American Morning
Caterpillar calls for release of execs held hostage in France
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/31/art_cat.jpg caption= "Caterpillar's French staff say they are angry about a lack of negotiations over layoffs."]
From Producer Beth Rotatori and CNN Wire
Caterpillar officials are calling for the release of a group of company executives being held hostage at a plant in Grenoble, France, by hundreds of workers angry about proposed lay-offs.
“The actions that are taking place today, led by a small minority of individuals, are not helping as we work for a positive resolution of this situation,” Chris Schena, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for manufacturing operations in Europe, said in the statement released by the company Tuesday afternoon.
Caterpillar, a U.S.-based construction equipment company, would not provide the names or nationalities of the executives being held in Grenoble.
Jim Dugan, the company’s chief corporate spokesperson, told CNN that a “handful” of employees were being detained at the plant.
Police arrived at the scene two hours after the incident began on Tuesday but had not succeeded in getting the situation under control.
War on drugs is "absolute failure"
We've been along the border all week long bringing you a story that affects all of us: the battle to keep drugs out of this country and the undying addictions that keep ruthless drug cartels in business. Mexican authorities say they found a U.S. Marshal murdered, execution style, in the virtually lawless border town of Juarez. John Gibler, author of "Mexico Unconquered: Chronicles of Power and Revolt," joined us live.
What do you think? Can the U.S. win the war on drugs?
America's appetite for drugs
Mexico's army is pouring into towns struggling to stop drug cartels' bloody tactics.
Washington is pledging cash and manpower – but the violence is threatening to tear Mexico apart.
Former Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Robert Strang joined us live for reaction.
What do you think? Is America's appetite for drugs fueling the violence?
"If He Hits You Once, He Will Do It Again"
Chris Brown's arrest for allegedly beating his girlfriend Rihanna has sparked a nationwide conversation on domestic violence. In fact, Oprah Winfrey was so moved by the story she dedicated a whole hour to the subject on her show yesterday.
Oprah has not been shy about offering her advice to singer Rihanna, and women who are in abusive situations. "If you have been abused once, she says, it will not be the last time." Oprah devoted a whole hour to the subject on her show yesterday. We wanted to talk about it with a clinical psychologist. Dr. Jeff Gardere joined us live.
Madoff: Where's the Money?
CNN's Allan Chernoff reports.
Bernard Madoff is expected to plead guilty today to running the biggest investment fraud in history, which could send him to prison for the rest of his life.
He's charged with robbing investors of billions of dollars. For many of them - their entire life savings. But if Madoff thought pleading guilty would end the investigation... he thought wrong.
Right now federal investigators are ripping apart 25 years of fraud inside Madoff's firm to find out where all the money went.
Gunman's Killing Spree
Police have identified the gunman who they say went on a killing spree in southern Alabama yesterday. They say Michael McLendon murdered 10 people including his own mother, his grandparents, an aunt and uncle, along with a sheriff deputy's wife and child.
There are crime scenes spread out across two small Alabama towns this morning. Their mayors, Wynnton Melton of Geneva and Clay King of Samson joined us live.
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