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CNN Live At Daybreak

What Does Handing Saddam Over Mean?; Joel Steinberg to be Released After 16 Years in Prison; 'Breakfast With Daybreak': Safe Grilling

Aired June 30, 2004 - 06:31   ET

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

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello. Here are the latest headlines for you now.
Israel's highest court has ruled that part of that barrier closing off the West Bank must be rerouted. The court says 19 miles of the fence would burden the lives of thousands of Palestinians. Israel's Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying it will honor the judges' ruling.

Joel Steinberg, remember him? He's set to be released from this New York prison today. I think you're looking at a live picture. At least you're supposed to be. It comes 16 years after he was convicted of beating to death his 6-year-old adopted daughter, Lisa. It's a case that changed stereotypes of child abuse victims.

In money news, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has reportedly pumped up his staff's salaries. The Associated Press says the governor is spending more on salaries than his predecessor did. A spokeswoman says Schwarzenegger is proud of his staff and credits them with helping turn the state around.

In culture, will the Presbyterian church lift its ban on gay and lesbian ministers? That is the recommendation of the church's legislative committee. It will be voted on by the group's general assembly in Virginia this week.

And in sports, two-time defending champ Serena Williams takes on Jennifer Capriati, oh, just about 30 minutes from now at Wimbledon. Williams advanced to the quarter finals after serving 12, count them 12, aces, one that included a serve 126-miles-an-hour speed -- I mean, I can't even say it, it's so astonishing -- 126-miles-per-hour serve.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I just don't know how the strings take it.

COSTELLO: I know.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Let's get back to the subject of Iraq now and the big handover of Saddam Hussein. He is no longer a prisoner of war. The deposed leader is now in the hands of the Iraqi justice system, but he is physically still under U.S. military guard. Saddam Hussein was described as visibly shaken during the transfer. The former dictator and 11 top members of his regime will be in court tomorrow, but officials say it will be months before they actually go on trial.

But would a trial contribute to more upheaval in Iraq? And how does the Iraqi public feel about Saddam?

For some insight, let's talk with Mamoun Fandy, a senior fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington and a columnist for Arab newspapers.

Good morning.

MAMOUN FANDY, ARAB ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: How are the Iraqis reacting to this?

FANDY: Well, I mean, this is really -- it has a lot of big meaning for the Iraqis. This is capturing the father of all abusers, and it has a lot of meaning for the new sovereignty. This means that the new Iraqi government has control over the machine of the state. They have the big prize. They have the biggest abuser in Iraq, who got the Kurds and responsible for the mass graves. So, all of the Iraqis want to see him tried, and I think if they put their hands on him, they will tear him into pieces.

COSTELLO: I was just going to ask you about that, because I remember when Saddam fell from power how jubilant the Iraqis were. Do you expect the same sort of reaction on the streets of Iraq this time?

FANDY: Yes, I expect that the Iraqis will feel strongly about this. They are very passionate about this. Don't underestimate what Saddam Hussein did. I mean, throughout the '80s, he got the Kurds with -- he killed numbers of people with genocidal proportions kind of killing. He abused almost every family in Iraq.

So, everybody will feel that they are taking revenge against Saddam Hussein finally. So, this is a big event for them.

COSTELLO: There is still some suspicion of the interim government, though. How might that affect the trial?

FANDY: No matter what, I think politically, Carol, this means for -- this actually works for the interim government. It will consolidate their position in Iraq. It will rally the Iraqi populous around the new government, because the symbolism of having Saddam Hussein in Iraqi hands and having him tried by Iraqi judges and having him paraded in front of his accusers and being told of what he did, this is all big for the Iraqis, and it will have significant meaning, political meaning, for the new government. Actually it will strengthen the new government. It would not undermine it.

COSTELLO: Well, doesn't it -- I mean, doesn't that depend on exactly how Saddam is tried and perhaps punished?

FANDY: I don't think we are looking at a trial soon. I mean, we are looking at really -- I mean, first of all, the government does not have the security resources to take control of Saddam for a while. The trial probably would take preparation for a year. There is a great deal of crimes. But the evidence is not completely there.

But what we are looking at is really a political process, and the political process in general will have a huge impact inside Iraq, as well as in the region at large. I mean, the whole Arab world will be watching a first Arab head of state on trial in front of his own people, being held accountable for his crimes.

COSTELLO: Mamoun Fandy joining us live from Washington, many thanks for your insights this morning.

For more on Iraq, be sure to check out this morning's interview with former coalition adviser Dan Senor. He will be a guest on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." That, of course, comes your way at 7:00 a.m. Eastern.

Colin Powell and Kofi Annan are both in Sudan on similar peace missions. Secretary of State Powell is heading this morning to the Darfur region. I believe he's already there. That's the area which has been wracked with ethnic violence for the past 17 months. Powell is hoping to put pressure on the Sudanese government to clamp down on reported ethnic cleansing. The government is suspected of supporting Arab militias that may be responsible for as many as 30,000 deaths.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The international community believes that unless we see more movement soon in all of these areas, it may be necessary for the international community to begin considering other actions to include Security Council action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has characterized the situation in Sudan as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

We're going to take you live to a prison in New York, where an infamous inmate is being released this morning. It was a case that put middle-class child abuse in the public eye.

And then, this will be a huge weekend for outdoor dining. Just make sure your grilling makes the grade.

This is DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Notorious child abuser Joel Steinberg is getting out of prison. He's the man who made national headlines after the beating death of his illegally-adopted daughter back in 1987.

CNN's Jason Carroll has more from Upstate New York from the facility, where Joel Steinberg spent the past 16 years. I can't believe it's been that long. JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been that long, and now he is about to get out. He was scheduled to be released at 6:30. We are still waiting for that to happen. Of course, our cameras are focused on the front door of the Southport Correctional Facility. He should be released at any moment.

Of course, his release is refocusing interest in a case, a case that really changed the way, as you know, Carol, people looked at the issue of child abuse. It was back in 1987 that Steinberg and his live-in lover, Hedda Nussbaum, were charged in the death of their illegally-adopted daughter, Lisa Steinberg. When police found her, she was filthy. She was naked. She had been badly bruised.

Nussbaum testified that Steinberg brutally abused her and their adopted daughter on a regular basis. At the time, the case was shocking for many. This was a middle-class family. Steinberg, as you know, was a lawyer. Nussbaum wrote children's books. Teachers never fully investigated the bruises that were found on Lisa's body.

After her death, New York state changed the way they look at child abuse. They changed the law. Basically, anyone who was licensed to deal with children after her death then had to take a course on how to recognize signs of abuse.

Steinberg, as you know, was convicted of manslaughter. He served -- he was sentenced to 25 years for manslaughter. He served the required two-thirds of that sentence, which ended up being nearly 17 years. He is heading back to New York City. He has been offered a job on a public access cable show.

As part of his parole, he has to stay away from children. He has to take an anger management class. He also has to stay away from Hedda Nussbaum. She never ended up serving any time in exchange for her testimony against Steinberg. Upon hearing about Steinberg's release, she has headed into hiding -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, I can just remember her appearance in court and how disfigured she was from the beatings she took from this man. What is she doing now? Do you know? And back to what Joel Steinberg will be doing, he's not actually going to be on television, is he?

CARROLL: No. He would -- first, let's talk about Steinberg. Again, he has been offered a job as an intern, a behind-the-scenes intern on a public access cable show. Unclear if the parole board will allow him to take that job, which pays about $250 a week. Unclear if he'll accept it.

As for Nussbaum, for a time she worked at a shelter for battered women, trying to give counseling. She wrote a book, a memoir, an unpublished book about the time that she lived with Steinberg. Again, she is disappointed that he is being released at this time. But no comment about his release, other than that. Again, she is headed into hiding.

COSTELLO: So, you're convicted of killing a child. Your sentence is 25 years, but you get out in 16. Why? CARROLL: You know, it's a very good question. According to the law, as long as you behaved well while you were in prison, you know, there is a period of time that you have to serve. The required time is two-thirds of that sentence. In this case, it ended up being about 17 years. And apparently, while Steinberg was in prison, there were several minor infractions, one for smoking. But basically, he was described as a very docile inmate. So because he never did anything that was technically deemed as being wrong while he was in prison, he is basically getting out for good behavior.

COSTELLO: Jason Carroll, we'll get back to you when he walks out of those -- walks out of the prison. Thank you. Jason Carroll reporting live from Southport in New York state.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Saddam Hussein is now in Iraqi legal custody. The handover of Saddam and 11 other former Iraqi leaders was made official just a short time ago. The group will stay in the hands of the coalition forces for now.

Canada's prime minister, Paul Martin, says his liberal party can still run a minority government without a coalition. It was his first speech since his party lost outright control of parliament in this week's election.

In money news, 32,000 members of the Army and Air Force will finally be reimbursed for their flights home from the Middle East. The soldiers paid about 19 million bucks out of their own pockets to come home on leave last year.

In culture, Harry Potter's new adventure has a name. The author says the sixth book about the boy wizard is called "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince." No word yet on when that book will be finished or how long it will be.

In sports, Mike Tyson says he is serious about his latest comeback effort. The boxer will face British fighter Danny Williams on July 30. Tyson says his wild past is over, and he's just trying to fight his way out of bankruptcy.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Plan to fire up that grill this weekend? Then stick around to find out how to host a healthy cookout, one where your guests will not get sick from your burgers. We'll be back.

COSTELLO: On the menu for your Fourth of July cookout this weekend, burgers, hot dogs, salmonella. That wouldn't be good, would it? Let's make sure that uninvited guest does not join you for the party.

With some reminders about how to avoid getting sick, registered dietitian Lisa Drayer is here with some help. She's live in New York.

And, Lisa, we give out these tips every year. But are people following them?

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Not necessarily, Carol. According to a new survey from the American Dietetic Association and the ConAgra Foods Foundation, when individuals were asked to grade themselves on how safely they handled food when grilling, 63 percent gave themselves a B or worse. Now, an A, of course, is what food experts recommend we strive for.

But let's take a look at some of the specific findings. Forty- one percent do not consistently use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked meats, and about one-third used the same brush for basting raw and cooked meats.

Now, the danger here, Carol, is cross-contamination, meaning bacteria can spread from the raw to the cooked meats. So, you want to keep your plates and utensils separate. And you also want to boil any leftover marinade before you use it on cooked meat.

Now, when it comes to leaving food out in the heat, a little less than half, or 42 percent, admit to leaving food out buffet-style for multiple hours. Now, this is potentially dangerous.

COSTELLO: I've been to picnics like that.

DRAYER: I know. And I have to admit sometimes it's really hard. You don't necessarily know the time that's passing by. But as the temperature goes up, specifically above 90 degrees, Carol, the bacteria multiply much more rapidly in very hot temperatures. So, as the temperature rises, the amount of time that perishables can stay out goes down. So, in 90-degree weather or above, you want to leave food out no longer than one hour. If it's a little bit cooler, you can leave it out for a max of two hours.

And when it comes to cooking meat, Carol, 75 percent cook meat until it looks done or until the juices run clear. Now, this is a hazard, because there is the potential for e. coli or salmonella contamination if the meat has not reached a safe internal temperature.

And the most reliable way to ensure that your meat is adequately cooked is to use a meat thermometer. You don't want to judge the meat by its color, because, in fact, the meat can actually turn brown, for example, before it has reached a safe temperature. According to USDA research, some meats turn brown at temperatures as low as 130. You want to have them reach at least 160.

COSTELLO: I think I'm going to become a vegetarian after all of that. Talking about cooking meat at very high temperatures, I have heard that could cause cancer.

DRAYER: Well, it is true that hotter is not necessarily better, and there is some research to suggest that when you cook meats at very high temperatures you can cause the formation of chemicals. These are carcinogens known as heterocyclic amines. So, this one using very hot temperatures on a hot flame.

Additionally, when fat drips onto the meat, the fat in the flames can cause the formation of chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. How's that for your...

COSTELLO: What? Can you say that three times fast?

DRAYER: Yes. And this is the word of the day. PAHs, but interestingly, they have been shown to produce some cancer risk in animals. Now, the American Cancer Society says the risk to humans is still under investigation, but there are some tips you could do. You can choose lean meats and trim the excess fat from the meat, which is good for many other reasons.

You can also marinate meat, Carol. Do you know that at least one study showed that chicken breasts marinated with ingredients that included brown sugar, olive oil, garlic and mustard resulted in a 92 percent drop in the production of these carcinogens? So, marinades provide a protective coating.

Don't allow flames to touch the meat, and also avoid charring. So, that can help to reduce these carcinogens.

COSTELLO: And enjoy your picnic this Fourth of July.

DRAYER: Yes, enjoy.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Lisa.

DRAYER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: I should have had Chad, the grill master, do that interview.

MYERS: You know, how do you get a hamburger to a buck 60, 160 degrees and not char it? It's going to turn into a hockey puck at 160 anyway. It's so frustrating.

COSTELLO: I know. But you are the grill king, and I've never gotten sick after eating...

MYERS: Yet.

COSTELLO: Chad and I will give away a DAYBREAK coffee mug when we come back, but first the latest headlines for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's our happy DAYBREAK music. We have sad DAYBREAK music and happy DAYBREAK music. That was the happy version.

MYERS: But we should have sad DAYBREAK music, because we lost the mug. We don't even have the mug to show you.

COSTELLO: Someone always steals the mug.

MYERS: Hopefully you know what it looks like. The other ones are under lock and key so we can't even get them.

We haven't given away a mug since last week, breaking news, Saddam Hussein, the handover of Iraq, so all of these things got in the way.

On Friday we asked Holly Firfer's report about the effectiveness of a new popular drug to treat Alzheimer's. Now, what is the name of that drug? There were two answers, but Aricept was the real answer we were looking for. The other name was the generic version. It didn't matter. If you gave me one or the other, I took it.

The Travel Channel's Tracy Gallagher told us about a popular Fourth of July festival in Boston. Now name that celebration. That was Harbor Fest.

And the winner, the winner, drum roll, please.

COSTELLO: Oh, we don't have it.

MYERS: He lost the drums. Beth Jackson from Blue Hill, Maine. Congratulations. Our first -- it says Maine, then it says Minnesota. So, I'm not sure where Blue Hill is. It says Maine on my piece of paper. Yes, Minnesota is not right. It is Maine. Our first winner from Maine.

COSTELLO: You know, this is just like -- this is just like a train wreck this morning.

MYERS: You know what? That's why we have the sad music. And now your chance to win a coffee mug today, so if you've been awake and staying up in California for this, here you go.

Who has challenged Bill Clinton to a public debate?

COSTELLO: Ooh. And?

MYERS: President Clinton.

And what temperature is hamburger safe to eat? What temperature does it become a hockey puck? What temperature? Lisa Drayer just told us. What temperature do you have to cook hamburger?

COSTELLO: I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

MYERS: See you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.


Aired June 30, 2004 - 06:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello. Here are the latest headlines for you now.
Israel's highest court has ruled that part of that barrier closing off the West Bank must be rerouted. The court says 19 miles of the fence would burden the lives of thousands of Palestinians. Israel's Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying it will honor the judges' ruling.

Joel Steinberg, remember him? He's set to be released from this New York prison today. I think you're looking at a live picture. At least you're supposed to be. It comes 16 years after he was convicted of beating to death his 6-year-old adopted daughter, Lisa. It's a case that changed stereotypes of child abuse victims.

In money news, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has reportedly pumped up his staff's salaries. The Associated Press says the governor is spending more on salaries than his predecessor did. A spokeswoman says Schwarzenegger is proud of his staff and credits them with helping turn the state around.

In culture, will the Presbyterian church lift its ban on gay and lesbian ministers? That is the recommendation of the church's legislative committee. It will be voted on by the group's general assembly in Virginia this week.

And in sports, two-time defending champ Serena Williams takes on Jennifer Capriati, oh, just about 30 minutes from now at Wimbledon. Williams advanced to the quarter finals after serving 12, count them 12, aces, one that included a serve 126-miles-an-hour speed -- I mean, I can't even say it, it's so astonishing -- 126-miles-per-hour serve.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I just don't know how the strings take it.

COSTELLO: I know.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Let's get back to the subject of Iraq now and the big handover of Saddam Hussein. He is no longer a prisoner of war. The deposed leader is now in the hands of the Iraqi justice system, but he is physically still under U.S. military guard. Saddam Hussein was described as visibly shaken during the transfer. The former dictator and 11 top members of his regime will be in court tomorrow, but officials say it will be months before they actually go on trial.

But would a trial contribute to more upheaval in Iraq? And how does the Iraqi public feel about Saddam?

For some insight, let's talk with Mamoun Fandy, a senior fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington and a columnist for Arab newspapers.

Good morning.

MAMOUN FANDY, ARAB ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: How are the Iraqis reacting to this?

FANDY: Well, I mean, this is really -- it has a lot of big meaning for the Iraqis. This is capturing the father of all abusers, and it has a lot of meaning for the new sovereignty. This means that the new Iraqi government has control over the machine of the state. They have the big prize. They have the biggest abuser in Iraq, who got the Kurds and responsible for the mass graves. So, all of the Iraqis want to see him tried, and I think if they put their hands on him, they will tear him into pieces.

COSTELLO: I was just going to ask you about that, because I remember when Saddam fell from power how jubilant the Iraqis were. Do you expect the same sort of reaction on the streets of Iraq this time?

FANDY: Yes, I expect that the Iraqis will feel strongly about this. They are very passionate about this. Don't underestimate what Saddam Hussein did. I mean, throughout the '80s, he got the Kurds with -- he killed numbers of people with genocidal proportions kind of killing. He abused almost every family in Iraq.

So, everybody will feel that they are taking revenge against Saddam Hussein finally. So, this is a big event for them.

COSTELLO: There is still some suspicion of the interim government, though. How might that affect the trial?

FANDY: No matter what, I think politically, Carol, this means for -- this actually works for the interim government. It will consolidate their position in Iraq. It will rally the Iraqi populous around the new government, because the symbolism of having Saddam Hussein in Iraqi hands and having him tried by Iraqi judges and having him paraded in front of his accusers and being told of what he did, this is all big for the Iraqis, and it will have significant meaning, political meaning, for the new government. Actually it will strengthen the new government. It would not undermine it.

COSTELLO: Well, doesn't it -- I mean, doesn't that depend on exactly how Saddam is tried and perhaps punished?

FANDY: I don't think we are looking at a trial soon. I mean, we are looking at really -- I mean, first of all, the government does not have the security resources to take control of Saddam for a while. The trial probably would take preparation for a year. There is a great deal of crimes. But the evidence is not completely there.

But what we are looking at is really a political process, and the political process in general will have a huge impact inside Iraq, as well as in the region at large. I mean, the whole Arab world will be watching a first Arab head of state on trial in front of his own people, being held accountable for his crimes.

COSTELLO: Mamoun Fandy joining us live from Washington, many thanks for your insights this morning.

For more on Iraq, be sure to check out this morning's interview with former coalition adviser Dan Senor. He will be a guest on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." That, of course, comes your way at 7:00 a.m. Eastern.

Colin Powell and Kofi Annan are both in Sudan on similar peace missions. Secretary of State Powell is heading this morning to the Darfur region. I believe he's already there. That's the area which has been wracked with ethnic violence for the past 17 months. Powell is hoping to put pressure on the Sudanese government to clamp down on reported ethnic cleansing. The government is suspected of supporting Arab militias that may be responsible for as many as 30,000 deaths.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The international community believes that unless we see more movement soon in all of these areas, it may be necessary for the international community to begin considering other actions to include Security Council action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has characterized the situation in Sudan as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

We're going to take you live to a prison in New York, where an infamous inmate is being released this morning. It was a case that put middle-class child abuse in the public eye.

And then, this will be a huge weekend for outdoor dining. Just make sure your grilling makes the grade.

This is DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Notorious child abuser Joel Steinberg is getting out of prison. He's the man who made national headlines after the beating death of his illegally-adopted daughter back in 1987.

CNN's Jason Carroll has more from Upstate New York from the facility, where Joel Steinberg spent the past 16 years. I can't believe it's been that long. JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been that long, and now he is about to get out. He was scheduled to be released at 6:30. We are still waiting for that to happen. Of course, our cameras are focused on the front door of the Southport Correctional Facility. He should be released at any moment.

Of course, his release is refocusing interest in a case, a case that really changed the way, as you know, Carol, people looked at the issue of child abuse. It was back in 1987 that Steinberg and his live-in lover, Hedda Nussbaum, were charged in the death of their illegally-adopted daughter, Lisa Steinberg. When police found her, she was filthy. She was naked. She had been badly bruised.

Nussbaum testified that Steinberg brutally abused her and their adopted daughter on a regular basis. At the time, the case was shocking for many. This was a middle-class family. Steinberg, as you know, was a lawyer. Nussbaum wrote children's books. Teachers never fully investigated the bruises that were found on Lisa's body.

After her death, New York state changed the way they look at child abuse. They changed the law. Basically, anyone who was licensed to deal with children after her death then had to take a course on how to recognize signs of abuse.

Steinberg, as you know, was convicted of manslaughter. He served -- he was sentenced to 25 years for manslaughter. He served the required two-thirds of that sentence, which ended up being nearly 17 years. He is heading back to New York City. He has been offered a job on a public access cable show.

As part of his parole, he has to stay away from children. He has to take an anger management class. He also has to stay away from Hedda Nussbaum. She never ended up serving any time in exchange for her testimony against Steinberg. Upon hearing about Steinberg's release, she has headed into hiding -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, I can just remember her appearance in court and how disfigured she was from the beatings she took from this man. What is she doing now? Do you know? And back to what Joel Steinberg will be doing, he's not actually going to be on television, is he?

CARROLL: No. He would -- first, let's talk about Steinberg. Again, he has been offered a job as an intern, a behind-the-scenes intern on a public access cable show. Unclear if the parole board will allow him to take that job, which pays about $250 a week. Unclear if he'll accept it.

As for Nussbaum, for a time she worked at a shelter for battered women, trying to give counseling. She wrote a book, a memoir, an unpublished book about the time that she lived with Steinberg. Again, she is disappointed that he is being released at this time. But no comment about his release, other than that. Again, she is headed into hiding.

COSTELLO: So, you're convicted of killing a child. Your sentence is 25 years, but you get out in 16. Why? CARROLL: You know, it's a very good question. According to the law, as long as you behaved well while you were in prison, you know, there is a period of time that you have to serve. The required time is two-thirds of that sentence. In this case, it ended up being about 17 years. And apparently, while Steinberg was in prison, there were several minor infractions, one for smoking. But basically, he was described as a very docile inmate. So because he never did anything that was technically deemed as being wrong while he was in prison, he is basically getting out for good behavior.

COSTELLO: Jason Carroll, we'll get back to you when he walks out of those -- walks out of the prison. Thank you. Jason Carroll reporting live from Southport in New York state.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Saddam Hussein is now in Iraqi legal custody. The handover of Saddam and 11 other former Iraqi leaders was made official just a short time ago. The group will stay in the hands of the coalition forces for now.

Canada's prime minister, Paul Martin, says his liberal party can still run a minority government without a coalition. It was his first speech since his party lost outright control of parliament in this week's election.

In money news, 32,000 members of the Army and Air Force will finally be reimbursed for their flights home from the Middle East. The soldiers paid about 19 million bucks out of their own pockets to come home on leave last year.

In culture, Harry Potter's new adventure has a name. The author says the sixth book about the boy wizard is called "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince." No word yet on when that book will be finished or how long it will be.

In sports, Mike Tyson says he is serious about his latest comeback effort. The boxer will face British fighter Danny Williams on July 30. Tyson says his wild past is over, and he's just trying to fight his way out of bankruptcy.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Plan to fire up that grill this weekend? Then stick around to find out how to host a healthy cookout, one where your guests will not get sick from your burgers. We'll be back.

COSTELLO: On the menu for your Fourth of July cookout this weekend, burgers, hot dogs, salmonella. That wouldn't be good, would it? Let's make sure that uninvited guest does not join you for the party.

With some reminders about how to avoid getting sick, registered dietitian Lisa Drayer is here with some help. She's live in New York.

And, Lisa, we give out these tips every year. But are people following them?

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Not necessarily, Carol. According to a new survey from the American Dietetic Association and the ConAgra Foods Foundation, when individuals were asked to grade themselves on how safely they handled food when grilling, 63 percent gave themselves a B or worse. Now, an A, of course, is what food experts recommend we strive for.

But let's take a look at some of the specific findings. Forty- one percent do not consistently use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked meats, and about one-third used the same brush for basting raw and cooked meats.

Now, the danger here, Carol, is cross-contamination, meaning bacteria can spread from the raw to the cooked meats. So, you want to keep your plates and utensils separate. And you also want to boil any leftover marinade before you use it on cooked meat.

Now, when it comes to leaving food out in the heat, a little less than half, or 42 percent, admit to leaving food out buffet-style for multiple hours. Now, this is potentially dangerous.

COSTELLO: I've been to picnics like that.

DRAYER: I know. And I have to admit sometimes it's really hard. You don't necessarily know the time that's passing by. But as the temperature goes up, specifically above 90 degrees, Carol, the bacteria multiply much more rapidly in very hot temperatures. So, as the temperature rises, the amount of time that perishables can stay out goes down. So, in 90-degree weather or above, you want to leave food out no longer than one hour. If it's a little bit cooler, you can leave it out for a max of two hours.

And when it comes to cooking meat, Carol, 75 percent cook meat until it looks done or until the juices run clear. Now, this is a hazard, because there is the potential for e. coli or salmonella contamination if the meat has not reached a safe internal temperature.

And the most reliable way to ensure that your meat is adequately cooked is to use a meat thermometer. You don't want to judge the meat by its color, because, in fact, the meat can actually turn brown, for example, before it has reached a safe temperature. According to USDA research, some meats turn brown at temperatures as low as 130. You want to have them reach at least 160.

COSTELLO: I think I'm going to become a vegetarian after all of that. Talking about cooking meat at very high temperatures, I have heard that could cause cancer.

DRAYER: Well, it is true that hotter is not necessarily better, and there is some research to suggest that when you cook meats at very high temperatures you can cause the formation of chemicals. These are carcinogens known as heterocyclic amines. So, this one using very hot temperatures on a hot flame.

Additionally, when fat drips onto the meat, the fat in the flames can cause the formation of chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. How's that for your...

COSTELLO: What? Can you say that three times fast?

DRAYER: Yes. And this is the word of the day. PAHs, but interestingly, they have been shown to produce some cancer risk in animals. Now, the American Cancer Society says the risk to humans is still under investigation, but there are some tips you could do. You can choose lean meats and trim the excess fat from the meat, which is good for many other reasons.

You can also marinate meat, Carol. Do you know that at least one study showed that chicken breasts marinated with ingredients that included brown sugar, olive oil, garlic and mustard resulted in a 92 percent drop in the production of these carcinogens? So, marinades provide a protective coating.

Don't allow flames to touch the meat, and also avoid charring. So, that can help to reduce these carcinogens.

COSTELLO: And enjoy your picnic this Fourth of July.

DRAYER: Yes, enjoy.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Lisa.

DRAYER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: I should have had Chad, the grill master, do that interview.

MYERS: You know, how do you get a hamburger to a buck 60, 160 degrees and not char it? It's going to turn into a hockey puck at 160 anyway. It's so frustrating.

COSTELLO: I know. But you are the grill king, and I've never gotten sick after eating...

MYERS: Yet.

COSTELLO: Chad and I will give away a DAYBREAK coffee mug when we come back, but first the latest headlines for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's our happy DAYBREAK music. We have sad DAYBREAK music and happy DAYBREAK music. That was the happy version.

MYERS: But we should have sad DAYBREAK music, because we lost the mug. We don't even have the mug to show you.

COSTELLO: Someone always steals the mug.

MYERS: Hopefully you know what it looks like. The other ones are under lock and key so we can't even get them.

We haven't given away a mug since last week, breaking news, Saddam Hussein, the handover of Iraq, so all of these things got in the way.

On Friday we asked Holly Firfer's report about the effectiveness of a new popular drug to treat Alzheimer's. Now, what is the name of that drug? There were two answers, but Aricept was the real answer we were looking for. The other name was the generic version. It didn't matter. If you gave me one or the other, I took it.

The Travel Channel's Tracy Gallagher told us about a popular Fourth of July festival in Boston. Now name that celebration. That was Harbor Fest.

And the winner, the winner, drum roll, please.

COSTELLO: Oh, we don't have it.

MYERS: He lost the drums. Beth Jackson from Blue Hill, Maine. Congratulations. Our first -- it says Maine, then it says Minnesota. So, I'm not sure where Blue Hill is. It says Maine on my piece of paper. Yes, Minnesota is not right. It is Maine. Our first winner from Maine.

COSTELLO: You know, this is just like -- this is just like a train wreck this morning.

MYERS: You know what? That's why we have the sad music. And now your chance to win a coffee mug today, so if you've been awake and staying up in California for this, here you go.

Who has challenged Bill Clinton to a public debate?

COSTELLO: Ooh. And?

MYERS: President Clinton.

And what temperature is hamburger safe to eat? What temperature does it become a hockey puck? What temperature? Lisa Drayer just told us. What temperature do you have to cook hamburger?

COSTELLO: I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

MYERS: See you.

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