American Morning
"The Christian story has lost its plot"
Rob Bell, author of 'Love Wins: A book about heaven, hell and the fate of every person who ever lived,' says heaven and hell are choices we make and live with right now. Bell sees no infinite torment for things people did in their lives. Bell argues that a loving God would not send people to a place of eternal suffering after death and death doesn't cut off the ability to repent. He believes anything that happens after death is speculation and that speculation turned into dogma. He points out that many on this planet may not even know the Holy Trinity but Jesus makes salvation possible even for people who never know his name. He speaks with CNN's American Morning on his views and the attention it has garnered.
Tracking a serial killer
New York (CNN) - High-resolution photos will soon be shot by aircraft of a Long Island, New York, beach area where the search for a missing woman has led to the remains of at least eight people.
Airplanes and helicopters will begin circling the barrier island beach later this week as federal, state and local search efforts continue, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer told reporters on Wednesday.
"The high-resolution technology should be able to provide a detailed representation of the area and will extend through Nassau County," Dormer said. "We're hoping the technology will help identify skeletal remains that may still be out there."
The aerial imagery will supplement police-dog search units, which expected to resume searching later this week. Meanwhile, diver teams are already scouring the waterways on the north side of the barrier island.
Eight different sets of confirmed human remains have been found in Suffolk County, Long Island, since December, in what police say could be the work of a serial killer or killers.
Additional remains - including a human skull - were uncovered Monday. Retired Nassau County, New York Police Officer and Director of Elite Intelligence and Protection Agency, Lou Palumbo speaks to CNN's American Morning about the case.
Journalist gets up-close to Fukushima nuclear plant
Voice of America correspondent Steve Herman, was the first of two American reporters to drive to the grounds of the crippled Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. He was turned away at the main gate. Japan declared the Fukushima Daiichi crisis a Level 7 event on the international system for rating nuclear accidents Tuesday, putting it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the former Soviet Union. The designation was based on the massive release of radioactivity since the accident began, particularly in its early days, and classifies Fukushima Daiichi a "major accident" requiring long-term countermeasures.
Officer who shot college student honored
(CNN) - An award given to an officer who fatally shot a Pace University football player last year is "obviously offensive," an attorney representing the youth's parents said Wednesday. "It's a disgrace," Michael Sussman told reporters. "What concerns me is it sends a message of blatant disregard." Officer Aaron Hess was named Officer of the Year by the Police Benevolent Association in Pleasantville, New York, last week, according to CNN affiliate WCVB. Hess shot Danroy "D.J." Henry, 20, of Easton, Massachusetts, early on October 17 outside a bar at a shopping center in Thornwood, New York. On February 14, a Westchester County, NY Grand Jury cleared two police officers of criminal responsibility in the death. On American Morning, Danroy and Angella Henry said they will accept nothing less than a murder indictment against the police officer implicated in the shooting death of their son in October. Do you think it's appropriate that the officer is being honored? Let us know here. Kiran and Christine will read your responses on air.
Obama's sister revists mother in new childrens book
President Barack Obama’s half sister Maya Soetoro-Ng presents her childrens book “Ladder to the Moon” on American Morning today. The book sprang from a wish that her own mother had lived to meet her granddaughter.
Soetoro-Ng describes the memories of her mother that inspired her book. “It’s so important to realize the value of the words of our elders,” she tells AM.
Hoyer, Cantor, Sessions outline hopes for Obama's debt-cutting plan
(CNN) - President Barack Obama enters politically tricky territory Wednesday when he outlines his plan for reducing long-term deficits and the national debt amid a climate of tense budget negotiations. Obama's speech at George Washington University will follow White House talks in the morning with congressional leaders who are staking out positions on upcoming issues, including approval of last week's budget deal for the rest of the current fiscal year, increasing the federal debt ceiling and crafting a budget for fiscal year 2012.
Ahead of today's speech, lawmakers from both sides weigh in on American Morning. Kiran Chetry and Christine Romans talk to Democratic Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer, Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee.
Watch all of the interviews below:
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Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
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