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CNN Saturday Morning News
Hamas Leader Spells Out Intentions; Deadly Arctic Freeze; NFL Counts On Women; Violence Continues In Gaza; Hurricane Katrina Evacuees On Tight Deadline; Peace Workers On Videotape; Remembering Challenger; Child Abusers In Jail
Aired January 28, 2006 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, Hamas won't lay down its arms. This morning, a senior Hamas leader is flatly rejecting international calls to disarm following the militant group's sweeping win in Palestinian elections.
Meantime, there's violence in the streets of Gaza, as another Palestinian faction protests the election results. The latest on the developing situation there, including a live report, is just ahead.
The FBI has arrested two temporary FEMA employees for allegedly taking bribes from a food contractor disturbing meals after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Federal agents say they have both suspects on tape discussing their scheme, which was to inflate the actual number of meals served to emergency workers.
This morning, the nation remembers the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster 20 years after that horrible accident. Three hours from now, a commemorative ceremony takes place at Florida's Cape Canaveral. We will be there live and we will have extensive coverage throughout the day right here on CNN.
There are encouraging signs of improvement for Randy McCloy, the lone survivor from the Sago Mine tragedy. Doctors say the 26-year-old is now able to stand up with some assistance. He's also responding to visiting family members. But he is still unable to speak as he recovers from carbon monoxide exposure.
Figure skater Michelle Kwan gets another shot at the elusive Olympic gold medal. The U.S. Figure Skating Association has granted Kwan an injury waiver, allowing her to compete in next month's Olympic games in Torino. Kwan secured a spot on the U.S. team by proving to a panel that she has recovered from a groin injury.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, from the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Good morning, everybody.
It's 7:00 a.m. here in Atlanta and at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
It is 2:00 p.m. in the Gaza Strip, though.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: You know, usually we want you to sort of relax into the show with us, grab a cup of coffee or something like that.
NGUYEN: Usually.
HARRIS: This morning so much show you need to strap in.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm Tony Harris.
NGUYEN: It's going to be quite a ride.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Coming up in our first hour, ladies, the NFL wants you. That's right. And football merchandisers have you in their marketing crosshairs.
And hurricane heartache -- a family's desperate search for an 82- year-old New Orleans mother and grandmother. It is a story CNN brought you first and we will bring you the very latest.
HARRIS: Our top story this morning, just minutes ago, from his base in Syria, the political leader for Hamas spelled out his intentions for the militant group. He flatly rejected international calls to disarm, while urging Hamas to partner with other Palestinian factions.
But those factions, as you can see, have been up in arms after the success of Hamas in recent Palestinian elections. Now a nagging question remains -- who is really leading Hamas?
CNN's Tom Foreman take a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The leadership of Hamas has always been secretive. And with reason. The group's relentless, violent campaign against Israel has time and again led to Israeli assassinations of key Hamas figures. So now, with a big political win comes a question: will Hamas leaders come forward to lead in public?
OCTAVIA NASR, SENIOR EDITOR ARAB AFFAIRS: You hear it on Arab media all the time -- how are these people going to come out in the light and run a government? FOREMAN: Sheik Ahmed Yassim was the most visible Hamas leader, until the Israelis killed him about two years ago.
One of the sheikh's close associates, Ismail Haniya, was at the top of the ballot for Hamas, and he is widely seen as the leader of this political coup. He is described as pragmatic, somewhat less given to hard talk than the other top figure in the group these days, Khaled Mashaal. Middle East analysts say Mashaal, who lives in Syria, has strong ties to hard-liners in Iran, who, like Hamas, want Israel gone. MARTIN INDYK, SABAN CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST POLICY: And they are not going to want to see any kind of moderation take place. So they're going to be pressing him to take a harder line. So I think he's the one who's got a real problem here.
FOREMAN: The top religious figure in Hamas is Sheikh Hassan Yousef. He is from a more moderate area. But asked what he'll do if Israel tries to expand its settlements...
SHEIKH HASSAN YOUSEF: Fight. You understand?
FOREMAN: And then there is Mohammed Deif, the mastermind behind many suicide attacks on Israel. He is a hunted man and a hard-line hero to Miriam Farahat. She has sent three of her sons to fight and die against the Israelis. She was a Hamas candidate. Now she's an elected official and her party line for Hamas leaders is clear. "We sacrifice our children," she says, "because our sense of sacred duty, the principles of Islam, are more important than our feelings."
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And in just a couple of minutes, we'll get the latest on the ground in the Gaza Strip from CNN's Ben Wedeman.
NGUYEN: Stories making "News Across America" now.
A national search is underway for more children allegedly sexually abused by the man on this surveillance tape and his companion. The two are now in jail in Alabama after a woman saw a little girl in a gas station, felt something was wrong and then alerted authorities. DNA tests are being conducted to figure out who her real parents are and police say the two suspects had posed as hurricane victims.
We're going to have more on this story in our next hour.
Police in Phoenix say a series of seemingly random shootings in recent months appear to be linked. The 16 shootings killed three people, including two homeless men. Dogs and horses were also shot. Detectives say they have forensic evidence linking four of the cases.
Ford says it's appealing a huge verdict against it as a jury in Texas awarded $29.5 million to a woman in a blown tire case. The jury found Rose Munoz was partially paralyzed because of defects in a Ford designed Mazda Navajo and in a Firestone tire. Ford says the accident was due to driver error and also noted that Munoz wasn't wearing her seat belt.
Now to Illinois. Four pharmacists are suing Walgreen's Drug Stores. They say they were illegally fired for refusing to pledge in writing that they would dispense the morning after pill. Walgreen's says the store was only following a new state rule, which requires pharmacies to fill all federally approved contraceptive prescriptions. A public interest group founded by Evangelist Pat Robertson is representing the pharmacists.
HARRIS: And, as we told you at the top of the hour, Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader exiled in Syria, this morning rejecting international calls to disarm.
Let's get the very latest from the Gaza Strip now and CNN's Ben Wedeman, who joins us -- and, Ben, good morning to you.
And this call, this statement from Khaled Mashaal, not much of a surprise, I would imagine.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No. Khaled Mashaal actually represents -- even though he's the leader, the sort of the hardliners within Hamas. He has said that Hamas is going to be focusing on sort of trying to reform the Palestinian house, as he called it. They want to look at the question of corruption, which has been endemic under the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority.
They say they will not dismantle their armed wing. In fact, he called for the unification of all the Palestinian armed factions into an army. That's obviously something Israel would not look kindly upon.
Meanwhile, he also -- addressing U.S. and European unhappiness with Hamas' victory, he called upon those countries and the rest of the international community to respect the will of the Palestinian people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KHALED MASHAAL, EXILED HAMAS LEADER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We're not waiting for a green light from the U.S. nor any European country, despite the fact that we are very keen to establish dialogue with everyone in the international community. We're not going to be isolated. But it is important for everyone to respect us. The Palestinian people have chosen Hamas for what they stand for. If the United States wants to talk to Hamas, they are more than welcome. But on the basis of what the Palestinians have chosen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Now, as the Hamas is savoring its victory, Fatah, the party that was ousted in the elections, is obviously experiencing some severe internal difficulties. Here in Gaza, we saw what almost amounted to a riot by Fatah members, who now want to punish their own leaders for allowing Hamas to come to power.
A similar demonstration is taking place this morning in Nablus, in the northern West Bank, and, in fact, just a little while ago, we saw a group of policemen out with their weapons shooting in the air just below this building to protest Hamas' victory and Fatah's defeat -- Tony.
HARRIS: Hey, Ben, just a quick question as we look at Khaled Mashaal there in those pictures and his statement this morning. I have to ask you, if he were on the ground in the Palestinian Territories, is he a man who would be targeted by the Israelis for arrest or worse?
WEDEMAN: Well, actually, in 1997 he was targeted for assassination. And it was only through -- in fact, he was poisoned. And it was only through the intervention of King -- the late King Hussein of Jordan that he was saved.
He's very much one of the people at the top of the list of Israel's targeted individuals.
But you have to realize, at the moment, Hamas is respecting a cease-fire agreement worked out among the Palestinian factions, whereby they will not attack Israel. And for more than a year, they've essentially held to that agreement among themselves.
Israel has said in the past that if Hamas stands by that agreement, it will not target Hamas leaders.
But certainly, as I said, he's somebody who's long been at the top of Israel's most wanted list.
HARRIS: CNN's Ben Wedeman from the Gaza Strip for us.
Ben, thank you.
And for more perspective on the Hamas election win and its relevance, you'll want to stick around. In roughly 20 minutes, we will talk with a college professor and a Middle East expert who, by the way, also has authored a book on Islamic Jihad and its global implications. That and more at the bottom of the hour right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
And we are nearing the end of the month, so we just have to ask the question -- how are you doing with your resolutions?
NGUYEN: So far so good.
HARRIS: Yes?
NGUYEN: On my end of it.
I don't know about you, Tony.
HARRIS: Well, if you plan to change jobs this year, our Dot-Com Desk shows some companies where you might want to work.
NGUYEN: Ooh, that's some good information.
And speaking of a new year, for the Chinese and many Asians across the world, it is the Year of the Dog. Big celebrations as we go global. That's next.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Twenty years since the nation held its breath for 73 seconds then gasped. We couldn't believe it. Today marks the anniversary of the Challenger explosion. We will take you to Cape Canaveral in our next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
And we want to know where you were when the Challenger exploded. Boy, I'll never forget. E-mail us your thoughts. Our address, weekends@cnn.com.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: You know last weekend it was the playoffs, football weather, all that stuff going on.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Not the case this weekend. No football. We're waiting on the Super Bowl.
HARRIS: And usually we get a little bit of a briefing from Bonnie Schneider as to what's going on. And I don't think we had our briefing this morning.
NGUYEN: We didn't get our briefing today, Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, talk about weather, this actually Europe's coldest weather in three decades, Tony.
HARRIS: Yes, the Arctic freeze has been deadly in Russia and neighboring countries. And people in Georgia have gone days without power.
For more on that and other international headlines, we turn to Brenda Bernard at the International Desk -- Brenda, good morning.
BRENDA BERNARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.
Thanks.
The power has been out in Georgia all week now, amid sub-zero temperatures. People are lining up for hours to fill kerosene canisters for portable heaters and some people are even chopping down branches and trees to fuel stoves.
This crisis began when explosions took place on two gas pipelines and a power line in Russia last weekend. Then high winds severed yet another power line two days ago.
Georgia's president has accused Russia of deliberately sabotaging his country's energy supply. But Moscow denies it.
The oldest daughter of former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, has withdrawn her request for political asylum in the U.S. A Homeland Security official says Lucilla Pinochet Hiriart left the Washington area last night for Argentina. It comes two days after she arrived in Washington after fleeing tax charges in Chile. She, her parents and four siblings all face charges linked to her father's multi-million dollar bank accounts.
And for those of you party people, China is throwing the biggest bash in the world this weekend. You know why, Tony?
HARRIS: Yes, I do. It's the...
NGUYEN: It's new year's!
BERNARD: Yes, got that right.
HARRIS: Right.
NGUYEN: Happy New Year!
BERNARD: These are the celebrations. At this moment, Chinese families are gathered for the lunar New Year Eve dinner. It is the most important meal of the year for them. They call it the sacrifice to the ancestors. And this is the Year of the Dog.
So, if you were born in 1934, '46, 1958, 1970, 1982 or 1994 -- and those, of course, born this year are born under the sign of the dog. They're said to be honest and faithful to those they love, although they can be somewhat eccentric and very stubborn.
So, some famous people born in the Year of the Dog, former President Bill Clinton...
NGUYEN: Yes!
BERNARD: Michael Jackson.
NGUYEN: Interesting.
BERNARD: Tennis star Andy Roddick and singer/actress Jennifer Lopez.
Think any of those could be called eccentric or...
HARRIS: Yes...
NGUYEN: Just don't call them dogs.
BERNARD: Yes.
NGUYEN: I was born in the Year of the Tiger.
Do you know what year you were born in, Brenda?
BERNARD: I don't know.
NGUYEN: Oh, you've got to check it out.
BERNARD: I know. I thought about that. NGUYEN: It will tell us much more about you.
HARRIS: Is that another trip to Google? Is that what we've got here this morning?
NGUYEN: That's one for Google.
BERNARD: How about you, Betty?
Do you know?
NGUYEN: Yes. I was born in the Year of the Tiger.
Tony, do you know?
HARRIS: I have no idea, but a Google search is in my future, I see.
NGUYEN: You guys better get searching. We'll be talking about this.
HARRIS: All right.
BERNARD: Well, when I come back, I'm going to tell all the viewers, those born in the Year of the Dog, what's in store for them this year.
NGUYEN: Oh.
HARRIS: Beautiful.
NGUYEN: Stay tuned for that.
All right, Brenda, thank you.
We'll talk to you soon.
BERNARD: Thank you.
HARRIS: There will be plenty of celebrating next Sunday night, when the new NFL champions are crowned.
NGUYEN: That's right. The Super Bowl is one of the most watched events on television.
So why are sponsors targeting certain viewers?
We're going to "Beyond The Game."
Look at that pink hat. That's a hit.
CNN's sports business analyst, Rick Horrow, is next.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Good morning.
NGUYEN: Good morning. HARRIS: Good morning.
Good morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: The men hit the field next week in Super Bowl 40. But it will be women the NFL is counting on to help make sure the game remains, perhaps, the biggest sporting event in the world. Football's following is a loyal one and more than 40 percent of the fan base is female.
That's what we're talking about this morning, as we take you "Beyond The Game."
More now from the author of "When the Game Is On the Line," CNN sports business analyst Rick Horrow.
He joins us now from West Palm Beach, Florida -- good morning, Rick.
HORROW: Boss, how are you doing?
NGUYEN: Yes, that's right. You know. You know.
HARRIS: Yes.
HORROW: I know.
NGUYEN: All right, we're talking today about women, of course. And you, as we talk about it, are about ready to pack up your bags, head to Detroit for next week's Super Bowl.
But when you were down in Jacksonville for last year's Super Bowl, what did the NFL have to say about that?
In fact, I think we have a bit of sound from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his reaction to the female fans out there.
Let's take a listen, Rick.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL TAGLIABUE, NFL COMMISSIONER: I think the biggest factor is more and more women participating in athletics. That's been one of the mega trends of the last 20, 25 years in America, helped by Title IX. And when women participate in track and field or soccer or field hockey or rugby or flag football or tackle football, which they do, they become more interested in the NFL.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So let's break this down, Rick.
Bottom line, female fans, that's where the money is.
HORROW: Well, yes. And Commissioner Tagliabue is right, we did that sit down last year in Jacksonville.
But here are the numbers. Forty percent of the NFL fans, but 85 percent of the household buying decisions.
NGUYEN: That's right.
HORROW: And, you know, us guys know it's at least twice or three times that, maybe 200 percent. The bottom line impact on women and the economy is over $5 trillion a year.
By the way, Betty, that's a little more than the gross national product of Japan.
NGUYEN: Wow!
HORROW: And, it's growing. New businesses, women-owned, 6.5 million of them, a 20 percent increase in the last five years. That's twice the national average. So obviously teams and leagues and corporations are going to appeal to women.
NGUYEN: So, that being the case, I saw you just a little bit earlier holding up those pink baseball caps.
Does that mean that these corporations are going to start marketing more to women?
HORROW: Well, yes. V.H. Image Wear, for example, has a whole retail line of women's clothing, which has been up 60 percent. And it's not just baseball caps. Here's the Super Bowl cap. This is the U.S. Open golf tournament.
NGUYEN: Ah!
HORROW: Show and tell here.
We've got final four basketball. We've got U.S. Open tennis.
The bottom line is that Rebook has a line, 50,000 hats with the Philadelphia Eagles' logo on it last year. That didn't help the Eagles, but we're going to have more on the way when we're in Detroit next year and we'll talk about this and other issues.
By the way, sorry to interrupt, because you didn't ask this, but can we give Tony a little bit of grief for the two AFC and NFC championship games...
NGUYEN: Oh, go ahead. Any time you want.
HORROW: ... that I picked right last week and he picked wrong?
NGUYEN: Yes.
HORROW: So now I'm ahead. We won't do that this week, because we'll do the Super Bowl picks next week. But just remind Tony that he was as bad as you can get last week. He was 0 for two.
NGUYEN: Uh-oh. You know...
HORROW: But that's all right.
NGUYEN: ... you're always ahead with us, Rick. You know that. I mean don't let Tony fool you.
HARRIS: I hear you.
NGUYEN: I hope you put a little wager on the line for that, because you can come out a big winner. But that's a whole another story.
HORROW: A whole another story. A $300 million economic impact in Detroit next week and we'll be there to analyze it.
NGUYEN: And we're not going to get your picks just yet. We're going to wait until next week. But get those ready. Get it lined up, which team you want to win, and we'll see how you fare against Tony.
HORROW: I've got it.
NGUYEN: All right.
Talk to you soon, Rick.
Take care.
HARRIS: Talk to you next week.
NGUYEN: Tony, you hear that? You're in trouble, once again.
HARRIS: It's all Steelers all the time. OK, I've learned my lesson.
There is much more to come.
In our next half hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING we have an update on a story we first brought you. A Louisiana woman who left her mother in the hands of paramedics during the Katrina evacuation, and she hasn't seen her since.
Also, Fatah, Hamas, the PLO? The changing Palestinian government in the Middle East. What you need to know about who's in control when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A change of power among Palestinians, but will it bring a change of philosophy? We will talk with an expert on Middle Eastern affairs.
And welcome back, everyone, to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
I'm Tony Harris.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. And we have that story in just a moment.
But first, here's a look at some morning headlines.
Happening right now in the news, authorities in London are questioning a British man in connection with the shooting death of his wife and baby daughter near Boston. The bodies were found in their home last weekend and police say Neil Entwistle left the U.S. for Britain around the time of their deaths.
Safety investigators say the FAA should ban the landing technique used by pilots during that fatal accident last month in Chicago. A Southwest Airlines jet skidded off a runway at Midway International Airport and into traffic, killing a 6-year-old boy riding in a car. The NTSB report shows the mechanism used to stop the plane did not deploy until 18 seconds after landing.
Half a million baby teethers are being recalled. The First Years Incorporated says the liquid inside the teethers may contain a bacteria that can cause serious illness in children. But the company says there have been no reports of illnesses so far.
Three of the teethers feature popular cartoon characters from Disney and Sesame Street -- Tony.
HARRIS: And now to the Middle East.
The violence continues in Gaza today following the rise to power by the militant group Hamas. Police in Gaza say Hamas gunmen ambushed a Palestinian police patrol, wounding two officers. The attack in Gaza came amid mounting tensions over the week's election, which catapulted the militant group into power.
And in just a couple of moments, we will talk to a Middle East expert about the situation in Gaza in the aftermath of the Hamas win this week -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Tony, it was on this day 20 years ago, teacher, astronaut Christa McAuliffe and six crewmates walked unknowingly toward a historic but terrifying fate. Then, disbelieving family members and the world witnessed the disaster in the skies over Cape Canaveral. It's a weekend of memorials for the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
This program note for you. This weekend, "CNN PRESENTS" the real story of Challenger astronaut and teacher, Christa McAuliffe. For the first time, her family reveals the private pain behind the public tragedy. You'll want to tune in tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern for "CNN PRESENTS: CHRISTA MCAULIFFE -- REACH FOR THE STARS."
And we want to know where you were when the Challenger exploded. All of us seem to remember exactly where we were.
So where were you?
E-mail us your thoughts. Our address is weekends@cnn.com. We'll be back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hurricane evacuees living in FEMA funded hotels and motels are on a tight deadline. By Monday, January 30th, FEMA is requiring all evacuees to have an authorization code. Now, that code must be presented to a hotel or motel to extend the federal subsidy for their hotel stay beyond February 7, 2006.
It's also required for evacuees who change hotels or are checking in for the first time.
Now, there is still time to get yours if you haven't already. FEMA has set up a hotline for those who have not received their codes. Here it is on the screen. You can call FEMA, 1-800-621-FEMA. Hotel stays can be extended for at least a week.
Now, in the chaos of hurricane Katrina, Ethel Herbert's family made a heart-wrenching decision. They left the elderly, disabled woman in the care of emergency officials as they scrambled to flee New Orleans. They never saw her again.
Five months later, Herbert's six children finally have some answers about what happened to her.
CNN's Gary Tuchman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Denise Herbert's mother has been missing since two days after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf. We met Denise in Atlanta, where Louisiana's governor talked with hurricane victims who had moved to Georgia. Denise could not contain her anger about the lack of government help in finding her 82-year-old mother.
DENISE HERBERT, LOST MOTHER IN KATRINA: I'm very angry. Because guess what? Everybody in America got a mom, but where is mine? That's what I want to know today! Where is my mother? And I'm angry with the world!
TUCHMAN: After our story aired, this California man called us. David Lipin is the commander of a Department of Homeland Security disaster medical assistance team that treated the injured in New Orleans.
DAVID LIPIN, RECOGNIZED MISSING WOMAN: I recognized a photograph of the person you showed on your story.
TUCHMAN: Lipin says he treated Ethel Herbert on a highway overpass near the Superdome in the midst of the flooding and chaos. By chance, this picture was taken of her by a photographer on that overpass. The picture was included in a book on the disaster. Lipin said he would tell us what happened to the 82-year-old, after he told Ethyl Herbert's six children. We were at the house where Denise Herbert and her daughter are staying as they tensely waited for the call, hoping for good news, but knowing it was unlikely.
HERBERT: It's going to be all right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She didn't deserve this.
HERBERT: It's going to be all right. God is with us. I know he is.
TUCHMAN: And then the call came.
HERBERT: What you need to tell me, David? I can take it. Tell me.
TUCHMAN: The 82-year-old was very ill and unable to speak while on the roadway. Her family begged David Lipin for medical help.
LIPIN: We began to assess her. We didn't get very far because some snipers opened up and started shooting at us while we were stopped there. So that sort of interrupted everything that we really wanted to do.
TUCHMAN: The woman was in grave condition, unresponsive. She had to be quickly thrown into a military vehicle and driven through floodwater. The time wasted in the bumpy ride may have ensured her fate before she was loaded on a helicopter.
LIPIN: It was quite amazing that she was still alive. And I ended up telling the family that, you know, I don't know where she went, because we didn't have any communication with the helicopters after they took off. But I expect that she probably didn't survive very long after she got on that helicopter.
TUCHMAN: And on the phone, David Lipin told the family he is virtually certain she died.
HERBERT: She didn't make it. Oh my God! She didn't make it.
TUCHMAN: Now, in addition to learning about her mother from David Lipin, CNN has been told by the morgue in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, there is a 90 percent certainty that one of the unidentified bodies there is that of Ethel Herbert.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Morgue officials also say the DNA testing will take 10 days to complete. So perhaps by next week, Denise Herbert and her family will finally know for sure what happened to their mother.
We'll keep you updated.
HARRIS: OK, we want to take you back overseas now to the Middle East and give you some perspective on the violence that is occurring between Palestinian factions.
We are joined by Fawaz Gerges, who is a Middle East analyst, author and professor.
Good to see you, sir.
FAWAZ GERGES, PROFESSOR, SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: Good morning.
HARRIS: Let me start with the statement from Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader in exile in Syria, this morning rejecting international calls to disarm.
I can't imagine you're surprised by that.
GERGES: No. I'm not surprised. I think we are receiving differing signals from various members and leaders of Hamas. I think we have to wait a few weeks to see what kind of position Hamas will take on the peace process, on the question of negotiations with Israel, on what kind of entity it would like to establish.
Remember, Hamas has no experience in governing. Hamas was a paramilitary force and now Hamas will become an authority. And surely an authority will have to deal with reality.
So I think the jury is still out there. We have to wait to see whether Hamas can transform itself and really create a viable and enduring political authority.
HARRIS: Well, import.
You mentioned that we are starting to hear some different and mixed signals from leaders, Hamas leaders.
Are any of those leaders calling for a more moderate approach?
GERGES: Well, I think we are receiving, as you said, as I said, differing signals. But there is no public position yet articulating, you might say, a position which really meets with the standards of international legitimacy. I think what we have seen is basically a more, you might say, mature Hamas. We are -- we're going to engage with the international community, we will not alienate the international community, we will never do anything to harm the interests of the Palestinian people.
I think those are signals, indications, that the Hamas leadership is fully aware of the implications of any policies that do not take into account international reality, the regional balance of power and the necessity to articulate a position on the peace process.
HARRIS: Yes.
OK, Fawaz, let's sort of widen this out a little bit and let's sort of ask the real general question here, what is -- what is the great fear of Hamas as a legitimate government elected by the Palestinians? What is the great fear of Hamas as a ruling government in the Palestinian Territories? GERGES: Well, as you know, Tony, Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. Hamas has a paramilitary wing that has carried out about 60 suicide bombings and scores of attacks. Hamas covenants talks about basically one Palestinian state in the entire land of Palestine. And this is why the international community and the United States are a bit concerned.
But I would argue that Hamas has to evolve. Hamas will have to take into account the realities on the ground. Remember, the regional balance of power is not in Hamas' favor. It's one thing to...
HARRIS: Right.
GERGES: It's one thing to be a paramilitary organization and another to rule the people. And one of the reasons why the Palestinian people voted for Hamas was because Fatah, Fatah being the ruling party of the Palestinian Authority, which is led by President Mahmoud Abbas, did not deliver the goods.
And the question on the table, Tony, is the following -- how can Hamas deliver the goods -- the security and economic and political and jobs and services to the Palestinian people if it does not engage the international community?
HARRIS: Yes.
GERGES: This is why I would argue that Hamas will face a different kind of reality in the next few weeks. And it will have to deal with the realities, that is taking positions to basically meet the concerns of the international community. And I hope here, that the international community and the United States engage with the Palestinians and with Hamas in order to exert pressure on it.
HARRIS: OK.
Well, here's a real world question for you.
Can the political wing of Hamas control the military wing?
GERGES: Well, absolutely. Make no doubt about it, the military wing is controlled by the political leadership. Hamas is one of the most disciplined political organizations in the Middle East and I have no doubts about it. If the political leadership takes a decision to suspend armed attacks against Israel, I think the military wing will accept, will abide by this decision.
The question on the table really is the following -- can Hamas transform itself from a paramilitary organization into an authority? Can Hamas reform itself and take into account the fact that Israel is there to exist? That is, there is no other way around it.
HARRIS: Yes.
GERGES: And, at the end of the day, at the end of the day, Hamas has a limited capacity, not only to deal with the international community, but also to meet the demands of the Palestinian people. I mean you have dismal economic and social conditions in Palestine today.
HARRIS: Right.
GERGES: Unemployment in Gaza is over 20 percent. More than 30 percent of the Palestinians live below the poverty line. Palestine does not have an army.
How do you deal with all these difficult concerns?
HARRIS: And at this moment, we just -- that's a whole list of questions. We do not have the answers and we'll just have to wait and see.
GERGES: No, we don't. And this is why, really, the next few weeks and the next few months...
HARRIS: Critical?
GERGES: ... will be crucial for us to see whether Hamas can evolve into a political...
HARRIS: OK, let's...
GERGES: ... legitimate authority.
HARRIS: Fawaz Gerges, let's leave it there.
Thanks for your time this morning.
We appreciate it.
GERGES: It's my pleasure.
HARRIS: OK -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Breaking news into CNN right now.
We have just learned that four Christian peace activists that have been kidnapped in Iraq, there is new tape of them that is being released today.
CNN does have that tape, although I do have to tell you, we're watching it, we're screening it, making sure that it's OK to air.
Here's what we know about the tape so far.
It first aired on Al-Jazeera television. The tape was dated January 21st. Now, the four peace workers were kidnapped on November 26th in Iraq. They're from a Chicago-based Christian peacemaker activist group and the group, previously known as Swords of Righteous Bridge claimed responsibility for these kidnappings.
Again, CNN does have access to the tape. We're screening it, trying to make sure it's OK to air. But when this tape first aired on Al-Jazeera television, the news reader said that the group issued a statement along with this tape -- now, that group, again, being the Swords of Righteous Brigade -- saying that this was the last chance for U.S. and Iraqi authorities to release all Iraqi prisoners in return of freeing the hostages. Otherwise, their fate will be death.
That was the statement that was issued with this tape that fell into the hands of Al-Jazeera television.
Again, we will show you that tape as soon as it's cleared for air here at CNN.
But, once again, four Christian peace activists kidnapped in Iraq, we have been told that there's new tape of them from their kidnappers, along with the threat that unless Iraqi prisoners are released from both Iraq and U.S. prisons, those peacekeepers will be killed.
Again, we'll have the latest for you on this.
We'll continue to follow it and bring it to you just as soon as we can.
We'll be right back after this quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there, I'm Veronica De La Cruz at the Dot-Com Desk.
Cnnmoney.com has outlined "Fortune" magazine's top 100 picks when it comes to companies so great to work for that you'll want to get out of bed in the morning. And if you are in your late 20s to early 30s, here's an article specifically for Gen Xers and what they are looking for in a job.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: If your birthday falls between the years 1964 and 1977, it's not just about paychecks and benefits. The top three things Generation Xers want in a job are positive relationships with colleagues, interesting work and continuous opportunities for learning.
Forget about loyalty to one company. On average, many in their late 20s have already switched jobs five to six times. And companies are adjusting. Chemical maker W.L. Gore has a lattice approach to its workers -- no bosses. Instead, they have a rotating team of leaders. Whole Foods and Starbucks also let employees make many of the decisions.
And software maker Autodesk gives employees paid time every month for volunteer work.
(END VIDEOTAPE) DE LA CRUZ: And you can find that all online at cnnmoney.com/bestcompanies.
I'm Veronica De La Cruz at the Dot-Com Desk.
HARRIS: Veronica, thank you.
All right, tell the truth. You know Whitney Houston's catchphrase that caught fire this summer, don't you? And admit it, you know the two finalists on "Dancing With The Stars."
NGUYEN: Yes, all this reality TV stuff.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Well, the often bizarre nature of reality television has created a drastic change in America's viewing habits. Some call it voyeurism gone wild.
What do you think?
CNN's Sibila Vargas takes a look at the volatile nature of reality TV. That's a little bit later on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Look it, you see the map behind Bonnie there? Those are chilly temperatures, but I guess they're seasonal temperatures.
NGUYEN: They could be...
HARRIS: There's nothing outrageous.
NGUYEN: Yes, they could be worse.
HARRIS: Right.
Right -- good morning, Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Our e-mail question of the day -- where were you 20 years ago when the Challenger exploded?
So we're asking for some remembrances, some stories.
And we've got a great one here.
NGUYEN: And a lot of people do remember exactly where they were.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Alice Mack, a registered nurse, writes: "I was relieving an instructor on a pediatrics unit and went in to comfort a little boy whose mother had just gone home after a long night of staying with him. I turned on the TV and began to explain to him about the launch coming up. He stopped crying and watched intently as I continued to talk about the astronauts.
He was so excited as he watched it go up into the air. And as the explosion occurred, he turned around and looked at me and said, 'Boom!' He continued to stare at the TV screen, as did I, in astonished amazement of the tragedy. And as little as he was, he looked up into my eyes and asked me if they were flying to heaven."
HARRIS: Oh, man.
All of these are going to be touching and poignant.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: And this is from Nola, who writes: "My cousin Michael was born on the exact day of the Challenger explosion. Today is his 20th birthday."
And thank you for your thoughts, your e-mails. And, again, the commemorative ceremony gets underway in just about two hours from now.
And CNN's John Zarrella will be with us to talk about that ceremony, coming up in just a couple of minutes.
The next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins in just a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shopping for a house online? Here's what you need to know before you begin.
First, determine your price range and get all financial documents ready and organized.
Next, create a reasonable wish list by figuring out what amenities your new home must have and which you'd like to have. Never buy a house you've seen online without seeing it in person. And be sure to check out both local and national realty Web sites.
I'm Gerri Willis and that's your Tip of the Day.
For more, watch "OPEN HOUSE" Saturday mornings, 9:30 Eastern on CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hope became heartache when the Challenger space shuttle blew apart 20 years ago today. I remember it so vividly. Our nation remembers one of the darkest moments in its history.
From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
It's January 28.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone.
I'm Tony Harris.
Thank you for being with us.
Palestinian militants rattled their swords this morning. A senior Hamas leader rejects calls to lay down arms and renounce violence toward Israel. At the same time, there's violence in the streets of Gaza. Other factions protest Hamas' sweeping win in Palestinian elections. A live update on the dangerous situation there in just a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hope became heartache when the Challenger space shuttle blew apart 20 years ago today. I remember it so vividly.
Now a nation remembers one of the darkest moments in its history.
From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It's January 28. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Thank you for being with us.
Palestinian militants rattled their swords this morning. A senior Hamas leader rejects calls to lay down arms and renounce violence toward Israel. At the same time, there's violence in the streets of Gaza, other factions protest Hamas' sweeping win in Palestinian elections. A live update on a dangerous situation there in just a couple of minutes.
The lone survivor of the Sago mine tragedy is showing signs of improvement. Doctors say Randy McCloy is now able to stand up with some assistance. The 26-year-old is also responding to family members. But carbon monoxide exposure has left him still unable to speak.
It is a tight deadline for hurricane evacuees living in FEMA- funded hotels and motels. They have until Monday, January 30, Betty, to request authorization to extend their stays by at least one week. Evacuees must contact FEMA. Here's the number, 1-800-621-FEMA. They'll receive an authorization code to present to a hotel or motel to extend the federal subsidy beyond February 7.
NGUYEN: Well, Tony, chances are you remember where you were 20 years ago today, when you first heard the space shuttle Challenger had exploded in the clear blue sky over Florida.
CNN's John Zarrella certainly remembers where he was that day, and he joins us now from his well-worn spot at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. John, you were there the day it happened. Take us back to that moment in time. JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Betty, I was, just a couple of miles from here at the NASA press site. I was standing down by the countdown clock, a very familiar picture to all of our viewers, I'm sure. Right there in front of that was -- is the lagoon.
And as "Challenger," of course, lifted off up into that clear blue sky, bitterly cold day, 36 degrees at the launch pad. And, you know, as you watched it lift off, everything seemed fine, and, you know, from our vantage point where we were, even after the explosion itself, we could not tell exactly what had happened. And many of the members of the media that were there at first not sure, waiting for the vehicle to emerge from the cloud.
It never did, of course. Then many of us wondering whether we should run to the emergency landing strip, and then, of course, it became painfully clear to everyone that Challenger was not going to be coming home on that day.
And it -- so it is hard to believe that it's been 20 years. Here this morning at the visitors' complex at the Kennedy Space Center in about two hours, there will be a memorial service here. Many members of the NASA family will be here, state representatives as well, NASA administrators, former astronauts. The wife of Dick Scobee, the late commander of the shuttle "Challenger," his wife, June Scobee Rogers, will be here, as well as her son, who is a colonel in the Air Force.
And at the beginning of the ceremony there, of course, will be the presentation of the colors, speeches for about an hour from 10:00 to 11:00, and a wreath-laying at the base of what is the Memorial Mirror there. There are the names of 24 astronauts on that mirror. The "Columbia" Seven, the "Apollo One" astronauts, and, of course, the Challenger astronauts being memorialized today. That would be Dick Scobee, Smith, Resnick, McAuliffe, Onizuka, Jarvis, and McNair.
The Challenger flight, of course, lifted off at 11:38 a.m., and the flight lasted all of 73 seconds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here comes the flight crew now. Commander Dick Scobee ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have main engine start. Four, three, two, one, and liftoff, liftoff of the 25th space shuttle mission. And it has cleared the tower.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... roll program.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger roll, Challenger.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good roll, flight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rog, good roll.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Challenger now heading downrange. Engine throttling up, three engines now at 104 percent. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Challenger," go with throttle up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger, go with throttle up.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... seconds. Velocity 2,900 feet per second, altitude nine nautical miles, downrange distance seven nautical miles...
Obviously a major malfunction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reports from the flight dynamics officer indicate that the vehicle apparently exploded, and that impact in the water.
This is Mission Control, Houston. We have no additional word at this time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: It's one of those moments, of course, Betty, that, you know, every time I hear those words, I remember it very, very vividly, standing there and watching and waiting and wondering. And it brings back chilling memories.
At the time, of course, the worst disaster in the history of the U.S. SPACE program. The Challenger Seven, memorialized here today in about two hours, Betty.
NGUYEN: And you know, John, just watching it again some 20 years later, it's still so hard to see. Thank you, we'll be checking in with you.
HARRIS: And you can learn more about the legacy of the woman who wanted to be the first teacher in space. CNN PRESENTS "Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars." That's tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.
And we want to know where you were when the Challenger exploded. E-mail us your thoughts this morning. Our e-mail address, weekends@cnn.com.
NGUYEN: Stories making news across America this morning.
In New Orleans, two temporary FEMA workers have been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes. The men allegedly told a caterer they would artificially inflate the number of FEMA workers that needed to be fed to increase the caterer's revenue. Now, the FBI says in return, they asked for $20,000 in kickbacks.
HARRIS: Police in London are questioning this man in connection with the Boston-area killings of his wife and baby daughter. The woman and the 9-month-old girl were found shot to death in their suburban home last weekend. Police say Neil Entwistle (ph) went to London around the time of the deaths. NGUYEN: In Florida, an emotional memorial service was held last night for seven children. They were killed in a fiery highway crash this week. The children's grandfather died of a heart attack after he was told what happened. A tractor-trailer rear-ended the children's car and crushed it against a school bus.
HARRIS: Well, President Bush has called them a terrorist group, but now they've gained newfound power. Today Hamas members speak out, after their success in recent Palestinian elections. One of the group's leaders rejects calls for disarmament. In the streets of Gaza, Fatah activists protest the election results for a second day.
CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us by phone from Gaza City. And Ben, I understand there were protests are going on right now very near your location.
WEDEMAN (on phone): Yes, I'm standing right in front of the headquarters of Palestinian security, which is a security apparatus dominated by Fatah. There are about 300 soldiers out here protesting, calling for changes within Fatah leadership. There you go, you've heard some of them firing in the air.
Now, this comes just hours after Khaled Mashaal, the head of the Hamas militant Islamic organization, gave a press conference in Damascus, in which he laid out his vision for a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
Among other things, he calls for reform (INAUDIBLE) corruption and for continued resistance against Israel, (INAUDIBLE) the formation of a Palestinian army composed of all the armed Palestinian factions.
He also called upon the international community not to cut aid to the Palestinian people.
KHALED MASHAAL, EXILED HAMAS LEADER (through translator): (INAUDIBLE) and Bush have threatened to stop the aid to the Palestinians, along with many other Arab and European leaders. We say to them, it is enough that you have created this Palestinian crisis. You have created the suffering among the Palestinians by creating the state of Israel.
So do not punish the Palestinian people, because it shows with free will in these elections. Since you believe in democracy, then you must respect the choice and the will of the Palestinian people.
WEDEMAN: Now, that press conference just ended a few hours ago.
We see continued problems, not only here in Gaza, but also in Ramallah, the capital of the Palestinian -- the de facto Palestinian capital, where gunmen from Fatah climbed on top of the roof of the Palestinian parliament, started shooting in the air.
So there's a lot of tension, not only here in Gaza, but also in the West Bank, Tony.
NGUYEN: And Ben, I just have a quick question for you. The Fatah protesters, do they understand that there is not likely to be a kind of coalition government, that this is going to be a Hamas government?
WEDEMAN: Well, Fatah leaders have said that they refuse to join any Hamas-led government. Hamas has talked about bringing some of the other, smaller Palestinian parties into it. But Fatah has made it clear it's going to be in the opposition. And already, we see that, among the loyalists, they don't seem to be prepared to play the democratic game, if such exists.
NGUYEN: Yes. CNN's Ben Wedeman for us in Gaza City. Ben, thank you.
And President Bush is threatening to cut aid to the Palestinians unless Hamas renounces violence and stops calling for Israel's destruction. Next hour, CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano will be here to talk more about the White House position.
NGUYEN: Here's something that just about all of us can relate to. Have you ever seen something that looks suspicious, but you hesitated about calling to report it? Well, coming up, you're about to meet one woman who, just last week, had the courage and persistence, that was key, to act on her suspicions and rescue a troubled child.
Some tips on what you can look for to help a child in need.
HARRIS: And a live picture here of Norfolk, Virginia. Good morning, Norfolk, your forecast and the forecast for the rest of the nation coming up with Bonnie Schneider in just minutes, when CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: This is some story. Two suspected child abusers are in jail this morning, and Alabama police have two children they hope to return to their parents. It's all thanks to a chance meeting at a convenience store, and a good Samaritan who acted on a hunch.
David Mattingly has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TRACI LEE DEAN, GOOD SAMARITAN (on phone): I'd like to report a strange incident involving a child.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This scene in a gas station at Evergreen, Alabama, is what led Traci Lee Dean to call police. You can hear the concern in her voice in the worried 911 call.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP) DEAN: After a few minutes, I was, like, OK, why is this little girl wandering around by herself? Five minutes. And I said, does your mommy work here? And she said, no. And then this man was, like, Elizabeth, are you trying to find a new mommy?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: It was this little girl you see here in the surveillance video, and her brief encounter with Dean that started this one woman's crusade, and ended this one little girl's nightmare.
DEAN: I've seen that look before, that blank look that there's something missing. I call it -- I consider it like they're missing love.
MATTINGLY: Police followed up on Dean's 911 call and went to the gas station.
SHERIFF TRACY HAWSEY, COMECUH COUNTY, ALABAMA: The clerk said that she knew these people, that they frequent the store, that they come in a good bit, and that the older gentleman is the grandfather of the little girl.
MATTINGLY: Even though was back home in Georgia, Traci took matters into her own hands. On a Web site for abducted children, she thought she had found a match.
A 300-mile drive back to Evergreen put her back in that store, looking at their surveillance tapes. Police were brought in and visited the family at their trailer park, where they arrested the man who'd raised Traci Dean's suspicions.
Jack Wiley (ph) is charged with sex crimes against the 3-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy who lived with them. Wiley's companion, Glyneth A. Cavender (ph), is charged with child abuse. Both are now behind bars.
The children are in protective custody. Neighbors in the trailer park where they lived for the past month or so are shaken.
ERICA FOSTER, NEIGHBOR: Just kept saying, Well, if you ever need a baby sitter, we can watch them.
MATTINGLY: Local authorities are canvassing the area and interviewing local children.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got possibly some other kids in that area that had some contact with Mr. Wiley.
MATTINGLY: The next step is a DNA test to determine the two children's real parents, and a national search to find any other children this couple might have encountered.
(on camera): Investigators say information from outside the state is moving slowly, due to the large number of aliases that Jack Wiley may have used over the years. But, they say, they are confident in the case they are building against him here. If convicted, it could carry a penalty of life in prison without parole.
David Mattingly, CNN, Evergreen, Alabama.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: It is just chilling.
So what if you were in Traci Lee Dean's shoes that day. Would you know what to look for if you came across a child who needed help?
From Washington now, we're joined by Ernie Allen. He is from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
We appreciate you joining us this morning.
ERNIE ALLEN, NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN: Thank you, Betty.
NGUYEN: Let me ask you first of all, Mrs. Dean said she called in a tip to your center. Do you have a record of that, a recollection of that tip?
ALLEN: Betty, we don't. We've searched our -- we record all these calls, and we've searched and have not found it. We know she spoke with other sources. And we think what she's done is heroic and inspiring, but we didn't get that information.
NGUYEN: Mrs. Dean had to go through some extraordinary means. After contacting not only your organization, she also contact "America's Most Wanted."
But it was, in fact, a local officer who helped her in this case.
So that people don't feel like their concerns and their tips fall on deaf ears, tell us the process that it takes to get a tip from the phone, and where it goes after that.
ALLEN: Well, Betty, I think the most important thing to do is what she did. You call the local authorities. Call the local police. Give them precise, detailed information, a description of automobile, license tag.
And then we urge them to call us at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. You have to be persistent, but I think the most important thing is that Mrs. Dean saw something that didn't feel right to her, and she didn't just walk away, she acted.
NGUYEN: No, she did, and she had to make several phone calls to not only these national hotlines, but to local police, her local police. And it went through phone call after phone call. Many times, she wasn't even getting a return phone call. She -- so she was definitely persistent.
So my question to you is, how do you determine which tip you pursue? ALLEN: Well, we pursue them all. Any lead or information we get, we have an analysis unit that follows up, that develops the information, that identifies the appropriate local, state, or national agency. We have a database of leads.
So what's important is that you take each caller seriously, and follow up to the best extent of your ability.
Mrs. Dean was focused on a particular child in Ohio, apparently, that she thought was this little girl. So perhaps, in many ways, some of the people she called were more focused on that little girl than the broader circumstances.
NGUYEN: All right, so when a tip does come in, what are the essentials when a person is -- they have a hunch, but they're not for sure, but they think they need to get this information out. What essentials do they need to place that phone call?
ALLEN: Well, I think the most important thing is, they look at the circumstances. They trust their instincts. If it doesn't look right, it may not be right. So the ability to give details, detailed descriptions of the child, of the people with the child, details surrounding where they are, vehicle, license plate.
So the more precise the information, the greater the ability of law enforcement to follow up on it.
NGUYEN: Yes, you want details if you have them.
Ernie Allen from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, we thank you for your time and your insight today.
ALLEN: Thank you, Betty.
NGUYEN: Tony?
HARRIS: Protecting our coastline from a deadly tsunami, that's what one major city on the East Coast is doing. But why aren't more spots preparing for the risk? We'll have the details at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Who is that over there?
NGUYEN: Part of the International Desk, hard at work this morning.
HARRIS: OK, OK.
Let's quickly get upstairs now and have a check of weather with Bonnie Schneider.
Bonnie, good morning. (WEATHER FORECAST)
NGUYEN: Well, all morning long, we have been asking you for your thoughts on our e-mail question. Where were you 20 years ago today when the Challenger exploded?
Got lots of responses this morning, in fact, one from a person named Christa. She says, "I was in my sixth-grade classroom when our teacher, Sister Jo Anne, rushed in with a panicked look on her face.
"We were all still laughing from our recess activities when she proclaimed, 'The space shuttle blew up. You know, the one with the teacher on it. It just blew up in space.'
"An eerie quiet hushed the classroom as we all felt a personal connection with this shuttle flight. In a way, they accomplished more than anyone could have dreamed."
HARRIS: You know, it's personal for all of us, but particularly so for Rae Ann Crossland, who dropped us a note from Akron, Ohio. She writes, "Judy Resnick and I were classmates and friends for seven years. And the day 'Challenger' was launched, I was home watching it on television. Fond memories of Judy were going through my mind, birthday parties, class trips, and snippets of conversation.
"I watched the liftoff and was smiling, thinking to myself, Go, Judy. And I watched in horror and disbelief, hoping the explosion was part of the standard launch, but knowing in my heart that it was not right. The expression on my face was mirrored in those of the crowd at the scene.
"Judy was a lovely, intelligent, and gentle soul. I miss her still."
HARRIS: Man. OK.
NGUYEN: I know, it takes you back.
HARRIS: Really does.
NGUYEN: So we still want to know what you experienced on that day, when this tragedy unfolded before our eyes. Many of us watched it on television. So where were you 20 years ago when the Challenger exploded? E-mail us, weekends@cnn.com.
HARRIS: "HOUSE CALL" is coming up next. Elizabeth Cohen is here now with a preview.
ELIZABETH COHEN, HOST, "HOUSE CALL": Thanks.
Experts figure that at any given time, one in four men and nearly 50 percent of women are trying to lose weight. So this morning on "HOUSE CALL," we're looking at alternatives to those mainstream diets, from prayer to baseball. We're checking out the unusual diets of some successful losers. Find out what they did, how they did it, and how they're keeping it off. That's coming up on "HOUSE CALL" at 8:30.
NGUYEN: And at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, is the U.S. prepared for a deadly tidal wave? One, only one major city in the East Coast is tsunami-ready, believe it or not. Why aren't the other cities prepared? We're going to examine that issue next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And here's what's happening now in the news.
In the Middle East, a leader of the militant group Hamas called on the international community to respect democracy. Hamas stunned the world when it rose to power in this week's parliamentary elections. Earlier today, two Palestinian officers were hurt in an ambush, as tension continues to mount over the election outcome. We'll have the latest on this developing situation in a live report at the top of the hour.
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