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CNN Live Today
New Terror in Jerusalem; Iraq Violence; Musharraf at U.N.
Aired September 22, 2004 - 10:59 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: It is coming up on 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. on the West Coast. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first this hour on CNN, new terror in Jerusalem. A woman blowing herself up at a bus stop this morning.
CNN's Guy Raz joins us with this developing story -- Guy.
GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
This blast occurred just a little more than an hour ago in east Jerusalem, the neighborhood known as French Hill. Now, it was a female suicide bomber that carried out this attack, according to Israeli medical sources. Now, that bomber killed at least one person, in addition to herself. In addition, at least 16 others were wounded in that blast.
Now, Daryn, this neighborhood, French Hill, is a neighborhood where many students live, students who attend the nearby Hebrew University. It is on the eastern side of the city, a side of the city that was divided before 1967. Israel has been occupying that part of the city since then.
Now, we understand that, according to -- to Israeli medical sources and police sources, a border policeman had spotted the bomber approaching an area of a bus terminal, an area where many people stand to hitchhike for rides, and that is when the bomber detonated herself. Now, it's the first time in about three weeks that this kind of attack has taken place in Israel.
Of course, at the end of August, a suicide bomb in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva killed 16 people. That was a double suicide attack.
Now, there has been a claim of responsibility for today's attack. It was carried out by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. This is a hard- lined armed faction of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's fatah movement. And Al Aqsa says it carried out this attack in retaliation for Israeli assassinations of several of its -- of its members in -- in the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin in the past two weeks -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Guy Raz in Jerusalem. Guy, thank you.
And now on to the explosive situation in Iraq. Battles raged on the streets of Baghdad today in Sadr city and along volatile Haifa Street in a bloody day of fighting. A car bomb explosion rocked the Mansoor district of Baghdad. The U.S. military says the bomb targeted American troops, and four soldiers were wounded.
Another bomb explodes near a police recruitment center. At least 12 people were killed and dozens were injured in that attack.
And the family of hostage Jack Hensley receives confirmation that a decapitated body found in Iraq is indeed his. Hensley is the second American hostage killed by his captors over this last week.
Iraq says it plans to release a female prisoner known as Dr. Germ, but U.S. officials say that case is still under review. Iraq denies it's responding to the demand of terrorist kidnappers.
A closer look now at the violence and bloodshed in Iraq today. Senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thunderous explosions rocked Baghdad today as more suicide car bombs were detonated in this city. This morning, the most lethal occurred there. The target was a police recruiting center and an ice cream parlor near that police recruiting center where the would-be policemen often went to savor a little ice cream.
A thunderous explosion, as I say. Twelve Iraqis were killed. Close to 60 others were injured and sent to hospital.
Nearby, close to that there was another car bomb. It was not detonated. Rather, it was discovered and diffused.
Then another explosion in the upscale Mansoor district of Baghdad this afternoon. A U.S. military convoy was passing by. A suicide car bomber drove his vehicle close alongside the military convoy.
There was a loud explosion, and at least two Humvees were injured. Four U.S. soldiers were sent to hospital. U.S. fatalities now as of this time on our air, 1,038 since the war began.
Walter Rodgers, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And coming out of Walter's report, we have new pictures coming into us here at CNN. We were telling you about a large number of explosions and violence in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. Let's listen in to some of these...
(EXPLOSIONS)
KAGAN: This is more of the violence we were telling you about taking place along the capital of Haifa Street. This is an insurgent stronghold. U.S. troops and Iraqi police killing four insurgents and arresting 27 others in a raid there today. Family and friends are hoping for the release of a British citizen still being held hostage in Iraq. Terrorists say they will kill Kenneth Bigly if the British government does not meet their demands to free female prisoners in Iraq. Last night in Liverpool, well-wishers attended a candlelight vigil for Bigly.
Militants say they have already beheaded Bigly's co-worker, American Jack Hensley. His family says it has received confirmation of that here in Georgia from officials in Iraq. Hensley was set to celebrate his 49th birthday today.
Outside Atlanta, Hensley's family described him as a gentle man who only went to Iraq to help the Iraqi people. And Hensley's brother Ty talked with CNN earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TY HENSLEY, JACK HENSLEY'S BROTHER: The primary reason for my being here is a couple of things. One is to let the world know who Jack Hensley was.
His story will be out for a day or two, but the pain is going to be suffered for generations in my family. Jack Hensley was an extraordinarily innocent man. He went over there to provide money or an income for his family as a last resort.
Jack Hensley was a volunteer in a rescue squad. He was my T-ball coach. He put my toys together at Christmas, and he was the most incredible father to his 13-year-old daughter, softball coach to her. And as a matter of fact, I mean, he's my role model for my children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: The Hensley family has established a trust fund for Jack's daughter Sarah on its Web site. It is jackhensley.org.
Be sure to join us for a special look at the strategy for Iraq. That is on a special Iraq edition of "NEWSNIGHT" at 10:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is addressing the U.N. General Assembly today. Mr. Musharraf had a meeting with President Bush earlier this morning.
For more on that, let's bring in our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth.
Richard, good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Yes, one of the more important, "bilaterals" that President Bush has on the sidelines of this two-week General Assembly session, a meeting with Pakistan's leader, General Pervez Musharraf. The two men met, didn't take questions from reporters. One U.S. official saying President Bush tried to nudge Pakistan into "moving forward with democratic institution." Musharraf has given, once again, mixed signals about whether he, indeed, is also ready to give up his separate role as Army chief by the end of this year. However, Pakistan remains a key ally in the fight against terrorism and in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and remnants of al Qaeda.
Here at the United Nations, the meetings continue. An important meeting, of course, involves speeches. President Musharraf is going to address the General Assembly a little later this morning.
Pakistan's, you know, enemy in two wars fought in this last 50 to 60 years is India. And Pakistan's not happy that India yesterday came out in a big statement with -- along with Germany and Japan, and India and Brazil, the big four trying to get a claim to a permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council. This would, of course, rankle neighboring Pakistan.
At the United Nations Security Council right now, you are just looking at pictures -- well, this is -- yes. These are the big four.
This is Koizumi of Japan, and there's Fischer of Germany. These four shaking hands.
They understand there is a need for a permanent seat by Africa, a new fifth seat. But this issue of who's going to represent the Security Council going later into the century has been going on for 10 years. One president told me yesterday it's not over by a long shot here at the United Nations as to who's really going to get a right to join the 15 others there -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. You'll be watching it for us. Richard Roth at the U.N., thank you.
Interesting story coming out of Bangor, Maine. From top-selling singer to peace activist to devout Muslim to marked man? The man who used to be Cat Stevens is stopped while trying to enter the U.S. We'll have details on that next.
Also, calling Osama bin Laden. A woman gets a shock when she takes a close look at her child's new toy.
Plus, the tension is rising, and so is the reward in the search for a young girl who may be on the run with a sex offender. We're coming back with more on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're now looking at pictures. They are new surveillance pictures of a missing Florida girl. Police think she is somewhere in the Atlanta area today. Twelve- year-old Briana Schultheis is thought to be traveling by bus with her family's former handyman. Thirty-year-old Raymond Lewis is a registered sex offender. There's now a 10,000 reward for information in the case.
The lead detective in the Laci Peterson murder investigation will be back on the stand today. Jurors appeared riveted as prosecutors played tape phone calls between Scott Peterson and Detective Craig Grogan. Grogan also ticked off a list of 41 reasons why he believed Scott Peterson killed his wife and dumped her body in the San Francisco Bay. Peterson says he is innocent.
The popular '70s singer Cat Stevens is expected to be deported back to the United Kingdom today. Stevens was removed from a United flight from London after his plane was diverted to Bangor, Maine. The singer appears on a U.S. watch list designed to keep terrorists off the planes.
The Bush administration links Stevens to groups that finance terrorism. Stevens changed his name to Yusef Islam after he became a Muslim and walked away from the music industry.
Pictures of Osama bin Laden, the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers, certainly nothing to toy around with. But those very images have been turning up toys being sold in Florida.
One woman was startled to find them in a bag of children's trinkets that she'd bought for her daughter. The company which packages and distributes the toys says it had stopped shipping them after learning of the controversy. It's not entirely clear who made those toys and why.
And speaking of toys, a child in California is helping children in Russia who have a tough tragedy to bear. Check out this bounty of bears and other stuffed animals, part of operation Fuzzy Wuzzy. The goal, getting them to the young people who survived the deadly school siege in Beslan, Russia, earlier this month. An 11-year-old boy in Sacramento came up with the idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM JOHNS, OPERATION FUZZY WUZZY: Since the kids got attacked, that I would certainly feel scared going back to school. And they will eventually have to go back. So I think it would be awesome that we send them teddy bears to know that people care and help them go back to school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And not just teddy bears. Shoes, clothing and nearly 5,000 stuffed animals have been donated so far.
Tragic situation taking place in Haiti. It continues to grow even more severe.
The death toll is rising again in the wake of massive flooding. The latest on that situation is next.
And later, both George Bush and John Kerry say they've got the cure for what ails your wallet. But how do their plans stack up? Our continuing look at campaign "Promises, Promises" is ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Relief efforts continue in Haiti after Tropical Storm Jeanne ravages the city. And the United Nations is handing out food and water in Haiti's third largest city.
Many homeless sloshed through the water, carrying their belongings. And witnesses report dead animals floating in muddy wars. Some reports say more than 700 Haitians are dead as a result of the storm.
Meanwhile, forecasters say Jeanne is again a hurricane and could head back to the U.S., and strike the Southeast, possibly including Florida. That's what they don't want to hear. And it could happen this weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: All right. Well, let's give folks a break from all the bad weather and bad news. Nothing -- no better way around this program to do that than with an animal story, a dog story. Love it.
This one, this dog, Joey. For the introduction, we turn to reporter Al Peterson. He's with our affiliate KEZI in Eugene, Oregon.
Here's Joey.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS DENNING, TRAINER: Are you ready? OK. Go push. Come on, Joey! Come on! Go push!
AL PETERSON, KEZI REPORTER (voice-over): Skateboarding isn't just a trick for Joey here. No, sir, it is his passion.
DENNING: it's hard to keep him off of it. He'd go until he dropped.
Joey, push! Come on, Joey! Let's go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Push! Hurry up!
PETERSON: But it isn't his only passion, because this is no one-trick puppy. Sure, he'll do the basics, he'll play dead, but he also drives an electric car, with one hand to slow him down just enough to snag a snack from the drive-through. And, sure, other dogs can slam dunk, but not many skip rope.
And we have never heard of any other dog that can pull this off. Joey can fake an injury.
DENNING: Oh, my goodness, sakes. Oh, it looks terrible. Are you going to live? Do you need mouth to mouth perspiration?
Oh, good boy. Oh, it looks like it's going to hurt a while.
Let's go to the doctor. We better -- come on, you can limp, yes, you can. Yes.
Through. Through. Where's your through? Where's through? Now play your piano.
PETERSON: He is no ordinary pup. Much of the credit goes to his trainer. She's a professional. Her dogs have appeared in hundreds of television commercials.
DENNING: For the AT&T commercials, my dog jumped over 3,000 times in two days. You know, and it's a -- that's a lot of work.
PETERSON: And part of the credit goes to the breed. Frankly, Jack Russell Terriers may be a little overrated as house pets.
DENNING: They're not the dog for everybody. They are very, very high energy. They require a lot of attention. I mean, they demand your attention.
PETERSON: But they're sure good at tricks. And since Joey's mom helps train him, he stays busy, she stays happy.
MICHELLE FULKERSON, JOEY'S MOM: He likes to perform. He seems to -- like when we're at Oakley Center (ph), he seems to really enjoy having the people around and performing.
PETERSON: What's next for Joey? Who knows? Maybe his own TV commercial if he keeps on getting better. But there's no rush. He's a young guy, and right now he's really into skateboarding.
DENNING: Joey, push! Get on your board! Come on! Hurry up.
Quick, quick, quick, quick! Come on! Come on, you're warmed up. Let's go!
Hurry, quick! Come on!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Our thanks to Joey and to Al Peterson of our affiliate, KEZI.
Now, don't go out and get a Jack Russell Terrier just because Joey was cute. You heard how much work they require to train them like that. Visit your local animal shelter instead. Lots of dogs waiting for you there.
Still to come, "Promises, Promises." Our candidate comparison looks at how George Bush and John Kerry each plan to tackle the issues that affect your wallet.
We're coming right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan in Atlanta. Let's check what's happening "Now in the News." It is Wednesday, September 22nd.
Democratic vice presidential candidate, John Edwards, is holding a town hall-style meeting this hour in Miami. Edwards says that President Bush won't bring prescription prices down because he is too cozy with big drug prices.
Dramatic firefights today in the poor Baghdad neighborhood city of Sadr City. The U.S. military says it's targeting insurgents. As many as 18 deaths are reported.
The Senate is set to vote today on Porter Goss's nomination to be the new CIA director. Despite complaints from Democrats that Goss is too partisan to be objective, his nomination is expected to be easily approved.
A suicide bomber blew herself up today near a Jerusalem bus stop. She killed herself and at least two other people. Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the militant group linked to Yasser Arafat's fatah movement, has claimed responsibility.
And two American soldiers serving in Iraq have been charged with the murders of three Iraqis. The military released no details on the alleged crime.
Keeping you informed, CNN is the most trusted name in news.
Forty-one days and counting until the November presidential election. Here is the latest from the campaign trail.
First, to John Kerry. He's spending another day campaigning in Florida. He'll head from Orlando to West Palm beach for a town hall meeting, then he goes on Columbus, Ohio.
President Bush is back on the campaign trail after wrapping up his visit to the U.N. in New York. He's attending an education event in Pennsylvania this hour. The president will end the day at a victory rally in Westmoreland County.
John Kerry has good reason to focus on Florida. Actually, there's a live picture from Pennsylvania, where President Bush will be.
Let's talk about John Kerry in Florida. The state's 27 electoral votes are considered up for grabs, just like they were four years ago. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is with me from Washington.
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 September 22, 2004 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It is coming up on 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. on the West Coast. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first this hour on CNN, new terror in Jerusalem. A woman blowing herself up at a bus stop this morning.
CNN's Guy Raz joins us with this developing story -- Guy.
GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
This blast occurred just a little more than an hour ago in east Jerusalem, the neighborhood known as French Hill. Now, it was a female suicide bomber that carried out this attack, according to Israeli medical sources. Now, that bomber killed at least one person, in addition to herself. In addition, at least 16 others were wounded in that blast.
Now, Daryn, this neighborhood, French Hill, is a neighborhood where many students live, students who attend the nearby Hebrew University. It is on the eastern side of the city, a side of the city that was divided before 1967. Israel has been occupying that part of the city since then.
Now, we understand that, according to -- to Israeli medical sources and police sources, a border policeman had spotted the bomber approaching an area of a bus terminal, an area where many people stand to hitchhike for rides, and that is when the bomber detonated herself. Now, it's the first time in about three weeks that this kind of attack has taken place in Israel.
Of course, at the end of August, a suicide bomb in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva killed 16 people. That was a double suicide attack.
Now, there has been a claim of responsibility for today's attack. It was carried out by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. This is a hard- lined armed faction of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's fatah movement. And Al Aqsa says it carried out this attack in retaliation for Israeli assassinations of several of its -- of its members in -- in the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin in the past two weeks -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Guy Raz in Jerusalem. Guy, thank you.
And now on to the explosive situation in Iraq. Battles raged on the streets of Baghdad today in Sadr city and along volatile Haifa Street in a bloody day of fighting. A car bomb explosion rocked the Mansoor district of Baghdad. The U.S. military says the bomb targeted American troops, and four soldiers were wounded.
Another bomb explodes near a police recruitment center. At least 12 people were killed and dozens were injured in that attack.
And the family of hostage Jack Hensley receives confirmation that a decapitated body found in Iraq is indeed his. Hensley is the second American hostage killed by his captors over this last week.
Iraq says it plans to release a female prisoner known as Dr. Germ, but U.S. officials say that case is still under review. Iraq denies it's responding to the demand of terrorist kidnappers.
A closer look now at the violence and bloodshed in Iraq today. Senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thunderous explosions rocked Baghdad today as more suicide car bombs were detonated in this city. This morning, the most lethal occurred there. The target was a police recruiting center and an ice cream parlor near that police recruiting center where the would-be policemen often went to savor a little ice cream.
A thunderous explosion, as I say. Twelve Iraqis were killed. Close to 60 others were injured and sent to hospital.
Nearby, close to that there was another car bomb. It was not detonated. Rather, it was discovered and diffused.
Then another explosion in the upscale Mansoor district of Baghdad this afternoon. A U.S. military convoy was passing by. A suicide car bomber drove his vehicle close alongside the military convoy.
There was a loud explosion, and at least two Humvees were injured. Four U.S. soldiers were sent to hospital. U.S. fatalities now as of this time on our air, 1,038 since the war began.
Walter Rodgers, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And coming out of Walter's report, we have new pictures coming into us here at CNN. We were telling you about a large number of explosions and violence in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. Let's listen in to some of these...
(EXPLOSIONS)
KAGAN: This is more of the violence we were telling you about taking place along the capital of Haifa Street. This is an insurgent stronghold. U.S. troops and Iraqi police killing four insurgents and arresting 27 others in a raid there today. Family and friends are hoping for the release of a British citizen still being held hostage in Iraq. Terrorists say they will kill Kenneth Bigly if the British government does not meet their demands to free female prisoners in Iraq. Last night in Liverpool, well-wishers attended a candlelight vigil for Bigly.
Militants say they have already beheaded Bigly's co-worker, American Jack Hensley. His family says it has received confirmation of that here in Georgia from officials in Iraq. Hensley was set to celebrate his 49th birthday today.
Outside Atlanta, Hensley's family described him as a gentle man who only went to Iraq to help the Iraqi people. And Hensley's brother Ty talked with CNN earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TY HENSLEY, JACK HENSLEY'S BROTHER: The primary reason for my being here is a couple of things. One is to let the world know who Jack Hensley was.
His story will be out for a day or two, but the pain is going to be suffered for generations in my family. Jack Hensley was an extraordinarily innocent man. He went over there to provide money or an income for his family as a last resort.
Jack Hensley was a volunteer in a rescue squad. He was my T-ball coach. He put my toys together at Christmas, and he was the most incredible father to his 13-year-old daughter, softball coach to her. And as a matter of fact, I mean, he's my role model for my children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: The Hensley family has established a trust fund for Jack's daughter Sarah on its Web site. It is jackhensley.org.
Be sure to join us for a special look at the strategy for Iraq. That is on a special Iraq edition of "NEWSNIGHT" at 10:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is addressing the U.N. General Assembly today. Mr. Musharraf had a meeting with President Bush earlier this morning.
For more on that, let's bring in our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth.
Richard, good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Yes, one of the more important, "bilaterals" that President Bush has on the sidelines of this two-week General Assembly session, a meeting with Pakistan's leader, General Pervez Musharraf. The two men met, didn't take questions from reporters. One U.S. official saying President Bush tried to nudge Pakistan into "moving forward with democratic institution." Musharraf has given, once again, mixed signals about whether he, indeed, is also ready to give up his separate role as Army chief by the end of this year. However, Pakistan remains a key ally in the fight against terrorism and in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and remnants of al Qaeda.
Here at the United Nations, the meetings continue. An important meeting, of course, involves speeches. President Musharraf is going to address the General Assembly a little later this morning.
Pakistan's, you know, enemy in two wars fought in this last 50 to 60 years is India. And Pakistan's not happy that India yesterday came out in a big statement with -- along with Germany and Japan, and India and Brazil, the big four trying to get a claim to a permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council. This would, of course, rankle neighboring Pakistan.
At the United Nations Security Council right now, you are just looking at pictures -- well, this is -- yes. These are the big four.
This is Koizumi of Japan, and there's Fischer of Germany. These four shaking hands.
They understand there is a need for a permanent seat by Africa, a new fifth seat. But this issue of who's going to represent the Security Council going later into the century has been going on for 10 years. One president told me yesterday it's not over by a long shot here at the United Nations as to who's really going to get a right to join the 15 others there -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. You'll be watching it for us. Richard Roth at the U.N., thank you.
Interesting story coming out of Bangor, Maine. From top-selling singer to peace activist to devout Muslim to marked man? The man who used to be Cat Stevens is stopped while trying to enter the U.S. We'll have details on that next.
Also, calling Osama bin Laden. A woman gets a shock when she takes a close look at her child's new toy.
Plus, the tension is rising, and so is the reward in the search for a young girl who may be on the run with a sex offender. We're coming back with more on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're now looking at pictures. They are new surveillance pictures of a missing Florida girl. Police think she is somewhere in the Atlanta area today. Twelve- year-old Briana Schultheis is thought to be traveling by bus with her family's former handyman. Thirty-year-old Raymond Lewis is a registered sex offender. There's now a 10,000 reward for information in the case.
The lead detective in the Laci Peterson murder investigation will be back on the stand today. Jurors appeared riveted as prosecutors played tape phone calls between Scott Peterson and Detective Craig Grogan. Grogan also ticked off a list of 41 reasons why he believed Scott Peterson killed his wife and dumped her body in the San Francisco Bay. Peterson says he is innocent.
The popular '70s singer Cat Stevens is expected to be deported back to the United Kingdom today. Stevens was removed from a United flight from London after his plane was diverted to Bangor, Maine. The singer appears on a U.S. watch list designed to keep terrorists off the planes.
The Bush administration links Stevens to groups that finance terrorism. Stevens changed his name to Yusef Islam after he became a Muslim and walked away from the music industry.
Pictures of Osama bin Laden, the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers, certainly nothing to toy around with. But those very images have been turning up toys being sold in Florida.
One woman was startled to find them in a bag of children's trinkets that she'd bought for her daughter. The company which packages and distributes the toys says it had stopped shipping them after learning of the controversy. It's not entirely clear who made those toys and why.
And speaking of toys, a child in California is helping children in Russia who have a tough tragedy to bear. Check out this bounty of bears and other stuffed animals, part of operation Fuzzy Wuzzy. The goal, getting them to the young people who survived the deadly school siege in Beslan, Russia, earlier this month. An 11-year-old boy in Sacramento came up with the idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM JOHNS, OPERATION FUZZY WUZZY: Since the kids got attacked, that I would certainly feel scared going back to school. And they will eventually have to go back. So I think it would be awesome that we send them teddy bears to know that people care and help them go back to school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And not just teddy bears. Shoes, clothing and nearly 5,000 stuffed animals have been donated so far.
Tragic situation taking place in Haiti. It continues to grow even more severe.
The death toll is rising again in the wake of massive flooding. The latest on that situation is next.
And later, both George Bush and John Kerry say they've got the cure for what ails your wallet. But how do their plans stack up? Our continuing look at campaign "Promises, Promises" is ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Relief efforts continue in Haiti after Tropical Storm Jeanne ravages the city. And the United Nations is handing out food and water in Haiti's third largest city.
Many homeless sloshed through the water, carrying their belongings. And witnesses report dead animals floating in muddy wars. Some reports say more than 700 Haitians are dead as a result of the storm.
Meanwhile, forecasters say Jeanne is again a hurricane and could head back to the U.S., and strike the Southeast, possibly including Florida. That's what they don't want to hear. And it could happen this weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: All right. Well, let's give folks a break from all the bad weather and bad news. Nothing -- no better way around this program to do that than with an animal story, a dog story. Love it.
This one, this dog, Joey. For the introduction, we turn to reporter Al Peterson. He's with our affiliate KEZI in Eugene, Oregon.
Here's Joey.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS DENNING, TRAINER: Are you ready? OK. Go push. Come on, Joey! Come on! Go push!
AL PETERSON, KEZI REPORTER (voice-over): Skateboarding isn't just a trick for Joey here. No, sir, it is his passion.
DENNING: it's hard to keep him off of it. He'd go until he dropped.
Joey, push! Come on, Joey! Let's go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Push! Hurry up!
PETERSON: But it isn't his only passion, because this is no one-trick puppy. Sure, he'll do the basics, he'll play dead, but he also drives an electric car, with one hand to slow him down just enough to snag a snack from the drive-through. And, sure, other dogs can slam dunk, but not many skip rope.
And we have never heard of any other dog that can pull this off. Joey can fake an injury.
DENNING: Oh, my goodness, sakes. Oh, it looks terrible. Are you going to live? Do you need mouth to mouth perspiration?
Oh, good boy. Oh, it looks like it's going to hurt a while.
Let's go to the doctor. We better -- come on, you can limp, yes, you can. Yes.
Through. Through. Where's your through? Where's through? Now play your piano.
PETERSON: He is no ordinary pup. Much of the credit goes to his trainer. She's a professional. Her dogs have appeared in hundreds of television commercials.
DENNING: For the AT&T commercials, my dog jumped over 3,000 times in two days. You know, and it's a -- that's a lot of work.
PETERSON: And part of the credit goes to the breed. Frankly, Jack Russell Terriers may be a little overrated as house pets.
DENNING: They're not the dog for everybody. They are very, very high energy. They require a lot of attention. I mean, they demand your attention.
PETERSON: But they're sure good at tricks. And since Joey's mom helps train him, he stays busy, she stays happy.
MICHELLE FULKERSON, JOEY'S MOM: He likes to perform. He seems to -- like when we're at Oakley Center (ph), he seems to really enjoy having the people around and performing.
PETERSON: What's next for Joey? Who knows? Maybe his own TV commercial if he keeps on getting better. But there's no rush. He's a young guy, and right now he's really into skateboarding.
DENNING: Joey, push! Get on your board! Come on! Hurry up.
Quick, quick, quick, quick! Come on! Come on, you're warmed up. Let's go!
Hurry, quick! Come on!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Our thanks to Joey and to Al Peterson of our affiliate, KEZI.
Now, don't go out and get a Jack Russell Terrier just because Joey was cute. You heard how much work they require to train them like that. Visit your local animal shelter instead. Lots of dogs waiting for you there.
Still to come, "Promises, Promises." Our candidate comparison looks at how George Bush and John Kerry each plan to tackle the issues that affect your wallet.
We're coming right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan in Atlanta. Let's check what's happening "Now in the News." It is Wednesday, September 22nd.
Democratic vice presidential candidate, John Edwards, is holding a town hall-style meeting this hour in Miami. Edwards says that President Bush won't bring prescription prices down because he is too cozy with big drug prices.
Dramatic firefights today in the poor Baghdad neighborhood city of Sadr City. The U.S. military says it's targeting insurgents. As many as 18 deaths are reported.
The Senate is set to vote today on Porter Goss's nomination to be the new CIA director. Despite complaints from Democrats that Goss is too partisan to be objective, his nomination is expected to be easily approved.
A suicide bomber blew herself up today near a Jerusalem bus stop. She killed herself and at least two other people. Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the militant group linked to Yasser Arafat's fatah movement, has claimed responsibility.
And two American soldiers serving in Iraq have been charged with the murders of three Iraqis. The military released no details on the alleged crime.
Keeping you informed, CNN is the most trusted name in news.
Forty-one days and counting until the November presidential election. Here is the latest from the campaign trail.
First, to John Kerry. He's spending another day campaigning in Florida. He'll head from Orlando to West Palm beach for a town hall meeting, then he goes on Columbus, Ohio.
President Bush is back on the campaign trail after wrapping up his visit to the U.N. in New York. He's attending an education event in Pennsylvania this hour. The president will end the day at a victory rally in Westmoreland County.
John Kerry has good reason to focus on Florida. Actually, there's a live picture from Pennsylvania, where President Bush will be.
Let's talk about John Kerry in Florida. The state's 27 electoral votes are considered up for grabs, just like they were four years ago. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is with me from Washington.
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