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Dow Down More Than 300 Points; Investigation Into Purge of Prosecutors Touches Rove; Michael Vick Due in Court Today

Aired July 26, 2007 - 14:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in today for Kyra Phillips.

You are in the NEWSROOM.

Investors, take a look at this. Wall Street, we're seeing one of the worst sell-offs of the year. The Dow is down more than 300 points.

Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us what is going on today.

And Susan, should we be panicked?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: No. No, we shouldn't be panicked, but I think that, you know, there are some real valid questions out there in the marketplace, and that's why you're seeing such an ugly sell-off, Don.

First of all, just one week ago, the Dow hit an all-time high, closing above 14,000 for the first time ever. And so you get to these lofty levels, you're ripe for a pullback, and there are plenty of reasons for a sell-off.

One is that the housing market is not getting any better. We've got new stats today on new home sales. Worse than expected. Home prices continue to fall.

Oil prices, on the other hand, continue to climb. They're above $2 now from the all-time closing high for oil, which affects consumers and corporations alike.

And finally, there's a real concern about a credit crunch. Not only in the wake of the subprime mortgage meltdown, but the fact that, you know, there are stricter standards, lending standards that are being put into place. Not surprisingly, deservedly, but also the appetite for taking on debt is changing. And that we've seen just this week.

One of the biggest deals ever, Chrysler, the $20 billion leveraged buyout, is running into some problems financing that deal. And these are the kind of things -- those kind of deals have pushed the market into record territory, and now it has the reverse effect -- Don.

LEMON: Susan Lisovicz, thank you very much. We'll check back with you.

WHITFIELD: This time let's talk about the West Coast. If you're flying in or out of Long Beach Airport, good luck, because things are virtually at a standstill.

Right there you're looking at a lot of flights there grounded as a result of a suspicious piece of luggage there that has launched a pretty serious investigation of a possible breach of security. And that's why the bomb squad is there with robotics apparatus there trying to investigate further what this unidentified piece of luggage really means. While inbound flights are still allowed to land, no one is able to de-plane, and all of those flights scheduled to leave, well, they're grounded, too.

So the main terminal has been evacuated. And we talked to a public information officer earlier who said it could be at least a couple hours before they know exactly what direction to go about Long Beach Airport.

LEMON: We have been following also developing news here. Mahalia Xiong, a missing 21-year-old college student in Green Bay, Wisconsin, here is the latest as we get some pictures. That's her picture, her photograph there. These are live pictures from WBAY, our Green Bay affiliate there.

Here's what investigators are doing. They're on the scene because they have discovered a car in the Fox River, which is in downtown Green Bay, but they don't know whether this -- whether this car is connected to or linked to 21-year-old Mahalia Xiong. She went missing on July 13th after a night out with friends at a bowling alley and then a sports bar.

They're trying to see if -- trying to recover a license plate from this car. Apparently, the conditions in this river are kind of murky, so they couldn't tell if it was her license plate, and they're looking for a 1996 -- a white 1996 four-door Mercury Sable that she was last seen in driving alone.

Again, investigators in Green Bay, Wisconsin, have discovered a car, and they're trying to figure out if it's connected to Mahalia Xiong, who is a missing 21-year-old college student.

On now to developing news in Washington, D.C.

Senate Democrats are zeroing on today on two pillars of the Bush administration. If a key group of Democrats have their way, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales could be investigated for perjury. And within the past hour, a top Senate Democrat announced he'll serve a subpoena to President Bush's political confidant, Karl Rove, and Rove's top aide in connection with the probe into the purge of U.S. attorneys.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT), JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN: We've now reached a point where the accumulated evidence shows that political considerations factored into the unprecedented firing of at least nine United States attorneys last year. Testimony and documents show that the list was compiled based on input from the highest political ranks in the White House, including Mr. Rove and Mr. Jennings, and today I will subpoena Mr. Rove and Mr. Jennings.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And as for Gonzales, four Senate Democrats wrote the Justice Department today urging a special counsel to investigate charges of lying under oath to Congress. The letter cites three alleged instances of perjury, including a statement Gonzales made Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The attorney general took an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Instead, he tells the half truth, the partial truth, and everything but the truth. And he does it not once, and not twice, but over and over and over again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And in response today, a White House spokesman accused Democrats of trying to make headlines instead of tackling important issues.

For more reaction and fallout, make sure you stay right here in the CNN NEWSROOM throughout the day.

President Bush's chief confidant, Karl Rove, faces potential legal headaches as well.

White House correspondent -- you see here there -- Elaine Quijano joins us with details.

Hello, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Don.

That's right. Well, that was the one-two political punch from Senate Democrats earlier.

Now to the counter-punch coming to us today off camera from the deputy White House press secretary, Tony Fratto, saying in a statement, "Every day this Congress gets a little more out of control. A new call for a special prosecutor, a new investigation launched, a new subpoena issued, an unprecedented contempt vote, and an old score somehow settled. It's unfortunate that this Congress continues to neglect the issues important to America, and Americans are taking note. Chairman Leahy could have accepted our offer of accommodation, but it's clear that he's more interested in headlines."

Now, just moments ago, Don, important to note that officials here got some backing from a prominent Republican voice, someone who has actually been critical of the attorney general in the past, Republican Arlen Specter. Here he is saying that he does not back the call by Senate Democrats for a special counsel to investigate the attorney general.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), RANKING MEMBER, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Do I support Senator Schumer's request for special prosecutor? No. I think that Senator Schumer has made a practice of politicizing this matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And Senator Specter is saying that he thought that decision to call for the special prosecutor was, in his words, precipitous, and he noted, Don, that Senator Patrick Leahy, the respected Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, did not sign on to that letter -- Don.

LEMON: CNN's Elaine Quijano.

Thank you for your report, Elaine.

WHITFIELD: And now, his football career is on the line, and so is his freedom. Michael Vick is due in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, in just a couple hours from now on felony dogfighting charges. This will be Vick's first court appearance in a high-stakes emotional case. Animal rights activists, as well as Vick's supporters have been protesting outside the courthouse since easterly this morning. Two court proceedings are scheduled.

And CNN's Brian Todd has details on both -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, quite a bit of buzz generated by this appearance. Right behind me, a line of people ringing this building to get into the courthouse.

Michael Vick expected to arrive here in less than one hour. The proceedings actually start at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Michael Vick's first public appearance since the indictment was handed down last week.

In this court appearance, he will hear the charges read against him. He will -- there will be a bond hearing, possible travel restrictions placed on him, and a trial date will be set.

Now, that particular component does carry some intrigue to it. We spoke with a prominent criminal defense attorney here in Richmond just a short time ago. Here's what he said about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN BENJAMIN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: This is where it could become interesting, because if any of the defendants or the attorneys have any interest in negotiating with the government about some agreed resolution of these charges, then they don't necessarily want to set a trial date. (END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: So we'll be waiting to hear what the trial date is, and if any one -- and if any party objects to that particular trial date. Under federal guidelines, they have to set a date of 70 days or less from today, so we're going to see if any of the parties object to any particular date that's set for this trial.

Of course, Michael Vick charged with conspiracy and dogfighting charges. And if convicted, he could face up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right.

Brian Todd, thanks so much.

We're not done with this topic, because we're going to talk to two criminal defense attorneys later on in the hour to find out their take on the strategy of both the prosecution and the defense attorneys' points of view -- Don.

LEMON: Danger in the Green Zone. A top U.S. commander in Iraq say insurgents are getting more accurate in targeting Baghdad's most heavily fortified area.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. RAY ODIERNO, COMMANDER, MULTINATIONAL CORPS-IRAQ: We have seen in the last three months a significant improvement in the capability of mortar men and rocketeers to provide accurate fires into -- into the Green Zone and other places, and we think this is directly related to training that was conducted in Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Thousands of U.S. soldiers and contractors live in the Green Zone, along with many key Iraqi, U.S. and international officials. A mortar and artillery barrage two weeks ago killed three people, including one American. Iran denies it's arming and training Iraqi insurgents.

Despite the continuing violence, U.S. commanders say they see signs a recent troop increase may be -- well, it may be working. Despite eight deaths reported today, July could turn out to be the least deadly month so far this year for U.S. forces in Iraq.

With five days left to go, July's death toll stands at 66. By comparison, more than 100 U.S. troops died every month from April through June. The total U.S. death toll in Iraq stands at 3,645.

WHITFIELD: And now perhaps an olive branch of sorts from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Senator Hillary Clinton. CNN has obtained a copy of a letter in which Gates assures Clinton that he supports congressional oversight of military operations. He also says he regrets that a Pentagon official rebuffed Clinton's recent question about planning for a potential U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. In the secretary's words, ".... you may rest assured that such planning is indeed taking place with my active involvement, as well as that of senior military and civilian officials and our commanders in the field. I consider this contingency planning to be a priority for this department."

Undersecretary of defense Eric Edelman had told Clinton that discussion of potential troop withdrawal "reinforces enemy propaganda". Clinton brought that up in this week's CNN/YouTube debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is no military solution, and the Iraqis refuse to pursue the political solutions. In fact, I asked the Pentagon a simple question: "Have you prepared for withdrawing our troops?"

In response, I got a letter accusing me of being unpatriotic, that I shouldn't be asking questions. Well, one of the problems is that there are a lot of questions that we're asking, but we're not getting answers from the Bush administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And Gates is defending his deputy, but he also says he regrets the discussion about contingency planning "went astray".

LEMON: A retired three-star general may lose one of those stars over his role in the Pat Tillman case. Tillman was a former pro-football star who joined the Army after 9/11 and died in Afghanistan in 2004.

It took the Army five weeks to acknowledge he was killed by friendly fire. Lieutenant General Philip Kensinger was one of nine Army officers cited for critical errors in reporting Tillman's death. Sources tell CNN the secretary of the Army may recommend a demotion, reducing the general's monthly pension by about $1,000.

WHITFIELD: The Atlanta Falcons are warming up for the upcoming NFL season in Flowery Branch, Georgia, but their star quarterback, well, he's cooling his heels in Richmond, Virginia. In just a little while, Michael Vick learns more about the federal charges that he will face.

Plus this: You think you're having a heart attack. Do you know which hospital to head for in your town? Well, knowing the answer could help save your life.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. There's a look at the Big Board. We're following that story for you,. as well as these stories right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Fifteen past the hour. Hundreds of travelers have been evacuated from the Long Beach Airport in California. The bomb squad is investigating a piece of suspicious luggage. No word yet on whether there's any real threat there.

Live pictures from the scene you're looking at.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is expected at a Virginia courthouse in less than an hour. He'll be arraigned on charges he organized vicious dogfights.

We'll follow that for you here.

And a possible lead in the search for a missing college student. Police are working to recover a car there. You're looking at live pictures.

They're bringing that car up. That car is submerged in the Fox River near downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin. Any second they're going to bring it up, look at the license plate and see if it's connected to a 21- year-old missing student.

They say it's too early to tell if the car is linked to Mahalia Xiong.

WHITFIELD: Going to the hospital? Which hospital? The answer to that question can be a matter of life and death.

That's the topic of Elizabeth Cohen's weekly empowered patient report on CNN.com today. She joins us with a preview -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know...

WHITFIELD: You've got some answers, huh?

COHEN: ... Fred, people spend hours and hours looking for a car, right? You read "Consumer Reports" and you do all this research.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

COHEN: But when you think about what hospital do you want to go to, let's say for elective surgery, you just...

WHITFIELD: Sometimes you don't know. Especially if you're always well.

COHEN: Right. You just sort of go wherever, you go wherever your doctor tells you. You don't always do a lot of research.

Well, health experts are finding out more and more that which hospital you go to really matters. There have been studies that show that heart attack patients do certain at different hospitals, that preemie babies do much better at certain hospitals. And, in fact, when they looked at intensive care units, people who went to intensive care units that were staffed a certain way, had a 40 percent higher chance of making it out of there alive.

That is a huge difference. So, in my Web article, which is on cnn.com/health, it's up there right now, we give some tips on how you can pick the right hospital to save your life. There are actual questions you can ask and things you can do.

WHITFIELD: Interesting, because say you are the type of patient who hasn't gotten some, I guess, guidance from your doctor, besides going to your Web site and reading your material, how do you know which hospital you need to keep in your purview about certain instances or conditions you might have?

COHEN: Right. What you want to do is you want to do a lot of research, and we have stuff on the site that can lead you to that.

And one of the first questions you want to ask a hospital if you're talking about an elective procedure, or one that you're planning for, is, how often do you do this procedure? If you're going to have triple bypass surgery, you want to go to a place where they do those a lot. You done want to go to a place where they kind of do it occasionally. That really could be possibly a bad idea.

And hospitals should answer those questions. One advocate I talked to, she said, "Call the quality office at the hospital. Say, 'How many of these do you do?' Then compare answers."

And I said, "What if they won't tell you?" She said, "You don't want that hospital."

WHITFIELD: Oh.

COHEN: If they're not going to tell you, you don't want to go there.

WHITFIELD: So, just like looking for a job or just like researching anything.

COHEN: Right.

WHITFIELD: You want to get some referrals if you can...

COHEN: Right.

WHITFIELD: ... or at least find an institution that is forthright with that kind of information.

COHEN: Right, absolutely.

WHITFIELD: It makes it accessible and easy for to you get.

COHEN: Right.

Now, one tricky thing is if it's an emergency.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

COHEN: Because that's a whole different deal.

WHITFIELD: Sure.

COHEN: So, if it's an emergency, in some places, in some circumstances, you can ask an ambulance driver to take you to a certain place. In my article, actually, on cnn.com/health, we have a man who had a stroke, and because the people who were with him said take him to this hospital, it's a stroke center, he went there, and they persuaded the ambulance driver to do that. And if they hadn't, it's very likely that he would have been paralyzed on the right side of his body.

So sometimes you can argue, but what you need to do is call the people who run your 911 and say, "If you were to come to my house, where would you take me?" Because they'll know the answer, where in most cases they're going to take you, and you can find out, is that where you want to go or not.

WHITFIELD: And you trust they'll tell you?

COHEN: Right. I mean, call the -- don't call 911. Call the people who run the 911 service, and say, I live at, you know, 126 Oak Street. Where would you take me? Where would you take people at this address?

WHITFIELD: Bottom line is, you've got to be an empowered patient.

COHEN: Right, exactly. And do some planning.

WHITFIELD: Which is the whole purpose of your letter, your Web site letter. And, you know, yes, you have got to do some planning and be a vigilant kind of patients. Ask some questions.

COHEN: Right, exactly.

WHITFIELD: You don't want them to just give...

(CROSSTALK)

COHEN: Exactly, right.

WHITFIELD: Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much.

And Elizabeth has much more on the subject in her weekly empowered patient report on CNN.com. That's in the health section at CNN.com/health.

LEMON: To the rescue with floodwaters raging. Look at this video. Dramatic tales, straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

WHITFIELD: And Don, unfortunately, it is the sign of the times. Traffic -- air traffic delays. This time, Long Beach Airport, and it turns out it's as the result of an unattended suspicious piece of luggage. And now we're told an all-clear has been given because the owner of that unattended piece of luggage has been located. And now all those many dozens -- hundreds of people who were evacuated from the main terminal there -- you're looking at the pictures of the many people who have been delayed as a result of this suspicious piece of luggage -- now they're allowed to return to the terminal and get on with their traveling, even though it's been about a couple hours' delay for a number of those flights who have come in but were at a standstill. And now those outbound flights can finally get on with it.

So, all-clear at Long Beach Airport as a result of an unattended piece of luggage.

So people...

LEMON: It doesn't look like they're near the terminal.

WHITFIELD: ... hold on to your luggage. Don't walk away. You've heard the warnings at all airports.

There you go.

LEMON: Wow. Wow. Wow.

WHITFIELD: A lot of frustration there.

LEMON: Absolutely.

High water, high anxiety. A girl and her dog, the outcome of a dramatic rescue effort in Phoenix. You don't want to miss this story. It's straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: And they've seen this kind of devastation before in America, but never expected it on their own doorstep.

Next in the NEWSROOM, Britain's flood victims try to bear up as they mop up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hello everyone. I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Kyra Phillips. Extreme weather is taking its toll around the world. In the U.K. and southwest China, too much water.

LEMON: It's here too in the U.S. as monsoon season continues in Arizona. CNN's Chad Myers is tracking the chance of more flooding in our severe weather center. And he's on top of it. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We'll get to those developing stories in a moment, but first we want to tell you about Michael Vick. You are looking at live pictures now from Richmond, Virginia. Michael Vick is due in a federal court this afternoon to start a legal process that could jeopardize his career as an NFL player. He's going to be facing charges there, a bond hearing, and entering a plea on dog fighting conspiracy charges. As soon as we get more information on that, we'll bring it to you as soon as it happens right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. But again, that's live pictures right now.

All right. This story also happening right now. Just into CNN. Flying drunk. Not airline pilots. We're talking about astronauts of all people. Aviation week is reporting the findings of a panel investigating astronaut health issues. The panel reports that on at least two occasions astronauts were allowed to fly despite warnings they were so drunk they posed a flight risk.

The panel also reports heavy alcohol use by astronauts within 12 hours before flight when NASA rules forbid it. NASA won't comment but says it will release the findings of two reviews tomorrow.

The NASA panel that discovered the drunken flying was set up in the wake of the Lisa Nowak scandal. You'll remember, she was the astronaut who was arrested in February on charges she assaulted a romantic rival.

WHITFIELD: And daring rescues. First to southwest China where two boys were spotted hanging on for dear life to rocks in the middle of a rain swollen river. Dozens of rescuers raced to help. They managed to run a line across the river and reeled the boys in one at a time as you see right there.

More than 500 people have died in the floods since China's rainy season began back in May. Monsoon season is just under way in now Arizona. Late yesterday fire crews rushed into this suddenly-flooded canal in Phoenix where a girl and her dog were fighting the current there. They were swept about a half mile down the canal before rescuers were able to reach them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE YOSUA, RESCUED FROM FLOODED CANAL: And then like this big wave came and just pushed me and my dog under the bridge and then we just started floating and I tried to get to the side but it didn't work. I was just trying to get to rocks or a tree or something, and I was just concerned about my dog. I just wanted my dog.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Jesse and her dog are pretty darn lucky. Jesse skinned her knees and lost her shoes. Otherwise she and dog Daisy are OK.

LEMON: After the flooding thousands of Britons head home to see what they can salvage. Rivers to the west of London are still high but they are dropping. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh brings us one family's struggle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's clean-up time for Vernon Smith. Raging floodwaters drove this Tewkesbury City counselor, his partner Kate and 12 year old David out of their bungalow home in the middle of the night.

VERNON SMITH, FLOOD VICTIM: You see on television other people, from America, we see in American tornados, God, that's terrible. And poor people, and you see flooding like in New Orleans, but you never think it's going to happen to yourself.

VAN MARSH: But it did happen to the Smiths and hundreds of thousands of other people in southern and western England. Now that Britain's worst flooding in 60 years is starting to recede, the reality is setting in.

(on camera): So tell me what's it like when you come back here for the first time since the beginning of the flood and you come into this room?

KATE MURRAY, FLOOD VICTIM: I'll be completely honest. It was incredibly emotional because this was my favorite room. I had some nice things in here that I did like, and I have to admit I did cry.

That was a photo of my grandparents' wedding that I was keeping flat under the bed.

VAN MARSH (on camera): The Smith family's possessions have been reduced pretty much to this pile of sewage-tainted rubble. They did have insurance. Many of these items will be replaced. Their claim, just one of tens of thousands that insurers say will cost upwards of $6 billion.

(voice-over): Vernon Smith says he's seen lots of camaraderie, total strangers helping them clean up their home, but he warns that there's also been looting.

SMITH: Just protect the things you've got. So I actually stay here at night.

VAN MARSH: Staying here at night, but also, he says, staying here for good. Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Tewkesbury, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: More flooding is on the way today. Chad Myers in the weather center. Where and why?

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: Chad, got a question for you. Your friends thin or a little bit bigger?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: My what?

LEMON: Your friends are they buff? Are they skinny?

MYERS: My friends are bigger, and I used to be smaller, so therefore I count with this ...

LEMON: You know where I'm going with this. You're a buff man. I have seen you down in the gym.

MYERS: Thank you, David and Patrick.

LEMON: With your guns down there.

All right. Chad, listen up. Perfect segue. If your friends are fat, Chad is not fat, your chances of staying slender are, well, they're slim. That's the conclusion of a new study in the "New England Journal of Medicine" that suggests that being fat is socially contagious.

Researchers say if you have a fat friend there's a 57 percent chance that - 57 percent chance - that your lips won't work today.

No, that you're going to be overweight, too. A little earlier today I went downstairs to the Atrium right here in the CNN center in Atlanta to get some interesting reaction on this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: If your friends are heavy, you're going to be heavy. Do you agree with that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

LEMON: Why not?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I got a lot of thin friends. I'm not exactly thin so ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think you tend to eat out with your friends, and you start to eat the same amount of food as your friends. So you have the same diet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to be skinny like my friend right now, but I'm not too motivated by the way I eat. I still eat too much at the wrong time of the day.

LEMON: So when you're around them and you see them, you want to eat less and get this shape?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, I want to be like this man here. He's a thin man. You're my friend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: They were actually really funny and good friends. He said he's going to get thin. No matter what the folks here at the CNN Center say, see I told you if you have friends that are bigger, your lips don't work, researchers are sticking to their guns. They say if you're overweight, if you have overweight friends, it apparently changes your notion about what constitutes an acceptable diet.

So what do you think? Your friends? You're very thin.

WHITFIELD: I don't know. I don't know if I'm really buying it. LEMON: Really?

WHITFIELD: Honestly.

LEMON: Yeah.

WHITFIELD: I mean, I don't think we can blame anybody else but ourselves, you know.

LEMON: That's exactly what they said.

WHITFIELD: I have a nice variety of friends. We don't all look alike and that's not why we're friends. So ...

LEMON: And people have different metabolisms.

WHITFIELD: That's just what I'm saying.

LEMON: All right. Thank you. Let's move on.

WHITFIELD: OK. But I know the researchers really back it. So more power to you.

All right. How to stay alive inside your house. Making your home less welcome to a home invader. Tips straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Now, analyzing the evidence, a Connecticut prosecutor says he needs more time to decide whether to pursue the death penalty in a brutal home invasion. Police say two seasoned criminals snuck into the Petit family home in Cheshire, Connecticut planning to rob it.

The suspects found the family inside. In the end, the home was set on fire and the bodies of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two young daughters were found inside. Police say all three were sexual assaulted before they died. Dr. William Petit Jr., the lone survivor, remains in the hospital. Today family members are speaking out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just shocked to hear that there could be such a tragic evil thing that could be done to human beings. I think God is crying with us today over this disaster.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Boy, that's incredible. Well, here are the suspects. Joshua Komisarjevsky on the left. Steven Hayes on the right. Police say both men were out on parole when the home invasion happened. We're told their rap sheets include about 20 burglaries each, but neither man has been charged with a violent crime until now.

So we called the Cheshire Police Department to find out more about crime in that town. It has a population of just over 29,000. From January to June of this year, there were two murders in Cheshire. In that same period, there were four sexual assaults, and police say there was one robbery and 28 burglaries.

LEMON: Well, experts say you cannot prevent a home invasion, but you can make invaders think twice before busting through your door. CNN's Joe Johns reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As violent crimes go, it doesn't get much scarier than this. The home invasion robbery defined is when people try to con or force their way into a home, often knowing the victim is there for the purpose of taking money and property.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're going to hit a home that looks like it's going to have some valuables to it, where the occupants are not going to put up much of a resistance.

JOHNS: It's a terrifying scenario and it's apparently increasing. Though there's no official crime category under the heading home invasion, in a recent report, the FBI says robberies in residences accounted for more than 14 percent of all robberies in 2005, up slightly from the year before. To get a feel for this stuff, we asked two of DC's top security consultants, former homicide detectives Joe McCann and Dwayne Stanton, to walk us through it at a nice corner lot house in the suburbs.

For starters, what kind of guys would want to do this sort of thing?

JOE MCCANN, FORMER HOMICIDE DETECTIVE: First of all, it's going to be a smart criminal, probably a career criminal.

JOHNS: All right.

MCCANN: And a lost likely a violent criminal.

JOHNS: Victims are selected because of the cars they drive, the jewelry they wear, or a repairman, say a gardener perhaps, has cased the house. Some victims get owe followed home or maybe they stake you out for a while.

MCCANN: If they're looking for a big score or big hit, they're going to take their time.

DWAYNE STANTON, FORMER HOMICIDE DETECTIVE: Their own investigation so to speak. They also select neighborhoods, well to do affluent neighborhoods.

JOHNS: So what to do about it? A lot of stuff a common sense. First, have a plan to get your family out of the house, a window or peepholes in the doors to see who's out there. Don't let strangers in. Good locks and a good alarm help, too.

MCCANN: Have the alarm system or evidence of an alarm system visible from the outside.

JOHNS: Keep the shrubs cut. STANTON: Somebody could hide behind this.

JOHNS: After that game's on. McCann suggests keeping copies of your car key, the one with the panic button, stashed around the house.

MCCANN: Just hit that button. Hit it.

JOHNS (on camera): Even if it's in your garage.

MCCANN: Even if it's in the garage or in front of the house.

STANTON: You are going to spook the person. There's no question about it and get the attention of your neighbors.

JOHNS (voice-over): And prevention is not all high-tech. Rover still works great.

MCCANN: Absolutely the number one deterrent. The bark -- they just don't want it. Neighbors come out. Everybody comes out when they hear your dog barking.

JOHNS: You can't anticipate or prevent a home invasion, but there are ways you can reduce the risk of one. Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Let's go live now to Richmond, Virginia. Let's take a look at this. Michael Vick may be showing up here. I'm just going to linger on the pictures for a little bit. You're looking at live pictures now in Richmond, Virginia. This is a courthouse. Michael Vick is expected in federal court this afternoon to start the legal process, the legal process that's set to possibly jeopardize not only his career but possibly his freedom. He is the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. He's there to face a bond hearing, to enter a plea on dog fighting conspiracy charges.

And here's what federal prosecutors allege, as we look at this line of cars here and folks just lined up on the street outside. If we can take that picture, it looks like a parade on one of the things we see there. Look at these people outside of the courtroom there.

Prosecutors allege that he was involved in an operation known as the Bad News Kennels that operated on his property in Rural Surrey County in Virginia. But again, Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, expected to show up anytime here at this courthouse in Richmond, Virginia, to -- on this bond hearing.

But again, he's been told not to show up at training camp. He is suspended with pay causing all kinds of controversy here in Atlanta as well as throughout the country. Folks on both sides, really some support him, and some are really against him. They don't support him.

But as soon as we get information, as soon as he shows up, we're going to bring it to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Also, lots of action on Wall Street. We're watching the Dow plummet to just over 400 points, but a lot of our analysts are saying don't panic, but there are a number of reasons why we're seeing numbers like this on this day. Ali Velshi as well as Susan Lisovicz are on Wall Street and in New York and they'll be joining us straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Sibila Vargas in Hollywood. This summer Matt Damon's Jason Bourne comes home and the Academy Award winner celebrates in a big way. I'll have that and more when THE NEWSROOM continues.

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LEMON: Some other developing stories happening here in the NEWSROOM. Live pictures now from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Our affiliate WBAY, investigators pulling a white car out of that lake in Wisconsin, actually the Fox River. This car discovered earlier today. Possibly investigators think, they're not sure yet, it belongs to 21-year-old Mahalia Xiong who vanished back on July 13 after hanging out with friends at a sports bar. It was a white Mercury Sable. It appears to be the same type car that they have right there. She was last seen in that car. Investigators will check the license plate here of that 1996 white Sable, last car they saw her in and we'll let you know as soon as we get more information on this.

Now we're going to talk about the markets. It's one of the worst sell-offs in recent history, of this year I should say, happening on Well Street. There it is. It's down 400 points. By midday it was down 300 points. What's behind the big sell-off on Wal Street that has investors jittery today?

We're going to check in with CNN's Susan Lisovicz in just a bit on that one. Now we are going to take you to Richmond, Virginia. The scene outside of a courthouse reminiscent of a parade. I'm being told these are protesters outside of this courthouse waiting for Michael Vick to show up.

They're going to talk about the charges that he is facing, conspiracy charges. He's going to enter a plea today, it's a bond hearing. As soon as he shows up we're going to bring that to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: Meantime right now, let's talk a little bit of entertainment. We've been hearing about the troubles of Lindsay Lohan for days now but she's not the only one in hot water. A country singer has hit a nasty note as well. Entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas joins me now. Who would that be?

VARGAS: Well, that would be country singer Mindy McCready who is singing a very sad song today. The 31-year-old singer's life is sounding very similar to her country classic. She was taken into custody yesterday at Nashville International Airport and accused of violating her probation. Last week while in Florida she was arrested for misdemeanor charges for allegedly scratching her mother and resisting the sheriff. McCready has had a long history of trouble including presenting a false prescription for the painkiller Oxycontin in February 2004 and a drunk driving arrest in May of 2005. McCready had a number one hit in 1996 with "Guys Do It All the Time."

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Sibila. We have some breaking information now. You're looking now at Falcons quarterback Michael Vick appearing at a federal court there in Richmond, Virginia, about to face a litany of charges as it relates to dog fighting and what he's also having to deal with right there outside the courthouse, a long line of people both in support and against of him, the star quarterback, and these alleged actions that he is being linked to there right outside of Richmond, Virginia.

This is his first court appearance facing charges today and possibly a bond hearing as well.

LEMON: Uh-huh. And this is that whole dog fighting obviously thing that we've been talking about here. Here is what prosecutors are saying. They say he's involved in this dog fighting operation known as the Bad News Kennels operated out of his property in rural Surrey County. Vick has said this was one of the homes that he owned and he allowed family members to stay there and he wasn't necessarily certain as to what activities were happening on this property.

But again it is his property, so investigators are saying that he is possibly responsible for these actions. Again, new video as you just saw moments ago, him live coming in. That was the video there.

These are the protesters standing outside. I see one sign that says animal something, ER. I can only imagine what it says. Animal murder, that yellow sign you see there in the middle.

PHILLIPS: As well as supporters who are out there too because many folks have come out in support of Michael Vick, even wearing his jersey in some instances saying that they still are behind him because these are allegations. Nothing has been proven as of yet. We're going to be teamed up this hour with a couple of noted criminal defense attorneys, B.J. Bernstein among them and Mickey Sherman who will be joining us to talk a little bit more about the charges Michael Vick faces and exactly what the plan of attack may be from the prosecution point of view as well. More on this when we come right back in the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: B.J. right here.

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