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CNN Live Today

Deadly Storms Soak Southern California; Bush, German Leader Meet to Thrash Out Differences; Man Charged With Killing Ex- Girlfriend, Boy in Texas

Aired February 23, 2005 - 10:00   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 CO-ANCHOR: We have a story we're focusing on here for a couple of hours. Rarely do we do a story that affects everybody. Everybody has to be concerned with their credit and what could have happened. This Choice Point story continues to grow and we're going to give people tips on what you need to be aware if, in fact, you are a victim of I.D. fraud.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Having your credit literally and your identification stolen from you.

Here's what else is happening. Making news on this day.

President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder talking about Iran and nuclear weapons, but disagreeing on how to deal with this problem. Now, the Europeans say they'd like to negotiate, the president does not. He says and we quote "They need to be held accountable," referring to the Iranians, "not us."

The president is half way into his nine-hour visit. During our coverage here on CNN LIVE, we should note, he is going to speak to U.S. and German troops in Wiesbaden. And we will bring that to you as it happens.

Bad weather is threatening to hamper rescue efforts in southeastern Iran. More than 400 deaths are confirmed following a strong earthquake this week. Officials fear that the death toll could go considerably higher. Iran's government has declared today a national day of mourning.

More legal wrangling today in a case that will decide whether Terri Schiavo should be kept on life support. Her husband wants to remove a feeding tube that has kept her alive since 1990. But her parents want her to remain on life support. A deadline to remove the tube was yesterday. But a judge has now given the parents until 5:00 this afternoon to try and prove their case, or take it to another level.

We'll certainly let you know if anything changes. And it might during the next couple of hours.

Also, Pope John Paul II has a new book out; it's called "Memory and Identity." It's actually his fifth book. But this is the first time he's described the moment immediately after being shot in 1981. The information comes from taped conversations with close friends at a summer residence. It happened, by the way, nearly 10 years ago. And welcome back, everyone. I'm Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: And good morning, I'm Daryn Kagan.

They continue to set records not the kind they want to make in Los Angeles. It is the third wettest in the history of Los Angeles. That's where we're going to begin this morning. That record coming with a litany of human disaster, as well. The death toll on the latest series of storms has climbed to at least nine statewide. Dozens of homes have been evacuated in Southern California. The saturated ground makes those hillside houses too dangerous to remain inside. And forecasters expect more rain over the region today.

Even after the rain ends in Southern California, the threat of landslides will remain. Our Chris Lawrence is in the Highland Park. A few families have been forced to leave their homes there.

Chris, good morning.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, Daryn. Yes, here in Highland Park in this neighborhood alone, four homes have been red-tagged. Which means the ground underneath them is so unstable it's too dangerous for the families to stay.

Now, the family who lives in this house right here really didn't need anyone to tell them that. They were all fast asleep the other night, mom, dad, the two kids in bed, when they heard what they described almost like an earthquake. They looked outside. They saw literally half their backyard just ripping away from the foundation. And then their swimming pool and part of their deck just tumbling down the mountain.

Now, just a few hours ago on "AMERICAN MORNING," they described, kind of in their own words, what it was like to be inside of the house when all that happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PATRICIA PROLE, LOST HOME: We noticed that the house was making a lot of noises, a lot of creaking and settling noises.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dog was going absolutely crazy.

PROLE: Yes. And we could smell this horrible smell of wet earth. And it was really powerful. And trees almost. And we thought oh, you know, we had a landslide.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LAWRENCE: Now, all over the Los Angeles area, other families are seeing similar damage to their homes. But again, this bad weather is being blamed for nine deaths around the state. So that sort of puts that loss of property in some sort of perspective.

We've had six straight days of rain here. It's the third wettest season on record here. Firefighters say it's not even safe to walk around some of these homes. Literally, as they're doing their inspection, they're seeing chunks of mud give way. And right now we have heard from the mayor of Los Angeles. He has asked President Bush to declare this area a federal disaster area. He's saying right now he's got nearly 100 homes out there that are just uninhabitable -- Daryn KAGAN: And Chris, how does the red tag system work? Does the fire department just knock on your door and if they red tag your house, you're out?

LAWRENCE: Exactly. Well, they give them some time. First, there's a -- not as an extreme flag, called a yellow flag, which would allow the home owner to come in during the day daylight hours, move some things around, get up some belongings. If your home is red tagged, they have been giving people a chance to at least go in and get some of their most prized possessions, collect some of their valuables and then get out of the house.

But you know, things can change so quickly here. Like right now it's not raining. Just about an hour ago it was coming down for like an hour or two. So when they put the red tag on, they want you to get everything together as quickly as you can and to move away from that house.

KAGAN: Chris Lawrence from Southern California. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: If you watch some of the reports, like the one Chris just filed for us, you realize that for California residents, dealing with what nature has been throwing at them, well, life seems tough enough. But now, they also have to deal with the fear that even more mud slides, more problems could be on the way.

Here now, CNN's Ted Rowlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RICHARD GOODPASTURE, HOMEOWNER, HIGHLAND PARK, CA.: I was frightened. I mean that was the first thing that came is fear and panic.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Richard Goodpasture owns one of the Highland Park homes that's in danger of sliding. In the middle of the night, Richard says he heard what he thought was his backyard fence rattling.

GOODPASTURE: We just came out here and looked, and saw the fence missing, and decided that it's probably a good idea to pack up some stuff and get, you know, get away from it.

ROWLANDS: A red tag is now on Richard's home of 28 years. He, his wife and 15-year-old son are staying with relatives. The family piano is one of the few valuables they pulled out. Richard's home is one of four in this tight-knit neighborhood that has been red tagged.

ROBERT TROLE, HOMEOWNER: Sorry. My family is fine. We got out OK. And that's what obviously what people say that's the important thing.

ROWLANDS: Robert Trole lives around the corner from Richard. TROLE: You just wonder, people say if you have 20 minutes to get out, what would you take? And now I know what you take. You take your pets, and you take your family, you take your kids, you take some photographs off the wall. And you just get out.

ROWLANDS: Richard says he's well aware that living on a hillside is a risk. It is one that he was willing to take almost 30 years ago when he moved in.

GOODPASTURE: You're always thinking about it. I don't think there's nobody around here that's not thinking of it. We don't expect it to happen. But when it does, it does. You try to deal with it. We're lucky we're alive.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SANCHEZ: And that's Ted Rowlands reporting from Los Angeles -- Daryn.

KAGAN: We go back to Southern California where things are rocking and rolling, not like you would expect out of Los Angeles. Let's take a picture. This is from our affiliate KTLA. This boulder, this is along PCH, Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu. Hard to get a perspective with it that close. But we're told this particular boulder weighs, they think, about 2.5 million pounds. And it's about 30 feet by 30 feet. Not the kind of thing that you want come rolling down to block the highway right there along the Pacific Ocean.

There is a reporter there for KTLA there on the scene. And we will bring him in live in just a moment.

SANCHEZ: The reports we seem to be getting indicate that some of the rains are going to stop. But that doesn't stop the ground if it's already wet from a... KAGAN: From moving.

SANCHEZ: From moving, exactly. From more mud slides.

(WEATHER REPORT) KAGAN: Want to update a story we've been following out of Texas. Police say that a Texas man has confessed to killing a pregnant woman and her 7-year-old son. Stephen Barbee told police he was the father of the unborn child. Barbee said he went to Lisa Underwood's home and a fight broke out. Police say Barbee suffocated Underwood and then suffocated her son. Barbee led the investigators to the bodies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LT. GENE JONES, FORT WORTH, TEXAS POLICE: A makeshift grave has been located in southwest Denton County. We were led to this location by Stephen Barbee after he provided a confession to our investigators.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: Underwood and her son were reported missing Saturday, prompting an Amber Alert. Barbee was arrested yesterday.

SANCHEZ: Here's another story involving a shooting. In Dayton, Ohio the shooting death of a police officer's wife is bringing out a group of protesters. The protesters say Officer Michael Blake is getting special treatment, they charge. They say he should be in jail.

Instead, Blake was put on paid administrative leave, after his wife was killed in what's being described by police as a domestic dispute. Police say they still haven't determined who the primary aggressor was. That's why thus far no charges have been filed.

KAGAN: A story important for news mothers out there. A toxic component of rocket fuel has found its way into breast milk. Scientists at Texas Tech say they have found perchlorate in virtually all samples of breast milk from 36 women in 18 states. The story is in the "L.A. Times" says the compound on average was five times greater in breast milk than in cow's milk. Researchers believe the chemical entered the women's bodies through the food they eat. Highest level of the compound are in the lower Colorado River, which supplies irrigation to 2 million acres of cropland.

SANCHEZ: We are all over the president's trips to Europe. And so far, we understand they remain far apart, the president and some of the folks he's meeting with over there, on some of the subjects. But they're together at least on one position now. Still to come, the joint message from these two men, the president and the German chancellor.

KAGAN: And the seating arrangements are being made. You can count one person out. A look at who will not be at Prince Charles' wedding. You don't say?

SANCHEZ: And guess who's talking, Daryn?

KAGAN: Maybe not such a good idea.

SANCHEZ: For the first time since the steroid controversy erupted, Barry Bonds is taking to the microphone. You're going to hear what he says, and maybe more importantly what he doesn't say. Right here on CNN LIVE TODAY rolls on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SANCHEZ: There's a story we told you we would be following for you throughout the day. President Bush is in Germany right now. He's making a short visit on what he calls his, "Listening tour of Europe." It's a nine-hour German stop that follows two days of talks in Brussels that we've been bringing you over the last couple of days here on CNN.

The president did meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Mainz. Both leaders agreed that Iran must not have nuclear weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will continue to talk tactics, to make sure that we achieve the objective. Iran must not have a nuclear weapon for the sake of security and peace. They must not have a nuclear weapon. And that is a goal shared by Germany, France, Great Britain and the United States. And I'm working together -- and we can get this accomplished.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: We should also tell you, as you can see from these pictures, that demonstrators gathered once again to protest the president's visit. Many remain angry about the Iraq War. And polls show they do not trust President Bush there.

Before leaving Germany, President Bush is going to speak to U.S. troops in Wiesbaden Air Base. That's the Army base. We plan to bring it to you the president's address live. It's about an hour and 15 minutes from now. And he's speaking to both U.S. and German troops, by the way. You'll see it right here on CNN.

KAGAN: Meanwhile, let's talk about prince Charles' wedding.

SANCHEZ: OK.

KAGAN: There's good news, and not so good news. Britain's top judge today ruled the upcoming wedding between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles it is indeed legal. Experts argued that a civil wedding between the divorces wouldn't be lawful. So it is legal.

Meanwhile, though, Queen Elizabeth's decision to stay away from the April wedding is being criticized by a number of Brits. Buckingham Palace said the queen was just trying to respect the couple's desire for a low-key ceremony. She is going to a prayer service after the ceremony.

But it's the first time in 142 years that a monarch, English monarch, is not going to be at the wedding of one of her kids.

SANCHEZ: She's bailing.

KAGAN: She won't be there. Don't save her a seat.

(LAUGHTER) SANCHEZ: Speaks volumes, many would argue. Not us.

Still to come, on CNN LIVE TODAY, for the first time since the whole steroid controversy began, this guy, Barry Bonds sounding off at just about everybody and everything.

KAGAN: Except himself.

SANCHEZ: Well said. You'll hear it for yourself.

KAGAN: Then there's Gerri Willis. Hi, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. This may make you want to sound off, thieves stealing your financial information. We'll have more when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. Very important consumer item to get to, identity theft. It is on the minds of thousands of Americans today, because of a company called Choice Point. It is from the Atlanta area. This company is a clearinghouse of personal data on nearly everyone in the U.S. The firm now acknowledges that crooks have accessed vital records, including Social Security numbers. So far, Choice Point has identified nearly 150,000 customers nationwide who might be affected.

Personal finance editor Gerri Willis has her ""Top Five Tips" on what -- not what you can do, what you must do to protect yourself.

Gerri, good morning. WILLIS: Good morning, Daryn. Good way to put it, what you must do. First of all, you have got to understand what's going on. You said about 150,000 people impacted.

Here's what's going on. Choice Point gathers all kinds of information. Social Security Numbers, some of your credit information. They have in all 19 billion pieces of information. This is no small thing. These thieves got this information. The threat, if you're one of the victims, is that they can steal your identity and then open up credit in your name, making you owe tons and tons of money.

KAGAN: No. 1 -- or No. 2: don't panic in dealing with this. WILLIS: Yes, don't panic. Choice Point is informing people by mail. Now, here's the trick. These letters look sort of like junk mail. If you look through your mail really quickly, you could miss it. So make sure you pay a lot of attention in the coming weeks to the mail coming your way. But you're going to have to pay attention to more details, too. Right, Daryn?

KAGAN: Absolutely. First of all, if you're a victim? WILLIS: If you're a victim, the first thing you're going to want to do is contact those credit bureaus. You know them: Equifax, TransUnion, Experian. We talk about them all the time. And what you'll do is put a fraud alert on your account. Now, that means if somebody tries to take out credit in your name, you will be alerted.

If you're in the states of California or Texas, you can actually put up a roadblock. You can tell the credit bureaus to put a security freeze on your accounts. That means absolutely nobody can get to them. That puts a freeze on it. That's exactly the step your going to want to take if you're in one of those two states.

KAGAN: But doesn't that make it more difficult just to conduct your daily business?

WILLIS: You know it might. But at this point, I'm telling you until we get more details on this, I think you want to take all the precautions you can. Now, again, I'm talking about if you've got one of these letters. Not everybody.

KAGAN: OK.

WILLIS: If you get one of the Choice Point letters, you're going to take one of these dramatic steps.

KAGAN: And there's other steps you can do to put up your guard to protect yourself?

WILLIS: Well, everybody needs to think about it. Right, Daryn? Because security is so vital, so important. Thieves are getting at any information in any way they can. Buy a shredder. Not all of the thieves are operating electronically. Some of them are dumpster diving and getting your information out of your garbage. Shred your bills. Make sure you do that.

And you've got to keep up with the credit bureaus and know what your credit reports say. Also, 1-888-5-optout will allow you opt out of all those credit offers you get in the mail. Because if somebody steals that from your mailbox, they can take out a credit card in your name.

KAGAN: OK. I was fascinated to find out that this really differs state to state in terms of the laws.

WILLIS: That's right. OK. It's important to know that the laws aren't what they could be. They're better in some places than others. In California, for example, Texas we just mentioned, you could put the freeze on. You definitely want to ask for that. If you're not living in one of those states, contact your legislator and ask for help.

Also, California, important in this story because without California the information might not have been public in the first place. We need to be told when these kind of breaches of our security are being made. California has that law. We probably need it in other states as well. So contact your legislature. Be a squeaky wheel. Complain publicly.

KAGAN: And Gerri, just real quickly. Do you think it's news to most people that there are even companies out there, like Choice Point, that are making money off of our personal information?

WILLIS: I'm telling you this is a huge business. Billions and billions of dollars. Now look, you and I couldn't go to the mall and throw down our credit cards without them.

But there is a downside. People know a lot of your business, and there's always the threat that somebody can steal your information. So be savvy about it. Stay up on top of your credit reports. Know if anybody's doing something they shouldn't with your name, your Social Security Number.

KAGAN: Gerri Willis, thank you for all those tips.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: More on this topic is coming up in the next hour. We'll speak with the CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg about how Choice Point was fooled into opening its files in the first place. And we're also going to talk with a consumer advocate about the latest legal strategy to safeguard your privacy.

SANCHEZ: If you listen in to one of those sports talk shows today on the radio on your way back from work, I guarantee you'll hear them talking about this. Barry Bonds arrived at spring training. He was ready to speak his mind. And during his news conference he danced around all the steroid allegations. At one point telling reporters, this is the first rule, we're not going to be talking about that.

He did have some words about Jose Canseco's new tell-all book, which alleges widespread steroid use in Major League Baseball.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY BONDS, GIANTS OUTFIELDER: You know, I'm not one to talk about other athletes, because that's just not my style. You know, I'm disappointed in a lot of the athletes just due to the fact that, you know, there's a code in baseball. You know, respect your peers, regardless of whatever.

But this whole thing in sports now has turned into a big circus. I don't know Canseco, I mean besides hello and good-bye. I mean it's sad, but I don't bear any weight into anything he says. Mark Maguire was a big boy in college. Hit a lot of home runs there. Hit 49 home runs. I believe. His rookie season won rookie of the year. You know, to me, Canseco, you've got to come with a whole lot more.

Fiction is fiction, man. I mean there's a whole bunch of those books and stories out there, basically. It's to make a buck. That's all it is. It's about making money. That's all it is. But I don't know Jose. I was better than Jose then and I've been better than Jose his whole career. So I don't have anything to talk about Jose.

There's no facts on Barry Bonds. But I mean should I blame you? Who should I blame? Who should I blame for the things that go on that my kids have to listen to? Who should I blame? You know, I don't. I tell my kids, you know what, just don't be famous. You don't want it. Don't be famous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: We should mention that Bonds is recuperating from knee surgery. He's expected to be suited up for the season opener in April.

KAGAN: Yes. You're right, people will be talking about that on sports talk radio.

SANCHEZ: Boy, were they were yesterday towards the end of the night.

KAGAN: We have a lot of news from overseas. Another U.S. soldier is in hot water with the Pentagon. Still to come, a claim of rape. This time by a woman detainee in Iraq. SANCHEZ: Also, talk about a blast from the past. One man finally decides to pay a 50-year-old traffic ticket. Find out how much it set him back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired February 23, 2005 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We have a story we're focusing on here for a couple of hours. Rarely do we do a story that affects everybody. Everybody has to be concerned with their credit and what could have happened. This Choice Point story continues to grow and we're going to give people tips on what you need to be aware if, in fact, you are a victim of I.D. fraud.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Having your credit literally and your identification stolen from you.

Here's what else is happening. Making news on this day.

President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder talking about Iran and nuclear weapons, but disagreeing on how to deal with this problem. Now, the Europeans say they'd like to negotiate, the president does not. He says and we quote "They need to be held accountable," referring to the Iranians, "not us."

The president is half way into his nine-hour visit. During our coverage here on CNN LIVE, we should note, he is going to speak to U.S. and German troops in Wiesbaden. And we will bring that to you as it happens.

Bad weather is threatening to hamper rescue efforts in southeastern Iran. More than 400 deaths are confirmed following a strong earthquake this week. Officials fear that the death toll could go considerably higher. Iran's government has declared today a national day of mourning.

More legal wrangling today in a case that will decide whether Terri Schiavo should be kept on life support. Her husband wants to remove a feeding tube that has kept her alive since 1990. But her parents want her to remain on life support. A deadline to remove the tube was yesterday. But a judge has now given the parents until 5:00 this afternoon to try and prove their case, or take it to another level.

We'll certainly let you know if anything changes. And it might during the next couple of hours.

Also, Pope John Paul II has a new book out; it's called "Memory and Identity." It's actually his fifth book. But this is the first time he's described the moment immediately after being shot in 1981. The information comes from taped conversations with close friends at a summer residence. It happened, by the way, nearly 10 years ago. And welcome back, everyone. I'm Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: And good morning, I'm Daryn Kagan.

They continue to set records not the kind they want to make in Los Angeles. It is the third wettest in the history of Los Angeles. That's where we're going to begin this morning. That record coming with a litany of human disaster, as well. The death toll on the latest series of storms has climbed to at least nine statewide. Dozens of homes have been evacuated in Southern California. The saturated ground makes those hillside houses too dangerous to remain inside. And forecasters expect more rain over the region today.

Even after the rain ends in Southern California, the threat of landslides will remain. Our Chris Lawrence is in the Highland Park. A few families have been forced to leave their homes there.

Chris, good morning.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, Daryn. Yes, here in Highland Park in this neighborhood alone, four homes have been red-tagged. Which means the ground underneath them is so unstable it's too dangerous for the families to stay.

Now, the family who lives in this house right here really didn't need anyone to tell them that. They were all fast asleep the other night, mom, dad, the two kids in bed, when they heard what they described almost like an earthquake. They looked outside. They saw literally half their backyard just ripping away from the foundation. And then their swimming pool and part of their deck just tumbling down the mountain.

Now, just a few hours ago on "AMERICAN MORNING," they described, kind of in their own words, what it was like to be inside of the house when all that happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PATRICIA PROLE, LOST HOME: We noticed that the house was making a lot of noises, a lot of creaking and settling noises.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dog was going absolutely crazy.

PROLE: Yes. And we could smell this horrible smell of wet earth. And it was really powerful. And trees almost. And we thought oh, you know, we had a landslide.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LAWRENCE: Now, all over the Los Angeles area, other families are seeing similar damage to their homes. But again, this bad weather is being blamed for nine deaths around the state. So that sort of puts that loss of property in some sort of perspective.

We've had six straight days of rain here. It's the third wettest season on record here. Firefighters say it's not even safe to walk around some of these homes. Literally, as they're doing their inspection, they're seeing chunks of mud give way. And right now we have heard from the mayor of Los Angeles. He has asked President Bush to declare this area a federal disaster area. He's saying right now he's got nearly 100 homes out there that are just uninhabitable -- Daryn KAGAN: And Chris, how does the red tag system work? Does the fire department just knock on your door and if they red tag your house, you're out?

LAWRENCE: Exactly. Well, they give them some time. First, there's a -- not as an extreme flag, called a yellow flag, which would allow the home owner to come in during the day daylight hours, move some things around, get up some belongings. If your home is red tagged, they have been giving people a chance to at least go in and get some of their most prized possessions, collect some of their valuables and then get out of the house.

But you know, things can change so quickly here. Like right now it's not raining. Just about an hour ago it was coming down for like an hour or two. So when they put the red tag on, they want you to get everything together as quickly as you can and to move away from that house.

KAGAN: Chris Lawrence from Southern California. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: If you watch some of the reports, like the one Chris just filed for us, you realize that for California residents, dealing with what nature has been throwing at them, well, life seems tough enough. But now, they also have to deal with the fear that even more mud slides, more problems could be on the way.

Here now, CNN's Ted Rowlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RICHARD GOODPASTURE, HOMEOWNER, HIGHLAND PARK, CA.: I was frightened. I mean that was the first thing that came is fear and panic.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Richard Goodpasture owns one of the Highland Park homes that's in danger of sliding. In the middle of the night, Richard says he heard what he thought was his backyard fence rattling.

GOODPASTURE: We just came out here and looked, and saw the fence missing, and decided that it's probably a good idea to pack up some stuff and get, you know, get away from it.

ROWLANDS: A red tag is now on Richard's home of 28 years. He, his wife and 15-year-old son are staying with relatives. The family piano is one of the few valuables they pulled out. Richard's home is one of four in this tight-knit neighborhood that has been red tagged.

ROBERT TROLE, HOMEOWNER: Sorry. My family is fine. We got out OK. And that's what obviously what people say that's the important thing.

ROWLANDS: Robert Trole lives around the corner from Richard. TROLE: You just wonder, people say if you have 20 minutes to get out, what would you take? And now I know what you take. You take your pets, and you take your family, you take your kids, you take some photographs off the wall. And you just get out.

ROWLANDS: Richard says he's well aware that living on a hillside is a risk. It is one that he was willing to take almost 30 years ago when he moved in.

GOODPASTURE: You're always thinking about it. I don't think there's nobody around here that's not thinking of it. We don't expect it to happen. But when it does, it does. You try to deal with it. We're lucky we're alive.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SANCHEZ: And that's Ted Rowlands reporting from Los Angeles -- Daryn.

KAGAN: We go back to Southern California where things are rocking and rolling, not like you would expect out of Los Angeles. Let's take a picture. This is from our affiliate KTLA. This boulder, this is along PCH, Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu. Hard to get a perspective with it that close. But we're told this particular boulder weighs, they think, about 2.5 million pounds. And it's about 30 feet by 30 feet. Not the kind of thing that you want come rolling down to block the highway right there along the Pacific Ocean.

There is a reporter there for KTLA there on the scene. And we will bring him in live in just a moment.

SANCHEZ: The reports we seem to be getting indicate that some of the rains are going to stop. But that doesn't stop the ground if it's already wet from a... KAGAN: From moving.

SANCHEZ: From moving, exactly. From more mud slides.

(WEATHER REPORT) KAGAN: Want to update a story we've been following out of Texas. Police say that a Texas man has confessed to killing a pregnant woman and her 7-year-old son. Stephen Barbee told police he was the father of the unborn child. Barbee said he went to Lisa Underwood's home and a fight broke out. Police say Barbee suffocated Underwood and then suffocated her son. Barbee led the investigators to the bodies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LT. GENE JONES, FORT WORTH, TEXAS POLICE: A makeshift grave has been located in southwest Denton County. We were led to this location by Stephen Barbee after he provided a confession to our investigators.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: Underwood and her son were reported missing Saturday, prompting an Amber Alert. Barbee was arrested yesterday.

SANCHEZ: Here's another story involving a shooting. In Dayton, Ohio the shooting death of a police officer's wife is bringing out a group of protesters. The protesters say Officer Michael Blake is getting special treatment, they charge. They say he should be in jail.

Instead, Blake was put on paid administrative leave, after his wife was killed in what's being described by police as a domestic dispute. Police say they still haven't determined who the primary aggressor was. That's why thus far no charges have been filed.

KAGAN: A story important for news mothers out there. A toxic component of rocket fuel has found its way into breast milk. Scientists at Texas Tech say they have found perchlorate in virtually all samples of breast milk from 36 women in 18 states. The story is in the "L.A. Times" says the compound on average was five times greater in breast milk than in cow's milk. Researchers believe the chemical entered the women's bodies through the food they eat. Highest level of the compound are in the lower Colorado River, which supplies irrigation to 2 million acres of cropland.

SANCHEZ: We are all over the president's trips to Europe. And so far, we understand they remain far apart, the president and some of the folks he's meeting with over there, on some of the subjects. But they're together at least on one position now. Still to come, the joint message from these two men, the president and the German chancellor.

KAGAN: And the seating arrangements are being made. You can count one person out. A look at who will not be at Prince Charles' wedding. You don't say?

SANCHEZ: And guess who's talking, Daryn?

KAGAN: Maybe not such a good idea.

SANCHEZ: For the first time since the steroid controversy erupted, Barry Bonds is taking to the microphone. You're going to hear what he says, and maybe more importantly what he doesn't say. Right here on CNN LIVE TODAY rolls on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SANCHEZ: There's a story we told you we would be following for you throughout the day. President Bush is in Germany right now. He's making a short visit on what he calls his, "Listening tour of Europe." It's a nine-hour German stop that follows two days of talks in Brussels that we've been bringing you over the last couple of days here on CNN.

The president did meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Mainz. Both leaders agreed that Iran must not have nuclear weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will continue to talk tactics, to make sure that we achieve the objective. Iran must not have a nuclear weapon for the sake of security and peace. They must not have a nuclear weapon. And that is a goal shared by Germany, France, Great Britain and the United States. And I'm working together -- and we can get this accomplished.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: We should also tell you, as you can see from these pictures, that demonstrators gathered once again to protest the president's visit. Many remain angry about the Iraq War. And polls show they do not trust President Bush there.

Before leaving Germany, President Bush is going to speak to U.S. troops in Wiesbaden Air Base. That's the Army base. We plan to bring it to you the president's address live. It's about an hour and 15 minutes from now. And he's speaking to both U.S. and German troops, by the way. You'll see it right here on CNN.

KAGAN: Meanwhile, let's talk about prince Charles' wedding.

SANCHEZ: OK.

KAGAN: There's good news, and not so good news. Britain's top judge today ruled the upcoming wedding between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles it is indeed legal. Experts argued that a civil wedding between the divorces wouldn't be lawful. So it is legal.

Meanwhile, though, Queen Elizabeth's decision to stay away from the April wedding is being criticized by a number of Brits. Buckingham Palace said the queen was just trying to respect the couple's desire for a low-key ceremony. She is going to a prayer service after the ceremony.

But it's the first time in 142 years that a monarch, English monarch, is not going to be at the wedding of one of her kids.

SANCHEZ: She's bailing.

KAGAN: She won't be there. Don't save her a seat.

(LAUGHTER) SANCHEZ: Speaks volumes, many would argue. Not us.

Still to come, on CNN LIVE TODAY, for the first time since the whole steroid controversy began, this guy, Barry Bonds sounding off at just about everybody and everything.

KAGAN: Except himself.

SANCHEZ: Well said. You'll hear it for yourself.

KAGAN: Then there's Gerri Willis. Hi, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. This may make you want to sound off, thieves stealing your financial information. We'll have more when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. Very important consumer item to get to, identity theft. It is on the minds of thousands of Americans today, because of a company called Choice Point. It is from the Atlanta area. This company is a clearinghouse of personal data on nearly everyone in the U.S. The firm now acknowledges that crooks have accessed vital records, including Social Security numbers. So far, Choice Point has identified nearly 150,000 customers nationwide who might be affected.

Personal finance editor Gerri Willis has her ""Top Five Tips" on what -- not what you can do, what you must do to protect yourself.

Gerri, good morning. WILLIS: Good morning, Daryn. Good way to put it, what you must do. First of all, you have got to understand what's going on. You said about 150,000 people impacted.

Here's what's going on. Choice Point gathers all kinds of information. Social Security Numbers, some of your credit information. They have in all 19 billion pieces of information. This is no small thing. These thieves got this information. The threat, if you're one of the victims, is that they can steal your identity and then open up credit in your name, making you owe tons and tons of money.

KAGAN: No. 1 -- or No. 2: don't panic in dealing with this. WILLIS: Yes, don't panic. Choice Point is informing people by mail. Now, here's the trick. These letters look sort of like junk mail. If you look through your mail really quickly, you could miss it. So make sure you pay a lot of attention in the coming weeks to the mail coming your way. But you're going to have to pay attention to more details, too. Right, Daryn?

KAGAN: Absolutely. First of all, if you're a victim? WILLIS: If you're a victim, the first thing you're going to want to do is contact those credit bureaus. You know them: Equifax, TransUnion, Experian. We talk about them all the time. And what you'll do is put a fraud alert on your account. Now, that means if somebody tries to take out credit in your name, you will be alerted.

If you're in the states of California or Texas, you can actually put up a roadblock. You can tell the credit bureaus to put a security freeze on your accounts. That means absolutely nobody can get to them. That puts a freeze on it. That's exactly the step your going to want to take if you're in one of those two states.

KAGAN: But doesn't that make it more difficult just to conduct your daily business?

WILLIS: You know it might. But at this point, I'm telling you until we get more details on this, I think you want to take all the precautions you can. Now, again, I'm talking about if you've got one of these letters. Not everybody.

KAGAN: OK.

WILLIS: If you get one of the Choice Point letters, you're going to take one of these dramatic steps.

KAGAN: And there's other steps you can do to put up your guard to protect yourself?

WILLIS: Well, everybody needs to think about it. Right, Daryn? Because security is so vital, so important. Thieves are getting at any information in any way they can. Buy a shredder. Not all of the thieves are operating electronically. Some of them are dumpster diving and getting your information out of your garbage. Shred your bills. Make sure you do that.

And you've got to keep up with the credit bureaus and know what your credit reports say. Also, 1-888-5-optout will allow you opt out of all those credit offers you get in the mail. Because if somebody steals that from your mailbox, they can take out a credit card in your name.

KAGAN: OK. I was fascinated to find out that this really differs state to state in terms of the laws.

WILLIS: That's right. OK. It's important to know that the laws aren't what they could be. They're better in some places than others. In California, for example, Texas we just mentioned, you could put the freeze on. You definitely want to ask for that. If you're not living in one of those states, contact your legislator and ask for help.

Also, California, important in this story because without California the information might not have been public in the first place. We need to be told when these kind of breaches of our security are being made. California has that law. We probably need it in other states as well. So contact your legislature. Be a squeaky wheel. Complain publicly.

KAGAN: And Gerri, just real quickly. Do you think it's news to most people that there are even companies out there, like Choice Point, that are making money off of our personal information?

WILLIS: I'm telling you this is a huge business. Billions and billions of dollars. Now look, you and I couldn't go to the mall and throw down our credit cards without them.

But there is a downside. People know a lot of your business, and there's always the threat that somebody can steal your information. So be savvy about it. Stay up on top of your credit reports. Know if anybody's doing something they shouldn't with your name, your Social Security Number.

KAGAN: Gerri Willis, thank you for all those tips.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: More on this topic is coming up in the next hour. We'll speak with the CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg about how Choice Point was fooled into opening its files in the first place. And we're also going to talk with a consumer advocate about the latest legal strategy to safeguard your privacy.

SANCHEZ: If you listen in to one of those sports talk shows today on the radio on your way back from work, I guarantee you'll hear them talking about this. Barry Bonds arrived at spring training. He was ready to speak his mind. And during his news conference he danced around all the steroid allegations. At one point telling reporters, this is the first rule, we're not going to be talking about that.

He did have some words about Jose Canseco's new tell-all book, which alleges widespread steroid use in Major League Baseball.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY BONDS, GIANTS OUTFIELDER: You know, I'm not one to talk about other athletes, because that's just not my style. You know, I'm disappointed in a lot of the athletes just due to the fact that, you know, there's a code in baseball. You know, respect your peers, regardless of whatever.

But this whole thing in sports now has turned into a big circus. I don't know Canseco, I mean besides hello and good-bye. I mean it's sad, but I don't bear any weight into anything he says. Mark Maguire was a big boy in college. Hit a lot of home runs there. Hit 49 home runs. I believe. His rookie season won rookie of the year. You know, to me, Canseco, you've got to come with a whole lot more.

Fiction is fiction, man. I mean there's a whole bunch of those books and stories out there, basically. It's to make a buck. That's all it is. It's about making money. That's all it is. But I don't know Jose. I was better than Jose then and I've been better than Jose his whole career. So I don't have anything to talk about Jose.

There's no facts on Barry Bonds. But I mean should I blame you? Who should I blame? Who should I blame for the things that go on that my kids have to listen to? Who should I blame? You know, I don't. I tell my kids, you know what, just don't be famous. You don't want it. Don't be famous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: We should mention that Bonds is recuperating from knee surgery. He's expected to be suited up for the season opener in April.

KAGAN: Yes. You're right, people will be talking about that on sports talk radio.

SANCHEZ: Boy, were they were yesterday towards the end of the night.

KAGAN: We have a lot of news from overseas. Another U.S. soldier is in hot water with the Pentagon. Still to come, a claim of rape. This time by a woman detainee in Iraq. SANCHEZ: Also, talk about a blast from the past. One man finally decides to pay a 50-year-old traffic ticket. Find out how much it set him back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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