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Bush Promises to Begin Troop Drawdown; Texas Town Recovering from Hurricane Humberto; Tornado Warning in Alabama; Teen Drivers Warned about Multitasking; Sound Problems Plague Petraeus Hearing
Aired September 14, 2007 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: O.J. Simpson, a Las Vegas casino and an alleged theft.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: What went on at the Palace last night and what did O.J. Simpson have to do with it? In just a few minutes we'll hear from the Vegas police.
Hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Here's an example for you. Not everything that stays in Vegas -- happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Not for O.J. Simpson, anyway.
We're waiting for a police news conference on the Simpson -- his latest brush with the law. Las Vegas police have questioned him about a casino break-in. Apparently, there was an alleged theft at the Palace Station hotel-casino. It happened last night. It involved sports memorabilia.
Police didn't arrest Simpson, but their investigation isn't finished. And, they say, they don't think Simpson will be leaving town. Prosecutors haven't decided yet whether to file charges. And, again, we'll bring that police news conference you to live from Las Vegas just as soon as it begins -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You heard it from the president's mouth. Some troops are coming home from Iraq. Some sooner, some later. We're going to have Democratic reaction to that in just a moment. But, first, here's the -- some of what President Bush had to say last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because of this success, General Petraeus believes we have now reached the point where we can maintain our security gains with fewer American forces.
He has recommended that we not replace about 2,200 Marines scheduled to leave Anbar province later this month. In addition, he says it will soon be possible to bring home an Army combat brigade for a total force reduction of 5,700 troops by Christmas.
And he expects that by July, we will be able to reduce our troop levels in Iraq from 20 combat brigades to 15. Over time, our troops will shift from leading operations to partnering with Iraqi forces, and eventually to over-watching those forces.
As this transition in our mission takes place, our troops will focus on a more limited set of tasks, including counterterrorism operations and training, equipping, and supporting Iraqi forces.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The numbers: between 2,100 and 22,000 troops out of Iraq by this time next year. That will bring the U.S. military presence down to a level seen before the so-called troop surge.
These figures echo the recommendations of General David Petraeus. He and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq say they'll deliver their official progress report in the spring.
LEMON: The immediate voice of the Democratic Party was that of Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed. He says he was expecting to hear a plan to end the war, or a reason to keep fighting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JACK REED (D), RHODE ISLAND: Tonight, a nation eager for change in Iraq heard the president speak about his plans for the future. But once again, the president failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it.
The president rightfully invoked the valor of our troops in his speech. But his plan does not amount to real change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: So, it's 20,000 plus troops projected to leave Iraq in the coming months. An Army combat brigade, rather, will pull out, and some U.S. Marine troops won't be replaced.
And what about the support troops? To date, about 8,000 of those.
Nobody's saying, but we do have our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre on the Iraq fact desk to help us wade through all these numbers. Jamie, what did you figure out?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, if you were listening to the president last night and you didn't exactly figure out how many U.S. troops were coming home and exactly how many were staying, it's because he didn't exactly say. It's all part of our CNN Iraq desk fact check this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE (voice-over): The president announced 5,700 U.S. troops would come home by the end of the year, but as for the total by July? He talked brigades, not troops.
BUSH: We will be able to reduce our troop levels in Iraq from 20 combat brigades to 15. MCINTYRE: The CNN Iraq fact desk has broken that down into hard numbers. Five Army brigades, roughly 3,500 soldiers each, is 17,500 troops. The Marine expeditionary unit is just over 2,000. And the two Marine battalions are about 1,000 each for another 2,000. That adds up to 21,500.
The president made a point of saying the mission is changing from going after insurgents to getting the Iraqis to go after insurgents.
BUSH: Over time, our troops will shift from leading operations to partnering with Iraqi forces.
MCINTYRE: But the independent Jones Commission report says that will take up to a year and a half. To his opponents in Congress, it all sounds like a warmed-over version of the old "we stand down as they stand up" slogan.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I mean, please, it's an insult to the intelligence of the American people.
MCINTYRE: The president insists the surge met its goals.
BUSH: Anbar province is a good example of how our strategy is working.
MCINTYRE: But Stephen Biddle, an expert who advised General David Petraeus, says the awakening in Anbar was unanticipated and outside the design for the surge.
STEPHEN BIDDLE, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: I think it's a temporary alliance of convenience that may be sustainable for a long time, if somebody remains to police it.
MCINTYRE: The president says the troop withdrawal is a return on success.
BUSH: The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home.
MCINTYRE: Critics charge the surge is ending, not because Iraq is getting better, but because the U.S. Army is out of troops.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: And it's not just how many troops are coming home, but how many are staying there. We've seen that number, 130,000.
But, Kyra, if some of those support troops have to stay like, for instance, military police, who are guarding detainees that were wrapped up in the surge, then that number may be higher than 130,000. But General Petraeus is reviewing that now -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre. Thanks, Jamie.
So the plan is out there. Now it falls on the Pentagon to put the machine in motion. The secretary of defense, the joint chiefs, the field commanders, how will they do it? Who comes home? Who stays?
Defense Secretary Bob Gates and joints chiefs chairman General Peter Pace take reporters' questions later this afternoon. CNN will be live there for that news conference at about 3:30 Eastern Time.
LEMON: We've been dealing with some bad weather all week, and now we hear of a possible tornado warning. Let's check in with CNN's Reynolds Wolf in the severe weather center to tell us what's going on.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right, Don. We take you to Jefferson County, Alabama, southwestern Jefferson County, Alabama. We have a tornado warning, and it's going to be in effect for ten minutes or so.
As we zoom in a bit more, it's right near the areas of Hueytown and Bessemer, Homewood, Xavier Hills (ph), even Forestdale, where we have a possible tornado. No visual confirmation on this. This has been triggered by Doppler radar.
The possible tornado with this rotating storm may be moving through the western half of Birmingham within the next ten minutes or so. Certainly an area that we want to watch very carefully. Not only is there this possibility of a tornado but also some small hail, some damaging winds, obviously, and even a little bit of flash flooding.
So that's an area. It's of big concern for us. And we're going to watch it for you very carefully over the next 20 minutes or so.
Let's send it back to you at the news desk.
LEMON: Right there, going over what is it called, Red Mountain?
WOLF: Red Mountain, down to Red Mountain and back to Oak Mountain, Mountain Brook, as well. That whole area for much of the iron city of Birmingham can expect these conditions.
LEMON: All right, we'll check back with you. Thank you so much for that, Reynolds.
A full-fledged hurricane hadn't hit the U.S. in two years. Sneaky Humberto's Gulf Coast sucker punch, well, it changed that in quite a hurry.
CNN's Sean Callebs is in South Texas with the impact of Humberto's fast and furious visit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The tiny town of High Island, Texas, feeling the brunt of Humberto. The eye passing right over this small community of about 500 people.
And to give you an idea on the significant damage, look at this home back here. As bad as it looks, the roof simply sheared off and tossed into the woods, 69-year-old Connie Payton and her husband were in here at the time. The Peytons (ph), like so many other people in this area, say they simply had no warning that there was a hurricane bearing down on the Texas coastline.
Mrs. Peyton (ph) said she went to sleep at around 10 p.m. and then, just after midnight she knew something was up. The house started shaking violently, and the roof blew off. She describes what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're sitting there when I heard the roof go. I didn't know if all of it had gone or what. But I knew some had, you know.
CALLEBS: This storm was not discriminating. It really hammered this area of Texas, moving on into Louisiana. At one point, more than 100,000 people had lost power. And authorities tell us, it's going to be as many as four days before electricity is restored to all areas.
Now, no reports of injuries in this tiny area of High Island. And you may wonder why it's called High Island. Well, relatively speaking, it is somewhat high. It's a 26 to 37 feet above sea level. That doesn't sound like a whole lot, but it is enough to keep a punishing storm surge from really doing horrific damage to this area.
There was flooding, but that was because as much as 14 inches of rain fell in a very short period. The cleanup is going to take some time. We know the Peytons (ph) are staying with other relatives, but for the rest of the folks in this area, the cleanup will, indeed, take time.
Sean Callebs, CNN, High Island, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Live from Las Vegas, Nevada, right now, waiting for a police news conference. Once again, in trouble, O.J. Simpson. This time, an alleged, possibly, alleged break-in in a room in a casino there in Las Vegas.
We're waiting to hear more. When that live news conference begins, we'll take it live.
LEMON: Also out west: driven to distraction? California tells teens to quit multitasking with the -- all the gadgets behind the wheel.
And from Florida, we'll have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The girl's mother says it all started over snacks. She says her daughter traded zebra cakes like these for a bag of chips.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Hey, what do you know? A story that really is all that and a bag of chips. Snack cake dispute leads to an alleged death threat at an elementary school.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: O.J. Simpson in trouble again, this time possibly for breaking into the Palace casino. We're waiting for a live news conference from the Las Vegas police. As soon as they step up to the mics, we'll take it.
LEMON: Let's take you to a live picture and some weather news happening in Birmingham, Alabama, my old stomping ground. This is probably looking from atop Red Mountain on to downtown. Usually you can see it, but you can't see it, Reynolds.
WOLF: That's right, Don, your old stomping ground and mine, looking north from Red Mountain right into the bowl that is the city of Birmingham. You should see Eismore (ph) Road, maybe even I-65 going right to the bottom of that screen.
What we're seeing here, obviously, some heavy clouds that are rolling on through and a tornado warning that will be in effect for about another two minutes or so.
As we go right to radar, we're going to zoom into western Jefferson County where that warning remains in effect. This is a storm that has had quite a bit of history. Just to the north of Tuscaloosa, it's been marching to its east.
And right now from places like Hueytown and Bessemer, where we still have the tornado warning, we'd like people to take cover immediately. Also, if you happen to be in Vestavia Hills, Hoover, maybe even downtown Birmingham or Forest Hill, take cover. The lowest floor away from windows into the interior room that you have in your house. Maybe a closet, not a bad spot. Maybe even under stairs, away from outside walls.
This is going to remain in effect for just the next couple of minutes. Again, this is the cluster that we've been watching. A rotating storm, possible tornado moving through the western half of Jefferson County in Birmingham, Alabama.
Let's send it back to you at the news desk.
LEMON: And all of this caused by the weather pattern. Obviously, we could use the rain here in the southeast, but not necessarily the tornadoes involved.
WOLF: No question about it.
LEMON: All right. Reynolds Wolf, we'll keep checking back with you. If you get any information, let us know. WOLF: You bet.
Put down the cell phone and keep your hands on the wheel. That's the message from California lawmakers to teenage drivers. Details now from Patti Lee of affiliate station KTVU.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTI LEE, KTVU CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lolita Fernandez got her permanent license two months ago, and driving is not yet second nature.
LOLITA FERNANDEZ, TEEN DRIVER: It's pretty scary. But it's fun. You know, I'm getting used to it still.
LEE: She admits some teens are susceptible to distractions like the radio but also PDAs, pagers and...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello.
LEE: ... cell phones.
FERNANDEZ: Some of them do take their phone calls. But they try to keep it under, like, a minute. Normally just like, "OK, hi, I'll call you back or something when I get home."
LEE: But most people aren't so disciplined. According to the CHP, cell phone use is the leading cause of distracted driver accidents. And the Ford Motor study reveals teen drivers are four times more distracted than adults by cell phone use.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess it's better for people won't crash. But sometimes you have to talk on the phone.
LEE: Today Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that bans anyone under the age of 18 from using electronic devices while driving.
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: The CHP just came out with their report saying that the majority of traffic accidents in teenagers is because they're distracted because of cell phones, laptops or doing their makeup or whatever it may be, eating in a car and so on. So, we tried to, really, lower that number.
LEE: The law takes effect July 1 of next year. Also going into effect, a law that requires all drivers over 18 to use hands-free devices.
LES BISHOP, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL: When we see somebody with a phone up to their ear, they can be stopped for that. And that's anybody of any age.
LEE: Parents of teenagers say they believe the new law will be helpful.
LORRAINE RUMLEY, PARENT: It does give some teeth to, you know, parents' rules. You know, we like to believe they listen to us and, you know, think, you know, we know everything but...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, violators will be fined $20 for the first offense, $50 thereafter. Again that was Patty Lee of our affiliate station KTVU reporting.
LEMON: And this story, definite talker, because a lot of people use cell phones. Not just teenagers, right?
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes, texting, on the phone. What about doing makeup? Watching TV?
LEMON: Do you text in your car?
PHILLIPS: No.
LEMON: I have to have one of those things installed in mine.
PHILLIPS: I learned a valuable lesson.
LEMON: Yes.
PHILLIPS: I had too many close calls.
LEMON: Yes, absolutely, absolutely. So we went and talked to people, just on the street, whether this law -- what they think of this law and whether or not people should be texting and talking and driving.
PHILLIPS: Did someone actually tell you it's OK to text while driving?
LEMON: You'll have to watch.
PHILLIPS: OK.
LEMON: You'll have to watch. We'll half it for you a little bit later on in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Meantime, Kyra, as you've been saying, we're awaiting a press conference to happen in Las Vegas, involving a possible theft there. And police have been questioning football star O.J. Simpson.
It's a very bizarre story that we're going to get some information from police and officials there, just as soon as they step up to the microphone. CNN NEWSROOM continues after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: One-twenty in the afternoon here in the east. Three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We're waiting on a news conference out of Las Vegas. Police there questioned but didn't arrest O.J. Simpson about an incident at a hotel room. Apparently, someone tried to steal sports memorabilia from a hotel room.
Lots of questions about this story. And hopefully the news conference will provide some answers for us.
Today, the latest day -- or the last day on the job for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. He leaves with a speech to Justice Department employees. Gonzales resigned August 27. Solicitor General Paul Clement takes over Monday until a new attorney general is confirmed.
And in Nevada, searchers can resume their hunt for Steve Fossett, now that the winds have died down. Planes stayed on the ground yesterday because of the gusts. The famed aviator has been missing for 11 days now.
PHILLIPS: Well, if you deserve a break from your Wal-Mart shopping, McDonald's is no longer the most likely option. Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us who's taking over.
Hey, Susan.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
Well, you're more likely to find Jared than Ronald McDonald at Wal-Mart these days. Subway Restaurants have overtaken Mickey D's inside the world's largest retailer. Subway just began partnering with Wal-Mart three years ago.
At one time, McDonald's was Wal-Mart's exclusive in-store restaurateur, but Subway has now pulled ahead. It has more than 1,400 restaurants in Wal-Mart stores, compared to just over 1,000 McDonald's.
Wal-Mart may find Subway boosts its image, because it's considered to have a healthier menu. That's how Jared lost all that weight.
On the other hand, McDonald's strategy has been to grow by focusing on breakfast and the drive-through, which may not work as well at Wal-Mart. Really tough to do a drive-through at Wal-Mart.
Still, McDonald's tells us that it continues to be very interested in its relationship with Wal-Mart -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, let's turn to a more highbrow offering, shall we?
LISOVICZ: Were, it's Friday, Kyra. Such a Friday story.
It appears Martha Stewart is about to be bottled up and corked. "The Wall Street Journal" says talk show host and queen of all things domestic will soon have her own brand of wine.
The report says Gallo Wines in California will produce the $15 per bottle vintage. Varieties we're told will include chardonnay, cabernet and merlot. It will be in limited release to just a handful of cities, and Martha probably says it's a good thing.
(STOCK REPORT)
LISOVICZ: In the next hour, we'll be talking about toys and how much it costs to make them safe. I'll have that story in the next hour of NEWSROOM. In the meantime, Kyra and Don, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Sounds good. See you in a little bit, Susan.
LEMON: New video into the CNN NEWSROOM. Of course, we've been talking about Tony Snow, the White House spokesperson, his last day on the job. There he is, leaving Marine One with the president just a short time ago. The president was visiting folks down in Quantico, Virginia, this morning.
And Tony Snow, last day. I think he was on the job, what, for about 18 months, Kyra? Just about like a year and a half or so on the job. Fifty-two years old.
The consideration for this job, he said, was the salary. Of course, as a TV person he made a lot more money. He stepped down to do this. I should say, he took this job, because I heard him say he thought it was important and it was the biggest podium in the world.
So, there's Tony Snow walking with the president after leaving Marine One this morning.
PHILLIPS: Well, there was deafening silence when General David Petraeus tried to begin his congressional testimony earlier this week. But it's not because of what he had to say.
CNN's Jeanne Moos explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Maybe you heard about the hearings you couldn't hear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: General David Petraeus, the floor is yours.
MOOS: The general may command an army of troops in Iraq. He couldn't order his microphone to work. And neither could the committee chairman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would somebody please fix the microphone?
MOOS: Easier said than done.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it working again? Is it fixed? How's the microphone?
MOOS: Maybe all those medals on the general's chest caused some sort of electrical surge.
No amount of headshaking helped. No amount of button pressing. The general tried moving to another mic, but his mouth still moved silently.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there any way to trade microphones from the front row to the podium?
MOOS: The silence was deafening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are we fixed yet?
MOOS: Deafening silence all the way to "The Daily Show".
JON STEWART, HOST, COMEDY CENTRAL'S "THE DAILY SHOW": Well, while we're waiting, is this mic working yet? Can we check on that? Is there -- I see they're still working out some technical problems. Still waiting.
MOOS: And though you couldn't hear the general...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are we doing on the microphone?
MOOS: You could hear the protester.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why did you kill so many (ph) people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Out they go.
MOOS: Funny how the chairman's mic picked up what he didn't want heard, talking under his breath about the protest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That really (EXPLETIVE DELETED) me off.
MOOS: Technicians crawled under the general's table, to no avail.
(on camera) Personally, I blame it on the skinny mics. I mean, look how skinny they're making microphones these days. How are you supposed to get any sound through this thing?
(voice-over) Sound always seems to work fine when those old fat mics are around.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Watch.
MOOS: Even if they are only props, something for Letterman to fondle, or antiques to dress up the sets.
GLENN BECK, HOST, HEADLINE NEWS' "GLENN BECK": You pieces of garbage.
MOOS: No language like that back at hearing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm told we'll take five minutes to fix the microphone. We'll take a five-minute break.
MOOS: During the break there was plenty of testing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Testing, one, two, three. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Testing.
MOOS: And some freaky feedback.
Finally, they discovered a disconnected cord. No technicians lost their jobs on account of the snafu. The most likely culprit? The feet of the press Swarming around the general to take his picture, but, hey, a picture is supposed to be worth 1,000 words, or at least 8.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: General, does it work?
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, U.S. COMMANDER IN IRAQ: It does, Mr. Chairman.
MOOS: But can you say that about the surge?
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All those microphones you see there to the right of your screen, well, that is happening in Las Vegas. Police are preparing for a press conference there to give us some information about O.J. Simpson, allegedly involved, or possibly involved, in a theft at a Las Vegas hotel.
Lots of questions in this case. And we hope police will answer them for us just as soon as they step up to the mic. We'll bring it to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips.
Las Vegas police say it is an alleged theft, and that O.J. Simpson is an alleged suspect.
LEMON: We're awaiting a police news conference and details on exactly what went down at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino. Details, right here, in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, not for O.J. Simpson anyway. We're awaiting a police conference on Simpson's latest brush with the law. Las Vegas police have questioned him about an incident involving sports memorabilia at a casino hotel. Police haven't arrested Simpson, but their investigation isn't finished, and they say they don't think Simpson will be leaving town. Again, we'll bring you the news conference lives a it begins in Vegas. LEMON: And now for a story we followed extensively yesterday. Four people are accused of helping a suspected cop killer in Florida. They were arrested late this morning. Within the hour, we should hear from Miami-Dade police. They've scheduled a news conference for 2:00 p.m. Eastern as new details emerge on yesterday's shooting that left one officer dead and three others wounded.
The suspected gunman, Shawn Sherwin Labeet, was killed late last night in a shootout with police. Authorities today are blaming Labeet's girlfriend for hampering their investigation, and say all four suspects helped Labeet elude authorities. We'll carry that news conference lives a it happens in the NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: A snack cake worth killing for? Well, police in Orange County, Florida, say a 9-year-old girl threatened to kill a classmate when a lunch trade went wrong.
Eric Rasmussen of Florida affiliate WFTV has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CINDY LANDFAIR, MOTHER OF THREATENED GIRL: The note said, "I have a gun, and first I'm willing to shoot you in the shoulder."
ERIC RASMUSSEN, WFTV REPORTER (voice-over) From one 9-year-old girl to another.
LANDFAIR: Then I'm going to -- you're going to shoot me back with a bazooka, but you're not going to kill me.
RASMUSSEN: Cindy Landfair said a note from her daughter to a classmate at Southwood Elementary School went too far.
LANDFAIR: And then I'm going to shoot you back and kill you. I was shocked. I was terrified.
RASMUSSEN (on camera): The girl's mother said it all started over a snack. She said her daughter traded Zebra Cakes like these for a bag of chips, but when the other girl wanted it all for herself, her mother said that's when she wrote the threatening note.
(voice-over): It happened during an after-school program run by the YMCA. The Y suspended the girl that wrote the note. But Landfair says school officials won't tell her whether they've done the same, and will only they're only handling the matter internally.
LANDFAIR: I don't know anything at this point. The school is basically leaving me in the dark.
RASMUSSEN: Now Landfair says she may pull her kids out of school, even though authorities didn't find a gun and don't believe there was a crime committed.
LANDFAIR: Yes, you know, I do. But I only have one daughter. And she's not replaceable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Again, that was Eric Rasmussen of Florida affiliate WFTV reporting.
LEMON: Keep your eyes on the road, your hands up on the wheel. That old line from The Doors song. Remember that, "Roadhouse Blues?" Well, it could be the new motto for teenagers in California, where lawmakers have just passed a bill banning kids under 18 from using their cell phones while driving. The law applies to all electronic gadgets, including PDAs and also laptops. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says the bill will help save lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: The CHP just came out with a report that the majority of traffic accidents from teenagers is because they're distracted, because of cell phones, laptops or doing their makeup, or whatever it may be, eating in a car and so on. So we tried to really lower that number.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, that bill goes into effect next July, the same day as a new law requiring adults use hands-free devices while driving. Well, there is still no word what Arnold Schwarzenegger' kids, three of whom are teenagers, think about the new law. But we did ask some people here at the CNN Center what they thought.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUESTION: So what do you think? Governor Schwarzenegger says no more kids using cell phones, driving, texting or talking?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I agree with that. They have enough distractions. They don't need to be trying to text anybody, or calling. Even if it's -- I know -- I think the law said even if it's the hands-free kind, no, not at that age.
QUESTION: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They just need to master driving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's dangerous. I think accidents happen too quickly. And they don't have a good response time.
LEMON: Reporter: Mainly because they are using their phones?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We sent our son to this performance driving course, and one of the things I'll never forget the guy talked about, if you take your eye off the road and look at that device, your car runs off the direction you're doing. And I've notice that with myself, if I'm doing my BlackBerry in the car, which I shouldn't be doing, that exact thing happens, and I think they don't understands those kinds of things. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Teens should not be driving and using a cell phone at the same time?
QUESTION: Teens?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
QUESTION: How about adults?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: That's true. Adults are worse because they try to do more than use the phone and do texting, they're doing other things as well.
LEMON: I never text usually while I'm driving. But I'll do it at if I'm at a red light or a stop sign and what have you, and then I look up and all the cars in front of me are gone, you know, and people are honking.
PHILLIPS: But didn't someone say, who is ever that important where you have to call or text while you're driving a car?
LEMON: You're absolutely right. It's a terrible, terrible habit. And you know what, the sad thing is people have died from doing it. And we shouldn't do it, we really shouldn't.
PHILLIPS: Bottom line.
LEMON: Yes, bottom line.
PHILLIPS: We're talking about toddlers and cholesterol coming up. Should kids be screened before their second birthday? We're going to have the latest recommendations, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: New information in to the CNN NEWSROOM. We've been telling you about O.J. Simpson being questioned about a possible break-in at a Las Vegas hotel. Just word in to CNN, this is according to the Associated Press, O.J. Simpson has told the Associated Press he took memorabilia that belonged to him from a casino hotel, but didn't break into the room. Again, O.J. Simpson telling the AP that he did take memorabilia that belonged to him from a casino hotel, but didn't break into the room.
We've been telling you about investigators and police in Las Vegas, investigating a possible break-in into a hotel in Las Vegas, and they had questioned O.J. Simpson about it. That's all they would tell us. Very unusual wording here. They're saying, they're calling it an alleged theft, and he is an alleged suspect.
Exactly what that means, we hope to find out in this live picture here. Take -- take a look at this. These microphones you see set up here, Las Vegas police, investigators there preparing to do a press conference to give us some answers about this latest legal, possible legal, case for O.J. Simpson.
We'll bring it to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: High cholesterol, a problem just for adults, right? Not so, a new study suggests that kids get started -- get tested starting at 15-months-old.
CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen explains why.
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ELIZABETH COHEN, MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Now, here's something that parents need to know. Your child could have high cholesterol and you wouldn't know it.
According to a study by the "British Medical Journal," it would be helpful if pediatricians screened toddlers starting at 15 months for high cholesterol. They found that that would allow doctors to intervene and change diet or give drugs if necessary. Now, not all doctors agree that screening needs to start at 15 months. But there is no question studies have been done clogging of the arteries does, indeed, start in childhood. Now, you might be wondering why in the world would a toddler have high cholesterol? Are they eating at too many steakhouses? Well, a diet sometimes is the reason. At 15 months, toddlers can start choosing their own foods and unfortunately, too many of them do reach out for fatty foods. However, there are also toddlers who inherit a gene that basically gives them high cholesterol.
Another thing that parents need to look out for, is high blood pressure. There are also studies that show that pediatricians need to be checking starting at age 3 to see if children have high blood pressure.
Back to you.
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LEMON: Got questions about the New England Patriots? Well, Coach Bill Belichick, he got some answers.
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BILL BELICHICK, HEAD COACH, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: As I stated, that it's over, and we're moving on to San Diego, and that's what we're moving on to. We're moving on to San Diego. That's what I'm addressing. It doesn't matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right, so it happens to be the same answer, but no matter the question, the answer's the same. We'll tell you how the NFL is settling the spying score straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: And he lives by his taste buds. But now, one of the nation's top chefs may lose that sense and much more. We'll have his story straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: And we'll get you live now to Las Vegas, a news conference about to get underway there involving O.J. Simpson. And word now from the Associated Press, where O.J. Simpson says that he did take some memorabilia that belonged to him from a casino hotel, but he didn't break into the room.
Again, according to the Associated Press, he's admitting to taking something. But we want some answers for that. And police here will probably give us some of that, coming up, in a little bit, as soon as they get this press conference underway. We'll bring it to you live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Don't go anywhere. We're back in a moment.
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PHILLIPS: Live pictures out of Las Vegas, Nevada, not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, at least not for O.J. Simpson. We're waiting for a police news conference on Simpson's latest brush with the law.
Apparently, Las Vegas police have questioned him about a casino break-in. Apparently, there was an alleged theft at the Palace Station Hotel-Casino last evening that involved sports memorabilia. Police said they didn't arrest Simpson, but their investigation is not finished and they say they think that Simpson will not be leaving town.
Now, according to the Associated Press, O.J. Simpson has talked to them and they are running on their wires right now that O.J. Simpson has told them that he took memorabilia that belonged to him from a casino hotel, but did not break into that room. Prosecutors haven't decided yet whether they're going to file charges.
Once again, we are waiting for a live news conference right there out of Las Vegas, Nevada, our affiliate KTMV bringing us that live picture. We'll take it as soon as they step up to the mic.
LEMON: Meantime, tearful testimony today from the state's key witness in the Utah trial of polygamist Warren Jeffs. Jeffs is a leader of the nation's largest polygamist sect. He's charged as an accomplice to rape for allegedly arranging the marriage of a 14-year- old girl to her cousin. Prosecutors played a tape of a 1997 sermon on how women must be submissive.
Here's some of it.
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WARREN JEFFS: Do you give yourself to him, that means in full obedience, you are literally taken from your father's home and given to that man. You belong to him.
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LEMON: CNN is identifying the victim only as Jane Doe due to the rape allegation she's been testifying about her marriage.
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VOICE OF JANE DOE, WITNESS FOR PROSECUTION: He said I've always wanted to see a woman naked. And I was so embarrassed, I was so embarrassed.
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LEMON: Jeffs' attorney maintains the young woman may not have liked being married, but being unhappy is different from rape.
Inside the mind of a killer. Pro wrestler Chris Benoit's diary is raising more questions about his mental state when he strangled his wife and smothered his son.
According to our Atlanta affiliate WSB, Benoit wrote how much he loved his family and about being lonely on the road. And there were many entries written as letters to his friend Eddie Guerrero, a former wrestler who died in 2005 of an enlarged heart. Benoit wrote, "I'll be with you soon." His father's attorney says the diary reveals signs of dementia and depression. Doctors say brain scans on Benoit showed similar findings, likely due to concussions.
PHILLIPS: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is taking full responsibility for the spying scandal that has shaken his football team and the NFL. He's making it clear he has nothing more to say about it.
Cheating involved a Patriot's employee who was caught videotaping signals being used by New York Jets' coaches in Sunday's game. The NFL fined Belichick $500,000. The team was fined $250,000 and it could lose next year's first-round draft pick.
This morning, Belichick tried repeatedly to shift discussion to this weekend's game.
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BELICHICK: As I stated, it's over and we're moving on. It's to San Diego and that's what we're moving on to. We're moving on to San Diego. That's what I'm addressing. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. And we're moving on. We're moving on, we're moving on. The whole situation is behind us, and we're moving on to the San Diego Chargers. I'm moving forward, I'm moving on. I'm moving forward, I'm moving on.
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PHILLIPS: What do you think? Is Belichick moving on?
Well, it's not the first time this has happened. The same Patriots' employee caught videotaping in Sunday's victory over the Jets was also caught during Patriots' win last season against the Green Bay Packers. LEMON: President Bush, the commander in chief had lunch and some face time with marines today at the base in Quantico, Virginia. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr. Bush said he told the marines that he listens to military commanders in the field and that he's making sure they have the flexibility and troops needed to complete the mission there.
So, the president's plan is out there. Now, it falls on the Pentagon to put the machine in motion. The Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs, the field commanders, how will they do it? Who comes home, who stays? Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace takes reporters' questions, well, later on this afternoon. CNN will be there live for the news conference, set for 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
PHILLIPS: Stormy tenure comes to a close. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales leaves office officially on Sunday. This afternoon, Gonzales is expected to speak at a farewell ceremony being held in his honor at the Justice Department. Critics, of course, have been after Gonzales almost since the day he took that job, criticizing his role in domestic surveillance, the firings of U.S. attorneys, and later, the accuracy of his testimony before Congress. President Bush defended Gonzales to the very end, calling him a victim of, "unfair treatment."
LEMON: A lot of people consider it the toughest job in Washington, and we're not talking about the presidency. But Tony Snow, since serving as White House Press Secretary, has been the most fun he has ever had. Snow leaves his post today, returning to private life to earn some money and continue his battle against recurrence of cancer. Snow says his decision has nothing to do with his health, and he says, he's eager to take on new challenges.
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TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It's very difficult to leave the White House and I've loved every minute of the job. In terms of my health, I've got cancer, but it's in remission. We keep fighting it. You know, I think this is one of the things that I'm just going to keep doing for years and years, getting treatment and trying to hold it in advance.
But, that's where we are. I feel great, I'm doing fine. And finally, on the other side, I'm going to give some speeches, I'm going to work on some books, and I'm going to devote myself to causes that I think are important. So, I'm pretty excited about the whole combination.
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LEMON: Well, Snow held that job for 16 months. His deputy, Dana Perino, will succeed him.
PHILLIPS: Tony Snow is the topic of today's news quiz. What is the name of outgoing White House Press Secretary Tony Snow's band? We're going to tell you right after a break. LEMON: We're also waiting on a press conference to happen from Las Vegas. Take a look at some live pictures now. You see reporters getting ready there, some producers and the podium behind this reporter who's getting ready. They're going to ask him some questions about O.J. Simpson and his alleged involvement in a crime there, they're calling a break-in.
O.J. Simpson telling the Associated Press a little while ago that he did take some items, memorabilia, that belonged to him, but he didn't break into the room.
What happens next? We'll tell you, as the reporter gives us a thumbs up. He's ready to do it. Hopefully, investigators will be ready in a minute.
We'll bring it to you after a break.
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PHILLIPS: We are still waiting for that police news conference on O.J. Simpson's latest brush with the law. What happened? We're not quite sure. He says, I didn't break into a casino hotel room. Police say he might have and stolen some sports memorabilia. He says that stuff was his, he didn't do anything wrong.
We're going to hear from police in Las Vegas momentarily.
LEMON: And just before the break, Kyra, we asked you, what is the name of the outgoing White House Press Secretary Tony Snow's band? What's the name of his band? There it is. The answer is Beats Working Hard, Beats Workin'. And it features multi-tasking Snow on guitar, sax and flute.
And I think I saw him playing with CBS' Bob Schieffer. I'm not sure if Bob is in the band. We'll have to check on that. But it's called Beats Workin'.
PHILLIPS: Well, it's a tragic irony not lost on cancer patients. An acclaimed young chef is in danger of losing his sense of taste.
CNN's Keith Oppenheim has this iron-willed chef's story.
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KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Grant Achatz is carefully sniffing cedar leaves, the aromatic cover of a new dish that I was the first to try.
GRANT ACHATZ, ALINEA CHEF: The idea is the mushrooms that are on top of the beef are mingling with the flavors of the cedar, so.
OPPENHEIM (on camera): That's really fantastic.
ACHATZ: Good.
OPPENHEIM (voice-over): Achatz is the head chef at Alinea, a Chicago restaurant ranked No. 1 in the nation last year by "Gourmet" magazine. Just 33-years-old, he's become famous for menus that blend exotic tastes and textures.
ACHATZ: Everything I see, everything I hear, everything I touch, I relate to food.
OPPENHEIM: But his talent and his life could be in jeopardy. Achatz has stage four cancer. It began with pain on his tongue. At first, it didn't seem like a big deal.
ACHATZ: Then it got really bad.
OPPENHEIM (on camera): Like how bad?
ACHATZ: Well, to the point where it was affecting my speech to a great degree and I was not being able to eat solid foods and it became a big problem.
OPPENHEIM (voice-over): The cancer spread to more than half his tongue. Most doctors recommended surgery to survive at the cost of potentially losing his palate.
DR. EVERETT VOKES, ONCOLOGIST, UNIV. OF CHICAGO: There would have been maybe some taste, but clearly a major compromise in how he would have been able to taste, talk and swallow.
OPPENHEIM: At the University of Chicago, Dr. Everett Vokes prescribed a different plan. First, reduce the tumor with chemotherapy and radiation, then consider surgery if cancer remains. For Grant Achatz, saving his tongue seemed like the only course.
ACHATZ: You're dealing with your tongue, your palate.
OPPENHEIM (on camera): Which were you more worried about, your career or your life?
ACHATZ: Career, easily, yes. Because like I said before, I never thought I was going to die.
OPPENHEIM (voice-over): The truth is Grant Achatz doesn't know if he'll beat this cancer, but so far, it hasn't taken his sense of humor.
ACHATZ: I mean, look around, half my staff has shaved heads, so I'm going to fit right in.
OPPENHEIM: And it hasn't slowed his determination to be one of the world's top chefs.
Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
Well, his name would have been in the news today anyway with the release of a controversial book. But O.J. Simpson whips up some extra attention thanks to an alleged incident at Las Vegas hotel.
LEMON: Hello, everyone, I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: Well, you know the saying, not everything that happens or everything that happens stays in Vegas. But, not really with this one. Not really with O.J. Simpson, anyway.
We're awaiting a news conference on Simpson's latest brush with the law. Just moments ago, he told the Associated Press that he did take something, but it belonged to him, and he didn't break into the room.
Well, Las Vegas police have questioned him about an incident involving that sports memorabilia at a casino hotel.
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