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CNN Live Today

Prison Shooting; President Bush In Europe; Colorado Fires; Iraq Deployments; Western Wildfires; Keeping Cool

Aired June 21, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Details just coming in to CNN. Shots fired at a federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. Several people were hit. Joining me by phone right now from the prison in Tallahassee is Police Spokesman John Newland.

John, hello.

JOHN NEWLAND, TALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Hi. How are you?

KAGAN: As I understand, this did not involve inmates.

NEWLAND: No, it does not.

KAGAN: What can you tell us about what you know what happened?

NEWLAND: Well, basically, between 7:30 and 7:45, (INAUDIBLE) Police Department responded to the federal detention center, which houses a mixture of male and female inmates, where three people were shot. And that's basically all we have at this point. FBI is taking lead on this. They're going to be the lead agency doing the whole investigation.

KAGAN: So you don't know what prompted the shooting?

NEWLAND: No, we don't. That's still under the investigation. It's still very early on in this investigation. This only happened just a couple of hours ago. We're still getting statements from people and everything else. So, you know, we're trying to deal with everything going on here and getting statements out as soon as we can. But, of course, you know, with the FBI being the lead agency, I'm referring pretty much back to them as soon as they get here.

KAGAN: Right. Do you know . . .

NEWLAND: And they are on their way here.

KAGAN: Do you know what the status of those who were shot -- their conditions?

NEWLAND: No, we don't have the status quo on the ones who were shot at this point. We just know that three people were shot.

KAGAN: What about the shooter? Was that one of the people shot? NEWLAND: I'm not sure on who exactly was shot at this point. The only confirmation that we have is that three people were shot.

KAGAN: All right. We'll let you go with that and we'll check back in to Tallahassee as more information becomes available. Thank you.

As we move on to international news. Iran, Iraq, North Korea, even Cuba, nations miles away but very much on the minds of President Bush and European leaders in Vienna today. Our Robin Oakley is live from their summit. They just held a news conference and gives us a wrap-up of what was said.

Robin, hello.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.

Well, this was a press conference -- a news conference of surprising passion on both sides. Passion from President George Bush when told how unpopular he was in Europe by one reporter, he said, well, look, we do things out in the open. We believe in spreading democracy. You can see what we're doing. You can like it or dislike it. But I'm not going to govern according to the opinion polls. Europeans don't often see that passionate side of George Bush.

And Wolfgang Schuessel, the Austrian chancellor representing the 25 EU heads of government at this summit, was equally passionate. He said, well, we've had enough of America as the bad guy across the world. I remember as somebody who was born in 1945 how the U.S. fed us in Europe and how they revived our economies after the second World War. So that set things off in a pretty good spirit, I think, Daryn.

And there was a very clear example from Wolfgang Schuessel of how much the two sides have got to agree on these days. On Iran, for example, where the Europeans have been trusted by the U.S. to conduct the negotiations, Schuessel paid a tribute to the U.S. involvement and willingness to get into the talks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLFGANG SCHUESSEL, AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR: Iran has to make the right choice. And we welcome U.S. involvement. In particular the recent historic sign signal that U.S. is ready to join negotiation talks if conditions for resuming negotiations are met. And this signal greatly contributed to the credibility of a united position between the key players. And I told President George Bush how much we appreciate his constructive role in this particularly sensitive situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OAKLEY: Of course, there are still issues which separate the U.S. and the Europeans. Guantanamo Bay, in particular. The Europeans want it closed. But what was interesting was that Chancellor Schuessel revealed that it was President Bush who actually raised the subject at this summit before the Europeans chose to. And at the news conference again, President Bush indicate his willingness to get the camp closed in due course.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And, obviously, they brought up the concern about Guantanamo. And I understand their concerns. But let me explain my position. First, I'd like to end Guantanamo. I'd like it to be over with. One of the things we will do, is we will send people back to their home countries. We've got about 400 people there left, 200 have been sent back. Four hundred are there mainly from Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Yemen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OAKLEY: So, on a whole range of issues, they agree these days. On other issues they're prepared to reveal their differences. On trade talks, for example, the EU wants the U.S. to move first. The U.S. wants the EU to move first. But there's a kind of maturity coming to the relationship and they're getting along a lot better than they did.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Robin Oakley live from Vienna, Austria. Robin, thank you.

Now a breaking story out of the west. A number of wildfires burning there, including Colorado. On the line with us right now, the information officer for the Rocky Mountain Incident Command Team, Karl Brauneis, joining us now.

Karl, what can you tell us about this fire that I understand has been named the Matovega (ph) Fire.

KARL BRAUNEIS, ROCKY MOUNTAIN INCIDENT COMMAND TEAM: Yes, the Matovega Fire is -- we're seeing as around 9,000 acres right now. It made about a seven mile run the day before yesterday. And so today we were getting a break in the weather. A little cooler temperatures, higher relative humidities. And it's given us a good break to try and get a handle on it.

KAGAN: What part of Colorado are we talking about? And what kind of homes have been threatened?

BRAUNEIS: Well, we have approximately 280 structures that are threatened by this fire in some form of evacuation, whether it's a voluntary or mandatory evacuation. The fire is over in the -- kind of in the San Isabel area, La Veta Pass area.

KAGAN: For people not familiar with Colorado, in relation to Denver, let's just say.

BRAUNEIS: In relation to Denver, that's going to be in the southwest of Denver. Just west of Pueblo, Colorado. And it's burning in mixed fuel types. Colorado is in a drought. It's a severe drought. If some of your listeners remembered the 2002 season with the Hayman Fire. The conditions out there right now are a lot like 2002. And in some areas probably worse.

KAGAN: What about resources? Of course you had the fire burning -- and we're looking at a map now of the fires burning all over the west. You have Los Padres National Forest in southern California, Gila Bend, Sedona and this one near Fort Garland. Are there enough resources in the west to tackle all these fires?

BRAUNEIS: Yes, and this fire in particular is right next to -- is in Fort Garland. We have the Incident Command post in Fort Garland. So that's the Matovega is in the Fort Garland area.

You know, we're having problems getting resources already. And that's kind of a tough sign this early in the fire season. We've got outstanding orders for resources. We would like to get more crews and engines here. But there's kind of a competition nationally now to get resources assigned to your fires.

KAGAN: We wish you well trying to tackle that today. Karl Brauneis with the Rocky Mountain Incident Command Team. Thank you, Karl.

And, of course, another one on the big fires in Sedona, Arizona, about 90 miles north of Phoenix. We'll check in on that fire still ahead in this hour.

Meanwhile, we move on to -- back to international news. A new blow to Saddam Hussein's defense team. A lead attorney for the former Iraqi dictator is found shot to death in Baghdad. A colleague says that Khamis al-Obaidi was lured from his home by men dressed like Iraqi police. He's the third member of the defense team who's been killed since the trial started about eight months ago.

Also this morning in Baghdad, a car bomb exploded in a marketplace in the poor neighborhood of Sadr City. It killed two civilians and wounded at least four others.

Thousands of U.S. troops get new marching orders. They will be heading to Iraq. The military says they'll replace troops returning home from war. Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr now live with details.

Barbara, what can you tell us about these deployments and what they mean ultimately to the numbers that people are hoping will get down to by the end of the year?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, no one knows just yet what the ultimate number may be about future troop levels in Iraq. General George Casey, the top commander, is actually here in the Pentagon this week having a number of meetings on that very subject. A lot of people think he might be about to make some recommendations but nothing emerging in public yet.

But while all of that is going on behind the scenes, the Pentagon has made an announcement about the next 21,000 or so troops that will be on the scheduled rotation to go to Iraq. That announcement basically keeps the troop level at the status quo. About the current level of 127,000 unless General Casey makes a recommendation to bring it down.

And here's how it shakes out. There will be a good number of forces from the First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas. But then there's these additional troops you see listed here. Third Corp Headquarters in Fort Hood, Second Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune and infantry units out of both Alaska and Fort Carson, Colorado.

These again are all the troops that are in the line-up to go to Iraq beginning at about the end of this year. The end of 2006. That's when their rotation will begin unless, of course, in these meetings he's having this week, General Casey, in fact, has recommendations to bring the troop levels town.

Daryn.

KAGAN: And a different story here. What can you tell us about the homecoming from the two soldiers that were found dead over the weekend?

STARR: Very sad news, very difficult news for the families. The U.S. military confirming to CNN earlier this morning that the remains of Privates Menchaca and Tucker are on their way back to the United States. That their remains are expected to land at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware very late this evening, perhaps around midnight barring any flight schedule changes. They are expected back late this evening. And then full forensics will be conducted, as they are for all of those who fall on the battlefield. And when that is completed, the families will receive, again, any additional information the military can tell them. And the remains then will very promptly be returned to their families for burial and memorial services.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you.

Still ahead, captured. Authorities say a man's fake I.D. gave illegal immigrants a ticket to ride. That story is ahead this hour.

And across the western U.S., we'll have more on the fires in the west ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Wildfires are still on the move across parts of the west this hour. Major blazes burning in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and California. North of Phoenix, an all-out battle near the town of Sedona. A wildfire there still threatens hundreds of homes. The blaze has scorched more than 1,700 acres. A closer look now from reporter Tammy Leitner with our affiliate KPHO.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF MATT SHOBERT, SEDONA, ARIZONA, FIRE DEPARTMENT: From a suppression standpoint, I don't think the fire went as well as we'd have liked. TAMMY LEITNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): The Brins (ph) fire chewed up hundreds of acres, getting dangerously close to houses.

SHOBERT: The fire just behaved badly. And as a result, for safety reasons, we de-energized the power lines that run through Oak Creek Canyon.

LEITNER: NewsHawk Five was the only news helicopter allowed into the canyon. You can see the fire has worked its way down into the canyon in at least three spots. From this view, the fire appears to be within just a few hundred yards of the homes at Indian Wells.

PAUL BROYLES, FIRE INCIDENT COMMANDER: It's into Sterling Canyon. The prediction is that it will probably keep eating its way slowly northward unless we can put our priorities with our aircraft, primarily helicopters, to keep that growth from happening.

LEITNER: Their biggest fear, this fire will not stop before hitting Flagstaff.

BROYLES: Obviously with the winds and the terrain there, going up Oak Creek Canyon, we could have this fire go -- could have that fire go all the way to the Flagstaff area. So we don't want to have that happen.

LEITNER: In Sedona, Tammy Leitner.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that's the latest from Sedona.

Chad, this is the first day of summer, correct?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is. At 8:26 Eastern Daylight Time we went through solstice.

KAGAN: So we're in?

MYERS: We're in. We're in summer now.

KAGAN: Longest day of the year.

MYERS: Shortest night.

KAGAN: Yes.

MYERS: So if you are losing sleep, you'll get some more. You'll get another minute tomorrow.

Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: What else can you tell us about what's going on out there?

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Well, actually, don't go anywhere.

MYERS: OK.

KAGAN: Because we are talking about that summer solstice.

MYERS: Oh, yes.

KAGAN: In England, you know what they do? Stonehenge.

MYERS: Oh, sure.

KAGAN: Yes, they go to the mystical side. They do it every year. This attracted thousands of people for the arrival of summer. The ancient circle of stones has spiritual significance of druids and new agers as well.

MYERS: Chitzanitza (ph). A big celebration there.

KAGAN: And Santa Barbara, California, has an amazing summer solstice parade as well. Kind of wacky.

MYERS: That's right.

KAGAN: Thanks, Chad. We'll see you in a little bit.

MYERS: OK.

KAGAN: Well you think summer, you think being hot. But Gerri Willis has some tips on keeping things cool this summer.

Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn.

The mercury is rising. What can you do to stay cool? We'll tell you what to do whether you're in the house or in the car. "Five Tips" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's check out the latest numbers on Wall Street. The markets have been open about 51 minutes. Look, things are cooking. Some corporate profits coming in that are fueling the markets. The Dow is up 81 points. And the Nasdaq moving up as well. It is up over 20 points.

Breaking news in now to CNN about that prison shooting in Tallahassee, Florida. Fredricka Whitfield has more on that.

Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A few more details now, Daryn, on that prison shooting -- federal detention facility in Tallahassee. Apparently federal agents, Department of Justice authorities, were arriving on the scene to serve indictments on six officers at that detention center. And when the arrest was taking place, at the time of the serving of those indictments, one of those officers allegedly opened fire, then resulting in the death of one of the federal agents who was helping to serve the indictments. A number of exchanges of bullets took place. In the end, two people were killed, including a federal agent, as well as a member of the bureau of prisons there at the facility.

The investigation is still underway. Why these six originally, the officers at that detention facility, were going to be served indictments, we don't have the details on that. Just that this is an ongoing investigation now resulting in the death of two people there at that federal detention center in Jacksonville, actually.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Jacksonville or Tallahassee? I think it's Tallahassee.

WHITFIELD: Well, we're going to work out those details.

KAGAN: OK. It's Tallahassee, but still, that sounds like a story that's getting bigger and bigger all the time. And it will be fascinating to find out why people who work in a prison were about to be indicted.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Therein lies yet another story.

KAGAN: We will continue to follow it. Fred, thank you.

Well, you're hearing Chad say, it's a scorcher out there. High temperatures in the 90s, in the 100s. Brutal. This is the first day of summer. So how are you going to keep cool for the next three months? Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis has some tips today.

Hi, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you.

Hey, it's not just today. Apparently this summer could be one of the hottest on records depending on where you live. In fact, if areas like the central plains, in north Texas, temperatures could be rising about three to four degrees above the average. In the Midwest, about one to two degrees hotter this season as well. So you've really got to be prepared.

KAGAN: So how can you get the max out of your air conditioning?

WILLIS: Well, you put the AC in a wind or wall near the center of the room and then on the shadiest side of the house. Obviously, replace your filters. They cost just a few dollars at your local home improvement store. And, look, Daryn, a dirty filter is one of the major reasons why air conditioners don't function at their very best.

KAGAN: And you can plan your day so that your activities are more efficient and cooler.

WILLIS: Yes, that's right. Get up early. That's my advice.

KAGAN: That works here.

WILLIS: You want to make sure that you're definitely getting up earlier. The hottest time of the year is July and we're talking afternoon being the absolute worst, 4:00 to 7:00 in the afternoon. So get started earlier. You'll be able to make sure that you're actually operating at your peak.

KAGAN: You know what, I messed up because I sipped our number three, which is what's on the screen right now. I'm sorry. That's my bad.

WILLIS: Oh, well. We can go back.

KAGAN: OK. You were talking about cars. How do you stay cool during your commute?

WILLIS: Well, you've got to invest in sun shades. This will block about 75 percent of the sun. this is a better option than tinted windows because they're more expensive and they only block about 40 percent of the sunshine. Now if you've got a car that's older than six or seven years and the air conditioner isn't blowing cold air anymore, get your AC recharged at a garage instead of replacing the entire system. It's really cost efficient. And, of course, try to park in the direction where the sun will be shining on your rear window or passenger side, not where you are sitting.

KAGAN: And this last tip. And I'm sorry for messing up the order. But this last tip got the most attention in our morning meeting, about the temperature of your office. Now my particular team, we could hang meat.

WILLIS: Yes, look at this.

KAGAN: We freeze. Freeze, freeze, freeze. I know.

WILLIS: They're shivering. Oh my gosh, Daryn.

KAGAN: Yes, they've got the blankets.

WILLIS: Those people -- I'm thinking -- this is not good. You know what?

KAGAN: What's that?

WILLIS: You're not efficient when you're cold. There's a study . . .

KAGAN: I'll be the first to tell you that.

WILLIS: The study out there finds that warm environments make people more productive. In fact, employee productivity was up about $2 per worker when the office temperature was turned up. But if the temperature is really a problem, you've got to talk to your manager. And don't complain when you do this. Keep it casual. Don't put it in writing. Don't go over their head. Got to be nice to get the changes that you want. You know what I'm talking about, Daryn?

KAGAN: You can be casual, but our teeth are chattering. I tell people this is why I like to anchor because I sit in front . . .

WILLIS: Who do I need to write a letter to?

KAGAN: I sit in front of the lights like a rotisserie chicken and it heats me up. But the rest of my team is freezing. We're working on it, Ger.

WILLIS: You're a fabulous looking rotisserie chicken.

KAGAN: Oh, thank you.

WILLIS: But let me just add, we want to hear from your viewers. Send us questions to 5tips@cnn.com. And, of course, if you missed anything at all on "Five Tips," check out the website, cnnmoney/5tips.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Thank you, Gerri.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: We have a developing story out of Tallahassee, Florida. A prison shooting involving staff members who worked at that prison. Apparently they were going to be indicted. This is a story that is developing and growing. Two people are dead in the wake of the shooting, including a federal agent who showed up to serve those indictments. We'll have more on that just ahead.

Also, the immigration debate heats up only to slow down. The president wants an overhaul. Lawmakers want more hearings. The border battle on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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