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American Morning

New Developments on Pope's Surgery; Shooting Rampage in Texas

Aired February 25, 2005 - 07:00   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Millions are praying for the pope this morning, now resting after his surgery. And the Vatican releasing new details on his condition just a few minutes ago.
From Tyler, Texas, this is a shootout inside a local courthouse. Panic inside, gunfire outside, and police and even armed citizens drawn into a gunman's rampage.

And the favorites are playing this weekend for the Oscars. Everyone has their prediction, and so do we on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome everybody.

All eyes on Rome this morning. The Vatican answering some questions about the pope's health. That happened just a moment ago. He's breathing on his own. He is eating. There is no sign of a lung infection. All good news. Walt Rodgers is standing by. He's going to talk about that.

Also this morning, we talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Why was a tracheotomy needed? And just how might it help the pope through this crisis?

HEMMER: One of our main stories this morning.

Also in a moment here, the snow today, not just in New York but across the Northeast. We knew the storm was coming, and it did overnight. Chad has the forecast in a few moments to let you know if you're in the line of fire, or maybe you missed it. We'll find out in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty has got the "Question of the Day."

Good morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. We've got these Academy Awards Sunday night. I'm not sure anybody cares. The total take at the box office...

HEMMER: Ooh!

CAFFERTY: Well, these movies didn't make any money. None of them.

HEMMER: My good friend, Soledad, is going to be there, though.

CAFFERTY: However, if Jamie Foxx does not win the Oscar for "Ray," they should launch an investigation, because these things are fixed. I mean, I'll just -- I'm not...

O'BRIEN: You're speechless, practically.

CAFFERTY: I am. I am. I mean, they're talking about all of these other movies. They've got to give it to Foxx for "Ray." He should also win for that supporter actor...

HEMMER: "Collateral.

CAFFERTY: "Collateral." I was going to say "Deliverance." That's a different movie.

O'BRIEN: Yes, he wasn't in that one.

CAFFERTY: He absolutely stole that picture from Tom Cruise, which isn't easy to do, but he did. I saw those two. I haven't seen any of the rest of them. But Jamie Foxx is my horse in this race.

O'BRIEN: Is there a question?

CAFFERTY: Well, that comes later.

O'BRIEN: Oh, OK.

CAFFERTY: Right now, we just talk about what the question might be.

HEMMER: We got it.

O'BRIEN: I hear you.

CAFFERTY: OK?

O'BRIEN: Yes. If Jamie Foxx doesn't win, will Jack come to your home and...

CAFFERTY: I just -- yes, it's terrible. I mean, if he doesn't win, there's something wrong. He really is magnificent, and I love Ray Charles' music.

O'BRIEN: So you do care about the Academy Awards.

CAFFERTY: Well, no, I don't care about the Academy Awards. I like Jamie Foxx.

O'BRIEN: Jack, thanks.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Let's get right back to the Vatican, announcing in the last half-hour that Pope John Paul II is breathing on his own without help from a ventilator; that, the day after surgery to ease his breathing difficulties.

CNN's Walter Rodgers is at the hospital in Rome. He's got the latest for us.

Hey, Walt, good morning.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Soledad.

Well, there are encouraging signs on the pope and still unanswered questions. The encouraging signs are that the respirator has been removed after his tracheotomy. Pope John Paul II is breathing on his own. Also, a pathology report shows no signs of bacterial infections. That means no pneumonia.

The more worrisome aspects of the medical report this morning were an evasion of the question, when might the pope be released from hospital? Also quite vague, when will the pope be able to speak again? They said, they replied, in a matter of a few days, but that could be a euphemistic few days.

The spokesman was Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls. He is a physician, and he delivered this assessment of the pope's recovery from the Vatican.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS, PAPAL SPOKESMAN (through translator): The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of this situation continues regularly. He is breathing on his own, and cardiovascular conditions remain good. Upon the advice of his doctors, the pope must not speak for several days, so as to favor the recovery of the functions of the larynx.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RODGERS: Dr. Navarro-Valls insisted this was not emergency surgery last night, the tracheotomy. It was elective surgery.

Again, they tried to put the best possible spin on all of this, reporting, of course, that his holiness had a breakfast this morning. And he had 10 cookies for breakfast, and he ate every single one of them, they say. Also that he had a cafe latte, and that he had some yogurt as well.

The pope is not able to communicate verbally except by waving a hand. He has made some communications in written messages, one of them in Latin -- quoting from his -- when asked how he was, he was quoting from the papal crest in which he said, "I am always yours."

One of the other questions the pope asked, again writing after the operation, is, "What have they done to me?" They are interpreting that as a bit of a joke.

Back to you -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All right. All signs that maybe the pope is recovering well, and he has a better prognosis than many people thought when they first heard the news. Walt Rodgers for us. And, of course, obviously this is our top story this morning. Thanks, Walt -- Bill.

HEMMER: More now on the pope's condition. Let's talk to our own doctor, Sanjay Gupta, live at the CNN center.

Sanjay -- good morning to you.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

HEMMER: From a doctor's perspective, how do you read the news we're getting from the Vatican?

GUPTA: Well, it's a little bit interesting, Bill. First, that we're getting some reports from this recent press conference saying that the pope never required the ventilator or respirator, had never had any fevers, was doing very well. It seemed a bit rosy, a little different than what you'd expect.

Typically, after an operation like this, a couple things to point out. First of all, he did go in with significant breathing difficulties. We heard that he also had fever, suggestive of some infection.

Second of all, during the operation itself, it is common practice, under general anesthesia, to place someone on a respirator or breathing machine, which can be removed usually a few hours later. Again that press conference was a little confusing, because they were saying he was never on a breathing machine of any sort.

Nevertheless, given these two sorts of discrepancies, it appears that he's doing well. The fact that he was able to eat, make some gestures, all of that are good signs. The fact he can't speak, that's completely expected.

Bill, I just want to show you this. I actually went and grabbed one of these trach devices, which I think sort of -- just to show you how this goes in. Again, we have our little model over here. This trach device actually goes through an incision in the neck and is actually sitting like this in the neck. If you block that up actually, after a few days, he may be able to still speak. And, obviously, as we heard, he is still able to eat now.

So, those are good signs -- Bill.

HEMMER: A basic question. What's your biggest concern right now...

GUPTA: The biggest concern is...

HEMMER: ... with a patient like this, 84 years old, going to be 85 years old in May?

GUPTA: Eighty-five in May. Lots of other medical conditions. The biggest concern still has to be infection. When we talk about the flu, we specifically are concerned about the complications of flu, pneumonia, significant bacterial infections. All of those things are still big concerns. He's also in a hospital. And, Bill, you and I have talked about this. Hospitals can be dangerous places, just because they are the places where some of the worst bacteria live. So, I imagine they're going to try and get him out of there as quickly as possible. But infection has to be risk No. 1 right now -- Bill.

HEMMER: Sanjay, quickly here, the next update is Monday morning. What would you expect to hear after three days?

GUPTA: Well, I'd like to know if he is developing any infections. I'm sure there will be some chest x-rays done over the weekend. Also, you know, this procedure that he had done yesterday, he was under anesthesia. Did that anesthesia have any impact on his heart or on his brain? I want to hear about those things on Monday.

I suspect that we might be hearing a lot of the same; that he's doing well and that he may, in fact, being be leaving and going to the Vatican within a few days after that.

HEMMER: Fingers crossed there. Still a developing story this morning. Thank you, Sanjay. We'll talk a bit later.

GUPTA: Thank you.

HEMMER: Now Soledad.

O'BRIEN: There are other stories making headlines this morning. Carol Costello is over at the Time Warner center with a look at those.

Hey, Carol, good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Soledad.

"Now in the News."

A massive search is under way this morning for a missing 9-year- old Florida girl. Authorities say there is reason to believe the girl, Jessica Lunsford, may be in danger. Her father said Jessica went to bed at about 10:00 on Wednesday night and was not in her room when he checked around 6:00 a.m. yesterday. We'll hear from the Citrus County sheriff just ahead.

Also in Florida, a ruling is expected this afternoon on the new request to keep Terri Schiavo connected to that feeding tube for at least another 60 days. An attorney for the brain-damaged woman's parents says a Florida social services agency wants to investigate allegations Schiavo has been mistreated. Their lawyer says the request seems to echo complaints by Schiavo's parents that their daughter has not had adequate therapy and medical care.

To California now. Monday is the big day in the Michael Jackson trial. That's when opening statements are set to begin. The jury selection process wrapped up yesterday, when eight alternates were named. The judge urged jurors not to become part of the circus surrounding the trial, and he warned that any juror accused of misconduct would be immediately replaced. The trial is expected to last five months.

And a former NFL star wants to get back in the game. Not football but politics. Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers player Lynn Swann is now raising money for a possible run for governor of Pennsylvania next year. Swann, a Republican, has formed a committee called Team 88. And, of course, that's the number he wore for the Steelers. Swann certainly knows victory. His team won four Super Bowls in the eight years he played wide receiver -- Bill.

HEMMER: Name recognition isn't difficult there, now, is it, Carol?

COSTELLO: I don't think so.

HEMMER: Thank you. We'll talk to you a bit later this morning.

It will be a rough morning for the rush hour for commuters on the East Coast today. From Virginia up to Massachusetts, people are now waking up to some slick roads and several inches of snow. Here in New York, crews worked overtime to stay ahead of the white mess throughout the night. Parts of D.C. and further south in Virginia saw up to six inches. And officials are worried about freezing roads as well.

If you're in the line of fire, here's Chad Myers to let you know how we're looking outside.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Controversy over the decision to keep painkillers like Vioxx on the market. There are some questions this morning about the backgrounds of the FDA advisors who are behind the move. We'll explain.

HEMMER: Also, have you seen this videotape? A deadly shooting spree at a courthouse in Texas. How one man's sacrifice may have prevented even more bloodshed. We'll take you there live in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: People in Tyler, Texas, are in shock after a man opened fire outside a courthouse, killing his ex-wife and a bystander. Television cameras inside the courtroom caught part of the frightening scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down. Stay down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: The alleged gunman, David Hernandez Arroyo, Sr., wounded four others, including his son and a police officer. Police pursued Arroyo, later killed him in a gun battle.

I spoke this morning with Gillian Sheridan. She's an anchor for Tyler affiliate KLTV, who was at a hair salon at the time and witnessed the rampage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GILLIAN SHERIDAN, WITNESS TO SHOOTINGS: The salon is just right off this corner here of the courthouse, and we heard the pop, pop, pops. All turned around, ran to the window and saw the suspect, David Arroyo, shooting a deputy, his wife and then the son, and then an innocent bystander that was actually trying to intervene. We saw him reload his AK-47, and he was just continually relentlessly firing.

And what was so chilling was he was very calm about it. It was like he had already planned out what he was going to do. And even after he had hit his intended targets, he continued firing rounds indiscriminately. One of those bullets came through the front door of the salon, right where we were all standing watching this all happen. It was at that point that we realized, we're in danger, and then we started heading out the back door of the salon.

O'BRIEN: So, did he say anything? You say he was very calm. Did it look like he was talking to anybody?

SHERIDAN: No, it didn't look like he was saying anything. He walked over to the courthouse and was shooting and then walked back in the middle of Spring Street, which is the street that runs right back here in back of the courthouse. And the salon is also right on Spring Street. He didn't appear to be saying anything, just walking back and forth.

That innocent person who was killed that I mentioned did have a weapon and actually fired at David Arroyo, hitting him multiple times in the chest. But Arroyo was wearing a bullet-proof vest as well as a flak jacket. And it didn't faze him, and that's when he turned and shot the suspect.

O'BRIEN: You say it didn't faze him. So, what did he do? A civilian takes out his weapon that he's licensed to carry, opens fire, hits him several times. Was he stunned? Was he surprised? Did he do anything?

SHERIDAN: You know, I would think -- it appeared to us he was in such a zone that it really did not faze him at all. We, on the other hand, were quite shocked. Tyler, for the most part, is a pretty quiet community. And this is a busy area downtown, especially at 1:30 in the afternoon. There are businesses, and there are restaurants here. And when it was all said and done, they took down about 100 names of witnesses who saw some or all of that shooting.

O'BRIEN: That civilian who was shot and killed, one of three at the end of the day who ended up being killed, including the gunman in all of this. Police, though, are saying that he really may have been the one to save the life of the son of David Arroyo. Explain that to me.

SHERIDAN: Mark Wilson lives actually above the salon where we were. We saw him walk past the window and come over and try to distract the shooter. When the shooter, after he had shot the woman and was in the process of shooting his son -- he had already shot him in the legs -- that civilian distracted him and then fired his weapon. Well, it was at that point that Arroyo took his attention off shooting the son and on to this civilian. And that is why, they think, maybe the son's life was saved. And Mark Wilson, that civilian, was the hero.

O'BRIEN: Give me a sense of how the folks in Tyler, Texas, are reacting to today. I mean, this is very shocking to happen in the middle of the day, right downtown, a busy time...

SHERIDAN: Right.

O'BRIEN: ... a busy part of town.

SHERIDAN: Right, exactly. They're definitely in shock. People are still trying to process what exactly happened here yesterday. This is not a typical thing that we see here in Tyler, Texas.

And another reason I think people are on a heightened sense of alert here, it was just a month ago that Tyler was back in the national news when we had a teenager abducted and murdered from a Wal- Mart here and her body found in West Texas. They were shocked that that would happen in our small town. Now that this has happened, I think there's an extra sense of what is happening in our community. There's a lot of shock going on here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Police say Arroyo had a history of spousal abuse and weapons violations, and that he had been making threats during the past week.

Ahead in our next hour, another witness, who was inside the courthouse at the time of the shooting, describes what he saw -- Bill.

HEMMER: What a story they have to tell, too.

If former chairman Ken Lay was looking for closure in the Enron matter, he'll have to wait an awfully long time. Andy explains that next, "Minding Your Business," as we continue live in New York City on a Friday morning. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.

The trial of former Enron execs may take a while to start; in fact, a long time. Also, is former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers in the dark about fraud at his company? Some good questions for Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" here this morning.

Good morning to you.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Bill.

The trial of Enron top executives Jeff Skilling, Ken Lay and Richard Causey won't begin until January 17, 2006. Skilling and Lay wanted the trial to start earlier, but Judge Simm Lake (ph) had to triangulate with their attorneys, and they couldn't get this thing done until January.

You may remember yesterday, I told you that Richard Causey's lawyer is also Bernie Ebbers' lawyer. It turns out his other lawyer is representing an AOL executive, whose trial begins this year.

So, here is what Judge Simm Lake (ph) said. He kind of made a little joke about it. He said: "All of these good lawyers are fully employed. I appreciate you giving me the time of day."

It's just amazing, you know. It really is a sign of the times when this is the busiest of seasons for criminal defense lawyers, isn't it? These guys...

HEMMER: The docket grows long.

SERWER: Yes, I mean, these guys are so busy, they just can't get to court.

Meanwhile, Bernie Ebbers' trial. His attorneys have it tough, because they're trying to prove a negative. They're trying to prove that Bernie didn't know. Yesterday, the former chairman of MCI, Bert Roberts, said that Bernie didn't really know about any of the accounting, and Scott Sullivan, his former chief financial officer, told him that.

That's kind of problematic, but I actually think it's more of a problem for the prosecutors...

HEMMER: How so?

SERWER: ... trying to prove that Bernie Ebbers knew. So far, they really haven't had anything more than a smoking gun. They have Scott Sullivan saying he knew, but there are no other witnesses.

HEMMER: Right.

SERWER: There are no documents. There are no meetings. And there is certainly no confession by Ebbers.

HEMMER: Do you go guilt by association, because you're in charge of the camp, essentially, as CEO?

SERWER: Well, but, you know, obviously Scott Sullivan has all sorts of motive here, and he's pointing up and saying this guy was responsible for it. So, I think there's some tough sledding for the prosecutors in that trial.

HEMMER: Thanks for the update on the financial docket.

SERWER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: Thanks, Andy.

O'BRIEN: The "Question of the Day" is about the Oscars.

CAFFERTY: It could be a depressing night, Soledad, at the Academy Awards on Sunday. Take a look at this year's best picture nominees. You've got one movie about boxing and euthanasia.

SERWER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: Another about a billionaire with extremely long nails and a mental illness. There's a biography that centers around young boys nursing their ill mother. And another about a blind, black guy using his God-given talents and some primo heroin to overcome abject poverty, racism and the recoding industry.

The total box office gross for these films is 40 percent below the average for best picture nominees over the past 10 years. And, of course, beyond the movies, you've got that red carpet, where the celebrities wander around and participate in these lame interviews with star-struck reporters who ask stupid questions.

Here's your chance to pour your heart out. Tell Uncle Jack how you feel. How much do you care about the Academy Awards?

SERWER: We know what Uncle Jack thinks.

HEMMER: No kidding. I'll tell you what he's not going to be watching Sunday night.

O'BRIEN: Ouch! Yes. You know, I had an extra ticket. I was going to ask you to go as my date.

CAFFERTY: No, thanks.

O'BRIEN: But not anymore. Forget it.

SERWER: No, no. It would be wasted on him.

HEMMER: Put Jack in a dress.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

HEMMER: You know, I tell you...

CAFFERTY: I would rather watch...

O'BRIEN: What?

CAFFERTY: I would rather go to the Laundromat and watch the clothes go around in the dryer.

O'BRIEN: Why? It's fun. The celebrity sighting, the red carpet. Apparently, all of the celebs hang out on the bar on the first floor and just chitchat while they're waiting to be called. I think it's going to be fun.

HEMMER: It sounds like a blast.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

CAFFERTY: I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

SERWER: She'll tell you all about it.

O'BRIEN: Well, maybe not, Mr. Downer.

SERWER: She'll tell you all about it, Jack.

O'BRIEN: Exactly. Thank you, Jack -- I guess.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Well, ore AMERICAN MORNING is up right after the break.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN (voice over): Ahead on "90-Second Pop," just two days until Hollywood's biggest night, the Oscars. Will Hilary Swank and Jamie Foxx go home winners? Or is another actor poised to shock the world?

Plus, what's it going to take to win best director?

PAUL NEWMAN, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: Girly, tough ain't enough.

O'BRIEN: Oscar predictions ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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 February 25, 2005 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Millions are praying for the pope this morning, now resting after his surgery. And the Vatican releasing new details on his condition just a few minutes ago.
From Tyler, Texas, this is a shootout inside a local courthouse. Panic inside, gunfire outside, and police and even armed citizens drawn into a gunman's rampage.

And the favorites are playing this weekend for the Oscars. Everyone has their prediction, and so do we on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome everybody.

All eyes on Rome this morning. The Vatican answering some questions about the pope's health. That happened just a moment ago. He's breathing on his own. He is eating. There is no sign of a lung infection. All good news. Walt Rodgers is standing by. He's going to talk about that.

Also this morning, we talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Why was a tracheotomy needed? And just how might it help the pope through this crisis?

HEMMER: One of our main stories this morning.

Also in a moment here, the snow today, not just in New York but across the Northeast. We knew the storm was coming, and it did overnight. Chad has the forecast in a few moments to let you know if you're in the line of fire, or maybe you missed it. We'll find out in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Mr. Cafferty has got the "Question of the Day."

Good morning.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. We've got these Academy Awards Sunday night. I'm not sure anybody cares. The total take at the box office...

HEMMER: Ooh!

CAFFERTY: Well, these movies didn't make any money. None of them.

HEMMER: My good friend, Soledad, is going to be there, though.

CAFFERTY: However, if Jamie Foxx does not win the Oscar for "Ray," they should launch an investigation, because these things are fixed. I mean, I'll just -- I'm not...

O'BRIEN: You're speechless, practically.

CAFFERTY: I am. I am. I mean, they're talking about all of these other movies. They've got to give it to Foxx for "Ray." He should also win for that supporter actor...

HEMMER: "Collateral.

CAFFERTY: "Collateral." I was going to say "Deliverance." That's a different movie.

O'BRIEN: Yes, he wasn't in that one.

CAFFERTY: He absolutely stole that picture from Tom Cruise, which isn't easy to do, but he did. I saw those two. I haven't seen any of the rest of them. But Jamie Foxx is my horse in this race.

O'BRIEN: Is there a question?

CAFFERTY: Well, that comes later.

O'BRIEN: Oh, OK.

CAFFERTY: Right now, we just talk about what the question might be.

HEMMER: We got it.

O'BRIEN: I hear you.

CAFFERTY: OK?

O'BRIEN: Yes. If Jamie Foxx doesn't win, will Jack come to your home and...

CAFFERTY: I just -- yes, it's terrible. I mean, if he doesn't win, there's something wrong. He really is magnificent, and I love Ray Charles' music.

O'BRIEN: So you do care about the Academy Awards.

CAFFERTY: Well, no, I don't care about the Academy Awards. I like Jamie Foxx.

O'BRIEN: Jack, thanks.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Let's get right back to the Vatican, announcing in the last half-hour that Pope John Paul II is breathing on his own without help from a ventilator; that, the day after surgery to ease his breathing difficulties.

CNN's Walter Rodgers is at the hospital in Rome. He's got the latest for us.

Hey, Walt, good morning.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Soledad.

Well, there are encouraging signs on the pope and still unanswered questions. The encouraging signs are that the respirator has been removed after his tracheotomy. Pope John Paul II is breathing on his own. Also, a pathology report shows no signs of bacterial infections. That means no pneumonia.

The more worrisome aspects of the medical report this morning were an evasion of the question, when might the pope be released from hospital? Also quite vague, when will the pope be able to speak again? They said, they replied, in a matter of a few days, but that could be a euphemistic few days.

The spokesman was Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls. He is a physician, and he delivered this assessment of the pope's recovery from the Vatican.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS, PAPAL SPOKESMAN (through translator): The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of this situation continues regularly. He is breathing on his own, and cardiovascular conditions remain good. Upon the advice of his doctors, the pope must not speak for several days, so as to favor the recovery of the functions of the larynx.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RODGERS: Dr. Navarro-Valls insisted this was not emergency surgery last night, the tracheotomy. It was elective surgery.

Again, they tried to put the best possible spin on all of this, reporting, of course, that his holiness had a breakfast this morning. And he had 10 cookies for breakfast, and he ate every single one of them, they say. Also that he had a cafe latte, and that he had some yogurt as well.

The pope is not able to communicate verbally except by waving a hand. He has made some communications in written messages, one of them in Latin -- quoting from his -- when asked how he was, he was quoting from the papal crest in which he said, "I am always yours."

One of the other questions the pope asked, again writing after the operation, is, "What have they done to me?" They are interpreting that as a bit of a joke.

Back to you -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All right. All signs that maybe the pope is recovering well, and he has a better prognosis than many people thought when they first heard the news. Walt Rodgers for us. And, of course, obviously this is our top story this morning. Thanks, Walt -- Bill.

HEMMER: More now on the pope's condition. Let's talk to our own doctor, Sanjay Gupta, live at the CNN center.

Sanjay -- good morning to you.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

HEMMER: From a doctor's perspective, how do you read the news we're getting from the Vatican?

GUPTA: Well, it's a little bit interesting, Bill. First, that we're getting some reports from this recent press conference saying that the pope never required the ventilator or respirator, had never had any fevers, was doing very well. It seemed a bit rosy, a little different than what you'd expect.

Typically, after an operation like this, a couple things to point out. First of all, he did go in with significant breathing difficulties. We heard that he also had fever, suggestive of some infection.

Second of all, during the operation itself, it is common practice, under general anesthesia, to place someone on a respirator or breathing machine, which can be removed usually a few hours later. Again that press conference was a little confusing, because they were saying he was never on a breathing machine of any sort.

Nevertheless, given these two sorts of discrepancies, it appears that he's doing well. The fact that he was able to eat, make some gestures, all of that are good signs. The fact he can't speak, that's completely expected.

Bill, I just want to show you this. I actually went and grabbed one of these trach devices, which I think sort of -- just to show you how this goes in. Again, we have our little model over here. This trach device actually goes through an incision in the neck and is actually sitting like this in the neck. If you block that up actually, after a few days, he may be able to still speak. And, obviously, as we heard, he is still able to eat now.

So, those are good signs -- Bill.

HEMMER: A basic question. What's your biggest concern right now...

GUPTA: The biggest concern is...

HEMMER: ... with a patient like this, 84 years old, going to be 85 years old in May?

GUPTA: Eighty-five in May. Lots of other medical conditions. The biggest concern still has to be infection. When we talk about the flu, we specifically are concerned about the complications of flu, pneumonia, significant bacterial infections. All of those things are still big concerns. He's also in a hospital. And, Bill, you and I have talked about this. Hospitals can be dangerous places, just because they are the places where some of the worst bacteria live. So, I imagine they're going to try and get him out of there as quickly as possible. But infection has to be risk No. 1 right now -- Bill.

HEMMER: Sanjay, quickly here, the next update is Monday morning. What would you expect to hear after three days?

GUPTA: Well, I'd like to know if he is developing any infections. I'm sure there will be some chest x-rays done over the weekend. Also, you know, this procedure that he had done yesterday, he was under anesthesia. Did that anesthesia have any impact on his heart or on his brain? I want to hear about those things on Monday.

I suspect that we might be hearing a lot of the same; that he's doing well and that he may, in fact, being be leaving and going to the Vatican within a few days after that.

HEMMER: Fingers crossed there. Still a developing story this morning. Thank you, Sanjay. We'll talk a bit later.

GUPTA: Thank you.

HEMMER: Now Soledad.

O'BRIEN: There are other stories making headlines this morning. Carol Costello is over at the Time Warner center with a look at those.

Hey, Carol, good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Soledad.

"Now in the News."

A massive search is under way this morning for a missing 9-year- old Florida girl. Authorities say there is reason to believe the girl, Jessica Lunsford, may be in danger. Her father said Jessica went to bed at about 10:00 on Wednesday night and was not in her room when he checked around 6:00 a.m. yesterday. We'll hear from the Citrus County sheriff just ahead.

Also in Florida, a ruling is expected this afternoon on the new request to keep Terri Schiavo connected to that feeding tube for at least another 60 days. An attorney for the brain-damaged woman's parents says a Florida social services agency wants to investigate allegations Schiavo has been mistreated. Their lawyer says the request seems to echo complaints by Schiavo's parents that their daughter has not had adequate therapy and medical care.

To California now. Monday is the big day in the Michael Jackson trial. That's when opening statements are set to begin. The jury selection process wrapped up yesterday, when eight alternates were named. The judge urged jurors not to become part of the circus surrounding the trial, and he warned that any juror accused of misconduct would be immediately replaced. The trial is expected to last five months.

And a former NFL star wants to get back in the game. Not football but politics. Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers player Lynn Swann is now raising money for a possible run for governor of Pennsylvania next year. Swann, a Republican, has formed a committee called Team 88. And, of course, that's the number he wore for the Steelers. Swann certainly knows victory. His team won four Super Bowls in the eight years he played wide receiver -- Bill.

HEMMER: Name recognition isn't difficult there, now, is it, Carol?

COSTELLO: I don't think so.

HEMMER: Thank you. We'll talk to you a bit later this morning.

It will be a rough morning for the rush hour for commuters on the East Coast today. From Virginia up to Massachusetts, people are now waking up to some slick roads and several inches of snow. Here in New York, crews worked overtime to stay ahead of the white mess throughout the night. Parts of D.C. and further south in Virginia saw up to six inches. And officials are worried about freezing roads as well.

If you're in the line of fire, here's Chad Myers to let you know how we're looking outside.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Controversy over the decision to keep painkillers like Vioxx on the market. There are some questions this morning about the backgrounds of the FDA advisors who are behind the move. We'll explain.

HEMMER: Also, have you seen this videotape? A deadly shooting spree at a courthouse in Texas. How one man's sacrifice may have prevented even more bloodshed. We'll take you there live in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: People in Tyler, Texas, are in shock after a man opened fire outside a courthouse, killing his ex-wife and a bystander. Television cameras inside the courtroom caught part of the frightening scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down. Stay down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: The alleged gunman, David Hernandez Arroyo, Sr., wounded four others, including his son and a police officer. Police pursued Arroyo, later killed him in a gun battle.

I spoke this morning with Gillian Sheridan. She's an anchor for Tyler affiliate KLTV, who was at a hair salon at the time and witnessed the rampage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GILLIAN SHERIDAN, WITNESS TO SHOOTINGS: The salon is just right off this corner here of the courthouse, and we heard the pop, pop, pops. All turned around, ran to the window and saw the suspect, David Arroyo, shooting a deputy, his wife and then the son, and then an innocent bystander that was actually trying to intervene. We saw him reload his AK-47, and he was just continually relentlessly firing.

And what was so chilling was he was very calm about it. It was like he had already planned out what he was going to do. And even after he had hit his intended targets, he continued firing rounds indiscriminately. One of those bullets came through the front door of the salon, right where we were all standing watching this all happen. It was at that point that we realized, we're in danger, and then we started heading out the back door of the salon.

O'BRIEN: So, did he say anything? You say he was very calm. Did it look like he was talking to anybody?

SHERIDAN: No, it didn't look like he was saying anything. He walked over to the courthouse and was shooting and then walked back in the middle of Spring Street, which is the street that runs right back here in back of the courthouse. And the salon is also right on Spring Street. He didn't appear to be saying anything, just walking back and forth.

That innocent person who was killed that I mentioned did have a weapon and actually fired at David Arroyo, hitting him multiple times in the chest. But Arroyo was wearing a bullet-proof vest as well as a flak jacket. And it didn't faze him, and that's when he turned and shot the suspect.

O'BRIEN: You say it didn't faze him. So, what did he do? A civilian takes out his weapon that he's licensed to carry, opens fire, hits him several times. Was he stunned? Was he surprised? Did he do anything?

SHERIDAN: You know, I would think -- it appeared to us he was in such a zone that it really did not faze him at all. We, on the other hand, were quite shocked. Tyler, for the most part, is a pretty quiet community. And this is a busy area downtown, especially at 1:30 in the afternoon. There are businesses, and there are restaurants here. And when it was all said and done, they took down about 100 names of witnesses who saw some or all of that shooting.

O'BRIEN: That civilian who was shot and killed, one of three at the end of the day who ended up being killed, including the gunman in all of this. Police, though, are saying that he really may have been the one to save the life of the son of David Arroyo. Explain that to me.

SHERIDAN: Mark Wilson lives actually above the salon where we were. We saw him walk past the window and come over and try to distract the shooter. When the shooter, after he had shot the woman and was in the process of shooting his son -- he had already shot him in the legs -- that civilian distracted him and then fired his weapon. Well, it was at that point that Arroyo took his attention off shooting the son and on to this civilian. And that is why, they think, maybe the son's life was saved. And Mark Wilson, that civilian, was the hero.

O'BRIEN: Give me a sense of how the folks in Tyler, Texas, are reacting to today. I mean, this is very shocking to happen in the middle of the day, right downtown, a busy time...

SHERIDAN: Right.

O'BRIEN: ... a busy part of town.

SHERIDAN: Right, exactly. They're definitely in shock. People are still trying to process what exactly happened here yesterday. This is not a typical thing that we see here in Tyler, Texas.

And another reason I think people are on a heightened sense of alert here, it was just a month ago that Tyler was back in the national news when we had a teenager abducted and murdered from a Wal- Mart here and her body found in West Texas. They were shocked that that would happen in our small town. Now that this has happened, I think there's an extra sense of what is happening in our community. There's a lot of shock going on here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Police say Arroyo had a history of spousal abuse and weapons violations, and that he had been making threats during the past week.

Ahead in our next hour, another witness, who was inside the courthouse at the time of the shooting, describes what he saw -- Bill.

HEMMER: What a story they have to tell, too.

If former chairman Ken Lay was looking for closure in the Enron matter, he'll have to wait an awfully long time. Andy explains that next, "Minding Your Business," as we continue live in New York City on a Friday morning. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.

The trial of former Enron execs may take a while to start; in fact, a long time. Also, is former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers in the dark about fraud at his company? Some good questions for Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" here this morning.

Good morning to you.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Bill.

The trial of Enron top executives Jeff Skilling, Ken Lay and Richard Causey won't begin until January 17, 2006. Skilling and Lay wanted the trial to start earlier, but Judge Simm Lake (ph) had to triangulate with their attorneys, and they couldn't get this thing done until January.

You may remember yesterday, I told you that Richard Causey's lawyer is also Bernie Ebbers' lawyer. It turns out his other lawyer is representing an AOL executive, whose trial begins this year.

So, here is what Judge Simm Lake (ph) said. He kind of made a little joke about it. He said: "All of these good lawyers are fully employed. I appreciate you giving me the time of day."

It's just amazing, you know. It really is a sign of the times when this is the busiest of seasons for criminal defense lawyers, isn't it? These guys...

HEMMER: The docket grows long.

SERWER: Yes, I mean, these guys are so busy, they just can't get to court.

Meanwhile, Bernie Ebbers' trial. His attorneys have it tough, because they're trying to prove a negative. They're trying to prove that Bernie didn't know. Yesterday, the former chairman of MCI, Bert Roberts, said that Bernie didn't really know about any of the accounting, and Scott Sullivan, his former chief financial officer, told him that.

That's kind of problematic, but I actually think it's more of a problem for the prosecutors...

HEMMER: How so?

SERWER: ... trying to prove that Bernie Ebbers knew. So far, they really haven't had anything more than a smoking gun. They have Scott Sullivan saying he knew, but there are no other witnesses.

HEMMER: Right.

SERWER: There are no documents. There are no meetings. And there is certainly no confession by Ebbers.

HEMMER: Do you go guilt by association, because you're in charge of the camp, essentially, as CEO?

SERWER: Well, but, you know, obviously Scott Sullivan has all sorts of motive here, and he's pointing up and saying this guy was responsible for it. So, I think there's some tough sledding for the prosecutors in that trial.

HEMMER: Thanks for the update on the financial docket.

SERWER: You're welcome.

HEMMER: Thanks, Andy.

O'BRIEN: The "Question of the Day" is about the Oscars.

CAFFERTY: It could be a depressing night, Soledad, at the Academy Awards on Sunday. Take a look at this year's best picture nominees. You've got one movie about boxing and euthanasia.

SERWER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: Another about a billionaire with extremely long nails and a mental illness. There's a biography that centers around young boys nursing their ill mother. And another about a blind, black guy using his God-given talents and some primo heroin to overcome abject poverty, racism and the recoding industry.

The total box office gross for these films is 40 percent below the average for best picture nominees over the past 10 years. And, of course, beyond the movies, you've got that red carpet, where the celebrities wander around and participate in these lame interviews with star-struck reporters who ask stupid questions.

Here's your chance to pour your heart out. Tell Uncle Jack how you feel. How much do you care about the Academy Awards?

SERWER: We know what Uncle Jack thinks.

HEMMER: No kidding. I'll tell you what he's not going to be watching Sunday night.

O'BRIEN: Ouch! Yes. You know, I had an extra ticket. I was going to ask you to go as my date.

CAFFERTY: No, thanks.

O'BRIEN: But not anymore. Forget it.

SERWER: No, no. It would be wasted on him.

HEMMER: Put Jack in a dress.

O'BRIEN: Absolutely.

HEMMER: You know, I tell you...

CAFFERTY: I would rather watch...

O'BRIEN: What?

CAFFERTY: I would rather go to the Laundromat and watch the clothes go around in the dryer.

O'BRIEN: Why? It's fun. The celebrity sighting, the red carpet. Apparently, all of the celebs hang out on the bar on the first floor and just chitchat while they're waiting to be called. I think it's going to be fun.

HEMMER: It sounds like a blast.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

CAFFERTY: I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

SERWER: She'll tell you all about it.

O'BRIEN: Well, maybe not, Mr. Downer.

SERWER: She'll tell you all about it, Jack.

O'BRIEN: Exactly. Thank you, Jack -- I guess.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Well, ore AMERICAN MORNING is up right after the break.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN (voice over): Ahead on "90-Second Pop," just two days until Hollywood's biggest night, the Oscars. Will Hilary Swank and Jamie Foxx go home winners? Or is another actor poised to shock the world?

Plus, what's it going to take to win best director?

PAUL NEWMAN, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: Girly, tough ain't enough.

O'BRIEN: Oscar predictions ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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