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CNN Live Today
Survival Story; Teacher Sex Scandal; Coyote In Central Park; Media To Blame?; Two Boys Missing in Milwaukee
Aired March 22, 2006 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go ahead and get started.
For those of you at work or thinking about going to work today, how about this for an offer, $140,000 to walk away from your job and your company. Would you take it? It's an offer that just might be out there on the table.
Susan Lisovicz is going to tell us which major American company is offering that.
Susan.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
And it is General Motors. And General Motors needs to reduce its work force. It's just been under so much pressure with mounting health care costs, with a very highly paid unionized labor force. We have a couple of things to tell you about.
This announcement coming out of Detroit today and that is one that it has reached an agreement with its former auto parts supplier, which is bankrupt by the way, Delphi, and the United Auto Workers Union. It is an agreement to pay out 13,000 of its workers. It does two things. One, it, of course, reduces the work force, but it also averts a strike by Delphi and that would be devastating for the cars and the vehicles that GM wants to continue making. GM has labor agreements with Delphi through next year, even though it spun it off in 1999.
The second item that's coming out this morning, Daryn, is what you referred to. It is offering to pay its hourly workers as much as $140,000 each to leave the company as part of its cost cutting efforts. You can imagine the response here on Wall Street. GM is by far the best Dow performer of the Dow 30 stocks. Its shares are up about 2.5 percent.
But just to add yet another, more fuel to the fire, there is a big story in "The Wall Street Journal" this morning, Daryn, that says the Bush administration may soon subject SUVs, which is the most lucrative part of GM's fleet, to fuel efficiency standards and that would cost a lot of money. So there's a lot of challenges that remain on the table for GM. But this is one hurdle that Delphi certainly -- that now some folks can breathe a little bit easier in Detroit.
KAGAN: Yes, interesting part of this offer, and as you think about it, would you take $140,000 to walk away from your hourly job? The small print I'm reading, you get no retiree health coverage, because that's been a big part of the problems with the auto makers trying to coverage health coverage going forward.
LISOVICZ: That's a good point. I think GM pays more for health care coverage than it does for steel to make its vehicles. You know, it's a unionized labor force. These folks have won over decades some very nice perks and benefits and they're very hard to give up when you get used to them.
KAGAN: Absolutely. And a necessity for almost all American families.
Susan, thank you for that.
LISOVICZ: You're welcome.
KAGAN: We're going to go from Wall Street now to the west coast. A story of a mom and dad taking desperate measures to save their family. They were snow bound for more than two weeks in the mountains of southwest Oregon. Now, happy pictures, reuniting and celebrating their survival. The parents headed out on Monday to get help after seeing a television report that the search for them and their family had been called offer. Left behind were the kids. The dad's mother and stepfather who talked about how a short drive turned into a long struggle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELBERT HIGGINBOTHAM, RESCUED AFTER 17 DAYS: We didn't realize how far lost we were. We were six miles from where we thought we were. So we just had to be patient, you know. We got -- there was five and a half, almost six feet of snow up there. You know, every time they said three to five inches, we got 10 to 12. And we slid off the road the first day and we dug ice for 300 yards to get us up the hill.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Our Kareen Wynter is standing by in Ashland, Oregon, for more on this story.
Kareen, this was basically a story of a family's scenic trip gone bad.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Daryn.
And the family says that it never imagined, not in its wildest dreams, that it would ever end up in this predicament. When they set out on March 4th for a day trip, they were headed to the Oregon coast. Apparently they wanted to take a shortcut to get there a little bit faster. And officials say that's when they took one wrong turn after another until they were so deep in this wooded area.
Also what made this even more difficult, the conditions didn't help. It was absolutely snowy there, very slippery in some spots. And so once they found themselves in this area, this remote area, Daryn, it was virtually impossible for them to get out. It's not even accessible by vehicles.
KAGAN: So they were stuck there for two weeks, Kareen. What did they do?
WYNTER: They were prepared, Daryn, believe it or not. Even though it was supposed to be a day-long trip, they brought along food, water, batteries, propane, fuel, that they had to ration day after day as they realized that this is going to turn into a much longer trip than we expect. It got very tight toward the end once the supplies grew thin. In fact, the family had to melt snow. That was their only way, Daryn, of staying hydrated.
KAGAN: And at a certain point we were saying the parents figured out, OK, something's got to give. We have to try to go and get help. It could have been a decision that went a very different way.
WYNTER: They knew it was a matter of life and death after they saw news reports on Sunday. That's right, inside this RV they had a television, so they were able to monitor local coverage. And they knew that people were looking for them. But here's what really, really turned the series of events. They found out on Sunday, Daryn, that the search was called off and that's when the Stivers, the children's parents here, decided to take matters in their own hands. They headed out on foot in very frigid, harsh conditions to look for help. And that help came 24 hours later.
KAGAN: It's the kind of story we like to tell here on CNN, one with a happy ending.
Kareen, thank you.
WYNTER: Absolutely.
KAGAN: Kareen Wynter live from Ashland, Oregon.
Well, she says she's very remorseful, but a former Florida teacher will not face any more charges for having sex with a 14-year- old student. Prosecutors in Marion County have dropped their case against Debra LaFave to spare the victim the ordeal of a trial. Details on that now from John Zarrella from Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Twenty-five- year-old Debra LaFave might have gone to prison, but the former Tampa Middle School teacher, charged with engaging if various sex acts with a 14-year-old student, and already serving a sentence of house arrest for the crime in one Florida county, walked out of court. The same charges dropped in a second county.
DEBRA LAFAVE, FORMER TEACHER: The past two years have been hard on all parties involved. I pray with all my heart that the young man and his family will be able to move on with their lives. Again, I offer my deepest apology. ZARRELLA: The young teacher's life went instantly from the obscure to the obscene with the accusations and charges of sex with a student two years ago. LaFave says she is undergoing therapy now for bipolar disorder which she claims led to her actions.
LAFAVE: I believe that my mental illness had a lot to do with my actions. And for someone -- I've gotten -- my passion was teaching. That's taken away from me. I've lost family and I've lost friends. And, as you can see, my face has been plastered on every Internet address, every news outlet.
ZARRELLA: The court's ruling does not mean LaFave is free. She had been brought up on the same charges in two Florida counties because she had allegedly engaged in sex acts with the boy in both, at school and in her house in Tampa, in the back of a car in Marion County. A plea deal was sculpted for both courts. Three years house arrest, seven years probation. The deal went through in Tampa but not in Marion County. The judge there rejected it because LaFave would not get prison time. So, rather than go to trial where the victim would have to testify, prosecutors dropped the case. LaFave says what hurts her most is what the sensationalism of the case has done to the victim's life.
LAFAVE: He is a young man and his privacy has been violated. He has walked outside of the door and been approached by media. His picture was published on the Internet. That's what I'm talking about.
ZARRELLA: Well before this latest decision, the boy's family was ready to put the headlines behind them for good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This would follow him forever. And my prayer is that he can leave this behind him.
ZARRELLA: Debra LaFave wants to move on, too.
John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: A psychiatrist who examined Debra LaFave's victim says all the media attention surrounding the case has taken a toll on that teenage boy. And LaFave's attorney says that while his client may not be going to jail, house arrest is still a tough sentence. Both were guests on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN FITZGIBBONS, ATTORNEY FOR DEBRA LAFAVE: She has an ankle bracelet. She has all kinds of counseling she has to go through. She has to register as a sex offender. Curfews. DNA. All types of things that are components of this type of sentence.
DR. MARTIN LAZORITZ, PSYCHIATRIST: The person who really would have been punished if they proceeded with the trial would have been the victim who would have been re-victimized. And I think that the victimization of this young man would be an unintended consequence of the media's interest in this case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And what about Debra LaFave's ex-husband? Wait till you hear what he has to say. Next hour he speaks about her claim that she's bipolar and whether she should have gone to jail.
Well, this just in. News of a huge capture in New York's Central Park. Yes, the coyote was on the run. Road Runner can rest easy. The Wily coyote that has prowled New York's Central Park is now captured. Just a couple hours ago, we caught this glimpse of the elusive bushy tailed creature as it trotted near the posh upper east side. Sharpshooters that were armed with tranquilizer guns had been brought on a police helicopter that scanned the wooded refuge. Officials say now that they have the coyote, they will move it to a wildlife facility.
And now let's go to our phones. Caleb Silver with our New York City assignment desk has more.
Caleb, what do you know about the Wily coyote? It was one smart coyote, avoiding all those people trying to capture it this morning.
CALEB SILVER, CNN ASSIGNMENT MANAGER: Indeed it was. It was one of the more exciting chases we've seen. And we had that footage that you were just showing our viewer from WBAC, one of our affiliates. They had this coyote cornered several times this morning. Most recently in the footage you're seeing now, right near the Wollman's Skating Rink on the south side of Central Park.
It made it through to fence into a nature preserve and finally jumped in the water here as you're seeing. It was a very close call for the emergency services units. They were trying to get a clean shot at the coyote, tranquilize it, and then move it to a facility upstate where they could rehabilitate it and then finally release it. Very intense chase.
Finally, we after what -- we thought they were going to give up the search, the coyote was spotted near Belvedere Castle, which is near the Delacorte Theater where Shakespeare in the Park takes place in the summer. They finally cornered it and we're told by New York police that they have finally captured it. They're going to hold the press availability right up there soon. We should have some information from emergency services on the capture and on the plans for release very shortly.
But a very exciting chase and it looks like they finally got their beast.
KAGAN: They did. You know, I think the picture that tells the story the best was the one we saw just a few minutes ago where the coyote is going up and down the fence and it looks like it's done in and yet it found a little hole in the fence and it had taken off again and yet the people were too big to get through the fence.
SILVER: Indeed. And we were told by the New York Police Department that the coyote actually jumped an eight-foot fence to get into the park earlier. It's not the first time a coyote's made its way down into Central Park. They come from upstate New York. There's a line of parks that stretch up the Hudson River that they can make their way down. And apparently this is what happened.
This coyote, as you can see, is a pretty large one. It's about 60 pounds-plus. So it was big and quick.
KAGAN: Yes, and if I was walking my dog in Central Park this morning, I don't think I would want to run into the coyote. We certainly have seen our share of high-speed chases on air. I think this is our first coyote chase that we've brought to our viewers. And we'll look for the further information, Caleb, that authorities bring to us, especially about what's going to happen to the coyote. Maybe it can get a better home or could hang out in a place that it's more welcome than New York's Central Park. Caleb Silver on our assignment desk in New York, thank you.
When the horror of drug abuse stares back at from you the mirror, we're going to talk to a recovering meth addict. His loss is written all over his face quite literally. The bizarre details, in his own words, on CNN LIVE TODAY.
Also, nearly seven months after Hurricane Katrina hit, the animal rescue goes on on the Gulf Coast. We'll talk with one man at the head of that campaign and we're going to find out what the pets of New Orleans need most right now.
And one war, two views. The president says you're not seeing the positive in Iraq. Is negative news coverage to blame? The president versus the pictures next on CNN LIVE TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: For the second day in a row, a daring attack against Iraqi police. We're told that militants struck a police station and the mayor's office in the city of Madain. That's just south of Baghdad. Three police officers and a police commando were killed. This morning's attack follows another coordinated action near Baqubah. And in that one, gunmen raided a jail freeing 30 detainees. Local officials say 18 police officers and one insurgent were killed.
You might remember this story from Iraq last week. Civilians killed in a U.S. raid near Balad. Well, the U.S. military says that it's investigating whether there was any wrongdoing by troops in that area. U.S. forces had targeted a house that was a suspected shelter for al Qaeda. Local police said five children and four women were among the 11 people killed. The U.S. military gave a different account, saying four civilians were killed, including two women and one child. The investigation will look into the difference in those numbers.
No getting around it. Media coverage of the war in Iraq does show violence. And the Bush administration says the complete story in Iraq is not being told. Our Candy Crowley looks at how one war can be looked at so differently. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Does the coverage of war's violence change the war?
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not suggesting you shouldn't talk about it. Certainly not being -- you know, please don't take that as criticism. But it also is a realistic assessment of the enemy's capability to affect the debate. And they know that. They're capable of blowing up innocent life so it ends up on your TV show.
CROWLEY: He sees a symbiotic relationship between the violence in Iraq and the coverage of it, a cycle draining support for the war. It is a recurring theme in Bushville that negative news coverage is making the war worse. Not that direct, but close. The defense secretary also complains of news that is flat wrong.
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The steady stream of errors all seem to be of a nature to inflame the situation and to give heart to the terrorists and to discourage those who hope for success in Iraq.
CROWLEY: Critics dismiss the charges as the excuses of an administration in its darkest days. Still, it is not wholly incorrect. Click the remote.
ELIZABETH VARGAS, CNN ANCHOR: A major insurgent attack has dealt another blow to the struggling security forces.
CROWLEY: From one channel . . .
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Insurgents armed with rocket grenades and machine guns stormed a police station today.
CROWLEY: To another.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The prison in Sunni territory, killing 18 policemen and freeing all the prisoners . . .
CROWLEY: What goes largely unseen, reporters agree, are large areas of the country where few of them go because travel is so risky. Most reporters are either embedded with the military or confined to areas around Baghdad where bad news comes to find you. ABC Reporter Jake Tapper was covering a story about Iraqi comedy when their main contact was assassinated.
JAKE TAPPER, ABC NEWS: And so our cameras were rolling while the director and the producer and the casting and crew found out that the guy that had green lit the show and the guy that had set up our being there was killed. So no matter how hard we try to cover the positive, the violence has a way of rearing its head.
CROWLEY: Good stories are hard to cover and hard to see in the midst of what one reporter called the daily boom. BUSH: Others look at the violence they see each night on their television screens and they wonder how I can remain so optimistic about the prospects of success in Iraq. They wonder what I see that they don't.
CROWLEY: A picture tells a thousand words. And the president has few pictures of his own.
Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: But the president will try to paint his picture once again today. He is in Wheeling, West Virginia, in a couple of hours. He's going to speak. He's also going to take questions from the audience. It is being build as a town hall meeting.
Let's go ahead and talk weather right now. There's been some tough days recently. But Reynolds Wolf is with us to tell us things looking a little bit better.
Reynolds, good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Gerri Willis has news for kids coming out of school. There's some good news, actually, right?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there's some very good news. If you're looking for that entry level job, guess what, the market is going to be the best since 2001. "Five Tips" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: The markets have been open almost an hour. The Dow moving up rather nicely for this time of day. It's up 51 points. The Nasdaq, though, moving the other direction. You can see it is down 11.
To Detroit, Michigan, now where a lot of teachers decided not to come to school today. Fredricka Whitfield in the newsroom to tell us more about that.
Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Daryn.
And, in fact, that sick-out has led to now four elementary schools closing. Why did these teachers decide to stay home? Well in part, they say, they're upset about the fact that they've had to give up five days of pay in exchange for helping to balance the school district's budget, all while principals and administrators receive a pay raise. We're talking about 10,000 school teachers overall, 1,500 of them decided to stay home to help fill the gaps. Some administrators and even substitute teachers are now reporting for duty. Daryn.
KAGAN: They can. Thank you, Fred.
Just a few weeks from now, millions of college graduates will embark on their new professions. And then the real test comes -- how do you make the right choices with all the new financial challenges. Joining us with a cheat sheet of information is our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis.
Hi, Ger.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you.
I love that cheat sheet. That's a good word for it.
KAGAN: Or Cliff Notes.
WILLIS: Absolutely.
KAGAN: Do they still have Cliff Notes or that's just back in the day when we went?
WILLIS: I think they do. I think they do. I think have Cliff Notes for your entire four-year career, not just the highlights.
KAGAN: They helped me, I can tell you that.
WILLIS: Yes, there you go.
Well, guess what, the job market is going to be a ton better this year. The best, in fact, since 2001. Employers are saying they're going to hire 15 percent more college graduates than they did last year and they're going do pay them more money, something else we like to hear. So if you're in a handful of careers that have high demand like finance, salaries are going to go up. And finance salaries will go up 11 percent. Civil engineering, over 4 percent. This is all good news for people out there who are looking for a new job, getting into the job market for the very first time.
KAGAN: So how do you make this work to your benefit?
WILLIS: Well, let me tell you, there are bonuses being handed out there. If you're in high-demand fields, as much as $5,000 according to one headhunter we talked to. And there are other benefits to be gained. If you really want to work at home one day a week, this is the year that you might be able to negotiate that if you're in the job market. You may get tuition reimbursement.
But let me tell you, Daryn, if you're in the job market, you're really trying to land something, don't put all your demands on the table first. Wait until you get that offer, then work your leverage. They need you.
KAGAN: When is it time to start thinking about retirement? WILLIS: Well, I've got to tell you, interesting studies out there, Daryn, about young workers being too conservative when it comes to saving for retirement. Typically they're putting a lot of money into bonds. And they're so young, they really need to be aggressive, make their money right in stocks and not be -- I mean their parents are more liberal in their spending than the younger workers are. The younger workers are much more conservative when it comes to saving. So you've got to make sure you get that 401(k), open it up, put some money in and then really get a nice balance of stocks and bonds.
KAGAN: But one part of getting out of school means those student loans come due.
WILLIS: That's right. Well, you know, and the big deal here, the interest rate on student loans going up and up dramatically. The Stafford Loan, for example, which is what a lot of people have out there, right now the interest rate, 4.7 percent. It's going to 6.8 percent July 1st. So you've got to make the change if you have a lot of debt because that difference in interest rate will mean very much to your monthly budget.
KAGAN: And how do you build toward that dream of owning your own home?
WILLIS: You know, the median home in this country, the price tag now over $200,000. That's a lot of money. That means if you're putting down 20 percent, you've got some saving to do. Start early so that you can eventually hit that goal. A great place to save right now, CDs. Old-fashioned, your grandma's CD, offering 5 percent. You can get started saving for that dream house.
KAGAN: Gerri Willis.
Oh, Gerri, before I let you go, there's a question on -- this kind of has to do with your "Top Five Tips" earlier this week about sleazy accountants. Word that the IRS might soon allow our tax preparers to sell our private information. How can this be?
WILLIS: Well, it's just a proposal right now, so don't freak out. It can still be stopped. But the proposal would allow you, as the consumer, to sign away your right to the privacy of your information. You basically would have to sign it away saying, I am willing to have my tax preparer give my information, sell my information away to a third party, a marketer or whoever.
Now the problem with this, of course, is that you know how it is, if you have a tax preparer at tax time, you just sign everything they give you, right? You're not thinking about, what does this mean necessarily or is this something good I should sign. So bottom line for consumers, it's not the law yet, but, boy, let me tell you, when you're signing those tax documents, you need to read them closely and make sure that you're not giving up any privacy rights.
KAGAN: Gerri Willis, as always, great tips. Thank you.
WILLIS: You're welcome. KAGAN: Now to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Two buddies were playing an afternoon basketball game. They asked to stay and play just a little bit longer. But what happened to them next? That is the big mystery in Milwaukee this morning. Police need your help in finding these boys.
That's Quadrevion Henning on the left. He's 12. His friend Purvis Parker, an 11-year-old aspiring artist. Family members say both are good students and well-behaved boys and they are not the type to run away. Police are knocking on doors in the neighborhood. They're also searching the homes of registered sex offenders in that area, but no sign of the boys. And also, no sign of foul play.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUENTIN HENNING, FATHER: If for any reason someone took them, I would like to say please return them. Sometimes can you make mistakes, but it's never too late to correct those mistakes. And you're dealing with not just two children, but a whole family.
ANGELA VIRGINIA, MOTHER: Please, boys, if you out there, if you think this is an attention thing that you guys are doing, you have our attention. We have flyers up. Parents, if you see something, if you know something, please check your homes. Let our boys come home. I miss my son so much, it's -- this third day, I don't know if I can go any other day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And with more on the search for these two boys, we have on the phone with us Annie Schwartz with the Milwaukee Police Department.
Annie, thanks for being here with us.
ANNIE SCHWARTZ, MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Well, thank you very much. I wish it was under better circumstances.
KAGAN: Any update on the search you can tell us about?
SCHWARTZ: I got to tell you, we have a real mystery on our hands. We have -- we do not know what happened to these boys. We have an exhaustive search going on. I can tell you that we have looked in vacant houses, vacant vehicles. We've covered all the transportation outlets. We've gone to the houses of registered sex offenders, done consent searches.
We're finding every relative that we can of these boys, trying to find out if they might have made contact. Hospitals. Classmates. We have officers out on foot, in squads, on bicycles, on horseback. We're going to have divers out today in -- trying to eliminate locations in different parks near the home where these boys were last seen.
We really have a mystery. We don't have any sightings. Typically, when children are missing, someone will call and say, oh, I saw them at a party, I saw them at this house, we heard they were with these guys. We have nothing. We are asking for help from the community since Sunday night, when they first went missing. And we're just getting no reports that they've even been seen anywhere, which is so unusual.
KAGAN: And by all accounts, these are good boys, not the type to run away?
SCHWARTZ: Oh, not at all. They have no history of running away. In fact, one of the boys, Quadrevion Henning, got a certificate from his school for perfect attendance. So these are not the kind of kids that run away. And there doesn't seem to be any kind of precipitating factors that would have, you know, caused them to run away. So we really don't know what has happened to them. But we have an exhaustive search going on throughout city of Milwaukee, and our search area is ever-increasing today.
KAGAN: What about the weather? What's it been like in the days since Sunday?
SCHWARTZ: Our weather has been pretty mild. It hasn't -- for us. The temperature right now is about 40 degrees. It's very sunny out today. So if, you know, we have an opportunity to get maybe more people to get out and look in parks and look in yards. But we need to find them. And this is a very long time. In the majority of our missing person cases, when it comes to missing juveniles, we recover those children within the first 24 or at the very most, 48 hours. This is -- the last time they were seen was at 3:30 in the afternoon Sunday. This is a long time for them to be gone.
KAGAN: Well, and what we tend to see with missing children cases, once they're gone past 24 or 48 hours, it becomes even more alarming.
SCHWARTZ: We are very concerned and we're asking for, you know, for prayers from the community. We're asking for people to get out there with their eyes and ears and just keep a watch out for these children.
KAGAN: We wish you well with the search and send our best to the family.
SCHWARTZ: Thank you very much, and thank you for bringing some attention to this. We don't know where they might have gone, but you never know who might be out there, you know, in your audience who may know something. We're asking them to call us with that information.
KAGAN: We will be following the story. Annie Schwartz with Milwaukee Police Department, thank you.
Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, you saw the pictures, and you also heard the heartbreaking tales of pets left to fend for themselves after Hurricane Katrina. Now some say the pet issue has come back to bite a key presidential nominee. We'll explain, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Let's take look at what's happening right "Now in the News."
It was anything but a smooth ferry ride off of Canada's Pacific Coast. The Queen of the North struck around -- aground this morning -- it ran aground this morning near Hartley Bay off of British Columbia. We're told that nearly 100 people on board were safely evacuated.
Cleaning up after Katrina. It can be a deadly job. It looks like two members of a demolition team drowned while tearing down a casino. The gambling hall sat on a barge on the Mississippi Coast. The men were clearing a part of the casino that tumbled into six feet of Gulf water. Their bodies were found floating in a cramped work space.
Tire tracks lead to a tragic story in Texas. A man, stopped by deputies, inexplicably ran into a rain-soaked field, and there he sank, waist-deep in mud, and he died. Cold weather and exhaustion are believed to have contributed to his death. Deputies did try to free the man. They had stopped his vehicle because it had an outdated tag.
Promises of a permanent cease-fire ring out across Spain. The Basque Separatist group ETA says it will stop it's attacks for good starting Friday. It's the first such declaration by the group after a 37-year fight for an independent state in northern Spain. The group is blamed for more than 800 deaths during those years.
Also, nearly seven months after Hurricane Katrina, the animal rescue goes on along the Gulf Coast. I'm going to talk with one man at the head of that campaign and find out what the pets of New Orleans need from you now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Is a pet peeve at the center of a nomination on hold? President Bush wants Vice Admiral Thad Allen to be the U.S. Coast Guard commandant. It's been suggested the nomination is being held up due to Hurricane Katrina pet rescues. But a senator's office says no way, that's not the deal.
Our Brian Todd tries to get to the bottom of the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen replaced embattled FEMA director Michael Brown, he had the president's support.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Admiral Allen is our man on the ground. Admiral Allen speaks for the administration.
TODD: Now President Bush wants Allen to become Coast Guard Commandant, and Homeland Security officials say it's critical Allen take that position before June so he can head up search and rescue operations for the coming hurricane season. But Allen's nomination is being held up by Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada.
Senate tradition allows a single senator put a hold on any confirmation. We called Ensign's office to ask why the nomination is being held up, and were told he could not release details. Ensign's press aide first said he would forward to CNN a lengthy questionnaire the senator sent to Admiral Allen, then said he could not release it until it became public record.
An official at the Homeland Security Department tells CNN they strongly believe the Coast Guard's efforts to rescue animals after Katrina is holding up this nomination. But those with access to the questionnaire say it doesn't touch on pet rescues and the senator's office denies that pet rescues have anything to do with the nomination.
Senator Ensign, a veterinarian, did go to Louisiana to assess pet rescue efforts during the recovery. His aide says he had concerns about how the effort was going at first, but came away satisfied that it was improving. A top city official in New Orleans says Allen served the city well.
OLIVER THOMAS, NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL PRES.: I thought the animal rescue went a lot better than the human rescue. It seemed to be a lot more efficient. It seemed to be a lot more organized.
TODD (on camera): Admiral Allen is not speaking publicly about his nomination, but Coast Guard officials tell CNN they'll work with senators to answer any questions they might have. Senator Ensign's aides say if we're connecting this nomination with the pet rescue issue, we're misleading our viewers. Right now, we're left with a nomination of a widely respected admiral being held up, and we're not being told why.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Well, during our Hurricane Katrina coverage, we told you a lot about pet rescues. We want to take some time to update you on that effort now.
Joining us, Jeff Dorson. He's with the Humane Society of Louisiana.
Jeff, good morning.
JEFF DORSON, HUMANE SOCIETY OF LOUISIANA: Good morning.
KAGAN: So more than seven months after Katrina, still many stray animals on the streets of Louisiana?
DORSON: Believe it or not, there is still work to be done, yes. And one of the reasons is our climate. It allows for animals to breed two or three times a year. So those we haven't rescued are now breeding, and now we're finding puppies and kittens. And also, our population wasn't real good about sterilizing these animals, so unfortunately a lot of these animals were intact, and, hence, they continue to breed.
KAGAN: What you're try do as you capture these animals rather than having to euthanize them, you're trying to get them into other communities, other states where they can be adopted.
DORSON: Exactly, because That's a heartbreaking dilemma, to exert all this effort to rescue, and then turn around and euthanize. That's not what anybody wants. Luckily, we're teaming up with larger organizations that can help. For instance, North Shore Animal League. That's out of New York, just helped us recently and continue -- they're setting up a six-month program to try and develop a transport of healthy adoptable animals to other states, especially their program in Washington. And the community there is anxious to help, too. People want to help Katrina animals.
KAGAN: And what if they want -- first of all, what if people want to adopt a Katrina animal? What would you suggest?
DORSON: Well, you can contact us. We're in touch with a lot of the different parishes that are still in the overwhelmed mode. A lot of our shelters are still full, pretty much to the capacity. So we'd love to hear from individuals who are interested. And if we can't help them personally, we'll definitely divide it up to get them in touch with other parishes around our area. Everybody wants to adopt these animals, and we'd be happy to have that happen.
KAGAN: I know there is also a need for foster families. Some people, they don't want to give up their pets, but they're not in a position right now because they're rebuilding, or not in a place where they can keep their pet. What do you do if you're willing to be a foster family for one of these pets?
DORSON: That's a nice idea, and that works well, too. If you can squeeze in one or two more animals, lovely. So contact us. I think later on, you'll be putting up our Web site. One way to contact us is through humanela.org. And again, we're in touch with seven, or eight or nine different agencies, so we'll try to help coordinate this.
KAGAN: Excellent. I know I have two Humane Society animals myself, a cat from Arizona and a dog from here in Atlanta. And I think it's the best place to get your animals. I'm totally biased though, Jeff, I have to say that.
DORSON: Well so I am. But good for you. I mean, that's what makes this whole thing work, individuals like you saying, hey, I can take a few off your hands, and that makes a huge difference to us, and it boosts our morale knowing that other people care about this. We're not so isolated.
Jeff Dorson is with the Humane Society of Louisiana. Jeff, thank you. and good luck to you and all the animals getting everybody into the kind of homes they belong.
DORSON: Thank you so much.
KAGAN: Thank you, Jeff.
If you are interested, once again, the Humane Society, either you want to adopt or help with a donation, perhaps foster, Humane Society of Louisiana, humanela.org.
Well, a couple that look like any long-time married couple.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me get the door for you, like I always do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: together for years, but only at work. No hanky-panky. It's a relationship seen more often in some offices. We're talking about the work-wife, the work-husband situation. We'll look at that just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We want to go back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a search goes on for two missing boys. They've been missing since Sunday. One is 11. One is 12. They are Quadrevion Henning. He is 12 years old. And Purvis Parker, who is 11. They are described as good boys with no history of running away. And concern going. There is no sign of them. We had a chance to talk with Milwaukee police just a few minutes ago. Absolutely no sign of these boys.
I have one of the boy's mothers on the line with me right now, Angela Virginia, calling in from Milwaukee.
Miss Virginia, thank you for talking with us. I know this must be an absolutely difficult time for your family.
ANGELA VIRGINIA, MOTHER: Oh, yes it is. Oh, yes it is.
KAGAN: Tell us about your son Purvis.
VIRGINIA: He's a -- Purvis, you know, he's a typical 11-year-old little boy. You know, I always call him my little artist because that's all he do, like sketch and do different pictures. He goes to an art school, so that kind of encourage his artism (sic) a little bit. But overall, you know, he's curious, but he's a lovable boy.
It's not in his character to be, you know, no runaway or no -- anything that's negative that people are putting out there. You know, he's a typical little -- he's my little son that got guided right and got taught everything at home like I can't repeating over and over again. But different (INAUDIBLE), he probably told us we left my eyesight at 12:30.
KAGAN: So he and Quadrevion were playing on Sunday, playing basketball.
VIRGINIA: Yes.
KAGAN: Have they been friends for a long time?
VIRGINIA: Yes. Since last summer.
KAGAN: And where were they playing?
VIRGINIA: They use locations. Purvis asked me, you know, could he go to Quadrevion's house. And I'm sure that's where they were up to 3:30. They (INAUDIBLE) go to the Hampton Craigmont (ph) Park.
KAGAN: And so we heard -- the story that I've heard so far -- so they're playing basketball, and I guess maybe it was Quadrevion's grandfather who said, OK, come on, boys, it's time to come on in the house. They asked to play a little bit longer. This is something that happens between adults and children all the time. But then when he went back to check on them, they were gone and they haven't been heard from since.
VIRGINIA: Yes. From what -- you know, the stories are so different. Because the grandfather said -- said the boys asked can they go outside and go somewhere for a little while. And he told them, you know, to be back shortly. And I guess the boys went a little bit farther than what they asked to go. The thing of it is, my son never did come and check in, he never did come and ask me could he go anywhere else beyond Quadrevion's home.
KAGAN: That's not like him? You have rules at your house where he...
VIRGINIA: Oh, no. It's not -- it's out of his character. This whole thing is out of his character. Just never happened before. You know, the most he ever be late is like a half an hour coming home, and he'll come in and apologize. And my son like to eat. You know, he's a very healthy little boy. He always come and grab a sandwich, he make a little mess. But if he don't see my face, he may try to dip back out the door again. But that means, you know, he being mischievous and being sneaky. But if he see my face, he know he going to stay in the house.
KAGAN: Right. So I'm sure when you and the Henning family went to police, the first thing they said, well, was do these kids run away or do they cause trouble?
VIRGINIA: Yes. That was the most -- you know, the first thing that was questioned. But I had patience for any negativity because I was ready for any answers, any question that was thrown my way. I knew my son would not that run away.
KAGAN: Any idea where they might be?
VIRGINIA: Ma'am, if there was any idea where they might be, I'd be up gone, looking right now. KAGAN: That makes sense. You wouldn't be sitting here talking on the phone with us. Miss Virginia, how is your family getting through this time?
VIRGINIA: Oh, man. It's -- everything is overwhelming for everybody from friends, family, to people I didn't think even think that even cared about who lived in this house. They've been so supportive. They're the ones keeping me strong. Their prayers keeping me, you know, positive. I don't hear no kind of negative. And when I hear it, I let it pass me.
I know my son and Quadrevion are out there, they're OK. I got good faith that they are, but if they not, I just want these boys home. I'm really do. I just want them home. And I'm having all the patience in the world. You know, I can't say enough prayers. You know, I'm just using everybody for support for my strength.
KAGAN: If there's any chance that Quadrevion and your son Purvis are anywhere where they can hear your voice right now, what would you have to say to them?
VIRGINIA: I'd say, boys, please, come home. You got everybody worried about you guys. You're not alone. You know, my son, I need some more artwork. I need some more pictures. Your school (INAUDIBLE) on you, and they say miss you. You got close friends. You got your teachers. You got your family. You got everybody, your grandmother, you got everybody out here just wants you home. And you know we love you. I know if you hear me and you hear my voice, that's all it takes for you to come home.
KAGAN: Angela Virginia, the mother of Purvis Virginia (sic). He and his friend Quadrevion Henning have been missing since Sunday. We send you our best, and we look forward to you getting your son home and getting more pictures put up on your wall.
VIRGINIA: Oh, most definitely.
KAGAN: Thank you so much for talking with us at this very difficult time for you and your family.
VIRGINIA: OK, thank you.
KAGAN: We'll continue to follow that story. In fact, at 2:30 Eastern, Milwaukee police plan to hold a news conference. You'll see that live right here on CNN.
Meanwhile, coming up -- can what you think and do before you go to bed affect what you dream about? Dr. Sanjay Gupta put that question to the test. We'll have results.
And growing -- the growing horrors of meth abuse. The realities of meth addiction not shown in government news conferences. A recovering addict describes the horrific toll it took on his life and his body, coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: So you're on vacation or you're working in another country, but you don't speak the language. In the future, that might not be a problem.
Our Miles O'Brien looks at how technology could break down language barriers. It's part of our series "Welcome to the Future."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I'm speaking to people overseas, it slows down communications to go through a translator. I work for a relief and development organization. In a relief situation, lives are at stake; communication is key. And a little bit might be lost in the translation. It would be great to have some type of speech technology that would allow relief workers to speak directly with the people that they're serving so they can understand their needs as quickly as possible.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Quick and easy communication in a foreign language is essential for relief workers like Katie. And for the rest of us, it sure would make traveling overseas more fulfilling and enjoyable. Wouldn't it be great if you could speak any language effortlessly?
(voice-over): Director of the Interact Center at Carnegie-Mellon University, Dr. Alex Wybel (ph) is in the business of breaking language barriers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you been feeling well?
O'BRIEN: In Wybel's lab, you'll find portable PDA translators for tourists, goggles that project translated subtitles. Even a speaker that can send a beam of translated audio to a single listener.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can have a personalized translation for one listener in Spanish, or another in German, or a third one with another language.
O'BRIEN: Even more amazing, electrodes that, when attached to the cheek and throat, can turn a person's native tongue into a language they have never spoken before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then these electrodes could capture the movement, recognize the words that could have been spoken that way, and translate them into another language and sound them out aloud.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: It is part of our year-long look into the future. The professor that you heard in that report says those electrodes could actually be implanted into a person's cheek and throat. That would mean built-in language translation any time, anywhere.
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