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Iraqis Suffer From Debilitating Injuries; New Orleans Essence Music Festival; Revitalizing Tourism in New Orleans; Heat Wave Continues in Western U.S. States

Aired July 06, 2007 - 09:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Heidi Collins. Watch events come into the NEWSROOM, live this Friday morning. It's July 6th, and here's what's on the rundown.

The West sweats out yet another day of extreme heat. Sure, today is a little bit better for some. Las Vegas cools down to 113, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes. U.S. Marines under a new investigation for alleged crimes in Falluja, Iraqi civilians executed.

WHITFIELD: And jet lag? Well, maybe not. Altitude sickness may be behind your headache, fatigue and malaise.

You are in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: And at the top of this hour, record-breaking temperatures. A triple-digit health threat out West, a dangerous situation that could last for days. In Texas, another nightmare, heavy rains drenching a state already soaked by deadly flooding.

CNN's Kara Finnstrom is covering the scorching heat out West.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Extraordinary numbers, Boise 107, in Las Vegas 116, and 127 in Death Valley -- suffocating heat.

And sweltering in all of that right now, CNN's Kara Finnstrom. She's in Palms Springs, California. The dreaded number there today is 114.

Remarkable, Kara. Besides you, who else is getting hardest hit by the heat wave?

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA: Well, the sun is starting to come up. We're starting to feel things really heat up out here.

Seniors, the very young and outdoor workers, like the ones that are just getting to work behind us here, are at greatest risk. And that's because their bodies' own cooling systems are going to have the hardest time keeping up with that triple-digit heat that's forecast yet again for today.

Now, the scene here behind me is what we're finding in cities all up and down the West Coast. Outdoor workers, who do the real grunt, hard, outdoor work, are shifting their hours. They're trying to work before the heat of the day.

So, it's 6 a.m. here local time, and we've already got crews out here that are getting to work.

We also took some video as we came in overnight, and we found some road crews out doing that real difficult work of ripping up the asphalt. The temperatures along the side of the road at 10 o'clock at night were still reading 106 degrees. And so, these guys out there with their shovels and their heavy equipment, in the darkness of night were sweating profusely.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN DESPARICO, CONSTRUCTION WORKER: It'd be like jumping in the shower with all your clothes on, and then standing out in 120-degree heat. It's just really -- you create your humidity with your sweat.

You know, your clothes are soaking wet, your socks. And it's 120 degrees out and you're wet. Everything else is dusty, so the dirt sticks to you.

You go home from work, you know you worked. Everybody's dirty, little raccoon eyes from your glasses and the dust on their face.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FINNSTROM: Now, sweating is actually a good sign that the body's own cooling system is doing what it should. So, these construction workers tell us, when they stop sweating, that's when they start worrying.

And health workers tell us some other signs that people along the West Coast should be watching for. Early signs of heat illness are that thirst that we get naturally. A headache is actually one of the first warning signs and any kind of nausea or vomiting.

California emergency workers tell us that they did see some isolated cases across the state, popping up in emergency rooms yesterday of heat illness. They're especially concerned about what they may see today, because this is yet another day of excessive heat tacked on top of what we've already seen. And people's bodies just haven't had a chance to recover and to rehydrate.

So they're asking everyone to be cautious. They're setting up cooling centers for people who need to get out of the heat. And they're just saying, please be smart in that heat today.

WHITFIELD: Yes, be smart, indeed. Kara Finnstrom, thanks so much. It is serious business, so people really need to take heed and pay attention to the warnings.

HARRIS: That's the story out west.

WHITFIELD: Where it's very hot.

HARRIS: Well, if you go -- and you've been gone for, it seems like two months, to China, South Africa. Good to have you back, by the way.

WHITFIELD: Thank you.

HARRIS: In that time, Texas, Kansas, I'm thinking, Oklahoma, just inundated by rain. And more rain and flooding for Texas today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, a federal investigation is launched into threats now against a well-known investment firm. The FBI tells CNN that at least nine newspapers have received vague threats against Goldman Sachs. Each handwritten note says, Goldman Sachs, "Hundreds Will Die. We Are Inside. You Can Not Stop Us."

We're told the notes are signed A.Q.U.S.A.

More than 3,000 Goldman Sachs employees work in Jersey City in the state's tallest building. Goldman Sachs said it's working closely with authorities, and a broad range of security measures are now in place.

HARRIS: The investigation into the British terror plot expands yet again. Australian police questioning five more doctors about last week's failed car bombings in London and Glasgow, Scotland. All were released.

Police say the doctors had apparently communicated with another doctor. That person is being held in the investigation. That doctor, Mohammed Haneef, was arrested at the airport in Brisbane, Australia. That happened earlier this week.

Reportedly, he held a one-way ticket to India. His wife says he was simply coming home to see his newborn baby.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FIRDOUF ASHRIYA, TERROR SUSPECT'S WIFE: We all were going to get together, going back together. So that's why he had made a one-way ticket. So that, because, if he had already had a ticket, then we'll get a separate ticket -- me and my baby will get a separate ticket. We have to travel separately.

So, he didn't want that to happen. That's why he took a one-way ticket in coming. And then we plan to go together, go back together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: All eight people now held in the case have links to the medical profession. WHITFIELD: And now, kidnapped in Nigeria. Now, a plea for the release of 3-year-old British girl. The child's mother reportedly says the abductors are threatening to kill her daughter, and then come after her and her husband, if the demands are not being met. She did not say what the demands are, however.

The kidnapping happened in the Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt. Gunmen reportedly snatched the little girl after smashing in the windows of a car as she rode to school. It's the first abduction of a foreign child in Nigeria's increasingly lawless oil region.

HARRIS: A disturbing new allegation. U.S. Marines accused of killing civilians in Iraq. It allegedly took place during the U.S. siege on Falluja in November of 2004.

CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is here with us.

Now, Jamie, what do we know about this incident?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, the allegations are just coming to light. But they involve alleged war crimes that might have occurred during some of the most intense urban combat of the Iraq war, the second siege of Falluja in November of 2004.

A Pentagon official tells CNN that the allegations appear credible, and that they came from a former Marine who was taking a lie detector test as he was applying for a job with the U.S. Secret Service.

Now, most of what we know about what the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is looking into comes from a Web site that broke the news, defendourmarines.com, which includes an account from the former Marine, who says that eight captured Iraqis were gunned down after they were found hiding after a firefight, as the Marines moved on to their next objective.

The item was posted by Nathaniel Helms, a military journalist, who also wrote a book about the Marines in Falluja.

The unit involved is the same one accused of the wrongful killing of 24 civilians in Haditha one year later. That's November of 2005. But it's not the same Marines involved.

This investigation is just getting underway. No one has been charged or formally accused of any wrongdoing. But, Tony, killing unarmed, captured civilians -- if that's what happened -- would be a clear violation of international law and the law of armed conflict -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, for us this morning. Jamie, thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, they gather in sorrow and disbelief. A visual outside a Cleveland home. Three people were shot and killed there yesterday in an apparent dispute over noisy fireworks. The house still with a bloodstained driveway, marked by candles, stuffed animals and now photos.

Police say a neighbor, Terrance Hough, Jr., opened fire during a Fourth of July party. Hough is a Cleveland firefighter, now in custody.

HARRIS: Why some travelers get sick when they fly. It may be more than just jetlag.

WHITFIELD: And the young and the restless. Police say an 11- year-old girl ...

HARRIS: No.

WHITFIELD: ... leads them -- yes -- on -- guess what -- a wild car chase. And you're looking at the results.

There's another jaw-dropping detail that you need to know, however. You've got to stick around for that.

HARRIS: Katrina can't keep down a good party. The Essence Music Festival returns to New Orleans. Is that L.L.?

WHITFIELD: No, I think you're right.

HARRIS: Fancy that.

One New Orleanian says it all -- the city needs this.

WHITFIELD: And he said, she said. But who says more, Tony?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who talks more, men or women?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, women, definitely.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you kidding me? It's like no contest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who talks more, men or women?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I certainly do, in my family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why do you think that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I'm married.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Who said you? We'll tell you what the researchers are saying now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And good morning again, everyone. Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM.

Triple-digit temperatures and no relief in sight. A closer look at the summer sizzle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So, if you fly a lot, you've probably noticed sometimes you feel pretty lousy after getting off the plane. A little achy, maybe a little woozy, too.

Well, CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us with an explanation that goes way beyond jetlag. And now we're talking about altitude sickness, something a lot of us experience when you're skiing on a tall peak. But now, flying, too?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. This study says that you can get a tamer version of altitude sickness when you're on a plane. I guess that sort of makes sense. You're at an extremely high altitude.

And as Fred says, you just feel kind of woozy, perhaps, or kind of lethargic, maybe a little achy -- generally "yicky." I know that's not an actual medical term, but I think that kind of explains it. It kind of works.

So, if you feel that way and you're on a plane, you're not alone and you're not crazy. And it's not just the airline food.

WHITFIELD: So, what do you do?

COHEN: Well, there are a couple of things you can do. You can't, obviously, reverse the altitude. You're way up high and there's nothing you can do about that.

But there are a few things you can do just to make yourself feel better. First of all, avoid caffeine and alcohol. Their effects are going to be exaggerated. I know. Someone ...

WHITFIELD: I was just thinking of all the coffee drinkers and the alcohol imbibers on the plane.

COHEN: Right. A friend of mine said, just get drunk through the whole flight. Won't that help?

(LAUGHTER)

Not really. You're going to get a much worse hangover than if you were on the ground.

Also, but, of course, drink plenty of water. That's extremely important. Also, use moisturizer and eye drops, because planes are so dehydrating, and you'll just feel better.

Move and stretch. Again, you can't do anything about that altitude, but you'll feel better if you walk around. Plus, it could help prevent deep vein thrombosis, which is even a more serious problem on long flights.

WHITFIELD: Right. You're all cramped up and sitting in that ...

COHEN: Right, right.

WHITFIELD: ... sitting in that tiny little cramped seat.

COHEN: Right.

WHITFIELD: So, now, when we hear about the airplanes being pressurized, does that lull us into some sense of thinking that that's supposed to help us in any way?

COHEN: Right. When I first heard about this story ...

WHITFIELD: Would it make a difference?

COHEN: ... I said, why would you get altitude sickness on an airplane? The cabins are supposed to be pressurized. But you can't completely pressurize an airplane and make it like being at sea level. It's just not going to happen.

So, it's mostly pressurized. But still, you're going to feel a bit of that altitude. It's never going to be just like on the ground.

WHITFIELD: Yes. So, it sounds like it's inevitable.

COHEN: It's inevitable, but there are a few things you can do. Even things like getting a good night's sleep before you fly. You're just going to feel better.

WHITFIELD: And drinking lots of water.

COHEN: Right. And not so much wine.

WHITFIELD: No. Nix that, Tony.

HARRIS: Oh, OK.

WHITFIELD: I know that was your thought.

COHEN: You know those little coupons they give you for free beer and all that?

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes.

COHEN: Forget it.

WHITFIELD: Right. No, no, it's not going to help.

All right. Thanks a lot Elizabeth. COHEN: Thanks.

HARRIS: Ix-nay on the -- all right.

So, a star-studded weekend, and Al Gore right at the heart of it all.

The former vice president is taking part in a 24-hour concert series tomorrow of performances on all seven continents. It is designed to raise awareness about climate change and saving the environment.

Gore talked about that and much more last night on CNN's LARRY KING LIVE.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These are the best acts in the entire world. And they've all said, yes, we're going to give our time and our talent in order to try to help save the climate.

And, of course, as you know, Larry -- we've talked about this -- that the earth's climate really is in great jeopardy. And some of the leading scientists in the world have now said that we may have as little as 10 years in which to make major changes, lest we lose the chance to save and retrieve the favorable climate balance on which human civilization depends.

LARRY KING, HOST, CNN'S LARRY KING LIVE: When people say to you, "Al, you have such strong feelings. You had the most votes last time. Why not consider it?

I mean, it's kind of an obligation. You're so involved. Why not?

GORE: Well, I appreciate it when people say that. I ran for president twice. I've kind of fallen out of love with politics, as I've told you, Larry. But I deeply respect those who are involved in the political game.

But what politics has become is something that requires a tolerance for these sort of spin messages that I don't think I'm very good at.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HARRIS: You heard Al Gore insisting he is not running for president. But according to a CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll, a lot of Democrats would vote for him.

The poll found, if Al Gore was in the race, Senator Hillary Clinton would get 35 percent of the Democratic vote, Senator Barack Obama would get 23 percent. And Al Gore would come in third with 16 percent, ahead of John Edwards.

WHITFIELD: A pretty big birthday party today in Washington. Well, here's a hint. Take a look at your screen.

So, how has he been celebrating, beyond just peanuts?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT, NEW YORK: Microsoft gets beaten by its own game. I'm Stephanie Elam at the New York Stock Exchange. I'll give you the latest on Xbox, coming up in the NEWSROOM.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And making your mark this week, it is Mother Nature, from record-breaking heat out West to major flooding in the southern plains. Extreme weather taking its toll across the country, to be sure.

And guess what -- tough news here -- it is not over yet, not by a long shot.

WHITFIELD: Alabama's surprise. Orange Beach police say the driver of this red car led them on a chase, speeds topping 100 miles an hour. It ended with the car crashing and rolling.

Get this. The driver, an 11-year-old girl. And there's more. Police say she was driving under the influence. The girl now faces charges, which are pretty lengthy, including DUI.

HARRIS: Man!

Well, we've heard of the blue screen of death -- not something you want to see when you're working on a computer. Now we've got the red light of death, and it is costing Microsoft more than $1 billion to fix. Wow.

Stephanie Elam is here, "Minding Your Business."

Stephanie, what's this all about?

ELAM: Hi, Tony. A lot of people aren't going to want to hear this one. But Microsoft is saying they are taking charge of more than $1 billion to fix "an unacceptable number of repairs."

And this has to do with its Xbox 360 videogame consoles, and there are some hardware failures. Microsoft also missed shipment targets for the end of June by about 400,000 units. So, this is also adding to the stress that Microsoft is feeling.

And really, they're between a rock and a hard place on this one. And that's because a buildup of Xbox complaints have been really flying around the Internet. Also, many out there expect its rival, Sony, to cut its PlayStation 3 pricing as early as next week -- Tony.

HARRIS: So, I'm curious here. It's all about being number one, to be the top-selling videogame console on the market.

So, with this news, it's a bit of a threat to Microsoft, isn't it?

ELAM: Yes. Everyone's going for that number one spot. And as it is right now, Microsoft still leads the market in the latest generation of videogame hardware.

So far, 5.6 million Xbox 360 units have been sold to customers, 2.8 million Nintendo Wii units are out there, while just 1.4 million Sony PlayStation 3's have been sold. So, they're still holding on.

But keep in mind that Microsoft actually began selling the Xbox a year -- or I should say -- yes, a year before the other two did, so because of that, they have a jump on how many unit they have out there. Obviously, they don't want a challenge to their position.

HARRIS: I've got them all in my house, Fred.

(LAUGHTER)

ELAM: All of them?

HARRIS: Why do I have to have all of them?

ELAM: You might have to talk to your kids about that one.

HARRIS: Hey, thank you!

(LAUGHTER)

All right, Stephanie. Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: I think that that was a rhetorical question. You didn't really want to answer it, right?

(LAUGHTER)

HARRIS: Stephanie, thanks.

WHITFIELD: OK. See you, Stephanie.

Well, triple-digit temperatures, and still no relief in sight. A closer look at the summer sizzle.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Overshadowed by the endless body count here in Iraq, it is the forgotten number, the tens of thousands of injured. I'll bring you the story of an 18-year-old girl whose life was forever changed.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR, NEW ORLEANS: And I'm T.J. Holmes. In New Orleans, where there is a big homecoming this weekend for a big festival, that's great news. But for some reason, a lot of people are still staying away from this city.

I'll explain that, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, welcome back to the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Heidi Collins this morning.

HARRIS: Hey, Fred, welcome back.

WHITFIELD: Hello. Thank you.

HARRIS: Are you jet lagging a little bit?

WHITFIELD: I should be, but I'm not. Not yet.

HARRIS: You are a world traveler. We're going to talk about your trip and some of the great pictures you brought back ...

WHITFIELD: Well, good. Thank you.

HARRIS: ... some of the great stories you shared with us, a little later this morning in the NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: Look forward to talking about it some more.

HARRIS: Yes. I can't wait.

It is July. Welcome back -- hot. Welcome back to the heat.

But triple-digit hot? This is insane. For days on end this heat wave wilted -- actually wilting much of the West.

CNN's Casey Wian reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, LOS ANGELES (voice-over): In Riverside, California, 60 miles east of Los Angeles, it's a struggle to keep the grass green. 2007 has been the driest year since record- keeping began in the late 1800s.

Even Death Valley normally receives more rain.

Severe heat warnings are in effect for dozens of counties in California, Arizona and Nevada. Las Vegas exceeded 110 for the third straight day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This heat is oppressive. It'll kill you.

WIAN: Parts of Arizona topped 120. Hospitals are preparing for the worst.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to see some heat exhaustion and heat-related illnesses, heat strokes, that are going to be pretty common.

WIAN: California power officials urged conservation to avoid blackouts.

GREG FISHMAN, CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR: The hydroelectric conditions are not that great this year. We didn't get a snow pack up in the mountains, and so we don't have that resource available to us.

WIAN: Utah wildfires burned 30,000 acres, killed three people and forced the evacuation of hundreds of others.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The smoke, it was just covering -- it was actually snowing ash.

WIAN: Heat-stoked fires are raging in several other western states. The national drought monitor shows the West isn't the only region devastated by dry conditions. In the Southeast, all 67 counties in Alabama have been declared natural disaster areas, because of the drought.

In Tennessee, ranchers are auctioning cattle early, because they're short of water and food.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We like to put cattle on the market with more meat and more weight on the bones. But at this point in time, we just don't have any options other than to put them on the market.

WIAN: The National Drought Mitigation Center reports 30 U.S. states have suffered because of the drought in just the past month.

Those consequences include nearly 500 instances of drought- related fires, water and energy shortages, environmental and agricultural damage -- even drought-related societal disruptions, such as park closures and fireworks show cancellations.

WIAN (on camera): The National Weather Service predicts higher temperatures and drier conditions throughout most of the West and Southeast for the rest of the month of July.

Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Car bombs and other attacks -- every day you hear new numbers of dead and wounded in the Iraq War, most of them civilians.

CNN's Hala Gorani now puts a face on the suffering.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): This was Zanaib Alwab before the attack. This is her today -- the human face of the victims of violence in Iraq. Overshadowed by apparently endless body count, it is the forgotten figure -- Iraq's injured and maimed.

So far in 2007, according to government figures, almost 13,000 people have survived car bombs, mortars and rockets. But their lives have been forever altered.

Zanaib, who's now 18, says her house was attacked last December. "They took me to the hospital and I fainted. When I woke up, my legs were gone," she says.

She waits for an appointment at Baghdad's Artificial Limb Center, one of two public facilities for amputees in the Iraqi capital. Zanaib winces in pain as a doctor measures her strength and says she still has to wait at least a month before she can be fitted with prosthetic limbs.

We follow Zanaib to her house in Eastern Baghdad's Obedi neighborhood, where she said the attack that left her badly injured also killed her sister and sister in-law.

At first, she says she isn't scared, that she is strong. But then -- "I can't go out. I can't. What can I do? I remember that my family was all there and in one moment I was in the ambulance back to the house. After a month-and-a-half I came home and my family was gone.

According to Iraq's Ministry of Interior, one quarter of all injuries from the violence is Iraq involve the loss of at least one limb. The head of this center says it can make 1,200 artificial limbs a year -- half the number needed to help amputees.

For Zainab and thousands of Iraqis like her, getting new legs will only be the beginning of a lifelong recovery.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

HARRIS: And Hala Gorani joins us live from Baghdad.

What a story.

Hala, how are these injuries likely to impact this young woman's life as she grows older?

GORANI: That's a really good question. It is a lifelong sentence, especially for women. In Middle Eastern society, women who have, say, congenital diseases or who are paralyzed, or, like Zainab, who have lost their legs, are very rarely then asked in marriage. So, in other words, this doesn't have a short-term impact on a girl like Zainab -- and her heartbreaking story really is touching.

But then you have to look forward, decades forward when, potentially, she will not get married; therefore, not have a family of her own. So that one attack, that one accident that left her legless has really altered her life until she dies -- Tony.

HARRIS: Yes.

CNN's Hala Gorani for us, in Baghdad.

Hala, thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, one persistent question in Iraq being asked all the time -- are the Iraqi forces ready?

And if so, or if not, when?

Well, that very question was being asked today at the Pentagon.

Major General Rick Lynch had this answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RICK LYNCH, COMMANDER, MULTINATIONAL FORCES IRAQ: The issue that I've got in my battle space has been the Iraqi police. Either it doesn't exist or in some cases the Iraqi police that are out there are either not competent or corrupt, and that's a problem.

But that's working to be improved. In North Babel, where they just had that graduation of a thousand police recruits, the fact that they are both Shia and Sunni is room for optimism.

When I talk to the provincial director of police in Babel, he tells me where he's going to place these forces and it is exactly the right place to ensure security.

So the issue comes down to the number of Iraqi security forces. We can debate all the time about quality, but the issue is not just quality, it's also quantity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Major General Rick Lynch there from the Pentagon on the current state of affairs -- military affairs -- in Iraq.

Meantime, let's focus on "The Big Easy". Well, the essence of music is certainly the root of New Orleans. Today and just about every day, the music festival now back in "The Big Easy" after Katrina.

CNN's T.J. Holmes is there -- and so, T.J. how is the procession -- perception of New Orleans as a crime capital actually impacting this festival, which is usually there every year?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's impacting the city in a major way. Everybody's happy to have the festival back. Everybody is excited about the festival. But those leisure visitors, some of them aren't coming back.

Now, the convention center here behind me is where some of the festival activity is going to be happening today. And it's different. This strip here you see, this was that strip where hundreds -- thousands of people after Katrina lined that street -- lined this strip right here in front of the convention center. They were hot. They were hungry. They were desperate. They were dying.

But now it's a sign of life, that this convention is coming back. Other events are coming back, the festival.

That's not the problem that New Orleans is having. They don't have a problem bringing back those conventions and meetings and big things like that. They're having a problem, like I said, with those leisure visitors. People aren't coming back.

Why? Well, quite simply, they're scared.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

HOLMES: (voice-over): Yes, New Orleans has a crime problem. But they also have a problem with perception, according to police Superintendent Warren Riley.

CHIEF WARREN J. RILEY, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: First of all -- and I believe that what's been portrayed about the City of New Orleans has been embellished tremendously because there's a progress. If the progress was focused on, more people would be coming to New Orleans, because there are a lot of positive things that are happening here.

HOLMES: A lot of the city's progress is visible downtown, where the visitors come to play and where it's relatively safe. And that's what the city wants you to know.

MARY BETH ROMIG, NEW ORLEANS VISITOR BUREAU: It's tough for some people to make the balance. They feel like how can I come to New Orleans and really have a great time in a city that's still going through so much? But New Orleaneans want people to come and have a great time.

HOLMES: Romig's challenge? Attracting visitors to a city dubbed "the murder capital of the United States." City officials are attempting to ease visitors' fears by explaining that the violent crime is almost exclusively criminals preying on other criminals.

ROMIG: We don't want to appear like we're callous and all we are concerned about is whether the tourists are safe. It's important that everybody is safe in New Orleans because it has to be about being a great place to live, work and play.

HOLMES: Come to New Orleans. Don't worry -- the criminals are killing each other. They don't want to kill you. Not exactly an ideal slogan for a tourism campaign, but it's a reality in the recovery of New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And the police superintendent, Warren Riley, says don't let the numbers fool you. He says, sure, the per capita murder rate sounds bad and it is high. However, it's calculated using Census numbers that he thinks are not correct. Right now, the Census puts the population here in New Orleans at around 260,000. But the chief says he believes there's 300,000 at least, maybe upwards of 350,000, because so many of those homes have two, three, four families living in them and that one household only counts as one household in that Census sometimes. So the numbers can be a little skewed. But he believes it's not as bad as you think.

But still, he does admit there is a crime problem and there is a problem with that murder rate here -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, so, T.J. how is the New Orleans' Police Department able to handle -- whether it be violent crime or just any incident taking place in New Orleans?

Because we know and we've reported on this for quite some time that for a while the police department was losing a number of its officers and having a difficult time getting people to come back.

HOLMES: And, Fredricka, they are still losing those officers. When you talk about building up the force, he doesn't talk about building it up. He says we're just not losing as many. The attrition rate is not what it used to be. Now they're just losing 12 or so a month, and that's a success story. But they're still losing. Down to about 1,300 officers in the police department now, compared to 1,700 before Katrina and they needed 2,000 before Katrina anyway. So they are way, way off, having a hard time recruiting and, also, keeping people safe.

They've got an extra 200,000 people here for this event. Well, the downtown and the visitors area really isn't their problem, they say. They can protect this area. They know how to deal with it. But it's that criminal element, they say, outside of downtown that they're having a tougher time with, that criminal element they're trying to keep up with -- Fredricka.

So, again, the word is, we can keep the visitors safe. Don't worry about it. They're not preying on the visitors. That's not really a good sign and what you want to go with, but it still is the reality and they think that's what they can sell to get people to come back to the city.

WHITFIELD: Wow!

All right, T.J. Holmes from New Orleans.

Thank you so much.

HARRIS: And still to come this morning in the NEWSROOM -- he said/she said.

But who said more?

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Who talks more, men or women?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, women, definitely.

MOOS: You're ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you kidding me?

It's like no contest.

MOOS: Who talks more, men or women?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I certainly do in my family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women.

MOOS: Why do you think that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I'm married.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

HARRIS: Oh. Oh. Oh.

We'll tell you ...

WHITFIELD: (LAUGHTER).

HARRIS: We'll tell you what the researchers are saying. And let's get you to the New York Stock Exchange right now.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: A federal investigation is launched into threats against a well known investment firm. The FBI tells CNN that at least nine newspapers have received vague threats against Goldman Sachs.

CNN's senior correspondent Allan Chernoff is outside the company's headquarters there in New York City -- Allan, good to see you this morning.

What are we talking about here?

Are we talking about threats in the form of letters, phone calls, e-mails?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're talking about letters that were actually written to, as you said, several newspapers around the country, including the "Star Ledger" of New Jersey. The letters were actually written on loose leaf paper in red ink. And the threat said: "Goldman Sachs, hundreds will die. We are inside. You cannot stop us."

And it is signed "A.Q.-USA." Not known if that A.Q. Stands for Al Qaeda.

But the threat, nonetheless, coming in the newspapers. And the newspapers did hand that over to the FBI. The FBI is saying that we have no specific or credible information about any specific threat against Goldman Sachs.

But, nonetheless, the company certainly is taking it quite seriously. This morning, as a matter of fact, there are guards right in front of the building, as there are every morning. There are also guards with bomb sniffing dogs outside of the headquarters here right on Wall Street. And let's keep in mind, we are just a block-and-a-half down from the New York Stock Exchange, which always has tight security and has received many threats. And, also, one further block away is another major Goldman Sachs office.

Let me just read you to you the response from Goldman Sachs: "We take any threat to the safety of our people very seriously. We are working closely with the law enforcement authorities, who tell us they don't believe the threat to be very credible."

Well, Tony, that's the situation right now.

Let's also keep in mind that Goldman Sachs not only the premier investment bank in the country ...

HARRIS: Sure.

CHERNOFF: -- it also, of course, has sent so many people into government, on to Washington. The treasury secretary is a former chief executive of Goldman Sachs, as is the governor of New Jersey, John Corzine.

HARRIS: So until the folks at Goldman Sachs know exactly what they're dealing with here, I'm wondering about the employees.

Are they being given the option of taking the day off or posting for work today? Are they at least being given that option?

CHERNOFF: Tony, as far as I know, that is not an option being presented.

HARRIS: Got you.

CHERNOFF: We'll ask them specifically. But this is a hardworking joint. One of the security supervisors told me unfortunately, this is an every day occurrence.

HARRIS: Ah.

CHERNOFF: Now, I think maybe he is overstating it a bit. It's not every day that a letter is written with such a threat. But, nonetheless, this company based here on Wall Street certainly is used to getting some threats.

HARRIS: Yes.

CNN's Allan Chernoff for us this morning.

Allan, thank you.

WHITFIELD: So they're lined up ready to roll the dice on marriage today. We say roll the dice because of where it's taking place -- on the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year, the luckiest day of the century, isn't it?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Hey, we're pod casting today, Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK, I can't wait. HARRIS: It's great fun, isn't it?

WHITFIELD: Yes, it is.

HARRIS: It is great fun. And we're putting it together right now, cooking it up. Because it's a little different than the newscast that we do for you every morning here 9:00 until 12:00 in THE NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

HARRIS: You know to catch us during these hours. Great. Thank you.

But here's the thing, with the pod cast, you can take us with you anywhere.

Where are you going?

You're taking the kids to camp today, to the swimming pool today. You decide as you're there you want to get an update on the news.

WHITFIELD: Love it. We're there for you.

HARRIS: What you do is go to cnn.com, download the pod cast. It is available to you 24/7 right there on your iPod.

WHITFIELD: Good deal.

HARRIS: Check us out today.

WHITFIELD: I like it.

Well, here's a question for you. I know you have an opinion on this, a very strong one.

How about you?

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Who talks more, men or women?

HARRIS: Look, I usually sit up here with Heidi Collins during the week. I'm lucky to get my name out here.

WHITFIELD: (LAUGHTER).

HARRIS: So I'm ...

WHITFIELD: Are you trying to tell me she's very talkative?

HARRIS: No, no, no, no. Oh, wow! Wow! That was supposed to be an internal thought and it just flew right out of my mouth there.

My apologies, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well, it's always a nice little gab fest up here. HARRIS: Yes, it is.

WHITFIELD: But Jeanne Moos really looked into this to find out.

So who does talk more, men or women?

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MOOS: (voice-over): Yak, yak, yak.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me.

MOOS: (on camera): Who do you think talks more, men or women?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, women. Definitely.

MOOS: You're ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you kidding me?

It's like no contest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women.

MOOS: Why do you think that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I'm married.

MOOS: (voice-over): So is the author of the new study in the journal "Science," entitled "Are Women Really More Talkative Than Men?"

(on camera): Were you surprised?

PROF. MATTHIAS MEHL, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA: I was surprised.

MOOS: Psychology professor Matthias Mehl at the University of Arizona says almost 400 male and female college students wore a voice recorder like this one that sampled sound for several days, picking up casual conversation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like they're really nice.

MOOS: When researchers extrapolated the number of words spoken per day, it was almost the same for men and women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow! Sixteen thousand. Whoo.

MOOS: Actually, men spoke about 500 words a day less. But the researchers called that statistically insignificant.

MEHL: And one person, the most talkative participant, who happened to be male, he used 47,000 words a day.

MOOS: (on camera): Wow! He never shut up.

(voice-over): And here you thought men only used their mouths to eat and drink and talk to the TV.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All the talking is really starting to drain me and now I'm going to have to watch the highlights later to see what I missed here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Honey, look. It's just --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not that important.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take a shower, OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's not important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: And now, we find out men gab just as much as women.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got to cut you off now. Hold on.

MOOS: (on camera): Who talks more, men or women?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I certainly do in my family.

MOOS: If this sounds like the opposite of what you'd heard before, maybe you're thinking of The Female Brain. That book quoting statistics showing women spoke 20,000 words versus a mere 7,000 for men. But the author now says her numbers were not based on reliable data.

(on camera): Do you think you talk a lot?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely.

MOOS: Do you think you talk a lot?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

MOOS: Do you talk a lot?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Trust her.

MOOS: (voice-over): Most folks we talked to didn't trust the new study.

(on camera): How many words a day do you think she is?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it would definitely be 55,422.

MOOS: (voice-over): Her nickname is F.M. Because she talks all the time, like a radio.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you can't fight with him. He just switches off.

MOOS: (on camera): Do you think you talk a lot?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Uh, I don't think so, but a lot of men think I do.

MOOS: It took her 10 words to say yes.

Stereotyping starts young.

(on camera): Who do you think talks more, you or your mom?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Mom.

MOOS: (voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Oh, man.

I'm really in trouble now, aren't I?

WHITFIELD: Maybe.

HARRIS: I am so in jail.

WHITFIELD: I don't know. It's not a bad thing to be a talker.

HARRIS: Ooh, no, not in this line of work.

WHITFIELD: Right.

HARRIS: Hello!

WHITFIELD: It's not -- it's not uncomplimentary.

HARRIS: OK.

All right. Good, good.

WHITFIELD: At least I don't think so.

HARRIS: That makes me feel better.

A former Olympian changes speeds, but shows just as much determination in pursuit of a new goal.

Christine Romans with his story of Life After Work.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): Johann Koss can still move quickly. But the former gold medal speed skater from Norway isn't circling the ice anymore, he's circling the globe for his foundation, Right To Play.

JOHANN KOSS, CEO, RIGHT TO PLAY: The Right To Play is an international organization which provides sport and play programs for children in the most disadvantaged areas around the world, where we go and develop children and youth physically, psychologically and socially, particularly when they are affected by war, poverty and disease. And we are now over 20 countries and impacting, you know, several hundred thousand children on a weekly basis.

ROMANS: Koss retired after the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994 with plans for a second career.

KOSS: I was going to be a doctor and trying that out and -- but at the same time, I traveled a lot around the world. And seeing children living in this most horrendous situation, I felt it needed to be my responsibility and I probably would have a greater impact leading this organization, starting this and doing it and getting it through than I would as a medical doctor.

ROMANS: So far this year, Right To Play says it has reached a quarter million kids around the world. The non-profit trains local coaches and helps them set up sports programs in their communities. Right To Play also doubles as an educational outlet, and, Koss hopes, something more.

KOSS: I met kids who looked up to posters of martyrs who died in the war, and they were the heroes and role models. And I thought, you know, what if you can change that?

Can they have a coach to guide them on a positive behavior path like I had?

Every time I'm traveling up and see a smile on a child's face and I see that, you know what, I have -- they have their thankfulness and their activity and their belief in themselves and they are building communities. It's just so motivating.

ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: And in East Texas, well, they can't seem to turn the spigot off. Flash flood warnings posted this morning for several counties near Raligist (ph). Rob Marciano keeps us up to date.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, hello again, everyone.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Heidi Collins.

HARRIS: This stuff is changing even as we -- before we go to air.

And I'm Tony Harris.

Good morning, everyone. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And here's what's on the run down.

The heat is on.

When will it turn off?

Triple digit temps scorch the West again today.

WHITFIELD: And are terrorists threatening to attack a global investment firm?

A letter reportedly warns Goldman Sachs "hundreds will die. We are inside."

It is Friday, July 6 and you're in the NEWSROOM.

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