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September 1st, 2009
07:45 PM ET

Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 9/1/09

In Southern California–where peak fire season hasn’t even officially begun yet–a huge and deadly wildfire continues to burn out of control tonight.

We’ll also have the latest on the Jaycee Lee Dugard kidnapping investigation. Officials believe at least two unsolved kidnappings may be linked to Phillip Garrido, the man charged with kidnapping and raping Dugard.

Tonight we’re launching a series of reports on the illegal sale of human organs. Our worldwide investigation has uncovered a thriving black market for human kidneys–right here in the United States.

Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ

Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.

Here are some of them:

1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)


Filed under: Live Blog • T1
soundoff (187 Responses)
  1. Michael

    Anderson and Erica SUPERIOR job as usual....see and talk to ya tomorrow

    September 1, 2009 at 11:00 pm |
  2. Chris Sosa - Boston, MA

    Goodnight, everyone!

    September 1, 2009 at 11:00 pm |
  3. David, Indiana

    So the California prison system overcrowded to begin with, will now release prisoners sooner. This was brought up on the blog tonight, but what is the situation w/ rehab and counseling in California prisons? That's a horrifying story in Randi Kaye's piece.

    I understant the need for organs for transplants. It's serious, but It's wrong to take advantage of someone's poverty to obtain an organ from them. I've heard a rept on this coming from India. Excellent rept by Drew Griffin. I wonder if congress will take this up as an issue.

    That's a cow french kiss, nice.

    That's the pt vw of someone riding an armadillo

    Oh to be a turkey in a sunflower patch! very lyrical Erica.

    Good night Isabel if you're here. Good night everyone.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:59 pm |
  4. starr, formerly known as vincent

    Thank you & good night Anderson, Erica & Team 360.

    Good night fellow bloggers.

    Critter cam was terrific! And Bob cam was even funnier!

    I thank you guys so much for almost always ending with a funny story at the end of what is often a sad or tense newcast. That's one of the reasons you are the best in the business.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:59 pm |
  5. Don, WA

    A kangaroo cam would be really hoppy!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:58 pm |
  6. Gayle McCauley Malden,Mass.

    Love the critter cam .Reminds me of the movie Raising Arizona! Goodnight everyone.Peace to all of you and yours.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:58 pm |
  7. Jackie Cole

    Animal shots. Neat

    September 1, 2009 at 10:58 pm |
  8. Sandra Robertson, GA

    Anderson and Erica, I loved the critter-cam. Good night all.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:58 pm |
  9. Lori

    Thank you. Sweet Dreams, Anderson, Erica, and Bob!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:57 pm |
  10. Lloyd , ns canada

    @ Jen ... Well put !!!!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:57 pm |
  11. Brent

    Bob's 15 minutes of fame

    September 1, 2009 at 10:57 pm |
  12. Lisa A. Philadelphia, PA

    good night everyone. be safe.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:57 pm |
  13. Minou, New York City

    Armadillos are quiet the critters!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
  14. Gloria, Brooklyn, NY

    Good Night Everyone!

    "Look Mom, top of the world!"

    September 1, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
  15. Annie Burke

    Cracked it!! Use the organs of the sex offender prisoners that are in jail. Solve two problems at once!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:55 pm |
  16. Cynthia, NC

    I just read the LA Times article by Laura Ling and Euna Lee. I cannot begin to imagine the fear they lived through during the time they were held in North Korea. I'm glad they are now safe and back home in the US.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:55 pm |
  17. Lori

    Is that an armadillo?!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:54 pm |
  18. Mary H. St. Louis, MO

    Wow, that is a cool house... Awesome ...shot of the day... It always gives me a good laugh.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:54 pm |
  19. Casey Jones - Palm Springs, CA

    I truly and sincerely wish the story of Euna Lee and Laura Ling would go away. I'm still angry about them breaking the law and getting off virtually scott-free after compromising our national security.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:53 pm |
  20. starr, formerly known as vincent

    I feel very strongly that the two jounalists were betrayed by their so-called guide who was bribed to take them close to or across the N. Korean border.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:52 pm |
  21. Niwat, Chicago

    I don’t doubt Jaycee’s ability to cope the new normal life circumstances she’ll encounter, she had learnt to survive for 18 years in an almost ultra reclusive environment. My concern is that both of her children now are exposed with media and realise that their ( biological dad?) is a rapist.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:52 pm |
  22. Jacqueline, NY

    Sandra Robertson, GA "I’m an organ donor, but only upon death, I hope."

    LOL! Stop it! You're cracking my sides. I gotta think of the name of this book. In it ,organ donors were killed off if their organs were needed sooner than they could kick-the-bucket.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:51 pm |
  23. Cheryl K. Sask Canada

    Wow. I really can't see how releasing these inmates will ease any parole officer's workload now.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:51 pm |
  24. Shamara, Belvidere, TN

    Are you sure your not thinking of the movie "The Island"

    September 1, 2009 at 10:51 pm |
  25. Cassandra, Los Angeles

    Aren't many of the California wildfires a natural occurrence? There wouldn't be so much trouble to stop the fires if we could just let the fires end on their own... It's just that unfortunately many people built their homes near these areas. The firefighters are doing a great job though and I commend them for their hard work.

    And as a California resident, I do not want to compromise our safety by releasing these prisoners and allowing them to do as they please. This is a dangerous situation. There has to be some other way to cut the budget...

    September 1, 2009 at 10:50 pm |
  26. chris

    I've had 2 kidney transplants from friends and I "gifted" them both AFTER. Medicare pays for kidney transplants for everyone who has paid into the system. As does private insurance but, if on dialysis, you are required to take Medicare. If Medicare paid all donors about $90,000 this illegal selling wouldn't happen. End stage renal disease is very expensive with dialysis and hospitalizations. Talk about economic stimulus!!!! Medicare would save money after only about 3 years compared to dialysis. And save lives.
    Thank you to Lucas Jaramillo's family whose pancreas I received!!!!!!!! Not a diabetic after 38 years!!!!!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:50 pm |
  27. Jen, Albany NY

    To me a sex offender is a sex offender, regardless of what level they are considered. It is all the same. They should def. not get let out of prison early. Look at how many lives are affected in Jaycee's case.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:50 pm |
  28. Kathy Chicago

    Why can't they cut pork out of the govt instead of letting prisoners free?

    September 1, 2009 at 10:50 pm |
  29. Sam

    The Euna Lee/Laura Ling story never ceases to completely blow my mind... incredible story of hope and survival in the worst of situations...

    September 1, 2009 at 10:49 pm |
  30. Minou, New York City

    The entire prison system needs reform.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:49 pm |
  31. Chris Sosa - Boston, MA

    @Casey – Couldn't agree more.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:48 pm |
  32. sharon, sydney, ns

    So someone is desparate for cash and decides to sell his kidney-kind of like they do to a lesser extent blood. I have heard that reasoning and I shake my head. The body can make more blood, it won't make a kidney. So what happens when the one kidney you have left starts to fail some day and you've run out of money to buy one back. It's a risky scary business.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:48 pm |
  33. Lori

    Is this a reason for implementing the death penalty? If prisoners can not be rehabilitated what is their contribution to society?

    September 1, 2009 at 10:48 pm |
  34. Annie Burke

    I wonder if there will be an increase in missing people. If large amounts of money are involved, human organs may end up the gold of the future,,,,brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

    September 1, 2009 at 10:47 pm |
  35. Casey Jones - Palm Springs, CA

    We would be flooded with potentially dangerous criminals because we're not appropriately rehabilitating ANYone. The culture of prison life is simply making bigger criminals from those who are already incarcerated.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:47 pm |
  36. Mike, Syracuse, NY

    Anderson you should report the the reason CA is releasing prisoners is because it was court ordered due to overcrowding. This isn't the governors idea.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:47 pm |
  37. Keith

    There has been no confirmed evidence of anyone being "killed" for their organs in the US.

    September 1, 2009 at 10:46 pm |
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