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CNN Sunday Morning

Police Arrest 2 Men in Aruba in Connection With 18-Year-Old's Disappearance; Will U.S. Go to U.N. to Try to Resolve North Korean Issue?

Aired June 05, 2005 - 09:00   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: New developments out of Aruba this morning. Police have arrested two men in the disappearance of 18 year old Natalee Holloway.
Good morning everyone. I'm Betty Nguyen.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. Let's get you caught up with the morning headlines. Now in the news, in Aruba police arrest two suspects in the case of missing teenager Natalee Holloway.

The 18 year old vacationing from Birmingham, Alabama has been missing since Monday. Police say the men were security guards at a nearby hotel. We'll have a live report from Aruba in just a moment.

U.S. Marines find a massive underground bunker near Fallujah. The military says it's roughly the size of 14 football fields and was filled with supplies and weaponry, but no insurgents. Marines had found a dozen smaller hideouts in central Iraq the past few days.

NASA engineers look to test drive the Mars Rover Opportunity either tomorrow or Tuesday after freeing it from a patch of sand. The robot was stuck for nearly five weeks trying to navigate over a foot high sand dune. Both Opportunity and its twin Spirit are beyond their scheduled three month long missions giving NASA scientist more information than expected.

NGUYEN: But we begin with a developing story out of the Caribbean. About two hours ago Aruba police made two arrests in the case of a missing Alabama teenager. Natalee Holloway was last seen nearly a week ago leaving a nightclub with three local men. We are joined by Dilma Arends, a local journalist, and she is live by videophone from Aruba.

Dilma I understand you were at the homes where the raids took place this morning and two arrest were made. Tell us what went down.

DILMA ARENDS, REPORTER: Yes, we were part of a group of local reporters who received the tip since yesterday, and we were able to intercept a large caravan of local police officers who raided two homes in St. Nicholas (ph). The first one the whole group went there. They went into the house. Once they got out of the house they started checking two cars and then some police officers stayed at that house. We weren't able to see very well, but we saw the police detaining one person, handcuffing that person and a couple of officers stayed behind with that person and the caravan continued on to another house in downtown St. Nicholas and that's when they were joined by another local detective, who was accompanied by three FBI agents.

This operation was done by local police officers. And, I mean, they did the standard procedures. They knocked on the door. They told them -- they identified themselves, went into the house and start searching. As a matter of fact, there were two dogs barking. They even told the owners of he house or the inhabitants there to -- the residence there to keep the dogs calm. And it went pretty calm. I mean there was no resistance.

They immediately went in and they were accompanied by the person in charge, district attorney Karen Janssen. And they did a search and after half an hour or so came out with another man, also in handcuffs. While he was led out other agents stay there and combed the whole house and we saw them taking out bags of stuff. What they were, we don't know.

NGUYEN: OK, before we get to the men who were arrested let's talk about why law enforcement focused on these homes. Do you know?

ARENDS: They also worked on a tip. I mean they were receiving many, many tips and what they police commissioner in charge, Karen Janssen said earlier this week is that they were working on a wide range of information that they received. And slowly they would, you know, chop off some. They would work on all fronts and they've been working on this -- I don't -- they haven't confirmed that, but we have feeling they've been working on this in particular for a couple of days now...

NGUYEN: What do we know about the two men arrested?

ARENDS: ...because it was very well organized and they knew exactly.

NGUYEN: Dilma, what do we know about the men arrested. Do they have criminal backgrounds, anything like that?

ARENDS: We don't know. We know -- we don't know anything yet. The police is not releasing anything. They are at this moment at two separate undisclosed locations and we just know that they are security guards, 28 and 30 respectively and that's all we know.

NGUYEN: All right. Dilma...

ARENDS: As a matter of fact, one was with his family. I mean...

NGUYEN: At the time of arrest, OK.

Dilma Arends a local journalist there in Aruba. We thank you for that information.

Tony. HARRIS: Karen Janssen is the chief prosecutor in Aruba and she joins us on the phone.

Karen, good morning.

KAREN JANSSEN, CHIEF PROSECUTOR: Good morning.

HARRIS: Well, well, well we have a lot to cover with you. I know you're aware of how much interest there is internationally in this case. Let's start with some basics here. Can you tell us what led police to the two men who have now been arrested?

JANSSEN: Well, that is the result of the investigation till now. We think that we can call them two suspects, so we arrested them this morning for further interrogation and we search in their houses and we took three cars for further technical investigation.

HARRIS: Karen, what was the probable cause that led to the search and ultimately the arrests?

JANSSEN: Well, investigation is still going and running at this moment. I can't tell you the details why we arrested these two men.

HARRIS: Karen you're telling me you can't tell us why they were arrested, if there was some kind of -- I mean clearly there was some kind of information that led you to them.

JANSSEN: Yes, we have that information.

HARRIS: Can you share just a shred of that?

JANSSEN: Well, that's very difficult because we are at this moment right in the middle of an investigation. There may be other involved and we are interrogating these two suspects, so I can't tell you the details why they are suspects. That would be damaging the investigation at this moment.

HARRIS: Have you been a part of the interrogation process?

JANSSEN: Our station and the interrogation is in my order, so I'm a part of it, yes.

HARRIS: OK. So you have been in the room during the question is I guess what I'm getting at here.

JANSSEN: Well, I'm now in this room talking to you, but there is another room where the interrogation is placed at this moment.

HARRIS: The two suspects, any prior criminal history?

JANSSEN: We know that, of course, but I can't tell you more about those two men only the age of the two men I can tell you at this moment. I can't give you information about their backgrounds.

HARRIS: You can give us information about their backgrounds or you can't? JANSSEN: I have the information, but I can't give you that.

HARRIS: Karen, you're not helping me here. We're trying to, you know...

JANSSEN: Yes, I'm protecting the investigation that's my most priority at this moment.

HARRIS: I understand, but you understand that this young woman has a family and friends here who are desperately worried about her.

JANSSEN: Yes, we have contacted the family. They were the first we informed this morning. So we have a good contact with the family. I can tell you that we are searching. There's also a technical investigation and the FBI is helping us on that point.

HARRIS: Karen, one final question. Have these two men in custody, who you describe as suspects, who have been arrested, have they given you any information that has directed you in your search for Natalee?

JANSSEN: Well, the search for Natalee is still going on, and at the moment that we have more information out of the interrogation we will know that and we will take the right action at that moment.

HARRIS: OK. Karen, I apologize. I'm pushing you a bit, but we're just trying to move this story along as best we can.

JANSSEN: We are aware of the importance. We are aware of the concerns, and we do everything we can here.

HARRIS: All right. Karen Janssen is chief prosecutor in Aruba. Karen, thanks for taking the time to talk to us.

NGUYEN: Turning now to the standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Reuters news service is reporting a senior defense officials says a decision could come within weeks on whether the U.S. will take the matter to the U.N. where sanctions could be imposed.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld touched on the issue lightly while attending this week's Asian security conference in Singapore. We want to get more now from CNN's Elaine Quijano, who is near the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Betty. Well, this month marks one year since North Korea last took part in the six way, six nation discussion about the nuclear program. But since then the Bush administration has hoped that North Korea's neighbors, especially China, might bring some pressure to bear on Pyongyang to try to bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table. That, however, has not happened.

In fact, just last week President Bush was asked about this during a Rose Garden news conference. He was asked specifically about the U.S.'s approach to handling North Korea and what he said then was that he'd use it as either a diplomatic or a military approach. And he says at this point he is for the diplomatic approach.

He also made it a point to say though that military options -- that all options, rather, are on the table. But he insisted that he believes the U.S. has quote, "Got a ways to go" to solve this situation diplomatically.

Now the Bush White House has continually tried to send the message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il that North Korea needs to move forward within the framework of the six-party discussions, talks that involved, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. But, of course, there's been no word of any movement and with concerns continuing to mount over North Korea's nuclear ambitions the U.S. has maintained that referral to the U.N. Security Counsel is certainly an option.

As for what lies ahead, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in the region set to meet with Chinese officials. The U.S., of course, hoping that China's voice will be persuasive enough to North Korea to bring about some progress.

President Bush, meantime, is set to meet later this week in Washington with South Korean President Roh.

Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Elaine Quijano in Crawford, Texas. Thank you, Elaine.

HARRIS: Time now to go global. Let's head over to the CNN international desk.

NGUYEN: Hala Gorani is in for Anand Naidoo this morning and she joins us with the latest.

Good morning, Hala.

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Betty. Hello, Tony. Well, we start our look around the world in Lebanon. Three days after the assassination of the pro-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir, there are elections in Lebanon. It's the second of a four phase poll to elect members of parliament in that country. But anti Syrian candidates don't have much of a chance today. The 23 seats up for grabs are for districts in southern Lebanon for a more Syria friendly alliance that includes Hezbollah is expected to triumph.

The trial of Saddam Hussein, officials say the former dictator could face up to 500 charges, but will only be tried on 12 for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Iraqi officials are reported as saying that going after Saddam on hundreds of crimes would be a quote, "waste of time." The trial should start in the next two months.

Finally, it is the final push for the five cities hoping to host the 2012 Olympic games. In a last ditch PR blitz Paris has pulled out the big guns installing a giant race track in the middle of the Champs d'Elysees. There it is. Don't take your car down there if you're watching in Paris.

Inspectors from the International Olympic Committee will issue a verdict on each of the five candidate cities tomorrow. Paris is considered a front runner. But it could be difficult and a tight race because we also have Long, New York, Madrid and Moscow in the running. The winning city will be chosen this summer.

Tony and Betty.

NGUYEN: Paris wanting to get that, yes.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Thank you, Hala.

Now to some of the last wishes of the late Pope John Paul II. His long time secretary says he will not burn notes and memos from the late pontiff even though John Paul's will instructs his secretary to destroy the papers.

In an interview with Polish state radio, the secretary says, the documents contain quote, "great riches." He says they should be preserved and eventually made public, which leads to our e-mail question this morning, should Pope John Paul II's wishes be carried out? Let us know what you think about it. E-mail us at weekends@cnn.com.

A Marine turned screenwriter pins his account of the war in Iraq. It is called "Accessible Losses," and we will talk to him in this morning's Soldier's Story.

HARRIS: Plus with tornadoes in the news this morning you'll meet a family still struggling with loses from last year's brutal hurricane season.

Good morning, Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Life after Iraq, and after war. Once the parades are over what's it really like for troops returning home and trying to transition back into the real world? On veteran has written a screen play about the experience. His story is today's Soldier's Story when we return.

NGUYEN: First though a CNN extra. There is a new law on the books aimed at protecting your credit information. Now employers must destroy personal information about their employees if they got that information from a credit report. Now that means shredding or burning paper before they're thrown out or smashing or wiping computer discs. Employers who don't do it can face state and federal fines or even class action law suits by employees.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This morning's Soldier's Story deals with the human price of war, not just on the battlefield but at home. And joining me are the co-authors of "Acceptable Losses," a screen play about returning veterans. Brendon Smith is a former Marine who served in Iraq, and Cedric Hill is a co-author and director and we want to thank you both for being with us today.

Brendon, let me...

CEDRIC HILL, CO-AUTHOR, DIRECTOR: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Sure. Let me start with you Brendon because you joined the Marines after graduating from college in 1995. You served in Bosnia, Kosovo and most recently Iraq. In fact, we have some pictures we want to put on the screen of your service in Iraq. But my question to you is what as the most difficult part of coming home after serving in war?

BRENDON SMITH, FMR. MARINE IRAQ VETERAN: The most difficult part about coming back is readjusting. One of the biggest things that you deal with is when you're over there there's really no gray area. When you come home you're trying to readjust back into a society and into what is termed normal society when it doesn't apply to you any more. The rules are -- they just don't apply. You're used to a certain way of doing or a certain way of being and when you come home you're trying to readjust and leave all the animalistic urges you have back out there.

NGUYEN: It's a real change of life for you. And it not only affects you personally it affects those around you. Cedric, you have known Brendon for, what, 13, 14 years.

HILL: Yes, it's been a while.

NGUYEN: When he came back from Iraq how had he changed?

HILL: It was very different. The most outstanding thing was the constant state of fear. He always seemed to be afraid and nervous, and it's difficult for anyone to look at. I mean even if you're on the street and you see somebody who just doesn't look like everyone else, and I know that affects the people as well.

He was constantly saying I don't feel like everyone else. I feel out of sorts. I feel disjointed. I feel like everyone is watching me, which is why "Acceptable Losses" it almost had to be done because we needed to get both sides of the story. Because Brendon wrote the story of what it's like it's for him, and I wrote the side of what it's like for us receiving all of the soldiers as they come home.

NGUYEN: I want to read a part of that, an excerpt from this screen play. It says, "Coming home, that was the real war. You have to understand when I was in combat I knew who the enemy was. It was very clear. He was there and I was here. You were either alive or deal, no middle ground. There was no gray area. I got back home and everything is different, everything is gray. Now when I look for the enemy all I see is my own face."

Brendon, why is coming home harder than fighting a war? SMITH: It's readjusting and trying to find out who you are again, trying to go from a combat zone back to being a good husband, a good father, trying to get your life back and become the provider of your family again, which is in total contrast to what you're actually doing when you're in Iraq or any type of war.

NGUYEN: So why did you want to put this on paper and develop a screen play? What was you mission here?

SMITH: The biggest thing about this screenplay is that it's a vets story told by a vet. It's -- it encompasses all of he things that we go through when we come home. It's not just one thing. Some people have different symptoms. They have the flashbacks or they can't sleep or whatever it could be. It could be the over paranoia the hyper vigilance. For them the biggest thing that I've noticed about this is that it shows the vets that you're not alone when you come home. You can -- there are other people that are going through this with you.

And the second part of hat is to the American public that doesn't quite understand this atmosphere gives them a chance to realize what actually happens to us. They can realize that our sacrifice doesn't just end when we come hone from the battlefield. It actually -- that's the first part. The second part is getting back and trying to readjust back into society.

NGUYEN: Cedric, Brendon talked about the sacrifice both at home and on the battlefield. Is that why this is titled "Acceptable Losses""

HILL: Yes, that's exactly why it's called. It's what are we willing to give up. We're not making a statement on whether anything is right or wrong. We just want to let everyone know this is what happens to the people who do the job whether you're for it or against it is not really a concern. These are the people who do the job and now let's deal with them. They did their job to the best of their ability, I think it's our responsibility to at least acknowledge them and deal with this.

NGUYEN: Brendon has made a big sacrifice in Iraq and serving in the other missions within the Marines, but Cedric I've got to ask you about a sacrifice he made that has changed your life. Tells us about that.

HILL: Well, yes. February 1st I received a kidney from Brendon. I was on dialysis for two and a half years, which has made things a little bit easier. I don't have to get up at 5 a.m. and no more dialysis, so life is definitely a lot sweeter in the morning. That was one of the key things in writing this with him is I understand that point of just survival. My job was to get up and to try to make it through the day. So it gave me a different perspective from somebody who maybe their roughest job is getting through traffic in the morning. Not saying that that's not a problem because I hate traffic. But yes, it...

NGUYEN: This is a great friendship really and truly. When do you expect the screen play to hit the silver screen so we can all see it?

HILL: Well, right now we're in pre-production. We're still out there trying to get all the resources together to start shooting. The script is completely done. We've already started scouting out locations. We're starting to find more talent. We had a stage reading in the city in May and it was a huge success. We actually had some military personnel, which really started to drive us forward even faster.

NGUYEN: And there are three main characters. Any actors you have in mind for these parts?

HILL: Well, what I can say is this. We have everyone in mind, so if they're interested please come and call us.

NGUYEN: You're going to make the most of your time here today, aren't you?

HILL: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: Brendon Smith, Cedric Hill we appreciate your time, your insights. Take care.

SMITH: Thank you.

HILL: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

HARRIS: And now with the news we're following a developing story out of Aruba this morning. Police there have made two arrests in the case of missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, but have nothing to say yet about where she might be. The suspects are described as security guards who worked at a hotel near Holloway was staying. We'll keep you posted.

In Iraq a U.S. military has found a massive underground bunker that was used by insurgents. It's the size of nine football fields. The bunker was filled with weapons and supplies and even has air conditioning and a kitchen. It's one of a dozen rebel hide hideouts found in central Iraq in the last four days.

It looks good for 19-year-old newcomer Rafael Nadal who faces off against unseated Mariano Puerta in the French Open finals today. Friday, Nadal, strapping, strong, dispatched world number one Roger Federer. I love that Federer.

If Nadal wins today, he would be the first player since 1982 to win in a French Open debut. Nadal has beaten Puerta twice before.

NGUYEN: So his chances are pretty good, then.

HARRIS: Severe weather across the Midwest yesterday, more expected today. We're updating you on where the storms could hit with Rob Marciano. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: In our "Security Watch" this morning, the Homeland Security Department has a few suggestions to make you safer at the airport during the busy summer travel season. CNN's Brian Todd joins us live now from Reagan National Airport, outside of Washington D.C.

Good morning, Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. You know, experts say we're starting to see levels of passenger travel that we have not seen since before September 11. The Transportation Security Administration is under more pressure to improve its performance. Now, this new report by the Department of Homeland Security takes a look at two key areas in security. One is tightening overall gaps in security and the other is getting you through security checkpoints faster.

Now, in security, some important recommendations: One is expanding the use of so-called explosive trace detection devices. This involves taking swabs of passengers and luggage and running them through machines to look for explosive residue. These machines are only in limited use, right now.

Another recommendation, more use of what they call explosive trace portals. This is where a passenger walks through a portal, there's a burst of air and that air is tested for residue. But according to one report, DHS is also recommending simple things like longer tables to speed you through security where you take your belongings out and put it on the table. They need longer tables. And some of the recommendations lead one expert to level some very pointed criticism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK KENT ERVIN, FMR. HOMELAND SEC. OFFICIAL: There's something called Back Scatter Technology which would allow someone to see through the clothing of passengers to see whether there are dead he weapons concealed on the body that can't otherwise be found. There are ways to mitigate the privacy implications of of that by, for example, changing the image into a cartoon stick figure so that no private sensitive parts of the body are actually viewed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: Now, that piece of technology is actually not in place now. There are privacy issues and issues of cost and on those issues of cost it's important to note those trace portals are also very expensive, but there are plans in Congress to allocate some 260 million dollars to improve screening and to test technology -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN's Brian Todd this morning. Brian, thank you.

Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

NGUYEN: Well, another thing we are watching for example you is the weather and unfortunately 'tis the season for hurricanes and it's expected to be a busy one this year. In 2004 hard-hitting hurricanes caused 130 U.S. deaths, some $22 billion in damage, and destroyed some 700,000 homes in Florida, mostly in Punta Gorda, Pensacola, and along Treasure Coast. For those hardest hit, more than 210,000 tarps were distributed. There's no word on how many are still up. In Charlotte County there were 27,000 roof replacements. Fewer than half of them are complete and some 27,000 residents in Florida are still, still in temporary housing.

When hurricane Charlie slammed in the Punta Gorda, Florida, it left an unimaginable impact on the community. CNN's John Zarrella revisits one family as they try to get back on their feet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly 10 months after Richard Taylor and his family lost just about everything, but their lives, reflection is still painful.

RICHARD TAYLOR, HURRICANE VICTIM: I dang sure don't want to look at that thing because that is a constant reminder. I can't even stand looking at that time now. It still brings a memory of that day, man, when I drove up here and my house was gone.

ZARRELLA: The Taylor's lived in a mobile home on this piece of ground outside Punta Gorda. It was their world. Then Charlie came, swallowed up their home and others around it.

TAYLOR: One minute you own the world and the next minute you're homeless and you just don't know what's -- what tomorrow holds. It's a weird feeling. I hope I never have to feel it again.

ZARRELLA: We first met the Taylor's, Richard, Marni and their three children, a month after the hurricane. They were living in a FEMA-provided travel trailer in Port Charlotte.

TAYLOR: Yeah, I pulled in there and seen them setting up FEMA trailers and told the guy, I said, look, man, I have $11 in my pocket. Don't have no place to go, no food and no nothing. What do I do? He said, "Buddy I'll have you a place in five minutes." So he put us in a FEMA (INAUDIBLE) trailer.

ZARRELLA: They called the cramped quarters home for three months until the federal agency moved the Taylor's to a mobile home city, set up across from interstate 75 on the outskirts of Punta Gorda. More than 27,000 people are still living in FEMA housing. Five hundred families live in the neat rows of homes here. At least this place had more room, 4-year-old Richey liked that.

RICHEY TAYLOR, SON: Because.

ZARRELLA (on camera): Because why?

R. TAYLOR: Because it's bigger.

ZARRELLA (voice-over): A week before Christmas we caught up with the Taylor's again. They had done their best to prepare for the holidays, but with Richard disabled and Marni's job bringing barely enough to get by, was there little left for presents.

MARNI TAYLOR, WIFE: We're struggling right now. I mean, we're broke, flat broke.

ZARRELLA: Today, ten months sin the storm, the Taylor's are still here, still struggling, still living on the edge.

M. TAYLOR: I went today and they paid my -- St. Vincent's DePaul of Punta Gorda paid my electric and my water.

ZARRELLA: As difficult as times have been, life may finally be cutting the Taylor's a break. Through a federal grant they will get a new $55,000 double wide, no cost as long as they live in it for five years. "Really cool," says Richey.

R. TAYLOR: Two houses stuck together.

ZARRELLA: The Taylor's qualify because they own the property where the old mobile home sat. Richard and Marni are thankful for all FEMA has done, but it's time for them and their children to go home.

TAYLOR: They take it well. They've been through a lot.

ZARRELLA (on camera): Doing better now?

TAYLOR: Yeah. They're ready to go home. They say it all of the time, "we're ready to go home" and this is home. Right, Bo?

ZARRELLA (voice-over): As for the timing of the move, that's a bit unsettling. The Taylor's should be in by September, the peak of hurricane season.

John Zarrella, CNN, Punta Gorda, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: After being battered by four hurricanes last season and still recovering from them, Florida is making extra preparations this season to help out residents. A 12-day sales tax freeze on hurricane supplies is underway now and Governor Jeb Bush has signed an insurance reform bill into law and Broward County has opened its first animal- friendly storm shelter. Hurricane season officially began on Thursday and continues through the end of November.

NGUYEN: So, as Florida hopes for the best, but braces for the worst, it might be smart to see what the turtles are doing.

HARRIS: The what?

NGUYEN: The turtles. Because some say, Tony, turtles might be able to predict a hurricane. They're said to be digging their holes higher and higher this year using their animal instincts, they build their nests high above the waterlines. And according to one man, last year, turtles built nests high enough to avoid getting soaked in all four hurricanes.

HARRIS: You know, those people that they refer to, those people who claim the turtles can predict...

NGUYEN: Yeah...

HARRIS: I don't want to hear anything else they have to say. I'm going with Rob.

NGUYEN: Rob, what do you say about the turtles?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm saying they're underpaid and, you know, we could use (INAUDIBLE)...

NGUYEN: We need to hire them, don't we?

MARCIANO: Hey, let's talk about last year's hurricane season, then we'll talk about the forecasts, which seems like a jives with the turtles at this point.

Last year in 2004, record breaker, as you know, 15 named storms, there was nine hurricanes, six major hurricanes, and that's big time. Here's a look at what we expected this year from Dr. Bill Gray. He's the big kahuna as far as weather -- as far as hurricanes go. Fifteen named storms, eight hurricanes, four major hurricanes, so pretty much on line with what we saw last year. To give you an idea, we average about, you know, 10 named storms per season in the last 30 years, about six of those become hurricanes and, you know, two to three of those become major hurricanes. So, above average season for sure and we agree with the turtles.

Here's a look at the June climatology, where we would typically find hurricanes during the month of June. The Gulf of Mexico, northwestern Caribbean, about every other year you'll see a tornado develop, tornado -- a hurricane develop in these parts. Generally speaking because the Gulf of Mexico waters are so warm you got to have temperatures right at 80 degrees and then that water begins to spread into the tropical land and the steering currents also change around it and help things get a little bit more motivated out there in the Atlantic Ocean.

In case you're wondering our Atlantic names for 2005: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, and Lee. Hopefully we won't get to the later names. But that's a look at what we expect this season. Might very well be around what we saw last season, turtles and experts agree. So, we're ramping up.

NGUYEN: Consult the turtles.

MARCIANO: We'll talk more about the tornadoes that happened yesterday and your full forecast in about 10 minutes.

NGUYEN: All right, thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: OK, guys.

NGUYEN: Well, we do have some new developments this morning in the case of a high school graduate missing in Aruba. That's next when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.

HARRIS: But first, tune in to CNN tonight as we celebrate 25 years of bringing you news from around the world at 8:00 p.m., "Defining Moments," 25 stories that touched our lives.

And as we go to break, Senator John McCain looks back on the moments when CNN touched his life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Literally every major event up to and including events of September 11, I have served on CNN. The first Persian Gulf War was heavily covered by CNN, the fall of the Berlin wall. There was many of them, but perhaps the best was the coverage of my presidential campaign in 1999.

Thank you, my dear friends.

One of the more moving ones, of course, was Nelson Mandela's release from prison. It was a remarkable moment, certainly the imagery, the meaning that far transcended the actual pictures.

CNN gave us immediate news and immediate reaction. I'll leave it up to the sociologists and others to decide whether that's a good thing for the world or a bad thing for the world, but it has changed the world and it has changed the way Americans receive and digest information.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking our "Top Stories" this hours: Aruba police have two security guards in custody in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The Alabama teenager has been missing since late Monday night, still though, no word on her whereabouts.

Iraqi officials say they plan to level 12 charges of crimes against humanity against their former dictator, Saddam Hussein. Hussein's trial should begin by August.

Well, there is severe weather across the Midwest today. I want to give you a live shot now at Chicago where it seems like all is clear, but power is still being restored to million -- to thousands, I should say, there, because they lost it yesterday when high winds hit the area.

Rob Marciano will join us with the latest on the severe weather, where it's going to hit today. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: I want to check in now with Candy Crowley in Washington for the latest on what's coming up "On the Story."

Good morning, Candy. CANDY CROWLEY, "ON THE STORY": Good morning, Betty. We are "On the Story" from here in Washington, the battlefields of northwestern Iraq and the Michael Jackson trial in California. We're going to have the latest on the search for the Alabama teenager in the Caribbean, and I'll be talking about the discovery this week of one of the great secrets of American journalism and politics: Who was deep throat?

Jane Arraf is embedded with U.S. troops in the Iraq and Syrian border in the continuing war with insurgents. All coming up all "On the Story."

NGUYEN: I'll be watching. Thank you Candy.

HARRIS: Well, the e-mail question of the day. Have you heard this? This morning we've learned the papers of Pope John Paul II have not been burned which is what he requested in his will. His secretary says the papers are too important to be destroyed. So, we're asking, should the pope's wishes be carried out?

Henry writes, "Not carrying out the pope's wishes is the same as ignoring the instructions of a valid will. This secretary's actions are deplorable. He's just a cheap knockoff of lady Di's butler." Ouch!

NGUYEN: Well, Harley says, "Yes, the pope's wishes should be carried out. Why on earth would anyone think that god would accept denying a man's wishes, a man who did nothing but serve god as a gift? I wouldn't care if the cure for cancer wound up being secretly embedded within his words. If we don't respect his wishes, then what next?"

Of course, we want to thank you for your responses this morning to our e-mail question. It's one that's got people be roared -- riled up about this one.

HARRIS: Before we go, let's check in once again with Rob Marciano for another check of the nation's weather.

Good morning, Rod.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: I was going to say, they're not the only ones. Hot and humid here in Atlanta, that's just the way we like it, right Rob?

MARCIANO: Hey, a good (INAUDIBLE) every once in a while.

HARRIS: That's it. That's it.

NGUYEN: Yeah.

HARRIS: All right Rob, thank you.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

MARCIANO: See you guys.

HARRIS: And that's it for us this morning. As always, thanks for watching.

NGUYEN: We want to see you back here next weekend. We'll be here "ON THE STORY" 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 June 5, 2005 - 09:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: New developments out of Aruba this morning. Police have arrested two men in the disappearance of 18 year old Natalee Holloway.
Good morning everyone. I'm Betty Nguyen.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. Let's get you caught up with the morning headlines. Now in the news, in Aruba police arrest two suspects in the case of missing teenager Natalee Holloway.

The 18 year old vacationing from Birmingham, Alabama has been missing since Monday. Police say the men were security guards at a nearby hotel. We'll have a live report from Aruba in just a moment.

U.S. Marines find a massive underground bunker near Fallujah. The military says it's roughly the size of 14 football fields and was filled with supplies and weaponry, but no insurgents. Marines had found a dozen smaller hideouts in central Iraq the past few days.

NASA engineers look to test drive the Mars Rover Opportunity either tomorrow or Tuesday after freeing it from a patch of sand. The robot was stuck for nearly five weeks trying to navigate over a foot high sand dune. Both Opportunity and its twin Spirit are beyond their scheduled three month long missions giving NASA scientist more information than expected.

NGUYEN: But we begin with a developing story out of the Caribbean. About two hours ago Aruba police made two arrests in the case of a missing Alabama teenager. Natalee Holloway was last seen nearly a week ago leaving a nightclub with three local men. We are joined by Dilma Arends, a local journalist, and she is live by videophone from Aruba.

Dilma I understand you were at the homes where the raids took place this morning and two arrest were made. Tell us what went down.

DILMA ARENDS, REPORTER: Yes, we were part of a group of local reporters who received the tip since yesterday, and we were able to intercept a large caravan of local police officers who raided two homes in St. Nicholas (ph). The first one the whole group went there. They went into the house. Once they got out of the house they started checking two cars and then some police officers stayed at that house. We weren't able to see very well, but we saw the police detaining one person, handcuffing that person and a couple of officers stayed behind with that person and the caravan continued on to another house in downtown St. Nicholas and that's when they were joined by another local detective, who was accompanied by three FBI agents.

This operation was done by local police officers. And, I mean, they did the standard procedures. They knocked on the door. They told them -- they identified themselves, went into the house and start searching. As a matter of fact, there were two dogs barking. They even told the owners of he house or the inhabitants there to -- the residence there to keep the dogs calm. And it went pretty calm. I mean there was no resistance.

They immediately went in and they were accompanied by the person in charge, district attorney Karen Janssen. And they did a search and after half an hour or so came out with another man, also in handcuffs. While he was led out other agents stay there and combed the whole house and we saw them taking out bags of stuff. What they were, we don't know.

NGUYEN: OK, before we get to the men who were arrested let's talk about why law enforcement focused on these homes. Do you know?

ARENDS: They also worked on a tip. I mean they were receiving many, many tips and what they police commissioner in charge, Karen Janssen said earlier this week is that they were working on a wide range of information that they received. And slowly they would, you know, chop off some. They would work on all fronts and they've been working on this -- I don't -- they haven't confirmed that, but we have feeling they've been working on this in particular for a couple of days now...

NGUYEN: What do we know about the two men arrested?

ARENDS: ...because it was very well organized and they knew exactly.

NGUYEN: Dilma, what do we know about the men arrested. Do they have criminal backgrounds, anything like that?

ARENDS: We don't know. We know -- we don't know anything yet. The police is not releasing anything. They are at this moment at two separate undisclosed locations and we just know that they are security guards, 28 and 30 respectively and that's all we know.

NGUYEN: All right. Dilma...

ARENDS: As a matter of fact, one was with his family. I mean...

NGUYEN: At the time of arrest, OK.

Dilma Arends a local journalist there in Aruba. We thank you for that information.

Tony. HARRIS: Karen Janssen is the chief prosecutor in Aruba and she joins us on the phone.

Karen, good morning.

KAREN JANSSEN, CHIEF PROSECUTOR: Good morning.

HARRIS: Well, well, well we have a lot to cover with you. I know you're aware of how much interest there is internationally in this case. Let's start with some basics here. Can you tell us what led police to the two men who have now been arrested?

JANSSEN: Well, that is the result of the investigation till now. We think that we can call them two suspects, so we arrested them this morning for further interrogation and we search in their houses and we took three cars for further technical investigation.

HARRIS: Karen, what was the probable cause that led to the search and ultimately the arrests?

JANSSEN: Well, investigation is still going and running at this moment. I can't tell you the details why we arrested these two men.

HARRIS: Karen you're telling me you can't tell us why they were arrested, if there was some kind of -- I mean clearly there was some kind of information that led you to them.

JANSSEN: Yes, we have that information.

HARRIS: Can you share just a shred of that?

JANSSEN: Well, that's very difficult because we are at this moment right in the middle of an investigation. There may be other involved and we are interrogating these two suspects, so I can't tell you the details why they are suspects. That would be damaging the investigation at this moment.

HARRIS: Have you been a part of the interrogation process?

JANSSEN: Our station and the interrogation is in my order, so I'm a part of it, yes.

HARRIS: OK. So you have been in the room during the question is I guess what I'm getting at here.

JANSSEN: Well, I'm now in this room talking to you, but there is another room where the interrogation is placed at this moment.

HARRIS: The two suspects, any prior criminal history?

JANSSEN: We know that, of course, but I can't tell you more about those two men only the age of the two men I can tell you at this moment. I can't give you information about their backgrounds.

HARRIS: You can give us information about their backgrounds or you can't? JANSSEN: I have the information, but I can't give you that.

HARRIS: Karen, you're not helping me here. We're trying to, you know...

JANSSEN: Yes, I'm protecting the investigation that's my most priority at this moment.

HARRIS: I understand, but you understand that this young woman has a family and friends here who are desperately worried about her.

JANSSEN: Yes, we have contacted the family. They were the first we informed this morning. So we have a good contact with the family. I can tell you that we are searching. There's also a technical investigation and the FBI is helping us on that point.

HARRIS: Karen, one final question. Have these two men in custody, who you describe as suspects, who have been arrested, have they given you any information that has directed you in your search for Natalee?

JANSSEN: Well, the search for Natalee is still going on, and at the moment that we have more information out of the interrogation we will know that and we will take the right action at that moment.

HARRIS: OK. Karen, I apologize. I'm pushing you a bit, but we're just trying to move this story along as best we can.

JANSSEN: We are aware of the importance. We are aware of the concerns, and we do everything we can here.

HARRIS: All right. Karen Janssen is chief prosecutor in Aruba. Karen, thanks for taking the time to talk to us.

NGUYEN: Turning now to the standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Reuters news service is reporting a senior defense officials says a decision could come within weeks on whether the U.S. will take the matter to the U.N. where sanctions could be imposed.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld touched on the issue lightly while attending this week's Asian security conference in Singapore. We want to get more now from CNN's Elaine Quijano, who is near the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Betty. Well, this month marks one year since North Korea last took part in the six way, six nation discussion about the nuclear program. But since then the Bush administration has hoped that North Korea's neighbors, especially China, might bring some pressure to bear on Pyongyang to try to bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table. That, however, has not happened.

In fact, just last week President Bush was asked about this during a Rose Garden news conference. He was asked specifically about the U.S.'s approach to handling North Korea and what he said then was that he'd use it as either a diplomatic or a military approach. And he says at this point he is for the diplomatic approach.

He also made it a point to say though that military options -- that all options, rather, are on the table. But he insisted that he believes the U.S. has quote, "Got a ways to go" to solve this situation diplomatically.

Now the Bush White House has continually tried to send the message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il that North Korea needs to move forward within the framework of the six-party discussions, talks that involved, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. But, of course, there's been no word of any movement and with concerns continuing to mount over North Korea's nuclear ambitions the U.S. has maintained that referral to the U.N. Security Counsel is certainly an option.

As for what lies ahead, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in the region set to meet with Chinese officials. The U.S., of course, hoping that China's voice will be persuasive enough to North Korea to bring about some progress.

President Bush, meantime, is set to meet later this week in Washington with South Korean President Roh.

Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Elaine Quijano in Crawford, Texas. Thank you, Elaine.

HARRIS: Time now to go global. Let's head over to the CNN international desk.

NGUYEN: Hala Gorani is in for Anand Naidoo this morning and she joins us with the latest.

Good morning, Hala.

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Betty. Hello, Tony. Well, we start our look around the world in Lebanon. Three days after the assassination of the pro-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir, there are elections in Lebanon. It's the second of a four phase poll to elect members of parliament in that country. But anti Syrian candidates don't have much of a chance today. The 23 seats up for grabs are for districts in southern Lebanon for a more Syria friendly alliance that includes Hezbollah is expected to triumph.

The trial of Saddam Hussein, officials say the former dictator could face up to 500 charges, but will only be tried on 12 for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Iraqi officials are reported as saying that going after Saddam on hundreds of crimes would be a quote, "waste of time." The trial should start in the next two months.

Finally, it is the final push for the five cities hoping to host the 2012 Olympic games. In a last ditch PR blitz Paris has pulled out the big guns installing a giant race track in the middle of the Champs d'Elysees. There it is. Don't take your car down there if you're watching in Paris.

Inspectors from the International Olympic Committee will issue a verdict on each of the five candidate cities tomorrow. Paris is considered a front runner. But it could be difficult and a tight race because we also have Long, New York, Madrid and Moscow in the running. The winning city will be chosen this summer.

Tony and Betty.

NGUYEN: Paris wanting to get that, yes.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Thank you, Hala.

Now to some of the last wishes of the late Pope John Paul II. His long time secretary says he will not burn notes and memos from the late pontiff even though John Paul's will instructs his secretary to destroy the papers.

In an interview with Polish state radio, the secretary says, the documents contain quote, "great riches." He says they should be preserved and eventually made public, which leads to our e-mail question this morning, should Pope John Paul II's wishes be carried out? Let us know what you think about it. E-mail us at weekends@cnn.com.

A Marine turned screenwriter pins his account of the war in Iraq. It is called "Accessible Losses," and we will talk to him in this morning's Soldier's Story.

HARRIS: Plus with tornadoes in the news this morning you'll meet a family still struggling with loses from last year's brutal hurricane season.

Good morning, Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Life after Iraq, and after war. Once the parades are over what's it really like for troops returning home and trying to transition back into the real world? On veteran has written a screen play about the experience. His story is today's Soldier's Story when we return.

NGUYEN: First though a CNN extra. There is a new law on the books aimed at protecting your credit information. Now employers must destroy personal information about their employees if they got that information from a credit report. Now that means shredding or burning paper before they're thrown out or smashing or wiping computer discs. Employers who don't do it can face state and federal fines or even class action law suits by employees.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This morning's Soldier's Story deals with the human price of war, not just on the battlefield but at home. And joining me are the co-authors of "Acceptable Losses," a screen play about returning veterans. Brendon Smith is a former Marine who served in Iraq, and Cedric Hill is a co-author and director and we want to thank you both for being with us today.

Brendon, let me...

CEDRIC HILL, CO-AUTHOR, DIRECTOR: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Sure. Let me start with you Brendon because you joined the Marines after graduating from college in 1995. You served in Bosnia, Kosovo and most recently Iraq. In fact, we have some pictures we want to put on the screen of your service in Iraq. But my question to you is what as the most difficult part of coming home after serving in war?

BRENDON SMITH, FMR. MARINE IRAQ VETERAN: The most difficult part about coming back is readjusting. One of the biggest things that you deal with is when you're over there there's really no gray area. When you come home you're trying to readjust back into a society and into what is termed normal society when it doesn't apply to you any more. The rules are -- they just don't apply. You're used to a certain way of doing or a certain way of being and when you come home you're trying to readjust and leave all the animalistic urges you have back out there.

NGUYEN: It's a real change of life for you. And it not only affects you personally it affects those around you. Cedric, you have known Brendon for, what, 13, 14 years.

HILL: Yes, it's been a while.

NGUYEN: When he came back from Iraq how had he changed?

HILL: It was very different. The most outstanding thing was the constant state of fear. He always seemed to be afraid and nervous, and it's difficult for anyone to look at. I mean even if you're on the street and you see somebody who just doesn't look like everyone else, and I know that affects the people as well.

He was constantly saying I don't feel like everyone else. I feel out of sorts. I feel disjointed. I feel like everyone is watching me, which is why "Acceptable Losses" it almost had to be done because we needed to get both sides of the story. Because Brendon wrote the story of what it's like it's for him, and I wrote the side of what it's like for us receiving all of the soldiers as they come home.

NGUYEN: I want to read a part of that, an excerpt from this screen play. It says, "Coming home, that was the real war. You have to understand when I was in combat I knew who the enemy was. It was very clear. He was there and I was here. You were either alive or deal, no middle ground. There was no gray area. I got back home and everything is different, everything is gray. Now when I look for the enemy all I see is my own face."

Brendon, why is coming home harder than fighting a war? SMITH: It's readjusting and trying to find out who you are again, trying to go from a combat zone back to being a good husband, a good father, trying to get your life back and become the provider of your family again, which is in total contrast to what you're actually doing when you're in Iraq or any type of war.

NGUYEN: So why did you want to put this on paper and develop a screen play? What was you mission here?

SMITH: The biggest thing about this screenplay is that it's a vets story told by a vet. It's -- it encompasses all of he things that we go through when we come home. It's not just one thing. Some people have different symptoms. They have the flashbacks or they can't sleep or whatever it could be. It could be the over paranoia the hyper vigilance. For them the biggest thing that I've noticed about this is that it shows the vets that you're not alone when you come home. You can -- there are other people that are going through this with you.

And the second part of hat is to the American public that doesn't quite understand this atmosphere gives them a chance to realize what actually happens to us. They can realize that our sacrifice doesn't just end when we come hone from the battlefield. It actually -- that's the first part. The second part is getting back and trying to readjust back into society.

NGUYEN: Cedric, Brendon talked about the sacrifice both at home and on the battlefield. Is that why this is titled "Acceptable Losses""

HILL: Yes, that's exactly why it's called. It's what are we willing to give up. We're not making a statement on whether anything is right or wrong. We just want to let everyone know this is what happens to the people who do the job whether you're for it or against it is not really a concern. These are the people who do the job and now let's deal with them. They did their job to the best of their ability, I think it's our responsibility to at least acknowledge them and deal with this.

NGUYEN: Brendon has made a big sacrifice in Iraq and serving in the other missions within the Marines, but Cedric I've got to ask you about a sacrifice he made that has changed your life. Tells us about that.

HILL: Well, yes. February 1st I received a kidney from Brendon. I was on dialysis for two and a half years, which has made things a little bit easier. I don't have to get up at 5 a.m. and no more dialysis, so life is definitely a lot sweeter in the morning. That was one of the key things in writing this with him is I understand that point of just survival. My job was to get up and to try to make it through the day. So it gave me a different perspective from somebody who maybe their roughest job is getting through traffic in the morning. Not saying that that's not a problem because I hate traffic. But yes, it...

NGUYEN: This is a great friendship really and truly. When do you expect the screen play to hit the silver screen so we can all see it?

HILL: Well, right now we're in pre-production. We're still out there trying to get all the resources together to start shooting. The script is completely done. We've already started scouting out locations. We're starting to find more talent. We had a stage reading in the city in May and it was a huge success. We actually had some military personnel, which really started to drive us forward even faster.

NGUYEN: And there are three main characters. Any actors you have in mind for these parts?

HILL: Well, what I can say is this. We have everyone in mind, so if they're interested please come and call us.

NGUYEN: You're going to make the most of your time here today, aren't you?

HILL: Absolutely.

NGUYEN: Brendon Smith, Cedric Hill we appreciate your time, your insights. Take care.

SMITH: Thank you.

HILL: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

HARRIS: And now with the news we're following a developing story out of Aruba this morning. Police there have made two arrests in the case of missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, but have nothing to say yet about where she might be. The suspects are described as security guards who worked at a hotel near Holloway was staying. We'll keep you posted.

In Iraq a U.S. military has found a massive underground bunker that was used by insurgents. It's the size of nine football fields. The bunker was filled with weapons and supplies and even has air conditioning and a kitchen. It's one of a dozen rebel hide hideouts found in central Iraq in the last four days.

It looks good for 19-year-old newcomer Rafael Nadal who faces off against unseated Mariano Puerta in the French Open finals today. Friday, Nadal, strapping, strong, dispatched world number one Roger Federer. I love that Federer.

If Nadal wins today, he would be the first player since 1982 to win in a French Open debut. Nadal has beaten Puerta twice before.

NGUYEN: So his chances are pretty good, then.

HARRIS: Severe weather across the Midwest yesterday, more expected today. We're updating you on where the storms could hit with Rob Marciano. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: In our "Security Watch" this morning, the Homeland Security Department has a few suggestions to make you safer at the airport during the busy summer travel season. CNN's Brian Todd joins us live now from Reagan National Airport, outside of Washington D.C.

Good morning, Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony. You know, experts say we're starting to see levels of passenger travel that we have not seen since before September 11. The Transportation Security Administration is under more pressure to improve its performance. Now, this new report by the Department of Homeland Security takes a look at two key areas in security. One is tightening overall gaps in security and the other is getting you through security checkpoints faster.

Now, in security, some important recommendations: One is expanding the use of so-called explosive trace detection devices. This involves taking swabs of passengers and luggage and running them through machines to look for explosive residue. These machines are only in limited use, right now.

Another recommendation, more use of what they call explosive trace portals. This is where a passenger walks through a portal, there's a burst of air and that air is tested for residue. But according to one report, DHS is also recommending simple things like longer tables to speed you through security where you take your belongings out and put it on the table. They need longer tables. And some of the recommendations lead one expert to level some very pointed criticism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK KENT ERVIN, FMR. HOMELAND SEC. OFFICIAL: There's something called Back Scatter Technology which would allow someone to see through the clothing of passengers to see whether there are dead he weapons concealed on the body that can't otherwise be found. There are ways to mitigate the privacy implications of of that by, for example, changing the image into a cartoon stick figure so that no private sensitive parts of the body are actually viewed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: Now, that piece of technology is actually not in place now. There are privacy issues and issues of cost and on those issues of cost it's important to note those trace portals are also very expensive, but there are plans in Congress to allocate some 260 million dollars to improve screening and to test technology -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN's Brian Todd this morning. Brian, thank you.

Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

NGUYEN: Well, another thing we are watching for example you is the weather and unfortunately 'tis the season for hurricanes and it's expected to be a busy one this year. In 2004 hard-hitting hurricanes caused 130 U.S. deaths, some $22 billion in damage, and destroyed some 700,000 homes in Florida, mostly in Punta Gorda, Pensacola, and along Treasure Coast. For those hardest hit, more than 210,000 tarps were distributed. There's no word on how many are still up. In Charlotte County there were 27,000 roof replacements. Fewer than half of them are complete and some 27,000 residents in Florida are still, still in temporary housing.

When hurricane Charlie slammed in the Punta Gorda, Florida, it left an unimaginable impact on the community. CNN's John Zarrella revisits one family as they try to get back on their feet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly 10 months after Richard Taylor and his family lost just about everything, but their lives, reflection is still painful.

RICHARD TAYLOR, HURRICANE VICTIM: I dang sure don't want to look at that thing because that is a constant reminder. I can't even stand looking at that time now. It still brings a memory of that day, man, when I drove up here and my house was gone.

ZARRELLA: The Taylor's lived in a mobile home on this piece of ground outside Punta Gorda. It was their world. Then Charlie came, swallowed up their home and others around it.

TAYLOR: One minute you own the world and the next minute you're homeless and you just don't know what's -- what tomorrow holds. It's a weird feeling. I hope I never have to feel it again.

ZARRELLA: We first met the Taylor's, Richard, Marni and their three children, a month after the hurricane. They were living in a FEMA-provided travel trailer in Port Charlotte.

TAYLOR: Yeah, I pulled in there and seen them setting up FEMA trailers and told the guy, I said, look, man, I have $11 in my pocket. Don't have no place to go, no food and no nothing. What do I do? He said, "Buddy I'll have you a place in five minutes." So he put us in a FEMA (INAUDIBLE) trailer.

ZARRELLA: They called the cramped quarters home for three months until the federal agency moved the Taylor's to a mobile home city, set up across from interstate 75 on the outskirts of Punta Gorda. More than 27,000 people are still living in FEMA housing. Five hundred families live in the neat rows of homes here. At least this place had more room, 4-year-old Richey liked that.

RICHEY TAYLOR, SON: Because.

ZARRELLA (on camera): Because why?

R. TAYLOR: Because it's bigger.

ZARRELLA (voice-over): A week before Christmas we caught up with the Taylor's again. They had done their best to prepare for the holidays, but with Richard disabled and Marni's job bringing barely enough to get by, was there little left for presents.

MARNI TAYLOR, WIFE: We're struggling right now. I mean, we're broke, flat broke.

ZARRELLA: Today, ten months sin the storm, the Taylor's are still here, still struggling, still living on the edge.

M. TAYLOR: I went today and they paid my -- St. Vincent's DePaul of Punta Gorda paid my electric and my water.

ZARRELLA: As difficult as times have been, life may finally be cutting the Taylor's a break. Through a federal grant they will get a new $55,000 double wide, no cost as long as they live in it for five years. "Really cool," says Richey.

R. TAYLOR: Two houses stuck together.

ZARRELLA: The Taylor's qualify because they own the property where the old mobile home sat. Richard and Marni are thankful for all FEMA has done, but it's time for them and their children to go home.

TAYLOR: They take it well. They've been through a lot.

ZARRELLA (on camera): Doing better now?

TAYLOR: Yeah. They're ready to go home. They say it all of the time, "we're ready to go home" and this is home. Right, Bo?

ZARRELLA (voice-over): As for the timing of the move, that's a bit unsettling. The Taylor's should be in by September, the peak of hurricane season.

John Zarrella, CNN, Punta Gorda, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: After being battered by four hurricanes last season and still recovering from them, Florida is making extra preparations this season to help out residents. A 12-day sales tax freeze on hurricane supplies is underway now and Governor Jeb Bush has signed an insurance reform bill into law and Broward County has opened its first animal- friendly storm shelter. Hurricane season officially began on Thursday and continues through the end of November.

NGUYEN: So, as Florida hopes for the best, but braces for the worst, it might be smart to see what the turtles are doing.

HARRIS: The what?

NGUYEN: The turtles. Because some say, Tony, turtles might be able to predict a hurricane. They're said to be digging their holes higher and higher this year using their animal instincts, they build their nests high above the waterlines. And according to one man, last year, turtles built nests high enough to avoid getting soaked in all four hurricanes.

HARRIS: You know, those people that they refer to, those people who claim the turtles can predict...

NGUYEN: Yeah...

HARRIS: I don't want to hear anything else they have to say. I'm going with Rob.

NGUYEN: Rob, what do you say about the turtles?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm saying they're underpaid and, you know, we could use (INAUDIBLE)...

NGUYEN: We need to hire them, don't we?

MARCIANO: Hey, let's talk about last year's hurricane season, then we'll talk about the forecasts, which seems like a jives with the turtles at this point.

Last year in 2004, record breaker, as you know, 15 named storms, there was nine hurricanes, six major hurricanes, and that's big time. Here's a look at what we expected this year from Dr. Bill Gray. He's the big kahuna as far as weather -- as far as hurricanes go. Fifteen named storms, eight hurricanes, four major hurricanes, so pretty much on line with what we saw last year. To give you an idea, we average about, you know, 10 named storms per season in the last 30 years, about six of those become hurricanes and, you know, two to three of those become major hurricanes. So, above average season for sure and we agree with the turtles.

Here's a look at the June climatology, where we would typically find hurricanes during the month of June. The Gulf of Mexico, northwestern Caribbean, about every other year you'll see a tornado develop, tornado -- a hurricane develop in these parts. Generally speaking because the Gulf of Mexico waters are so warm you got to have temperatures right at 80 degrees and then that water begins to spread into the tropical land and the steering currents also change around it and help things get a little bit more motivated out there in the Atlantic Ocean.

In case you're wondering our Atlantic names for 2005: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, and Lee. Hopefully we won't get to the later names. But that's a look at what we expect this season. Might very well be around what we saw last season, turtles and experts agree. So, we're ramping up.

NGUYEN: Consult the turtles.

MARCIANO: We'll talk more about the tornadoes that happened yesterday and your full forecast in about 10 minutes.

NGUYEN: All right, thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: OK, guys.

NGUYEN: Well, we do have some new developments this morning in the case of a high school graduate missing in Aruba. That's next when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.

HARRIS: But first, tune in to CNN tonight as we celebrate 25 years of bringing you news from around the world at 8:00 p.m., "Defining Moments," 25 stories that touched our lives.

And as we go to break, Senator John McCain looks back on the moments when CNN touched his life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Literally every major event up to and including events of September 11, I have served on CNN. The first Persian Gulf War was heavily covered by CNN, the fall of the Berlin wall. There was many of them, but perhaps the best was the coverage of my presidential campaign in 1999.

Thank you, my dear friends.

One of the more moving ones, of course, was Nelson Mandela's release from prison. It was a remarkable moment, certainly the imagery, the meaning that far transcended the actual pictures.

CNN gave us immediate news and immediate reaction. I'll leave it up to the sociologists and others to decide whether that's a good thing for the world or a bad thing for the world, but it has changed the world and it has changed the way Americans receive and digest information.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking our "Top Stories" this hours: Aruba police have two security guards in custody in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The Alabama teenager has been missing since late Monday night, still though, no word on her whereabouts.

Iraqi officials say they plan to level 12 charges of crimes against humanity against their former dictator, Saddam Hussein. Hussein's trial should begin by August.

Well, there is severe weather across the Midwest today. I want to give you a live shot now at Chicago where it seems like all is clear, but power is still being restored to million -- to thousands, I should say, there, because they lost it yesterday when high winds hit the area.

Rob Marciano will join us with the latest on the severe weather, where it's going to hit today. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: I want to check in now with Candy Crowley in Washington for the latest on what's coming up "On the Story."

Good morning, Candy. CANDY CROWLEY, "ON THE STORY": Good morning, Betty. We are "On the Story" from here in Washington, the battlefields of northwestern Iraq and the Michael Jackson trial in California. We're going to have the latest on the search for the Alabama teenager in the Caribbean, and I'll be talking about the discovery this week of one of the great secrets of American journalism and politics: Who was deep throat?

Jane Arraf is embedded with U.S. troops in the Iraq and Syrian border in the continuing war with insurgents. All coming up all "On the Story."

NGUYEN: I'll be watching. Thank you Candy.

HARRIS: Well, the e-mail question of the day. Have you heard this? This morning we've learned the papers of Pope John Paul II have not been burned which is what he requested in his will. His secretary says the papers are too important to be destroyed. So, we're asking, should the pope's wishes be carried out?

Henry writes, "Not carrying out the pope's wishes is the same as ignoring the instructions of a valid will. This secretary's actions are deplorable. He's just a cheap knockoff of lady Di's butler." Ouch!

NGUYEN: Well, Harley says, "Yes, the pope's wishes should be carried out. Why on earth would anyone think that god would accept denying a man's wishes, a man who did nothing but serve god as a gift? I wouldn't care if the cure for cancer wound up being secretly embedded within his words. If we don't respect his wishes, then what next?"

Of course, we want to thank you for your responses this morning to our e-mail question. It's one that's got people be roared -- riled up about this one.

HARRIS: Before we go, let's check in once again with Rob Marciano for another check of the nation's weather.

Good morning, Rod.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: I was going to say, they're not the only ones. Hot and humid here in Atlanta, that's just the way we like it, right Rob?

MARCIANO: Hey, a good (INAUDIBLE) every once in a while.

HARRIS: That's it. That's it.

NGUYEN: Yeah.

HARRIS: All right Rob, thank you.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

MARCIANO: See you guys.

HARRIS: And that's it for us this morning. As always, thanks for watching.

NGUYEN: We want to see you back here next weekend. We'll be here "ON THE STORY" is next.

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