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CNN Saturday Morning News

New Agreement With Afghanistan; Continued Heat Wave In U.S.; Libyan Election; Unknown Illness Killing Cambodian Children; Scientology and Tom Cruise; Ereaders That Collect Data On Users; Jobs Report on the Campaign Trail; Great Whites Off the Coast; Turning Trash into Gas; Peterson Murder Trial Begins This Month; "God Particle" Breakthrough

Aired July 07, 2012 - 08:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: June jobs numbers send investors into panic as the Dow plunges over 100 points. Why the numbers just didn't add up for Wall Street.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: We see this as a powerful symbol of our commitment to Afghanistan's future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: An unannounced visit to Afghanistan and an announcement that will impact troop withdrawal.

And later, it's like a scene from "Jaws," at least two great whites threaten the coast of Cape Cod. Now the hunt is on to find them before they claim a human life.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. It is 8:00 on the East Coast, 5:00 a.m. out West. Thanks for waking up with us.

We start this morning with the economy and the new jobs report. It wasn't quite what experts had hoped, just 80,000 jobs added in June. That fell below the expectations and caused a ripple through the stock market. The Dow down 124 points at the close, but there was some good news. Additions in manufacturing jobs was a highlight for the White House. 14,000 jobs were added in that sector.

So how is this all playing on the campaign trail? We'll get into that at the bottom of the hour.

There are a number of weather warnings across the country today. It's because it's going to be another scorcher for many of you. Take a look at the map with me. If you live in these areas and I'm sure you probably do, stay out of the heat if you can. Many areas have opened cooling centers to help people out. Here are your highs, so many high numbers there.

We have seen dozens of records set in the past month and there are more to come. We'll have much more on the mornings and the advisories later on. Those high temperatures are especially daunting for around 350,000 people across 12 states. That's because they don't have power. The electricity has been out for some of them for a week now since strong storms swept through. It's also been a problem for the Red Cross. They say the outages have led to a dangerous drop in blood donations, so they are putting out the call asking for people to step up and give blood.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on her way from Afghanistan to Tokyo right now. But while in Afghanistan, she made a major announcement on future relations with that country designating Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: Our strategic partnership agreement is not aimed at any other country. Our goal is to work with the region and the international community to strengthen Afghanistan's institutions so that the transition is successful and the Afghan people themselves can take responsibility and the future of Afghanistan will be safer and more secure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: The announcement paves the way for the U.S. and Afghanistan to maintain a defense in economic relationship long after U.S. troop withdrawal.

As I said, Secretary Clinton on her way to Tokyo. In Japan she will be asking international donors to pledge their support for Afghanistan.

Right now Libyans are going to the polls in their first free election in decades. It is one of the reasons they overthrew Moammar Gadhafi's 40-year dictatorship, the chance at democracy. Libyans are electing the assembly which will form a transitional government.

Joining me now from Tripoli is journalist Jomana Karadsheh.

You've been out to the polling center earlier today. Tell us what the mood is like.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, JOURNALIST: Randi, it's an incredible atmosphere here in Tripoli. It's been six hours since the polls opened here in Tripoli and across the country. And people are driving around waving the free Libya flag and showing us the purple finger. They are so proud of this day and the ability to vote on this day.

We went to one polling center in one of the neighborhoods in Tripoli where an uprising against Moammar Gadhafi started last year and they were crushed earlier in the year and they were known for their opposition for Gadhafi. And the atmosphere there was incredible.

We met really old people there, a woman who has never had the chance to vote, like most voters at that center. People were saying they feel like they are born again today, that they have had the ability to elect their officials freely. But, of course, in a country awash with weapons that is far from stable yet, security is a big concern. Thousands of troops have been deployed across the country and revolutionary fighters, formers rebels, have also taken to the streets patrolling to make sure that no one disrupts this big day for Libya.

KAYE: And what is the word on that? Have you heard any word of disturbances thus far?

KARADSHEH: It was expected, Randi in the eastern part of the country, that is the city of Benghazi and surrounding areas. According to the electoral commission, there have been some polling centers that have been shut and others that have not able to open. It's about a dozen of them at this point.

This is being done by people in the east who are calling for Federal Libya. They have called for a boycott of this election. The eastern part of Libya, Randi, for decades was mobilized by Gadhafi. And that was the cradle of this revolution. That is where it started last year. And they still feel like they are being sidelined by the central government here in Tripoli so they have decided to boycott the election.

We're hearing from a lot of officials and people in Benghazi saying that they are a minority and the majority of the people in the east are determined to vote. Many have already gone out to vote today saying they will not allow them to stop them.

KAYE: Jomana Karadsheh, thank you very much for your reporting.

And to England now and tennis, my favorite sport. It is the women's final at Wimbledon today in just about an hour. Serena Williams taking on Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. This is the first Wimbledon final for the popular Radwanska. Meanwhile, Serena is going for her fifth Wimbledon win.

The men will finish up tomorrow with Roger Federer taking on Andy Murray. Murray is the first British player to make the Wimbledon final since the 1930s. You can imagine the celebrations there. Federer has won the title six times.

Scientology spokesman, it's not Tom Cruise's official title, but it's a role that he relishes. We're putting his ties to the church in focus, so stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It is that time of year, the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. You are looking at the latest from the annual event. The bulls run for eight consecutive mornings as part of a week-long festival. Look at that. Lots of folks very excited about this.

The World Health Organization is tracking a mystery illness in Cambodia that is killing children. So far at least 56 children have died, very few have survived the symptoms which include respiratory problems and swelling of the brain. The majority of the cases have hit children under three years old.

Our Sara Sidner has more from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Randi, as you might imagine, any parent that has a child under the age of three is concerned, even in some cases scared for their children because of this mysterious illness. The World Health Organization is calling it a mysterious syndrome. They really do not know exactly what they are dealing with.

What they do know is that there have been 76 reported cases that the ministry of health here has reported. Of those, 57 of those all have very similar symptoms. And of those, 56 have died. That is why there's an urgent need to find out what exactly this illness is, the syndrome as they are calling it is.

There are some symptoms that they are telling parents to look out for. It's especially in children under the age of three. That is fever, any kind of difficulty breathing, some neurological problems such as drowsiness or not being able to respond.

These are some of the things they are telling parents. If your child has any of these symptoms, bring that child to the hospital as soon as possible. Let me tell you what we saw at the hospital here in Phnom Penh today. This is the main hospital, children's hospital, where most people come if there is a serious issue or illness in their children. There were lines of people and that's a normal thing waiting to get treatment for their children.

What we found was that many of the people just had never heard that there was a new problem out there, that there was a mysterious syndrome out there. There was only one or two who had heard on the radio that this existed and they had brought their child because that child had a fever, for example. So the word has not spread completely around the country that this mysterious syndrome is out there.

However, right now, the World Health Organization and the ministry of health is trying to get to the bottom of what this is, trying to determine what it is. They have decided it is not SARS and it is not bird flu.

PIETER JIM VAN MAAREN, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: It is very difficult to assess how dangerous and how rapidly spreading it will be if we don't know what we're dealing with. This is the focus of our investigation at the moment, get to know what we are dealing with. Then we will be able to take the appropriate measures.

SIDNER: The first cases of this they saw in April and the last case just a couple of days ago. The thing that concerns health providers is that it has very rapid deterioration in children. Of the 57 again children that ended up in the hospital, 56 died. We're talking about a very high mortality rate. There's a lot of concern that parents won't be able to get their children to the hospital in time. Many of the children who made it to the hospital died within a day or two -- Randi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Sara Sidner in Cambodia this morning. Sara, thank you.

Scientology is a controversial and misunderstood religion. The myths, the money, and, of course, the celebrities next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

Scientology is a controversial and misunderstood religion. The church is famously secretive about their practices and inner workings, which just leads to more questions. We're focusing on Scientology this morning, the myths, the money and, of course, the celebrities because it seems that what many people know about the church is what they hear from celebrities.

Actors and actresses, they count themselves as members, people like Tom Cruise. CNN's Tom Foreman has more on Cruise's connection to Scientology.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When it comes to Scientology, Tom Cruise may well be the faith's most combative celebrity defender, famously tearing into NBC's Matt Lauer over the church's repudiation of psychiatry.

TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: Do you know what Adderall is? Do you Ritalin? Do you know now that Ritalin is a street drug? Do you understand that?

MATT LAUER, NBC: The difference is --

CRUISE: Matt, I'm asking you a question.

LAUER: I understand there's abuse of all of these things.

CRUISE: No, you see, here is the problem. You don't know the history of psychiatry; I do.

FOREMAN: Although Cruise joined Scientology in the 1980s, over the past decade his public identification with the group has been much more pronounced. He's explained his beliefs on talk shows, in the press and Scientology meetings featuring Cruise with his "Mission Impossible" theme in the background and the star giving a military salute to a Scientology leader.

CRUISE: It's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist. It's something you have to earn. Because Scientologist does, he or she has the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions.

FOREMAN: Many of Cruise's statements underscore a central lesson of the faith, that its followers can accomplish great things. CRUISE: When you drive past an accident, it's not like anyone else as you drive past, you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only that can really help. I won't hesitate to (INAUDIBLE) .

FOREMAN: Such talk echoes teachings laid out in the 1950s by the faith's founder, science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. He created an outline for conduct and advancement. For example, through counseling sessions referred to as audits, followers are supposed to be led toward positive thinking and achieving their goals no matter how ambitious. Listen again as Cruise talks to fellow devotees about world leaders.

CRUISE: They want help and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective and do it and that's us.

FOREMAN: That was 2004. By 2005, Cruise was expressing even more enthusiasm over actress Katie Holmes, most notably by jumping around on Oprah's sofa. So what happened?

Holmes was raised Catholic, is believed to have converted to Scientology as her relationship with Cruise grew. In the wake of their split, there are reports that she is concerned over their daughter Suri being raised in the faith.

For now, neither is addressing those reports. Holmes attorney called the divorce a private matter and said her primary concern is her daughter's best interest. Cruise's attorney did not respond to CNN inquiries but told "The Los Angeles Times" his client hoped the divorce would not be contentious. Cruise has spoken dismissively of what Scientologists call SPs, suppressive persons, the term used for people who try to impede the mission of Scientology.

CRUISE: They said, have you met an SP? I looked at him -- you know and I thought, what a beautiful thing, because maybe one day it will be like that. You know what I'm saying? Maybe one day it will be that -- wow, SPs, they will just read about those in the history books.

FOREMAN: Whether any of this plays into the split with Holmes is yet unknown. But when Cruise and his second wife actress Nicole Kidman divorced, similar speculation appeared. Kidman, who was also raised Catholic never seemed to fully embrace Scientology. After the breakup she was described as enjoying a homecoming in the Catholic Church.

As for Cruise --

CRUISE: I do it the way I do everything. There's nothing part of the way for me.

FOREMAN: There is no sign he has any intention of backing away from his controversial faith.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAYE: There are still many more aspects of the story that we want to share with you. Coming up in next hour, money trail, what landmarks does the church of Scientology own? You might be surprised.

Ereaders, they're popular and a great way to curl up and read your favorite novel but they're also keeping track of you. Our tech guru Mario Armstrong will be along to explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Well, you probably already know that social media sites like Facebook gather personal information about you. But what you might not know is that there is a device collecting data about you, your eBook.

HLN's digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong joining me now from New York to talk about this.

Mario, this is a little disturbing. Reading used to be a private affair, but now the eReaders, they're changing that. What exactly are they learning about us?

MARIO ARMSTRONG, CNN DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: They are learning quite a bit, Randi. This is really something that's fresh and new. A lot of people didn't realize that publishers and manufacturers of these eBooks or eReaders can now determine a lot of things.

Number one, they can tell how fast we're reading a book, where do we end up stopping and pausing. What do we highlight in the book, even annotations if we make notes within that book as well. This data will tell publishers a lot about our interests, a lot about our reading habits and maybe how they could better create books for us or how they could position the next best seller for our habits.

KAYE: So it's all about learning how to market to us better it sounds like?

ARMSTRONG: It's a lot of that. It's a lot of data that they are collecting right now. So they don't even really know the full picture.

For example, Barnes & Noble recently created something called Nook shorts. This is because they found that a lot of people when reading nonfiction tend to start and stop. So they said, you know what, maybe people can't finish a long book. Maybe we should do shorter features and see how those actually sell and see how those move.

So it is making some adjustments within the publishing industry. They never had this before. You buy a book, you read it. You either talk about it or you don't. They had no data to collect about what you do with that book.

KAYE: How exactly does it work and is there any way to turn it off, any way to prevent them from doing this?

ARMSTRONG: You always ask the right question. Right now there isn't. In fact in the Amazon agreement, it explains this and the fine tooth details there. But here's the thing. They transmit wirelessly. The same antenna that you are using to download the book is the same antenna inside that's sending back information as you're using your eReader.

Now, I should caution people, I'm being told that they aren't personalizing that information, that they are just aggregating it to identify trends and identify what things, people are doing. To me the potential for them to still personalize it is right there. The last thing I think someone wants to have happen, Randi, is they're reading "50 Shades of Grey" and they're maybe making a note on how they are going to better their life at home through something they read and that shows up.

KAYE: That would be bad. That would be very bad.

ARMSTRONG: That wouldn't be so good. That could really start to make people think differently about what do they download, what do they read.

And lastly, we don't want the author feeling like they can't be creative due to technology pressure that maybe the publishers or the manufacturers of these devices are suggesting.

KAYE: Let me ask you about this, because the eReaders, a lot of folks talking about this possible Internet shutdown on Monday because of the ugly little virus. How serious is this? Are we going to lose our Internet access Monday?

ARMSTRONG: It's a serious threat. We will not lose all Internet access. It's really in the U.S., about 64,000 computers. This dates back to 2008 with an FBI ring, FBI busted this criminal ring.

At the end of the day, there will only be 64,000 U.S. computers that could be affected. The only thing that will happen, Randi, is that they won't be able to get to the Internet. The computer will still work but they won't be able to go online.

I gave everybody steps right on my website. If they go to marioarmstrong.com/blog, there's a link where you can click and test to make sure your computer is not infected. If it is, I give you steps on how to remove it.

KAYE: I'm going to check that out because that's very important. I need my Internet access.

ARMSTRONG: We all do. Absolutely.

KAYE: All right, Mario, nice to see you. Thank you.

ARMSTRONG: Nice to see you too Randi. Take care.

KAYE: And join us every Saturday at this time as Mario Armstrong gives us the scoop on the latest technology.

Danger at the beach. Take a look. It's a shark, but not any old shark. It is a 14-foot great white looking for some lunch and it is right near the shore. We'll tell you where and we'll tell you why people aren't running away.

Is there blood in the water on the campaign trail? Lackluster news on unemployment dominating the talk from both candidates. Who do you think can turn it around? We'll take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. Thanks for starting your day with us.

Not a good number for President Obama. A weak jobs report left the unemployment rate unchanged at 8.2 percent. That means nearly 13 million people are jobless and a large number of them have been out of work for at least six months. The news pushed the markets down. The Dow finished down 124 points.

There was a lot of political back and forth from both sides when those jobs numbers came out, a lot of it coming from President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

CNN political editor Paul Steinhauser joining us this morning from Washington.

Paul, good morning to you. Last hour we heard from Dan Lothian about how the news was a speed bump on the president's bus tour. What are the candidates saying at this point about jobs?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: That's a very good description from Dan there. It's been three months of flat numbers. It seems like the recovery has stalled and that is troublesome for the president as he fights for re-election. We've got four more of these unemployment reports to come.

The president reacted, as Dan mentioned, on the campaign trail in Ohio and he didn't talk about it right away. He said there were some promising signs in the report but he said much more needs to be done.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We can't be satisfied because our goal was never to just keep on working to get back to where we were back in 2007. I want to get back to a time when middle class families and those working to get into the middle class have some basic security. That's our goal. So we've got to grow the economy even faster. And we've got to put even more people back to work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Now, Mitt Romney the Republican challenger has been on vacation this week Randi but he took a little break from that vacation. Ninety minutes after the Labor Department report came out he was in front of cameras up in New Hampshire. And here is what he had to say about them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a time for America to choose whether they want more of the same. Whether unemployment above eight percent month after month after month is satisfactory or not; it doesn't have to be this way. America can do better. And this kick in the gut has got to end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: In fact, here is that kick in the gut comment twice.

Here is why all of this matters. Listen the unemployment report probably arguably the most important economic number in politics right now. Why -- because Americans say by far the economy and jobs is their top concern when they go to polls in November to vote for president.

And Randi both campaigns are talking about the economy nonstop. The Romney campaign saying the President's policies have fail. The President is saying that Romney would take us back to the policies that got us into this mess in the first place.

KAYE: It's an interesting back and forth as always. But while the candidates are talking about the country's economy, let's talk about their finances. Mitt Romney now a $100 million man?

STEINHAUSER: Yes it was a big week for Romney. We learned this week that Romney and the Republican National Committee combined raised at least -- at least $100 million in June. And that is -- we don't know what the Obama numbers are yet but in May, Romney and the RNC outraised Obama and the DNC.

And I was at a briefing about two weeks ago with some top Obama campaign officials. And they predicted that Romney would raise $100 million and they said they would be outraised for a second straight month. So, that's probably what we'll see when the official numbers come in.

Why does this all matter? Well campaign cash is important Randi, obviously it pays for commercials, it pays for get out the vote efforts, it allows the candidates to travel and get their message out there.

And remember, when you factor in not just the campaigns, but all that money being raised by the Independent groups, and a lot more is being raised on the Republican side with those so-called Super PACs than on the Democratic side.

(CROSSTALK)

KAYE: Is it -- is it --

STEINHAUSER: Yes.

KAYE: -- is it rare for a sitting President to be outraised?

STEINHAUSER: In fact that was a great point. This would be the first time an incumbent President running for re-election would be outraised. And it's very different from four years ago when then Senator Obama greatly outraised and outspent Senator McCain.

So, a very different ballgame this time around when it comes to campaign finances -- Randi.

KAYE: All right I'm glad you're watching the numbers for us. Paul Steinhauser, thank you very much.

So both candidates say that they aren't satisfied. But who can turn it around? Our CNN/ORC poll shows registered voters are pretty much split. Take a look at the numbers here. They are split about who could better handle the economy -- 48 percent chose Romney, 47 percent for Obama. But among Independents a bit more of a spread: 52 say Romney, 41 percent favor Obama.

Danger in the water -- look out, a 14-foot great white threatening the beaches along Cape Cod. So why isn't this shark chasing anyone away? We'll explain next.

But first this weekend's "Travel Insider". If you have young kids and you're looking for something educational to do this summer, you may want to check out NatureQuest at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta. CNN associate producer Ann Claire Stapleton took her son there and has an insider's look at the exhibit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANN CLAIRE STAPLETON, CNN ASSOCIATE PRODUCER (on camera): As a mother of a young child I'm always looking for something fun and educational for us to do together. NatureQuest, it's our spot.

(voice-over): In the heart of Atlanta is the Fernbank Museum of Natural History children and family-friendly exhibit NatureQuest. Opened in March 2011 with more than 7,000 square feet interactive educational things to do and see, the exhibit has the feel of a playground and the educational feel of a classroom. Every nook and cranny offers children a new adventure.

Unlike traditional museums, at NatureQuest children are challenged for self-discovery, to explore and be curious in a hands-on environment just like real scientists.

With over 100 interactive encounters to choose from, a few of my son's favorites include the clubhouse built in the trees, hidden tunnels filled with fossils and the simulated river that thin fish swim in when little feet step on it.

CHRISTINA BEAN, V.P. OF EDUCATION, FERNBANK MUSEUM: NatureQuest is this amazingly fun world that's scientifically realistic. You can explore from the ocean to the top of the mountains. And everywhere you look there's something to do. Everywhere you look there's something to find, something to like.

STAPLETON: What does a 2-year-old care about science? Not much. But my son has so much fun exploring he doesn't realize his little brain is learning, too.

Ann Claire Stapleton, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The perfect killing machine parked right off the coast. I'm talking about a great white shark and an increase in sightings has some just a little bit nervous.

The increase is being seen off Cape Cod. But as Brian Todd reports the large sharks and their dangerous nature aren't actually chasing anyone away. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gorgeous weather and it's the height of summer. But they are only going in waist deep. And it's not because the water is cold.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I grew up watching "Jaws" back in the '70s. And vivid memories and I don't want to re-live that.

TODD: This is what they're worried about on Cape Cod. Not far from where "Jaws" was filmed, great white sharks are back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tuesday were the most recent sightings by one of our spotter pilots, two white sharks.

TODD: Each measuring at least 14 feet. Authorities have identified 20 of these predators right off the Cape over the past three years and believe there are many more lurking. A group called Cape Cod shark hunters works with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to track, photograph and tag the great whites.

We're out off the Cape looking for the sharks with John Chisholm of the Marine Fisheries Division. We spot abundant marine life here, including humpback whales.

It looks like a harpoon but it's a listening station. These buoy's carry acoustics receivers that track the migration and behavior of great whites that have been tagged. What's drawing them here?

JOHN CHISHOLM, MASSACHUSETTS DIVISIONS OF MARINE FISHERIES: We know they are here looking for seals. That's why we place these things in strategic locations where we know they're hunting seals, where we have documented seal predation.

TODD: The population of gray and harbor seals on Cape Cod has made a huge comeback in recent years. Every expert we speak to points to that as the magnet for great whites.

(on camera): Here's a pod of seals. This is an area where they tag a lot of sharks. We're told that the sharks are very stealthy. They lurk on the bottom. They come up and grab the seals even this close to shore.

Scenes like this make people wonder just how close the sharks could be, this dead seal washed up on shore. An expert says things to look for in a seal that's been attacked, teeth marks and possible tearing that could be what you're seeing right here.

An expert later looks at our video and says this was very likely a shark attack victim. The sharks aren't scaring folks off. They're actually a top attraction this summer and even good for business.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some quality great white shark T-shirts being sold. It's awesome.

GREG SKOMAL, MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF THE MARINE FISHERIES: I think folks in general love to see sharks. They love the idea of sharks. I think sharks fascinate people.

TODD: One marine biologist points out a human hasn't been attacked by a shark in these waters since 1936. But with the seal population making a comeback and the seal's proximity to swimmers, authorities here are getting increasingly concerned.

Brian Todd, CNN, Chatham, Massachusetts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: The case went from an accident to a homicide. Former police officer Drew Peterson soon goes on trial accused of killing his wife. His case raises several interesting legal questions we'll talk about it all with our legal expert, Paul Callan.

But first a trashy idea could solve many of America's problems. Gary Tuchman takes a look at how one man is starting small and thinking big by turning trash into gas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, ACTOR: Marty.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In the movie "Back to the Future," cars were fueled by garbage.

LLOYD: I need fuel.

TUCHMAN: But at this landfill in Arlington, Oregon, the future is now.

JEFF SERBA, FOUNDER, ININTECH: Well this technology is reality today. It takes what the world doesn't want and transforms that material into what the world does want.

TUCHMAN: Jeff Serba and his company Inintech (ph) are turning trash into energy using something called plasma-converting.

SERBA: What plasma is in this case is basically a controlled bolt of lightning allowing us to break down this waste material and reform those elements into this hydrogen rich synthesis gas. TUCHMAN: The plasma heats up to temperature exceeding 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The process allows material that would stay in landfills for decades to be turned into a usable resource.

SERBA: You could take 90 percent of all of that material and convert it into clean energy products. Blending business and technology together to actually do something that would benefit society for the long run was really exciting for me.

TUCHMAN: The plant is the first of its kind with the hopes of providing energy to homes across the country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Former Illinois police officer Drew Peterson made headlines in 2007 when his wife Stacy disappeared. Just three years prior his previous wife, Kathleen, had been found dead in a bathtub. The bathtub death was initially ruled accidental but after Stacy's disappearance Kathleen's body was exhumed and her death was ruled a homicide. Drew Peterson was then charged in her death. Jury selection in his trial begins in less than three weeks.

So let's talk about this with our legal analyst Paul Callan. Paul, good morning to you.

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Randi.

KAYE: So one of the big things to come out of this week's hearing is the tub Kathleen died in and how or if the jury actually gets to see. And this is a big deal right, since the tub is essentially the murder weapon.

CALLAN: Yes, that's what prosecutors say. It's really -- she was found drowned in a bathtub. That was the cause of death and, of course, it was thought to be an accident originally. And later after several autopsies police changed their opinion and said it was a murder.

So prosecutors say the bathtub is the murder weapon. But the judge ruled he's not going to allow the bathtub to be brought into court. He thinks it's -- I think the judge thinks it's too prejudicial; it's too much show boating. So he might let them go to the scene, the house where the murder allegedly took place but he's not letting them roll the bathtub into court.

KAYE: And it's so interesting is the bathtub, I believe, has been removed from the house, right? So then they would have to put it back in or something like that.

CALLAN: Yes. Not only has it been removed but somebody else has bought the house. So can you imagine, you own a new house and somebody calls you up and says we've got to re-install the murder weapon bathtub in your house?

KAYE: Oh.

CALLAN: So, you know, I don't think that's going to happen. I think ultimately the jury probably will see pictures of the bathtub but that's probably it.

KAYE: Yes. Let's talk about some of the comments that he had made. Before his arrest Drew Peterson, he's on several media interviews. But the judge fears that showing them may be prejudicial. So he's only allowing the re-inversion (ph). How do you think that will play in terms of the prosecution's case?

CALLAN: Well, I just wanted to say, first of all, I was very surprised by this ruling by the court. You know last night as I was preparing for this appearance today, I was watching some of the comments that this guy's made on tape.

Everybody should go into CNN's Web site or YouTube and just look at some of his interviews. They are very revealing. He jokes about being under murder charges. He's very cold. I think you could make the argument that this tells you a lot about who he is.

But the judge felt that it's so prejudicial, that I think the jury would react so badly to the tapes that he's not allowing them to be played. I think it's a surprising ruling. I think it's something the jury should see because I think it says something about him.

KAYE: In terms of the challenges of seating a jury in this case, I mean what are they? Is there anyone who doesn't know or hasn't heard about Drew Peterson and also the fact that he's the only suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife? Won't that play into this as well?

CALLAN: This is an enormously difficult jury selection because not only is it a high-profile case, of course, we've picked juries in high-profile cases in the past, O.J. Simpson, Casey Anthony, Senator John Edwards recently. You're always able to come up with 12 or 15 or 16 jurors who say I've heard of the case but haven't made up my mind.

But here he's being tried for the death of his third wife but his fourth wife is now missing. And supposedly the jury is not supposed to know about the missing fourth wife but, of course, everybody knows about that.

KAYE: Right.

CALLAN: So I think it is going to be very hard to get a fair and impartial jury. But he's got to be tried by somebody so there will be a jury selected.

KAYE: It's going to be an interesting case to watch. Paul Callan, thank you very much.

Callan: Nice being with you, Randi.

KAYE: You as well.

The name is an attention grabber, God Particle. And after 50 years of searching, scientists may have finally found it. This could be one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs ever. But what is it and why should we care? A little God Particle 101 coming your way. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING; so glad you're with us.

A scientific announcement this week could change all of our lives. Researchers in Switzerland say that they have discovered what they call the God Particle, or at least they are pretty sure they have. For about the last 50 years, it has been the most sought-after particle in all of physics. Think of it as this missing puzzle piece in our understanding of how the universe works.

Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist, professor and bestselling author and he's joining us to talk more about this. Good morning and thank you for coming on the show to help us all make sense of this.

DR. MICHIO KAKU, THEORETICAL PHYSICIST: My pleasure.

KAYE: In layman's terms -- in layman's terms, please, what is this particle and why is it so important?

KAKU: Well, we have what is called the standard model of subatomic particles. In other words, we've been smashing protons together for decades. Out of the fragments we've identified a pattern, a jigsaw puzzle as you mentioned. But there's one missing final piece of the jigsaw puzzle and that's the Higgs Boson. Now, why is it important?

The press called it the God Particle. We physicist cringe when we hear those words but there is some truth to that. You see, the Bible says that God set the universe in motion. We physicists believe that there was a big bang 13.7 billion years ago but what set the Big Bang into motion? What was the match? What was the spark that set off this explosion?

We think it was a Higgs-like particle that actually set the match off and created the entire universe.

KAYE: So -- and you've also said this could have even social, political and theological implications. I mean if it does take us back to the moments even before the Big Bang.

KAKU: That's right. The Higgs Boson tells us what the universe was like at the instant of creation. But then we can run the videotape backwards. We can actually go before the Big Bang. We can actually go to what the universe might have looked like before genesis.

And we think that there could be -- and this the next step beyond the Higgs Boson -- there could even be things like parallel universes, other universes out there. We think our universe is a bubble of some sort that's expanding. We live on the skin of the bubble. But there could be other bubbles out there.

And of course this raises the last question, and that is, is Elvis Presley still alive in one of these parallel universes? Well, we can't rule this out. KAYE: Wow. That is certainly an interesting question that we'll probably have to debate about this one. But short-term, I mean could it mean anything for us now? Is it all about what could come and what we find out in the future? Sort of like finding the electron 100 years ago and not knowing how it's going to change the world.

KAKU: Well, we don't expect any immediate benefits for the consumer market. We're not going to have better color television. We're not going to have better Internet reception because of Higgs Boson. However, it explains our place in the universe. It explains where we are with respect to this cosmic drama that we see around us.

Here we have one of the great missing pieces of the Big Bang itself. And I think that this really shows that there's a cosmic tapestry out there and that we are part of the fabric of the universe itself.

KAYE: So scientists, though, as we mentioned, they are virtually certain that they found this but they're not 100 percent. Why is it?

KAKU: Well, we are 99.9999 percent certain that we have bagged the Higgs Boson. Now a Las Vegas bookie would put money on the table with those odds. So, there's only one chance in 3 million we're wrong. So, I think you can safely say we got it.

KAYE: All right. Well, congratulations on getting it. It's so exciting and certainly a fascinating question about the beginnings of our universe.

Michio Kaku, thank you so much for your time this morning.

KAKU: Thank you.

KAYE: The secrets of Scientology. We're breaking through the myths and misconceptions on the show this morning. What it's all about and why are so many celebrities taking part? It is our focus next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Checking stories cross country.

Arizona's 96-year-old former governor found himself in a bizarre situation when he was detained by border patrol agents in his home state. Apparently Raoul Castro, who also is a former U.S. diplomat had just had surgery and was traveling back to a luncheon in Tucson last week when trying to cross back into Arizona his pacemaker apparently tripped the radiation sensor. He was detained more than a half hour and had to wait in the heat. His daughter who was with him called the experience, quote, "humiliating."

California is on its way to building the nation's first dedicated high-speed rail line after strong lobbying by Governor Jerry Brown, state lawmakers have approved billions to start building it. Eventually plans call for the bullet train to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco. Voters approved the project four years ago but support for it has fallen along with the state's economy. And in Las Vegas, time to shuffle up and deal; the World Series of Poker's main event starts at Noon local time today. Last year, nearly 7,000 players took part. This year they are expecting even more. It costs $10,000 to buy in. But the winner's payout could be around 10 million bucks.