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CNN SUNDAY MORNING
Another Deadly Air Show Crash; Controversial Boxing Night; 12- Year-Old Raises Money for WWII Hero
Aired September 18, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good Sunday morning. Here we are another morning and we're talking about another deadly air show crash. This one happened in West Virginia. You'll remember it was just yesterday we were telling you about a deadly crash in Reno, Nevada. The details on this latest one in just a moment.
Also, it was supposed to be a mega main event last night, but it turned into a controversial night in boxing. An intentional head butt, an apology, and some say a sucker punch. We'll tell you about what happened last night in Mayweather versus Ortiz.
Also, take a look. You see that young man in the photo there. Twelve years old, getting to hang out with the likes of Tom Hanks. And for good reason. He was inspired by the HBO series "Band of Brothers" and decided he wanted to raise money for a World War II hero. You won't believe how much this 12-year-old has been able to collect.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Thank you for spending some time with us. And, as always, we like to say good morning to all of our service members who are watching us right now on the American Forces Network. Thank you for being here and thank you for what you do.
But here at the top of the hour, let's start with a new picture from that air race crash in Nevada. Could give some investigators new information about exactly what may have happened. You're seeing this? This is something, it appears, breaking off the tail of that plane that crashed. This was just after the plane veered out of control and crashed into the crowd. Federal investigators are checking this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ROSEKIND, NTSB INVESTIGATOR: A component has been recovered in the area where that was observed, but I think it's critical at this point to know that we have not identified the component. It will been examined. So we don't really know what the component is or if it even came from this particular aircraft. We are very clearly going to focus on that. And that's part of the factual information gathering that's going on right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, nine people died in that crash. Seven of those folks were on the tarmac, including pilot Jimmy Leeward. Two others died later at the hospital. Seventy people were injured. Several are still hospitalized this morning.
That Reno air race was part of an air show there. There have been 13 deaths at air shows in the U.S. this year. None in the two previous years. Air shows bring in around $110 million annually, according to the International Council of Air Shows. Twenty pilots have died since the Reno air races began nearly a half century ago, but this is the first time spectators were killed.
Also, we'll turn to West Virginia now. Take a look at this still photo. A fireball here. This is the result of a crash at an air show in Martinsburg. This is the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Air Show. The pilot was killed in this crash. He was flying a T-28 Trojan aircraft in an acrobatic demonstration. The T-28 was used for Air Force and Navy training in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. This crash happened out on the air field. This was away from the crowd. Our i-Reporter snapped these pictures for us. Still said it was pretty scary for everybody. The air show is cancelled for today.
Well, Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis is now scheduled to die in just three days. But tomorrow, his supporters will try to stop that execution when they go before the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. You may know this story by now. Davis was convicted of killing Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail back in 1989. But ever since his conviction in 1991, seven of the nine witnesses against him have since recanted their testimony. So say they were coerced by police into testifying. Among those who will be appearing before that parole board will be the senior pastor at Martin Luther King Jr.'s church in Atlanta.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. RAPHAEL WARNOCK, SR. PASTOR, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH: I'm saying that there's entirely too much doubt for an execution. The Parole Board will decide what it wants to do. But I will tell you this much. At each turn of this case, some sector of the Justice Department has pressed pause. This very Board of Pardons and Paroles stayed the execution a few years ago. I believe it was 2007. On another occasion it was the Supreme Court who said, too much doubt, let's pause. Then it was the eleventh circuit said, too much doubt, let's pause. Not one witness, not two, not three, not four --
HOLMES: But seven.
WARNOCK: But seven witnesses have recanted their story.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, someone who certainly doesn't want to hit pause again is the mother of that slain officer, Mark MacPhail. Got a chance to talk to her. Talk to her about what it's been like having to go through three previous times that Davis was scheduled to be executed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNELIESE MACPHAIL, MOTHER OF MARK MACPHAIL: It has been hell because I want like -- I would like to have some peace. I would like to have this situation over with. We are the victims. And those people that recanted, why did they wait 17 years before they recanted? They should have done it, if they felt that way, earlier, not when the final time is coming now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Again, the Board of Pardons and Parole will meet tomorrow to determine if that execution, which is set for Wednesday, should be stopped.
We turn to the president now and a new tax on millionaires. That is apparently one of the proposals we're going to hear from President Obama. "The New York Times" reporting that the president will ask Congress for a new minimum tax rate for anyone making over $1 million. The so-called Buffett Plan, it will be part of a greater effort to cut the deficit. A couple of weeks ago, billionaire Warren Buffett wrote an op-ed complaining that people like him weren't paying their fair share. He said basically the same thing last year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN BUFFETT, CHAIRMAN, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY: We're going to have to get more money from somebody. Now the question is, do we get more money from the person that's going to serve me lunch today or do we get it from me? I think we should get it from me. And I have a lower tax rate, counting payroll taxes, than anybody in my office, and I don't have a tax shelter. I just follow the -- I just take the form and fill out the numbers. And I think that's very wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: So, exactly how many people are we talking about here? There were fewer than 450,000 millionaires out of 144 million tax returns filed last year. The millionaire tax idea is likely to fall flat with Republicans. You'll be able to see the president's speech, though, live right here on CNN, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow.
Well, it's six minutes past the hour now.
The issue of Palestinian statehood could be front and center on the agenda at the United Nations General Assembly this week. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled, expected, to petition the U.N. for statehood status as early as tomorrow. It would go to the Security Council first where the United States has threatened to veto the move because of concerns it might derail the U.S.-backed Middle East peace process and the talks with Israel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON DAVID MILLER, WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER: Already diminished American credibility is going to be diminished further. There's no question about that. We are neither admired, feared, nor respected in this region.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: President Obama is scheduled to address the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday.
These are protesters you're seeing here. They say they're upset over Wall Street and the banking industry. They blocked streets in Manhattan yesterday. They were planning to converge on Wall Street in the iconic bull statue, but police blocked that off. The protests were planned through social networks. Police had read the posts and said they were prepared. They had set up designated protest areas, but demonstrators elsewhere. Organizers had hoped it would be like the demonstrations in Egypt and Libya, they say.
Well this other story we were telling you about yesterday, we can follow up now on. A fugitive soldier. He has now turned himself in to police in New York. That's 20-year-old Army Private Russell Marcum you're seeing there. He was on the run from police for three days after breaking out of Fort Drum. He was accused of burglary on the base. He now faces much more serious charges after allegedly stealing at least two cars and leading police on a high speed chase.
And the TSA has now come down on some folks in Honolulu, firing 28 employees at the airport. Apparently some of the screeners weren't properly checking bags before putting them on planes. It happened on several flights late last year. Besides these firings, the TSA also suspended 15 people.
Now, I would like to introduce you to someone. A dear old friend of mine that I hadn't seen in quite some time.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know. It's kind of strange, isn't it?
HOLMES: Reynolds Wolf. It's been a while.
Good to see you, buddy.
WOLF: Good to see you too, man. We've got some weird stuff to chat about this morning.
You know, we have temperatures across parts of the Northeast, shoot, across much of the country there below normal at this time. And as temperatures are a little bit cooler, we have things that are heating up. The possibility of storms, especially for parts of the central and southern Plains later on today. We're going to talk about that possibility in just a few moments. But now, let's pitch it right back to you, T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Reyni (ph), good to see you. We'll see you again here shortly.
WOLF: OK. You, too.
HOLMES: A lot of people predicted the outcome of the big Mayweather/Ortiz fight last night. Nobody predicted how it would end. A head butt and a sucker punch. And this thing is over in the fourth round. We'll explain. A controversial night in boxing. It's nine minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, 10 minutes past the hour.
And in this early football season, we have seen several games being delayed because of weather. It happened again last night. This is last night's game between Tulsa and Oklahoma State. Really didn't get going until this morning. The game was set to begin at 9:00 local time, but they had a three-hour delay. There were high winds and the threat of lightning, delayed that kickoff until after midnight. OSU went on to win that game 59-33. Again, that thing finished up, Reynolds, late or early, however you want to put it. But this was -- we had the same thing the last couple weeks in college football, rain or lightning delaying some games.
WOLF: Well, let's see, there was the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The guys still water playing at Tulsa. And Tulsa, what was the final store again?
HOLMES: 59-33.
WOLF: I'm sure Tulsa wished that kind of delay had gone on a lot longer. Maybe for a few weeks.
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE).
WOLF: That was kind of bad. And they're called the Hurricanes, too. Golden Hurricanes. Which Hurricanes are so prevalent in parts of the Central Plains.
All right. Let's show you what we have right now this morning. One of the big stories we have, of course, in parts of the Central Plains, not too far from Tulsa this morning, we've got a few thunderstorms that are popping up and, with that, the possibility of severe weather that will occur later on this afternoon. A very good chance of strong storms from Kansas City, south into Wichita and into Oklahoma City. Maybe even into Dallas. And, as you know, in Texas, they can use every bit of rainfall they could possibly get. So that's going to be a welcome sight.
Also, one thing we're going to be seeing today, temperatures that are going to be a bit on the cool side for much of the Northeast. Just bliss. If you love to have that nice crisp, fall weather, you're definitely going to get a dose of it in parts of New England, Vermont, New Hampshire, back into Boston. It's going to be lovely for you. Highs going up into the 60s for Boston, 65, 67 in New York. Back over to Kansas City, 70 degrees. But some stray showers and a few thunderstorms may cool down this temperature, especially into the afternoon hours. Chicago, 72 degrees the expected high. Seattle and Portland into the 60s, 71 in Los Angeles, 89 in Dallas, 81 in Atlanta. Just a beautiful day for much of Atlanta.
What we can expect also with this severe storm possibility in parts of the central and southern Plains, you're going to have some delays that are going to pop up. For the time being, nothing doing, but I'm telling you, especially by the late afternoon, you're going to see them back up in places like Oklahoma City, Will Rogers, back into a few places like Dallas, perhaps even Chicago before the day is out. So, just be patient. Things should look a little better by tomorrow.
All right, T.J., you're up to speed. Let's toss it right back to you.
HOLMES: Did you stay up for the fight?
WOLF: I did not. I did not stay up for the fight. I heard I missed quite an interesting show.
HOLMES: Interesting show. That's a good way to put it. You didn't miss a great fight, you missed an interesting show. And a lot of you all have heard -- if you're not boxing fans, you've been hearing about this big fight. Mayweather, who's really regarded as probably one of the two best fighters in the sport, fighting Ortiz last night. We got some pictures here we can show you.
But to set this up to you. Ortiz essentially -- it was the worst head butt I'd ever seen in all the years I've been watching boxing, all right. He lunges at Mayweather to give him a head butt. The referee splits them. But what you're seeing there, and you see this in boxing, the guys come together to say, sorry, touch gloves, a little moment of sportsmanship.
Well, while Ortiz was trying to hug him and apologize and handshake him, glove tap him, Mayweather just clocks him, lays him out, two punches, fight over, fourth round. Some people called it a sucker punch. Somebody called it bush (ph) league. Somebody just said it was not a sportsmanlike move for either of the two. But what Mayweather did was perfectly legal. The first thing they tell you in boxing, protect yourself at all times.
WOLF: Is this really a shock, though? I mean these guys are not, you know, the stay-puff marshmallow man. These guys are fighters. I mean these guys -- you know, you're kind of a hard-edge dude to be a boxer in the first place. So it's not out of the realm of comprehension to see something like this unfold.
HOLMES: You never see this, though, because often times guys, they just touch gloves in sportsmanship.
WOLF: Right.
HOLMES: They'll say hey, head butt, touch gloves. You just take a moment there for sportsmanship and say, OK, we're good. Let's go back to fighting.
WOLF: But this whole hugging thing. I mean --
HOLMES: Ortiz was trying to apologize. Oh, we actually have some video. A little video from the fight last night. Don't know if we'll actually have the moment. This might be the head butt. Now this was just blatant. All right. Well, I guess we don't have that moment. But this was the fight from last night. But it was a close fight probably on the cards. Mayweather was probably up a little bit, but still. And then after the fight, Mayweather turns on Larry Merchant in the ring, the commentator who's been doing this a long time, and just goes off on him, tells him he doesn't know what he's talking about. HBO needs to fire him. And Larry Merchant, to his credit, said, if I was 50 years younger, I would kick your blank.
WOLF: His blank, really?
HOLMES: Yes.
WOLF: Well, no one's going to blank kick. I mean because that happens, I mean, all kinds of crazy things go (INAUDIBLE).
HOLMES: But that was boxing. Wasn't a great night for boxing last night. It was unfortunate. And I stayed up and paid $60 for that.
WOLF: Which is unfortunate. That's also unfortunate.
HOLMES: Why are you laughing? My man Scott over here is laughing at me.
All right, 15 past the hour.
Also a big weekend in Atlanta --
WOLF: Yes.
HOLMES: Because of the return of Michael Vick.
WOLF: (INAUDIBLE).
HOLMES: Michael Vick. Not the first time he's been back to play in Atlanta, but this is the first time he's been back as a starter. Actually, of course, his Philadelphia Eagles are coming in. He is now -- he has gone through his redemption a lot of people will tell you. He is still working with the Humane Society. He has gotten a $100 million contract. He has now gotten some endorsement deals. So a lot of people saying he's on his way back and now he's coming back to Atlanta. Certainly expect to see a lot of those number seven jerseys out and about today.
All right, we'll be talking to Reynolds plenty throughout the morning.
Good to see you back, buddy.
WOLF: Good to be back. Good seeing you too, man.
HOLMES: All right. Well, coming up next, we're going to introduce you to one of our CNN heroes. What did this hero do to be recognized? Actually bringing the farm uptown. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Eighteen minutes past the hour now.
Fresh food for free. This week's CNN hero noticed a lack of healthy options in her east Harlem neighborhood. So she decided to bring the farm to the streets.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GINA KEATLEY: I grew up in a very low income area. I experienced a lot of poverty, homelessness as a child as well. But it taught me to redefine myself and not to let your past determine your future.
When I moved to New York for school, I was living in east Harlem and there's very few places to buy fruits and vegetables and healthy foods. It's the most diabetic and obese of all the neighborhoods in Manhattan. People were super malnourished. I saw the connection between poverty and obesity. And it just seemed unjust. And I had to do something about it.
My name is Gina Keatley and I'm giving nourishment to people who are literally dying for it.
Do you guys want some free collard greens? Come on over.
Change is possible. If you want somebody to try a tomato, you give them a tomato.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love raw cabbage.
KEATLEY: It's an inspiration. They have to feel it, touch it, taste it, because people will not change unless something in them changes.
We go places other people will no go. We're giving out produce. We're doing classes. You really can eat healthy on a low budget.
What are these?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grapes.
KEATLEY: Grapes.
What's this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chicken.
KEATLEY: Chicken.
We really want them to start early on so it can set a ripple effect for the rest of their life.
Say tortilla.
KIDS: Tortilla.
KEATLEY: Good. All right. But at the end of the day, the parents are the ones doing the shopping. So we have to win them over as well.
Thank you, guys. Thanks for coming.
When I see an in need child, it reminds me of the opportunities that I didn't have. And I want them to succeed (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Banana.
KEATLEY: It's about pulling yourself up. Never accepting no. And I can see it in people's faces. I think people are getting it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: On Thursday we'll unveil this year's top 10 heroes at cnn.com. You can log on, pick your favorite CNN hero of 2011.
Twenty minutes past the hour now.
People have been making stuff out of gold for thousands of years, but a Denmark company has come up with the ultimate accessory for the super rich. Cell phones made out of 18 karat gold. You're not going to believe where they're planning to sell them. Our "Morning Passport" is next. Stay with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, you didn't go anywhere, did you, folks? Look who's joining me in just 90 seconds. Come back on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty-four minutes past the hour now. If you speak Russian, maybe you can call in and help us interpret what we're seeing in this next piece of video. But we were talking about the Mayweather/Ortiz fight. Well, I don't even know if that was the biggest fight from last night. This is in Russia. We can show you this here. Now, this is all in Russian, but these are two business tycoons up on stage doing a forum. They were debating the economy. And apparently they don't agree on it. The guy there, the silver-haired guy, he took exception to something that the other guy, who is a real estate mogul, said. So he gets up, clocks him a couple of times. Now the guys who did the clocking, he's a former KGB agent. So maybe that explains why the other guy knew better than to retaliate. But this was on stage. We don't have to interpret no Russian to understand what blows mean.
We're at 25 minutes past the hour. Let's turn now, whoo, let's turn now, say good morning to our Nadia Bilchik.
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Well, you know, the only Russian I know is (SPEAKING RUSSIAN), which means "good day" or "hello."
HOLMES: That means good day. OK.
BILCHIK: Yes. And (SPEAKING RUSSIAN), which means "thank you."
HOLMES: OK, so you couldn't interpret that for us.
BILCHIK: No.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: But I could say (SPEAKING RUSSIAN). But interesting out there, so many very wealthy Russians.
HOLMES: Billionaires.
BILCHIK: Yes, that a Danish cell phone company has targeted them.
HOLMES: Uh-huh.
BILCHIK: And targeted them to sell them something very exclusive.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: And what it is, is a pure 18 karat gold cell phone. Take a look. This is a Danish company called Aesir. And it's called the AE&Y (ph) phone.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: It is pure gold. It is about $60,000. Now, it does not give you the Internet. It only has speed dial, a built in calculator, and a Bluetooth.
HOLMES: OK. But, again, these guys are billionaires. They run out of things to buy that are unique. They can buy anything they want to buy.
BILCHIK: They can buy anything they want to.
HOLMES: They need something unique.
BILCHIK: And something that is the status symbol. If you think we take utilitarian things like sunglasses, which are to protect the eyes and turn them into a fashion item, this is the ultimate fashion item, which is your pure gold, very sleek phone.
HOLMES: How much did you say that thing is?
BILCHIK: It's about $60,000. But you can get the stainless steel version for about $10,000.
HOLMES: You can?
BILCHIK: Now, there has been some criticism because it only has a five-hour battery life. Now, do you have an iPhone or do you have a Blackberry?
HOLMES: I do have an iPhone.
BILCHIK: An iPhone has about an 11-hour battery life.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: So this is not that good, five hours. But, you know, who cares, really. I suppose you're just taking it out for fashion anyway. And I do think the price of gold has increased so much, that the worse that happens is, you can always melt it down and turn it into something else, right?
HOLMES: What else are they -- these days is gold a hot thing now? I mean of course it's hot as far as the price of it --
BILCHIK: Absolutely.
HOLMES: But they're doing everything with gold these days.
BILCHIK: We spoke about that a while back.
HOLMES: Yes.
BILCHIK: We spoke about gold tattoos. Pure gold tattoos out of Dubai. Remember that one?
HOLMES: I do remember that story. I remember it well.
BILCHIK: And you weren't here when I brought you gold contact lenses with diamonds out of India.
HOLMES: OK, I missed that.
BILCHIK: See, there, the tattoos. That's the gold contact lenses. You did miss that. Where people are saying, we can use gold in all kinds of forms. That's the ultimate, isn't it?
HOLMES: OK, how expensive are the eye -- the contacts?
BILCHIK: The contact lenses are about $15,000.
HOLMES: Geez.
BILCHIK: Right. And the gold tattoos, as you know, but all different ways of showing gold.
But I did want to tell you that that's not the most expensive cell phone you can buy, because the 3GS iPhone Supreme is 22 karat gold and it has a diamond home button.
HOLMES: Who makes that?
BILCHIK: Well, that would be the iPhone parent (ph). It would be purely on demand, I'm going to assume.
HOLMES: On demand. OK.
BILCHIK: And that's about $3.2 million.
HOLMES: That's just silly. Has anyone bought one of those things that we know about?
BILCHIK: But they apparently have been ordered.
HOLMES: Stop (ph) this (ph).
BILCHIK: We'll have to find out. But, you know, think about it. When you have absolutely everything, imagine taking out of your purse a beautiful sleek gold phone.
HOLMES: It's a matter of principle.
Nadia Bilchik, good to see you. We'll see you again here in just a little bit.
We're getting close to the bottom of the hour now. As we know, covering the news can sometimes be dangerous work, certainly if you're trying to cover a war. CNN crew getting caught in the middle of a firefight in Libya. It's caught on tape. We'll have that for you. Stay with us on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes. We are at the bottom of the hour here now.
Some new information to pass on to you about that deadly air race crash in Reno, Nevada? Officials now saying nine people are dead. Seven of those killed on the tarmac when that plane came down in the crowd. Victims include the pilot. Several people remain hospitalized this morning. Meanwhile, investigators are taking a closer look at this picture on your screen. You see there. There appears to be some kind of problem with the tail, and they're focusing in on that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ROSEKIND, NTSB INVESTIGATOR: Today NTSB investigators spent the day documenting the wreckage site. They have identified and recovered portions of the accident aircraft tail. And as part of this process, the NTSB has been aided by a technical inspector with firsthand knowledge of these modified aircraft. He has facilitated access to some exemplar aircraft, which has really helped our investigators further understand the systems in these modified aircraft.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The NTSB admits that it could take months to figure out the cause of the crash.
Also, another crash at another air show, this one in West Virginia. Look at this picture, this fireball that was captured. This is at an air show in Martinsburg. This is the Thunder Over The Blue Ridge Air Show. The pilot the only one killed in this crash. He was flying a T-28 Trojan aircraft in an acrobatic demonstration. The T-28 was used for Air Force and Navy training in the '50s, '60s, and '70s.
This crash happened out, away from the crowd. This was out on the air field. So no one op the ground injured. The iReporter who snapped these pictures for us still said this is pretty scary stuff. The air show has been cancelled for today.
Other stories making headlines. Look for a showdown at the United Nations when the General Assembly meets this week. The issue, a permanent home for the Palestinians. Palestinian leaders plan to ask the U.N. to recognize an independent state of Palestine . The U.S. objects, may use its veto in the Security Council. The Obama administration says negotiation is the only path to statehood for Palestinians.
And the late Senator Ted Kennedy's only daughter, Kara, died of a heart attack Friday. She was 51 years old. You see her here accepting her ailing father's Presidential Medal of Freedom shortly before his death in 2009. According to the family, she collapsed after her daily workout. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003 but overcame that illness.
Freedom continues to be on hold for those two, the two American hikers in prison in Iran. Their attorney says he hopes Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal will be released soon. They've been in jail for more than two years, accused of spying, something they've always denied. Iranian law requires two judges to sign their release. So far only one has. And CNN has learned the other is actually on vacation until Tuesday.
Turn to Libya now. Moammar Gadhafi's forces are putting up a stiff fight to hold on to one of his few remaining strongholds. At least eight rebel soldiers were killed in the fighting. Much of it was house to house and intense. Sirte is the town. It is Gadhafi's birthplace and not even NATO bombing missions could soften the resistance there. At one point the CNN crew got caught in the middle of this fierce firefight. Here now, our Phil Black.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The battle to control Libya's last few remaining pro-Gadhafi strongholds is proceeding slowly with revolutionary forces making little progress.
(voice over): We were on patrol with a unit of revolutionary fighters as they entered the city of Sirte. Its mission was to find and help local civilians evacuate.
(EXPLOSIONS, GUNFIRE)
But they quickly and intensely came under fire from nearby buildings. Small arms fire followed by rocket propelled grenades.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go. BLACK: There were multiple casualties. We know that at least one paramedic working with the revolutionary fighters was killed when an RPG struck his ambulance. CNN Producer Ian Lee also suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg. He's doing OK.
This is only one incident, but it is indicative of the challenges that revolutionary fighters are facing as they move into these restricted urban environments. These are battlegrounds that they are not trained or equipped for. At this stage, they do not have the skills, their commanders admit, to steadily move through a city searching, clearing, and holding territory.
For these reasons the battles are taking much longer than expected. Commanders believe they do have superior numbers and superior fire power. So they expect they will win out in the end. The question is at what cost. Phil Black, CNN, Tripoli.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: It's 36 minutes past the hour now.
It is roughly the size of a school bus and weighs almost six tons. This NASA research satellite is about to fall out of the sky. In two minutes we'll tell you when space junk will be a part of the forecast. Stick with us on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) >
HOLMES: It is 38 minutes past the hour now. We're going to get a unique forecast. Reynolds Wolf is about to tell us about raining space junk?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely.
HOLMES: You essentially need to tell us when we need to duck?
WOLF: Yes, pretty much.
When you talk about raining space junk, when it comes to this kind of stuff an umbrella's not going to help you too much.
HOLMES: Not going to do it?
WOLF: This is a big thing. This weighs several tons. It's been floating up in space for quite awhile in orbit. Essentially, this is a satellite that was used to help monitor the atmosphere. To give an idea of are we possibly damaging the atmosphere or not? Perhaps, like climate change. Give us an idea on it.
The interesting thing about it is it's something that's supposed to help us learn ways to keep safe. Now as it falls back to the atmosphere it has the potential of causing us harm. It's called the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. It was launched back in September of '91. It became obsolete in December of 2005. Now they're saying 26 separate pieces of debris. The heaviest piece weighs around 300 pounds or so. Going to fall through the atmosphere. They have kind of an idea of where it's going to land. Somewhere along the 500-mile stretch between Northern Canada and the southern area of South America.
HOLMES: That's kind of vague there, Reynolds.
WOLF: Yes, it is.
HOLMES: A little vague.
WOLF: We're talking about an area that's going to stretch all the way down the continent. They say you have a better chance of actually winning the Georgia lottery than you do being hit by one of these things.
HOLMES: People win the lottery.
WOLF: Actually, you have a better chance of being hit by this than winning the lottery. So if you do get hit, I guess it is kind of like, yeah, I got hit by space debris.
HOLMES: It's not going to come down in one chunk. We are talking about a lot separate pieces.
WOLF: No, separate pieces.
HOLMES: Some of them could be good size, though.
WOLF: When you think of the space shuttle. When the space shuttle would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, it had the tiles in the bottom which were specially designed to re-enter the atmosphere where it got very, very warm when that happens. This will not have that same kind of protection, so to speak, when it goes through the friction of the atmosphere. So it will help cause this thing to break up. So not designed for reentry procedures. So we're hoping that much of this will break up, burn up, by the time it makes contact with the planet. It's going to be significantly smaller than 300 pounds.
HOLMES: Is it supposed to come down? Because we're told that so much space junk that just stays up there, in orbit, and just stays there.
WOLF: I'm going to give you my honest answer on that. I have no idea.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: OK.
WOLF: But I would think if you have-if you are going to be launching something up there. You've got all kinds of debris floating in orbit around the planet, in all different directions. Yes, you would hope that whoever is putting it up has an escape plan. Want to see the forecast?
HOLMES: We doing weather now? OK, go ahead.
(NATIONAL WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: Appreciate you, buddy. You'll be interested in this next bit of video we have here. They have tapped the kegs.
The first of the kegs at the world's largest beer festival, yep, Oktoberfest got under way in Munich, Germany. Thousands of people raising those glasses in observance of the annual folk festival. It's a two-week long beer party. This started back in 1810 with the Bavarian prince wanting to share his wedding celebration with everybody, with the subjects. And now it has turned into what we have today.
Also, an Oktoberfest celebration in the Philippines; this is on Friday night just outside the capital. This is shot by one of our iReporters. You can see what they made here. This is a pyramid of beer 30 feet tall. Plenty of stuff to drink. They also have drinking contests, including rock bands and fireworks. We'll call that our beer block from this morning.
WOLF: My goodness, from your lips to God's ears. That is just incredible. It the a celebration of beer and a beautiful thing.
HOLMES: Isn't that something?
WOLF: It is a good thing to see.
HOLMES: People have Oktoberfest celebrations all over the world. Nobody can do it like they do it in Germany.
WOLF: Well, you know there is that great expression, "Why can't Christmas be every day?" Every day should be a little bit like Christmas. Every day should be a little bit like Oktoberfest.
HOLMES: You heard it here first, folks. 42 minutes past the hour. We'll see Rennie plenty throughout the morning.
Coming up next, we'll talk to a young man who's on a mission to honor his heroes from World War II, but the kid is 12 years old. You won't believe what a simple wrist band is able to do. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: About a quarter of the top of the hour on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 12-year-old Jordan Brown is raising money for a memorial to his heroes, World War II heroes. One of them Major Dick Winters and the men who stormed the beaches on D-Day. Winters was one of the main characters in the popular HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers."
(BEGIN "BAND OF BROTHERS" VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Draw their fire to the right of the truck. Take two men and hit him from the left. OK, go.
Take Randy, envelope right, give covering fire.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ray, on the machine gun. Don't give away your position until you have to.
(END "BAND OF BROTHERS" VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now 12-year-old Jordan joins me this morning from Harrisburg.
Good morning to you, kind sir. We appreciate you being here.
You're 12. A lot of people would think your heroes are supposed to be basketball players, professional athletes, or actors, or whatever, something like that. How did it come that your heroes became World War II soldiers?
JORDAN BROWN, RAISING MONEY FOR WWII MEMORIAL: Well, it is sort of like World War II was the war that would declare whether we were to be ruled by other people, or we could actually be set free. And Major Dick Winters fought in all those big battles, like he jumped in on D- Day. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Market Garden. And well, it's just really amazing how he was able to do all that.
HOLMES: Did you get into it through the "Band of Brothers" series, or were you kind of a World War II buff, and student of that era before?
BROWN: It was mostly the "Band of Brothers". Because I started watching that with my dad one day and like we stumbled across one of the episodes, I can't remember. But like we really got into it, and then we bought the series.
HOLMES: Now, you started raising money -- and the number I have in front of me in a big one. Tell me how much money you have been able to raise as of this morning for this memorial.
BROWN: I've been able to raise $87,000.
HOLMES: Tell me how you have been able to do that.
BROWN: Well, I've marched in parades. I've sat at stands. I've given speeches to local clubs. And on June 6 we held a baseball game at the Lancaster Barnstormer Stadium. And we raised-with some of the actors and veterans there-and we raised a large amount of money there.
HOLMES: You're also selling these wristbands. Has that been able to contribute to how much money you've made as well?
BROWN: Oh, yeah. We've gotten a bunch of orders for the wristbands, and like people, like when we were sitting at our local fairs, like the York fair, people have been really generous and purchased some of our wristbands.
HOLMES: Explain the message that's on those wristbands. BROWN: The wristbands say "Hang Tough" on them because that's what Major Dick Winters would say to his men when they went into combat. And like they're olive green to match the World War II army uniforms, also.
HOLMES: Where is the money going? I know you're not necessarily -- it wasn't your idea for the memorial, but how did you decide that you wanted your money to go towards this memorial? I guess you could have picked some other things, other organizations for your money to go to. Why this memorial?
BROWN: Well, because Major Dick Winters is my hero, and the statue is going to look like him, and there's going to be a documentary about leadership, too.
HOLMES: All right. $87,000. Your goal is to raise how much?
BROWN: $100,000.
HOLMES: $100,000, well, you are well on your way. If people want to -- last thing here, if people do want to contribute or find out more about you and your cause, how can they do it?
BROWN: They can go to the website WorldWariifoundation.org. They can click the donate button.
HOLMES: Click the donate button. Jordan Brown, 12 years old. It's very cool to talk to you and hear a young man like you talk about your hero being someone from World War II. We really appreciate your time and your efforts. $87,000, it probably won't be long before you get that last $13,000. And who knows, beyond that as well.
Enjoy the rest of your day, Jordan. Good to see you.
BROWN: You, too. Thanks.
HOLMES: We're at about 10 minutes from the top of the hour now. We'll go from 12-year-old to a 10-year-old in just a moment. If your kids are sitting around the house right now, get them up and in front of the TV. There's something I want them to see and somebody I want to introduce them to.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
C.J. SENTER, THE WORKOUT KID: These are so good for you guys. Keep going.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That is the Workout Kid. If you're having a tough time getting your kid to put down that video game controller and move, well, maybe this young man
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: As we get close to the top of the hour, got somebody special I want to introduce you to this morning. You hear about the fight against childhood obesity, you usually hear adults talk about it. Look who is talking about it this morning. A young man, C.J. Senter, he is known as the Workout Kid. He actually has series of successful workout tapes.
You're 10 years old. What made you want to do an actual workout tape? Kids want to go outside and play and all that, but you thought it was important to do a workout tape. Why?
C.J. SENTER, THE WORKOUT KID: The reason I thought it was important is because I want to stay fit and healthy. And I want other kids to stay fit and healthy so I want to make a Workout Kid DVD, so kids can get healthy.
HOLMES: Do you see a lot of friends, people in school, and growing up, do you see them sitting around the house a lot not getting outside and getting active, eating bad food and quite frankly, getting big?
SENTER: I see a lot of kids doing that. That's why I wanted to make a Workout Kid DVD, so they can get on their feet and have fun.
HOLMES: What happened to kids just going outside and playing? Kids don't do that anymore?
SENTER: No, they just like stay in the house all day, play video games and watch TV.
HOLMES: That's a shame. A little bit about your background. You are a pretty good athlete. You are a football player. But to take this route, in football, you go through workouts, you're running all the time. But how has this added another element to your workout or even your conditioning for football?
SENTER: Well, I've tried to put time in that I have to do. I do my workouts, I go to football practice; it's kind of hard and easy at the same time.
HOLMES: How long have you been doing the workout tapes? How long have you been doing it?
SENTER: For like four or five months.
HOLMES: Four or five months.
This is new. This is your first workout tape. We have video of one of the workout tapes. I want people to see at least what we're talking about. There is one. You're putting kids through the workout. What age is this for? What age are the kids you making these for?
SENTER: For any age, for like five and 12 or, in the teens, or whatever, for a family.
HOLMES: OK, but is it for adults?
SENTER: Yes.
HOLMES: Adults can do it, too. Show me a couple of things. You got favorite moves you like to do. This is about to get serious here. Let's get serious, all right? All right, C.J. Don't embarrass me, man. I'm a grown man. You're 10 years old. All right. So show me a little something, one of your favorite moves here. What can we do?
SENTER: OK, the first move is called The Fighter. You put your hands in front of your face like a boxer, and punch left and right.
HOLMES: OK, that's easy enough, right? That's easy enough, OK. Give me another.
SENTER: The second move is called the Power Jack. You put your hands and feet together, do a little jump, put some bend to your knees, and bend your elbows and fist toward your chest, jump back up, and put it together.
HOLMES: OK. I'm with you. So far so good. What else you got? Give me something a little harder now. Not that hard, a little harder.
SENTER: Last move is The Shredder. The Shredder, this is three moves. Down, up, jump. Down, up, jump, then repeat.
HOLMES: Down, up, and then jump. All right I'm losing my microphone here. I'm working out so long hard. OK, I can handle that one.
All right. So for folks who are interested, the kids, what would be your message to them? Like I said, a lot of adults always talking about childhood obesity. But the message coming from a 10-year old, what is your message to them?
SENTER: My message to them would be, to go outside, exercise, and get fit.
HOLMES: And get fit. This is the Workout Kid, this is C.J., my man. Good to meet you.
With us on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Quick break, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Let's look "X Country", shall we? See what our affiliates are reporting on.
First, a new gold rush? That's what they're calling it. Only this time it is not California. It is in Liberty, Washington. And in a tough economy with gold nearly $2,000 an ounce, a lot of people are taking this up. Retirees, the unemployed, families looking for an adventure and an expensive one.
Veteran gold miners actually have a warning, though. Striking it rich is a long, long shot. Also in Los Angeles, the new Ronald Reagan centennial coin debuted. At yesterday's USC football game, the coin pays tribute to the 100th birthday of America's 40th president. Former NFL great Lynn Swann give it a first toss. Next weekend, though, all NFL teams and many colleges and 14,000 high school teams across the country will use that coin.
Also, this dog has expensive taste. That's jack, the Scottish terrier, pretty expensive taste. He is blamed now for eating $49,000 worth of checks, two inheritance checks. The owner says it took the bank actually a few weeks to make good on the checks that Jack actually ate.
(MUSIC)
HOLMES: We're at the top of the hour now on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Hello to you all.
And we are once again reporting on a deadly air show crash. This one happened in West Virginia, and it comes a day after that deadly air race crash in Nevada. An update on both of these in just a moment.
Also, last night, it was billed as the mega main event, but it turned out to be another huge controversial night in boxing. A head butt and what some are calling a sucker punch. The details straight ahead.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Seven a.m. here in Atlanta, 6:00 a.m. in Houston, 4:00 a.m. in Reno, wherever you maybe, glad you are right here.
Let's start with a picture from that air race crash in Nevada. This could give some investigators information they need about maybe what happened. This is it, the picture they're studying now.
You can see on the tail there. It looks like something is breaking off. This was just after the plane veered out of control and crashed into the crowd. Federal investigators are now checking this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ROSEKIND, NTSB INVESTIGATOR: A component has been recovered in the area where that was observed. I think it's critical at this point to know we have not identified the component. It will be examined. So, we don't really know what the component is or if it even came from this particular aircraft. We are very clearly going to focus on that, and that's part of the informational gathering that's going on right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Nine people died in the crash, seven of them were on the tarmac. That includes pilot Jimmy Leeward. Two other people died later at the hospital. Seventy people were injured. Several are still in the hospital this morning.
Let me turn now to West Virginia. Take a look at the screen. Take a look at this picture. This fireball was the result of a crash at an air show in Martinsburg.
This was the Thunder over the Blue Ridge air show. The pilot was killed in this crash. He was flying a T-28 Trojan aircraft in an acrobatic demonstration. The T-28 was used for Air Force and Navy training in the '50s, '60s, and '70s.
This crash happened out on the air field. This was not close to the crowd. But the iReporter who took these pictures for us said this was no doubt still a scary moment. This air show has been cancelled for today.
And it's a new tax on millionaires possibly. That's apparently one of the proposals we're going to hear from President Obama tomorrow. "New York Times" reporting that the president will ask Congress for a new minimum tax rate for anyone making over $1 million. He's been making appearances like this one in Ohio to try to tout this new jobs plan.
This new proposal is part of a White House effort to cut the deficit. You will be able to see the president's speech live right here on CNN. It's scheduled for 10:30 Eastern Time tomorrow.
And the issue of Palestinian statehood could be front and center on the agenda at the United Nations General Assembly this week. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to petition the U.N. for statehood status as early as tomorrow. It will go to the U.N. Security Council, and that is where the United States has threatened to veto the move because of concerns it would derail the U.S.-backed Middle East peace process and the talks with Israel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON DAVID MILLER, WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER: Already diminished American credibility is going to be diminished further. There's no question about that. We are neither admired, feared, nor respected in this region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinian plan to get in the U.N. won't work. He made the statement in a cabinet meeting this morning. Both Netanyahu and Abbas scheduled to speak to the general assembly on Friday. The president speaks at the U.N. on Wednesday.
By now, you may know the name, Troy Davis. He is a death row inmate who many people say is about to be executed but he's innocent. He's facing his execution on Wednesday for killing a police officer back in 1989. But several witnesses at his 1991 trial claim they were coerced by police.
Our David Mattingly has more on this high-profile case. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: T.J., it's a death row case going on in the state of Georgia now for more than 20 years. And supporters of death row inmate Troy Davis are now finding some high powered help.
(voice-over): Three times scheduled for execution, three times delayed. And now, with all legal appeals exhausted, supporters of convicted cop killer Troy Davis make a final push for clemency.
(on camera): What makes you think you still have a chance to stop this execution?
LAURA MOYE, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA: Can we be sure that this man is not innocent? Can we be sure that the conviction of Troy Davis back in 1991 is still reliable? And the thing that's so difficult to understand is why the legal process has not asked that question.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Davis was sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of Savannah, Georgia, Police Officer Mark MacPhail. Seven of nine eyewitnesses have since recanted, changed their stories. Some say they were originally pressured by police.
DARRELL COLLINS, WITNESS: And I told them over and over that this is -- I didn't see this happen. They put what they wanted to put in that statement.
MATTINGLY: Others have come forward implicating another man. One juror who convicted Davis questions her decision.
BRENDA FORREST, DAVIS JUROR: If I knew then what I know now, Troy Davis would not be on death row.
MATTINGLY: Critics of the case against Davis include 51 members of Congress, the Vatican, and former President Jimmy Carter.
JIMMY CARTER, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: We believe that in this particular case, there's enough evidence to the contrary to prevent this execution taking place.
MATTINGLY: An online petition supporting clemency for Davis exceeded 200,000 signatures in five days. But state and federal courts have all upheld Davis' conviction. The former D.A. who prosecuted Davis says the courts got it right.
SPENCER LAWTON, FORMER CHATHAM CO. GA., DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I'm just disappointed that so many people have been led to believe that nobody has paid attention to these recantations. It is, as I explained earlier, simply not the case. It's just not the case.
And on what ground are the recantations more believable than the testimony in court? None. None.
MATTINGLY (on camera): Supporters of Troy Davis delivered a massive petition containing over 600,000 names gathered from all over the world to members of the Georgia state pardons and parole board. Members of that board will literally decide if Davis lives or dies. That same board denied him clemency back in 2008.
But now, there are three new board members there that have not heard this case before. And supporters of Davis are hoping their votes will be what it takes to prevent Davis' execution -- T.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. I'm joined now by Ben Jealous, president of the NAACP.
Good to have you here. You are here because you have been a staunch supporter of Davis, and following this case.
What do you think the chances are three days away now in the parole board hearing tomorrow?
BEN JEALOUS, PRESIDENT, NAACP: It really comes down to what happens tomorrow. We're cautiously optimistic. You don't see the former director of the FBI come out and say there's too much doubt very often. You don't see that, you know, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter come forward.
When you have that kind of range between Bill Sessions and Jimmy Carter, Bob Barr and Jimmy Carter, then there's reason to hope.
HOLMES: That is one side of it. People here though -- you know, not everybody has read every bit of testimony. People have followed this in the news a little bit. But people aren't aware of every detail of the case.
So, they hear these names. These people are coming out. Maybe there's something going on.
On the other side of that, why is it he has gotten a lot of chances, a lot of appeals, a lot of stoppages of his executions. And each time he has lost in the legal system and it continues to move forward. Some people look at that and say, well, he keeps losing.
JEALOUS: Because they haven't engaged the facts. They haven't given him a new trial. These are appeals of different procedural aspect. They have weird standards that aren't the same standards at trial.
What we know is that the D.A. has said that, if he brought the case today, he couldn't seek the death penalty because there's not enough there. When seven out of nine people recant, when there's no physical evidence that links him to the case, then what you have today is absolutely insufficient, because again seven out of nine people lied 20 years ago.
HOLMES: Like that D.A. said, though, you're talking about, he says what makes their word better today than it was then.
JEALOUS: I'm talking about the D.A. now. HOLMES: The current D.A. Let's go back to the other D.A. He said those recantations you speak of, why is it that those are better than the testimony they gave in court?
JEALOUS: Because now they're saying I lied. Now they're saying the cops coerced me. Now they're saying I was afraid of the actual killer.
And the reality is, if their word mattered then, their word should matter now.
HOLMES: What are you hoping for? Do you think they should stop the execution now, or do you think he should actually be free?
JEALOUS: You know, I think right now we need to focus on what's in front of us. We need to stop the execution.
I do think that all killers need to be brought to justice. And the reality is that, if there's this much doubt, there's a good argument the case should be reopened. And they should actually start a search for the actual killer.
We now know that more people in Savannah are saying somebody else did the killing, and they point to the two folks who will not recant as the actual killer and then put Troy on death row. I mean, if I was the D.A. sitting there, I'd say, well, let's look back into this because, frankly, we're not safe until all the killers are actually off the street.
HOLMES: OK. But again, you said you want to focus on what we have ahead of us, but in your mind, do you think the killer of Officer Mark MacPhail is still roaming out there somewhere 20 years later.
JEALOUS: That's -- yes. I mean, you know, if you go through -- as I've done, if you go through this case and read all the testimony, you all read the folks that have come through since, yes, there's real reason to worry about them. What's important is the mind of the folks who sit down the board of pardons tomorrow. And my prayer is that they'll come to the same place the former head of the FBI has, that Bob Barr has, that the former number two in George W. Bush's DOLJ has, which is there's too much doubt to execute.
HOLMES: Last thing here -- that seems to be the understanding. But what are the options now? It seems that all the legal options have been exhausted? So, the parole board. But other than the parole board, who can step in and stop this execution?
JEALOUS: Frankly, the D.A. could, and the D.A. really should. I mean, if you know that you would not seek the death penalty today, then why do you sign the death warrant? That is the most sort of extreme option. He can actually go to the judge and could say, please vacate this death warrant. He can say let's reopen this case. But, really, you know, it's tomorrow.
HOLMES: Tomorrow's it.
JEALOUS: Yes.
HOLMES: All right. Ben Jealous, good to have you here with me. I know you have a lot planned for tomorrow. But we might get word about the fate of Troy Davis.
JEALOUS: Yes. And we definitely will by Tuesday.
HOLMES: All right. Ben Jealous, always good to see you. Thank you so much.
Twelve minutes past the hour. We were mentioning Mark MacPhail, the officer. Well, there's another side to this story.
You know, two families right now are still suffering. She -- the mother of Mark MacPhail, she lost a son 20 years ago. She's still in her mind waiting for justice. I got a chance to talk to his mother, Ann MacPhail. She says she is ready for this long ordeal to be over.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNELIESE MACPHAIL, OFFICER MACPHAIL'S MOTHER: It has been hell because I want like -- I would like to have some peace. I would like to have this situation over with. We are the victims.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: You will hear my interview. Much more from the mother of Officer Mark MacPhail when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Sixteen past the hour now.
Before the break, you heard me talking to the NAACP President Ben Jealous about the scheduled execution of Troy Davis set for Wednesday. He is convinced that Davis is innocent. Many others think he's innocent as well of killing Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail.
Mark MacPhail's mother is certainly not one of them. I want to bring you the other side of this story. I got a chance yesterday to speak to MacPhail's mother about Davis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Did you ever have any doubts?
MACPHAIL: Never. Not when I saw him and when I heard the facts, I never.
HOLMES: Why do you think so many people are coming out, I mean, including the former President Carter and the Pope and other people are saying that Troy Davis didn't do this? Why do you think they don't know what you say you know?
MACPHAIL: Because they do not know everything. They were not in the courtroom. A lot of lies have been said about the case. A lot of things have not come out in the public that came out at the trial. So this is why they believe. And a lot of people don't even know what it's all about.
HOLMES: Because so much attention has been paid to that side and saving Troy Davis' life and his four execution dates he has had now, this is the fourth. But what has it been like you the past 20 years waiting for justice, certainly, in your eyes and having to go through four execution dates yourself? What has it been like for you in the midst of losing your son?
MACPHAIL: It has -- it has been hell, because I want, like -- I would like to have some peace. I would like to have this situation over with. We are the victims.
And those people that recanted, why did they wait 17 years before they recanted? They should have done it if they felt that way earlier. Not when the final time has come now.
I do not believe that -- if they think they would have been coached, I think they coached by the wrong people.
HOLMES: Justice only comes for you --
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: -- justice and closure only comes for you when Troy Davis is finally executed?
MACPHAIL: I will never have closure because that can't be, but I may have some peace, which I hope for -- hope for. I certainly need it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Again, the execution of Troy Davis set for this Wednesday. But tomorrow, the parole board will take it up.
Nineteen past the hour. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty-two past the hour.
Say good morning once again to Reynolds Wolf. Reynolds, this is our first -- excuse me. Our last, not first -- this is our last weekend of summer, right?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Something like that.
HOLMES: Wow.
WOLF: For some people -- I mean, for me, summer's been over for a while. So long as those 90 degree temperatures, at least in our area, are kind of gone, summer to me in parts of the Southeast has been long gone. Talk to Texas, though. People there dealing with extreme heat. For them, it seems as though summer will never end. But they may get a cool down in Texas due to some of the rain. They might be moving through the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
As we speak, in Dallas, you are getting some scattered showers. But take a look at the stronger thunderstorms up in Kansas City, near Wichita, too. But the reason why we're seeing those is actually pretty simple. What we have this area of low pressure that's been tapping into some of the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, where it's been feeding into parts of the southern and Central Plains.
That's where you can see your best chance of showers and storms, and with that, that's going to be the spot where you see delays pop up today, for St. Louis, Kansas City, some thunderstorms, delays under an hour. Same deal for Dallas and Oklahoma City. Chicago, gusty winds. Also, the rain can keep you on the tarmac for a bit. And same story in Tampa and in Miami.
High temperatures across the nation. Let's go West, work our way back to the East. Seattle, 63; 76 in San Francisco; 70 in Kansas City; 88 for Dallas; 67 in New York; 81 in Atlanta; and 90 degrees in Miami.
All right. T.J., you're up to speed. Let's pitch it right back to you.
HOLMES: And let's tell the folks what happened last night. It was the mega main event. Floyd Mayweather, considered one of the best in the business, back in the ring after, what, a 16, 18-month layoff. The fight ended in the fourth round knockout, but that doesn't tell the whole story.
There he is going against Victor Ortiz. But what happened in the fourth round is that Ortiz did just a blatant, blatant head butt, just lunged towards Mayweather. Well, when the referee split them up, took a point away from Ortiz. Well, as they were trying to shake hands, or Ortiz was, and hug him, and, you know, show some sportsmanship and say I apologize, Mayweather just clocks him. A one-two punch, down goes Ortiz. Fight is over.
This was all together just an ugly, ugly night in a lot of ways. This was a fight that had been promoted and billed. And again, Mayweather is one of the highlights in boxing right now. Nobody wants to see the fight in this way.
The head butt was ugly. And then some people were calling it a sucker punch on behalf of Mayweather. But, still, he did not do anything that was against the rules. Rule number one in boxing: always protect yourself.
The referee says it when he gives instructions. If you go to take boxing lessons today, that's the first thing they're going to tell you, always protect yourself in the ring. And Ortiz didn't do that, and he paid for it. But still, just a strange night last night. WOLF: Maybe he got confuse for something. Maybe when you sneeze unexpectedly and your body just kind of -- maybe he sneezed. He sneezed by accident.
HOLMES: Benefit of the doubt, like how you think.
WOLF: I got to think like a boy scout.
HOLMES: Reynie, appreciate you as always.
We're 25 minutes past the hour. Quick break. We're coming back.
We're going to give you an update on the two Americans. We are still waiting for word if Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal are ever going to walk out of a Tehran prison.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: The stories making headlines.
You can expect a showdown at the United Nations when the general assembly meets this week. At issue: a permanent home for the Palestinians. Palestinian leaders plan to ask the U.N. to recognize an independent state of Palestine. The U.S. objects, may use its veto power in the Security Council. The Obama administration says negotiation is the only path to statehood for the Palestinians.
Senator Edward Kennedy's, the late senator's daughter, his only daughter, Kara, died of a heart attack on Friday. She is seen here accepting her father's presidential medal of freedom shortly before his death in 2009. According to the family, she collapsed after her daily workout. Kara Kennedy was 51 years old.
Also, freedom is on hold for the two American hikers in prison in Iran. Their attorney says he hopes Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal will be released soon. They've been in jail more than two years, accused of spying, something they've always denied. Iranian law requires two judges to sign their release. So far, only one has. And CNN has learned the other judge is actually on vacation until Tuesday.
I'll see back here at the top of the hour. Right now, time for the good doctor.
