they doing to avert this serious crisis in American marriages?

LIN: There you go. They should be cooking dinner. That way, the wife won't cheat on them.

(LAUGHTER)

LIN: We heard, also, from Harry Singh in Washington, New Jersey. He says: "I have been married for 28 years to the same woman, who has been a career woman, and still is. She is the most loving and caring mother and wife that I know of. And I don't think that our case is an aberration."

Good on, Harry. Happiness in Washington, New Jersey.

And the last one here from Mary in Redding, California. She says: "I fit what Michael," the writer of that article, "describes as a career woman. But I have to manage -- I -- I have managed to balance it by working from home and keeping my main focus on raising our young children. Someone has to keep the ship going in the right direction."

All about balance, Cheryl, right?

(LAUGHTER)

CASONE: It is, absolutely.

LIN: We can do it all. But, of course, we are terribly biased, because, guess what?

CASONE: We are career women.

LIN: We are career women.

CASONE: I think we work more than 40 hours a week.

LIN: I think so.

(LAUGHTER)

LIN: All right.

Anyway, that was fun. Great to hear from the viewers, Cheryl. They have always got a terrific perspective.

CASONE: All right.

LIN: We're going to have more LIVE FROM in just a moment.

But, first, it is Friday. And it's time for a look at "Life After Work."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sixty-eight- year-old Tom Reed is flying high, now that he's retired.

TOM REID, RETIREE: Once that airplane takes off, a feeling that comes over you is hard to describe. There's no other experience like it.

My name is Tom Reid, I'm with the Right Flight.

MORRIS: As a volunteer pilot for the nonprofit organization Right Flight, Reid helps deserving kids experience that same rush.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's fun. MORRIS: The nine-week program is open to fifth through 12 graders who sign a contract promising not to do drugs, drink, or smoke. They must also write an essay about what they've learned and must improve a report card grade by one level before flying.

REID: You cannot wipe the smile off of their face. I mean it goes from ear to ear. I get choked up even when I talk about it.

I figured I was going to retire, maybe go out and play some golf, go down to the beach, walk around the beach and see some sunsets, but I haven't done a beach since I moved here because I've been so involved with everybody else.

MORRIS: The former power company supervisor took an early retirement package and moved from New York to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, along with Right Flight, Reid's also a Civil Air Patrol wing commander, volunteering with kids who want to join the Air Force.

REID: I still feel young inside and I still want to do all these things and being involved with the young children keeps me going.

MORRIS: Valerie Morris, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: One of our top stories today, let's get an update on the health of former President Gerald Ford. He underwent an angioplasty procedure yesterday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Now, an angioplasty is used to reduce blockages in the coronary arteries. The procedure was successful and the former president is said to be resting comfortably. Ford is 93 years old and he entered Mayo Clinic ten days ago. He received a cardiac pacemaker just a few days ago, on Monday.

Her father says it's been eight years of hell, but DNA tests confirm that an 18-year-old who turned up in Austria this week is indeed this former schoolgirl, missing since 1998. CNN's senior international correspondent Matthew Chance has the story from Vienna.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): She's been hidden from the world for eight long years. Now one of Austria's most disturbing mysteries appears to have been solved and the shattered family has their daughter back.

BRIGITTA SIRNY, MOTHER OF NATASCHA KAMPUSCH (through translator): I always firmly believed she would return some day. I cannot say how happy I am.

LUDWIG KOCH, FATHER OF NATASCHA KAMPUSCH (through translator): It was hell these eight years. There was not a single hour when I did not think about her. It was hell. CHANCE: These were the last images of Natascha before she disappeared, back in 1998. She was just 10. Her abduction gripped Austria, but as the years passed, police found no trace and she was given up for dead. But all the time she was here in as cramped dungeon built by a suspected pedophile, under his garage, not 10 miles from her home. Inside she had a bed, a sink and a toilet and books from children's stories to serious literature.

(on camera): This is the house in Strasshof where Natascha was held for more than eight years. You can see there are police outside now, guarding the entrance. For most of the time she was held securely under lock and key, but over the years, the man she came to call her master, became increasingly careless and eventually she saw an opportunity to escape.

This is the man police say imprisoned Natascha, 44-year-old Wolfgang Priklopil. Neighbors say he was quiet and polite, if reclusive. After Natascha's escape he threw himself to his death under a train. The damage he caused this innocent girl though retains uncertain.

SIRNY: She threw her arms around my neck. I am so proud of that child that she found the opportunity to escape.

KOCH: I purposely didn't talk about the ordeal with her. We only discussed the future and about how things used to be.

CHANCE: For Natascha and her family, reunited after eight years, things is will, thankfully, never be the same again.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Vienna.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Another one our big stories this week has gotten a lot of attention and a lot of controversy, Pluto. Yesterday's astronomers demoted it as a planet, but today, astrologers are remaining firmly aligned with it. Pluto has been re-categorized as a dwarf planet, but it still looms large in the zodiac zeitgeist.

Now according to astrologers, Pluto rules our lives in the areas of sex, psychology, death and regeneration. And it represents transformation. Astrologers Shelly Ackerman says, whether it is a planet or a radioactive Matzah ball, Pluto has proven itself worthy of a permanent place in all horoscopes. And another star-gazer puts it this way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL, ASTROLOGER: We haven't demoted Pluto. In fact, we've been watching it for sometime. Because it's actually the naughtiest planet of them all. Do you know the rest of them go obediently around in a circle, where as Pluto is in an ellipse. And it's also, everyone is flat like a plate and Pluto is at an angle.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LIN: We should have more planets like Pluto. Astrologers warn of a stellar sting for Scorpios. Pluto is the heavenly body with heavy influence on those born under that sign. Could Pluto's demotion spell trouble for these three powerful women, first lady Laura Bush, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, all Scorpios. Astrologer Milton Black says Scorpios can be explosive and very direct and this could be the trigger that makes them explode. Could be an interesting political year, don't you think?

Now you can count on CNN for live coverage of the upcoming shuttle launch, the Atlantis launch, going up, we are hoping, 4:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, weather permitting. You can see it right here on CNN.

One Georgia county has a message for drivers who just can't stay off the phone, drive safely or pay the price. Going after cell phone users who cause traffic accidents when LIVE FROM returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well, you may have seen the not-so-subtle bumper stickers that read "hang up and drive." Dekalb County, Georgia has put that advice into law, imposing a fine of up to $500 for any driver who causes a wreck while talking on their cell phone.

Reporter Tara Jones of WSB in Atlanta has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA STEWART, COMMUTER: She couldn't get anywhere. Traffic was backed up, and she was talking on the phone, just cut right in front of me. I was like oh, my God. I said, let me just pull over.

TARA JONES, WSB REPORTER (voice-over): Melissa Stewart is one of thousands of Dekalb County drivers who had a near miss accident because another driver was using a cell phone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people are getting hurt because of cell phones. I'm on the street a lot and I have had some near hits because of cell phones.

JONES: But now, Dekalb County now wants commuters to think twice before picking up the phone.

VERNON JONES, DEKALB COUNTY CEO: Dekalb County, to curtail the number of accidents and to send a message that if you are involved in an accident while using your cell phone, there are consequences, there are financial consequences.

JONES: A financial consequence of up to $500 if a police officer determines your cell phone causes a crash. It's a new ordinance effective Wednesday in unincorporated Dekalb County. County officials who voted the ordinance into law say it's for safety's sake. The director of highway safety agrees. BOB DALLAS, GOV.'S OFFICE OF HWY. SAFETY: I will be curious to see how Dekalb County is able to enforce it, but more importantly, I would be curious to see what the crash outcome is in Dekalb County.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That will be interesting.

All right. He ran it up the flagpole but they didn't salute. A geography teacher in suburban Denver have been suspended for displaying foreign flags in his classroom. Eric Hamlin put Mexican and Chinese flags on display next to the American flag, and officials say Hamlin broke a state law against displaying foreign flags in foreign buildings, and then refused an order to remove those flags.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CINDY STEVENSON, JEFFERSON CO. SCHOOL SUPT.: The teacher made the choice to directly not follow the requests of the principal. So it's really a couple of issues here.

ERIC HAMLIN, SUSPENDED TEACHER: I saw them as valuable teaching tools, how I use them in lessons, how I would refer to them to develop cultural awareness amongst the students.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: All right. Well, Hamlin was suspected with pay. Officials are expected to hold a hearing to decide whether Hamlin should be fired, suspended without pay, or reinstated. Hamlin says he may ask the American Civil Liberties Union to file suit on his behalf. We will be following this one.

Three thousand years of history altered in just 10 hours. Ramses on a roll when LIVE FROM continues.

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LIN: A year ago today, Katrina was just a tropical storm picking up speed, growing, though, into a monster storm. Ahead of next week's coverage of the Katrina anniversary, we look back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Chad, let's start with you, the latest on Katrina.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Up to 60 miles-per-hour now. The latest 11:00 advisory just in and the Weather Service -- the National Hurricane Center has raised the number from 50 to 60 miles per hour. The storm is getting a little bit tighter here. This thing is a wobbler, and it's going to continue to do that. That's why this thing has been so difficult to predict landfall, speed, and, of course, timing.

One thing you don't like to see when you are looking at a hurricane is this. Look at the color enhancement in the past couple of hours here as it moved out of the Bahamas, and into the Gulf Stream. The water here, 87 degrees. That is the fuel, that is the jet fuel to the fire here. If it wasn't so strong, if it wasn't so warm, this storm wouldn't be exploding like it is, but it is certainly going to move across Florida.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Boy, hard to believe it's been a year and yet no let-up. Reynolds Wolf tracking another tropical storm. Actually, not quite yet a tropical storm, Reynolds?

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: Well speaking of hurricane season, you will remember him as the go-to guy whenever we are talking about hurricanes. Next year though, there's going to be somebody new. Max Mayfield says he's just plain tired, so he's retiring. Mayfield has been director of the National Hurricane Center since May of 2000 and he tells the "Miami Herald" that he's leaving in January. He is not sure what he's going to do after that, except get some well deserved rest.

Well if you move it, they will come, but why wouldn't TV cameras show up to chronicle something like this? Moving a 3,200-year-old, 83-ton Egyptian idol through the heart of downtown Cairo. Well it took about ten hours to get the statue of Ramses the Second, one of Egypt's greatest Pharaohs from Ramses square to a new museum across the Nile. Of course LIVE FROM's favorite antiquities expert was there for every moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ZAWI HAWASS, SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES: I feel happy and I feel great. I could not believe that thousands of thousands of people from Cairo will stay up in the morning. This remind me of when I sent the robot inside the pyramid, all the Egyptians stayed up. Today is another glory day in our life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: The hunk would be Ramses, not necessarily Dr. Hawass. Now, the granite statue was moved because it was starting to deteriorate from exhaust fumes and other modern hazards.

When we come back the Closing Bell and we're also going to have the case of the acrobat cat. The news keeps coming. We are going to bring it to you. More LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: All right, time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to talk about what's coming up at the top of the hour, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks Carol, we're tracking a storm in the Caribbean that could turn into a hurricane and possibly threaten the Gulf Coast. Our forecast only minutes away and I will also speak live with the National Hurricane Center director, Max Mayfield.

A top house Republican who has been a big supporter of the president in Iraq now changes course and calls for a pullout of U.S. forces. An amazing political about face. We are going to tell you who that member is and why.

Plus, top U.S. Senator goes home. We're live in Africa for Senator Barack Obama's dramatic home coming in Kenya.

And is Israel's prime minister in major political trouble? We'll get the latest from Jerusalem where new poll numbers are out and protests in the street represent more than just a headache for Ehud Olmert. All that Carol coming up right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

LIN: All right, well we have got something that may not be in "THE SITUATION ROOM," Wolf, but we want to offer it to the LIVE FROM viewers. You know this whole idea of when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right. Well that's apparently the view of a kitten named Lola.

Chris Vanderveen is with our Denver Affiliate KUSA.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Lola.

CHRIS VANDERVEEN, KUSA DENVER: L-O-L-A, Lola.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh yes, she purrs, she plays, she cuddles. She's a typical kitten.

VANDERVEEN: Typical in every way until you look at her hind legs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a deformity and there's really nothing that they can do. First she's so little and the only thing to do would be to re-break her legs and we don't want to do that.

VANDERVEEN: Yet that's not the story.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She walks on her front paws like in a handstand and that's how she gets around.

VANDERVEEN: Of course, in the TV business, when you come to get video of a cat who walks on her front paws, like an acrobat.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It might take a while.

VANDERVEEN: That cat will not do what you had promised it will do and those who had made set promise,

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Almost there.

VANDERVEEN: Will offer up one excuse ... UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When no one's looking she does it, but when everybody's watching, she won't.

VANDERVEEN: After another.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We think that she's not doing it because of the toy.

VANDERVEEN: Someone thought why not a rug. Then came distraction number 412.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh look at her. She's attacking the cats under the door.

VANDERVEEN: At about the time we thought this wasn't going to happen ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She might be getting tired.

VANDERVEEN: About the time we were ready to give up ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on, let's go.

VANDERVEEN: And about the time another employee here gave it a try.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well we are hoping she will make a commercial for us.

VANDERVEEN: She did what they promised she would do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: OK, we had to look at that again. So here's Lola in slow- mo. There's her bottoms up. Thanks to Chris Vanderveen and KUSA. All right, you know, we came up with a few names for what you are seeing on the air. Jason Morrell (ph), producer on LIVE FROM, calls her a cat-athlete, perhaps a Paw-fect. Lola, you go girl.

All right also a shout out for the place Lola calls home, along with a lot of other special critters. It's a no-kill animal shelter in Denver, called Max Fund. Surely to get more maximum funding after that performance, don't you think.

CASONE: Absolutely. I can't believe I have follow a walking cat.

LIN: And not just any walking cat Cheryl.

CASONE: On a Friday. It's absolutely amazing. No, I mean she's absolutely adorable. What can you say there. Look at this. Oh, you know what? I think that cat has a long future ahead of her, alright.

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