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CNN Live Today

House Passes Two Stem Cell Measures; Snowflake Babies; Day for the Missing

Aired May 25, 2005 - 10:30   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; Coming up on the half hour -- in fact, it just turned right now. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening now in the news.
To New York City, where the skyline embraces some nautical neighbors this weekend. An armada of more than a dozen Navy and Coast Guard ships is plodding into New York Harbor. It's the 18th Annual Fleet Week. The weeklong event honors the U.S. military with a special Memorial Day tribute to those who died serving their country.

At the top of the hour, prosecutors in suburban Atlanta are expected to announce whether they'll file charges against the so- called runaway bride. Jennifer Wilbanks, you might recall, sparked a nationwide search when she disappeared just days before her wedding. She later surfaced with claims of being kidnapped, but then admitted that those were lies.

Comedian Chris Tucker is expected to return to the stand today as the final defense witness in the Michael Jackson trial. Tucker knows the boy who is accusing Michael Jackson of molestation. The defense is expected to rest today, and closing arguments are due next week.

Also at this hour, a human rights group issued its annual report and says the U.S. is a top offender. You're looking at live pictures. Amnesty International calls the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Prison Base in Cuba, a human rights failure. The report also alleges that Washington's disregard for protecting those rights has diluted the world's ban on torture. A Pentagon spokesman maintains that the U.S. treats prisoners humanely and continues to be a leader in human rights.

Right now, let's take a closer look at the impassioned stem cell debate and the challenge it creates for President Bush's second term. Our national correspondent Bob Franken is at the White House today with more on that.

Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

It's important to point out although there were a substantial number of Republican defections in the House of Representatives, there was nowhere near a veto-proof majority. President Bush has said he will veto the legislation when he gets it. It's legislation that would expand federal funding for experiments on embryonic stem-cell research. It was one of the two pieces of legislation that passed. The other one acceptable to the White House. It is expected to pass the Senate.

The president has made his feelings known. He had a highly visible meeting yesterday with snowflakes, these are people who have born, children who have been born using discarded embryos. This, of course, is part of the argument of those who take his point of view, that what you're really doing is taking human life when you take these embryos. The other side is that these are embryos that would be discarded, that could be useful in advancing the cause of certain debilitating illnesses.

It is a debate that has been going on for some time. The president will probably have to use his first veto, as widely believed, to overturn the actions of Congress.

Now, this is raising some questions about whether, with that, and the need to compromise on the matter of judicial appointments and filibusters, where the president is losing a little bit of invincibility touch with his fellow Republicans in Congress. Scott McClellan, the White House secretary, said that there is no evidence of that. He pointed out the president has had great success this year with legislation such as bankruptcy reform, "reform" their term, also changes in class-action lawsuits. He says that the president is doing quite well with Congress, and expects to.

One other item, Daryn, that came out of the morning meeting with Scott McClellan. You will recall the brouhaha among reporters about the effectiveness of the alarm system after that aircraft incursion in Washington on May 11th. There was no effectiveness. It did not work, particularly in the press area. There's going to be a test in just a moment or two here. It actually didn't work in the whole White House area. But Scott McClellan said that even if it had worked in the entire complex, it would not have worked in the press area, because it was not properly installed. And before you ask, no, there were no questions on whether that was intentional -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes, I could see you being the one to ask that question, too, Bob. All right, when it goes off, you run, you go, no questions asked.

Thank you.

One of the most prominent advocates of stem-cell research is Dana Reeve. She's the widow of actor Christopher Reeve. She lobbied for congressional support yesterday on Capitol Hill, and later on CNN's "PAULA ZAHN NOW," talked about the emotional overtones of the impassioned debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA REEVE, CHRISTOPHER REEVE'S WIDOW: I really would applaud anyone who stands by their convictions. What I find troubling is when, in congressional hearings, senators will avoid the question. If you don't oppose in vitro clinics, which are big moneymakers in this country, then why do you oppose stem-cell research? Because you have to point to that central argument that absolutely in terms of -- that's what makes the country great, is the democracy. There are people who stand by their religious convictions and are permitted to do so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Christopher Reeve, at least in his performance world, was best known as Hollywood's Superman. He died last year. He suffered a spinal-cord injury while horseback riding some nine years earlier.

The type of research at the center of stem cells and the controversy would involve frozen embryos. Some of those frozen embryos are used for another purpose.

Our Dana Bash has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Maura and John Daniel call 19-month-old Catherine (ph) their miracle baby. After five wrenching years of in vitro fertilization, finally, Maura got pregnant. She was in New York for treatment on 9/11. Trauma took a toll.

MAURA DANIEL, MOTHER: After that, we did get pregnant. And I was pregnant for seven weeks and then we lost the baby.

BASH: Maura and John decided to adopt. Then Maura saw a story about something she had never heard of, embryo adoption.

M. DANIEL: And I called John into the living room to look at it on television. And you know we were thinking that this could be the way we have a family.

BASH: The Daniels contacted Nightlight, a Christian fertility clinic in California that offers up for adoption other family's unused embryos.

M. DANIEL: We handpicked them and they handpicked us.

JOHN DANIEL, FATHER: And they're a beautiful family that we have met and met their children. And to us, it is the most wonderful gift that anyone could ever give, right? And you know we have a beautiful daughter. We have twins on the way.

M. DANIEL: Can you have one more bite of egg? No.

BASH: Catherine is called a "Snowflake" baby, one of only about 80 children in the country born from an adopted frozen embryo. Her parents have come to Washington to tell congressmen to take a look at Catherine before allowing more frozen embryos to be used in federally funded stem cell research.

M. DANIEL: All we want to do is just raise their awareness and show them Rine's (ph) beautiful face and let them know that, you know, when they're going to, you know, sign off on a bill, or not, to think twice.

BASH: The Daniels were invited to the White House. They stood right behind the president. He called them an affirming alternative to using embryos for science.

BUSH: The children here today are reminders that every human life is a precious gift of matchless value.

BASH: Like the president, the Daniels say they support current limits on stem cell research. John's father just died from Parkinson's disease.

J. DANIEL: Continue to research stem cell research. We would be hypocrites to think it was wrong.

BASH: The president calls stem cell research a culture of life issue, like abortion. Not the Daniels.

M. DANIEL: We are pro choice. We are pro science. So we're kind of unique, I think, in this situation. But we definitely are for these legislators making very informed decisions.

BASH: But the fact remains, very few of the estimated 400,000 frozen embryos in the U.S. ever become viable fetuses. Four embryos were transferred into Maura, only Catherine survived. Maura says she understands why some people would want to give their embryos up for science, but that the gift of motherhood after so long pulled her into the political fray.

M. DANIEL: She's definitely going to know her story and the beautiful way she came into this world. And it is just overwhelming how much we love her.

BASH: Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Uh-oh. Cute little girl.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, more Americans joined the millionaire club last year. Congratulations to you. We will tell you what is behind the wealth boom.

Plus, looking for the right spot to lay out or catch a wave? Before you pack your bag, you'll want to check the votes. They are in. We're going to take a look at the top five beaches.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Well, the swan -- let's try that one again. The swan song, it's over. The final curtain call looms tonight. It is the season finale for the hit series "American Idol," but the drama is not just about the competition. Our Veronica De La Cruz is at the dot-com desk with a look at our online features.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: It this fourth season of "American Idol." Is the hit TV talent show looking too much like a soap opera? at CNN.com, the details in "As the American Idol Turns."

From Paula Abdul's alleged affair with a contestant, to a phone line debacle that led to a re-vote, fans have been tuning into see to more than just who will be voted off. To find out about those who left the show early, as well as those who made it all the way, go to our "Where Are They Now?" gallery, which highlights the whereabouts of the winners and the losers.

Speaking of winners, Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard aren't the only one who have used talent shows to find pop chart success. Click through this interactive for other crooners in history that have done the same, like Patsy Cline, who appeared on a popular TV talent competition in 1957 and stole the show of her rendition of "Walking After Midnight."

The next "American Idol": Do you think it should be Bo Bice or Carrie Underwood? You can log on and weigh in in our quick vote. And you can find it all online at CNN.com/showbiz.

From the dot-com news desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Parents, you can't afford to miss our upcoming story. It is on the numbers of missing children constituting a national crisis. Thousands disappear every year and tracking them down can be complex. Our next step -- my next guest has tips to make sure your child does not become a statistic.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: If you are out and about in Idaho today, police want you to keep an eye out for two missing children. Police are asking visitors to Idaho's forests and camp grounds to keep watch for 9-year- old Dylan Groene and his 8-year-old sister Shasta. The children have been missing from their home since May 16th, when their mother, brother and another man were found dead in their home.

Today does take on a special meaning for thousands of families. It is National Missing Children's Day. One report says there are more than 790,000 missing children. My next guest is the manager of Project Alert. That's the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Ann Schofield, joining me from live from Washington. Ann, good morning.

ANN SCHOFIELD, MANAGER, PROJECT ALERT: Good morning.

KAGAN: So important to have you here today. Let's talk about what we're seeing happen, especially to focus in on just out of Florida. It seems like almost every week there's a report of a missing child, especially little girls. Are there more missing children or is the coverage of them increased?

SCHOFIELD: Well, statistics have proven that the numbers have not increased, but because of our great partnership with the media, there is more media attention to children. You know, a missing child is every parents' nightmare. And today, Missing Children's Day is an annual opportunity to remind the public nationwide the importance that everyone can play a part in helping to recover a missing child. And also, that this is an issue that must remain as a national priority.

KAGAN: OK, what is the most important thing a parent can do to protect his or her child?

SCHOFIELD: Some child safety information that we encourage parents to empower themselves and also their children are, first, simple steps. Check first, check first always with a trusted adult before going anywhere, before accepting anything from anyone and certainly before getting into a car with anyone. Never go out alone. Always take a friend, a buddy. And certainly, if an adult causes a child to feel uncomfortable, scared, to tell an adult, to tell a trusted adult, and that they have the power to say no.

KAGAN: Let's look at that number that we used in introducing you. 790,000 children missing. Are most of those probably taken by a parent or somebody in their family? I guess part of a custody dispute?

SCHOFIELD: The majority of children taken in that number do represent runaways as well as family abductions. The majority of those children, we are very happy to say, are returned home and returned home safely. However, what we want to do, because of the more than 2,000 children reported missing daily, is to keep hope alive for those children who are still missing, offer assistance to families and empower them with the kind of information that will also make their families safer.

KAGAN: And if it is a stranger, we're talking about empowering your child to say no. In that type of case, time is really an enemy, is it not, if your child is taken by a stranger?

SCHOFIELD: We know now it absolutely is. More than 74 percent of children who are abducted by non-family members will be murdered within the first three hours after abduction, and so time is absolutely of the essence. Law enforcement is responding today better than ever before, through laws, through training and family. And also, the nationwide response, through the amber alert system, has brought about a tremendous effort at ensuring these children return home safely.

KAGAN: It is an uncomfortable topic for a lot of parents, but oh so important. Ann Schofield, thank you for your time and your tips today.

And we're going to do a little part here as we go to break. We're going to look at some missing children and some photos of them, that are missing across the nation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: It's just weeks before the start of summer. You planning to hit the beach? Coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, is out with his best beach list. Number five, Fleming Beach in Maui, Hawaii. Fourth, Caladesi Island State Park. Hanalei Bay in Hawaii is third. Ocracoke Island in North Carolina, first runner-up. And topping the list as the number one beach, Fort DeSoto Park, North Beach, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tomorrow, Dr. Beach himself will pull himself off the beach for just a few minutes to be my guest here in this hour.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Also coming up, new charges, perhaps for the runaway bride. Will she face charges for claiming she was kidnapped? We're expecting to learn more about Jennifer Wilbanks. That is a live picture from Gwinnett County, just north of Atlanta. We'll go there live when it begins.

Also, tough words for the U.S. on human rights. What Amnesty International has to say about the Bush administration, as the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

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 May 25, 2005 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR; Coming up on the half hour -- in fact, it just turned right now. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening now in the news.
To New York City, where the skyline embraces some nautical neighbors this weekend. An armada of more than a dozen Navy and Coast Guard ships is plodding into New York Harbor. It's the 18th Annual Fleet Week. The weeklong event honors the U.S. military with a special Memorial Day tribute to those who died serving their country.

At the top of the hour, prosecutors in suburban Atlanta are expected to announce whether they'll file charges against the so- called runaway bride. Jennifer Wilbanks, you might recall, sparked a nationwide search when she disappeared just days before her wedding. She later surfaced with claims of being kidnapped, but then admitted that those were lies.

Comedian Chris Tucker is expected to return to the stand today as the final defense witness in the Michael Jackson trial. Tucker knows the boy who is accusing Michael Jackson of molestation. The defense is expected to rest today, and closing arguments are due next week.

Also at this hour, a human rights group issued its annual report and says the U.S. is a top offender. You're looking at live pictures. Amnesty International calls the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Prison Base in Cuba, a human rights failure. The report also alleges that Washington's disregard for protecting those rights has diluted the world's ban on torture. A Pentagon spokesman maintains that the U.S. treats prisoners humanely and continues to be a leader in human rights.

Right now, let's take a closer look at the impassioned stem cell debate and the challenge it creates for President Bush's second term. Our national correspondent Bob Franken is at the White House today with more on that.

Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

It's important to point out although there were a substantial number of Republican defections in the House of Representatives, there was nowhere near a veto-proof majority. President Bush has said he will veto the legislation when he gets it. It's legislation that would expand federal funding for experiments on embryonic stem-cell research. It was one of the two pieces of legislation that passed. The other one acceptable to the White House. It is expected to pass the Senate.

The president has made his feelings known. He had a highly visible meeting yesterday with snowflakes, these are people who have born, children who have been born using discarded embryos. This, of course, is part of the argument of those who take his point of view, that what you're really doing is taking human life when you take these embryos. The other side is that these are embryos that would be discarded, that could be useful in advancing the cause of certain debilitating illnesses.

It is a debate that has been going on for some time. The president will probably have to use his first veto, as widely believed, to overturn the actions of Congress.

Now, this is raising some questions about whether, with that, and the need to compromise on the matter of judicial appointments and filibusters, where the president is losing a little bit of invincibility touch with his fellow Republicans in Congress. Scott McClellan, the White House secretary, said that there is no evidence of that. He pointed out the president has had great success this year with legislation such as bankruptcy reform, "reform" their term, also changes in class-action lawsuits. He says that the president is doing quite well with Congress, and expects to.

One other item, Daryn, that came out of the morning meeting with Scott McClellan. You will recall the brouhaha among reporters about the effectiveness of the alarm system after that aircraft incursion in Washington on May 11th. There was no effectiveness. It did not work, particularly in the press area. There's going to be a test in just a moment or two here. It actually didn't work in the whole White House area. But Scott McClellan said that even if it had worked in the entire complex, it would not have worked in the press area, because it was not properly installed. And before you ask, no, there were no questions on whether that was intentional -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes, I could see you being the one to ask that question, too, Bob. All right, when it goes off, you run, you go, no questions asked.

Thank you.

One of the most prominent advocates of stem-cell research is Dana Reeve. She's the widow of actor Christopher Reeve. She lobbied for congressional support yesterday on Capitol Hill, and later on CNN's "PAULA ZAHN NOW," talked about the emotional overtones of the impassioned debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA REEVE, CHRISTOPHER REEVE'S WIDOW: I really would applaud anyone who stands by their convictions. What I find troubling is when, in congressional hearings, senators will avoid the question. If you don't oppose in vitro clinics, which are big moneymakers in this country, then why do you oppose stem-cell research? Because you have to point to that central argument that absolutely in terms of -- that's what makes the country great, is the democracy. There are people who stand by their religious convictions and are permitted to do so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Christopher Reeve, at least in his performance world, was best known as Hollywood's Superman. He died last year. He suffered a spinal-cord injury while horseback riding some nine years earlier.

The type of research at the center of stem cells and the controversy would involve frozen embryos. Some of those frozen embryos are used for another purpose.

Our Dana Bash has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Maura and John Daniel call 19-month-old Catherine (ph) their miracle baby. After five wrenching years of in vitro fertilization, finally, Maura got pregnant. She was in New York for treatment on 9/11. Trauma took a toll.

MAURA DANIEL, MOTHER: After that, we did get pregnant. And I was pregnant for seven weeks and then we lost the baby.

BASH: Maura and John decided to adopt. Then Maura saw a story about something she had never heard of, embryo adoption.

M. DANIEL: And I called John into the living room to look at it on television. And you know we were thinking that this could be the way we have a family.

BASH: The Daniels contacted Nightlight, a Christian fertility clinic in California that offers up for adoption other family's unused embryos.

M. DANIEL: We handpicked them and they handpicked us.

JOHN DANIEL, FATHER: And they're a beautiful family that we have met and met their children. And to us, it is the most wonderful gift that anyone could ever give, right? And you know we have a beautiful daughter. We have twins on the way.

M. DANIEL: Can you have one more bite of egg? No.

BASH: Catherine is called a "Snowflake" baby, one of only about 80 children in the country born from an adopted frozen embryo. Her parents have come to Washington to tell congressmen to take a look at Catherine before allowing more frozen embryos to be used in federally funded stem cell research.

M. DANIEL: All we want to do is just raise their awareness and show them Rine's (ph) beautiful face and let them know that, you know, when they're going to, you know, sign off on a bill, or not, to think twice.

BASH: The Daniels were invited to the White House. They stood right behind the president. He called them an affirming alternative to using embryos for science.

BUSH: The children here today are reminders that every human life is a precious gift of matchless value.

BASH: Like the president, the Daniels say they support current limits on stem cell research. John's father just died from Parkinson's disease.

J. DANIEL: Continue to research stem cell research. We would be hypocrites to think it was wrong.

BASH: The president calls stem cell research a culture of life issue, like abortion. Not the Daniels.

M. DANIEL: We are pro choice. We are pro science. So we're kind of unique, I think, in this situation. But we definitely are for these legislators making very informed decisions.

BASH: But the fact remains, very few of the estimated 400,000 frozen embryos in the U.S. ever become viable fetuses. Four embryos were transferred into Maura, only Catherine survived. Maura says she understands why some people would want to give their embryos up for science, but that the gift of motherhood after so long pulled her into the political fray.

M. DANIEL: She's definitely going to know her story and the beautiful way she came into this world. And it is just overwhelming how much we love her.

BASH: Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Uh-oh. Cute little girl.

Still to come on CNN LIVE TODAY, more Americans joined the millionaire club last year. Congratulations to you. We will tell you what is behind the wealth boom.

Plus, looking for the right spot to lay out or catch a wave? Before you pack your bag, you'll want to check the votes. They are in. We're going to take a look at the top five beaches.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: Well, the swan -- let's try that one again. The swan song, it's over. The final curtain call looms tonight. It is the season finale for the hit series "American Idol," but the drama is not just about the competition. Our Veronica De La Cruz is at the dot-com desk with a look at our online features.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: It this fourth season of "American Idol." Is the hit TV talent show looking too much like a soap opera? at CNN.com, the details in "As the American Idol Turns."

From Paula Abdul's alleged affair with a contestant, to a phone line debacle that led to a re-vote, fans have been tuning into see to more than just who will be voted off. To find out about those who left the show early, as well as those who made it all the way, go to our "Where Are They Now?" gallery, which highlights the whereabouts of the winners and the losers.

Speaking of winners, Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard aren't the only one who have used talent shows to find pop chart success. Click through this interactive for other crooners in history that have done the same, like Patsy Cline, who appeared on a popular TV talent competition in 1957 and stole the show of her rendition of "Walking After Midnight."

The next "American Idol": Do you think it should be Bo Bice or Carrie Underwood? You can log on and weigh in in our quick vote. And you can find it all online at CNN.com/showbiz.

From the dot-com news desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Parents, you can't afford to miss our upcoming story. It is on the numbers of missing children constituting a national crisis. Thousands disappear every year and tracking them down can be complex. Our next step -- my next guest has tips to make sure your child does not become a statistic.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: If you are out and about in Idaho today, police want you to keep an eye out for two missing children. Police are asking visitors to Idaho's forests and camp grounds to keep watch for 9-year- old Dylan Groene and his 8-year-old sister Shasta. The children have been missing from their home since May 16th, when their mother, brother and another man were found dead in their home.

Today does take on a special meaning for thousands of families. It is National Missing Children's Day. One report says there are more than 790,000 missing children. My next guest is the manager of Project Alert. That's the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Ann Schofield, joining me from live from Washington. Ann, good morning.

ANN SCHOFIELD, MANAGER, PROJECT ALERT: Good morning.

KAGAN: So important to have you here today. Let's talk about what we're seeing happen, especially to focus in on just out of Florida. It seems like almost every week there's a report of a missing child, especially little girls. Are there more missing children or is the coverage of them increased?

SCHOFIELD: Well, statistics have proven that the numbers have not increased, but because of our great partnership with the media, there is more media attention to children. You know, a missing child is every parents' nightmare. And today, Missing Children's Day is an annual opportunity to remind the public nationwide the importance that everyone can play a part in helping to recover a missing child. And also, that this is an issue that must remain as a national priority.

KAGAN: OK, what is the most important thing a parent can do to protect his or her child?

SCHOFIELD: Some child safety information that we encourage parents to empower themselves and also their children are, first, simple steps. Check first, check first always with a trusted adult before going anywhere, before accepting anything from anyone and certainly before getting into a car with anyone. Never go out alone. Always take a friend, a buddy. And certainly, if an adult causes a child to feel uncomfortable, scared, to tell an adult, to tell a trusted adult, and that they have the power to say no.

KAGAN: Let's look at that number that we used in introducing you. 790,000 children missing. Are most of those probably taken by a parent or somebody in their family? I guess part of a custody dispute?

SCHOFIELD: The majority of children taken in that number do represent runaways as well as family abductions. The majority of those children, we are very happy to say, are returned home and returned home safely. However, what we want to do, because of the more than 2,000 children reported missing daily, is to keep hope alive for those children who are still missing, offer assistance to families and empower them with the kind of information that will also make their families safer.

KAGAN: And if it is a stranger, we're talking about empowering your child to say no. In that type of case, time is really an enemy, is it not, if your child is taken by a stranger?

SCHOFIELD: We know now it absolutely is. More than 74 percent of children who are abducted by non-family members will be murdered within the first three hours after abduction, and so time is absolutely of the essence. Law enforcement is responding today better than ever before, through laws, through training and family. And also, the nationwide response, through the amber alert system, has brought about a tremendous effort at ensuring these children return home safely.

KAGAN: It is an uncomfortable topic for a lot of parents, but oh so important. Ann Schofield, thank you for your time and your tips today.

And we're going to do a little part here as we go to break. We're going to look at some missing children and some photos of them, that are missing across the nation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: It's just weeks before the start of summer. You planning to hit the beach? Coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, is out with his best beach list. Number five, Fleming Beach in Maui, Hawaii. Fourth, Caladesi Island State Park. Hanalei Bay in Hawaii is third. Ocracoke Island in North Carolina, first runner-up. And topping the list as the number one beach, Fort DeSoto Park, North Beach, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tomorrow, Dr. Beach himself will pull himself off the beach for just a few minutes to be my guest here in this hour.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Also coming up, new charges, perhaps for the runaway bride. Will she face charges for claiming she was kidnapped? We're expecting to learn more about Jennifer Wilbanks. That is a live picture from Gwinnett County, just north of Atlanta. We'll go there live when it begins.

Also, tough words for the U.S. on human rights. What Amnesty International has to say about the Bush administration, as the second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com