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American Morning
Cold Weather Sweeps Through Midwest; Questions Surround Airplane Shooting Death
Aired December 08, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
I'm Miles O'Brien.
A developing story in Iraq. A suicide attack on a crowded city bus. Thirty are dead. Details ahead.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad.
Air marshals gun down an unarmed man. He claimed he had a bomb. No bomb was found. Was deadly force necessary? we're going to take you live to Miami.
O'BRIEN: And bitter cold and snow moving east. Scenes like these will be greeting many of you early tonight. Your full forecast is ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(EXTENDED AUDIO SOUND OF INTRO)
The silver pros. It's the weather.
COSTELLO: Exactly. It's so cold outside.
O'BRIEN: Cold weather. The computer said no more. No more.
The official start of winter, you know, is now 13 days away. But people in the middle of the country are getting another bitter taste of the season, a preview, you might say, just like our server.
CNN's Sean Callebs is live now in Chicago at O'Hare Airport.
I assume the planes are flying, right -- Sean?
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the planes are flying. Everything is moving along quite well. If you look behind me, the people pulling up to the curb, darting inside to avoid this freezing weather. People in this area are used to it. I'm bundled up from head to toe. But, really, much of the nation right now is in a deep freeze.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my emergency button up here. I only button this in very cold weather.
CALLEBS (voice-over): The burst of bone chilling cold caught even winter savvy Chicagoans by surprise.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Judging by the first part of this month, it's been ungodly cold.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fact that we went immediately from Indian Summer to the dead of winter is even more difficult to handle. And I think my car is probably reacting to that reality as much as anything else.
CALLEBS: The nation's bread basket is feeling more like an ice bucket. In Iowa, record low temperatures caused power outages in and around Cedar Rapids. While the cold may be a shock to the system, not everyone seemed to mind.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The cold, the crispness, the snow, there's nothing bad about the winter.
CALLEBS: The mercury plunged to 11 degrees below zero in Denver on Wednesday, 45 below in West Yellowstone, Montana. The Arctic cold hampered firefighters in Oklahoma City as water hoses kept freezing. The deep freeze extended deep into the heart of Texas. Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport canceled hundreds of flights, about half of its departures, through this morning.
For commuters here in the Windy City, this is pretty much par for the course.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I usually drive everywhere, so I just blast the heat. But when I have to walk, it sucks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chicago weather. What can you say? It's wintertime. A little bit earlier than usual, but, you know, we have to do what we have to do.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
CALLEBS: All right, the live picture now.
Back in Chicago, this weather gets the heart pumping first thing in the morning and these people arriving at the airport can say well, at least it isn't snowing. Well, it is going to snow later on today. They expect at least a inch of snow here. And, Miles, much of the East is going to get dumped on, as well -- Pittsburgh, Cleveland, along in that area.
People in Chicago may be used to it, but even by Chicago standards, this is early. Only December 8th and temperatures in the single digits for the past couple of days -- Miles, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Sean Callebs in Chicago.
Bonnie Schneider watching it from the Weather Center -- good morning, Bonnie.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, ATS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. We're looking at temperatures right now in Chicago right at 15 degrees. But it certainly does feel a whole lot colder than that. The wind chill factor in the single digit.
And, as you just heard, snow is on the way for Chicago. We're already seeing some snow across much of the Ohio Valley into the mid- South, actually. And even Indianapolis just starting to get the snow.
We're expecting a couple of inches for Chicago today. But then tonight into tomorrow we'll have measurable snow that you'll need to shovel for a lot of places.
Let's take a look at what's going on right now because it's a very messy situation for parts of Tennessee into Missouri, the lower sections of Illinois and certainly for Kentucky, as well.
We're getting a wintry mix, meaning a combination of snow, sleet, freezing rain. Just a mess out there, especially right here, as we look toward areas of southwest Missouri into southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
Look at the difference in temperatures. Up in Poplar Bluff, Missouri we have 27 degrees and down to the south in parts of Mississippi, 35. Right smack in the middle, the temperature teeters right on the freezing mark. And that means ice. So we're seeing a lot of ice toward parts of Tennessee into Kentucky, right along the border there. Treacherous travel, once again, to contend with for today.
And it's really just the beginning. As we start getting things going, we're looking for heavy snow in parts of the country, as far east as Pennsylvania, and even up toward New York and Massachusetts. A winter storm watch is in effect because we are looking for more measurable snow.
For Boston, not today, not tonight, but tomorrow.
For New York City, you're likely to see the snow start later on, into the overnight hours and continue through Friday.
So much of the country will be dealing with tricky conditions for this morning's commute toward the Midwest, and then tomorrow, back toward the East -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Bonnie, thanks so much.
Let's head to Miami right now.
can you even imagine being on board that plane when that all went down, when a man went screaming down the aisle, when he reached into his backpack, when air marshals said that he told them he had a bomb in the backpack and he was shot dead right in the jet way there.
So many unanswered questions.
So let's head to Miami International Airport right now and check in with Kathleen Koch to see if there's any new information for us this morning -- hello, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hic.
Not a whole lot of new information here at Miami International Airport, where it's really business as usual. Very much a normal day, passengers catching their flights.
But some details are beginning to emerge and mostly from the passengers, including some information that the victim may have been mentally ill.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KOCH (voice-over): Passengers were boarding American Airlines Flight 924 from Miami to Orlando when federal authorities say a man uttered threatening words and said he had a bomb. Federal air marshals, or FAMs, were on the plane and sprang into action.
JAMES BAUER, FEDERAL MARSHAL SERVICE: There were federal air marshals on board the aircraft. They came out of their cover, confronted him and he remained non-compliant with their instructions. As he was attempting to evade them, his actions caused the FAMs to fire shots and, in fact, he is deceased.
KOCH: Marshal Service Spokesman Dave Adams explained the man, 44-year-old Rigoberto Alpizar, had agreed to leave the plane, but carried a backpack and refused to set it down on the ramp leading from the aircraft. Federal law enforcement sources say he was wearing the backpack on his stomach, further raising suspicions. Adams says Alpizar approached the air marshals in an aggressive manner, appeared to reach into his bag and was shot.
Passengers like Miriam Delgado, who doesn't speak English, were terrified.
Her great granddaughter translates.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She heard three gunshots and then everyone was running, like everyone was going crazy. They got up and started running.
KOCH: Some passengers say Alpizar's wife claimed he was mentally ill.
MARY GARDNER, PASSENGER ON FLIGHT: I hear her say, "He is bipolar. He doesn't have his medicine." I heard the shots.
ALAN TIRPAK, PASSENGER ON FLIGHT: She was just saying that her husband was sick, her husband was sick.
KOCH: Alpizar, a U.S. citizen, had just flown to Miami from Ecuador. After the shooting, investigators took his luggage off the plane and blew it open on the tarmac. A search of Alpizar's backpack and luggage turned up no explosives.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KOCH: The Miami-Dade police are investigating to see whether or not that use of deadly force was appropriate. Meanwhile, the two federal air marshals involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Kathleen, this man's wife, where is she and what is she saying this morning? Do we know?
KOCH: We don't, Carol, and that's very much a question that everyone is trying to answer. I believe that CNN has a crew who may be headed to their hometown, which is in the Orlando area, Maitland, Florida, to find out, because there certainly were a lot of questions raised by what the passengers had told us all day, that she claimed that he was mentally ill, that she followed him out, apparently followed him toward the jet way, but then returned to the aircraft. And that's when the shots occurred.
So many people are wondering why didn't she stay with him? Could she have prevented the shooting?
COSTELLO: So many unanswered questions.
Kathleen Koch live in Miami for us this morning.
Thank you.
There is other news of the day, too.
Kelly Wallace is here for that -- good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Carol.
And hello to all of you.
We're beginning with Iraq. The deadline extended for four hostages in Iraq. One of them is an American. A new video of the men showed up on an Islamic Web site. Their captors had originally said they would be executed if Iraqi prisoners weren't released by today. But that deadline was extended overnight until Saturday.
We're also following a developing story out of southern Baghdad. There, a suicide bomber attacked a bus, killing at least 30 people. Dozens are wounded. And this all coming just a week before Iraq holds its general elections.
Japan has agreed to keep its troops in Iraq for another year. Its 500 troops were set to come home this month. Iraq's prime minister personally went to Japan to request that those troops stay on.
Back here in the United States, San Francisco police could be suspending 20 officers after a video surfaced featuring racist, sexist and homophobic stereotypes. One of the scenes, which you are going to take a look at right now, shows an officer running over a homeless man.
Well, this tape was apparently made as a parody of daily life on the force. Officers involved say it's all been taken out of context.
Well, you may remember a similar scandal this summer involving the San Francisco 49ers. And ironically in that case, the offensive tape was meant to teach players how to handle the media. The team's publicity director has since resigned.
And news in Washington now. FEMA is telling its side of the Katrina story. Regional officials from the agency are set to testify before the Senate investigation committee this morning. One of these officials apparently told superiors more than a year before the hurricane hit that the agency was not prepared for a catastrophe. And this hearing coming one day after Congress approved billions of dollars worth of tax breaks. Those tax breaks will go to businesses destroyed by Rita and Katrina, and hopefully, Carol and Miles, help those businesses get back up and running again.
COSTELLO: I know. It's taken forever, isn't it?
WALLACE: It has. It sure has.
COSTELLO: Coming up, the fate of death row inmate Stanley "Tookie" Williams could be decided today. Does he deserve to die? we're going to talk to the stepmother of one of his victims.
O'BRIEN: Also, more on that fatal shooting at the Miami airport. We'll take you on the job with a federal air marshal and look at the split second decisions he has to make every day.
COSTELLO: And later, Dr. Phil. The diet pill ads that landed TV, the TV doctor in hot water. Is there proof he is guilty of false advertising? That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Welcome back to you.
In the devastated city of New Orleans, crime is down, but fear, fear is way up.
And as Susan Roesgen reports, there's been a run on guns as people try to fight that fear.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MOREY BUTLER, GUN STORE MANAGER: If I can get my hands on one now, I'll go ahead and order it.
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Morey Butler, manager of the Shooter's Club, can't keep enough guns in stock.
BUTLER: I have no Springfield Armory product in the store.
ROESGEN: He says sales are up 150 percent, with many more first time buyers.
BUTLER: I've had people in their mid to late 80s coming in. I've had a lot of single mothers or people who are down here and their family is somewhere else and before they bring them home, they want to feel safer.
ROESGEN: This is one of those first time gun buyers.
DEANNA ECKHOLT, GUN OWNER: Are you like stuck now?
ROESGEN: Deanna Eckholt, mother of a 2-1/2-year-old son. Her husband has been working out of town since the storm and she's got a new gun.
ECKHOLT: In my neighborhood, unfortunately, it seems that there's been an increase of drug activity, looting activity and I just thought to myself you know what, I'm going to have to prep myself.
ROESGEN (on camera): Here's another reason people are scared. Forty percent of the city is dark, no power still, after three months. And at night in dark neighborhoods, people get nervous.
DANELLE FLEMING, GUN OWNER: When there are no street lights and you hear a noise, you don't want to go outside and start looking around.
ROESGEN (voice-over): Danelle Fleming lives in one of those areas without electricity. She's getting by with three Coleman lanterns and a new double-barreled shotgun.
FLEMING: It's sort of scary to think about owning a gun, living two blocks from Canal Street, in the middle of the city. It's strange to think about needing a gun.
ROESGEN: The police say Danelle doesn't need that gun. New police chief, Warren Riley, says there are plenty of police to protect a much smaller city and crime is way down.
ACTING SUPT. WARREN RILEY, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: Because the city is clearly not heavily occupied, it's safer than it has been probably in 100 years.
ROESGEN: The police patrol the more populated parts of town. But when the sun goes down, living in an area without police patrols, without neighbors, without lights, Danelle says she's glad she's got that shotgun and if she has to, she won't hesitate to use it.
Susan Roesgen, CNN, New Orleans.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: And listen to this. Authorities in New Orleans have been seeing so many guns since Katrina that on Wednesday, officials at the airport had to remind travelers to be careful packing their bags because the screeners, they kept finding guns in the carry-on luggage.
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, behind-the-scenes with the federal air marshal program. We'll show you how the split second decisions they may every day may save your life. Stay with us.
This is AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: All right, Pete Fountain in the house once again here with his famous Christmas album. We like that.
And as you continue doing your shopping for the holiday season, we once again check in with our friends at Daily Candy.
Dannielle Romano, editor-at-large of Dailycandy.com, here to tell us what to get mom and dad, the people who you've got to -- it's a tough gift.
DANNIELLE ROMANO, DAILYCANDY.COM: It sort of puts a little bit of fear in the heart, doesn't it?
O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes.
ROMANO: I mean they gave us life, four years of college...
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: ... free unlimited babysitting if you have kids, I mean...
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: ... and you're going to get them that heartless, you know, vase or ham loaf.
O'BRIEN: Yes, and, you know, up to a certain age...
ROMANO: It's an important choice.
O'BRIEN: Up to a certain age, you can get away with the handmade card or the thing made of clay in art class. But then...
ROMANO: And we get...
O'BRIEN: Then you have to start thinking of things to get.
ROMANO: It's weird how that shift happens.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: And like we are used to they say, "Oh, I love it. I absolutely love it."
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: And they put it on the fridge. You have years of that kind of kindness, un...
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: ... you know, unabashed kindness to make up for.
So we really want to be thoughtful.
O'BRIEN: So it's got to be good.
ROMANO: So we picked four things.
Let's start with mom.
And if you've never splurged on mom, bad kid. Bad kid. This is a really good option.
O'BRIEN: Treat mom right.
ROMANO: This is a site called Jhengen.com. And this woman, Jessica Hengen, is one of the most thoughtful jewelers I have ever seen. She makes this...
O'BRIEN: It's very different.
ROMANO: They're sort of...
O'BRIEN: This is the Byzantine Collection, I believe. Yes, go ahead.
ROMANO: But these...
O'BRIEN: Yes?
ROMANO: You're so knowledgeable.
O'BRIEN: Very impressed.
ROMANO: The Byzantine Collection...
O'BRIEN: Well, actually...
ROMANO: I just think these are...
O'BRIEN: ... they have it there.
ROMANO: ... they're different.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: They're like nothing you've ever seen before, but they're really elegant. And when you're thinking about getting for mom, forget about the stuff for the kitchen or the stuff like, oh, she wants something practical.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: She doesn't want something practical. She's a red- blooded woman. She wants jewelry. So... O'BRIEN: Yes, don't buy her a dishwasher.
ROMANO: ... get that...
O'BRIEN: Bad idea.
ROMANO: Bad idea.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: Get that flaky brother of yours to finally cough up, go in together and get her some jewelry.
Now...
O'BRIEN: All right, now we're in dad land.
ROMANO: Dad land.
O'BRIEN: You notice how I got in there quickly.
Let's get to the tools.
ROMANO: You're like OK, forget about the girlie stuff.
O'BRIEN: Yes, OK. Jewelry. Let's talk tools.
ROMANO: So every guy, every dad, guy, dad, forget it, is a little bit of a know-it-all -- sorry -- a little bit, wants to be considered handy, loves gadgets...
O'BRIEN: It's hard to be humble, Dannielle. That's all I can say, right?
ROMANO: ... loves gadgets and no matter how devoted he is, he has a yearning for freedom.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: Don't you think?
O'BRIEN: I do.
ROMANO: What gift encompasses and incorporates all of those? Leatherman.
O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes. And...
ROMANO: Now, this is a classic. You've heard of it. You've seem them around.
O'BRIEN: I...
ROMANO: I revisited this site. They have all these different models. They're called Juice and Surge. O'BRIEN: Yes, this one is Juice. And, you know, I've got to tell you about my Leatherman. Most of them are on the belts of TSA guys who have confiscated them. So I do need one, kids, if you're listening.
ROMANO: He's probably forgotten to leave it at home on his trips so...
O'BRIEN: Yes, undoubtedly. I can't tell you how many of these things I've left behind.
ROMANO: ... he'll carry it around everywhere...
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: ... unless he's forgetful like you.
O'BRIEN: No, this is a great gift.
ROMANO: Surge...
O'BRIEN: And these are not cheap, though.
ROMANO: ... I mean that's very manly, right, Surge?
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes. I want that Surge.
ROMANO: I don't know what you do with a Leatherman but...
O'BRIEN: No, no, no. That's not the point.
ROMANO: I know.
O'BRIEN: That's not the point. It's just to have the Leatherman, OK?
ROMANO: I'm glad this one is really resonating.
O'BRIEN: You totally are missing out. Yes.
ROMANO: I'm really excited about that.
O'BRIEN: It does resonate with me. I'm big on the Leatherman. All right, lobsters...
ROMANO: Now, this is for mom and dad or mom or dad. Whether they're foodies or old softies...
O'BRIEN: Right.
ROMANO: ... imagine the romance that you will re -- you'll relight that fire. Lobsteranywhere, they will send live Maine lobsters anywhere in the country...
O'BRIEN: Right. ROMANO: ... along with the proper accoutrements, like the silver crackers or chowder. Or you can do like a surf and turf. I just think that's really thoughtful, like a really fancy meal. They just have to throw them in the pot, cook it up and they're set. And they're really...
O'BRIEN: So send mom and dad something living that would try to pinch their nose off if they had a chance.
Is there a subtle message there?
ROMANO: I think we -- all gifts are a little bit passive- aggressive, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Yes, this one is -- this one could be it.
ROMANO: And especially when we're shopping for our parents. My mom's sitting there like that little brat. I thought she was nicer than that.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: OK, this is for the dad...
O'BRIEN: Fathead.
ROMANO: This is for the dad who maybe has ruined his marriage by being too obsessed with sports. We focused on sports fans a little while ago and I didn't find this in time. Fathead.com. OK. What dad wouldn't leap with joy when you get him -- it's a life-sized decal that he sticks on the wall in his office.
O'BRIEN: Oh, look at the size of that patriot's home. Look it -- can you take the camera here? The patriot's home at the...
ROMANO: I don't know if...
O'BRIEN: There's the patriot's there...
ROMANO: I don't know if...
O'BRIEN: Now pull back. Go to that same...
ROMANO: ... impressive is the word that does it justice.
O'BRIEN: It looms over the living room. I can just tell you how Sandy would like that in our house. A big no.
ROMANO: This is for a dad who's already been thrown out and maybe has a swinging bachelor pad.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
ROMANO: So I think for a daughter especially to be like dad, it's a life-sized -- you know, they have current players and classics.
O'BRIEN: Right.
ROMANO: So whether it's a helmet or the player, his office is transformed. He's like wow, you really were thoughtful.
O'BRIEN: For the divorced or the soon to be divorced, give them that one.
Dannielle Romano, thank you for dropping by.
ROMANO: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: See you again tomorrow for more Daily Candy -- Carol.
COSTELLO: That was really enjoyable.
I love her.
M. O'BRIEN: She's great.
COSTELLO: Yes.
Coming up, hey, we're just minutes away from this year's Grammy nominations. So let's head live somewhere in New York City because the ceremonies have begun. They're not going to make the official Grammy nominations until 8:36. And, hey, we're going to be talking to Mariah Carey live, so you will want to stick around for that one.
That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You know celebrity endorsements are as old as commercials themselves. Your favorite celebrities can be seen selling anything from beer to cars to life insurance to whatever.
But as our Kareen Wynter reports, one star is now facing a lawsuit over his endorsement.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "LARRY KING LIVE")
DR. PHIL MCGRAW: I never thought I'd get sued for vitamins, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): But he is. Talk show giant Dr. Phil McGraw, the subject of a class action lawsuit, which claims the TV host knowingly deceived consumers by endorsing a weight loss product with false advertising. The diet supplement, Shape Up, promised to shed the pounds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "LARRY KING LIVE")
MCGRAW: I've learned as I have gained in recognition and notoriety that you're a little bit of a lightning rod.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: Attorneys are now focusing on a series of e-mails they say occurred between Dr. Phil and CSA Nutraceuticals, the Texas-based producers. According to court documents, in July 2003, right before the drug launch, Dr. Phil, responding to a promotional ad copy wrote: "They need to redo the one that says I created these products, because I have no expertise."
Later that month, another rebuke from Dr. Phil regarding the promo: "We want the strongest of disclaimers and instructions about consulting physicians. Assume a litigation in our future and put on the warning label that we would want if we were having to defend ourselves."
Henry Rossbacher, the lead attorney in this case, says the e- mails and dozens more speak for themselves.
HENRY ROSSBACHER, PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY: What do they show? They show Dr. Phil writing the copy. They show Dr. Phil editing the commercials that ran. We think the commercials that ran are fraudulent.
WYNTER: The disclaimer on boxes says the pills have "scientifically researched levels of ingredients that can help you change your behavior." But it also says users must "adhere to a low calorie diet and exercise."
(on camera): One of Dr. Phil's attorneys, Bill Dawson, told CNN neither his client nor legal team would comment on the nature of these e-mails. Dawson did go on to say these e-mails were simply discussions about TV commercials that ultimately never aired.
(voice-over): Dr. Phil told Larry King he still has confidence in the product.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "LARRY KING LIVE")
MCGRAW: I'm very comfortable the products are high quality. They represented, in a right and proper fashion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM COMMERCIAL)
MCGRAW: Let's do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: An argument he may make when questioned under oath during an upcoming deposition.
Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO TAPE) O'BRIEN: Thousands of dieters could be included in the lawsuit if it gains class action status. A judge is expected to rule on the motion early next year. Of course, we'll keep following this for you.
O'BRIEN: Coming up, a brutal pre-winter storm making its way across the country. We'll tell you where it's headed next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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