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CNN Saturday Morning News

Police Find Missing Colorado Girl's Body; Pakistani Teen Activist Fights for Her Life; Shuttle on Final Journey Home; Race for Ohio Very Close; Sexual Assaults in the Military; Florida Reporter's Body Found In Concrete; Report: Fed Probe Jesse Jackson Jr.; Ex- Teammate Accuses Armstrong; Zumba Instructor Ran Prostitution Ring; Quarterback Becomes Homecoming Queen

Aired October 13, 2012 - 11:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN Saturday Morning. It is October 12th. Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye.

The long road home: Space Shuttle Endeavour is on the move, cruising the streets of L.A. towards its final resting place. We'll track it all morning for you.

With the second presidential debate just a few days away, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan zero in on the key battleground state of Ohio.

In Pakistan, three more suspects are under arrest in connection with the shooting of a teen activist.

We begin this hour in Colorado where there is a manhunt right now for the killer of a 10-year-old girl. Police say they have found the body of Jessica Ridgeway. She was reported missing one week ago. Jessica was last seen leaving for school.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF LEE BIRK, WESTMINSTER, COLORADO POLICE DEPARTMENT: With a great deal of sorrow in my heart, I regret to inform you that the body that was found in Arvada has been positively identified as Jessica Ridgeway, the missing girl from Westminster. The family has been notified. We can't begin to comprehend the grief that they're going through.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's hard to imagine why someone would want to do this to such a nice little girl.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This sicko was out here so there's worries with that but we need to find them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: An FBI spokesperson says they will not rest until Jessica's killer is caught. Meantime, the community will come together for a balloon release later this afternoon to celebrate her life.

In Pakistan, three more suspects under arrest in connection with the shooting of a teen activist. Already over 100 people have been detained over this attack. The young girl is now fighting for her life in a hospital shot by the Taliban for speak out for her rights.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALALA YOUSUFZAI, EDUCATION ACTIVIST: I have the right of education. I have the right to play. I have right to sing. I have the right talk, I have the right to go to market. I have the right to speak up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: An incredibly brave little girl. Our Reza Sayah has the latest on the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Blood stains cover the seats of an old canopied pickup truck. Malala Yousafzai and her classmates rode together to get home from school. This is where Malala was sitting, police say, when gunmen shot her in the head. Kainat Ahmed, Malala's friend was sitting next to her she says when one of the attackers stopped the truck. Another came around the back, Kainat says, gun in hand.

"When we saw the gun we started screaming," Kainat says. "He asked who's Malala? I don't think anyone told him, but he recognized Malala and started shooting. Malala fell down, but he kept firing. That's when my friend and I got injured."

Kainat is recovering from a bullet wound to the hand. The 14-year-old Malala, who had a high profile blog critical of the Taliban is clinging to life following major surgery.

The passenger truck now part of an intense investigation to find the gunman. The Pakistani government, under increasing pressure to solve the case, has given conflicting accounts of the probe. The interior minister says the two gunmen have been identified and arrests are coming soon.

The Foreign Minister told CNN 100 people were detained for questioning. A regional police chief says 35 people are in custody for questioning. Three blame Malala's shooting on a man with suspected links to the Taliban. The Taliban have already claimed they plotted the attack. But police say still no hard evidence who pulled the trigger.

On Friday, the outpouring of support continued with a message from the Prime Minister.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we have to unite and stand together.

SAYAH: And vigils across the country. Pakistanis young and old praying for Malala, a 14-year-old human rights activist, whose legend grows by the day.

TAHIRA ABDULLA, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST: She a little child, gives older people hope and inspiration and sanity and brings us back from depression and dejection.

SAYAH (on camera): A top government official says in the coming days doctors will be keeping a close eye on the swelling in Malala's brain, swelling after brain surgery a big concern. Of course, the brain is enclosed in a hard casing. The skull, unlike other parts of the body, the swelling doesn't have anywhere to go, that's why doctors say they're going to keep a close eye on it much of this nation, much of the world keeping a close eye on Malala's health as well.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Police are investigating a frightening incident at a Obama campaign office in Denver. Authorities say a single shot was fired at the office shattering a window. There were people in the building, but fortunately no one was hit. Police say they don't have a description of the suspect, but they do have a possible vehicle of interest.

The Shuttle Endeavour has flown 123 million miles in space, but the last 12 here on earth are proving to be some of the most challenging. Take a look here. These are live pictures of Endeavour. Slowly wheeling its way through streets of Los Angeles to its final home at the California Science Center. These pictures have been captivating all of us, including our John Zarrella, who is somewhere along the route there.

John, good morning. This is quite a task, right? I mean, they had some pretty tight clearance in some areas getting this thing around.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh yes, they're not done with those tight clearances yet either -- Randi. And you're right we're about halfway between where it started at LAX the Los Angeles Airport and the California Science Center. So Endeavour sitting here behind us now outside the old forum where the Los Angeles Lakers used to play.

They're -- they're a little bit ahead of schedule and I want to bring in Stephanie Stilson, who works for NASA and has been responsible for preparing all of the shuttle orbiters for their retirement.

And -- and Stephanie, an amazing sight, but you have to be a little bit concerned when you know the narrow clearances that Randi was just talking about.

STEPHANIE STILSON, NASA SHUTTLE PROCESSOR: Absolutely. But the K-Mags (ph) the self-propelled motorized transports that they're using can move very precisely and that was the whole reason they came up this concept of moving it through the streets that way. So they should be able to crab around the trees and things that are going to be in the way along the way. And a lot of planning going into that so -- so things did have to be moved and brought down and so forth, in preparations, light post, street signs those kinds of things. But we're ready to go.

ZARRELLA: You know I've been asked numerous times and you're the expert about why didn't they just take the wings off this thing and move it and you know I kind of liken it to Humpty Dumpty if you did it you'll never get him back together again in the right way.

STILSON: Exactly, although it looks like an airplane from the outside, remember it's got the thermal protection system on the outside, a blanket tile, so you'd have to tear all that off to even get to the aluminum substructure to pull the wings off. Could you do it? Yes, would it be a great undertaking? And you could never get it to look the way it does now. We want to keep it as quite like it's possible. So taking it apart was not an option.

ZARRELLA: And lastly, tremendously exciting for you obviously to see this, the shuttles in their retirement, you know. And to see the outpouring that the people here in Los Angeles are showing for this.

STILSON: Absolutely. You know it's not easy for us at NASA to give up one of our vehicles. It's very hard. But to see all the support and the excitement, the enthusiasm being here, it's great. It makes me feel better to actually see that in person.

And so I think all the folks back home are going to be very proud that Endeavour is here now back in California. It will be on a great display for everybody to see.

ZARRELLA: Thanks Step.

And Randi you know right from here, it's going to go to a local area mall, another huge celebration planned there later in the day. And once they finish that, then on the way to the California Science Center. And just a couple of areas where they've got some real close clearances, with the trees, very close within inches of either side of the space shuttle's wings, that 78-foot wingspan that the space shuttle has.

But about halfway home now and just sitting here right now because they are ahead of schedule, before they move on which is giving all these folks here a tremendous opportunity to get really up close. And I would say Randi that you know in all my years, I think only people like Stephanie get as close to the shuttles and the astronauts, of course, who fly them and those who work on them as the folks are having an opportunity to get here in Los Angeles.

A really, really up close to the space shuttle orbiters -- Randi.

KAYE: Yes, and the more time they can spend with it because what it goes about what two miles an hour or so. So they can get a pretty good look.

ZARRELLA: Yes, they're really going very, very slowly. Just two -- the top speed is about two miles an hour through these -- through the streets of L.A. But they've gone much slower. And I have to show you this. I have these orbiters -- what does it say Stephanie?

STILSON: On display.

ZARRELLA: On display. And Stephanie gave me this pin. These are these new shuttle pins. Orbiters on display, pretty, pretty cool.

STILSON: Yes.

ZARRELLA: I guess I can wear that proudly as a -- as the space correspondent. So I'll get you one.

KAYE: All right, John. I appreciate that. I'm going to look for it in the mail.

ZARRELLA: Sure.

KAYE: I'm going to hold you to it. Thank you very much for that.

ZARRELLA: You got it.

KAYE: I know -- he is having so much fun out there. I'm kind of jealous.

All right, well of course we're going to keep an eye on the shuttle throughout the coming hours. The box by the way on the right side of your screen there, on the bottom there will follow the shuttle's movement throughout L.A. And of course, when there are key moments, we'll go back to the live coverage. And -- so be sure to stay with CNN all day today. We are your source as the shuttle moves to the California science museum.

And also, there's a live stream, by the way, on CNN.com/live, so you can follow this thing's every move.

Two stories of franchises -- the Yankees and the Cardinals have taken the next step toward the World Series. St. Louis stunned the Washington Nationals at home last night scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to win 9-7. The Cardinals now play San Francisco in the National League Championship Series.

And in New York, with their star slugger Alex Rodriguez on the bench, the Yankees beat Baltimore 3-1. New York will play Detroit in the American League championship series, hoping to close that one.

It is all about Ohio for Mitt Romney and President Obama. We'll take a look at why the Buckeye State is so important to both candidates.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: And once again, we want to take you to these live pictures here of the Shuttle Endeavour winding its way through the streets of Los Angeles. It only has about 12 miles to go from LAX, from the airport there, to its final resting place at the California Science Center, amazing pictures to watch. We'll continue to bring you those all morning.

We have a little box by the way at the bottom of your screen tracking the shuttle's movements. You can keep an eye on that as well.

Twenty-four days until the election, and it looks like it's going to be a tight race in the battleground states of Florida and New Hampshire. According to American Research Group polls released on Friday, Republican nominee Mitt Romney has a slight advantage over President Barack Obama in both states.

In Florida, Romney is at 49 percent, Obama at 46. And Romney's advantage in New Hampshire is four points, 50-46 percent. Ohio is one of the key swing states for both Romney and Obama. Both have spent a whole lot of time there talking with voters.

Here's CNN's political editor Paul Steinhauser.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey good morning, Randi. It's all about the Buckeye State today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We need your help. We need to win Ohio. You've got to get your friends to help us win Ohio.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: And that's why Mitt Romney is spending a second straight day in Ohio, where 18 electoral votes are up for grabs. Mr. Obama won the state four years ago. Now Ohio is one of the states Romney really needs to turn red again in order to make it to the White House.

The Republican presidential nominee holds two rallies in the state today and his running mate Paul Ryan also campaigns separately in the Buckeye State.

Now it's not like the President's ignoring Ohio, he was there just a few days ago. And next week, rock star Bruce Springsteen will team up with former President Clinton to stump for Obama in Ohio.

The race for the state is very close right now. Take a look at this CNN poll, a poll that averages three surveys that were conducted entirely after the first presidential debate. It indicates the President at 50 percent of unlikely voters with Romney at 47 percent.

Romney heads home to Massachusetts tonight to get ready for Tuesday's second presidential debate. And Mr. Obama heads to Williamsburg today, not to campaign in the battleground state of Virginia, but rather to go behind closed doors for debate prep.

Tuesday's showdown will be very different than their first face-off in Denver a week and a half ago. This time the questions will come not only from the moderator, our own Candy Crowley, but also from people in the town hall audience -- Randi.

KAYE: Paul, thank you very much.

And there are new voter ID laws in place now in several states. We'll look at their potential impact on the election process.

And if you are leaving the house right now, here's a good reminder for you. You can continue watching CNN from your mobile phone. You can also watch CNN live from your laptop. Take us with you. Just go to CNN.com/TV.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: There are just 24 days left until Election Day, but still there's some confusion over the actual process. New voter ID laws in several states have changed the rules, while other states have seen their laws knocked down or delayed by the courts. So we are focusing on those voter ID laws this morning. And right now we are focusing on Florida.

Joining me now is Florida conservative talk show host Burnie Thompson. I wanted to ask you -- good morning to you, first of all.

BURNIE THOMPSON, FLORIDA CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.

KAYE: I want to ask you first about these -- I will call them tougher voter ID laws. And I know I'm going to get a snarky response from you on that one. But are they really necessary?

THOMPSON: Not snarky, cheery. I came to bring you good news, Randi.

KAYE: Oh boy. Ok.

THOMPSON: Here's the deal. Last year -- first of all, early voting began in Florida in 2004 and now voters have a chance to vote absentee early or on November 6th. So what the legislature did last time around is they shortened the number of days, but they extended the hours. So now instead of not being able to vote after 5:00, we could go vote at 9:00 all the way up until 10:00. So in many ways, now all voters have a greater chance to go cast their vote early because the polls are open later.

KAYE: That is the most positive spin I've heard on that.

THOMPSON: That's the truth. And I'll tell you there are a lot of people who are excited because -- especially military members. And by the way, did you know that today is the Navy's birthday? So happy birthday to the Navy. A lot of folks in the military in Florida are very excited about it because they can go cast their vote after they get off work. It gives us more opportunities to go vote.

KAYE: I want to talk to you a little bit more about the early voting issue.

But first, I mean when you look at the voter ID laws, a lot of people look at them and they say well, a couple dozen cases of fraud might happen, but then you're also putting thousands of votes at risk and thousands of people might be left out of the process. So what's your explanation of that?

THOMPSON: I don't know who could possibly be left out of the process.

KAYE: Those who can't vote.

THOMPSON: Why would they not be able to vote?

KAYE: If they don't have a proper ID. THOMPSON: I one time voted and I did not have the proper information. I had moved. And I voted a provisional ballot. And the next day I had to go and prove who I was. And those laws apply to everybody.

You know, I think it is so important, don't you? There are two things in America you must be an American to do. Serve on jury duty and vote. And the only thing my liberal friends have a problem with showing ID for is to vote. I think we should show that we are who we say we are when we go to cast our vote. I don't see a problem with that.

KAYE: You've actually said that the new voter ID laws could actually help African-Americans --

THOMPSON: Absolutely. Absolutely.

KAYE: -- which is interesting because the Democrats are very concerned that these new voter ID laws will leave African-Americans, Latinos and many other minorities out of the process.

THOMPSON: Well, you're going to have Democrats say one thing and Republicans say another thing. But common sense ought to prevail. If people have more hours to vote in the day -- let's say you and I -- it's a Tuesday. And we know that early voting ends on Saturday. I think you and I are responsible enough to figure out when to go cast our vote. This has nothing to do with skin color. And everything to do with responsibility.

And I can assure you that black Floridians and black Americans are resourceful enough and smart enough and not befuddled. They can get an ID, we can all go vote, we all know the rules. And we're all responsible enough to cast our vote.

KAYE: Let me get back to that early voting issue because it started October 27th -- it starts October 27 in most counties, but for the first time, people won't be able to vote on that last Sunday before the election. We talked about this earlier actually on the program this morning with Reverend Richard Dunn. I want you to listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. RICHARD DUNN, PASTOR, FAITH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH: I believe it's a diversionary tactic. It's a detrimental tactic. It's even a demonic tactic that's being used to suppress the voter turnout.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Those are some pretty strong words.

THOMPSON: They sure are. And I agree with the first adjective. It is diversionary. Because I guarantee you if the Reverend and I and it's a Tuesday, know that it closes on Saturday and we got to vote last Sunday after church, we're all smart enough and responsible enough to cast our vote and be counted.

KAYE: But why get rid of the Sunday, though? THOMPSON: The reason they say, the legislature said, was to help gear up for the actual voting day. I don't know the answer to that. I don't know what their motives are. I can only tell you that it is not going to stop anybody who is determined to vote to vote.

As a matter of fact, as I said, we have three ways to vote. Absentee, early, and on November 6th. I'm telling you Floridians who care are going to go cast their vote.

KAYE: Just 24 days left, hard to believe, until the election. There's a new poll that I want to share with you and our viewers showing Romney ahead in Florida. Could you take a look at that, you see it there -- 51 percent to 44 percent.

THOMPSON: Yes. Amazing.

KAYE: Why do you think that is and is this what you expected?

THOMPSON: I didn't expect it quite like this. I didn't expect President Obama to fumble. And he did fumble. Let's be honest. It's not that Mitt Romney did so well. It's that Barack Obama, our President, fumbled in the first debate.

Tuesday I expect for President Obama to come out gang busters in a different format and do very well. But here's the important thing. As I said last time in Florida, 24 percent of the voters are not Republican, they're not Democrat. They're Independents. And Independents are now paying attention, and they care a lot about reality, not just rhetoric.

The economy means a lot to them. And I think they are leaning toward Mitt Romney for one reason. He doesn't scare Independents. He's not that right wing conservative that Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum is. He's considered a moderate to Independents. That 24 percent in Florida I think are the most important voters in the United States.

KAYE: Well, he is certainly making himself sound a lot more moderate as he moves toward the center these days, right?

THOMPSON: He does that, doesn't he?

KAYE: He sure does. I'm glad you agree with me on that one.

THOMPSON: Absolutely. And I'm glad I was able to cheer you up on the voter situation.

KAYE: You did. You did. Thank you for coming in from Florida.

THOMPSON: Thank you.

KAYE: We appreciate it Burnie. Thanks you.

And tune in for more of Joe Johns' in-depth report on new voters laws tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. That's called "VOTERS IN AMERICA: WHO COUNTS" right here on CNN. It is a problem the military doesn't like to talk about much, sexual assaults. So many go unreported. We'll talk with a man who is speaking out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We want to remind you once again, we are watching every move of Shuttle Endeavour there, making its way through the streets of Los Angeles, the 12-mile trek to the California Science Center where it will be its final resting place. This is 85 tons making its way through Los Angeles.

We'll continue to keep an eye on this throughout the morning as it makes its way through the streets there.

And now to Syria. The joint U.N. Arab league envoy is expected to meet Turkey's foreign minister today. They will discuss how to deal with the rising tensions between the two neighboring countries. Ankara is now diverting its civilian planes around Syrian airspace, this after Turkish fighter jets reportedly forced a Syrian airliner to land in the Turkish capital on Wednesday and then searched it for weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: 3,192, that the number of sexual assaulted reported in the military last year, a number according to the Department of Defense that has skyrocketed in the last ten years. And what's more frightening, by the Pentagon's own estimates, there were more like 19,000 assaults last year. But most went unreported and unpunished.

And in case you are wondering, women aren't the only ones at risk. Men, both gay and straight, make up 12 percent of all reported victims.

Former army cadet Kole Welsh and Attorney Susan Burke joining me now this morning -- good morning to both of you.

Kole, I would like the start with you.

KOLE WELSH, FORMER ARMY CADET: Good morning.

KAYE: You, along with 18 other men and women have filed a lawsuit against current and former members of the military like Leon Panetta and Donald Rumsfeld. You say that you and your partner were raped by your staff sergeant and infected with HIV. Tell me briefly if you can what happened that night.

WELSH: Those details are very personal to me. And I had --

KAYE: I mean where were you?

WELSH: Basically I went over to have a beer with a buddy that was introduced to me through mutual friends. And unfortunately this person had an ulterior motive, and it led to some really awful consequences.

KAYE: And you say that the military has betrayed you as a result of this. How so?

WELSH: Well, for over nearly two years they ignored repeated pleas that I made to bring attention to this soldier who was actively and purposefully and intentionally infecting people in the community with HIV.

KAYE: And you yourself were infected, correct?

WELSH: Yes, unfortunately, it's very -- yes.

KAYE: I'm sorry to hear that. Why didn't you, though, report it right away after it happened?

WELSH: Well, I did report it to the local police department, actually.

KAYE: And did you report it to the military or a higher up?

WELSH: I reported it. I told the public health services that the military has. I told the central investigative division. I called the headquarters there.

I did everything I possibly could -- I mean everything that I possibly could over a two-year period in order to make sure that my assailant could not do this to anybody else.

KAYE: And how did you feel about the response you got from the military?

WELSH: Well, I felt that they -- they felt -- I can't say what they felt. But my feeling of what happened is they felt it was easier to sweep it under the rug.

That they were not comfortable with the fact that it was a gay man involved and it was one of their staff sergeants that had done this. And, you know, it was just -- they just ignored it.

KAYE: I want to bring in Susan. Susan, explain for us. I mean, just how bad is the problem of rape and assaults in the military as bad as the 19,000 cases estimated by the Pentagon?

SUSAN BURKE, ATTORNEY: It is. And the problem is that is military has a huge imbedded sexual problem because they have a decades' long history of ignoring this issue. We all know that those of us old enough to remember will remember tail hook in 1991. You have the Air Force Academy.

So from time to time, the media will focus on it. Department of Defense will wring it hands and say, yes, we have a problem, but then when the media stops paying attention, nothing is done. There have been no structural reforms.

And it's the structure, the way in which they have people report that's the problem. They allow the chain of command -- that sounds like a hierarchy. It sounds like it's a lot of people.

But what you're actually talking about is empowering one human being, one individual to unilaterally shut down investigation prosecution of rape.

Because of that structure, there's a serious under-prosecution. You know, only a fraction -- less than 10 percent ever get prosecuted. And of that, far less are actually convicted of rape. They reduced the charges to things like adultery.

A former teammate says Lance Armstrong was doping. You'll hear from him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We are watching Space Shuttle Endeavour. You see it there, all 85 tons of it, winding its way through the streets of Los Angeles this morning.

We are trying not to let you miss a moment of this very captivating scene. People lining the streets there as it makes its way to the California Science Center, the 12-mile journey and we are watching it along with you.

In Georgia, the body of a Florida journalist who went missing in August was found encased in concrete, buried in a backyard. Investigators used dental records and CT scans to identify the 30- year-old, Sean Dugas, former crime reporter at the "Pensacola News Journal." Twin brothers, William and Christopher Cormea are charged with his murder.

Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is reportedly at the center of a federal investigation. According to the "Chicago Sun-Times," federal investigators are focusing on suspicious activity involving Jackson's finances related to his House seat.

According to the paper, the investigation reportedly started weeks before Jackson took leave from his House seat in June for treatment of a bipolar disorder.

One of Lance Armstrong's former teammate says that he knows the superstar cyclist was doping. The scandal has cost Armstrong the seven Tour De France titles that he won. Tyler Hamilton rode with him in four of those races as part of the U.S. Postal Service team.

He's one of 10 former teammates who have accused Armstrong of doping. A report by the Anti-Doping Agency says there is overwhelming evidence Armstrong used illegal drugs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TYLER HAMILTON, FORMER PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST: The first time I ever blood doped was with Lance. It was certainly for Lance basically. I blood doped myself. It was done by the team, but it was done for the Tour De France.

So I could be a good teammate for Lance Armstrong. Yes, I mean, a lot of that -- he wanted you to be riding at your best in the biggest races. For Lance, it was all about winning the Tour De France.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Armstrong denies he ever doped. His attorney calls it all a witch hunt.

Shocking allegations about a Zumba exercise instructor. Alexis Wright is accused of using her fitness studio to run a prostitution ring in Maine.

Prosecutors say the 29-year-old woman had sex with dozens of men with the help of her business partner. She faces 106 counts of various prostitution charges. Both Wright and her business partner have pleaded not guilty.

And Michael Vick is a dog owner again. He served 18 months, you may recall, for bank rolling a deadly dogfighting ring. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback says as a dad, quote, "it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals." Vick had been banned from owning a dog until his probation ended in May.

And once again, we are tracking Shuttle Endeavour. Here is an incredible live look at the shuttle making its way to its final resting place, the California Science Center.

John Zarrella has been watching it along the route. He's super close and we'll go back to him live in just moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We want to get you back now to John Zarrella, who is on the streets of Los Angeles watching very closely the Shuttle Endeavour making its way to the California Science Center. What a sight there -- John.

ZARRELLA: Yes, Randi, it has been spectacular. You know, they were ahead of schedule this morning, so the folks here, thousands of them that came over here to the Old Forum where the Los Angeles Lakers used to play a little basketball.

They had an extra treat getting to see the shuttle just sitting there before it moves on to its next location, which is a mall area, where there's going to be some performances as well.

And I have a terrific opportunity and a pleasure to introduce to you three of the space shuttle astronauts who flew on Endeavour over the years, Kay Hire here to my left, Greg Johnson in the middle, and Mike Fincke in my right.

Kay, you flew twice, I think, right, flew twice? Greg was the pilot on the last Endeavour flight. And Mike flew the last Endeavour flight, his only shuttle flight, but he did fly a couple times and was commander on the International Space Station.

Did I get all that right? See not too bad, right? Let me start with you, Kay, over here, opportunity to be out here to watch this. I know we've been talking -- the outpouring of support has to be beyond what you folks probably expected. KAY P. HIRE, MISSION SPECIALIST: This is very exciting, because when the space shuttle was still flying, we didn't really have the opportunity to let the public come close.

But now that we're going to roll her to the California Science Center, the public can get up close and look at it. Hopefully, this will inspire the next generation of students to think really innovative thoughts and hopefully work really hard to make those dreams come true.

ZARRELLA: We were talking about the fact that it has been such an inspirational vehicle over the years, and now in retirement. Your thoughts on, you know, the next generation now, inspiring young people. That's what you guys are all about, right?

GREGORY JOHNSON, ENDEAVOUR PILOT: Well, you know, that's what Space Shuttle Endeavour is all about. She served 25 amazing missions. She's the newest of the fleet, and now her newest mission, her 26th mission, has inspired the next generation of space explorers.

ZARRELLA: Mike, I know you and I talked about the fact that it was your first shuttle flight, but what a spectacular vehicle, right? I mean, for my money, probably the most spectacular flying machine we will ever see in our lifetimes except for that helicopter that's going overhead and interrupting us.

E. MICHAEL FINCKE, SHUTTLE COMMANDER: Well, as a former Air Force flight test engineer, I know all about airplanes and spaceships, and I was truly inspired and impressed with Shuttle Endeavour. We had leg room. We had a fancy glass cockpit.

We really flew up to the space station, finished our job and all without any hiccups or floss. It's an incredible flying machine and it's a great inspiration that my colleagues are seeing for the future generations.

NASA and our country need more people to be thinking about science and math and the California Science Center along with Endeavour is going to help with that.

ZARRELLA: You know, I was going to say, if you had the pick out one thing, Kay, as to legacy of the space shuttle program -- and I know you guys have been asked this a bunch of time. But what do you think it is?

HIRE: Definitely, it's the construction of the International Space Station, and that is a tremendous accomplishment, and it took people from all over the world, all these different countries.

So many of the pieces and parts never checked on the ground, we had to put them together in space for the first time. And it's all working tremendously providing us a laboratory of space 24/7. Three crew members on there right now as we're talking.

ZARRELLA: Greg, same? JOHNSON: Yes, it took 36 shuttle flights to build the space station, 35 pressurized -- you know, 35 missions to get the pressurized sections up.

Then we took some other things attached to the outside and then we had one final space shuttle mission to outfit with supplies. The space shuttle has worked hard over the last 13 years or so to build the space station.

ZARRELLA: All right, so lastly, we just got a couple of minutes left. You still have to be -- you see it here, you see it sitting on a street in Los Angeles. They're supposed to be flying machines. Does it bother you that this is the end? They're gone. We're not going to fly these things anymore.

FINCKE: Actually, I'm excited. The space shuttle -- we said so many nice things about it, but it can only go 500, 600 miles up. But we want to go to the moon, we want to go beyond and that's 225,000 miles.

So we're building new spaceships now that not just go to lower orbit like we have with our new cargo ships, but we're going to go beyond that. We're going to go beyond lower earth orbit. We have a brilliant future heading that way and we need all the help we can get.

ZARRELLA: And that's young minds, right? You are going to need those young people to step up.

JOHNSON: That's absolutely right. From the aircraft fighter pilot world, the F-4 retired when it was still very capable. Now the F-15, it's probably going to retire soon.

And it's really capable, because the F-22 is coming around. Just like airplanes, we are retiring capable spaceships so we can build better spaceships for the future.

ZARRELLA: All right, Kay, you get last word then.

HIRE: Well, I'm just really excited to be able to share this great spacecraft with everyone, and again, it's a symbol of what we can do when we work together.

ZARRELLA: And I said last word, but I'm like that. I always end up stretching things. If you look at the vehicle behind you, though, in the future, the next generation vehicles, it's going to take people to the moon and beyond. But it's still sad to see them go, isn't it?

JOHNSON: It's bittersweet. It is. But, you know, in this limited fiscal environment, when we're working together with other countries and we're doing bigger and better things, we have to, you know, retire the older technologies and embrace the new ones and we're going there.

ZARRELLA: OK, any one of you have one favorite shuttle memory? Favorite shuttle story, memory that you can actually tell publicly? I knew that was going to -- I knew that was going to get them.

JOHNSON: Well, we both grew two inches taller. I didn't quite make it to six feet. I was 5'11" for two weeks, but then I came back down to 5'9".

ZARRELLA: I can't thank the three of you enough for spending time with us. Randi, they're going to be actually on the parade route walking with the shuttle the rest of this way or a good portion of the way over to the California Science Center. What a treat it's been to talk to the three of them here this morning -- Randi.

KAYE: Yes, no kidding. I feel like you've covered so many of these shuttle missions, John, that we need to get you one of those blue jump suits as well one of these days.

ZARRELLA: One of these days -- yes, she says I should have a blue jump suit. You got that right. Thanks, Randi.

KAYE: Thank you. And please thank them as well. That was good to have them on the program this morning.

And we, of course, are going to keep an eye on the shuttle throughout the coming hours. The box, by the way, on the right side of your screen will follow the shuttle's movements through Los Angeles.

Of course, when there are key moments, we'll go back to that live coverage. So be sure to stay with CNN all day. We are your source as the shuttle moves to the California Science Museum. Also by the way, there's a live stream on cnn.com/live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Welcome back. "CNN NEWSROOM" starts at the top of the hour. And Fred is here to tell us what she has coming up.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR, CNN'S "NEWSROOM": Hi, good to see you. Per usual, our legal guys are going to be with us. They're going to tackle this very fascinating case.

We're talking about a Chicago football player, a quarterback, who was going to school and had his brush with danger and his mother decides you know what the neighborhood is just too rough. I'm going to take him out of that school, out of that neighborhood, transfer him to another school.

And when he does so, the school district says, he can no longer play. He's ineligible to play, continue playing football for that school district. So now the mother is suing saying wait a minute, his final year, he's got to play because that, of course, will impact his potential scholarship.

KAYE: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Or, you know, college pursuits.

KAYE: Critical.

WHITFIELD: Yes, so family is suing the Chicago School District. We'll get into that case. And then you feel like you've gotten to know the candidates in terms of Romney and Obama, the issues they are tackling. Well, how about what really makes them tick? I talked to a "Reader's Digest" reporter who talked with them about everything from what is at the center of their universe, what keeps them going? What are their favorite words and how telling are these favorite words of all the words in the vocabulary.

KAYE: That's a pretty unique interview.

WHITFIELD: It really is very fascinating. She's going to join us about what we'll learn as she unveils the real Obama, the real Mitt Romney. And then Lance Armstrong, a lot of folks said they saw this coming.

Others are very disappointed to hear about new evidence that is being revealed in an Anti-Doping Agency's report. You've got former teammates who are saying we've been telling you all along, now a masseuse is even saying -- or at least revealing what she witnessed about his doping or his performance enhancement.

We're going to talk to John Mann, a big cyclist, talk to him about what next, especially as it pertains to his Olympic medals and as it pertains to his seven Tour De France titles.

What happens next to those if indeed the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, IOC, various cycling federations, do indeed strip him of all of these titles?

KAYE: He pretty much told the doping agency to put up or shut up and it sounds like --

WHITFIELD: Here's the challenge.

KAYE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: We have a lot straight ahead all day long. Of course, we're going to watch that shuttle creep its way toward California Science Museum as well. It's quite the sight.

KAYE: All right, Fred, we'll check back in with you in just a moment here.

WHITFIELD: OK.

KAYE: Well, she became the first female high school quarterback in Florida. Now she has a new honor to add to her list of accomplishments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Florida's first female quarterback to play high school football it turns out is also the homecoming queen. She traded in her helmet for a tiara. Our affiliate reporter, Lauren Pastrana from WFOR has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAUREN PASTRANA, WFOR REPORTER (voice-over): These two teammates are celebrating a big win, both on the field and off. Erin Dimeglio was crown homecoming queen at South Plantation High School Thursday night.

ERIN DIMEGLIO, CROWNED HOMECOMING QUEEN FOR 2012: I was surprised that I won because a lot of girls in the school know a lot of people.

PASTRANA: But the entire country knows Erin. She's drawn a lot of attention recently as the first female high school quarterback in Florida.

DIMEGLIO: A lot of people know me more now because I play football. It's exciting. I love being out on the field. It's really exciting.

PASTRANA: Erin's mom watched from the sidelines like she does at every game, even though her daughter didn't play, she says this one was extra special.

KATHLEEN DIMEGLIO, ERIN'S MOTHER: It doesn't get any better than that. I'm so proud of Erin for her determination and follow through on things. She wanted to do this and she did.

PASTRANA: Of course, every queen needs her king. It just so happens these two are teammates.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, Erin is known around the whole nation now. For me to be up here with her, it's an honor. Erin, she's not just a teammate, she's my friend in the classroom.

ERIN DIMEGLIO: We're all a big family. It's really cool.

PASTRANA: But after a few moments on her throne, it was back to business and though there is no room for a sceptre or sash on the field. The queen did have a message for her fellow students.

ERIN DIMEGLIO: Thank you. Thank you for your support.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: That is great. I love her in her tiara talking about football. That's cool.

WHITFIELD: I love those tom boys.

KAYE: All right, we'll hand it off to you. You have yourself a great afternoon.

WHITFIELD: You have a great afternoon, too. I know you're a tom boy, going to hit the tennis courts this afternoon.

KAYE: I'm going to take off my tiara and let's go play some tennis.

WHITFIELD: OK, very good.

KAYE: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.