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American Morning
Red Tide Ruin; Teen Fight Night
Aired June 10, 2005 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Bill Hemmer. Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad today. We are tracking Tropical Storm Arlene, already getting strength this morning and moving toward the U.S. coast. A check of the forecast just ahead.
HEMMER: Also a check of the headlines, too. Let's get to those with Valerie Morris with us here.
Hey, Val.
VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello again. And hello, everyone.
Now in the news, there is a chilling new report containing details of U.S. intelligence failures before September 11th. A new government report says the FBI missed at least five chances to nab two of the hijackers. The Justice Department report also adds significant details about systematic failures at the FBI. The FBI says it has taken substantial steps to address the issues in the report.
A top war crimes fugitive may be close to being captured. A respected newspaper in Serbia reports the Serbian government knows where Ravko Nvidic (ph) is hiding, and is considering how to arrest him without casualties. Nvidic has been indicted twice for genocide. He is one of two men most wanted by the U.N. court at the Hague.
Investigators in Aruba are expanding their search for Natalee Holloway by talking to officials in South America. Venezuela is just a few miles from Aruba and is easily accessible by boat.
Meanwhile, police in Aruba are questioning three new suspects. One is the son of a judge in Aruba. He, along with two others, were seen leaving the club with Holloway the night she disappeared.
After more than 20 hours of deliberation, the jury in the Michael Jackson trial meeting again today. The court session set to get under way in the next two hours. The pop star has been awaiting the verdict at his Neverland Ranch.
And "Star Wars" creator George Lucas in the spotlight last night to receive the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. On hand for event, director Steven Spielberg, actor Harrison Ford, even Chewbacca, the Wookie. Remember him? The awards show will air on USA Networks June 20th.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: I like that noise he makes. It makes me laugh every time I hear it.
(CROSSTALK)
MORRIS: I'm not going to do it, though.
COSTELLO: It did sound funny.
Thanks, Valerie.
HEMMER: There's an algae outbreak on the coast of Massachusetts, prompting the governor, Mitt Romney, to declare a state of emergency. The algae, known as red tide, is devastating the shellfish industry, and the governor right now wants federal money to help out some of his state's fisherman.
Dan Lothian out of Boston is watching this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Molly Benjamin points to her two-acre farm on a mudflat off of Cape Cod...
MOLLY BENJAMIN, SHELL FISHERWOMAN: It's kind of in that area.
LOTHIAN: ... where she grows oysters and little-neck clams.
BENJAMIN: And you can walk at low tide.
LOTHIAN: A half-million shellfish are ready to be harvested.
(on camera): Why can't you pull them out of the ground now?
BENJAMIN: Because there's nowhere to sell them.
LOTHIAN (voice-over): She's losing thousands of dollars each week.
BENJAMIN: This is unprecedented. The economic impact is phenomenal.
LOTHIAN: She's a victim of red tide, the warning signs are posted everywhere: No shell fishing.
DENNIS MCGILLICUDDY, WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INST.: The particular red tide we're dealing with here in New England waters is a natural phenomenon. This is an algae that's been around for a long time.
LOTHIAN (on camera): You can't see red tide in the water. The cells are invisible to the naked eye. But the toxins in the meat of a shellfish can be extremely dangerous. Experts say, if eaten, it can lead to numbness, paralysis, or even death. (voice-over): Benjamin, who has been shellfishing for more than 20 years, can only show us what she would normally be doing on this sunny day.
(on camera): And then you just put them in your basket?
BENJAMIN: Then I put them in the basket.
LOTHIAN: But your rake is empty and your baskets are empty.
BENJAMIN: That's right.
LOTHIAN: Her boat is docked, her engine is silent and her bank account is drying up.
BENJAMIN: And the bills still keep coming. I can't tell the credit card company sorry, you know. This is like a real sock in the stomach.
LOTHIAN: The algae bloom is the most severe outbreak in 30 years, stretching from Maine to Massachusetts.
Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod are trying to determine why it's so bad and how long it will last. The governor of Massachusetts has declared a state of emergency and is seeking federal relief.
And a state senator whose district is heavily impacted says the shellfishing industry needs help now.
ROBERT O'LEARY, MASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATE: Clearly, the incomes of people who dig them and the restaurants who serve them are suffering.
LOTHIAN: Shellfish will eventually purge the toxin, but for Benjamin and others, it's time and money already lost.
BENJAMIN: You never get that back.
LOTHIAN: During the peak season.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Welfley (ph), Massachusetts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Also, the governor, Mitt Romney, said red tide is costing his state $3 million bucks a week at this point -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Now a follow-up story. We told you Thursday a DVD of teenage boys and girls drinking, fighting and mud wrestling. Police in Rogers, Arkansas want to know who made it, who distributed it and who supplied the alcohol to the teenagers.
Steve Womack is the mayor of Rogers. He joins us now from nearby Alma, Arkansas.
Good morning, Steve.
MYR. STEVE WOMACK, ROGERS, ARKANSAS: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: This DVD surfaced on May 6th, but now it's just now coming to all of our attention. Why is that?
WOMACK: Well, I don't know why either way. Obviously, the DVD was circulated and being sold according to my understanding at Rogers High School, and sometime after the alleged sale of this DVD, it was confiscated by a member of the faculty and later turned over to the school resource officer, and within the last couple of weeks, that DVD was made public, after, of course, it was turned over to local law enforcement agencies and my office.
COSTELLO: You watched the DVD. How serious is the fighting? Is this just some kids pushing each other around? How serious does it get? wow!
WOMACK: Well, they're using 16-ounce gloves, and to some people who are familiar with boxing, they would say that that's nothing more than fighting with glove-like pillows, but in one frame, you'll notice that one of the fighters actually loses his gloves and goes into some sort of a rage, and goes after one of the combatants who is down on the ground covering his head. And when you see those types of scenes in the DVD, it tells me that perhaps the event was going a little bit too far and needed to be stopped.
COSTELLO: And, also the girls who were mud wrestling. There was partial nudity involved in that, too, wasn't there?
WOMACK: Well, in that particular scene, there were two girls in bikinis that were mud wrestling in what looked like a kiddie pool. In one of the scenes, the girl coming up from out of the bottom of that enclosure appeared to at least have her top slip somewhat. I personally did not notice any full nudity in terms of the breasts being exposed, but she was certainly adjusting her top, because in those circumstances, with water and mud, things get a little slippery, and she was, I think, taking some precautions there.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about possible charges. I know that police initially responded to this, because it came in as a noise complaint, but they didn't really find any alcohol on the scene, and they really didn't notice anything? How can that be possible?
WOMACK: Well, I'm not real sure where the investigation is in regards to revealing exactly what the officer saw, what the officer did, what the officer did not see or did not do. Obviously, we have documented evidence that there was a strong preponderance of evidence that suggested our kids were being treated to a keg party. There's strong evidence that they were allowed to buy cups, all you can drink cups, for like $5, is the number that I've been given, and that the party was going on for quite some time. At this point in time, Carol, I have to tell you that the police investigation will focus on the alleged criminal activity that has been captured on the DVD. But my office will also concentrate internally on the appropriateness of our police response. What did we see or do or not see or not do? And those are issues that are still under investigation.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Mayor Steve Womack of Rogers, Arkansas.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Carol?
COSTELLO: Tomorrow on CNN, she's a single mother and she's proud of it, but singing the praises of a home without a father has landed pop star Fantasia Barrino in the middle of a controversy.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: So is single motherhood really a badge of honor? Single moms talk about the controversy. That's tomorrow on CNN Saturday morning, 7:00 Eastern.
And still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, this morning there may be signs that the real estate boom is about to go bust. Andy explains in "Minding Your Business."
HEMMER: Also a bit later, Carol, a retired teacher's "Extra Effort." Looking today at how she is helping refugees find the American dream. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: As we watch Tropical Storm Arlene, want to bring in John Zarrella right now. He's in Miami Beach. Outside, the winds kicking up. John, what are conditions?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill, real gusty here down at the Hallover (ph) Beaches on the North End of Miami. A lot of wind, not a whole heck of a lot of rain. You can see the crashing surf.
And already, I guess we can say one death attributed to Tropical Storm Arlene here. This morning, down on Miami Beach, a couple of women in the water. One woman in the water, a second woman went into rescue her. They got caught in the terrible rip currents here. Fire rescue from Miami Beach went in, pulled the first -- the rescuing woman out, then the other woman out. She was transported -- both were transported to the hospital. The woman was in the water for about 20 minutes, pronounced dead at the hospital. That's the first woman that went in with water in her lungs.
The weather is so bad out here that the fire rescue people themselves had to be pulled out by a Coast Guard boats. So things are very treacherous. Folks are being warned, stay out of the water. There are surfers are out here, everyone being warned, stay away, terrible rip currents. And, again, one death apparently now going to be attributed to tropical storm Irene (sic) -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, the shape of things to come for over the weekend. ZARRELLA: Arlene.
HEMMER: A picture that will get worse, too. Thanks, John. Watching that in Miami. Carol?
COSTELLO: Business news this morning. A possible sign that the real estate bubble is verging on bursting. With that story to check on Wall Street, Andy is here, "Minding Your Business." We've been hearing that for such a long time.
SERWER: Yes, I know. And there's no telling when it's going to happen or if it's going to happen, Carol.
Let's talk about the markets, first of all. Not a whole lot going on Wall Street. You can see the Dow's up 34, which is pretty nice. Nasdaq down a little bit, though. Citigroup paying $2 billion to settle some litigation connected to Enron. Trade gap up a little bit. Oil prices up slightly because of Arlene, which seems to be moving into the Gulf of Mexico, as you just saw.
Now, Jack's been talking all morning about millionaires and how their ranks seem to be increasing in this country. Some information from the same survey that Jack's been talking about suggests that the superwealthy have been reducing their holdings in real estate. This is interesting stuff, because if you think the superwealthy are savvy investors, it could suggest that they're getting out at the top of the real estate market.
You can see here, down a little bit. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that they're selling, but it definitely means that less of their assets is in real estate. It could mean that other parts of their portfolio are bigger. It just shows, however, they're not pouring money, Carol, into real estate at this time, while so many other Americans are.
COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding.
SERWER: Yes, it's really a mania.
COSTELLO: Doesn't it depend on where you live, though?
SERWER: Sure.
COSTELLO: Because on either coast, I mean, housing prices continue to go up. But in the middle part of the country, it seems as if the bubble has burst.
SERWER: No, that's right. Or it never really became a bubble to begin with. In other places like Las Vegas, Miami, very hot still.
COSTELLO: Still.
SERWER: Yep.
COSTELLO: I guess he's done!
SERWER: I'm done.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: I should have said I'm done, Carol. I'm sorry.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, the question this morning is what's behind the surge in America's millionaires? There are 200,000 more of them this year than there were a year ago.
David in Tennessee writes: "Maybe the surge in the number of millionaires has something to do with inflation. Measured in 2005 dollars, in 1985 it would only have taken $551,000 to get into the millionaires club. Face it, Jack, a million bucks ain't what it used to be."
Matthew in Massachusetts: "Under every Republican administration as far back as I can recall, the so-called tax cuts are simply a masquerade for the transfer of money to the wealthiest among us. The rich have been doing it to the poor since the dawn of civilization."
And John in Connecticut writes: "What's behind the recent surge in millionaires? It's the hole in the fence along the Mexican border. A lot of us middle income folks have snuck into Mexico, where we can earn a better living."
SERWER: Wow!
COSTELLO: Oh, geez!
SERWER: That's a new wrinkle.
CAFFERTY: Coming up on "IN THE MONEY" we're going to take a look at whether the American automobile industry is breathing its dying gasps. The city of Detroit has G.M. and Ford roll over and struggle under the weight of foreign imports, which are increasing market share here in this country. "IN THE MONEY" airs Saturday at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00. We invite you to bring a picnic lunch and leave the kids at home.
HEMMER: That is mandatory programming viewing over the weekend.
SERWER: Kids can watch it, too, Jack. I mean, they'd be bored.
CAFFERTY: I don't want any kids watching.
COSTELLO: They'd be bored.
SERWER: I mean, you know.
HEMMER: In a moment here, a lesson in compassion from a retired teacher with a very big heart. She's watching out for America's newest residents, and you will meet her after break on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HEMMER: As you well know, the golden years are generally a time to relax, after a lifetime of hard work. But for one New Jersey woman, that's not the case. She's making the Extra Effort on behalf of refugees coming to this country with little more than a few suitcases.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER (voice-over): Lugging around furniture for strangers is not how most people would choose to spend their retirement. But Ellie Kullmann says this is exactly what she wants to be doing, helping people, in this case, a family of Cuban refugees.
ELLIE KULLMANN, HELPS REFUGEES: It just thrills me to be able to give things that is going to help them.
HEMMER: She rounds up donations from a wide circle of friends and neighbors.
KULLMANN: Great! Great! Hey!
HEMMER: This former teacher uses her suburban Jersey garage to stockpile goods, and has storage space filled with donated furniture.
KULLMANN: To the refugees go only things that I would put into my own home.
HEMMER: Ellie's husband Jim had a heart attack last year, but he still helps her with the heavy pieces.
KULLMANN: I get calls, could you have your men -- I say, yes, sure. Good, good, good.
HEMMER: Ellie and Jim's only reward comes from the satisfaction of seeing refugees find their footing.
JIM KULLMANN, HELPS REFUGEES: We're totally volunteers. We're not supported by anybody, and I cut the neighbor's grass, and he pays me for it, so I can use that for gas money now.
E. KULLMANN: OK, Daisy.
J. KULLMANN: Coming in.
HEMMER: For Daisy and Aurelio (ph) Lopez, who arrived from Cuba back in April, this chest, along with other gifts from Ellie and Jim, will help to start a new life.
DAISY LOPEZ, CUBAN REFUGEE (through translator): Some of these pieces of furniture we've never even seen before because we come from poor countries. We're very appreciative.
HEMMER: Ellie gets word of the new arrivals from Luisa Guzman, who works for the International Rescue Committee, finding housing and jobs for the refugees.
LUISA GUZMAN, INTL. RESCUE COMMITTEE: You say, Ellie, I need this, and half an hour later, she's here with it. How do you do this?
HEMMER: And it's not just refugees who receive her help. Mary Williams has known Ellie for 30 years, and says Ellie's financial and emotional support have carried her through many difficult times.
MARY WILLIAMS, FRIEND OF ELLIE: She does not know how not to help, you know. And you don't have to ask her.
HEMMER: Ellie says that providing for others is a responsibility, something she does without question.
E. KULLMANN: I do this because I care. I care about humankind. I care about people.
HEMMER: She may not see it as a big deal, but for those starting a new life in America, Ellie's help can mean the world.
FELIPE CRUZ, CUBAN REFUGEE (through translator): We've never seen a person who gives not just objects, but also this kind of caring and love.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: And for more information on the resettlement of refugees here in the U.S., you can contact the International Rescue Committee, or check out their Web site at DIRC.org online now.
All next week on AMERICAN MORNING, our special Father's Day series, "Just for Dads." And on Monday, this guy's going to join us. Sanjay Gupta looking at the growing trend of stay-at-home fathers, and will show us how men can get ready for that new role. Mr. Mom. That's Monday at 7:00 a.m.
We're back in a moment here, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Now you know for a fact when Jack says something, we obey.
COSTELLO: We do?
HEMMER: Except for this time. Jack asked us not to say a word today, and we were pretty good, actually, throughout the last three hours.
CAFFERTY: How come you're going to screw it up now?
HEMMER: Because I want to say thank you for the things you have taught me over the years.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome. Well, now, let's not get all silly.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: And I respect that. And I believe a lot of it, but not all of it.
CAFFERTY: There you go.
HEMMER: And I wanted to thank you for that.
CAFFERTY: Well, thanks for the kind words, and yes, I'm leaving here after today. And thank you for watching, and writing. Thanks for the yuks and the occasional moment where you made me think about stuff. And those of you who wrote in the insults, don't ever bother me.
HEMMER: One last e-mail. "Jack," it says, "we will miss you in the morning, but we will be watching in the afternoon. Thanks. Your friends at AMERICAN MORNING."
Well done.
(APPLAUSE)
HEMMER: Have a good weekend, all right?
CAFFERTY: Very kind of you. Thank you all.
HEMMER: Take care.
COSTELLO: Man, I'm going to cry!
HEMMER: Give me a tissue!
CAFFERTY: This is only television.
HEMMER: Don't go far. Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Up the street.
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 June 10, 2005 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Bill Hemmer. Good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad today. We are tracking Tropical Storm Arlene, already getting strength this morning and moving toward the U.S. coast. A check of the forecast just ahead.
HEMMER: Also a check of the headlines, too. Let's get to those with Valerie Morris with us here.
Hey, Val.
VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello again. And hello, everyone.
Now in the news, there is a chilling new report containing details of U.S. intelligence failures before September 11th. A new government report says the FBI missed at least five chances to nab two of the hijackers. The Justice Department report also adds significant details about systematic failures at the FBI. The FBI says it has taken substantial steps to address the issues in the report.
A top war crimes fugitive may be close to being captured. A respected newspaper in Serbia reports the Serbian government knows where Ravko Nvidic (ph) is hiding, and is considering how to arrest him without casualties. Nvidic has been indicted twice for genocide. He is one of two men most wanted by the U.N. court at the Hague.
Investigators in Aruba are expanding their search for Natalee Holloway by talking to officials in South America. Venezuela is just a few miles from Aruba and is easily accessible by boat.
Meanwhile, police in Aruba are questioning three new suspects. One is the son of a judge in Aruba. He, along with two others, were seen leaving the club with Holloway the night she disappeared.
After more than 20 hours of deliberation, the jury in the Michael Jackson trial meeting again today. The court session set to get under way in the next two hours. The pop star has been awaiting the verdict at his Neverland Ranch.
And "Star Wars" creator George Lucas in the spotlight last night to receive the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. On hand for event, director Steven Spielberg, actor Harrison Ford, even Chewbacca, the Wookie. Remember him? The awards show will air on USA Networks June 20th.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: I like that noise he makes. It makes me laugh every time I hear it.
(CROSSTALK)
MORRIS: I'm not going to do it, though.
COSTELLO: It did sound funny.
Thanks, Valerie.
HEMMER: There's an algae outbreak on the coast of Massachusetts, prompting the governor, Mitt Romney, to declare a state of emergency. The algae, known as red tide, is devastating the shellfish industry, and the governor right now wants federal money to help out some of his state's fisherman.
Dan Lothian out of Boston is watching this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Molly Benjamin points to her two-acre farm on a mudflat off of Cape Cod...
MOLLY BENJAMIN, SHELL FISHERWOMAN: It's kind of in that area.
LOTHIAN: ... where she grows oysters and little-neck clams.
BENJAMIN: And you can walk at low tide.
LOTHIAN: A half-million shellfish are ready to be harvested.
(on camera): Why can't you pull them out of the ground now?
BENJAMIN: Because there's nowhere to sell them.
LOTHIAN (voice-over): She's losing thousands of dollars each week.
BENJAMIN: This is unprecedented. The economic impact is phenomenal.
LOTHIAN: She's a victim of red tide, the warning signs are posted everywhere: No shell fishing.
DENNIS MCGILLICUDDY, WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INST.: The particular red tide we're dealing with here in New England waters is a natural phenomenon. This is an algae that's been around for a long time.
LOTHIAN (on camera): You can't see red tide in the water. The cells are invisible to the naked eye. But the toxins in the meat of a shellfish can be extremely dangerous. Experts say, if eaten, it can lead to numbness, paralysis, or even death. (voice-over): Benjamin, who has been shellfishing for more than 20 years, can only show us what she would normally be doing on this sunny day.
(on camera): And then you just put them in your basket?
BENJAMIN: Then I put them in the basket.
LOTHIAN: But your rake is empty and your baskets are empty.
BENJAMIN: That's right.
LOTHIAN: Her boat is docked, her engine is silent and her bank account is drying up.
BENJAMIN: And the bills still keep coming. I can't tell the credit card company sorry, you know. This is like a real sock in the stomach.
LOTHIAN: The algae bloom is the most severe outbreak in 30 years, stretching from Maine to Massachusetts.
Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod are trying to determine why it's so bad and how long it will last. The governor of Massachusetts has declared a state of emergency and is seeking federal relief.
And a state senator whose district is heavily impacted says the shellfishing industry needs help now.
ROBERT O'LEARY, MASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATE: Clearly, the incomes of people who dig them and the restaurants who serve them are suffering.
LOTHIAN: Shellfish will eventually purge the toxin, but for Benjamin and others, it's time and money already lost.
BENJAMIN: You never get that back.
LOTHIAN: During the peak season.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Welfley (ph), Massachusetts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Also, the governor, Mitt Romney, said red tide is costing his state $3 million bucks a week at this point -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Now a follow-up story. We told you Thursday a DVD of teenage boys and girls drinking, fighting and mud wrestling. Police in Rogers, Arkansas want to know who made it, who distributed it and who supplied the alcohol to the teenagers.
Steve Womack is the mayor of Rogers. He joins us now from nearby Alma, Arkansas.
Good morning, Steve.
MYR. STEVE WOMACK, ROGERS, ARKANSAS: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: This DVD surfaced on May 6th, but now it's just now coming to all of our attention. Why is that?
WOMACK: Well, I don't know why either way. Obviously, the DVD was circulated and being sold according to my understanding at Rogers High School, and sometime after the alleged sale of this DVD, it was confiscated by a member of the faculty and later turned over to the school resource officer, and within the last couple of weeks, that DVD was made public, after, of course, it was turned over to local law enforcement agencies and my office.
COSTELLO: You watched the DVD. How serious is the fighting? Is this just some kids pushing each other around? How serious does it get? wow!
WOMACK: Well, they're using 16-ounce gloves, and to some people who are familiar with boxing, they would say that that's nothing more than fighting with glove-like pillows, but in one frame, you'll notice that one of the fighters actually loses his gloves and goes into some sort of a rage, and goes after one of the combatants who is down on the ground covering his head. And when you see those types of scenes in the DVD, it tells me that perhaps the event was going a little bit too far and needed to be stopped.
COSTELLO: And, also the girls who were mud wrestling. There was partial nudity involved in that, too, wasn't there?
WOMACK: Well, in that particular scene, there were two girls in bikinis that were mud wrestling in what looked like a kiddie pool. In one of the scenes, the girl coming up from out of the bottom of that enclosure appeared to at least have her top slip somewhat. I personally did not notice any full nudity in terms of the breasts being exposed, but she was certainly adjusting her top, because in those circumstances, with water and mud, things get a little slippery, and she was, I think, taking some precautions there.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about possible charges. I know that police initially responded to this, because it came in as a noise complaint, but they didn't really find any alcohol on the scene, and they really didn't notice anything? How can that be possible?
WOMACK: Well, I'm not real sure where the investigation is in regards to revealing exactly what the officer saw, what the officer did, what the officer did not see or did not do. Obviously, we have documented evidence that there was a strong preponderance of evidence that suggested our kids were being treated to a keg party. There's strong evidence that they were allowed to buy cups, all you can drink cups, for like $5, is the number that I've been given, and that the party was going on for quite some time. At this point in time, Carol, I have to tell you that the police investigation will focus on the alleged criminal activity that has been captured on the DVD. But my office will also concentrate internally on the appropriateness of our police response. What did we see or do or not see or not do? And those are issues that are still under investigation.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Mayor Steve Womack of Rogers, Arkansas.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Carol?
COSTELLO: Tomorrow on CNN, she's a single mother and she's proud of it, but singing the praises of a home without a father has landed pop star Fantasia Barrino in the middle of a controversy.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: So is single motherhood really a badge of honor? Single moms talk about the controversy. That's tomorrow on CNN Saturday morning, 7:00 Eastern.
And still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, this morning there may be signs that the real estate boom is about to go bust. Andy explains in "Minding Your Business."
HEMMER: Also a bit later, Carol, a retired teacher's "Extra Effort." Looking today at how she is helping refugees find the American dream. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: As we watch Tropical Storm Arlene, want to bring in John Zarrella right now. He's in Miami Beach. Outside, the winds kicking up. John, what are conditions?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill, real gusty here down at the Hallover (ph) Beaches on the North End of Miami. A lot of wind, not a whole heck of a lot of rain. You can see the crashing surf.
And already, I guess we can say one death attributed to Tropical Storm Arlene here. This morning, down on Miami Beach, a couple of women in the water. One woman in the water, a second woman went into rescue her. They got caught in the terrible rip currents here. Fire rescue from Miami Beach went in, pulled the first -- the rescuing woman out, then the other woman out. She was transported -- both were transported to the hospital. The woman was in the water for about 20 minutes, pronounced dead at the hospital. That's the first woman that went in with water in her lungs.
The weather is so bad out here that the fire rescue people themselves had to be pulled out by a Coast Guard boats. So things are very treacherous. Folks are being warned, stay out of the water. There are surfers are out here, everyone being warned, stay away, terrible rip currents. And, again, one death apparently now going to be attributed to tropical storm Irene (sic) -- Bill?
HEMMER: All right, the shape of things to come for over the weekend. ZARRELLA: Arlene.
HEMMER: A picture that will get worse, too. Thanks, John. Watching that in Miami. Carol?
COSTELLO: Business news this morning. A possible sign that the real estate bubble is verging on bursting. With that story to check on Wall Street, Andy is here, "Minding Your Business." We've been hearing that for such a long time.
SERWER: Yes, I know. And there's no telling when it's going to happen or if it's going to happen, Carol.
Let's talk about the markets, first of all. Not a whole lot going on Wall Street. You can see the Dow's up 34, which is pretty nice. Nasdaq down a little bit, though. Citigroup paying $2 billion to settle some litigation connected to Enron. Trade gap up a little bit. Oil prices up slightly because of Arlene, which seems to be moving into the Gulf of Mexico, as you just saw.
Now, Jack's been talking all morning about millionaires and how their ranks seem to be increasing in this country. Some information from the same survey that Jack's been talking about suggests that the superwealthy have been reducing their holdings in real estate. This is interesting stuff, because if you think the superwealthy are savvy investors, it could suggest that they're getting out at the top of the real estate market.
You can see here, down a little bit. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that they're selling, but it definitely means that less of their assets is in real estate. It could mean that other parts of their portfolio are bigger. It just shows, however, they're not pouring money, Carol, into real estate at this time, while so many other Americans are.
COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding.
SERWER: Yes, it's really a mania.
COSTELLO: Doesn't it depend on where you live, though?
SERWER: Sure.
COSTELLO: Because on either coast, I mean, housing prices continue to go up. But in the middle part of the country, it seems as if the bubble has burst.
SERWER: No, that's right. Or it never really became a bubble to begin with. In other places like Las Vegas, Miami, very hot still.
COSTELLO: Still.
SERWER: Yep.
COSTELLO: I guess he's done!
SERWER: I'm done.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: I should have said I'm done, Carol. I'm sorry.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, the question this morning is what's behind the surge in America's millionaires? There are 200,000 more of them this year than there were a year ago.
David in Tennessee writes: "Maybe the surge in the number of millionaires has something to do with inflation. Measured in 2005 dollars, in 1985 it would only have taken $551,000 to get into the millionaires club. Face it, Jack, a million bucks ain't what it used to be."
Matthew in Massachusetts: "Under every Republican administration as far back as I can recall, the so-called tax cuts are simply a masquerade for the transfer of money to the wealthiest among us. The rich have been doing it to the poor since the dawn of civilization."
And John in Connecticut writes: "What's behind the recent surge in millionaires? It's the hole in the fence along the Mexican border. A lot of us middle income folks have snuck into Mexico, where we can earn a better living."
SERWER: Wow!
COSTELLO: Oh, geez!
SERWER: That's a new wrinkle.
CAFFERTY: Coming up on "IN THE MONEY" we're going to take a look at whether the American automobile industry is breathing its dying gasps. The city of Detroit has G.M. and Ford roll over and struggle under the weight of foreign imports, which are increasing market share here in this country. "IN THE MONEY" airs Saturday at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00. We invite you to bring a picnic lunch and leave the kids at home.
HEMMER: That is mandatory programming viewing over the weekend.
SERWER: Kids can watch it, too, Jack. I mean, they'd be bored.
CAFFERTY: I don't want any kids watching.
COSTELLO: They'd be bored.
SERWER: I mean, you know.
HEMMER: In a moment here, a lesson in compassion from a retired teacher with a very big heart. She's watching out for America's newest residents, and you will meet her after break on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HEMMER: As you well know, the golden years are generally a time to relax, after a lifetime of hard work. But for one New Jersey woman, that's not the case. She's making the Extra Effort on behalf of refugees coming to this country with little more than a few suitcases.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER (voice-over): Lugging around furniture for strangers is not how most people would choose to spend their retirement. But Ellie Kullmann says this is exactly what she wants to be doing, helping people, in this case, a family of Cuban refugees.
ELLIE KULLMANN, HELPS REFUGEES: It just thrills me to be able to give things that is going to help them.
HEMMER: She rounds up donations from a wide circle of friends and neighbors.
KULLMANN: Great! Great! Hey!
HEMMER: This former teacher uses her suburban Jersey garage to stockpile goods, and has storage space filled with donated furniture.
KULLMANN: To the refugees go only things that I would put into my own home.
HEMMER: Ellie's husband Jim had a heart attack last year, but he still helps her with the heavy pieces.
KULLMANN: I get calls, could you have your men -- I say, yes, sure. Good, good, good.
HEMMER: Ellie and Jim's only reward comes from the satisfaction of seeing refugees find their footing.
JIM KULLMANN, HELPS REFUGEES: We're totally volunteers. We're not supported by anybody, and I cut the neighbor's grass, and he pays me for it, so I can use that for gas money now.
E. KULLMANN: OK, Daisy.
J. KULLMANN: Coming in.
HEMMER: For Daisy and Aurelio (ph) Lopez, who arrived from Cuba back in April, this chest, along with other gifts from Ellie and Jim, will help to start a new life.
DAISY LOPEZ, CUBAN REFUGEE (through translator): Some of these pieces of furniture we've never even seen before because we come from poor countries. We're very appreciative.
HEMMER: Ellie gets word of the new arrivals from Luisa Guzman, who works for the International Rescue Committee, finding housing and jobs for the refugees.
LUISA GUZMAN, INTL. RESCUE COMMITTEE: You say, Ellie, I need this, and half an hour later, she's here with it. How do you do this?
HEMMER: And it's not just refugees who receive her help. Mary Williams has known Ellie for 30 years, and says Ellie's financial and emotional support have carried her through many difficult times.
MARY WILLIAMS, FRIEND OF ELLIE: She does not know how not to help, you know. And you don't have to ask her.
HEMMER: Ellie says that providing for others is a responsibility, something she does without question.
E. KULLMANN: I do this because I care. I care about humankind. I care about people.
HEMMER: She may not see it as a big deal, but for those starting a new life in America, Ellie's help can mean the world.
FELIPE CRUZ, CUBAN REFUGEE (through translator): We've never seen a person who gives not just objects, but also this kind of caring and love.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: And for more information on the resettlement of refugees here in the U.S., you can contact the International Rescue Committee, or check out their Web site at DIRC.org online now.
All next week on AMERICAN MORNING, our special Father's Day series, "Just for Dads." And on Monday, this guy's going to join us. Sanjay Gupta looking at the growing trend of stay-at-home fathers, and will show us how men can get ready for that new role. Mr. Mom. That's Monday at 7:00 a.m.
We're back in a moment here, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Now you know for a fact when Jack says something, we obey.
COSTELLO: We do?
HEMMER: Except for this time. Jack asked us not to say a word today, and we were pretty good, actually, throughout the last three hours.
CAFFERTY: How come you're going to screw it up now?
HEMMER: Because I want to say thank you for the things you have taught me over the years.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome. Well, now, let's not get all silly.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: And I respect that. And I believe a lot of it, but not all of it.
CAFFERTY: There you go.
HEMMER: And I wanted to thank you for that.
CAFFERTY: Well, thanks for the kind words, and yes, I'm leaving here after today. And thank you for watching, and writing. Thanks for the yuks and the occasional moment where you made me think about stuff. And those of you who wrote in the insults, don't ever bother me.
HEMMER: One last e-mail. "Jack," it says, "we will miss you in the morning, but we will be watching in the afternoon. Thanks. Your friends at AMERICAN MORNING."
Well done.
(APPLAUSE)
HEMMER: Have a good weekend, all right?
CAFFERTY: Very kind of you. Thank you all.
HEMMER: Take care.
COSTELLO: Man, I'm going to cry!
HEMMER: Give me a tissue!
CAFFERTY: This is only television.
HEMMER: Don't go far. Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Up the street.
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