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AP: Mattel Set to Announce Another Toy Recall; Police Arrest Self-Described Pedophile Jack McClellan; Mine Rescue Effort
Aired August 14, 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: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris is off today.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on Tuesday, August 14th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
Hawaii hunkers down for Flossie. The hurricane set to brush the big island today.
An admitted pedophile blogger in cuffs. Los Angeles police say he got too close to a daycare center.
Mattel expected to recall more toys with lead paint. An announcement coming live this morning.
Made in China, in the NEWSROOM.
Parents on the alert this morning. We are expecting to get details next hour about a major toy recall.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission holding a news conference. It comes as reports say Mattel is set to announce the recall of a toy made in China.
Well, according to The Associated Press, the toy may contain excessive amounts of lead paint. This would be the second time in two weeks Mattel has recalled Chinese-made toys because of lead paint. Earlier this month, Mattel's Fisher-Price division recalled more than a million preschool toys featuring characters like Big Bird and Elmo.
There have been a string of recalled products from China in recent months. Everything from faulty tires to tainted toothpaste.
More now on the recall and the toy maker, Mattel. Ali Velshi is watching the story for us.
Boy, Ali, parents getting kind of worried about this.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It is a little worrisome at this point.
We are waiting for this, as you said, a press conference from the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 10:00 a.m. And if you open up "USA Today" or "The Wall Street Journal" or "The New York Times" this morning, you'll see a letter from the CEO of Mattel to parents saying that safety is of their -- of their greatest concern. But you know it was two weeks ago, August 2nd, when Mattel recalled 1.5 million Fisher-Price toys. And then if you go back to November of 2006, they had a bigger recall of 2.4 million toys.
Now, we don't know what the toys are that are going to be recalled and what the problem is, but the reports that we are hearing is that the recall is going to include a dye cast car that might contain lead paint, as well as some toys with magnets that can be harmful to children if they are swallowed. We have no been able to get a response from Mattel. In fact, I should correct that. We have just had a response from Mattel, but it is to say that there's no confirmation of the specifics until after the announcement at 10:00.
So, what we can tell is that there will be an announcement of yet another toy recall of toys that apparently are manufactured in China for Mattel. And we are going hear about that. We'll get details of that. And we will bring that right to our audience so that you know what toys in your own home, Heidi, might be dangerous for your children.
COLLINS: Yes. In fact, I want to mention here, too, Ali, we're going to be talking with the CEO and chairman of Mattel right after that news conference. We are going to have him here live and ask him questions that I'm sure a lot of people are going to want answers to.
But quickly, while I still have you, Ali, put it -- put in perspective for us if you could about the size of these companies. I mean, as a parent, everybody has got Mattel or Fisher-Price toys, I'm sure, in their play room or in their basement.
VELSHI: Yes. These are -- these are the biggest companies. And the problem is that, you know, this is -- these are the things that you buy because you associate it with the name Mattel or with Fisher- Price. They are supposed to be familiar and big, and there is an understanding or an expectation on the part of American consumers that when you buy something from Mattel, from the major retailers that you do buy that from, that you are going to get -- that somebody checked it along the line.
Maybe every 100th toy or 1000th toy was tested and checked. And we are finding out that's not the case.
The other thing, of course, Heidi, is this is just part of a larger, you know, phenomenon we are seeing of all sorts of things that we are getting recalls on. We saw toothpaste yesterday.
COLLINS: Yes.
VELSHI: You know, it's just -- it's daily. We don't know how to keep track of this, because the consumer assumes when you buy things from major brands and major companies they are safe.
You know what we started hearing from people? Buy things locally. Buy stuff you know was grown around you or made around you. I mean, this is what it is coming to. But we can't do that. We buy so much of our stuff from countries other than the United States that we are going to have to find a solution to this. It is worrisome for parents.
COLLINS: Yes. Certainly worth having a discussion about it, if not more than one.
VELSHI: Yes.
COLLINS: Ali Velshi, thanks so much. "Minding Your Business" for us this morning.
And just want to remind everybody, two very important live events coming up for you this morning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is holding a news conference next hour on this major recall. CNN will be carrying it live right here at 10:00 Eastern. And then we will talk live one on one with Mattel chairman and CEO Bob Eckert. You can catch that interview coming up right here, 10:30 Eastern, first on CNN.
Hawaii bracing for a brush with a powerful storm. Hurricane Flossie now barreling toward the big island.
Right now it doesn't look like a direct hit. The big island expected to face the worst conditions as the storm swirls just to the south.
Schools there are closed today though. A state of emergency, in fact, is in place. And right now much of the state, there is a run on food, water, and other essentials, as you might imagine.
The last hurricane to hit Hawaii was in 1992. It killed six people and cost $2.5 billion in damage.
Along with the hurricane threat, an earthquake shakes the big island. The quake with a magnitude of 5.3 hit just south of Hilo. Right new no reports of injuries or serious damage.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: We want to get to this now. A self-described pedophile facing charges this morning. Jack McClellan arrested twice yesterday. He had been hanging out with a camera near a child care center at UCLA.
Live now to our Chris Lawrence, who is on the scene.
Chris, good morning to you.
What can you tell us about McClellan's criminal background now?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, up until now, Heidi, he hasn't broken any laws. Jack McClellan had been living up in the state of Washington, where he ran a Web site on which he posted pictures of little girls and instructed viewers of his Web site on the best places to see them. He has made no secret of the fact that he is attracted to little girls, but he says that his Web sit is a form of therapy and that he would never do anything illegal.
Now, the first time he was arrested, standing outside that daycare center, he says he had a camera, but he says it didn't have any batteries in it. The police took him in, they questioned him for hours, a judge set a court date. The cops told him to stay away from the campus and then let him go. But McClellan didn't leave. In fact, that's when he started talking to CNN affiliate KTLA.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK MCCLELLAN, SELF-DESCRIBED PEDOPHILE: It was an honest mistake. I had been on the campus for a couple of hours before that at other places. I didn't go right to that spot because I didn't -- I'm not familiar with the campus. I don't go to school there.
Honestly, I didn't know it was there. The reason I was on UCLA was because I didn't think there would be virtually any minors there and I thought I could kind of blend in as a student.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you attracted to children?
MCCLELLAN: Yes, sure, girls. I mean, I've admitted that many times, but I have never done anything criminal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After you did what you did today though, why should you be allowed to walk around freely?
MCCLELLAN: Well, that wasn't my decision. That was the decision at the police department, and they just decided that it wasn't that grave of a situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: Yes, somebody saw that interview live on the air about 10:00, 10:00 or 11:00 last night, and that's when police came in and arrested him again for trespassing.
Now, McClellan had been living, as I said, up in the state of Washington, where he had been living with his parents and running this Web site. He says that parents and activists drove him out of that area.
He got down here to southern California earlier this summer. And as far as we know, he's been living off some sort of supplemental income and living out of his car since he got here -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Boy, that is sure strange to see him do interviews like that.
All right. Chris Lawrence, we know you're watching the story for us. Thanks so much.
Meanwhile, quarterback Michael Vick under pressure and scrambling in the dogfighting case. ESPN reports Vick is huddling with his attorneys now under a Friday deadline to accept a plea agreement. That follows word two more co-defendants are cooperating with prosecutors. They have hearings later this week.
A third co-defendant pleaded guilty last month. All three men could be called to testify against Vick. The Atlanta Falcons star has pleaded not guilty to his alleged role in the dogfighting operation. The NFL has told Vick to stay away from the team while the league conducts its own investigation. Without a plea deal, Vick could face more charges in a superceding indictment.
Mystery surrounding the death of a former wrestler. Tampa police are awaiting autopsy results on Brian "Crush" Adams. He was found dead in his home.
Police say he showed no signs of injury. They don't suspect foul play. Adams is a former world tag team champion. His death comes less than two months after pro wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife, son and then himself.
Shuttle trouble in outer space. NASA still trying to figure out what to do about it.
This is a close-up now. A good view of the problem.
A three-and-a-half-inch gash on Endeavour's belly, it was caused by a piece of fuel tank foam that broke off during last week's launch. NASA engineers deciding whether astronauts should fix it before the shuttle returns home. And if so, how do they do it? A decision is expected by tomorrow.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm John Zarrella at the Crandall Canyon Mine, where efforts to find six trapped miners are picking up speed. I'll have that story coming up.
COLLINS: Also, nightmare in China. A bridge nearing completion collapses. Dozens killed or injured.
And Russian authorities launch a terrorism investigation after a major train derailment. The incident believed to be caused by a homemade bomb.
Two important live events coming up for you this morning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission holding a news conference next hour on a major recall. CNN will carry it live right here, 10:00 Eastern.
We will also talk live one on one with Mattel chairman and CEO Bob Eckert. You can catch that interview about 10:30 Eastern, first on CNN.
You are in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: New moves to rescue those trapped miners in Utah.
We want to get the very latest now. Our John Zarrella is live in Emery County.
John, good morning to you.
Just have to wonder what's being done for the families of those trapped miners this morning. It must be so, so difficult this far in.
ZARRELLA: Oh, no question about it, Heidi.
You can't even imagine what they are going through. But this morning, very early, before daylight, Bob Murray, the mine operator, took two members, family members into the mine. He has been doing that periodically over the course of the last eight days. A brother and a son of two of the trapped miners so they could get a first-hand look at the rescue operation underground.
And then those relatives are able to report back to the other relatives what's going on. And, of course, there are daily briefings with the families to give them an overall sense, a picture of how the effort is going on.
Part of that effort, of course, is drilling that third hole, the eight-and-five-eighths-inch hole. And it's well under way now. It's going to take a couple of days to get down the 1,400-plus feet that they need to go, and it's going to be at the far end of this cavity where they believe the miners are trapped.
They think that the miners may have during the collapse of the mine gone to find a safe spot, a pocket, perhaps at the far end of the mine. So that's why they are boring that hole there.
They also yesterday released those first images, the video that was taken from the camera that was lowered down into the other eight- and-five-eighths-inch hole. And they said that you could see and in there the survivable space. But although they did use enhanced lighting down there, it was still very difficult to see very far into that cavity.
The vice president of the mining company, Rob Moore, detailed what they were able to see.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MOORE, V.P., MURRAY ENERGY: You see that we have a 360- degree horizontal view here. And the camera rotates around, at times focusing on certain things. In this case here, you have belt hangars, the chain that you see here. And here in the back, you actually see the belt.
On the ground, this is the water line, water pipe. It supplies water to the -- to the mine.
This is the bottom camera just looking down at the floor. Again, look here. You can see the roof is intact and competent. Again, it is holding.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ZARRELLA: Now, Bob Murray, the mine operator, has said that the work underground is finally beginning to pick up speed. It's still not going fast enough for his taste, but it is going much faster than it had been in the last couple of days.
And, of course, while this drilling operation goes on to put down that third bore hole, there are plans now to drill a fourth hole as well. Although they have not pinpointed the location where they want to do that -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Wow. All right. John Zarrella watching the story for us from Emery, Utah.
Thanks so much, John.
And if you would like to help the miners' families, we have a way for you to do it. You can head to CNN.com/impactyourworld. There you will find out how to contribute to a fund that's set up to help the family of the trapped miners.
A lot going on in the fight for Iraq today. A raid in Baghdad's Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City.
Coalition forces targeting militants say that they are linked to smuggled materials from Iran. The military says four insurgents were killed.
A major offensive targeting Al Qaeda in Iraq. The assault taking place in Diyala province includes some 16,000 U.S. and Iraqi forces.
And Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber driving a fuel tanker detonated on a bridge in Taji. That's just north of Baghdad. At least eight people were killed. The major bridge linking Baghdad to the north partially collapsed.
Tragedy in an ancient Chinese city. At least 28 deaths now reported after a bridge in Hunan province collapsed. Dozens of other people were injured or rescued.
Construction workers were putting the finishing touches on the structure when it gave way. The bridge was scheduled to open at the end of this month.
Still ahead, the dangers of lead paint in the hands of youngsters. We will find out from Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
And drinking too much and running into a real potty mouth. Yes, a urinal with a social message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wonder how high someone is going to jump though when all of a sudden a woman starts talking to them because they are going to the bathroom.
COLLINS: Yes. Caution -- bathroom humor ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Quickly want to let you know CNN has now confirmed that, indeed, the Consumer Product Safety Commission will be announcing a major toy recall by Mattel. We are going to have a news conference on that coming our way at 10:00 right here in the NEWSROOM, but we want to talk about it a little bit further to let you know what exactly the dangers are of tainted toys in the hands of youngsters.
How is the lead paint actually transmitted to the children? And what are the chances of poisoning?
So with me to do that is CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
You are a parent, I'm a parent. A lot of parents in our NEWSROOM and obviously out there really wondering, what do we now? Do we go through our play rooms and get rid of all the toys that say "Made in China"? I mean, how dangerous is this?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are some pretty good lists out there about the toys that have been recalled that might have too much lead in them. So I would pay attention to those lists. But I think there is another message here, which is, for the most part, people don't have to panic about this.
If your child has been holding a toy that has lead in it, even put it in their mouth, they may still be fine. You know, to actually get enough lead into your body is still hard to do. If they are actually chewing it, breaking off some of that lead, swallowing it, that could be, obviously, more of a problem.
Now, there's several different things that might happen if you are worried about it. You can take your child to the doctor. They can do a little pinprick test where they actually test the blood in their fingers.
If that comes back too high, they will take more blood. And if, in fact, your child has too much lead in their system, they will do something called chelation. They'll actually take the lead out of their body.
In the sort of short-term setting, a kid might have some abdominal pain. They could even develop sleepiness or lethargy. They could have seizures.
Longer term, it's been associated with lower intelligence. Even ADHD. So there's obvious good reason to get it checked out.
COLLINS: Sure.
GUPTA: But again, you know, for the most part, people don't have to necessarily panic about it if you just have them around the house.
COLLINS: So when you talk about kids, the only way that they can really have a problem with this is by ingesting it. We are talking about probably younger kids then who are still putting a lot of things in their mouths.
GUPTA: That's right. And really, that, in addition to the fact that younger kids are still growing. And lead seems to have greater impact on a developing body as opposed to an adult. So kids under the age of 6 probably at the greatest risk of this.
COLLINS: OK.
What about other ways that kids could be ingesting lead? I mean, we've talked for years about lead paint at schools or in older homes that people might buy.
GUPTA: Yes. And, in fact, you know, you can find a clear demarcation of the number of lead cases right around 1978.
Before that, there were literally around 13 million kids who had problems with too much lead in their system. After that, it ended up being -- you know, nowadays, it's about 300,000. So the numbers have gone considerably down because of that lead paint in homes no longer being there.
Also, you know, for example, certain fishing gear can actually have lead in it as well. So if kids are getting that in their mouths.
Also, one other thing we found interesting is dogs might actually go into a yard and dig up sort of lead-contaminated soil, bring it into the house, roll around the house, and then bring lead essentially into the house, where kids might get that into their mouths as well. So there are other ways besides just toys, but toys perhaps the biggest culprit right now with everything that's going on.
COLLINS: Yes. Yes, certainly a lot going on today.
Is there any way to know how much? I mean, I'm thinking about the dog example that you gave.
My dog is really big. He probably would get a lot of it on him, as opposed to a little dog. I mean, how do you know how much is OK and not?
GUPTA: Well, you can get tested. And, you know, you bring up a good point, because if you are worried about it, kids may develop lead poisoning before they have symptoms. So if you are very concerned about it, get it checked out.
COLLINS: OK.
GUPTA: In fact, the CDC takes it even a step further. We found this out -- they actually recommend yearly testing of lead between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. Not everyone does that.
COLLINS: No.
GUPTA: But that is something that the CDC recommends. Maybe it is something good to do, especially if you are worried about it.
COLLINS: Yes.
All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, I know you're going to stick around to see this press conference.
GUPTA: Yes.
COLLINS: Appreciate that.
GUPTA: Sure.
COLLINS: Still ahead now, her son made it out just before the Utah mine caved in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a really good thing. God bless the rest of the families, and I feel really, really bad. But thank god I got mine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Now that miner has gone back in to try to save others.
An apology and a plea for forgiveness. He was one of New Orleans leaders. Now a guilty plea to bribery charges. We get the inside story.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. The tropics heating up. We've got a hurricane, a tropical depression, and a tropical depression to be.
The latest on Flossie and some storms affecting your travel weather across the lower 48, that's all coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning once again, everybody.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Heidi Collins.
Tony Harris is off today.
Parents on the alert this morning. We're expecting to get details next hour about a major toy recall. The Consumer Products Safety Commission holding a new conference to announce some of Mattel's Sarge diecast toys from the Pixar "Cars" movie will be recalled. There are concerns about excessive lead in the paint. The affected toys also include Barbie Doll and Tanner.
This would be the second toy recall from Mattel in just two weeks, amid concern about lead paint. The toys made in China.
Earlier this month, Mattel's Fisher Price division recalled more than a million preschool toys featuring characters like Big Bird and Elmo.
There have been a string of recalled products from China in recent months -- everything from faulty tires to tainted toothpaste.
We want to bring you Ali Velshi now with a little bit more detail on exactly what we're talking about today -- now, Ali, I understand you have an idea of what specific toys.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we have them confirmed now, Heidi.
We can go ahead and tell our viewers that we do know what toys are going to be recalled from Mattel.
There are three groups of toys. And for parents, you can go to the Mattel Web site, where you will see this. The Consumer Products Safety Commission will also have them.
You mentioned the Pixar's car Sarge. Five groups of those are being called -- recalled because of a paint hazard, the lead paint, as you alluded to.
There are also two other types of toys being recalled. The Barbie Doll and Tanner is going to be recalled because of a magnet hazard. Supposedly that magnet can become dislodged. Children can swallow that. There are two groups of that toy being recalled. And Mattel Playsets are being recalled. There are several -- in fact, dozens of groups of those being recalled because of a magnetic hazard, as well.
So what you want to do is you look at those three things -- the Pixar "Cars" Sarge truck, the Barbie Doll and Tanner, and the Mattel Playset. You want to see if you've got those. They all will have a lot number on them or a product number, which you can go to Mattel's Web site or the Consumer Products Safety Commission in about a half hour. It will have those and you want to take those away from the kids, make sure they're not there. There will be instructions as to how you can get a refund on these.
Now this, as you mentioned, Heidi, is the third recall we've seen -- well, the second this year from Mattel; the third in less than a year. The last one was one-and-a-half million toys. And in November, we saw 2.4 million toys.
So this is becoming a -- this is already a serious problem and has become that much more serious today -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, and, Ali, as we talk with you, we're looking at some of the toys that being recalled. We're showing some video of that to our viewers now.
You did mention, though, this truck. I just want to make sure I'm clear. The Sarge truck that we're talking about is diecast. So, obviously, we'd be talking about lead paint with that one.
VELSHI: Right.
COLLINS: But with the other two, you mentioned this magnetic defect, right?
VELSHI: Yes. And we're going to wait for more detail until 10:00 to find out exactly what the problem is. But they both are listed on Mattel's site as having a magnet hazard recall, which suggests that a magnet may become dislodged and a child can swallow that.
And Greg Hunter was earlier describing specifically what some of the dangers are. Obviously, the one danger is very obvious and that is that you swallow a magnet, it's not good for you. But the other one is that it can then get attached to your intestines and prevent, you know, prevent anything from getting through.
So these are fairly serious matters. The lead paint is one we've seen before, the parts being dislodged, is another one we've seen before.
And the question, again, is coming up this morning, with Mattel and other companies, why is it that we can't solve this problem?
Why is it that we can't have somebody, either at the governmental level or at the company level, inspecting and checking to see -- randomly -- that we don't have lead paint on trucks or a toy isn't going to come dislodged and be a problem for children.
You know, I -- I think that's going to become the main discussion, at this point.
COLLINS: Sure. And, you know, that -- that is certainly the crux of the question. But, Ali, stick with me. Bear with me for a second as we look at this video.
VELSHI: Yes.
COLLINS: I'm not sure if you can see it or not, but just some raw video that we're getting in. So we're just going to roll it here. But I also have in front of me several press releases from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. This one we're at right now is the Doggie Daycare magnetic toy.
VELSHI: Yes.
COLLINS: Just as you said, the problem here is small magnets inside the toys can fall out. And so they're saying retailers from July 2004 to August 2007 -- that's when they were sold. So, also, now we are getting a look at the truck, the Sarge truck from Pixar, obviously the movie, "Cars" there. This one is the one you mentioned that has the problem with the lead on the diecast.
VELSHI: Yes.
COLLINS: So we're just kind of going through all of these that we see.
Over to the right there, you also see a Batman. They are recalling this product, as well, Batman and one piece magnetic action figure sets -- another issue with the magnets. So as we go here, we'll just kind of let you know what we know. But still, that press conference coming up at 10:00 or so this morning.
A lot of people are very, very interested in this just because of the amount of those toys that out there on the market -- Ali.
VELSHI: And, Heidi, you're also going to be speaking to the CEO of Mattel, I guess, about an hour from now.
They took out full page ads in the "Washington" -- in the "New York Times" and "The Wall Street Journal" and "USA Today". Somewhat vague, I must say, saying they're very concerned about children. But I think the questions have to go beyond that.
Is it -- what -- how are we finding out on an ongoing basis that this is happening?
Is this the end?
I mean parents are in mode to buy their kids things. It's back to school time. And then it will be holiday season. They buy these toys all the time. They get them all over the place.
This really needs to have an answer at this point. I think it's going to become very, very frightening for parents. They can't sort of control what the kids do with the toys, so they have to feel secure that this is not making its way into their homes.
So to have this continue, you can even see in the share price, this is starting to become a bit of a broader concern for these companies, for investors and for parents.
COLLINS: Yes, Ali.
And I'm glad you mentioned this ad, because I have it here, at the "New York Times". It was in the A Section, a full page ad, as you said, from Mattel.
I'll read it to you just a little bit. This is from Bob Eckert, who we're going to be speaking with right after the press conference that's coming up in about 20 minutes or so. He is the CEO and chairman of Mattel Corporate.
And it says: "Because your children are our children, too."
He talks to fellow parents here: "The importance of safety to our children, a father of four, talking more and more about being very careful with these lead paint and risks associated with small, high powered magnets."
So very interesting that they took the whole page ad out here.
And like you said, we're not really sure what this means, but we, of course, will have the rare opportunity to talk with him directly shortly after that press conference coming up. VELSHI: Yes.
COLLINS: Ali, thanks so much for staying on top of this with us.
VELSHI: We'll stay on it. Yes.
COLLINS: Appreciate it.
And just as a quick reminder, two important live events now coming up this morning. The Consumer Products Safety Commission is holding a news conference on this major recall.
CNN will be carrying it live at 10:00 Eastern. That's when we expect that to happen. Then we will talk one-on-one with Bob Eckert. You can catch that at 10:30. Lit depend on how long the press conference goes. First on CNN right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Jacqui Jeras joining now to give us an update on the situation in Hawaii.
Boy, we always think of it as so beautiful and serene, don't we?
JACQUI JERAS, ATS METEOROLOGIST: It usually is. Yes. You know, it's been like 15 years since they've had a hurricane in the Hawaiian Islands.
COLLINS: Wow!
JERAS: Kasmai got close earlier this year, if you remember, but didn't make a landfall. It was just a tropical storm. It was just kind of a nice thing for the surfers there. But this is going to be a little much, I think, for the Hawaiian Islands.
At a minimum, tropical storm force winds should be arriving, even maybe about six hours from now or so. We're already getting gusts common here between 20 and 30 miles per hour.
And some of those outer rain bands beginning to hit the Big Island, very light. But those should be picking up in intensity later on today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: When weather becomes the news, count on CNN to bring it to you first. And if you see severe weather happening in your area, send us an I-Report. Of course, I'm sure I don't have to say please be careful when you do that. But go to CNN.com and click on I-Report. Or type ireport@cnn.com into your cell phone and share your photos or video.
We want to take a minute to share this with you.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COLLINS: We will continue to watch our business stories ahead. Of course, the big one today is going to be happening with Mattel and Fisher Price, that recall that will be announced coming up in about 20 minutes or so.
Still ahead, an illegal immigrant with an arrest record now accused in the execution-style killing of three New Jersey teens.
Why was he out on the streets?
We're keeping them honest.
And going underground in a race against time -- the search for those missing miners. We take you into the collapsed mine, ahead right here in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A quick reminder now, our top story today. Two important live events coming up, in fact, should be "must watches" for parents.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission holding a news conference next hour on a major recall.
CNN is going to be carrying it live for you at 10:00 Eastern.
We will also talk live one-on-one with Mattel Chairman and CEO Bob Eckert. You can catch that interview and get his side of the story, as well, 10:30 Eastern, just after the news conference, first on CNN.
System failure -- outrage surrounding a suspect in the brutal killing of three college students.
CNN's Jason Carroll reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds line the sidewalks, some hugging. Others stood and cried. Three funerals for three college students gunned down execution-style last Saturday night.
Not just a day of grief for Dashon Harvey's father. It was also one of anger, anger he still feels.
JAMES HARVEY, VICTIM'S FATHER: I'm hurt, no doubt. But I've got to speak out on the way I feel.
CARROLL: One of the suspects in his son's death is Jose Carranza. He's pleaded not guilty to the charges.
What makes James Harvey so mad is Carranza is an illegal immigrant from Peru with a rap sheet, out on bail. He was arrested three times since last October, facing charges from assault to raping a 6-year-old girl. He was released each time, and twice his bail was reduced.
James Harvey believes Carranza thought laws didn't apply to him.
HARVEY: Why would you do such a thing, needlessly, senselessly?
Because you can?
Because you're not -- you don't -- you're not governed by our laws?
If you're not governed by our laws and you don't want to live by our society rules, then you shouldn't be here.
CARROLL: In Keeping them Honest, we wanted to know why wasn't Carranza deported or kept behind bars?
A source in the Essex County prosecutor's office says they never asked Carranza's bail to be lowered.
A spokesman for New Jersey's attorney general, which oversees the prosecutor's office, says: "We are looking into the specific facts of the case."
Newark's mayor says clearly the legal system did not work.
MAYOR CORY BOOKER, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY: I think everyone is frustrated. This gentleman -- excuse me, this person should not have been on the streets, point plain. And mistakes, in my opinion, were made.
CARROLL: Former general counsel for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, says what didn't happen here points to a problem in the system.
VICTOR CERDA, FORMER ATTORNEY: For some reason, there was no consultation and coordination with ICE, Homeland Security. And, as a result, not only did he commit one crime, a heinous crime, but he then proceeded to commit another one.
CARROLL: A Newark councilman is proposing legislation requiring Newark law enforcement to contact federal officials as soon as an illegal immigrant is arrested. Right now, that doesn't typically happen until there is a conviction. Jose Carranza was still awaiting trial.
(on camera): And so what you're basically saying is you're not quite sure who's at fault at this point?
RONALD RICE, NEWARK COUNCILMAN: Absolutely. I think we all bear some responsibility. If not at who's at fault, I think the better question is, how do we solve the problem?
CARROLL (voice-over): James Harvey isn't sure who is to blame for not keeping Carranza off the streets. He's still trying to cope with life without his son.
HARVEY: When we raise our kids to come up and become someone, a part of society in a positive light, and to have, needlessly, something happen to them out of the blue.
CARROLL: For now, there simply aren't enough answers.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Newark, New Jersey.
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COLLINS: Her son made it out just before the Utah mine caved in.
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JULIE WARD, MINER'S MOTHER: It's just a really good thing. I just think god bless the rest of the families and I feel really, really bad. But thank god I got mine.
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COLLINS: Now, that miner has gone back in to try to save others.
Russian authorities launch a terrorism investigation after a major train derailment. The incident believed to be caused by a homemade bomb.
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COLLINS: Rescue efforts said to be moving at a faster pace today. But still no sign of six miners trapped for more than a week in Utah.
These images taken from a camera crews lowered into the Crandall Canyon Mine. Right now, crews are drilling a third hole so they can send another camera down. The search is focused on the very back of the mine. A mine safety official says the collapse may have created an air pocket there. The miners could have retreated when escape routes were cut off.
The mine operator telling our Anderson Cooper rescue efforts are intensifying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "A.C. 360")
BOB MURRAY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MURRAY ENERGY CORPORATION: We're driving underground towards the miners. We've advanced now 680 feet. Conditions are getting a little bit better and we're moving at a more rapid rate now. That would put us about one third of the way to the miners.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Murray is defending mining operations at the site. He says the plans were approved by both outside engineering firms and federal mine safety officials.
As you can imagine, it has been agonizing for the families of those trapped, and even those whose loved ones barely got out before the collapse.
CNN's Gary Tuchman has more.
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GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A video camera pointing straight down, a mysterious and dramatic journey almost 1,900 feet into the earth, people above ground hoping the images it sends back will show something, anything, that might lead them to six trapped miners. And as the camera starts scanning, rescuers hold their collective breath.
ROB MOORE, VICE PRESIDENT, MURRAY ENERGY CORP.: You will see that we have a 360-degree horizontal view here. And the camera rotates around, at times focusing on certain things.
In this case here, you have belt hangers. It's the chain that you see here. And here in the back, you actually see the belt.
TUCHMAN: But the miners are nowhere to be seen.
BOB MURRAY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MURRAY ENERGY: I'm very disappointed to be telling you on the eighth day that we have not found six alive miners.
MOORE: It's difficult to see on here, but there is some rubble in this area. Here we have just a typical tool bag.
TUCHMAN: The roof of the mine is intact and there is survivable space. But listening devices have picked up nothing, so a third hole is being drilled into the mountain to check a different area, and then maybe a fourth.
All this as the work continues inside the mine to dig a horizontal passage -- a job that's only about 25 percent complete.
(on camera): In a best-case scenario, in a worst-case scenario, how long do we think at this point will take the underground mining to get to something that is...
RICHARD STICKLER, MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION: Your guess is probably as good as mine. So you can make that guess. I'm -- I'm not going to guess on timeframes.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Four miners survived the cave-in. One of them is Jameson Ward, who continues to work inside the mine as part of the rescue team.
Julie Ward is his mother and knew her son was in the mine when she first heard about the disaster.
(on camera): When you heard it was a mine disaster, you must have been panicked.
WARD: You don't even know panic until you almost lose one of your kids.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): We saw Jameson in the mine this past Wednesday, when we were permitted to go 2,000 feet down and observe the rescue work. Family members of he and other miners say they have been told by the mine not to talk publicly for now.
(on camera): Does he feel like it could get him in trouble if he talks?
WARD: I have no comment to that.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): But Julie says she can talk about what her son told her, including the fact that he had left the six trapped miners just three minutes before the cave-in, his small truck banging into a mine wall when the commotion began.
WARD: He was just barely -- just barely pulling out. And it's just a really good thing. And God bless the rest of the families. And I feel really, real bad, but thank God I got mine.
TUCHMAN: So what does Jameson think caused the cave-in?
WARD: He told me it was a bounce.
TUCHMAN: A bounce, or a mountain bump, is what happens when enormous pressure from the weight above makes the coal pillars that support the mine collapse. Catastrophic bounces are rare, but regular bounces are not. We experienced one when we were in the mine. The mine shakes. It's startling. And repeated bumps since this disaster have caused considerable rescue delays.
For days now, people have wondered whether a controversial procedure known as retreat mining, in which coal pillars are pulled down as miners exit an area, could have caused the bounce.
The mine owner says no.
MURRAY: Retreat mining had absolutely nothing to do with the disaster that happened here.
TUCHMAN (on camera): Could the retreat mining have anything to do with this, does Jameson think?
WARD: I don't even know. I don't even know. Jame just said it was a bounce.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): James is continuing his work as a rescuer, but 12 other miners have asked to leave the frontlines because the work is so dangerous and so emotionally difficult.
In the meantime, the camera goes down again, scanning the dark, any sign of life, while families watch the days tick by and cling to their last bits of hope.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Huntington, Utah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: If you would like to help the miners' families, we have a way for to you do it. Just head to CNN.com/impactyourworld. You can find out how to contribute to a fund set up to help the families of the trapped miners.
Two important live events coming up for you this morning.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission holding a news conference next hour on a major recall.
CNN will be carrying it live just a few minutes from now, right at the top of the hour.
We will also talk live one-on-one with Mattel Chairman and CEO Bob Eckert. You can catch that about 10:30 Eastern, first on CNN.
Plus, outraged parents versus a self-described pedophile. This round ends with the man being arrested twice. He says it's all just a big mistake.
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