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CNN Live Today

RNC Impact on NYC Economy; The Radical Middle; Bush Wants to Get Rid of 527s; Olympics Update

Aired August 26, 2004 - 10:29   ET

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

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


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at the headlines now in the news. Iraq's most senior Shiite cleric is back home in Najaf following medical treatment in Britain. Representatives of the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani are attempting to broker an end to the violent standoff with followers of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraqi officials say 48 people have died in the latest violence, including a mortar attack in the nearby city of Kufa that killed 25.
The search for Lori Hacking's body is expected to resume tonight at a county landfill just outside of Salt Lake City. Authorities are poring through nearly 5,000 tons of garbage and trash in an area where they believe the body was dumped. Hacking was reported missing about five weeks ago. Her husband, Mark, is accused of killing her while she slept.

President Bush is back on the campaign trail today. He left his Texas ranch this morning to attend a rally at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. The president also has campaign events today in Farmington and Albuquerque.

Poverty rose significantly last year in the U.S. according to the latest figures from the Census Bureau. In data released just minutes ago, the government finds that 1.3 million more Americans are now below the poverty line, that compared to a year before. It also shows that 1.4 million Americans more are without health insurance.

Well, believe it or not, the Democratic convention in Boston put a damper on that city's economy. And there are concerns that the same thing will happen in New York City during next week's Republican National Convention.

As Allan Chernoff of CNN Financial News explains, some Manhattan businesses are already cashing in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS (voice-over): Tupelo Grill, across the street from Madison Square Garden, expects to cash in during the convention. New York State Republicans have booked out the entire restaurant and its bars.

JOHN MEADOW, GENERAL MGR, TUPELO GRILL: Tupelo has been open for seven years, and this will -- without a doubt, will be the busiest, most exciting week and opportunity we'll ever have here.

CHERNOFF: Convention organizers anticipate 50,000 visitors who need to eat, sleep, and, New York hopes, shop. More than 40 hotels will be hosting delegates and reporters. Add spending on preparations at Madison Square Garden, and New York's Host Committee is predicting an economic benefit to the city of $265 million.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I specifically avoided New York during the convention.

CHERNOFF: Offsetting the extra spending may be an exodus of New Yorkers and a partial boycott by suburban commuters. Jill Sockwell plans to work from home. Her regular New Jersey Transit train won't even be coming to Manhattan.

JILL SOCKWELL, COMMUTER: ... and I thought by the time I actually got here, it would probably be lunchtime. And then turn around and try to make it home. So, I just think since our proximity to Madison Square Garden is just half a block, it would just be insane here.

CHERNOFF: Her employer, ad company Foote Cone & Belding, is telling most of its employees don't come in.

LYNNE SEID, PRES., FCB ADVERTISING: Some of our employers are actually going to spend the day at their clients', or a couple of days at their clients'. Others are going to be taking their usual end of the summer holiday.

CHERNOFF: Merchants near Madison Square Garden fear their regular customers may disappear.

NATHAN SAMOOHY, A&S 2000: Nobody going to come in to buy. People just come in for convention. That's it. It's done. They go and done.

MARJORIE LOUIS, NY EYE SHOP: It's affecting us in the long run. We have to stay once everybody leaves. So, I don't quite know what I'm supposed to get out of this.

CHERNOFF: Three Broadway shows -- two of which have multiple Tony award nominations -- are closing before the convention because of poor advance sales. New York's Democratic controller is even predicting the Republican gathering could end up costing the city more than $300 million, mostly in lost productivity.

(on camera): The convention may not meet the city's economic projections, but planners say the true benefit will be the exposure New York gets, especially if everything goes smoothly. Another chance for New York to show the world it's a safe and fun place to visit, even in an age of terror threats.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Lots of shifting in the political world. Senator John Kerry will be looking for swing voters in a county that voted for George Bush, Jesse Ventura, and Bill Clinton in different elections. And swing voters are speaking more loudly than ever in what they have been told -- we are told is a politically divided nation. They are described in "Utne" magazine as the radical middle.

Joining us, Nina Utne. She is CEO of "Utne" magazine. Good morning, Nina. Thanks for being here with us.

NINA UTNE, CEO, "UTNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Daryn. Thank you for inviting me.

KAGAN: This is a big time for the magazine. I think a happy anniversary wishes are in order?

UTNE: Thank you. It's our 20th anniversary.

KAGAN: How about that. And of covering things -- trying to be cutting edge and way ahead of the rest of us here in the media.

UTNE: Well, we like to say, neither left nor right, but out in front.

KAGAN: Out in front. OK. Well, let's see what's out in front. Let's talk about this issue -- or this idea of the radical middle. Isn't that kind of an oxymoron? How can you be radical and in the middle?

UTNE: Well, I think it's people who are really -- care deeply about the principles that this country were founded on, and who are really passionate about rolling up their sleeves and being practical.

And I think the really radical thing is that we've stopped listening to each other, and we stopped talking to each other. And it's a simple radical act that we need to recapture.

KAGAN: And that has turned into kind of a silent middle, people who you hear all over the place -- "Oh, I don't even bother voting because there's nobody who I like."

UTNE: Yes, I think that -- well, I think that that's -- there's a lot of space in the middle. And what we're talking about is the people who are really engaged, and who are really wanting -- who recognize that political life is a lot more than elections. It's really about being involved as citizens.

KAGAN: And you talk about in the article in the magazine, where this is headed, people trying to take back a divided America, saying we don't have to settle for that for being us against them. There are ways that people can get together and actually talk in a civil manner.

UTNE: Yes. Absolutely. In fact, we have a nonprofit that we've just spun off that's -- it's our first project. It's called "Let's Talk America." And we've done it in collaboration with groups and individuals from across the political spectrum. Really looking -- really getting to know each other, for starters, and looking for -- not looking for an agenda together, but really looking for our common humanity. KAGAN: And do you find when you get people together in a civil situation, you take away labels, that you find that most people really want -- most Americans really want the same thing, the difference comes in people's opinion of how you get there?

KAGAN: Absolutely. And I think that that's -- you know, that's the greatest mistake that the media and politicians are making is dividing and polarizing and demonizing, when I think we're all so hungry for finding -- you know, finding the common ground and speaking to -- listening and speaking from the heart.

KAGAN: There's another story happening here, and this is getting back to the success of your magazine here: How has your magazine survived in a media climate where it seems like everybody is owned by one or two companies?

UTNE: Well, I...

KAGAN: What's the secret of that one, Nina?

UTNE: I'd like to say I knew it. It's been a high-wire act, I'll admit that. But I think that really -- I think it has to do with the fact that there is a strong core of people in this country and around the world who want to look for what's good, what's possible, what's evolving. And that's really -- that's the audience that we speak to. And that's where we draw our inspiration from.

KAGAN: Well, here's to 20,000 more years of that for "Utne" magazine.

UTNE: Thank you. Thank you.

KAGAN: Doing positive things in the world -- Nina Utne from "Utne" magazine, celebrating the 20th anniversary. Thanks for stopping by.

UTNE: Thank you so much. Bye.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

We're going to have more political talk coming up in the next hour. President Bush -- boy, left the mouth at home this morning -- President Bush will visit Miami on Friday. I'll have a chance to talk live with Al Cardenas, former chair of the Florida Republican party.

Sports ahead for you. The U.S. men's basketball team fights for a chance at gold. And the U.S. coach and Spain coach wind up shouting at each other. What was that all about? We'll tell you about it just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rhonda Schaffler at the New York Stock Exchange, where stocks seem to be in a holding pattern despite a continued slide in oil prices. Right now, the Dow Industrials off six points; Nasdaq is losing about a third of one percent.

The October contract for crude oil is falling another 60 cents, now trading just under $43 a barrel. That, of course, well off last week's record intraday high of nearly $50 a barrel.

In the stock spotlight this morning, Krispy Kreme shares getting creamed -- down 11 percent after that company reported a huge drop in quarterly earnings.

Several of the nation's biggest airlines are teaming up in an effort to cut costs. They've signed a deal to sell tickets through a new low-cost electronic distribution network. The system, called Trueconnect, is aimed at travel agents. It will compete with other big reservation networks, such as Sabre, Worldspan, and Amadeus. Among the airlines taking part: United, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Alaska Air, and US Air.

It isn't clear whether Trueconnect will start operating or whether you'll be able to use it online without a travel agent, but it could drive overall ticket prices down by raising competition and giving the airlines more wiggle room to lower fares.

That is a quick check on business news. CNN's LIVE TODAY will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The presidential campaign trails across again today. This time, New Mexico is the spot. President Bush due to arrive any minute in Las Cruces, where we find our Kathleen Koch.

Kathleen, good morning.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

And we just got a readout on Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary's, gaggle to reporters. And we're told that President Bush this morning placed a call to Senator John McCain. You will recall that Senator McCain has been both displeased with the fact that President Bush has not explicitly condemned the content of the Swift Boat ads, criticizing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. McCain also displeased, though, with the Kerry campaign's using of excerpts of a 2000 debate that he engaged in with George Bush.

So, President Bush called Senator McCain today, and we are told that he told the senator that they wanted to work together to pursue -- he wanted to work together with McCain to pursue court action to shut down these regulated third-party groups, these 527s. The president told Senator McCain if that does not work, that he also wants to then try to pursue legislative action.

And we're told by Scott McClellan that McCain responded that he thought that it was a good idea that they're working together. And again, the president is here in New Mexico, kicking off a sweep through this battleground state, a state that the president lost by just some 366 votes back in 2000 -- Daryn. KAGAN: All right. Kathleen Koch, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Thank you.

The Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry is due at a town hall meeting in Minnesota this morning. He is scheduled to arrive there in about 45 minutes. The swift boat controversy dogged Kerry yesterday during a campaign stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Today he opens the campaign aimed at undecided women.

And on to the Summer Olympics, the U.S. women's soccer team competes today against Brazil. They're going for the gold again. A lot of concern over captain Julie Foudy's sprained ankle, however.

Larry Smith of CNN Sports is in Athens with that and other news on the Games.

Larry, hello.

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. How are you?

Yes, we won't know Julie Foudy's condition, her status until game time, in about 2:00 Eastern Time, about three hours from now, when they will kick off the gold medal match, USA and Brazil.

And what a story, the five ladies have been the quartet and the core of this U.S. national team. It's already won a world cup and Olympic gold and Olympic silver, now trying to win another gold before they say goodbye. That group led by Mia Hamm, as they go for the gold tonight.

Speaking of going for the gold, Dream Team is still in the hunt for a gold medal. We wouldn't have thought it a few days ago. They didn't look very good in preliminary rounds. But they had a great performance today, 102-94. They beat the previously undefeated Spain team, again, 102-94. Stephon Marbury setting a U.S. Olympic record with 31 points, as the Americans, struggling from outside shooting -- 12 three pointers in this game to get the win -- they advanced to the semifinals versus either Greece or Argentina.

Now, after the game, coach Larry Brown and the coach of the Spain team getting into a bit of an altercation, had to be separated by their assistants. We're not quite sure exactly what that's about. They're talking about it this afternoon. When we find out more, we will pass it along to you, as again they move on to the semifinals.

Tonight in track and field, several events going on, including the long jump finals. Marion Jones is in that. She qualified last night, trying to win her first medal of these Games. She won five medals in the Sydney Games back in 2000. Jones, by the way, also added to the women's 400-meter relay team. We should see them run their preliminary heat tonight.

That's the story for now from Athens.

Daryn, let's go back to you.

KAGAN: All right. Larry Smith in Athens, thank you.

It is an age when you might expect to need a helping hand. Ninety-eight-year-old Ginger Goldhammer is still giving one. We're going to introduce you to this very special "Everyday Hero" after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Now for other stories making news coast to coast. A $10,000 reward has been posted in the case of two camp counselors found shot to death on a beach in northern California. Nicholas Scarseth, described by police as a drifter from Wisconsin, was questioned as a potential witness in the case and then released.

OK, you can stay. U.S. officials may not approve of how a young Cuban woman got into the country, but she will not have to leave. Air freight workers in Miami found her Tuesday night inside a small wooden crate that had been shipped from the Bahamas.

Robert Ripley traveled the world looking for odd things. Little did he know that one day the most bizarre looking creatures would come to him. They show up every year at "Ripley's Believe it or Not" in Atlanta City for the "Strangest Face on the Boardwalk Competition." The eighth annual faceoff was Wednesday.

Whether it's a marriage or a job, 34 years, that is a long time to do anything. But that is how long an Atlanta woman has been working for free. It's even more amazing when you consider this "Everyday Hero" is 98 years old.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GINGER GOLDHAMMER: Thank you, darling.

KAGAN (voice-over): Ninety-eight-year-old Ginger Goldhammer needs a little help getting around these days, but it doesn't stop her from donating her time twice a week at the Atlanta Veterans Hospital.

GOLDHAMMER: Work is upstairs (ph) (INAUDIBLE) and annoying people.

KAGAN: She helps prepare supplies for the surgical unit. There she's known as Miss Ginger, and known for her kisses.

GOLDHAMMER: God bless you.

KAGAN: Planted on the staff. And on three American presidents. Carter, Ford and her favorite, Bill Clinton.

GOLDHAMMER: I love him. And he's kissable. He's just the handsomest kissable guy you ever met. He doesn't give good pictures. In real life, terrific.

KAGAN: They say she's been volunteering here for 34 years.

GOLDHAMMER: I don't think I looks 34, do I? I look much younger.

KAGAN: The hospital relies on more than 800 volunteers, but administrators say few have shown the dedication of Miss Ginger.

JAN MOREIRA, CHIEF OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES: Ginger is just a dynamic young lady, who fosters love and warmth. And that's what you want to see in volunteerism.

KAGAN: Miss Ginger and her husband came to America to escape Adolf Hitler. She says after her husband's death in the '60s, she saw volunteering as her way of giving back to the country that gave her so much.

GOLDHAMMER: Everybody should, darling, because America is the best country in the whole wide world.

KAGAN: It's just another way of her showing her affection.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, Miss Ginger sets the bar pretty high. But if you think you know of another everyday hero, we'd like to hear about him or her. Send us an e-mail, livetoday@cnn.com.

We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Meet Cara, she is a search-and-rescue dog. She also holds the world canine record for highest sky dive, not just a stunt.

Oh, look at her. Stop. I can't stand it.

Cara and her FEMA team are sometimes called on to reach disasters in remote regions.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: The candidates are barnstorming the battleground states. Is Florida in for a repeat of the 2000 recount? We'll take a look at the latest poll numbers with the former chair of the state Republican Party.

Plus, Web surfers weigh in on their Olympic dream day. Find out who takes the gold there.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired August 26, 2004 - 10:29   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at the headlines now in the news. Iraq's most senior Shiite cleric is back home in Najaf following medical treatment in Britain. Representatives of the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani are attempting to broker an end to the violent standoff with followers of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraqi officials say 48 people have died in the latest violence, including a mortar attack in the nearby city of Kufa that killed 25.
The search for Lori Hacking's body is expected to resume tonight at a county landfill just outside of Salt Lake City. Authorities are poring through nearly 5,000 tons of garbage and trash in an area where they believe the body was dumped. Hacking was reported missing about five weeks ago. Her husband, Mark, is accused of killing her while she slept.

President Bush is back on the campaign trail today. He left his Texas ranch this morning to attend a rally at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. The president also has campaign events today in Farmington and Albuquerque.

Poverty rose significantly last year in the U.S. according to the latest figures from the Census Bureau. In data released just minutes ago, the government finds that 1.3 million more Americans are now below the poverty line, that compared to a year before. It also shows that 1.4 million Americans more are without health insurance.

Well, believe it or not, the Democratic convention in Boston put a damper on that city's economy. And there are concerns that the same thing will happen in New York City during next week's Republican National Convention.

As Allan Chernoff of CNN Financial News explains, some Manhattan businesses are already cashing in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS (voice-over): Tupelo Grill, across the street from Madison Square Garden, expects to cash in during the convention. New York State Republicans have booked out the entire restaurant and its bars.

JOHN MEADOW, GENERAL MGR, TUPELO GRILL: Tupelo has been open for seven years, and this will -- without a doubt, will be the busiest, most exciting week and opportunity we'll ever have here.

CHERNOFF: Convention organizers anticipate 50,000 visitors who need to eat, sleep, and, New York hopes, shop. More than 40 hotels will be hosting delegates and reporters. Add spending on preparations at Madison Square Garden, and New York's Host Committee is predicting an economic benefit to the city of $265 million.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I specifically avoided New York during the convention.

CHERNOFF: Offsetting the extra spending may be an exodus of New Yorkers and a partial boycott by suburban commuters. Jill Sockwell plans to work from home. Her regular New Jersey Transit train won't even be coming to Manhattan.

JILL SOCKWELL, COMMUTER: ... and I thought by the time I actually got here, it would probably be lunchtime. And then turn around and try to make it home. So, I just think since our proximity to Madison Square Garden is just half a block, it would just be insane here.

CHERNOFF: Her employer, ad company Foote Cone & Belding, is telling most of its employees don't come in.

LYNNE SEID, PRES., FCB ADVERTISING: Some of our employers are actually going to spend the day at their clients', or a couple of days at their clients'. Others are going to be taking their usual end of the summer holiday.

CHERNOFF: Merchants near Madison Square Garden fear their regular customers may disappear.

NATHAN SAMOOHY, A&S 2000: Nobody going to come in to buy. People just come in for convention. That's it. It's done. They go and done.

MARJORIE LOUIS, NY EYE SHOP: It's affecting us in the long run. We have to stay once everybody leaves. So, I don't quite know what I'm supposed to get out of this.

CHERNOFF: Three Broadway shows -- two of which have multiple Tony award nominations -- are closing before the convention because of poor advance sales. New York's Democratic controller is even predicting the Republican gathering could end up costing the city more than $300 million, mostly in lost productivity.

(on camera): The convention may not meet the city's economic projections, but planners say the true benefit will be the exposure New York gets, especially if everything goes smoothly. Another chance for New York to show the world it's a safe and fun place to visit, even in an age of terror threats.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Lots of shifting in the political world. Senator John Kerry will be looking for swing voters in a county that voted for George Bush, Jesse Ventura, and Bill Clinton in different elections. And swing voters are speaking more loudly than ever in what they have been told -- we are told is a politically divided nation. They are described in "Utne" magazine as the radical middle.

Joining us, Nina Utne. She is CEO of "Utne" magazine. Good morning, Nina. Thanks for being here with us.

NINA UTNE, CEO, "UTNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Daryn. Thank you for inviting me.

KAGAN: This is a big time for the magazine. I think a happy anniversary wishes are in order?

UTNE: Thank you. It's our 20th anniversary.

KAGAN: How about that. And of covering things -- trying to be cutting edge and way ahead of the rest of us here in the media.

UTNE: Well, we like to say, neither left nor right, but out in front.

KAGAN: Out in front. OK. Well, let's see what's out in front. Let's talk about this issue -- or this idea of the radical middle. Isn't that kind of an oxymoron? How can you be radical and in the middle?

UTNE: Well, I think it's people who are really -- care deeply about the principles that this country were founded on, and who are really passionate about rolling up their sleeves and being practical.

And I think the really radical thing is that we've stopped listening to each other, and we stopped talking to each other. And it's a simple radical act that we need to recapture.

KAGAN: And that has turned into kind of a silent middle, people who you hear all over the place -- "Oh, I don't even bother voting because there's nobody who I like."

UTNE: Yes, I think that -- well, I think that that's -- there's a lot of space in the middle. And what we're talking about is the people who are really engaged, and who are really wanting -- who recognize that political life is a lot more than elections. It's really about being involved as citizens.

KAGAN: And you talk about in the article in the magazine, where this is headed, people trying to take back a divided America, saying we don't have to settle for that for being us against them. There are ways that people can get together and actually talk in a civil manner.

UTNE: Yes. Absolutely. In fact, we have a nonprofit that we've just spun off that's -- it's our first project. It's called "Let's Talk America." And we've done it in collaboration with groups and individuals from across the political spectrum. Really looking -- really getting to know each other, for starters, and looking for -- not looking for an agenda together, but really looking for our common humanity. KAGAN: And do you find when you get people together in a civil situation, you take away labels, that you find that most people really want -- most Americans really want the same thing, the difference comes in people's opinion of how you get there?

KAGAN: Absolutely. And I think that that's -- you know, that's the greatest mistake that the media and politicians are making is dividing and polarizing and demonizing, when I think we're all so hungry for finding -- you know, finding the common ground and speaking to -- listening and speaking from the heart.

KAGAN: There's another story happening here, and this is getting back to the success of your magazine here: How has your magazine survived in a media climate where it seems like everybody is owned by one or two companies?

UTNE: Well, I...

KAGAN: What's the secret of that one, Nina?

UTNE: I'd like to say I knew it. It's been a high-wire act, I'll admit that. But I think that really -- I think it has to do with the fact that there is a strong core of people in this country and around the world who want to look for what's good, what's possible, what's evolving. And that's really -- that's the audience that we speak to. And that's where we draw our inspiration from.

KAGAN: Well, here's to 20,000 more years of that for "Utne" magazine.

UTNE: Thank you. Thank you.

KAGAN: Doing positive things in the world -- Nina Utne from "Utne" magazine, celebrating the 20th anniversary. Thanks for stopping by.

UTNE: Thank you so much. Bye.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

We're going to have more political talk coming up in the next hour. President Bush -- boy, left the mouth at home this morning -- President Bush will visit Miami on Friday. I'll have a chance to talk live with Al Cardenas, former chair of the Florida Republican party.

Sports ahead for you. The U.S. men's basketball team fights for a chance at gold. And the U.S. coach and Spain coach wind up shouting at each other. What was that all about? We'll tell you about it just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rhonda Schaffler at the New York Stock Exchange, where stocks seem to be in a holding pattern despite a continued slide in oil prices. Right now, the Dow Industrials off six points; Nasdaq is losing about a third of one percent.

The October contract for crude oil is falling another 60 cents, now trading just under $43 a barrel. That, of course, well off last week's record intraday high of nearly $50 a barrel.

In the stock spotlight this morning, Krispy Kreme shares getting creamed -- down 11 percent after that company reported a huge drop in quarterly earnings.

Several of the nation's biggest airlines are teaming up in an effort to cut costs. They've signed a deal to sell tickets through a new low-cost electronic distribution network. The system, called Trueconnect, is aimed at travel agents. It will compete with other big reservation networks, such as Sabre, Worldspan, and Amadeus. Among the airlines taking part: United, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Alaska Air, and US Air.

It isn't clear whether Trueconnect will start operating or whether you'll be able to use it online without a travel agent, but it could drive overall ticket prices down by raising competition and giving the airlines more wiggle room to lower fares.

That is a quick check on business news. CNN's LIVE TODAY will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The presidential campaign trails across again today. This time, New Mexico is the spot. President Bush due to arrive any minute in Las Cruces, where we find our Kathleen Koch.

Kathleen, good morning.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

And we just got a readout on Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary's, gaggle to reporters. And we're told that President Bush this morning placed a call to Senator John McCain. You will recall that Senator McCain has been both displeased with the fact that President Bush has not explicitly condemned the content of the Swift Boat ads, criticizing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. McCain also displeased, though, with the Kerry campaign's using of excerpts of a 2000 debate that he engaged in with George Bush.

So, President Bush called Senator McCain today, and we are told that he told the senator that they wanted to work together to pursue -- he wanted to work together with McCain to pursue court action to shut down these regulated third-party groups, these 527s. The president told Senator McCain if that does not work, that he also wants to then try to pursue legislative action.

And we're told by Scott McClellan that McCain responded that he thought that it was a good idea that they're working together. And again, the president is here in New Mexico, kicking off a sweep through this battleground state, a state that the president lost by just some 366 votes back in 2000 -- Daryn. KAGAN: All right. Kathleen Koch, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Thank you.

The Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry is due at a town hall meeting in Minnesota this morning. He is scheduled to arrive there in about 45 minutes. The swift boat controversy dogged Kerry yesterday during a campaign stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Today he opens the campaign aimed at undecided women.

And on to the Summer Olympics, the U.S. women's soccer team competes today against Brazil. They're going for the gold again. A lot of concern over captain Julie Foudy's sprained ankle, however.

Larry Smith of CNN Sports is in Athens with that and other news on the Games.

Larry, hello.

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. How are you?

Yes, we won't know Julie Foudy's condition, her status until game time, in about 2:00 Eastern Time, about three hours from now, when they will kick off the gold medal match, USA and Brazil.

And what a story, the five ladies have been the quartet and the core of this U.S. national team. It's already won a world cup and Olympic gold and Olympic silver, now trying to win another gold before they say goodbye. That group led by Mia Hamm, as they go for the gold tonight.

Speaking of going for the gold, Dream Team is still in the hunt for a gold medal. We wouldn't have thought it a few days ago. They didn't look very good in preliminary rounds. But they had a great performance today, 102-94. They beat the previously undefeated Spain team, again, 102-94. Stephon Marbury setting a U.S. Olympic record with 31 points, as the Americans, struggling from outside shooting -- 12 three pointers in this game to get the win -- they advanced to the semifinals versus either Greece or Argentina.

Now, after the game, coach Larry Brown and the coach of the Spain team getting into a bit of an altercation, had to be separated by their assistants. We're not quite sure exactly what that's about. They're talking about it this afternoon. When we find out more, we will pass it along to you, as again they move on to the semifinals.

Tonight in track and field, several events going on, including the long jump finals. Marion Jones is in that. She qualified last night, trying to win her first medal of these Games. She won five medals in the Sydney Games back in 2000. Jones, by the way, also added to the women's 400-meter relay team. We should see them run their preliminary heat tonight.

That's the story for now from Athens.

Daryn, let's go back to you.

KAGAN: All right. Larry Smith in Athens, thank you.

It is an age when you might expect to need a helping hand. Ninety-eight-year-old Ginger Goldhammer is still giving one. We're going to introduce you to this very special "Everyday Hero" after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Now for other stories making news coast to coast. A $10,000 reward has been posted in the case of two camp counselors found shot to death on a beach in northern California. Nicholas Scarseth, described by police as a drifter from Wisconsin, was questioned as a potential witness in the case and then released.

OK, you can stay. U.S. officials may not approve of how a young Cuban woman got into the country, but she will not have to leave. Air freight workers in Miami found her Tuesday night inside a small wooden crate that had been shipped from the Bahamas.

Robert Ripley traveled the world looking for odd things. Little did he know that one day the most bizarre looking creatures would come to him. They show up every year at "Ripley's Believe it or Not" in Atlanta City for the "Strangest Face on the Boardwalk Competition." The eighth annual faceoff was Wednesday.

Whether it's a marriage or a job, 34 years, that is a long time to do anything. But that is how long an Atlanta woman has been working for free. It's even more amazing when you consider this "Everyday Hero" is 98 years old.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GINGER GOLDHAMMER: Thank you, darling.

KAGAN (voice-over): Ninety-eight-year-old Ginger Goldhammer needs a little help getting around these days, but it doesn't stop her from donating her time twice a week at the Atlanta Veterans Hospital.

GOLDHAMMER: Work is upstairs (ph) (INAUDIBLE) and annoying people.

KAGAN: She helps prepare supplies for the surgical unit. There she's known as Miss Ginger, and known for her kisses.

GOLDHAMMER: God bless you.

KAGAN: Planted on the staff. And on three American presidents. Carter, Ford and her favorite, Bill Clinton.

GOLDHAMMER: I love him. And he's kissable. He's just the handsomest kissable guy you ever met. He doesn't give good pictures. In real life, terrific.

KAGAN: They say she's been volunteering here for 34 years.

GOLDHAMMER: I don't think I looks 34, do I? I look much younger.

KAGAN: The hospital relies on more than 800 volunteers, but administrators say few have shown the dedication of Miss Ginger.

JAN MOREIRA, CHIEF OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES: Ginger is just a dynamic young lady, who fosters love and warmth. And that's what you want to see in volunteerism.

KAGAN: Miss Ginger and her husband came to America to escape Adolf Hitler. She says after her husband's death in the '60s, she saw volunteering as her way of giving back to the country that gave her so much.

GOLDHAMMER: Everybody should, darling, because America is the best country in the whole wide world.

KAGAN: It's just another way of her showing her affection.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, Miss Ginger sets the bar pretty high. But if you think you know of another everyday hero, we'd like to hear about him or her. Send us an e-mail, livetoday@cnn.com.

We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Meet Cara, she is a search-and-rescue dog. She also holds the world canine record for highest sky dive, not just a stunt.

Oh, look at her. Stop. I can't stand it.

Cara and her FEMA team are sometimes called on to reach disasters in remote regions.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: The candidates are barnstorming the battleground states. Is Florida in for a repeat of the 2000 recount? We'll take a look at the latest poll numbers with the former chair of the state Republican Party.

Plus, Web surfers weigh in on their Olympic dream day. Find out who takes the gold there.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

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