Florida Millionaire Guilty of Murder; GOP Straw Poll
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A Florida millionaire has been found guilty today of the second-degree murder of his wife. Bob Ward had contended that his wife Diane was suicidal and was fatally shot as they struggled with a loaded gun. Jurors didn't buy it. The jury foreman announced the verdict a short time ago.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of second-degree murder as are alleged in -</s>WHITFIELD: Prosecutors say that there were too many inconsistencies in Ward's statements and in his behavior as witnessed in this jailhouse video right there. He is seen joking with his sister-in-law and daughter two years ago. Ward is 63. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years. Overseas in Perugia, Italy, prosecutors say the DNA evidence they used to convict American Amanda Knox of murder is rock solid. Knox is appealing a 26-year prison sentence for murdering a fellow student, Meredith Kercher. The defense contends that the police mishandled the DNA evidence. The appeals case is in its final stages. And in this country the FBI has shelled out more than $2 million for information that leads to the capture of James "Whitey" Bulger. He and his girlfriend were arrested this summer after alluding police for 16 years. The FBI says the reward money was paid to at least two tipsters. Bulger and alleged Boston mob boss is accused in 19 murders. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts. All right. Now that American hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer are out of prison in Iran, we're hearing their voices today for the first time.</s>JOSH FATTAL, FREED U.S. HIKER: We would like to thank Oman for welcoming us and hosting our families and I also would like to thank the American ambassador, Richard</s>WHITFIELD: Fattal and Bauer talked to reporters shortly before boarding an airplane in Oman. The destination, the United States of America. They have been in jail in Iran since 2009 charged and convicted of spying charges after crossing the Iranian border from Iraq. And live pictures right now of the U.S. capitol in the nation's capital. But Congress isn't working this weekend even though lawmakers only have one week left to pass a new spending bill. If a deal isn't reached by the end of the business day on Friday, some federal agencies will be forced to shut down. And after the GOP race for U.S. presidency in just over an hour they will be counting votes in a Florida straw poll. Michigan is holding a straw poll as well today. The outcome could be critical to candidates who have lagged behind. Our political reporter Peter Hamby is in Orlando, Florida, two big GOP straw polls in one day. Let's start with Florida. Who showed up?</s>PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Today the main top tier candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Perry went to Michigan for that other straw poll you referenced. The candidates are here today like you said are those lesser known folks. Herman Cain. Newt Gingrich. Jon Huntsman's family came on his behalf because they're kind of desperate for traction. Trying to, you know, these straw polls are good to kind of show that they are still in the race. I got to tell you Herman Cain's name has come up a lot here especially in the wake of Thursday night's presidential debate. A lot of people thought that Rick Perry stumbled and just talking to some of the activists that are at this event, they seem to think that, you know, in between, they're still deciding maybe between Romney and Perry that Herman Cain's name keeps coming up as somebody they think is offering common sense solutions is the phrase you keep hearing from them. Fred.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk about the straw poll that will take place in Michigan. How pivotal potentially is that one?</s>HAMBY: Right. As I said, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney are in Michigan up at Mackinac Island. It's a different kind of event. This event in Florida is about 3,500 Republican activists up there in Michigan. It's a lot more kind of party insiders from around the country. But I think that will be important to watch too. Because these are folks that pay really close attention to the race and they saw Rick Perry kind of on his heels the other night when he was asked about HPV, about illegal immigration, about social security and education policy and so seeing how he finishes in the strong poll could be a test of whether people are sold on Romney or starting to be sold on Perry or whether they are looking elsewhere. Fred.</s>WHITFIELD: Interesting stuff. All right. Peter Hamby, thank you so much. I know you will be keeping us posted as those straw poll results at least for Florida could come early this evening, right?</s>HAMBY: That's right. We should be hearing results actually within the next hour. They are already voting right now.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Excellent. Peter, thank you so much from Orlando. The United Nations Security Council has an unprecedented issue before it. Yesterday the president of the Palestinian Authority formally asked for U.N. recognition of an independent Palestinian state. That despite a pledge by the United States delegation to veto that request. And Israel's position that more peace talks are needed. In a gesture of optimism, the Palestinians brought with them from Ramala a chair colored U.N. blue with the word Palestine printed on it. Earlier I asked our senior state department producer Elisa Labott why Mahmoud Abbas would go ahead with this request knowing that it might fail.</s>ELISE LABOTT, CNN SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: The U.N. Security Council is meeting Monday and Palestinian officials do tell me that they expect a quick vote at the U.N. security council maybe not two weeks but in the near future and they think that they have enough votes - you need a nine-vote majority in the council to put it to a vote. We know the U.S. is going to veto but they say "U.S. vote be damned, we can't the council to make an action and then we'll decide on our next steps."</s>WHITFIELD: The United States officially supports statehood for the Palestinians but prefers it be created through the peace process and direct talks with Israel. All right. That satellite that we've been tracking will finally fall to earth overnight. Its re-entry was over the north Pacific Ocean. I-reporter Kris Rakoswki took this photo in Minnesota and thinks that this was a piece of the satellite crashing to earth. Photojournalist Johnny Garcia from CNN affiliate KSAT-12 in San Antonio, Texas, took this video thinking that that might be space junk as well. NASA says so far there are no reports of any injuries or property damage. Good news there. The agency also doesn't know exactly where any of the pieces may have landed. And of course, you don't want to go away because our Bonnie Schneider will be back. She's got more information on that space junk. And riot control troops out in force in tiny Bahrain. I'll tell you the reason for the massive security presence and why they also clashed with protesters today. Plus, no one can forget his role as Lieutenant Dan in "Forest Gump." But Gary Sinise does a whole lot of things. And among them he supports the U.S. military and takes his band all over the world with USO. His reflections on the 101st airborne straight ahead.