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CNN Live Today

Violence in Iraq Ensues with Car Bomb Explosion and Gunfire; Big Crowds and Balloons Fill New York for Parade; Pennsylvania Teen Gives Detailed Account of Killings; Timing Crucial for Next Career Move; Dangers of Turkey Fryers on Thanksgiving; Stores Preparing for Black Friday

Aired November 24, 2005 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center in Atlanta, in today for Daryn Kagan.
Among the stories we're following over the next two hours, perhaps the symbol of Thanksgiving is this, besides, of course, the turkey. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Mr. Potatohead and Super Grover among the new additions to the huge and very fabulous balloons. This is the 79th time the parade has been rolling through the streets there.

Much more ahead, but first a look at some of the other stories happening right now.

In suburban Chicago, at least 16 people were injured when a commuter train slammed into vehicles at a rail crossing. The cause of yesterday's crash is under investigation, but the train's engineer says the crossing gate did appear to be working. We'll have more on what happened straight ahead.

Some 1,500 families displaced by Hurricane Katrina can soon move into rent-free homes after some pressure from a Mississippi congressman. Two agencies, Fannie Mae and FEMA, have settled their dispute.

The mortgage company agreed to drop its demand to continue showing the homes to perspective buyers. FEMA had said that doing so would violate the privacy of the evacuees.

And the shelves are not bare, but they're not as packed either. Food banks across the country haven't been getting as many holiday donations as usual.

The Milwaukee food drive is down 50 percent from normal. The New York City Food Bank down one million pounds from last year and donations are down 12 percent at the Los Angeles regional food bank. The reason for the shortages, many donations have gone to hurricane victims instead.

We begin the hour in Iraq where the latest round of violence hits U.S. troops, Iraqi security officials and civilians. Three American soldiers are dead, two died in gunfire southwest of Baghdad. A third from a bombing in the west. Also outside the capital, a car bomb exploded near a hospital today killing 30 people. With more on that, we turn to CNN's Aneesh Raman. He is at the forward operating base outside Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi officials say at least 30 people were killed, namely Iraqi civilians, and many others wounded when a suicide car bomb detonated outside a hospital in the town of Mahmoudiya south of capitol. The U.S. military says four U.S. soldiers were also wounded in the attack. They say that soldiers were there to help plan and assess structural change at the hospital. They were also handing out toys to local children.

The military says the suicide bomber was trying to break through the outer perimeter, and the outer security of the hospital and detonate inside. The bomber failed to do that. Mahmoudiya falls within an area that has a large number of insurgent groups operating. And area that does see a consistent number of attacks.

Meantime, in the Iraqi capital, within the course of just one hour, three Iraqi security officials were gunned down. That information coming from Baghdad's emergency police.

Also today, the U.S. military announcing the capture of a key insurgent figure. A suspected lieutenant of Jaysh al-Mujahideen, an insurgent group in Iraq. He goes by the name Abu Shihab. He was captured in a raid again on October 23rd. This all comes, of course, just weeks ahead of Iraq's critical next political landmark, the December 15th general elections.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, in Northern Babul Province, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And coming up, they've given so much now, giving thanks with some of the U.S. troops in Iraq. Aneesh will be back with a live report on that.

And in Crawford, Texas, President Bush is celebrating the holiday season and he's not alone. Anti-war protesters have followed him there. But the demonstration there hasn't exactly gone as protesters planned.

Daniel Ellsberg was one of a dozen arrested yesterday for violating a new ordinance barring camping on the roadsides near the president's ranch. In the past, Ellsberg made a name by leaking Pentagon papers, helping to turn the nation against the Vietnam War.

CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us now from Crawford with more on the activity there.

Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Fredricka. Later tonight we are expecting to see the return of anti-war demonstrator Cindy Sheehan. , of course, led the August protests here in Crawford that drew people from across the country. Now Sheehan's son, Casey, was killed in Iraq and Sheehan has been demanding answers from President Bush about why her son died.

Yesterday Sheehan's sister was also among the 12 demonstrators who were arrested near the president's ranch. Those arrests coming in light of a new county ordinance restricting camping and parking along the road in certain areas.

Now today demonstrators are also planning what they're calling a simple Iraqi meal of rice and lentils. That happens this afternoon. And the protesters are continuing to maintain a small but visible presence in an area where they are allowed to be.

A place they've dubbed Camp Casey II. That's the private property where a large tent and several smaller tents have been set up. Unclear, though, exactly how many people may turn out in the coming days.

Now Sheehan has continued to argue for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, an idea that has got renewed attention in recent days and weeks. But the Bush administration has maintained that withdrawing prematurely, in their opinion, would be a mistake.

Meantime, President Bush himself will be spending this Thanksgiving dinner with family at the Prairie Chapel ranch. It will be a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey and all the trimmings. We understand that in addition to the president, of course the first lady and their twins, Jenna and Barbara, as well as President Bush's parents, will be on hand.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Elaine Quijano in Crawford, Texas. Thanks so much.

Well, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a little parade in Manhattan. The 79th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is making its way down Central Park West in Manhattan. But for a moment, there was a bit of concern that some of the parade's biggest attractions might not be up for the trip.

CNN's Jason Carroll is among the parade watchers and he's here to tell us what is all that about. That some just weren't up for the game?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, wait. First of all, did you call it a little parade, Daryn?

WHITFIELD: It's just a little.

CARROLL: Did you say little parade?

WHITFIELD: Kind of. CARROLL: This is a big parade. Check this out. I mean, look, big balloons. Look at Ronald McDonald. Look at that, big balloon, big crowd. Show them the crowd over here, Fred. Big crowds. This is a big parade. Lots of clowns. Big parade. Big parade.

WHITFIELD: Very big. You're right. Very big. I meant that facetiously.

CARROLL: There you go. Lots of clowns. Lots of balloons. So far some of the highlights, we saw Scooby-doo go by. We've got lots of clowns here. You know, clowns kind of freak me out, but on a day like today I'm going to get over my fear and thank you and do the clown thing. But it's all about really I think the kids. When you come out here and you see the kids, the faces and everything. I mean, they really into this. They really love this.

Here's two that have been here ever since very early this morning. Who did you see so far that you liked?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well the Build-a-Bear was really nice.

CARROLL: And anyone else?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Disney was really nice, too.

CARROLL: I thought so, too.

How about you? Did you see any favorites that you liked?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pikachu and . . .

CARROLL: The one that just went by?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CARROLL: Ronald McDonald.

WHITFIELD: Good answer.

CARROLL: And he was talking about Pikachu. Let me show you what that character is right over there. That big, yellow, furry-looking thing that's coming our way.

WHITFIELD: What is that? I don't know what that is.

CARROLL: You know, you've got Pikachu, Pokeman. It's from that whole thing.

WHITFIELD: Oh, OK.

CARROLL: And then if I can peak just down there, you've got one of the new balloons. That is Mr. Healthy Potatohead. He's got running shoes on and a bottle of water. So it's the healthy version of the old, you know, Mr. Potatohead.

One of the highlights, definitely, Scooby-doo, one of the four new balloons this year. Also Dora the Explorer that just went by, should be several blocks down the way down there. I've got to tell you, Daryn, when Dora came by, it was Dora, Dora. Everyone's screaming for Dora.

WHITFIELD: You're kidding me. As if she were running for office or something.

CARROLL: And the good news, of course, is that Dora was able to explore her way down the parade route. She is one of the large balloons. And because the weather cooperated, the winds are low, of course all the large helium balloons were able to participate in the parade. So certainly good news on the Thanksgiving here in New York.

Daryn.

WHITFIELD: And, Jason, does it seem that the weather in any way has kind of hampered the turnout there. I mean, it looks quite chilly, a little damp, but you still got some pretty thick crowds on the sidelines.

CARROLL: You know, I'm actually a little surprised by that because we heard all the weather reports saying snow, possible rain, possible mix of either of the two and but, look, you still have so many people that showed up anyway. They just sort of, you know, packed themselves up. I keep pointing it this guy here in the short sleeve which still amazes me. I mean that's the whole story right there, you know.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh.

CARROLL: They just put on a little extra layers and headed on out. So it doesn't seem to thank you. It didn't seem to affect the crowd, you know, the weather reports. They're out here in full force.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, it is a tradition. So, you know, it's once a year. If you've got to brave a little cold, a little wind, a little rain, why not today?

CARROLL: Not to bad, right?

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, Jason Carroll, Happy Thanksgiving. We'll be checking in with you throughout the next couple of hours.

CARROLL: Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.

CARROLL: All right.

WHITFIELD: Well, residents from the Great Lakes eastward are getting a real feel for the holiday season in the form of snow. The flurries, while they are pretty, slowed things down a bit in the Pittsburgh area.

This same system caused problems in parts of Indiana, causing numerous accidents. Thankfully, no report of serious injuries. And in parts of Michigan, slick roads and strong winds made for a messy, snowy commute there. Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras.

Happy Thanksgiving.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, it may be chilly in New York, but the parade performances are hot. And with all that body heat along the sidelines of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, it's downright toasty. We'll let you snuggle up to the sights over the next two hours or so right here on CNN.

Also ahead . . .

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you fry one at your house again?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not at my house. No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. The sizzling new way to cook a turkey. Also the most dangerous and potentially deadly. Before you drop that bird in that fryer, you must watch this story.

But first, more on that train accident last night in Chicago. Why were so many cars and people on the same path of a commuter train? A closer look straight ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. I'd like to say Happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays to all my family, my fiancee Ashley and my parents, just everybody back at home. I love you guy. Miss you. Bye.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Federal investigators today will be at the scene of a commuter train accident in suburban Chicago. The train crashed into vehicles at a rail crossing late yesterday injuring at least 16 people. We get more now from CNN's Sean Callebs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An horrific start to the long, holiday weekend here in Elmwood Park, just outside of Chicago. You're looking at the aftermath of a violent collision of a commuter train with a number of vehicles.

It happened Wednesday afternoon around 5:30 Eastern Time at the height of rush hour, on the busiest travel day of the year. Authorities tell us a west bound Metra commuter train was coming through here, moving at speeds close to 55 or 60 miles an hour.

Now what happened, a number of cars were actually suck right here on the road, Grand Avenue, which is also shared by the railroad tracks. The cars had no where to go, so the train plowed in to at least five of those cars, sending some of them crooning into others. At least one car exploded in flames.

Now a number of people were injured and taken to at least five different hospitals. Residents and eye witnesses say they have long been concerned about this intersection, saying it's simply dangerous. It's termed a long crossing intersection. There are gates, there are rail road arms that were apparently operating. Metra is investigating that.

But the big concern, what happens at a time like this when a train is coming through and traffic is simply stopped and terrified drivers have no where to go. Well the residents in this area say it was has always been among their worst nightmares. A number of authorities are investigating, trying to determine exactly what happened.

Here is what Metra says happened as the engineer came around the corner and saw the vehicles stopped on this road.

JUDY PARDONNET, METRA SPOKESWOMAN: And at the point that he believed he saw cars on the track, he wouldn't know if they were attempting to cross around the gate or if the gate was up, but he did see an obstruction and they are trained. They have a keen eye to look way down to determine if there's anything crossing the tracks. When he saw that, he put the train into the emergency stop mode.

CALLEBS: Again, what is hard to fathom for residents in this area, you see the railroad tracks. Now that also, that is part of Grand Avenue. The track, the railways and the road share the same real estate for about 75 feet. So a number of people have always been concerned that a horrific collision would happen in this intersection. It just had to happened at the start of a holiday weekend.

Sean Callebs, CNN, Elmwood Park, Illinois.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Pennsylvania authorities say the 18-year-old accused of killing his girlfriend's parents has given a detailed account of the killings. Court documents say David Ludwig dropped off Kara Borden at her home after spending the night together at his house.

Ludwig told detectives Kara Borden later didn't answer his text messages so he phoned her. She told him her parent had caught her and that he need to come over to her house.

According to documents, Ludwig said he took several weapons with him. He said is spoke with Michael Borden, the father, for about 45 minutes. And when he told the father or rather the father told him he couldn't see his daughter anymore, Ludwig said he made up his mind. He told police he shot and killed Michael Borden and his wife Katherine.

As he was driving from the house, Ludwig says he saw Kara Borden running toward him. He picked her up. When police asked Ludwig if she had ever asked him to kill her parents, she said no. All those details coming from new documents released.

While families gather around the dinner table in the United States, many of their loved ones are thousands of miles away in Iraq. Ahead, we're going to try and give some of those folks back home a reason to smile. We'll talk with a few of the troops live and let them send their holiday wishes home.

But first, we're going to talk about finding a job. I know you're saying, why ruin the holiday. We're actually trying to make the process better for you. If you need a job, this may be the best time of year to be looking for one. That's coming up after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A beautiful Thanksgiving morning and hardly a commute there over the Golden Gate Bridge out in San Francisco. Good morning to everyone in San Francisco this morning.

Well, today's start of the holidays also opens the shopping season for another deeply-coveted item, a new job. At least one in every five job seekers will suspend their search, however, until the new year. So the next six weeks may be the perfect time for your next career move.

Joining us from Chicago is John Challenger, chief executive officer of the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Incorporated.

Good to see you, John.

JOHN CHALLENGER: CHALLENGER, GRAY & CHRISTMAS: Nice to be here, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well you were saying, folks, if you're looking for a job, don't be among the 20 percent or so of job seekers who are going to wait until after the new year to look for a job because now may be the best time. Why?

CHALLENGER: Well, what a great opportunity. A fifth of your competition for the same job is just taking the time off, not looking. Plus, it's just a very heavy time for companies that are hiring. The last two years have been very strong. Over 4 million jobs have been created and we expect up to 300,000 plus good, professional, business- related management jobs to open up during this period.

WHITFIELD: What are some of the industries that folks need to concentrate on?

CHALLENGER: Well, some of the strongest industries right now in the economy are energy, the health care business, financial services, especially accounting, international business, all great places to look.

WHITFIELD: And so among the challenges for people looking for a job, besides just sending out their applications, they really want to get their name and their face seen and heard. What are some of your best pieces of advice on doing that?

CHALLENGER: Well, that's just the key to the search right now. You have to get out and be public, even if emotionally you just as soon go take the time off and get the comfort food and avoid telling people you're out of work. So, for example, one of the most important things to do is volunteer, join organizations. You can meet a lot of VIPs and people who might get you the job, but also it makes you feel good about yourself if you're doing something for others.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's interesting. And you might meet or you may even find out through some of those non-profit organizations. They may even be looking for some kind of permanent placement of some sort right?

CHALLENGER: Well, that's right. Sometimes after the holidays organizations take their best people that they found it happens in retail, too. You take a part-time job and it converts to a full-time job in January or February.

WHITFIELD: And when you go for those part-time jobs, perhaps, do you need to make it clear that perhaps you would like something permanent, so if there is any consideration for that you'd be more than happy to fill in that position?

CHALLENGER: Sure. Make a establish a good relationship with your boss. Do great work for him or her and let them know that if you like the environment, that you'd like to stay. That's a sure way at least to get your foot in the door so they'll consider you.

WHITFIELD: And you also say, go to those holiday parties, but don't just think about socialize. You really want to do some networking at some of these holiday parties. Let everyone know that you're looking.

CHALLENGER: That's right. I mean don't refuse an invitation . . .

WHITFIELD: Oh we lost that signal there. All right. Well, John Challenger, if you can hear us, thanks so much for being oh, there you are. OK. We almost lost you for a second.

CHALLENGER: Hi, Fredricka. Well, the holiday parties are great because what happened is, you can meet lots of people. You can later set up meetings with them. So if you get two party invitations on the same day, find a way to go to both because it's a you know, you'll just meet, you know, way more people and you might, you know, do during the week when you're trying to schedule interviews.

WHITFIELD: Sure. And you never know who knows who about what opportunity is out there.

CHALLENGER: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: All right, John Challenger, thanks so much. Happy Thanksgiving.

CHALLENGER: Happy Thanksgiving to you.

WHITFIELD: Thanksgiving in Iraq. For U.S. soldiers in battle, it's just not a holiday without family. Ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY, we're live from the forward operating base in Iraq. Some of the soldiers there will get a chance to send heart-warming wishes back home.

Plus this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I looked out and saw that the deck was on fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, I go, that's not good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Not good at all. A holiday that turned into horror for that man. The dangers of frying a turkey. Before you do, you want to watch this story coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We're right at the half hour now. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening now in the news.

The balloons are flying at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York right now. There was concern earlier this morning that heavy winds may ground some of the popular attractions, but officials decided the conditions were within a safe range. About two and a half milion people are expected to be at that parade.

The U.N. Nuclear Watchdog Agency decided today against reporting Iran to the security council over its nuclear activities. Instead the IAEA agreed to explore a Russian proposal. Under that plan, the Iranians would conduct less sensitive uranium processing in Iran.

But the enrichment process would take place in Russia, as part of a joint Russian-Iranian project. Enrichment can yield fuel for nuclear power stations or for nuclear weapons.

Al-Jazeera employees are staging sit-ins today as a protest against the U.S. government. The demonstrations follow a London tabloid report. "The Daily Mirror" reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair talked President Bush out of launching an air strike on the Arab language network's headquarters last year. The White House official calls the report outlandish.

Jordan's King Abdullah today called on the nation's new prime minister to launch an all-out war against Islamic militancy. The call follows the attack on Amman hotels earlier this month, attributed to the terror group al Qaeda group in Iraq. Marouf Bakheet was appointed today to be Jordan's prime minister.

This is a working holiday for more than 150,000 U.S. troops on duty in Iraq. For them, it's a time to not only give thanks, but to take stock and always be on alert.

CNN's Aneesh Raman is embedded with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He joins by video phone from the forward operating base, just south of Baghdad. Aneesh?

RAMAN: Fredricka, good morning. A holiday for the folks back home, but for U.S. troops in Iraq, there's no day off. They're out on patrols today as they are any other day. They're searching vehicles, they're conducting operations.

They did get a big Thanksgiving Day meal. We were at the chow hall earlier today. Lot of turkey, stuffing, all of the amenities one can expect out of Thanksgiving. There's also a turkey mascot, which usually doesn't show up at the houses.

But a time for them, as you say, to really get a break from the daily grind, to have some time to reflect. But it is the holidays that are the most difficult for the troops to be away from home.

Joining me is one them, specialist Tyler Tribble from Santa Rosa, California.

Now, Specialist Tribble, I know it's your first Thanksgiving away from home, especially in a combat situation like this. How difficult is it to be here during the holidays and how do you guys cope with it?

SPC. TYLER TRIBBLE, U.S. ARMY: Being out here, it's kind of another day. Usually I'd be out on patrol just like any day, but it just happened to fall out on this day, where we do an every other day thing. So, I got lucky with it, you know. We got to eat some good food. But, I hate to say it, is just kind of another day being out here.

RAMAN: Do you miss home more on these days? Do you call home more frequently during the holidays? How do you keep in touch with the family?

TRIBBLE: I'm usually on the Internet, that's how I keep in touch. But, you know, it's -- I just try to keep in touch as much as I can.

RAMAN: You know, there's all sorts of talks back home about what the troop morale is right now. People saying it's high, people saying it's low. From your point of view, here on the front lines, what's morale.

TRIBBLE: The morale, we've been here a long time, we all kind of want to go home. But you know, they give us time. Like earlier, before I came out here, I was playing a game of football. That helps to bring us together, you know, but we've been here a long time and we're ready to go. But we need to keep our heads in the game, so. RAMAN: And all of the political debate that's going on back home about Iraq and whether we should be here and for how long. Does that filter into you guys?

Does that affect what you're doing here, or is sort of, out of mind?

TRIBBLE: It's pretty much just aggravating, because we catch pieces of it. I mean, it's not like we sit there and watch the news, we just catch pieces of it. So, it's just annoying, because all day they say one thing, they say the other. It doesn't mean anything us to us, we can't do anything about it, so, we don't have anything to do with it.

RAMAN: Thank you so much for what you do, thanks for your time. Anyone you want to say hi to back home?

TRIBBLE: I've got my mom, my sister, my dad, my step dad, happy Thanksgiving and my boy Ian Sanderson (ph), Josh Grider (ph), they say happy Thanksgiving to their wives.

RAMAN: All right, well thanks again. Fredricka, as we said earlier, it is mere moments that holidays can last within this area of operation that we're in.

A car bomb detonating earlier today, troops are right there had to respond. So, Thanksgiving really about the meal, but as he was saying, just some time to take a break from it all. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, best wishes to all the troops there you're embedded with. Thanks so much, Aneesh Raman.

Well, at the heart of any Thanksgiving is the holiday feast and that's, of course, true for U.S. troops hungry for a taste of home. So here's the jaw-dropping shopping list for U.S. troops serving in Iraq and being served the traditional meal: 206,000 pounds of turkey, 55,000 pounds of stuffing mix, 17,000 gallons of eggnog, and nearly 33,000 pumpkin pies.

Planning to fry a turkey today? It could be the most dangerous meal you've ever cooked. Before you go outside to start the fryer, take a few minutes to watch this story coming up next. It could save your life and your home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. ROSS BROWN, SOLDIER: Hey, I want to wish everybody at home a happy Thanksgiving and to give a special thanks to my son Eric for his lucky note that he sent me. So thank you, Eric and everybody have a great Thanksgiving.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Later today, millions of Americans will sit down to a feast of turkey, some baked some, fried and some pretty disastrous. A turkey fryer is being blamed for this fire yesterday, in fact, just south of Nashville. Pretty serious business, firefighters say the homeowner was frying a turkey on his back deck and left the fryer unattended.

A similar story in Eugene, Oregon, on Tuesday. Construction workers had just finished building this house and they were frying a pre-Thanksgiving bird.

Apparently the oil overheated and bubbled out of the kettle. CNN's Greg Hunter looks at turkey frying and a danger that's increasing with its popularity.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At an apartment complex in Tucson, Arizona, Christmas Eve 2002, ended with this fire investigators say was caused by a turkey fryer.

K.D. PREBLE, HOMEOWNER: My dad and two sisters ran out the door, and I had to jump out my bedroom window.

HUNTER: Incidents of fires or burns have happened at least 112 times in the last seven years, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, attributed to people around the country improperly using turkey fryers.

One industry group estimates there are 10 million propane fryers in use today. People who cook with them say they work fast and the turkey is delicious -- most of the time.

Thanksgiving Day, 2003, at the Moon home in Aloha, Oregon, described by a couple of terrified neighbors.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fire.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a house on fire.

OPERATOR: Where?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know. Sarala, up 170th.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's -- the flames are 20 feet high. There's black smoke in the air. It's the whole backside of it. It started at the -- on the deck.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HUNTER: Dr. Stephen Moon says he had been cooking the family feast with a turkey fryer.

DR. STEPHEN MOON, HOMEOWNER: And I thought, well, you know, if something happens, I have got a fire extinguisher. That will take care of it. And it was like spitting in the wind. It was nothing compared to this fire that was going on.

HUNTER: The fire raged on. And, eventually, the fire department had to come put it out, but not before it caused more than $100,000 in damages.

Underwriters Laboratories in Northbrook, Illinois, a world- recognized product testing organization, says frying a turkey can be hazardous. Spokesman John Drengenberg says that's why U.L. will not put its sealed approval on any turkey fryer.

JOHN DRENGENBERG, MANAGER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES: There have been safety improvements on turkey fryers. But it's still not at the point where U.L. will authorize the use of its mark.

HUNTER (on camera): It's not safe?

DRENGENBERG: Because we don't believe it's safe enough for people to use.

HUNTER (voice-over): U.L. has been testing turkey fryers for the past three years. In this company video, they show easily fires can get out of control when typical consumer mistakes are made, like dropping a partially frozen bird into a pot of overheated oil.

The industry says, over the last few years, they have corrected many problems. In 2002, the Canadian Standards Association, a U.L. consumer testing competitor, began certifying some turkey fryers as safe. The stands are sturdier and the tanks are better marked, so consumers won't overfill.

Manufacturers have also decreased the intensity of the flame, so the oil won't overheat as quickly. And fryers come with pages of explicit cautions. One booklet contains at least 15 specific warnings on the dangers of frying a turkey.

Industry group the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association suggested we talk to Don and John McLemore, who owner Masterbuilt, one of the biggest makers of turkey fryers.

JOHN MCLEMORE, CO-OWNER, MASTERBUILT: If you don't drive your car attentive and like you should, automobiles can be dangerous. So, turkey frying is the same way. If you use it, follow the instructions and -- and do what we say in our instructions, no, it's a perfectly safe product to use.

HUNTER (on camera): The industry has warnings on its products. Isn't it the consumer's fault that they don't listen to the warnings?

DRENGENBERG: Well, the industry has added a lot of warnings to these turkey fryers. But the fact is, the construction has to be improved to the level of safety that U.L. would demand for such a product.

HUNTER: U.L. says it wants a device that will automatically limit the temperature of the oil in a gas turkey fryer, because it's not practical to expect consumers to watch a turkey fryer every minute, especially around the holidays. The McLemore brothers point out, they already make an electric fryer with a control to keep the oil at the correct temperature. But it will take time to develop one for their gas fryer that is safe.

DON MCLEMORE, CO-OWNER, MASTERBUILT: It's got to be done right. It can't be just done overnight and thrown in the marketplace. That could be a worse mistake than not having one at all.

HUNTER: Until a thermostat is developed, overheating oil is Underwriters Laboratories' main concern. U.L. set up a demonstration for CNN.

(on camera): One thing you need to be careful of when using a turkey fryer is something called the oil flash point. That's where, if you leave this unattended too long, and the oil gets too hot it can ignite without even touching a flame. Watch.

As you can see, even putting the lid on doesn't stop the fire and within seconds, flames are leaping four feet over the fryer. Within two and a half minutes, the demonstration wall catches fire.

This shows how quickly one of these fires can get out of control. When U.L.'s firefighters take the lid off to extinguish the fire, watch what happened. They spray foam on the fire, but even in this controlled situation, it's not easy to put out.

To see how it works in the real world, we went to this house, awaiting demolition near Chicago. With the help of Frankfort, Illinois, firefighters, we set up a turkey fryer with the kind of mistakes the Assistant Chief Larry Rauk (ph) says he sees all the time.

This looks like a dangerous setup, it's by the back door. You've got the leaves around there, it might be a little bit about the fill line. Is that how some people would treat this?

LARRY RAUK, ASSISTANT CHIEF: Yes, yes.

HUNTER: Not surprising?

RAUK: Not surprising at all.

HUNTER: Homeowners often make mistakes when using a turkey fryer. For example, this one is way too close to the house, it's too full of oil and too hot. On top of that, we're going to put a semi frozen bird right into the fryer to show you what can happen.

We had firefighters standing by to make sure this didn't get out of control. Because as Dr. Steven Moon (ph) will tell you, turkey fryer fires can get out of control in a hurry.

Would you fry one here at your house again?

DR. STEVEN MOON, FRIED A TURKEY: Not at my house, no.

HUNTER: For those who will, follow the instructions carefully or risk a holiday dinner tragedy. Greg Hunter, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: I think I'll stick with oven-roasted. A close call for a police officer and a motorist in need. Ahead, a police car's camera captures a frightening scene.

And, as we continue watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade roll past Central park, in New York, Jacqui Jeras is back with her weather forecast for the nation. Some rain, some fog, and a lot of snow across the country. The details when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PFC. RILEY HOSICK, SOLDIER: Hey, baby, it's me. Just calling to wish you a happy Thanksgiving and the rest of the family, you know, Bruce, Julie, Connor, Arthur, and your dad. I love you so much and I'll be home soon. Take care of the baby for me. I love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: And this just in: 60 miles south of Baghdad, a car bomb explodes in the city called, the Shiite city of Hilla. CNN confirms that at least three people are dead and 13 injured. It happened near a crowded soft-drink stand. It's still not clear if the car was driven by a suicide bomber or if that car was parked before being detonated, 60 miles south of Baghdad now. We're going to take a short break, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Maybe bowing to the nearby lights of Broadway, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade has decided that the show must go on. The New York tradition and it's thousands of parade watchers are shrugging off the rain and the winds.

New balloons this year include Mr. Potatohead, a healthy one and Dora the Explorer, the parade's first Latina character. Jacqui Jeras is in the weather center, they've got a little bit of drizzle, but you know what, that is not dampening the spirit, it appears. The show must go on, Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely, and we were really worried about the wind, too, Fredricka. And by the way, I can't get over that healthy Mr. Potato Head. It's just Mr. Potato Head.

WHITFIELD: I know, it's crazy, isn't it? But it's a great influence. But I know that winds can really be pretty dangerous for those balloons. We remember that a few years back, it caused some pretty serious problems.

JERAS: Right, and we heard from organizers this morning that the sustained winds have to be about 23, 24 miles-per-hour, with gusts at 34 miles-per-hour in order for them to have problems. So far, so good.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Wow, outside of those cities with the nice weather? Good reasons to stay inside.

JERAS: Yes, and eat a lot.

WHITFIELD: And eat a lot, you've got to do that today. All right, thanks a lot, Jacqui,

Well, talk about a close call.

This happened on Interstate 84 on the Idaho-Oregon border. Authorities say, whoa! An SUV came dangerously close to hitting an officer and a motorist who had just been in an accident. The motorist hurled herself over the guardrail to get out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. Authorities say the SUV was driving too fast for those icy conditions.

Well, say it ain't so. It looks like pop stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey will be singing solo. The Hollywood couple who starred in MTV's smash reality series, "The Newlyweds?" Well, they've announced that they will part ways. They say they ended their three- year-old marriage, long-rumored to be in trouble, only after, quote, "careful thought and consideration."

And you may be thinking about your turkey dinner today, but holiday shopping is already on the minds of millions of Americans that are already planning for black Friday. Coming up, how some retailers are trying to get you into the stores this season, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, here's one way to work off that turkey dinner and lighten your wallet, all at the same time. A bit of retail therapy. Tomorrow is considered the official start of the holiday shopping season.

Our Gerri Willis has been checking out some of the gimmicks stores will use get you through the doors.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (voice-over): Want a phone call from country music singer Brad Paisley? All you have to do is go to Target.com and sign up. On its Web site, Target is offering prerecorded celebrity phone calls to shoppers. Sign up and the likes of Brad Paisley will buzz you Thanksgiving night and tell you to go to bed.

VOICE OF BRAD PAISLEY, COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER: Take your boots off and let me lull you to sleep.

WILLIS: Or model Carolyn Murphy will call you Friday morning to wake you up. VOICE OF CAROLYN MURPHY, MODEL: Bet you've never been woken up by a swimsuit cover girl.

WILLIS: So you won't miss Target's two-day Thanksgiving sale.

(on camera): It's just one of the many gimmicks retails are using to get you shopping after you've had your turkey and stuffing. The National Retail Federation predicts 130 million Americans will hit the malls on Black Friday, so named because the Friday after Thanksgiving is often the most profitable. That's when retailers' bottom lines often swing out of the red and into the black.

BILL HAMPEL, CREDIT UNION NAT'L ASSOCIATION: There's a huge momentum built into holiday spending. It's determined by basic human instincts and drive that, you know, the most likely forecast is that holiday spending will go about the same way it did last year.

WILLIS (voice-over): This year, as a lure to customers, stores like Sam's Club are opening up 5:00 Friday morning and serving breakfast.

K-Mart isn't even waiting that long. It's stores are opening after most people have Thanksgiving dinner, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. And Macy's is reportedly going to pay you to shop. The store will give away $1 million in gift cards on Friday, worth anywhere from $10- to-$500.

If you'd rather shop from home, Web sites like Google shopping site froogle.com allow you to shop locally, even check the inventory of stores in your area. And BlackFridayads.com offers a one-stop preview for many deals on Black Friday, both online and in the stores.

I'm Gerri Willis, and that's the "Bottom Line."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And they gave their -- they lost their son, but gave six others the gift of life. We'll tell you about one family's generosity and the difference it made. Plus, one New Orleans evacuee is very thankful today. We'll tell you why.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

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