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CNN Live At Daybreak
Update on Condition of Former President Bill Clinton; Delta's Decision to Reintroduce Free Food on Flights
Aired March 10, 2005 - 06:00 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: He says he's not worried about today's surgery. Former President Clinton goes back to the hospital to fix a complication from his heart bypass.
Delta Air Lines making some big changes. And guess what? They'll save you some money. At least we think so. We've got details for you.
Plus, the meth menace is out there and it's more pervasive then you might think. We'll talk about the dangers of this addictive drug.
It is Thursday, March 10.
You are watching 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, there is new information this morning about the killings of two family members of a federal judge. The "Chicago Tribune" reporting a man who killed himself near Milwaukee had a suicide note and the note claimed the man had killed the federal judge, Judge Lefkow's husband and mother, in Chicago. The man shot himself during a traffic stop.
Insurgents target high ranking Iraqi police officials in Baghdad, killing two and critically injuring a third. Two other police officers were wounded in the series of shootings today. One of the victims was the chief of the central Baghdad police station.
He made a surprise appearance at his hospital window and now, one day later, the Vatican is about to issue an update on the pope's health. It's expected to come about 30 minutes from now and when it does we'll bring it to you right away.
A day after playing in a charity golf tournament, former President Clinton heads to the hospital. He'll undergo surgery later to drain fluid in his chest. He's cooperated to be in the hospital, oh, just about 10 days.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: He's got a pretty good swing there, Carol. COSTELLO: He does.
MYERS: Did you notice that? Yes. I don't know what he shot yesterday, but obviously that rain was coming down so hard in parts of Florida yesterday. I felt, we had a couple interviews around 10:00 and the rain was just coming down.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: If you think filing bankruptcy is going to give you an economic clean start, well, get ready to stay muddy a bit longer. New legislation is just about ready to pass the Senate and it's expected to breeze through the House and get the president's signature.
Here's how it's going to affect your bottom line. There are new tougher tests to determine just how much debt you'll have to repay. Now, active duty military, low income veterans and disabled people will get special considerations. You'll be required to pay for credit counseling to make sure you mend your ways and paying child support will be a high priority.
It's no surprise support for the measure comes from credit card companies and businesses who want their cash back.
Some Democrats are pushing to soften the measure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Because they have a heart attack in their family or because they have a stroke in their family or because they have a child that has spina bifida in their family, they're subject to the harsh provisions of this legislation that will virtually make them an indentured servant of the credit card companies for the next five years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R-UT), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: It will cause people who can afford to pay their bills, or at least pay some of their bills. Now, it seems to me that's the American way. We want to teach our children, our young people, that it's important to pay your bills. It's important to live up to your responsibilities. But we do a lot to make sure corporate America lives up to their responsibilities in this bill, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: An average of one and a half million Americans filed bankruptcy every year.
Baseball's steroid scandal goes to Capitol Hill today. But Major League Baseball is balking at subpoenas for some of its stars and officials to testify at congressional hearings on steroid use. Congress issued a total of 11 subpoenas to current and former players to appear on March 17.
White Sox slugger Frank Thomas is on that list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK THOMAS, CHICAGO WHITE SOX: I told people before I've got nothing to hide, so if they subpoena us, they subpoena us. And I'm going to stick by my word. It's an honor to go there. So we'll see what happens. You know, I don't know why I was chosen. I heard earlier that I was chosen because I had been outspoken on steroids the last couple of years, which I made a statement, a big public statement two years ago.
But that's been the extent of it for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: An attorney with Commissioner Bug Selig's office calls the subpoenas "an excessive and unprecedented misuse of congressional power."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to Mexico City for a brief trip this morning. Her first trip across the border will focus on the economic relationship between the two countries. Politicians in Mexico have come down hard on the Bush administration policies on Mexican workers in the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We need to take account of the fact that there is a certain economic relationship between Mexico and the United States that sometimes spurs this, which is why he's talked about a temporary worker program that would match willing workers and willing employers. And, finally, there is a humanitarian aspect to this that we want people to be treated humanely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: President Bush will talk about those issues later this month with Mexico's president. But later today, President Bush takes his Social Security reform message on the road again. He's got roundtable discussions planned in Kentucky and in Alabama.
President Bush also says he's as concerned as you are about rising gas prices. The president was in Columbus, Ohio saying that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska could help wean this country from foreign oil. The proposed drilling is part of the Bush energy bill that has been stalled in Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Department of Interior estimates that we could recover more than 10 billion barrels of oil from a small corner of ANWR that was reserved specifically for energy development. That's the same amount of new oil we could get from 41 states combined. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The Sierra Club says any oil under the wildlife refuge would last less than a year and exploration could inflict irreparable damage.
President Clinton was playing golf with the president's dad in Florida yesterday. Today, Clinton is heading for a hospital in New York. He says it's no big deal, even though he'll undergo heart surgery.
Kareen Wynter live in Washington this morning to tell us more -- good morning, Kareen.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
And his wife Hillary also says she's very confident about the outcome. She'll be in New York for the surgery.
As for Clinton, we've already seen some changes to his very busy schedule. He was forced to cancel an appearance today in Madrid, Spain, a summit there on democracy and terrorism. But that didn't stop the former president from heading to the Sunshine State yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER (voice-over): Neither storm nor sunshine, not even a few shaky swings, could keep Bill Clinton off the course the eve of his surgery. He's kept a busy schedule since his quadruple bypass last fall. Wednesday was no different. Clinton joined former President George H.W. Bush and pro-golfer Greg Norman in Florida.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They thought it was fine for me to come down here and play golf.
WYNTER: A charity golf tournament for tsunami victims.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The no laughing rule, which is in effect every time I swing.
WYNTER: When asked about today's procedure to drain fluid from his lung, Clinton shrugged off concerns.
CLINTON: It's not useful to sit around and worry about things you have no control over. I want to be able to breathe again fully.
WYNTER: Doctors who will perform the surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital describe the procedure as low risk. It will take between one and three hours and involves a small incision or a video scope insertion between the ribs. Doctors say once he's fully recovered, Clinton will be able to resume work without limitations. But that won't happen for three to 10 days. This former president, who's always on the go, will have to take it easy.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WYNTER: So far, more than 1,000 people have sent Mr. Clinton good wishes through his Web site.
And, Carol, that's a number that it's probably safe to say will grow between now and the time that he's in the hospital -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Kareen Wynter live in Washington this morning.
Thank you.
More "News Across America" now.
The Los Angeles mayor's race will come down to another vote. The city councilman, Antonio Villaraigosa -- and I hope I pronounced that right -- and the incumbent mayor, James Hahn, finished first and second out of the 12 candidates. Since neither captured 50 percent of the vote, they'll face each other in a runoff on May 17.
Scientists still haven't been able to figure out what caused Mount Saint Helens to let off some steam. The volcano shot ash and smoke thousands of feet into the air on Tuesday. Falling ash from the burst was spotted in neighborhoods nearly 100 miles away from the mountain.
A controversial University of Colorado professor may be on his way out. The courts say the school board has asked attorneys to negotiate the resignation of Professor Ward Churchill. Churchill, you'll remember, sparked controversy when he wrote an article comparing some 9/11 victims to Nazis.
It is a wrap. CBS icon Dan Rather ended his career as anchor last night. No word yet on who will fill the chair permanently, but if you missed it, we have some of his final signoff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN RATHER, CBS EVENING NEWS: For the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather reporting. Good night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He also said, "and to you, courage," so he did utter his signature line. Rather will continue with CBS as a "60 Minutes II" correspondent.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, hungry fliers take heart -- food is on board. And it might be free. One airline changing your in flight options.
And it's the biggest drug problem facing America's communities. Coming up, how you can fight it.
Then, baseball under oath -- big leaguers called to testify. But will this change anything?
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SENIOR EDITOR, "MONEY": When you're planning for retirement at 50, the first thing you want to do is sort of take a step back and assess where you are. At this point, you should have a fairly good idea of how much income you're going to need when you eventually retire. And so what you want to see is how much have I accumulated to this point and how much am I saving? Am I likely to get there?
Now, at 50, you're probably at your prime earnings years. So if you are not quite on track, you really have to ramp up your savings at that point, and it's probably a good time to do it because chances are that your income is high enough where you can afford to save a little bit more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Day five and still no verdict. What's holding up jurors in the trial against a former WorldCom executive? Does a note reveal which way they're leaning? We'll tell you in one minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The Associated Press is reporting former President Bill Clinton has checked into a New York hospital. He's having scar tissue and fluid removed from his chest. Doctors say he'll be in the hospital for up to 10 days.
In the Philippines, devastated families get ready for a mass burial of more than two dozen schoolchildren who died after eating a local delicacy. The children ate the deep fried snack at school. It's a root that can be poisonous if not prepared properly.
In money news, Henry Ford's last remaining grandson is stepping down from the car maker's board of directors. William Clay Ford, Sr. says he'll leave in May, but he'll still have a hand in the company. Ford turns 80 on Monday. His son is the current chairman and CEO, and also owner of the Detroit Lions.
In culture, it's "The Passion" re-cut. Mel Gibson's movie about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is being re-released, this time with six minutes of the most bloody and graphic scenes edited out.
In sports, Amari Stoudemire led the Phoenix Suns with 44 points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. The 107-101 win now ties both teams for best record in the NBA -- Chad. MYERS: And good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Nearly four years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, are we any safer when we fly? That's what we'll find out three hours from now, when a group representing some 22,000 airline pilots gives us a security report card.
President Bush wants to boost passenger fees to pay for aviation security measures and the new head of homeland security agrees.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I think passengers would understand the need to pay a small amount of money if the maximum is raised from $5 to $8, a $3 difference, which basically, as I recall it, is about the price of a Coke and a newspaper at an airport when you're waiting around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It's not as important as airline security, but, hey, if you're hungry, we have news. No need to get that Coke or snack at the terminal. One airline is bringing back snacks on board the plane. Delta dropping its buy on board meal program in favor of free munchies.
But why? Good business? And will it impact other airlines?
Joining me from Washington is Ben Mutzabaugh from usatoday.com.
Good morning, Ben.
BEN MUTZABAUGH, USATODAY.COM: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So why is Delta doing this?
MUTZABAUGH: Yes, the answer is it's -- they say it's actually not a cost cutting move. They say instead it goes to simplify their overall operations and they've been moving, as you know, from their simpler fares plans. They just wanted to make things easier, both for the customer and also internally for the company. The simpler things are, the lower costs go, the just better everything works.
So they say it's just simply a move to make things easier.
COSTELLO: Well, that's so, I mean, I was just on a flight the other day and I had to pay $5 for a hamburger. You think that they would make money out of that deal.
MUTZABAUGH: You would think that they would make money, but there's a whole lot involved behind it. They have to keep perishable food on stock and one of the things Delta said is that when they sent their flight attendants through the aisles, it was just sort of complicated. They had credit card payments, cash payments. There were all these different options and you really need to sell a decent amount of food to make any money off of that.
COSTELLO: So will other airlines that Delta owns follow suit?
MUTZABAUGH: Well, I think you'll see this throughout Comair and their other regional affiliates. Whether other airlines match, it seems like a good idea. So I don't know. I've bought the on board meals before and they're OK. But I might rather have the free munchies so.
COSTELLO: You think so? Because I was just going to say, I thought that when you bought the meals, the food was better. But now they're going to go back to that same old, what, a little bag of peanuts and that's it?
MUTZABAUGH: Well, I agree that the pay for, you know, the buy on board meals were definitely better than the previous option. But I wouldn't hold my hopes too high for what the new moves are going to bring. I think you're going to get, you know, Oreos, a granola bar. If you're really hungry, you should probably stop on the way to your flight at one of the airport stands and get something to go.
COSTELLO: Yes, I think that's the best idea.
Ben Mutzabaugh, joining us live this morning.
Thank you.
And you can read more travel tips from Ben in his "Today In the Sky" column on usatoday.com.
And you are watching DAYBREAK for a Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam at the Nasdaq Marketsite.
It looks like the jury may be getting close to reaching a verdict in the Bernie Ebbers WorldCom case. Taking a look at some notes that they asked the judge for, it says that Ebbers is being charged here for his involvement in fraud that led to the company's bankruptcy and now the note that the jury sent to the judge yesterday said that it has already decided, probably, Ebbers' case. This is what some people are reading into it, in the first two and most important counts.
Now, the note asks for more information about counts three through nine and it says it's probably not likely here -- this is what some pundits are saying -- that they will convict based on counts three through nine without first having a guilty verdict on counts one and two. So this has people a little on edge.
In a separate note, literally, the jury also asked the judge if they could get Domino's Pizza today. They said they're tired of eating the cafeteria food.
Let's take a look at the markets here today. Futures are pointing to a lower open. There were some oil prices that were up yesterday, so that also had the markets jittery. Also, some concerns about higher interest rates.
Also of note, today is the five year anniversary of the all time high at the Nasdaq of 5,049. The Index is down about 60 percent since then.
Another stock to take a look at today, Toys 'R Us. It seems the company, which has been trying to sell its toy division, may have gotten an offer for the entire company worth about $5 billion. That would include the Babies 'R Us chain.
That's the latest business news.
DAYBREAK will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A beautiful day in New York City. But it's rather chilly outside. Chad will get to that a little later.
Let's talk about what happened in Atlanta. A huge drug bust in suburban Atlanta. And when we say huge, we mean gigantic.
Take a look at this. Federal agents and local police seized a record 174 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. It has a street value of $16 million. Plus, they found $1 million in cash and evidence of the distribution of hundreds of pounds of the drug. They've also got a suspect behind cars.
Crystal methamphetamine is a colorless, odorless form of demethamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive, manmade stimulant. The drug typically resembles small fragments of glass, or shiny blue white rocks. The most common names for crystal meth are ice and glass.
Meth addiction is a growing problem across the United States. We've been talking a lot about that this morning, particularly in rural parts of the country.
Renewed addictionologist, Dr. Tim Kelly, joins us live now from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Good morning.
DR. TIM KELLY, ADDICTIONOLOGIST, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, FAIRBANKS: Good morning.
COSTELLO: How would you characterize this problem?
KELLY: It is a huge problem across the country. In the Midwest, it's become an epidemic, in the rural areas, especially. And there was a very high profile case in Indiana recently where a young girl was murdered because she walked into a methamphetamine lab.
COSTELLO: Oh.
And it's so pervasive because it's fairly easy to make, isn't it?
KELLY: Yes, it's very easy to make. People make it in their homes, in bathtubs, in garages, in vans.
COSTELLO: And you can buy the ingredients over the counter.
KELLY: Some of them, yes.
COSTELLO: Is there an average abuser? Is there one sort of person that gets hooked on crystal meth?
KELLY: Well, the -- somewhat of the stereotypical methamphetamine user is from a rural area, is often poor, sometimes having trouble holding a job and gets stuck in this lifestyle with methamphetamine, using, distributing, manufacturing.
COSTELLO: And, you know, when you say something like that, others might say oh, it doesn't affect me.
But it really does affect all of us, doesn't it?
KELLY: Absolutely. The jails in the -- especially in the rural areas -- have high percentages of people who are arrested on methamphetamine charges. Child welfare systems are being overcrowded, child protective services, children taken into custody, their parents on methamphetamine and facing legal charges. And abuse and neglect cases are rising because the parents are strung out on meth.
COSTELLO: Tell me why it's such a good high.
Do people become addicted immediately?
KELLY: Not absolutely. Many people will experiment with it. Some people -- addiction is an illness and some people are more prone to it than others. So, you know, not everyone who's ever tried methamphetamine ended up in jail or in treatment or heavily addicted. It's a very powerful stimulant. You know, it has effects similar to cocaine. It has longer lasting effects. It disrupts chemistry in the brain. It's a very powerful drug.
COSTELLO: What's the answer -- and I know there's no simple answer, so just give me some idea?
KELLY: Well, the answer is to provide, you know, more treatment to people who want help or are forced into getting help, education. You know, the legal system is completely overcrowded. They need more help, more resources. Families and social service agencies need help.
But the treatment infrastructure in the rural areas is lacking seriously.
COSTELLO: Addictionologist Dr. Tim Kelly joining us live from Indianapolis this morning.
We appreciate it.
Tomorrow, our look at meth continues.
I'll speak to Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi about a new law to help pharmacies in the fight against meth by limiting what you can buy over the counter, stuff like Sudafed. And meth discriminates against no one, but it's hitting one group especially hard. We'll look at the meth crisis in the gay community.
DAYBREAK will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired March 10, 2005 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: He says he's not worried about today's surgery. Former President Clinton goes back to the hospital to fix a complication from his heart bypass.
Delta Air Lines making some big changes. And guess what? They'll save you some money. At least we think so. We've got details for you.
Plus, the meth menace is out there and it's more pervasive then you might think. We'll talk about the dangers of this addictive drug.
It is Thursday, March 10.
You are watching 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, there is new information this morning about the killings of two family members of a federal judge. The "Chicago Tribune" reporting a man who killed himself near Milwaukee had a suicide note and the note claimed the man had killed the federal judge, Judge Lefkow's husband and mother, in Chicago. The man shot himself during a traffic stop.
Insurgents target high ranking Iraqi police officials in Baghdad, killing two and critically injuring a third. Two other police officers were wounded in the series of shootings today. One of the victims was the chief of the central Baghdad police station.
He made a surprise appearance at his hospital window and now, one day later, the Vatican is about to issue an update on the pope's health. It's expected to come about 30 minutes from now and when it does we'll bring it to you right away.
A day after playing in a charity golf tournament, former President Clinton heads to the hospital. He'll undergo surgery later to drain fluid in his chest. He's cooperated to be in the hospital, oh, just about 10 days.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: He's got a pretty good swing there, Carol. COSTELLO: He does.
MYERS: Did you notice that? Yes. I don't know what he shot yesterday, but obviously that rain was coming down so hard in parts of Florida yesterday. I felt, we had a couple interviews around 10:00 and the rain was just coming down.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: If you think filing bankruptcy is going to give you an economic clean start, well, get ready to stay muddy a bit longer. New legislation is just about ready to pass the Senate and it's expected to breeze through the House and get the president's signature.
Here's how it's going to affect your bottom line. There are new tougher tests to determine just how much debt you'll have to repay. Now, active duty military, low income veterans and disabled people will get special considerations. You'll be required to pay for credit counseling to make sure you mend your ways and paying child support will be a high priority.
It's no surprise support for the measure comes from credit card companies and businesses who want their cash back.
Some Democrats are pushing to soften the measure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Because they have a heart attack in their family or because they have a stroke in their family or because they have a child that has spina bifida in their family, they're subject to the harsh provisions of this legislation that will virtually make them an indentured servant of the credit card companies for the next five years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R-UT), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: It will cause people who can afford to pay their bills, or at least pay some of their bills. Now, it seems to me that's the American way. We want to teach our children, our young people, that it's important to pay your bills. It's important to live up to your responsibilities. But we do a lot to make sure corporate America lives up to their responsibilities in this bill, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: An average of one and a half million Americans filed bankruptcy every year.
Baseball's steroid scandal goes to Capitol Hill today. But Major League Baseball is balking at subpoenas for some of its stars and officials to testify at congressional hearings on steroid use. Congress issued a total of 11 subpoenas to current and former players to appear on March 17.
White Sox slugger Frank Thomas is on that list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK THOMAS, CHICAGO WHITE SOX: I told people before I've got nothing to hide, so if they subpoena us, they subpoena us. And I'm going to stick by my word. It's an honor to go there. So we'll see what happens. You know, I don't know why I was chosen. I heard earlier that I was chosen because I had been outspoken on steroids the last couple of years, which I made a statement, a big public statement two years ago.
But that's been the extent of it for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: An attorney with Commissioner Bug Selig's office calls the subpoenas "an excessive and unprecedented misuse of congressional power."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to Mexico City for a brief trip this morning. Her first trip across the border will focus on the economic relationship between the two countries. Politicians in Mexico have come down hard on the Bush administration policies on Mexican workers in the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We need to take account of the fact that there is a certain economic relationship between Mexico and the United States that sometimes spurs this, which is why he's talked about a temporary worker program that would match willing workers and willing employers. And, finally, there is a humanitarian aspect to this that we want people to be treated humanely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: President Bush will talk about those issues later this month with Mexico's president. But later today, President Bush takes his Social Security reform message on the road again. He's got roundtable discussions planned in Kentucky and in Alabama.
President Bush also says he's as concerned as you are about rising gas prices. The president was in Columbus, Ohio saying that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska could help wean this country from foreign oil. The proposed drilling is part of the Bush energy bill that has been stalled in Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Department of Interior estimates that we could recover more than 10 billion barrels of oil from a small corner of ANWR that was reserved specifically for energy development. That's the same amount of new oil we could get from 41 states combined. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The Sierra Club says any oil under the wildlife refuge would last less than a year and exploration could inflict irreparable damage.
President Clinton was playing golf with the president's dad in Florida yesterday. Today, Clinton is heading for a hospital in New York. He says it's no big deal, even though he'll undergo heart surgery.
Kareen Wynter live in Washington this morning to tell us more -- good morning, Kareen.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
And his wife Hillary also says she's very confident about the outcome. She'll be in New York for the surgery.
As for Clinton, we've already seen some changes to his very busy schedule. He was forced to cancel an appearance today in Madrid, Spain, a summit there on democracy and terrorism. But that didn't stop the former president from heading to the Sunshine State yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER (voice-over): Neither storm nor sunshine, not even a few shaky swings, could keep Bill Clinton off the course the eve of his surgery. He's kept a busy schedule since his quadruple bypass last fall. Wednesday was no different. Clinton joined former President George H.W. Bush and pro-golfer Greg Norman in Florida.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They thought it was fine for me to come down here and play golf.
WYNTER: A charity golf tournament for tsunami victims.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The no laughing rule, which is in effect every time I swing.
WYNTER: When asked about today's procedure to drain fluid from his lung, Clinton shrugged off concerns.
CLINTON: It's not useful to sit around and worry about things you have no control over. I want to be able to breathe again fully.
WYNTER: Doctors who will perform the surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital describe the procedure as low risk. It will take between one and three hours and involves a small incision or a video scope insertion between the ribs. Doctors say once he's fully recovered, Clinton will be able to resume work without limitations. But that won't happen for three to 10 days. This former president, who's always on the go, will have to take it easy.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WYNTER: So far, more than 1,000 people have sent Mr. Clinton good wishes through his Web site.
And, Carol, that's a number that it's probably safe to say will grow between now and the time that he's in the hospital -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Kareen Wynter live in Washington this morning.
Thank you.
More "News Across America" now.
The Los Angeles mayor's race will come down to another vote. The city councilman, Antonio Villaraigosa -- and I hope I pronounced that right -- and the incumbent mayor, James Hahn, finished first and second out of the 12 candidates. Since neither captured 50 percent of the vote, they'll face each other in a runoff on May 17.
Scientists still haven't been able to figure out what caused Mount Saint Helens to let off some steam. The volcano shot ash and smoke thousands of feet into the air on Tuesday. Falling ash from the burst was spotted in neighborhoods nearly 100 miles away from the mountain.
A controversial University of Colorado professor may be on his way out. The courts say the school board has asked attorneys to negotiate the resignation of Professor Ward Churchill. Churchill, you'll remember, sparked controversy when he wrote an article comparing some 9/11 victims to Nazis.
It is a wrap. CBS icon Dan Rather ended his career as anchor last night. No word yet on who will fill the chair permanently, but if you missed it, we have some of his final signoff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN RATHER, CBS EVENING NEWS: For the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather reporting. Good night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He also said, "and to you, courage," so he did utter his signature line. Rather will continue with CBS as a "60 Minutes II" correspondent.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, hungry fliers take heart -- food is on board. And it might be free. One airline changing your in flight options.
And it's the biggest drug problem facing America's communities. Coming up, how you can fight it.
Then, baseball under oath -- big leaguers called to testify. But will this change anything?
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
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WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SENIOR EDITOR, "MONEY": When you're planning for retirement at 50, the first thing you want to do is sort of take a step back and assess where you are. At this point, you should have a fairly good idea of how much income you're going to need when you eventually retire. And so what you want to see is how much have I accumulated to this point and how much am I saving? Am I likely to get there?
Now, at 50, you're probably at your prime earnings years. So if you are not quite on track, you really have to ramp up your savings at that point, and it's probably a good time to do it because chances are that your income is high enough where you can afford to save a little bit more.
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COSTELLO: Day five and still no verdict. What's holding up jurors in the trial against a former WorldCom executive? Does a note reveal which way they're leaning? We'll tell you in one minute.
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COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The Associated Press is reporting former President Bill Clinton has checked into a New York hospital. He's having scar tissue and fluid removed from his chest. Doctors say he'll be in the hospital for up to 10 days.
In the Philippines, devastated families get ready for a mass burial of more than two dozen schoolchildren who died after eating a local delicacy. The children ate the deep fried snack at school. It's a root that can be poisonous if not prepared properly.
In money news, Henry Ford's last remaining grandson is stepping down from the car maker's board of directors. William Clay Ford, Sr. says he'll leave in May, but he'll still have a hand in the company. Ford turns 80 on Monday. His son is the current chairman and CEO, and also owner of the Detroit Lions.
In culture, it's "The Passion" re-cut. Mel Gibson's movie about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is being re-released, this time with six minutes of the most bloody and graphic scenes edited out.
In sports, Amari Stoudemire led the Phoenix Suns with 44 points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. The 107-101 win now ties both teams for best record in the NBA -- Chad. MYERS: And good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Nearly four years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, are we any safer when we fly? That's what we'll find out three hours from now, when a group representing some 22,000 airline pilots gives us a security report card.
President Bush wants to boost passenger fees to pay for aviation security measures and the new head of homeland security agrees.
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MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I think passengers would understand the need to pay a small amount of money if the maximum is raised from $5 to $8, a $3 difference, which basically, as I recall it, is about the price of a Coke and a newspaper at an airport when you're waiting around.
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COSTELLO: It's not as important as airline security, but, hey, if you're hungry, we have news. No need to get that Coke or snack at the terminal. One airline is bringing back snacks on board the plane. Delta dropping its buy on board meal program in favor of free munchies.
But why? Good business? And will it impact other airlines?
Joining me from Washington is Ben Mutzabaugh from usatoday.com.
Good morning, Ben.
BEN MUTZABAUGH, USATODAY.COM: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So why is Delta doing this?
MUTZABAUGH: Yes, the answer is it's -- they say it's actually not a cost cutting move. They say instead it goes to simplify their overall operations and they've been moving, as you know, from their simpler fares plans. They just wanted to make things easier, both for the customer and also internally for the company. The simpler things are, the lower costs go, the just better everything works.
So they say it's just simply a move to make things easier.
COSTELLO: Well, that's so, I mean, I was just on a flight the other day and I had to pay $5 for a hamburger. You think that they would make money out of that deal.
MUTZABAUGH: You would think that they would make money, but there's a whole lot involved behind it. They have to keep perishable food on stock and one of the things Delta said is that when they sent their flight attendants through the aisles, it was just sort of complicated. They had credit card payments, cash payments. There were all these different options and you really need to sell a decent amount of food to make any money off of that.
COSTELLO: So will other airlines that Delta owns follow suit?
MUTZABAUGH: Well, I think you'll see this throughout Comair and their other regional affiliates. Whether other airlines match, it seems like a good idea. So I don't know. I've bought the on board meals before and they're OK. But I might rather have the free munchies so.
COSTELLO: You think so? Because I was just going to say, I thought that when you bought the meals, the food was better. But now they're going to go back to that same old, what, a little bag of peanuts and that's it?
MUTZABAUGH: Well, I agree that the pay for, you know, the buy on board meals were definitely better than the previous option. But I wouldn't hold my hopes too high for what the new moves are going to bring. I think you're going to get, you know, Oreos, a granola bar. If you're really hungry, you should probably stop on the way to your flight at one of the airport stands and get something to go.
COSTELLO: Yes, I think that's the best idea.
Ben Mutzabaugh, joining us live this morning.
Thank you.
And you can read more travel tips from Ben in his "Today In the Sky" column on usatoday.com.
And you are watching DAYBREAK for a Thursday morning.
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STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam at the Nasdaq Marketsite.
It looks like the jury may be getting close to reaching a verdict in the Bernie Ebbers WorldCom case. Taking a look at some notes that they asked the judge for, it says that Ebbers is being charged here for his involvement in fraud that led to the company's bankruptcy and now the note that the jury sent to the judge yesterday said that it has already decided, probably, Ebbers' case. This is what some people are reading into it, in the first two and most important counts.
Now, the note asks for more information about counts three through nine and it says it's probably not likely here -- this is what some pundits are saying -- that they will convict based on counts three through nine without first having a guilty verdict on counts one and two. So this has people a little on edge.
In a separate note, literally, the jury also asked the judge if they could get Domino's Pizza today. They said they're tired of eating the cafeteria food.
Let's take a look at the markets here today. Futures are pointing to a lower open. There were some oil prices that were up yesterday, so that also had the markets jittery. Also, some concerns about higher interest rates.
Also of note, today is the five year anniversary of the all time high at the Nasdaq of 5,049. The Index is down about 60 percent since then.
Another stock to take a look at today, Toys 'R Us. It seems the company, which has been trying to sell its toy division, may have gotten an offer for the entire company worth about $5 billion. That would include the Babies 'R Us chain.
That's the latest business news.
DAYBREAK will be right back.
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COSTELLO: A beautiful day in New York City. But it's rather chilly outside. Chad will get to that a little later.
Let's talk about what happened in Atlanta. A huge drug bust in suburban Atlanta. And when we say huge, we mean gigantic.
Take a look at this. Federal agents and local police seized a record 174 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. It has a street value of $16 million. Plus, they found $1 million in cash and evidence of the distribution of hundreds of pounds of the drug. They've also got a suspect behind cars.
Crystal methamphetamine is a colorless, odorless form of demethamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive, manmade stimulant. The drug typically resembles small fragments of glass, or shiny blue white rocks. The most common names for crystal meth are ice and glass.
Meth addiction is a growing problem across the United States. We've been talking a lot about that this morning, particularly in rural parts of the country.
Renewed addictionologist, Dr. Tim Kelly, joins us live now from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Good morning.
DR. TIM KELLY, ADDICTIONOLOGIST, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, FAIRBANKS: Good morning.
COSTELLO: How would you characterize this problem?
KELLY: It is a huge problem across the country. In the Midwest, it's become an epidemic, in the rural areas, especially. And there was a very high profile case in Indiana recently where a young girl was murdered because she walked into a methamphetamine lab.
COSTELLO: Oh.
And it's so pervasive because it's fairly easy to make, isn't it?
KELLY: Yes, it's very easy to make. People make it in their homes, in bathtubs, in garages, in vans.
COSTELLO: And you can buy the ingredients over the counter.
KELLY: Some of them, yes.
COSTELLO: Is there an average abuser? Is there one sort of person that gets hooked on crystal meth?
KELLY: Well, the -- somewhat of the stereotypical methamphetamine user is from a rural area, is often poor, sometimes having trouble holding a job and gets stuck in this lifestyle with methamphetamine, using, distributing, manufacturing.
COSTELLO: And, you know, when you say something like that, others might say oh, it doesn't affect me.
But it really does affect all of us, doesn't it?
KELLY: Absolutely. The jails in the -- especially in the rural areas -- have high percentages of people who are arrested on methamphetamine charges. Child welfare systems are being overcrowded, child protective services, children taken into custody, their parents on methamphetamine and facing legal charges. And abuse and neglect cases are rising because the parents are strung out on meth.
COSTELLO: Tell me why it's such a good high.
Do people become addicted immediately?
KELLY: Not absolutely. Many people will experiment with it. Some people -- addiction is an illness and some people are more prone to it than others. So, you know, not everyone who's ever tried methamphetamine ended up in jail or in treatment or heavily addicted. It's a very powerful stimulant. You know, it has effects similar to cocaine. It has longer lasting effects. It disrupts chemistry in the brain. It's a very powerful drug.
COSTELLO: What's the answer -- and I know there's no simple answer, so just give me some idea?
KELLY: Well, the answer is to provide, you know, more treatment to people who want help or are forced into getting help, education. You know, the legal system is completely overcrowded. They need more help, more resources. Families and social service agencies need help.
But the treatment infrastructure in the rural areas is lacking seriously.
COSTELLO: Addictionologist Dr. Tim Kelly joining us live from Indianapolis this morning.
We appreciate it.
Tomorrow, our look at meth continues.
I'll speak to Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi about a new law to help pharmacies in the fight against meth by limiting what you can buy over the counter, stuff like Sudafed. And meth discriminates against no one, but it's hitting one group especially hard. We'll look at the meth crisis in the gay community.
DAYBREAK will be right back.
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