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American Morning
Heat Wave for the Ages to Continue; Lindsay Lohan Sentenced to 90 Days in Prison; Obama vs. Arizona: Administration Suing the State Over Immigration Law; In It to Win It; Life after Foster Care; Sixty Percent of Birds Collected Already Dead; Smugglers Go Deeper; All-Euro World Cup Final; "Paul" Picks Spain Over Germany
Aired July 07, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good Wednesday morning to you. And thanks so much for joining us on the Most News in the Morning. It's the 7th of July. I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're with us this morning. We have a lot to talk about, so let's get right to it.
It's a history-making heat wave and it's still hovering over the northeast. Sweltering triple digit temperatures shattering records from New York down to Virginia. Power companies are now pleading with people to try to conserve energy or warning they'll face outages, and the heat is not breaking any time soon.
ROBERTS: The heat is on in Arizona, but it has nothing to do with the mercury. The Obama administration suing the state over its strict and controversial new immigration law that critics say amounts to racial profiling. But is public opinion on the president's side?
CHETRY: And 90 days for Lindsay Lohan and she didn't take it well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: So we can't -- and it wasn't, you know -- I wasn't missing classes. I won't do anything like that. I was working mostly in Morocco. I was working with children. It wasn't a vacation. It wasn't some sort of a joke. And I respect -- I have been taking it seriously.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: The actress sobbing in court while hearing that she is now going to be doing time, 90 days, but just how much of that she'll actually serve remains to be seen.
And the amFIX blog is up and running. Join the live conversation right now. Go to CNN.com/amFIX.
ROBERTS: Well, we begin this morning with a heat wave for the ages, one that is now suffocating the northeast. Sizzling triple digit temperatures shattered records in several states yesterday. It's the kind of heat that can actually hurt, and it's not letting up any time soon.
CHETRY: Yes. In fact, it was 103 degrees in Central Park yesterday. But that wasn't the only history-making high. Record temperatures also recorded in Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. And in fact, in Philadelphia, a 92-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment by a neighbor. They say she did not have air conditioning and she only had a few windows open.
ROBERTS: Rob Marciano is tracking the heat wave from the extreme weather center in Atlanta. In a moment, he'll let us know what we can expect today and for the rest of the week.
Let's begin though with Jason Carroll. He's live this morning in Columbus Circle on the outskirts of Central Park where even the most unflappable New Yorkers are feeling the heat.
Good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, John. You were out here yesterday. You know how hot it was and how hot it is. We are bracing for more heat today.
I want you to take a look and see how hot it is. Right now, at 6:01 a.m., already 86 degrees. Yesterday, John, it was the hottest July 6th ever. 103 degrees here in Central Park, but some good news, relief is on the way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): Those on the East Coast didn't need to see triple-digit temperatures to know how hot it was. They felt it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm melting. I'm melting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, this is very hot. We're not used to this.
CARROLL: So hot in New Jersey, a state of emergency is declared. While in New York City, Con Edison concerned its customers will crank up the air in their homes and strain the system.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do expect for isolated outages.
CARROLL: But for those living without air conditioning --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know what I would do without an air conditioner. It's just brutal out here.
CARROLL: Alfred Roblero lives without it in a six-floor walkup apartment.
ALFRED ROBLERO, LIVING WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING: The elevator doesn't work, doesn't go up.
CARROLL (on camera): So now we do have the heat. We've got to now walk six flights up to your apartment. ROBLERO: Yes.
CARROLL (voice-over): City officials don't keep records on how many people there are like Alfred without air conditioners suffering in the heat.
ROBLERO: You can come in.
CARROLL: But they do know when the temperatures hit the hundreds --
(on camera): Oh, yes, it's hot in here.
(voice-over): Living in apartments like this can be dangerous.
(on camera): How difficult is it for you?
ROBLERO: It's terrible. Because, you know, most of the time my heart -- sometimes my heart is bumping like, you know, like it needs oxygen -- you know, like the air --
CARROLL: Yes.
ROBLERO: -- because of the heat.
CARROLL (voice-over): Alfred and his wife keep lights off, fans on, windows open. It helps but not much.
(on camera): How hot would you say it is in here?
ROBLERO: I don't know. Probably 98 degrees.
CARROLL (voice-over): Buying an air conditioner not an option. Instead, the extra money is needed to buy supplies for their college- bound daughter.
ROBLERO: I need something for my daughter. She needs a book or something, I have to make the decision.
CARROLL (on camera): I see.
ROBLERO: I prefer to take, you know, the heat and provide to her.
CARROLL (voice-over): The city's mayor encouraging people like Alfred and his wife to spend their days, if possible, in libraries, theaters, or cooling centers like this one -- 480 now operating in New York City. Similar sites set up in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. But there's always those who sweat it out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had a pair of pants made out of talcum powder.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't mind it. I just remember what it's like when all the snow is on the ground and it doesn't bother me that much. (END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Always good, John, to have a little bit of humor when it gets really hot outside. By this weekend, we're told the temperatures should be a little bit better, a few degrees cooler.
As for the cooling centers, at least the ones here in New York, John, will start opening in about an hour. They usually open from about 7:00 a.m. until about 8:00 p.m. We're also being told that those cooling centers will stay open until at least Thursday. Emergency crews here will be checking with the National Weather Service to see if it warrants staying open after that. But again, we're hearing that by this weekend, we'll be checking with Rob. But by this weekend, we're hearing it should be at least just a few degrees cooler in the northeast -- John.
ROBERTS: And even a few degrees when the temperature is that hot certainly makes the difference. Jason Carroll, thanks.
CARROLL: You bet.
CHETRY: Well, for the latest on the forecast and when the heat is going to end, Rob Marciano in the extreme weather center this morning.
Hey, Rob. So we're breaking records all over the place yesterday.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we are. We're seeing temperatures that we haven't seen in over 10 years in some cases. So a historic heat wave for sure and temperatures just remarkable. 104 in Trenton. Some of these numbers you already saw this morning. 103 in Central Park. And these records either back in 2001 or in 1999 was the last time we touched numbers similar to this.
All right. As far as where they are right now, 84 right now in New York. 82 degrees in D.C. So that's the temperature at 6:00 in the morning as measured in the shade. So we obviously have a good launching point to where these numbers could skyrocket very much in the northward direction.
Forecast high for today in New York is 99. Record high is 98. So we'll probably break that. 101 in Philadelphia. 98 is the record. 101 is the forecast in D.C. 99 degrees is the record there. Richmond, 102 is the forecast. 103 is the record there.
The heat is kind of shifting a little bit farther to the south. We'll start to see a little bit relief in places like Connecticut and Boston. Temperatures maybe two or three degrees cooler today and then a more substantial cooldown. Maybe only topping out at 91 or 92 degrees tomorrow in the Big Apple. So we'll continue to sweat it out. We'll talk more about the more substantial cooling as we get later into the weekend and beginning of next week. That's coming up later in the program.
John and Kiran, back up to you. ROBERTS: Looking forward to it. Rob, thanks so much.
MARCIANO: You bet.
ROBERTS: Well, it was too late for tears but there were tears any way. Lindsay Lohan going to prison. A judge sentencing the actress to 90 days behind bars and 90 in rehab all stemming from two drunk driving arrests in 2007 and for playing games with the court in the three years since those arrests.
CHETRY: Yes, but Lohan is expected to only do probably about a quarter of the 90 days and she'll be kept from the general population in prison as well. A lot of overcrowding in California means that for female inmates, especially nonviolent offenders, they usually get out after serving about 25 percent of their time. But she still tried to avoid it any way asking for mercy and then breaking down when reality hit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: I did do everything that I was told to do and did the best I could to, you know, balance jobs and showing up. I'm sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The defendant is ordered to spend 30 days in jail on the reckless driving case. Thirty days in jail on the first DUI case consecutive and 30 days in jail on the second DUI case consecutive. That's 90 days in jail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, if you take a close look here, she was crying, begging for forgiveness and saying that she changed her ways but she also had a subtle paint job on her fingernail that, yes, said "FU" on her middle finger the whole time in court.
ROBERTS: And she was surprised that the judge sent her to jail.
CHETRY: The good part about it, though, is -- I mean, after -- I mean, there's been, you know, she's had some problems with substance abuse in the past and she's also being ordered 90 days of rehab of in- patient rehab after that. So maybe that will help her.
ROBERTS: We'll see.
CHETRY: Hopefully.
ROBERTS: Hasn't so far.
A foul ball nearly turned into disaster for a fan last night in Texas as he fell 30 feet from a second deck of the Field level seats. It happened during the Rangers-Indians game. The fall was not captured on video but you can see the players and the umpire were visibly shaken by what happened. The game was stopped as the fan was treated and taken to a local hospital. He was conscious and moving and later reports said he only suffered a broken ankle. CHETRY: It's amazing.
Well, President Obama versus Arizona. The huge immigration showdown and it's coming to a courtroom, but is it wise to pick this political fight right now? We're live at the White House with reaction from all sides.
It's eight-and-a-half minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Eleven and a half minutes past the hour. Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.
It's President Obama versus Arizona. The administration taking a bold political stand in a big political year. It's suing the state over its new tough and very controversial immigration law. The court filing basically accuses Arizona of overstepping the constitution saying, quote, "A state may not establish its own immigration policy or enforce state laws in a manner that interferes with the federal immigration laws."
ROBERTS: There are plenty of vocal critics of the law that say it is by nature a racist law, but our latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows there are more people who disagree.
Suzanne Malveaux has got the fallout live from the White House this morning. The president apparently at odds with the bulk of public opinion, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You know, John, Kiran, that's absolutely right. He is. When you look at those polls that show most Americans believe that the Arizona law is the right direction but the president, you have to realize, has been under tremendous political pressure to try to move toward a comprehensive immigration reform. It is a promise that he said he would bring forth the first year that he was not able to fulfill.
But there are a number of Latino advocates and activists who believe that the president is on the right side of the issue and that he does need to come forward, that he does need to make his views known, that this is not something that he supports. The president has said very recently that comprehensive immigration reform is important and that the Arizona law is counter to that. Let's take a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: States like Arizona have decided to take matters into their own hands. Given the levels of frustration across the country, this is understandable. But it is also ill conceived. And it's not just that the law Arizona passed is divisive, although it has fanned the flames of an already contentious debate. Laws like Arizona's put huge pressures on local law enforcement to enforce rules that ultimately are unenforceable. It puts pressure on already hard-strapped state and local budgets. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now Arizona's governor, Jan Brewer, is not backing down from this fight. You may recall she was here at the White House. She visited with President Obama recently. She was given assurances by the president that top officials would be visiting Arizona including, we saw the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano who came to Arizona, all of them talking about the importance of securing the border of additional federal resources to help Arizona do that.
Well, the governor is not satisfied. She says all of that is inadequate. She released a statement yesterday essentially calling for the administration to bring it, that she is going to fight back. She says, "It is wrong that our own federal government is suing the people of Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration laws. As a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement, Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels. Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice."
And, Kiran and John, it should be noted that this lawsuit that's filed does not talk about that this is a discriminatory type of law but rather it focuses on state versus federal responsibility, saying it is ultimately the federal government's responsibility for border security and that cannot be used by any particular state.
CHETRY: It's interesting, though, Suzanne, because the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll that we have shows 57 percent of Americans approve of Arizona's law. Only 30 percent oppose it. So when you have a majority of Americans supporting this law in illegal immigrants, is the White House concerned at all about the politics of this decision?
MALVEAUX: Well, you know, the politics are certainly going to play out in the midterm elections. We will see how Hispanics end up voting when it comes to the Democrats. They know that the -- the Democrats realize they're going to lose a number of seats, but it could very well, Kiran, you bring up a good point, work against the Obama administration.
One thing that they do hope that they have in their favor is look, they felt is that they have to put a stop to the Arizona law because there are a whole bunch of other laws and other proposed laws, rather, that are popping up in other states.
But the other thing too is what I'd mentioned before, which is that there really has been a vocal push and an underground quiet push from a number of people in the Latino community for comprehensive immigration reform and it's something the president has been pushing, something Former President Bush pushed as well, that this is a part of that policy and that that's what he's hoping to move forward. But it's not going to happen this year and it may in fact work against the administration.
CHETRY: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, of course, from the White House this morning. Thanks. ROBERTS: From the politics to the legal aspects of this, at 7:10 Eastern our senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin will join us to break down the lawsuit and talk about how strong the federal government's case really is.
CHETRY: Although the buzz in the sports -- in the sports world right now, where the heck is King James going to land? Well, LeBron is set to announce which team he's going to play for, and you wouldn't believe, or maybe you will, how he's going to tell the world.
ROBERTS: Plus, Christine Romans sits down with Venus Williams to talk business, and she's here now with a preview. Good morning.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: And I asked her about LeBron James and that big paycheck everyone thinks he's going to get, and, I'll tell you, she has a surprising answer about King James and where he'll land and how much money he'll get. We talked about business. We also talked about failure -- failure on the court and off the court and how that makes you better and how you can use that, to leverage that in our own life. We'll have that right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Twenty minutes after the hour and new this morning, the U.S. Postal Service wants to increase the price of a stamp by two more pennies to 46 cents. If approved, the change would go into effect on the 2nd of January.
The Postal Service, of course, desperate to dig itself out of a huge financial hole, facing a $7 billion budget deficit for the next fiscal year. Mainly competition from e-mail and of course package services, like DHL, UPS and Fedex.
CHETRY: They say (ph) -- yes, because of texting and e-mail, just their -- their volume is down to levels they have not seen, so --
ROBERTS: Now, don't get me started about the value of a handwritten note again.
CHETRY: I know. I think it's so wonderful to do. Go out there and buy forever stamps.
ROBERTS: People at home don't want to hear it.
CHETRY: I know.
Well, you know what? We do want to know where the heck LeBron James is going to play. A lot of people in this city at least are hoping and praying he comes here, some people saying, no, he's probably going to stay in Cleveland, but we don't know yet.
But he is going to make his big announcement. According to ESPN the NBA's prize free agent will reveal his team just tomorrow night.
ROBERTS: Yes, Thursday night. CHETRY: Tomorrow night. All right, Thursday night, 9:00 Eastern. It will be a live TV event.
Sources say that LeBron wants to sell ad time for the ESPN special and the proceeds will be going to the boys and girls clubs of America.
ROBERT: That's a good --
CHETRY: Pretty savvy.
ROBERTS: Yes. It really is.
Christine Romans here "Minding Your Business" and we're sticking to the world of sports this morning. You talked to Venus Williams.
ROMANS: I did, and I asked her actually about LeBron. She's just back in the country and I said what do you think about all this controversy about where he's going to go? I mean, so many people are kind of out of work in this country and we're talking about these huge numbers for him, and she said, no, look, as an athlete, I think that when you value an athlete and someone's talent and someone who can really show their talent and entertain people, then great. She can't wait to see where he's going to go too.
CHETRY: Plus, he could bring a billion dollars to whatever city he goes to, and (INAUDIBLE) in New York.
ROMANS: That's right, or take it away from wherever he's leaving.
ROBERTS: Come to this town. Come to this town.
ROMANS: But Venus is pushing a book called "Come to Win" where she talks to and profiles a bunch of business leaders, everyone from Jack Welch, Vera Wang, Sir Richard Branson, the CEO of American Express, and I -- you know, I asked her, I said what -- why -- why focus on business for the book and she said it's all about failure, losing -- learning from failure and from competition.
You don't have to scratch very deeply at a lot of very successful people to find sports beneath the surface, and that's something that was something that was -- that directed them and drove them, and I asked her about Wimbledon in particular, her tournament. She didn't make it, and, you know, this is -- must have been a big disappointment for her.
The book is called "Come to Win", yet she failed at her signature tournament. What did she think about that? Listen to what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VENUS WILLIAMS, TENNIS STAR; AUTHOR, "COME TO WIN": I've had so many great years and Wimbledon this year also was a very good year, but not what I'm used to, so --
ROMANS: What happened, do you think?
WILLIAMS: I didn't win the match. It's just that simple. And just like, you know, in my book, when you don't win, you re-evaluate, you go back and you -- you come back better. And that's a part of sports. You don't always win. It just doesn't happen. I mean, I wanted to, but it doesn't, and I'll be ready for the next match.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Of course she's 30 years old, which is young. But when in tennis, more than half of your life you've been a professional athlete, a lot of people are wondering how many more years she's going to do this. She's got so many other hobbies and irons in the fire in terms of a design company and the book and all sorts of other things and -- and people say, you know, what is she building for the future? She says she have -- she has a lot of years outside of tennis, after tennis, and she is building that groundwork right now.
In the book, Magic Johnson is in there, talking about when he first started -- and he's a very successful businessman. As he came out and -- and was trying to get established in business, he was having meetings and realizing people are just taking meetings to get his autograph. And Venus says that she's -- doesn't want -- she wants to be established as a businesswoman so there will be a long career -- there will be a career longer than tennis for her after tennis.
So I said, well, when -- when is that going to start? I mean, when are you going to be done with tennis? One year? Two years? She said, oh no, no. I eat this. I love this too much right now --
ROBERTS: It will be a while. Yes --
ROMANS: -- to -- to be done just yet. So, in the meantime, she says, well --
CHETRY: It's not a really (ph) a bad thing to get a call -- to get somebody to take a meeting because they want to get to know you. I mean, it could lead to something --
ROMANS: It could --
CHETRY: -- as it did for Magic Johnson.
ROMANS: -- but -- yes, absolutely. But she said that -- that it's very -- it's very interesting that she wants to be established as a businesswoman before she's done with tennis so that she has that credibility.
ROBERTS: It's a good idea. And it's been said too that the best CEOs are people who have known failure because they know how to avoid it in the future, as long as they're not people who have failed again and again and again and again.
ROMANS: Yes, yes. With taxpayer money, let's point out.
Yes, and she -- that -- that seems to be -- that is a real theme throughout here -- through all kinds of different people who are at the top of their own game. You don't have to go very far to find sports under there, so --
CHETRY: You're right.
ROBERTS: Christine Romans, thanks so much.
CHETRY: Well, you can see more of Christine's interview, by the way, with Venus Williams this weekend on "Your $$$$$", and everything you need to know about your house, your job, your savings. It airs Saturday, 1:00 P.M. Eastern and Sunday at 3:00 P.M. Eastern right here on CNN.
ROBERTS: Coming up, a California teenager cut loose from the foster care system but because of budget cuts there's no more state help for her. Our Thelma Gutierrez is following her difficult journey toward an uncertain future.
It's 25 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's coming up now on 28 minutes after the hour. We're back with the Most News in the Morning and it's time for an "A.M. Original", something that you'll see only here on AMERICAN MORNING.
California's massive budget cuts have taken a heavy toll on some of its most needy kids. Now, yesterday we introduced you to Carla. She's a foster teen who's about to be emancipated from child protective services. So where does she go from here?
Thelma Gutierrez has her story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When we first met Carla, she was in foster care. She had just turned 18 and was about to age out of California's child welfare system, scared, anxious and alone.
CARLA, FOSTER CARE TEEN: What am I going to do? I mean, how am I going to support myself? How am I going to know what to do, how to do it, where and when and all these things?
GUTIERREZ: Carla has no job, no apartment, no family. She told me she has never met her father, her mother is mentally ill and homeless.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): It seems like you have a lot of hurt inside.
CARLA: Yes.
GUTIERREZ: What do you want for your future?
CARLA: Get to have what I didn't have in my childhood. GUTIERREZ: Like what?
CARLA: Birthday parties, have my own place.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Four thousand teenagers like Carla leave California's foster system every year. Sixty-five percent have no place to go and deep budget cuts may mean even less help in the years ahead.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): So where do they go when they have no place to go?
LAURI BURNS, THE TEEN PROJECT: Unfortunately, this is it right here.
GUTIERREZ: On the street?
BURNS: They're living on the street.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Lori Burns, founder of The Teen Project, was once in foster care herself. She survived on the street as a teen prostitute. She says what's happening to foster youth is a crime.
BURNS: Young adults leaving prison? They get $200 when they leave. But foster kids get nothing, not even $10, just a good luck and they're out.
CARLA: I think (ph) the day of my move out is so soon, I think I just realized that I'm just really, really scared.
GUTIERREZ: Before she can begin the next phase of her life, she must say good-bye to the past, her foster mother and father who've been her family for the last two years.
This is the day for Carla. We're here at the Family Court for emancipation court (ph). In just a few minutes, the judge will terminate Carla from the child welfare system.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This court is now in session. This court --
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Judge Carolyn Kirkwood has presided over hundreds of termination hearings. She worries what happens when they leave the system.
JUDGE CAROLYN KIRKWOOD, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA: They're facing poverty. They're facing premature pregnancies. They're facing homelessness.
We have to help a child see that they have a future story. That they can graduate from high school. That they can go onto college.
GUTIERREZ: Carla tells the Judge Kirkwood that's exactly her plan.
KIRKWOOD: Dependent child proceedings are terminated. Congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
GUTIERREZ: In this five-bedroom home, Lori Burns tries to save foster teens like Carla from the sort of life she led on the streets.
In three years, she raised money, started an organization, and with the help of volunteers, built the teen project home. And this is where Carla and four other young women will live under supervision of a house mother while they go to college. Carla even has a full scholarship to the Paul Mitchell School where she will study cosmetology and prepare for life on her own.
CARLA, FOSTER CARE TEEN: My wish would be to find success and happiness.
(CHEERING)
GUTIERREZ: And that she says would be a first in her life.
Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Orange County, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: She's so fortunate that there was somebody there with a safety net for her, because the state is not doing anything for her.
CHETRY: That's amazing. I mean, hopefully, that she's getting a scholarship to cosmetology school and they have a place to live and at least some supervision. So, best of luck. Hopefully, that will be enough for her to be able to, you know, start a life for herself.
ROBERTS: Yes, thank goodness. But what about -- what about hundreds of other people in her same straits that don't have that?
CHETRY: I know.
ROBERTS: You know, they just end up on the streets. Gosh. A real problem.
CHETRY: It is. It is.
We have our top stories this morning at 32 minutes past the hour.
They're feeling the heat across the northeast. We certainly are here in the Big Apple. History-making heat wave featuring triple digit temperatures shattering records from New York to Virginia. Utility companies are warning the intensity of this heat wave is testing the limits of the power grid.
So, when will we see some relief? Well, our Rob Marciano is tracking the dangerous system.
ROBERTS: Hawaii's governor has vetoed a bill that would have legalized same-sex civil unions. The state house of representatives passed the measure in April. The governor, Linda Lingle, used her veto pen on the last day that she had to act on the bill that would have granted gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits as married couples.
CHETRY: Well, in the Gulf, crews are working to connect the vessel Helix Producer to BP's ruptured oil well. The Coast Guard says it should collect up to 53,000 barrels of oil every day. The vessel is now partially hooked up but work has been delayed because of the rough waters. Officials are now eyeing another system near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
ROBERTS: Well, as he hit day 79 of this disaster, a new report out from National Geographic is raising more red flags about the impact that it's having on threatened and endangered birds. Experts say cleanup crews working in sensitive areas are causing adult birds to abandon their young, and eggs and chicks are accidentally being trampled on.
CHETRY: So far, the feds say that more than 2,300 birds have been collected. About 60 percent of them were already dead and crews are working feverishly to save the ones found alive.
Our John Zarrella is live in Pensacola, Florida, with more on the rescue mission.
It's a true labor of love for these people, these volunteers, who are spending countless hours and in some cases we're talking about, unfortunately, it's not working out.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's just the reality of it, Kiran. It's not working out in all cases.
But you know what? At this oil bird rehabilitation center here in Pensacola, they had for a while been getting five to 10 oiled birds a day coming in. The numbers recently have dropped. They're hoping that's a good sign but they're not counting on it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice-over): This Northern Gannet struggles with its caretakers, if it only knew how lucky it was to be in their hands. Cleaning is just part of the treatment.
HEIDI STOUT, TRI-STATE BIRD RESCUE & RESEARCH: It will be provided fluids both orally and I.V., much like what would happen in a hospital setting or an ICU.
ZARRELLA: This is a rehabilitation facility for oiled birds here in Pensacola. It's one of four such centers across the Gulf. Today, there are 52 birds here. Those closest to being released back into the wild, mostly loons and gannets, hang out in swimming pools. The others, not quite so far along in rehab, sit in pens where they can be watched more closely.
(on camera): They have treated about 100 birds since this facility opened in early May. Now, the past couple of days, they haven't gotten any birds and that is a good sign.
STOUT: It's wonderful for the wildlife.
ZARRELLA: But it doesn't necessarily mean the worst is over, does it? Or does it?
STOUT: well, you know, the geographic magnitude of this spill makes it difficult to really predict what's going to happen a week from now.
ZARRELLA (voice-over): The lull right now gives the rescuers and caretakers a chance to catch a breath, to just catch up.
The numbers they've been dealing with in the four-state area are overwhelming: 157 sea turtles rescued, 444 found dead; 53 of 58 mammals including dolphins and whales found dead; about 1,000 birds have been rescued, 410 released, nearly 1,400 found dead.
No one knows how many have died, their remains never found. At least this gannet will live to fly another day. Washing the oil from its feathers is a meticulous process. For him to be waterproof again, each and every one of his feathers must be cleaned.
STOUT: It's kind of like shingles on a roof. If one of them is damaged, then there's going to be water that penetrates through to the skin of that bird.
ZARRELLA: When our Northern Gannet's bath is over, the soap is rinsed from his wings and body, with a little tender care -- in just a couple of weeks, it should be free to fly.
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ZARRELLA: Now, there are a couple of reasons why they may not be seeing as many animals right now. For instance, the turtle rescue teams could not even get out for several days because the weather was so bad.
It's beautiful here today. It's first good day we've had in a while. So, it may be that rescuers that just haven't been able to get out there to find animals. The other reason is, we were told, that this time of year in the case of the birds, they feed close to shore -- the chances for them to get oiled the most is when the oil then moves close to shore. And right now, it's kind of offshore a little bit more at least around here.
So, those are a couple reasons why they may not be seeing as many oiled birds and other animals right now -- John, Kiran.
ROBERTS: All right. Well, we'll see what they come up when they head back out there on the waters. John Zarrella for us in Pensacola -- thanks so much, John.
ZARRELLA: Yes.
ROBERTS: Great report this morning.
CHETRY: It still breaks your heart every time you see it. I mean, these volunteers who are working hard.
ROBERTS: It sure does.
CHETRY: They're spending hours on each bird and there's so many more that can't be saved.
ROBERTS: I remember seeing some on Queen Bess Island just standing there, having no idea, obviously, no comprehension what's happened to them and no idea what to do about it.
CHETRY: I know. When will (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: Yes.
CHETRY: It just tugs at your heartstrings. They're animals, but, you know, you just feel for them.
Still ahead: drug smugglers with the navy. The DEA finding the first true narco sub in a swamp in Ecuador. Now, they're saying: could this just be the first of many and who the heck is able to build this thing? Fully submersible. The drug war now goes under water.
We're going to talk to the regional director of the DEA about a whole new class of weapon in the drug war.
Thirty-eight minutes past the hour.
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CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Forty- one minutes past the hour now.
They've used planes, speed boats and, of course, human mules. But if you haven't seen it yet, check out the newest weapon for drug smugglers.
DEA agents say they found the first completely submersible drug submarine in a swamp in Ecuador capable of carrying tons of cocaine. One found before have only actually peeked above the surface. They've been low to the water but not fully submersible. Many say it's a sign that traffickers are taking the battle even deeper.
Jay Bergman is a regional director for the DEA and he oversees all of the investigation to take place in Colombia. And this was found in Ecuador. He joins us this morning via Skype.
We also have you on the phone to ensure the connection. Jay, thanks for being with us.
JAY BERGMAN, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, DEA: Thank you. Good morning.
CHETRY: So, we're looking at where this submarine was found. A pretty remote location, they say, in the Ecuadorian swamp -- a mangrove swamp -- south of the border. How did they find it, first of all, and who do they think built it?
BERGMAN: Well, it was found through intelligence. I won't go any further than that.
I have to extend my compliments to the Ecuadorian national police. They took some scattered intelligence and they really went to town. When you mentioned how remote it is -- triple canopy jungle hidden in marshland. So, you not only have the triple canopy jungle, you have marshland. And it was -- you could put the Empire State Building sideways underneath that triple canopy jungle and not find it.
CHETRY: So, they obviously had some intelligence here. Who do they think was behind it?
BERGMAN: Well, it costs $4 million to manufacture. That's just the cost. The complex where it was built, which is a dry dock clandestine complex, housed at least 50 people. So, this organization, without going into specific details, has the wherewithal and has the resources to invest in maritime drug trafficking.
CHETRY: You also say it would be highly unlikely that this would be the first one built. It happens to be the first one caught. How many do you think there are like this out there?
BERGMAN: Well, I can't -- I can't give you a guesstimate. The response is that this is the first one we've found and it is statistically almost impossible to say the first one ever built is the first one we found.
CHETRY: Right.
BERGMAN: We're pretty good of what we do, but that's giving us too much credit.
CHETRY: Just a give us a sense of how -- the quantity of drugs that could be smuggled had this been successful?
BERGMAN: The pay load, cargo area in this submarine is forward. The cubic feet or cubic meters of this compartment is not fully determined, but the estimates from Ecuadorian national police are anywhere between six and 10 metric tons of cocaine.
CHETRY: And explain why smugglers had to go under? I mean, had to go deep? What type -- how successful have you guys been at intercepting maritime pay loads?
BERGMAN: That's exactly right. The fact that traffickers now need to invest $4 million and spend eight months building a submarine really speaks to the stresses that we're putting on the business model for drug traffickers, maritime drug traffickers, whether it's intelligence being generated or the Coast Guard and naval forces, they've really driven traffickers, as you mentioned, under -- under the ocean waves.
CHETRY: So, let's say this isn't the first one, as you said. How do you fight this?
BERGMAN: Well, you fight it with -- the same way we did, intelligence. The best way to go after these is before they are adamant objects and while they're still being built. And the second phase is, you know, is anti-submarine warfare. Really, the naval forces throwing their modern technology at this threat combined with old fashioned police work.
CHETRY: Pretty amazing, though, that this was discovered. Jay Bergman, the DEA regional director, coming to us from Colombia -- Bogota, Colombia, this morning. Thanks so much.
BERGMAN: Thank you.
ROBERTS: That really is incredible, isn't it? You never thought you'd ever hear the words anti-submarine warfare associated with drug interdiction.
CHETRY: I know. And the other question as well is, I mean, if the drug cartels can do this, can terrorists get their hands on it as well?
ROBERTS: I would expect, though, that there aren't too many shipyards that can build a submarine. So, maybe, that narrows down the targets if they have to --
CHETRY: And he said he could have laid the Empire State Building horizontal for this was and is man group (ph) -- it was an industrial complex over there. Just amazing.
ROBERTS: Pretty incredible. Wow.
Record breaking heat in the east coast. Rob is going to have more on what we can expect today along with this morning's travel forecast right after the break. Stay with us. Forty-six minutes after the hour.
CHETRY: Also, World Cup soccer, it's not just for humans. We're going to take you to the Annual Robocup World Championship. It's our "Edge of Discovery."
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ROBERTS: Good morning New York City. Hey, there's the CNN billboard. That tells detail. Right now, 84 degrees. It's 6:48 in the morning. It's going to be 95 later on today. Hot. But not as hot as it was yesterday by about 7 degrees. So, that's a nice bit of relief this morning.
CHETRY: Yes. All of us are going to be feeling like blisters in the sun today. That's for sure. Forty-nine minutes past the hour. We get a check of this morning weather headlines. Rob Marciano in the Extreme Weather Center. It's always an upside down world. We're way hotter than you guys are down south. MARCIANO: Yes. Sometimes, that happens, and you get little bit of a west wind or northwest wind across the New York and Philly areas. At little down sloping effect will even cook you more. But that's where the core is of the high pressure and the heat and that's sinking air. So, that's where the hot air is, and it's actually quite pleasant across parts of the south right now. 105 was a record in Baltimore. These are measured in the shade and do not include humidity. So, it gives you an idea of just how smoking hot it was and some of these records well over a decade old.
Today, we'll see similar numbers, I think, although, some of the heat will shift a little bit farther to the south. So, Boston, Hartford, and parts of the Northern New England may feel a little bit of relief, but folks in New York, Philly, and D.C., it's pretty much going to be the same deal you saw yesterday. Maybe, some relief as we get toward tomorrow. But a lot of red on the map with temperatures in the 90s, 96 degrees in Atlanta. So, we're trying to catch up to you folks up there in New York.
All right. What's going on down across the south? The Yucatan peninsula, we're watching this area of disturbed weather. And it's going to get into the Gulf of Mexico. We're already starting to see a little flare-up of thunderstorms right here as this system emerges into the Gulf, and as that happens, the potential for seeing some sort of tropical development is in the forecast. Here's the oil slick, OK? So, that's obviously concern. What's going to happen with this thing, these are some of our computer models. We see a bit of the Expanse of them pretty much taking a similar track to ike (ph).
We don't think it'll be quite as strong, but the track should be similar and shouldn't have too much of an effect on the oil slick. That's what it looks like right now. We'll monitor the situation as it merges into the Gulf of Mexico. So, two things we're watching. Obviously, the heat across the north and down across the south, we are now getting into the heart of hurricane season. John and Kiran, back up to you.
ROBERTS: Rob, thanks so much. Good to have you back. And we see you found your razor.
MARCIANO: Yes. Yes. Now, I need to find my barber. So, good to be back as well.
CHETRY: You did some great reporting down there and that told us a lot of stories, and we did enjoy your scruffy.
ROBERTS: Yes. He's not looking like bear grills anymore like that rugged outdoorsman look.
MARCIANO: Good to see you, guys.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Rob.
This morning's top stories just minutes away now including showdown in the desert. President Obama against the state of Arizona. Can the federal government squash a tough new immigration law. Jeff Toobin joins us this morning.
CHETRY: And our "AM Original" series, big stars, big giving continues. Today, it is lady Gaga. What she's doing to help save lives.
ROBERTS: And speaking of bad romance, why is breaking up so hard to do? Maybe, because love is an addiction. We'll take a look at what a broken heart actually does to your brain. It's a fascinating story you're going to want to hear about. Those stories and more coming your way beginning at the top of the hour.
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CHETRY: Hopefully, we'll find out soon who the champions are. Fifty-five minutes past the hour. There'll be maybe close to the currency collapsing, but the state of European soccer is as strong as ever. It's an all Euro or it could be an all Euro World Cup final this weekend in South Africa now that the undefeated Netherlands who'll advance to the title game with the 3-2 victory over Uruguay. Germany takes on Spain later today, and the winner back (ph) will meet the Netherlands on Sunday for the World Cup.
ROBERTS: Imagine that. "Paul," the octopus, yes, "Paul" the octopus is picking Spain over Germany this afternoon to reach the final match. Paul has correctly picked five winners in a row from his home at the sea life aquarium in Western Germany.
CHETRY: Wow. He looks like a pole.
ROBERTS: It does, doesn't he? Paul's handlers place snacks inside two boxes, one representing Spain, the other one Germany, also like to the big juicy muscle at the bottom of the Spain box. So, if Spain wins, obviously, they're going to kick Paul out of Germany.
CHETRY: From the --
ROBERTS: Shift into the aquarium of Spain.
CHETRY: Yes, it was some pride (INAUDIBLE). Just kidding. Just kidding!
ROBERTS: I was in store yesterday listening to the World Cup match, and the guy that does the goal!
CHETRY: Yes, I love him. What's his name? Andre --
ROBERTS: He went on forever.
CHETRY: Yes. He got a set of lungs on him.
ROBERTS: Three or four times. It went on for like five minutes. It was amazing.
CHETRY: That's why it's so much more interesting to listen to world cup soccer in Spanish, actually.
ROBERTS: Exactly.
CHETRY: From the World Cup to a different kind of soccer competition, this one's taking place in Singapore.
ROBERTS: The matches speeds (ph) your teams of highly programmed players from all over the world. CNN's Deb Feyerick got our "Edge of Discovery" report.
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DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ever want to bend it like Beckham? How about like R2D2. At Robocup teams from around the world compete in soccer matches using robots. A team from Carnegie Mellon University played in a championship match in Singapore.
STEFAN ZICKLER, CARNEGIE MELLON GRADUATE: People look at these games, and they often ask why robots present many challenger that actually go to the fundamentals of robotic. So, this concept is a friendly competition that really drives research forward.
FEYERICK: So, how do the robots play soccer? The students build the robot from scratch and created software to make them think. The robots see through two cameras above the field. These images then feed into an external computer, the robot's brain, to decide the next move. They can deliver a flat kick and even a chip kick.
ZICKLER: In robots soccer, you have to predict the physics of the world. There's a lot of uncertainty. You don't know what your opponent is going to do.
FEYERICK: Another group of students create programming for humanoid robots. These robots have cameras and computers inside their head, and they use a wireless system to communicate.
SOMCHAYA LIEMHETCHARAT, CARNEGIE MELLON STUDENT: When the robots keep the ball like tumble (ph), it will send a message to tell the teammates like, hey, I saw a ball over here. So, they'll decide who should really attack and also put the ball.
FEYERICK: At Robocup, the goal is to create a team of robots that can beat a human team by the year 2050.
ZICKLER: Robots, in general, are going to be really important over the next decade. And robot has really put the main (ph) to develop these theories.
FEYERICK: Deborah Feyerick, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: There it is. Next thing we're going to hear about is Skynet, and we're all doomed. Top stories coming your way right after the break. Stay with us.
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