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CNN Live Today

Deadline for Iraq's Draft Constitution Today; Pentagon Replacing Armor For Troops in Iraq; Soldiers Deliver Eviction Notices to Settlers; Flight Recorders Found from Crash in Greece

Aired August 15, 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: Served in Iraq and was named Marine of the Year last year, now faces criminal charges in Massachusetts. Reports say the suspect is charged in connection with a shooting at a crowd of reblers (ph) who had gathered outside a nightclub near his apartment. Police say two people were wounded by bullet fragments. The Marine now faces a number of charges, including attempted murder.
Israel begins its historic pullout from Gaza. Earlier today, Israeli soldiers descended on Jewish settlements telling residents to get out or face eviction. Sporadic violence marked the beginning of the Israeli disengagement. A live report from Gaza is straight ahead.

Here in the U.S., more sticker shock at the pump. Gas prices have set another record. The latest Lundberg Survey shows the average price for a gallon of self-serve unleaded is now $2.50 a gallon. That is 70 cents higher than the price on New Year's Day.

Good morning. It is Monday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta.

Today is the deadline for the new Iraqi constitution to be presented. But whether the draft document is ready depends on whom you ask. CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Baghdad with the latest.

Aneesh.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning.

A meeting that was set to start right now, right behind me at the National Assembly, where they were to get a draft constitution, has within the past few minutes been delayed now by two hours as Iraqi leaders struggle to reach compromise on the key contentious issues of federalism and the role of Islam. We're told by a negotiator in this process, that a meeting is taking place outside of this building with leaders from the Sunni community, the Shia community, the Kurds and the secular Iraqilists (ph). They've given themselves some three hours from now to try and resolve these issues and overt what would be nothing less than a political crisis.

If a draft does not go to the National Assembly today, essentially this government is dissolved, it ceases to be in power to caretaker government. A new one would be elected in mid-December to start this whole process again. Or what can also take place is today an extension is voted on, an amendment to the law. So we're awaiting for either of those or, in fact, a draft of some sort, at some time, to come forward and be given to the National Assembly. If that happens, we'll be eager to see how it deals with the issue of federalism. The Shia and Kurds have been eager to have wording in there that would allow for autonomous regions in Iraq.

The Sunnis very weary of that. They want this entire conversation sidelined until a new government comes into power at the end of the year. And also that role of Islam. Will it be the source or a source of Iraqi law? Women's groups specifically have been eager to make sure that Islam is just one of many sources. If it is the source, they're worried that conservative clerics could eventually decide what they can and cannot do.

So all of that still up in the air, Daryn, as we wait to see how this all unfolds.

KAGAN: And what about, Aneesh, what about the demands from the south, the Shia, asking to have their own autonomous region like the Kurds do in the north?

RAMAN: Well that really threw this political process into a bit of chaos a few days ago when Hachem (ph), the head of SCIRI, a religious Shia organization, called for the Shia to have something equitable to what the Kurds have in the north, in the south. Shia leaders in the government, including the prime minister himself, immediately distanced themselves from those comments. They saw that as ridiculously sort of divisive in this environment and really hampering the process, which is did. We have heard those calls somewhat quiet but the Sunnis have maintained that they want no discussion of federalism really until next year.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Aneesh Raman live from Baghdad. Thank you. We will be following that situation.

In fact, Iraqi leaders hope the constitution will help curb the insurgency. But there is more violence again today in Baghdad. Iraqi police say a suicide bomber wounded 20 people in a restaurant. The explosion took place while members of an Iraqi police patrol were having lunch.

The Pentagon is upgrading troop armor for the second time since the Iraq war began. But there are questions about whether officials are moving fast enough to get that equipment from the factory to the front lines. For more on that story, let's go to our Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Well, Pentagon officials, Army officials say, they are moving as fast as they can. Actually, this has now been going on since last year. Very quietly the Army has begun shipping upgraded, new armored vests, new armored plates, to troops in Iraq who are experiencing increased lafality (ph) from insurgent attacks over the last many months. The weapons are larger caliber rounds, potentially with armor piercing capability, larger roadside bombs, more lethal bombs.

So late last year, very quietly, the Pentagon began shipping these new, enhanced armored plates to the troops. The plates slip into those vests that we see the soldiers wearing. They are now at the point where they're shipping about 20,000 or so a month. They are trying to get their contracting situation in full swing so that they can finish all of this work, they say.

But now this is an extraordinarily sensitive issue, Daryn. Army officials very quietly asking the news media voluntarily not to publish too many details about what specifically these upgraded armored plates can do, what kinds of weapons they specifically can protect against. The feeling is the insurgents are looking for any advantage they can get.

Daryn.

KAGAN: A slightly different topic, still focusing on Iraq. Any more information about a discovery of a possible chemical storage facility in Iraq, Barbara?

STARR: That word came out over the weekend, you know, that's troops up near Mosul had raided a facility that an insurgent had led them to after being interrogated. They went there. They found several gallons full of chemicals. Sources now saying the initial analysis indicates indeed the chemicals found up there in those barrels were most likely accelerant that would be used in explosives. So the feeling now is that this facility was tied to insurgent activity.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon.

Barbara, thank you.

STARR: Focus now on news taking place here in the U.S. President Bush's Texas neighbor says he has had enough of Cindy Sheehan's camp out against the Iraq War. Sheehan is the California mother whose son was killed in Iraq. She's been trying to get a meeting with the president. Yesterday presidential neighbor Larry Mattlage fired off a couple of shots. He did it into the air. Prompted a little visit from the secret service and local authorities. Mattlage says he no problem. He had no problem when Sheehan first showed up but he said Sheehan and her supporters have worn out their welcome.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY MATTLAGE, PRESIDENT BUSH'S NEIGHBOR: Five weeks of this is too much. We live here. It's our community. Apparently we have no respect over here, and we have know respect over here. Somebody got to get together and figure it out.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KAGAN: A little frustration there. Well, Mattlage, about the shooting in the air, he claims he was just getting ready for dove season by firing off those shots. Well McLennan County Sheriff Larry Lynch says Mattlage broke no laws but he would like for all involved to show a little restraint.

Back to world news now.

Israeli soldiers began handing out eviction notices to Jewish settlers in Gaza today. The latest step in the withdrawal process was an emotional one for those who have defied the government's order. Our John Vause is with us from one of those settlements.

John, hello.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.

We're here in Morag, which is the southern part of the Gaza Strip, not far from it Egyptian border. Now the Israeli army arrived this morning ready to hand out those eviction notices. But here in Morag, they were greet by dozens of protesters and residents at the front gate. There was a standoff for a few hours while senior commanders negotiated with community leader to get into this settlement to hand out those eviction notices.

There was some heated scenes, some anger, some tears as well. Eventually the army did get in. They have been going door-to-door for most of this day handing out those notices in some cases. In other cases, giving an oral notification because the written ones were torn up in front of them.

Now, here in Morag, for example, the army says there could be as many as 300 infiltrators. It's a small settlement, only about 16 families left according to the Israel army. But it's those infiltrate who they believe could be a problem. Those infiltrators have snuck in to the Gaza Strip settlements over the last couple of weeks coming from across Israel, as well as the West Bank. And the army now believe there could be as many as 5,000 in all of the Jewish settlements across the Gaza Strip.

That's expected to be a big problem when this disengagement really gets underway after the midnight Tuesday deadline. These people now have until then to leave quietly. It they do so, then they will have their full compensation, they can take their possessions with them. If they're here after that midnight deadline on Tuesday, about 5:00 p.m. Eastern, then they risk losing about a third of their compensation, as well as some of their possessions.

Now the army chief of staff, though, says everything appears to go according to plan. As he anticipated, there were some scuffles in the Medcaline (ph), the largest of the Jewish settlements. A number of settlements also refused to allow the soldiers access today. About five settlements to deal with the Israeli army. Those leaders in those communities said that they would, in fact, hand out the eviction notices themselves. But, of course, the real test will be after that midnight deadline, local time. That's when the army and the police expect to be here carrying many of these hard-core settlers out one at a time.

Daryn.

KAGAN: And, John, as you were mentioning, people who have come in who were never settlers in the first place, just trying to make a statement, are they going to receive the same consideration as the people who have been living there when they're asked to leave?

VAUSE: Well, we were actually expecting a lot those infiltrators to be removed today because everyone in the Gaza Strip, in the settlements, is now actually doing so illegally. And the grace period is only actually meant to the apply to the residents who actually live here. As far as those infiltrators are concerned, though, meant to be shown no grace period whatsoever.

However, here at Morag, for example, I thin the army did some kind of deal with the community leaders not to evict the infiltrators today but rather wait until the deadline comes and goes. But those infiltrators, once they're taken away, will, in fact, face jail time and will be charged according to Israeli law.

Daryn.

KAGAN: John Vause, live from one of the settlements in Gaza. Thank you.

Well that forced removal of the Israeli settlers from Gaza has a long and complex history. A few points, though, might help give a little perspective on the significance of today's events. Here now, some facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN (voice over): The Gaza Strip is only about 140 square miles, or about half the size of New York City. Nearly 1.4 million Palestinians live in Gaza. The Jewish population in Gaza before the pullout only numbered about 7,000.

Gaza's borders were first drawn up in 1949 at the end of the Arab/Israeli War. Palestinian refugees packed into the small Arab controlled area after being forced from their homes in Israel. Gaza quickly became overcrowded and impoverished and a staging point for operations against Israel.

Israel seized the area during the Suez Crisis of 1956 then turned it back over to Egypt under international pressure. Israel took control of Gaza again during the six day war of 1967 and the current occupation has continued from then until now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Just ahead, we're investigating a deadly plane crash. Authorities are looking for clues to figure out what went wrong aboard a doomed passenger plane. We'll have a live report from Greece at the bottom of the hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been given a gift and so I have to make the best that I could out of that gift.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: He survived the 9/11 attacks. Now this former firefighter has a new mission in life. His story is still to come.

And up next, rough weekend weather. Will things calm down today? Jacqui Jeras is with us for the nation's forecast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Parts of the northeast are starting the week with a lot of cleaning up to do. Severe storms rolled through Massachusetts last night leaving tens of thousands of people in the dark. The storms also sent flood waters into the streets of several cities and high winds toppled trees and knocked down power lines.

It's pretty much the same story in New Jersey. High winds, heavy rain, lightning and hail also pounded parts of that state. About 25,000 people lost power. Also affected the PGA championship, which had to get started yet again today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Down payment donations and how to avoid family fights and unexpected taxes when you want to help your adult children put a roof over their heads. Those tips are coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check out the markets. They've been open about 50 minutes. Not the best start for a Monday. The Dow down 33 points. The Nasdaq also in negative territory. It is down 6 points.

More and more first-time home buyers are turning to their parents to help them realize the American dream. So if you want to help your child with the down payment on a home, how do you do it without causing a big tax bill or, even worse, a family fight? That's the focus of today's "Top Five Tips." With us Cybele Weisser of "Money" magazine.

Hi, Cybele.

CYBELE WEISSER, "MONEY" MAGAZINE: Hi there, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's get started with our first tip from well, actually it's for the parents for how they want to do it.

WEISSER: Yes. You know, if you want to help out your kid, what's the best way to do this? Well, the first option that many people it's still the most popular one out there, is to let your kid live at home and save up some money themselves. Oh, no! KAGAN: Oh, no!

WEISSER: Yes. Now the advantage is that, you know, it doesn't require you to come up with any of the money. The disadvantage is, well, like you said . . .

KAGAN: You might need money for therapy.

WEISSER: They could be at home for a long time. Some challenging family dynamics at stake. We suggest ahead of time make it clear what you expect. What you know, do you expect them to pay rent, do chores? And when do you expect them to move out?

KAGAN: Yes. Good idea. When you leaving? So let's talk about moving out. What if you want to help them with that big chunk of the down payment?

WEISSER: Right. Well, there's a bunch of ways to do that. One, is to just gift the down payment to them outright. Here's where you need to know about the tax rules. The IRS says that you can give up to $11,000 a year tax-free to your child. So both parents could give $22,000 a year. Anything above that is going to be counted against your lifetime estate tax exemption, although those rules are subject to change going forward.

KAGAN: Or you could just loan the down payment. Make it so you're going to be paying me back.

WEISSER: Exactly. So here, in order to satisfy IRS requirements, you've got to make sure that it's a real loan. So put the terms in writing and you have to charge a reasonable interest rate. You can't just give them $1 a year.

KAGAN: And now going the next step and beyond.

WEISSER: Yes, exactly.

KAGAN: Talking about cosigning on the mortgage. This is a really big step.

WEISSER: Yes. This is a big step. And this is very important to think about ahead of time because lenders will see this as your loan. It could affect your ability to borrow more money and if your kid does not pay, you're on the hook for the money. Family dynamics again. Very challenging.

KAGAN: Yes, Thanksgiving, not so happy.

WEISSER: Yes. (INAUDIBLE).

KAGAN: Yes. What if you co-own the house?

WEISSER: Well, you know, if you buy the house outright, the IRS is going to see that as a gift, and that's going to be a pretty significant chunk against your lifetime estate tax exemption. So an option other than that is to co-sign for the house. Have both your names on the title.

One advantage here is that you can also get the gains. If the house appreciates, you know, that's your house, too. On the other hand, you have to make it clear ahead of time what you expect. If the house does appreciate, who shares in that appreciation? What percentage? You know, when are you going to sell? You should work that out before you sign any check.

KAGAN: Renting sounding better all the time.

WEISSER: Doesn't it?

KAGAN: Cybele, thank you.

Cybele Weisser from "Money" magazine.

WEISSER: You're very welcome.

KAGAN: Thank you.

Well, this is the worst air disaster in Greek history. Now investigator are trying to figure out what went wrong aboard a doomed airliner.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know the whole thing I must have listened to it hundreds of times. My scarf (ph) was off. I was dripping in and out of consciousness. I do not remember the tape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: How the release of the 9/11 emergency audio tapes is helping one retired New York City firefighter piece together what happened the morning of September 11th.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Welcome back. We're getting close to the half hour of CNN LIVE TODAY. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening "Now in the News."

A presentation of the new Iraqi constitution has been delayed for at least two hours. Document writers are trying to reach a compromise on two key issues, federalism and the role of women. If a draft doesn't go to the National Assembly today, the Iraqi government will cease to exist. Lawmakers can still pass an extension allowing the government to keep operating.

Officials say Afghan security forces have killed at least 28 suspected Taliban rebels in the latest pre-election military offensive. Nearly 1,000 people died in violence in Afghanistan since March. Officials have warned that toll could rise heading into next month's legislative elections. And Qwest Communication workers are staying on the job for now. Their contract expired over the weekend. Negotiations broke up before midnight. But company officials say the talks will resume. Key issues include healthcare, pension and mandatory overtime.

And now, to the plane crash in Greece.

All but two bodies have been found from the crash yesterday of a Cypriot (ph) airliner in Greece. The crash was the worst air disaster in Greek history. There were no survivors among the 121 people onboard. Our Chris Burns joins us from near Grammatiko, Greece.

Chris.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, the search goes on over my shoulder just as we speak. We can see work crews picking at remains, looking for not only remains of the plane but also of bodies, as they try to continue to try to positively identify all of those who were aboard. Now those bodies that have been found have been transported over to a makeshift morgue and then they're going on to a central hospital where families have been brought over from Cypress (ph) to identify those bodies. There was also a memorial today by in a church in Athens with the prime minister of the country there the prime minister of the country marking the mass with those, some of the families of the victims.

And the investigation into what caused this crash goes on. Up to now, what authorities believe is that it was a loss of cabin pressure, loss of oxygen, and it caused both the pilot and copilot to be incapacitated. And what we are hearing from a senior government official is that the F-16s that were flying along the plane after radio contact was lost had seen two people inside and they believe inside the cockpit. They believe at least one of them was a stewardess because they found the body of a stewardess next to the body of the copilot after the crash. So they think that possibly, in those final moments just before the crash, a stewardess was trying to pull the plane out from crashing into this mountain.

The identification of the bodies is going to be very difficult. Quite a few of them have been burned beyond recognition. Authorities say they're going to have to use at least DNA or some other techniques to positively identify them. The black boxes have been found, and they will be transferred on to Paris to be looked at. What we hear of late is that the voice recorder has been badly damaged, and authorities are not sure if they're going get anything out of that.

Back to you -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Chris, looking at the -- some details on who was onboard, it seems like there was a large number of children. Seventy-nine adults, 42 children among the passengers. Any explanation for that?

BURNS: Daryn, what we heard, was yes, it is that number that we have heard. They were Cypriot children, who were Greek Cypriot children on their way to a soccer camp in Prague. The plane was to land here in Athens and then go on to Prague. That is what is what is believed to be the reason why there were so many children onboard.

KAGAN: Chris Burns, reporting to us from Grammatiko, Greece. Thank you for that report.

The loss of cabin pressure was a probable cause in that crash that killed golfer Payne Stewart. That was six years ago. Stewart and five others died when their Lear jet crashed in South Dakota in October of 1999. That plane had flown for more than four hours without radio contact. An aviation expert says there are similarities between that incident and the crash in Greece.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JOHN WHILEY, AVIATION EXPERT: On the surface, there certainly appears to be a number of parallels. We don't know if the 737 continued until fuel exhaustion. But the flight plan that would have been loaded in the computers, even if the aircraft had gotten close to destination, once those flight plans dropped out of the computers, the airplane would have remained at altitude at the last command at air speed, and heading until something was changed. There was no one there to make the changes.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

KAGAN: A plane crashed in Australia in 2000 after flying for more than an hour with no sign of life onboard.

Last week, the New York City Fire Department released chilling audiotapes that captured some of the horrifying moments of 9/11. One of the voices on those tapes was that of a firefighter who survived, despite a very close brush with death. He's retired now, spending his time helping the fire department improve its emergency response.

The story now, from CNN's Jason Carroll.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go head, urgent.

AL FUENTES, NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHT: I'm trapped here from the previous collapse. I need to make it out.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was just one of thousands of desperate calls that came in that day.

FUENTES: Someone help us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Unit one urgent.

FUENTES: Yes, listen, uh, we got these firefighters see evacuated from the tunnel, but we still got firefighters trapped. We need a hand out here on the west side highway.

CARROLL: The call for help came from New York City Fire Department Captain Al Fuentes. His voice heard publicly for the first time after the fire department released 15 hours of emergency transmissions from 9/11.

(on camera): Where were you in relation to where we are now?

FUENTES: Well actually, I was right on West Street, between West (ph) and Liberty.

CARROLL: Fuentes only remembers part of that day. The South Tower had just collapsed. He was trying to rescue people who were trapped, when the North Tower fell.

FUENTES: The North Tower came down, and there was no time to run. It was just bend down and get ready for the hit, and I said the Hail Mary.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rescue, go ahead.

FUENTES: Yes. I'm going to need a couple of guys here to lift this this beam up here, so we can get out of here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have help on the way. Let me repeat that. There is help on the way.

FUENTES: 10-4.

CARROLL (voice-over): Fuentes was trapped under a beam. We had a lacerated skull, a collapsed lung and several broken ribs. Firefighters frantically searched, but Fuentes eventually lost the strength to answer their calls.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Calling Captain Fuentes. Captain Fuentes, come in if you read me.

CARROLL (on camera): In listening to your voice, do you remember any of it? What you heard on the tapes?

FUENTES: You know, I know the whole thing, I must have listened to it hundreds of times. My scalp was off. I was dripping in and out of consciousness. I do not remember the tape.

CARROLL (voice-over): It took firefighters an hour-and-a-half to find him. Fuentes says emergency crews were working on an antiquated communication system, too many people trying to communicate on the same frequency. Many did not hear the call that the collapse of the second tower was imminent.

FUENTES: I never heard of one. I never an evacuation warning. But I can tell you from my 26 years, I know individuals that wouldn't leave.

CARROLL: A fire department spokeswoman says improvements to radios and dispatch have been made since that day.

FUENTES: We were so far behind, that whatever improvements they make, it's not good enough for me.

CARROLL: Fuentes still feels guilty that he survived and so many others did not.

He's retired now, but uses his time consulting first responders on how to improve emergency response.

FUENTES: I've been given a gift. And so I have to make the best I could out of that gift. And I think I'm working at it.

At the end of the day, I got to look in the mirror and I have to answer to that, you know, and I hope I like what I see.

CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

To world news now. Indonesians are hopeful that a new peace deal will bring to an end a three decade civil war that has claimed 15,000 lives. It took the devastation from last year's tsunami to bring the government and rebels back to the bargaining table. Both sides agreed to make major concessions. Officials in Banda Aceh believe peace will clear the way for more reconstruction aid. The deal was signed in Helsinki, Finland. Under the agreement, the rebels give up their demand for independence and agree to hand over their weapons. The government offers amnesty and the right to political representation.

Japan has made a new move to face up to its history. The prime minister apologizing today for the damages that his country caused with its conquest in Asia during World War II. And he vows that Japan will never again take the path to war. The comments came during ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of Japan's surrender. Many of Japan' neighbors, including China, accuse Tokyo of failing to atone for its wartime aggression.

Japan's surrender in World War II, known as V.J. Day, was also remembered here in the U.S. In New York, vintage aircrafts performed a fly-over as war veterans gathered to mark the anniversary. Among them, vets who served aboard the USS Intrepid. The carrier survived a Japanese torpedo and five kamikaze attacks. The Inteprid is now a museum.

KAGAN: How high can it go? We're talking about the cost of gasoline. It sets another record. What's driving this recent surge in prices? A check of today's business news is next.

And will the weather delay cost Phil Mickelson his shot at another major? A live report from the PGA Championship, when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: A first to tell you about this morning, for the first time ever, the top chef at the White House is a woman. Cris Comerford has been named the executive chef. First lady Laura Bush announced the appointment. Mrs. Bush fired the previous head chef after 11 years on the job. Comerford has been an assistant chef at the White House for a decade. And before that, she was a chef at two Washington hotel restaurants.

Congratulations to her.

And now continuing our culinary theme, a nine-year-old Washington State boy may need some help reaching the kitchen counter, but he's a master chef when it comes to making scones.

Reporter Julia Humphreys of our affiliate KHQ has the story of this enterprising young businessman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Putting hard butter in it.

JULIA HUMPHREYS, KHQ REPORTER (voice-over): Never mind that Micah Estelle can't quite reach the counter, he just uses a chair to make his scones. "Scones to Go," he calls his baked goods. He got the idea from his sister, who had a cookie business. He wanted some of the action. So he started making tortillas.

MICAH ESTELLE: The tortilla, the recipe was less complicated than the scones, but it was time-consuming. We made a dozen an hour, and now we make 12 dozen.

HUMPHREYS: OK, so he already has time management down. But has he caught on to a health-conscience public.

ESTELLE: Well I try to lower the fat. It says whole whipping cream in my recipe. I use half & half.

HUMPHREYS: All right, so how's his business sense? Well, he does only use spices and grain grown fresh in our area.

ESTELLE: We wanted to keep farmers and local people in business, not out.

HUMPHREYS: Can't argue that. But does this boy understand presentation?

ESTELLE: Well, because it kind of wrecks the food if it's just slopped on the plate.

HUMPHREYS: As can you tell, Micah has thought of it all, and that's exactly what caught the eye of some seasoned chefs, like Raymond Delfino of the Spokane Club. On this day, Micah is delivering a box of his scones to Delfino, 10 to a box for $4.

RAYMOND DELFINO, CHEF, SPOKANE CLUB: I've been doing this for 30-some years, and I've never ran into a young man of this caliber, knowing what he wants to do in his life this early.

HUMPHREYS: Chef Gray (ph) calls Micah inspiring, so much so that he approached the American Culinary Federation, and had Micah named the first-ever honorary member.

ESTELLE: It's a lot easier.

HUMPHREYS: Honors aside, Micah is happiest back in his mom's kitchen making cinnamon, chocolate chip, craisin and gingerbread scones. His favorite?

ESTELLE: Chocolate chip.

HUMPHREYS: So far, he's made about $500 with his 30 customers, not bad for a nine-year-old who's only been in business about six months.

ESTELLE: Well, it's like my sport. I don't do a sport, because this is my sport, because I just love doing it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, you keep going, Micah.

That story was from reporter Julie Humphreys from CNN affiliate KHQ.

So question for you, what is cooking at the PGA Championship? Things cooking overtime. They had to spill over into today because of weather. This could be one of the most interesting ends of this major tournament, well, in a long time. We'll bring that to you and check with Larry Smith in New Jersey just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Right now we talk golf. The PGA Championship's final round resumes this hour. Play to be suspended yesterday because of bad weather. So a dozen or so golfers still battling it out on the course.

Our Larry Smith is covering the action from Springfield, New Jersey.

Lar, an extra bonus day for you, and it looks like this one is looking very interesting?

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, This is the best day so far. The weather is fantastic, overcast most of the day. But I've got to tell you, the dozen golfers on the course are playing a quick pace as if they've got a plane to catch, and they probably do.

Here's where it stands right now, a three-way tie atop the leaderboard, and actually in the clubhouse just now, Steve Elkington at three under. He is in the clubhouse, and that is now the shot to go for it. Tiger Woods will not be in a playoff leader today, as we show you some of the action for the day. Steve Elkington really has been outstanding. Three pars on his three holes he had to finish today as the Australian tries to win his second PGA Championship. He won this event a decade ago. Phil Mickelson and Thomas Bjorn, also at three under par. Thomas Bjorn from Denmark trying to become the first European to win this event since 1930, when Tommy Armour did it. The only birdie on the day among all the contenders. He had a birdie on 17 that puts him at three under par. Phil Mickelson bogeyed on 16. He just parred 17 a moment ago. Teeing off right on 18 as we speak, Davis Love III is his playing parnter. He right now is at two under par. He has been par for the day.

Now, if there is a playoff, here is how it goes in the PGA Championship. There will a three-hole playoff on holes 4, 5 and 18. The aggregate score wins. If there is still a tie, they then go to sudden death.

Now, as you might know, Tiger Woods finished his day on Sunday at two under par, came back to the course today, in case he was part of a playoff with Steve Elkington. Now in the clubhouse at three under par, Tiger Woods, he is finished. He will not win his third career -- his third major, I should say, of the 2005 golf season -- Daryn.

KAGAN: He won't win, but he cleaned up a huge mess of a first round. If that playoff needs to be done, does it happen today?

SMITH: It does happen today. Now, right now the clouds have cleared. It's a beautiful day at the moment. However, this morning, we did hear a possibility of some thunderstorms after lunchtime. So certainly, the quick play, hopefully will get a playoff in, if it is needed, before that bad weather comes in.

KAGAN: All right. You keep that umbrella handy, though, Lar.

SMITH: I will do that.

KAGAN: Hope you brought extra clean clothes. You will get home eventually. Thank you. Larry Smith from New Jersey.

Well, what kind of weather can the world's best golfers expect for the rest of the day? A check on the forecast, coming up, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Funeral services are being held in Chicago this morning for an African-American publishing pioneer. Hundreds of mourners filed past the coffin of John H. Johnson yesterday. Johnson founded "Ebony" and "Jet" magazines. He died last week of heart failure. He was 87.

Darlene Hill with our CNN affiliate WFLD has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES COMPTON, FAMILY FRIEND: He was a wonderful person; a dedicated, committed man. Excellent businessman, and one of the hardest working people I have ever known in my life.

DARLENE HILL, WFLD REPORTER (voice-over): Family and friends and hundreds of people that didn't even know John H. Johnson stopped by the visitation to say goodbye and thanks to the founder, publisher and chairman of "Ebony" and "Jet" magazines.

VIRGINIA CLARK, MOURNER: But when you look at the, you know, pages of "Ebony," you saw people that looked like you and you knew that, really, you could do it. He really did fill in those images in your dreams.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; He represented much beauty. He gave us so much pride, he and Linda and Mrs. Johnson. They're just a fabulous family.

DICK GREGORY, FAMILY FRIEND: He did something that no one ever did in the history of the planet. He changed the -- he put a happy face on black folks all over the world. Before that -- "Time" magazine, "New York Times," would tell you about Jackie Robinson, but they'd never show his family.

HILL: Johnson started "Ebony" magazine in 1945 after his mother took out a $500 loan on the family's furniture. Friends and staff say the publishing giant always wanted the truth, good and bad, on the pages of his magazines.

ANTHONY GOOLESBY, MOURNER: Being able to go to "Jet" or "Ebony" magazine and get a story about a black person that I felt maybe we wouldn't have been able to get from another magazine or news article.

HILL: Beside the articles, some say they liked the special features.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cosmetics.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... centerfold in "Jet." I'm sure all pre- teen boys -- well, no, my favorite part was the recipe of the week. You know, some of that down-home soul food cooking.

HILL: Reverend Jesse Jackson says John Johnson changed black America, and now the world is a better place because of him.

REV. JESSE JACKSON, FAMILY FRIEND: This file of Johnson Publishing Company is more substantial than Library of Congress. He chronicles our struggle. He broke the Emmett Till story nationally and it became an emotional turning point.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Former president Bill Clinton and Senator Barak Obama are among those scheduled to attend the funeral.

KAGAN: Let's take a look at other stories making news coast-to- coast. Protesters against a panhandling ban in downtown Atlanta staged an all-night demonstration outside City Hall. The group wants affordable housing and living wage for the downtown area's homeless. The city is scheduled to take up that ban today.

That's a section of Interstate-70, reopening today in Colorado after three massive rockslides. Workers cleared more than 15,00 tons of rocks over the weekend. Crews plan to return to the area tonight to resume that rock-scaling work.

And thousands of native Americans celebrated their heritage at the National Pow-Wow over the weekend. The event was hosted by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Members of 800 tribal nations attended. Musical and dance competitions were held.

(WEATHER REPORT)

Also ahead in the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY, what's the future for women in Iraq? As the country's leaders try to agree on a new constitution, will women gain or lose freedom under the new government? That's just ahead.

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