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CNN Live At Daybreak
New Developments in Terri Schiavo Saga; Deadly Refinery Explosion in Texas; Get Your Bucks Back
Aired March 24, 2005 - 06:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us this morning.
"Now in the News."
A circuit judge in Florida says he'll rule by noon on an appeal to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. And the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide today if it will hear a similar appeal from Terri Schiavo's parents.
The State Department is warning Americans against travel in the Philippines, saying terror groups are planning multiple attacks. Security forces in Manila have seized explosives they say were to be used in Easter weekend bombings.
A memorial service is planned Saturday for Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year-old Florida girl abducted from her home. A convicted sex offender is under arrest, and he has been denied bond.
A plane that crashed in New Jersey last month may have been too nose-heavy to take off. Federal officials are focusing their investigation on mechanical causes for the crash at Teterboro Airport. Twenty people were hurt in the February 2 crash.
To the forecast center now.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Terri Schiavo's parents appear to be running out of options as they continue their fight to get their daughter's feeding tube reinserted. Her parents filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court just before 11:00 last night. That's Eastern Time.
The petition was given to Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has jurisdiction over emergency appeals in cases arising in the 11th U.S. Circuit, which included Florida. This was the sixth time Terri Schiavo's case has been presented to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has consistently refused to hear it.
In the meantime in Florida in the state capitol, an all-night prayer vigil was held by people who want Terri Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted. The vigil will move from the governor's mansion to the governor's office two and a half hours from now. And then by noon today, the Florida judge who ordered the tube removed last Friday is expected to rule on a state petition to have it put back in. Also, the hospice where Terri Schiavo lives has become center stage in this saga.
Let's head there now and check in with Bob Franken who is keeping up with developments on that part of the story.
Good morning -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The family goes through a series of emotional lows and highs. Each time they have their hopes raised, but the efforts prove to be futile. But then, they come up with some other approach. The most recent one now is to go back to the judge that had originally ordered the tube disconnected, who has been somewhat vilified by the family.
The governor is trying to take custody of Terri Schiavo, relying on his belief that the Department of Children and Families in the state, which is the social services agency, could take over and take control of her. And then, of course, presumably, reconnect the feeding tube.
Yesterday, when the word of that got out, the judge put out an order prohibiting the governor from doing that. Now, the administration is going back and saying it wants its permission to do just that.
COSTELLO: Bob, what about this latest angle involving this Dr. William Cheshire, who says in the petition that he has this information challenging the diagnosis that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state. I know Cheshire is saying she's most likely in a state of minimal consciousness. Is this being taken seriously by the courts?
FRANKEN: The court probably is going to express some skepticism over that. Dr. Cheshire is somebody who is well-known as an advocate for the so-called right-to-life movement, in addition to which his opinion is based on a very brief look at her, Terri Schiavo, and viewing videotapes. And other doctors are saying that that does not constitute a very thorough examination.
Nevertheless, the governor and the family are hoping that the doubts that he raises might, in fact, change the judge's mind.
COSTELLO: OK, I have two more questions for you. This morning, we found out from Bill Mears (ph), our producer at the U.S. Supreme Court, that Terri Schiavo's father says that Terri Schiavo mouthed the words, "I want to live." Have you ever heard that before?
FRANKEN: No. But there have been any number of claims that have been made, sometimes in increasing intensity, about Terri Schiavo's cognitive ability. The difficulty with all of this is that there are very few witnesses, and nobody is able to tell whether, in fact, this is truth, whether this is a fabrication, or, also a strong possibility, the desire of a parent to see a beloved child making improvements. COSTELLO: Also, we heard from a local reporter in Pinellas Park that Governor Bush may visit the hospice. Have you heard anything about that?
FRANKEN: I have not. Of course, there would be some security concerns if he did, and there would be some who would believe that he is inviting trouble for himself in this situation. But that is a recurring rumor that we have not been able to confirm.
COSTELLO: Bob Franken live in Florida this morning. Thank you.
This will give you a feeling for the depth of emotion the Schiavo is stirring up. During a peaceful protest outside that hospice, three children were arrested and taken away in handcuffs. Their dad says they took part in the organized act of civil disobedience to make a stand in support of Terri Schiavo. You see the children being handcuffed.
The demonstrators are being charged with trespassing. Those children were trying to bring in some water to Terri Schiavo.
Let's check in now with CNN's Bill Hemmer for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning.
More coverage on this, too. Terri Schiavo's family is desperately waiting now to hear word from the U.S. Supreme Court. We'll talk with both sides at the top of the hour here on this case.
A spiritual adviser who has been outside that hospice for many, months, we'll talk to him about Terri's parents in Florida.
Also, Michael Schiavo's brother is our guest today, Carol. We have not heard often from him. There were reports about these death threats against his family and against Michael Schiavo. We'll get that side of the story as well.
And more on this massive explosion at a BP oil refinery. If you heard about this late yesterday, 14 are dead, dozens are injured. That fire went on for about two hours. What caused it? And we'll also talk with the president of BP America about what's happening there. That's in southeastern Texas right near Galveston, Carol.
So, another busy morning here. See you at the top of the hour at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
COSTELLO: As a matter of fact, that explosion at BP, we're going to talk about that right now, because search operations are continuing this morning at the site of that deadly gas explosion. Fourteen people are dead. You heard Bill say it. More than 70 others injured at that huge BP refinery in Texas City, Texas.
Reporter Stephen Dean of CNN affiliate KPRC gives us a chilling bird's-eye view of the moments immediately following the blast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHEN DEAN, CNN AFFILIATE KPRC REPORTER (voice over): In the first few minutes, firefighters poured water from all angles, then more smoke as an entire row of work trucks erupted in flames.
Then, we saw the sheer desperation among the vast pile of debris, where most of the victims were trapped. Watch this. A despondent worker actually walking into the jet of water and right on to the pile of debris, despite several fire hoses being trained on the very spot he's checking. He's hoping to find a co-worker he had been with minutes earlier.
Then, eight minutes later, more rescuers fight through the smoke looking for survivors as well, one fireman rushing in, hoping for any sign of life.
One hour after the explosion, a full team of 20 rescuers can finally dig into the rubble now that the fire has died down. A backboard is moved into place, as workers dig into a hole and finally survivors are reached. Workers with even faint signs of life are carried out to waiting ambulances.
Here, firefighters are working loose, large sections of debris, while another team is digging out beyond them. And then come more survivors. A second is carried out at 2:24. A third worker is carried out 10 minutes later. And then once a crane comes in to move a section of collapsed building, there is another.
These rescue teams had to fight flare-ups as they moved piles, putting themselves in danger. And then an emotional sign that there were no more survivors.
Here, the entire search and rescue operation halts as rescuers bow their heads in a moment of silence for those who could not make it out alive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That report from Stephen Dean of CNN affiliate KPRC in Texas City.
Authorities still don't know how many people were at the refinery at the time of the blast or what caused this huge explosion.
The teenage school shooter in Minnesota was reportedly struggling with depression. Police say the 16-year-old went on a rampage, killing nine people, before fatally shooting himself at the Red Lake Indian Reservation on Monday. A cultural coordinator there tells "The Washington Post" that Jeffrey Weise was taking the antidepressant Prozac. And he was hospitalized for suicidal tendencies at least once.
An unarmed security guard who was killed in the shooting spree is being credited with saving the life of his colleague by confronting Weise.
Security guard LeeAnn Grant says: "He walked in and fired another shot, and I was telling Derrick, 'Come on, let's go. Let's go, Derrick, run. We need to save these kids. We need to do something. And I radioed in, 'There's a guy coming in the school, and he's shooting and he has a gun.'" She goes on to say, "Derrick just sat there at his desk. He just kept staring at Jeff. I kept hollering for him to come with me. He wouldn't come. He just stayed there."
And she says that saved her life.
We'll get more on the shooting spree later this morning. Minnesota officials plan a news conference a few hours from now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Terri Schiavo case is an emotional one on so many levels. I've been reading your e-mails, and I'm intrigued by how many of you have come to care about Terri Schiavo. You've never met her. You've never heard her speak. Yet, you have connected.
Example: This is from Mike from Florida. He says: "If it came down to it, I would take her in and care for her myself. How sad it is Michael Schiavo can try to take her away from her loved ones."
Or consider this one from David. He's from California. His comments came after I described how different Terri Schiavo appears after she slipped into that vegetative state. David writes, "Terri is pretty no matter what condition or health issues she may be facing."
Joining us live is Bruce Weinstein, the ethics guy and author of "Life Principles: Feeling Good by Doing Good."
Welcome to DAYBREAK.
I'm so intrigued by the e-mails, because Terri Schiavo has touched so many. Why do you suppose that is?
BRUCE WEINSTEIN, THEETHICSGUY.COM: It is very difficult for us, Carol, to face our own mortality. It's much easier to talk about someone else's pending death. And so, I believe we project our anxieties and our fears onto others; in this case Terri and her parents. And let's face it. The greatest anxiety we have is that someone else will determine how we die.
COSTELLO: You know, right-to-life protesters have been in front of the hospice, where Terri Schiavo is staying, and emotion-packed protests. Have they sort of generated feeling through the country by their passion in this case?
WEINSTEIN: You know, the media has done a good job and a bad job in covering this case. The upside is that there is a much greater awareness of the need for advance directives. For example, have you completed an advance directive yet? But I bet after this case, you know, after talking about it so much, we'll all be prompted, if we haven't already, to complete both a living will and a medical power of attorney.
The downside is that by bringing out folks -- let's say, the other night on this very network, I might add, someone who was falsely diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative -- in PVS complained that she felt hungry as she was being starved to death. And this does a great disservice, because the medical experts are in almost complete agreement on this case that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state.
And by focusing on these rare cases, they're giving the parents false hope. The media is giving the parents false hope and people who support the parents by suggesting that Terri might have a chance of recovery when she does not. As Dr. Ronald Cranford (ph) says, she has a flat EEG.
COSTELLO: But the father is doing his part, too, right? I mean, just this morning, we heard in the lawsuit filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, he says Terri Schiavo mouthed the words, "I want to live." Most doctors would say, but that's impossible.
WEINSTEIN: Unfortunately, what appears to be an ethical dilemma -- that is the conflict between the sanctity of life on the one hand, and the right to have our wishes respected on the other -- is not going on in this case. This is ultimately a psychological dilemma, because the parents have just had a very difficult time, understandably, in accepting the sad diagnosis that their daughter is in a persistent vegetative state. And this is just simply not the case that she is able to do the things that she is claiming that she is.
COSTELLO: OK. So, in the end, will anything come of this?
WEINSTEIN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Well what?
WEINSTEIN: Well, good things will come of it. I mean, unfortunately, Terri Schiavo has been used as a political football in this case by both sides. It actually reminds me of a film by Alexander Payne (ph) called "Citizen Ruth." This is by the filmmaker of "Sideways." His first film is about a woman who is pregnant who is used a political football by both the right to life and the right -- the pro-choice and the pro-life sides. And one wonders at the end of the film, well, what about her? Does anyone care about her?
And I wonder when I see this footage over and over again of Terri Schiavo, does anyone care about her right to privacy? I mean, would she have wanted her face to be splayed over the media internationally like this over and over?
I think we're often forgetting about this person, this woman, this human being and her rights. And the political issues and the legal issues, I think, sometimes overlook the very human struggle that's going on.
COSTELLO: In fairness, though, I must say that the videotape we keep showing of Terri Schiavo was provided to us by the parents.
WEINSTEIN: I know. But it's still the parents saying for her that this is OK to do. And, I mean, I would -- would you want to be featured like this on international TV? I know I wouldn't.
COSTELLO: Well, I'm pretty vain, so I probably wouldn't. Thank you for joining us this morning.
WEINSTEIN: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: DAYBREAK will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: CNN's Soledad O'Brien joins us now for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning -- Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, good morning to you.
As you well know, Terri Schiavo's parents are now pinning their hopes on the Supreme Court this morning. The court has refused to hear that case before. What could make it different this time around? We'll take a look at that.
In Florida, meanwhile, Governor Jeb Bush is trying to take custody of Terri Schiavo. He says he has medical evidence that, in fact, she is not in a persistent vegetative state. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to weigh in on that.
Plus, our series "Faith in America." We're going to meet a black reverend who is planning some common ground with the Republican administration. How he and other black ministers are using their influence to affect policy.
That and much more ahead on this "AMERICAN MORNING" at the top of the hour -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Soledad.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, frustrated about not receiving a rebate on that purchase you made months ago? Tips to claim your cash next.
And from chess champion to finger-pointing. Can you believe this is Bobby Fischer? Wait until you hear about what he said about President Bush.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Federal Trade Commission recently settled charges against CompUSA for allegedly failing to pay thousands of dollars of rebates within the promised timeframe. I know you've had that problem. The problem isn't limited to just one retailer.
J.J. Ramberg joins me now with more on this story.
Why does this keep happening to people?
J.J. RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what's interesting about this case actually is that CompUSA for the first time is being held responsible for manufacturers' rebates. So not only their own, but manufacturers as well.
And you ask, why is this happening? In part, it's because so many more companies are offering rebates. And so...
COSTELLO: But if they promise you a rebate, you should get it the next day.
RAMBERG: Exactly. And you're supposed to get it. It's illegal to not send a rebate. And complaints actually have gone up 21 percent just in the past year for this, three times since 1997.
And, again, in part that's just because so many more companies are offering rebates, and in part because people are not doing the right things to get their rebate.
So, I want to just give you a couple of ideas of what you're supposed to do if you are going to get a rebate. One of the first things that you should do is pay attention to the expiration date, because these are unforgiving deadlines. Usually, it's between two weeks and a month. And if you are one day after that month, they don't have to pay your rebate.
COSTELLO: Forget it.
RAMBERG: Yes, exactly. So, pay attention to the date. Also, provide all of the documents. Usually you need your receipt, you need the rebate form, and you need to cut out the UPC symbol and send that in.
COSTELLO: Geez!
RAMBERG: I know, right? And those boxes sometimes are so thick you literally need, like, a chainsaw to get the UPC symbol off.
But make copies of all of these things, too, including that big thick UPC symbol, so you have documentation should something go wrong in the future. And then if you don't get your rebate back, call the company and complain. And then if they don't get back to you or they're not very responsive, you can complain.
COSTELLO: I was going to say, come on.
RAMBERG: I know when you're going through that phone tree, "press one."
COSTELLO: Yes. RAMBERG: And then you can go to the Better Business Bureau or the FTC, and you can lodge complaints with either of those two organizations.
COSTELLO: Well, can you file your own suit against the company since it's illegal?
RAMBERG: Well, the first -- I mean, yes, it is illegal. But it's best first to go through one of these organizations. You know, usually it's about $50 or $100 if you really want to go through filing your own suit. It takes a lot of time and money.
COSTELLO: So, why do companies really offer rebates? Do they figure that people won't fill out the forms properly, and they probably end up won't -- I mean, not having to give the rebate?
RAMBERG: Well, a lot of people don't end up turning in their rebate. So, the estimates are somewhere between 70 and even 90 percent of people don't turn them in. But think about it. It's a way of putting things on sale and getting people to buy things. So, when you go to the store and you see this computer costs $1,500 and then you see in small print underneath, "with your $200 rebate," it's a way of making the price seem cheaper than it is.
COSTELLO: Yes, but see, I would rather them just take the 200 bucks off in the store.
RAMBERG: Yes, a lot of people would. And consumer groups, they call it "baiting with rebates." And they're...
COSTELLO: Interesting.
RAMBERG: Yes. Consumers, yes, I'd rather, too, pay less.
COSTELLO: Thank you, J.J. Ramberg
Former chess champion Bobby Fischer is a free man today, and he's heading to his new home in Iceland, which has granted him citizenship. Japanese officials released Fischer after arresting him in July for allegedly trying to leave the country with an invalid U.S. passport.
He had some choice words about the leaders of Japan and the United States. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBY FISCHER, FORMER CHESS CHAMPION: This was not an arrest. This was a kidnapping. It was all cooked up between Bush and Koizumi. They are war criminals. They should be both be hung. I'm very happy to be leaving. I have nothing against Japan. We just have a criminal government here. Koizumi is a gangster. He takes orders from President Bush. That's it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That is Bobby Fischer, the chess champion. Fischer is wanted in the United States for violating sanctions imposed by the former Yugoslavia by playing a chess match there. As you know, Yugoslavia has a different name now.
Good morning, New Haven, Connecticut. This is DAYBREAK for a Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: I'm liking that.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: A little 50.
COSTELLO: I like 50 Cent.
MARCIANO: Yes, I do, too.
COSTELLO: It's time to give away the mug.
MARCIANO: All right, here is yesterday's winner from I'll say Calais, Maine, Sarah Ludington. She got yesterday's questions right.
Here's your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug. Today's questions. Which two airlines are having leg room wars? And what letter of the alphabet is at the center of a car manufacturer's lawsuit?
Submit your answers online. The address is CNN.com/daybreak. Find out if you've won tomorrow morning.
COSTELLO: And we promise the questions will be updated on our show Web page.
That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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Aired March 24, 2005 - 06:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us this morning.
"Now in the News."
A circuit judge in Florida says he'll rule by noon on an appeal to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. And the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide today if it will hear a similar appeal from Terri Schiavo's parents.
The State Department is warning Americans against travel in the Philippines, saying terror groups are planning multiple attacks. Security forces in Manila have seized explosives they say were to be used in Easter weekend bombings.
A memorial service is planned Saturday for Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year-old Florida girl abducted from her home. A convicted sex offender is under arrest, and he has been denied bond.
A plane that crashed in New Jersey last month may have been too nose-heavy to take off. Federal officials are focusing their investigation on mechanical causes for the crash at Teterboro Airport. Twenty people were hurt in the February 2 crash.
To the forecast center now.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Terri Schiavo's parents appear to be running out of options as they continue their fight to get their daughter's feeding tube reinserted. Her parents filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court just before 11:00 last night. That's Eastern Time.
The petition was given to Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has jurisdiction over emergency appeals in cases arising in the 11th U.S. Circuit, which included Florida. This was the sixth time Terri Schiavo's case has been presented to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has consistently refused to hear it.
In the meantime in Florida in the state capitol, an all-night prayer vigil was held by people who want Terri Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted. The vigil will move from the governor's mansion to the governor's office two and a half hours from now. And then by noon today, the Florida judge who ordered the tube removed last Friday is expected to rule on a state petition to have it put back in. Also, the hospice where Terri Schiavo lives has become center stage in this saga.
Let's head there now and check in with Bob Franken who is keeping up with developments on that part of the story.
Good morning -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The family goes through a series of emotional lows and highs. Each time they have their hopes raised, but the efforts prove to be futile. But then, they come up with some other approach. The most recent one now is to go back to the judge that had originally ordered the tube disconnected, who has been somewhat vilified by the family.
The governor is trying to take custody of Terri Schiavo, relying on his belief that the Department of Children and Families in the state, which is the social services agency, could take over and take control of her. And then, of course, presumably, reconnect the feeding tube.
Yesterday, when the word of that got out, the judge put out an order prohibiting the governor from doing that. Now, the administration is going back and saying it wants its permission to do just that.
COSTELLO: Bob, what about this latest angle involving this Dr. William Cheshire, who says in the petition that he has this information challenging the diagnosis that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state. I know Cheshire is saying she's most likely in a state of minimal consciousness. Is this being taken seriously by the courts?
FRANKEN: The court probably is going to express some skepticism over that. Dr. Cheshire is somebody who is well-known as an advocate for the so-called right-to-life movement, in addition to which his opinion is based on a very brief look at her, Terri Schiavo, and viewing videotapes. And other doctors are saying that that does not constitute a very thorough examination.
Nevertheless, the governor and the family are hoping that the doubts that he raises might, in fact, change the judge's mind.
COSTELLO: OK, I have two more questions for you. This morning, we found out from Bill Mears (ph), our producer at the U.S. Supreme Court, that Terri Schiavo's father says that Terri Schiavo mouthed the words, "I want to live." Have you ever heard that before?
FRANKEN: No. But there have been any number of claims that have been made, sometimes in increasing intensity, about Terri Schiavo's cognitive ability. The difficulty with all of this is that there are very few witnesses, and nobody is able to tell whether, in fact, this is truth, whether this is a fabrication, or, also a strong possibility, the desire of a parent to see a beloved child making improvements. COSTELLO: Also, we heard from a local reporter in Pinellas Park that Governor Bush may visit the hospice. Have you heard anything about that?
FRANKEN: I have not. Of course, there would be some security concerns if he did, and there would be some who would believe that he is inviting trouble for himself in this situation. But that is a recurring rumor that we have not been able to confirm.
COSTELLO: Bob Franken live in Florida this morning. Thank you.
This will give you a feeling for the depth of emotion the Schiavo is stirring up. During a peaceful protest outside that hospice, three children were arrested and taken away in handcuffs. Their dad says they took part in the organized act of civil disobedience to make a stand in support of Terri Schiavo. You see the children being handcuffed.
The demonstrators are being charged with trespassing. Those children were trying to bring in some water to Terri Schiavo.
Let's check in now with CNN's Bill Hemmer for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning.
More coverage on this, too. Terri Schiavo's family is desperately waiting now to hear word from the U.S. Supreme Court. We'll talk with both sides at the top of the hour here on this case.
A spiritual adviser who has been outside that hospice for many, months, we'll talk to him about Terri's parents in Florida.
Also, Michael Schiavo's brother is our guest today, Carol. We have not heard often from him. There were reports about these death threats against his family and against Michael Schiavo. We'll get that side of the story as well.
And more on this massive explosion at a BP oil refinery. If you heard about this late yesterday, 14 are dead, dozens are injured. That fire went on for about two hours. What caused it? And we'll also talk with the president of BP America about what's happening there. That's in southeastern Texas right near Galveston, Carol.
So, another busy morning here. See you at the top of the hour at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
COSTELLO: As a matter of fact, that explosion at BP, we're going to talk about that right now, because search operations are continuing this morning at the site of that deadly gas explosion. Fourteen people are dead. You heard Bill say it. More than 70 others injured at that huge BP refinery in Texas City, Texas.
Reporter Stephen Dean of CNN affiliate KPRC gives us a chilling bird's-eye view of the moments immediately following the blast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHEN DEAN, CNN AFFILIATE KPRC REPORTER (voice over): In the first few minutes, firefighters poured water from all angles, then more smoke as an entire row of work trucks erupted in flames.
Then, we saw the sheer desperation among the vast pile of debris, where most of the victims were trapped. Watch this. A despondent worker actually walking into the jet of water and right on to the pile of debris, despite several fire hoses being trained on the very spot he's checking. He's hoping to find a co-worker he had been with minutes earlier.
Then, eight minutes later, more rescuers fight through the smoke looking for survivors as well, one fireman rushing in, hoping for any sign of life.
One hour after the explosion, a full team of 20 rescuers can finally dig into the rubble now that the fire has died down. A backboard is moved into place, as workers dig into a hole and finally survivors are reached. Workers with even faint signs of life are carried out to waiting ambulances.
Here, firefighters are working loose, large sections of debris, while another team is digging out beyond them. And then come more survivors. A second is carried out at 2:24. A third worker is carried out 10 minutes later. And then once a crane comes in to move a section of collapsed building, there is another.
These rescue teams had to fight flare-ups as they moved piles, putting themselves in danger. And then an emotional sign that there were no more survivors.
Here, the entire search and rescue operation halts as rescuers bow their heads in a moment of silence for those who could not make it out alive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That report from Stephen Dean of CNN affiliate KPRC in Texas City.
Authorities still don't know how many people were at the refinery at the time of the blast or what caused this huge explosion.
The teenage school shooter in Minnesota was reportedly struggling with depression. Police say the 16-year-old went on a rampage, killing nine people, before fatally shooting himself at the Red Lake Indian Reservation on Monday. A cultural coordinator there tells "The Washington Post" that Jeffrey Weise was taking the antidepressant Prozac. And he was hospitalized for suicidal tendencies at least once.
An unarmed security guard who was killed in the shooting spree is being credited with saving the life of his colleague by confronting Weise.
Security guard LeeAnn Grant says: "He walked in and fired another shot, and I was telling Derrick, 'Come on, let's go. Let's go, Derrick, run. We need to save these kids. We need to do something. And I radioed in, 'There's a guy coming in the school, and he's shooting and he has a gun.'" She goes on to say, "Derrick just sat there at his desk. He just kept staring at Jeff. I kept hollering for him to come with me. He wouldn't come. He just stayed there."
And she says that saved her life.
We'll get more on the shooting spree later this morning. Minnesota officials plan a news conference a few hours from now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Terri Schiavo case is an emotional one on so many levels. I've been reading your e-mails, and I'm intrigued by how many of you have come to care about Terri Schiavo. You've never met her. You've never heard her speak. Yet, you have connected.
Example: This is from Mike from Florida. He says: "If it came down to it, I would take her in and care for her myself. How sad it is Michael Schiavo can try to take her away from her loved ones."
Or consider this one from David. He's from California. His comments came after I described how different Terri Schiavo appears after she slipped into that vegetative state. David writes, "Terri is pretty no matter what condition or health issues she may be facing."
Joining us live is Bruce Weinstein, the ethics guy and author of "Life Principles: Feeling Good by Doing Good."
Welcome to DAYBREAK.
I'm so intrigued by the e-mails, because Terri Schiavo has touched so many. Why do you suppose that is?
BRUCE WEINSTEIN, THEETHICSGUY.COM: It is very difficult for us, Carol, to face our own mortality. It's much easier to talk about someone else's pending death. And so, I believe we project our anxieties and our fears onto others; in this case Terri and her parents. And let's face it. The greatest anxiety we have is that someone else will determine how we die.
COSTELLO: You know, right-to-life protesters have been in front of the hospice, where Terri Schiavo is staying, and emotion-packed protests. Have they sort of generated feeling through the country by their passion in this case?
WEINSTEIN: You know, the media has done a good job and a bad job in covering this case. The upside is that there is a much greater awareness of the need for advance directives. For example, have you completed an advance directive yet? But I bet after this case, you know, after talking about it so much, we'll all be prompted, if we haven't already, to complete both a living will and a medical power of attorney.
The downside is that by bringing out folks -- let's say, the other night on this very network, I might add, someone who was falsely diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative -- in PVS complained that she felt hungry as she was being starved to death. And this does a great disservice, because the medical experts are in almost complete agreement on this case that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state.
And by focusing on these rare cases, they're giving the parents false hope. The media is giving the parents false hope and people who support the parents by suggesting that Terri might have a chance of recovery when she does not. As Dr. Ronald Cranford (ph) says, she has a flat EEG.
COSTELLO: But the father is doing his part, too, right? I mean, just this morning, we heard in the lawsuit filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, he says Terri Schiavo mouthed the words, "I want to live." Most doctors would say, but that's impossible.
WEINSTEIN: Unfortunately, what appears to be an ethical dilemma -- that is the conflict between the sanctity of life on the one hand, and the right to have our wishes respected on the other -- is not going on in this case. This is ultimately a psychological dilemma, because the parents have just had a very difficult time, understandably, in accepting the sad diagnosis that their daughter is in a persistent vegetative state. And this is just simply not the case that she is able to do the things that she is claiming that she is.
COSTELLO: OK. So, in the end, will anything come of this?
WEINSTEIN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Well what?
WEINSTEIN: Well, good things will come of it. I mean, unfortunately, Terri Schiavo has been used as a political football in this case by both sides. It actually reminds me of a film by Alexander Payne (ph) called "Citizen Ruth." This is by the filmmaker of "Sideways." His first film is about a woman who is pregnant who is used a political football by both the right to life and the right -- the pro-choice and the pro-life sides. And one wonders at the end of the film, well, what about her? Does anyone care about her?
And I wonder when I see this footage over and over again of Terri Schiavo, does anyone care about her right to privacy? I mean, would she have wanted her face to be splayed over the media internationally like this over and over?
I think we're often forgetting about this person, this woman, this human being and her rights. And the political issues and the legal issues, I think, sometimes overlook the very human struggle that's going on.
COSTELLO: In fairness, though, I must say that the videotape we keep showing of Terri Schiavo was provided to us by the parents.
WEINSTEIN: I know. But it's still the parents saying for her that this is OK to do. And, I mean, I would -- would you want to be featured like this on international TV? I know I wouldn't.
COSTELLO: Well, I'm pretty vain, so I probably wouldn't. Thank you for joining us this morning.
WEINSTEIN: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: DAYBREAK will be right back.
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COSTELLO: CNN's Soledad O'Brien joins us now for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning -- Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, good morning to you.
As you well know, Terri Schiavo's parents are now pinning their hopes on the Supreme Court this morning. The court has refused to hear that case before. What could make it different this time around? We'll take a look at that.
In Florida, meanwhile, Governor Jeb Bush is trying to take custody of Terri Schiavo. He says he has medical evidence that, in fact, she is not in a persistent vegetative state. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to weigh in on that.
Plus, our series "Faith in America." We're going to meet a black reverend who is planning some common ground with the Republican administration. How he and other black ministers are using their influence to affect policy.
That and much more ahead on this "AMERICAN MORNING" at the top of the hour -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Soledad.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, frustrated about not receiving a rebate on that purchase you made months ago? Tips to claim your cash next.
And from chess champion to finger-pointing. Can you believe this is Bobby Fischer? Wait until you hear about what he said about President Bush.
We'll be right back.
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COSTELLO: The Federal Trade Commission recently settled charges against CompUSA for allegedly failing to pay thousands of dollars of rebates within the promised timeframe. I know you've had that problem. The problem isn't limited to just one retailer.
J.J. Ramberg joins me now with more on this story.
Why does this keep happening to people?
J.J. RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what's interesting about this case actually is that CompUSA for the first time is being held responsible for manufacturers' rebates. So not only their own, but manufacturers as well.
And you ask, why is this happening? In part, it's because so many more companies are offering rebates. And so...
COSTELLO: But if they promise you a rebate, you should get it the next day.
RAMBERG: Exactly. And you're supposed to get it. It's illegal to not send a rebate. And complaints actually have gone up 21 percent just in the past year for this, three times since 1997.
And, again, in part that's just because so many more companies are offering rebates, and in part because people are not doing the right things to get their rebate.
So, I want to just give you a couple of ideas of what you're supposed to do if you are going to get a rebate. One of the first things that you should do is pay attention to the expiration date, because these are unforgiving deadlines. Usually, it's between two weeks and a month. And if you are one day after that month, they don't have to pay your rebate.
COSTELLO: Forget it.
RAMBERG: Yes, exactly. So, pay attention to the date. Also, provide all of the documents. Usually you need your receipt, you need the rebate form, and you need to cut out the UPC symbol and send that in.
COSTELLO: Geez!
RAMBERG: I know, right? And those boxes sometimes are so thick you literally need, like, a chainsaw to get the UPC symbol off.
But make copies of all of these things, too, including that big thick UPC symbol, so you have documentation should something go wrong in the future. And then if you don't get your rebate back, call the company and complain. And then if they don't get back to you or they're not very responsive, you can complain.
COSTELLO: I was going to say, come on.
RAMBERG: I know when you're going through that phone tree, "press one."
COSTELLO: Yes. RAMBERG: And then you can go to the Better Business Bureau or the FTC, and you can lodge complaints with either of those two organizations.
COSTELLO: Well, can you file your own suit against the company since it's illegal?
RAMBERG: Well, the first -- I mean, yes, it is illegal. But it's best first to go through one of these organizations. You know, usually it's about $50 or $100 if you really want to go through filing your own suit. It takes a lot of time and money.
COSTELLO: So, why do companies really offer rebates? Do they figure that people won't fill out the forms properly, and they probably end up won't -- I mean, not having to give the rebate?
RAMBERG: Well, a lot of people don't end up turning in their rebate. So, the estimates are somewhere between 70 and even 90 percent of people don't turn them in. But think about it. It's a way of putting things on sale and getting people to buy things. So, when you go to the store and you see this computer costs $1,500 and then you see in small print underneath, "with your $200 rebate," it's a way of making the price seem cheaper than it is.
COSTELLO: Yes, but see, I would rather them just take the 200 bucks off in the store.
RAMBERG: Yes, a lot of people would. And consumer groups, they call it "baiting with rebates." And they're...
COSTELLO: Interesting.
RAMBERG: Yes. Consumers, yes, I'd rather, too, pay less.
COSTELLO: Thank you, J.J. Ramberg
Former chess champion Bobby Fischer is a free man today, and he's heading to his new home in Iceland, which has granted him citizenship. Japanese officials released Fischer after arresting him in July for allegedly trying to leave the country with an invalid U.S. passport.
He had some choice words about the leaders of Japan and the United States. Listen.
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BOBBY FISCHER, FORMER CHESS CHAMPION: This was not an arrest. This was a kidnapping. It was all cooked up between Bush and Koizumi. They are war criminals. They should be both be hung. I'm very happy to be leaving. I have nothing against Japan. We just have a criminal government here. Koizumi is a gangster. He takes orders from President Bush. That's it.
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COSTELLO: That is Bobby Fischer, the chess champion. Fischer is wanted in the United States for violating sanctions imposed by the former Yugoslavia by playing a chess match there. As you know, Yugoslavia has a different name now.
Good morning, New Haven, Connecticut. This is DAYBREAK for a Thursday morning.
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COSTELLO: I'm liking that.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: A little 50.
COSTELLO: I like 50 Cent.
MARCIANO: Yes, I do, too.
COSTELLO: It's time to give away the mug.
MARCIANO: All right, here is yesterday's winner from I'll say Calais, Maine, Sarah Ludington. She got yesterday's questions right.
Here's your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug. Today's questions. Which two airlines are having leg room wars? And what letter of the alphabet is at the center of a car manufacturer's lawsuit?
Submit your answers online. The address is CNN.com/daybreak. Find out if you've won tomorrow morning.
COSTELLO: And we promise the questions will be updated on our show Web page.
That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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