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Officials: Anna Nicole Smith's Cause of Death Accidental Drug Overdose; Tillman Friendly Fire Death; Standoff With Iran
Aired March 26, 2007 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: She was having discomfort from an abscess of a human growth hormone that she had been taking via an injection. And we learned also that she had been receiving injections from her partner, according to my sources. Howard K. Stern has acknowledged giving her her injections as well.
Now, here is how the Seminole police chief summed up his findings of this criminal investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF CHARLIE TIGER, SEMINOLE POLICE: The Broward sheriff's crime scene unit completed a thorough investigation of the case of the death of this -- of the scene of the death and found no evidence of illegal drugs. We have reviewed hundreds of hours of videotape captured by the hotel security cameras and we found nothing unusual. We analyzed the contents of the laptop computer belonging to Mr. Stern with the approval of his attorney, and we found nothing to indicate any foul play.
We are convinced based on the extensive review of the evidence that this case is an accidental overdose with no other criminal elements present.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: And we also learned that while Anna Nicole Smith was not feeling well during her hotel stay here, that her friends, including a doctor, a psychiatrist, a medical doctor, encouraged her to go to the hospital emergency room, but she had not done so. Of course, we will never know whether if she had gone, whether that might have made a difference here.
We do expect to hear reaction from Howard K. Stern via his lawyers, but not until later this afternoon. And naturally, we will be reaching out to the other significant people in Anna Nicole Smith's life to hear what they have to say about these findings.
Again, death by accidental overdose. No signs of foul play -- Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Susan, OK. That's it. An accidental overdose. The kind of thing that happens all the time. Every day, as we heard a moment ago.
And the case is closed? CANDIOTTI: Well, it would certainly appear to be the case, although certainly people that are close to her, I'm sure, the way that this case has been going, will want to know more about this study thoroughly, the report, the autopsy report here, look into whether anything might have been done to prevent her death, and people will be looking into that. You know they will. Including her ex-boyfriend, possibly her mother.
And so, we'll following this as time goes on. Clearly, this is a woman who led a very troubled life, a lot of highs, a lot of lows. But in the end, they are saying that all the drugs she was taking, including some very unusual ones, the human growth hormone evidently to promote longevity in her life, you know, there may be something else there. We will be staying on top of that.
HARRIS: Sure. Sure.
CANDIOTTI: Nothing has been usual about this case.
HARRIS: That's for sure.
Our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti.
Susan, thank you.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: On to another story now, accountability for missteps in the aftermath of Pat Tillman's friendly fire death. A top defense official tells CNN a report due out today will place blame on several high-ranking officers.
We want to get straight to our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre.
Jamie, fill us in now on these new developments.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, a senior defense official has confirmed to CNN that the Army -- the Department of Defense inspector general report, which, by the way, is the fourth investigation now into the Tillman case, will, in fact, fault the judgment and the decisions of four -- sorry, nine officers, including four generals, for the way that the events surrounding the death of Pat Tillman in April of 2004 were handled. And, of course, it's well known by now that he was killed by so-called friendly fire.
Some of his own troops mistakenly firing on him, and at the time it was initially reported as a heroic engagement with the enemy. In fact, Pat Tillman, the former NFL player who famously gave up his contract to serve his country in the Army Rangers, was, in fact, awarded a Silver Star for the actions.
His convoy in Afghanistan was split in two against the advice of the ground commander. And when the two convoys got separated, Tillman came under fire from what was initially reported as enemy fighters. But it turned out it was the forward element who mistakenly saw one of the Afghan guides that was with Tillman's party. Both that Afghan guide and Tillman died in a hail of fire on that mountainside in Afghanistan back in 2004.
The Army has been doing a mea culpa about this ever since. They have revised the procedures for notifying families. They have instituted a series of overhauls.
But the family and even members of Congress felt the previous investigations did not hold adequately everyone accountable who made misjudgments in this, and that's what the DOD inspector general report is expected to do this afternoon, in addition to possibly making a decision or a recommendation about whether Pat Tillman's Silver Star should be recalled, because why -- while no one denies that he acted heroically that day, a Silver Star, the criteria for that award, requires that you are engaged with enemy forces, not mistakenly with your own forces.
So we will have to see what the recommendations are. The Army is planning a major press conference this afternoon to lay it all out. They are waiting until this afternoon because they really wanted to inform Tillman's family before they made an official announcement.
COLLINS: Yes, understandably so.
Quickly, Jamie, what then would happen with these nine officers? Are we talking about court-martialing or some type of punishment that could come?
MCINTYRE: Well, probably not, unless somebody committed a real criminal offense, such as lying to cover up. It appears what we are talking about here are sort of bad judgments.
The initial bad information got out. It should have been corrected right away. It appears that the inclination of some of the officers was to wait until they got all the facts together before they went out and corrected the initial misreporting.
That was clearly a mistake. It allowed the bad story to be out there, through Tillman's public memorial service. These are the kinds of things that typically would face administrative discipline.
Some of these officers may not be in the Army anymore. We'll find out more this afternoon. But it's probably not the kind of thing that's going to result in major criminal action, unless somebody lied to cover something up.
COLLINS: Understood. All right.
CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre for us.
Jamie, thanks.
Demands from London, defiance from Tehran. Britain and Iran now locked in a tense standoff over Iran's seizure of 15 British sailors and marines.
CNN's Robin Oakley is following developments in the British capital. And Robin, good to see you. What's the latest from the British government?
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: It's a long-time diplomatic standoff, Tony. It's been going on since Friday, with the Iranians insisting the British sailors and marines strayed into Iranian waters, a violation of their sovereignty. The British government, at every level, adamant, and so is the Iraqi foreign minister, that they were in Iraqi waters conducting their business under the auspices of the United Nations.
The British diplomats have been in contact again today with the Iranians. The ambassador in Tehran demanding to know the whereabouts of the 15 Royal Navy personnel, and they want to get consular access to them to find out what is happening to these 14 men and one woman.
Also, they want to find out if there is going to be any question of charges, as has been suggested by the Iranian foreign minister, that they could be charged with trespassing into Iranian waters. So far, they are trying to keep it low key in diplomatic terms in Britain, not to turn it into a diplomatic shouting match -- Tony.
HARRIS: Robin, if this comes down to a case of who you believe, does Tehran necessarily lose?
OAKLEY: Well, the -- certainly, the British officials that I have spoken to have spoken with complete and utter conviction about the fact that they believe these men were in Iraqi waters. But there have been episodes in the past where there has been disagreement over precisely where the territorial limits came out.
And, of course, eight British marines were taken three years ago and held by the Iranians for three years (sic). On that occasion, some of them were paraded, blindfolded on Iranian TV. And British ministers are insisting nothing like that must happen again this time.
That time, there was a small apology and the men were released after three days. Clearly, British ministers are hoping for as happy an outcome on this situation. But, of course, those U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran are complicating the issue, and so is the fact that the U.S. has held five Iranian officials in Iraq -- Tony.
HARRIS: CNN's Robin Oakley for us in London.
Robin, appreciate it. Thank you.
The United Nations tightening the screws on Iran over its nuclear program. The Security Council voting to impose a second round of sanctions on Tehran for its failure to suspend its enrichment of uranium. The vote unanimous. In Tehran, an immediate rejection of the sanctions, and Iranian leaders announced the partial suspension of cooperation with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency.
The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of carrying out a secret nuclear weapons program. Iran says that the program is strictly peaceful.
COLLINS: The future of northern Ireland, it's taking shape and a taking a step back in a landmark meeting held earlier today. The bottom line, an agreement between pro-British leader Ian Paisley and pro-Irish rival Gerry Adams. They agreed to delay the formation of a power-sharing government.
The 1998 accord had set today as the deadline. Now May 8th will be the official start of what the men call "a new era of politics".
HARRIS: An assassination attempt on a high-ranking Iraqi official. Was it an inside job?
New details coming up in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Also, to protect and to serve, but in Chicago police are now under fire in two beating incidents allegedly involving off- duty officers. Both attacks caught on tape.
We've got the story in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And you're looking at one lucky man. Rescue at Niagara. You will see it here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
New violence in Iraq this morning. We are told attacks in and around Baghdad have left at least five people dead. This comes amid word that five more Americans have been killed in Iraq.
The military says four Task Force Lightning soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in Diyala Province yesterday. Another soldier was killed in a blast northwest of Baghdad.
And in the southern city of Basra, a military spokesman says one British soldier was wounded when a bomb hit his patrol.
Also, new details this morning in the assassination attempt on one of Iraq's deputy ministers. Iraqi officials believe it was part of an inside job.
Live now to CNN's Frederik Pleitgen in Baghdad.
Frederik, good to see you.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, good to see you. Hello here from Baghdad.
And really a lot of what CNN has been reporting over the past couple of days is now being officially confirmed. And that is, in fact, that the assassination attempt on the deputy prime minister was, in fact, an inside job. It turns out one of the bodyguards close to the deputy prime minister was the man who actually led the suicide bomber into the deputy prime minister's compound as the deputy prime minister was performing Friday prayers. Now, really, what a sight it was after that -- after that explosion -- devastation, just the walls riddled by the shrapnel from that suicide bomber's vest. The vest packed with little bearings to really wreak as much havoc as possible.
Now, authorities tell us they are looking for several people in connection to that attack. One of those people, of course, is that bodyguard who let the suicide bomber on to the compound. He was able to escape after the attack, after the mayhem that was going on after this attack, and is still very much at large -- Tony.
HARRIS: CNN's Frederik Pleitgen for us in Baghdad.
Frederik, thank you.
In the battle over the war in Iraq -- and that is the focus in the Senate today -- lawmakers expected to begin debate on a war spending bill that calls for a pullout of U.S. troops by March of next year. Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the measure.
Last week, the House passed a different version of the bill. It sets an August 31, 2008 deadline to withdraw from Iraq. It is binding. The Senate's deadline is not. President Bush has promised to veto any measures setting a timetable to bring the troops home.
Parts of the Hoosier State dealing with high water. The latest from a flooding in Indiana in the NEWSROOM.
Standing firm and standing together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS' WIFE: I don't look sickly. I don't feel sickly. And, you know, I'm as ready as any person can be for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Elizabeth Edwards facing reporters and facing the future. Her thoughts about her husband's decision to stay the course on the campaign trail, ahead in the NEWSROOM.
Is your preschooler in childcare right now? A new report is raising new questions about the long-term impact.
Details coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: In our "Daily Dose" of health news, something for parents with kids in childcare. A new study finds children who got quality childcare before kindergarten had better scores on vocabulary tests in the fifth grade. Kids who received lower quality care had lower scores.
The study also find kids who stay in childcare longer are more likely to have behavior problems in the sixth grade. Still, researchers say the quality of parenting is what really matters.
The findings come from the largest study of childcare in the U.S.
Elizabeth Edwards in Cleveland today, making her first public comments since announcing her cancer has returned. She's expected to talk about her battle with the disease during a speech this afternoon.
On CBS' "60 Minutes," she and her husband John Edwards defended their decision to press forward with his presidential campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARDS: You know, you're going to have two choices here. Either you push forward with the things that you were doing yesterday, or you start dying. That seems to me your only two choices.
If I had given up everything that my life was about, first of all, I would let cancer win before it needed to, you know. Maybe eventually it will win. But I let it win before it needed to. And I'd just basically start dying.
I don't want to do that. I want to live. And I want to do the work that I -- I want next year to look like last year, and the year after that and the year after that. And the only way to do that is to say I'm going to keep on with my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Elizabeth Edwards' cancer has spread to her bones. Doctors have described the condition as incurable but treatable.
White House spokesman Tony Snow undergoing surgery today to remove what's described as a small growth in his abdomen. Snow says the procedure is being done out of caution because he had colon cancer two years ago.
He says tests have been negative for cancer so far. Today's surgery, though, is not a minor procedure and is expected to keep Snow away from the White House for several weeks.
To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. That address, CNN.com/health.
The firing of federal prosecutors. Congress wants the president's aides to testify under oath. The president says, not happening. It is a question of executive privilege. But just what is executive privilege?
CNN's Gary Nurenberg explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): President Bush says forcing presidential aides to testify before Congress could limit his ability to get frank advice.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm worried about precedence that would make it difficult for somebody to walk into the Oval Office and say, "Mr. President, here is what's on my mind."
NURENBERG: Although there is no specific grant of executive privilege in the Constitution, George Washington refused a House request for documents in 1796.
RICHARD M. NIXON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I must and I shall oppose any efforts to destroy this principle.
NURENBERG: It wasn't until 1974, in rejecting Richard Nixon's claim that executive privilege allowed him to keep secret the Watergate tapes, that the Supreme Court found an implicit loosely- defined privilege.
JOHN DEAN, NIXON WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: I began by telling the president that there was a cancer growing on the presidency.
NURENBERG: John Dean was a Nixon White House counsel who testified before the Senate Watergate Committee and has written about executive privilege.
DEAN: It is pretty much what a president says in his mood that morning when he wakes up and decides how he feels about his aides testifying.
BETH NOLAN, FMR. CLINTON WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: I testified as counsel to the president a couple of times.
NURENBERG: Beth Nolan is among nearly four dozen Clinton aides who testified before congressional or judicial investigators.
NOLAN: I do think it crossed the line.
NURENBERG: The Bush administration didn't like the trend.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There has been a constant steady erosion of the prerogatives of the power of the Oval Office, the continual encroachment by Congress.
NURENBERG: So the administration citing constitutional obligation began to assert the privilege.
ANDREW CARD, FMR. WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: That oath calls for him to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. And there is no conditional clause to it.
NURENBERG (on camera): Despite absolutist claims at both the White House and on Capitol Hill, historically it's been compromise that resolve the disputes. NOLAN: I think the current give and take case by case is exactly what the framers of our Constitution had in mind.
NURENBERG (voice over): We could find out as early as this week if anyone gives.
Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Questions answered about Anna Nicole Smith. Delayed autopsy results released this morning. The answers revealed ahead in the NEWSROOM.
And his death a friendly fire accident. But Pat Tillman's family was kept in the dark. Today, the light of accountability in the NEWSROOM.
And to protect and serve. In Chicago, police now are under fire in two beating incidents allegedly involving off-duty officers. Both attacks caught on tape. We've got the story right here in the NEWSROOM.
Powerful storms rumble along the Texas-New Mexico state line. Now a lot of cleanup ahead. A look at the damage coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins and Tony Harris.
COLLINS: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.
You are back in the CNN NEWSROOM. Good to see you this morning.
Among our top stories this hour, death by accidental drug overdose. That conclusion from the autopsy of Anna Nicole Smith. A medical examiner in south Florida announced the results a short time ago. It has been six weeks since the former "Playboy" Playmate died. She was found unconscious in her hotel room in south Florida.
Police say prescription drugs were found in her room. Some were in her name, others in the name of her lawyer and partner, Howard K. Stern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF CHARLIE TIGER, SEMINOLE POLICE: The Broward sheriff's crime scene unit completed a thorough investigation of the case of the death of -- of the scene of the death and found no evidence of illegal drugs. We have reviewed hundreds of hours of videotape captured by the hotel security cameras and we found nothing unusual. We analyzed the contents of the laptop computer belonging to Mr. Stern with the approval of his attorney. And we found nothing to indicate any foul play. We are convinced based on the extensive review of the evidence that this case is an accidental overdose with no other criminal element present.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Her death came five months after her 20-year-old son died at her bedside. Both deaths fueled wild speculation. Tomorrow an inquest is to get under way in Daniel Smith's death.
COLLINS: Accountability for missteps in the aftermath of Pat Tillman's friendly fire death. A top defense official tells CNN a report due out this afternoon will place blame on several high-ranking officers. Among them, four generals. Tillman was a former football star and Army Ranger. U.S. officials knew almost immediately Tillman was killed by friendly fire when his death was reported in Afghanistan. But it took Tillman's family five weeks to find out the truth. Why it took so long and who is responsible is the focus of today's report which is due out later this afternoon, so stay with CNN for complete coverage of that.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, word this morning that off-duty police officers are accused again in a barroom beating. We told you about this incident last week. It was caught on surveillance tape just like the latest one. Both are under investigation.
Our Keith Oppenheim has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Chicago police officials confirm they are investigating allegations that six off-duty cops beat four men at a bar in an upscale area of Chicago. Attorneys for the victims say their clients were attacked last December. That one man suffered broken ribs and another man needed reconstructive surgery on his face. It was a beating, they say, that was captured by surveillance cameras.
You may remember last week we reported about another incident caught on tape.
KAROLINA, OBRYCKA, BEATING VICTIM: There's one hit.
OPPENHEIM: This woman, Karolina Obrycka, came forward, saying she too was beaten by an off-duty police officer last month when she refused to serve him any more alcohol. That officer, Anthony Abbate, is now facing charges of felony aggravated battery. In the video, he punches her repeatedly. Karolina gets up, despite multiple hits to her head, back, and ribs. As bystanders keep a distance, Officer Abbate walks away.
(on camera): Karolina, what is your reaction that the person who beat you is a police officer?
OBRYCKA: I always thought police were to serve and protect, not to beat up people.
OPPENHEIM (voice-over): In both cases, the police department is now investigating the actions of their officers caught on tape.
Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Mounting concerns this morning over 15 British marines and sailors being held by Iran. Britain's stepping up diplomatic pressure. Tehran holding fast.
CNN's Greg Black has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREG BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered a message Sunday to Iran, return our troops at once.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I hope the Iranian government understands how fundamental an issue this is for us.
BLACK: Friday, members of the Iranian navy surrounded eight Royal marines and seven Royal Navy sailors who were traveling in smaller vessels from the HMS Cornwall. Iran said the troops trespassed into their waters while the British government steadfastly maintains the troops were in Iraqi territory.
Former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, says the operation to capture the troops may be part of a greater plan for Tehran.
JOHN BOLTON, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It looks to me, given that the Revolutionary Guards were involved in it, that this is a conscious decision by the government of Tehran to prod coalition forces in Iraq.
BLACK: The crisis has brought back memories of a similar incident in 2004 when eight British sailors and marines were taken by Iran and later released. Iran also said those troops had crossed into their waters.
I'm Greg Black, reporting from Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: The United Nations tightening the screws on Iran over its nuclear program. The Security Council voting to impose second round of sanctions on Tehran for its failure to suspend its enrichment off uranium. The vote unanimous. In Tehran, an immediate rejection of the sanctions and Iranian leaders announced a partial suspension of cooperation with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency.
The U.S. and its allies accused Iran of carrying out a secret nuclear weapons program. Iran says the program is strictly peaceful. COLLINS: Spring rains causing problems in Indiana. But the worst does appear to be over. This scene in Hamilton County north of Indianapolis, heavy rains sent floodwaters across several roads in the region. Homeowners also piled up sandbags and as the water rose. Today though the floodwaters are expected to recede.
Just days into spring, strong thunderstorms roll across parts of the country. Cleanup now getting under way. After more than a dozen tornadoes swept along the New Mexico-Texas state line, the twisters destroyed homes and businesses, injured several people. New Mexico Governor Richardson, who you just saw there, there he is, got a first- hand look at some of the damage.
And this funnel cloud spotted in the sky over Lubbock, Texas. No word on whether it touched down or actually caused any damage.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Still to come in the NEWSROOM this morning, it is a new topping. A new topping, he said, for pizza. Pictures of deadbeat dad suspects on the boxes, in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Needing a travel planner and now a lawyer, his transportation, an air mattress. His route, near Niagara Falls. Details on this story coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Forget the high-tech approach to paddling terrorism, a program called Pups for Peace in Israel is teaching some California police officers how to sniff out threats.
CNN's Sumi Das has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUMI DAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Call it a "mission unusual." In February, Rich Faulk and seven other California law enforcement officers headed for Israel. Their task, spend two months with legendary bomb dog trainers, Pups for Peace and learn how to use this, perhaps the most sophisticated explosive detection weapon available.
YORAM DOCTORI, PUPS FOR PEACE: The dogs are very effective. They can sniff odors millions times better than any human beings or any machine.
DAS: The dogs are widely used in Israel which has been on the frontline of terrorist bombings for decades.
CHRIS BERTELLI, CALIF. OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Unfortunately for them, if they have had too much experience encountering suicide attacks and IED attacks, and with the relationship that our law enforcement has developed with some of their security services, we were really able to discuss a lot of their tactics and their strategies. DAS: Rich Faulk is starting to pick up his new partner's language.
RICH FAULK, AMERICAN DOG TRAINER: Keep on just getting better every day. You know, the first couple of times when I said something to Rocco (ph), he kind of looked at me like, huh, what are you saying? So I'm getting the (INAUDIBLE) to him for good dog, and (INAUDIBLE) for search. I'm getting all of those commands down.
DAS: So man and dog are learning to detect explosive materials, many not yet prevalent in the U.S. Here they are drilling at a train station. In California, they will scour trains to ports, all forms of transportation. Dogs sniffing for trouble.
FAULK: I have got to learn Rocco and his traits and when he does what we call a change of behavior or when he identifies an odor, to be able to read him. And then he has got to be able to read me.
DAS: Pups for Peace says its dogs have stopped numerous attacks. But citing security reasons, details are scarce.
DOCTORI: We are showing the same values of freedom and democracy. And unfortunately, we are sharing the same enemies. And that's why I think it is important to share the information.
DAS: The 400,000-plus bills for this dog training is footed by California's homeland security grants.
BERTELLI: We are hoping that we can outfit them with the best training the world has to offer encountering tomorrow's terrorist attacks today.
DAS: Man's best friend, the latest tool in the war on terror.
Sumi Das, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Let's check in now with CNN INTERNATIONAL's Jim Clancy. Hello, there.
COLLINS: Hi there, Jim.
JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Heidi. Hi, Tony. You know, we are going to be looking at the very latest that is coming to us on a whole -- it is Iran against the world, it is Iran against Britain. Britain's prime minister this speaking out on 15 captured sailors and marines. There is a nuclear issue and so much more to hear about.
Also talking about politics in the Middle East. The question of democracy in Egypt. Correspondent Ben Wedeman will join us, look at the controversial referendum on barring Islamists from election campaigns in the largest Arab state in the world.
And have you got spring fever? Well, try to hit this. The kids are all learning it. It is called the gyroball, a Japanese pitcher, who is playing here in the United States, in the Major Leagues, brought a daunting new move that throws the game a curve. Or is it a little bit more than a curve? Heidi and Tony, see you at the top of the hour.
COLLINS: Isn't it dangerous to throw a curve when you are too young? It hurts your elbow.
HARRIS: Well, it can be. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, absolutely.
CLANCY: Dangerous to try to hit it.
COLLINS: Yes. That's true. Good point.
HARRIS: Thanks.
COLLINS: Thank you, Jim.
COLLINS: Well, now it is the Senate's turn. Debate ready to begin on a bill that calls for a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq. We'll have details on it coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone. In case you missed it, death by accidental drug overdose. That conclusion from the autopsy of Anna Nicole Smith. Last hour we heard from the Broward County medical examiner, Dr. Joshua Perper.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. JOSHUA PERPER, BROWARD COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER: Her companion, Mr. Stern, related to us that he woke up in the morning -- about 10:00 in the morning. At that time Anna Nicole Smith was awake. She didn't complain of any kind of any kind particular pain. But said that she is very weak and she asked for his help to the bathroom which he did. And on the way back she went back to bed and to sleep.
Mr. Stern related that he took a shower and left and saw something (ph) in the interim but basically never checked on her again. And she was still watched by the wife of a gentleman who was a friend and also firefighter and bodybuilder and bodyguard until about 1:30 p.m. And at 1:30 p.m. they found out that she was not responsive and basically she was dead.
We believe and the infectious diseases experts agree with us, the episode of very high fever, 105, was most likely due to the fact that at the time of the perforation of the abscess by the needle, infectious material in the culture (ph), infectious organism, reached the blood and caused the high fever.
However, when we checked, bacteriological studies, the blood, we didn't find any evidence of bacteria which meant that the antibiotic was effective in keeping the infection under control.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HARRIS: Smith was found unconscious in her hotel room in South Florida six weeks ago. Her death came five months after her 20-year- old son died at her bedside. Both deaths fueled wild speculation.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: A new approach to catching deadbeat parents courtesy of the pizza delivery guy. That story ahead in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: And you are looking at one lucky guy, rescue at Niagara. We will have it here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: All right. Heidi, clear the room, time to (INAUDIBLE) a podcast -- a highly rated podcast, Heidi Collins.
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: It is, it is the truth, OK. You already know to catch us weekday mornings, 9:00 a.m. until noon Eastern. But did you know -- of course you do, more and more of you know every day that you can take us with you anywhere on your iPod. The CNN NEWSROOM podcast, available 24-seven right there on your iPod.
COLLINS: See, this is about creating curiosity. Now they have got to check it out, right?
HARRIS: Come on. Stay with us.
COLLINS: Well, you have seen missing kids on milk cartons no doubt. But now a bold new move to catch deadbeat parents. Order a pizza in southwest Ohio and you might see one of these. Wanted posters showing the faces of parents accused of not paying child support. The child enforcement worker who came up with the idea tells CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" it has led to one arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYNTHIA BROWN, CHILD ENFORCEMENT WORKER: It was actually the first day that this whole process aired. And so they called in with a tip, said, I know exactly where this person is. This is where he's at. I'm 150 percent sure. We turned that tip over to the sheriff's department. And they went and picked up this individual within one day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The posters started showing up on pizza boxes in a suburb of Cincinnati in August.
HARRIS: When you think Niagara Falls, you probably think happy honeymooners, tranquil beauty, but immigration officials say one man thought the area was a good one to cross over from Canada. Things didn't really go according to plan.
Roger Petersen of CTV has the story.
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ROGER PETERSEN, CTV REPORTER (voice-over): The 42-year-old man was taken to the hospital a harrowing night on the water. Officials say he got into the river near the top right of your screen, about a kilometer from the rushing waters of Niagara Falls. As he stepped on to a block of ice, it broke off and he was taken away by the current.
But this dam stood in his way. In the control tower about it, a worker jumped into action. On duty this morning, Peter Larson (ph). He credits quick thinking colleague with saving the day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he raised the gates, what he had done was limit the current into the structure so that it would prevent him from going through the open gates here right at the dam.
PETERSEN: The water slowed from its usual pace of about 500 cubic feet per second. And the Niagara Falls fire department sent out two boats to rescue the man not far from the dam. He was treated but also arrested. Police say he was trying to sneak into the United States. His identity has not been released.
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HARRIS: Canadian immigration authorities have charged the man with trying to enter the U.S. illegally, Heidi.
COLLINS: That's right. CNN NEWSROOM continues just one hour from now. Don Lemon and Betty Nguyen, I think today, are the team working really hard to bring you the very latest on several big stories that we are watching today.
HARRIS: And "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe and here at home. I'm Tony Harris.
COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins, have a great Monday.
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