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CNN Live Today

U.S. Troops Nearly Captured Al Zarqawi; Bush to Push for Social Security Reforms; Autopsies Expected on Georgia Toddlers

Aired April 26, 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: How about we get started with what what's happening now in the news.
Autopsies are planned today on the two toddlers whose bodies were found yesterday in a pond near their home. Police say there are no signs of foul play. Searchers had combed the east Georgia woods for two days before finding 3-year-old Jonah Payne and his 2-year-old sister Nicole.

A near miss and major find in Iraq. The country's most wanted terrorist was almost captured two months ago. U.S. troops chased down a vehicle that Abu Musab al Zarqawi had just gotten out of. But sources tell CNN that troops were able to seize a top aide to Osama bin Laden and a computer with a treasure trove of information.

And there's some momentum today toward establishing Iraq's government. Prime Minister-Designate Ibrahim Jaafari is working out a draft list of ministers. Al Jaafari met with the Presidential Council today but he did not submit the draft proposal. If the list is approved by Iraq's Presidential Council, lawmakers could vote on it as early as today. Many observers believe delays in setting up Iraq's new government have spurred insurgent attacks.

In Lebanon, the end of an era. Syria has completed the withdrawal of its troops that had controlled much of Lebanon's affairs for 29 years. France and Germany today urged Lebanon to hold free elections for a fresh start.

Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.

We start with a story where they almost, almost captured Iraq's most wanted terrorist. U.S. officials are now confirming they almost grabbed Abu Musab al Zarqawi two months ago. What U.S. troops did find was a startling link to al Qaeda.

CNN's Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with these new developments.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. Indeed, new information about links between Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq. Now, U.S. officials are again, confirming details of a story that CNN first reported in early March. which is that U.S. troops came very close to capturing Zarqawi in Iraq. The new details are this, that on February 20, there was a raid near Ramadi, the city west of Fallujah. U.S. troops had a tip Zarqawi might be traveling in the area. They chased down a vehicle. When they got to it, he was gone. But what they did find in that vehicle was perhaps equally, if not more significant.

U.S. forces saying that there was first a computer that they discovered which had "a treasure trove," in the words of one official, a treasure trove of information about Zarqawi, his operation in Iraq, and even information about Osama bin Laden.

But one of the people that they seized in that raid has proven to be what a source calls "a trusted lieutenant" of Osama bin Laden, someone that had traveled with Zarqawi. And what this underscores, U.S. officials say, is what they have been concerned about for some time now. And that is two-way communication between bin Laden and Zarqawi.

There had been some previous indications of bin Laden's couriers attempting to reach Zarqawi. Zarqawi attempting to reach bin Laden. But now a very recent indication in the last several weeks that a trusted lieutenant of Osama bin Laden was in Iraq, and was with and in contact with Abu Musab al Zarqawi -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Is the military saying, Barbara, if they think Zarqawi is still in Iraq?

STARR: They, of course, for the record say absolutely nothing about this. But officials do say they have every reason to believe he is still in Iraq. That is their working assumption at this point.

The question of these communications with bin Laden is something that they are continuing to work through intelligence channels, and something that they are very concerned about -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you.

We do expect to hear more on al Zarqawi when Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary holds a Pentagon briefing today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. You will see that live right here on CNN.

A convicted al Qaeda terrorist who is back in a New York courtroom this morning looking for a new trial. Wadi al Hajj is currently serving a life sentence at a super-maximum security prison in Colorado. He was convicted for his role as a facilitator in the 1998 embassy bombings in east Africa. Two hundred and twenty-four people including 12 Americans died in those attacks. Defense attorneys want a retrial. They say the government failed to disclose taped interviews with its star witness.

The final report is now in on the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This 18-month search has found nothing. At its peek the investigation occupied more than 1,000 military and civilian translators, weapons specialists and other experts. Besides not uncovering WMD, investigators couldn't find evidence that any such weapons were shipped out of Iraq before the war. Is he a Marine who did his job? Or is he a murderer? Those questions are being raised in the case of Lieutenant Alario Pantono (ph). a pretrial hearing is going on this morning at Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina. The Marine lieutenant is charge with the murder in the deaths of two Iraqis. The two suspected rebels were killed during a search for a military hideout a year ago. Pantono could be sentenced to death if he is convicted.

An investigation into an Iraqi checkpoint shooting has cleared U.S. soldiers of any wrongdoing. An Italian security agent killed and reporter seriously wounded in that incident. The investigation found the Italians apparently made no effort to coordinate their passage with U.S. officials. The journalist wounded in an Iraqi checkpoint shooting calls a Pentagon's probe's finding, "Worse than I thought." A quote from her.

President Bush has faced a skeptical public in selling his Social Security reforms. Today though, he is going to preach to some of the faithful in Galveston, Texas. An interesting subplot here. Among Republican whose are going with him, embattled majority leader, Tom DeLay.

Our Elaine Quijano joins us to explain. She is at the White House this morning.

Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. That's right. President Bush heads to Galveston, Texas today against the backdrop of a hearing taking place on Capitol Hill just getting under way at this hour, we understand the Senate Finance Committee. And of course, this committee will be crucial to getting any Social Security reform bill passed.

Now, among those expected to testify are people who support the idea of having personal accounts as part of any over haul to Social Security. And of course, President Bush himself has said over and over again that he believes personal accounts carved out of the Social Security system should be part of a larger solution, in order to address the solvency issue. But President Bush at the same time, has acknowledged that those accounts alone, in and of themselves, would not be enough to address the solvency issue.

Today he is heading to Galveston, Texas to talk up the ideas. Galveston, a place where public employees do not participate in the same kinds of traditional Social Security system. Instead, they are allowed to invest in a slate of conservative bonds and annuities. The president expected to talk about how workers there have ownership of their accounts.

But in the audience today that subplot you mentioned, according to White House officials, embattled House majority leader Tom DeLay. Now the Texas Republican, of course, has been under fire in part because of accusations that lobbyists improperly paid for some overseas trips. Unclear if the President Bush will make explicit expression of support for Congressman DeLay. But he is expected to acknowledge him, as the president customarily does with lawmakers who attend these events.

Now, the president earlier this month did call Congressman DeLay a very effective leader, and said he looks forward to working with him on legislation. And I understand that the congressman will be flying back to Washington with President Bush on board Air Force 1 -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine Quijano at the White House. Elaine, thank you.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calling on the Senate to move ahead with the nomination of John Bolton as ambassador to the U.N. The Senate panel considering Bolton's nomination had postponed a vote and will not meet again until May 12.

Some committee members -- excuse me, are concerned over allegations that Bolton lacks the temperament for the post. The Bush administration believes those allegations have been trumped up by Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: I believe along with the president, that John Bolton is the right person for this job. We need a strong voice at the United Nations whose can participate in, and indeed lead in an extremely important reform debate that is going on now in the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The secretary of state, by the way, is in Brazil today. She is starting a four-nation trip through Latin America.

Here in Georgia today, autopsies are expected on two toddlers whose bodies were found in a pond near their home. The 2 year old girl and 3 year old boy were reported missing on Saturday.

Our Tony Harris is in Warrenton, Georgia. It's about 100 miles east from where we are here in Atlanta -- Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. We can tell you it's a new day here in Warrenton, as we join you. You can see it's raining, cloudy here, as we join you from just outside the Payne family home. We're expecting to get new details today about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these two small children, 3- year-old Jonah Payne and 2-year-old Nicole Payne.

We can tell you that yesterday an extensive and exhaustive search came to a most unhappy end when bodies of these two children were found in a sanitation pond. And Daryn, I'm sure you're seeing the pictures now. This is a nasty, mucky, algae-covered sanitation pond just a few hundred yards from the family home.

This is now a death investigation. We can tell you the parents have been polygraphed. They have been questioned several times. As for the polygraph, we understand that that is routine in this kind of a case. They will be also interviewed again today. That's a bit of new information. The scene has shifted just a bit to the GBI lab, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime Lab, a short drive from here in Augusta, Georgia where the autopsies will be performed on the children's bodies. And of course, Daryn, we are waiting anxiously for the results of those autopsies.

KAGAN: Just a sad and tragic story from south Georgia. Tony, thank you for that.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, his victim forgave him. The neighborhood didn't. still to come, a sex offender depressed by the signs of his past, takes matters into his own hands.

And stranded in the back country with little food and water. A look at how this skier made it out alive.

And later, talk about a superstar. He is a Grammy Award winning singer, pastor and he is a survivor. Still to come, Donnie McClurkin is in the house.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Talking about a punching the clock after you're expected to retire? Still to come, Gerri Willis has tips for working retirees.

Hi, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Well, hey there, Daryn. Work may be a four-letter word for some people, but others are enjoying working in retirement. We'll have more when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Lots of us heading into a new workweek, understandably daydreaming of retirement. But with pensions nearly extinct, Social Security's future in limbo, and 401(k) funds on the slide, God, it's depressing. Baby Boomers face the prospect of working into retirement.

Here now is CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IRENE HELM, COSTCO EMPLOYEE: This has got sea salt on it.

WILLIS: At age 69, Irene Helm didn't expect to be handing out samples at a California Costco.

HELM: My vision at 65 was to retire and never work. I didn't really think I would be here.

(LAUGHTER)

HELM: I'm out-living my money is what I'm doing. I'm saying I'm going to make some more. WILLIS: A former entrepreneur, Irene went back to work part time for some extra cash. And in a way, she is one of the lucky ones.

Teri Cusano, a widow in her early 70s, works full time at a Pitney Bowes factory in Connecticut just to survive.

TERI CUSANO, PITNEY BOWES EMPLOYEE: It's financial that I'm working for, cost of living is very high. And I need to pay my utilities and what I use at home.

WILLIS: A nation apart, both drawing Social Security, these women share a common bond. Dreams of living a life of leisure in their golden years are gong. And they have company. Workers 65 and older have been on the rise since the early 80s. And with an aging Baby Boomer population, that number is expected to grow and grow and grow.

So what's behind it all? Are Baby Boomers just bad savers? John Challenger is a jobs trends expert.

JOHN CHALLENGER, CHALLENGER, GRAY & CHRISTMAS: Companies used to provide pensions. So when someone retired in their early 60s, they were basically covered with health care and in terms of on going income. That's just not true anymore.

WILLIS: However, Challenger points out with later retirement comes some benefits.

CHALLENGER: There's just much less discrimination today as the retirement age of 65 is disappearing. And companies more and more focused on just what can this person do for me; are they productive? If they're productive, who care what's their age is?

WILLIS: And according to Irene and Teri, working past 65 isn't all bad.

HELM: It's a reason to get up in the morning. A reason to get out and talk to people.

CUSANO: I have a good time at it. I love working because I socialize with people every day. And it gives me great fulfillment. At the end of the day, I go home. I'm tired and it was a great day for me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: So while working in retirement clearly isn't the ideal, some who remain on the job into their 60s and 70s find benefits they didn't expect -- Daryn.

KAGAN: You know, interesting point with that woman in that piece how she said she outlived -- she is out living her money. How do you figure out ahead of time how much money you're going to need in retirement?

WILLIS: Well, there is a back of the envelope way of thinking about this. A real quick answer, start by thinking about what your pre-retirement income is and how much you will need in retirement. Experts say you need 75 percent of it. So, for example, if you're earning $50,000 before you retire, you'll need $37,500 after.

Take out Social Security, because you'll get money from them as well. Some 17,500 in our example. Multiply that number by 20, that's your rate of withdrawal. That gives you $400,000. Daryn, that's the amount of money you need in your 401(k) or your retirement reserve when you retire.

KAGAN: Hmm. And that's if nothing goes wrong.

WILLIS: Right.

KAGAN: Right. All right. Gerri, thank you for the information.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Talking about fears ahead. I asked a bunch of people what do you fear the most? Is it terrorists? Is it drugs? Is it crime? Still to come, when we asked that question, you're going to find out what Americans said.

Also, it was an effort to protect the neighborhood children, but one convicted sex offender couldn't bear what the neighborhood did. His story is straight ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Present My Pyramid, now replace...

CHRISTY FIEG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The government unveiled a new food pyramid this week. Gone is the pyramid filled with lots of servings. The new version has six color-coded bands representing each food groom. Orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, blue for milk , purple for meat, beans and proteins. And yellow, the narrowest band for oils.

This pyramid follows the changes recommended by the USDA in January to crease servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The government is also emphasizing exercise. Its Web site mypyramid.gov offers 12 different versions of the pyramid depending on your calorie needs. Which are determined in part by the amount of exercise you get.

All samples of the killer flu virus ship outside the United States have been found. Last week, federal officials announced a strain of the flu that caused the deadly 1957 Asian flu pandemic had mistakenly been sent out to 61 labs in 18 countries. The World Health Organization announced this week that most of those samples have now been destroyed. Along with nearly all the vials shipped within the United States.

And a new study finds the cholesterol lowering drugs called statins dramatically decrease a man's risk of advanced prostate cancer. Researchers studied 30,000 men over 10 years and found men who used the drugs had half the risk of advanced prostate cancer, and one-third the risk of fatal prostate cancer, compared to men who did not use the drugs. The authors caution more research is needed to explain the phenomenon.

Christy Feig, CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We are coming up on the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening now in the news.

U.S. officials now confirm they almost captured Abu Musab al Zarqawi two months ago in Iraq. That country's most wanted terrorist had been in a vehicle chased down by U.S. troops. While they missed Zarqawi, troops did make two significant finds. They seized a trusted lieutenant to Osama bin Laden and a computer said to have a treasure trove of information.

To Japan, rescuers say they have pulled the last of the survivors from the wreckage of yesterday's horrific train crash. Seventy-three people are confirmed dead. But there are reports that as many as 15 more bodies are still in the crushed cars. Japanese officials have not determined the cause but excessive speed is suspected.

This hour north of Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis are gathering for the funeral of former President Ezra Wiseman. He served in that office from 1993 to 2000. he was a cofounder of Israel's air force and served as a commander. The 80 year old Weisman died Sunday after a bout with pneumonia.

And the woman who claims she found a finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili appears before a Nevada judge at this hour. Anna Alaya is accused of attempted grand theft. That charge is related to the financial hit that Wendy's has taken since the claim was made public. Ayala is not expected to fight extradition to California where she will face those charges.

And now the amazing story of a Colorado skier in the hospital today with dehydration, hypothermia, and one heck of a story. Fifty- five-year-old Charles Horton had planned a day-long journey into the back country near Steam Boat Springs. This is until he broke his leg and one day turned into an agonizing eight days in the wilderness.

He is an experienced outdoorsman. He was able to build crude shelters and drag himself a little bit each day. And finally, he reached a Forest Service road where he was found yesterday. He was frozen. He was hungry. But he was alive.

Joining us on the phone right now is Sergeant Anthony Mazzola of the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office.

office. Hello.

SGT. ANTHONY MAZZOLA, RIO BLANCO SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Good morning. KAGAN: What first went wrong with this skier?

MAZZOLA: Well, really what went right is what kept this Mr. Horton alive. His experience in the outdoor, his proper equipment is what kept him alive. I guess if anything went wrong, it would be the accident on the skis and him breaking his leg.

KAGAN: There also seemed to be just -- and this can happen to a lot of people who perhaps live by themselves. There was a span of time where people didn't know that he was missing.

MAZZOLA: Right, Mr. Horton lives by himself in Steamboat Springs. His girlfriend is in Moab, and so it's not unusual for him to be gone several days. It just so happened his landlord had taken a vacation for a week. When his landlord came back and noticed he was gone, reported him missing.

KAGAN: So how was he finally found, sergeant?

MAZZOLA: We had sent out several teams -- two dog teams, a ski team, a snowmobile team, and a snowcat. One of the snowmobile teams heard a whistle that Mr. Horton dug up enough energy to blow a whistle, which he carried with him. And one of the rescuers heard it. The rescuer whistled back. And we were able to zone in on that and pinpoint his location and find him.

KAGAN: What kind of recovery does he face now?

MAZZOLA: From what I heard from the hospital, just dehydration and then, of course, the broken leg.

KAGAN: Amazing. Eight days in the wilderness. As you said, he knew a lot to do right, and he makes it and he survives. Sergeant Anthony Mazzola of the Rio Blanco Sheriff's Department. Thanks for sharing that story of survival with us.

MAZZOLA: You bet. Thank you.

KAGAN: We appreciate it. We like the happy ending there.

Let's take a look at other stories making news coast to coast. First to Phoenix, Arizona, police say a mother locked her 7-year-old daughter in her bedroom for at least 24 hours before a passerby heard her calls for help. The mother, who was supposed to give the girl some water, but no food, then left to visit with her boyfriend. She faces child-abuse charges at this time.

MAZZOLA: San Diego's mayor has stepped down amid criticism over a widening investigation into city hall, and a pension system nearly 1 1/2 billion dollars in the red. "Time" magazine recently named Dick Murphy one of the three worse mayors in the country. A special election will likely choose the next mayor of California's second largest city.

In Chicago, 14 refuted mobsters have been indicted in what's being called one of the most sweeping crackdowns in local history. Three of the suspects were tied to gambling or other charges, but most were linked to 18 murders, stretching back into the '70s. One hit in an Indiana cornfield was immortalized in the gangster film "Casino."

In our CNN Security Watch, new concerns have delayed the so- called Freedom Tower rising from the site of the World Trade Center. Security experts with the New York Police Department say that more can be done to secure the 70-story building. No one is publicly saying what those changes will be, but they will delay the opening by several months.

A U.S. border agent encounters a lot of smuggling attempts in the work for their homeland security, but few as bold and beefy as this, suitcases that were stuffed with 845 pounds of bologna. They say a Mexican immigrant loaded the cargo bus, loaded aboard a bus, and plans to pedal the cold cuts at a flea market. The unrefrigerated meat was destroyed because of health concerns.

KAGAN: Recent poll asking Americans about their biggest fears. The answers might surprise. According to the CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll conducted in February, here now is the ranking of what Americans say have them very concerned. Terrorism, you might notice, fifth on the list. Violent crime and cocaine rank higher at numbers four and three. Nearly two of three Americans said they were have been concerned about crystal meth. And number one among those fears is child molestation.

Well, on that topic, it was just one of those fears of child molestation that drove one neighborhood to action and one sex offender to suicide. It began with the poster campaign alerting residents of a sex offender among them. And in this story, the devil here is in the details.

Here now is CNN's Rick Sanchez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK ELMHORST: County sheriff confirms a father's worst fear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jessica Lunsford's body discovered.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The horror of the crimes was out there for the whole world to see -- on television, radio, print, and especially which by word of mouth.

CINDY BRILL, RESIDENT: And I work in one of the local hospitals and it was topic of conversation every morning and every evening throughout the day as we were updated or read the newspaper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The worst-case scenario became a heartbreaking reality.

JACKIE CALLAWAY, REPORTER: The sheriff's had identified her body.

SANCHEZ: Not one, but two Florida girls from the same general area killed by sexual offenders. The first 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, taken in the middle of the night found buried in a shallow grave clutching her stuffed dolphin. The second 13-year-old Sarah Lunde taken after return everything a church outing, found way down and partially disrobed at the bottom of a murky pond.

DEBBIE PARDEE, RESIDENT: I personally was horrified. I have an 8-year-old and 16-year-old I feared for them immediately.

SANCHEZ: Ocala, Florida, is about an hour and a half drive from the place where both girls were found murdered -- crimes that created a mood of fear and caution. People were holding on to their kids just a little tighter. So, when they heard a convicted sex offender was living among them, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think a lot of people were sick, just sick and saddened, by what they heard. And I think they still are, and in shock.

SANCHEZ: County commissioner Randy Harris is a tough-minded politician who makes no excuses for his proposal to identify and label all sex offenders with signs and posters.

RANDY HARRIS, MARION COUNTY COMMISSIONER: I believe that the county commission should post signs in neighborhoods and inform the public of where these people actually reside, because they are residing in a neighborhoods where people simply don't know.

SANCHEZ: In this central Florida town that proudly displays its red, white, and blue, the people see this issue as black and white, cut and dry. A sex offender should simply not be allowed to conceal himself. Parents need to be told about them so they can protect their children.

What happens, though, if there are mitigating circumstances? If one case is different perhaps from others? Maybe, just maybe, it's not so black and white.

CHUCK CLAXTON, VICTIM'S FATHER: He was a threat to no one but himself. Absolutely no one.

SANCHEZ: Must be pretty painful, Chuck.

CLAXTON: Sorry.

SANCHEZ: Chuck Claxton cries when he thinks of his son. Clovis Claxton was a convicted sex offender, but he was also wheelchair-bound and depressed because of his illness. So, when he began seeing signs describing him as a threat and sex offender, his father says he used pills and alcohol to take his own life.

HARRIS: I'm not interested in shaping our public policy around the exception. The exception is that one of them has committed suicide.

SANCHEZ: Commissioner Harris makes no apology when it comes to protecting children. HARRIS: It's my opinion that he was a victim of his own circumstance. I have no doubt that he was guilt-ridden over the crime that he committed. I mean he committed a sexual offense against a child, I believe, 9 years old.

SANCHEZ: The record shows that Claxton did expose himself to a young girl, the daughter of a friend, in 1991. However, a careful review of that same record by police also shows that he was no longer considered a threat. Just to be sure, we asked the local sheriff's what they had found.

CAPT. DENNIS STROW, MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Our risk assessment did not indicate that he was a threat to the neighborhood.

SANCHEZ: Here's why: as a child, Claxton was diagnosed with both meningitis and encephalitis, which left him severely impaired physically and mentally.

How old was when this happened?

CLAXTON: Chronically (SIC), he was 20; mentally, 10, 11, because of some injuries he had to his brain due to encephalitis at the age of 10. It was nothing more at the time of -- him and a little girl just playing, show me yours, show me mine, you know.

SANCHEZ: Claxton has never again been accused of a sex crime. What's more, the girl and her family who accused him have forgiven him, and even visit.

CLAXTON: The girl's parents are still friends of the family.

SANCHEZ: That speed limit sign you see right there is approximately a block and a half from Clovis Claxton's home. He literally could not go home on any given night without seeing that sign. It is one of the places where someone hung a poster, right underneath the sign. The poster read, "child rapist."

How unfair was that characterization?

CLAXTON: Totally unfair, because he never raped anybody.

SANCHEZ: Clovis Claxton was found dead in his apartment days after the first posters appeared. He was found, in fact, with one of the posters that accused him of being a child rapist.

Child rapist. That's pretty strong.

HARRIS: It is strong. It's very strong.

SANCHEZ: Strong enough to cause one man to take his own life and to possibly teach all of us the lesson about the power of labels and how words really do matter.

Rick Sanchez, CNN, Ocala, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: I want to remind you to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

His world was shattered by violence and sexual abuse, but he found a safe haven in the church. Listen in.

(GOSPEL MUSIC)

KAGAN: Still to come, Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer Donnie McClurklin is right here with me live.

Plus, President Bush has laid out his proposal for Social Security. Now Congress must decide what to do. The debate over Social Security heads to Capitol Hill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Bush has laid out his plan to revamp Social Security and actively campaigned for his idea of private accounts. Now Congress has to decide how and if to make the changes. The Senate Finance Committee is meeting right now, as you can see, to consider the proposal. It plans to showcase the political arguments of both sides.

There are 11 Republican senators and nine Democrats on the committee. They've been hearing from their constituents, as well. Polls indicate most people are weary about individual investment accounts, and this kind of market doesn't help things. That's the latest from Wall Street -- Daryn, now back to you.

KAGAN: And good gosh, it could use all the help it can get. Thank you. We will see you in a bit.

LISOVICZ: My pleasure.

KAGAN: CNN viewers knowing that the latest news, just a couple clicks away, cnn.com. What are the most popular stories among our site's visitors? Christina Park, here to tell us more about that.

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Daryn. Good morning.

Well, it looks like our viewers on CNN are pretty much in line with our users on cnn.com. And you can find the most popular stories on cnn.com any time. To get there, surf on over to our Web site and click on "Most Popular" at the top right-hand side of your page or log on directly to cnn.com/mostpopular.

This morning, our users are most interested in the Michael Jackson molestation trial. Just days before the defense is expected to start presenting its case to jurors, one of Jackson's lawyers, Brian Oxman, is off the defense team. Oxman was caught on tape Monday having an animated discussion with lead attorney Thomas Mesereau, Jr. You see all that finger-pointing there outside the courthouse. Jackson's former defense lawyers also include Mark Geragos, Scott Peterson's attorney.

Another most popular story on cnn.com, paparazzi are accused of endangering a member of the royal family in London. Royals say photographers put Prince Harry's life in danger by chasing his car to snap photographs of him in Botswana. In 1997, you're seeing here, Harry's mother, Princess Diana, died in a high-speed car crash while being chased by paparazzi in Paris.

Finally, another most clicked on story on cnn.com, girls as young as nine years old using steroids to get toned. Experts say an alarming number of girls are using dangerous body-building steroids to get that lean, sculpted look of models and movie stars. Researchers say youngsters usually get them on the black market from sources like friends, the local gym, even over the Internet.

And those are just some of the hottest stories on cnn.com right now.

KAGAN: More information online. We'll be double-clicking. Christina, thank you for that.

Well, I dare you to stay in your seat for my next guest. His songs touched the heart. He has traveled the world with his sermons and words of inspiration. Still to come, gospel singer Donnie McClurkin joins me live. He's going to talk about his new album, his new DVD and last night's Trumpet Awards show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The 13th Annual Trumpet Awards ceremony was held in Atlanta last night. The event honors African-Americans for achievement in law, politics and entertainment. Singers Nancy Wilson and Beyonce. Well, Beyonce was scheduled to be there. I think she skipped out at the last second. But Nancy Wilson was there, along with Father Theodore Hesberg (ph), president of the University of Notre Dame.

Turner Broadcasting, by the way, presents and is the sponsor of the Trumpet Awards.

Also there last night Donnie McClurkin. He was one of the performers at the Trumpet Awards. Donnie probably one of the hottest talents in gospel music right now. Take a listen.

(SINGING)

KAGAN: McClurkin has traveled the world with his message of love and inspiration. The Grammy Award winner is also a pastor in the church in New York. His new CD "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" marks his third release that's hit No. 1 on the gospel chart. He joins me here this morning.

Good morning.

DONNIE MCCLURKIN, GOSPEL SINGER: Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Why are you making a face when you're watching yourself sing?

MCCLURKIN: I hate to see me. You know...

KAGAN: Really?

MCCLURKIN: I look so goofy, tall and, you know, lurchy-looking guy.

KAGAN: When you're on there doing your thing, I can't imagine you're really thinking about what you're doing. I would think that's something that kind of it overcomes and you're kind of feeling it?

MCCLURKIN: It comes natural. Once you stand out there, you just go into a different zone altogether and it comes so absolutely a part of you.

KAGAN: So when your watching right now, you're thinking, who is that guy?

MCCLURKIN: I'm thinking, oh, my God, you look so goofy. Look how fat you are.

KAGAN: What is it about gospel music that it moves people who have no link with Christianity, no link with the black church. You can't sit in your seat and listen to gospel music.

MCCLURKIN: It's the power of the song, it's the power of the presenter of this song. It's the message of hope that's in the song. There are so many different things that join it together to make it the most powerful form of music that there is. And then, too, all of the major musics come out of the gospel group from some way or another. So it carries a power. It's more than just soul music. It digs into the spirit of the person. So that brings them in and makes them become a part of it. And even the most hardened hearts become embraced and enveloped by the music.

KAGAN: You know about hope and you know about healing.

MCCLURKIN: Yes.

KAGAN: You are out talking about a lot -- some very personal things that have happened in your life and things that you have healed from and continue to heal from.

There's a new DVD out where we get to see behind the scenes of the building of your career, but also the story of your childhood and your life. And you talk about being a victim of child molestation at a very young age.

MCCLURKIN: Yes, and I saw your news clip before about child molestation. It's a personal thing to me because, you know, being a victim of one, my heart goes out to the youth now, and I'm very protective, over protective of young people. But at eight years old I was raped by my uncle, and at 13 by his son. And that was when my life started to downwardly spiral. And it was the gospel, it was the gospel that brought me back and gave me a second chance. But it was the breaking of me, and I didn't understand for years why it happened. But now it makes sense, because now I've got to go out and heal other people that are going through the same thing and bring awareness to people that this is a lurking monster, and no matter where you are, in church or out of the church, you've got to be cautious.

KAGAN: In this DVD you also talk about something very personal, and you talk about something that doesn't get talked about a lot, and that's sexuality and coming to terms with that. Why did you decide to talk about that?

MCCLURKIN: Because there's a segment of people who are struggling so hard in they're sexuality. This by no means that I'm out on a recruiting crusade to turn everyone's life around. But for those who are hurting, those who want healing in those areas, it's just to let them know that there is hope, there is healing, that there is a way to turn your life around. And for the countless people who have come to me and others like me, we direct them straight to the hope and help that we have.

KAGAN: But when you're talking about it, you're talking about kind of getting fixed or changed.

MCCLURKIN: Well, for some of us that have been broken. You know, remember, I was broken. So that's all I can speak from, is my brokenness. Now, this is not across the board for everyone. But this is for those who have been broken. This is a fixing. There is a healing. And if they want it, I'm the poster boy. I'm the poster boy that it can happen.

KAGAN: And you believe that's your calling?

MCCLURKIN: I know that's my calling now.

KAGAN: Now there's some talk out there that people think you're going to be hanging up the gospel thing and just heading to the pulpit.

MCCLURKIN: See, this is true. This CD is about my -- this is my heart being put on vinyl right now, all the songs that are on the CD. I'm expending myself and emptying myself, because in the next two years I'll be gone. It's time to move on to the next level. You know, when you're pastoring a church and planting churches in different places, it's time to leave these things that you've done successfully already and move to the next level, to the next thing.

But we've got so many great artists like Ceci Winans, Kirk Franklin, who is my brother, Yolanda Adams, and this young man coming up Michael Stanford (ph). He's wonderful.

KAGAN: Well, you're not empty yet. You're not done yet. I know your voice is a little raspy from the trumpet awards last night. But as we go to break, could you sing us to break? Could you give us a little something? I'll put you on the spot.

(SINGING)

KAGAN: Right on the spot. Donnie McClurkin, thank you so much. A pleasure to have you here with us.

MCCLURKIN: God bless. Thank you.

KAGAN: We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 26, 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: How about we get started with what what's happening now in the news.
Autopsies are planned today on the two toddlers whose bodies were found yesterday in a pond near their home. Police say there are no signs of foul play. Searchers had combed the east Georgia woods for two days before finding 3-year-old Jonah Payne and his 2-year-old sister Nicole.

A near miss and major find in Iraq. The country's most wanted terrorist was almost captured two months ago. U.S. troops chased down a vehicle that Abu Musab al Zarqawi had just gotten out of. But sources tell CNN that troops were able to seize a top aide to Osama bin Laden and a computer with a treasure trove of information.

And there's some momentum today toward establishing Iraq's government. Prime Minister-Designate Ibrahim Jaafari is working out a draft list of ministers. Al Jaafari met with the Presidential Council today but he did not submit the draft proposal. If the list is approved by Iraq's Presidential Council, lawmakers could vote on it as early as today. Many observers believe delays in setting up Iraq's new government have spurred insurgent attacks.

In Lebanon, the end of an era. Syria has completed the withdrawal of its troops that had controlled much of Lebanon's affairs for 29 years. France and Germany today urged Lebanon to hold free elections for a fresh start.

Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.

We start with a story where they almost, almost captured Iraq's most wanted terrorist. U.S. officials are now confirming they almost grabbed Abu Musab al Zarqawi two months ago. What U.S. troops did find was a startling link to al Qaeda.

CNN's Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with these new developments.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. Indeed, new information about links between Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq. Now, U.S. officials are again, confirming details of a story that CNN first reported in early March. which is that U.S. troops came very close to capturing Zarqawi in Iraq. The new details are this, that on February 20, there was a raid near Ramadi, the city west of Fallujah. U.S. troops had a tip Zarqawi might be traveling in the area. They chased down a vehicle. When they got to it, he was gone. But what they did find in that vehicle was perhaps equally, if not more significant.

U.S. forces saying that there was first a computer that they discovered which had "a treasure trove," in the words of one official, a treasure trove of information about Zarqawi, his operation in Iraq, and even information about Osama bin Laden.

But one of the people that they seized in that raid has proven to be what a source calls "a trusted lieutenant" of Osama bin Laden, someone that had traveled with Zarqawi. And what this underscores, U.S. officials say, is what they have been concerned about for some time now. And that is two-way communication between bin Laden and Zarqawi.

There had been some previous indications of bin Laden's couriers attempting to reach Zarqawi. Zarqawi attempting to reach bin Laden. But now a very recent indication in the last several weeks that a trusted lieutenant of Osama bin Laden was in Iraq, and was with and in contact with Abu Musab al Zarqawi -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Is the military saying, Barbara, if they think Zarqawi is still in Iraq?

STARR: They, of course, for the record say absolutely nothing about this. But officials do say they have every reason to believe he is still in Iraq. That is their working assumption at this point.

The question of these communications with bin Laden is something that they are continuing to work through intelligence channels, and something that they are very concerned about -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you.

We do expect to hear more on al Zarqawi when Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary holds a Pentagon briefing today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. You will see that live right here on CNN.

A convicted al Qaeda terrorist who is back in a New York courtroom this morning looking for a new trial. Wadi al Hajj is currently serving a life sentence at a super-maximum security prison in Colorado. He was convicted for his role as a facilitator in the 1998 embassy bombings in east Africa. Two hundred and twenty-four people including 12 Americans died in those attacks. Defense attorneys want a retrial. They say the government failed to disclose taped interviews with its star witness.

The final report is now in on the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This 18-month search has found nothing. At its peek the investigation occupied more than 1,000 military and civilian translators, weapons specialists and other experts. Besides not uncovering WMD, investigators couldn't find evidence that any such weapons were shipped out of Iraq before the war. Is he a Marine who did his job? Or is he a murderer? Those questions are being raised in the case of Lieutenant Alario Pantono (ph). a pretrial hearing is going on this morning at Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina. The Marine lieutenant is charge with the murder in the deaths of two Iraqis. The two suspected rebels were killed during a search for a military hideout a year ago. Pantono could be sentenced to death if he is convicted.

An investigation into an Iraqi checkpoint shooting has cleared U.S. soldiers of any wrongdoing. An Italian security agent killed and reporter seriously wounded in that incident. The investigation found the Italians apparently made no effort to coordinate their passage with U.S. officials. The journalist wounded in an Iraqi checkpoint shooting calls a Pentagon's probe's finding, "Worse than I thought." A quote from her.

President Bush has faced a skeptical public in selling his Social Security reforms. Today though, he is going to preach to some of the faithful in Galveston, Texas. An interesting subplot here. Among Republican whose are going with him, embattled majority leader, Tom DeLay.

Our Elaine Quijano joins us to explain. She is at the White House this morning.

Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. That's right. President Bush heads to Galveston, Texas today against the backdrop of a hearing taking place on Capitol Hill just getting under way at this hour, we understand the Senate Finance Committee. And of course, this committee will be crucial to getting any Social Security reform bill passed.

Now, among those expected to testify are people who support the idea of having personal accounts as part of any over haul to Social Security. And of course, President Bush himself has said over and over again that he believes personal accounts carved out of the Social Security system should be part of a larger solution, in order to address the solvency issue. But President Bush at the same time, has acknowledged that those accounts alone, in and of themselves, would not be enough to address the solvency issue.

Today he is heading to Galveston, Texas to talk up the ideas. Galveston, a place where public employees do not participate in the same kinds of traditional Social Security system. Instead, they are allowed to invest in a slate of conservative bonds and annuities. The president expected to talk about how workers there have ownership of their accounts.

But in the audience today that subplot you mentioned, according to White House officials, embattled House majority leader Tom DeLay. Now the Texas Republican, of course, has been under fire in part because of accusations that lobbyists improperly paid for some overseas trips. Unclear if the President Bush will make explicit expression of support for Congressman DeLay. But he is expected to acknowledge him, as the president customarily does with lawmakers who attend these events.

Now, the president earlier this month did call Congressman DeLay a very effective leader, and said he looks forward to working with him on legislation. And I understand that the congressman will be flying back to Washington with President Bush on board Air Force 1 -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Elaine Quijano at the White House. Elaine, thank you.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calling on the Senate to move ahead with the nomination of John Bolton as ambassador to the U.N. The Senate panel considering Bolton's nomination had postponed a vote and will not meet again until May 12.

Some committee members -- excuse me, are concerned over allegations that Bolton lacks the temperament for the post. The Bush administration believes those allegations have been trumped up by Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: I believe along with the president, that John Bolton is the right person for this job. We need a strong voice at the United Nations whose can participate in, and indeed lead in an extremely important reform debate that is going on now in the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The secretary of state, by the way, is in Brazil today. She is starting a four-nation trip through Latin America.

Here in Georgia today, autopsies are expected on two toddlers whose bodies were found in a pond near their home. The 2 year old girl and 3 year old boy were reported missing on Saturday.

Our Tony Harris is in Warrenton, Georgia. It's about 100 miles east from where we are here in Atlanta -- Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. We can tell you it's a new day here in Warrenton, as we join you. You can see it's raining, cloudy here, as we join you from just outside the Payne family home. We're expecting to get new details today about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these two small children, 3- year-old Jonah Payne and 2-year-old Nicole Payne.

We can tell you that yesterday an extensive and exhaustive search came to a most unhappy end when bodies of these two children were found in a sanitation pond. And Daryn, I'm sure you're seeing the pictures now. This is a nasty, mucky, algae-covered sanitation pond just a few hundred yards from the family home.

This is now a death investigation. We can tell you the parents have been polygraphed. They have been questioned several times. As for the polygraph, we understand that that is routine in this kind of a case. They will be also interviewed again today. That's a bit of new information. The scene has shifted just a bit to the GBI lab, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime Lab, a short drive from here in Augusta, Georgia where the autopsies will be performed on the children's bodies. And of course, Daryn, we are waiting anxiously for the results of those autopsies.

KAGAN: Just a sad and tragic story from south Georgia. Tony, thank you for that.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, his victim forgave him. The neighborhood didn't. still to come, a sex offender depressed by the signs of his past, takes matters into his own hands.

And stranded in the back country with little food and water. A look at how this skier made it out alive.

And later, talk about a superstar. He is a Grammy Award winning singer, pastor and he is a survivor. Still to come, Donnie McClurkin is in the house.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Talking about a punching the clock after you're expected to retire? Still to come, Gerri Willis has tips for working retirees.

Hi, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Well, hey there, Daryn. Work may be a four-letter word for some people, but others are enjoying working in retirement. We'll have more when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Lots of us heading into a new workweek, understandably daydreaming of retirement. But with pensions nearly extinct, Social Security's future in limbo, and 401(k) funds on the slide, God, it's depressing. Baby Boomers face the prospect of working into retirement.

Here now is CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IRENE HELM, COSTCO EMPLOYEE: This has got sea salt on it.

WILLIS: At age 69, Irene Helm didn't expect to be handing out samples at a California Costco.

HELM: My vision at 65 was to retire and never work. I didn't really think I would be here.

(LAUGHTER)

HELM: I'm out-living my money is what I'm doing. I'm saying I'm going to make some more. WILLIS: A former entrepreneur, Irene went back to work part time for some extra cash. And in a way, she is one of the lucky ones.

Teri Cusano, a widow in her early 70s, works full time at a Pitney Bowes factory in Connecticut just to survive.

TERI CUSANO, PITNEY BOWES EMPLOYEE: It's financial that I'm working for, cost of living is very high. And I need to pay my utilities and what I use at home.

WILLIS: A nation apart, both drawing Social Security, these women share a common bond. Dreams of living a life of leisure in their golden years are gong. And they have company. Workers 65 and older have been on the rise since the early 80s. And with an aging Baby Boomer population, that number is expected to grow and grow and grow.

So what's behind it all? Are Baby Boomers just bad savers? John Challenger is a jobs trends expert.

JOHN CHALLENGER, CHALLENGER, GRAY & CHRISTMAS: Companies used to provide pensions. So when someone retired in their early 60s, they were basically covered with health care and in terms of on going income. That's just not true anymore.

WILLIS: However, Challenger points out with later retirement comes some benefits.

CHALLENGER: There's just much less discrimination today as the retirement age of 65 is disappearing. And companies more and more focused on just what can this person do for me; are they productive? If they're productive, who care what's their age is?

WILLIS: And according to Irene and Teri, working past 65 isn't all bad.

HELM: It's a reason to get up in the morning. A reason to get out and talk to people.

CUSANO: I have a good time at it. I love working because I socialize with people every day. And it gives me great fulfillment. At the end of the day, I go home. I'm tired and it was a great day for me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: So while working in retirement clearly isn't the ideal, some who remain on the job into their 60s and 70s find benefits they didn't expect -- Daryn.

KAGAN: You know, interesting point with that woman in that piece how she said she outlived -- she is out living her money. How do you figure out ahead of time how much money you're going to need in retirement?

WILLIS: Well, there is a back of the envelope way of thinking about this. A real quick answer, start by thinking about what your pre-retirement income is and how much you will need in retirement. Experts say you need 75 percent of it. So, for example, if you're earning $50,000 before you retire, you'll need $37,500 after.

Take out Social Security, because you'll get money from them as well. Some 17,500 in our example. Multiply that number by 20, that's your rate of withdrawal. That gives you $400,000. Daryn, that's the amount of money you need in your 401(k) or your retirement reserve when you retire.

KAGAN: Hmm. And that's if nothing goes wrong.

WILLIS: Right.

KAGAN: Right. All right. Gerri, thank you for the information.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Talking about fears ahead. I asked a bunch of people what do you fear the most? Is it terrorists? Is it drugs? Is it crime? Still to come, when we asked that question, you're going to find out what Americans said.

Also, it was an effort to protect the neighborhood children, but one convicted sex offender couldn't bear what the neighborhood did. His story is straight ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Present My Pyramid, now replace...

CHRISTY FIEG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The government unveiled a new food pyramid this week. Gone is the pyramid filled with lots of servings. The new version has six color-coded bands representing each food groom. Orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, blue for milk , purple for meat, beans and proteins. And yellow, the narrowest band for oils.

This pyramid follows the changes recommended by the USDA in January to crease servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The government is also emphasizing exercise. Its Web site mypyramid.gov offers 12 different versions of the pyramid depending on your calorie needs. Which are determined in part by the amount of exercise you get.

All samples of the killer flu virus ship outside the United States have been found. Last week, federal officials announced a strain of the flu that caused the deadly 1957 Asian flu pandemic had mistakenly been sent out to 61 labs in 18 countries. The World Health Organization announced this week that most of those samples have now been destroyed. Along with nearly all the vials shipped within the United States.

And a new study finds the cholesterol lowering drugs called statins dramatically decrease a man's risk of advanced prostate cancer. Researchers studied 30,000 men over 10 years and found men who used the drugs had half the risk of advanced prostate cancer, and one-third the risk of fatal prostate cancer, compared to men who did not use the drugs. The authors caution more research is needed to explain the phenomenon.

Christy Feig, CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We are coming up on the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening now in the news.

U.S. officials now confirm they almost captured Abu Musab al Zarqawi two months ago in Iraq. That country's most wanted terrorist had been in a vehicle chased down by U.S. troops. While they missed Zarqawi, troops did make two significant finds. They seized a trusted lieutenant to Osama bin Laden and a computer said to have a treasure trove of information.

To Japan, rescuers say they have pulled the last of the survivors from the wreckage of yesterday's horrific train crash. Seventy-three people are confirmed dead. But there are reports that as many as 15 more bodies are still in the crushed cars. Japanese officials have not determined the cause but excessive speed is suspected.

This hour north of Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis are gathering for the funeral of former President Ezra Wiseman. He served in that office from 1993 to 2000. he was a cofounder of Israel's air force and served as a commander. The 80 year old Weisman died Sunday after a bout with pneumonia.

And the woman who claims she found a finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili appears before a Nevada judge at this hour. Anna Alaya is accused of attempted grand theft. That charge is related to the financial hit that Wendy's has taken since the claim was made public. Ayala is not expected to fight extradition to California where she will face those charges.

And now the amazing story of a Colorado skier in the hospital today with dehydration, hypothermia, and one heck of a story. Fifty- five-year-old Charles Horton had planned a day-long journey into the back country near Steam Boat Springs. This is until he broke his leg and one day turned into an agonizing eight days in the wilderness.

He is an experienced outdoorsman. He was able to build crude shelters and drag himself a little bit each day. And finally, he reached a Forest Service road where he was found yesterday. He was frozen. He was hungry. But he was alive.

Joining us on the phone right now is Sergeant Anthony Mazzola of the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office.

office. Hello.

SGT. ANTHONY MAZZOLA, RIO BLANCO SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Good morning. KAGAN: What first went wrong with this skier?

MAZZOLA: Well, really what went right is what kept this Mr. Horton alive. His experience in the outdoor, his proper equipment is what kept him alive. I guess if anything went wrong, it would be the accident on the skis and him breaking his leg.

KAGAN: There also seemed to be just -- and this can happen to a lot of people who perhaps live by themselves. There was a span of time where people didn't know that he was missing.

MAZZOLA: Right, Mr. Horton lives by himself in Steamboat Springs. His girlfriend is in Moab, and so it's not unusual for him to be gone several days. It just so happened his landlord had taken a vacation for a week. When his landlord came back and noticed he was gone, reported him missing.

KAGAN: So how was he finally found, sergeant?

MAZZOLA: We had sent out several teams -- two dog teams, a ski team, a snowmobile team, and a snowcat. One of the snowmobile teams heard a whistle that Mr. Horton dug up enough energy to blow a whistle, which he carried with him. And one of the rescuers heard it. The rescuer whistled back. And we were able to zone in on that and pinpoint his location and find him.

KAGAN: What kind of recovery does he face now?

MAZZOLA: From what I heard from the hospital, just dehydration and then, of course, the broken leg.

KAGAN: Amazing. Eight days in the wilderness. As you said, he knew a lot to do right, and he makes it and he survives. Sergeant Anthony Mazzola of the Rio Blanco Sheriff's Department. Thanks for sharing that story of survival with us.

MAZZOLA: You bet. Thank you.

KAGAN: We appreciate it. We like the happy ending there.

Let's take a look at other stories making news coast to coast. First to Phoenix, Arizona, police say a mother locked her 7-year-old daughter in her bedroom for at least 24 hours before a passerby heard her calls for help. The mother, who was supposed to give the girl some water, but no food, then left to visit with her boyfriend. She faces child-abuse charges at this time.

MAZZOLA: San Diego's mayor has stepped down amid criticism over a widening investigation into city hall, and a pension system nearly 1 1/2 billion dollars in the red. "Time" magazine recently named Dick Murphy one of the three worse mayors in the country. A special election will likely choose the next mayor of California's second largest city.

In Chicago, 14 refuted mobsters have been indicted in what's being called one of the most sweeping crackdowns in local history. Three of the suspects were tied to gambling or other charges, but most were linked to 18 murders, stretching back into the '70s. One hit in an Indiana cornfield was immortalized in the gangster film "Casino."

In our CNN Security Watch, new concerns have delayed the so- called Freedom Tower rising from the site of the World Trade Center. Security experts with the New York Police Department say that more can be done to secure the 70-story building. No one is publicly saying what those changes will be, but they will delay the opening by several months.

A U.S. border agent encounters a lot of smuggling attempts in the work for their homeland security, but few as bold and beefy as this, suitcases that were stuffed with 845 pounds of bologna. They say a Mexican immigrant loaded the cargo bus, loaded aboard a bus, and plans to pedal the cold cuts at a flea market. The unrefrigerated meat was destroyed because of health concerns.

KAGAN: Recent poll asking Americans about their biggest fears. The answers might surprise. According to the CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll conducted in February, here now is the ranking of what Americans say have them very concerned. Terrorism, you might notice, fifth on the list. Violent crime and cocaine rank higher at numbers four and three. Nearly two of three Americans said they were have been concerned about crystal meth. And number one among those fears is child molestation.

Well, on that topic, it was just one of those fears of child molestation that drove one neighborhood to action and one sex offender to suicide. It began with the poster campaign alerting residents of a sex offender among them. And in this story, the devil here is in the details.

Here now is CNN's Rick Sanchez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK ELMHORST: County sheriff confirms a father's worst fear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jessica Lunsford's body discovered.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The horror of the crimes was out there for the whole world to see -- on television, radio, print, and especially which by word of mouth.

CINDY BRILL, RESIDENT: And I work in one of the local hospitals and it was topic of conversation every morning and every evening throughout the day as we were updated or read the newspaper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The worst-case scenario became a heartbreaking reality.

JACKIE CALLAWAY, REPORTER: The sheriff's had identified her body.

SANCHEZ: Not one, but two Florida girls from the same general area killed by sexual offenders. The first 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, taken in the middle of the night found buried in a shallow grave clutching her stuffed dolphin. The second 13-year-old Sarah Lunde taken after return everything a church outing, found way down and partially disrobed at the bottom of a murky pond.

DEBBIE PARDEE, RESIDENT: I personally was horrified. I have an 8-year-old and 16-year-old I feared for them immediately.

SANCHEZ: Ocala, Florida, is about an hour and a half drive from the place where both girls were found murdered -- crimes that created a mood of fear and caution. People were holding on to their kids just a little tighter. So, when they heard a convicted sex offender was living among them, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think a lot of people were sick, just sick and saddened, by what they heard. And I think they still are, and in shock.

SANCHEZ: County commissioner Randy Harris is a tough-minded politician who makes no excuses for his proposal to identify and label all sex offenders with signs and posters.

RANDY HARRIS, MARION COUNTY COMMISSIONER: I believe that the county commission should post signs in neighborhoods and inform the public of where these people actually reside, because they are residing in a neighborhoods where people simply don't know.

SANCHEZ: In this central Florida town that proudly displays its red, white, and blue, the people see this issue as black and white, cut and dry. A sex offender should simply not be allowed to conceal himself. Parents need to be told about them so they can protect their children.

What happens, though, if there are mitigating circumstances? If one case is different perhaps from others? Maybe, just maybe, it's not so black and white.

CHUCK CLAXTON, VICTIM'S FATHER: He was a threat to no one but himself. Absolutely no one.

SANCHEZ: Must be pretty painful, Chuck.

CLAXTON: Sorry.

SANCHEZ: Chuck Claxton cries when he thinks of his son. Clovis Claxton was a convicted sex offender, but he was also wheelchair-bound and depressed because of his illness. So, when he began seeing signs describing him as a threat and sex offender, his father says he used pills and alcohol to take his own life.

HARRIS: I'm not interested in shaping our public policy around the exception. The exception is that one of them has committed suicide.

SANCHEZ: Commissioner Harris makes no apology when it comes to protecting children. HARRIS: It's my opinion that he was a victim of his own circumstance. I have no doubt that he was guilt-ridden over the crime that he committed. I mean he committed a sexual offense against a child, I believe, 9 years old.

SANCHEZ: The record shows that Claxton did expose himself to a young girl, the daughter of a friend, in 1991. However, a careful review of that same record by police also shows that he was no longer considered a threat. Just to be sure, we asked the local sheriff's what they had found.

CAPT. DENNIS STROW, MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Our risk assessment did not indicate that he was a threat to the neighborhood.

SANCHEZ: Here's why: as a child, Claxton was diagnosed with both meningitis and encephalitis, which left him severely impaired physically and mentally.

How old was when this happened?

CLAXTON: Chronically (SIC), he was 20; mentally, 10, 11, because of some injuries he had to his brain due to encephalitis at the age of 10. It was nothing more at the time of -- him and a little girl just playing, show me yours, show me mine, you know.

SANCHEZ: Claxton has never again been accused of a sex crime. What's more, the girl and her family who accused him have forgiven him, and even visit.

CLAXTON: The girl's parents are still friends of the family.

SANCHEZ: That speed limit sign you see right there is approximately a block and a half from Clovis Claxton's home. He literally could not go home on any given night without seeing that sign. It is one of the places where someone hung a poster, right underneath the sign. The poster read, "child rapist."

How unfair was that characterization?

CLAXTON: Totally unfair, because he never raped anybody.

SANCHEZ: Clovis Claxton was found dead in his apartment days after the first posters appeared. He was found, in fact, with one of the posters that accused him of being a child rapist.

Child rapist. That's pretty strong.

HARRIS: It is strong. It's very strong.

SANCHEZ: Strong enough to cause one man to take his own life and to possibly teach all of us the lesson about the power of labels and how words really do matter.

Rick Sanchez, CNN, Ocala, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: I want to remind you to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

His world was shattered by violence and sexual abuse, but he found a safe haven in the church. Listen in.

(GOSPEL MUSIC)

KAGAN: Still to come, Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer Donnie McClurklin is right here with me live.

Plus, President Bush has laid out his proposal for Social Security. Now Congress must decide what to do. The debate over Social Security heads to Capitol Hill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Bush has laid out his plan to revamp Social Security and actively campaigned for his idea of private accounts. Now Congress has to decide how and if to make the changes. The Senate Finance Committee is meeting right now, as you can see, to consider the proposal. It plans to showcase the political arguments of both sides.

There are 11 Republican senators and nine Democrats on the committee. They've been hearing from their constituents, as well. Polls indicate most people are weary about individual investment accounts, and this kind of market doesn't help things. That's the latest from Wall Street -- Daryn, now back to you.

KAGAN: And good gosh, it could use all the help it can get. Thank you. We will see you in a bit.

LISOVICZ: My pleasure.

KAGAN: CNN viewers knowing that the latest news, just a couple clicks away, cnn.com. What are the most popular stories among our site's visitors? Christina Park, here to tell us more about that.

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Daryn. Good morning.

Well, it looks like our viewers on CNN are pretty much in line with our users on cnn.com. And you can find the most popular stories on cnn.com any time. To get there, surf on over to our Web site and click on "Most Popular" at the top right-hand side of your page or log on directly to cnn.com/mostpopular.

This morning, our users are most interested in the Michael Jackson molestation trial. Just days before the defense is expected to start presenting its case to jurors, one of Jackson's lawyers, Brian Oxman, is off the defense team. Oxman was caught on tape Monday having an animated discussion with lead attorney Thomas Mesereau, Jr. You see all that finger-pointing there outside the courthouse. Jackson's former defense lawyers also include Mark Geragos, Scott Peterson's attorney.

Another most popular story on cnn.com, paparazzi are accused of endangering a member of the royal family in London. Royals say photographers put Prince Harry's life in danger by chasing his car to snap photographs of him in Botswana. In 1997, you're seeing here, Harry's mother, Princess Diana, died in a high-speed car crash while being chased by paparazzi in Paris.

Finally, another most clicked on story on cnn.com, girls as young as nine years old using steroids to get toned. Experts say an alarming number of girls are using dangerous body-building steroids to get that lean, sculpted look of models and movie stars. Researchers say youngsters usually get them on the black market from sources like friends, the local gym, even over the Internet.

And those are just some of the hottest stories on cnn.com right now.

KAGAN: More information online. We'll be double-clicking. Christina, thank you for that.

Well, I dare you to stay in your seat for my next guest. His songs touched the heart. He has traveled the world with his sermons and words of inspiration. Still to come, gospel singer Donnie McClurkin joins me live. He's going to talk about his new album, his new DVD and last night's Trumpet Awards show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The 13th Annual Trumpet Awards ceremony was held in Atlanta last night. The event honors African-Americans for achievement in law, politics and entertainment. Singers Nancy Wilson and Beyonce. Well, Beyonce was scheduled to be there. I think she skipped out at the last second. But Nancy Wilson was there, along with Father Theodore Hesberg (ph), president of the University of Notre Dame.

Turner Broadcasting, by the way, presents and is the sponsor of the Trumpet Awards.

Also there last night Donnie McClurkin. He was one of the performers at the Trumpet Awards. Donnie probably one of the hottest talents in gospel music right now. Take a listen.

(SINGING)

KAGAN: McClurkin has traveled the world with his message of love and inspiration. The Grammy Award winner is also a pastor in the church in New York. His new CD "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" marks his third release that's hit No. 1 on the gospel chart. He joins me here this morning.

Good morning.

DONNIE MCCLURKIN, GOSPEL SINGER: Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Why are you making a face when you're watching yourself sing?

MCCLURKIN: I hate to see me. You know...

KAGAN: Really?

MCCLURKIN: I look so goofy, tall and, you know, lurchy-looking guy.

KAGAN: When you're on there doing your thing, I can't imagine you're really thinking about what you're doing. I would think that's something that kind of it overcomes and you're kind of feeling it?

MCCLURKIN: It comes natural. Once you stand out there, you just go into a different zone altogether and it comes so absolutely a part of you.

KAGAN: So when your watching right now, you're thinking, who is that guy?

MCCLURKIN: I'm thinking, oh, my God, you look so goofy. Look how fat you are.

KAGAN: What is it about gospel music that it moves people who have no link with Christianity, no link with the black church. You can't sit in your seat and listen to gospel music.

MCCLURKIN: It's the power of the song, it's the power of the presenter of this song. It's the message of hope that's in the song. There are so many different things that join it together to make it the most powerful form of music that there is. And then, too, all of the major musics come out of the gospel group from some way or another. So it carries a power. It's more than just soul music. It digs into the spirit of the person. So that brings them in and makes them become a part of it. And even the most hardened hearts become embraced and enveloped by the music.

KAGAN: You know about hope and you know about healing.

MCCLURKIN: Yes.

KAGAN: You are out talking about a lot -- some very personal things that have happened in your life and things that you have healed from and continue to heal from.

There's a new DVD out where we get to see behind the scenes of the building of your career, but also the story of your childhood and your life. And you talk about being a victim of child molestation at a very young age.

MCCLURKIN: Yes, and I saw your news clip before about child molestation. It's a personal thing to me because, you know, being a victim of one, my heart goes out to the youth now, and I'm very protective, over protective of young people. But at eight years old I was raped by my uncle, and at 13 by his son. And that was when my life started to downwardly spiral. And it was the gospel, it was the gospel that brought me back and gave me a second chance. But it was the breaking of me, and I didn't understand for years why it happened. But now it makes sense, because now I've got to go out and heal other people that are going through the same thing and bring awareness to people that this is a lurking monster, and no matter where you are, in church or out of the church, you've got to be cautious.

KAGAN: In this DVD you also talk about something very personal, and you talk about something that doesn't get talked about a lot, and that's sexuality and coming to terms with that. Why did you decide to talk about that?

MCCLURKIN: Because there's a segment of people who are struggling so hard in they're sexuality. This by no means that I'm out on a recruiting crusade to turn everyone's life around. But for those who are hurting, those who want healing in those areas, it's just to let them know that there is hope, there is healing, that there is a way to turn your life around. And for the countless people who have come to me and others like me, we direct them straight to the hope and help that we have.

KAGAN: But when you're talking about it, you're talking about kind of getting fixed or changed.

MCCLURKIN: Well, for some of us that have been broken. You know, remember, I was broken. So that's all I can speak from, is my brokenness. Now, this is not across the board for everyone. But this is for those who have been broken. This is a fixing. There is a healing. And if they want it, I'm the poster boy. I'm the poster boy that it can happen.

KAGAN: And you believe that's your calling?

MCCLURKIN: I know that's my calling now.

KAGAN: Now there's some talk out there that people think you're going to be hanging up the gospel thing and just heading to the pulpit.

MCCLURKIN: See, this is true. This CD is about my -- this is my heart being put on vinyl right now, all the songs that are on the CD. I'm expending myself and emptying myself, because in the next two years I'll be gone. It's time to move on to the next level. You know, when you're pastoring a church and planting churches in different places, it's time to leave these things that you've done successfully already and move to the next level, to the next thing.

But we've got so many great artists like Ceci Winans, Kirk Franklin, who is my brother, Yolanda Adams, and this young man coming up Michael Stanford (ph). He's wonderful.

KAGAN: Well, you're not empty yet. You're not done yet. I know your voice is a little raspy from the trumpet awards last night. But as we go to break, could you sing us to break? Could you give us a little something? I'll put you on the spot.

(SINGING)

KAGAN: Right on the spot. Donnie McClurkin, thank you so much. A pleasure to have you here with us.

MCCLURKIN: God bless. Thank you.

KAGAN: We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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