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CNN Live Today

Awaiting Crucial Decision in Michael Jackson Trial; Terri Schiavo Update; Baghdad's Vigilantes

Aired March 28, 2005 - 11:00   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.


RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And here's a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
A convicted sex offender accused in the kidnapping and the killing of a 10-year-old Iowa girl makes his initial court appearance. Authorities filed murder and kidnapping charges today against Roger Bentley. The body of Jetseta Gage was found last Friday, the morning after she was abducted.

The crew from the International Space Station back inside after an early morning space walk. They completed the mission in 4.5 hours. During the space walk they installed antennas needed for a new cargo carrier scheduled to fly next year. They also released a mini satellite called NanoSputnick.

Kids in costume characters took over the south lawn of the White House this morning. The Easter egg roll is an annual tradition at the executive mansion. And this year's event was cut short because of rain, as we had mentioned. The festivities wrapped up in the last hour.

And this. Safety investigators say the pilot of a small plane that crashed over the weekend was in contact with flight controllers. NTSB says he not mention any trouble with the plane. Six members of two Rhode Island families died with their plane crashed suddenly in Pennsylvania.

Round two. Here we go. 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. on the West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, happy to have you folks. I'm Rick Sanchez.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

A long and bitter legal battle gives way to somber reality in the Terri Schiavo case. She's entering her 11th day without a feeding tube. Schiavo's parents have exhausted their legal appeals.

But their supporters are not giving up. They are taking their fight to Washington today.

There is disagreement over Schiavo's condition. Her parents' attorneys says she is past the point of no return. But a family spokesman disputes that.

There are also questions over what would happen at the moment of Schiavo's death. An attorney for Michael Schiavo says there will likely be an agreement for both sides to have their final good-byes. We'll have live reports ahead from Bob Franken at Terri Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, and Ed Henry in Tallahassee.

First, though, a crucial decision could come today in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial. At issue, when the trial resumes this hour whether past allegations against the pop star should be presented to the jury. Ted Rowlands is live from Santa Maria, California, with details on that.

Ted, good morning.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Still awaiting the arrival of Michael Jackson here for what is going to be a very crucial hearing for both sides in this case. As you mentioned, at stake here is whether or not prior allegations of sexual abuse will be allowed into this current trial. Under California law, allegations can be brought in, in a sexual -- in a sexual molestation trial even though they are just allegations.

Jackson was never charged in 1993 or in '94. However, he was -- there were allegations of sexual abuse against him. And the prosecutors want to bring that information into this trial.

The jury will not report today until 11:30 Pacific Time, giving both sides an opportunity to argue their side of this to the judge. The judge is expected to make a ruling from the bench at the conclusion of those arguments.

If those prior allegations come in, it could be very difficult for the defense to handle because of the cumulative effect of more than one allegation against the pop star. On the other side, the defense is going to fight as hard as they can to keep them out.

One interesting note is that the uncle of the 1993 alleged victim is claiming that that alleged victim will not testify and will do everything in his power not to cooperate. If that is true, prosecutors will have that issue to contend up. But first up here, both sides very intent on trying to win, if you will, today a very crucial hearing this morning whether or not these allegations will be allowed in -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes, Ted. And during that report we were watching live pictures of Michael Jackson's defense attorney, Thomas Mesereau, entering the courthouse there in Santa Maria.

If the judge says, OK, give it a go, you're allowed to bring up these previous allegations, what form would that presentation be?

ROWLANDS: Well, it would actually be a trial within a trial, because you would have to prove to the jury that these allegations were valid. And the defense would -- would -- if these allegations do come in, the defense would in front of the jury contend that these allegations, just like the current ones, are not valid. So it would greatly increase the trial on one end, and it would provide these two separate -- assuming both allegations come in, '93 and '94 -- mini trials within this trial. The key here is both alleged victims would presumably come in to testify against Jackson. And if it's true that the '93 alleged victim will not be cooperating, that could prove to be a difficult task for prosecutors to, A, bring it in, and, B, convince the jury that where there is smoke, there is fire.

So a lot of complicated issues. First things first, though. Both sides desperately want to have a win here today in front of this judge. It will be very interesting to see what he decides.

KAGAN: Yes. And First things first. We then saw Thomas Mesereau step outside the courthouse once again to take a cell phone call.

Ted Rowlands, we'll be checking back with you probably in about 40 minutes. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Here's our other top story that we're following on this day. Supporters of Terri Schiavo's parents are making another appeal to lawmakers in Washington. But hopes are fading as Schiavo enters her 11th day without her feeding tube.

Our Bob Franken, he's outside Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park. He's been following the story. He's joining us now live once again with the very latest.

Good morning again, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.

And the perception that hopes have faded beyond hope is something that -- that perception is bothering the family. They feel that it's going to sabotage efforts to put pressure on Congress, put pressure on state officials to somehow act to save Terri Schiavo's life, which is why they sent out a spokesman tomorrow -- earlier this morning to make sure that everybody knew that Terri Schiavo, from their perception, was still vital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROTHER PAUL O'DONNELL, SCHINDLER FAMILY SPOKESPERSON: Every one is willing to write this woman's obituary except one person, and that's Terri Schiavo herself. She is alert. She is awake. And she is fighting for her life.

Bob and Mary Schindler are begging, begging Governor Bush to step in and take custody of Terri.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: But there is the reality, Rick, and that reality is that Terri Schiavo has been off her feeding tube going into 11 days now. Most experts say nobody can operate that way, can survive, more than two weeks -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Bob Franken following things for us there in Pinellas Park, Florida. Thank you, Bob -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Protesters are keeping pressure on Governor Jeb Bush to intervene in the Schiavo case. But the governor said again this morning he believes he's done all he can do.

Ed Henry is at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, with more on that part of the story.

Ed, good morning.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Daryn.

That's right, just moments ago at a public event at Florida International University in Miami, the governor reiterated what he told CNN yesterday in an exclusive interview, that he would love to do more but his hands are tied here. There has been a lot of public comment from various conservative activists, some independent legal analysts as well, who say the governor has the executive power to go in and let the state take custody of Terri Schiavo, take her from that hospice to a hospital.

That would obviously spark another nasty legal showdown. But protesters say that at least during that showdown Terri Schiavo can get the feeding tube reinserted, could possible have her life saved.

The governor told me yesterday basically this argument is moot. He does not have the executive power to trump the courts. He doesn't know why this is still going on. He says that he cannot move in, and he reiterated that just moments ago in Miami.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I have not been offered any -- there is no means by which we can get involved beyond what we've already done. And I can't see that changing.

If someone can get to our legal counsel, some new chance of involvement, we would look at it. But I doubt very seriously that will their will be one.

Remember, we've looked at this over the past year. We sought the advice of legal scholars around the country not just in the last week, but over the last year. This has been an ongoing case. And so my guess is that there is very little left for the government to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, in the interview with CNN, the governor also spoke about his sadness over the emotional toll this case is taking on both the Schiavos and the Schindlers. But it was clear in that interview also the emotional toll that it's taking on the governor. He has been facing a lot of pressure. After this event in Miami he's headed back here to Tallahassee. In the afternoon he's going to be in a series of meetings again for the rest of the day -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed Henry in Florida's State Capitol. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Interestingly enough, a congressman leading the fight to keep Terri Schiavo alive reportedly faced a life-or-death decision within his own family. And this was years ago.

According to the "Los Angeles Times," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and his family decided not to take measures to extend his father's life when in a similar situation as Terri Schiavo's.

Charles DeLay was severely injured in an accident 17 years ago. DeLay declined to be interviewed about his father's case. However, a press aide has said that it was an entirely different situation than Terri Schiavo's.

KAGAN: I guess in the DeLay case it was about a ventilator and not a feeding tube.

SANCHEZ: Correct. Both on life support, though.

KAGAN: Right. A personal family matter in both issues.

We're talking about Iraq just ahead and the additional problem for people to worry about, kidnappings.

SANCHEZ: And how some local Iraqi neighborhoods are taking control of their own security.

KAGAN: We have new video out of Beirut said to be the last moment of assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

SANCHEZ: Also this... an Easter weekend with a little presence from the pope. A little. A report from the Vatican on the pontiff's condition and what his followers are saying is coming up just a little bit later on this newscast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In Iraq today, a pilgrimage to the annual religious ceremony ends in tragedy. At least two people are dead after a car bomber targets a crowd of Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad. The group was on its way to Karbala, where thousands of pilgrims are gathering for an annual mourning ceremony this week.

And insurgent attacks in Baghdad have left three dead in the southeast part of the city. The head of a police station and his driver were gunned down in a drive-by shooting. About 30 minutes earlier, insurgents used a roadside bomb to attack a police patrol in southwestern Baghdad. One Iraqi policeman was killed, five others were hurt.

As deadly attacks continue in Iraq, there are also growing concerns about kidnappings. And while the abductions of westerners often make headlines, "The New York Times" says Iraqis are far more vulnerable.

The paper reports that some 5,000 have been -- Iraqis have been kidnapped in the last 18 months. Now some neighborhoods have decided to act. CNN's Aneesh Raman has the story from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On this nondescript Iraqi street resides a commonplace fear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): A child was kidnapped from our neighborhood, taken for ransom.

RAMAN: Vicra Ahmed (ph), clinging to her 3-year-old daughter, vividly recalls what happened a year ago. The parents paid, the child was returned, and her community came to a stark realization. In post- war Iraq, nobody's safety is guaranteed. The survival of family is an individual concern.

So these Iraqis are taking action, pooling resources and hiring guards like Shakir Hassan (ph) to patrol houses, blockade the street, protect their children.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Of course people fear the gangs, those who are kidnappers, killers, muggers and looters. Those who terrify people.

RAMAN: Shakir (ph) is one of three guards that rotate responsibilities, filling a void not yet met by a fledgling government. And for the kids like Hussein (ph), Shakir (ph symbolizes freedom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our families tell us don't go out, the thieves might kidnap you. If the guard is not there, I cannot go outside.

RAMAN (on camera): Guards like these have been protecting the 20 houses along this street for over a year now. Neighborhood watches are popping up all over Iraq, but only in the neighborhoods wealthy enough to afford it.

(voice-over): This area of Baghdad is a rich one, making the residents both targets and defenders, able to hire street-specific security, a luxury for most Iraqis.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Of course we are lucky because some people can hardly get some money for their basic life, especially under this situation. They can't pay for guards like we do.

RAMAN: Caught in the crosshairs of conflict, Iraqis like Vicra (ph) cannot simply wait to hear the silence of peace. Daily life must go on. But as long as her daughter is at risk, armed guards will patrol this street.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: There was a lot of rain. Let's see, there was some thunder.

KAGAN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: And there was some hail in the Southeast last night.

KAGAN: Then more rain on top of that.

SANCHEZ: We know because we heard it in our homes.

KAGAN: Yes. Jacqui Jeras is here to tell us if the worst is over for the region.

SANCHEZ: Also, as the global warming debate rages on, we're going to take you to a town in Alaska where residents are running out of places to live in their literally disappearing town.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Parts of the South cleaning up today after severe storms that ripped across the region. The stormy weather pounded parts of Alabama, here in Georgia, Florida and Mississippi.

High winds toppled trees and power lines. There were also reports of flash flooding and golf ball-size hail.

SANCHEZ: It was amazing to watch it this weekend. It was jut like a loop that just came from the South and seems to be heading where, like toward the Northeast now, Jacqui Jeras?

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Speaking of weather, some people say there is no such thing as global warming. But don't say that to the people in a place called Kivalina, Alaska. They say it's perhaps because of global warming that they're losing their town.

Here now with more on this explanation is our Miles O'Brien.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The tiny village of Kivalina, Alaska, sits on a spit of land along the Arctic Circle. This is the edge of the edge. Here, houses are falling into the ocean as the coastline erodes.

The autumn ice that protects the island from brutal winter storms is coming later each year. So Kivalina is disappearing, eroding into something less than a spit of land.

ROLAN KNOX, MAYOR OF KIVALINA, ALASKA: The island is getting real -- you know, real narrow, mostly this fall.

O'BRIEN: The people here are considering leaving their homes to move to higher ground. This town may be in the vanguard of a global retreat inland over the coming, warmer years.

(on camera): You've got to leave?

KNOX: Yes. We've got to leave sooner or later.

O'BRIEN: I'm taking a walk right now on a little piece of the Arctic Ocean. The North Pole is 1,100 miles that way, the Arctic Circle about 500 miles that way, and we're just off Barrow, Alaska.

And it's kind of hard to imagine the concept of global warming here. It is below zero right now.

But up here, the warming is more of a problem than it is elsewhere. As a matter of fact, the temperature is rising here about twice as fast as elsewhere.

We are literally on thin ice. The question is, is the entire planet?

GEORGE AHMAOGAK, MAYOR OF BARROW, ALASKA: Years back when I was a kid, I used to see eight-foot-thick ice, 14-feet-thick ice. Forty years later, I'm now seeing ice, at the most, at less than two feet thick.

O'BRIEN: The ice that's disappearing literally sustains a people. It's where they hunt for food.

AHMAOGAK: We don't grow stuff up here. We don't have the money -- a lot of these people don't have the money to be able to go to the store. We depend on the resources. An example is polar bears and the seals.

It's a matter of survival for our people. They're trying to now adapt to changes.

O'BRIEN: And experts say we should all be listening to what George Ahmaogak is saying.

ROBERT CORELL, ARCTIC CLIMATE IMPACT ASSESSMENT: There is very consistent evidence that the Arctic is warming much more rapidly than the rest of the planet. And it has significance for the rest of the world.

O'BRIEN: And this is no longer the stuff of academic debate. From a variety of scientists we have heard the same conclusion. The jury is in and the scientific verdict is clear. The Earth is warming, and our addiction to burning fossil fuels is hastening the heating. Whatever debate remains focuses on how bad, how soon and what can be done about it. GUS SPETH, YALE UNIVERSITY: We're changing the face of the planet and deeply committing the future to a situation which, frankly, as a new grandparent, I am so concerned about. If we don't do something about it, we'll be handing to them a ruined world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: A ruined world. CNN's Miles O'Brien reporting.

And you can see "CNN PRESENTS." It's called "Melting Point." It's coming up again this Saturday evening if you missed it last night. It was at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

KAGAN: The pope misses yet another traditional Holy Week event. Now there are new questions and concerns about his health. We'll have a report from Rome when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We are watching live pictures from Santa Maria, California. You can tell they're live there.

Protesters outside the courthouse in Santa Maria, 11:30 a.m. Eastern, 8:30 a.m. Pacific. Still no sign of Michael Jackson today.

Some people are calling this the most important day of the trial, when the judge will have a hearing on whether earlier allegations of child molestation can be presented to this jury. We will keep an eye on Santa Maria and bring you the latest.

Right now, though, let's take a look at what else is happening "Now in the News."

The U.S. Supreme Court is looking at the rights of foreigners on death row. At issue, whether the U.S. can execute non-U.S. citizens who say they were improperly denied access to legal help from their own countries. The specific case involves a Texas death row inmate from Mexico. Prosecutors say the defendant never raised the issue during his trial.

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 March 28, 2005 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And here's a look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
A convicted sex offender accused in the kidnapping and the killing of a 10-year-old Iowa girl makes his initial court appearance. Authorities filed murder and kidnapping charges today against Roger Bentley. The body of Jetseta Gage was found last Friday, the morning after she was abducted.

The crew from the International Space Station back inside after an early morning space walk. They completed the mission in 4.5 hours. During the space walk they installed antennas needed for a new cargo carrier scheduled to fly next year. They also released a mini satellite called NanoSputnick.

Kids in costume characters took over the south lawn of the White House this morning. The Easter egg roll is an annual tradition at the executive mansion. And this year's event was cut short because of rain, as we had mentioned. The festivities wrapped up in the last hour.

And this. Safety investigators say the pilot of a small plane that crashed over the weekend was in contact with flight controllers. NTSB says he not mention any trouble with the plane. Six members of two Rhode Island families died with their plane crashed suddenly in Pennsylvania.

Round two. Here we go. 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. on the West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, happy to have you folks. I'm Rick Sanchez.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

A long and bitter legal battle gives way to somber reality in the Terri Schiavo case. She's entering her 11th day without a feeding tube. Schiavo's parents have exhausted their legal appeals.

But their supporters are not giving up. They are taking their fight to Washington today.

There is disagreement over Schiavo's condition. Her parents' attorneys says she is past the point of no return. But a family spokesman disputes that.

There are also questions over what would happen at the moment of Schiavo's death. An attorney for Michael Schiavo says there will likely be an agreement for both sides to have their final good-byes. We'll have live reports ahead from Bob Franken at Terri Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, and Ed Henry in Tallahassee.

First, though, a crucial decision could come today in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial. At issue, when the trial resumes this hour whether past allegations against the pop star should be presented to the jury. Ted Rowlands is live from Santa Maria, California, with details on that.

Ted, good morning.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Still awaiting the arrival of Michael Jackson here for what is going to be a very crucial hearing for both sides in this case. As you mentioned, at stake here is whether or not prior allegations of sexual abuse will be allowed into this current trial. Under California law, allegations can be brought in, in a sexual -- in a sexual molestation trial even though they are just allegations.

Jackson was never charged in 1993 or in '94. However, he was -- there were allegations of sexual abuse against him. And the prosecutors want to bring that information into this trial.

The jury will not report today until 11:30 Pacific Time, giving both sides an opportunity to argue their side of this to the judge. The judge is expected to make a ruling from the bench at the conclusion of those arguments.

If those prior allegations come in, it could be very difficult for the defense to handle because of the cumulative effect of more than one allegation against the pop star. On the other side, the defense is going to fight as hard as they can to keep them out.

One interesting note is that the uncle of the 1993 alleged victim is claiming that that alleged victim will not testify and will do everything in his power not to cooperate. If that is true, prosecutors will have that issue to contend up. But first up here, both sides very intent on trying to win, if you will, today a very crucial hearing this morning whether or not these allegations will be allowed in -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes, Ted. And during that report we were watching live pictures of Michael Jackson's defense attorney, Thomas Mesereau, entering the courthouse there in Santa Maria.

If the judge says, OK, give it a go, you're allowed to bring up these previous allegations, what form would that presentation be?

ROWLANDS: Well, it would actually be a trial within a trial, because you would have to prove to the jury that these allegations were valid. And the defense would -- would -- if these allegations do come in, the defense would in front of the jury contend that these allegations, just like the current ones, are not valid. So it would greatly increase the trial on one end, and it would provide these two separate -- assuming both allegations come in, '93 and '94 -- mini trials within this trial. The key here is both alleged victims would presumably come in to testify against Jackson. And if it's true that the '93 alleged victim will not be cooperating, that could prove to be a difficult task for prosecutors to, A, bring it in, and, B, convince the jury that where there is smoke, there is fire.

So a lot of complicated issues. First things first, though. Both sides desperately want to have a win here today in front of this judge. It will be very interesting to see what he decides.

KAGAN: Yes. And First things first. We then saw Thomas Mesereau step outside the courthouse once again to take a cell phone call.

Ted Rowlands, we'll be checking back with you probably in about 40 minutes. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Here's our other top story that we're following on this day. Supporters of Terri Schiavo's parents are making another appeal to lawmakers in Washington. But hopes are fading as Schiavo enters her 11th day without her feeding tube.

Our Bob Franken, he's outside Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park. He's been following the story. He's joining us now live once again with the very latest.

Good morning again, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.

And the perception that hopes have faded beyond hope is something that -- that perception is bothering the family. They feel that it's going to sabotage efforts to put pressure on Congress, put pressure on state officials to somehow act to save Terri Schiavo's life, which is why they sent out a spokesman tomorrow -- earlier this morning to make sure that everybody knew that Terri Schiavo, from their perception, was still vital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROTHER PAUL O'DONNELL, SCHINDLER FAMILY SPOKESPERSON: Every one is willing to write this woman's obituary except one person, and that's Terri Schiavo herself. She is alert. She is awake. And she is fighting for her life.

Bob and Mary Schindler are begging, begging Governor Bush to step in and take custody of Terri.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: But there is the reality, Rick, and that reality is that Terri Schiavo has been off her feeding tube going into 11 days now. Most experts say nobody can operate that way, can survive, more than two weeks -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Bob Franken following things for us there in Pinellas Park, Florida. Thank you, Bob -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Protesters are keeping pressure on Governor Jeb Bush to intervene in the Schiavo case. But the governor said again this morning he believes he's done all he can do.

Ed Henry is at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, with more on that part of the story.

Ed, good morning.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Daryn.

That's right, just moments ago at a public event at Florida International University in Miami, the governor reiterated what he told CNN yesterday in an exclusive interview, that he would love to do more but his hands are tied here. There has been a lot of public comment from various conservative activists, some independent legal analysts as well, who say the governor has the executive power to go in and let the state take custody of Terri Schiavo, take her from that hospice to a hospital.

That would obviously spark another nasty legal showdown. But protesters say that at least during that showdown Terri Schiavo can get the feeding tube reinserted, could possible have her life saved.

The governor told me yesterday basically this argument is moot. He does not have the executive power to trump the courts. He doesn't know why this is still going on. He says that he cannot move in, and he reiterated that just moments ago in Miami.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I have not been offered any -- there is no means by which we can get involved beyond what we've already done. And I can't see that changing.

If someone can get to our legal counsel, some new chance of involvement, we would look at it. But I doubt very seriously that will their will be one.

Remember, we've looked at this over the past year. We sought the advice of legal scholars around the country not just in the last week, but over the last year. This has been an ongoing case. And so my guess is that there is very little left for the government to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, in the interview with CNN, the governor also spoke about his sadness over the emotional toll this case is taking on both the Schiavos and the Schindlers. But it was clear in that interview also the emotional toll that it's taking on the governor. He has been facing a lot of pressure. After this event in Miami he's headed back here to Tallahassee. In the afternoon he's going to be in a series of meetings again for the rest of the day -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed Henry in Florida's State Capitol. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Interestingly enough, a congressman leading the fight to keep Terri Schiavo alive reportedly faced a life-or-death decision within his own family. And this was years ago.

According to the "Los Angeles Times," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and his family decided not to take measures to extend his father's life when in a similar situation as Terri Schiavo's.

Charles DeLay was severely injured in an accident 17 years ago. DeLay declined to be interviewed about his father's case. However, a press aide has said that it was an entirely different situation than Terri Schiavo's.

KAGAN: I guess in the DeLay case it was about a ventilator and not a feeding tube.

SANCHEZ: Correct. Both on life support, though.

KAGAN: Right. A personal family matter in both issues.

We're talking about Iraq just ahead and the additional problem for people to worry about, kidnappings.

SANCHEZ: And how some local Iraqi neighborhoods are taking control of their own security.

KAGAN: We have new video out of Beirut said to be the last moment of assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

SANCHEZ: Also this... an Easter weekend with a little presence from the pope. A little. A report from the Vatican on the pontiff's condition and what his followers are saying is coming up just a little bit later on this newscast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In Iraq today, a pilgrimage to the annual religious ceremony ends in tragedy. At least two people are dead after a car bomber targets a crowd of Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad. The group was on its way to Karbala, where thousands of pilgrims are gathering for an annual mourning ceremony this week.

And insurgent attacks in Baghdad have left three dead in the southeast part of the city. The head of a police station and his driver were gunned down in a drive-by shooting. About 30 minutes earlier, insurgents used a roadside bomb to attack a police patrol in southwestern Baghdad. One Iraqi policeman was killed, five others were hurt.

As deadly attacks continue in Iraq, there are also growing concerns about kidnappings. And while the abductions of westerners often make headlines, "The New York Times" says Iraqis are far more vulnerable.

The paper reports that some 5,000 have been -- Iraqis have been kidnapped in the last 18 months. Now some neighborhoods have decided to act. CNN's Aneesh Raman has the story from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On this nondescript Iraqi street resides a commonplace fear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): A child was kidnapped from our neighborhood, taken for ransom.

RAMAN: Vicra Ahmed (ph), clinging to her 3-year-old daughter, vividly recalls what happened a year ago. The parents paid, the child was returned, and her community came to a stark realization. In post- war Iraq, nobody's safety is guaranteed. The survival of family is an individual concern.

So these Iraqis are taking action, pooling resources and hiring guards like Shakir Hassan (ph) to patrol houses, blockade the street, protect their children.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Of course people fear the gangs, those who are kidnappers, killers, muggers and looters. Those who terrify people.

RAMAN: Shakir (ph) is one of three guards that rotate responsibilities, filling a void not yet met by a fledgling government. And for the kids like Hussein (ph), Shakir (ph symbolizes freedom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our families tell us don't go out, the thieves might kidnap you. If the guard is not there, I cannot go outside.

RAMAN (on camera): Guards like these have been protecting the 20 houses along this street for over a year now. Neighborhood watches are popping up all over Iraq, but only in the neighborhoods wealthy enough to afford it.

(voice-over): This area of Baghdad is a rich one, making the residents both targets and defenders, able to hire street-specific security, a luxury for most Iraqis.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Of course we are lucky because some people can hardly get some money for their basic life, especially under this situation. They can't pay for guards like we do.

RAMAN: Caught in the crosshairs of conflict, Iraqis like Vicra (ph) cannot simply wait to hear the silence of peace. Daily life must go on. But as long as her daughter is at risk, armed guards will patrol this street.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: There was a lot of rain. Let's see, there was some thunder.

KAGAN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: And there was some hail in the Southeast last night.

KAGAN: Then more rain on top of that.

SANCHEZ: We know because we heard it in our homes.

KAGAN: Yes. Jacqui Jeras is here to tell us if the worst is over for the region.

SANCHEZ: Also, as the global warming debate rages on, we're going to take you to a town in Alaska where residents are running out of places to live in their literally disappearing town.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Parts of the South cleaning up today after severe storms that ripped across the region. The stormy weather pounded parts of Alabama, here in Georgia, Florida and Mississippi.

High winds toppled trees and power lines. There were also reports of flash flooding and golf ball-size hail.

SANCHEZ: It was amazing to watch it this weekend. It was jut like a loop that just came from the South and seems to be heading where, like toward the Northeast now, Jacqui Jeras?

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Speaking of weather, some people say there is no such thing as global warming. But don't say that to the people in a place called Kivalina, Alaska. They say it's perhaps because of global warming that they're losing their town.

Here now with more on this explanation is our Miles O'Brien.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The tiny village of Kivalina, Alaska, sits on a spit of land along the Arctic Circle. This is the edge of the edge. Here, houses are falling into the ocean as the coastline erodes.

The autumn ice that protects the island from brutal winter storms is coming later each year. So Kivalina is disappearing, eroding into something less than a spit of land.

ROLAN KNOX, MAYOR OF KIVALINA, ALASKA: The island is getting real -- you know, real narrow, mostly this fall.

O'BRIEN: The people here are considering leaving their homes to move to higher ground. This town may be in the vanguard of a global retreat inland over the coming, warmer years.

(on camera): You've got to leave?

KNOX: Yes. We've got to leave sooner or later.

O'BRIEN: I'm taking a walk right now on a little piece of the Arctic Ocean. The North Pole is 1,100 miles that way, the Arctic Circle about 500 miles that way, and we're just off Barrow, Alaska.

And it's kind of hard to imagine the concept of global warming here. It is below zero right now.

But up here, the warming is more of a problem than it is elsewhere. As a matter of fact, the temperature is rising here about twice as fast as elsewhere.

We are literally on thin ice. The question is, is the entire planet?

GEORGE AHMAOGAK, MAYOR OF BARROW, ALASKA: Years back when I was a kid, I used to see eight-foot-thick ice, 14-feet-thick ice. Forty years later, I'm now seeing ice, at the most, at less than two feet thick.

O'BRIEN: The ice that's disappearing literally sustains a people. It's where they hunt for food.

AHMAOGAK: We don't grow stuff up here. We don't have the money -- a lot of these people don't have the money to be able to go to the store. We depend on the resources. An example is polar bears and the seals.

It's a matter of survival for our people. They're trying to now adapt to changes.

O'BRIEN: And experts say we should all be listening to what George Ahmaogak is saying.

ROBERT CORELL, ARCTIC CLIMATE IMPACT ASSESSMENT: There is very consistent evidence that the Arctic is warming much more rapidly than the rest of the planet. And it has significance for the rest of the world.

O'BRIEN: And this is no longer the stuff of academic debate. From a variety of scientists we have heard the same conclusion. The jury is in and the scientific verdict is clear. The Earth is warming, and our addiction to burning fossil fuels is hastening the heating. Whatever debate remains focuses on how bad, how soon and what can be done about it. GUS SPETH, YALE UNIVERSITY: We're changing the face of the planet and deeply committing the future to a situation which, frankly, as a new grandparent, I am so concerned about. If we don't do something about it, we'll be handing to them a ruined world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: A ruined world. CNN's Miles O'Brien reporting.

And you can see "CNN PRESENTS." It's called "Melting Point." It's coming up again this Saturday evening if you missed it last night. It was at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

KAGAN: The pope misses yet another traditional Holy Week event. Now there are new questions and concerns about his health. We'll have a report from Rome when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We are watching live pictures from Santa Maria, California. You can tell they're live there.

Protesters outside the courthouse in Santa Maria, 11:30 a.m. Eastern, 8:30 a.m. Pacific. Still no sign of Michael Jackson today.

Some people are calling this the most important day of the trial, when the judge will have a hearing on whether earlier allegations of child molestation can be presented to this jury. We will keep an eye on Santa Maria and bring you the latest.

Right now, though, let's take a look at what else is happening "Now in the News."

The U.S. Supreme Court is looking at the rights of foreigners on death row. At issue, whether the U.S. can execute non-U.S. citizens who say they were improperly denied access to legal help from their own countries. The specific case involves a Texas death row inmate from Mexico. Prosecutors say the defendant never raised the issue during his trial.

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