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American Morning
Hurricane Charley Nearing Florida; "Gimmie A Minute" Panel; Doping Scandal In Greece; Migraine Drug Approved; Housing Market
Aired August 13, 2004 - 08:30 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. 8:30 here in New York. Watching the situation in Florida. Hurricane Charley, Key West already feeling some of that force. Get you live in a moment.
Meanwhile in Tampa, expect to get the brunt of that storm later tonight sometime around 7:00, 8:00 the eye's expected to pass. But before that, as Chad points out, they will feel the force of Charley. We'll check in with Chad live in a moment down in Florida.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, they'll know it's coming.
Plus, New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's stunning announcement yesterday. He told the nation he was gay and then resigned. The "Gimmie a Minute" panel wants to know whether it will have an impact on the presidential election.
HEMMER: Also, a new hope for people who suffer from migraines. We're paging the good doctor in a moment. Sanjay has information on what you need to know in a few moments here.
COLLINS: Want to get back to Hurricane Charley now. For -- we are learning more about how it's bearing down on Florida this morning and brushing the Florida Keys before turning north.
We have Rob Marciano standing by to give us the very latest update and where this thing is headed. Hi, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hello, Heidi.
It is just to the west of Key West. As you mentioned, it is brushing the Florida Keys. Just to the west and moving northward and beginning to accelerate now. And it looks like it's becoming better organized.
Forecast track hasn't really changed. We expect it to scoot up the coastline, bypass Fort Myers -- although Fort Myers will probably see hurricane conditions around noon or 2:00 -- and then get up into Tampa Bay. But because it's skirting the coastline like that, if it jogs east real quick or jogs west real quick, I mean then that will affect some different people in different ways. Either way you slice it, it is heading into the west coast of Florida later on today, likely as a Category Three storm.
So, we look for it to strengthen here over the next couple of hours. Winds could gust to 150 miles an hour. Landfall expected late this afternoon as a major hurricane. And like we've been talking, the main concern -- well, the winds are bad, but the storm surge that could run up into Tampa Bay could be quite, quite destructive.
As we head through later on tonight and tomorrow, probably will still be a hurricane, northern parts of Florida, then eventually diminishing into tropical storm status. But this is going to affect a lot of people, Heidi, right up through the Carolina coastline with rainfall in places they don't need it, all the way up in through the District of Columbia.
So, this is going to affect millions of people, most of which over the next 12 hours -- will be across the west coast of Florida. And of course, we've been talking about that all morning long and will continue to do so throughout the afternoon. Back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Rob, thanks so much for that. We also want to get to some pictures that we have gone in here at CNN just a little while ago, coming to us from our affiliate in Key West, WPLG.
You can see what is happening now, waters are churning. Been talking a lot, as Rob just was, about the water surges. Lot of boats have been docked, people are making sure they somehow can keep them battened down so they don't actually lose their boats.
A lot of stuff going on there. We have a correspondent standing by to tell a little bit more about what's happening.
HEMMER: That location right there in Key West is the southernmost point in the U.S.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: And what the reporter you were talking to an hour ago said, gusts of about 50 miles an hour.
COLLINS: Yes, she said it was about the worst it was going to get.
HEMMER: Yes, and you also talked with the National Hurricane Center. They were reporting overnight last night in Havana, Cuba, they clocked winds -- gusts of up to 124 miles an hour. So, as storm moves to the water, perhaps it strengthens again as we move throughout the day here.
COLLINS: Ten to 12 and sometimes 14-foot waves, though. Can you imagine it?
HEMMER: Yes, the storm surge. You're exactly right. And oftentimes, that is what people look out for when the storm comes ashore.
Let's leave Charley behind for a moment and turn to our "Gimmie a Minute" panel -- some of the biggest stories from the past week. From New York, WABC radio host Mark Simone with us today. Good morning, Mark.
MARK SIMONE, RADIO HOST, WABC: Good morning.
HEMMER: Welcome back.
In D.C., Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist, CNN political contributor, and always cooking with grease. Good morning, Donna.
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Thank you.
HEMMER: Here in New York, Andy Borowitz, online satirist from borowitzreport.com. And Drew, good morning...
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Good morning.
HEMMER: ... to you my friend.
Mark, let's start off. The political fallout of Jim McGreevey is what?
SIMONE: Well, you know, Bush is surprisingly close in New Jersey, so this could make a difference for Republicans. Remember, the scandal is not the sex of the affair and not just a no-show job, he put this guy in charge of Homeland Security, a guy with no credentials. Imagine giving Monica Lewinsky Tom Ridge's job after all that.
HEMMER: Donna, what do you think? Does it help Bush?
BRAZILE: No, I don't believe it will alter national politics. It will stir up a different kind of conversation in the State of New Jersey, but New Jersey will remain a blue state.
HEMMER: Andy, what are you thinking?
BOROWITZ: Based on yesterday's news, I say New Jersey goes either way.
HEMMER: That we can say for certain.
Next topic, last night Larry King had the president and the first lady in this one-hour interview. Donna, he was asked if the U.S. is better off than they were four years ago. The president says yes. What do you say today?
BRAZILE: Well, of course, I'm going to say that the president, once again, misled us. If you survived George Bush economy, understand these terror threats, perhaps you are better off. But there are a lot of Americans without health insurance and jobs that's not better off.
HEMMER: Mark, better off now?
SIMONE: Well, the Democrats had eight years to give us all that health insurance. If I listed all the al Qaeda members, including operating heads captured and killed, we'd be here for hours. Two brutal regimes taken out, 50 million people liberated. I think the world's a better place.
HEMMER: Well, you've had four years to think about this, Andy. BOROWITZ: I thought it was interesting when he said that Libya no longer has weapons of mass destruction and neither does Iraq.
HEMMER: I get it.
Listen, Dick Cheney was on the stump yesterday, picking again on this word sensitive as it relates to John Kerry in a comment he made last week about a sensitive war on terror.
Listen to Dick Cheney in Dayton from yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America has been in too many wars for any of our wishes, but not a one of them was won by being sensitive.
A sensitive war will not destroy the evil men who killed 3,000 Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: White -- Mark, can the White House get true mileage out of this?
SIMONE: Yes, I think so. And I think everybody is still shaking their heads, wondering what is a sensitive war? Are we going to play new age music as we go into combat? What is it?
HEMMER: Donna, clarification?
BRAZILE: Well, it's the same comment that George Bush gave back in March of 2001 when he talked about Americans -- America's power and not being arrogant. That's what John Kerry was saying.
HEMMER: On a much different note, you're always sensitive, Andy.
BOROWITZ: Well, I thought it was really interesting when Cheney went on to say the administration was prepared to launch a war on sensitivity. I think that's going to be interesting.
HEMMER: Stay tuned for that headline.
Donna, under the radar -- what did we miss this past week?
BRAZILE: Well, there's a lot of political stories that we missed this week because we focused on national politics. But you know, I just want to say to those people in Florida, sorry, Charley, you're not going to harm those individuals. Just pray, and that storm will pass.
HEMMER: And topical, too. Mark?
SIMONE: Hey, everybody's talking about the Bush sitting there for seven minutes on 9/11. Dig out the July 8th Larry King show where Kerry says he was so stunned he couldn't think for 40 minutes after the second plane hit the towers.
HEMMER: Andy?
BOROWITZ: Well, security officials in Athens were criticized this week for failing to notice the appearance of a gigantic wooden horse.
HEMMER: I've seen the movie. Thanks, Andy. Thanks, Donna. Thanks, Mark. Have a great weekend, OK?
BRAZILE: Thank you.
BOROWITZ: All right.
SIMONE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Heidi?
COLLINS: Back once again to Hurricane Charley, trying to keep an eye on this for you all morning long. As you know, bearing down on the Florida coast now.
We have Neki Mohan with affiliate WPLG in Key West, Florida. Neki, I'm just going to let you take it from here. Not sure how well you can hear me.
NEKI MOHAN, WPLG REPORTER: Yes, I can hear you fine, Heidi. We're getting one last blast from Charley as he heads north from Tampa. He's more than 50 miles offshore here in Key West.
The winds have changed for us. First, they were coming from the southeast, now they're coming from the southwest. Key West about to be blasted with more rain and winds up to 50 miles an hour, which we're feeling on top of the highest point here in Key West.
Take a look at the world famous Duval Street. You can see some people coming out. It hasn't really been that bad, but people here did prepare. They boarded up, and they went to shelters for the night -- 70 people in shelters. And they stayed home, did not come out.
Now, they're getting a little comfortable, coming out here in Key West. But for the most part, we've lost power off and on throughout the night, but this is really the worst of it. We're letting people know to stay inside until it completely passes.
This is just a taste of what Tampa's going to get 10 times over later today. And as you can see, Hurricane Charley passing by Key West. We're dodging the bullet here, but still hitting us strong enough to let us know he's passing by.
We're now reporting live in Key West, I'm Neki Mohan, back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. I didn't see too many people riding their bikes like we saw last time when we talked. Neki Mohan, thanks so much for that. 8:37 now. Time for a look at some of today's other news and other headlines with Carol Costello -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Heidi. Good morning to everyone.
For a second time this week, President Bush and Senator John Kerry are dueling in the same city. The president will be speaking in Portland, Oregon, speaking at a small business summit. He then heads to Washington State. John Kerry also in Portland. He's touting an energy plan and winding up his 15-day cross-country trip through key battleground states.
The tapes and diaries connected to the Columbine shooting may soon be released to the public. A Colorado appeals court ruled yesterday that the materials made by Columbine High School killers -- well, they're public record. But the court has given authorities a loophole. The ruling says the documents can be withheld if their release goes against the public's interest.
In China, more than 100 people are reported dead, thousand others injured as a typhoon devastates southeastern parts of that country. The typhoon roared ashore yesterday with winds of more than 100 miles per hour. According to reports, nearly half a million people were evacuated in the face of the most powerful typhoon to strike China in seven years.
And CBS late-night talk show host Craig Kilborn is calling it quits. Hollywood trade papers are reporting today that talks throughout the summer famed to keep the popular comedian in the CBS lineup. Reports say Kilborn told executives he wants to move on and try something new.
Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: ... begin? Conan O'Brien, perhaps, to be courted in that scenario?
COSTELLO: Oh, no, I love his show right where it is. I love his show.
HEMMER: OK, I'll let him know. He's right across the street.
COSTELLO: That's my two cents.
HEMMER: Thank you, Carol.
The Olympics get underway later tonight; opening ceremonies in Athens, Greece. But the controversy already beginning in Athens. Two of Greece's biggest sports stars -- one of whom was a favorite to light the Olympic cauldron -- now at the center of a doping scandal.
Mark McKay live in Athens with more. Mark, hello there.
MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. I can certainly tell you it is hot in Athens, and the hot story in Athens has to do with two of their own.
Costas Kenteris, the Olympic 200-meter champion, and Katerina Thanou, who is the 100-meter silver medalist in Sydney, face the chance of being expelled from these Games. The Greek Olympic Committee has granted 48 hours -- they have been granted 48 hours for the pair to explain why they failed to show for a drug test on Thursday.
Now, Kenteris was said to be the Greeks' best hope for a gold medal here in Athens. Adding to the intrigue, the two sprinters were involved in a motorcycle accident and are hospitalized with what are said to be minor injuries.
Now, as the day continues here, toward nightfall, all the attention turns to, of course, the lavish opening ceremony. More than 10,000 athletes taking part in this Hollywood-like affair, including Dawn Staley of the U.S. Women's Basketball Team, who's quite proud to be carrying the red, white, and blue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAWN STALEY, U.S. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM: I am tremendously thrilled. I'm emotional about it. It is something that you don't dream about. You really don't. It's a fairy tale that somehow ended up in my lap, and you know, I will do it proudly and honorably.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKAY: Of course, Michael Phelps is expected to make the biggest splash at these games. The 19-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, trying for a record seven swimming gold medals. He starts right out of the blocks, Bill. His first chance at gold comes Saturday in the 400-meter individual medley.
HEMMER: That backdrop looks absolutely awesome, too, Mark. Enjoy the Games. Mark McKay in Athens.
Tough going for the Greeks already, Heidi.
COLLINS: I know.
HEMMER: The women lost in soccer to the U.S. -- what -- on Wednesday it was. The men's soccer team, it was pulled off national television in Greece while the game was underway. No explanation given as to why.
COLLINS: That's happened here in the United States.
HEMMER: Actually, it has. Yes, you're right. But opening ceremonies later tonight, and best of luck to everybody in Athens.
COLLINS: It's going to be fun.
HEMMER: I think you're right. I agree with you 100% on that.
In a moment here, sky-high housing costs. Prices are going through the roof in some parts of the country. Is the bubble about to burst, though? We'll look at that.
COLLINS: And new hope for migraine sufferers: The drug that may finally spell relief from severe headaches. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the story on that.
HEMMER: Also, tracking the path of Hurricane Charley. The very latest out of Florida in a moment when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: There's new hope for millions of migraine sufferers. The FDA has approved the use of an epilepsy drug to treat severe headaches. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now from the CNN Center with details. Very exciting stuff.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is, Heidi, for a lot of people out there who have migraines. These can be particularly debilitating headaches. This is the first medication for prevention of migraines that's been approved by the FDA in nine years.
Topamax, that's the name of the drug. Topiramate is the generic name. It was already being used for patients with epilepsy, and it was already being used by doctors off label for the treatment of migraine headaches.
But there was a study back in February in JAMA that really spurned this FDA approval, looking -- showing that this drug actually reduced the severity and reduced the frequency of migraine headaches if this medication was taken daily.
Also as a side effect, Heidi, which people didn't seem to mind, which was weight loss as well. And that was a side effect that people were getting from this medication.
How do you know if you should take the medication? Who is a candidate for a migraine prevention medication? If you are having three or more migraines a month, and migraines can be particularly bad headaches or a couple of disabling migraines -- ones that really put you out for a day or so -- those can be a problem.
The key everybody says -- doctors, drugmakers, everyone included -- says prevention is the key when it comes to these sorts of headaches, Heidi.
COLLINS: If you've never had a migraine, you don't really understand what it's like. But for those people who do suffer, how do they really tell the difference between just a really bad, bad headache and an actual migraine?
GUPTA: Yes, you know, if you get a headache that's sort of in the front of your head, it goes away with aspirin or some sleep; that's probably a tension headache.
Migraines headaches tend to be neurological. A lot of times you have not only the headache, but also have some bright lights shining in your eyes, things like that that seem unusual. Sometimes you can lose some vision in your eye even temporarily.
Oftentimes, they're hereditary, as well, and they seem to occur more commonly in women. As far as the characteristics of the headache themselves, oftentimes they can last any range of time from four hours to three days.
They tend to be just on one side of the head and sort of a pulsing, sort of throbbing pain. Again, migraine sufferers know exactly what I'm talking about. Oftentimes, you get nauseated, you have sensitivity to light and sound.
And really quick, Heidi, as well, people who have migraines typically have specific triggers that will trigger their migraines. Stress, menstruation, caffeine, alcohol, and nitrites -- nitrites you find in wine and chocolate, things like that -- too little sleep, obviously, allergies, and shifting weather can do it, as well, Heidi.
COLLINS: They're so awful. I used to get them, and I would have that visual aura and go completely blind. But I don't get them anymore, knock on wood. Thank God for that.
I want to get a quick update from you. I understand there's other FDA news out there: an update on a device for depression? We were talking about this story last week.
GUPTA: We talked about this story. It's called the Vagus Nerve Stimulator, and it's actually a device that's actually implanted around one of the nerves in your neck. And it actually sends these signals up to your brain.
We told you the story of a woman who had depression that was so terrible that nothing seemed to work for her. She had this device implanted as part of a clinical trial, and her depression was incredibly improved after that.
So, the FDA Advisory Panel had actually approved recommendation, but the FDA just yesterday, Heidi, saying, no go. Not this time around. They want a little more research. They want a little bit more data before they're going to approve this. So, it's probably going to go one more cycle around, Heidi.
COLLINS: Wow. Well, hopefully there's still hope for that, as well.
GUPTA: Yes.
COLLINS: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, nice to see you. Thanks so much..
GUPTA: All right. Thank you. Stay healthy. Yes, bye-bye.
COLLINS: Still to come this morning, what goes up must come down. Housing prices have skyrocketed, but is the bubble about to burst?
And millions of people are being urged to flee Hurricane Charley. We'll have the latest on that here on AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. Low interest rates helping to keep home buying affordable. But there are areas in this country where real estate prices are really jumping -- even today.
Gerri Willis in for Andy Serwer today, "Minding Your Business." The good and the bad?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Yes, there's plenty of each, actually. National Association of Realtors out yesterday with these number. Double-digit price increases in 34 states. The big surprise here, listen to this, Las Vegas - yeah, Vegas, baby -- prices up 52.4% year to year. Can you imagine that?
If you're looking for a house out there, you'd be paying about $269,000. Other big winners, California -- Anaheim, Riverside, L.A., Long Beach. You can see what's going on here. These are areas that are really drawing population.
HEMMER: Yes, and all in the American west, too. Who's losing right now?
WILLIS: Well, it's really manufacturing towns. Check out this list. Starting with Knoxville, where prices went down 7%. The bubble is bursting. These are really manufacturing towns -- in Alabama, Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina.
COLLINS: And New York City is still booming.
WILLIS: New York City is still booming.
HEMMER: Yes? And for how much longer, we cannot say.
Quickly on the markets, another down day. Triple digits for the Dow...
WILLIS: Yes, it wasn't pretty. Well, today it could be very good, indeed. You know, looks like we could have a rebound here. That's what we're expecting, at least.
Dell posted some really good numbers -- could fire up traders. Oil prices backed off of those highs. So, we're expecting a little better...
HEMMER: Cisco down one day, Dell up the next.
WILLIS: Yes.
HEMMER: Go figure.
WILLIS: That's right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Gerri.
WILLIS: You're welcome. HEMMER: Heidi?
COLLINS: Toure is here now with the "Question of the Day" while Jack Cafferty is on vacation. Great question today; I really like it.
TOURE, GUEST CO-HOST: Well, we're having fun. the viewers are talking about Condoleezza Rice perhaps could be president in the future. Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell -- Barack Obama's name keeps coming up.
But Governor McGreevey's announcements got us thinking. You know, there's lots of gay Americans in all walks of life, but very few in national politics.
So, be a political prognosticator. Tell us, in the future, who is going to be president first: a black man, a gay American, or a woman, or a black woman?
Some answers from the people. "It's a tough call between an African-American or a woman being president first. But it all comes down to credibility and respect and how they turn into a real chance for the post."
Mel from Corwall on the Hudson, who writes in a lot: "What about my favorite cover-all-the-bases candidate, the black, lesbian, Jewish, Hispanic, disabled veteran?" If we could find two of those, I'd be shocked.
"I think a woman has the best chance," says Mary from Lawrence, Kansas. "I have a couple in mind, including an ex-first lady who is a senator from New York."
And J.R. from Lumber City, Georgia, gets the award for the first hour: "How about we vote Michael Jackson in -- we'll have all three bases covered."
COLLINS: Oh, please.
TOURE: Hey -- there you go.
COLLINS: ... to go from there. All right. Toure, thanks so much for that.
HEMMER: All right, let's get a break here. In a moment, packing a punch in Florida. Florida already starting to feel the effects of Charley. The latest in a moment here. Get you there live and what we are learning this hour
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Bird watchers are flocking to Martha's Vineyard for a look now at a rare red-footed falcon. It's the first time the bird has been seen in North America. The falcon was first spotted on Sunday by a local bird watcher. And more than 100 people watched the falcon fly around yesterday. You see al the pictures to prove it. The bird didn't seem to mind all the attention either.
Well, still to come, New Jersey Governor McGreevey resigns and admits he is gay. Newt Gingrich's sister, a gay rights advocate, reacts and joins us. Coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired August 13, 2004 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. 8:30 here in New York. Watching the situation in Florida. Hurricane Charley, Key West already feeling some of that force. Get you live in a moment.
Meanwhile in Tampa, expect to get the brunt of that storm later tonight sometime around 7:00, 8:00 the eye's expected to pass. But before that, as Chad points out, they will feel the force of Charley. We'll check in with Chad live in a moment down in Florida.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, they'll know it's coming.
Plus, New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's stunning announcement yesterday. He told the nation he was gay and then resigned. The "Gimmie a Minute" panel wants to know whether it will have an impact on the presidential election.
HEMMER: Also, a new hope for people who suffer from migraines. We're paging the good doctor in a moment. Sanjay has information on what you need to know in a few moments here.
COLLINS: Want to get back to Hurricane Charley now. For -- we are learning more about how it's bearing down on Florida this morning and brushing the Florida Keys before turning north.
We have Rob Marciano standing by to give us the very latest update and where this thing is headed. Hi, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hello, Heidi.
It is just to the west of Key West. As you mentioned, it is brushing the Florida Keys. Just to the west and moving northward and beginning to accelerate now. And it looks like it's becoming better organized.
Forecast track hasn't really changed. We expect it to scoot up the coastline, bypass Fort Myers -- although Fort Myers will probably see hurricane conditions around noon or 2:00 -- and then get up into Tampa Bay. But because it's skirting the coastline like that, if it jogs east real quick or jogs west real quick, I mean then that will affect some different people in different ways. Either way you slice it, it is heading into the west coast of Florida later on today, likely as a Category Three storm.
So, we look for it to strengthen here over the next couple of hours. Winds could gust to 150 miles an hour. Landfall expected late this afternoon as a major hurricane. And like we've been talking, the main concern -- well, the winds are bad, but the storm surge that could run up into Tampa Bay could be quite, quite destructive.
As we head through later on tonight and tomorrow, probably will still be a hurricane, northern parts of Florida, then eventually diminishing into tropical storm status. But this is going to affect a lot of people, Heidi, right up through the Carolina coastline with rainfall in places they don't need it, all the way up in through the District of Columbia.
So, this is going to affect millions of people, most of which over the next 12 hours -- will be across the west coast of Florida. And of course, we've been talking about that all morning long and will continue to do so throughout the afternoon. Back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Rob, thanks so much for that. We also want to get to some pictures that we have gone in here at CNN just a little while ago, coming to us from our affiliate in Key West, WPLG.
You can see what is happening now, waters are churning. Been talking a lot, as Rob just was, about the water surges. Lot of boats have been docked, people are making sure they somehow can keep them battened down so they don't actually lose their boats.
A lot of stuff going on there. We have a correspondent standing by to tell a little bit more about what's happening.
HEMMER: That location right there in Key West is the southernmost point in the U.S.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: And what the reporter you were talking to an hour ago said, gusts of about 50 miles an hour.
COLLINS: Yes, she said it was about the worst it was going to get.
HEMMER: Yes, and you also talked with the National Hurricane Center. They were reporting overnight last night in Havana, Cuba, they clocked winds -- gusts of up to 124 miles an hour. So, as storm moves to the water, perhaps it strengthens again as we move throughout the day here.
COLLINS: Ten to 12 and sometimes 14-foot waves, though. Can you imagine it?
HEMMER: Yes, the storm surge. You're exactly right. And oftentimes, that is what people look out for when the storm comes ashore.
Let's leave Charley behind for a moment and turn to our "Gimmie a Minute" panel -- some of the biggest stories from the past week. From New York, WABC radio host Mark Simone with us today. Good morning, Mark.
MARK SIMONE, RADIO HOST, WABC: Good morning.
HEMMER: Welcome back.
In D.C., Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist, CNN political contributor, and always cooking with grease. Good morning, Donna.
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Thank you.
HEMMER: Here in New York, Andy Borowitz, online satirist from borowitzreport.com. And Drew, good morning...
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Good morning.
HEMMER: ... to you my friend.
Mark, let's start off. The political fallout of Jim McGreevey is what?
SIMONE: Well, you know, Bush is surprisingly close in New Jersey, so this could make a difference for Republicans. Remember, the scandal is not the sex of the affair and not just a no-show job, he put this guy in charge of Homeland Security, a guy with no credentials. Imagine giving Monica Lewinsky Tom Ridge's job after all that.
HEMMER: Donna, what do you think? Does it help Bush?
BRAZILE: No, I don't believe it will alter national politics. It will stir up a different kind of conversation in the State of New Jersey, but New Jersey will remain a blue state.
HEMMER: Andy, what are you thinking?
BOROWITZ: Based on yesterday's news, I say New Jersey goes either way.
HEMMER: That we can say for certain.
Next topic, last night Larry King had the president and the first lady in this one-hour interview. Donna, he was asked if the U.S. is better off than they were four years ago. The president says yes. What do you say today?
BRAZILE: Well, of course, I'm going to say that the president, once again, misled us. If you survived George Bush economy, understand these terror threats, perhaps you are better off. But there are a lot of Americans without health insurance and jobs that's not better off.
HEMMER: Mark, better off now?
SIMONE: Well, the Democrats had eight years to give us all that health insurance. If I listed all the al Qaeda members, including operating heads captured and killed, we'd be here for hours. Two brutal regimes taken out, 50 million people liberated. I think the world's a better place.
HEMMER: Well, you've had four years to think about this, Andy. BOROWITZ: I thought it was interesting when he said that Libya no longer has weapons of mass destruction and neither does Iraq.
HEMMER: I get it.
Listen, Dick Cheney was on the stump yesterday, picking again on this word sensitive as it relates to John Kerry in a comment he made last week about a sensitive war on terror.
Listen to Dick Cheney in Dayton from yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America has been in too many wars for any of our wishes, but not a one of them was won by being sensitive.
A sensitive war will not destroy the evil men who killed 3,000 Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: White -- Mark, can the White House get true mileage out of this?
SIMONE: Yes, I think so. And I think everybody is still shaking their heads, wondering what is a sensitive war? Are we going to play new age music as we go into combat? What is it?
HEMMER: Donna, clarification?
BRAZILE: Well, it's the same comment that George Bush gave back in March of 2001 when he talked about Americans -- America's power and not being arrogant. That's what John Kerry was saying.
HEMMER: On a much different note, you're always sensitive, Andy.
BOROWITZ: Well, I thought it was really interesting when Cheney went on to say the administration was prepared to launch a war on sensitivity. I think that's going to be interesting.
HEMMER: Stay tuned for that headline.
Donna, under the radar -- what did we miss this past week?
BRAZILE: Well, there's a lot of political stories that we missed this week because we focused on national politics. But you know, I just want to say to those people in Florida, sorry, Charley, you're not going to harm those individuals. Just pray, and that storm will pass.
HEMMER: And topical, too. Mark?
SIMONE: Hey, everybody's talking about the Bush sitting there for seven minutes on 9/11. Dig out the July 8th Larry King show where Kerry says he was so stunned he couldn't think for 40 minutes after the second plane hit the towers.
HEMMER: Andy?
BOROWITZ: Well, security officials in Athens were criticized this week for failing to notice the appearance of a gigantic wooden horse.
HEMMER: I've seen the movie. Thanks, Andy. Thanks, Donna. Thanks, Mark. Have a great weekend, OK?
BRAZILE: Thank you.
BOROWITZ: All right.
SIMONE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Heidi?
COLLINS: Back once again to Hurricane Charley, trying to keep an eye on this for you all morning long. As you know, bearing down on the Florida coast now.
We have Neki Mohan with affiliate WPLG in Key West, Florida. Neki, I'm just going to let you take it from here. Not sure how well you can hear me.
NEKI MOHAN, WPLG REPORTER: Yes, I can hear you fine, Heidi. We're getting one last blast from Charley as he heads north from Tampa. He's more than 50 miles offshore here in Key West.
The winds have changed for us. First, they were coming from the southeast, now they're coming from the southwest. Key West about to be blasted with more rain and winds up to 50 miles an hour, which we're feeling on top of the highest point here in Key West.
Take a look at the world famous Duval Street. You can see some people coming out. It hasn't really been that bad, but people here did prepare. They boarded up, and they went to shelters for the night -- 70 people in shelters. And they stayed home, did not come out.
Now, they're getting a little comfortable, coming out here in Key West. But for the most part, we've lost power off and on throughout the night, but this is really the worst of it. We're letting people know to stay inside until it completely passes.
This is just a taste of what Tampa's going to get 10 times over later today. And as you can see, Hurricane Charley passing by Key West. We're dodging the bullet here, but still hitting us strong enough to let us know he's passing by.
We're now reporting live in Key West, I'm Neki Mohan, back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. I didn't see too many people riding their bikes like we saw last time when we talked. Neki Mohan, thanks so much for that. 8:37 now. Time for a look at some of today's other news and other headlines with Carol Costello -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Heidi. Good morning to everyone.
For a second time this week, President Bush and Senator John Kerry are dueling in the same city. The president will be speaking in Portland, Oregon, speaking at a small business summit. He then heads to Washington State. John Kerry also in Portland. He's touting an energy plan and winding up his 15-day cross-country trip through key battleground states.
The tapes and diaries connected to the Columbine shooting may soon be released to the public. A Colorado appeals court ruled yesterday that the materials made by Columbine High School killers -- well, they're public record. But the court has given authorities a loophole. The ruling says the documents can be withheld if their release goes against the public's interest.
In China, more than 100 people are reported dead, thousand others injured as a typhoon devastates southeastern parts of that country. The typhoon roared ashore yesterday with winds of more than 100 miles per hour. According to reports, nearly half a million people were evacuated in the face of the most powerful typhoon to strike China in seven years.
And CBS late-night talk show host Craig Kilborn is calling it quits. Hollywood trade papers are reporting today that talks throughout the summer famed to keep the popular comedian in the CBS lineup. Reports say Kilborn told executives he wants to move on and try something new.
Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: ... begin? Conan O'Brien, perhaps, to be courted in that scenario?
COSTELLO: Oh, no, I love his show right where it is. I love his show.
HEMMER: OK, I'll let him know. He's right across the street.
COSTELLO: That's my two cents.
HEMMER: Thank you, Carol.
The Olympics get underway later tonight; opening ceremonies in Athens, Greece. But the controversy already beginning in Athens. Two of Greece's biggest sports stars -- one of whom was a favorite to light the Olympic cauldron -- now at the center of a doping scandal.
Mark McKay live in Athens with more. Mark, hello there.
MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. I can certainly tell you it is hot in Athens, and the hot story in Athens has to do with two of their own.
Costas Kenteris, the Olympic 200-meter champion, and Katerina Thanou, who is the 100-meter silver medalist in Sydney, face the chance of being expelled from these Games. The Greek Olympic Committee has granted 48 hours -- they have been granted 48 hours for the pair to explain why they failed to show for a drug test on Thursday.
Now, Kenteris was said to be the Greeks' best hope for a gold medal here in Athens. Adding to the intrigue, the two sprinters were involved in a motorcycle accident and are hospitalized with what are said to be minor injuries.
Now, as the day continues here, toward nightfall, all the attention turns to, of course, the lavish opening ceremony. More than 10,000 athletes taking part in this Hollywood-like affair, including Dawn Staley of the U.S. Women's Basketball Team, who's quite proud to be carrying the red, white, and blue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAWN STALEY, U.S. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM: I am tremendously thrilled. I'm emotional about it. It is something that you don't dream about. You really don't. It's a fairy tale that somehow ended up in my lap, and you know, I will do it proudly and honorably.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKAY: Of course, Michael Phelps is expected to make the biggest splash at these games. The 19-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, trying for a record seven swimming gold medals. He starts right out of the blocks, Bill. His first chance at gold comes Saturday in the 400-meter individual medley.
HEMMER: That backdrop looks absolutely awesome, too, Mark. Enjoy the Games. Mark McKay in Athens.
Tough going for the Greeks already, Heidi.
COLLINS: I know.
HEMMER: The women lost in soccer to the U.S. -- what -- on Wednesday it was. The men's soccer team, it was pulled off national television in Greece while the game was underway. No explanation given as to why.
COLLINS: That's happened here in the United States.
HEMMER: Actually, it has. Yes, you're right. But opening ceremonies later tonight, and best of luck to everybody in Athens.
COLLINS: It's going to be fun.
HEMMER: I think you're right. I agree with you 100% on that.
In a moment here, sky-high housing costs. Prices are going through the roof in some parts of the country. Is the bubble about to burst, though? We'll look at that.
COLLINS: And new hope for migraine sufferers: The drug that may finally spell relief from severe headaches. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the story on that.
HEMMER: Also, tracking the path of Hurricane Charley. The very latest out of Florida in a moment when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: There's new hope for millions of migraine sufferers. The FDA has approved the use of an epilepsy drug to treat severe headaches. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now from the CNN Center with details. Very exciting stuff.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is, Heidi, for a lot of people out there who have migraines. These can be particularly debilitating headaches. This is the first medication for prevention of migraines that's been approved by the FDA in nine years.
Topamax, that's the name of the drug. Topiramate is the generic name. It was already being used for patients with epilepsy, and it was already being used by doctors off label for the treatment of migraine headaches.
But there was a study back in February in JAMA that really spurned this FDA approval, looking -- showing that this drug actually reduced the severity and reduced the frequency of migraine headaches if this medication was taken daily.
Also as a side effect, Heidi, which people didn't seem to mind, which was weight loss as well. And that was a side effect that people were getting from this medication.
How do you know if you should take the medication? Who is a candidate for a migraine prevention medication? If you are having three or more migraines a month, and migraines can be particularly bad headaches or a couple of disabling migraines -- ones that really put you out for a day or so -- those can be a problem.
The key everybody says -- doctors, drugmakers, everyone included -- says prevention is the key when it comes to these sorts of headaches, Heidi.
COLLINS: If you've never had a migraine, you don't really understand what it's like. But for those people who do suffer, how do they really tell the difference between just a really bad, bad headache and an actual migraine?
GUPTA: Yes, you know, if you get a headache that's sort of in the front of your head, it goes away with aspirin or some sleep; that's probably a tension headache.
Migraines headaches tend to be neurological. A lot of times you have not only the headache, but also have some bright lights shining in your eyes, things like that that seem unusual. Sometimes you can lose some vision in your eye even temporarily.
Oftentimes, they're hereditary, as well, and they seem to occur more commonly in women. As far as the characteristics of the headache themselves, oftentimes they can last any range of time from four hours to three days.
They tend to be just on one side of the head and sort of a pulsing, sort of throbbing pain. Again, migraine sufferers know exactly what I'm talking about. Oftentimes, you get nauseated, you have sensitivity to light and sound.
And really quick, Heidi, as well, people who have migraines typically have specific triggers that will trigger their migraines. Stress, menstruation, caffeine, alcohol, and nitrites -- nitrites you find in wine and chocolate, things like that -- too little sleep, obviously, allergies, and shifting weather can do it, as well, Heidi.
COLLINS: They're so awful. I used to get them, and I would have that visual aura and go completely blind. But I don't get them anymore, knock on wood. Thank God for that.
I want to get a quick update from you. I understand there's other FDA news out there: an update on a device for depression? We were talking about this story last week.
GUPTA: We talked about this story. It's called the Vagus Nerve Stimulator, and it's actually a device that's actually implanted around one of the nerves in your neck. And it actually sends these signals up to your brain.
We told you the story of a woman who had depression that was so terrible that nothing seemed to work for her. She had this device implanted as part of a clinical trial, and her depression was incredibly improved after that.
So, the FDA Advisory Panel had actually approved recommendation, but the FDA just yesterday, Heidi, saying, no go. Not this time around. They want a little more research. They want a little bit more data before they're going to approve this. So, it's probably going to go one more cycle around, Heidi.
COLLINS: Wow. Well, hopefully there's still hope for that, as well.
GUPTA: Yes.
COLLINS: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, nice to see you. Thanks so much..
GUPTA: All right. Thank you. Stay healthy. Yes, bye-bye.
COLLINS: Still to come this morning, what goes up must come down. Housing prices have skyrocketed, but is the bubble about to burst?
And millions of people are being urged to flee Hurricane Charley. We'll have the latest on that here on AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. Low interest rates helping to keep home buying affordable. But there are areas in this country where real estate prices are really jumping -- even today.
Gerri Willis in for Andy Serwer today, "Minding Your Business." The good and the bad?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Yes, there's plenty of each, actually. National Association of Realtors out yesterday with these number. Double-digit price increases in 34 states. The big surprise here, listen to this, Las Vegas - yeah, Vegas, baby -- prices up 52.4% year to year. Can you imagine that?
If you're looking for a house out there, you'd be paying about $269,000. Other big winners, California -- Anaheim, Riverside, L.A., Long Beach. You can see what's going on here. These are areas that are really drawing population.
HEMMER: Yes, and all in the American west, too. Who's losing right now?
WILLIS: Well, it's really manufacturing towns. Check out this list. Starting with Knoxville, where prices went down 7%. The bubble is bursting. These are really manufacturing towns -- in Alabama, Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina.
COLLINS: And New York City is still booming.
WILLIS: New York City is still booming.
HEMMER: Yes? And for how much longer, we cannot say.
Quickly on the markets, another down day. Triple digits for the Dow...
WILLIS: Yes, it wasn't pretty. Well, today it could be very good, indeed. You know, looks like we could have a rebound here. That's what we're expecting, at least.
Dell posted some really good numbers -- could fire up traders. Oil prices backed off of those highs. So, we're expecting a little better...
HEMMER: Cisco down one day, Dell up the next.
WILLIS: Yes.
HEMMER: Go figure.
WILLIS: That's right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Gerri.
WILLIS: You're welcome. HEMMER: Heidi?
COLLINS: Toure is here now with the "Question of the Day" while Jack Cafferty is on vacation. Great question today; I really like it.
TOURE, GUEST CO-HOST: Well, we're having fun. the viewers are talking about Condoleezza Rice perhaps could be president in the future. Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell -- Barack Obama's name keeps coming up.
But Governor McGreevey's announcements got us thinking. You know, there's lots of gay Americans in all walks of life, but very few in national politics.
So, be a political prognosticator. Tell us, in the future, who is going to be president first: a black man, a gay American, or a woman, or a black woman?
Some answers from the people. "It's a tough call between an African-American or a woman being president first. But it all comes down to credibility and respect and how they turn into a real chance for the post."
Mel from Corwall on the Hudson, who writes in a lot: "What about my favorite cover-all-the-bases candidate, the black, lesbian, Jewish, Hispanic, disabled veteran?" If we could find two of those, I'd be shocked.
"I think a woman has the best chance," says Mary from Lawrence, Kansas. "I have a couple in mind, including an ex-first lady who is a senator from New York."
And J.R. from Lumber City, Georgia, gets the award for the first hour: "How about we vote Michael Jackson in -- we'll have all three bases covered."
COLLINS: Oh, please.
TOURE: Hey -- there you go.
COLLINS: ... to go from there. All right. Toure, thanks so much for that.
HEMMER: All right, let's get a break here. In a moment, packing a punch in Florida. Florida already starting to feel the effects of Charley. The latest in a moment here. Get you there live and what we are learning this hour
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Bird watchers are flocking to Martha's Vineyard for a look now at a rare red-footed falcon. It's the first time the bird has been seen in North America. The falcon was first spotted on Sunday by a local bird watcher. And more than 100 people watched the falcon fly around yesterday. You see al the pictures to prove it. The bird didn't seem to mind all the attention either.
Well, still to come, New Jersey Governor McGreevey resigns and admits he is gay. Newt Gingrich's sister, a gay rights advocate, reacts and joins us. Coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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