i got my cholesterol down. i lost five pounds. [ female announcer ] see for yourself, aetna.com aetna. know more. get better. this morning on "world news now" -- political fight. the president demands answers from republicans after a questionable moment during a gop debate. >> while the republican voters hope a front-runner emerges, who can stand out and beat president obama in next year's election? it is monday, october 3rd. good morning, everyone. i'm tanya rivero. >> i'm rob nelson. among the republican hopefuls, atlanta baseman, cain, won two more straw polls this weekend among those demanding answers

after texas governor rick perry's political embarrassment. at the same time new hints about new jersey governor chris christie, whether he does after all plan to jump in the fray. >> a lot going on with the gop these days. >> yes, the field taking shape. >> also this morning, judgment day for amanda knox, the american student who spent the last four years in an italian prison convicted of murder. today after a colossal fight for her freedom, judges finally deliver a verdict on her appeal. >> later this half-hour, a job for people who have absolutely no fear of heights whatsoever. going to hear from inspector whose climbed the washington monument to look for earthquake damage and see why this is no easy job. >> my goodness. definitely not the job for me. tell you that. >> i'll be right here on the ground. >> planted firmly. all right. the latest controversy involving the republican presidential candidates. this one involves a former front-runner. >> the race may be shaken more

if the new jersey governor decide to get in. with more, here is larry jacobs. >> reporter: herman cain, won two straw polls over the weekend. first the national federation of republican women's meeting in kansas city saturday. with 510 attendees, cain won with 48%. governor rick perry distant second at 14. then at a tea party meeting outside chicago, cain won the second straw poll of the day with 77% of the vote from 700 tea party supporters. >> it took a few passionate patriots to decide to start this nation and it will take a few passionate patriots to save this nation. sunday cain went after perry on national tv for not reaction and removing a racially offensive name on a rock outside a compound his family leased. perry says the sign was painted over in the 1980s. >> yes it was painted over.

how long ago? >> reporter: then there is new jersey governor chris christie, still a maybe. but he has the got to decide very soon. >> if he wants to come and play -- >> reporter: if he does he'll join the field part of a withering attack by president obama for collectively not defending a gay soldier booed at the last gop debate. >> do you plan to circumvent the progress made for gay and lesbian soldiers made in the military. >> you want to be commander-in-chief? you can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the united states, even when it's not politically convenient. >> larry jacobs, abc news. yeah, definitely an interesting point in the debate when no one said anything about that. >> a couple incidents. should we let a 30-year-old man die if he has no health insurance. all eyes on chris christie this week. whether he is going to get in. >> apparently his wife is, really, the link here. she wasn't convince add but a

run. she may be changing her mind. >> making out. that is a good sign. >> that's always good. they got to make up their minds soon. >> ticktock. other major story we are following this morning. the possible release of amanda knox from in italian jail. the seattle college student makes a final appeal before the verdict comes down. abc's josh elliott has the latest on this ongoing legal drama from perugia, italy. >> reporter: the decision to keep amanda knox in prison or set her free, will be made by these eight people, two judges, and six jurors. unlike in the american jury system, this group of five women and one man has been free to discuss the case amongst themselves and with the judges. >> jurors can read newspapers. they can watch tv. there is no sequestering of jurors in italy at all. they are as vulnerable as any member of the public to a lot of the hyperbole that appears in

italian newspapers and italian tv to this day. >> reporter: perhaps the strongest influence on the jurors, the judges themselves. italian judges help guide the jury in weighing evidence. which is why many believe knox's case, first needs to convince them. the lead judge in the case, 68-year-old, judge helman said to be respected and experienced. >> judge helman, really running this appeal is a very fair judge by and large. he is the one who allowed independent forensic specialists to look at the evidence. >> reporter: two important points again to make -- those two judges are with the six jurors throughout the deliberation process. and in fact, lead these deliberations. it is possible that in essence, a decision here has already been made. josh elliott, abc news, perugia, italy. be sure to stay with abc news as we cover late developments in the amanda knox case. we will take you back to the courtroom in italy on "america

this morning" and later on "good morning america." for more live reports and of course stay up to date any time, at abcnews.com. more ex-plea sich temr expl expected to day in the manslaughter trial of michael jackson's doctor. witnesses have taken the stand. the emergency room doctor who said jackson was clinically dead when he arrived at the hospital continues this morning. up next, phone company managers, setting the stage for people conrad murray called the day jackson died. sobering news this morning as the u.s. kills militant leaders overseas. a terror threat emerging in pakistan, from a brutal group that specializes in extortion, kidnapping, and murder and has ties to pakistan's spy agency. the latest on this from abc. >> reporter: deep in the pakistani tribal areas there is one law. the gun. this small area is controlled not by the pakistani government, but by militants, a network of

at least 5,000 called the hakkanis. the hakkanis used bombs, crimes, murder to become the region's most powerful terrorists. for two years, they have held u.s. soldier bo burkedahl, they ambush u.s. troops along the border and most audacious attack, they fired rockets into the u.s. military headquarters and the u.s. embassy in kabul. >> you have mortar fire! >> reporter: all the while supported by the very organizations that get billions of dollars of u.s. aid, pakistan's military and intelligence agency. >> the hakkani network for one acts as a veritable arm of pakistan's internal services intelligence agency. with isi support, hakkani operatives planned and conducted the truck bomb attack as well as assaults on our embassy.

>> reporter: they are wealthy, powerful and brutal. when they find cia spies they force them to confess on camera and then shoot them in the street. pakistan has worked with the hakkanis for decades but denies making deals with them to attack in afghanistan. >> as far as my troops are concerned, the men ununifoin uno not believe in agreements with terrorists. >> reporter: the leadership isn't based here in afghanistan, it's based in pakistan. until pakistan and the u.s. deal with the hakkanis the network will grow stronger and kill more u.s. troops. stocks overseas are taking a beating today over the financial crisis in greece. markets in japan and hong kong, both sharply loper after word this weekend from the greek financial minister. he said even with the country's austerity measures greece will fall short. if the bad financial news

makes you suck you are n s yos alone. severe problems can make people fizz uk ill. come of mrants about anxiety, hypertension and diabetes complications were also common. family and friends are mourning the shocking death of a high school cheerleader in los angeles. 16-year-old angela gettes, collapsed in front of thousands of people on the side line. medics briefly revived her. she died later of apparent cardiac arrest. crisis counselors will be at the school to help classmates cope with their loss. a disturbing medical headline out this morning involving children who had surgery early in life. mayo clinic researchers discovered children given general anesthesia during surgery age 2 or younger were much more prone to learning disabilities. 37% of the children studied who had multiple exposures to

anesthesia were more likely than other kids to develop a learning disability. doctors studied 5,000 children before announcing the findings today. and if you eat fatty foods in one european nation, get ready to pay more. denmark has imposed a fat tax. over the weekend. a hamburger will cost an extra 15 cents. package of butter gone up 40%. the tax aimed at foods rich in saturated fats so bad for you. lawmakers say they're the first country in the world to introduce such a tax. and there is the solution to the american recession. start taxing fatty foods in this obese nation. we would be good. >> might be on to something there. let's get congress on the phone. >> guys, do something. >> all right. a look at your weather. it is chilly, afternoon showers from new england down to washington d.c. 20 degrees warmer than normal in parts of the plains. thunderstorms from reno, tucson, to denver. rain in the pacific northwest and northern california.

>> 73, sacramento. 62,seattle. 81, colorado springs. dallas, 87. 79, omaha. 80, minneapolis. 59, new york. 73 in atlanta. it may seem luike yesterday that they cut class and stormed through chicago hot spots. >> who doesn't love this movie? >> it has been 25 years. >> say it isn't so. >> we are getting old, 25 years since the coming of age comedy hit the silver screen. to celebrate wrigley field hosted a screening under the stars over the weekend, cool scene, the event attracted thousands of fans to that ballpark. >> well during the screening apparently more than 900 viewers sang along as ferris lip sings danke shein. ♪ >> everyone loves that movie. >> anyone? anyone?

buehler. buehler. >> i love that movie. >> 25 years, man. fer tis firs ferris is old. we're all getting old. not too old to watch "world news now." we'll be back after this. now there's no need to hold back. new revolutionary scope dualblast obliterates strong food odors leaving your breath minty fresh. hey. [ male announcer ] so there's no trace of evidence... new scope dualblast.

have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then get lunesta for $0 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta.

our neighbors putting their lives on the line. and when they rely on a battery, there are firefighters everywhere who trust duracell. so, look for these special packs to see how you can help your local volunteers. duracell. trusted everywhere. ♪ i feel the earth move under my feet ♪ >> if the weather cooperates, a team of engineers will be back on the washington monument today. actually, gusty wind forced them to stop investigating earthquake damage on the landmark. >> reporter: more people have walked on the moon than the washington monument.

>> i am always hit with a sense of history. >> reporter: one of five members of an engineering team that has been rappelling down the 500-foot sides of the monument. >> to be here, and the experience of, looking at a bidding this historical, pretty amazing. >> reporter: armed with cameras and ipads they assess the damage from the earthquake in august that left some cracks and broken pieces of stone. >> start out with a visual assessment to see just what the conditions are, looking for cracks, looking for displacements, distress. and then, we are documenting that with digital photographs on the aye pads. >> reporter: the team uses soft cameras to test the stones and they collect any loose pieces. >> what we are doing there is sounding the stone to listen for any hollow areas which is indicative of a failed spot in the stone. >> reporter: being the center off tension dangling 50 stories high, they may have the coolest jobs in the world.

>> it hasn't hit us yet. i think after we are off the bidding and automobile to kible back and writing a report for this we will realize this was something pretty important. >> reporter: while it looks like fun it can be tiring. >> starting to drag a little bit. it is physically demanding. but there is also the sense of, what we are, do what bidding uie are on and all right but that goes along with that keeps you going. >> reporter: delayed by the weather, the outside work will continue a few more days. >> amazing they don't have robots. >> the wind got so tough over the weekend. this guy was blown 35 feet off the monument because of a wind gust. oh. see. >> my gosh. >> that would never happen. >> that is not the washington monument. don't know what that was. >> doesn't matter what that was. put that picture up. let me see that. >> looks like the grand canyon. >> something on there.

look closely, you can see a little bit of vomit. i would not be up there. >> you have to have great confidence those supports will not fail you. >> that's us leaving at abc building at 6:00 a.m. we'll be back, everybody. with the football pics.

monday morning. that means time for the week four nfl highlights. more popular than ever, football picks, competition, rob gets us going. >> before we get to highlights. first, very importantly. check out all right pink as the nfl started the nod to breast cancer awareness month very cool aged important they did that as well. good for them, guys. and now the highlights. vikings/kansas city. two teams had not won a game between them all year. matt cassel, and dwayne beau, in

the end zone. five field goals in this one the send the vikings down again. casey pulls this one out. 22-17. >> titans in cleveland with matt hasselbeck at the controls. threw three first half touchdowns as tennessee led 21-6. hasselbeck threw two passes in the second. and tennessee wins on the road. 31-13. >> giants behind most of the game in arizona, eli manning, threw two tds, in a minute. late in the quarter. and cardinals, g-men move into a tie. they lead by a score of 31-27. nice grab. >> finally jets/baltimore, for a primetime battle with the ravens. a history making game, first time ever the teams combined for five touchdowns on returns. baltimore more, returned two fumbles, two interceptions for touchdowns. and jets had a long kickoff return for a touchdown. wasn't close to being enough. the jets lose again. 34-17. >> sorry, jets' fans.

brings us to our "world news now" football picks competition. may i introduce myself as the the man in the lead. >> such a humble, guy, rob. >> expanding lead too, i went unblemished 4-0. >> for my part broke out of the pack. in sole possession of second place. not too shabby. on 10-6 overall. david myers, fireman bob had the same picks. still have 9-7 record. jack, well, only getting worse. he is at 7-9. >> resident sports guru, sad, jack, what's up? >> it's bad. bad news right now. >> it's tough. >> it's tough. speaking tough, how about performance of mark sanchez last night. jets' fans, look out. hang on. i hear jets nation in turmoil right now. this was a disaster the this guy was 11-35. threw for 119 yards last night. pa thik pathetic. >> what surprised you most this

season what team if you had to pick? >> right now, detroit. undefeated a month into the season. >> buffalo too looking good. >> buffalo, green bay, undefeated. all good. >> all good. >> week five. >> going to move up next week. >> hoping so. >> nowhere to go but up. we'll be right back. [ female announcer ] have you met your skin twin?

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are you ready for your check-up? i'm so ready. [ female announcer ] prepare to ace your check-up. fight plaque and gingivitis and invigorate your way to better dental check-ups. crest pro-health invigorating clean rinse. all right, everybody. now it is time for our morning papers. this is the story out of north jersey. it's sort uh interesting. police chief there, vincent caruso ordered an officer to give his wife a parking ticket. he notice aid car doubled parked outside an elementary school. went up to it. saw it was his wife's car the want to the traffic cop. give that lady a ticket. not the first time. two years ago, he did the same thing. who pays for the ticket. he does. apparently his wife did not want to comment. she is not into all the media

attention. something tells me their mare ing may be -- marriage may be in trouble. >> equal justice under the law. >> that's what he said. no special treatment. the poor lady, four kids under age 5. trying to drop them off at school. can't get a break even if your husband is a police chief. >> men, we kind of hate going shopping with you women, take forever, clothes, bags. we don't like all that stuff. so ikea in australia has come out with a brilliant idea. they have an area where you can take the kids in the store. now they have manland. husband the boyfriend. hate to go shopping. guess what they have? video games, pinball, flat screen tv's. guess what, free hot dogs as well. all the men folk can chill out while you women do the shopping you love to do. i like that idea. >> i may check that out myself. >> good, i like manland. >> this next story a little

disturbing out of astoria, queens, a couple living in a small one bedroom apartment taken to raising chickens in a one bedroom apartment. there see the happy chickens. they look clean in the picture. according to the gentleman. they poop everywhere. they get fresh eggs twice a week. they have the run of the apartment except for the bedroom and lay two eggs each week. they have a litter box of sand so they can give themselves cleansing dust baths. >> my apartment is full of chucken chuck -- chicken feces but i eat right. >> sustainable, food, you grow it, in your home, even a one bedroom apartment. >> very pool pictures out of albuquerque. stupid world record stories. this one was cool. 345 hot air balloons at the new mexico international balloon

fiesta, took place, october 1. takes place every october. a beautiful scene there. broke the record in 2000. trying to bara

this morning on "world news now" -- decision day. today is judgment for amanda knox, the american student fighting her murder conviction in italy. >> it has been an emotional ordeal for knox and her family that has lasted now four years. it's monday, october 3rd. good morning, everyone. i'm tanya rivero. >> i'm rob nelson. italy's justice system is much different than the legal process here in america. amanda knox, her lawyers, and her family have been through so much these last few years. her parents said just imagine

sitting in court every day as your daughter is tried for murder and not being able to understand a word that anyone is actually saying. >> huge toll on the family not just emotionally but financially as well. >> so many differences pointed out between their system and ours. complicated matters to the day is the day. >> also this morning you heard of road rage, but police in suburban denver are investigating a case of parking lot rage. the suspect is a cia contractor who has been to war and police say he has quite a temper. >> would imagine. >> yes. >> also this morning, happy birthday to a spicy treat, buffalo wings, served for the first time 47 years ago today. this tasty anniversary is our favorite story of the day. any time. >> do we get to eat? >> when we get to eat our favorite story of the day. >> first on a more serious note. crucial moments in the amanda knox appeal. the college student could go free today. >> knox is expected to make a final plea for innocence in an

italian courtroom. our reporter is following the case in perugia, italy. >> reporter: the moment amanda knox has been waiting for the chance to stand up in court and make a statement in italian, a final plea for freedom. in what is expected to be an emotional speech pro claiming her innocence, knox will express sorrow to the kercher family for losing their daughter meredith. >> what they have had to endure is -- ten times worse than what we have had to endure so far. >> reporter: the seattle student's defense lawyers will make a final rebut fal before the two judges and six jurors deliberate and decide her fate. >> these people hold her life in their hands. it is stressful and has bun for years. >> reporter: knox and then boyfriend, rafael sollecito were arrested. meredith's body was found throat slashed lying in a pool of blood in the house they shared. alleged murder weapon, kitchen

nich had meredith's dna evidence on the blade and amanda's on the handle. two independent forensic experts said the dna collection was shoddy and dna trace soes so sm it couldn't beep retested. last week they called amanda a sex loving she-devil and want her 26 year sentence increased. her defense attorneys fought back telling the jury she had been victim of a character assassination. she was innocent and had spent more than 1,000 days in jail for a crime she did not commit. after four years behind bars it has been an anxious wait for amanda knox and her family. but that wait is almost over. she will have one final chance to fight for her freedom in court on monday. truly extraordinary trial. stay with abc news as we cover late developments in the amanda knox case. we'll have more live reports later on "america this morning"

and on "good morning america" as this very dramatic day moves forward and the court system in italy. >> the second week of testimony gets under way in the manslaughter trif manslaughter trial of conrad murray, michael jackson's doctor. and will hear from at & t and sprint about cell phones calls, murray made the day jackson died. to the economy now. a rough start for markets overseas. asian stocks tumbled sharply in early trading. over fears about the dire financial situation in greece. the greek finance minister said yesterday the new austerity plan will not be enough to meet targets imposed by international lenders. here in new york the loosely organized group of protestors known as occupy wall street, says it is dig in for the long haul and their efforts may be paying off. a weekend march resulting in more than 700 arrests has now propelled protestors into the national spotlight. here is abc's t.j. winick.

>> reporter: they are hundreds strong. protestors calling themselves occupy wall street, came to speak for millions. >> it as it bout democracy. any body here has an opportunity to speak and be heard. >> reporter: their cause everything from global warming to gasoline prices to corporate greed. but all here are united by their anger over what they say is a broken system. that serves the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the rest. >> i don't care if you are rich, poor, black, white, where you live. protestors getting backing of prominent celebrities and powerful labor unions. sympathetic protestors popping up in cities, l.a., boston and washington. >> eight out of ten americans think the country is on the wrong track. they're expressing what people have been feeling for at least a decade. >> reporter: appropriate testers are getting the word out through social media and their own newspaper. the majority are under 30 but activists of every age. >> every demonstration has begun first with ignoring it and then

with sneering at it, and then with hating it and then finally, people get the message. >> reporter: the demonstrations have been mostly peaceful until 700 were arrested trying to talk over a lane of the brooke lij bridlij -- brooklyn bridge. >> reporter: while they may have a ways to go before obtaining tea party influence. occupy wall street hopes their message continues to gain momentum and will ultimately be heard in 2012 elections. >> they are really dig in their heels, a media center, library, clinic, kichten. they're staying. >> seems like a long term initiative down there. we have seen the protests in london. people are speculating is this america's version of that kind of uprising not to that level. the manifestation of the similar problems we are having here. >> seems like they will have to crystallize their message for people who understand. >> broad spectrum of things they're tackling. shifting gears now, the cia

contractor freed after killing two pakistani men in january is now at the center of a road rage incident back here at hope. raymond davis accused of beating up a colorado man over a parking space at a shopping center over the weekend. jeffrey may said he was going to get bagels when davis accused him of stealing the spot. the shouting match quick lly turned violent. i got hit. hit my back on the concrete. i don't know. i must have got up. looked, standing there, and got up to defend myself. and, started again. >> reporter: davis was charged with assault and disorderly conduct. pakistan released davis in march after the families of the two men he killed agreed to more than $2 million in blood money. davis insist heed shot them in self defense when they tried to rob him. >> speaking of road rage, seems to impact women drivers more than men according to an online poll in great britain. that unsigh ycientific survey s

women may stress more behind the wheel because they commute with the kids. let me tell you the kids can add the stress. survey of 1,000 british drivers shows men are more likely to be kinder to fellow drivers. if there are no kids involved. wait until the dads are take everyone to school. >> true. well, after 33 years and nearly 1,100 commentaries, andy rooney wrapped up his regular run on "60 minutes" at age 92 rooney wants you to know he is not retiring. cbs news says that rooney will make occasional appearances on the show because as he says once a writer always a writer. even after all this time, rooney insists he is still not comfortable with the limelight. >> i spent my first 50 years trying to become well known as a writer. and the next 30 trying to avoid being famous. i walked down the street now, or

go to a football game, and people shout, hey, andy. and i hate that. >> rooney added though he may not show it he actually does appreciate all the nice comments he hears. but as he sooned off he had one request, if you see him una restaurant here, said, please just let me eat my dinner. >> no, hey, andy. on the street. >> no hey andy, let him eat his pudding. >> hard to believe he doesn't like the fame. think he would have done something else if he didn't like it. we liked him. here is your monday forecast. chilly in the northeast. chance of afternoon showers from new england down to d.c. pop up showers in florida. thunderstorms in colorado, new mexico, arizona. a wet day along the pa sithe -- pacific coast. >> 83, salt lake city. still hot in phoenix at 99. dallas, 87. kansas city, 79. minneapolis, 80. 59, big apple. 54 in baltimore.

nice sounding 78 in new or leans. >> well, well, well, look what just magically agreed. on our desk. wish you could smell this. >> does smell good. you know what it means, food, it is our boom, favorite story of the day. >> take it away, rob. >> 47 years ago today the first ever platter of buffalo wings invented and served up. >> at the anchor bar in where else, buffalo, new york. so now you know. >> now we know. >> where everything comes from. >> wasn't jessica simpson on her show, cup years ago, nick gave her the buffalo wings. i don't like buffalo. not the animal buffalo. city these were found in, delicious wings. >> not little bits of buffalo. that might be interesting.alo i delicious. that's what i hear. people eat buffalo. this is not buffalo. very spicy. >> very good. the mom who founded these, took

chicken wings meant for broth, deep fried them, tossed them into cayenne sauce. very spicy. makes them so good. >> this recipe remains a mystery. >> secret to this day. doesn't matter what it is. still delicious. >> they're good. lots of hot sauce. >> that's what i am talking about. more "world news now" coming up. >> mm. you go next if you had a hoveround power chair? the statue of liberty? the grand canyon?

it's all possible ith a hoveround., tom: hi i'm tom kruse, inventor rand founder of hoveround., when we say you're free to see the world, we mean it. call today and get a free overound information kit, that includes a video and full color brochure. dennis celorie: "it's by far the best chair i've ever owned." terri: "last year, 9 out of 10 people got their hoveround for "little or no money." jim plunkitt: "no cost. absolutely no cost to me." breaking news...when you call today, we'll include a free hoveround collapsible grabber with the purchase of your power chair. it reaches, it grabs, it's collapsible and it's portable. it goes wherever you go. get it free while supplies last. call the number on your screen to get your free video, brochure and your free hoveround collapsible grabber. call the number on your screen.

have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur.

alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then get lunesta for $0 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta.

welcome back, everybody. well, o.j. simpson wakes up this morning in a prison in nevada. serving time after being convicted of robbery and kidnapping charges in 2008. >> it was 16 years ago today the more infamous case involving simpson came to a close captivating the country. he was found innocent of killing his former wife and her friend. we take a look back into the abc news vault from october 3, 1995. >> mr. cochran, mr. simpson would you stand and face the jury. >> reporter: more than a year after jury selection first began and after a night of incredible

suspense, the trial of o.j. simpson ended. >> we the jury in the above entitled action, find the defendant not guilty of the crime of murder a felony upon nicole brown simpson a human being as charged in count one of the information. >> reporter: then with the sobs of the goldman family in the background with fred goldman mouthing the word murderer the second not guilty verdict was read. >> we the jury in the above entitled indictment find the defendant not guilty. >> reporter: outside the courtroom there was cheering when the verdicts were read by many who had come as so often happens just to be there. then ito turned to simpson and set him free. >> the defendant having been acquitted, he is ordered

transported to an appropriate sheriffs facility and released forth with. >> reporter: o.j. simpson a freeman left the county jail he left behind at the courthouse his lawyers, his family and a message read by his eddest son, jason. >> my first obligation is to my young children who will be raised the way that nicole and i had always planned. my second obligation is to my family and to those friend who never wavered in their support. but when things have setted a ba -- settled, i will pursue as my primary goal in life, the killer or killers who slaughtered nicole and mr. goldman. then ron goldman's father who grieved publicly for a year. >> this prosecution team didn't lose today -- i deeply believe that this country lost today. justice was not served.

>> everyone remembers, one of those moments, where were you. i was in physics class in high school. teachers stopped the test put on the tv. >> evan remembers, if it doesn't fit you cannot acquit. so many -- >> you must acquit. >> if it doesn't fit you must acquit. >> piece of americana right there. more "world news now" coming up right after the break. martha

stewart made a name for herself. >> that is martha the business woman. what about the mom. a new book by her daughter does not paint a flattering pour rid as t.j. winick reports. >> her name conjures up the image of a domestic goddess. >> for ease of use.

for comfort they're a good thing. >> reporter: america's hostess with the mostest. >> this will be a hit in your home and mine. >> reporter: in reality, martha stewart was anything but the perfect homemaker. this according to a soon to be released book co-authored by her daughter and only child alexis. and she claims the family fridge growing up was practically empty. there was never anything to eat at my house. other people had food, i had no food. there were ingredients no prepared food of any kind. and the same martha stewart who can show you how to make holidays festive and fun. >> wouldn't you look to have a centerpiece on your thanksgiving table. >> could have apparently cared less about her family's merriment. she used to make wrap my own presents. she would hand me things, wrap these don't look inside. as for halloween there were no costumes there was no anything. we tornado off all the lights and pretended we weren't home. journalist erica souter has covered martha stewart for

years. >> no one thinks of martha stewart as a cute, cuddly grandma type. on the other end of that i don't think any one expected the stories to be so odd, bizarre and unusual. >> reporter: martha stewart's advice to her daughter on marriage and children, more bizarre and unusual. you have some one rich and ugly who takes care of you and have some one else who is hot and makes attractive babies. >> people are wondering if this is true. it verges on joan crawford, no more wire hangers territory. alex is a no holds barred kind of chick. i do believe every word in the book. >> if you think there are hard feelings between mother and daughter. guess again. the book is dedicated to martha, quoting her saying of alexis, tv and radio host phone for her style, she is her own person. she makes up her own mind. not content it appears to mind her own manners. tj wing, abc news, new york. >> hard to imagine some of the stuff doesn't upset martha they're still getting along.

>> i was shocked to know the book was dedicated to her. some of it seemed far-fetched. >> if it sells books. she is a business woman. >> family business is making the money, right. more "world news now" coming up right after this.

>> welcome back, everyone. finally this half-hour, in s insomniac theater. you would think it is impossible to laugh about cancer. that's just what 50/50 does. >> does it work. amanda van allen saw it this weekend and joins us with her verdict on this. welcome back. you kind of liked this, which is

sghood a good. >> i did luke this one the you have cancer, comedy hour, can the two go together. it did. seth rogan did an awesome, awesome job. and joseph, absolutely amazing. they found a way to go through all of the stages of cancer and you know kind of show from when he gets the cancer, to, you know, the overbearing mother, who tries to come to the apointments. they are best friend. actually a true story. seth rogan is best friend with the writer they had this whole experience where it was a true story. he was the first to have cancer. >> the writer was. >> his tribute to hip. absolutely amazing story. it was great. >> you see the down side. chemotherapy. >> you saw chemotherapy. some of his friends lose their lives. really, really sad at some parts. but absolutely hilarious. let's see what some movie goers have to say.

>> i felt like it was enough laughter didn't overshadow the fact the seriousness. >> it was still funny. i light. >> teaching me a lesson to me. how optimistic those people were. i was luike crying all the time. >> the was funny and emotional at the same time. >> the movie was good. i was afraid it was going to be too dramatic. >> was there a happy ending. >> do you want me to give it away? >> i won't give it away. >> it was a tear-jerker. >> i'm a strong woman. i didn't cry. there were some people that did shed tears. >> how did it affect the relationship with his girlfriend in the movie? >> pretty typical girlfriend/boyfriend relationship. somebody gets sick and maybe somebody does something a little bit wrong and maybe somebody cheats or maybe they don't. >> gave this stars?

>> four stars out of five. i am a very tough grader, but this movie was absolutely amazing. >> great. amazing. >> great. glad you enjoyed it too. [narrator] afwas injured in iraq his young wife f faced the daunting task of getting their v benefits. there's a lot of red tape, there's a lot of confusion. there's a lot forms to fill out. foyears,s, paralyzed veterans' trained experts have helped injured veterans and their families. we are able to fill out all of the forms and applications

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this morning on "world news now" -- emotional decision. today an italian appeals court will rule on the amanda knox murder conviction appeal. >> the american student caught up in the italian justice system and her controversial four-year legal struggle. it is monday, october 3rd. happy monday morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> i'm tanya rivero. a murder conviction and appeal based on dna evidence is difficult enough for an ordinary case, but this is the amanda knox case. and the american student has been stuck in the italian legal system. there has been a language

barrier and justice system so different than here in the u.s. >> imagine the emotion and tension surrounding her, court room, her family. just an extraordinary trial. four years of this ordeal. >> the strain of not knowing the language, the system. just incredible to imagine. >> we'll see how it plays out. >> also this morning, the giant snails invading backyards in miami. there is an all out hunt to stop the creatures from causing environmental harm. the big question is how did they get to florida from the their native africa? >> did they fly? >> did they, took a long trek didn't they? >> yeah. somebody brought those critters over. >> some snow bird snails. >> somebody has to fess to that one. later this half-hour what makes an ordinary hit into one of the catchiest songs of all times. some researchers have discovered a successful musical formula. you just have to hear it. >> so glad we picked "ymca" for that clip. awe thought's right. >> oh, yes. before all of that, though, this be the end of a very long

wait for the family of amanda knox. >> in italian jury is deciding the american college student's appeal on murder charges. abc's elizabeth vargas has been following the case and reports now from italy. >> reporter: perugia celebrated sunday rituals, amanda knox sat alone in her prison cell, joun jounlt -- on the outskirts of town, she is putting finishes touches on the impassioned plea she is expected to deliver before she learns her fate. >> it is trying to put into words how to plead for your life. it's a pretty tough thing to do. >> reporter: the decision is in the hand of this appeals court. the new judge ordered an independent review of the dna evidence so crucial in convicting knox, and the former boyfriend raffaele sollecito of murdering meredith kercher. the police collection of the bra clasp said to contain sollecito's dna was so sloppy it could have caused contamination. and that the knife that the

prosecution said was used to kill kercher contained too small of a dna sample to retest it. and should never have been introduced. >> do you feel like you got that point driven home? >> we have explained this to the court. and the court has to accept our view. >> reporter: knox's entire family will be in court not far from them, meredith kercher's family. their lawyer says meredith's mother will look the jury in the eye and wants knox to stay in prison. >> i have my hopes for my daughter. but unfortunately, they don't for theirs. and it's a tough one. >> reporter: she is gone forever. >> they don't have a chance with her. and we do with ours. >> reporter: there are three different scenarios the jury could uphold the conviction and sentence her to life behind bars as the prosecution has requested, it could uphold the conviction and release her on time served or could acquit her and set her free. elizabeth vargas, abc news, perugia, italy. >> stay with abc news as we cover late developments in the amanda knox case. we'll have more live reports later on "america this morning" and on "good morning america."

for updates any time, log on to abcnews.com. more testimony this morning from the emergency room doctor who said michael jackson had no pulse when he arrived at the hospital. dr. rochelle cooper is expected to tell the jury whether or not dr. conrad murray told her that she had administered propofol to jackson friday the paramedics said conrad murray failed to tell them about the drug and saw him putting vials into a black bag. to politics and the sharpest attack yet by president obama against his gop rivals. the president wanted to know why none of them responded when an american soldier was booed during a recent debate. here is abc's david kerley. >> reporter: the election may be a year away. but candidate obama went after every republican running for president. >> we don't believe in the kind of smallness that says it is okay for a stage full of political leaders, one of whom could end up being the president of the

united states, being silent when an american soldier is booed. we don't believe in that. >> reporter: that american soldier appeared on videotape at the most recent republican debate, an openly gay soldier, booed by some in the audience when he asked a question. >> do you intend to circumvent the progress made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military? >> reporter: not one of the candidates on the stage said anything about the booing. leaving them open to the s combative chiding from the president. at a human rights campaign dinner. >> you want to be commander-in-chief? you can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the united states even when it's not politically convenient. >> reporter: some republican candidates said after the debate they didn't hear the boos. others said they weren't given time to comment. on abc's "this week" herman cain was asked if he regrets not rebuking the boos during the debate? >> i did not have the luxury.

i was not in control not the moderator. >> in retrospect would you have done something? given the controversy it's touched up? >> in retrospect because of the controversy it created and because of the different interpretations that it could have had, yes, that would have been appropriate. >> reporter: we reached out to other republican campaigns. only michele bachmann responded. but she did not directly address the president's comments. david kerley, abc news, the white house. there was another big political controversy over, over the weekend apparently, rick perry in texas, family leased this camp for many, many years, apparently, the name of the camp included a racial slur, the n word more or less. now going back and forth over here with terms of the sign being painted over. >> the sign was painted over. no one can determine when. some say as recently as a few years ago. it was still visible. >> perry says they repainted over the sign with the word on it 30 years ago. we don't know which way it is. >> a hot point today, yes. >> rival candidate, herman cain

said the name of the hunting camp and the fact that perry had been going there for years shows a lack of sensitivity. he said that that particular word has no place in the modern world. earlier in the weekend, cain won a tea party straw poll in suburban chicago with 77% of the vote. congresswoman michele bachmann came in second. severe economic problems turns out can make people sick. the new finding from researchers at princeton. economists discovered emergency room visits and hospitalizations were up dramatically in areas hardest hit by foreclosure. researchers say suicide attempts increase nearly 39%. complaints about anxiety, hypertension and diabetes complications were common. wildlife experts in south florida are now scrambling to stop thousands of destructive snails in their tracks. the population of giant african land snails is exploded over the past month. dozens of snail hunters are hot on their trail.

we have more now from wplg's jeff winesinger. >> reporter: the florida department of agriculture has a crew of 70 people in south florida snail hunting. and we're not just talking any snail. these are giant, african land snails. they can produce 1,200 eggs a year. the commissioner of agriculture summing them up this way. >> this snail is one bad dude. >> reporter: they were spotted in miami last september. and there is a good reason the state will now spend millions to eradicate them. >> we're working diligently to keep this outbreak from spreading and impacting our everglades and natural areas. it impacts our agricultural commodities, feeds on 500 different plants. it affects human health. it is a known carrier of meningitis. >> reporter: the last reported outbreak was in miami back in 1966. back then, 18,000 snails were found. it cost $1 million. and 10 years to get rid of them. the experts here don't know why they've reappeared.

>> they are used in some religious rites, illegally, but they are used. and -- we believe that may be contributing to the spread, the movement of the snails from one place to another. >> what a good looking creature. >> these things are illegal to bring into the country without a permit. officials say no permits issued. for the snail. >> they eat 500 different types of plants can cause structural damage, and worse yet can carry a parasite that can lead to meningitis. so they can be really unhealthy. so -- >> stay away. good luck down there in florida. >> all right. in other news, hurricane ophelia is whipping up to 80-mile-an-hour winds, hitting newfoundland this morning, dumping up to 3 inches of rain on the canadian coast. ophelia is losing strength. tropical storm felipe causes no risk to coastline. >> with that a look at your monday forecast. showers out west from seattle to

reading, california. also thunderstorms in the rockies. warm in the middle of the country. climbing to the 80s. twin cities, dallas, cooling down though with scattered afternoon showers from d.c. to portland, maine. 67, boston. 73, atlanta. 86, miami. 65, detroit. 70, chicago. 80s in fargo, billings. 62, seattle. 79, albuquerque. if you are watching nfl games yesterday, like who doesn't watch football? you may have been -- >> i don't know. >> if you were watching, maybe see a little pink out there. >> pink towels, gloves, even shoes on display at stadiums across the country. the start of the league's annual campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer. >> practically everywhere you look you saw pink from referees, and coaches outfits to hints of pink even on actual field itself. the campaign will continue throughout october, which is breast cancer awareness month. >> i see pink shoes down there. check it out. >> very cool. the guys, put a little pink on for a great cause.

>> big burly guy in pink a good thing. >> you like that. >> i think it is an excellent thing. >> i like it better when my saints win. who was it yesterday? why am i blanking out? jacksonville. jacksonville. >> you are the football fan. >> why did i turn to you? >> good day for football and good for those guys. very cool. >> that's right. we will be right back with more "world news now." ♪ " ♪ ♪ it works in six different ways to restore enamel... strengthen teeth... freshen breath... help prevent cavities... and kill bad breath germs for a whole mouth clean. so go beyond the brush with listerine® total care, the most complete mouthwash.

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welcome back, everybody. now an extraordinary story about

a woman who was born deaf. she used to get by reading people's lips. >> two months ago she received special implants and now she hears everything. abc's david muir shows us what was like when she heard her own voice for the first time. >> reporter: the video has gone viral, the 29-year-old mother of two, born deaf, wearing hearing aids since she was a baby never able to hear clearly. here sitting at the envoy medical center in houston after an implant in the middle ear. they turned the device on. >> it's beeping. >> technically your device is on. can you tell? it's exciting. >> reporter: she holds her hands to her face in disbelief. >> you can put it down for a second. just get used to the sound. what does it sound like? >> i don't want to hear myself cry. >> reporter: hearing herself cry. hearing the nurse too. >> can you hear me?

can you hear your voice? >> my laughter sound loud. >> reporter: she has written about her laughter, since, logging i just started crying, then crying more because i could hear myself crying, then laughing then freaking out over my laugh. about her husband, rare appreciation, when it comes to his snoring. i am thinking i will leave the device on and listen to him snore. i have to be the only wife that is looking for wrd to that. david muir, abc news, new york. >> how touching is that. 29 years old hearing her voice for the first time. >> sloan, we wish you the best. such a fantastic story. >> medical miracle. never give up hope, you know. >> absolutely. coming up. charlie sheen's father is talking about his family. >> plus critics loved it. viewers, they didn't tune in too much. now a new chapter of the once hit show "arrested development" we have that and more coming up next in "the skinny." development" we have that and more coming up next in "thehe skinny."band.

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♪ ♪ skinny ♪ ♪ so skinny ♪ ♪ skinny ♪ ♪ so skinny >> welcome back, everybody. a lot to get to in "the skinny" today. you will be happy if you are a

fan of the once hit, then canceled "arrested development" critically acclaimed didn't have high enough viewership. to last that long. guess sfwhut they will come back do a limited season, eight, 12 episodes. that will set up a movie, full "arrested development" movie. the show got canceled in 2006 after three seasons. five years later come back do miniseason more or less and open the door to a movie. really, really great show. almost was like the modern family of its day pretty much. >> lot of people seem to be sort of closet viewers of this. they bought the dvds, caught up afterwards. >> after it went off. on the air not enough tuned in. they're coming back. if you love the show. stay tuned for the season and then the film. welcome back. >> the sheen family apparently sticks together. a really sweet story. friday, emilio and martin, express loved for some times troubled family member charlie sheen while in d.c. promoting their movie, "the way. " they talked about.

the first time either has spoken publicly about charlie's trouble since march and told the daily caller about what happened. charlie showed up to the aarp screening last friday in l.a., he surprised us on the red carpet. it was lovely to see him. the eder sheen went on to say, when someone is spinning out like that, do they not live closer to your heart. so they really are embracing charlie sheen. and they have him tight in the fold. in the family fold. >> dad helps them get back on the straight path, straighter path, then good for them. good for the sheens. >> family ties are strong. >> martha stewart, favorite domestic goddess, getting a little dirt on old martha. her daughter alexis, pretty outspoken radio host has written a tell-all book and reveals little tidbits about mama martha here. and "us weekly" got an advance copy and said -- martha used to go to the bathroom with the door open. she was fanatical with people taking off their shoes when they came in the house but would let the dogs and pets do their private business on the rugs in

the house. >> dogs come before the people. >> she used to make me wrap my presents. hand me things before christmas. and say now wrap these, but don't look inside. so, some tidbits into martha's mothering style. the book comes out later this month. the book dedicated to martha. you have to wonder what kind of relationship the two have. but -- martha pees with the door open. >> little "mommy dearest." in there. uh-huh. >> well here is some happy news. >> gene simmons and shannon tweed, tied the not knot after 28 years together. what was taking you so long.? just in time for the return of "family jewels" reality show on a & e. gene simmons and shannon tweed, have become mr. and mrs. simmons. simmons admitted to entertainment tonight in the past. it is time for me to grow up. i'm 62, i have been doing a lot of wacky stuff. but now it's time to get married. >> good looking couple. make sure it is right. take a couple decades make sure you are meant for each other. those of you fans of "american pie" they will make a reunion movie, bringing back the whole cast. according to radar online.

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diabetes care club. membership is free. so is the call. >> announcer: call diabetes care club at the number on your screen. >> talk to diabetes care club. you'll be glad you did. ♪ just a small town girl ♪ just a small town girl living in a lonely world ♪ >> see you are a closet metal head. the last episode of the sopranos. we approach it differently. >> an american classic. the reason you heard journey's don't stop believing -- not another story about running off with the guitarist. >> this story about the catchiest songs ever. abc's t.j. winick tells us how they came up with the big list. >> reporter: maybe you have done it on a road trip.

♪ she's got a smile that it seems to me ♪ >> reporter: like this family how about the scene that made tom cruise famous. ♪ just take the old records off the shelf ♪ >> reporter: we love to belt out a good tune every now and then. but some british researchers wanted to know why certain songs inspired us to sing along more than others. ♪ don't stop believing >> reporter: scholars at university of london isolated four key elements or x factors. number one, long and detailed musical phrases. ♪ entertain us >> reporter: number two, multipitch changes in the song's hook. number three, male vocalist. ♪ brown-eyed girl >> reporter: higher male voices making a noticeable vocal effort. ♪ living on a prayer ♪

using this formula, a list was compiled of the top ten catchiest songs of all time. "final countdown" by europe made the cut. ♪ it's the final countdown >> reporter: so did theme song to "baywatch", "i am always here" by jamie jamison. ♪ i'll be there number two catchiest song of all time almost acted out as much as it is belted out. ymca" by the village people. the number one sing along hit, the power ballad, a global sports anthem. ♪ we are the champions >> reporter: we are the champions by freddie mercury and his band queen. t.j. winick, abc news. >> i don't agree with all the songs. ymca, definitely. you would know a little about that wouldn't you, rob. >> oh, my lord. >> coming up with the lyrics to that one.

>> i have no comment. ♪ ymca