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CNN Live Today

Williams Executed In California; Iraqi Elections; Explosion and Fire In New Jersey Apartment Building; Golden Globe Nominations

Aired December 13, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: What's happening "Now in the News."
Domestic policy takes priority today for President Bush who was set to talk this hour with senior citizens promoting Medicare's new prescription plan. We'll air the president's comments from Virginia this morning as soon as we receive them right here at CNN.

In Australia, police are getting special lock-down powers to deal with rioters in the southern beach side suburbs of Sydney. Authorities say men who appear to be of Middle Eastern origin smashed store windows and attacked parked cars Monday night. Police say the violence started Sunday night when a mob of white men, some of them neo-Nazis, attacked people of Arab decent. Political leaders are playing down the racial overtones of the rioting.

The Federal Reserve meets today and is expected to raise interest rates for the 13th consecutive time. The official word should come down just after 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Susan Lisovicz will have more later this hour in business news.

And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Daryn Kagan is off today.

The debate over capital punishment versus redemption in the case of Stanley "Tookie" Williams ended early this morning. You've probably heard that California executed the former Crips gang leader, but you may not know all of the details surrounding the execution. For that we turn to CNN's Kareen Wynter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD SINGING: All we are saying is let Tookie live.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the gates of California's San Quentin Prison as Stanley "Tookie" Williams prepared to die.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At no point did he seem to give any kind of resistance whatsoever.

WYNTER: Williams was strapped on a table. His arms and legs secured. Fastened by leather straps. When asked whether he had any last words, he did not. Just after midnight local time, he was given a lethal injection inside an barren execution chamber. A group of observers stood in another room where they watched his final moments through several windows. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it seemed like toward the very end he was trying to keep his head up. Did you see this, too?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was trying to keep his head up as long as he can could until the first drugs hit him.

WYNTER: Several legal maneuvers during the last 24 hours, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, failed. The former gang leader, turned peace advocate, was convicted of slaying four people in 1979. Williams has never admitted guilt or apologized for the murders. Governor Schwarzenegger wrote in a lengthy statement, without any apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings, there can be no redemption.

Williams invited five witnesses to view the execution. One of them, his close friend Barbara Becnel. He did not ask for a spiritual advisor.

At San Quentin Prison, I'm Kareen Wynter.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: More now from Barbara Becnel, the advisor and confidant to Stanley "Tookie" Williams. She had this reaction to the execution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA BECNEL, WILLIAMS SUPPORTER: We are going to prove his innocence. And when we do, we are going to show that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in fact himself a cold blooded murderer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The step-mother of the 7-Eleven clerk Williams was convicted of murdering was in the witness chamber and watched Williams die. Lora Owens says she feels a bit of relief now that justice was served 26 years after her stepson's death. A reporter who was there said she cried when supporters yelled out, "the state of California just killed an innocent man." Williams was convicted of shooting her stepson, Albert Owens, as he lay face down on the floor even though he begged for his life. He was 26 years old. CNN's Miles O'Brien talked with her on AMERICAN MORNING today and asked if Williams had apologized would she have supported his clemency?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORA OWENS, STEPMOTHER OF VICTIM: Apologizing, asking forgiveness, that's (INAUDIBLE) atonement. It doesn't get you out of a just punishment. He had the just punishment.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Lora, did you have a chance to think about your stepson through all this this morning and have you thought that this is where he wanted you to be? OWENS: I felt like that's where they wanted me to be. I thought both of Albert and my husband and I felt like I was doing what they would have expected me to do, what my husband asked me to do and I've done it.

MILES O'BRIEN: Lora Owens.

OWENS: Now I just want to get on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Remember, you can catch "American Morning" at its new time beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

There's no shortage of controversy surrounding the death penalty in America and its history is long and varied. Here are the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS, (voice over): The United States and Japan are the only two industrialized democracies that still permit capital punishment. Some other nations won't even extradite criminal suspects to the U.S. without assurances they won't face capital punishment.

There are currently more than 3,400 inmates on death row in 38 states. America's most prolific period for capital punishment was in the 1930s when an average of 167 executions were carried out every year. T

he Supreme Court in 1972 ruled against the state of Georgia in a case that effectively banned the death penalty in America. The death penalty was reinstated by another high court decision in 1976.

And a ten-year moratorium on capital punishment ended with the execution of Gary Gilmore in Utah in 1977. Gilmore was killed by a firing squad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Despite the controversy surrounding Tookie Williams' execution, Americans, by a two to one margin, support capital punishment when the crime involves murder. Take a look at this Gallup Poll taken mid-October. Sixty-four percent of respondents favor the death penalty in murder cases, compared to less than a third who oppose capital punishment. The poll has a margin for error for 3 percent. And you can read more opinions on the death penalty relating to the Williams' case on our Web site. Cnn.com/law also has a listing of the number of executions and death row inmates by state, race and gender.

Turning now to the Iraqi election. Iraqi ex-patriots in 15 nations began voting today for Iraq's permanent parliament. Low turnout was recorded at 12 polling stations in Jordan. Officials say the slow start for the three-day absentee vote didn't signify voter apathy but a number of Iraqis in Amman expressed indifference about the vote to a reporter. Nearly a quarter million people in the U.S. are eligible to vote in the Iraqi election. Voting is going on today at seven sites, including suburban Washington, suburban Chicago, Nashville, Detroit and three California cities. Organizers expect tens of thousands of ex-patriots Iraqis to vote through Thursday. Some voters plan to travel hundreds of miles. Only about 10 percent of the eligible voters in the U.S. cast ballots in January for Iraq's constitutional assembly. The numbers are expected to be much higher this time around because a permanent government is at stake.

In Iraq, today is the last day of campaigning before Thursday's vote. And while militants are not calling for attacks on voters, politicians remain a prominent target. A Sunni Arab candidate was killed today and while a parliament member survived a separate attack. Sunni participation in Thursday's election is seen as key to curbing the insurgency and today more than 1,000 Sunni cleric issued a fatwa (ph) urged followers to cast ballots. CNN's Christiane Amanpour spoke to one Sunni about his reasons for voting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): The Iraqi army is voting first and it will be protecting the polls when the public cast ballots on Thursday. And, again, the big question is, what will the Sunnis do? The minority who had supported and benefited from Saddam Hussein's regime.

The Bush administration notes Sunni's turnout in October's referendum on a proposed constitution. But it doesn't say they overwhelmingly rejected it. This time the administration hopes that Sunni turnout could help turn things around.

In Baghdad, Sunnis, like Shias and Kurds, tell us that they will go to the polls.

MUNJAD AL-NAIB, SUNNI VOTER: Of course I will go to vote.

AMANPOUR: While Sunnis rejected the referendum and boycotted last January's elections for a transitional government, people like Munjad Al-Naib now say they must have a voice in a parliament that so far has been dominated by their rivals, the Shias.

AL-NAIB: Because I want to make some balance, actually.

AMANPOUR: Political posters are plastered all over the walls and even on the concrete security barriers. According to a new poll, three quarters of Iraqis say they believe this election will produce a stable government and that they expect improvement over the next year. But, by far their biggest concern is security in the country and the growing divide between Sunni and Shiites.

For instance, that "Time" magazine poll of 1,700 Iraqis says only 29 percent of Sunnis think things are getting better. And many are afraid of a recent spade (ph) of sectarian killing by Shiite militias.

AL-NAIB: Not always come in the TV, but we know it. We heard about it. They are killing people.

AMANPOUR: Munjad and his wife Amera (ph) despair of the Sunni insurgency, too. The Pentagon says a staggering 267,000 Iraqis have been killed and wounded in the last two years alone.

Democracy is this chaos and killing, asks Amera, is this the democracy Bush promised us?

And what about the promise to rebuild Iraq? Electricity remains below pre-war levels. Oil production has fallen and reconstruction money is running out.

AL-NAIB: When Saddam gone, everyone say, that's OK. This is the life and they will bring us a new future. And here we are two years.

AMANPOUR: So, as they prepare to vote for the first permanent post-Saddam government, Iraqis, like the Al-Naib family, resort to what they know best.

AL-NAIB: It's very hard, actually, to imagine what will happen. But we hope and we pray.

AMANPOUR: Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And tomorrow President Bush plans to deliver the last of four speeches detailing his strategy for victory in Iraq. A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Polls suggests he still needs to convince a majority of America about his plan. Fifty-eight percent of those polled do not believe the president has a plan that will achieve victory. But the poll also noted perceptions of success in Iraq. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents believe Iraq has made real progress toward a democratic government in the past two years.

President Bush's recent attempts to reach out to Americans on the topic of Iraq may be helping his poll numbers. The latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll find the president's approval ratings now at 42 percent. That's up slightly from a month ago.

Well, perhaps another reason for those lagging poll numbers, the federal government's handling of Hurricane Katrina and it apparently is still having problems. Ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY, trailers, thousands of them, sitting empty all because of bureaucratic red tape while many people still don't have a solid roof over their heads.

And tallying the thousands of victims in the war in Iraq. One American with no connection to the military or the government has made it his mission to inform.

Teenage girls, alcohol, and what their mothers don't know. We are going to take a close look at a new and what some might consider an alarming report.

And the 37-year-old Georgia woman who's pregnant with a 15-year- old's child. Why she says it was so hard to resist his charms. That's ahead this hour on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Before we talk Hurricane Katrina, I guess this is part of the story of Katrina. Very much a part of the story of Katrina. We're getting these pictures just in to CNN. Live pictures now of the 17th Street levee in New Orleans. And here's what's going on here as best we can tell the story right now.

The Army Corps of Engineers is actually conducting a test right now of that levee structure. You see a couple of the engineers working on it right now. We don't know exactly the details of the testing or what it entails but we wanted to show you these pictures to show you that at least there is an attempt to move the process of rebuilding those levees forward.

And, again, this is the picture of a 17th Street levee in New Orleans. The Army Corps of Engineers there on the ground testing that levee structure. We'll try to get more details of exactly what is involved in this test and we'll bring those along to you as well.

Some 40,000 Hurricane Katrina victims are living in hotels around the country on the federal government's dime. It's been three months and they still aren't able to go home. Yesterday a federal judge in New Orleans extended a FEMA deadline requiring the agency to pay for another month until February 7th. FEMA has purchased thousands of trailers for victims. But as -- let me pause for just a moment because we have some dramatic pictures that we want to show you right now just coming in to CNN of a fire.

Wow. What a fire it is. And our thanks to our affiliate WABC in New York for providing these pictures. This is in Bergenfield, New Jersey. The city of Bergenfield. We understand that this is an explosion fire. First, the explosion, then the fire. It's taking place at this apartment building in Bergenfield. We understand there are multiple injuries. Can't confirm that at this moment. But, once again, take a look at these pictures. Just smoke billowing from the building.

This is an apartment complex there in Bergenfield, New Jersey. You can imagine at this time of the morning that we might be talking about multiple injuries. Firefighters on the scene as you can see trying to get some control of that fire right now that is burning, not quite out of control, but you can see flames and several hot spots there.

Once again, Bergenfield, New Jersey. Just outside of New York City. Our thanks to our affiliate WABC for these great pictures from their helicopter. An apartment building fully evolved, as you can see right now. And we have reports of multiple injuries.

Eyewitnesses are reporting to us that this is at 30 Elm Street in Bergenfield, New Jersey. This is a three story garden apartment complex and that the fire broke out at about 9:30 a.m. this morning.

Once again, unconfirmed reports of several injuries. The severity of those injuries are not immediately known. And a number of patients were taken to Englewood Hospital in New Jersey. So, once again, just a lot of flames, a lot of smoke and we can give you sort of a map of the area there you see to the right of your screen and the live pictures is to the left of your screen there. As we zoom in on the map to give you a better sense clearly of what the apartment building looked like before all these flames, before this explosion. Obviously, this time of year you can imagine how devastating this must be to all of the residents of that apartment complex who will surely need to be moved to other accommodations.

Firefighters still on the scene there trying to get total control of that. It looks fairly well contained. We're sure the helicopter pilot will widen out in just a moment here. But let's sort of reset this as best we know the information right now.

This is in 30 Elm Street is the street in Bergenfield, New Jersey. An explosion and fire. This is an apartment complex. Multiple injuries. Unconfirmed as to how many injuries, the severity of those injuries. Firefighters doing everything they can right now. Going to trying to gain total control of that situation. But Dave Hennen, as he joins us now from the CNN Weather Center, it sounds as though we're getting some reports that fighting this fire is being made more difficult because of winds in the area.

DAVE HENNEN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, you can see the smoke there, Tony, getting blowing pretty quickly. These are current wind speeds. We show you our true viewers. These show you the latest wind speeds, if you can see behind me. And look, it's 15 miles per hour. These are the winds sustained, not counting the gusts. If you factor in the gusts, the winds are now over 20 miles per hour, up to 15 in La Guardia. And, of course, we're talking about an area very near this location. Further to the south, winds not quite as strong, but you can see that our strongest winds at the present time, anyway, right over New York City, unfortunately, Tony.

HARRIS: And you know in that construction, most of the newer construction they put fire bricks into these buildings to try to -- when there is a fire that break out, contain it to a small area and not allow the fire to spread. But the other concern here, Dave, is when you're talking about winds, is that you can get flames and embers from the initial fire that jump from building to building. And as we widen out a little bit, I think we can see that perhaps that has happened. That maybe the fire has spread to another building. But that is certainly what happens when you get winds.

HENNEN: Yes, that's exactly right, Tony. And with winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour, that certainly is a concern. Temperatures are pretty chilly which, obviously, doesn't affect the fire too much. But for firefighters out there, temperatures are below freezing at the present time.

HARRIS: And you don't want to speculate on the cause of the fire at this point. But, as you mention, it is cold and you would imagine that folks would be using heaters to try to supplement whatever heat they have in their apartments right now. And don't know if this is because of a faulty heater, but you can certainly see that that would be a possible scenario as we continue to sort of survey the area and, as you can imagine, there are a number, a number of firefighters on the scene, ambulances, as you can see. You would imagine that the mutual aid system is probably in effect, so you're getting help from Bergen County, maybe some other surrounding counties as well, as firefighters do the best they can to control this situation.

This, once again, is in Bergenfield, New Jersey. An explosion and a fire at an garden apartment complex there. And it looks like at least two buildings are involved right now. We will continue to follow the situation on the ground there. Multiple injuries reported. No specific information on how many and the extent of those injuries. We can tell you that a number of people have been taken to Englewood Hospital in New Jersey for treatment. We'll continue to follow this story and bring you the latest information.

Up next, desperate for a nomination. Hardly. Those women from Wisteria Lane had a very, very good morning. The Golden Globe nominations live from Los Angeles, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Just want to update now this developing story out of Bergenfield, New Jersey, just outside of New York City. A gas explosion. That's a bit of new information now. A gas explosion has led to this fire at a garden apartment complex. And this was a gas explosion in one unit. This is a building that houses 24 apartments.

And, as you can see, firefighters are doing the best they can to sort of contain this fire and then to bring it completely under control. Some conflicting reports to how many injuries. We know of one person who has been taken to Englewood Hospital with unknown injuries. And there are some other reports that there may be more people who were injured by this fire this morning, this explosion, at this apartment complex.

We are continuing to follow this the story and we will bring you addition information and try to get some word from people on the ground. Witnesses to the scene, maybe a spokesperson from fire and the police department in Bergenfield, New Jersey, as soon as we can.

Were you up this morning to watch the nominations for the Golden Globes out of Los Angeles on "American Morning"? Well, it seems a romance about cowboy love is getting big props in this morning's nominations. Sibila Vargas joins us from Beverly Hills where the nominees were announced early this morning for, I guess this is Hollywood's second biggest movie ceremony.

Good morning, Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, not quite the mack daddy but . . .

HARRIS: That's right. Right.

VARGAS: But almost there.

But I'll tell you who was a big winner today, George Clooney. You remember last year was all about Jamie Foxx.

HARRIS: Yes. Yes.

VARGAS: He had three nominations. This year it's really about George Clooney's four nominations in scattered categories. Let me tell you a few of them.

Director for "Good Night and Good Luck" which, of course, was, you know, a labor of love for George Clooney. He's been so extremely passionate about this film. So it goes to show that his passion is definitely paying off.

He also got original screen play, so he co-wrote "Good Night and Good Luck." So that's another nod in that direction. And also it got a best picture in the drama category. So he's, of course, going to get recognition as a producer.

The fourth nomination was for "Syriana," a political thriller centering around the global oil industry. The intrigues and the corruption. He was very passionate about that film. Also getting a supporting actor nod in that category.

Also going back to "Good Night and Good Luck," though, this has been the best reviewed movie of this year. So this passion that he put into it, I mean all of the work that he put in is definitely paying off. A great movie, a great -- this movie also got four nominations total. So very good for "Good Night and Good Luck."

HARRIS: Yes.

VARGAS: Now I've got to kind of shift gears, though, into the TV category because I know you mentioned it during the tease.

HARRIS: OK. Right. Right.

VARGAS: A big story coming out of Wisteria Lane. You remember last year Eva Longoria, people thought that she was snubbed. All the other ladies got the nomination. Remember that?

HARRIS: Yes, yes, absolutely.

VARGAS: Not any more. Miss Longoria got a nomination. I'll tell you one thing, when the announcement came out, I mean everyone just started to laugh because I guess everybody thought that, you know, she had been snubbed and it was about time that she got some kind of recognition.

HARRIS: Well, Sibila . . .

VARGAS: She wasn't getting any recognition . . .

HARRIS: Yes, well they were laughing also because, did all of the women get nominated in this category for this show?

VARGAS: They did. Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, of course, Felicity Huffman and Eva Longoria And another person that was also nominated was Mary-Louise Parker. So I should mention that she's in "Weeds." But certainly that category was dominated by the ladies of Wisteria Lane.

HARRIS: All right. Now we were talking about that break back, foot back -- what is it?

VARGAS: "Brokeback Mountain."

HARRIS: "Brokeback Mountain"?

VARGAS: "Brokeback Mountain," yes.

HARRIS: All right. All right. And . . .

VARGAS: But, no, I understand how you're kind of confused about this because this film is, you know, everyone was thinking about maybe it being a dark horse in this race . . .

HARRIS: Right.

VARGAS: But now it seems like it's the top contender. Seven nominations, the most nominations of any of the film, including best director for Ang Lee. This is the guy who brought you "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

HARRIS: That's a good movie, yes.

VARGAS: So a lot of people are saying that was a great movie and a lot of people think that he's due for an award. Also best actor for Heath Ledger and best supporting actress for Michelle Williams, who plays his life. Who, interestingly enough, Heath Ledger just had a baby with. So great news coming out of that camp. They must be celebrating today, for sure.

But, yes, this film has done extremely well. I mean over the weekend it got awards and for -- the New York film critics, as well as Los Angeles film critics and in Boston it did extremely well. So that's what's bringing it to the forefront.

HARRIS: But, Sibila, what happened to the other guy who's the lead actor in that movie. That Gilhall, Gillian, Gillan -- whatever?

VARGAS: Jake Gyllenhaal.

HARRIS: Right.

VARGAS: Yes, everyone thought it was his year. I mean he did "Proof" this year and also "Jarhead" and he was, you know, -- they're also talking about his performance in "Brokeback Mountain," but he did not get a nomination. Some thought that maybe he'd get a supporting actor nod, or even the lead actor nod, but no nomination for Jake Gyllenhaal. Too Bad. But let's see, maybe in the Oscars. There's always the Oscars.

HARRIS: Good to see you. Good to be with you this morning. You have yourself a great day out there in Los Angeles. VARGAS: Likewise.

HARRIS: All right, we want to quickly update our breaking news story. And here it is flames, boy, just in this window inside this apartment, BUT we're going to widen out in just a moment here, and you will see that this is quite a fire that is fully engaged right now. Bergenfield, New Jersey is the location for this, just outside of New York City, a 24-unit apartment building engulfed right now, and this was all caused by, we're told, by a gas explosion in one of the units.

We have some conflicting information. We know that one person has been taken to the hospital with injuries. We're getting reports a little earlier of multiple injuries, non-specific as to the kinds of injuries. One person was taken to a local hospital, Englewood Hospital in New Jersey.

But look at all of the smoke, and multiple fire crews on the scene here, trying to get this under control. It looks like at least one, and perhaps two buildings are involved in this fire right now. And it is a real mess in that area. Cold, winds, so there was always the possibility of this fire spreading as the winds blow the embers from one building to the next. We don't know if that has happened yet. But we do believe, at least one, maybe two buildings are involved. We will keep an eye on this developing story out of Bergenfield, New Jersey.

(NEWSBREAK)

HARRIS: We know that teenagers drink alcohol, despite some parents' efforts to discourage it from happening, but a new report is shedding even more light on the subject, particularly when it comes to girls.

We're going to take a close look at the subject when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, a new survey on underage drinking finds a gap between what daughters say they do and what mothers think they do, with many mothers underestimating their daughter's experience with alcohol. Funding for the survey Girl "Talk: Choices and Consequences of Underage Drinking," comes from leading U.S. liquor producers. Among the findings, 71 percent of the girls surveyed say drinking poses a serious health risk with more than half fearing alcohol poisoning, rape and sexually transmitted diseases.

Former U.S. Congressman Susan Molinari chairs the Century Council, which commissioned the survey. She joins us now from Washington.

Susan, good to see you this morning.

SUSAN MOLINARI, CENTURY COUNCIL CHAIR: Thank you. Nice to be with you. HARRIS: Wow. Generally speaking, and this is serious stuff here, Susan, generally speaking, what's going on here between daughters and their mothers?

MOLINARI: Well, what we found is, as you put very succinctly, is that mothers are underestimating their daughter's drinking. The good news is, let me start by saying that the consumption of alcohol among young people is going down. What alarms us though is that it's not going down as quickly with girls as it is with boys. And we know that girls are catching up to boys in binge drinking. So now we take those statistics, and we start querying their moms, who really grossly underestimate that their daughters are drinking.

When they find out that they are, equally of concern to us, if not more concerning, is that most moms don't think it's that big a deal.

HARRIS: What?

MOLINARI: They have other concerns with their daughters. They'd rather talk to them about underage sex, about drugs, when really what they should telling their daughters is this is a zero-sum game. All these risky behaviors and things that you shouldn't engage in, because particularly with regard to alcohol, it can have a devastating impact on a young woman's body.

HARRIS: Well, why would moms be not quite as concerned about alcohol consumption as some of these other areas?

MOLINARI: I think the overall results of the study shows that moms wanted to still be a friend. They wanted keep the lines of communication open. Mothers and fathers have a tendency to undervalue the impact that they can have on their preteen and teenage children, and especially their daughter's lives, by having these conversations. We have seen study after study when it comes to alcohol that mothers can impact their young children's decisions to drink or not to drink, and that relationship is even more intensified between mothers and daughters.

HARRIS: Hey, Susan, some critics say this study, funded by alcohol, is giving a pass to alcohol producers and putting the blame on moms and dads.

MOLINARI: Well, actually what the Century Council is, is we're funded by the producers, we have been for 15 years, dedicated to underage drinking and to stop drunk driving.

This is what we do. We partner with right now the women's soccer players' association, with the Women's center for Health, with the Montgomery County Alcohol, Beverage and Control.

And so you know what, we just think we need to engage all aspects of this society to deal with this problem.

One of the things people don't recognize in their families is that boys and girls, as well as men and women, process alcohol differently. When you take that process differently, particularly as a young girl's body is developing, the impact on her physically and cognitively can be disastrous.

HARRIS: OK, Susan, let's get to some of the numbers, 16 percent of 13 to 15-year-old girls say they drink with friends. What's behind this? And you can assume, I suppose, that they're drinking with friends of a like age.

MOLINARI: Well, that's exactly right. What is behind this? With the survey, we also did some qualitative and quantitative questions to our marketing, and what we found is number-one reason, they want to fit in, they want to be a part of it, and also they just think it's a way to have fun. They're not aware of the consequences that it has.

The other thing we found, though, is 82 percent of these young women said one of the reasons they'd think twice about they're drinking is that they're afraid of making fools of themselves.

Just to close, again and again, to parents and particularly moms, we need to have this conversation with our daughters and our sons early and often.

HARRIS: Susan, let's leave it there.

MOLINARI: Terrific.

HARRIS: You wrapped it up, put a nice little bow on that.

MOLINARI: Thank you.

HARRIS: Susan Molinari, thank you so much.

MOLINARI: Thank you.

HARRIS: And right now, let's update the breaking news we've been following, oh, in the last hour or so. This is a fire that broke out at about 9:30 and let's go -- is that live or taped pictures? Don't want to mislead here. OK, live pictures now of a fire that is still burning. It looks -- well, no, you can still see hot spots there.

This is in Bergenfield, New Jersey, right now, at Elm Street. If you know the area, Elm Street in Bergenfield, New Jersey. A gas explosion has led to this fire in this apartment complex. Twenty-four units in this apartment complex. It was -- the fire started after an explosion in one of the units.

We are getting some conflicting information as to how many are injured or may be injured in this. At least one person that we know of has been transported to a local hospital. There may be other injuries. All kinds of fire crews on the scene right now trying to get control of this. As you see, it is a windy day there in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and that is causing its own set of concerns, the possibility that embers, flames and embers from the fire may jump to other buildings. We will continue to follow this story. Just wanted to give you an update on the developing story that we are following out of Bergenfield, New Jersey, for you this morning.

Still ahead, she's 37 years old and pregnant with a teenage boy's child. Ahead, a Georgia woman who's accused of child molestation tells why she says it was so hard to say no to her young suitor. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Just another quick update on our developing story. Want to give you a couple of different views of this as we split the screen for you here. This is an explosion and fire at an apartment complex in Bergenfield, New Jersey. If you're familiar with that area, this is Elm Street. The building is on 30 Elm Street, Bergenfield, New Jersey. An explosion fire in one of the apartments. This is a 24- unit apartment building.

And as we bring Dave Hennen in -- and Dave, we've been talking about the winds connected with this fire and the fact, as you can see from these pictures, there are several other residential homes in that immediate area. And the concern is that the winds could blow flames and embers to, you know, those other structures.

DAVE HENNEN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, let me show you a little different perspective here, Tony. This is using Google Earth, which will allow us to zoom in to the exact location. And you can see here -- here's New York City, back down to the lower part of your screen -- I'm going to zoom in to the fire location here, 30 Elm Street, which is located near Teterboro.

Just looking at the latest observation. That's the closest reporting site. And we do have winds in Teterboro, now about 15 miles per hour, some gusty winds there, as well. And we're looking at cold temperatures. Right now it is only 19 degrees.

When you factor in the wind, the wind chill probably around 10. There's the exact location right there at 30 Elm Street. So winds will continue to be strong and the cold temperatures, not good news for firefighters.

HARRIS: Yes. And so time is of the essence here for firefighters as they try to control that and keep the winds from blowing those flames and causing problems for other structures in the immediate area. OK, Dave Hennen, thank you.

HENNEN: No problem, Tony.

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HARRIS: Ahead, the grim side of war tallying the thousands of victims. One American who has no connection to the military or the government has made it his mission to keep a list. We'll find out why when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

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HARRIS: And this just in to CNN: Marty Evans is expected to resign from the Red Cross later today. The American Red Cross is expected to announce a bit later today that Marsha Evans, its president and chief executive, will resign. The organization is expected to name John McGuire, right now it's executive vice president for biomedical services, as its new interim head.

Once again, this just in to CNN, Marsha -- she goes by Marty -- Marty Evans expected to resign from the Red Cross, and CNN is confirming this news, that Marty Evans will resign from the American Red Cross later today.

And we want to update you on our developing story. Still, we're watching this fire, this explosion and fire in Bergenfield, New Jersey. An apartment building going up in flames here. The gas explosion started in one of the apartments, and we know that it spread to several others. We have seen a number of the units involved, maybe a second building involved. Some injuries reported, at least one person transported to a local hospital. A number of fire units on the scene trying to gain control of this situation. As you can see, it's a windy day in New York City, and in New Jersey as well. And there is great concern that the fire may spread to another building. We'll keep an eye on this information and bring you the latest information.

Tracking the dead in Iraq as we move forward. Having to tally the number of men, women and children who've died there since the start of the war is a job no one wants to do, so imagine taking it on voluntarily.

CNN's Gary Tuchman has the story of a man who is doing just that.

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GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Michael White is not the only person who uses his laptop at Starbucks. But what he does with the laptop is rather out of the ordinary.

MICHAEL WHITE, FOUNDER, ICASUALTIES.ORG: I spend a good deal of time tracking casualties coming out of Iraq.

TUCHMAN: White, a software engineer for a wireless company in the suburbs of Atlanta, has undertaken the grim task of developing a Web site to count and track deaths in Iraq -- all of them. It's called icasualties.org.

WHITE: We take the job seriously and try to keep a honest and true total.

TUCHMAN: The numbers are considered so accurate, that news organizations check their numbers with his.

(On camera): Basically, here at your kitchen table, at Starbucks, you are authoring a Web site that is seen all over the world, with people relying on your figures about casualties in Iraq?

WHITE: Correct.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): White developed the site because he says he didn't want people to forget the troops who were dying. He combs news articles and gets items e-mailed to him from around the world as he tries to confirm U.S. military deaths and injuries.

(On camera): Doesn't the Pentagon have accurate numbers?

WHITE: They do, but their numbers are usually about a week behind.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): He also keeps totals of other nations' troops, and American contractors who are killed, and does his best to keep track of Iraqi civilians.

(On camera): Now here you have an empty minibus loaded with explosives that blew up, three civilians in Iraq killed, Baghdad clashes, one civilian killed. Not only do you have your information on site, you establish links also?

WHITE: Right, correct.

TUCHMAN: So if you would go onto your site to do some -- investigate how many Iraqi civilians have died, what number would you have seen?

WHITE: Around 30,000.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Such talk is usually avoided by the White House, but on Monday morning, President Bush was asked how many Iraqis have been killed during the war.

BUSH: I would say 30,000 more or less have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis.

WHITE: It's finally nice to have an official word said.

TUCHMAN: The White House does say the president was not offering official word, just repeating media estimates.

This husband and father admits he is no fan of this war, but rejects accusations his Web site is antiwar propaganda.

WHITE: I have the driest Web site around when it comes to talking about casualties from Iraq, that there's no way that those numbers don't mean anything. They really hit you hard.

TUCHMAN: As they do to many people, no matter how they feel about the war.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.

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HARRIS: In the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY, we will update our breaking and developing story on the last hour of that fire, that massive apartment fire.

Let's take a look at the live pictures if we have them in Bergenfield, New Jersey at this hour. Still very much a developing story as firefighters try to get control of this. This is at 30 Elm Street. If you are familiar with that area, you know exactly where it is, just outside of New York.

We'll take a break and come back with the next hour of CNN LIVE TODAY right after this.

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