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Report: Astronauts Allowed to Fly While Intoxicated; Home Invasion in Connecticut
Aired July 27, 2007 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris is off today.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on this Friday morning. It is July 27th and here's what's on the rundown.
Drunk in space? A new report says astronauts were already high before their rocket launched.
Market rebound or another free fall?
We're watching Wall Street closely this morning after yesterday's Dow tumble.
And customer dis-service? He asked for two credit cards and got stuck with 2,000.
In the NEWSROOM.
Minutes from now, Wall Street opens for business. Investors wondering, will the markets recover from yesterday's plunge?
The Dow down more than 311 points, closing the day at 13,473. The second biggest point loss of the year. Triggering the sell-off? Well, concerns over a tight credit market and disappointing housing reports.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
CHETRY: Want to get this news out to you, as well. Just into to us now from Pakistan.
We are learning that casualties have been reported in a huge blast near Islamabad's Red Mosque. This is coming to us from police sources there. Apparently, at least 20 people have been hurt in this blast.
Hundreds of students were getting together outside the mosque. They were protesting after Friday prayers this morning and chanting anti-government slogans at the site.
Now, this is the same site where the Pakistani military squared off with extremists, Islamic extremists holed up in the mosque earlier this month. You may remember, of course, the extremists wanted to impose a Taliban-style rule all across the capital.
We will continue to watch this story for you, bring you any other developments as they come in.
Our other top stories now this morning.
Houston, we have a problem. But is it a drinking problem? A report of astronauts flying while intoxicated causing headaches for NASA. It stems from another embarrassing moment.
John Zarrella explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In the aftermath of astronaut Lisa Nowak's February arrest for attempted kidnapping of another astronaut's love interest, NASA set up a panel to study the space agency's medical and psychological screening process. In its investigation, the panel apparently turned up some serious allegations.
According to "Aviation Week" magazine, which obtained a copy of the report, two astronauts were allowed to fly, even after flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were so intoxicated they posed a flight safety risk.
The panel also found, according to "Aviation Week," "heavy use of alcohol" by astronauts within 12 hours of launch. Thursday, following a briefing on the next shuttle flight, NASA's deputy administrator said he had never dealt with safety issues involving inebriated astronauts.
BILL GERSTENMAIER, NASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR: There has not been a disciplinary action or anything I've been involved with regarding this type of activity.
ZARRELLA: Two former shuttle astronauts we spoke with found the allegations "mindboggling". One told me he was not aware of anyone "unduly using alcohol prior to launch." The other said, "Not a chance." This former commander said he would have "thrown the person off the crew."
It's not known on what flights these incidents supposedly took place or whether the names of the astronauts involved will ever be released. Another NASA official spoke to The Associated Press saying the allegations of pre-launch drinking are based anonymous interviews and are unsubstantiated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: John Zarrella joining us now live from Kennedy Space Center.
And John, as we just heard in your report, we don't know when the flights took place. The allegations come from anonymous sources and they have been unsubstantiated. What does all of this mean? It certainly doesn't bode well for the space program.
ZARRELLA: No. It means, Heidi, we don't know a lot. And I'm not sure what we can expect to find out this afternoon at 1:00, when NASA holds a news conference from Washington to explain some of this report.
Some of what we are hearing is that this may only be one paragraph in this report that deals with these allegations. And when they are from anonymous interviews and unsubstantiated, that means me may never know who the astronauts were, if in fact this did occur, or the time frame.
You know, we've been flying space shuttles for 27 years now. So there's a long period of time when these two incidents might or might not have occurred.
But again, the astronauts I spoke with said unequivocally, where's the proof? Show us the proof before you go out and make all these kinds of allegations. That was what their concern was.
COLLINS: Sure. Very serious allegations, indeed.
And, you know, it's not the only thing we're talking about this morning regarding astronauts and NASA. Now, aside from this claim of the drunk astronauts, a troubling story regarding possible sabotage of a computer.
What is this all about?
ZARRELLA: Right. Well, apparently, yesterday, after the flight readiness review -- it's called the FRR -- for the Shuttle Endeavor, which is scheduled now to lift off August 7th from here at the Kennedy Space Center -- it was announced that a computer apparently was intentionally damaged or sabotaged, and that it was discovered by workers.
There were some wires that were cut in this computer. It was supposed to be taken up to the International Space Station and used to corroborate and bring in some data from one of the International Space Station trusses.
It was not a computer that would have endangered the space station crew or the shuttle crew, not involved in the navigation of either of the vehicles. But it was apparently damaged intentionally, and NASA is investigating, but would not say who the contractor is or where that contractor involved in this is based -- Heidi.
COLLINS: John Zarrella on top of all of it for us this morning. And there's a lot to be talking about today.
Thank you, John, for that.
And as John did mention, NASA will respond to the report of astronauts flying under the influence. The space agency is going to be holding a news conference at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. You will see it live right here in the NEWSROOM.
In Alabama, early today, a terrifying head-on collision between a SUV and Greyhound bus packed with people. Police say the sports utility vehicle was going the wrong way on an interstate in Montgomery when it slammed into the bus. The SUV driver was killed. At least 13 people on the bus were hospitalized with moderate to serious injuries.
And lucky to be alive. Listen to this. A 2-year-old falls from a six-story apartment window and suffers only minor injuries. It happened in Colonie, New York.
The boy's father says his son landed in some shrubs and he has no broken bones. According to police, the mother was in another room when the boy climbed up on some toys and fell out the window.
Unbelievable.
New questions this morning about whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been telling the truth under oath. FBI director Robert Mueller apparently contradicting Gonzales. Mueller testifying before Congress about Gonzales' 2004 visit to then attorney general John Ashcroft's hospital room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: The discussion was on a national -- an NSA program that is much discussed, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: That seems to fly in the face of Gonzales' testimony on Tuesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The dissent related to other intelligence activities, the dissent was not about the terrorist surveillance program.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The TSP? Come on. If you say it's about other, that implies not. Now say it or not.
GONZALES: It was not -- it was about other intelligence activities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Even before Mueller's testimony, top Democrats were calling for a perjury investigation of Gonzales.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHUMER: 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)
COLLINS: President Bush standing by his embattled attorney general. The White House insists Gonzales and Mueller were talking about two completely different intelligence operations.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Reality star Nicole Richie playing an all-too-real role of defendant. She heads to court today to answer charges in her DUI case.
Richie was arrested last December and cited for driving the wrong way on a California highway. The TMZ Web site says she will plead guilty or no contest to driving while under the influence. The site says a court commissioner will sentence Richie immediately. Sources tell TMZ Richie will serve a minimum of five days in jail since this reportedly would be her second DUI conviction.
Still ahead, trying to comprehend a crime in Connecticut.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were routine residents. There wasn't anything particularly noteworthy about them. There was no talk of violence in the house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Career criminals. Horrendous crime.
Also, an explosion at a Mojave Desert airport site. More deadly than first thought.
Plus, coming in for a landing. Now, take a look at this. Runway turned dog track. A plane circles while a pooch runs wild.
And have you heard about this story? He only wanted two credit cards. He got a little bit more than he bargained for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They sent you how many?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A total of 2,000.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: And now the credit card company won't take them back. Big shredding job ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We're back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Welcome back, everybody. A public memorial service is planned tomorrow for the Connecticut mom and her two daughters killed in Cheshire.
And as CNN's Randi Kaye reports, we're learning a lot more about the two accused of an unspeakable crime.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky did attack the Petit family, this is where they may have hatched their plan, Silliman Halfway House in Hartford, Connecticut, where they lived for four months.
(on camera): Hayes and Komisarjevsky were roommates here until last November, when the company that runs the halfway house says Hayes tested positive for cocaine. He was immediately sent back to prison.
Komisarjevsky stayed on and completed the program, until he was paroled in March.
(voice-over): Hayes got out of prison two months ago, and they hooked up again.
Bob Pidgeon heads the company that runs Silliman and the residential drug treatment center where the two suspects first met.
(on camera): Was there any sign that this might have been coming?
BOB PIDGEON, CEO, COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS INC.: You always second- guess yourself when something like this happens. What did we miss? Did they do something that would have indicated that somebody could have predicted this?
And we went -- we went through the files. We talked to the staff. There was just nothing.
KAYE (voice-over): Pidgeon says the two men worked full time, but had plenty of free time to hang out together.
(on camera): What have you been able to learn from your staff about them? What were they like?
PIDGEON: They were routine residents, that there wasn't anything particularly noteworthy about them. There was no talk of violence in the house and there were certainly no violent actions taken by either of them while they were in the house.
KAYE (voice-over): Yet, both have long criminal histories. Hayes has been in and out of prison for two decades. His rap sheet includes 27 arrests, including illegal possession, of a firearm, burglary, and forgery.
Komisarjevsky's past is just as ugly, 20 arrests for burglary and larceny. And that doesn't even include juvenile crimes. Police say he started robbing homes when he was just 14 and sometimes used night- vision goggles. One sentencing judge called him a cold, calculating predator.
Hayes grew up in Winsted, Connecticut, about 40 miles from the Petits' home, where Jennifer Hawke-Petit and the couple's two daughters were murdered, Mrs. Petit strangled, the girls left to die in the fire set by their attackers.
Komisarjevsky grew up here, less than two miles from the victims' home. A source close to the Komisarjevsky family says he was adopted as an infant. His grandfather was a leading Russian theatrical director and the son of a princess, his grandmother a well-known modern dancer. That same source says his parents, born-again Christians, had trouble controlling him.
He was homeschooled, along with his sister. In recent months, he's been in a custody fight with an ex-girlfriend over their 5-year- old daughter. We tried to talk to Komisarjevsky's parents, but nobody answered the door.
His uncle, Chris Komisarjevsky, released this statement: "The crime and the murder of members of the Petit family in Cheshire are horrible. It was a monstrous, deranged act, beyond comprehension. We cannot and will not condone anything the accused have done. Justice needs to take place."
Randi Kaye, CNN, Cheshire, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And CNN is learning even more about the murder suspects. Randi Kaye reports police are trying to determine now if they burglarized two other homes in the same neighborhood. Those burglaries within 24 hours of the attack on the Petit family. Those other families also were asleep with their young children.
In one case, our correspondent tells us a carving knife was left on a table. In the other, a picture of the family was taken. One of those family members saying -- quoting now here -- "We were just one family away from being the family."
A third person has died from an explosion in California's Mojave Desert. The blast happened at the Mojave Air and Space Port during a test involving nitrous oxide. The site is used by an aerospace firm that built the first private manned rocket sent into space.
Thursday's explosion initially killed two people at the scene and critically injured four others. All employees of the aerospace company.
Still ahead this morning, the race for the White House heating up a bit. Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, a slugfest in the making. The latest political blow in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: In this week's "Making Their Mark," the YouTube and CNN Democratic presidential debates. It's the history-making debate everyone is still talking about.
It's where you, CNN viewers, got to ask the questions. Eight Democratic hopefuls fielded video questions submitted online through YouTube in a first-of-its-kind event.
The questions were picked from thousands of entries. They ranged from the Iraq war, to education, to taxes.
If you missed even a single second of the CNN/YouTube debate, you can see it again in its entirety Saturday and Sunday night 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
And calling all independent thinkers. Now get your questions ready for the Republican candidates. Then watch the CNN/YouTube Republican debates. That will happen live and interactive on TV, online only on your home for politics, CNN, September 17th in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Michael Vick, could the NFL star face new troubles now? Federal prosecutors say they could seek more charges and more defendants in the dog fighting case.
The NFL star entered a not guilty plea yesterday in Virginia and now faces a November trial. Dog lovers and animal rights activists protested outside the courthouse. They outnumbered and outshouted Vick supporters.
Vick's attorney says he will prove his client's innocence. He promises a hard-fought trial. But one prominent defense attorney says it may be a losing battle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICKEY SHERMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I would be making a deal as quickly as possible. I would be doing what they call a mea culpa.
I would admit responsibility. I would be asking for mercy, for forgiveness, and just explaining how incredibly stupid my client was and how he's going to make amends to society by contributing a billion hours of volunteer work, his next year's NFL salary, god knows what. But this case I don't think is winnable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: We're going to be talking a lot more about this today. But as Vick was in court, the case literally loomed over his team. A plane circled over the start of the Falcons' training camp day one yesterday. The sign read, "New Team Name? Dog Killers."
All eyes on the Dow. Markets open in minutes after a huge downer of a day.
We'll watch those numbers.
And Baghdad, living in a culture of fear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): He used to wear a watch, jewelry, a suit and drive a car. Not anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Going to great lengths just to stay alive.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: It is Friday morning. We are just minutes away from the opening bell. A lot of people talking about what happened yesterday.
And we want to bring in Susan Lisovicz now to talk a little bit more about this.
Susan, are people freaking out unnecessarily?
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I have to say, Heidi, you know, when you have an explosive type of sell- off we had yesterday, big volume, tremendously negative sentiment, and one of the worst point sell-offs of the year, one of the best things that could happen is that it sort of clears the air. It paves the way for a bounce back rally.
And I'm not sure we're going to see it. Not at the open.
The best thing that happened was, just about an hour ago, we got a first look at second quarter GDP. It came in better than expected. In fact -- in fact, it was the best -- best performance in about a year. And of course, the GDP is the broadest measure of the economy.
So that improves the futures. But nobody's saying that, you know, let's party like it's 1999, Heidi.
And there's the opening bell.
And, you know, a lot of people still say that a lot of to fear that was in the marketplace yesterday is still there today.
It looks like, you know, the market right now, the Dow is just, you know, it's pretty much at the flat line right now. We're going to watch it for a few moments.
But one of the things we've been talking about in the last few days, Heidi, is this credit crunch. And when I talk about that, I'm talking about everything from making it harder to buy a home to bailing out a corporation. When you talk about credit, it's the gasoline behind this economy, the world's biggest. And that's one of the big concerns.
And it is a fallout from the housing market, from the continuing woes that we've seen in the housing market -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Well, we've seen, you know, so many up ticks. I think it was you that talking with us earlier in the year about 50 record highs since last October that have happened. I think maybe we get a little bit spoiled and then when we see this major sell-off as you say, people get very, very anxious.
LISOVICZ: Well, you know, it's one of the things that comes with those lofty highs is that you're going to have a pull back. But, you know, remember, when we were talking about that, when we were talking about the record high just a week ago, we were saying that the U.S. economy is resilient.
Well, there was bad news about the housing market last week. It just -- it just -- the drum beat just kept getting louder. And, you know, I think there were a couple of things that really kind of took the wheels off the train, if you will.
One of them was the Countrywide news earlier this week -- the nation's largest mortgage lender that said, you know, it's not only people with risky credit that are having problems, it's people with good credit. It's American Express bolstering its reserves to people who aren't making their pmts, late on their payments.
And, finally, it was word that one of the biggest takeover deals, the $20 billion Chrysler deal, the banks behind it were having problems selling those risky loans, that the investment climate has changed.
And those big deals, Heidi, have been really some of the catalysts that have taken the market to these lofty levels.
COLLINS: All right.
Well, of course, we're going to be watching it very closely, alongside you, Susan Lisovicz.
And we will check back in with you a bit later on.
LISOVICZ: You've got it -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Thank you.
And we also want to get this out to you.
Just within the past hour, a deadly blast at a restaurant near Pakistan's Red Mosque. Four dead and more than 20 injured. Today marks the first time worshippers were actually allowed back inside the mosque since a bloody siege there earlier this month. Dozens of people were killed then.
Muslim students have been clashing with police. Many want to impose a Taliban style Islamic government.
More headaches now for NASA. Today the space agency responds to a report of astronauts flying while intoxicated. The report is from "Aviation Week & Space Technology" and says on at least two occasions, astronauts were allowed to fly even though flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were drunk. No word on when the incidents actually took place.
A NASA official says the allegations were from anonymous interviews and were unsubstantiated.
The report stems from a special panel appointed after the Lisa Nowak incident. She is the former astronaut fired after she was accused of attacking a romantic rival.
And NASA says it was sabotage. The agency says a computer bound for the International Space Station was intentionally damaged. An employee working for a subcontractor accused of cutting wires on the computer. A NASA manager says the damage would not have posed any danger to the shuttle astronauts or the Space Station. NASA hopes to fix the computer in time for the Shuttle Endeavour launch, which is set for August 7th.
Rob, we've been talking about all this flooding that's going on, but in sort of a strange place, Arizona. I guess the water just can't get into the soil and so they're going to end up with flooding there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Danger around every corner in Baghdad -- kidnappings, killings, assaults. A culture of fear forcing Iraqis to find new ways to survive.
Here now is CNN's Arwa Damon.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The enticing display draws window shoppers, but few venture inside. Giving into the temptation of purchase can literally be a deadly sin.
"If they see us wearing gold," this woman says, "they watch us and then kidnap us -- or worse."
The owner of the shop, who doesn't want his identity disclosed, takes care to show as low of a profile as possible. He used to wear a watch, jewelry, a suit and drive a car. Not anymore.
Iraqis have become masters of disguise in order to survive. Women wear head scarves to avoid religious militias. Iraqis drive cheaper cars, if they drive at all. Here, drivers swap goods so that Sunni drivers only travel to Sunni neighborhoods and Shia only to Shia.
It can be a challenging process, but it helps to avoid falling victim to sectarian violence. Another option is to carry two I.D.s, one with a Sunni name, the other Shia.
Samira Laheim's (ph) solution is to keep her grandkids inside. The family lives on edge, constantly looking over their shoulder.
"What can I do to avoid these fears except to pray to god?," she says. "I have no one to trust." Words heard over and over again in these streets. The bitter irony is that Iraqis have traded one culture of fear and mistrust under Saddam for another. The difference is that in today's Iraq, there are no rules to follow to avoid being victimized. Twenty-nine- year-old Rauna Hassan (ph) works as an accountant. We can't tell you where. She doesn't even tell her neighbors where she works.
"I miss the good old days so much," she says. "And I miss the times when we were able to walk safely in the streets. I miss feeling secure."
The Saddam era described as did good old days.
Rauna says she misses her friends. Most have left the country and she's scared of socializing with others. Her clothes now more conservative and she only wears a few pieces of jewelry. At work, she is at least able to enjoy limited freedom.
"Life like this is suffocating. It's like living in a prison," she says.
And when she heads home, Rauna makes herself invisible, covering her head in a shroud of black in the hope it's enough to keep her alive.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: Still ahead, we told you about this story yesterday. You can close the door but the grim kitty lingers outside.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've told them, just close the door. He will pace outside that room.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow! The cat calls death 25 times.
Also, hold that flight -- the runway currently occupied. Details on a run away runway dog. Watch the pictures, coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: With our very friendly music, we always like to give you a very friendly reminder. We're glad that you're here on weekday mornings from 9:00 a.m. Until 12:00 p.m. Eastern. But there's this other great thing you can check out. Take us with you anywhere you go on your iPod.
The CNN NEWSROOM pod cast available 24-7 right on your iPod.
T.B. patient Andrew Speaker back in his home state of Georgia this morning. For the first -- for the past two months, that is -- the Atlanta lawyer has been treated, as you well know, for multi- drug resistant tuberculosis in Denver. After isolation, drug treatment and surgery, doctors say he is no longer contagious. Speaker was released from the hospital yesterday. He was flown home aboard a private air ambulance so he would not freak out commercial air travelers. He's pretty well known by now.
The hospital says he must continue antibiotic treatment for about two years.
A T.B. patient out of a hospital jail ward now, but still facing challenges to his health and freedom.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When we first met Daniel Roberts, he was locked in the jail ward of a Phoenix hospital for nearly a year. These (INAUDIBLE) steel doors under constant surveillance. The only windows were frosted. He had no fresh air, not even a mirror.
ROBERT DANIELS, TUBERCULOSIS PATIENT: And I'm really mentally being killed here.
GUTIERREZ: All this not because he committed a crime, but has a highly drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis.
Daniels went out in public repeatedly without a mask and a court ordered him into forced isolation. Officials said the only place that was appropriate was this jail ward of a county hospital.
DANIELS: The conditions are worse than the regular inmate.
GUTIERREZ: The American Civil Liberties Union sued Maricopa County officials, seeking better conditions and treatment for Daniels. But before the case even went to court, the county transferred him to National Jewish Hospital in Denver for treatment.
DANIELS: This is the best thing that ever, I think, happened to me.
GUTIERREZ: For the first time in almost a year, Robert Daniels can see the world and feel the sun on his skin.
DANIELS: It's like raised from hell to heaven.
GUTIERREZ: We asked a hospital employee to shoot this exclusive look at Daniels' new living quarters because Daniels is contagious, in isolation and visitors are not allowed. Even so, he says here he feels like a patient, not a prisoner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right?
DANIELS: It's a mirror. I can see myself. It's a ceramic bathroom. It's not a metal bathroom. And you can see I'm in the shower -- in a whole shower all to myself.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): For almost a year, Robert Daniels wasn't even allowed to go outside. But here at National Jewish Hospital in Denver, he has a balcony. And because he's still contagious, we have to interview him from his balcony, which is about 25 feet away.
Hey, Robert, how are you doing?
DANIELS: Hi.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): A strange way to interview him but, the only way county health officials here would allow us to in person. Daniel is still under the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department.
Even outside, he must wear a mask and a guard is posted outside his door.
(on camera): The last time we saw you, in order to talk to you, we had to go through a jail ward.
DANIELS: It made a big, big scar for the rest of my life being there. I am afraid as hell going back to Phoenix.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): On top of his legal problems, Daniels faces major surgery.
DR. GWEN HUITT, NATIONAL JEWISH MEDICAL & RESEARCH CENTER: The surgery that is planned for him is to surgically remove the entire left lung.
GUTIERREZ: Daniels says here he's found support and encouragement, not only from the staff, but arguably from the most famous T.B. patient right next door.
DANIELS: I received a couple of presents from our friend, Andrew Speaker. He's my neighbor.
GUTIERREZ: Andrew Speaker, who sparked national hysteria after traveling internationally when he had been diagnosed with T.B. says he can't fathom being locked on top of being sick.
ANDREW SPEAKER, TUBERCULOSIS PATIENT: I told him, you know, I've been through a splinter of what he's been through. And you can't go into an operation where you think someone is going to take out your lung and be so scared about tomorrow and being sent back into the confinement.
GUTIERREZ: But that's the fate that could await Daniels if he is returned to Arizona after his surgery.
SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO, MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: I am investigating him. He may be back here in my jail, charged this time.
GUTIERREZ: It's that fear that gnaws at Robert Daniels.
DANIELS: I'm sick.
I'm not a murderer.
GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Denver, Colorado.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: Parents' nightmare -- safety wake-up call. A toddler falls six floors and survives.
And he only wanted two credit cards, but he got more than he bargained for.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
TIM FLEISCHER, WABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: They sent you how many?
FRANK VAN BUREN, CREDIT CARD CUSTOMER:
A total of 2,000.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: And now, the credit card company won't take them back. That's a big shredding job coming your way next in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Have you ever received a credit card you really didn't want?
Well, how about 2,000 of them?
A New York man is digging out of a plethora of plastic.
Details now from Tim Fleischer of CNN affiliate WABC.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
FLEISCHER (voice-over): Just two credit cards, that's all Frank Van Buren wanted.
(on camera): They sent you how many?
VAN BUREN: A total of 2,000.
FLEISCHER (voice-over): Two thousand -- all with the same account number.
VAN BUREN: This is only one box.
FLEISCHER (on camera): You got two of these boxes?
VAN BUREN: Yes, I got two of these boxes, one about four or five weeks ago. And then I found this on Monday morning in the hallway where anybody could take it. FLEISCHER (voice-over): And not just take it -- look on the back. Not one with an activation strip.
(on camera): Your account would be trashed?
VAN BUREN: Yes. That's my opinion.
I asked them about that. And I got a -- I got a very -- I didn't get an answer.
FLEISCHER (voice-over): Especially now, with credit card fraud and identity theft major consumer concerns.
VAN BUREN: Identity theft is one issue. Corporate responsibility is another issue. And customer service is the third issue.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, it's scary. You just have to be really careful with who you give information to.
FLEISCHER: From Exxon Mobil, frustratingly, Frank says...
VAN BUREN: They told me they will not take them back.
FLEISCHER (on camera): What were you going to do with 2,000 credit cards?
VAN BUREN: I'd have to shred them again. I'd have to have someone spend three hours on a little shredder shredding these things.
FLEISCHER: Each one of these?
VAN BUREN: Yes.
FLEISCHER: How would you get rid of them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm such a compulsive person, I would probably cut them up individually and then write a letter back to Exxon informing them of the same.
VAN BUREN: And here I am. I've got this dilemma. I have work to do and I've got to shred. It's good exercise.
FLEISCHER (voice-over): An exercise in frustration.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: Boy, you've got right.
Exxon Mobile says it is investigating how it issued so many cards.
Running away on the runway -- look at this. Sky Harbor International Airport -- a dog not waiting for takeoff instructions. As a safety precaution, air traffic controllers delayed a US Airways jet from landing. The pup even made its way into one of the airport's terminal buildings. After about 30 minutes, airport workers finally corralled Fido -- I bet that's really not his name -- and handed it over to animal control folks.
Plastered during blastoff?
Reports of astronauts flying while intoxicated. More questions for NASA. Today, the space agency responds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We want to show you quickly this new video and some comments the president made after meeting with the economic advisers just a little while ago.
Let's listen.
GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I appreciate the secretary of Commerce, the secretary of the Treasury and others for giving me their opinions about the events of the day. And what they're saying, one of the important pieces of data that I've been briefed on is the fact that our economy grew at 3.4 percent in the second quarter of this year.
Inherent in that growth is a -- is a free enterprise system that provides incentives for people to take risk and to grow their businesses. And it's an economy that is large and flexible and resilient. One of the interesting aspects of this economic growth is that we have benefited from increased exports. In other words, U.S. farmers and small business owners and manufacturers have found markets overseas for our products -- products grown right here or built right here in the United States.
And by selling those products overseas, it's contributed to the strong second quarter growth. And when we are able to sell products overseas, our goods and services overseas, it means that Americans are more likely to find a job here in America.
The job growth has been strong, and that's what you'd expect when our economy is strong and resilient and flexible.
People are working. The unemployment rate is down. Wages are increasing. And so I want the American people to take a good look at this economy of ours. The world is strong. The world economy is strong. I happen to believe one of the main reasons why is because we remain strong.
And my pledge to the American people is we will keep your taxes low to make sure the economy continues to remain strong and we will be wise about how we spend your money here in Washington, D.C.
I have submitted a budget that will be in balance by 2012. And I look forward to working with Congress to achieve that goal.
Anyway, thank you all for coming.
I appreciate your briefing.
COLLINS: Some comments there from President Bush, directly after meeting with economic advisers.
And we should tell you that this meeting with his economic advisers, according to the White House, was not in response to yesterday's great sell-off. The Dow Jones Industrial average is down about 311 points, as I'm sure you well know.
We are watching those numbers for you.
But this was previously scheduled in connection with the -- Friday's gross domestic product report that just came out.
You heard the president saying that it was actually better than expected growth of 3.4 percent, the strongest pace since the beginning of last year.
So we'll continue to watch those numbers on the bottom left hand side of your screen there, down two points now, the Dow Jones Industrial Averages.
Meanwhile, a former teacher now offering lessons ala carte. His life after work founding Hot Dog University.
Ali Velshi has got the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mark Reitman holds court over this hot dog cart in Racine, Wisconsin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm put them in anyway.
MARK REITMAN, FOUNDER OF HOT DOG UNIVERSITY: What I'm going to do is...
VELSHI: Instructing students is nothing new for Reitman, who was a teacher and counselor in Illinois and Wisconsin for 35 years before retiring in 2005.
And running a successful hot dog cart is old hat, too. He's had his own since 2003.
So last year, Reitman decided he should share his eatery expertise with others and he opened Hot Dog University, a $300 two day course where would-be vendors learn the art of the cart.
REITMAN: I've always romanticized with the idea of owning my own business, particularly the hot dog business. I grew up in the area where the hot dogs came from, which was the West Side of Chicago. It was just like the next step of my life, to be able to combine education and training and sales and my love of food all into one thing.
VELSHI: On day one at Hot Dog U. Reitman gives lessons in marketing, licensing and all the details on what makes a lucrative hot dog cart, like keeping the perfect pickle in stock and using fresh poppy seed buns. REITMAN: That's the trick of this business.
VELSHI: And Reitman takes his students behind the cart on day two for some on the job training.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's my first hot dog.
VELSHI: So far, Reitman's business school for hot dog enthusiasts has produced 24 graduates.
REITMAN: I'm like an expectant father every time one of my students goes out and opens up a cart after they've taken the training. It's just very, very gratifying.
Ali Velshi, CNN.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.
I'm Heidi Collins.
Tony Harris is off today.
Stay informed all day right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Here's what's on the run down.
Right now, we're keeping a close watch on this -- the Dow Jones Industrial Average is -- Wall Street down again, but will it bounce back after a pretty bad fall?
Also, drunk before lunchtime?
A report says astronauts were dui on their ride into space.
And new this morning, blasts by Pakistan's Red Mosque -- a deadly explosion near the site of the bloody uprising.
It is Friday, July 27th.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
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