don lemon reports live from centennial olympic park in downtown atlanta where a big health care town hall just wrapped up a short time ago. we're standing by to talk about what happened here and what people are wanting to hear from the president, who is going to be in grand junction, colorado, he's having a rare weekend town hall there. there's a look at the stage for you in grand junction where the president will be speaking in colorado again, rare saturday event that highlights the sense of urgency facing mr. obama and members of congress as they try to shift public opinion in favor of their vision for health care reform. there are town hals going on across the country today from the president's event in colorado to places like california, illinois, and as i said, right here in georgia. the president's event within minutes away so we'll bring that to you as soon as it gets started. i want to bring in alan hardage, the director of america's town hall and a virginia galloway, she's the interim state director for americans with prosperity. also with suss dr. ronny whitfield, a family

a nice area in georgia, blairsville, not downtown atlanta. it's rural, calm, quiet, it's beautiful. right there on the carolina border. joining me, along with natisha lance, wr at the command certainty, the very dear present of hers, sherry kimsey. did she take this walk often? >> she walked late in the afternoons, or in the evening, because it was cooler. i think that she had taken a fall earlier and had an injury, and was trying to walk off the soreness and pain. this happened a few weeks earlier. she was exercising, trying to get rid of the pain, i think. >> sherry kimsey, joining us at the command center. personal items were found. that's how police are marking the spot. what items did she take with her to go on a walk? >> i'm not slur about that. i've not been in contact with the authorities. i've stayed in contact with family and friends. i think she dropped a shoe during the struggle. and of course, the cell phone. i'm not sure. >> she had a foot or a leg injury? >> i'm not sure. she had taken a fall at her apartment. briefly told me about it. she was in pain. i think it was

the former olympian seen here was shot in the back and killed during a robbery attempt near downtown atlanta nine days ago. this is video from multiple cameras. police say it shows the suspected thief, see him there and the apparent robbery. the case was just featured on the television show america's most wanted. police say they hope new tips will lead them to for rest's killer. the boxer's former manager says seeing the video is bitter sweet. >> it was bitter, you know, to see, you know, my brother, my best friend, you know, having to chase somebody down. to get killed. but it was sweet to know that they are progressing. >> may have been involved. as investors lost countless fortunes over the past few months. many have also lost something a sense of trust bernie madoff. accused of ripping off their clients and now as a result, some investors are hiring private detectives to investigate the people handling their money. sandra smith from the fox business network is with us. you know, who can blame them? >> yeah, bernie madoff scared a lot of people, period. so what happens happening now is we

. >>> i'm don lemon in downtown atlanta where a bill health care town hall was held earlier today, and president was in grand junction, colorado at a town hall today. and our coverage now continues of this. the president of the united states has repeatedly said reforming the health care system must be part of the wider effort to get the federal deficit under control. today he took that argument just a step further. >> if we could just get health care inflation to match the inflation on food and other items, all of our deficit -- long-term deficit problems would be solved. just that alone, if we could just reduce the amount of health care inflation, our deficit problems would be solved. this is the most important thing we can do for deficit reduction. in the debate, you have heard a lot of people say we can't afford to do this because our deficit and debts are too high. the biggest driver of our deficits and debt is health care. >> we have heard many claims about what health care reform will mean for americans, including as you heard the president say, what it would do to the federal de

is billed as the largest health care townhall so far held here in centennial olympic park in downtown atlanta. you can see here, really hundred of people. maybe thousand. i'm not good at counting. take a look at the crowd and see all the folks who are showing up. dick armey, former majority leader is standing there talkingch altalk i ing. also other people going to the town halls, you have seen on television, youtube, what have you. voicing their concerns to congressmen and the president. they have been speaking here as well. lots of signs, freedom. not tyranny. there is a guy behind me wearing an nra hat. some one saying over here, no obama-care. joining me quickly here is the state secretary -- >> secretary of state. cary handle. >> i know your name. i forget your title. why are the folks out here? >> these are individuals speaking out about the health care plan moving through washington. people we want health care reform. we want a market-driven health care reform that protects the patient-doctor relationship. >> we will talk more with the secretary of state here on cnn. during my show com

one of the events here in georgia happening right now, downtown atlanta outside of cnn world headquarters at centennial olympic park where we find cnns don lemon. don. >> really right in our front yard, back yar, however you view the building where we are standing. yeah, right here. this one is billed as the largest townhall so far on health care. this one is called "america's health care townhall." and you can see the folks there. let's walk around and show you some of the folks. 1,000 people here. people streaming in and out. the crowd was a little larger earlier. up on the stage. dick armey, former house of representatives majority leader and a conservative radio talk show host. doctors, other people up on the stage there talking about -- their concerns about the plan. not many specifics about what they're concerned about. mostly talking what they disagree with. who they don't want involved in the plan. mostly they don't want involved in the plan, the president, speaker of the house and also the majority leader. but there are folks we have been seeing signs of, about, no obama care. no

looking over downtown atlanta. what a beautiful sight with all the lights. the sun will come up very shortly. it's august 9th. i'm betty nguyen. >> this time a month ago we saw a little bit of daylight. summer is almost over. i'm rob marciano in for t. j. holmes. overnight we learned a fourth body has been found one the hudson river after a tourist helicopter and small plane collided. >> i want you to take a look at this fire. it is inside a california prison where we're getting information about inmates rioting. >> plus the health care debate. >> i read the house health care plan and i found out much of what they are telling me is not true. >> members holding health care town hall meetings are getting an earful. let's start in new york. that tragedy over the hudson river and the search for victims. nine people are believed dead after tourist helicopter and a small plane collided. >> three bodies have been pulled from the water. a body of a fourth victim in the wreckage of that chopper has not yet been removed. the search for missing resumes this. >> reporte

look at the park in downtown atlanta. it us august 16, and we do appreciate you being with us this morning. good morning, everybody. >> mornings are supposed to bright and early, not dark and early. it's also 6:00 a.m. in florida where they may have a few troubles days. our reynolds wolf all over that. what we just witnessed here a few minutes ago. >> virginia senator jim web held a conference. really the headline is he secured the release of an american who was sentenced to seven years for violated municipal laws and other laws as he when to pro-democracy leader aung sung suu kyi's house. again, the american has been released and jim webb has secured his release. >>> the president's going to be waking up in phoenix this morning. good morning, mr. president. he's talking about health care reform on a bit of a family vacation. he was in colorado. had a visit in yellowstone with the family. we'll talk more about that and he's going to be pushing back home to d.c. >> a little bit of business and pleasure. >>> let's get to ou

all this takes place at the georgia world congress center in downtown atlanta. >>> one time hurricane now a considerably weaker tropical depression as it moves towards hawaii at 10 miles per hour. locally heavy rain and flooding could be in store later today. it's also quiet a boom to surfing. this storm has picked up huge waves and brings out the surfers. yesterday life guards logged 1500 encounters. they're called preventive actions. that includes directing surfers to the beach with less dangerous conditions. five rescuers were needed. >>> in the atlantic a new tropical depression is keeping steady with sustained winds. it is still several hundred miles from the cape verde islands and moving west. forecasters expect it to strengthen to a tropical storm in the next day or two. >>> hundreds of people may be buried alive after mud slides swallowed an entire town. more than 11 million people are affected in china. taiwan was also hit by mudslides and floods. one man says he may have lost his whole family in a landslide. >> translator: the mountain collapsed. we live on a lower level. th

we saw these pictures about an hour, hour and a half ago, not far from cnn center right here downtown atlanta. and, man, it doesn't look like the scene -- the crowd certainly isn't getting any smaller. homeowners, queued up, hoping for a chance to have their mortgages refinanced or maybe modified. they're working through a nonprofit group called the neighborhood assistance corporation of america. organizers are going from city to city on what they call the save the dream tour. major lenders are on site, and if you're interested in the program, just go to the neighborhood assistance corporation website, naca -- do we have it there on the bottom of the screen. naca.com. the save the dream tour heads west next to phoenix in early september. >>> $38.5 billion, that's how much u.s. banks are expected to make this year from the pesky overdraft fees. $38.5 billion, are you kidding me? that is a lot of money, stephanie. >> it's no joke. that's what they're on pace to make this year, tony. $38.5 billion in those fees. and that compares to 2000 when they made just about $20 billion. so, they're making

the robbery took place at a gas station in downtown atlanta, right near a parking lot.our suspects as it pulled off to the right of your screen right there, after they pulled off camera, they went and supposedly or allegedly targeted forrest for his rolex watch and championship ring. now, we will show you some video at an apartment complex, where police say these are the suspects that gunned him down. forrest, police say, went and armed himself and went to try to reclaim his property, and the second shot in this video is of forrest, police say, leaving the apartment and after which he was gunned down, shot in the back several times. as of now, as i said, his murder is still unsolved. he leaves behind a 12-year-old son. kyra? >> appreciate it so much. we'll stay on top of that story. >>> the surprisingly popular cash for clunkers program could be done for unless the senate acts quickly. cnnmoney.com's poppy harlow has more. >> reporter: senators meeting in less than an hour, huge topic on the table aside from health care, $2 billion in potential additional funding for ca

acworth, georgia, is about 40 minutes north of downtown atlanta.sidential neighborhood in this town of acworth. suburban atlanta. i'm not sure when this exactly happened. but you can see the helicopter right there on its side. obviously, pretty heavily damaged right now. in the bushes, not very far from the back of this home. the single family home in that development in that neighborhood. we understand that two people have been hurt in this crash. have been taken to an area hospital and no word on the cause and at least at no word of anyone on the ground being injured. we'll keep an eye on this story for you. >>> actions from the front lines of the war in afghanistan. u.s. marines mounting a helicopter assault to see the taliban held town of dahaneh. their operation beginning before dawn this morning and marines fighting their way into town while others battled militants in the surrounding mountains. the fighting lasted several hours and taliban militants striking back with strong arms fire as well as mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. militar

this is in grayson, georgia, about 30 miles northeast of downtown atlanta.can see it appears that a car is trapped under the bus. authorities say a person was trapped inside of the car. they're going to have to go to the hospital, take a look at them, see what kind of shape they're in. so far no reports on any injuries on the school bus in grayson, georgia, there. >>> the hurricane season got really, really busy. prop cal storm claudette slammed into the florida panhandle overnight. quickly it did lose steam. it caused some damage there. the storm came ashore near ft. walton beach. look at the storm kicking up some csurf there right about th time it was downgraded a tropical depression. hurricane bill and tropical depression ana. that is a lot. let's check with meteorologist bonnie schneider to show us where the storms are headed next. we've already gotten a pretty good chunk of the alphabet covered in a short period of time. >> within 33 hours three named storms, a, b, c. these storms continue to churn in the atlantic and across areas of the gulf coast. cla

monday morning i was with don holowell in the atlanta municipal courtrt getting kids t of jail for demonstrating downtownx months after i finished howard university law school, i was escorting charlayne through -- i was making $35 a week. i was wearing a summer suit in january but i wasn't cold. tavis: powerful story. >> this is from the eulogy of thurgood marshall at the national cathedral in 1993. picture if you will the inescapable power to have beacon light thur god marshall beamed into our crammed and restricted community. a community in which the law ordained that our parents be denied the right to vote. a community in which the law ordained segghation the courtroom and exclusion of our parents from the jury box. it was thurgood's mission to turn these laws against themselves. to cleanse our tattered constitution and our beconspire ched legal system of the fillth of racism and a legal system newly alive to the requirements of justice. by demonstrating that the law could be an instrument of liberation, he recruited a new generation of lawyers who had been brought up to think of the law as an instrum

cnn, atlanta. >>> well, atlanta mayor shirley franklin is aware of the drug trafficking in her city, but she is quick to point out that the majority of the crime is not downtown, but in the suburbs as brook baldwin pointed out. local law enforcement is working closely with the dea and officers agree that atlanta is the number one hub on the east coast. >>> health experts have been warning people about the yuch coming flu season, but they want to make sure you are getting the message. >> you are making people sick, capisce? >> you will want to see some of the groups vying for a big prize. ñññoññ ooñÑyÑq >>> hurricane bill lost some strength overnight, but waves from the storm are hammering beaches in the u.s. the impact bill could have on people living along the east coast. also, the lockerbie bomber is back in libya, and his victims' families are voicing outrage over the release, and u.s. and british leaders are showing disgust with the way he was welcomed home. >>> you don't want to miss this. separated when they were young children, a brother and his long lost sister are now back together. their emotional reunion. >>> welcome to hln on this satu

atlanta overnight. powerful bulls led up the downtown skyline, but no power outages or downed lines reported. >> most ofthe features are going to interact to make a very complicated picture. >> just a few clouds, temperature about 90. but you do notar fo s ndrafie find some rain now. 83 grees rightor n nep rted in frederick. we are keeping our eyes on a few showers. here's washington and winchester,ç a few showers and storms. they could pop up anywhere, few and far between overnight and in the overnight hours. -- overnight and in the early morning hours. this is our source of rain tomorrow. that is what we're going to keep an eye on a very strong cold front as more chance of showers and storms sunday night. that is when the beautiful weather is going to come through. then we have to factor in the east and southeast of the area. here is what we have seen through the afternoon from the arcane hunters. its structure is a little better the official forecast keeps it just under hurricane force. the outer banks were just placed under a tropical storm watch. it is possible that the next update tonight, if the

atlanta. that is downtown chicago. doesn't look a thing like atlanta. cloudy. today. >> that music and everything, like we're in a time warp. >> frank sinatra told me atlanta was his kind of town as well. makes sense. >> don't associate sinatra with atlanta but -- >> the dreaded effects of sleep deprivation. >> we need a red bull, stat! >>> rob marciano teasing congressman weaner because he was headed to bermuda. isn't hurricane bill headed to bermuda. >> maybe we should give him some equipment and he can broadcast live. >> he should be an ireporter. >> it would work. i love it. we had three storms happening. this is what happened with claudette. came across the florida panhandle, through southern parts of mississippi and alabama. flooding is the main issue. we do have a bit of beach erosion also. slight wind damage. rainfall was the big number. check out the numbers for storm toe al precipitation. florida -- 4 1/2 inch, 4 1/2. an 3 1/2 with . there's a good satellite signature. 110 miles to the east of the leeward islands but headed west-northwest at 17 miles

atlanta's mayor is shirley franken. she says she's aware that drug trafficking in the inner city, but like brooke pointed out, the majority of this crime isn't happening in downtownreater metro atlanta area. local law enforcement in atlanta working with the dea, but the officers all agree, atlanta is now the number one hub on the east coast for this kind of activity. >>> so, how do those drug cartels impact crime across the u.s.? josh levs looking in to that for the next hour in the "newsroom." and he'll also detail the key players in these cartels and the status of each of those. >>> we're also going to bring you the story of a very sick 12-year-old girl from california. state budget cuts threatening to take away her home health care. jessica's story, the struggle to survive california's financial crisis. >>> and collecting money owed? desperate debt collectors, posing as attorneys, even law enforcement officers. this is disturbing tactic of some collection agencies, and efforts to stop them. >>> all that ahead in our noon hour. ♪ need a lift? hey buddy, i appreciate the ride, you know. no problem. ♪ mind if i take a shortcut? yeah, sure. ♪ i knew the subaru leg

atlanta. >> and shirley franklin says she's aware of the drug trafficking in her city, though her office is quick to point out the majority of the crime isn't happening downtownhanks for being with us. here's what's on the agenda. the stories we'll be breaking down for you. >>> a new bomb shell from america's first homeland security secretary, suggesting the bush administration may have encouraged him to raise the terror alert level for political reasons. in just a moment, we'll take you live to washington. >>> plus, more than 100 people killed by bomb blasts in baghdad this week. and that has one rank in general at the pentagon saying clearly there was a lapse of security. so will the u.s. step back in to keep the peace in iraq? we're live from the pentagon just ahead. >>> you can expect a flurry of activity at car dealerships this weekend with the government putting the brakes on cash for clunkers. the popular program will end monday at 8:00 p.m. eastern, more than 1/2 million vehicles have been sold, generating about $2 billion in rebates. it's a big hit with customers, but dealers are mixed on it. >> it's worked. it has been a shot in the arm. business ha