Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Dean Remains Category 4 Hurricane; Tulum, Mexico, Could Take Direct Heat From Dean; Oklahoma Flooding; Michael Vick Accepts Plea Deal

Aired August 20, 2007 - 14:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Hurricane Dean, a killer storm that could get a promotion.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Will the Category 4 monster become a Category 5 giant as some have warned?

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We're tracking that killer hurricane in the Caribbean. Extensive live coverage this hour in the NEWSROOM as Hurricane Dean churns toward the Yucatan Peninsula. A monster storm that's already the size of Texas and getting bigger and stronger by the hour, it's already blamed for at least seven deaths across the Caribbean. A state of emergency is in effect in Jamaica.

First up, this week's hurricane.

CNN correspondents are on the scene from Jamaica to the Yucatan Peninsula.

Jacqui Jeras is tracking every move that Dean makes.

Jacqui, I understand you've got the new forecast.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, the new advisory is just in. They don't give you a forecast track update in the intermediate advisories, but they do give you updates on the conditions. And it's the same, still status quo -- 150-mile-per-hour maximum stained winds, so that keeps it as a Category 4 hurricane. And it's getting closer now, just over 350 miles away from the Yucatan Peninsula.

And I want to show you our Google Earth animation here, because the hurricane hunters are on their way to the storm. And here you can see them tracking, coming out of the Gulf of Mexico, moving through the Yucatan Channel. And we're querying this for you now to see some of the observations that they're getting as they get closer to the storm.

You can see here, it shows you the altitude of the plane. And if you can't read it at home, it says it's just about 24,000 feet. The wind speed there about 19 knots. So, you know, maybe 23, 24 miles per hour.

Now, they're going to be flying a specific pattern here into the storm and they're going to be dropping those drops on, as we call them, to get some measurements at different levels, different altitudes in the storm. And what we'll be watching here very closely as it flies into the storm is what kind of wind speeds we're going to get out of this thing this time around, because we're very close to that Category 5 status as we are, and if they find that they'll issue a special statement to us and we'll break in and bring that to you.

Here you can see the forecast track of where it's heading. It is on a westerly track right now, and the computer model, we call these the spaghetti forecast models because they look like little noodles of spaghetti kind of, don't they? Well, they're very uniform here over the Yucatan Peninsula.

Here's Cozumel. There you can see Cayman. And then it will move into the Bay of Campeche, head towards the mainland Mexico.

Here's Brownsville, Texas. Everything is well to the south of there, but as you know, as hurricanes interact with land, they could change their course just a little bit. So we don't want to give you a complete green light on this one, particularly since it's just such a big storm.

We're talking 400-plus miles from end to end, north to south and west to east, and it certainly is a very powerful one. A Category 5 possibly, really any time.

If we get that we'll bring that in to you -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jacqui Jeras, thanks so much.

LEMON: Well, this hour, Dean is making a beeline for Mexico's most popular spot.

CNN's Gary tuchman takes us to Tulum, just south of Cancun.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The ancient Mayan civilization began about 3,500 years ago. Behind me, some of their ancient structures they left behind. About a thousand years old, this Mayan temple. These buildings here right next to the Gulf of Mexico, in this town, Tulum, Mexico, about 80 miles south of Cancun, could be ground zero for the arrival of Hurricane Dean.

They're called ruins because they are the ruins of the original structures, but they have survived well over the last thousand years. There have been hurricanes here before, there's been some damage, but a lot of concern because this is such a monster storm.

Tens of thousands of tourists still in this area haven't been able to get out because there are just not enough planes. This is the number one tourist area in Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, the state of Quintana Roo. More than $3 billion tourist dollars are spent here annually. That compares to $11 billion for the whole nation of Mexico. More than 25 percent of the tourist dollars come to this area, so that's why right now the tourist officials, the resident who work in the tourism industry, are so concerned, because this is such a powerful hurricane.

It was just two years ago that Hurricane Wilma, a Category 4, came through. It caused immense damage.

In 1988, Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 5, immense damage, 225 people were killed in Mexico during that particular hurricane.

So, a lot of concern for the tourists, for the people who live here, and for the ancient Mayan ruins.

This is Gary Tuchman, CNN, in Tulum, Mexico.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was Mexico, but Texas is getting ready, too, just in case Hurricane dean changes course.

The National Guard has been mobilized. A voluntary evacuation is taking place in Brownsville. And the governor has deployed a fleet of buses to the Rio Grande Valley for those who need a way out. Over the weekend, President Bush issued a federal disaster declaration for Texas that allows FEMA to send even more emergency equipment and resources.

PHILLIPS: Massive flooding in Oklahoma leaves six people dead, hundreds of people homeless, and huge headaches for just about everyone as they face the daunting cleanup ahead.

One of the hardest hit areas, the town of Kingfisher. Our Susan Roesgen is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: The water was waist high where I'm standing last night. You can see that it's gone down now, but that means a huge mess for homeowners who have to scrape off sidewalks and tear out carpet.

Flooding, wind damage, evacuations and some dramatic rescues. This was one of them.

A woman who was being rescued by a helicopter crew told to grab on to the skid, but she couldn't hold on, she fell. They did rescue her safely and her husband as well. And this was a helicopter crew that has never been called on to do a high water rescue here in Oklahoma.

It's a huge mess for people in three states -- Oklahoma, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Thousands of people have lost power. Thousands of people are homeless, and many people will not soon forget Tropical Storm Erin, a tropical storm in Tornado Alley that just was not ready to stop.

I'm Susan Roesgen, CNN, Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Now, 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. Go to CNN.com. Click on "I-Report" or type ireport@cnn.com into your cell phone and share your photos or video with us.

LEMON: An update from Utah running a little bit late. Actually, about an hour late. The press conference was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It hasn't taken place yet, but that live picture sadly becoming all too familiar with updates on the miners. So far, no signs of life.

As soon as this happens we'll bring it to you live. But let's continue to stay on this subject.

Will Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine become a tomb for those six trapped miners? Mine company officials are raising that possibility and raising the ire of the men's families. One official says the miners, trapped for two weeks now, may never be found, and that has families accusing authorities of giving up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SONNY OLSEN, SPOKESMAN FOR MINERS' FAMILIES: We continue to sit and wait. We are at the mercy of the officials in charge and their so-called experts.

Precious time is being squandered here and we do not have time to spare. We must utilize the rescue capsule.

In the beginning, Bob Murray reassured the families with promises that he would get the miners out dead or alive. It's time to live up to that promise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, sadly, tunneling efforts were halted after three rescuers were killed Thursday in a bump, which is when rock and coal explosively give way because of stress on the mine. Now, crews are working on drilling a fifth hole from the top of the mine after previous drilling showed no signs of life.

PHILLIPS: Smashing windows and venting their fury. Take a look at this.

Those are relatives of some of the 181 coal miners trapped since Friday in eastern China. They stormed a mining company office because they're desperate for word on their loved ones, but they say the company has been tight-lipped about any kind of rescue effort.

The miners have been trapped since Friday, when two shafts became flooded. Crews are still trying to pump out the water, fading hopes that the men survived. Disasters are all too common in Chinese mines, which are seen as the world's deadliest ones.

LEMON: Think of it as a neighborhood meeting on a continental scale. President Bush has arrived in Canada. He will have talks with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, during a two-day summit.

On their agenda, the credit crisis, the global economy, border security, and keeping North America safe. Thousands of protesters are expected to express their views outside of that meeting.

PHILLIPS: Well, armed with loaded guns as well as knowledge, college students in Virginia debate the right to carry concealed weapons in the wake of the attack at Virginia Tech. We're going to hear from people on both sides of that argument.

And he decided to go public with his personal battle. Now his words and his courage, they live on for thousands.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A new season of learning, a new chapter of hope today at Virginia Tech. Four months after a student gunman killed 32 people, fall classes began this morning.

A campus determined not to forget is, nonetheless, turning a page.

With the story from Blacksburg, our Brianna Keilar -- Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Don.

We caught up with students in the heart of this campus on the drill field where they were playing Frisbee, and we found that like most of the students and faculty here, they look at today, the first day of school, as a chance to move forward and away from this terrible tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't wait. Yes. I can't wait to get back in the swing of things. I mean, I still think about it every day, but I mean, I'm ready to get my life back going and whatnot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I think it was good to get away, and then being with everybody back home has really helped.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just a great atmosphere here. I mean, I wouldn't want to go to college anywhere else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: To say that it has been a difficult year for the Virginia Tech community, for the Blacksburg, Virginia, community, would be an understatement. It really started actually about a year ago, long before the massacre. That is when Virginia Tech was evacuated because there was an inmate who had escaped and allegedly shot a security guard, shot and killed a security guard, as well as a sheriff's deputy.

And then come April, really the unimaginable. That is when senior gunman Seung-Hui Cho rampaged across the campus in two different shootings, taking the lives of 32 students and faculty members before taking his own life.

So a very difficult year. But we saw yesterday right there on the drill field, the unveiling of a permanent memorial to those 32...

LEMON: Apparently, having a little trouble with technical problems there with Brianna Keilar, but that is Brianna Keilar reporting live from Blacksburg.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's 2:13 Eastern Time right now. Here are some of the stories that we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We're waiting for a news conference from Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine, where six miners have been trapped for two weeks now. Meantime, their family members accuse mine company officials of giving up on their loved ones after one official said they may never be found.

And we're expecting to hear this hour from the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Patrick Leahy. Today is Leahy's deadline for the Bush administration to tun over documents on its controversial surveillance program. Earlier, the White House said that it just needs more time.

And he won't go willingly. The alleged ringleader in that brutal schoolyard shooting in Newark, New Jersey, is fighting extradition. Rodolfo Godinez was arrested in Maryland. He's just one of six suspects in custody right now.

Well, straight ahead, his cancer with unstoppable, but his attitude unbeatable. His words will continue to speak for him. Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM, legacy of Miles Levin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, investors had a day of respite on Friday, but that didn't end the recent bout of selling on Wall Street.

Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us what's going on right now.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

LEMON: All right. Some news just into the CNN NEWSROOM, really just moments ago.

This is from the "Virginia-Pilot" newspaper. They are reporting that Michael Vick has taken a plea deal, has accepted a plea deal. That's according to attorneys close to the case -- is reporting Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, of course, involved in that dogfighting case, that he has taken a plea deal.

They offered the plea deal -- recommended an 18-to-36-month prison sentence for the suspended NFL star for his alleged role in a dogfighting operation. And just getting some information from the newspaper. This is, again, from the "Virginian-Pilot" newspaper.

They say that Vick is going to enter a plea to felony conspiracy charge next Monday, they say, at 10:30. And that was according to an attorney, Lawrence Woodward (ph), of Vick's defense team.

So we'll continue to update you on this story and try to get some more information for you in the CNN NEWSROOM. But again, Atlanta quarterback, Atlanta Falcons quarterback star Michael Vick apparently, according to a newspaper in Virginia, has reportedly accepted a plea deal.

We'll update you.

PHILLIPS: And straight ahead, fire on the tarmac. An airliner goes up in flames. We're going to tell you what happened to the passengers and crew of this airline.

Also, should they be armed with knowledge and loaded weapons? After the recent deadly attack at Virginia Tech, college students are arguing over the right to carry guns on campus.

We'll have that straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: New into the CNN NEWSROOM, Michael Vick, the Atlanta quarterback for the Falcons, reportedly accepts a plea deal in the dogfighting case against him. As you know, two people involved in that case, two witnesses, have flipped on Michael Vick, as they say, and has given information to prosecutors.

Updating us now, a very high-profile attorney, Ed Garland, who represented Ray Lewis, the linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. He joins us by phone to tell us about these charges and to give us his perspective on it.

So, again, Mr. Garland, thank you for joining us here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Tell us about this reported plea deal with Michael Vick.

ED GARLAND, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's good to be with you today.

What I know about it is just that there will be a plea. Several big questions involved.

One, what is the recommendation of the government as to sentence? And two, whether or not it is a binding plea. It is unlikely, I understand, with this judge that it is a binding plea. I guess the best you can predict is that he will receive a greater sentence than his co-defendants. So he's probably looking at a sentence between 16 months and two years. He may be looking at more, and the wild card is, what will this judge do when he looks at Michael Vick's conduct? Probably pled to a count in the indictment or will plead that carries as much as five years.

LEMON: As much as five years. Explain to us, and just in layman's terms, because I have no idea what this means, what do you mean a binding plea? What do you mean by that?

GARLAND: There is a procedure that says, I plead guilty provided the court will give me a specific sentence. It is seldom used and is unlikely to be accepted in this jurisdiction.

LEMON: OK.

GARLAND: Without a binding plea, the judge is free to sentence to the maximum punishment or whatever sentence is available to the charge. And in this case, if it's a conspiracy charge, then it will be five years.

LEMON: OK. Got it. OK.

So what does this mean in terms of Michael Vick's prosecution, or at least his defense team? Because it was reported that he was supposed to -- he had a Friday deadline, Friday a couple of days ago, that he was supposed to accept this deal or not accept this deal. And we've been hearing things about sort of infighting and with the defense team about whether or not to accept this deal because they thought they could win it.

Do you know -- I know that you're not representing him, but can you tell us a little bit about the inner workings of this case? Might that be the case in such a situation like this?

GARLAND: Well, first, he has very fine attorneys. And each of them, I'm sure, are weighing in. And so having a disagreement, debate, is...

LEMON: Ed, are you still there?

GARLAND: Yes, I am. Can you hear me?

LEMON: Yes. I can hear you now.

GARLAND: All right. The best solution is being sought in this effort. That's not uncommon. And I'm sure they negotiated all weekend and probably got an agreed extension from the prosecution saying, OK, we need until Monday to make our decision.

LEMON: OK. This is -- I mean, the entire world has been watching, especially here in the U.S. And the entire world has been watching this case. It's garnered so much attention.

Real quickly, it you can tell us, what does this mean now for Michael Vick in this case? What can we expect to come next?

GARLAND: You can expect next that he will have a probation review, a probation office that will study the case. They'll report to the judge. It will be over 60 days before he's sentenced.

LEMON: So the...

GARLAND: (INAUDIBLE) to his career.

LEMON: That's the question. That's the question. Go on from that. What does this mean for him and his career at this point?

GARLAND: Well, he runs the risk of having no career in the NFL, or he runs the risk of a substantial suspension. I would be surprised if he were permitted to play football in the next two years, but all of that is up to the commissioner and up to how he wants to treat -- he could be banned for a lifetime from the NFL.

LEMON: All right.

High-profile attorney Ed Garland, who represented Ray Lewis, the linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens when he was indicted for double homicide on Super Bowl Sunday in Atlanta.

Thank you for joining us.

That's the very latest.

Michael Vick, according to a newspaper in Virginia, has reportedly accepted a plea deal. We're going to continue to update you on this story in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Our other top story, plowing through the Caribbean, Hurricane Dean leaving death and destruction in its wake. Take a listen.

This is just hours ago. That storm left parts of Jamaica bruised and battered. A tourism official in the capital called the situation absolutely scary. A state of emergency is in place across the island now.

And in the Cayman Islands, there's a curfew. The hurricane roared south of it as well, dumping a lot of rain and downing a number of trees. No deaths reported there so far.

And across the Caribbean, we've heard at least seven.

At this hour, Dean is aiming for the Yucatan Peninsula and it could be a monster Category 5 by the time it hits. No idea where that will be yet. So tourists are packing into planes and residents are boarding up and stocking up. Jacqui Jeras tracking every move that Dean makes.

What do we know, Jacqui?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, still on that westward track and there's nothing between Dean and the Yucatan to slow this thing down or weaken it. Unfortunately, just the opposite is true. We're looking at likely intensification, 150 miles per hour, that's the maximum sustained winds.

And look at the eye on this thing just kind of becoming a little smaller there. So I'm worried that it might be in one of those strengthening phases. As the eye gets smaller it contracts a little bit like an ice skater as it pulls in its arm, speeds it up and currently then the wind speed will also go up.

The hurricane hunters are flying into the storm right now. They'll be sampling the atmosphere and the conditions in the storm. And if we do get those winds higher, up to 156 miles per hour, it will be a 5 when and if that happens. Of course, we will bring that along to you. A really big storm here across the Caribbean. It's still even affecting Jamaica at this time with the cloudiness and some light rain showers.

We have some I-Reporter video that I want to show up that was taken yesterday afternoon around noonish in Kingston. Jevaughn Hartley sent us this video. She said there was widespread damage to many houses. A lot of trees down and that was the biggest culprit for the damage.

Roofs were blown off. Her home sustained some damage as well. She described the scene as being under chaos, but not nearly the punch that Hurricane Ivan caused back in 2004. Thanks to Jevaughn Hartley for sending those in. Keep yourself safe as you take those I-Report pictures. And make sure you send them in to us at cnn.com/ireport.

This is heading toward the Yucatan, guys. It could be strengthening over the next couple of hours and then we'll watch the Bay of Campeche as it heads toward Mexico's mainland.

PHILLIPS: Jacqui, thanks. And then there is a story we've been telling you about. Just a few minutes ago, we got a word that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has accepted a plea deal. We want to get straight to Elaine Reyes of our affiliate WXIA here in Atlanta. She's outside the courthouse.

Elaine, what have we been able to hear?

ELAINE REYES, WXIA REPORTER: We are going officially learn of what this deal involves at a 3:00 status hearing. I'm in line right now to get inside for a 3:00 status hearing with Judge Henry Hudson. I spoke with him outside earlier this morning. He had indicated if something were to take place, then he would let us know and that's presumably what has happened.

This morning he had not heard from the grand jury who is scheduled to convene today to talk possibly about the charges against Michael Vick. He had not heard from Michael Vick's people, but about 15, 20 minutes ago we got word from his office that he is going to give us the latest in this case.

Judge Henry Hudson presided over all the hearings in the dogfighting case and especially last Friday with a few co-defendants that most recently pleaded guilty in this case.

PHILLIPS: That's right. The co-defendants in the dogfighting case accepting agreements to plead guilty in exchange for reduced sentences. What's the thought process here, Elaine, with Michael Vick? We were hearing possibly 18 to 36 months in prison while carrying on, of course, a suspension in the NFL. Is that what you're hearing as well?

REYES: We are hearing that from some other reporters here. That was the sticking point in all of this. The amount of time that was going to be handled in possibly taking him off the playing field. He's very concerned about his NFL career. He wanted to know exactly how long he would have to spend behind bars if he pleaded guilty.

Apparently they sat all weekend long talking about all these options and probably at the very last minute still weighing the possibility of going to trial in this case, wanting to hear from the NFL, wanting to hear from the Atlanta Falcons, taking all of those into account to make this final decision.

PHILLIPS: And, Elaine, also we had heard that Vick's attorneys were waiting to hear back from the commissioner of the NFL about his career options before entering into any type of deal. Were you hearing the same thing and do you know if that communication happened between Vick's attorneys and the NFL?

REYES: We haven't heard if they have made contact yet today. I'm sure they already know about it. Michael Vick wanted to hear what his options were with the NFL, but the NFL and Roger Goodell had already said that they were going wait and see what would happen with the justice system.

They weren't going to allow whatever they decided to play a factor in the decision that he was going to make in a possible plea agreement. Arthur Blank, the Falcons owner, spoke us to last Friday at their pre-season game in Buffalo and also said he wanted to wait to see what happened with this case before he made a decision with Michael Vick and what his future was with the Atlanta Falcons.

Arthur Blank probably listening and waiting to see what happens at the 3:00 status hearing and probably waiting to see what Roger Goodell decides before he also makes a decision for his organization.

PHILLIPS: All right. Elaine Reyes, of our affiliate, WXIA, just outside the courthouse there. Elaine, thank you so much. Once again, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick accepting a plea deal. We're waiting for more information, hopefully within 25 minutes we'll bring it to you live.

LEMON: Let's move on now and talk about Virginia Tech. It's opening a new chapter today with the start of the fall semester, the school turns a page on the horrors of last April when a student gunman killed 32 people. As the campus moves forward, it's still absorbing that painful lesson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LUCINDA ROY, PROFESSOR, VIRGINIA TECH: I think that we all need to think about how the culture has changed, how we need to be prepared for the future, how we have open systems in campuses where anyone can walk in. It could be a student, it could be someone else. It's very easy to get guns. There are a lot of very disturbed people. We have many more students on medication. What happens when they're off their medication?

So we've got to ask the hard questions and I'm hoping that what will happen this year across the United States is that people will start to ask these questions of themselves and not settle for easy answers because we can't afford to, because we lost things that were so precious to us and we'll never get over that loss.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, after the shootings last April, weapons rights supporters accused gun control advocates of using a tragedy to push their agenda. But in the months since, a weapons rights group began to lobby Virginia's state legislate to loosen prohibitions against guns on campus in the name of preventing future such attacks.

We're going to discuss that idea in a just a moment, but first, here are some of the opinions from Virginia Tech students.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here, it was something that was a complete fluke and a tragedy, but I don't think a handgun here could have resulted in something. It could have made it worse. Shooting at him could have just made him mad. I don't think that having handguns -- people having handguns is a good idea. I think it could cause more things happening.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think probably she would have wanted people to be able to protect themselves in any situation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very dumb to have all kinds of people carrying guns on campus and everything. It's just stupid. If somebody gets mad and just pulls a gun on somebody, people shooting everybody. It's not a good idea. I don't think anybody should have handguns, much less have them in school.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, joining us now from Washington. George Mason University student Andrew Dysart, started a local chapter of Students for Concealed Carry. Also from Washington, George Mason student Casey Campbell. He's against having guns on campus.

Guys, great to have you both. Andrew, let's start with you. Why do you think it's a good idea for students to have a concealed weapon on campus?

ANDREW DYSART, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY STUDENT: First of all, thank you for having me on. What we believe is that students should have the ability to defend themselves on campus just as they do everywhere else in Virginia off-campus.

Right now we are looking at, especially with Virginia Tech, these students had no means to defense themselves. They were as we saw there, and it turned into a tragedy. We just feel that students should have that right on campus. And like I said, like they do off campus.

PHILLIPS: Now, Andrew, you were a U.S. Marine before you went back to school. You know what it's like to use a weapon. You know how much it takes to train on a weapon. Just the discipline mentally and physically even to operate and own one. So do you really believe that college students without that type of training, can be trusted with a weapon especially when, you know, there's a lot of influences on a college campus that aren't necessarily like the U.S. military.

DYSART: Right. Well, and that's a good question. One that I hear often. The one thing to look at is that we're asking for students who are 21 years or older, which is the age you have to be that have concealed handgun permits, who have gone through the training, through the background checks that can take up to 45 days to get a permit.

The police can do a background checks, investigations on you, find out who you are to be able to carry. And it's important to note also, George Mason University is largely a commuter campus, about 30,000 students live -- excuse me, about 30,000 students at George Mason with about 6,000 living off campus.

And the students that already have concealed handgun permits are carrying already in their everyday lives off campus and it's not an issue. We've heard these arguments also back in 1996 when Virginia passed their concealed handgun laws that people would start resolving issues with handguns as far as either with bosses or girlfriends or traffic incidents, that they'd revert to violence and it didn't happen then. We don't feel it will happen now.

PHILLIPS: Casey, what do you think? You're totally again this.

CASEY CAMPBELL, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Yes, ma'am. I believe that pretty much the days of the Old West and those are gone. And I'm very thankful for that. And I think that George Mason University should foster an environment of education and of learning.

And if everyone is going around packing guns and the like of that for a sense of empowerment and a sense of security, which I totally understand, but that does not lead to an environment of education. All it's going do is just lead to a situation where someone is eventually going to get hurt from a mistake or you're going to have lots of people that are there getting their first girlfriends, you know, drinking their first beer and these are pretty young people.

You know, they're going make some really bad and brash mistakes when they're this young at an environment that should be strictly for education and not the Old West.

PHILLIPS: And, Casey, you grew up in the Navy and you're a hunter, so you understand guns. And you also understand college students. So you've got parties, you've got booze, you've got drugs, you've got all of those outside influences. It's not a military base like you grew up on. So does that concern you that violence could go up?

CAMPBELL: Yes, ma'am. It very much does. Because I grew up in an environment where you saw guns all of the time, but these people were trained to have it. They had a lot of respect for what they had. They had respect for the guns and everything like that.

But in a college environment, I can tell you that I'm 23 right now and when I was 19, 20, 21, I was a very different person. I was a lot less mature and a bit more hot-headed. And I had the ability -- if I were to go off the handle, I might hit someone, but if people started having guns, and all of sudden they go off the handle, the mistake they could have would be a lot worse than simply getting a black eye. It could be life threatening or life-changing for many people involved.

PHILLIPS: And, Andrew, do you ever think about weighing the odds, another Virginia Tech shooter coming around versus hundreds of students possibly on campus with handguns. I mean, it could be worse if you're arming more people at a given period of time.

DYSART: Well, and I've heard Casey's concerns a lot and I don't disregard them, but you have to look at it. We have hard facts. You have universities in Utah, University of Utah and Utah State, over 50,000 students combined, that they are allowed to carry concealed handguns to class anywhere on campus and they -- we don't have those issues there with them. We don't have the issues here. Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia allows students with concealed handgun permits to carry.

So you don't have those issues already. We aren't having them in society in general. In Virginia there's over 135,000 -- excuse me, 135,000 residents with permits who are carrying them in their every day lives throughout the state on campus, also if they're not students.

And also, the atmosphere of colleges these days is changing. There are a lot of older students who are carrying outside of school. And most of them, I have students in my group that have children that are almost of college age and they're taking classes. These are adults, mid-40s, mid-50s who cannot carry on campus and we feel that needs to be changed.

As far as students should have the ability to defend themselves as we saw in Virginia Tech. The government won't always be able to protect you.

PHILLIPS: Let me get Casey just to make one final thought, because we've got to wrap. If not guns, what's the answer, Casey, for you?

CAMPBELL: I think the answer is actually just upholding the current laws we have right now. The individual at Virginia Tech, he should never have had a gun to begin with. And if we actually just enforce the laws that are on the books right now, I think that will go a long way towards solving a lot of our problems.

PHILLIPS: Casey Campbell and Andrew Dysart, we'll follow what happens. Thanks, guys.

DYSART: Thank you.

CAMPBELL: Thank you.

LEMON: All right. New information into the CNN NEWSROOM. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has agreed to plead guilty in the U.S. dogfighting case that is against him. And this is according to one of his attorneys. And I have a statement that I'm going to read in a second. But it says he has reached a deal with prosecutors and will plead guilty in the case that has attracted worldwide attention.

Here's a statement that CNN has released from Michael Vick -- or from Billy Martin, I should say, regarding Michael Vick in response to reaching a plea agreement with federal prosecutors on Friday, Martin says: "After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick asks that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him. He has agreed to enter the plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he made."

Then he goes on to say: "Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter." And the legal team, of course, of Michael Vick, will appear in Richmond, Virginia, courtroom on August 27th. That's what will happen then. So that's the information that is in to CNN now. Michael Vick accepting a plea deal. That's a statement from his attorneys. We get more information on this story, we'll update you here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Well, his cancer was unstoppable, but his attitude unbeatable. And his words will continue to speak for him. Ahead in the NEWSROOM, the legacy of Miles Levin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A teenager's battle with a rare and terminal cancer is over, 18-year-old Miles Levin, well, died this morning at his home in Michigan. He shared his battle on his blog and became a teacher, a hero and a friend to people across the globe. And CNN's Carol Costello is joining us now from Washington with the story.

Carol, you have been following the story. I saw at least two of your reports on this and just speaking to you moments ago, you said it took on a life of its own on the Internet. People really, really became close to this young man. Sad to see him go. I thought he wasn't going die. I really did.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I know. But this form of cancer really kills. You know, what drew me to Miles Levin's story was my own brother died of a similar form of cancer when he was 25 years old. So I was reading his blog -- Miles Levin's blog, and it was optimistic. Here was a young man looking to make an impact on the world in the very short time he had on Earth.

And you know, today there is sadness, Don, but there's a certain peace, too, because Miles Levin got his wish. He did make an impact.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO (voice-over): There were many ways to handle the sad news Miles Levin was given at the age of 16.

MILES LEVIN: I am 16. I have cancer. There's been some sort of cosmic mix-up here. You've got the wrong guy.

COSTELLO: But this ordinary teenager from Bloomfield, Michigan, saw cancer, of all things, as an enormous opportunity.

LEVIN: Before cancer I wasn't really outstanding in any way. A nice guy perhaps, but I didn't have my act together at all.

COSTELLO: He launched a blog full of wit and wisdom well beyond his years. Thousand of readers around the world responded.

(on camera): Would you say you've lived a full life, then?

LEVIN: Yes. I'm in a place now that a lot of 78-year-old men find themselves, and that it looking at their life retrospectively.

COSTELLO (voice-over): His view was that life was lovely, however long or short, that it deserved to be lived with grace.

LEVIN: I've come to believe God put me on Earth to get stage- four aveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Why? So that I could show the world how to have stage-four aveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, or rather how to handle what is close to the worst thing that could possibly happen to me with as much strength and grace as I could manage.

COSTELLO: Miles' form of cancer, sarcoma, attacks connective tissues, killing about 5,000 people each year. The Sarcoma Foundation gave him an award for his courage, and he videotaped this message.

LEVIN: To be able to find yourself at the center of Hell and still smile at the flames, that's a miracle, if I've ever seen one.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And you know, Miles Levin's life was sort of a miracle. I want to quote you something he wrote on his blog. He said: "Dying is not what scares me, it's dying having had no impact. I know a lot of eyes are watching me suffer, win or lose, this is my time for impact."

And this is the kind of impact that this young man has had. Since we posted his obit on our Web site, 250,000 people have visited cnn.com just to read about Miles, to say a final good-bye, to pray for him and to send their love. LEMON: Yes. And I know it happened this morning, Carol. And you seem really touched by it, I'm sure you are. But I can only imagine what the family is going through. Have you had an opportunity to speak with them at all?

COSTELLO: I have exchanged e-mails with Nancy Levin, Miles' mother, who has been with him through thick and thin since he was diagnosed a few years ago. It is going to be very difficult for her. Because this has been her life. She quit her job to care for her son and now he is gone, but she is so very proud of him.

She has set up this memorial fund and this is not money going to the Levin family. This is money to go to combat pediatric cancer. If you would like to donate, this is the Miles Levin Fund. Post Office Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, 48303.

Miles Levin, 18 years old but so very wise.

LEMON: Yes. And thank you, Carol. Thank you so much for that. And we look forward to your report this evening. And also if you didn't get that, we're going to try to get that on our Web site for you. Carol Costello reporting today for us.

Miles Levin posted a guest column on the "AC 360" blog. That was back in May. And Anderson Cooper will have more on Miles Levin and how he made his short time on Earth really count. That's "AC 360" tonight at 10:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

PHILLIPS: Well, straight ahead, drama on the high plains. Rescue attempts lead to a heart pounding moment. You'll see it all caught on tape.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: So it was big night for family entertainment and cable TV on Friday. Entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas here to tell us about a ratings smash for the Disney Channel.

Sibila, what was everybody watching on Friday?

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, 17.2 million people tuned into "High School Musical 2," Kyra, that makes it the most watched program in the history of basic cable television. I guess you don't have to be edgy to get ratings, because most critics agree this movie is wholesome family entertainment.

Now the ratings were expected to be high for the squeaky clean sequel because it is the follow-up of a very successful 2006 original that debuted to 7.7 million viewers and has since sold $100 million worth of CDs and DVDs.

But even so, the numbers for this show, about a bunch of musically talented high school kids, are pretty staggering. On Friday it had as many viewers as all four broadcast networks combined and it had more viewers than any show that has aired on Friday for the last five years. Now the 17.2 million viewers makes it the most watched show since the end of May sweeps, and that includes network shows as well.

PHILLIPS: Hey, we've come a long way since the "Mickey Mouse Club," haven't we?

VARGAS: We certainly have, but you know, we've never seen this show and if you haven't, though, you haven't heard about it, this is only for kids. I mean, because it's like, what do they call them when they're between 8 and 13? Isn't that "tweens" or something or pre- tweens or something?

PHILLIPS: I don't know. You're the one with the kids. You're going to keep me hip to all of these new shows.

VARGAS: Yes, you know, he's not there yet, he's only 6 years old, but, you know, we're going to go grownup tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." Of course, we're going to talk about Ms. Britney Spears. Britney Spears, naked ambition, why does Britney keep exposing herself publicly? Is it a desperate cry for help? The story on TV's most provocative entertainment news show "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. Back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Sibila, thank you.

LEMON: You were in the choir and a dancer or drum major, all that stuff, weren't you?

PHILLIPS: Drum major. I had to have my sticks and my magazines and I tried to pull it off. It was hard.

LEMON: We're out in space sometimes in the CNN NEWSROOM. And NASA keeps an eye on Hurricane Dean and decides to reschedule Endeavour's return. Our Miles O'Brien, of course, is right on top of it. That's straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: And dangerous Dean, the hurricane cuts a deadly path through the Caribbean. Where the storm is headed next just moments away. Stay with CNN. We're your hurricane headquarters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com