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Polygamist Leader Appears in Court; Interview With National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield; Iran Defiant Over Nuclear Program

Aired August 31, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the low-lying low country of Charleston, South Carolina, new pictures of what Tropical Storm Ernesto has left behind, lots of water.
And guess what? Ernesto is not quite done, as it turns its way north in the Atlantic.

Our Reynolds Wolf is in the Weather Center, where you have said before, Reynolds, this storm still has the potential of picking up a little bit of steam. We know it's going to dump a lot more water on other places, as well.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, absolutely.

That scene that we just saw moments ago, that new video fresh out of Charleston, is going to be repeated in places like Wilmington, North Carolina, where you have the training effect. When I say training effect, it's pretty much -- it's -- it sounds kind of self- explanatory.

You have like a train of showers and storms that circle around these feeder bands. So, in places like Wilmington, North Carolina, you will continue to have the heavy rain moving on shore. And, as that occurs, the water begins to pile up, again, like in the scenes you have just seen in Charleston, South Carolina.

So, in places like Wilmington along the I-40 Corridor, we already have some flood watches and warnings that are in effect for this hour. But with that rain that continues to come in off the Atlantic, I would expect that things will get worse before they get better.

Meanwhile, as we go back to the weather map, this is the path we have from the National Hurricane Center. Now, you will notice, the storm expected to make landfall near the South Carolina-North Carolina border by 8:00 p.m. this evening.

But long before the center of the storm moves overhead, you're going to be dealing with heavy, heavy rainfall. And not only will the storm surge range from anyway from, say, three to five, feet, you are going to have a storm surge that's going to be on top of the regular high tide. So, we're talking about some issues of coastal flooding, not just from the rain, but from that water coming in from the ocean itself.

Meanwhile, as the storm makes its way into the Outer Banks and then moves into parts of Virginia, into the higher elevations, into the Appalachians, by 8:00 p.m. Friday and 8:00 p.m. Saturday, this thing is going to lose a lot of strength.

However, as it loses a lot of strength, it's still going to have a lot of moisture. And, as that storm continues to march its way up into the higher elevations, it's going to interact with that cooler air loft, and it's going to be squeeze out all that moisture. And we could see rainfall totals, before all is said and done, perhaps anywhere from six to eight inches, maybe even up to a foot in some places.

And, as you know, when that rain falls in those high mountains, gravity is going to be pulling that down into the valleys and the streams, and you're going to have some flooding on many -- flooding issues in many rivers in parts of the Carolinas, into Virginia, as well as places like Pennsylvania, and possibly up into New York, as well.

So, we are going to be watching this for you very carefully. It's a long time between now and this evening, as we get into Friday, and into Saturday, as well. So, it's something we are going to have to watch for you very carefully.

As we get more info, we will pass it on to you. We are the hurricane headquarters.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much...

WOLF: You bet.

WHITFIELD: ... Reynolds.

Well, before the folks up north feel the wrath of Ernesto, already, the folks on Pawleys Island, a barrier island outside of Charleston, South Carolina, are already starting to feel some of its wrath.

And that's where we find our Anderson Burns of our affiliate WCIV.

While it doesn't look like you're being peppered with much rain anymore, it is still kind of dark out there.

ANDERSON BURNS, WCIV REPORTER: Yes, it is.

It's -- it's -- it's basically almost what we saw an hour ago. The rain sort of ebbs and flows, sort of just part of this unpredictable storm that is going on.

Now, we did see a group of four surfers come up, take a look at the water, stare at it for about two or three minutes, and then walk away, probably a smart idea. You take a look at what they were tempted by, surfs here still in the six- to seven-foot range. You can see they're crashing down. This is obviously not normal for the South Carolina coast. Now, we do have a house back over here behind you somewhat. We have a group of folks here that are tourists. And that have brought us in. They are having a hurricane party. So, we have been jumping back and forth inside there. So, things pretty -- a very easy feeling going on.

These folks went through Hugo. It's not too bad right now. We are still about five hours away, of course, from the eye of that storm passing by Pawleys Island, which is an hour-and-a-half drive -- an hour-and-a-half drive north of Charleston.

So, that's the situation that we have got going here.

Now, Fredricka, they did tell me in there that, on our last hit, you had said you had an old stomping ground here at WCIV. So, I will make a deal. I will tell your friends hello, if you will save a seat for me on the desk beside you.

WHITFIELD: I think that's an easy deal to make. I -- I love the folks there in Charleston, South Carolina, at CIV.

Well, you know what? You mentioned five hours yet to go before the eye makes its way there. But still, you know, that is quite a bit of time where things could happen and kind of bubble up. So, those folks who you happen to be partying with, having their hurricane or tropical storm party, do they kind of have some measures in place, just in case they have to pack up and get out of there, if things do get bad?

BURNS: Just like last time, I can barely hear a word you're saying.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: OK. Then, I'm going to take that...

BURNS: I think you said something about, are people getting out of there?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BURNS: We actually have a group of people watching. I don't know if they are watching the surf or they're watching us...

(LAUGHTER)

BURNS: ... standing out here, like fools, in the rain.

But, either way, they're out here. They don't really seem too concerned...

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BURNS: ... to be honest.

WHITFIELD: I have a feeling that that's a big no, but gracefully said.

Anderson Burns, thanks so much, of WCIV.

And we will be speaking to...

BURNS: Thanks a lot.

WHITFIELD: ... Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, in just a few minutes from now, for the latest track.

Bigger trouble in the Pacific, Hurricane John, it's being called, a Category 3. And it's lashing resort towns up and down Mexico's western coast. And it could become close to Cabo San Lucas.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Civil defense officials in Cabo San Lucas, on Mexico's Baja Peninsula, are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane John.

They say, close to 30,000 people might be in harm's way, and they will be ordering the evacuation of thousands of residents of the more low-lying areas. The Mexican army will implement its emergency response plan, which includes the forced evacuation of people who refuse to leave their homes.

Defense officials say that they have prepared 160 public schools to be used as shelters, if needed.

Meanwhile, a lot of tourists, particularly from the United States, trying to get out of town. That won't be very easy, on this day before the hurricane hits. Most flights to the U.S. are already oversold. And it's expected that the airport will be closed at some point in the morning of Thursday.

Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Let's check in again with Carol Lin, who is working on a developing story in the newsroom -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, United Flight 431, just want to bring people up to speed on this plane, which landed -- had an emergency landing at Miami International Airport, when there was a report of fire in the left wheel well of this Boeing 737.

All 118 people on -- people on board that plane were able to get off safely -- that plane arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina. Apparently, firefighters were able to organize well on the runway. They blew foam across that runway, which quickly extinguished that fire. And, then, the passengers, who were alerted -- I mean, well, they were alerted by the big sort of a bang as they land, because, apparently, the -- the tires blew out upon landing. There were no problems during the flight, but the tires blew out upon landing.

And that's what perhaps ignited that fire in the wheel well. So, one of the passengers that I spoke to very briefly described how, you know, he felt the -- the -- the bang when the plane hit the runway, how the entire plane shook. And, then, the flight attendants immediately got to work. He said, they did a terrific job organizing the passengers, getting them safely down those deployed chutes, and carried off in three buses.

So, there -- there's obviously going to be an investigation, Fred, but, fortunately, the crew and all the passengers safe on the ground.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And it sounds like some great piloting there on that U.S. Airways plane.

Thanks so much, Carol.

LIN: Mmm-hmm.

WHITFIELD: Another part of the country, caught on the fly -- now Utah gets first at bat with polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs.

CNN's Peter Viles has the latest from today's extradition hearing, which took place in Las Vegas.

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, it's hard to believe that the man who showed up in court today, meek -- prosecutors called him humble -- he looked confused -- hard to believe he's the same man who is considered one of the most wanted fugitives in America at the beginning of this week, said he was possibly armed and dangerous, according to the FBI, that he was the leader of a flock of 10,000 people, and that he ruled with an iron fist.

We didn't see any of that in court today. We saw a man -- as I say, prosecutors said he looked humble and maybe even willing to cooperate with the system. He appeared to accept the court's authority over him. He didn't have a lawyer. And when the time came for him to put up some sort of fight or resistance to the idea that he would be sent to Utah to face charges there, he put up no fight, no resistance.

The judge informed him that he will go to Utah. The charges against him there are quite serious, accomplice to rape, two counts of that, each count carrying a -- a potential prison sentence of five years to life in prison.

Now, he also faces charges in Arizona, but they were not as serious, and the prosecutors of the two states came to an agreement that Utah should have him first. So, now it's up to Utah to come and get him. They have 30 days to do so. But the judge told Warren Jeffs they will do it a lot sooner than that -- Fredricka Whitfield.

WHITFIELD: All right, Peter Viles, thanks so much, from Las Vegas.

Well, now more on the unexpected and unexpectedly easy arrest of Warren Jeffs.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Warren Jeffs' brother had nothing to say to reporters after leaving the Las Vegas main jail, where Jeffs, the polygamist prophet, is now an inmate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No comment.

ROWLANDS: After more than a year as a fugitive and four months on the FBI's most wanted list, Warren Jeffs was captured during a routine traffic stop.

There are an estimated 10,000 members in Jeffs' breakaway Mormon sect devoted to him and to his beliefs that men should have multiple wives. Jeffs himself is believed to have as many as 40 wives. Authorities say, given the support Jeffs was getting from his followers while he was on the run, his arrest was almost a fluke.

STEVE MARTINEZ, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: I can't think of a better way that it could have gone down, because it went down safely.

ROWLANDS: The FBI had been concerned that Jeffs' arrest could be violent. His most wanted poster warned, "Jeffs may travel with a number of loyal and armed bodyguards."

MARTINEZ: There was some intelligence that we might expect something like that. I'm happy to say that we didn't encounter that, and found no vehicles in the vehicle.

ROWLANDS: When caught, Jeffs was in this luxury SUV with his brother Isaac and one of his wives. The group had no weapons at all, only cell phones, computers, cash, and disguises, including wigs and sunglasses.

The state trooper who made the arrest sensed that Jeffs was more than a little uneasy.

EDDIE DUTCHOVER, NEVADA STATE TROOPER: I noticed Warren was extremely nervous. He was sitting in that -- behind the right -- right front passenger side, and wouldn't make eye contact with me.

ROWLANDS: Jeffs faces charges in Arizona and Utah. Prosecutors from both states have agreed that Jeffs will be transferred first to Utah, where he faces two counts of rape as an accomplice. Each count carries a maximum sentence, on conviction, of life in prison.

(on camera): When Jeffs is transported to Utah, which investigators believe will most likely take place some time early next week, the prophet will be in Purgatory, literally. Ironically, the correctional facility that Jeffs will be transported is named Purgatory, near Saint George, Utah.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Las Vegas. (END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And you can see more of Ted Rowlands' report on "PAULA ZAHN NOW," weeknights at 8:00 Eastern, only on CNN.

Tropical Storm Ernesto now nearing hurricane strength, as it moves up the East Coast -- our meteorologist Reynolds Wolf tracking it, along with the director of the National Hurricane Center, Max Mayfield.

Good to see you, as well, Max.

All right.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: So, let me begin with you, Mr. Mayfield.

where is it? What's it doing?

MAX MAYFIELD, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: Well, it's about 160 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina right now. It's still moving fairly rapidly toward the north, northeast.

And, you know, soon, it will be on the coast here this evening. But the rain bands, where there's a -- there's a frontal system to the north of it here. And there are these rain bands that are already coming on shore through the eastern half of South and North Carolina.

In addition to the wind and the rain -- the storm surge, this is going to be a rainfall threat over the next few days.

WHITFIELD: And, Reynolds, I know you have a few questions.

WOLF: Oh, absolutely.

Mr. Mayfield, less than 17 hours ago, we saw this as a -- a very weak depression, with winds around 35 miles an hour. And seeing it jump, just double in power, does that surprise you? Any surprises at all?

MAYFIELD: Well, I'm getting, Reynolds, where I'm -- almost expect a surprise every day here.

(LAUGHTER)

MAYFIELD: You know, when it came into South Florida, we were forecasting it to strengthen to a strong storm, and it just never did do that. It was really a non-event down here.

And we were forecasting this to be a storm. We have been forecasting it to strengthen. And now this is right below hurricane strength now. Fortunately, in the -- the briefings we have been giving to emergency management and to FEMA, we have been telling them to prepare for a Category 1 hurricane. WOLF: Mr. Mayfield, do you have any concerns about the precautions that people may be taking, or, rather, the -- the false sense of complacency they may fall into, knowing that this is a tropical storm?

(CROSSTALK)

WOLF: I mean, when you don't have the banner of "hurricane" in front of it, do you think people have a tendency just to kind of relax and not take it as seriously?

MAYFIELD: Reynolds, that's a really good point.

And, you know, there's no really much difference between 70 miles per hour, and a strong storm, and 74 miles per hour, and a hurricane. That's a -- a little academic, actually.

They will likely have three to five feet of storm surge near and to the east of where the center crosses the coast, and some tornadoes, and -- and a lot of rain here.

I think that, you know, people -- if people are just careful here, there's no reason to have loss of life. I -- I think the greatest concern is going to be over the next few days, with the rainfall accumulations. And we have done a study here. At least up until Katrina, most people have lost their lives in the United States from the inland flooding.

WOLF: Now, with regards to the inland flooding, the -- the latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center shows this storm -- or, rather, what's going to be left of it, as we get into the weekend, into Friday, into Saturday, as becoming a depression.

What -- what type of rainfall would you expect from this system as it moves inland?

MAYFIELD: Well, we are calling for four to eight inches over a fairly large area here, with some isolated amounts up to 12 inches.

And we are really talking about, you know, from some coastal South Carolina, through North Carolina, Virginia, even up into eastern Virginia, Maryland, and southern portions of Pennsylvania. So, it's going to be a pretty widespread area.

WOLF: OK -- well, something we all need to take very seriously.

On a completely different note, I know you have -- you have announced...

(COUGHING)

WOLF: Pardon me -- your pending retirement. And I -- I know we are certainly getting our -- our work out of you now. But, just ahead of the gun, thank you so much for the great work you have given to -- to all of us, and -- and, certainly, keeping us safe over all these years, I mean, just... MAYFIELD: Thank...

WOLF: ... a -- a banner job.

MAYFIELD: Thank you very much, Reynolds.

I am not going anywhere until after this season, though.

(LAUGHTER)

WOLF: Good -- good deal for us, thank heavens.

MAYFIELD: You bet.

WHITFIELD: That's good.

We will be -- we will be talking to you a lot and seeing you a lot, as well.

MAYFIELD: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Max Mayfield, Reynolds Wolf, thanks so much to both of you.

Deadline day for Iran, decision time for the U.N. Security Council -- Iran ignores Western demands to stop work on its nuclear program. Will there be consequences? A report from Tehran straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions now moves back to the U.N., with economic sanctions a real possibility.

The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency reported today that Iran has ignored demands that it suspend its uranium enrichment program. Today marked a Security Council deadline for Iran to call off its nuclear activities, or face the possibility of sanctions.

As the deadline arrived, Iran's president unleashed more tough talk about the West, the U.N., and the threat of economic sanctions against his country.

CNN's Aneesh Raman reports from Tehran.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Defiant to the end, Iran's president, speaking this morning to huge crowds in northwest Iran, left no doubt, his country will not suspend its nuclear program.

"This nation," he said, "will not tolerate tyranny and will not give in to a cruel pressure and violation of its rights, even a bit."

People in this agricultural region are some of Ahmadinejad's strongest supporters, cheering every phrase. Here, for some, he is a hero. And they reveled in their president's continued challenge to debate U.S. President Bush.

"They say they want the public to know all of the news and facts," he says, "and decide for themselves. But, when we offered to debate the world's problems and corruption, and let the world judge for themselves, they rejected."

But it is Iran's rejection of the U.N. deadline to stop its nuclear program that matters today. And, in Tehran, as shops open for business, despite fears of businesses go down, of sanctions, here, as well, there was defiance.

"We have undergone sanctions for 27 years," says Hossain. "We are not afraid of sanctions. Iranians can live off of bite of bread and live in cramped dwellings."

There are many here who do fear sanctions outright. And, while today's deadline was big news in Iran, Iranians have known this day was coming, have known they can do little to affect their government's choices. They can only now hope against the worst.

"If a military invasion against Iran is a possibility," says Barham (ph), "it's to the Iranians' benefit to resolve the problem peacefully."

A military invasion is not seen as something that will come any time soon. But Iran's government has made it clear, through war games that have been ongoing for weeks now, that it will defend against any attack.

(on camera): Iranian officials say, the report by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog is, essentially, baseless. And they say it shows that they do not have the capability to pursue a nuclear weapon, that they are, in fact, pursuing peaceful civilian nuclear power. They will likely use that as another reason to stand firm in their refusal to back down.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Tough topics for an audience that knows firsthand about the horrors of conflict.

President Bush addressed a wide range of global security concerns today in a speech to the American Legion Convention in Salt Lake City -- among his topics, Iran's decision to ignore today's U.N.-backed deadline to call off it uranium-enrichment program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is time for Iran to make a choice.

We have made our choice. We will continue to work closely with our allies to find a diplomatic solution, but there must be consequences for Iran's defiance, and we must not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A Security Council resolution calls for the U.N. to consider sanctions against Iran. Iran's president today vowed that sanctions will have no effect on his country's nuclear efforts.

Well, he was in line to be Iran's next monarch. Now he's working for regime change in his homeland. Coming up, the former crown prince of Iran weighs in on the current regime's nuclear ambitions.

Plus, marriage arranged -- a church member meets Warren Jeffs

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "I am president Warren S. Jeffs," that is what he said when he first went in. And then he told me he wanted me to marry Robert Richter (ph). And I didn't know who he was, but I found out real soon.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And, when you were told you were getting married, how soon did you get married?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we waited five minutes after that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Five minutes? This follower now calls Jeffs a hypocrite -- ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Let's check in again with Carol Lin, working on a developing story -- Carol.

LIN: Fred, just want to update folks on a shooting from yesterday. This is in Hillsborough, North Carolina, when a teenager -- a 19-year old is now accused of killing his father and opening fire outside his former high school, Orange High School, out there.

Two students were wounded. And there were eyewitnesses that spotted this gray van that whizzed by. Inside, authorities found two pipe bombs and two rifles. The suspect was quickly arrested.

And here's the -- the development in the story today. Apparently, this suspect has had an obsession with school shootings in the past. And, according to the Associated Press, right up here, sent a message to the principal of Columbine High School. According to the wire here, Columbine principal Frank DeAngelis did not read the e-mail until after the attack.

But this, according to the wire services, is how it read: "Dear Principal, in a few hours, you will probably hear about a school shooting in North Carolina. I am responsible for it. I remember Columbine. It is time the world remembered it. I am sorry. Goodbye."

Now, apparently, when the suspect was asked about it in court, and -- and why he had this obsession with school shootings, he simply answered, "I don't know."

The report showed that he was obsessed not only with Columbine. If you remember Kip Kinkel, one of the students up in...

WHITFIELD: Yes.

LIN: ... in Oregon, a young boy, opened fire on the -- on the school there, Jonesboro, Arkansas, that high school shooting. Apparently, this suspect had a -- had a fascination and an obsession.

He is now ordered held without bond. He is facing a murder charge, along with 10 other counts -- Fred.

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: But..

WHITFIELD: You can only just shake your head...

LIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... and say, my goodness, how sad.

LIN: I know. And this is not the -- this is certainly not the first time that a...

WHITFIELD: Mmm-hmm.

LIN: ... a shooting suspect has recalled the Columbine High School massacre -- but so young, this one, 19 years old.

WHITFIELD: All right. Carol Lin, thanks so much for that update.

LIN: Mmm-hmm.

WHITFIELD: Medical news now: possible new treatment for people with melanoma, a skin cancer that kills almost 8,000 Americans every year.

Well, researchers at the National Cancer Institute have been working on a treatment that uses a patient's own immune system to attack the cancer. They report that altered immune cells wiped out tumors in two patients with advanced melanoma, keeping them cancer- free for at least 18 months. Researchers emphasize, this is still in the clinical trial phase, and more work is needed.

Ford, Ford Motor, has been struggling to turn a profit. And now it may sell one of its most iconic brands. (BUSINESS HEADLINES)

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much. Thanks for that reminder too. September, where is the time going?

Well a lone air traffic controller, working two shifts with only two hours of sleep in between, could that have been a factor in the crash of Comair Flight 5191 last weekend, ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Four hours and counting before Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to hit the East Coast, again. It's already left its calling card in Charleston, South Carolina, which has been getting quite a drenching all day. Joining us reporter Marika Kelderman of our affiliate WCSC, joining us now and it is still raining there in Charleston. Marika, what's the latest? I see a lot of standing water behind you, that's not good.

MARIKA KELDERMAN, WCSC NEWS: Yes, we are here on a residential street and there is a lot of water. This flooding goes back about, oh I would say, a block and a half and it continues over on the other side. Now we have literally been out here for a couple of hours and I can tell you we can feel the water rising. It started out, it was below my boots. Now it is well above my boots and in my boots. But if you look over here you can see that this water has come up to the front steps of these houses. The water goes all the way back behind the houses.

Now this road is closed and most people have been heeding that warning, but we have seen some cars go by and we've actually seen a bunch of bicyclists. I have to tell you the water comes up above their wheel, so it has to be a bit of a struggle. But the rain has been slowing about this steady pace, but we have just recently seen the winds pick up. So as this rain continues, I mean, this water is only going to get higher.

Neighbors say they are going to maybe bring out some sandbags at some point, but for now it's staying below the front doors, but, again, we are here in Charleston, South Carolina and the water is rising.

Reporting for CNN, I'm Marika Kelderman.

WHITFIELD: Marika, really, so they are even still talking about bringing out sand bags. They don't feel like it's too late at this point?

KELDERMAN: Well, it hasn't quite reached their front steps yet, so they are thinking, you know, these people say that this road does tend to flood. So they are prepared for it. I mean, if it gets higher, they said they might bring them out, but these people are kind of used to this flooding, of course. These are going to be a lot of rains for Ernesto, so we will see. WHITFIELD: And fortunately Marika, there really isn't a whole lot to do once the rain stops. You really just have to wait for that water to recede on its own, right, without a drainage system in place in some parts of the low-lying downtown Charleston area?

KELDERMAN: Well, the mayor earlier this week said that they really wanted people to clear out the drainage systems. We have crews here working overtime to try and make sure that all the drainage areas are cleared out. The mayor asked that people go and make sure that the leaves were cleared, but we are in the low country and the water rises here and there is not too much we can do about it. So the people are prepared and they will do their best to try to stay dry inside.

WHITFIELD: All right, well good thing you have your waders on there. Marika Kelderman, thanks so much, WCSC in downtown Charleston.

KELDERMAN: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well on the job, but up to the task? Details emerging now in the investigation of Comair Flight 5191 show only one, possibly sleep-deprived, air traffic controller was on duty at the time of the crash. CNN's David Mattingly has the latest from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The air traffic controller on duty at the Lexington airport at the time of the crash Sunday morning had put in a lot of hours in a short period of time. He had done an 8-hour shift early on Saturday, then had nine hours off, with two hours of sleep, before returning to the airport for another 8-hour shift overnight, leading him into the early morning hours of Sunday. The NTSB is looking very hard at the staffing and scheduling here at the Lexington Airport and else where, to see if this is a sign of a larger problem.

DEBBIE HERSMAN, NTSB SPOKESWOMAN: We won't not just be looking at this controller. We are going to be taking a systems approach to this, looking at what happens at this facility, potentially looking at what happens at other facilities. If we identify any issues, any safety issues, we will address them.

MATTINGLY: The NTSB investigation on the ground in Lexington is wrapping up as attention turns toward the families of victims, with a number of memorial services planned in the area. There will be some changes at the airport, including staffing at the tower. This weekend and all weekends following there will be two air traffic controllers on duty overnight, not one.

David Mattingly, CNN, Lexington, Kentucky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Marriage arranged, a church member meets Warren Jeffs, but this follower now calls Jeffs a hypocrite. Plus this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have two families that are shattered as a result of this and we also have a neighborhood that is kind of in turmoil now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: One neighbor is dead, another charged and a 2-year- old girl may hold critical answers. Details straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: New developments out of the Middle East. Carol Lin is in the newsroom -- Carol.

LIN: Fredricka, we've been following the story of a man, a Palestinian man, inside the British embassy. He managed to get inside that compound in a parking lot and he's armed with a gun. He had been threatening to commit suicide unless he got political asylum, a visa, out of that country, out of Israel.

So joining us now live at the scene is Chris Lawrence, standing by. Chris, I understand Israeli's commandos managed to capture this man inside?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They did. It took eight hours of a standoff here. I'm standing just outside the British embassy here. And from what I saw from my perspective, the man was standing about 40 yards away from here, just on the other side, in a car parking lot, inside the British embassy grounds. He was standing next to the car.

I watched him put the gun to his head, then take the gun down off of his head. He walked a few steps along the car, looked like he went down and picked up, perhaps, some food that they had left for him. He got back up and he was walking back along the car. And he looked around -- he looked up, he looked around the corners. And I think he caught a glimpse of one of the police officers, one of security people right there. He started to break into a run, he ran about three steps, they tackled him, they caught him and they took the gun.

So after eight hours here at the British embassy, it all has ended peacefully. What we've been able to learn is that he is a Palestinian man who lived in Ramallah, the West Bank and he had been an informer for the Israeli authorities, helping the Israeli authorities to identify and capture Palestinians who might wish to do harm to Israel. The Palestinians had threatened to kill him and he was looking for asylum.

At one point, he said, you are either going to take me a Europe or you're going to take me out as a body. Well, fortunately for everyone involved here, neither one of those happened. He was taken peacefully. And the thing to resolve now is what happens to him next. He was very upset. He had been talking continuously with negotiators and with reporters, saying over and over again that he felt abandoned. And feeling that if he was returned to the West Bank, that he was sure he was going to be killed.

LIN: Chris, we don't know much about but how he turned to Israeli security forces and became an informant, but there are some instances where -- or at least stories out there -- that Israeli agents actively recruit Palestinian sources, sometimes using incentives programs that are controversial.

Do you know any more about how this man was able to hook up with Israeli Defense Forces, how he was turned and whether there was ever a deal? I mean, police sources with our Jerusalem bureau have been very unwilling or unforthcoming in the very beginning about how this man was, in fact, an informant for Israel.

LAWRENCE: Exactly. I've heard rumors, just from talking to people out here, but nothing that I would feel comfortable speculating on. I can tell you I've listened to some of his conversations with some of the reporters here that they taped and then had those conversations translated from the Hebrew.

He says that he was an informer for the Israeli forces, that he had been working for them and that apparently the Palestinians found out what he was doing and that he felt his life was threatened if he tried to come back home to the West Bank. He had been in contact with a lot of people here. He made a lot of threats. And, again, this has been going on now for eight hours since he broke into the British embassy grounds here.

LIN: Chris Lawrence, thank you very much. Chris Lawrence standing by outside of the British embassy in Tel Aviv. So Fred, it looks like this situation has been resolved, but a bit of a mystery. This man clearly has an interesting background, and we're learning more about him and his relationship with the Israeli security forces.

WHITFIELD: All right. Carol and Chris, thank you.

Gone, but hardly forgotten. Although polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs had been on the run for two years, he kept an iron grip on his fundamentalist flock. Now that Jeffs faces prosecution and the possibility of life in prison, will that change?

CNN's Gary Tuchman asked his followers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This Colorado City woman is a member of Warren Jeffs' FLDS church.

(on camera): Have you heard about Warren Jeffs being captured?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I heard about it.

TUCHMAN: Tell me how you feel about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not sure. TUCHMAN (voice-over): In this remote part of the Southwest, where about 10,000 Jeffs supporters live, it is very hard to get church members to talk to us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And this one.

TUCHMAN: That's why we were surprised when 23-year-old Elsie (ph) opened up her home and her heart by talking about the church she loves, but the prophet she no longer trusts.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't believe prophets are dishonest and do what he has done.

TUCHMAN: Since Warren Jeffs has been on the run, Elsie and her husband have lost their affection for a man who, until recently, meant everyone to them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thought that he was the one who got the revelation, and, through him, you could go to heaven.

TUCHMAN (on camera): And you loved him, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I did.

TUCHMAN: Elsie is the only wife in the house for now, but, coming from a polygamist family, she says it's likely her husband will take more wives in the future. Their marriage three years ago was performed by Jeffs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "I am president Warren S. Jeffs," that is what he said when he first went in. And then he told me he wanted me to marry Robert Richter (ph). And I didn't know who he was, but I found out real soon.

TUCHMAN: And, when you were told you were getting married, how soon did you get married?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we waited five minutes after that, until he arrived. And then...

TUCHMAN: That's a length -- that's a lengthy courtship.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then I married him.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Elsie still believes that Warren Jeffs was inspired by the lord to marry her to a man she now loves. But she has lost her respect for Jeffs, the man who taught his flock to live simple religious lives, without outside influences.

(on camera): The fact that Warren Jeffs had $54,000 in the car, and disguises, and wigs, and cell phones, and all kinds of stuff, what does that make you think?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't make me think he was very honest.

TUCHMAN: A hypocrite?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mmm-hmm.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): But Warren Jeffs, she says, will remain in charge of this church, even as a prisoner.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he will be a leader as long as he says he is.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Even though he's behind bars?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

TUCHMAN: You don't think the people here will say, he's in jail; it's time to do something else?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. They will say, he's in jail, so that means he's getting persecuted.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Elsie says, she will continue her life with conservative attire, no TV, and practicing her religion. But she's looking for a new prophet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And you can see more of Gary Tuchman's reporting on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." Watch "A.C. 360" weeknights at 10 Eastern, only on CNN.

Protective father or murderer?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Police describe a young married father, so enraged after learning his 2-year-old daughter was allegedly molested by a next door neighbor, that he leaped through the man's window and stabbed him to death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The killing took place in Connecticut. Ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A lawyer in a Connecticut suburb hears disturbing news about his daughter. Now police investigate a case of child molestation along with a case of murder.

Debra Alfarone has the story from our Affiliate, News 12 Connecticut.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just the best neighborhood you can think of. I mean, you wouldn't want to raise your kids anywhere else. This doesn't happen here.

DEBRA ALFARONE, NEWS 12 CONNECTICUT REPORTER (voice-over): On this quiet Fairfield block, a Monday afternoon murder.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's neighbor on neighbor violence.

ALFARONE: Police say this man, 29-year-old John Edington broke into next door neighbor, 59-year-old Barry James' home and stabbed him almost a dozen times, killing him. Then he went home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Several of our officers were then diverted to that residence to attempt to apprehend the suspect.

ALFARONE: Police arrested Edington, charging him with murder, but what led this father of two to knife his neighbor to death?

CAPT. GARY MACNAMARA, FAIRFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT: Mr. Edington, just prior to the incident, did receive information from a relative that Mr. James did, in fact, have inappropriate conduct and contact with his daughter.

ALFARONE: Police say they are investigating the possibility of sexual abuse. One neighbor paints a picture of victim Barry James as man out of control.

DARRELL MAYNARD, FAIRFIELD RESIDENT: The drinking, his intoxication, his behavior seemed to be escalating.

ALFARONE: Police say they were called to James' home recently after receiving a call that he was exposing himself. Neighbor Darrell Maynard says he's not surprised, but points out ...

MAYNARD: A dead man can't defend himself.

MACNAMARA: We have two families that are shattered as a result of this, and we also have a neighborhood that is kind of in turmoil now.

ALFARONE: In Fairfield, Debra Alfarone, News 12 Connecticut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now to southern Thailand, mostly Muslim, center of a breakaway movement and turned upside-down today by bombing after bombing. More than 20 separate explosions all at about the same time inside or near 10 commercial banks. One person was killed, at least 18 others wounded. Police say they were homemade bombs triggered by cell phones. A rebel uprising in southern Thailand has killed more than 1,300 people in the past two years.

Remember where you were when you learned Princess Diana had died? Believe it or not, it's been nine years to the day, August 31st, 1997. The princess of Wales, her boyfriend and their driver all killed in a high-speed car crash in a Paris tunnel.

Diana memorial sites in Paris and in the U.K. still attract throngs of visitors and far more than usual on the anniversary of her death. The British royal family, as in years past, did not appear at any public memorial events today.

Donald Trump says you're fired. Well, make that your fired. This time his longtime "Apprentice" co-star. The details straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: You're fired. Apprentice co-star Carolyn Kepcher now understands the gravity of those words she has heard so many times before from her now ex-boss. That's right. CNN has confirmed that Donald Trump has fired his famous assistant. In addition to her role on "The Apprentice," Kepcher also helped run one of Trump's golf courses. She will now be replaced on the show by Trump's daughter Ivanka.

Well, they say there's no such thing as a free lunch, and now Starbucks is saying there's no such thing as free iced coffee, either. Susan Lisovicz is live from the New York Stock Exchange with that and a final look at the trading day. Something tells me it has something to do with the heat. It was just getting too costly, wasn't it? Everybody wanted one of those cold drinks.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it was too popular. Why not, and especially if it's free, Fred? You know, last week Starbucks began e-mailing coupons to a limited group of employees in the Southeast offering a free iced coffee from noon to 9:00 p.m. until the end of September.

Starbucks instructed the e-mail recipients to share the offer with friends and family, but the coupon spread further and wider than the company expected, so now Starbucks has pulled the plug on the promotion, saying the e-mail had been redistributed beyond the original intent, and modified beyond Starbucks' control. No word yet on how many free iced coffees Starbucks was served, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, interesting, but how can they be surprised? You know, there were some other like cold, kind of Frappucino -- all these fruity, new, Frappucino-kind of drinks. They were giving out a lot of free samples. I wonder if they're going to face similar demise there at Starbucks.

LISOVICZ: Well, you know, when you are offering something like that in the hot weather and it's a good deal, you know that it's going to be popular. It's a little too popular.

WHITFIELD: Too good of a deal.

LISOVICZ: So it was a much shorter deal than the five weeks intended, Fred.

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