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Suicide Link Probed in Judge's Family Killings; Clinton Checks into Hospital for Chest Surgery; Bush Travels Southern States Pushing Social Security Reform; Michael Jackson's Accuser Takes the Stand Again Today>sa

Aired March 10, 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 ANCHOR: We're going to get started by taking a look at what's happening now in the news.
We're following a developing story. This out of Wisconsin where a man has reportedly confessed to killing a judge's husband and mother. Because her ruling cost him his home, he believed, his job and his family, his confession is contained in a suicide note. The man killed himself during a routine traffic stop Wednesday. We'll have a full report in a moment.

At least 10 people are confirmed dead after a predawn fire swept through this townhouse in Marrero, Louisiana. That's a suburb of New Orleans. All are said to be members of one family. Four other family members escaped and one remains missing. One suspected cause, candles that were lit because electricity had not been turned on in the family's new home.

Some disconcerting news for air travelers. Last hour, a group of airline pilots slapped the U.S. government with failing grades for aviation security. The Coalition of Airline Pilots Association gave a grade of "F" in five areas, including the screening of employees and cargo, and protecting planes from shoulder-fired missiles. Good grades were given to improved baggage screening and the reinforcement of cockpit doors.

And this hour on Capitol Hill, lawmakers open a hearing on steroids in sports. Another House committee yesterday subpoenaed retired slugger Mark McGwire. Current Yankee Jason Giambi, and self- proclaimed whistleblower Jose Canseco, they are scheduled to appear next week. But league officials say they will fight those subpoenas.

Good morning to you on this Thursday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. Rick Sanchez is on assignment today.

A suicide note with a link to the murders of a judge's family, that's where we begin this hour. There's a new development being reported this morning surrounding the killings of Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother. It came from a 100 hour away from the Lefkow's Chicago home in West Allis, Wisconsin. Police said a motorist's suicide note this in that town claimed responsibility for the Lefkow killings.

Our Keith Oppenheim will pick up the story for us from our Chicago bureau -- Keith. KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Daryn. And police sources have confirmed to CNN that the man who left the suicide note not only claimed responsibility for killing Judge Lefkow's husband and her mother, but also in the suicide note gave details about the case that previously had not been made public. And our sources are identifying the man who killed himself as Bart Ross.

His car registration, Bart Ross' car registration indicates that at one point he lived on Chicago's North Side. And right now there are a lot of Chicago police in the neighborhood working the case. We have learned that the suicide note indicated that a judgment had cost Ross his house, his job and his family, and that Ross filed a lawsuit in Judge Lefkow's court.

The "Chicago Tribune" is reporting that the lawsuit was against the University of Illinois over cancer treatment in the early '90s. This suit was first ruled against twice before Judge Lefkow dismissed it in 2004.

One of Bart Ross' neighbors told us this morning that Ross frequently talked about his frustration with doctors, hospitals and the judicial system. And another neighbor said she saw him in another neighborhood in a few weeks ago. But our sources are telling us that investigators are looking into the possibility that Bart Ross was most recently living out of his van.

At the scene in West Allis, Wisconsin, the "Tribune" is reporting that investigators found, get this, 300 .22 caliber shell casings in the vehicle. Twenty-two caliber shell casings are the same caliber that were found in Judge Lefkow's home.

It was last Monday that Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow, a federal judge here in Chicago, came home to find two main people in her life shot to death in the basement of the home. Her husband, attorney Michael Lefkow and her 89-year-old mother Donna Humphrey.

There was media speculation when this story broke that there could have been some connection to white supremacy groups. Because last year white supremacist Matt Hale was convicted of plotting to kill Judge Lefkow.

But now with these latest developments in the case, there is certainly a possibility that the reasons behind these murders may have nothing to do with white supremacy groups at all. And I should note that Matt Hale has denied any involvement with these murders.

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: And I think he faces sentencing in a case on April 6. So much focus, as you were saying, Keith, on Matthew Hale, on the white supremacist. Was there any interest in Bart Ross before this? Was he even a person of interest?

OPPENHEIM: He was, but I have to put that in context. Because our sources are saying that he was being looked at, but there were many cases that Judge Lefkow had that were being look looked at. He was on a list. So there was not intense interest in this guy, but he was one of several that they were looking at. And just keep in mind that federal judges sometimes deal in dangerous territory, making decisions for and against people.

We've talk to federal judges since this story broke. And they've said that's the lay of the land for them, so that there is always a certain risk. But I don't think that we can say that prior to this point that investigators looked at Bart Ross as someone who held high risk. He was just on a general list of people to be looked at.

KAGAN: Keith Oppenheim live from Chicago for us. Thank you.

Another story for you now. We're expecting more details this morning on the capture of a fugitive on the FBI's Most Wanted List. Authorities say Jesse James Hollywood killed a 15-year-old California boy over a family drug debt. Hollywood was reportedly arrest in Brazil. Police there told "The New York Times" he'd been living in a beach town for four years, using a fake name and teaching English. Hollywood is expected to be deported to the U.S. this week.

Bill Clinton is in a New York hospital right now and might still be in surgery. The former president arrived at New York Presbyterian about five hours ago. The former president is having a rare follow-up procedure to his heart bypass.

Our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, outside the hospital in New York this morning.

Sanjay, good morning.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Yes, a rare follow-up for sure, the surgeon who performed the operation in the first place said he's done about 6,000 bypass procedure, only about 10 times has it been necessary to go back in and do this particular procedure called a decortications.

Now, a lot of speculation on what exactly would have happened to the president if he did not have this procedure done. He was having some difficulty breathing. He was having some discomfort. We posed this question to his doctor, here's what his doctor said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ALLAN SCHWARTZ, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: This is not an emergency. This is being done to assure that he is able to continue to maintain a highly active lifestyle and that he's not at all functionally limited by his lung. But this is not a medically urgent procedure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: The thing about it is, Daryn, sometimes the terms get a little confusing here. They called it an elective procedure. I think most doctors would say that's a little bit of a stretch. The president needed to have this operation done. If he didn't have it done, his breathing problems would have probably have gotten worse. And he probably would have had more discomfort, eventually not being able to conduct the activities the way that he's normally doing that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: One thing I don't understand about this case, Sanjay, the amount of time in the hospital. They're saying after this procedure, he might be there three to 10 days. But looking back when he had quadruple bypass surgery, he was out of there in four days.

GUPTA: Yes. So four days last time. And that was pretty quick departure from the hospital. The reason there's such a disparity, three or 10 days, anywhere from three to 10 days, is that they're going to try and do this procedure called a peel, where they peel away the scar tissue from the lung. Almost think of it like an orange peel. They peel that away.

They are going to try to do that minimally invasive by just putting endoscopes into the area of the chest and peel that away. If they can't do it in the minimally invasive way, they're going to have to open his chest, about a three-inch incision and remove the peel that way.

Obviously if they do it the bigger way, that's more of a recovery process. He'll probably be in the hospital longer. My guess is we're going to hear about this over the weekend or early next week that he's getting ready to go home -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in New York City. Sanjay, thank you.

On to the current president, President Bush. He's on the first of a two-day campaign-style swing. He is pushing his plan for personal accounts in Social Security. Beginning today in Kentucky and Alabama, the president will travel to four southern states that backed him in the election. He'll be looking for support there for his Social Security reforms.

Our Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House this morning.

Suzanne, Good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Really a bit of irony here. These are all states -- red states where the president really had little campaigning to do when it came to his re-election bid. But they're all states where he is aggressively campaigning to win over his Social Security reform plan.

Now, I talked to Bush aides. They say this morning, of course, that he has a lot of work to do in these states. That's why he is hitting them hard. And that is exactly what he plans to do. The first stop, President Bush already on his way to Louisville, Kentucky.

Now, Kentucky is a state where 19 percent of its residents receive these Social Security benefits. And the polls show that seniors, those over 55 years of age who Mr. Bush says are not going to be affected by his plan, are overwhelmingly against it. His second stop today will be in Alabama. That's where he has a lot of convincing to do with members of his own party. Now, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions says he backs the plan but his colleague Senator Richard Shelby is a wait and see. And none of the six Republicans representatives are on board.

Now, tomorrow he travels -- later today, he travels to Tennessee but he speaks tomorrow there. And all eyes are on Democratic Congressman Harold Ford. Now, he has challenged hid own party not to be the party of no. That simply he is open to at least listening to some of these more controversial proposals by Republicans.

Republicans think that it is someone they can to, perhaps work with. And perhaps, perhaps that he might break with his own party to support the president's plan.

And then finally, of course, in Louisiana we're seeing Bush; of course, live at Andrews Air Force Base. He'll be taking off very shortly. But his last stop is in Louisiana. That's where Senator Mary Landrieu, she's considered one of 10 Democrats to keep your eye on in this debate. She's a moderate Democrat on many issues, but she has made her position clear that she's against those private accounts.

Daryn, should let you know really the centerpiece of President Bush's strategy is to try, ironically, to try to convince the seniors. The people that he says will not ultimately be affected by his plan, those 55 and older. If he does that, if he's able to do that, then perhaps he can give Republicans in those states the kind of political cover that they're looking for -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House. Suzanne, thank you.

We're talking grades just ahead. Got to tell you, they're not really good. We're talking about grades for the airline industry and your safety. Still to come, a look at what's on the report card and why so many people are not happy about that.

Also, driving around with bumper stickers on your car. We have a story that you might want to -- you might want to go ahead and peel them off. We'll tell you why.

Plus, Miguel Marquez.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Miguel Marquez live in Santa Maria, California. Michael Jackson's accuser is back on the stand today. What will he say? I'll have a report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We head to California now. The child molestation trial of Michael Jackson resumes in the next hour, with the prosecution's star witness returning to the stand. The pop star's 15-year-old accuser has not yet faced questions about the alleged molestations.

Our Miguel Marquez is outside the courthouse in Santa Maria with the latest about what we have heard so far from the accuser.

Miguel, good morning.

MARQUEZ: Good morning to you, Daryn. We expect that we will hear a lot more about those molestations today. But after months and almost over -- really over a year of rumor and speculation and press leaks, Jackson is finally facing his 15-year-old accuser.

He's a 15-year-old who has had a very rough life so far, facing a pop star who is world-renowned and reportedly worth millions. The things that he's said so far in court was that it was Michael Jackson himself who suggested that he and his brother stay in Mr. Jackson's bedroom that very first night that they were at Neverland ranch, back in 2000.

He says that on that night, an employee of Mr. Jackson's surfed the Internet for adult sites with them for about 15 to 30 minutes. This is a kid who during testimony yesterday called Mr. Jackson, "The coolest guy in the world," or at least he thought he was the coolest guy in the world.

But he also testified that Mr. Jackson wasn't there through much of his cancer recovery. At some points even sometimes pretending not to be at Neverland when he was, so the kid figured so he wouldn't have to see him.

He told him that during the filming of the Bashir documentary, Jackson brought he and his siblings up. And he told him this was his audition for the movies. And that he is the one who asked the kid to call him "father" and "Daddy Michael" during that documentary.

And that they seem to be sort of setting up this idea of who was manipulating who in this situation. Was it Jackson manipulating this kid for his own purposes? Or was it this family who was manipulating Jackson for his money? We're going to hear much more today on the exact molestations. And we expect, or we believe we may get to cross- examination of this boy as well -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. You'll be monitoring it for us. Also be talking with our legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin in the next hour.

Thank you for that. Miguel Marquez from Santa Maria.

Also on the docket today in our "Legal Brief s," jurors resume deliberations today in the murder trial of actor Robert Blake. They've spent three full days behind closed doors. Blake starred in the series 1970s "Baretta." He's accused of shooting to death his wife that happened nearly four years ago.

Jurors in Houston, Texas heard grisly testimony in the case of Tyrone Williams. He is the man accused of the nation's deadliest human smuggling tragedy. Authorities who responded to an abandoned tractor-trailer described half naked bodies piled four feet high and bloody claw marks on the doors from people desperately trying to escape. Williams is charged with the deaths of 19 illegal immigrants. And a development to tell you about in the trial of Bernie Ebbers, the man in charge of WorldCom when it plunged into corporate bankruptcy. The presiding judge told jurors yesterday on their fourth day of deliberations that they can convict him of accounting fraud alone. They don't have to even consider the supplemental charges against him.

Some dismal grades are being dished out to the aviation industry today. Still ahead, what pilots say about your safety in the sky.

Plus, we're in the safe hands of Gerri Willis and her "Top Five Tips."

Hi, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. If you're moving cross-town or just cross-country maybe, we'll tell you how to keep your valuables safe when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Each year, one in seven Americans will pack up and move to a new home. And many will open a Pandora's box of problems. In today's "Top Five Tips Home Edition," CNN's Gerri Willis shows us how you can avoid the shady movers and the scams that are out there.

Gerri, good morning.

WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. First things first, you got to know the warning signs of getting scammed. Watch out for movers who don't send someone in person to estimate moving costs. Also sure to see the moving truck has the name of the company on it. Now, some companies will rent a truck. And that's a sign of big trouble.

Also look out for bargain basement quotes. If the moving company offers you something dramatically lower than competitors, hey, chances are you're headed for trouble.

KAGAN: It's too good to be true, it probably is.

WILLIS: Right.

KAGAN: How about some other tips to avoid getting scammed, Gerri?

WILLIS: Well, you've absolutely got to do your homework. Get references from people who have recently used the moving company that you want to use. You can even call local real estate agents to get a good referral. Watch out for online scams. Don't use the web to get quotes. This is where a lot of moving con artists search for victims.

But you can use the Internet to do background checks. Go to moving.org. It has a list of certified movers on that site. And the Better Business Bureau is also a big resource here. They can tell you if your movers are legitimate. Also, you definitely want to pay with a credit card so you can dispute any charges.

KAGAN: And Gerri, what about for the people who are watching this morning, saying where was Gerri last month, where were your tip? They've already been scammed, what can they do now?

WILLIS: You know it's a real problem when you get scammed. You can call the Better Business Bureau to make a formal complaint. You can complain to the American Moving and Storage Association, that's the industry association. They'll help you arbitrate your dispute.

But I've got to tell you, if you have a problem, it may be too late. There's not a lot you can do. It is more important to take those preventive measures in the first place.

KAGAN: All right. Moving insurance, good idea or a bad buy?

WILLIS: Definitely a good idea. Call for backup. The mover will give you basic insurance, but you should opt for full value protection. This way you're covered for the full value of your items in your move, rather than just a percentage of the weight that was lost or damaged in the move -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Gerri Willis, thank you for that.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Well, some people on the move in airlines and sharp criticism out there today regarding airline security. Before you book your next flight, you'll want to stay with us as the Aviation Security Report Card is out. You are not going to believe and you are probably not going to like the grades.

Plus, mixing humor real life tragedy. A look at how some teens have cooked up clever way to reveal the truth about meth.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

Overnight, investigators searched the home of a possible suspect in the killings of a federal judge's husband and mother. Chicago police say the man's suicide note claimed responsibility for the killings. The note was found in the suspect's van in West Allis, Wisconsin. Police say he shot himself after being stopped for a faulty taillight.

New concerns about identity theft today. Lexus-Nexus says the profiles of 32,000 U.S. citizens have been illegally accessed. The company says it will notify those affected. The FBI and Secret Service are investigating this incident. Lexus-Nexus provides legal news and business information services. More on that story coming up in the business update. People who file for bankruptcy could soon have a tougher time dissolving debts. The Senate is expected to pass a sweeping overhaul of bankruptcy law today. The legislation would establish a new income-based test to determine a debtor's ability to repay what's owed. House approval is likely next month.

At any moment, United Nations chief Kofi Annan is to deliver a keynote policy speech before a world conference on terrorism. It is being held in Madrid, amid tomorrow's first anniversary of that city's horrific train bombings. Annan is expected to stress the need to deny terrorists safe haven or logistical support.

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Aired March 10, 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 ANCHOR: We're going to get started by taking a look at what's happening now in the news.
We're following a developing story. This out of Wisconsin where a man has reportedly confessed to killing a judge's husband and mother. Because her ruling cost him his home, he believed, his job and his family, his confession is contained in a suicide note. The man killed himself during a routine traffic stop Wednesday. We'll have a full report in a moment.

At least 10 people are confirmed dead after a predawn fire swept through this townhouse in Marrero, Louisiana. That's a suburb of New Orleans. All are said to be members of one family. Four other family members escaped and one remains missing. One suspected cause, candles that were lit because electricity had not been turned on in the family's new home.

Some disconcerting news for air travelers. Last hour, a group of airline pilots slapped the U.S. government with failing grades for aviation security. The Coalition of Airline Pilots Association gave a grade of "F" in five areas, including the screening of employees and cargo, and protecting planes from shoulder-fired missiles. Good grades were given to improved baggage screening and the reinforcement of cockpit doors.

And this hour on Capitol Hill, lawmakers open a hearing on steroids in sports. Another House committee yesterday subpoenaed retired slugger Mark McGwire. Current Yankee Jason Giambi, and self- proclaimed whistleblower Jose Canseco, they are scheduled to appear next week. But league officials say they will fight those subpoenas.

Good morning to you on this Thursday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. Rick Sanchez is on assignment today.

A suicide note with a link to the murders of a judge's family, that's where we begin this hour. There's a new development being reported this morning surrounding the killings of Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother. It came from a 100 hour away from the Lefkow's Chicago home in West Allis, Wisconsin. Police said a motorist's suicide note this in that town claimed responsibility for the Lefkow killings.

Our Keith Oppenheim will pick up the story for us from our Chicago bureau -- Keith. KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Daryn. And police sources have confirmed to CNN that the man who left the suicide note not only claimed responsibility for killing Judge Lefkow's husband and her mother, but also in the suicide note gave details about the case that previously had not been made public. And our sources are identifying the man who killed himself as Bart Ross.

His car registration, Bart Ross' car registration indicates that at one point he lived on Chicago's North Side. And right now there are a lot of Chicago police in the neighborhood working the case. We have learned that the suicide note indicated that a judgment had cost Ross his house, his job and his family, and that Ross filed a lawsuit in Judge Lefkow's court.

The "Chicago Tribune" is reporting that the lawsuit was against the University of Illinois over cancer treatment in the early '90s. This suit was first ruled against twice before Judge Lefkow dismissed it in 2004.

One of Bart Ross' neighbors told us this morning that Ross frequently talked about his frustration with doctors, hospitals and the judicial system. And another neighbor said she saw him in another neighborhood in a few weeks ago. But our sources are telling us that investigators are looking into the possibility that Bart Ross was most recently living out of his van.

At the scene in West Allis, Wisconsin, the "Tribune" is reporting that investigators found, get this, 300 .22 caliber shell casings in the vehicle. Twenty-two caliber shell casings are the same caliber that were found in Judge Lefkow's home.

It was last Monday that Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow, a federal judge here in Chicago, came home to find two main people in her life shot to death in the basement of the home. Her husband, attorney Michael Lefkow and her 89-year-old mother Donna Humphrey.

There was media speculation when this story broke that there could have been some connection to white supremacy groups. Because last year white supremacist Matt Hale was convicted of plotting to kill Judge Lefkow.

But now with these latest developments in the case, there is certainly a possibility that the reasons behind these murders may have nothing to do with white supremacy groups at all. And I should note that Matt Hale has denied any involvement with these murders.

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: And I think he faces sentencing in a case on April 6. So much focus, as you were saying, Keith, on Matthew Hale, on the white supremacist. Was there any interest in Bart Ross before this? Was he even a person of interest?

OPPENHEIM: He was, but I have to put that in context. Because our sources are saying that he was being looked at, but there were many cases that Judge Lefkow had that were being look looked at. He was on a list. So there was not intense interest in this guy, but he was one of several that they were looking at. And just keep in mind that federal judges sometimes deal in dangerous territory, making decisions for and against people.

We've talk to federal judges since this story broke. And they've said that's the lay of the land for them, so that there is always a certain risk. But I don't think that we can say that prior to this point that investigators looked at Bart Ross as someone who held high risk. He was just on a general list of people to be looked at.

KAGAN: Keith Oppenheim live from Chicago for us. Thank you.

Another story for you now. We're expecting more details this morning on the capture of a fugitive on the FBI's Most Wanted List. Authorities say Jesse James Hollywood killed a 15-year-old California boy over a family drug debt. Hollywood was reportedly arrest in Brazil. Police there told "The New York Times" he'd been living in a beach town for four years, using a fake name and teaching English. Hollywood is expected to be deported to the U.S. this week.

Bill Clinton is in a New York hospital right now and might still be in surgery. The former president arrived at New York Presbyterian about five hours ago. The former president is having a rare follow-up procedure to his heart bypass.

Our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, outside the hospital in New York this morning.

Sanjay, good morning.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Yes, a rare follow-up for sure, the surgeon who performed the operation in the first place said he's done about 6,000 bypass procedure, only about 10 times has it been necessary to go back in and do this particular procedure called a decortications.

Now, a lot of speculation on what exactly would have happened to the president if he did not have this procedure done. He was having some difficulty breathing. He was having some discomfort. We posed this question to his doctor, here's what his doctor said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ALLAN SCHWARTZ, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: This is not an emergency. This is being done to assure that he is able to continue to maintain a highly active lifestyle and that he's not at all functionally limited by his lung. But this is not a medically urgent procedure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: The thing about it is, Daryn, sometimes the terms get a little confusing here. They called it an elective procedure. I think most doctors would say that's a little bit of a stretch. The president needed to have this operation done. If he didn't have it done, his breathing problems would have probably have gotten worse. And he probably would have had more discomfort, eventually not being able to conduct the activities the way that he's normally doing that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: One thing I don't understand about this case, Sanjay, the amount of time in the hospital. They're saying after this procedure, he might be there three to 10 days. But looking back when he had quadruple bypass surgery, he was out of there in four days.

GUPTA: Yes. So four days last time. And that was pretty quick departure from the hospital. The reason there's such a disparity, three or 10 days, anywhere from three to 10 days, is that they're going to try and do this procedure called a peel, where they peel away the scar tissue from the lung. Almost think of it like an orange peel. They peel that away.

They are going to try to do that minimally invasive by just putting endoscopes into the area of the chest and peel that away. If they can't do it in the minimally invasive way, they're going to have to open his chest, about a three-inch incision and remove the peel that way.

Obviously if they do it the bigger way, that's more of a recovery process. He'll probably be in the hospital longer. My guess is we're going to hear about this over the weekend or early next week that he's getting ready to go home -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in New York City. Sanjay, thank you.

On to the current president, President Bush. He's on the first of a two-day campaign-style swing. He is pushing his plan for personal accounts in Social Security. Beginning today in Kentucky and Alabama, the president will travel to four southern states that backed him in the election. He'll be looking for support there for his Social Security reforms.

Our Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House this morning.

Suzanne, Good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Really a bit of irony here. These are all states -- red states where the president really had little campaigning to do when it came to his re-election bid. But they're all states where he is aggressively campaigning to win over his Social Security reform plan.

Now, I talked to Bush aides. They say this morning, of course, that he has a lot of work to do in these states. That's why he is hitting them hard. And that is exactly what he plans to do. The first stop, President Bush already on his way to Louisville, Kentucky.

Now, Kentucky is a state where 19 percent of its residents receive these Social Security benefits. And the polls show that seniors, those over 55 years of age who Mr. Bush says are not going to be affected by his plan, are overwhelmingly against it. His second stop today will be in Alabama. That's where he has a lot of convincing to do with members of his own party. Now, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions says he backs the plan but his colleague Senator Richard Shelby is a wait and see. And none of the six Republicans representatives are on board.

Now, tomorrow he travels -- later today, he travels to Tennessee but he speaks tomorrow there. And all eyes are on Democratic Congressman Harold Ford. Now, he has challenged hid own party not to be the party of no. That simply he is open to at least listening to some of these more controversial proposals by Republicans.

Republicans think that it is someone they can to, perhaps work with. And perhaps, perhaps that he might break with his own party to support the president's plan.

And then finally, of course, in Louisiana we're seeing Bush; of course, live at Andrews Air Force Base. He'll be taking off very shortly. But his last stop is in Louisiana. That's where Senator Mary Landrieu, she's considered one of 10 Democrats to keep your eye on in this debate. She's a moderate Democrat on many issues, but she has made her position clear that she's against those private accounts.

Daryn, should let you know really the centerpiece of President Bush's strategy is to try, ironically, to try to convince the seniors. The people that he says will not ultimately be affected by his plan, those 55 and older. If he does that, if he's able to do that, then perhaps he can give Republicans in those states the kind of political cover that they're looking for -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House. Suzanne, thank you.

We're talking grades just ahead. Got to tell you, they're not really good. We're talking about grades for the airline industry and your safety. Still to come, a look at what's on the report card and why so many people are not happy about that.

Also, driving around with bumper stickers on your car. We have a story that you might want to -- you might want to go ahead and peel them off. We'll tell you why.

Plus, Miguel Marquez.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Miguel Marquez live in Santa Maria, California. Michael Jackson's accuser is back on the stand today. What will he say? I'll have a report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We head to California now. The child molestation trial of Michael Jackson resumes in the next hour, with the prosecution's star witness returning to the stand. The pop star's 15-year-old accuser has not yet faced questions about the alleged molestations.

Our Miguel Marquez is outside the courthouse in Santa Maria with the latest about what we have heard so far from the accuser.

Miguel, good morning.

MARQUEZ: Good morning to you, Daryn. We expect that we will hear a lot more about those molestations today. But after months and almost over -- really over a year of rumor and speculation and press leaks, Jackson is finally facing his 15-year-old accuser.

He's a 15-year-old who has had a very rough life so far, facing a pop star who is world-renowned and reportedly worth millions. The things that he's said so far in court was that it was Michael Jackson himself who suggested that he and his brother stay in Mr. Jackson's bedroom that very first night that they were at Neverland ranch, back in 2000.

He says that on that night, an employee of Mr. Jackson's surfed the Internet for adult sites with them for about 15 to 30 minutes. This is a kid who during testimony yesterday called Mr. Jackson, "The coolest guy in the world," or at least he thought he was the coolest guy in the world.

But he also testified that Mr. Jackson wasn't there through much of his cancer recovery. At some points even sometimes pretending not to be at Neverland when he was, so the kid figured so he wouldn't have to see him.

He told him that during the filming of the Bashir documentary, Jackson brought he and his siblings up. And he told him this was his audition for the movies. And that he is the one who asked the kid to call him "father" and "Daddy Michael" during that documentary.

And that they seem to be sort of setting up this idea of who was manipulating who in this situation. Was it Jackson manipulating this kid for his own purposes? Or was it this family who was manipulating Jackson for his money? We're going to hear much more today on the exact molestations. And we expect, or we believe we may get to cross- examination of this boy as well -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. You'll be monitoring it for us. Also be talking with our legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin in the next hour.

Thank you for that. Miguel Marquez from Santa Maria.

Also on the docket today in our "Legal Brief s," jurors resume deliberations today in the murder trial of actor Robert Blake. They've spent three full days behind closed doors. Blake starred in the series 1970s "Baretta." He's accused of shooting to death his wife that happened nearly four years ago.

Jurors in Houston, Texas heard grisly testimony in the case of Tyrone Williams. He is the man accused of the nation's deadliest human smuggling tragedy. Authorities who responded to an abandoned tractor-trailer described half naked bodies piled four feet high and bloody claw marks on the doors from people desperately trying to escape. Williams is charged with the deaths of 19 illegal immigrants. And a development to tell you about in the trial of Bernie Ebbers, the man in charge of WorldCom when it plunged into corporate bankruptcy. The presiding judge told jurors yesterday on their fourth day of deliberations that they can convict him of accounting fraud alone. They don't have to even consider the supplemental charges against him.

Some dismal grades are being dished out to the aviation industry today. Still ahead, what pilots say about your safety in the sky.

Plus, we're in the safe hands of Gerri Willis and her "Top Five Tips."

Hi, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. If you're moving cross-town or just cross-country maybe, we'll tell you how to keep your valuables safe when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

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KAGAN: Each year, one in seven Americans will pack up and move to a new home. And many will open a Pandora's box of problems. In today's "Top Five Tips Home Edition," CNN's Gerri Willis shows us how you can avoid the shady movers and the scams that are out there.

Gerri, good morning.

WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. First things first, you got to know the warning signs of getting scammed. Watch out for movers who don't send someone in person to estimate moving costs. Also sure to see the moving truck has the name of the company on it. Now, some companies will rent a truck. And that's a sign of big trouble.

Also look out for bargain basement quotes. If the moving company offers you something dramatically lower than competitors, hey, chances are you're headed for trouble.

KAGAN: It's too good to be true, it probably is.

WILLIS: Right.

KAGAN: How about some other tips to avoid getting scammed, Gerri?

WILLIS: Well, you've absolutely got to do your homework. Get references from people who have recently used the moving company that you want to use. You can even call local real estate agents to get a good referral. Watch out for online scams. Don't use the web to get quotes. This is where a lot of moving con artists search for victims.

But you can use the Internet to do background checks. Go to moving.org. It has a list of certified movers on that site. And the Better Business Bureau is also a big resource here. They can tell you if your movers are legitimate. Also, you definitely want to pay with a credit card so you can dispute any charges.

KAGAN: And Gerri, what about for the people who are watching this morning, saying where was Gerri last month, where were your tip? They've already been scammed, what can they do now?

WILLIS: You know it's a real problem when you get scammed. You can call the Better Business Bureau to make a formal complaint. You can complain to the American Moving and Storage Association, that's the industry association. They'll help you arbitrate your dispute.

But I've got to tell you, if you have a problem, it may be too late. There's not a lot you can do. It is more important to take those preventive measures in the first place.

KAGAN: All right. Moving insurance, good idea or a bad buy?

WILLIS: Definitely a good idea. Call for backup. The mover will give you basic insurance, but you should opt for full value protection. This way you're covered for the full value of your items in your move, rather than just a percentage of the weight that was lost or damaged in the move -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Gerri Willis, thank you for that.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Well, some people on the move in airlines and sharp criticism out there today regarding airline security. Before you book your next flight, you'll want to stay with us as the Aviation Security Report Card is out. You are not going to believe and you are probably not going to like the grades.

Plus, mixing humor real life tragedy. A look at how some teens have cooked up clever way to reveal the truth about meth.

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KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

Overnight, investigators searched the home of a possible suspect in the killings of a federal judge's husband and mother. Chicago police say the man's suicide note claimed responsibility for the killings. The note was found in the suspect's van in West Allis, Wisconsin. Police say he shot himself after being stopped for a faulty taillight.

New concerns about identity theft today. Lexus-Nexus says the profiles of 32,000 U.S. citizens have been illegally accessed. The company says it will notify those affected. The FBI and Secret Service are investigating this incident. Lexus-Nexus provides legal news and business information services. More on that story coming up in the business update. People who file for bankruptcy could soon have a tougher time dissolving debts. The Senate is expected to pass a sweeping overhaul of bankruptcy law today. The legislation would establish a new income-based test to determine a debtor's ability to repay what's owed. House approval is likely next month.

At any moment, United Nations chief Kofi Annan is to deliver a keynote policy speech before a world conference on terrorism. It is being held in Madrid, amid tomorrow's first anniversary of that city's horrific train bombings. Annan is expected to stress the need to deny terrorists safe haven or logistical support.

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