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American Morning
Florida Braces For Bonnie, Charley; U.S. Soldiers On Olympic Team; Predicting High Blood Pressure Through Eye Exams; PGA Championships; "Political Pop"
Aired August 12, 2004 - 09:29 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Welcome back to everybody. We are going to get to the opening bell in just a moment. Just about half past the hour now -- 9:00 hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Also ahead, we want to take you live to Florida to check on the weather, as you've been hearing about this morning. You see it there.
Chad Myers is standing by; some storms coming those people's way. And they are bracing for that one-two punch. That's the unusual thing about Tropical Storm Bonnie, with Hurricane Charley right behind her. So, we'll see...
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Couple -- couple hours ago, someone said it's been a hundred years since they've had two storms like this back to back. So, we'll watch that.
Also looking for signs of high blood pressure. If you are, turns out your eye exam could be of some help, too. Sanjay's on that in a few moments.
Meanwhile on Wall Street, opening bell a few short seconds away. Down day yesterday for the Dow 30. Not bad though -- off about six points in trading. 9938 is your opening mark today, and with the Fed raising rates on Tuesday, with that signal. Also, Cisco giving concerns about the coming quarter. The Nasdaq market side yesterday down off about 26 points in trading there. 1782 is where we start there.
So, at 9:30 on the clock here in New York. Markets are open for business here. Heidi?
COLLINS: Now, the latest on two big storms taking aim at Florida. As we mentioned, Chad Myers is in Panama City Beach. Rob Marciano is on the storm watch at CNN Center with the very latest.
We want to begin with Chad, though. Chad, hello.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Heidi. Things are -- starting to rain here a little bit now. We're starting to pick up a little bit of wind. Every time we get a thunderstorm to wrap around the eye -- or what's part of an eye -- down there in the Gulf of Mexico, we get a little bit of a rain band to come on by.
And then, we get the wind to pick up. Had a wind gust of 37 miles per hour just in the last 15 minutes or so, and then it really just died off. And now, behind me, there's an awful lot of gray stuff back out here. All of this grayness now, another thunderstorm that's headed our way, just one right after the other.
Here's the satellite picture here. Notice the oranges, and how the oranges got a whole lot bigger in the overnight hours. And there's even a tail all the way down to the west of Tampa. This tail and this rotation now going through and into almost Apalachicola, right on up even into Apalachee Bay. Apalachee Bay very prone -- very, very prone to storm surge.
So, as we bring this storm in, which is now 55 miles per hour, and we drive it all the way up into parts of Florida, and then into Georgia, and then into North Carolina and South Carolina, we're actually going to bring in an awful lot more rain and to a very saturated part of the country. And then, Charley's going to run on top of it.
Here's the radar right now. So, as you see that the bands rotating around this storm. It is not a hurricane, simply a tropical storm. This thing is probably three or four times weaker than what Charley will be as it makes landfall very close to Tampa.
They're getting a little bit more serious here in Panama City Beach now. Just had a couple of guys try to go out in the surf. Notice how much larger the surf is than it was. And the police said, "If I see you out in the water one more time, you're going to jail." So, I think he was pretty serious.
Back to you.
HEMMER: Rob?
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We don't want you to go to jail just yet. Chad Myers, along Panama City in the Florida Panhandle. That's where the heavier rain is. And a lot of these places have already seen two inches of rain just overnight last night. So, the ground is saturated and prime for more flooding.
He mentioned Charley; this is our next order of business. It's a hurricane, and it's heading toward the Grand Cayman and also into Cuba. Right now, it has max winds of 85 miles an hour. Category One storm moving to the northwest at 16 miles per hour.
We expect it to become a Category Two storm over the next several hours and overnight tonight with winds 100 miles an hour. It could get close to Hurricane Three status as we go through tomorrow afternoon. And by then, the forecast track does bring it somewhere around Tampa Bay or west. If that happens, with that strength, we're talking about very serious and damaging storm surge, where that water goes right into Tampa Bay.
And hopefully it will go out to sea just a little bit. Either way, it looks like Florida is going to be under the gun. And then also, into the Carolinas and up through the northern parts of, say, Virginia and through the Delmarva. Well, flooding's going to be an issue, because you've got Bonnie, you've got Charley, and you also have this front that's squeezing all that moisture out for the next several days.
Behind the system, Heidi, though, this couldn't be nicer across much of the Midwest -- Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis. Good looking day today and a good looking day tomorrow for those folks.
So, east coast, especially Florida, is getting it. Back to you.
COLLINS: All right. Rob, thanks so much for that, and Chad as well out there on the beach. Thanks a lot.
MARCIANO: You bet. Sure.
HEMMER: There are two whistleblowers from the FBI speaking out about problems they see with translators at the agency. One translator telling CNN's Paula Zahn that, post-9/11, there was still lax security and that there are unqualified people working at the agency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIBEL EDMUNDS, FBI WHISTLEBLOWER: What I saw during my work with the Bureau as a translator for three Middle Eastern languages could be categorized in maybe three broad categories of issues.
One was certain translators were hired despite the fact that these translators had failed all given proficiency exams, because either they had a family member working for the bureau or they had a close friend who works for the Bureau. One translator, who failed all these proficiency exams, was sent to Guantanamo Bay for two months.
Now, they were there to translate the interrogations from certain languages to English. Well, this person did not even speak the most elementary level English.
PAULA ZAHN, HOST, "PAULA ZAHN NOW": So, how would you characterize, based on your experience as a translator for the FBI, where we are in our ability to confront terror?
EDMUNDS: Today, three years after September 11th, these issues, none of them have been addressed. The first reaction is let's cover it up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: And for more on that interview with Paula, later tonight, 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 on the west coast. "PAULA ZAHN NOW" airs here on CNN -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Thirty-five minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news and Daryn Kagan.
Daryn, good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, good morning again. We begin in eastern Afghanistan. That is where a U.S. Military helicopter has crashed. The U.S. Military says the accident killed one soldier and injured 14 others. The site has been secured by U.S. forces. Military sources stress the chopper was not fired upon. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Back here in the states to Arizona, the death toll is rising in a fiery traffic pileup just west of Phoenix. Four people are now reported dead and more than 40 injured. Dozens of vehicles, including a bus and several tractor trailers were involved. Officials are blaming a powerful dust storm for that incident.
A possible delay in the criminal case against Kobe Bryant. Prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in the sexual assault trial, less than three weeks before it was set to begin. The request comes -- the request for the delay comes just one day after the attorney for Bryant's accuser filed a civil case against the NBA star.
In Utah, there are new details emerging about the relationship between Mark and Lori Hacking. According to court papers released yesterday, Lori Hacking wrote her husband, expressing doubts about their five-year marriage. Mark Hacking is charged with killing his wife and dumping her body. Memorial services for Lori Hacking are planned for this weekend.
On a much brighter note, after years of preparation, the stage is nearly set for the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics. The Olympic Torch, seen here, will make its way to the Acropolis in Athens this afternoon.
Well, the Queen Mary, home to celebrities and dignitaries during the games, already in port, after arriving yesterday in Athens. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for tomorrow. First score of the games, U.S. Women beat the Greek team in soccer 3-0 -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Love that. All right, starting off well, I think. All right, Daryn, thanks so much for that.
KAGAN: For some reason I can't hear you, so...
COLLINS: OK, Daryn, thank you. We will check on that.
Meanwhile, though, they are soldiers through and through, but they're athletes, too. Gary Tuchman introduces us to some of the military men and women of the American Olympic Team.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are soldiers at Fort Benning, Georgia, but they are also athletes, recruited by the army to train fellow soldiers and hopefully make it all the way to the Olympics. Sergeant First Class James Todd Graves is on the Olympic Skeet Shooting Team. He won a bronze in the event at the 2000 Olympics.
SGT. JAMES TODD GRAVES. OLYMPIC SKEET SHOOTER: We're not just representing the United States, we're also representing the army. And that's a big plus for us.
TUCHMAN: For the better part of a century, the military has sent prestige (ph) to the Olympic Games. Seventeen soldiers, sailors, and airmen will be competing in Athens.
Their athletic venues are their battlefields. These soldiers generally don't fight in wars, but they go to the Athens Olympic Games with their colleagues on their minds.
SGT. SHAWN DULOHERY, OLYMPIC SKEET SHOOTER: Our job is to represent those guys, that are in Iraq and Afghanistan and all over the countryside and the world, in the Olympic world and national competitions.
TUCHMAN: This will be the first Olympic Games for air riflist Hattie Johnson of Idaho. It's a dream come true for her, but still, her first priority is her role as Army Specialist.
SGT. HATTIE JOHNSON, OLYMPIC AIR RIFLER: We may be training for a match, getting ready to travel somewhere, but then it comes up that we've got some military training to do, and that's just, you know, finding the time and the open spot to get it done. You know, we have to do it, just like everybody else does.
TUCHMAN: But now they're in Greece, hoping to represent the nation and the military honorably.
GRAVES: If I go over to the Olympics and actually win a medal, it will be definitely dedicated to all the soldiers that are overseas.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The opening ceremony for the Athens Olympics is a late- night spectacular, as we have mentioned, tomorrow night.
HEMMER: You mentioned the women's soccer -- yesterday, too, they played the home team of Greece. They said that when the game started, the stadium was less than half filled -- for the home team! I don't know what that portends for the rest of the people buying tickets there.
COLLINS: Hopefully nothing.
HEMMER: That's right. Opening games -- ceremonies, rather, tomorrow night.
Markets are open already. Gerri Willis working for Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business." Good morning to you.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning. Good to see you.
HEMMER: How are we looking this early? WILLIS: Well, it's looking good. You know, we thought we were going to have a lower open. It looks like we're opening a little higher here. Take a look at the numbers.
Oops, the Industrials -- I am wrong -- down 33 points now. That's what we're seeing in the markets right now. Let me tell you what Wall Street is chewing on here. It's an earnings report from Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer.
Did you know they employ more people than the U.S. Army?
HEMMER: Really?
WILLIS: Yes.
COLLINS: No! I didn't know that.
WILLIS: A ton of people -- a tone of people work for them. Their profits higher than expected, because back-to-school is on and people are rushing back to the stores. But look, the top line sales, not so great.
July retail sales here, keep in mind, 0.7% up is what we're hearing today. So, good, but not fabulous. You know, everybody's keeping their eyes on the economy at this point. Everybody a little worried that we might be dipping back below here in terms of growth. So, we'll keep an eye on that.
Sales for autos, up this month, which was for July, which was great.
HEMMER: More than a million employees, right, at Wal-Mart? What is it -- 1.2, I believe?
WILLIS: I believe that's -- well done, Bill. That's why you got the S.A.T. score...
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: ... people like you all the time.
Thank you, Gerri. Good to have you here.
COLLINS: Thanks, Gerri.
Still to come this morning, the eyes have it when it comes to treating high blood pressure. Could looking into your eyes be the place to start? Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the latest on that.
HEMMER: Also, in golf, this weekend the PGA Championship will tee off -- in fact, today. It's up for grabs, we know that, but would you put your money on Tiger Woods? He would. We'll explain why, still to come this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COLLINS: A new study suggesting that a person's eyes can reveal some early warning signs of hypertension. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from the CNN Center with details on this.
Good morning once again, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. Yes, they say the eyes are the window to the soul, in this case it might be -- they might be the window to heart disease or at least high blood pressure.
Now, high blood pressure is a huge problem in the United States. One in four people either have it or are going to develop it. The real holy grail for a lot of doctors is trying to be able to predict who of those people are actually going to get hypertension or high blood pressure later on in life.
Started looking at a study -- specifically looking at the eyes. Now, the big study coming out of Sydney, Australia -- 3,500 people, at least 49-years-old. What they found was that people with narrowed vessels in the back of their eye were more likely to develop blood pressure in the next five years -- twice as likely more likely to develop blood pressure in the next five years.
Now, what are we talking about here? You know, Heidi, when they come at you with that bright light and they're shining it in the back of your eye, maybe sometimes they give you the dilating drops? I want to give you a sneak peek at what it is that sometimes doctors see in the back of the eye.
Take a look at the first picture. This is what a normal -- this is what they're looking at. That's a normal retina. Look at all the blood vessels, all the red is normal. Now, this one, you can see lots of changes there. That's someone who may develop hypertension later on in life.
Now, let's take a look at the real hypertension sort of -- that's when someone has already started to develop early hypertension. You can see the sort of blotting out in the black of the retina, the blood vessels are all much more narrow.
And finally, sever hypertension, it looks even worse. You see those little white spots back there are called cotton wool spots. That's a really bad sign in terms of the hypertension and the likelihood of heart disease.
According to this new study, if you're looking at the back of the eye, the ophthalmologist may have one of the first indicators of who is and who is not going to develop hypertension. Those eye exams pretty important, Heidi.
COLLINS: Well, Sanjay, what other conditions can be seen, though, in doing these eye exams that you just showed us?
GUPTA: Yes, you can tell a lot, actually, from looking in the back of the eye. Hypertension, we've already talked about, but lots of other disease processes. You might be -- get some early indicators. Glaucoma, for example, that's an obvious one. But Diabetes, MS, leukemia, lymphoma -- all of those a possibility, as well.
Here's another tip: Before the age of 40, you should get your eyes checked this way -- you know, looking in the back of the eye -- every two years. After 40 or 50 or so, every year. It might give you a heads-up on any of these disease processes, Heidi
COLLINS: All right, Sanjay, thank you so much.
GUPTA: Thank you. Stay healthy.
COLLINS: And hey, congrats on your S.A.T. score there, buddy. Still trying to get mine.
GUPTA: You let me know.
COLLINS: OK, I will.
HEMMER: We'll put ours together and maybe we'll take on Sanjay.
COLLINS: Yes, I like that idea.
HEMMER: You like that?
COLLINS: Very good.
HEMMER: Break here in a moment. "Political Pop" panel weighing in today. What do both parties stand to gain or possibly loose from the Porter Goss nomination. Back with that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. Our panel is in place now. It's time for "Political Pop."
On the left with us today, Political Strategist Serena Torrey back here. Good morning. Also here, Andy Borowitz, responsible for borowitzreport.com and also responsible for that strong fashion statement he's making today with that shirt.
On the right, WABC radio host Mark Simone back with us, as well. And good morning to all three of you.
MARK SIMONE, RADIO HOST, WABC: Good morning.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Good morning, Bill.
SERENA TORREY, POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Good morning.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the front page of the "New York Times." Apparently a dozen Democrats say they will not block the nomination of Porter Goss. Overnight, did this become a slam dunk?
SIMONE: Well, you know, a lot of Democrats opposed to it because he's a good friend of Cheney's, because he's a Republican, he's from Florida. That might help in the election. And just by coincidence, he happens to have the best credentials in intelligence of anybody in government. And let's be honest, if Bush appointed James Bond, they'd be opposing it.
TORREY: You know, Mark, I wish the Bush administration wouldn't play politics with a position like this. They've appointed the most -- they've nominated the most partisan man in Congress, according to his colleagues, for this position.
And what they were trying to do was goad Democrats into a fight over the nomination. But what they're going to get is a nationally televised debate over intelligence failures under Bush. It's going to blow up in their face.
SIMONE: I think you blew right past the most important fact: the best resume as far as intelligence of anyone in government right now. He was a great spy for years, ran the Senate Intelligence Committee.
TORREY: The director of Central Intelligence has to work with...
HEMMER: House.
SIMONE: House.
HEMMER: Go ahead.
TORREY: But he's got to work with colleagues in the House and in the Senate. And when half of the House and the Senate doesn't find him able to work with them, we've got to look to somebody...
BOROWITZ: I thought it was interesting, yesterday, that Bush is now backing off the idea of an Intelligence Czar. He said it was too important a job to be entrusted to a Russian.
HEMMER: Next topic here. Last week -- you like that.
Last week, John Kerry made the following statement -- put it on the screen -- is going to be picked on today by the vice president. "I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror."
We are told that in Dayton, Ohio, today, the vice president will pick on that word sensitive. What did he mean by that word?
TORREY: You know, I'm not sure that it's all that helpful to be parsing John Kerry's words and nitpicking like this. What John Kerry's talking about is the fact that he wants to fight a war on terror. He wants to go after al Qaeda terrorists. He going to invest in shoring up our homeland security.
Ultimately, that's what the American people want. They're not worried about semantics.
SIMONE: A sensitive war on terror. We've tried everything; we've never tried sending them Hallmark cards, but I guess we could try that.
TORREY: You know that's not he what means.
HEMMER: Do you think that's what he means by that, Mark?
SIMONE: Well, the problem is Kerry has had every position under the sun. If you go to the RNC Web site, they've cut together all his positions on the war. It runs 11 minutes, even with editing. And because he was in Vietnam 35 years ago, we're supposed to forget about the schizophrenia?
BOROWITZ: I thought it was interesting John Edwards said that he would fight a hotter, better looking war on terror. I thought it was interesting.
HEMMER: According to "People" magazine, though, right?
BOROWITZ: Yes, exactly.
TORREY: I think the Bush folks know they're losing ground on the issue of credibility on national security. And they're really grasping at straws at this point.
HEMMER: Thanks to all three of you, all right. Return to the corner. Now back to, Heidi -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Golf lovers will be tuned in today as the PGA Championship gets underway this afternoon in Wisconsin. More than $1 million on the line for the winner.
CNN's Patrick Snell has a preview of all of the upcoming action. I've heard a couple of things, Patrick -- freezing cold, and this is the longest, newest course for the PGA Championship history, right?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Heidi. Yes, welcome to the 86th PGA Championships. I'm pleased to say, though, the sun has finally come out, after pretty indifferent weather earlier in the week.
And as ever, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods. A bit of a drought for him. He's gone nine majors, of course, he won't need reminding, without a win. His last big success at the 2002 U.S. Open. But he is still world number one, and he has been for the last 331 straight weeks. Quite an achievement. But he, like everyone else here this week, will be tested to the limits.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERNIE ELS, GOLFER: Anybody can win this week. You know, I would like to think that a guy that hits the ball long will win this week. Maybe it's full.
PHIL MICKELSON, GOLFER: I don't think that the golf course favors a long hitter. Its length can be certainly an advantage or helpful, but I don't see how it really favors that style of play. Because you're not able to stand up on a tee and just rip at it. TIGER WOODS, GOLFER: You have to put the ball in play. If you miss your tee shot, you have to make sure you miss on the correct side of the fairway so you can at least have a chance to advance up to the green. Some -- the holes are -- if you miss on the wrong side, I mean, you're doing well just to get back to the fairway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Heidi, that's Woods, well number one for 331 weeks in total, not consecutively. But still, very much the man to beat here this week, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. We've also been hearing that it's been -- it's being called a major full of mysteries. So, we're hearing a lot about anybody could take this.
What's the biggest challenge?
SNELL: I think it has to be hearing what the players have been saying, simply the freshness, the length of this course. It's the longest in major history at over 7,500 yards. Most players are mentioning they've never played here before.
And what's interesting about it, this course is just six years old. It's been specially constructed based on a link-style development on Irish and Scottish courses. It's got very much a feel of a British Open to it.
It's a former toxic waste ground; it's been rebuilt on the shores of Lake Michigan. And what's also interesting is while players are admitting, yes, they have to play a link-style game -- i.e. a little pitch and run to get it close to the hole on occasions -- target golf will also come into play.
So, a fascinating mixture of two kinds of schools of thought here as the players will be slugging it out over the next four days, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, the old bump and run at Whistling Straits. Thanks so much, Patrick Snell.
HEMMER: Some of that wind makes it look like a British Open.
In a moment here live, to Florida -- Bonnie and Charley serving up a double dose of stormy weather there. Next hour, Daryn Kagan is on that. We're back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD M. NIXON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow.
ANNOUNCER: This week in history: The political scandal known as Watergate resulted in President Nixon's resignation on August 9th, 1974. After nearly five years in captivity in Lebanon, Edward Tracy was released by his captors in 1991.
And on August 13th, 1995, baseball legend Mickey Mantle lost his life to cancer.
That is this week in history.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Before we get out of here, we want to look forward to later tonight here on CNN. Aaron Brown coming up in about 12 hours on the clock. Preview of "NEWSNIGHT" now. Here's Aaron.
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Thank you, Bill.
Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT, " a bawdy, brutal spectacle -- our specialty. 2,500 years ago, the Olympic Games in Athens were a far cry from today's games. For one thing, the ancient athletes competed in the nude. Water supplies were sketchy. Hundreds of people died from dehydration and illness. Illegal drugs weren't an issue, but magic was.
Nissen explains it all tonight when she takes us back in time on the eve of the 2004 Summer Games. That puts all the day's top news and everything else that makes "NEWSNIGHT.
"NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, Aaron. Thanks for that. Looking forward to it, and Nissen, as well, tonight at 10:00 Eastern.
COLLINS: Toure now, "Question of the day."
TOURE, GUEST CO-HOST: We're skipping away from the "Question of the Day," back to the experience a little bit.
Robert from Columbia, Maryland, says: "Please tell Rob Marciano that I got an 1100 on the S.A.T. And that was after three attempts. Like him, I'm successful in my field -- 1100s rock. Yeah, right."
Our Senior Producer Ted Fine somehow wants everyone to know he got a 1200.
COLLINS: Go, Ted.
TOURE: And Soledad called in, ponied up, told us the truth -- 1410 -- which proves, of course, that the S.A.T. is the key to everything in life.
COLLINS: Wow, that really...
TOURE: Or something.
COLLINS: Still waiting for the call from Mountain View (ph) High School here. I'll have it tomorrow. TOURE: You and John Kerry tomorrow.
HEMMER: We got to run. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center in Atlanta taking you through the next hour. Daryn, good morning.
KAGAN: Good morning. You guys have a great day in New York City.
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Aired August 12, 2004 - 09:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Welcome back to everybody. We are going to get to the opening bell in just a moment. Just about half past the hour now -- 9:00 hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Also ahead, we want to take you live to Florida to check on the weather, as you've been hearing about this morning. You see it there.
Chad Myers is standing by; some storms coming those people's way. And they are bracing for that one-two punch. That's the unusual thing about Tropical Storm Bonnie, with Hurricane Charley right behind her. So, we'll see...
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Couple -- couple hours ago, someone said it's been a hundred years since they've had two storms like this back to back. So, we'll watch that.
Also looking for signs of high blood pressure. If you are, turns out your eye exam could be of some help, too. Sanjay's on that in a few moments.
Meanwhile on Wall Street, opening bell a few short seconds away. Down day yesterday for the Dow 30. Not bad though -- off about six points in trading. 9938 is your opening mark today, and with the Fed raising rates on Tuesday, with that signal. Also, Cisco giving concerns about the coming quarter. The Nasdaq market side yesterday down off about 26 points in trading there. 1782 is where we start there.
So, at 9:30 on the clock here in New York. Markets are open for business here. Heidi?
COLLINS: Now, the latest on two big storms taking aim at Florida. As we mentioned, Chad Myers is in Panama City Beach. Rob Marciano is on the storm watch at CNN Center with the very latest.
We want to begin with Chad, though. Chad, hello.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Heidi. Things are -- starting to rain here a little bit now. We're starting to pick up a little bit of wind. Every time we get a thunderstorm to wrap around the eye -- or what's part of an eye -- down there in the Gulf of Mexico, we get a little bit of a rain band to come on by.
And then, we get the wind to pick up. Had a wind gust of 37 miles per hour just in the last 15 minutes or so, and then it really just died off. And now, behind me, there's an awful lot of gray stuff back out here. All of this grayness now, another thunderstorm that's headed our way, just one right after the other.
Here's the satellite picture here. Notice the oranges, and how the oranges got a whole lot bigger in the overnight hours. And there's even a tail all the way down to the west of Tampa. This tail and this rotation now going through and into almost Apalachicola, right on up even into Apalachee Bay. Apalachee Bay very prone -- very, very prone to storm surge.
So, as we bring this storm in, which is now 55 miles per hour, and we drive it all the way up into parts of Florida, and then into Georgia, and then into North Carolina and South Carolina, we're actually going to bring in an awful lot more rain and to a very saturated part of the country. And then, Charley's going to run on top of it.
Here's the radar right now. So, as you see that the bands rotating around this storm. It is not a hurricane, simply a tropical storm. This thing is probably three or four times weaker than what Charley will be as it makes landfall very close to Tampa.
They're getting a little bit more serious here in Panama City Beach now. Just had a couple of guys try to go out in the surf. Notice how much larger the surf is than it was. And the police said, "If I see you out in the water one more time, you're going to jail." So, I think he was pretty serious.
Back to you.
HEMMER: Rob?
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We don't want you to go to jail just yet. Chad Myers, along Panama City in the Florida Panhandle. That's where the heavier rain is. And a lot of these places have already seen two inches of rain just overnight last night. So, the ground is saturated and prime for more flooding.
He mentioned Charley; this is our next order of business. It's a hurricane, and it's heading toward the Grand Cayman and also into Cuba. Right now, it has max winds of 85 miles an hour. Category One storm moving to the northwest at 16 miles per hour.
We expect it to become a Category Two storm over the next several hours and overnight tonight with winds 100 miles an hour. It could get close to Hurricane Three status as we go through tomorrow afternoon. And by then, the forecast track does bring it somewhere around Tampa Bay or west. If that happens, with that strength, we're talking about very serious and damaging storm surge, where that water goes right into Tampa Bay.
And hopefully it will go out to sea just a little bit. Either way, it looks like Florida is going to be under the gun. And then also, into the Carolinas and up through the northern parts of, say, Virginia and through the Delmarva. Well, flooding's going to be an issue, because you've got Bonnie, you've got Charley, and you also have this front that's squeezing all that moisture out for the next several days.
Behind the system, Heidi, though, this couldn't be nicer across much of the Midwest -- Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis. Good looking day today and a good looking day tomorrow for those folks.
So, east coast, especially Florida, is getting it. Back to you.
COLLINS: All right. Rob, thanks so much for that, and Chad as well out there on the beach. Thanks a lot.
MARCIANO: You bet. Sure.
HEMMER: There are two whistleblowers from the FBI speaking out about problems they see with translators at the agency. One translator telling CNN's Paula Zahn that, post-9/11, there was still lax security and that there are unqualified people working at the agency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIBEL EDMUNDS, FBI WHISTLEBLOWER: What I saw during my work with the Bureau as a translator for three Middle Eastern languages could be categorized in maybe three broad categories of issues.
One was certain translators were hired despite the fact that these translators had failed all given proficiency exams, because either they had a family member working for the bureau or they had a close friend who works for the Bureau. One translator, who failed all these proficiency exams, was sent to Guantanamo Bay for two months.
Now, they were there to translate the interrogations from certain languages to English. Well, this person did not even speak the most elementary level English.
PAULA ZAHN, HOST, "PAULA ZAHN NOW": So, how would you characterize, based on your experience as a translator for the FBI, where we are in our ability to confront terror?
EDMUNDS: Today, three years after September 11th, these issues, none of them have been addressed. The first reaction is let's cover it up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: And for more on that interview with Paula, later tonight, 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 on the west coast. "PAULA ZAHN NOW" airs here on CNN -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Thirty-five minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news and Daryn Kagan.
Daryn, good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, good morning again. We begin in eastern Afghanistan. That is where a U.S. Military helicopter has crashed. The U.S. Military says the accident killed one soldier and injured 14 others. The site has been secured by U.S. forces. Military sources stress the chopper was not fired upon. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Back here in the states to Arizona, the death toll is rising in a fiery traffic pileup just west of Phoenix. Four people are now reported dead and more than 40 injured. Dozens of vehicles, including a bus and several tractor trailers were involved. Officials are blaming a powerful dust storm for that incident.
A possible delay in the criminal case against Kobe Bryant. Prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in the sexual assault trial, less than three weeks before it was set to begin. The request comes -- the request for the delay comes just one day after the attorney for Bryant's accuser filed a civil case against the NBA star.
In Utah, there are new details emerging about the relationship between Mark and Lori Hacking. According to court papers released yesterday, Lori Hacking wrote her husband, expressing doubts about their five-year marriage. Mark Hacking is charged with killing his wife and dumping her body. Memorial services for Lori Hacking are planned for this weekend.
On a much brighter note, after years of preparation, the stage is nearly set for the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics. The Olympic Torch, seen here, will make its way to the Acropolis in Athens this afternoon.
Well, the Queen Mary, home to celebrities and dignitaries during the games, already in port, after arriving yesterday in Athens. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for tomorrow. First score of the games, U.S. Women beat the Greek team in soccer 3-0 -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Love that. All right, starting off well, I think. All right, Daryn, thanks so much for that.
KAGAN: For some reason I can't hear you, so...
COLLINS: OK, Daryn, thank you. We will check on that.
Meanwhile, though, they are soldiers through and through, but they're athletes, too. Gary Tuchman introduces us to some of the military men and women of the American Olympic Team.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are soldiers at Fort Benning, Georgia, but they are also athletes, recruited by the army to train fellow soldiers and hopefully make it all the way to the Olympics. Sergeant First Class James Todd Graves is on the Olympic Skeet Shooting Team. He won a bronze in the event at the 2000 Olympics.
SGT. JAMES TODD GRAVES. OLYMPIC SKEET SHOOTER: We're not just representing the United States, we're also representing the army. And that's a big plus for us.
TUCHMAN: For the better part of a century, the military has sent prestige (ph) to the Olympic Games. Seventeen soldiers, sailors, and airmen will be competing in Athens.
Their athletic venues are their battlefields. These soldiers generally don't fight in wars, but they go to the Athens Olympic Games with their colleagues on their minds.
SGT. SHAWN DULOHERY, OLYMPIC SKEET SHOOTER: Our job is to represent those guys, that are in Iraq and Afghanistan and all over the countryside and the world, in the Olympic world and national competitions.
TUCHMAN: This will be the first Olympic Games for air riflist Hattie Johnson of Idaho. It's a dream come true for her, but still, her first priority is her role as Army Specialist.
SGT. HATTIE JOHNSON, OLYMPIC AIR RIFLER: We may be training for a match, getting ready to travel somewhere, but then it comes up that we've got some military training to do, and that's just, you know, finding the time and the open spot to get it done. You know, we have to do it, just like everybody else does.
TUCHMAN: But now they're in Greece, hoping to represent the nation and the military honorably.
GRAVES: If I go over to the Olympics and actually win a medal, it will be definitely dedicated to all the soldiers that are overseas.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The opening ceremony for the Athens Olympics is a late- night spectacular, as we have mentioned, tomorrow night.
HEMMER: You mentioned the women's soccer -- yesterday, too, they played the home team of Greece. They said that when the game started, the stadium was less than half filled -- for the home team! I don't know what that portends for the rest of the people buying tickets there.
COLLINS: Hopefully nothing.
HEMMER: That's right. Opening games -- ceremonies, rather, tomorrow night.
Markets are open already. Gerri Willis working for Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business." Good morning to you.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning. Good to see you.
HEMMER: How are we looking this early? WILLIS: Well, it's looking good. You know, we thought we were going to have a lower open. It looks like we're opening a little higher here. Take a look at the numbers.
Oops, the Industrials -- I am wrong -- down 33 points now. That's what we're seeing in the markets right now. Let me tell you what Wall Street is chewing on here. It's an earnings report from Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer.
Did you know they employ more people than the U.S. Army?
HEMMER: Really?
WILLIS: Yes.
COLLINS: No! I didn't know that.
WILLIS: A ton of people -- a tone of people work for them. Their profits higher than expected, because back-to-school is on and people are rushing back to the stores. But look, the top line sales, not so great.
July retail sales here, keep in mind, 0.7% up is what we're hearing today. So, good, but not fabulous. You know, everybody's keeping their eyes on the economy at this point. Everybody a little worried that we might be dipping back below here in terms of growth. So, we'll keep an eye on that.
Sales for autos, up this month, which was for July, which was great.
HEMMER: More than a million employees, right, at Wal-Mart? What is it -- 1.2, I believe?
WILLIS: I believe that's -- well done, Bill. That's why you got the S.A.T. score...
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: ... people like you all the time.
Thank you, Gerri. Good to have you here.
COLLINS: Thanks, Gerri.
Still to come this morning, the eyes have it when it comes to treating high blood pressure. Could looking into your eyes be the place to start? Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the latest on that.
HEMMER: Also, in golf, this weekend the PGA Championship will tee off -- in fact, today. It's up for grabs, we know that, but would you put your money on Tiger Woods? He would. We'll explain why, still to come this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COLLINS: A new study suggesting that a person's eyes can reveal some early warning signs of hypertension. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from the CNN Center with details on this.
Good morning once again, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. Yes, they say the eyes are the window to the soul, in this case it might be -- they might be the window to heart disease or at least high blood pressure.
Now, high blood pressure is a huge problem in the United States. One in four people either have it or are going to develop it. The real holy grail for a lot of doctors is trying to be able to predict who of those people are actually going to get hypertension or high blood pressure later on in life.
Started looking at a study -- specifically looking at the eyes. Now, the big study coming out of Sydney, Australia -- 3,500 people, at least 49-years-old. What they found was that people with narrowed vessels in the back of their eye were more likely to develop blood pressure in the next five years -- twice as likely more likely to develop blood pressure in the next five years.
Now, what are we talking about here? You know, Heidi, when they come at you with that bright light and they're shining it in the back of your eye, maybe sometimes they give you the dilating drops? I want to give you a sneak peek at what it is that sometimes doctors see in the back of the eye.
Take a look at the first picture. This is what a normal -- this is what they're looking at. That's a normal retina. Look at all the blood vessels, all the red is normal. Now, this one, you can see lots of changes there. That's someone who may develop hypertension later on in life.
Now, let's take a look at the real hypertension sort of -- that's when someone has already started to develop early hypertension. You can see the sort of blotting out in the black of the retina, the blood vessels are all much more narrow.
And finally, sever hypertension, it looks even worse. You see those little white spots back there are called cotton wool spots. That's a really bad sign in terms of the hypertension and the likelihood of heart disease.
According to this new study, if you're looking at the back of the eye, the ophthalmologist may have one of the first indicators of who is and who is not going to develop hypertension. Those eye exams pretty important, Heidi.
COLLINS: Well, Sanjay, what other conditions can be seen, though, in doing these eye exams that you just showed us?
GUPTA: Yes, you can tell a lot, actually, from looking in the back of the eye. Hypertension, we've already talked about, but lots of other disease processes. You might be -- get some early indicators. Glaucoma, for example, that's an obvious one. But Diabetes, MS, leukemia, lymphoma -- all of those a possibility, as well.
Here's another tip: Before the age of 40, you should get your eyes checked this way -- you know, looking in the back of the eye -- every two years. After 40 or 50 or so, every year. It might give you a heads-up on any of these disease processes, Heidi
COLLINS: All right, Sanjay, thank you so much.
GUPTA: Thank you. Stay healthy.
COLLINS: And hey, congrats on your S.A.T. score there, buddy. Still trying to get mine.
GUPTA: You let me know.
COLLINS: OK, I will.
HEMMER: We'll put ours together and maybe we'll take on Sanjay.
COLLINS: Yes, I like that idea.
HEMMER: You like that?
COLLINS: Very good.
HEMMER: Break here in a moment. "Political Pop" panel weighing in today. What do both parties stand to gain or possibly loose from the Porter Goss nomination. Back with that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. Our panel is in place now. It's time for "Political Pop."
On the left with us today, Political Strategist Serena Torrey back here. Good morning. Also here, Andy Borowitz, responsible for borowitzreport.com and also responsible for that strong fashion statement he's making today with that shirt.
On the right, WABC radio host Mark Simone back with us, as well. And good morning to all three of you.
MARK SIMONE, RADIO HOST, WABC: Good morning.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Good morning, Bill.
SERENA TORREY, POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Good morning.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the front page of the "New York Times." Apparently a dozen Democrats say they will not block the nomination of Porter Goss. Overnight, did this become a slam dunk?
SIMONE: Well, you know, a lot of Democrats opposed to it because he's a good friend of Cheney's, because he's a Republican, he's from Florida. That might help in the election. And just by coincidence, he happens to have the best credentials in intelligence of anybody in government. And let's be honest, if Bush appointed James Bond, they'd be opposing it.
TORREY: You know, Mark, I wish the Bush administration wouldn't play politics with a position like this. They've appointed the most -- they've nominated the most partisan man in Congress, according to his colleagues, for this position.
And what they were trying to do was goad Democrats into a fight over the nomination. But what they're going to get is a nationally televised debate over intelligence failures under Bush. It's going to blow up in their face.
SIMONE: I think you blew right past the most important fact: the best resume as far as intelligence of anyone in government right now. He was a great spy for years, ran the Senate Intelligence Committee.
TORREY: The director of Central Intelligence has to work with...
HEMMER: House.
SIMONE: House.
HEMMER: Go ahead.
TORREY: But he's got to work with colleagues in the House and in the Senate. And when half of the House and the Senate doesn't find him able to work with them, we've got to look to somebody...
BOROWITZ: I thought it was interesting, yesterday, that Bush is now backing off the idea of an Intelligence Czar. He said it was too important a job to be entrusted to a Russian.
HEMMER: Next topic here. Last week -- you like that.
Last week, John Kerry made the following statement -- put it on the screen -- is going to be picked on today by the vice president. "I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror."
We are told that in Dayton, Ohio, today, the vice president will pick on that word sensitive. What did he mean by that word?
TORREY: You know, I'm not sure that it's all that helpful to be parsing John Kerry's words and nitpicking like this. What John Kerry's talking about is the fact that he wants to fight a war on terror. He wants to go after al Qaeda terrorists. He going to invest in shoring up our homeland security.
Ultimately, that's what the American people want. They're not worried about semantics.
SIMONE: A sensitive war on terror. We've tried everything; we've never tried sending them Hallmark cards, but I guess we could try that.
TORREY: You know that's not he what means.
HEMMER: Do you think that's what he means by that, Mark?
SIMONE: Well, the problem is Kerry has had every position under the sun. If you go to the RNC Web site, they've cut together all his positions on the war. It runs 11 minutes, even with editing. And because he was in Vietnam 35 years ago, we're supposed to forget about the schizophrenia?
BOROWITZ: I thought it was interesting John Edwards said that he would fight a hotter, better looking war on terror. I thought it was interesting.
HEMMER: According to "People" magazine, though, right?
BOROWITZ: Yes, exactly.
TORREY: I think the Bush folks know they're losing ground on the issue of credibility on national security. And they're really grasping at straws at this point.
HEMMER: Thanks to all three of you, all right. Return to the corner. Now back to, Heidi -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Golf lovers will be tuned in today as the PGA Championship gets underway this afternoon in Wisconsin. More than $1 million on the line for the winner.
CNN's Patrick Snell has a preview of all of the upcoming action. I've heard a couple of things, Patrick -- freezing cold, and this is the longest, newest course for the PGA Championship history, right?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Heidi. Yes, welcome to the 86th PGA Championships. I'm pleased to say, though, the sun has finally come out, after pretty indifferent weather earlier in the week.
And as ever, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods. A bit of a drought for him. He's gone nine majors, of course, he won't need reminding, without a win. His last big success at the 2002 U.S. Open. But he is still world number one, and he has been for the last 331 straight weeks. Quite an achievement. But he, like everyone else here this week, will be tested to the limits.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERNIE ELS, GOLFER: Anybody can win this week. You know, I would like to think that a guy that hits the ball long will win this week. Maybe it's full.
PHIL MICKELSON, GOLFER: I don't think that the golf course favors a long hitter. Its length can be certainly an advantage or helpful, but I don't see how it really favors that style of play. Because you're not able to stand up on a tee and just rip at it. TIGER WOODS, GOLFER: You have to put the ball in play. If you miss your tee shot, you have to make sure you miss on the correct side of the fairway so you can at least have a chance to advance up to the green. Some -- the holes are -- if you miss on the wrong side, I mean, you're doing well just to get back to the fairway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: Heidi, that's Woods, well number one for 331 weeks in total, not consecutively. But still, very much the man to beat here this week, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. We've also been hearing that it's been -- it's being called a major full of mysteries. So, we're hearing a lot about anybody could take this.
What's the biggest challenge?
SNELL: I think it has to be hearing what the players have been saying, simply the freshness, the length of this course. It's the longest in major history at over 7,500 yards. Most players are mentioning they've never played here before.
And what's interesting about it, this course is just six years old. It's been specially constructed based on a link-style development on Irish and Scottish courses. It's got very much a feel of a British Open to it.
It's a former toxic waste ground; it's been rebuilt on the shores of Lake Michigan. And what's also interesting is while players are admitting, yes, they have to play a link-style game -- i.e. a little pitch and run to get it close to the hole on occasions -- target golf will also come into play.
So, a fascinating mixture of two kinds of schools of thought here as the players will be slugging it out over the next four days, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, the old bump and run at Whistling Straits. Thanks so much, Patrick Snell.
HEMMER: Some of that wind makes it look like a British Open.
In a moment here live, to Florida -- Bonnie and Charley serving up a double dose of stormy weather there. Next hour, Daryn Kagan is on that. We're back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD M. NIXON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow.
ANNOUNCER: This week in history: The political scandal known as Watergate resulted in President Nixon's resignation on August 9th, 1974. After nearly five years in captivity in Lebanon, Edward Tracy was released by his captors in 1991.
And on August 13th, 1995, baseball legend Mickey Mantle lost his life to cancer.
That is this week in history.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Before we get out of here, we want to look forward to later tonight here on CNN. Aaron Brown coming up in about 12 hours on the clock. Preview of "NEWSNIGHT" now. Here's Aaron.
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Thank you, Bill.
Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT, " a bawdy, brutal spectacle -- our specialty. 2,500 years ago, the Olympic Games in Athens were a far cry from today's games. For one thing, the ancient athletes competed in the nude. Water supplies were sketchy. Hundreds of people died from dehydration and illness. Illegal drugs weren't an issue, but magic was.
Nissen explains it all tonight when she takes us back in time on the eve of the 2004 Summer Games. That puts all the day's top news and everything else that makes "NEWSNIGHT.
"NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, Aaron. Thanks for that. Looking forward to it, and Nissen, as well, tonight at 10:00 Eastern.
COLLINS: Toure now, "Question of the day."
TOURE, GUEST CO-HOST: We're skipping away from the "Question of the Day," back to the experience a little bit.
Robert from Columbia, Maryland, says: "Please tell Rob Marciano that I got an 1100 on the S.A.T. And that was after three attempts. Like him, I'm successful in my field -- 1100s rock. Yeah, right."
Our Senior Producer Ted Fine somehow wants everyone to know he got a 1200.
COLLINS: Go, Ted.
TOURE: And Soledad called in, ponied up, told us the truth -- 1410 -- which proves, of course, that the S.A.T. is the key to everything in life.
COLLINS: Wow, that really...
TOURE: Or something.
COLLINS: Still waiting for the call from Mountain View (ph) High School here. I'll have it tomorrow. TOURE: You and John Kerry tomorrow.
HEMMER: We got to run. Here's Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center in Atlanta taking you through the next hour. Daryn, good morning.
KAGAN: Good morning. You guys have a great day in New York City.
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