CNN Student News Transcript: June 2, 2008

(CNN Student News) -- June 2, 2008

Quick Guide

America Votes 2008 - Hear about a contested solution to a Democratic dispute over delegates.

2007-08 Your Top Stories - Review the race for the White House as one of the year's top stories.

Prince William's Navy Duty - Discover why a British Army officer is deploying with the Royal Navy.

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: Hi, everyone. I'm Monica Lloyd. Thanks for stopping in on this Monday, as we kick off our last week of shows before we head out for summer break.

First Up: America Votes 2008

LLOYD: First up: politics, and plenty of it! The weekend was packed with news from the presidential campaign trail. Voters took to the polls in Puerto Rico as primary season started winding down. But first, the Democratic Party had to make a decision about ballots that were cast months ago. Here's the deal: Back in January, Michigan and Florida held presidential primaries. But the Democratic Party didn't approve of when these contests were held, so they punished the states by taking away their delegates. With the party's nomination still undecided, these votes have become a big issue, and there was a meeting this weekend to figure out a solution. Paul Steinhauser tells us the outcome.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN REPORTER: From the protestors outside...

PROTESTORS: Count our votes, count our votes.

PROTESTORS: 50 states, not 48.

STEINHAUSER: ...To the testimony inside...

LAWMAKER: Your question is out of order.

STEINHAUSER: The Democratic Party's Rules and Bylaws Committee hearing was a spirited affair. Job number one: figure out what to do with Florida and Michigan, which broke party rules by moving up their primaries. The contests took place, but the candidates stayed away, and Barack Obama wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan. On the agenda: how to penalize the states yet still seat some of their delegates, and how to divide them between Obama and Hillary Clinton. The states made their case.

SEN. BILL NELSON, (D) FLORIDA: Almost two million Florida Democrats voted. These voters violated no rule, they committed no crime. They do not deserve punishment. They deserve to be heard.

SEN CARL LEVIN, (D) MICHIGAN: We've got no axe to grind for either of the candidates; that's not our point. We want the Michigan delegation seated in full.

STEINHAUSER: But after hours of public and private deliberations, the committee voted to seat both delegations with each delegate getting only half a vote. Clinton won both disputed primaries, but Saturday's decision only allows her to make a small dent in Obama's lead in the delegate count. Democrats know they need to solve this problem so they don't alienate voters in Michigan and Florida, two states they need to win in November to take back the White House. In Washington, Paul Steinhauser.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Is This Legit?

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is this Legit? Puerto Rico is a U.S. state. NOT LEGIT! Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, which means its residents cannot vote in the general U.S. presidential election.

America Votes 2008

LLOYD: But they can vote in presidential primaries. Those are run by the political parties, which allow the territories to take part. And yesterday, they did. CNN projected that Hillary Clinton came out ahead in the island's Democratic primary, but she's still trailing Barack Obama in the overall delegate count. The last two primaries are coming up later this week.

LLOYD: On the Republican side, presumptive nominee John McCain is out on the campaign trail. He wrapped up his party's nomination earlier this year, and he's looking toward the general election in November. This weekend, McCain announced that he's making some changes to his fundraising materials. They featured General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. McCain said it was wrong to use the general's image and it won't happen again.

LLOYD: And finally, the man who currently holds the title those candidates want. President George Bush gave a commencement speech this weekend at Furman University. He urged the graduating seniors to be responsible to their fellow citizens, their country, their families and themselves. And he pushed for them to take part in the upcoming election that will determine his successor.

2007-08 Your Top Stories

LLOYD: Most of the girls in Mr. Miller's 6th grade class feel that election is the most important news story of the year. How do we know? They told us on our blog! That's where we asked you to tell us your most memorable headlines of the school year. Carl Azuz wraps up the race, and tells us who agrees with Mr. Miller's female students.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: "The most memorable headline to me," writes Dakota on our blog, "is the three presidential election candidates agreeing about the mass genocide in Darfur." Memorable is right, because it's one of the few issues that Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama agree on.

Since last summer, Americans whittled their way down to three frontrunners from a very wide field of both Democrats and Republicans. It's easy to name the list of contentious issues that brought out so many candidates, but factor in a retiring president and a vice president who didn't want to run, and you've got a crowded field of White House hopefuls. By the end of March, though, 15 candidates had called it quits, and three emerged as party favorites.

For the Republicans: Arizona Senator John McCain. We call him the presumptive Republican nominee because he won't officially be nominated until the Republican National Convention in September. However, he has all the delegates he needs to win the nomination, so it's in the bag for McCain. The Democratic race: more complicated. There are two frontrunners here, and when this report was written, neither had enough delegates to clinch the nomination. Illinois Senator Barack Obama was leading New York Senator Hillary Clinton in the total delegate count. But just like the Republicans, the Democrats will name their official nominee at their party's convention; that happens in August. Carl Azuz, CNN Student News.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Blog Promo

LLOYD: We're going to be talking about more top stories throughout the week. But we aren't the ones picking these topics. You are, and you can still weigh in! Head to our blog at CNNStudentNews.com and shout out your thoughts on the most memorable headlines of the year. Then tune in to see if your suggestion makes the show.

Shoutout

AZUZ: Time for the Shoutout! What do the movies "King Kong," "The Fast and the Furious" and "Friday Night Lights" have in common? If you think you know it, shout it out! Were they: A) Nominated for an Academy Award, B) Distributed by Universal Pictures, C) Directed by someone named Peter or D) Less than 2 hours long? You've got three seconds -- GO! All three of these feature films were distributed by Universal Pictures, a company that's been making movies since the 1920s! That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!

Universal Studio Fire

LLOYD: Universal also made some famous horror movies, but this isn't one of them. It's a fire on the studio's backlot that broke out early yesterday morning. Firefighters got the blaze under control, but not before it destroyed several sets and a King Kong exhibit, and threatened the MTV Movie Awards. The show was scheduled to take place on the Universal lot yesterday evening.

Discovery Liftoff

LLOYD: Discovery is on its way to the international space station. The shuttle is carrying parts of a Japanese science laboratory, as well as a pair of robotic arms that will work outside the lab. Some other important cargo is on board: parts to fix the station's only toilet, which has been malfunctioning.

Prince William's Navy Duty

LLOYD: Let's move from the skies to the sea now, which is exactly what Britain's Prince William is doing. The 25-year-old recently wrapped up a tour with the Royal Air Force. Now, he's set to deploy with the Royal Navy. It's all part of the Army officer's training with all the branches of the military. Alphonso Van Marsh fills us in on William's newest assignment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN REPORTER: Prince William is spending his summer in a Royal Navy uniform and, most likely, military officials say, on a war ship in the Caribbean.

REAR ADMIRAL BOB COOLING, ROYAL NAVY: As the future head of the armed forces, when he becomes king, he needs to know his armed forces, instinctively be very familiar with them. And so he is doing this visit with the Royal Navy.

VAN MARSH: So, the future king will be "visiting" the HMS Iron Duke, provided he passes a basic sea safety course in June. Navy Commanders say Sub Leftenant Wales will go through two years of junior officer training in just two months.

COMMANDER SIMON HUNTINGTON, ROYAL NAVY: He will be spending time with each of our fighting arms. He will be flying in helicopters as they conduct training sorties that are designed to prepare them for operations. Then, he'll spend time at sea dived in a submarine coming to understand how submarines operate.

VAN MARSH: William won't be in a war zone like his brother Prince Harry was in Afghanistan. But Prince William's tour of duty won't be risk-free. HMS Iron Duke will be in the Caribbean at the height of hurricane season. The war ship also plays a support role in busting drug smugglers.

COOLING: He could be armed. He can certainly take part as a, be a part of the boarding party to search vessels for narcotics if there is a suspect vessel.

VAN MARSH: Earlier this year, the 25-year-old earned his Royal Air Force pilot's wings, pinned on by his father Prince Charles. William also serves with the British Army's Household Calvary. Like his previous military attachments, Prince William will not be expected to get any special attention from the Royal Navy. Military commanders says he'll eat the same food and sleep in the same bunks, even take on the same night shifts, as any other junior officer. Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, London.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Before We Go

LLOYD: Before we go, it's time to chow down on some hot dogs. No, not me or you; them! These munchers recently took part in Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating qualifying contest in Kansas. That's a mouthful to say and a mouthful to eat. Nationwide, competitors are scarfing down hot dogs and buns in order to qualify for the main event. The winner here, Erik "The Red" Denmark, with the red headband, downed 24 HDBs. He's now chewed his way into the annual competition in Coney Island on the fourth of July.

Goodbye

LLOYD: And with that, we're stuffed! So, we'll walk away from the table for today and see you again tomorrow. Have a great day. I'm Monica Lloyd.