Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Cindy Hits Land; Idaho Girl's Ordeal; G-8 Summit

Aired July 06, 2005 - 09:00   ET

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

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Tropical Storm Cindy delivering pounding rain to the Gulf Coast as it hits land this morning. And now watching for Dennis, gaining strength as it moves closer to the U.S. This one could be a big one, so says Chad.
In Idaho, 8-year-old Shasta Groene's chilling story of kidnapping and abuse. Will it force a change of venue in the trial of Joseph Duncan? We'll have a live report ahead on that.

And the United States Olympic dreams are dashed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Awarded to the city of London!

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

M. O'BRIEN: For the first time since 1948, London is an Olympic city on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. Lots happening really on all fronts this morning.

M. O'BRIEN: It has been busy. We've got the Olympic bid, we've got the tropical storms. Why don't we start with those?

S. O'BRIEN: Sure.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Absolutely. In fact, Tropical Storm Cindy is what we'll start with there.

The center of that storm right now is sweeping across southeastern Mississippi. Some heavy rains are triggering street flooding along the Gulf Coast.

Cindy made landfall early this morning in Louisiana, where it pelted the area with extremely heavy rain and gusty winds. Local officials, though, say they're somewhat relieved because it could have been a lot worse.

Let's get right to Dan Lothian. He is live for us in New Orleans this morning.

Hey, Dan. Good morning to you. Clearing up a little bit, but really a big mess, wasn't it?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The storm really left quite a bit of a mess here in New Orleans and in the surrounding region here.

The reason we're standing here, Soledad, is because right behind me is a good example of what will be taking place across this region, the cleanup. Right here, the storm knocked down a tree. They've removed several of the smaller limbs, and they're about ready to chop down this tree. Up a few hundred yards from where we are right now, a number of other trees have been toppled by the high winds.

Let's take a look at some of the pictures from overnight as the storm started pounding the New Orleans region. Folks were leaving from lower-lying areas. There was not a mandatory evacuation, but officials did suggest, strongly suggest that anyone in those areas that would be prone to flooding should leave.

And, of course, there were a lot of roads because of all of the rain that fell here, between 3 to 6 inches in a short period of time, a number of roads were flooded. And so cars were crossing what appears to be small streams. Those were major intersections where typically it's quite dry, but there was a lot of water on the roadway.

Overall, though, as you mentioned earlier, people do feel like they did dodge a big one here, because it was relatively mild after you subtract all the wind that happened and the power lines that went down and the trees that went down. There were no major damage to report here.

What everyone is focusing in on now is Dennis. Everyone feels like Dennis could be a Category 3 storm, pounding this area perhaps. We don't know, because it could change direction. But that's what everyone is focusing on. And some people looking at this as somewhat of a dress rehearsal for the next big storm -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Well, we'll see. A couple of days out still before we have a better sense of where Dennis is going. Thanks a lot, Dan.

Let's get right to Chad Myers, in fact, with the latest on Dennis.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Good morning again, everyone. Here's a look at some of the stories "Now in the News."

A series of wildfires in southern California burning more than 1,500 acres. One of them in Palmdale, California. Firefighters are gaining control of a brushfire there. No homes, thankfully, are being threatened. Elsewhere, officials say hundreds of campers were evacuated due to a fire in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Natalee Holloway's mother is calling on the international community to keep two released suspects in Aruba. The brothers were let out of jail Monday after nearly a month in custody. Beth Holloway Twitty made an emotional plea, asking they not be allowed into any other country until the case is solved. More on this investigation live from Palm Beach, Aruba, just ahead.

Just hours from now, two reporters could find out if they are going to go to jail for protecting their confidential sources. Matthew Cooper works for "TIME" magazine, Judith Miller is worth -- with "The New York Times." A judge ruled they were in contempt of court for refusing to reveal their sources.

At issue here, an investigation into who leaked the identity of a CIA agent's name to the press. "TIME" magazine has already turned over Cooper's notes and e-mails.

And somewhat of a shocker. London gearing up to host the 2012 summer Olympic games.

Officials announcing the winning city only about an hour ago. London beating out the other top contender, Paris.

No party in New York, though. Look at those long faces there at Rockefeller Center. The Big Apple was eliminated in the first rounds of voting early this morning. Disappointment also in Moscow and Madrid, the other rejected finalists.

New York was viewed as a long shot, but still...

S. O'BRIEN: Yes.

M. O'BRIEN: Were they long faces, or do they just look like that because they're New Yorkers?

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, gee, have you guys noticed those slams from Miles against New York as he squeezes them in?

M. O'BRIEN: Trying to acclimate myself as best I can. So that's how you get treated by New Yorkers, right?

S. O'BRIEN: Watch it, mister.

WALLACE: Miles' e-mail will be flooded today.

S. O'BRIEN: Exactly.

M. O'BRIEN: All right.

WALLACE: All right.

S. O'BRIEN: Watch it, guy.

M. O'BRIEN: Call security before I leave the building. All right?

WALLACE: He didn't really mean it.

M. O'BRIEN: No, I didn't. No. I'm just confused.

WALLACE: Good.

M. O'BRIEN: And lost in the big city. All right.

A much more serious story. We are learning now that Joseph Edward Duncan, charged with kidnapping two children in Idaho, could seek a change of venue. Eight-year-old Shasta Groene has been providing police with powerful evidence against Duncan.

Sean Callebs is live now in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Sean, give us the latest on the investigation.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, really, some of the most critical information that 8-year-old Shasta Groene shared with investigators came out in court documents that were released just before Duncan's court appearance. Now, not surprisingly, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office wanted that information sealed. The judge in the case said it is public record and chose not to.

In discussions with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, they believe because of the publicity, the fact that there's about 100,000 people in this county, they could -- the defense could very easily ask for a change of venue. We talked with Duncan's public defender yesterday; he had no comment on that explosive court document.

Meanwhile, Duncan -- one part in the document does put Duncan at the house of the time of the triple killings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS (voice-over): For the first time, court records put 42- year-old Joseph Duncan at the Groenes' house, the grisly scene of a triple murder in mid-May. The documents show investigators interviewed 8-year-old Shasta Groene after she was found with Duncan this past Saturday at a Denny's restaurant.

Shasta says Duncan tied up her mother, 13-year-old brother and her mother's boyfriend. Authorities found the three victims bound and beaten to death on May 16.

CAPT. BEN WOLFINGER, KOOTENAI COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: In the court documents it said that Shasta didn't know Duncan before this. Steve Groene has said publicly he didn't know Duncan, he never heard of the man before last Saturday. So that's the great mystery the investigators are still trying to put together.

CALLEBS: The records say Duncan eventually drove Shasta and her brother Dylan to at least two campsites in Montana. There, the documents say, Duncan repeatedly sexually assaulted the two children. This information comes as a shackled Duncan made his first court appearance, appearing before Judge Scott Wayman through a video hookup.

JUDGE SCOTT WAYMAN: Are you Joseph Edward Duncan III?

JOSEPH EDWARD DUNCAN, CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING: Yes, your honor.

CALLEBS: Duncan is charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping with intent to commit rape. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.

WAYMAN: Do you understand the nature of the charges, Mr. Duncan?

DUNCAN: I believe I do, yes.

CALLEBS: Even as Duncan appeared in court, about 90 miles to the east in Montana investigators were wrapping up work on a site where apparent human remains were found.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know that Shasta and Dylan Groene and Joseph Duncan spent some time in the Ludlow National Forest (ph) over the last seven weeks.

CALLEBS: The remains have been sent to an FBI lab in Virginia for DNA testing. Meanwhile, investigators say young Shasta remains in the hospital and is doing "remarkably well" given the nature of her horrific six-week ordeal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: Strong, courageous, brave, a survivor. The family says, choose any word and that pretty well sums up Shasta.

They say that every day she is looking more and more like herself. We had a chance to speak with the grandmother and the aunt who have spent time with Shasta this week. And they said one of the highlights this week, she was able to watch the Fourth of July fireworks from the top of the hospital the other night -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Sean Callebs in Coeur d'Alene. Thank you very much -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Well, President Bush has just about an hour left on his flight that is taking him from Denmark to Scotland. He's going to spend the rest of this week meeting with the other group of eight leaders.

The president's visit to Denmark was mostly ceremonial. He even celebrated his 59th birthday there.

Suzanne Malveaux is live for us in Copenhagen this morning.

Suzanne, what message does the president take with him as he heads to the G8 summit? SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, one of the messages, Soledad, is that he says that he believes United States' aid to Africa is certainly adequate. It's not what British Prime Minister Tony Blair is asking for, but he believes that it's satisfactory.

The president, as you know, of course, here on business, but also pleasure, celebrating his 59th birthday celebration with the queen earlier today, literally getting a cake that took his breath away.

The president earlier as well meeting with the Danish prime minister here. Both of them facing cameras to take a number of questions. One of them, of course, is on the climate change. It's one of the focus of the G8 summit. President Bush making the case here that the United States did not sign on to ratify the Kyoto climate agreement because he sys it would be bad for the U.S. economy, as well as the global one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I recognize that the surface of the Earth is warmer and that an increase in greenhouse gases caused by humans is contributing to the problem. Kyoto didn't work for the United States, and it frankly didn't work for the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: He said it didn't work for the rest of the world because other developing countries were not signed on to the agreement. He says that technology should be used to discover different sources of energy, like nuclear energy and hydrogen.

President Bush also defended a potential Supreme Court nominee, his attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, during the Q&A, saying that he does not believe the conservatives who are calling him too moderate are justified in their criticism -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux is in Copenhagen this morning. Thanks, Suzanne -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, what did two fishermen see the night Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba? We'll ask the missing teen's mother and stepfather up next.

S. O'BRIEN: And a budget stalemate leads to a state government shutdown in Minnesota. We're going to ask the governor if he expects to be up and running anytime soon.

M. O'BRIEN: And some important news about disease prevention for women. We are "Paging Dr. Gupta" about the effect of aspirin and Vitamin E. That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: In Aruba, Natalee Holloway's father says the FBI told the family two weeks ago it's likely she's not alive.

Meanwhile, CNN has learned two fishermen allegedly told investigators they did not see a couple matching Holloway and Joran Van Der Sloot's description at the beach the night she disappeared.

Chris Lawrence live now in Palm Beach, Aruba.

Chris, give us the latest.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, we've been waiting to hear what convinced a judge to detain Joran Van Der Sloot in jail while letting his two friends go free. Now a defense attorney claims it may have had something to do with what these two fishermen said. They were on the beach on the night Natalee Holloway disappeared.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE (voice-over): A defense attorney tells CNN that two fishermen say they were on the same beach, on the same night, when Joran Van Der Sloot says he spent time with Natalee Holloway. But the fishermen say they never saw a couple matching their description.

DAVID KOCK, SATISH KALPOE'S ATTORNEY: They are so convinced that on that date during, if I'm not mistaken, 12:00 at night and 5:00 in the morning, there was no person, no girl, no other person on that -- on that beach.

LAWRENCE: Attorney David Kock says the fishermen did see one vehicle in the area.

KOCK: They had seen a Jeep type of car during -- in that time frame that stayed for about 30 to 40 minutes.

LAWRENCE: Joran insists he didn't drive that night. But a red Suzuki was one of the cars police confiscated from his family's home.

Deepak and Satish Kalpoe say they dropped off Joran and Natalee, but had nothing to do with her disappearance. On Monday, the judge released both of the brothers for lack of evidence. The release of the brothers led Natalee's mother to demand that Aruban authorities notify the U.S. State Department if the Kalpoes leave the island.

BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, NATALEE'S MOTHER: I'm asking this in the name of my beautiful, intelligent and outstanding daughter who I haven't seen for 36 days and for whom I will continue to search until I find her.

LAWRENCE: Legally, the brothers can leave the country, but their mother says they won't.

On Tuesday, a large group of Aruban people publicly defended their commitment to the search, pointing to the banks that have donated thousands of dollars and the people who have taken time off to search for Natalee.

ARLENE ELLIS-SCHIPPER, ARUBA ATTORNEY: What else do you want us to do? Because everybody's asking if this would have happened to an Aruban girl in the states, I wonder how many people would have taken the day off from their work to go search?

LAWRENCE: And the Aruban government has underlined its commitment to the search. Dutch F-16s rigged with infrared sensors and sonar equipment called in to help search or evidence.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: And the equipment on board those F-16s allows them to see into some areas that have been unreachable up until now. Coming up on six weeks since she disappeared, the people looking for Natalee Holloway will take all the help they can get -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Chris Lawrence, thanks much.

Coming up later this hour, we'll speak with Natalee Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, and her stepfather, George "Jug" Twitty -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the truth about Vitamin E and heart disease in women. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has details of an important new study ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Can Vitamin E and aspirin reduce a woman's risk of heart disease and cancer? Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center with details of a new major health study.

Hey, Sanjay. Good morning.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Really important studies coming out today, talking specifically about Vitamin E and low-dose aspirin. There have been lots of smaller studies in the past saying that there might be a benefit from taking Vitamin E or low-dose aspirin and the reduction in heart disease risk, as well as cancer risk.

So researchers decided to put it to the test. Important studies, as I mentioned, large studies. Forty thousand women, healthy women, followed over 10 years.

They were specifically given either 600 international units of Vitamin E, 100 milligrams of aspirin, or a placebo on alternating days. The question they were trying to answer is, is there reduction again in terms of specific cancers and in terms of heart disease?

Cancer first.

What they found, not encouraging news here. Vitamin E, as previously thought by some studies, did not appear to reduce cancer risk, looking specifically at breast, colon and lung cancers, nor did the low-dose aspirin. Again, 100 milligrams of aspirin every other day.

Also, when it came to looking at heart disease risk, again, no significant benefit there either. Vitamin E did not appear to prevent heart disease, not did low-dose aspirin prevent heart attacks in women.

Now, there was some good news in all of this. What they found, again, in this very large study, was there appeared to be a benefit with the low-dose aspirin in terms of preventing strokes in the long run.

Again, this is in healthy women, 45 to 65. And if you were 65 and older, you got benefit in terms of both heart attack and strokes from the low-dose aspirin.

So that's sort of how it played out. Important, because, again, there have been all these smaller studies. This is a more definitive study looking at these two products -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: So those findings, do they then extrapolate to men as well?

GUPTA: You know what's really interesting? They don't. And this surprises a lot of people.

You sort of think that it's going to apply to both men and women. It really doesn't.

As far as the Vitamin E goes, we don't know the answer yet, but we can't say for sure based on the women's study whether it's going to work or not. That trial is still going on. It will take a couple more years for that data to come back.

With regards to aspirin, this is really interesting. There have been lots of studies. And this has been shown that low-dose aspirin does appear reduce the risk of heart attacks in men.

Strokes in women, heart attacks in men. So it's a little bit opposite there, men and women, when it comes to aspirin.

S. O'BRIEN: So then as a doctor, as a theory, stop taking it if you're taking it now? Do you tell people, you know, there are other things to focus on that are not Vitamin E and not aspirin that would be suited to really making of a difference in your life?

GUPTA: Yes. You know, one thing, when it comes to aspirin, a lot of people say, well, it's just an aspirin, what could be the harm in that? Well, there is potentially harm in that.

It could cause gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach bleeding, for example. So doctors are actually pretty cautious when it come to aspirin.

On the other hand, Vitamin E, Soledad, you may remember there was a lot of negative news about Vitamin E recently in terms of possible negative side-effects. This particular study did not show significant negative side-effects from Vitamin E, so that's sort of a wash.

They're saying it really doesn't have any benefit, but we don't see anything negative about it as well. If you really want to take it, go ahead.

But the best advice, Soledad, is probably going to be the advice that we talk about so much. It's really important a healthy diet, exercise, don't smoke. And that's probably the most important thing I can tell viewers today.

Don't smoke. If you smoke now, stop.

And also, get screened early. Doctors have gotten pretty good at this, finding cancers early. And that is the key to better treatment and better survival -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: It's so simple, but, of course, those are the hard things to do. Much easier if you could just take aspirin or Vitamin E or something else.

GUPTA: Everyone wants a pill.

S. O'BRIEN: All right. Sanjay, thanks. Good advice as always.

GUPTA: Thank you, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead in "90-second Pop" this morning, twinkling toes fight it out tonight on the "Dancing With the Stars" finale. But reality show copycats are already on their heels and ready to cut in. Can the new shows keep pace? A look at that's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody.

M. O'BRIEN: Just about half-past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.

S. O'BRIEN: We are watching the third and fourth tropical storms of this year's hurricane season. As Chad pointed out, so early in the season. You know, I wonder how badly it bodes for the folks who consistently get hit, like in Florida.

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