American Morning
Fast Forward
The stories that will be making news later today:
The shooting rampage in southern Alabama. We're expecting more news conferences throughout the day. Here's what we've learned this morning. Police say the killer, Michael McLendon, took his own life after killing 10 people. Among the fatalities, his mother, his grandparents, and the wife and child of a sheriff's deputy.
It's all systems go for tonight's planned launch of the space shuttle "Discovery." It's set to lift-off at 9:20 eastern from the Kennedy Space Center. The "Discovery" astronauts will deliver a final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.
At 4 p-m eastern First Lady Michelle Obama joins Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department to celebrate International Women's Day. They'll present the third annual award for International Women of Courage to eight women from around the world.
Asian markets surged overnight. Japan's Nikkei index was up nearly five percent. There's hope for a two-day winning streak on the Dow after a 380-point jump monday.
What's On Tap – Wednesday March 11, 2009
Today on American Morning:
- Bernard Madoff will plead guilty later this week to 11 counts including money laundering, perjury and securities, mail and wire fraud.
- The stock market yo-yo, a mammoth budget, a bold agenda all have some Democrats worried about whether President Obama is taking on too much too soon. Jim Acosta reports on how some nervous Democrats may not be backing all their commander-in-chief’s policies.
- Ed Lavandera looks at a new breed of would-be refugees - business owners, law enforcement officers, journalists and other professionals - on the run from Mexico's vicious drug wars. Increasingly, they are seeking safe haven in the U.S. by filing for asylum.
- Another wrinkle in the Chris Brown story – he is up for two kids’ choice awards – would Nickleodeon pull him out of the running?
- Mexico, murders, weapons, drugs. What's the U.S. government doing to work with Mexican authorities so a solution is found? The violence is spreading out of Mexico to the U.S.
Prostitution on Craigslist?
It's a site millions use to look for a job, to get a new apartment, and a used sofa to fill it. But law enforcement officials say Craigslist is also one stop shopping for prostitution. A red light district for the new millennium.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart filed a lawsuit against the website – over its "erotic services" section. Craigslist's CEO, Jim Buckmaster, says the lawsuit "mystifies" him. Sheriff Dart joined us live to explain his position.
Church Shooting Hero
Today we're learning new details about the chilling murder of Pastor Fred Winters. A prosecutor says Terry Sedlacek marked Sunday in his planner as "Death Day" and was carrying enough ammo to kill 30 people.
Police are charging the 27-year-old with first degree murder. Two church-goers tackled the shooter, heroically stopping him before he could hurt anyone else. One of those men is Keith Melton – he joined us live to tell his story.
Kids Jailed For Cash?
14 year-old Eric Stefanski answered the door when our crew arrived at his Nanticoke, Pennsylvania home. He seemed like any other teenager – asking us about our trip from Manhattan and intrigued with all our equipment.
But until recently Eric was not living a normal teen experience. At the age of 12 he was hauled away to a juvenile detention center after he took his mother’s car for a joyride and crashed it. His mother Linda Donovan wanted to teach him a lesson and reported the incident to the police. She thought Eric would get probation. Instead, Linda was shocked when her son was sent away to juvenile detention.
U.S. Policy Worries Afghan Women
As President Obama sends signals that he's open to talking to the Taliban, one Afghan woman is in Washington this week warning that the hard won gains in women's rights in that nation are threatened by the reemergence of the country's former rulers. "It makes me scared and everybody has the fear that one day (the Taliban) will be back again," says Afghan women's rights advocate Suraya Pakzad.
Pakzad, a mother of six, founded a secret organization in 1988 to teach Afghan women how to read, and provide shelter from domestic violence. When the Taliban were driven from power her "Voice of Women Organization" emerged from secrecy to expand efforts to give women rights in the home, schools, the workplace and in the legislature. By one measure she has succeeded beyond her wildest dreams: the government says 2-million girls now attend school in Afghanistan.
About this Show
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.
On Twitter
