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CNN Saturday Morning News
Sago Mine Recap; Ariel Sharon's Condition And Implications For The Middle East; Rose Bowl And Playoffs Analysis; Randal McCloy May Have Suffered Brain Damage; Sago Mine Investigation Starting; Keep New Year's Resolutions; Israelis Holding Vigil For Ariel Sharon; NSA May Not Have Had Legal Right To Spy On Americans; Year's Hot Jobs
Aired January 07, 2006 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone.
Now in the news, we are closely monitoring the latest on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is recovering from a series of brain surgeries since his Wednesday night stroke. He remains in a medically induced coma.
Just a few hours ago, doctors at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem went ahead with a planned brain scan on the 77-year-old leader.
We will go live to the hospital in just a few moments.
In Baghdad this morning, a car bomb explodes, apparently targeting police. Thirteen people were hurt, six of whom are Iraqi police commandos. Authorities say the bomb went off in a neighborhood as police patrolled the area.
The Justice Department is not commenting on a 44-page memo which questioned the legal basis for the government's domestic eavesdropping program. President Bush has said post-9/11 legislation allows it. But the memo from two congressional advisers says it appears there is no legal precedent to back that claim.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is -- you know, I wanted to start in by saying hook 'em Horns.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hook 'em Horns. Yes. We'll be talking about that this morning. I cannot wait because I...
HARRIS: Oh, goodness.
NGUYEN: It's been a good year so far.
HARRIS: Welcome, everyone, to CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
7:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 2:00 p.m. in Jerusalem.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm Tony Harris.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen.
We want to thank you for being with us today.
We've got a lot to tell you about.
There's much more ahead right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
There are many unanswered questions about the Sago Mine accident, including this one -- could the tragedy have been prevented? We're going to ask an expert about what lessons have been learned. Plus, We're going to talk to the doctor of the surviving miner, Randy McCloy, Jr. That's a little bit later.
Also, everything is coming up roses for the University of Texas quarterback, Vince Young.
HARRIS: Oh, yes.
NGUYEN: We'll take you "Beyond The Game" -- hook 'em Horns -- to see what's ahead for the Longhorns star.
And it was a much smaller but no less merry kickoff to the carnival season in New Orleans. We're going to throw you some beads, and you don't have to work for these. That's a little bit later this hour.
HARRIS: We begin this morning with the latest out of Upshur County, West Virginia, where 12 coal miners died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. The lone survivor, 26-year-old Randal McCloy, remains in critical condition at Pittsburgh's Allegheny General Hospital, where he was taken for specialized oxygen treatments on Thursday. McCloy's wife has brought him his favorite heavy metal music and deodorant, hoping familiar sounds and smells will bring him through a medically induced coma.
Back at Sago Baptist Church, the scene of hope and ultimate heartbreak Tuesday night, friends and family have set up a memorial for the decreased. Visitations begin later today. Funerals for six of the miners are set for tomorrow.
Meantime, at the mine, they're clearing the air, ventilating it of any remaining poisonous gases. After that's done, an eight person team will investigate the Monday morning blast that began the tragedy. They'll also look into the miscommunications afterward that continue to agonize so many.
NGUYEN: And we are now learning more about the situation that unfolded above ground while the miners were trapped below some 42 hours before they were found, specifically the time line of phone calls that were made to Upshur County authorities.
CNN's Brian Todd investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the time of the explosion, nearly an hour-and-a-half passes before the world gets its first inkling of what's happened inside the Sago Mine. Monday, January 2nd, 7:55 a.m. A call from the mine to the Upshur County 911 operator.
OPERATOR: Upshur Emergency Squad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, ma'am, we need an ambulance at the Sago Mine.
OPERATOR: OK.
It's the one up on the Sago Road?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, ma'am.
OPERATOR: OK.
What's going on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, something happened inside the mines here.
TODD: Less than 15 minutes later, an emergency crew is on the scene with the first chilling account of what rescuers are facing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be advised, we're being informed -- we are on the scene, we're being informed that there are several men trapped inside. We're going to need a lot of help.
LOUISE BLEIGH, UPSHUR COUNTY 911 SUPERVISOR: Certainly hearing that there were several men trapped inside came as quite a surprise, quite a shock. And then I think your adrenaline kicks in and you just start doing what you are trained to do.
TODD: Benny Nazelrod, fire chief in Adrian, West Virginia, says his station is less than five miles from the mine. His teams get there quickly. But by law, only specially trained mine rescue teams can go inside.
CHIEF BENNY NAZELROD, ADRIAN, WEST VIRGINIA FIRE DEPARTMENT: You do feel helpless. You know there's only a certain amount you can do and your normal instinct when you're in any type of rescue is to go help.
TODD: We know of no 911 calls between Monday morning and late Tuesday night.
At 11:48 p.m. Tuesday, the first inaccurate reports have come from inside the mine and one emergency response team radios another.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead, man.
UNIDENTIFIED CALLER ON SCENE: OK. You might as well just stand still right we're you're at, Gary (ph), that they did find them and they're all OK, I guess, so I think we might be transporting them. I'm not exactly sure. But we're stuck right here.
MAC: 10-4, man.
TODD: In the next two minutes, another call comes in saying the men are alive and there's one from an incident commander requesting any medical unit that can transport patients. The 911 supervisor tells CNN they never received a call saying the men were dead. They found that out by watching the news.
Brian Todd, CNN, Tallmansville, West Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And coming up in just a few minutes, we're going to interview Randal McCloy's doctor for the latest on the sole survivor's condition. That live interview with Dr. Richard Shannon is just minutes away.
HARRIS: And we want to hear from you this morning.
You saw the story this past week. It was filled with tragedy compounded by miscommunication. We're asking you if anything could have been done differently at the Sago Mine.
E-mail us your thoughts. The address, weekends@cnn.com. And we'll be reading your comments all morning long.
"News Across America" this morning.
A Chicago landmark has been destroyed by a raging fire. Workers were making roof repairs on the 115-year-old Pilgrim Baptist Church when the fire broke out yesterday. But the exact cause is still not known.
Thomas Dorsey, considered the father of gospel music, was the musical director there for years. At least four firefighters were hurt putting out the blaze.
Is arson to blame? The governor of Texas has ordered an investigation into whether some 70 grass fires across the state were intentionally set. Yesterday, the state reported 35 new fires. Since Christmas Day, fire has destroyed 244 homes and charred hundreds of thousands of acres. Texas is in one of its worst droughts in decades.
Today is a day of remembrance for friends and family of the mudslide victims in La Conchita, California. A memorial service is being held to mark the day nearly one year ago when a mudslide there killed 10 people. It was triggered by last winter's record rainstorms. The actual anniversary is Tuesday. That's when surfboarders will toss flowers into the Pacific.
NGUYEN: Turning overseas now, the life and political career of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hangs in the balance after the 77- year-old underwent three rounds of brain surgery.
CNN's Guy Raz is at the hospital in Jerusalem, where Sharon remains in a drug-induced coma. And he has the latest on his condition this morning -- Guy, are there any signs of improvement? GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, of course that depends on what -- on how doctors define that improvement.
That said, his latest CT scan had shown some mild improvement, but they caution that doesn't really give a full sense of his overall condition.
Essentially, the prime minister remains in critical condition now, 12 hours since his last emergency procedure to remove blood from his skull that was creating pressure on his brain, an intracranial procedure.
Now, doctors have carried out another CT scan in the past few hours. We expect the results of that scan in about four hours from now. That is at sundown here in Israel, when the Jewish Sabbath comes to an end.
But, again, doctors are warning that that scan may not give them the full extent of the brain damage the prime minister may have suffered as a result of that initial massive cerebral hemorrhage on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, overnight here in Jerusalem, thousands of Israelis praying at the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, praying that their prime minister recovers. But realistically, Betty, many Israelis today are losing hope and are now mentally preparing for the post-Ariel Sharon political era.
NGUYEN: Guy, which leads me to the next question.
As this possible shift in political power could occur because of the grave condition Ariel Sharon, a lot of questions are being asked.
How are those questions being answered today, and are they?
RAZ: Well, there's obviously a lot of uncertainty over who comes next and over how the political infrastructure of this country sort of goes forward without Ariel Sharon.
But that being said, he's only been in power for five years. He's not a dictator. Obviously, he was an elected leader. And I think Israelis are fairly realistic about this. They know that life will go on without Ariel Sharon.
What differentiates him from his potential successors is the force of his personality, his ability to really push things through, the fact that essentially Ariel Sharon doesn't really care what people think about him.
And essentially the international community, and the Bush administration in particular, have really pinned their hopes on Ariel Sharon, that he could be the man, the leader, to bring some kind of resolution to this conflict -- Betty.
NGUYEN: A lot of people watching.
Guy Raz, thank you for that report.
We're going to have much more on this story this morning, dealing with Ariel Sharon, and why his health crisis matters to you and me right here in the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you care about the war in Iraq, about gas prices, international trade, terrorism, even tourism, Sharon matters, because all these issues are affected by what happens in the Middle East.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Our Tom Foreman will bring that story closer to home for us.
HARRIS: And back in the U.S. Betty's eyes were on Vince Young.
NGUYEN: All of Texas' eyes.
HARRIS: And the Texas Longhorns this week.
But will his stand out performance cut short his college football career? He said in his best football announcer voice.
We'll go "Beyond The Game" -- and good morning, Bonnie Schneider.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Tony.
And good morning, Betty.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SCHNEIDER: We have fire danger to tell you about.
That's all coming up next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK, so it's a new year. Are you thinking about a new job? Coming up next hour, we'll take a closer look at some tips to help you move up or move on professionally.
Much more when CNN SATURDAY MORNING returns in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: And good morning, everybody.
It is 7:14 Eastern.
And if you're just joining us, here's a look at our top stories this morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent a brain scan just a few hours ago. Hospital officials say it was a previously planned procedure.
Now, the prime minister remains gravely ill and in a drug-induced coma. He suffered a massive stroke Wednesday and has undergone three operations since then.
We are expecting a briefing from Israeli officials in under four hours.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOU RAWLS: We want to hide from the lights out on the village green. Now, that's when I was 17.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Oh, that smooth voice. You can see Lou Rawls perform for the last time this weekend at an annual, An Evening of Stars telethon. The singer died yesterday of cancer at the age of 72. But the program was taped back in September. Rawls gained national recognition and respect for the role he played in raising money for the United Negro College Fund.
And Lewis "Scooter" Libby has a new job. Remember him? He was Vice President Cheney's chief of staff. Libby resigned after being indicted on perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak scandal.
Well, now he works for a conservative think tank called The Hudson Institute. He'll advise them on terrorism and Asian issues.
HARRIS: Oh, Bonnie Schneider is here for a check of weather -- and, Bonnie, we need some rain.
NGUYEN: Yes, lots of rain.
SCHNEIDER: We need it right here.
HARRIS: In Texas and -- yes, yes.
NGUYEN: For the Longhorns.
SCHNEIDER: Unfortunately, no, it's actually going to get warmer there today.
NGUYEN: No.
SCHNEIDER: Just what they don't want.
NGUYEN: Right.
SCHNEIDER: And windier, too.
NGUYEN: Not good news.
SCHNEIDER: Not good news.
NGUYEN: Yes.
SCHNEIDER: Not at all.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Back to the important story now.
HARRIS: Oh, come on!
NGUYEN: University of Texas' Q.B. Vince Young, the man right there, came out smelling like a rose Wednesday night. Oh, well, his amazing -- and I mean amazing performance on the field affected options off the field.
HARRIS: Have we mentioned that Betty is from Texas? Only about a gazillion times.
NGUYEN: Oh, look at -- Rick Horrow, we are going to go at it, buddy.
How dare you?
HARRIS: Oh...
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Oh. Oh, sorry. Sorry.
NGUYEN: That's more like it, my friend, right there, baby. There we go, hook 'em Horns.
HARRIS: We'll go "Beyond The Game" after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, all right. This year's Rose Bowl in Pasadena has been labeled one of the greatest college football games ever, an instant classic. The Texas Longhorns -- hook 'em Horns -- came from behind to beat reigning national champs, the USC Trojans. It was a fitting showcase for future NFL players. And that is worth noting, as pro-football playoffs get underway.
So we're going to take you closer to the Rose Bowl and the playoffs this morning as we bring in CNN sports business analyst Rick Horrow from West Palm Beach, Florida, for "Beyond The Game" -- love the hat, Rick.
You've got to support the national champs.
Welcome.
HORROW: By the way, this is the first time in the history of my show on CNN that I'm really wanting Tony to do the interview with me because I suspect...
NGUYEN: Because you don't want to deal with me today, do you?
HORROW: ... you're probably insufferable. You are probably insufferable for the whole week.
NGUYEN: I am. It's awful. It's awful.
HORROW: Yes.
NGUYEN: But you know what? It's well worth it because we deserve this win. The game that Vince Young had, man, he shot for the Heisman. He didn't get it. So the question is should he stay another year to get that Heisman or will he make more money by turning pro now and not risking injury?
HORROW: Perplexing and -- a question to ponder.
Five hundred yards in total offenses. It was an incredible performance by one athlete and the studies or the surveys say about $60 million of exposure in his name mentioned. So that's a big deal.
If he stays in college, big fish, small pond, follows Reggie Bush and Matt Liner (ph), probably wins the Heisman and all the accolades that go along with it. But he risks injury.
NGUYEN: Right.
HORROW: And if he comes out now, there are 400,000 of you alums, by the way, who own oil companies, who have a lot of money...
NGUYEN: I don't have an oil company.
HORROW: ... who put your program on the map, who will throw money at the guy.
Peyton Manning makes $11 million a year. He's not there yet, but he could be there with a great series of performances at the NFL. And, by the way, it is a tough decision for young Mr. Young.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
I mean, the Heisman, millions. I don't know, that's a tough one.
but you know what? The bottom line, it was a great game. The host city, Pasadena, becomes a huge winner because it got a lot of money on this game.
HORROW: Well, you remember at the beginning of December, Texas Congressman Joe Barton, in a hearing, said that the BCS system is fatally flawed. Well, a month later, this was the greatest BCS and the greatest series we've ever had. For Pasadena alone, $370 million of economic impact. And the game itself generated $50 million.
NGUYEN: Wow!
HORROW: That's one times-and-a-half of a small Caribbean country. And for you guys in Texas, twice as much merchandise as Ohio State and LSU when they won their national championships.
By the way, you guys are even on a Wheaties box today, believe it or not.
NGUYEN: I know. I've got to go get my hands on one of those. That's a collector's item.
Hey, I'm so envious of you, though. I've got to tell you this. You were at the game, I was not. Unfortunately, I was traveling. But, boy, this was some game. And I have to say, though, I heard those gift bags. I don't know if you got your hands on one, but I heard they were pretty impressive.
HORROW: Thank you for being envious of me. I appreciate your good judgment. Well, I've got a lot of stuff here.
NGUYEN: So share some of that love when you got that goodie bag.
HORROW: I've got some swag. You've got PSP players. You've got watches. You have clocks
NGUYEN: I've got one? You're going to send that my way?
HORROW: No, no, no. I'm speaking generally.
NGUYEN: Oh, darn.
HORROW: You meaning the people who actually did go to the game, by the way.
Hey, the one thing I really wanted my hands on are those 200 shirts that were printed that said "USC Threepeat National Champion"...
NGUYEN: Oh.
HORROW: I've got my hat. But I guess I ain't going to be using that one. It isn't worth anything now.
NGUYEN: No, no. Not at all.
All right, we've got to shift, unfortunately, as much as I'd love to talk about the Longhorns all day long.
The NFL playoffs, they start today.
Let's get your picks.
HORROW: All right. Well, it's an interesting week. The Carolina Panthers' defense are going to beat the Giants up in New York, I think. The Pittsburgh Steelers, not just happy to be there, beat Cincinnati in Cincinnati. And then you have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Washington Redskins. The Redskins just happy to be there.
New England Patriots, by the way, on their way maybe to Super Bowl after a slow start, beating Jacksonville at home. But we've got another one of these. We're ready go to the Super Bowl. This is a Super Bowl 40s hat in Detroit. NGUYEN: Nice.
HORROW: The next three weeks we'll talk a lot about the NFL and marketing on the way to Detroit for that game on February 6. That's a shameless plug.
What do you think?
NGUYEN: I would say so. A man with many hats. Although our producer said that one is a little small.
Does that mean the hat is small or the head is a little...
HORROW: Don't -- hey...
NGUYEN: I'll let you go.
HORROW: I've been so nice to you.
NGUYEN: I know.
HORROW: Tony, where are you?
NGUYEN: I just had to get it in.
HORROW: I never thought I'd say this, I want Tony, OK?
NGUYEN: Oh, come on, Rick.
HARRIS: Hey, Rick...
NGUYEN: I'm always nice to you.
HARRIS: ... stick around for this.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: Stick around for this. You'll appreciate this.
NGUYEN: Rick, it was good to see you.
HARRIS: Hey, Betty, you stay right there. Don't move. Don't move.
NGUYEN: Uh-oh, I'm scared.
What?
HARRIS: We've got a little something, something for you. You know, the folks from USC have been sending me just a lot of e-mails and they know that you're very happy for your Longhorns. But they just want you to know that...
NGUYEN: Uh-oh.
HARRIS: ... that USC will be back. And this message, I understood, was endorsed by Kyra Phillips.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes. She already told me. Fight on, fight on, fight on.
All I've got to say is, if you mess with Texas, you get the Horns, Tony.
HARRIS: That's the USC fight song there.
NGUYEN: Hook 'em.
HARRIS: All right, that's enough of that.
That's enough of that.
OK. OK. OK.
And up next, what went so tragically wrong at Sago Mine and what lessons can safety officials learn?
We'll ask an expert.
Also, Randal McCloy, the lone survivor from this week's accident, is getting some special treatment from his doctors and his wife. We'll get an update on his condition from the doctor treating him.
More CNN SATURDAY MORNING in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: So many hard lessons learned in the aftermath of this week's mine tragedy.
We want to welcome you back this morning.
I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.
That story in a minute.
First, a look at the morning headlines now in the news.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent a new brain scan this morning. Doctors say it was a planned procedure. The prime minister is in a medically induced coma. He's had three surgeries since suffering a massive stroke on Wednesday. Doctors plan a briefing on his condition later this morning.
Inadequate body armor is costing lives in Iraq. According to the Associated Press, that's the conclusion of a new Pentagon study. The study found about 80 percent of Marines killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper torso could have survived if they had better body armor.
The death toll from Thursday's hostel collapse in the holy city of Mecca has climbed to 76. Another 62 were wounded. The hostel collapsed as Muslims began gathering for the annual Hajj pilgrimage starting tomorrow. Authorities still don't know what caused the tragedy.
Today marks a somber observance in London. It's been six months since three underground trains and a bus were bombed. Six people, including the bombers, were killed. Seven hundred others were injured. Six months later, police say the threat is still there. But many people say life has returned to normal.
NGUYEN: We want to give you more now on the Sago Mine tragedy and its sole survivor.
Doctors treating survivor Randal McCloy say the 26-year-old may have suffered brain damage from oxygen deprivation. McCloy's remain -- or he does remain in a medically induced coma.
Now, his wife hopes hearing his favorite band, Metallica, will help pull him through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNA MCCLOY, WIFE OF RANDAL MCCLOY: My husband likes to listen to hard metal like Metallica, Korn, that kind of stuff. I like the country music.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Now, joining us from the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Randal McCloy's doctor, Richard Shannon.
Dr. Shannon, we appreciate you getting up early to speak with us.
My first question to you, though, overnight, have you seen any improvement?
DR. RICHARD SHANNON, ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL: First of all, good morning, Betty.
And overnight, Randal has been very stable. He had a very good night, a restful night. He -- we've made considerable progress in stabilizing a number of his injuries. And this morning we're going to begin our reevaluation of his neurological status.
NGUYEN: We'll get to that in just a moment.
As we just heard his wife speak just moments ago on tape about the fact that she was playing music for him. She also brought his favorite deodorant, hoping that the sounds and the smells will bring him back out of that coma and then hopefully help him on his road to recovery.
Does that work? Can a person in a medically induced coma hear, smell and all those things? Are they coherent in that respect?
SHANNON: Well, I think a medically induced coma has various levels depending upon how much medication the patient is receiving. So during periods of time where the medication is being withdrawn, Mr. McCloy and other people in a medically induced coma will tend to wake up a little bit and begin to move around. So it's conceivable that he can hear the music and hear her voice.
And all of those things, I think, in the otherwise pretty sterile environment of an ICU, I think create a very nice environment and atmosphere in which to hopefully enhance his healing.
NGUYEN: Let's talk about two areas of big concern, starting first with his brain.
Have you been able to assess the damage that may have been caused by this?
SHANNON: The assessment is really ongoing in that each morning we are performing CT scans principally to look at the small areas of hemorrhage that are the result of the anoxic injury. And we'll be conducting that evaluation this morning.
In addition, Dr. Valeriano, the staff neurologist who is leading that effort, will be evaluating him. And at that time we will probably attempt to withdraw the medication just so that Dr. Valeriano has a chance to evaluate his mental status to a larger extent.
NGUYEN: Now, he is set to receive three more sessions in the hyperbaric chamber. Explain to us how that works. And can it reverse any brain damage that may already have been caused?
SHANNON: Sure. The principal reason that Mr. McCloy was transferred to Allegheny General Hospital is so that he could receive the hyperbaric treatments.
At this stage, those treatments are largely being targeted at preventing any long time neurological consequences. There is evidence to suggest that treatments, even at this stage, removed from the acute carbon monoxide poisoning, may favor his neurological recovery weeks to months from now. That's the reason we're doing the treatments.
He has received two treatments. He did not undergo what was a tentatively scheduled treatment last night. We thought it was better to spend our time focusing on the care of his injured lungs. And I'm pleased to report overnight that we've made substantial progress in that regard.
So I think the time was well spent.
Following his neurological evaluation this morning, we will give consideration to a third hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The absolute number of treatments is not etched in stone. He's completed two very successfully and I think we will look to perform a third once we are confident he's stable enough to tolerate it.
NGUYEN: Now, you mentioned his lungs, doctor, which was another big area of concern, especially that one in particular. You said there has been a little bit of progress. Tell us about that and exactly what caused all the damage to his lung. SHANNON: Well, we believe that the damage to his lung, and particularly his left lung, was a result of the fact that he inhaled a lot of particulate matter, coal dust, at a time when he was losing consciousness and no longer able to protect his airway. So lots of dust in the environment. Instead of being able to cough it away, unfortunately he inhaled into his lung.
And I think because he was slumped to the left side, much of that particulate matter tended to localize to the left lung.
In addition, as he lost consciousness, he may have aspirated some of his own secretions. And the combination of those two injuries has led to this intermittent collapse of the left lung as a result of mucus plugging up the airways.
Over the course of the night, with some very good care of the airway and some additional medical treatment, we're happy to report the lung is fully re-expanded and that Mr. McCloy is requiring less oxygen and less ventilatory support. So we think these are signs to suggest that at least for the moment, the acute lung inflammation is resolving.
NGUYEN: That is very good news. And, of course, we -- our hearts and our prayers go out to him.
But we wish you and your team the best as you treat this man, who so -- has survived such an ordeal.
SHANNON: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Our hearts are with all of u.
Thank you so much, Dr. Shannon.
SHANNON: Thank you, Betty.
HARRIS: So what sparked the mine blast and how did miners spend their final hours? Those are just two questions federal investigators hope to answer. Federal mine safety officials are sending an eight person team to the central West Virginia mine to investigate. They'll look at the structure of the mine and all the equipment.
Here to add more insight is Bruce Dial, a mine safety expert and former mine inspector.
Bruce, good to talk to you this morning and thanks for taking the time.
As this investigation moves forward, what issues are you particularly interested in finding some answers to?
BRUCE DIAL, MINE SAFETY EXPERT: Well, the initial one would be what caused the explosion to begin with. Where did the methane come from? From what sources could it have been set off to cause the initial explosion. That'll be the first thing they'll be looking for.
HARRIS: And beyond that, if we just focus in on what caused the explosion, is that enough for this investigation?
DIAL: No. They will look at -- if they find the reason for what caused it, they will look at what can be developed to prevent it from happening at another mine somewhere else. Is there something that could have been done before this or was it a combination of different things that caused this to happen?
HARRIS: Bruce, what is your sense of this? Are we talking about situations that have been allowed to sort of lie dormant, problems that have gone unaddressed in mine safety?
DIAL: Well, I think that one of the things is that you always have the methane in the mine. It's like the electricians kind of getting used to their environment and they don't have as much respect for it. I think the same thing happens in coal mines. You're used to dealing with it and you tend to get comfortable with it. And when you have methane that builds up and you have a place to spark it off, that can be something that you just kind of look over sometimes.
HARRIS: And, Bruce, as we move forward, should we take a look at the dual roles of Mine Safety and Health Administration as regulator and as investigator?
DIAL: Well, whenever you do in an investigation like this, you have to have experts. You have to have people that understand the mining business. It's not all just engineering. It's not all just one thing. You have to have people that's worked with this and dealt with it for quite a while.
So it would be hard to find an outside agency or anything like that that would be able to the job as well as what MSHA can do.
HARRIS: But I have to ask you, should we trust or can we trust a system where the team that is offering up the regulations for the industry is also investigating accidents?
DIAL: I think there has to be two separate things there. You have to have one team investigating the accident itself and I think you need to have some kind of a backup system where somebody else that's kind of keeping an eye on the agency itself.
HARRIS: Bruce, tell us why these miners who, by all appearances and by everything that we've heard so far, were able to survive the initial explosion, why weren't they able to communicate to the surface? What is going on with the technology and with the phones that miners are using and should that technology be improved?
DIAL: Yes, the technology that they have in there now is basically -- they have a telephone system, but the telephones are connected with cables kind of like a coax cable. And during the explosion, many times these cables get ripped out. And once the cables are ripped out, then there is no communication, because radios don't work underground. They can't transmit underground far enough to actually be of any use.
HARRIS: Well, I don't know the answer to this, Bruce. Is there better technology available?
DIAL: Oh, sure. You could insulate the cables more, you could get a stronger cable, put it in a conduit. There are ways to improve the system and there are different telephone techniques and different things like that that you could use.
HARRIS: So there is absolutely more that can be done to make this industry safer?
DIAL: Oh, yes, there's much more that can be done.
HARRIS: What about the breathing devices? I imagine that those devices will come under some scrutiny.
Is there a way to make them lighter and have more capacity?
DIAL: Well, they could have them more capacity, but, like you mentioned, they would have to be heavier and bigger. You've got to remember that these men are carrying these devices on their belt and they're trying to do their work eight hours a day. And so to make them bigger, you might be putting them in a hazard in a different way.
But I think what they could do would be to have storage areas where these extra ones could be stored or even larger ones could be stored that the miners could get to.
HARRIS: OK, Bruce Dial.
Bruce, thanks for taking time to talk to us, a mining expert with us this morning on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Bruce, thank you.
DIAL: You're welcome, Tony.
HARRIS: And days after the Sago Mine tragedy, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" offers an in depth examination into the mining accident that has claimed a dozen lives. The program also visits two other mining communities that suffered similar accidents. "HOPE AND HEARTBREAK: INSIDE THE SAGO MINE TRAGEDY," re-airs as a "CNN PRESENTS" documentary tonight at 8:00 p.m.
NGUYEN: And we will have that here for you this morning. As you saw the Sago Mine story tragically unfold this past week, what, if anything, could have been done differently there. E-mail us your thoughts on this. Our address is weekends@cnn.com.
CNN SATURDAY MORNING returns in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, now that the season of eating is over, you are looking for ways to shed a few extra pounds? I know I am.
Coming up later this morning, we will tell you how you can beat those odds and actually stick to your diet this year. That's in our 10:00 a.m. hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And let's get you caught up on our top stories this morning.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent another brain scan this morning. His doctors are expected to discuss his condition in a little of three hours from now. Sharon suffered a major stroke Wednesday night.
The United Nations has suspended aid missions to parts of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. The decision came after about 50 earthquake survivors stormed two U.N. helicopters Friday demanding to be airlifted out. The deadly October quake left millions in the region homeless and aid has been slow to arrive.
And finally, there is word a former California congressman wore a wire to record conversations as part of a plea deal with the FBI. That's what two sources familiar with his case tell CNN.
Republican Randy Duke Cunningham later pleaded guilty in November to taking more than $2 million in bribes from defense contractors. His service as a fighter pilot in Vietnam helped inspire the movie "Top Gun."
NGUYEN: I'm sure you've heard this -- quit smoking, lose weight, get organized. Sound familiar?
Yes, well our Veronica De La Cruz from the Dot-Com Desk joins us now with more on our new year's resolutions and, more importantly, how to keep them.
So many resolutions, a whole year to do it in.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So many. A new year, new resolutions.
Do you have any of your own?
NGUYEN: I have some -- I have many.
DE LA CRUZ: Many?
NGUYEN: I don't even want to name them. It would take too long. I've got a lot of work to do this year.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, what's the first one?
Give us at least one, right?
NGUYEN: The first one is to eat better.
HARRIS: Eat better.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes. NGUYEN: I'm just awful.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes, I agree with you guys.
NGUYEN: I'll throw almost anything in my mouth when it comes to food.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, you know what? I mean look at our schedules.
NGUYEN: Oh, that's true.
DE LA CRUZ: You go downstairs, you grab something at Wendy's or, I mean, Taco Bell.
NGUYEN: Exercise, you know, all those things. Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: OK, quit smoking, lose weight, we just heard them.
NGUYEN: Well, I'm not a smoker so I don't have to worry about that one. But, yes, the others, I'm with you.
DE LA CRUZ: Right.
Well, listen, if you haven't put anything down on paper before that clock struck midnight, it is still not too late for you.
Cnnmoney.com has 33 moves to help you find success in 2006.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: Be thankful for that roof over your head. Lock in a fixed-rate mortgage if yours is now adjustable. And find ways to try and lower your heating bill. Put your money to work in the stock market. Blue chip growth stocks are a bargain right now and may go higher.
Here's a list of seven stocks that may help you see more green.
Make it a point to ease up on debt. Punch in the numbers to help you with debt planning and reduction, and find out how long it will take you to build your nest egg with this online calculator.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: So like you just heard, you might want to take this year to focus on your home, investing and easing up on debt.
And, of course, you can find it all online at cnnmoney.com/success.
And those online calculators, you guys, are fantastic.
NGUYEN: I know that. Yes, that's a good way to keep track.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes. So log onto cnnmoney.com/success. And they're all there at your fingertips. NGUYEN: Tony, what's your resolution?
DE LA CRUZ: What is your resolution?
NGUYEN: Be nicer to me? Is that it?
HARRIS: My resolution this year is to go ahead and sign up for pipeline.
NGUYEN: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: I was just going to say that. That's got to be a good new year's resolution to have.
NGUYEN: From the company man right here.
DE LA CRUZ: Cnn.com/pipeline. And we may be taking a look at that later on today.
HARRIS: Really? OK.
NGUYEN: It's good stuff.
DE LA CRUZ: It is.
NGUYEN: Everybody should take a look at it.
DE LA CRUZ: It is.
NGUYEN: Veronica, thank you.
DE LA CRUZ: All right, thanks, guys.
NGUYEN: Well, here's a question -- are two heads better than one? Ah! Yikes!
HARRIS: Wow!
NGUYEN: I don't know about this one.
HARRIS: Yes. The owner of this unique specimen thinks so and he's asking a premium price for it.
NGUYEN: Oh, well, we're going to shed some light on it in our "Wows of the Week" when CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You know what? I am just passing up so many snappy one- liners here.
NGUYEN: Yes, you've got to see this. You've got to see this.
HARRIS: OK, here's the deal, "Wows of the Week" time.
First up is this juicy $20 bill. At first glance it might look so special, but it sold at auction yesterday for more than $25,000 due to its one of a kind printing error.
NGUYEN: That's incredible.
HARRIS: You see it? That's a real Del Monte fruit sticker with the bill's serial number printed over it.
Now, no one knows how the sticker got there back in 1996, but experts confirm it is authentic.
NGUYEN: Twenty-five thousand for a $20 bill!
HARRIS: That's right.
NGUYEN: All right, this next one, though, Tony, check it out. Check it out.
HARRIS: Yes, what is that?
NGUYEN: It's a snake with two heads is what it is.
HARRIS: And, as you can see...
NGUYEN: Wow!
HARRIS: ... the 6-year-old albino snake has two heads. One is female, the other is male. Both of them with healthy appetites, we're told. The snake can swallow $150,000 from your bank account. The owner has put it up for sale. He's selling it for $150,000?
NGUYEN: No Del Monte sticker included on this one.
HARRIS: Reptileauction.com if you're interested.
NGUYEN: And I'm told that each head is fed every other day, just in case you were taking notes.
HARRIS: You aren't serious.
NGUYEN: All right, check this out. Speaking of two heads, here are some turtles with two heads.
HARRIS: Right.
NGUYEN: But this is what we want to talk about, the annual ice festival is underway in Harbin, China, where the temperature is in the double digits, below zero, that is. No chance of these spectacular sculptures melting until next spring. Adding an element of danger to this year's extravaganza was a large benzene spill -- remember that? In the river just a few backs?
HARRIS: That's right. That's right.
NGUYEN: Officials say the river is all clear now and carvers don't seem particularly concerned about traces of the chemical that might be in the ice.
HARRIS: You want cold? You don't have to go to China for it.
NGUYEN: No, you don't.
HARRIS: You can find plenty of cold right here in the good old U.S. of A.
Bonnie Schneider upstairs in the CNN Weather Center for us -- good morning, Bonnie.
SCHNEIDER: Good morning, Tony and Betty.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Betty, quickly, we want to get to our e-mail question of the day -- could anything have been done differently in the Sago Mine disaster this week?
I think we're learning that many things could have been done differently.
This from Jim, who writes: "They need more than one hour of oxygen per man stored at strategic places in mines. Everyone knows in situations like these, the chances of being rescued in one hour or less is very unlikely."
NGUYEN: And Jane writes: "Hard to believe that in this world of high tech where we can track cars and lost dogs, there is no tracking system to locate miners. NASA did it in 1969 with men on the moon. Better rescue procedures and equipment needs to be explored."
And, of course, we appreciate all your e-mails.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Keep them coming this morning.
Here's the question -- what could have been done differently in the Sago Mine, if anything?
E-mail us, weekends@cnn.com.
HARRIS: The next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins in a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Keep your property taxes down by reviewing your property assessment. You may just find that your home is over assessed.
First, figure out if your assessment is accurate, fair and on par with similar homes in your neighborhood. You can do that by simply talking to your neighbors or visiting your town or city's assessment office. If you think your home is over assessed, you can appeal it in court and your chances of winning are good. Act quickly, be aware of deadlines and find out how much time you have to file an appeal.
And for more information on how to fight an assessment, go to the National Taxpayers Union at www.ntu.org.
I'm Gerri Willis and that's your Tip of the Day.
For more, watch "OPEN HOUSE" Saturday mornings, 9:30 Eastern, on CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Now in the news, in Baghdad, Iraqi police today were once again the apparent targets of a suicide car bomb. At least 13 people, including six police commandos, were wounded when the improvised weapon blew up as a police patrol passed by. It happened in southeastern -- in a southeastern part of the capital, which is about -- and that happened about six hours ago, we're learning.
Now, the Pentagon reportedly is reviewing the gaps left by body armor worn by U.S. troops and may order changes. The Associated Press has obtained an unreleased military study. It reportedly found that one-third of fatalities among Marines in Iraq were caused by bullets or shrapnel striking the torso right next to the ceramic armor plate. One military official tells the AP that body armor is under constant evaluation and development.
In Congress now, there is serious doubt in some corners about the legal basis for domestic eavesdropping by the National Security Agency. That's despite assurances by the Bush administration that the snooping is limited and authorized. An early review by congressional researchers says the eavesdropping does not appear to be based on any legal precedent, but these same advisers caution they can't reach a firm conclusion yet due to the ultra-secrecy of the NSA's activities.
We will head to the White House in just a few minutes for more.
Ariel Sharon undergoes another brain scan this morning as he continues to cling to life. We're going to have a live report straight ahead.
From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It's January 7, 8:00 a.m. right here at CNN Center in Atlanta, 3:00 p.m. in Jerusalem.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Thank you for being with us.
Our top story, Israelis are holding a nationwide vigil for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He is now in a medically induced coma at a Jerusalem hospital. Sharon has gone through a series of surgeries to control renewed bleeding in his brain from Wednesday's massive stroke.
CNN's Guy Raz is at the hospital in Jerusalem with the very latest. And Guy, we understand that there will be another hospital update in about three hours?
RAZ: That's right, Tony. And at this hour, the prime minister remains in critical condition. This is about 12 hours since his last operation to drain blood from his skull.
Now, doctors in the past few hours performed a CT scan, a brain scan, and as I say, we expect to have the results of that scan in about three hours' time, after sundown at the end of the Jewish Sabbath. But doctors also caution that the results of that CT scan may not give us the full extent of the prime minister's physical or mental condition, the extent of the brain damage he may have suffered as a result of that initial massive stroke on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, overnight, thousands of Israelis gathered in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest site in Judaism, to pray for their prime minister. But realistically, many people in this country tonight and today are losing hope. Many in this country are also preparing, at least mentally, for the post-Ariel Sharon political era, Tony.
HARRIS: Guy, a quick question on that. With Ariel Sharon moving from the main stage, who moves to take his place? Is there any fear that there might be a power vacuum in Israel?
RAZ: Well, there is a lot of uncertainty, of course, and there is no clear successor to Ariel Sharon. All that being said, Ariel Sharon, despite the comments of some of his critics, was not a dictator. He served in office for five years. Since 1948, Israel has had 13 prime ministers, and Israelis understand they will have to prepare for the post-Sharon era.
Now, many eyes are on Ehud Olmert. He's serving as the acting prime minister. He was Ariel Sharon's longtime deputy. And overnight polls show that even without Sharon heading the centrist political party, Kadima, that he founded late last year, that party will still fare quite well in the upcoming elections, will still win about one- third of the parliamentary seats on March 28 when Israelis go to the polls to elect a new government, Tony.
HARRIS: CNN's Guy Raz for us in Jerusalem. Guy, thank you.
NGUYEN: The lone survivor of the Sago Mine tragedy remains critically ill, but his doctor is optimistic. Dr. Richard Shannon tell CNN this morning there's been considerable progress, but there is a long road to recovery ahead for Randal McCloy.
He's in a Pittsburgh hospital receiving specialized treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning and oxygen deprivation. McCloy's wife, Anna, says she believes her husband is strong enough to pull through, and so does the couple's 4-year-old son.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANNA MCCLOY, RANDAL MCCLOY'S WIFE: My little boy, you know, he asked me, Well -- I told him that his daddy had worked very long hours, and that he was tired, so he had to rest, he was sick. And my little boy says, Well that's OK, because my daddy's going to get better for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A lot of people out there sure hope he does.
Meanwhile, 911 tapes have been released, detailing calls for help on the morning of that mine explosion.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
OPERATOR: 911. You have an emergency?
MINE CALLER: Yes, sir.
OPERATOR: OK.
MINE CALLER: We have a guy at the mines, and he needs looked at, checked out.
OPERATOR: OK, I'm going to connect you with EMS. Stay on the line, please.
MINE CALLER: OK.
OPERATOR: Cops (ph) Emergency Squad.
MINE CALLER: Yes, ma'am, we need an ambulance at the Sago Mine.
OPERATOR: OK. This the one up on the Sago Road?
MINE CALLER: Yes, ma'am.
OPERATOR: OK. What's going on?
MINE CALLER: Yes, something happened inside the mine there.
CALLER ON SCENE: OK, be advised, we're being informed, we are on scene, we're being informed that there are several men trapped inside. We're going to need a lot of help.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Next week, funerals are scheduled for six of the 12 miners killed. Family and friends have set up a memorial outside the Sago Baptist Church in their honor.
With this on many of the minds of Americans, here's a question for you. What could have been done differently at the Sago Mine, if anything? E-mail us your thoughts, weekends@cnn.com.
Well, days after the Sago Mine tragedy, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" offers an in-depth examination into the mining accident that has claimed a dozen lives. The program also visits two other mining communities that suffered similar accidents. "HOPE AND HEARTBREAK: INSIDE THE SAGO MINE TRAGEDY" re-airs as a CNN PRESENTS documentary tonight at 8:00 p.m.
HARRIS: And checking out the stories making news across America this morning.
A fire that could be seen for miles in Chicago's South Side has destroyed a historic church. Pilgrim Baptist Church played a major role in the development of gospel music. Mahalia Jackson was among the gospel greats who performed there through the years. It's unclear how the fire got started, but roof renovation were underway at the time. Several firefighters suffered minor injuries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOU RAWLS, MUSICIAN: Small-town girls and soft summer nights...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Lou Rawls, who gained fame with his voice, that rich baritone, and respect through his vast fund-raising for the United Negro College Fund, died Friday of cancer. Rawls began as a gospel singer. He won two Grammys. His hits include the classic "Lady Love." Ironically, in September Rawls taped a telethon for the United Negro College Fund called "An Evening of Stars." It's scheduled to air nationwide this weekend.
Nearly a year has passed since a massive mudslide wiped away homes, killing 10 people, in La Conchita, California. Today friends and family gather for a memorial service. Many residents have moved away since the river of mud destroyed several homes.
NGUYEN: There are new questions this morning about President Bush's secret authorization of domestic spying. A report by a research arm of Congress finds the president may not have had the legal right to give the National Security Agency power to listen in on Americans.
CNN's White House correspondent Elaine Quijano has been covering this story, and she joins us now from Washington. Elaine, what have you uncovered so far?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Betty.
Well, this was a 44-page memo issued by the Congressional Research Service on Friday. And in it, there are no definitive conclusions about the National Security Agency's secret domestic surveillance program, but the memo does raise a number of questions, saying that President Bush's legal rationale does not seem to be as well grounded as administration lawyers have argued.
Now, Justice Department officials were unavailable for comment, but President Bush and administration officials have said in the past that the program is legal and necessary, they believe. The White House saying the presidential power to authorize the program comes from two places, the Constitution, as well as a use-of-force measure Congress passed after 9/11 to go after terrorists.
Now, the NSA program allows the government, without a court- issued warrant, to monitor some international communications of people inside the United States. The administration argues the people chosen are only those believed to have terrorist connections. But some members of Congress have expressed concerns that the program threatens privacy rights and civil liberties.
The concerns expressed by Democrats, but also some Republicans, among them, Senator Arlen Specter, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He plans to hold hearings on this issue early this year, and this memo, no doubt, Betty, will fuel the debate, Betty.
NGUYEN: No doubt indeed. Elaine Quijano at the White House. Elaine, thank you for that update.
HARRIS: Well, here's a question for you. Do you leap out of bed each morning eager to go to work?
NGUYEN: Oh, yes, every morning.
HARRIS: That's it, Betty. Or do you dread your daily routine? Coming up, we've got this year's list of hot jobs to help you in the search for your dream position, which is the one that Bonnie Schneider has right now on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
SCHNEIDER: Absolutely, I do. No question about it.
In the meantime, let's take a look at your cold and flu report for this Saturday. We have some updates for you where we are seeing some reports of people suffering from the flu. Widespread activity across the Southwest. That includes Arizona and California. Some local activity reported in other parts of the country into the, much of the Rocky Mountain states.
But then if you head to the east, it's more of a sporadic outbreak, breaking out all the way from the Eastern Seaboard down to Florida. No activity reported in a few lucky places. That includes Louisiana up towards Arkansas and into Alabama.
So that's where they're staying healthy. Hopefully we can get this half of the country over here as well.
That's a look at your cold and flu report.
Stay tuned. Your complete Saturday forecast is coming up next on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Here's a check of our top stories, in case you're just joining us this morning. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had another brain scan this morning. Doctors describe the procedure as planned, and Sharon remains in critical condition after undergoing three operations since Wednesday's massive stroke. A briefing from Jerusalem is expected in under three hours. We're going to bring that to you live when it happens.
In West Virginia, mine survivor Randal McCloy is still critically ill in a medically induced coma. Last hour, his doctor told us McCloy is showing new signs of improvement, especially in one of his lungs. Doctors are still very concerned about possible brain damage.
And in London, a somber reminder. It has been six months since suicide bombers carried attacks out on three underground trains and a bus. Fifty-six people, including the bombers, were killed. Six months later, efforts to track the masterminds behind the blast have apparently led nowhere. Investigators report few developments, and to this day, no one is in custody.
HARRIS: Texas governor Rick Perry is ordering an investigation to determine whether a recent string of wildfires were intentionally set. Since last month, firefighters battled more than 70 blazes across the state. Three people were killed. Nearly 250,000 acres burned, and dozens of homes are destroyed. Weather conditions present a whole new set of challenges, with dry weather, no rain, and no breeze. Pop-up fires are inevitable.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Oh, my. Through the weekend. All right, thank you, Bonnie.
Well, are you looking for a new job? Maybe even a better paycheck? This may be the year to cash in on a bigger, better deal. Coming up, this year's list of hot jobs for '06.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Oh, messing with Jim Lamay (ph) this morning. All right.
Are you looking for a new job for the new year? Better yet, a bigger paycheck? This may be the year to cash in on your dream job. From healthcare to accounting, we've got this year's list of hot jobs. So let's get to those, shall we?
Joining me now from Chicago is Jennifer Sullivan with CareerBuilder.com.
Going to be a good year for job seekers?
JENNIFER SULLIVAN, CAREERBUILDER.COM: I think absolutely. What we're seeing is, in 2005, we created more than 2 million jobs. We're expecting that the job market's going to perform on par, if not better. And actually, 54 percent of hiring managers say they are going to be increasing head count in 2006. NGUYEN: That is good news. So let's go through the list of the jobs that are out there or that will be out there this year that are in high demand. One on the list, registered nurses.
SULLIVAN: Right. Healthcare is an industry that's performed very well in terms of job creation. Nursing is a critical area. They've experienced a shortage of qualified workers. You're going to see increased demand in the coming year.
HARRIS: Fifty-five thousand dollars is what it pays. Need an associate's degree for that.
Next one in demand is accounting, a big one.
SULLIVAN: Right, absolutely, yes. Businesses that are responding to more strict accounting or reporting requirements, and so they need people there that can help them stay within compliance. Accountants and auditors will typically make around $60,000 to $65,00, but it will really vary depending on the organization.
NGUYEN: OK. But when you talk about the jobs that are really in demand, and that are going to be available this year, I guess we're talking the lines of sales, customer service, IT, technical services as well. Those are the hot jobs.
SULLIVAN: Absolutely. Sales and businesses are investing in the revenue generators as they're expanding operations. There's opportunities across all levels. And the earning potential there is really quite significant, depending...
NGUYEN: Yes, it is.
SULLIVAN: ... depending on the product and the company. You know, you can earn well into six figures. Customer service, that's the number-one area that hiring managers said they're going to be going after in 2006. They want to not only track those new customers, make sure they're keeping them. And so there's opportunities for representatives as well as managers that can motivate those teams that will typically pay around $40,000 to $45,000 at the management level.
NGUYEN: And let me ask you, though, when we're looking at what these jobs pay, you mentioned it typically pays. Are we going to see an increase in that pay this year, or are employers going to make some pay hikes and give people raises?
SULLIVAN: Absolutely. Actually, a joint survey that CareerBuilder.com did with America Online, we found that 51 percent of hiring managers said they're going to be increasing the starting salaries on initial offers for new employees, and 78 percent said they're going to be increasing paychecks for their existing staff. So that's good news for the workers out there.
NGUYEN: Yes, that's good news all around. Are these jobs in any particular area, East Coast, West Coast, in the South, or are they spread out across the nation? SULLIVAN: Well, they are spread out. I think we're seeing the South and the West are a little bit more aggressive in terms of their recruitment plans. I think we're going to see the Midwest come back a little bit stronger in 2006. The Northeast is trailing a little bit behind the other regions, but still solid indicators for hiring there.
NGUYEN: So I got to assume that there's stiff competition for these jobs. The question now is, if you want one of them, and you want to get that pay increase, how do you set yourself apart?
SULLIVAN: Well, one of the best things to do, first of all, is, you want to make sure that you're customizing your communications. I can't emphasize that enough. You don't want to spam employers. You want to make sure that you research that company and that your resume and cover letter reflect the requirements.
You also want to make sure that you're highlighting specific accomplishments, quantifying the results. And that's really what's going to help sell you the new company, and so they understand what you can bring to the table for them.
NGUYEN: And when it to folks hiring, are they looking for diversity? Are women going to be seeing a lot of these jobs? Minorities going to see a lot of these jobs?
SULLIVAN: Yes, absolutely. I think diversity is an initiative that is -- you see many companies are really moving forward with in 2006. They see a positive impact from diversity on their bottom line. And women and Hispanics are actually two segments that hiring managers say that they are going to be going after more aggressively in 2006.
NGUYEN: Let me ask you this one last thing quickly. What about this flexible work schedule? I see a lot of people moving toward that. Is that one of those trends that we're going to continue to see in '06?
SULLIVAN: Right. I think as you have a labor -- or job market that's expanding, you have a labor market that's shrinking, as you have a large segment of baby boomers that are approaching retirement age, the competition for talent is intensifying. And so you see hiring managers are going to be a little bit more flexible in terms of recruitment and retention strategies, and offering flexible work arrangements is a key area.
You see nearly half, 48 percent, said they are going to be providing flexible work arrangements, such as job sharing, alternate schedules, and telecommuting.
NGUYEN: So you can work from home.
Jennifer Sullivan, CareerBuilder.com. We appreciate your information this morning. Now, Tony, the only key is to be able to do this from the comfort of your own home.
HARRIS: I think we're working on it.
NGUYEN: You're trying.
HARRIS: Working on it.
NGUYEN: We'll get there eventually.
HARRIS: It feels like home.
NGUYEN: That's true. We're here enough, aren't we?
HARRIS: Yes, really.
Here's our e-mail question of the morning. What could have been done differently at the Sago Mine, if anything?
Carl writes, "Why there isn't a federal law in place to require that mine owners place emergency oxygen cylinders at close intervals? In the case of an explosion, survivors could make their way to an oxygen station and add precious minutes or hours while awaiting rescue."
NGUYEN: And Joe says, "Why do we, the general public, have to offer some of the obvious things that must be done? For example, better communications, storage of breathing apparatus, et cetera. Isn't this what the investigators are being paid to do? What have they improved since the last mine disaster?"
HARRIS: And this one, "I was listening to the 911 call, and all I heard was that there was an accident, instead of the caller informing 911 that there was the possibility of miners being trapped. The ball was dropped at that point, since there wasn't any type of urgency for help."
I tell you what, I wish I had some of these responses about an hour ago when we had the mine expert on, and asked some better questions.
NGUYEN: Yes, a lot of questions.
HARRIS: Yes, here's the question. What could have been done differently at the Sago Mine, if anything? Weekends@cnn.com.
He has been a constant in the shifting sands of Middle East politics, but a massive stroke has left Ariel Sharon's life in peril, and his country's politics in limbo. Coming up at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, we'll explore what this means for the U.S.
NGUYEN: Also, Lou Rawls is the latest Hollywood celebrity to die from cancer. Up next, "HOUSE CALL" takes you to the front lines in the battle against the deadly disease.
We'll have all of the day's headlines right after this break.
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