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Northwest Reels From Floods; Negative Campaigning in Iowa; Held Without Charges: Supreme Court Gitmo Arguments

Aired December 05, 2007 - 08:59   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.
Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.

Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on this Wednesday morning. It's December 5th.

Here's what's on the rundown now.

Under water in Washington and Oregon. Today homeowners get ready for the big flood cleanup.

And moms and dads, is there a toxin in your baby's formula? Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates.

Plus, two men dead. A community now divided. A man takes the law into his own hands and it may be legal. A Texas lawmaker breaks it down this hour in the NEWSROOM.

Waking up to a flood nightmare. Boats are picking up stranded homeowners. Other residents are trying to figure out what is worth saving and what is ruined.

At least five people are now dead. The governors of Oregon and Washington have declared states of emergency.

Katharine Barrett is outside Seattle in the town of Burien.

And Katharine, we're wondering, are people getting the help they need right now?

KATHARINE BARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, some are, some aren't, Heidi. There are still some areas that are cut off, roads that are flooded or blocked by downed timber and downed power lines where people are still waiting for help.

The Red Cross always says three days, three ways. Be prepared to be on your own for three days. And there are some communities, some pockets here in southwest Washington in particular, that are probably going to put that to the test.

But the weather outlook at least is improving. A drying trend. It's dry and clear right now, and as the skies clear and floodwaters recede somewhat, the devastating scope of the damage from this storm is only now becoming clear.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARRETT (voice over): In Washington and Oregon, highways remain flooded, bridges are blocked, and travelers are trapped.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is the question of the day, is when are we getting out of here?

BARRETT: There are reports in Washington that rescue crews have pulled more than a hundred people to safety, but three to four times that many may still need help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are pretty happy to see us. So just out there doing what we can do.

BARRETT: A muddy hillside collapsed on this woman's home, shattering glass all over her living room, but the property damage was the least of her concerns. If the slide had happened just a day later, her two grandchildren could have been hurt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They would have been right there on the couch and in the living room, and the shards of glass are everywhere. And so that is my main thought, is that, you know, it's a house and the car, but it's not important in the long run.

BARRETT: The National Guard has stepped in as the governors of Washington and Oregon declared states of emergency, hoping to speed relief efforts, although Washington governor Chris Gregoire says it's too soon to know the full extent of the damage.

GOV. CHRIS GREGOIRE (D), WASHINGTON: We've had a call from the Federal Highways Administration asking what they could do. And our message was clear, bring out your checkbook.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BARRETT: And it is also clear that it is likely federal government help will be required to help Northwest homeowners get back on their feet. Both the owner of this badly damaged home here and her uphill neighbor, whose backyard crumbled down on top of this one, were told by their private insurers the damage was not covered.

Back to you, Heidi.

COLLINS: Boy, that is about the worst news that you could get at that time, that's for sure.

All right. Katharine Barrett, thanks so much, from Burien. We appreciate it.

This hour the storm is plowing eastward and creating treacherous driving conditions in much of the nation's midsection. This Greyhound bus spinning out of control north of Indianapolis. Nineteen people were injured.

Much of the region is being buried under a blanket of snow, and some areas could see nine inches. As the storm barrels east, it's hitting a dividing line of temperatures, too. Cold temperatures in the northern Mid-Atlantic will mean snow, south of there it will mean rain.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: When weather does become the news you can see it here on CNN. And if it's happening outside your window, send us your video or your photos if you can. Just go to CNN.com and click on "I-Report" or type ireport@CNN.com into your cell phone.

The peace and quiet of a Boston neighborhood suddenly shattered by this massive fire. Police say a tanker truck overturned and burst into flames around 1:30 this morning. The tanker was hauling about 9,000 gallons of gas.

The fire chief says it's a miracle no one was seriously hurt. At least three buildings and about 40 cars, though, up in flames. The Red Cross says about 200 people were evacuated, including about 80 elderly residents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a big pop. At first, I thought it was a transformer. Then I looked out the window and saw all of the brightness and I called it in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought it was shooting and thought somebody was banging up the cars. And I woke my husband up and I said, "Get up. We've got to get out of here."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Wow. Police are investigating whether the tanker driver was going too fast. The driver was not injured in the accident.

The illegal immigration debate hits home for one presidential candidate in his own back yard. Republican Mitt Romney says he has fired a landscaping company that worked at his home because the company employed illegal immigrants. His rival, Rudy Giuliani, raised the issue during last week's CNN/YouTube debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The illegal immigrants who are working at his mansion. So I would say he had a sanctuary mansion, not just sanctuary city.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Are you suggesting, Mr. Mayor -- because I think it's really kind of offensive -- you hear someone with a funny accent, you as a homeowner are supposed to go out there and say I want to see your papers. Is that what you're suggesting?

(END VIDEO CLIP) COLLINS: Romney says he gave the landscaper a "second chance." In a statement, he said, "The company's failure to comply with the law is disappointing and inexcusable, and I believe it is important I take this action."

The vote, as you know, getting closer. The race getting tighter. The campaigns getting a little bit more negative, too. But that could turn off Iowa voters less than a month before the caucuses.

Here now, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Despite the freezing temperatures, Iowa is heating up. While the Democratic debate in Des Moines on National Public Radio was mostly civil, hot rhetoric has been blasting between Democratic front-runners senators Barack Obama...

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... finally do something about this.

MALVEAUX: ... and Hillary Clinton. Now, here in a statistical dead heat.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And we're not going to take it anymore.

MALVEAUX: With John Edwards right behind.

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So those are the things that I'm for.

MALVEAUX: Residents are already growing weary of the back- fighting.

DEB BREWER, IOWA RESIDENT: It's just very disappointing. We need to really focus on hearing what the candidates want to do for our country and helping us. And I can't make a decision when it's all negative.

JOSH MOKLESTAD, IOWA RESIDENT: I understand if you're getting attacked, your natural reaction is to, you know, fight back, but it does kind of reflect negativity on their character.

MALVEAUX: Over the past week, the Obama, Clinton and, to a lesser degree, the Edwards campaigns, have been sparring over who is honest, cowardly or kind, and language that has sometimes turned nasty. A big risk, says political professor Arthur Sanders of Drake University.

PROF. ARTHUR SANDERS, DRAKE UNIVERSITY: You obviously want to make some comparisons. You've got to give undecided voters or people who aren't sure reasons why your opponent isn't as good as you. But not too much.

MALVEAUX: That too much negativity proved devastating for some Democratic candidates hoping to capture Iowa in 2004.

SANDERS: When Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean started going after each other, and that allowed both John Kerry and John Edwards to move up...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Suzanne Malveaux is now with us from Des Moines, Iowa, this morning.

And Suzanne, obviously the negativity isn't helping voters, and it always seems to be sort of this delicate balance. And yet, every time we have an election, it seems like the candidates really can't help themselves.

MALVEAUX: It certainly does. And yesterday was really no exception here.

The moment of the debate, the highlight, was when Senator John Edwards accused Senator Clinton of actually supporting what was a near declaration of war against Iran. Senator Clinton hit back very hard saying that this was an outlandish political charge that had gone much too far. As you know, it's a balancing act, but these opponents of Senator Clinton really felt that there was an opening here that supported their strategy, their strategy essentially to pit the former first lady and portray her as someone who is similar to President Bush. Senator Clinton -- team Clinton hitting back as well -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes. And you know what? There is only how many more months left that we're going to see more and more of this likely?

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux -- go ahead.

MALVEAUX: But 29 more days until Iowa caucus.

COLLINS: Well, until the Iowa caucus, yes, but I don't know, does it all stop at the Iowa caucus? Probably not.

MALVEAUX: Right. Absolutely.

COLLINS: Thanks so much.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux live from Des Moines, Iowa.

Thanks, Suzanne.

If you do want the most up-to-the-minute political news anywhere available, CNNPolitics.com is your one-stop shop. Today's top story, President Bush says the clock is ticking on Congress. He mentioned it yesterday in his presidential speech that we had here on CNN NEWSROOM.

It is the Internet's premier destination for your political news, CNNPolitics.com.

The shooting death of NFL star Sean Taylor, a grand jury says it was the youngest suspect who actually pulled the trigger. This morning, 17-year-old Eric Rivera is due to make his first court appearance. He and three other young men are charged with murder, armed burglary, and home invasion.

Taylor, of the Washington Redskins, died one day after being shot in his Miami home. Police say the 24-year-old was the victim of a botched burglary.

In the war zone now. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Iraq today, as usual with VIPs. The trip was kept a secret until he arrived.

Gates is checking the recent downturn in violence and how to keep the trend going. The administration credits the U.S. troop buildup. And Gates will also push Iraqi leaders to move faster towards reconciliation.

While violence may be down, though, it is continuing. At least eight Iraqis killed in car bombings today.

A consumer alert now to tell you about today. Check your microwave oven.

General Electric is recalling more than 90,000 combination wall and microwave ovens. GE says the door switch in the microwave can overheat and start a fire. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says there have been at least 35 fires that damaged homes, but no injuries have been reported.

The ovens were sold between January of 2000 and December of 2003 under the brand names GE, GE Profile and Kenmore. GE is offering a free repair kit or a rebate toward a new unit. If you have any questions, you should call the number there on your screen. It's GE's number -- 1-888-240-2745.

Well, could you be feeding your baby something toxic? Concerns about a chemical in cans of formula. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us in just a moment with a CNN exclusive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: White House lawyers at the Supreme Court this morning. At the top of the hour they make their case for holding terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay indefinitely.

CNN's Jamie McIntyre explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For one hour the justices will hear arguments about whether foreign prisoners held in Guantanamo, some for as long as five years, are entitled to a fundamental right guaranteed to every American -- Habeas Corpus, the right to petition for relief against unlawful detention.

Charles Swift is a former military attorney who vigorously defended a Yemeni man accused of being Osama bin Laden's bodyguard and driver.

CHARLES SWIFT, FMR. MILITARY DEFENSE ATTORNEY: They want to look their accusers in the face. They want to be able to say this is what I did. They want to have an opportunity to exonerate themselves.

MCINTYRE: But the Bush administration argues that the more than 300 detainees held in Guantanamo are enemy combatants whose rights are adequately protected by the Military Commission Act passed by Congress last year.

DAVID RIVKIN, FMR. JUSTICE DEPT. ATTORNEY: Frankly, the detainees under MCA have more due process than any captured enemy combatant, lawful or unlawful, ever had in any war in human history, including any in which the United States was a party.

MCINTYRE: But attorneys bringing the case before the Supreme Court argue military officials, not independent judges, are deciding the fate of detainees in a process that does not allow prisoners to have lawyers or present their own evidence. The defendants in the case are an Algerian arrested in Bosnia in 2001 and a Kuwaiti citizen captured in Pakistan in 2002.

ED LAZARUS, AUTHOR, "CLOSED CHAMBER": I do think that's going to trouble a number of the justices, particularly with respect to the ones from Bosnia, where the Bosnian government conducted an investigation, decided these people were not implicated in the alleged attempt to bomb the U.S. Embassy over there.

MCINTYRE: The Constitution says a Writ of Habeas Corpus may be suspended only in cases of rebellion or invasion. It's a high standard.

SWIFT: But it is a greater threat than the Nazis? This is a greater threat than the Civil War to our union and our freedom? That's difficult for me to swallow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Jamie McIntyre is joining us now from outside the Supreme Court.

Hey, Jamie, what is the timetable for this morning's argument and a possible decision?

MCINTYRE: Well, you know, they've combined two cases into one one-hour argument. These arguments before the Supreme Court are about an hour. Then the justices will consider it.

We're expecting that we'll get a decision sometime in the summer, probably before late July, that kind of time frame. They're going to be mulling this pretty carefully.

COLLINS: I'm sure they will.

All right. Jamie McIntyre reporting for us today.

Appreciate it, Jamie.

Is something that you're feeding your baby toxic? The group that warned about a chemical in plastic baby bottles has a new report on infant formula now. And CNN has a first look at it.

Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here with the exclusive details.

A lot of people really listening for this.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they are. And a couple of interesting things to say, first of all. And that is that the top formula makers say, yes, there are trace amounts of BPA, bisphenol-A, a toxic chemical in their formula cans.

The environmental group also saying that even small amounts can cause problems. Now, the FDA denies that. So the real question is, is this sort of an overreaction from one environmental group or is it something to take seriously?

You decide.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (voice over): New mom Helen Niblock wanted to breastfeed 5-week-old Emma but didn't produce enough milk.

HELEN NIBLOCK, FEEDS BABY LIQUID FORMULA: I actually cried when they told me I had to give her formula in the hospital.

GUPTA: To supplement Emma's diet, she feeds her Enfamil, just one of the canned baby formulas a research group claims contains a toxic chemical that could hurt her. It's bisphenol-A, or BPA. It's used as a protective lining in cans.

Some moms panicked when they learned it's in plastic baby bottles. Now the Environmental Working Group says top baby formula makers acknowledge BPA is in their cans. And that Environmental Working Group says even a little bit is harmful.

JANE HOULIHAN, ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP: Bisphenol-A is linked to toxic effects at very low doses. Concerns range from breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, early puberty and infertility.

GUPTA: Also fueling concern, findings just published from a federal panel say that BPA poses some risk to babies' brains and behavior. Findings the American Academy of Pediatrics takes seriously but admits there's not enough information yet to take action.

ARI BROWN, MEMBER, American ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: We don't have any data, unfortunately, in humans. So it makes it a little bit hard to know what is worrisome and what is not.

GUPTA: The FDA insists infants would have to ingest over 7,000 times more formula than they do in a day to do any harm and adds that there is no reason to ban or restrict its use in baby formula cans. Mead Johnson, maker of Enfamil, joins the nation's other top baby formula makers in acknowledging a trace amount of BPA in their cans within federal limits, but says their products are safe. The industry maintains no changes in feeding practices are recommended.

New moms may not have answers but they do have alternatives -- powdered formula or formula not packaged in cans. And glass or BPA- free plastic baby bottles.

BROWN: If there is an easy, cheap way to limit or reduce the exposure in your child's life, why not do it?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: You know, it's sort of interesting as well, and it's worth pointing out that in all that you just watched there, one thing was missing, and that is actual human studies. Those are all animal studies that we are talking about, an important points.

You know, Helen says, look, you know, we've had a lot of recalls this summer, over the last several months. This one she's taking seriously. It's her baby she's talking about, so she's coming up with other ways to feed the baby.

COLLINS: Absolutely. Now, there is no scientific consensus about this. Any idea when we could expect some real, you know, black and white answers?

GUPTA: Well, a couple of things we can say for sure is it appears not to affect teenagers and adults so much, but babies have growing brains and growing bodies.

COLLINS: Yes.

GUPTA: So they may be more susceptible to it. But it takes years to find out, did something actually cause harm? It could be a decade before we get some of that research back.

Something else I want to point out, because we talked a lot about lead this summer.

COLLINS: Yes.

GUPTA: In 1960, we used to say 60 micrograms was too high a level. Now we say it's 10 micrograms. And the reason I bring that up is to say the science catches up as time moves on. We would have said, you know, 50 is fine 30 years ago in terms of levels of lead. Now we know that's too high. We'll see if the science catches up here or not.

COLLINS: Is that because the body has changed, or we decided the body is more sensitive, or we just weren't counting all of the cases where people were affected negatively?

GUPTA: I think our bodies have not changed that much. I think it was just the science actually recognizing how much lead was too toxic. And it takes years for some of those studies to come back.

COLLINS: Yes.

GUPTA: So does it affect your I.Q.? You know, you don't know that for maybe 20, 30 years.

COLLINS: Until later.

All right. CNN's medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta.

Thank you, Sanjay.

GUPTA: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: Well, who would do such a thing? Somebody robbed the Boy Scouts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They better pray to God we don't catch them, because if we do, they've got a big problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Yes. The Scouts' holiday sale draws a Grinch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

(BUSINESS REPORT)

COLLINS: He gave up a dream to save a child. Now Manuel Cordova is being honored. He's the illegal immigrant who rescued a 9-year-old boy after the child's mother died in a southern Arizona desert.

Cordova ended up being sent back to Mexico. Yesterday, officials from the U.S. and Mexico met on the border for a ceremony honoring Cordova. An Arizona congressman says he plans to sponsor a bill that would give Cordova a special visa to work in the United States.

ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.

COLLINS: Welcome back, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.

Iran's president declaring victory today. That's how he sums up a U.S. intelligence report released this week. It includes Iran stopped working toward a nuclear bomb four years ago.

In a televised speech, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said earlier reports from the U.S. had been based on "shoddy intelligence." President Bush says Iran remains a threat. He says the report shows his strategy with Iran has worked.

A bruising custody battle goes beyond borders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's about the child and the damage that would be done to him. And it just -- it just makes me sick.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Meet Gabriel, a little boy at the center of a very big fight.

And now this. We want to bring you the opening of the bell on the second that it happens for this Wednesday, December 5th.

Yesterday, the Dow was down a little bit, about 66 points or so, ended the day at 13,248.

There's the bell now. Perhaps it will be on the positive side of things. That would be interesting to look at.

We're going to tell you more in our business section about GE recalling all those microwave ovens and certainly more on oil prices, I bet. So, we will be talking about the business news a little bit later on today. Stephanie Elam will be joining us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: A pacific pummeling. Much of the northwest reels from a pair of ferocious storms. This is coast guard video now of one Washington neighborhood that's under water. Boats fanned out across that state and Oregon to rescue stranded homeowners. The front edge of the storm hammered the region with hurricane force winds, thousands of trees were knocked down and at least five people are dead in those two states.

Reynolds Wolf is with us now to tell us a little bit more about today. We've kind of already been mentioning that people are going to be trying to clean up today. Does that mean that things will be better?

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: A little boy caught in a custody battle. His grandmother is Mexican and his foster parents, U.S. citizens. Who should he be with? CNN's Ted Rowlands reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He has no idea but 2-year-old Gabriel Allred (ph) is in the middle of an international custody tug of war between his foster parents in the United States and his grandmother in Mexico. Since he was 4 months old, Gabriel, whose mother lost custody because of drug use, has lived with Steve and Angela Brant in this home in Toledo, Oregon. When Gabriel's mother fled to Oregon to avoid prison, the Brandt decided to adopt the little boy that they had fallen in love with.

STEVE BRANDT, GABRIEL'S FOSTER FATHER: She never showed up. We just started thinking that, yes, we will be adopting Gabriel and that is what the case workers were telling us, too.

ROWLANDS: But part of the adoption process includes a search for suitable blood relatives. Gabriel was born in the United States. His mother is a U.S. citizen. His father is Mexican who has lived in the U.S. for more than ten years illegally serving time for drug trafficking and attempted rape of a 12-year-old girl. He is now awaiting deportation. The father has no parental rights but his mother, 51-year-old Cecelia Martinez does and she says she wants Gabriel to live with her in a suburb of Mexico City.

CECILIA MARTINEZ, GABRIEL'S GRANDMOTHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): This is going to be the room of the boy.

ROWLANDS: Cecelia says she is excited to raise Gabriel and promises to keep him away from his father.

MARTINEZ: He would be well-educated and raised well.

ROWLANDS: After stacking both families side-by-side, the state decided that Gabriel's grandmother Cecelia should raise him, not the Brandt's.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's about the child and the damage that would be done to him. It just -- it just makes me sick.

ROWLANDS: Gabriel's biological mother, who we tracked down out of state, says she is following the case over the Internet and wants the Brandt to raise her son.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: God, they love him so much and he is just so attached to them. You can see by the videos. They are just -- they are good people.

ROWLANDS: Then, you want him to stay there?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

ROWLANDS: From jail, Gabriel's father says he promises not to see his son but he wants him in Mexico.

ROBERTO VALIENTE MARTINEZ, GABRIEL'S BIOLOGICAL FATHER: To grow up with his real family and learn all his backgrounds and stuff, that's what I would like. If it was up to me.

ROWLANDS: The state of Oregon won't comment on the details of each family's evaluation, but blood relatives are given an edge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If there are family members that we feel would be a good home for the children that are in our care, it doesn't matter where they are.

MARTINEZ: If he comes, he will notice we have the same blood and we are his family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Blood is not always the best solution for a child. Otherwise, you would be insulting adoptive parents everywhere. ROWLANDS: Oregon's governor has stepped in and has ordered a review of the case. Eventually, it may be resolved in court.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Toledo, Oregon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Worried about your children's toys? Don't know what to buy this holiday season? Seems to be lots of confusion out there. We're going to tell you about a great tool for tracking safe toys.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: You already know to catch us weekday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until noon eastern. But did you know, you can take us with you anywhere you go on your iPod. Sounds good, doesn't it? The CNN NEWSROOM podcast, it's available 24/7 right on your iPod.

Man with a monkey walks into a convenience store and it's not a joke. Certainly, not to the North Carolina clerk who was attacked. A monkey jumped from a customer's shoulder when Brooke Ross reached out to pet it. She was bitten on her cheek. Animal control officers spent several hours trying to track down the animal. Ross was able to pick the monkey out of a photo lineup after authorities showed her several pictures of pet monkeys. OK.

A holiday shocker. Boy scouts robbed. They were selling Christmas trees and now an Ohio community is coming to the rescue. Corrie McConnel of CNN affiliate WXIX reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COREY MCCONNELL, AFFILIATE WXIX: The Boy Scott motto came to life on Monday night.

TONY LOVINS, SCOUT MASTER: Be prepared for anything.

MCCONNELL: Anything with three robbers with a sawed off 12-gauge shotgun who got away with almost 400 bucks in cash but on Tuesday, it wasn't the cash that was flying off the lot. It was the trees.

LOVINS: We don't normally open till 5:00 but we got up here about I guess 3:00 and there were people just buying trees. It's just -- it's overwhelming.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

MCCONNELL: April O'Neal was one of those people.

APRIL O'NEAL, SHOPPER: When I heard what happened, I figure I would come support the boy scouts. And it just goes to show you even at Christmas time, people are still in and robbing and things like that so it's sad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you have?

MCCONNELL: With this family wasn't going to buy a real tree, but when they heard what happened, they changed their mind.

MARK REOTTING, SCOUT LEADER: Just because of one or two people, the whole world isn't wiped up.

MCCONNELL: The Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters is calling the crime committed Monday night against these scouts unconscionable.

JOE DETERS, HAMILTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR: They've gone down a path that is unforgivable. They better pray to God we don't catch them because if we do, they've got a big problem.

MCCONNELL: The boy scouts problems had been taken cared of by the community. Donations made on Tuesday more than covered the money they lost on Monday night and tree sales are better than ever. In North College Hill, Corey McConnell, Fox 19 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Authorities say two adults and a 13-year-old scout were punched during that armed robbery. That is not the holiday spirit.

Well, trying to pick out safe toys for your kids. We've got some help this morning because a lot of people are talking about it. Veronica De La Cruz with the information on a new website. Hi there, Veronica.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there, good morning to you, Heidi. You know, there is a brand new website that we found. It's called healthytoys.org. A Michigan-based nonprofit group has tested more than 1,200 toys for lead and other chemicals. They posted their results online. Here's the good news about this site. It's pretty comprehensive. It's easy to use. Page isn't clutter. You can search by name or brand or type of toy.

For example if we type in Hannah Montana, then an entire list of Hannah Montana toys will appear and that's going to give you a rating. We're looking at the rating less right here. Many of these toys, good news, are safe but the girls' rock backpack was found out high levels of lead and arsenic. So, that is definitely the label that you want to look out for as high.

COLLINS: OK. Got you. Well, how do they actually determine a toy's rank?

DE LA CRUZ: Well, the site says it uses existing standards. For instance, the CPSC will issue a recall if a toy has lead level of 6 percent or higher. On this site, toys without much lead or other chemicals are ranked high again. So, that's something you want to look at for. There are good toys and bad toys on this site.

COLLINS: What happen if you have concerns about a toy that is not actually found on the site?

DE LA CRUZ: Well, if you can't find your toy on the site, there is a link on the front page to nominate your toy to be tested. And here's something else that is really cool about this site, Heidi. If you're out there, you're shopping for new toys. I know lots of parents are obviously confused, especially this holiday season. So, there are lists of the best and worst toys. You can print out a list of the best toys and you can take that along shopping with you.

COLLINS: Sounds perfect. There you go. All right, I think people will be feeling a little bit safer with this. Certainly.

DE LA CRUZ: And it's healthytoys.org.

COLLINS: Excellent. All right, Veronica, thank you. And just to remind you, you can catch Veronica every morning on AMERICAN MORNING 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. eastern.

A Wall Street whiz kid dead. Did the wife do it?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tobias brothers say Filomena drug Tobias then lured him into the pool with a promise of sex with tiger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Cash, allegations of sex and a deadly swim.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: He had a big house. Big bucks. And now there are big questions about how he died. A wealthy hedge fund manager found dead in his swimming pool. Was it murder? CNN's John Zarrella with the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Seth Tobias had it all, but there was one thing his money could not buy.

911 DISPATCHER: I need you to see if he is breathing or not.

FILOMENA TOBIAS: He's not breathing. I told you that. Please send somebody, please.

ZARRELLA: A Wall Street wonder kid at just 44, Tobias was running his own hedge fund. He also became a frequent financial analyst on TV.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That the market has actually had a very big decline.

ZARRELLA: Off camera, Tobias was living it up, buying this lavish estate near Tony West Palm Beach. A couple of years ago, Tobias married a woman named Filomena. In no time, the couple became a fixture in Florida's society world. But according to "The New York Times" the couple did something else together. They enjoyed going to a local gay club. And it was at Cupid's, where, according to the "Times", Tobia's allegedly developed a liking for a mysterious man who called himself tiger. A gay dancer with tiger-like tattoos covering his body. Over time, Tobias' relationship with his wife turned sour. He filed for divorce in 2006. But they were still living together last September, when Filomena says she came home and found him floating face down in the pool. She says she then dragged him out before making this 911 call.

FILOMENA TOBIAS: He's not answering me. Please, ma'am just send me somebody.

911 DISPATCHER: Ma'am, where is he?

FILOMENA TOBIAS: He's outside of the pool. Please, just send me somebody.

911 DISPATCHER: OK. I have help on the way. What is your name?

FILOMENA TOBIAS: I am his wife, Filomena.

911 DISPATCHER: I need you to see if he is breathing or not.

FILOMENA TOBIAS: He is not breathing, I told you that. Please, send somebody. Please, I don't know what's wrong with him.

ZARRELLA: Police responded and found his body. But Filomena refused to let police in the house, according to "The New York Times" and local news reports. Court TV's Jamie Floyd says that is perfectly legal.

JAMIE FLOYD, COURT TV: Jurors are going to say, look, if you've got nothing to hide, you let police in. But defense attorneys, and I'm one of those, we are very physical. We don't trust the police. And we know that as a matter of constitutional law, you do not have to talk to the police and you do not have to grant them access to your property.

ZARRELLA: How did he die? Police are still waiting for the answer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As of today, our case status has not changed. There is still an investigation. And awaiting toxicology results from the medical examiner's office.

ZARRELLA: But Tobias' brothers in legal documents filed a litigation over Tobias' $25 million estate say Filomena drugged Tobias, then lured him into the pool with a promise of sex with tiger. Filomena denies the allegations. Her lawyer tells CNN, there is no validity to these claims. And the facts will bear that out. No criminal charges have been filed. Police say it is still an open investigation and Mrs. Tobias' attorneys told CNN there would be no comment during the ongoing litigation over the estate.

This mystery is only deepening. Documents from an unrelated case shows Mrs. Tobias paid more than $9,000 to have the pool drained and resurfaced just days after her husband's death. FLOYD: Whatever happened here is that Tobias was living fast and furiously with all that money. And it didn't save him. He is 44 years old and he can't take it with him.

ZARRELLA: John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: No Christmas spirit here. Baby Jesus is missing. Police say someone stole the infant statue from this nativity scene in Belle Harbor, Florida. The display is an annual tradition in Founder Circle Park. The thieves left behind a large Christmas tree and Manora. Police say they don't know if the theft was just a prank. They just want Baby Jesus back. For some, Baby Jesus napping has become an unusual holiday tradition. Dolls have been nabbed from other nativities in other parts of the country as well.

Well, the president has a way with words but CNN's Candy Crowley's name? Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: Having my friend Candy Crowley pass a virus around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Crowley, Crowley, its Crowley. What is in a name? Jeanne Moos tells us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Happening right now. We are looking at a live shot there of Air Force One as President Bush makes his way out of the jet in Omaha, Nebraska. He is going to be making some statements about his former agriculture secretary Mike Johanns. He is actually going to be running for U.S. Senate. Johanns, sorry about that. Also, we are expecting some remarks to be made about Iran and, obviously, yesterday, we heard the president speak about the National Intelligence estimates and new information there.

We also heard today from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. We had been wondering yesterday why we hadn't heard from him at least around the time of the comments made by the United States president, so we have that information as well. And now more remarks expected any minute after the president disembarks from Air Force One there in Nebraska. We will bring it to you just as soon as it happens.

Well, you could call it a play on pronunciation. President Bush definitely has had his own take on certain words in the English language and a couple in particular. Here now is CNN's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Iranian nuclear genie apparently just went back in the bottle after all those accusations that Iran was --

BUSH: Pursuing nuclear weapons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

BUSH: If you're interested in avoiding World War III.

MOOS: World War III on hold asked the normally conservative drudge report. This in the wake of U.S. Intelligence Agencies saying that Iran halted its nuclear arms effort four years ago. Talk about the bomb, the president was bombarded with questions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't you be accused of hyping this threat?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you concerned that the United States is losing credibility?

MOOS: With so many questions on Iran, the president had plenty of chances to nuke the pronunciation.

BUSH: A nuclear weapon.

MOOS: But not one, but two words.

BUSH: Ahmadinejad.

MOOS: That would be Iran's president.

BUSH: Until Ahmadinejad came in. Prior to the election of Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad came along.

MOOS: Take it from a native speaker...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pronounce the h. Ahmadinejad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ahmadinejad?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

MOOS: Sometimes it feels as if the president is tweaking the Iranians with his pronunciation, sort of like Stephen Colbert.

STEPHEN COLBERT, CANDIDATE: Come on, President Ahmadinejad zsa zsa gabornejad.

MOOS: And you can almost bet President Bush is going nuclear on purpose.

BUSH: Nuclear weapons program. Nuclear weapon. Covert nuclear weapons program.

MOOS: The dictionary describes nuclear as disapproved, but in widespread use among educated speakers, with all those pesky questions about Iran, no wonder the president got nostalgic about the days when he first ran for president flying around campaigning. BUSH: Having my friend Candy Crowley pass the virus around on in.

MOOS: The president says CNN's Candy Crowley gave him a respiratory infection.

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