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CNN Sunday Morning

Hacking Family Calls Off Search for Lori; Threat Alert Heightens Security in NYC

Aired August 01, 2004 - 08:00   ET

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

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


DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is the very first day of August. Good morning to you, I'm Drew Griffin.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone, I'm Catherine Callaway. I'm in for Betty Nguyen this morning.

A lot going on. And let's get straight to the news.

In Salt Lake City, family members of Mark and Lori Hacking say continuing to search for the missing woman is unnecessary. Both families issued a joint statement last night saying that Mark Hacking has provided some information. Details of that information hasn't been released. More on that story in just 45 seconds.

And in Alaska, a sightseeing trip came to an abrupt halt when a cruise ship ran aground on a reef. The ship's hull was gashed, spilling at least 5,000 gallons of fuel, and all passengers aboard the clipper Odyssey were evacuated. And a live report on that is coming up.

In New York, a new non-specific terror threat against Wall Street financial firms has heightened security precautions there. Federal officials cite intelligence from a credible source. We'll get a live report from New York on this in three minutes.

In Iraq, at least six Iraqis are dead, killed in two explosions this morning. One blast was a suicide car bomb in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The other was a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

GRIFFIN: Back to our top story. Salt Lake police have yet to confirm new information in the case of Lori Hacking, missing since July 19. The new information is a joint statement issued by the families of both Mark and Lori Hacking.

Quoting here: "The families understand that Mark Hacking has provided information that makes it unnecessary for individuals or groups to continue the volunteer search. At this time the families ask that all efforts from volunteers cease, and that anyone with information that they feel might be helpful contact the Salt Lake City Police Department directly. The families remain supportive of the police investigation. As in any situation of this nature, the help from the public has been invaluable," says the families, "and the families are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support they have received." This statement issued last night. And, again, Salt Lake Police have yet to confirm this statement to CNN.

CALLAWAY: To New York now, where a new terror warning has been issued about a possible al Qaeda attack. And CNN's Ali Velshi is live in New York with the latest information on that.

ALI VELSHI, CNNfn CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, the threat is being called credible, but not specific enough to raise New York's terror alert, which has been orange or high, since the attacks of September 11.

Now, here is what we're hearing. Over the course of the weekend, federal officials and New York officials, including a joint task force, combined of both local and federal law enforcement, met to discuss the fact that they have got evidence that is more than chatter, perhaps, that al Qaeda might be plotting to hit corporate headquarters in New York.

Now, they're not specifically talking about Wall Street, although that is where most of the corporate headquarters in and around New York are. Now, here's what we're talking about. Timing, we have got the Republican Convention coming up in about a month, which means protection on the streets of New York is higher than it typically is.

The FBI has asked that law enforcement agencies in New York treat this particularly seriously. On the streets of New York, you will see the Hercules police forces. Now, these are the special, heavily armed tactical units. They are part of Operation Atlas which has been in place since March of 2003.

The site, not specifically citing Wall Street, but you will recall that in 1993 -- and there you are seeing those specially armed police forces -- 1993 World Trade Center bomb was a bomb in a vehicle, and since then there have been efforts by security at corporate headquarters to really check cars out. You saw a dog there. Sometimes mirrors are used in physical inspections of cars. A lot of security at parking lots.

The other thing that authorities are telling building security directors to do is check access to roofs. Check maintenance rooms. Pay particular attention to HVAC systems, heating and ventilation systems. There seems to be some suggestion there that someone might infiltrate a building and try and put chemical or biological weapons through the building's ventilation system.

Again, we are trying to get more and more information. We are hearing that Tom Ridge, Homeland Security director, might be in New York today. And as soon as we nail that down, we'll report back to you, Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, Ali. Thank you for the update.

And also we're going to discuss this new warning in detail with a former FBI agent and a current member of New Jersey's counter- terrorism force. That's coming up in the next hour right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

GRIFFIN: In developing news overnight off the coast of Alaska, a sightseeing trip in Alaska, it certainly didn't go as planned. It came to an abrupt halt when a cruise ship ran aground on a reef. The accident ripped a gaping hole in the hull. This spilled about several thousand gallons of fuel.

This their is the ship here. On the phone now, live, is Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roddy Carr.

Officer, we are talking about a relatively small ship when it comes to these kind of cruise ships that go through Alaska, but you had several hundred people to evacuate from that ship.

RODDY CARR, CWO, U.S. COAST GUARD: Yes, that's correct. We actually had 198 people onboard and the majority of those personnel were evacuated with the exception of the engineers and officers onboard remained with the ship. So that went smoothly and we had a good evacuation, very orderly and had no injuries, so it was good news.

GRIFFIN: I understand, we talked last hour, and I understand the Coast Guard has now talked with the captain. Do you have any details on the route this ship was taking and what exactly happened and how it ran aground?

CARR: We do have two representatives onboard from our office right now, but our primary concern at the time is stabilizing the vessel and making sure that we don't have any further pollution. It's an environmentally sensitive area. That's our number one concern right now.

The investigation will follow and hopefully we'll find the cause of what this incident was. We actually have some of our investigators flying in tomorrow morning from Anchorage. So we'll be looking into that, but right now I can't speculate on that.

GRIFFIN: This doesn't appear to be the usual route of cruise ships heading into what we know the Alaska cruise to be. What was going on, on this ship?

CARR: This was a highly-specialized cruise ship. It's not your standard 3,000-passenger vessel. This is -- it takes tours around a lot of the smaller islands looking at the rookeries and other wild life. So it's a high-end cruise ship, if you will, that caters to a lot of the environmental folks out there.

GRIFFIN: Everybody off safe the ship, as you told us last hour is a float and may be towed later today?

CARR: She's actually under way under her own power right now proceeding into Dutch Harbor. She's making about five knots. She should be in here sometime this morning. Things are going as smoothly right now. As smoothly as they can, I guess.

GRIFFIN: Very good, Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roddy Carr on duty, this morning in Alaska.

CALLAWAY: Let's check some other stories making headlines across America. About 70 people were injured when a balcony collapsed in a Diamond Horseshoe Casino in Polson, Montana. One witness said he heard loud snaps or cracks just moments before the 14-foot high deck gave way, hurling people standing to the ground. No one was killed.

Also out West, firefighters battling a blaze in central Washington's Kittitas County. Authorities say it along with 10 other fires set recently there were started by an elusive arsonist and they're offering a $10,000 reward for information.

A freight train in northeast Kentucky jumped the tracks yesterday morning. About 20 cars carrying slabs of steel derailed. Cars hit a natural gas line forcing 45 people to evacuate nearby. Police say no one was injured.

And the tiger is safely caged after breaking free for a stroll through a New York City borough. The white tiger, named Paulo, is part of the circus performing in Queens. Trainers were able to coax him into a cage, but not before the sight of him caused a multi-car accident. I guess so.

GRIFFIN: A battle is on. President Bush tries to win voters' hearts and minds in the Buckeye State. We'll get a live report from the White House.

CALLAWAY: And he's the coach of champions, Bella Karolyi, the most successful coach in the history of women's gymnastics, will join us live here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We're asking you this morning for some creative ideas on text messaging short cuts, you know, like lol, used in place of laughing out loud. Tell us what you do or try to create something brand new. We're checking out your suggestions and some just arriving on our desk at wam@cnn.com.

CALLAWAY: Good morning, St. Louis. You're looking live at that city this morning. And Arch Kennedy his here with your complete weekend forecast in 10 minutes. CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: President Bush and Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry are covering a lot of the same ground, both visiting key states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia this weekend. At one point the buses were a few miles apart on the interstate. For more on Mr. Bush's travels we turn to White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew. President Bush is back at the White House after a two-day swing through five key battleground states. This is what they're calling the "Heart and Soul Moving America Forward Tour". It has started in earnest.

One of those stops is Star County, Ohio, considered a bellwether for the state and no Republican has won the White House without Ohio, with the president facing many challenges there. Ohio has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs. Star County has an unemployment rate of 6.4 percent, federal deficit at a record high as well as recent economic numbers showing that growth has slowed.

But President Bush has arguing that his economic plan is putting the country back on the right track. He was emphasizing tax cuts and his policy to level the playing field in the international trade particularly when it comes to China.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know there's great concern about trade in eastern Ohio. Let me tell you something about trade. I believe that America and Americans can compete with anybody, any place, anywhere so long as the rules are fair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now President Bush, for the most part, was greeted warmly by large crowds, but also faced a number of protesters and Kerry supporters for challenging essentially on his rosy picture of the economy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the past four years Bush has sent my friends to Iraq, sent my father's job overseas and sent my mom, she's a teacher, her pay plummeting. And we're sick of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Drew, also the president emphasizing that he is tough when it comes to national security. It's expected as early as tomorrow to announce some of those recommendations to reform intelligence, that were essentially recommended by the 9/11 Commission -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Suzanne, thank you for that report from the White House this morning - Catherine.

CALLAWAY: John Kerry's 21-state bus tour takes him to Ohio and Michigan today. Saturday, the Kerry-Edwards team visited Pennsylvania and West Virginia. His speeches, like the president, have focused on the economy and bringing new jobs to America.

Be sure to watch "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer" later today. His guests include Senators John Kerry and John Edwards. That's "Late Edition" coming up at 12:00 p.m. Eastern today.

A tropical storm watch for parts of the Carolina coast today. Arch Kennedy is coming up with an update.

GRIFFIN: Plus, he coached champions. Bela Karolyi joins us to talk about this year's women's gymnastics Olympic team. CNN SUNDAY MORNING will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: The story of the Olympics in just a moment. But first that Alaskan cruise ship that ran aground is now back afloat and under way. The Coast Guard says the ship running on its own power heading for the harbor at Dutch Harbor. And 196 passengers and crew members safely evacuated from the clipper Odyssey

The family of the missing Utah woman wants volunteers to stop searching for her. Lori Hacking relatives say information from her husband makes it unnecessary for the search to continue. Police say they're not aware of any new information.

A suicide bombing in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul has killed at least four Iraqis, wounded more than 50 others. A separate explosion in Baghdad killed two Iraqi civilians.

An explosion rocks the Czech capital of Prague today. Police say that 17 people were hurt there. A blast happened near a casino.

CALLAWAY: Just 12 days until the Olympics Games start in Athens. One of the most watched competitions, as always, is gymnastics and a sport the U.S. Women's team is known to dominate. One of the reasons why is because they have former Coach Bela Karolyi. He's joining us this morning, live from Houston, Texas, for a preview of the 2004 Games.

Thanks for being with us, Coach.

BELA KAROLYI, FMR. U.S. GYMNASTIC COACH: Thank you. Thank you for having.

CALLAWAY: And your wife is the coordinator of the team, we should say, and what a team this year. Certainly, not a lot of young pre-pubescent girls this year; the girls are like from 16 to 24 this time.

KAROLYI: It's amazing. This is like a dream come true. It's a long dream. It took about 28 years to set back the sport from the kids gymnastics into the woman's gymnastics. Yes, the maturity of the 24- years-old ones really elevate the sport to the new standards. And also, this is something that all of them have been waiting for a long time.

CALLAWAY: At 16 to 24, it's just amazing to me. At 24, a lot of people, they can't live at an institution and train for gymnastics and the training has changed now. Can you explain how that works?

KAROLYI: Yes, the training has changed. It's getting more and more strenuous, more and more effort had to be implemented in order to get this high-quality performance as these young ladies are putting up the floor.

But, overall, I think it's a great achievement. It's really a great American success, developing and keeping these young athletes all of the way to the -- getting to the maturity life, a mature life of 24 and still highly competitive and highly efficient.

CALLAWAY: But also what I'm saying is they don't always have to train in Houston with you. They are able to train at home some as well?

KAROLYI: This is -- we implemented a system in 1999 and I was very fortunate at the time. I had a freehand to implement this new system, preparing the 2000 Olympic Games and ever since the system is succeeding and going further and further and getting more and more efficient.

Of course, you know, by now everybody knows in the world of gymnastics, in 2003 in Anaheim we did become again the reigning world champions. This is really the crown of the system. And now what you've been asking directly this, is one of the major success. Not everybody leaves home. Nobody has to leave home.

These young ladies are benefiting the one -- which is so characteristic for the particular American life. Parents want to have the kids home. Kids want to stay home and have their normal life -- and they do. But at the same time they're coordinate it, they are directed by the so-called National Training Program, which is not a centralized program. It's a semi-centralized program.

CALLAWAY: So, they're able to train at home, to train at home, go to school and it's a lot less expensive.

Hey, but one of the biggest changes this year will be in the competition itself now. There's only going to be what? Three gymnasts at each event, now, you're not going to have four or five. And they're not going to drop the lowest score anymore.

KAROLYI: Yes, the system did change. The format did change a little bit, but we're prepared for it. We are, as you know by now, we are so deep in the talent. We can easily could put out two things -- both of them highly contenders for medal contenders. But the system is really disadvantaging us because we really would be even more efficient if we take the larger number, like the old format, and six gymnasts could go there on the floor and all six scores could count.

CALLAWAY: I'm running out of time, but I can't let you go. I mean, so many incredible gymnasts that you've coached, Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton. Do you have one big memory of favorite memory of all your years and involvement with the Olympics?

KAROLYI: I was fortunate enough, I've had many great memories and great, great moments. But probably the one I'm saying and I still believe strongly myself and my wife, that Mary Lou was the sunshine of our coaching career. With her smile and her bubbly personality and her unbelievable success in the 1984 Olympic Games. Yes, we cherish that moment more than anything else. CALLAWAY: And her hugging you is one of the best memories ever.

KAROLYI: Wow, wow, wow.

CALLAWAY: It's so great to see you still involved and, you know, you have produced so many great gymnasts around the world. And of course, we're all glad that you're now doing that here in America and I know you'll be there at the Olympics watching closely.

Coach Karolyi, thank you very much for being with us this morning.

KAROLYI: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

CALLAWAY: Bye-bye.

KAROLYI: Bye-bye.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

GRIFFIN: Our e-mail question. We're talking about these text messages and we've been asking you to send us your cute little messages. Here's one. Try to get this.

(TEXT ON SCREEN): Kthanp

GRIFFIN: OK, thanks, no problem.

You like that one, Catherine?

CALLAWAY: You know, some of them are just, like this one it took me a minute to get.

It says, b cn u, you have the -- l8r to get, be seeing you later. They're clever.

GRIFFIN: Keep writing. We'll be reading more of them later on this morning, if we can decipher them.

Almost 200,000 people die every year from medical mistakes. That is according to a new study and up next on "House Call" Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look this American tragedy and tells you about new efforts under way to change the tide.

At 9:30 Eastern, a rare voice rarely heard in American politics. A 10-year-old starts her own political action committee. Lily Thorpe is her name. She'll join us live.

Plus, a police officer who wouldn't let a thing like a bolt of lightning stop him from completing his job. Fresh from a stay at a hospital he joins us life and happily -- alive here at CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Next, today's top stories after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Relatives of missing Utah woman are asking volunteers to stop their search for Lori Hacking. They say her husband Mark has provided new information that makes it unnecessary to continue the search. They don't say what the information is. We hope to hear from police later today.

A small cruise ship that ran aground off Alaska's Aleutian Islands overnight has been refloated. That was two hours ago. The Coast Guard says all of the passengers aboard the clipper Odyssey were evacuated safely.

They are trying to determine now, thought the extent of damage caused by about 5,000 gallons of fuel that spilled.

This is CNN, the most trusted name in news. Sanjay Gupta with "House Call" is next.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired August 1, 2004 - 08:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is the very first day of August. Good morning to you, I'm Drew Griffin.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone, I'm Catherine Callaway. I'm in for Betty Nguyen this morning.

A lot going on. And let's get straight to the news.

In Salt Lake City, family members of Mark and Lori Hacking say continuing to search for the missing woman is unnecessary. Both families issued a joint statement last night saying that Mark Hacking has provided some information. Details of that information hasn't been released. More on that story in just 45 seconds.

And in Alaska, a sightseeing trip came to an abrupt halt when a cruise ship ran aground on a reef. The ship's hull was gashed, spilling at least 5,000 gallons of fuel, and all passengers aboard the clipper Odyssey were evacuated. And a live report on that is coming up.

In New York, a new non-specific terror threat against Wall Street financial firms has heightened security precautions there. Federal officials cite intelligence from a credible source. We'll get a live report from New York on this in three minutes.

In Iraq, at least six Iraqis are dead, killed in two explosions this morning. One blast was a suicide car bomb in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The other was a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

GRIFFIN: Back to our top story. Salt Lake police have yet to confirm new information in the case of Lori Hacking, missing since July 19. The new information is a joint statement issued by the families of both Mark and Lori Hacking.

Quoting here: "The families understand that Mark Hacking has provided information that makes it unnecessary for individuals or groups to continue the volunteer search. At this time the families ask that all efforts from volunteers cease, and that anyone with information that they feel might be helpful contact the Salt Lake City Police Department directly. The families remain supportive of the police investigation. As in any situation of this nature, the help from the public has been invaluable," says the families, "and the families are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support they have received." This statement issued last night. And, again, Salt Lake Police have yet to confirm this statement to CNN.

CALLAWAY: To New York now, where a new terror warning has been issued about a possible al Qaeda attack. And CNN's Ali Velshi is live in New York with the latest information on that.

ALI VELSHI, CNNfn CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, the threat is being called credible, but not specific enough to raise New York's terror alert, which has been orange or high, since the attacks of September 11.

Now, here is what we're hearing. Over the course of the weekend, federal officials and New York officials, including a joint task force, combined of both local and federal law enforcement, met to discuss the fact that they have got evidence that is more than chatter, perhaps, that al Qaeda might be plotting to hit corporate headquarters in New York.

Now, they're not specifically talking about Wall Street, although that is where most of the corporate headquarters in and around New York are. Now, here's what we're talking about. Timing, we have got the Republican Convention coming up in about a month, which means protection on the streets of New York is higher than it typically is.

The FBI has asked that law enforcement agencies in New York treat this particularly seriously. On the streets of New York, you will see the Hercules police forces. Now, these are the special, heavily armed tactical units. They are part of Operation Atlas which has been in place since March of 2003.

The site, not specifically citing Wall Street, but you will recall that in 1993 -- and there you are seeing those specially armed police forces -- 1993 World Trade Center bomb was a bomb in a vehicle, and since then there have been efforts by security at corporate headquarters to really check cars out. You saw a dog there. Sometimes mirrors are used in physical inspections of cars. A lot of security at parking lots.

The other thing that authorities are telling building security directors to do is check access to roofs. Check maintenance rooms. Pay particular attention to HVAC systems, heating and ventilation systems. There seems to be some suggestion there that someone might infiltrate a building and try and put chemical or biological weapons through the building's ventilation system.

Again, we are trying to get more and more information. We are hearing that Tom Ridge, Homeland Security director, might be in New York today. And as soon as we nail that down, we'll report back to you, Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, Ali. Thank you for the update.

And also we're going to discuss this new warning in detail with a former FBI agent and a current member of New Jersey's counter- terrorism force. That's coming up in the next hour right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

GRIFFIN: In developing news overnight off the coast of Alaska, a sightseeing trip in Alaska, it certainly didn't go as planned. It came to an abrupt halt when a cruise ship ran aground on a reef. The accident ripped a gaping hole in the hull. This spilled about several thousand gallons of fuel.

This their is the ship here. On the phone now, live, is Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roddy Carr.

Officer, we are talking about a relatively small ship when it comes to these kind of cruise ships that go through Alaska, but you had several hundred people to evacuate from that ship.

RODDY CARR, CWO, U.S. COAST GUARD: Yes, that's correct. We actually had 198 people onboard and the majority of those personnel were evacuated with the exception of the engineers and officers onboard remained with the ship. So that went smoothly and we had a good evacuation, very orderly and had no injuries, so it was good news.

GRIFFIN: I understand, we talked last hour, and I understand the Coast Guard has now talked with the captain. Do you have any details on the route this ship was taking and what exactly happened and how it ran aground?

CARR: We do have two representatives onboard from our office right now, but our primary concern at the time is stabilizing the vessel and making sure that we don't have any further pollution. It's an environmentally sensitive area. That's our number one concern right now.

The investigation will follow and hopefully we'll find the cause of what this incident was. We actually have some of our investigators flying in tomorrow morning from Anchorage. So we'll be looking into that, but right now I can't speculate on that.

GRIFFIN: This doesn't appear to be the usual route of cruise ships heading into what we know the Alaska cruise to be. What was going on, on this ship?

CARR: This was a highly-specialized cruise ship. It's not your standard 3,000-passenger vessel. This is -- it takes tours around a lot of the smaller islands looking at the rookeries and other wild life. So it's a high-end cruise ship, if you will, that caters to a lot of the environmental folks out there.

GRIFFIN: Everybody off safe the ship, as you told us last hour is a float and may be towed later today?

CARR: She's actually under way under her own power right now proceeding into Dutch Harbor. She's making about five knots. She should be in here sometime this morning. Things are going as smoothly right now. As smoothly as they can, I guess.

GRIFFIN: Very good, Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roddy Carr on duty, this morning in Alaska.

CALLAWAY: Let's check some other stories making headlines across America. About 70 people were injured when a balcony collapsed in a Diamond Horseshoe Casino in Polson, Montana. One witness said he heard loud snaps or cracks just moments before the 14-foot high deck gave way, hurling people standing to the ground. No one was killed.

Also out West, firefighters battling a blaze in central Washington's Kittitas County. Authorities say it along with 10 other fires set recently there were started by an elusive arsonist and they're offering a $10,000 reward for information.

A freight train in northeast Kentucky jumped the tracks yesterday morning. About 20 cars carrying slabs of steel derailed. Cars hit a natural gas line forcing 45 people to evacuate nearby. Police say no one was injured.

And the tiger is safely caged after breaking free for a stroll through a New York City borough. The white tiger, named Paulo, is part of the circus performing in Queens. Trainers were able to coax him into a cage, but not before the sight of him caused a multi-car accident. I guess so.

GRIFFIN: A battle is on. President Bush tries to win voters' hearts and minds in the Buckeye State. We'll get a live report from the White House.

CALLAWAY: And he's the coach of champions, Bella Karolyi, the most successful coach in the history of women's gymnastics, will join us live here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We're asking you this morning for some creative ideas on text messaging short cuts, you know, like lol, used in place of laughing out loud. Tell us what you do or try to create something brand new. We're checking out your suggestions and some just arriving on our desk at wam@cnn.com.

CALLAWAY: Good morning, St. Louis. You're looking live at that city this morning. And Arch Kennedy his here with your complete weekend forecast in 10 minutes. CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: President Bush and Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry are covering a lot of the same ground, both visiting key states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia this weekend. At one point the buses were a few miles apart on the interstate. For more on Mr. Bush's travels we turn to White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew. President Bush is back at the White House after a two-day swing through five key battleground states. This is what they're calling the "Heart and Soul Moving America Forward Tour". It has started in earnest.

One of those stops is Star County, Ohio, considered a bellwether for the state and no Republican has won the White House without Ohio, with the president facing many challenges there. Ohio has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs. Star County has an unemployment rate of 6.4 percent, federal deficit at a record high as well as recent economic numbers showing that growth has slowed.

But President Bush has arguing that his economic plan is putting the country back on the right track. He was emphasizing tax cuts and his policy to level the playing field in the international trade particularly when it comes to China.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know there's great concern about trade in eastern Ohio. Let me tell you something about trade. I believe that America and Americans can compete with anybody, any place, anywhere so long as the rules are fair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now President Bush, for the most part, was greeted warmly by large crowds, but also faced a number of protesters and Kerry supporters for challenging essentially on his rosy picture of the economy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the past four years Bush has sent my friends to Iraq, sent my father's job overseas and sent my mom, she's a teacher, her pay plummeting. And we're sick of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Drew, also the president emphasizing that he is tough when it comes to national security. It's expected as early as tomorrow to announce some of those recommendations to reform intelligence, that were essentially recommended by the 9/11 Commission -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Suzanne, thank you for that report from the White House this morning - Catherine.

CALLAWAY: John Kerry's 21-state bus tour takes him to Ohio and Michigan today. Saturday, the Kerry-Edwards team visited Pennsylvania and West Virginia. His speeches, like the president, have focused on the economy and bringing new jobs to America.

Be sure to watch "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer" later today. His guests include Senators John Kerry and John Edwards. That's "Late Edition" coming up at 12:00 p.m. Eastern today.

A tropical storm watch for parts of the Carolina coast today. Arch Kennedy is coming up with an update.

GRIFFIN: Plus, he coached champions. Bela Karolyi joins us to talk about this year's women's gymnastics Olympic team. CNN SUNDAY MORNING will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: The story of the Olympics in just a moment. But first that Alaskan cruise ship that ran aground is now back afloat and under way. The Coast Guard says the ship running on its own power heading for the harbor at Dutch Harbor. And 196 passengers and crew members safely evacuated from the clipper Odyssey

The family of the missing Utah woman wants volunteers to stop searching for her. Lori Hacking relatives say information from her husband makes it unnecessary for the search to continue. Police say they're not aware of any new information.

A suicide bombing in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul has killed at least four Iraqis, wounded more than 50 others. A separate explosion in Baghdad killed two Iraqi civilians.

An explosion rocks the Czech capital of Prague today. Police say that 17 people were hurt there. A blast happened near a casino.

CALLAWAY: Just 12 days until the Olympics Games start in Athens. One of the most watched competitions, as always, is gymnastics and a sport the U.S. Women's team is known to dominate. One of the reasons why is because they have former Coach Bela Karolyi. He's joining us this morning, live from Houston, Texas, for a preview of the 2004 Games.

Thanks for being with us, Coach.

BELA KAROLYI, FMR. U.S. GYMNASTIC COACH: Thank you. Thank you for having.

CALLAWAY: And your wife is the coordinator of the team, we should say, and what a team this year. Certainly, not a lot of young pre-pubescent girls this year; the girls are like from 16 to 24 this time.

KAROLYI: It's amazing. This is like a dream come true. It's a long dream. It took about 28 years to set back the sport from the kids gymnastics into the woman's gymnastics. Yes, the maturity of the 24- years-old ones really elevate the sport to the new standards. And also, this is something that all of them have been waiting for a long time.

CALLAWAY: At 16 to 24, it's just amazing to me. At 24, a lot of people, they can't live at an institution and train for gymnastics and the training has changed now. Can you explain how that works?

KAROLYI: Yes, the training has changed. It's getting more and more strenuous, more and more effort had to be implemented in order to get this high-quality performance as these young ladies are putting up the floor.

But, overall, I think it's a great achievement. It's really a great American success, developing and keeping these young athletes all of the way to the -- getting to the maturity life, a mature life of 24 and still highly competitive and highly efficient.

CALLAWAY: But also what I'm saying is they don't always have to train in Houston with you. They are able to train at home some as well?

KAROLYI: This is -- we implemented a system in 1999 and I was very fortunate at the time. I had a freehand to implement this new system, preparing the 2000 Olympic Games and ever since the system is succeeding and going further and further and getting more and more efficient.

Of course, you know, by now everybody knows in the world of gymnastics, in 2003 in Anaheim we did become again the reigning world champions. This is really the crown of the system. And now what you've been asking directly this, is one of the major success. Not everybody leaves home. Nobody has to leave home.

These young ladies are benefiting the one -- which is so characteristic for the particular American life. Parents want to have the kids home. Kids want to stay home and have their normal life -- and they do. But at the same time they're coordinate it, they are directed by the so-called National Training Program, which is not a centralized program. It's a semi-centralized program.

CALLAWAY: So, they're able to train at home, to train at home, go to school and it's a lot less expensive.

Hey, but one of the biggest changes this year will be in the competition itself now. There's only going to be what? Three gymnasts at each event, now, you're not going to have four or five. And they're not going to drop the lowest score anymore.

KAROLYI: Yes, the system did change. The format did change a little bit, but we're prepared for it. We are, as you know by now, we are so deep in the talent. We can easily could put out two things -- both of them highly contenders for medal contenders. But the system is really disadvantaging us because we really would be even more efficient if we take the larger number, like the old format, and six gymnasts could go there on the floor and all six scores could count.

CALLAWAY: I'm running out of time, but I can't let you go. I mean, so many incredible gymnasts that you've coached, Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton. Do you have one big memory of favorite memory of all your years and involvement with the Olympics?

KAROLYI: I was fortunate enough, I've had many great memories and great, great moments. But probably the one I'm saying and I still believe strongly myself and my wife, that Mary Lou was the sunshine of our coaching career. With her smile and her bubbly personality and her unbelievable success in the 1984 Olympic Games. Yes, we cherish that moment more than anything else. CALLAWAY: And her hugging you is one of the best memories ever.

KAROLYI: Wow, wow, wow.

CALLAWAY: It's so great to see you still involved and, you know, you have produced so many great gymnasts around the world. And of course, we're all glad that you're now doing that here in America and I know you'll be there at the Olympics watching closely.

Coach Karolyi, thank you very much for being with us this morning.

KAROLYI: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

CALLAWAY: Bye-bye.

KAROLYI: Bye-bye.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

GRIFFIN: Our e-mail question. We're talking about these text messages and we've been asking you to send us your cute little messages. Here's one. Try to get this.

(TEXT ON SCREEN): Kthanp

GRIFFIN: OK, thanks, no problem.

You like that one, Catherine?

CALLAWAY: You know, some of them are just, like this one it took me a minute to get.

It says, b cn u, you have the -- l8r to get, be seeing you later. They're clever.

GRIFFIN: Keep writing. We'll be reading more of them later on this morning, if we can decipher them.

Almost 200,000 people die every year from medical mistakes. That is according to a new study and up next on "House Call" Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look this American tragedy and tells you about new efforts under way to change the tide.

At 9:30 Eastern, a rare voice rarely heard in American politics. A 10-year-old starts her own political action committee. Lily Thorpe is her name. She'll join us live.

Plus, a police officer who wouldn't let a thing like a bolt of lightning stop him from completing his job. Fresh from a stay at a hospital he joins us life and happily -- alive here at CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Next, today's top stories after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Relatives of missing Utah woman are asking volunteers to stop their search for Lori Hacking. They say her husband Mark has provided new information that makes it unnecessary to continue the search. They don't say what the information is. We hope to hear from police later today.

A small cruise ship that ran aground off Alaska's Aleutian Islands overnight has been refloated. That was two hours ago. The Coast Guard says all of the passengers aboard the clipper Odyssey were evacuated safely.

They are trying to determine now, thought the extent of damage caused by about 5,000 gallons of fuel that spilled.

This is CNN, the most trusted name in news. Sanjay Gupta with "House Call" is next.

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