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CNN Live Today

Tape of Boot Camp Beating to be Released; Cheney to Speak to Wyoming Lawmakers; Americans Rush to Buy Powerball Tickets for Record Jackpot

Aired February 17, 2006 - 11:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, HOST: A crackdown on protesters in Pakistan. Today, police in Karachi fired tear gas to break up a violent demonstration over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Pakistan says it's recalling its ambassador in Denmark in light of the controversy. And Denmark has closed its embassy in Islamabad. The cartoons first appeared in a Danish newspaper.
Terror suspect Jose Padilla wants to be released on bail. That's the focus of a hearing this morning in federal court in Miami. Padilla was once declared an enemy combatant, and he was held in U.S. custody for more than three years without charges. Prosecutors argue that Padilla is a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Vice President Dick Cheney is in Wyoming today to address the state legislature. It's his first public appearance since accidentally shooting a friend during a hunting trip last Saturday. Officials say no charges will be filed against Cheney. The wounded man is 78-year-old Harry Whittington. He is expected to be released from the hospital in the next few days.

The chances of winning -- come on, let's be honest here -- they're 1 in 146 million. But that's not stopping people from trying their luck at the Powerball jackpot. It's reached a new high of $365 million, making it the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history. The drawing is tomorrow.

And good morning on this Friday morning. Welcome to CNN LIVE TODAY. Let's check some of the time around the world. Just after 10 a.m. in Panama City, Florida. And just after 9 a.m. in Cheyenne, Wyoming. From CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan.

Up first this hour, Florida is set to release a controversial video this hour, a tape that CNN has sued to see. It is expected to show some of the last moments of life for 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson.

The boy had arrived at a military-style boot camp for juvenile offenders in early January. Guards say they had to restrain Anderson. Others call what happened a crime.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN (voice-over): People who have seen the video say boot camp guards are seen taking Anderson down. They say the video shows the guards punching the boy and putting a chokehold around his neck, even though he appeared to be offering no resistance.

But the Bay County medical examiner says the incident didn't kill Anderson. Dr. Charles Seibert says Anderson died from internal bleeding caused by, quote, "a sickle cell trait." The disorder can inhibit blood clotting. Seibert's report concludes there was, quote, "nothing to cause any injury or trauma to his body that was a contributing cause of death."

But the boy's mother charges cover-up. She says her son was beaten so badly that doctors at the hospital where he died decided his organs were too damaged to donate.

GINA JONES, MOTHER: My baby was murdered. And what went on with my baby and the pain I'm going through, I wish that on no mom. Please don't let my baby's death be in vein. Don't let this happen to another child.

KAGAN: A Florida lawmaker doesn't understand how the coroner reached his conclusions after seeing the tape. He and other African- Americans, in and out of government, want the boot camp facilities closed.

GARY SIPLIN (D), FLORIDA STATE SENATE: We want the FDLE (ph) or the authorities to go and subdue and arrest those people who brutally beat, kicked and punched and choked Mr. Anderson, 14 years old.

KAGAN: Florida operates five boot camps for troubled kids as a substitute for prison. Besides Anderson, two other African-American teens have died in boot camp custody.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: My heart goes out to the family. This is the first time, I believe, that something like this has happened in a boot camp after many years. It's tragic, but to shut down the boot camps or to -- to have a special prosecutor without having seeing the investigation and seeing what needs to be done, I think, is a little premature.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: The Justice Department is opening a civil rights investigation into Martin Anderson's death. The boy's crime, you might wonder: he was convicted of taking his grandmother's car for a joyride.

Let's talk more about the boot camp incident with our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, joining me from our Miami bureau this morning.

Susan, you had a chance to speak with lawmakers who have seen the videotape in question. What did they describe to you?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the two lawmakers who saw it said that they were very disturbed by it and felt as though when the public got a chance to see the videotape, in their words, the public would be outraged. They are not describing what they call blood lust of any kind, however, they do question the kind of control techniques that were used, not only on this boy but on other boys, certainly on this boy in particular when, according to the lawmakers, the teenager did not appear to be offering resistance.

They describe, as you indicated, chokeholds at one point, lifting the boy up by his arms with his feet dangling in the air, him on the ground and sitting on him when again, they stress, wasn't giving any resistance. And at one point, they said, his head appeared to be dangling.

And yet, they wonder why did it take so long to get medical help or be able to determine or question that the boy was in distress? If indeed, the drill instructors thought he was faking it, that's yet to be seen. However, according to these lawmakers who saw the tape, they wonder if you had any question at all, why not call in medical help early? Did they wait too long?

KAGAN: And so the medical examiner says this boy had the sickle cell trait. Did they know that? Did the family know that? And how is that different than having the full-blown sickle cell anemia?

CANDIOTTI: Well, it's unclear whether the family knew it. Sickle cell trait is something, that according to the medical examiner and other doctors we've spoke with, cannot necessarily be picked up in a routine blood work during a physical examination. And it is not a disease. It is something you can't tell just by looking at someone.

But what it means is that, according to the medical examiner, if you were under extreme stress, if you were under -- doing a lot of exercise, as they were trying to get these boys to do. He had just arrived at the camp, and this was an orientation where they had them running around the camp. And evidently this boy either refused to do it or was unable to run around the track, and the guards kept picking him up.

In any case, according to this medical examiner, the stress brought on by that could have been enough to cause the blood cells, if you have this trait, to look like a sickle. And not be able to get enough oxygen. Therefore, depriving the body of oxygen, causing internal bleeding, inability to blood clot and to hemorrhage, internal bleeding.

KAGAN: Susan Candiotti, live from Florida. Thank you.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN, your severe weather headquarters.

KAGAN: And it is a nasty day in the Midwest. We're looking at live pictures of Chicago, where there were reports of falling ice earlier, not because the ice was melting but because it literally was being blown off the side of some of these high-rise buildings.

Our Jacqui Jeras is standing by with more on that -- Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Thank you, Jacqui.

A couple hours from now, Vice President Dick Cheney will go public for the first time since last weekend's shooting. Cheney will speak before an audience, and he'll be in friendly territory, addressing lawmakers in his home state of Wyoming.

Our Chris Lawrence joins us from Cheyenne. Looks a little chilly there -- Chris.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's cold and right now quiet, Daryn. But that's going to change within the next couple of hours. Vice president Cheney expected to arrive here at the state capitol in the next two hours.

And you know, newspaper headlines notwithstanding, he's going to get a pretty warm welcome here. Cheney got his start in the building right behind me. He was an intern here some 40 years ago.

This is going to be his first public speech since last weekend when he accidentally shot his friend, Harry Whittington, while they were both hunting quail in Texas. Now, the focus of this speech is going to be on Wyoming, but he will talk about Whittington and the shooting.

Now, we may get some more insight into what the vice president has been thinking or feeling over the last couple days, or he may just reiterate what he said Wednesday, that the shooting was all his fault and that it was one of the worst days his life.

Now some people have criticized Cheney, saying that he didn't take responsibility for the shooting until four days after it happened. Other people say the media is just blowing this all out of proportion. But whichever way people feel, today when the vice president arrives here to speak, he will be back in his home state, very friendly territory -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Chris Lawrence, live from Wyoming. Thank you.

And stay tuned to CNN to see what the vice president has to say in today's speech. CNN will have live coverage of his Wyoming address live at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Back in business, the New Orleans convention center that became a squalid evacuation center during Hurricane Katrina is re-opening today, nearly six months after the storm hit. The center is hosting a four-day gift and jewelry show and three upcoming Mardi Gras balls.

Not far away from there, another grand opening, Harrah's, New Orleans casino, welcomes New Orleans gamblers back today. The casino shut down before Hurricane Katrina hit, and the building was used as a police staging area in the chaotic days that followed. Right now, the casino employs more than 1,200 people, about half of size of its pre- Katrina staff. Well, you've heard the odds. You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning twice. And yet, you play and you play again. And you never give up on hope on the Powerball prize. We'll see what has upped the ante this time, a huge jackpot.

And later, meet the people who make the skates that hit the ice at the winter Olympic Games.

Then, the case of the missing whippet. We're on the trail as the owners describe their precious pet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's talk a little bit about traveling. Did you ever step off the plane in Tulsa, only to find out that your luggage is still in Des Moines? "USA Today" says lost luggage claims surged last year by 23 percent. It's the highest rate since 1990.

U.S. Airways had the highest lost bag rate for passengers. And Delta misplaced the largest number of suitcases, about 500,000 of them.

The airlines blame staff cuts and tighter security rules for lost luggage. Few things more frustrating, Susan, than getting off a plane and not having your luggage there.

(STOCK REPORT)

KAGAN: Thank you. Feeling lucky today?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm feeling lucky.

KAGAN: Feeling lucky? Maybe a little Powerball lucky?

LISOVICZ: No, not that lucky.

KAGAN: Not that lucky. There's lucky and then there's lucky. We're going to talk Powerball just ahead, Susan. There are a lot of people out there who are. Any spare change burning a hole in your pocket? You might just have Powerball fever.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't matter. It's only a dollar. It's worth it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty Powerball tickets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wise investment?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, for 400 million.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's fun, between the time, you know, you buy the ticket and they actually call it, is the most fun, because you think about winning. So afterwards it's kind of disappointing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: A lot of people thinking like that. We're going to see what the odds are. We're going to also tell you what the Powerball jackpot is. It's a record. Just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just in to CNN. News on Jose Padilla. The man once listed as an enemy combatant, now facing criminal charges, has been denied bail. That happened in a Miami federal court today. They were challenging his pretrial detention. He faced an uphill battle as prosecutors maintaining their stance that Padilla is a danger to the community and a flight risk.

He was arrested in May 2002, then listed as an enemy combatant. But then prosecutors obtained an indictment on him November 27. He now faces terrorism charges. He will remain in custody.

In other news today, the wild scramble is on for Powerball tickets. Saturday night's jackpot is the largest, huge, biggest, in U.S. history -- U.S. lottery history, anyway, $365 million.

Our correspondent Kimberly Osias is in Washington, D.C., one of the places you can buy the tickets.

Hi, Kim.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there, Daryn.

Well, two things you need today: a lot of these, single dollar bills so you can get these. These are the tickets. And a lot of people have all kinds of strategy. Mine are simply quick picks.

But as we get closer to that lunch rush, the line, take a look at this, it's starting to actually snake outside the door. Not really, really bad yet.

But you know, Powerball is in 28 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now we are in the district, as you mentioned, Daryn. Some folks actually in neighboring Maryland and Virginia hop in their cars, jump the state line. Not a huge deal to do that.

But I've spoken to some folks that have gotten in their cars and spent 45 minutes. And talk about spending time, a lot of folks are spending a lot of money because, of course, a lot is on the line, 365 million smackeroos.

And I know you are from Virginia, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct.

OSIAS: And this is Todd Melton, he's joining me. A frequent player in Powerball.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I play every week, so -- just for fun, every week. OSIAS: So how much are you spending this week?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This week I'm going to spend $20. Usually I spend about $5.

OSIAS: And how about your strategy? Anything special that you're doing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I just do quick picks. It's pure luck. So I figure I'll just take the luck of the draw.

OSIAS: And Mr. Melton, what are you going to do if you win, even though the odds are kind of crazy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think if I win that much money I would just manage it and just continue to work.

OSIAS: The big question, of course, you can take it over time. I think over some 27 years or so, or you could take it all at once. What would you do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would take it all at once.

OSIAS: Sounds pretty good. Well, good luck to you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

OSIAS: Good luck. Yes, thanks.

Of course, the ticket is actually drawn, the five white balls and the one red power ball. It's actually drawn tomorrow evening, Daryn, at about 10:59. And despite those incredible odds, sort of if you imagine this, had 1 in 150 million of winning this big one, it doesn't deter folks. And a lot of people have given me their picks. So Daryn, of course, you can certainly get in on the action. I could, you know, chat with you later about a ticket if you're in.

KAGAN: No, let's chat now.

OSIAS: OK.

KAGAN: I have my couple dollars here ready to go. I'm good for it.

OSIAS: Excellent.

KAGAN: I'll put it aside.

OSIAS: I know where to find you.

KAGAN: Exactly. And especially if I win.

OSIAS: That's right.

KAGAN: That would be great. So the jackpot's at $365 million. Can it get any bigger between now and tomorrow? OSIAS: Well, actually it can't. And if there is not a winner chosen, of course, Wednesday, I think it was at $308 million, it just rolled over. It will stop rolling over. It will actually go into a sort of bonus pot. So there will be two jackpots at stake.

KAGAN: More for everybody.

OSIAS: That's right. More for you and I, Daryn.

KAGAN: Actually, Kimberly, two bucks, I'm in.

OSIAS: All right.

KAGAN: Thank you.

OSIAS: Take care.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the odds of winning. They're kind of like a gazillion to one. We know that. But here's a sure bet: you can't win if you don't play.

Mike Loehr runs Lucksmith.com. It's a web site that he says can improve your chances, and he is on the phone from Denver.

Hello, Mike.

MIKE LOEHR, LUCKSMITH.COM: Good morning.

KAGAN: All right. Let's go through some of the basics here that might help people out. You say there are two guarantees with this kind of a jackpot.

LOEHR: Right. Guarantee No. 1 is if you don't buy a ticket, you're not going to have a chance to win. Guarantee No. 2 is if you do buy a ticket, you at least have a chance.

KAGAN: A chance, as small as it might be. Now, what are some realistic expectations here?

LOEHR: Well, as she mentioned, the odds are about 150 million to 1. That means there are 150 million possible winning combinations and you have to hit just the right one to be able to win big.

So you know, everybody expecting to be able to win the big jackpot is a long shot, but it's certainly something to hope for. I think the best advice is to have a goal of winning something. Because in Powerball, even just winning $2 or $3 is, you're doing well at that game, because it is so hard to win.

KAGAN: Just doesn't quite buy you the Hawaiian vacation.

LOEHR: Well, no, it doesn't, but it might buy you a latte.

KAGAN: That it might. Well, I don't know about that; not a grande.

Is it better to do the quick pick or choose your own numbers?

LOEHR: Well, that -- that really depends. Choosing your own -- with choosing your own numbers you can develop a strategy and you can look at how the drawings over the past couple of weeks have taken place.

And there's -- there are a lot of people who say that in Powerball, the same number doesn't ever show up from one drawing to the next. So you can use that as a strategy.

Also focusing on just the Powerball number itself. If you match just that number, you'll win something. And then if you match additional numbers beyond that, you'll win even more. So a lot of people try to match just the Powerball number first and then hope that they match some of the other numbers alongside that.

KAGAN: And finally, we must point out that a lot of people have gambling problems and don't know when to stop.

LOEHR: Absolutely. It's supposed to be fun. It's not -- it shouldn't be an investment. It should be, you know, a way to spend a few dollars. And if you win something, that's great. But it's supposed to be fun.

KAGAN: And what's the biggest prize you've ever won, Mike?

LOEHR: I've won $1,500.

KAGAN: OK. Better than most.

LOEHR: Well, yes. And lottery games are set up in such a way that if you win even anything you're really beating the odds.

KAGAN: And we can check your web site, Lucksmith.com, to improve our odds a little bit.

LOEHR: Yes.

KAGAN: Mike Loehr on the phone with us from Denver. Thank you.

A little pop quiz for you now. Do you know what ornithology is? Here's a clue. A lot of you could be participating in it this weekend. It's the Great Backyard Bird Watch. See how to get your family involved, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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