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CNN Live At Daybreak

Discussing Significance of Severe Weather Experienced in Past Year; New Drug Testing Policy Adopted by Major League Baseball

Aired January 13, 2005 - 05:00   ET

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


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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, major league baseball comes out with a new policy for steroid testing. We have all the details for you.
Plus, security fears could dampen the massive international relief effort in Indonesia's Aceh Province. We'll take you there live at the half hour.

And in Britain, what was he thinking? Young Prince Harry apologizes for one royal blunder.

It is Thursday, January 13.

This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, in South Carolina, about half of the 5,400 residents evacuated a week after a deadly chlorine gas leak are finally going home this morning. No word yet on when the others will be allowed to return.

The son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pleads guilty to unwittingly helping to finance an unsuccessful coup in Equatorial Guinea. Mark Thatcher agreed to pay a half million dollar fine and leave South Africa for the United States.

The delivery of aid to victims of the Asian tsunamis hits a road bump. Indonesia's military say international aid workers must now be accompanied by soldiers because of the threat of rebel attacks.

To the forecast center and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Let's start, shall we, with the latest on that deadly mud slide in southern California. Ten people died when tons of earth came on the -- came down on the Oceanside community. Overnight, authorities said all of the missing have now been accounted for. Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Ventura County after visiting the scene of that mud slide and searchers say they'll continue looking through the debris to make sure no one else killed or trapped.

That mud slide in California just the latest weather related disaster to hit the headlines. It was just a few months ago that we were talking about the record number of hurricanes that battered Florida and caused massive damage throughout the Caribbean.

Let's bring Chad back in now.

Chad, so we be concerned that all of this stuff seems to be happening at once?

MYERS: You know, Carol, I talked to a couple of experts yesterday and their feeling is this is really just on the high side of normal. It'll be one of those years or one of those times that we say to our grandkids, oh, when I went to school, there was 26 feet of snow. We walked uphill both ways.

Now, that doesn't mean we're out of the standard deviation. Obviously, it has been significant across parts of Florida, across L.A., across the Reno-Tahoe area, and weather even in the Plains has been a little bit ugly, too. But other parts of the country are seeing very mild air.

So what does that mean?

Well, let the expert explain.

Joining me now is Vicki Nadolski.

She's the director of the National Weather Service for the Western region of the United States.

And I have to ask you now, this is just, this is a lay down question, are we getting soft or has, really, has the weather been extreme in the past couple of years?

VICKI NADOLSKI, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: Well, there's certainly been a number of, I guess you could call them extreme events -- a very active hurricane season and, of course, the weather these last few weeks off of the West Coast, particularly in southern California, would lead one to believe that we're moving into that direction.

However, we certainly aren't seeing an el nino that we saw years ago and while we have some of that signature apparent, it's not really what's going on.

So I think it's just been a busy season, a busy year, 2004. There were a lot of memorable events this past year.

MYERS: So how much do you feel that maybe technology has something to do with the perception that the weather has been so bad? We have instant video from all over the world wherever we want it. We can see the tornadoes. We can see the floods. We can see the snowstorms.

Is there something going on there with TV and news?

NADOLSKI: Hey, it's amazing, isn't it?

MYERS: Yes.

NADOLSKI: You can, you feel like you're right there in it. Certainly the general public has a better view of what is actually going on that we didn't have 10 years ago.

MYERS: A lot of folks think that the rain in L.A. and the snow in the mountains will actually alleviate the drought. But, in fact, I was just looking at Lake Powell near Las Vegas. That's still at 35 percent of capacity, 136 feet below full pool.

NADOLSKI: You know, one of the problems, you get all that rain falling in the Los Angeles Basin area and much of it goes right back out into the sea because just the nature of the urban area.

On the other hand, we are happy to see that Lake Powell is coming up a little bit and we've got some significant rain and snow that has fallen across Utah and Arizona to help with that issue in the Colorado Basin area.

MYERS: So one last question. Let's say 2002, 2003, 2004, are we just talking about the stories that we'll tell our grandkids, oh, when I went to school, there was six feet of snow and we walked uphill both ways six feet? Is it is just going to be a story time or what are we really seeing here?

NADOLSKI: Well, there certainly will be a story time and I don't think any of us will ever forget the tsunami that did cause as much of loss of life and damage as it did in Indonesia and some of those territories. So I think there'll be a lot of stories to tell your grandchildren and I think there will be more to come in the future.

MYERS: And another thing, Carol, she did talk to me about, that the tsunami had nothing to do with the weather in the West Coast. We all knew that, but at least she confirmed it. Being the expert, I believe her.

And the DAYBREAK Question of the Day, extreme weather -- why do you think it's happening?

COSTELLO: You know, I have Ali Velshi here because actually it was he who came up with this question, because everybody is saying that -- I know science aside, Chad -- but everybody is saying oh, come on, there has to be something more to this.

MYERS: You know, I think it's the glare off Ali's head that's making the sun back out...

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's causing some kind of effect. I've go to tell you, though, Chad, it is -- I mean it really is an interesting question because it does seem unusual the magnitude of all that's happening.

MYERS: Correct.

VELSHI: But you do bring up a good point, and we saw you in the hurricanes and Rob in the Midwest with the snowstorms, it is more instant. We can get to these stories better and we can tell the real stories of what's going on on the ground. And that does make it feel that much more urgent than a report of something happening halfway across the world.

MYERS: Yes.

VELSHI: So there's the real sense of it's happening now lots of it is happening. I think a lot of it is just that there's more information out there.

But let's get some answers to that question. Let's get your e- mails in. Extreme weather, why is it happening, is the Question of the Day.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.

You know what a lot of people think it is, Chad?

MYERS: No, go ahead.

COSTELLO: No, I'm not going to say it.

MYERS: Oh. Well, you know what?

COSTELLO: I'm not going to say it.

MYERS: There is a small el nino episode starting to happen out West, but it's a small el nino. It's not like the one we had in 1997. And the storm that was in California had nothing to do with el nino.

COSTELLO: You know, Ali, el nino, that's not what I was talking about.

VELSHI: Yes, I think Carol's view is a little more apocalyptic than that.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: OK.

COSTELLO: Bye, Mr. Scientist.

VELSHI: Hey, Chad, let's -- I don't know if you can say standard deviation again at this hour of the morning. I heard you saying that a little while ago.

MYERS: That's a great word, isn't it?

VELSHI: It's a little early.

MYERS: You're one side -- you're just -- you're not out of the standard deviation of the weather for extremes. VELSHI: No.

COSTELLO: OK, stop.

VELSHI: Loved that.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com.

Thanks to you both.

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: More news across America this morning.

Nine people hurt after an apparent natural gas explosion at a Chicago shopping mall. None of the injuries serious. The blast flipped over about a dozen cars, though, and ripped a 50 yard trench in the parking lot at the Ford City Mall.

Two people are dead after a massive pileup on Interstate 96 near Lansing, Michigan. More than three dozen others are injured. Thick fog blamed for several accidents in lanes going in both directions. The pileup involved around 200 vehicles.

Army Specialist Charles Graner could take the stand in his own defense today. The accused ringleader behind t Abu Ghraib prison abuses says he was just following orders. In cross-examination during day three of his court martial, a defense witness admits that he thought Graner was acting on his own.

And be sure to stay with CNN for more on the Graner trial. CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti will join us in the next hour to take a look at some of the testimony. And as you know, it's the defense's turn now.

Baseball's steroid scandal may have finally spurred a change in that sport's drug policy. The details of an agreement between owners and players will be announced later today. But it is expected to include harsher punishments and more frequent testing.

CNN Sportses -- CNN Sportses -- is it Sportses, Ray D'Alessio?

RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN Sports, Ray D'Alessio, that's fine, Carol.

It's early in the morning. What the heck.

COSTELLO: You know, it's true.

But bring us up to date.

Is this really a tough new drug policy?

D'ALESSIO: I'll tell you what, Carol, I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly this thing got done. I mean I really expected something to happen some time a little bit before spring training. But by getting it done within the time span of, say, two months, I mean this just goes to show you that the players sensed that there was a need for change and they needed it quickly.

Now, as far as, you know, the new policy is concerned, sources tell the Associated Press that the new policy will include up to a 10 day suspension for a first time offender, whereas the old plan, a player testing positive for the first time for steroids, he was just likely subject to counseling the first time and wouldn't have faced a suspension, say, a 10 day suspension or a 15 day suspension, as you say, until the second offense. But now players are looking to at more harsher penalties and as far as a fourth offense, they could look up to one year banned for a fourth offense, whereas with the old plan, it was a one year ban the fifth time they tested positive. And more frequent testing, as well, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, are these rules retroactive?

D'ALESSIO: Well, we still don't know that yet, but we're assuming that they're going to take place immediately. Again, they're going to make an announcement today at the owners meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. But, again, you got a sense that the players knew something had to be done. And, I mean, if you're a player that never, you know, never even experimented with steroids, I mean that kind of had to anger you to see that some of the big names like Jason Giambi coming out and admitting that he took steroids. That's a former MVP. You know, that had to anger you. And then the allegations with Barry Bonds.

So if you're a player that never took the stuff, you're happy to see these -- this new policy and you want it done quickly.

COSTELLO: Ray D'Alessio, thanks so much.

D'ALESSIO: OK.

COSTELLO: Even a major disaster like the tsunamis can't eliminate the disorder caused by 30 years of war. Mike Chinoy on the hardships of the relief effort in Indonesia in 22 minutes.

And are you checking your credit report and credit score often enough? Ali Velshi tells us in 35 minutes why it's more important than ever.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It is 5:14 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning. A second assassination attempt failed against a pro-Israel Iraqi presidential candidate. The house of the Democratic Islamic Party chairman was attacked with gunfire and grenades. No injuries reported.

A British Airways flight finally made it to New York after being forced to turn around in mid-flight. The plane returned to London when it was discovered that a passenger was on the no fly list. The man was placed on the list due to his possible link to terrorists in Morocco.

In money news, brisk iPod and computer sales helped Apple achieve its best quarter ever. Revenue jumped 75 percent over last year, to $3.5 billion. The stock jumped $8 in trading after the announcement.

In culture, President Clinton's life is coming out in paperback. "My Life" is due in May, with two different versions. One will be just like the hardcover. But the other will be a two volume pocket sized set divided into the early years and the presidency.

In sports, baseball's players and owners have reached an agreement on a new steroid policy. The change is expected to include harsher penalties for positive tests. The details will be announced by Commissioner Bud Selig. That will happen some time today.

To the forecast center and Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

In South Carolina, near the Georgia border, 5,400 residents have been out of their homes for nearly a week now. A train carrying deadly chlorine gas wrecked a week ago today, releasing a deadly cloud of gas, killing nine people and forcing residents to be evacuated.

This morning, half of them will finally get to go home.

Let's head live now to Wade Phillips of CNN affiliate WJBF.

He's in Aiken, which is two miles west of Graniteville -- good morning.

WADE PHILLIPS, WJBF CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

It has been a week ago today when those residents were forced from their homes. Now it does appear most of them, or some of them, will be able to go back home. There's been about a one mile square radius or circle radius around the train accident site that was evacuated a week ago today. Now, not -- most of the people in the area, in the, let's say a half mile area around the site, will still not get to go home. But about half the people are going to be able to go home about 8:00 this morning. They'll start taking down some of the barriers on the roads and allowing people with picture I.D.s. to go back to their residences. What they'll see when they get there is anyone's guess. We're being told that there are going to be some pretty extensive damage to some of these homes. Electrical damage is going to be the main thing they're going to see when they get there.

We know that there has been some really major damage in some of the areas closest to the train site. That's where the most extensive damage will be. So we do not know whether or not we'll see major damage when these people come home this morning.

When those people closest to the train site will get to go home, we don't know that yet. It will likely be another couple of days, maybe the beginning of next week, before they can -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: You'll keep us posted.

Wade Phillips of CNN affiliate WJBF, reporting live for us this morning.

Thank you.

Bad credit can seriously dampen your buying power. Tips on keeping your credit in good shape, still ahead on DAYBREAK.

Plus, he is on his way to being the legend of the silver screen. One-on-one with Kevin Spacey.

You are watching DAYBREAK for a Thursday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, Chad, it's time to check out our Web clicks this morning to see what people are clicking onto on cnn.com.

MYERS: Yes. This one is an incredible one, I do have to say.

COSTELLO: You know...

MYERS: Not in a good way.

COSTELLO: Prince Harry. It's even -- well, of course it's on the cover of the "New York Post." It's on the cover of every tabloid paper across the globe, I think. But it is the top story on cnn.com.

Apparently he went to a costume party, Prince Harry did.

MYERS: Not like Halloween. This was just in the past couple of weeks.

COSTELLO: Yes. It was a birthday party. But apparently they threw this costume party. And look what he wore. A swastika.

MYERS: I'm speechless. Here's what the former queen's assistant press secretary had to say. "I am astounded that a member of the royal family, albeit a young member of the royal family, can be so incredibly stupid, given that he has had a first class education."

COSTELLO: And, of course, this comes right before the family and Great Britain goes to the solemn ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp in Auschwitz.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: So it couldn't come at a worse time, not that it ever could come at a great time. But I don't know what he's going to do. He's applied to the military academy, military school.

MYERS: Yes, right.

COSTELLO: There are some people who want him to withdraw his application now because why should he go there is he dresses up like that at a costume party.

MYERS: He did apologize, I mean, but that's still, it's such bad judgment in the first place, do you really want somebody like -- I mean he's third in line for the crown, you know? That's a little frightening.

COSTELLO: Well, we -- we have a live shot out of Britain in the next hour of DAYBREAK. And we're going to talk a lot more about this. But it's just sad, because he seems to be a troubled young man, doesn't he?

MYERS: I know. Yes. If you go to cnn.com, there's a little thing on the right side that says most popular. That's where we get these stories, to see what you're clicking on. It gives you the top 10 stories that everybody else is clicking on, as well.

COSTELLO: All right.

The Golden Globe Awards are coming up this Sunday night, Chad. I know you will be glued to your set. One of the favorites to finally take home one of the Globes is actor Kevin Spacey. But Spacey did much more than act in his latest film.

CNN Entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas had a chance to sit down with the star and take a look beyond the sea.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

KEVIN SPACEY, BEST ACTOR NOMINEE: You know, when that shark bites with its teeth, babe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Why are you so connected to Bobby Darin? SPACEY: I love the challenge of trying to do as many things in your life as you possibly can. Bobby wanted more and he didn't want to settle for what either came easy or what, for him, didn't get him out of bed in the morning. And I'm very much that kind of person.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

SPACEY: I want it all. I want the major leagues. I want nightclubs, I want Vegas, movies, TV.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SPACEY: And, you know, for a long time it was my dream. And then as each person came on to join the project, I feel like everybody made my dream their dream.

VARGAS (voice-over): A dream that began to take shape more than five years ago at the world famous Capitol Records building in Hollywood.

SPACEY: We started working on the music in about '99. And then we came into this studio where Bobby recorded, as well as Sinatra and all the greats have been in this room.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Didn't I tell you? You're playing the Copa.

SPACEY: You're frigging kidding me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got the call this morning, big shot.

SPACEY: No, no, no!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS (on camera): You've got the best seal of approval. I mean you've got Darin's son. Initially, though, I hear that he was like over my dead body.

SPACEY: Well, that was -- Steve Blaner and I think Doug shared -- Steve Blaner was Bobby's manager for a long time and is the character that John Goodman plays in the film. He said I don't think you should act it, I don't think you should sing it, you shouldn't direct it and you're too old to play it. And I said well, sit down, Steve, we'll get over that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was perfect.

SPACEY: We can do it better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS (voice-over): As persuasive as he is talented, Spacey not only headlines and directs "Beyond The Sea," he also does his own singing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

SPACEY: I can only give you love that lasts forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: Spacey's role on screen has even inspired a real life 10 city concert tour in which the star pays homage to Darin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPACEY: Oh the line forms way on the right, babe.

VARGAS (on camera): You threw yourself completely into this. And what strikes me is, were you intimidated at all?

SPACEY: Huge. Hugely. His voice is just extraordinarily strong. And his range is great. And I was definitely, you know, I went through many sleepless nights thinking have I bitten off more than I can chew, am I ever going to get close? And now that it's done, I think well, you know, it's a version of Bobby Darin. It's my version of Bobby Darin. And I'm delighted that we've gotten close enough to honor him. But the truth is, nobody will ever get that close. I mean this was a man who was in a league all his own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

SPACEY: For now and ever more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS (voice-over): Sibila Vargas, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

The good, the bad and the ugly about credit reports. What your credit history says about you and how you can fix it.

Plus, the government is telling us to cut calories. But will we listen? That story is still ahead on DAYBREAK.

And a reminder, our E-Mail Question of the Morning, what do you think of the wicked weather patterns? Why are they happening? E-mail us daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.

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


Aired January 13, 2005 - 05:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, major league baseball comes out with a new policy for steroid testing. We have all the details for you.
Plus, security fears could dampen the massive international relief effort in Indonesia's Aceh Province. We'll take you there live at the half hour.

And in Britain, what was he thinking? Young Prince Harry apologizes for one royal blunder.

It is Thursday, January 13.

This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, in South Carolina, about half of the 5,400 residents evacuated a week after a deadly chlorine gas leak are finally going home this morning. No word yet on when the others will be allowed to return.

The son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pleads guilty to unwittingly helping to finance an unsuccessful coup in Equatorial Guinea. Mark Thatcher agreed to pay a half million dollar fine and leave South Africa for the United States.

The delivery of aid to victims of the Asian tsunamis hits a road bump. Indonesia's military say international aid workers must now be accompanied by soldiers because of the threat of rebel attacks.

To the forecast center and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Let's start, shall we, with the latest on that deadly mud slide in southern California. Ten people died when tons of earth came on the -- came down on the Oceanside community. Overnight, authorities said all of the missing have now been accounted for. Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Ventura County after visiting the scene of that mud slide and searchers say they'll continue looking through the debris to make sure no one else killed or trapped.

That mud slide in California just the latest weather related disaster to hit the headlines. It was just a few months ago that we were talking about the record number of hurricanes that battered Florida and caused massive damage throughout the Caribbean.

Let's bring Chad back in now.

Chad, so we be concerned that all of this stuff seems to be happening at once?

MYERS: You know, Carol, I talked to a couple of experts yesterday and their feeling is this is really just on the high side of normal. It'll be one of those years or one of those times that we say to our grandkids, oh, when I went to school, there was 26 feet of snow. We walked uphill both ways.

Now, that doesn't mean we're out of the standard deviation. Obviously, it has been significant across parts of Florida, across L.A., across the Reno-Tahoe area, and weather even in the Plains has been a little bit ugly, too. But other parts of the country are seeing very mild air.

So what does that mean?

Well, let the expert explain.

Joining me now is Vicki Nadolski.

She's the director of the National Weather Service for the Western region of the United States.

And I have to ask you now, this is just, this is a lay down question, are we getting soft or has, really, has the weather been extreme in the past couple of years?

VICKI NADOLSKI, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: Well, there's certainly been a number of, I guess you could call them extreme events -- a very active hurricane season and, of course, the weather these last few weeks off of the West Coast, particularly in southern California, would lead one to believe that we're moving into that direction.

However, we certainly aren't seeing an el nino that we saw years ago and while we have some of that signature apparent, it's not really what's going on.

So I think it's just been a busy season, a busy year, 2004. There were a lot of memorable events this past year.

MYERS: So how much do you feel that maybe technology has something to do with the perception that the weather has been so bad? We have instant video from all over the world wherever we want it. We can see the tornadoes. We can see the floods. We can see the snowstorms.

Is there something going on there with TV and news?

NADOLSKI: Hey, it's amazing, isn't it?

MYERS: Yes.

NADOLSKI: You can, you feel like you're right there in it. Certainly the general public has a better view of what is actually going on that we didn't have 10 years ago.

MYERS: A lot of folks think that the rain in L.A. and the snow in the mountains will actually alleviate the drought. But, in fact, I was just looking at Lake Powell near Las Vegas. That's still at 35 percent of capacity, 136 feet below full pool.

NADOLSKI: You know, one of the problems, you get all that rain falling in the Los Angeles Basin area and much of it goes right back out into the sea because just the nature of the urban area.

On the other hand, we are happy to see that Lake Powell is coming up a little bit and we've got some significant rain and snow that has fallen across Utah and Arizona to help with that issue in the Colorado Basin area.

MYERS: So one last question. Let's say 2002, 2003, 2004, are we just talking about the stories that we'll tell our grandkids, oh, when I went to school, there was six feet of snow and we walked uphill both ways six feet? Is it is just going to be a story time or what are we really seeing here?

NADOLSKI: Well, there certainly will be a story time and I don't think any of us will ever forget the tsunami that did cause as much of loss of life and damage as it did in Indonesia and some of those territories. So I think there'll be a lot of stories to tell your grandchildren and I think there will be more to come in the future.

MYERS: And another thing, Carol, she did talk to me about, that the tsunami had nothing to do with the weather in the West Coast. We all knew that, but at least she confirmed it. Being the expert, I believe her.

And the DAYBREAK Question of the Day, extreme weather -- why do you think it's happening?

COSTELLO: You know, I have Ali Velshi here because actually it was he who came up with this question, because everybody is saying that -- I know science aside, Chad -- but everybody is saying oh, come on, there has to be something more to this.

MYERS: You know, I think it's the glare off Ali's head that's making the sun back out...

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's causing some kind of effect. I've go to tell you, though, Chad, it is -- I mean it really is an interesting question because it does seem unusual the magnitude of all that's happening.

MYERS: Correct.

VELSHI: But you do bring up a good point, and we saw you in the hurricanes and Rob in the Midwest with the snowstorms, it is more instant. We can get to these stories better and we can tell the real stories of what's going on on the ground. And that does make it feel that much more urgent than a report of something happening halfway across the world.

MYERS: Yes.

VELSHI: So there's the real sense of it's happening now lots of it is happening. I think a lot of it is just that there's more information out there.

But let's get some answers to that question. Let's get your e- mails in. Extreme weather, why is it happening, is the Question of the Day.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.

You know what a lot of people think it is, Chad?

MYERS: No, go ahead.

COSTELLO: No, I'm not going to say it.

MYERS: Oh. Well, you know what?

COSTELLO: I'm not going to say it.

MYERS: There is a small el nino episode starting to happen out West, but it's a small el nino. It's not like the one we had in 1997. And the storm that was in California had nothing to do with el nino.

COSTELLO: You know, Ali, el nino, that's not what I was talking about.

VELSHI: Yes, I think Carol's view is a little more apocalyptic than that.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: OK.

COSTELLO: Bye, Mr. Scientist.

VELSHI: Hey, Chad, let's -- I don't know if you can say standard deviation again at this hour of the morning. I heard you saying that a little while ago.

MYERS: That's a great word, isn't it?

VELSHI: It's a little early.

MYERS: You're one side -- you're just -- you're not out of the standard deviation of the weather for extremes. VELSHI: No.

COSTELLO: OK, stop.

VELSHI: Loved that.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com.

Thanks to you both.

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: More news across America this morning.

Nine people hurt after an apparent natural gas explosion at a Chicago shopping mall. None of the injuries serious. The blast flipped over about a dozen cars, though, and ripped a 50 yard trench in the parking lot at the Ford City Mall.

Two people are dead after a massive pileup on Interstate 96 near Lansing, Michigan. More than three dozen others are injured. Thick fog blamed for several accidents in lanes going in both directions. The pileup involved around 200 vehicles.

Army Specialist Charles Graner could take the stand in his own defense today. The accused ringleader behind t Abu Ghraib prison abuses says he was just following orders. In cross-examination during day three of his court martial, a defense witness admits that he thought Graner was acting on his own.

And be sure to stay with CNN for more on the Graner trial. CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti will join us in the next hour to take a look at some of the testimony. And as you know, it's the defense's turn now.

Baseball's steroid scandal may have finally spurred a change in that sport's drug policy. The details of an agreement between owners and players will be announced later today. But it is expected to include harsher punishments and more frequent testing.

CNN Sportses -- CNN Sportses -- is it Sportses, Ray D'Alessio?

RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN Sports, Ray D'Alessio, that's fine, Carol.

It's early in the morning. What the heck.

COSTELLO: You know, it's true.

But bring us up to date.

Is this really a tough new drug policy?

D'ALESSIO: I'll tell you what, Carol, I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly this thing got done. I mean I really expected something to happen some time a little bit before spring training. But by getting it done within the time span of, say, two months, I mean this just goes to show you that the players sensed that there was a need for change and they needed it quickly.

Now, as far as, you know, the new policy is concerned, sources tell the Associated Press that the new policy will include up to a 10 day suspension for a first time offender, whereas the old plan, a player testing positive for the first time for steroids, he was just likely subject to counseling the first time and wouldn't have faced a suspension, say, a 10 day suspension or a 15 day suspension, as you say, until the second offense. But now players are looking to at more harsher penalties and as far as a fourth offense, they could look up to one year banned for a fourth offense, whereas with the old plan, it was a one year ban the fifth time they tested positive. And more frequent testing, as well, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, are these rules retroactive?

D'ALESSIO: Well, we still don't know that yet, but we're assuming that they're going to take place immediately. Again, they're going to make an announcement today at the owners meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. But, again, you got a sense that the players knew something had to be done. And, I mean, if you're a player that never, you know, never even experimented with steroids, I mean that kind of had to anger you to see that some of the big names like Jason Giambi coming out and admitting that he took steroids. That's a former MVP. You know, that had to anger you. And then the allegations with Barry Bonds.

So if you're a player that never took the stuff, you're happy to see these -- this new policy and you want it done quickly.

COSTELLO: Ray D'Alessio, thanks so much.

D'ALESSIO: OK.

COSTELLO: Even a major disaster like the tsunamis can't eliminate the disorder caused by 30 years of war. Mike Chinoy on the hardships of the relief effort in Indonesia in 22 minutes.

And are you checking your credit report and credit score often enough? Ali Velshi tells us in 35 minutes why it's more important than ever.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It is 5:14 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning. A second assassination attempt failed against a pro-Israel Iraqi presidential candidate. The house of the Democratic Islamic Party chairman was attacked with gunfire and grenades. No injuries reported.

A British Airways flight finally made it to New York after being forced to turn around in mid-flight. The plane returned to London when it was discovered that a passenger was on the no fly list. The man was placed on the list due to his possible link to terrorists in Morocco.

In money news, brisk iPod and computer sales helped Apple achieve its best quarter ever. Revenue jumped 75 percent over last year, to $3.5 billion. The stock jumped $8 in trading after the announcement.

In culture, President Clinton's life is coming out in paperback. "My Life" is due in May, with two different versions. One will be just like the hardcover. But the other will be a two volume pocket sized set divided into the early years and the presidency.

In sports, baseball's players and owners have reached an agreement on a new steroid policy. The change is expected to include harsher penalties for positive tests. The details will be announced by Commissioner Bud Selig. That will happen some time today.

To the forecast center and Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

In South Carolina, near the Georgia border, 5,400 residents have been out of their homes for nearly a week now. A train carrying deadly chlorine gas wrecked a week ago today, releasing a deadly cloud of gas, killing nine people and forcing residents to be evacuated.

This morning, half of them will finally get to go home.

Let's head live now to Wade Phillips of CNN affiliate WJBF.

He's in Aiken, which is two miles west of Graniteville -- good morning.

WADE PHILLIPS, WJBF CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

It has been a week ago today when those residents were forced from their homes. Now it does appear most of them, or some of them, will be able to go back home. There's been about a one mile square radius or circle radius around the train accident site that was evacuated a week ago today. Now, not -- most of the people in the area, in the, let's say a half mile area around the site, will still not get to go home. But about half the people are going to be able to go home about 8:00 this morning. They'll start taking down some of the barriers on the roads and allowing people with picture I.D.s. to go back to their residences. What they'll see when they get there is anyone's guess. We're being told that there are going to be some pretty extensive damage to some of these homes. Electrical damage is going to be the main thing they're going to see when they get there.

We know that there has been some really major damage in some of the areas closest to the train site. That's where the most extensive damage will be. So we do not know whether or not we'll see major damage when these people come home this morning.

When those people closest to the train site will get to go home, we don't know that yet. It will likely be another couple of days, maybe the beginning of next week, before they can -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: You'll keep us posted.

Wade Phillips of CNN affiliate WJBF, reporting live for us this morning.

Thank you.

Bad credit can seriously dampen your buying power. Tips on keeping your credit in good shape, still ahead on DAYBREAK.

Plus, he is on his way to being the legend of the silver screen. One-on-one with Kevin Spacey.

You are watching DAYBREAK for a Thursday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, Chad, it's time to check out our Web clicks this morning to see what people are clicking onto on cnn.com.

MYERS: Yes. This one is an incredible one, I do have to say.

COSTELLO: You know...

MYERS: Not in a good way.

COSTELLO: Prince Harry. It's even -- well, of course it's on the cover of the "New York Post." It's on the cover of every tabloid paper across the globe, I think. But it is the top story on cnn.com.

Apparently he went to a costume party, Prince Harry did.

MYERS: Not like Halloween. This was just in the past couple of weeks.

COSTELLO: Yes. It was a birthday party. But apparently they threw this costume party. And look what he wore. A swastika.

MYERS: I'm speechless. Here's what the former queen's assistant press secretary had to say. "I am astounded that a member of the royal family, albeit a young member of the royal family, can be so incredibly stupid, given that he has had a first class education."

COSTELLO: And, of course, this comes right before the family and Great Britain goes to the solemn ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp in Auschwitz.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: So it couldn't come at a worse time, not that it ever could come at a great time. But I don't know what he's going to do. He's applied to the military academy, military school.

MYERS: Yes, right.

COSTELLO: There are some people who want him to withdraw his application now because why should he go there is he dresses up like that at a costume party.

MYERS: He did apologize, I mean, but that's still, it's such bad judgment in the first place, do you really want somebody like -- I mean he's third in line for the crown, you know? That's a little frightening.

COSTELLO: Well, we -- we have a live shot out of Britain in the next hour of DAYBREAK. And we're going to talk a lot more about this. But it's just sad, because he seems to be a troubled young man, doesn't he?

MYERS: I know. Yes. If you go to cnn.com, there's a little thing on the right side that says most popular. That's where we get these stories, to see what you're clicking on. It gives you the top 10 stories that everybody else is clicking on, as well.

COSTELLO: All right.

The Golden Globe Awards are coming up this Sunday night, Chad. I know you will be glued to your set. One of the favorites to finally take home one of the Globes is actor Kevin Spacey. But Spacey did much more than act in his latest film.

CNN Entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas had a chance to sit down with the star and take a look beyond the sea.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

KEVIN SPACEY, BEST ACTOR NOMINEE: You know, when that shark bites with its teeth, babe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Why are you so connected to Bobby Darin? SPACEY: I love the challenge of trying to do as many things in your life as you possibly can. Bobby wanted more and he didn't want to settle for what either came easy or what, for him, didn't get him out of bed in the morning. And I'm very much that kind of person.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

SPACEY: I want it all. I want the major leagues. I want nightclubs, I want Vegas, movies, TV.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SPACEY: And, you know, for a long time it was my dream. And then as each person came on to join the project, I feel like everybody made my dream their dream.

VARGAS (voice-over): A dream that began to take shape more than five years ago at the world famous Capitol Records building in Hollywood.

SPACEY: We started working on the music in about '99. And then we came into this studio where Bobby recorded, as well as Sinatra and all the greats have been in this room.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Didn't I tell you? You're playing the Copa.

SPACEY: You're frigging kidding me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got the call this morning, big shot.

SPACEY: No, no, no!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS (on camera): You've got the best seal of approval. I mean you've got Darin's son. Initially, though, I hear that he was like over my dead body.

SPACEY: Well, that was -- Steve Blaner and I think Doug shared -- Steve Blaner was Bobby's manager for a long time and is the character that John Goodman plays in the film. He said I don't think you should act it, I don't think you should sing it, you shouldn't direct it and you're too old to play it. And I said well, sit down, Steve, we'll get over that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was perfect.

SPACEY: We can do it better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS (voice-over): As persuasive as he is talented, Spacey not only headlines and directs "Beyond The Sea," he also does his own singing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

SPACEY: I can only give you love that lasts forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: Spacey's role on screen has even inspired a real life 10 city concert tour in which the star pays homage to Darin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPACEY: Oh the line forms way on the right, babe.

VARGAS (on camera): You threw yourself completely into this. And what strikes me is, were you intimidated at all?

SPACEY: Huge. Hugely. His voice is just extraordinarily strong. And his range is great. And I was definitely, you know, I went through many sleepless nights thinking have I bitten off more than I can chew, am I ever going to get close? And now that it's done, I think well, you know, it's a version of Bobby Darin. It's my version of Bobby Darin. And I'm delighted that we've gotten close enough to honor him. But the truth is, nobody will ever get that close. I mean this was a man who was in a league all his own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BEYOND THE SEA," COURTESY OF LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT)

SPACEY: For now and ever more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS (voice-over): Sibila Vargas, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

The good, the bad and the ugly about credit reports. What your credit history says about you and how you can fix it.

Plus, the government is telling us to cut calories. But will we listen? That story is still ahead on DAYBREAK.

And a reminder, our E-Mail Question of the Morning, what do you think of the wicked weather patterns? Why are they happening? E-mail us daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.

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