Quick Guide & Transcript: State of the Union preview, Shipwreck cargo controversy

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(CNN Student News) -- January 23, 2007

Quick Guide

State of the Union - Get a sneak preview of what's likely on the agenda in tonight's State of the Union speech.

Fact Check - Take a look back at the history and highlights of former presidents' annual messages.

Ship Runs Aground - Debate whether it's all right to take home cargo from a recent shipwreck in England.

Transcript

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MONICA LLOYD, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Glad to have you along for this Tuesday edition of CNN Student News! I'm Monica Lloyd. The president delivers his the State of the Union address tonight, and we're going to take a look at what you can expect to hear from him in just a moment. But first, let's get you up to speed on today's headlines.

Iraqis are picking up the pieces at a Baghdad marketplace, one day after dual car bombs targeted civilians. This and another bombing attack north of the capital killed at least 100 people Monday, and left another 200 wounded. The U.S. military is sending about 3,200 soldiers to Baghdad to help Iraqi forces control the violence.

It's not a scene you'd expect in Tucson, Arizona-- not far from the U.S. border with Mexico! But seeing is believing for you and the locals, who got a rare chance to play in the snow yesterday. It's part of a major winter storm that got some students out of school. Even southern New Mexico became a winter wonderland.

From dropping temperatures to dropping gas prices: It's now a little cheaper to drive. That's thanks to a significant dip in the cost of fuel, per gallon. Two likely factors are a relatively warm winter in the east, which means less demand for heating fuel, plus higher-than-planned oil production. But one expert warns not to expect prices to keep falling like they have been.

Better stop off here if you want to fly to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean on spring break. A new rule went into effect today saying you'll need to have your passport with you to get back in the U.S. Congress set up the rule back in 2004, to help guard against terrorists. It only applies to air travelers for the time being.

The State of the Union

LLOYD: It's a tradition of keeping the lines of communication open between the government's executive and legislative branches... And it happens tonight. President Bush is scheduled to update Congress and the American people on the State of the Union. The annual speech gives him a chance to outline his plans for the year ahead. Kathleen Koch tells us what's likely to be included when the cameras go live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN REPORTER: President Bush returns here to the White House after spending the weekend at Camp David putting the finishing touches on his State of the Union address. It comes at a politically difficult time for President Bush with Democrats in charge of Congress for the first time in 12 years, his new Iraq strategy under the microscope and that criticism is only expected to intensify after this weekend being one of the deadliest for U.S. forces in Iraq since the war began.

White House officials say the president will talk broadly about the war on terror but he won't lay out point for point, as he did a couple of weeks ago, his new strategy in Iraq. On the domestic side, we're told the president will talk about energy, immigration, education policies. A shorter speech than normal, not many new initiatives; However, we are told the president will propose new health care tax deduction: 7,500 dollars for individuals, 15,000 dollars for families. The idea is to create and incentive for those without it to buy health care insurance. Kathleen Koch, CNN the White House.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Fact Check

LLOYD: Tonight's address will be the 218th State of the Union address in the nation's history. The way a president gets his message to Congress hasn't always been the same. For a look back, here's Don Lemon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, CNN REPORTER: George Washington delivered the first State of the Union speech in the nation's first capital -- New York -- in 1790. He was carrying out a constitutional mandate which states that the president "shall from time to time give the congress information of the state of the union..." The third president -- Thomas Jefferson -- felt appearing in person was too much like the British king appearing before Parliament. His lead of presenting a written statement was followed by every president for more than 100 years until Woodrow Wilson did it in person in 1913. Some speeches made history. In 1823, James Monroe announced what became know as the Monroe Doctrine -- European countries must stay out of the Western hemisphere. Abraham Lincoln -- in 1862 -- presaged his emancipation proclamation... Declaring, quote, "in giving freedom to the slaves we assure freedom to the free..." Calvin Coolidge delivered the first State of the Union address broadcast on the radio. But Franklin Roosevelt coined the phrase "State of the Union." And he announced the "four freedoms" in his 1941 address -- freedom of speech, of worship, freedom from want and from fear. Harry Truman delivered the first televised state of the union...Lyndon Johnson moved the speech to prime time in 1965. One of the most recent memorable phrases from a state of the union? President George W. Bush in 2002: The 'axis of evil.'

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Promo

LLOYD: Now you know a little more about the history of the State of the Union address and if you want to learn even more about it just head over to our web site. You'll find a printable 'extra' on the annual address, and teachers, we've put together not one, but two learning activities for your classroom. You can find it all at CNN.com/EDUCATION.

Spoken Word

SALVAGERS: I've got five car steering wheels here, I think that three of them are BMWs! I've got some shoes! No, it's perfectly legal. There's nothing they can do. "Sport of war" as they say.

Ship Runs Aground

LLOYD: Not everyone agrees with that. The British beach goers were talking about what washed up on shore after a cargo ship was run aground in the area. It had been damaged in some recent storms. And now, everything from motorcycles to tennis shoes is appearing on the beach. Helen Callaghan tells us why the phrase "finders-keepers," doesn't apply here. At least, legally.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HELEN CALLAGHAN, REPORTER: Not for the first time in its history, the Devon coastline is awash in cargo from a wrecked ship. Toys, boose, even motorbikes from the NSC Napoli are scattered along the shoreline. And on Branscombe Beach, word spreads fast.

BEACH SALVAGER: It cleans the beach up as well. It's free. A couple of people this morning have got brand new BMW motorbikes that are worth 15 grand each.

BEACH SALVAGER: I think there was a Land Rover found last night. There was a tractor down on the end down there. The tires are worth about a grand on them, something like that.

BEACH SALVAGER: Luckily I got the day on today, so I thought I'd come over here and see what's going on.

CALLAGHAN: Most think this is a free-for-all. But it's not. They should be reporting back to the Receiver of Wrecks.

SOPHIA EXELBY, RECEIVER OF WRECKS: It's effectively theft. If you're taking somebody else's property without asking their permission, that's theft in the same way it would be anywhere else in the country.

CALLAGHAN: Sailing out the Napoli, the 200 containers its already lost are floating everywhere. Boats are being warned to steer clear of this entire area and this is why. There is debris all over the sea. Here there are hundreds of barrels full of sherry but other containers are hazardous. Salvage teams are on board heating the remaining fuel, so it can be pumped out later. The vessel is just a mile off the coastline which has World Heritage status. The oil slick has been contained, but already more than 100 birds have been affected.

BEACH GOER: What a mess, honestly. I know our priorities are the birds, so...

CALLAGHAN: This is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. So the next 24 hour will be critical. Helen Callaghan, ITV News, Devon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Your Opinion

LLOYD: So, what do you think? Are folks entitled to take the motorcycles, steering wheels and other merchandise that washed onto the beach in England? Basically, are finders keepers? Voice your opinion by sending us an email. Just go to our Web site. CNN.com/Education and use the "contact us" button.

Shoutout

AZUZ: Time for the Shoutout! Which of the following is a continent as well as a country? You know what to do. Is it: A) Europe, B) Asia, C) Australia or D) Africa? You've got three seconds--GO! It's C -- Australia! And it's actually the smallest continent in the world. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!

Before We Go

LLOYD: Before we go, Australia probably didn't seem that small to Dave Cornthwaite. The 27-year-old graphic designer recently crossed the continent on a skateboard! It was a 3,500 mile trip during which Cornthwaite raised about $30,000 for charity. But he paid a price himself, in the form of 22 pounds and at least 10 blisters on his feet. How did he feel at the finish line?

DAVE CORNTHWAITE, SKATEBOARDING RECORD HOLDER: I'm exhausted. Oh my goodness. I think that was the hardest three kilometers of my life.

Goodbye

LLOYD: And we've crossed the finish line here on CNN Student News! I'm Monica Lloyd. We'll catch you tomorrow, same time, same place.

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