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Terrell Owen Reportedly Attempts Suicide; Intelligence Report Sparks Debate; Suicide Attacks Strike in Iraq

Aired September 27, 2006 - 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: Hello, I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Lin, in for Kyra Phillips.

Cowboy superstar and lightning rod Terrell Owens, did he attempt suicide? That developing story from the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: Has a booming housing market gone bust? Should you buy now? And what does it mean if you're planning to sell?

LIN: And a spinach scare, is it over? Are fresh vegetables at your supermarket safe? Well, I'm going to be talking with the former Ag secretary, his thoughts, and throw him some of your questions, too, all in THE NEWSROOM, next.

LEMON: We begin this hour of the NEWSROOM with a developing story. Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens has made his name with stellar play on the field and sometimes outlandish behavior off the field.

Now comes word that Owens may be facing problems much more serious than wins and losses. He has left the Dallas hospital a short time ago after being rushed there last night, reportedly after trying to commit suicide.

Let's get more now from Rebecca Lopez of WFAA in Dallas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REBECCA LOPEZ, WFAA CORRESPONDENT: We obtained a copy of the police report, and according to a police report by the Dallas Police Department, it said that he may have attempted to commit suicide.

Now according to the report, a woman was with him at the time. She saw him put two pain pills in his mouth. She tried to get those pain pills out. She also noticed that a prescription bottle of pain medication was empty.

She said that on September the 18th, she filled that bottle. There were 40 pills inside. He had only taken up to five up until yesterday. And then she noticed that the bottle was empty. At that time, she called 911.

Now, when police went to Baylor Medical Center, which is where they took Owen, they asked him if he had taken the remainder of the pills, and he said yes. When they asked him if he had -- was intending to harm himself, he said yes.

So it appears that he may have tried to kill himself, according to a Dallas police report.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And that was Rebecca Lopez of WFAA in Dallas. We're expecting to hear from Terrell Owens in just a few minutes. But first, WFAA sports reporter Joe Trahan joins me on the phone. He is live in Dallas outside of the sports complex.

What are you hearing? Your station is reporting that Terrell Owen is about to hold a press conference. What are you hearing there?

JOE TRAHAN, WFAA SPORTS REPORTER: That's correct, John. We heard through official channels. The Cowboys public relation staff has told us that Terrell Owens' publicist, Kim Etheridge, says that Terrell Owens should be speaking within this hour. Apparently, his agent will be along with him, Drew Rosenhaus. That will be -- that will happen outside of -- outside of Owens' Dallas home.

LEMON: So Joe, I imagine -- I'm not sure if you were at the press conference, but I'm sure you heard, according to police last night at about 8 p.m., they showed up at his -- at his home. But they're saying there's no criminal investigation. Where are these reports coming from of a possible suicide attempt?

TRAHAN: Well, I mean, it's really -- it's clear cut. I mean, they're coming from the police report. And I'm sure you guys have seen copies of that there in the newsroom. And the first responders who were there to cover this, that's what the dispatch came out, as an attempted suicide. When the fire and police officials got there, that's what they surmised it to be.

Now you know, if they were correct or not, we'll have to wait and see. And we should try and get some kind of closure from Terrell Owens into this, at least within the hour.

LEMON: Yes, absolutely. And we're -- just looking at the police report here, it says that a woman was at his home, Mr. Trahan, a woman was at his home when, apparently, she saw him put two pills in his mouth. Apparently, he had gotten this prescription filled back on September 18. It had 40 pills in it, and all of a sudden it had none. So she surmised, I would imagine, that it was a suicide attempt.

TRAHAN: Yes, and that's question No. 1, when Terrell Owen speaks at his home today. You know, how did that prescription bottle, you know, get to be empty? And that's -- we do know this, Terrell Owens is not here at the training -- he should be here for practice. So obviously, something is not normal, and we will wait to find out what that is.

LEMON: Let's talk about Terrell Owens' -- about his history. Because he was -- I lived in Philadelphia for a while. He was there, very controversial. A couple years ago, he's with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he made some controversial remarks about a couple of the players, a quarterback there, Donovan McNabb, also calling another player gay. Eventually suspended from the Eagles, and then went on to go to Dallas.

Do you know of any history of depression from Terrell Owens?

TRAHAN: No, and that's the interesting part of this story, because as soon as yesterday in the Cowboys locker room, Terrell Owen was in this incredibly playful mood. Reporters were asking him if he would speak. He said no, no, I only speak if there were some videographers who were taking pictures of him. And he actually got behind a trash can and kind of walked with it as if he was hiding behind the trash can, not wanting to be videotaped.

So, you know, everyone, obviously, on that page suspects this is from out of left field. And judging by his actions yesterday, it certainly seems like it's out of left field.

LEMON: All right. Joe Trahan, reporter, the sports reporter for WFAA. A lot of questions to be answered when it comes to this. And maybe we'll get the answers out of this press conference that we are hearing from WFAA that Terrell Owens is about to hold in just a short time.

Thank you very much.

TRAHAN: Thank you for having me.

LEMON: Joe Trahan. All right.

LIN: In the meantime, one of our other top stories is this national intelligence report. It was for key government leaders' eyes only. But now all of us can finally take a peek, at least for parts of it.

It being a sweeping national intelligence report, and both Democrats and Republicans are finding parts to back their position in the pre-election fight over the Iraq war.

So let's get the latest now from our White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano.

Elaine, the president was not happy with many parts of what actually came out of this report.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's exactly right, Kyra. And that certainly prompted the White House to declassify portions of this classified -- classified National Intelligence Estimate, dealing partly with Iraq.

And one day after President Bush took that unusual step, Democrats are pressing for more. They would like to see more of this National Intelligence Estimate.

Now, Democrats have pounced on the NIE as evidence, they say, that the U.S. is less safe because of the Iraq war, a charge that, of course, a Bush administration vigorously denies. But today, in the White House briefing just a short time ago, Tony Snow saying the administration would not release additional documents or declassified additional portions of the NIE, because it didn't want to jeopardize sources and methods.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: In short, we're not going to release the documents, because we don't want to place people's lives at risk. We don't want to place sources and methods at risk. We don't want to compromise our ability to work with foreign governments who have been essential in helping prosecute and continue to prosecute the war on terror. And we want to make sure that the president receives the best and most honest analysis he can from intelligence sources.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And so, Carol, look for this debate to just intensify in the days and weeks ahead as we get closer and closer to those all important congressional midterm elections -- Carol.

LIN: Well, Elaine, and a big meeting tonight for the president tonight between the president of Afghanistan, the president of Pakistan. Yesterday, our very own Wolf Blitzer did a terrific interview with the president of Pakistan, saying, you know, fundamentally asking him, "Do you owe an apology to the Afghan president for calling him out of it?"

We're going to be airing parts of that interview. But I'm wondering what are you expecting out of this meeting as the three players get together?

QUIJANO: Well, it's certainly going to be an interesting one, Carol, that's for sure.

As you noted there have been tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan recently, particularly on this issue of the resurgence of Taliban activity along their shared border. Certainly, both sides pointing the finger of blame at each other for that resurgence of activity.

And now this will be an opportunity. President Bush hopes to try to bring the two sides together and try to defuse some of the tensions that have developed. But as you noted, some heated words, coming really from both sides, including that interview that you mentioned with General Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan -- Carol.

LIN: And I guess Wolf gets a chance to interview President Karzai this afternoon, so we'll hear more from him before the president's meeting. Thanks very much, Elaine Quijano, live at the White House.

We're going to have complete coverage of President Bush's meeting with presidents Musharraf and Karzai at the White House this evening. Watch "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer at 7 p.m. Eastern. LEMON: Questions today, is there anything surprising in the latest intelligence estimate, or is it just old news? Let's bring in our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, for a closer look.

Hi, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don.

You know, the nature of these reports is to provide the best guidance possible for policymakers. So they don't tend to answer definitive answers. Instead, the analysts who put them together try to present all sides of an issue, so hopefully the best decisions can be made.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): The abridged version of the report pretty much mirrors what we have already heard from a variety of administration officials. But there's one point you don't hear much about: that five years into the war on terror, Muslims who identify themselves as jihadists are increasing both in number and geographic dispersion.

Robert Hutchings used to head the National Intelligence Council, which prepared the report.

ROBERT HUTCHINGS, WOODROW WILSON SCHOOL: To me it says that we've gotten ourselves off on a fundamentally wrong track by over militarizing this struggle.

ARENA: Intelligence officials say they pushed to keep the reports secret. They say it is not something that is meant for public distribution; it's written for top level policymakers.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think analysts will be more reluctant to make tough judgment calls if intelligence products are thrown out into the public arena every time there's a political fire storm.

ARENA: The portion of the report that caused such a ruckus in the first place has to do with the war in Iraq. The report says that conflict is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and that it has become the cause celebre for jihadists.

On the other hand, if fighters fail there or think they've failed, the report says that will hurt the movement.

MCLAUGHLIN: So it presents a very dynamic picture on Iraq.

ARENA: The war in Iraq is just one reason cited for the growth of extremism. Other reasons are the slow pace of reform in many Muslim nations and pervasive anti-U.S. sentiment.

But it's not all negative. The analysts who wrote the report say moderate Muslim leaders are stepping forward to denounce the violence. MCLAUGHLIN: The paper makes the point that that mainstream Muslim movement could be the factor that would tip the scales, the most potent weapon in the anti-terrorist movement.

ARENA: So what else might tip the balance? Well, the report says if Osama bin Laden or other al Qaeda leaders are caught, that could fracture the movement.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: Now, it's important to note that this report was completed in April. That is before al Qaeda's leader in Iraq was killed. And as we've heard repeatedly, we're only seeing three pages here. So most of this report does remain classified, Don.

LEMON: Kelli, the Bush administration has been fighting to classify a lot of documents. It's been a bit of controversy around that. Will there be a leak investigation?

ARENA: You know, the attorney general was asked that yesterday, said that it's very early to tell. They never actually confirmed whether or not they're investigating.

You know, at the end of the day, even when you do have a leak investigation, these things usually don't go anywhere. The best guessing is no, that they won't. And, you know, the political chips fall where they may.

LEMON: All right, well, there you have it. Kelli Arena called it. Thank you very much.

LIN: Today in Iraq, like so many tragic days prior, marked by intense violence. Car bombs in Baghdad and word of U.S. military combat casualties in Anbar province.

CNN's Arwa Damon joins us now from the Iraqi capital -- Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Carol.

That's right, there have been a number of attacks across the capital. But let's start first with a military operation that happened overnight in Baquba. That's north of the capital, Baghdad.

According to a U.S. military press release, coalition and Iraqi forces were targeting a senior al Qaeda in Iraq operative believed to operate in Diyalah and Salah ad-Din (ph) provinces.

They say that they came under intense fire when they were approaching their target house. They called in an air strike. And what they found when they went into that building was four suspected insurgents, but also four women were killed and another woman was wounded.

And this just highlights the fact that civilians here are so often caught in the crossfire between the insurgency and between U.S. and Iraqi forces. Now there are ongoing operations in and around Baghdad all over Iraq to try to bring this insurgency under control. But despite that, as we heard from Major General William Caldwell, spokesman for the multinational forces here, there has been an increase in attacks over the two weeks, even an increase in suicide bombings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, SPOKESMAN FOR MULTINATIONAL FORCES: In terms of attacks, this week's suicide attacks were at their highest level in any given week, with half of them targeting security forces. Last week, almost 50 percent of the vehicle-born improvised explosive devices were suicide attacks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAMON: And, Carol, the general also spoke about an increase in sectarian violence, especially in the capital, Baghdad. In fact, just over an hour ago, we received a report from the Iraqi emergency police that at least 10 Sunnis had been killed in what appears to be the latest sectarian attack. What happened was they were on their way to a Sunni mosque in northern Baghdad. Gunmen arrived in two vehicles, opened fire on them, killing 10 and wounding another 11 -- Carol.

LIN: Arwa, you bring us a range of stories from Iraq. It's not always about violence. I wonder, after these kinds of attacks, how does life go on? How does it affect how everyday Iraqis operate in their communities?

DAMON: Carol, it has such a profound impact on this community that it is incredibly hard to describe. In fact, even though I've been here for three and a half years, I still marvel every day at your ordinary Iraqi's ability to continue with their life.

But beneath the surface -- and you do see Iraqis out on the streets every day. You do see them trying to work. Beneath the surface is a very real fear, and they have to live with that and try to overcome it, Carol.

LIN: Remarkable. Arwa Damon, live from Baghdad, thank you.

This weekend, CNN is going to take an unprecedented up close look at Donald Rumsfeld. The defense secretary acknowledges some things haven't gone as expected in Iraq, but challenges anybody who's questioning his planning. An exclusive interview, candid comments, that's "Rumsfeld, Man of War". Only on CNN, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

LEMON: All right. And we have more on that developing news we've been telling you about. Dallas Cowboys' football player Terrell Owen apparently taken to the hospital, reports that he attempted suicide.

Let's speak now with Rick Watson. He's a public information officer for the Dallas Police Department. Mr. Watson, I'm looking at a police report here that has been released by our station, WFAA, in Dallas. Also on the Internet now, which -- which talks about a woman apparently at the home of Terrell Owen, witnessed him taking pills. Apparently, his prescription had recently been filled. And then is empty now. Can you comment on that?

RICK WATSON, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Well, Don, that report that you're looking at should have not been released. Under Texas open records law and the privacy act, that type of information on this particular incident should have not been released.

LEMON: But it is...

WATSON: And what I'm saying is the fact that we investigated this incident. And we found that there was, you know, no criminal offense that was violated. And our case right now is concluded.

LEMON: But this police document, this is an official police -- it's valid, right?

WATSON: Like I said with respect to that, that information should have not been released. The information that we're releasing now basically is what we've done with this case, and we are completed with it.

LEMON: OK, you're done with it, but your officers did -- were on the scene. Tell us what happened. I know you had a press conference a short while ago and you did describe what happened when officers arrived. Can you go through that for us?

WATSON: Well, the officers were dispatched today, 3800 block of Commerce Street here in Dallas. And at the request the Dallas Fire Department paramedics.

And when they got there, the paramedics were treating Mr. Owens in the ambulance. And the paramedics told the officers that they needed to proceed to the hospital. So they did, and our officers followed. And when we got there, basically, we conducted an investigation, and determined that there was no criminal -- didn't appear to be any criminal offense here with this particular incident. So basically the case is closed unless someone else comes forward with some more information, but right now it's closed.

LEMON: All right, Mr. Watson, real quick, who called police to the scene? Was it the witness or was it the paramedics?

WATSON: Well, another -- well, the initial call came in through the 911 center.

LEMON: OK.

WATSON: And the 911 center dispatched the fire department.

LEMON: All right, thank you very much. WATSON: You're welcome.

LEMON: Rick Watson, the public information officer for the Dallas Police Department.

LIN: Meantime, we're waiting to hear from the player himself. He's going to be holding a news conference outside of his home.

LEMON: Possibly going to hold a press conference, yes. A lot of folks we hearing from our Dallas affiliate outside of Terrell Owens' home in metro -- metropolitan Dallas, waiting for a press conference from him.

LIN: All right. We'll be hopefully hearing from the man himself.

Meantime, another big story across the country, might be affecting you, slowing sales and falling prices. Has the housing bubble burst?

LEMON: Ahead in the NEWSROOM, what the new numbers on the housing market mean to your bottom line.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEION SANDERS, NFL NETWORK ANALYST: ... not until I talk to T.O. Personally, face-to-face.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've talked to him, haven't you?

SANDERS: Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are all saying these things about him. Is that what really happened?

SANDERS: I don't believe so. You're going to get the truth from the man himself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Deion, what do you think actually happened? Do you think it was just what they said, it was an allergic reaction?

SANDERS: It's what he said. Have you spoke to him yet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have not. That's why we're talking to you.

SANDERS: He's going to tell you the truth.

What's up, brother? How you doing, man?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is he doing OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you concerned at all, Deion? SANDERS: No...

How you doing? How you doing?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: We have more now on a developing story. There are numerous reports that NFL superstar Terrell Owens may have attempted suicide last night. He was rushed to a Dallas hospital after reportedly overdosing on pain medication. He left the hospital just a short time ago.

Owens plays for the Dallas Cowboys. He is one of the NFL's top receivers. Fans often refer to him just by his initials, T.O. He's long been a lightning rod for controversy. He has taunted opponents, even publicly mocked his own teammates.

Again, reports today that Terrell Owens tried to commit suicide. But Dallas police will not confirm a police incident report that details a suicide attempt.

So why is Terrell Owens such a big deal? Well, our Ray D'Alessio joins me now to talk more about Terrell Owens and his life in the spotlight. And when I, you know, I said lightning rod, he is definitely a lightning rod.

RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: You never know what you're going to get with T.O., Don. But I mean, this year appeared to be -- he appeared to be back on track. There was all the controversy with the Philadelphia Eagles, that he was the so-called cancer in the locker room, and you know, they parted their separate ways.

But it appeared that finally he had found a home with the Dallas Cowboys, or Bill Parcells, of course, the head coach, also a lightning rod of sorts.

LEMON: Right.

D'ALESSIO: You never know what you're going to get out of Bill Parcells. But again, it appeared that Terrell Owens was on the fast track to, you know, just playing football again. He was excited about being in Dallas.

Then came the preseason, and he suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out of the first four of the five preseason games. Some speculation maybe that the hamstring wasn't as bad as Owens said it was. Bill Parcells making a few comments that, "Hey, you know what? The guy's not going to play in any games until I see him practice." He at one point missed 14 straight practices.

LEMON: Wow.

D'ALESSIO: But again, as far as this so-called, you know, attempted suicide, if that's indeed what it was -- again, we're waiting for this press conference -- it does come as somewhat of a shock. I mean, he was on track to get back to practice today. Two weeks ago, against the Washington Redskins, he broke his hand, had surgery the next day. Initial reports that he was going to be out two to four weeks.

LEMON: That's where the pain killers...

D'ALESSIO: So that's where the whole pain medication came from. He was taking these pain medications for this broken hand.

And Bill Parcells saying yesterday that all indications were he was progressing very rapidly. And Terrell Owens, besides being a controversial receiver, he's also known as being a quick healer. Of course, a couple of years ago with the Philadelphia Eagles, broke his leg. Seven weeks later he was back in the Super Bowl.

He was on track to come back to practice today, possibly -- possibly play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, and then this.

And we talked to Joe Trahan from WFAA in Dallas earlier. Joe saying he was in the locker room yesterday with Owens and there was absolutely no indications whatsoever. And there's the video from yesterday. You see him playing around with reporters, hiding behind the garbage can. So there's no indication that there was anything wrong.

So again, if this, indeed, was an attempted suicide, it's going to be very interesting to hear Terrell Owens' perspective on this.

LEMON: We talked about, you know, the controversy that surrounded him when he was in Philadelphia. As you said, it seems that he had found -- found a home there.

Just very quickly, let me just that -- because this stuff is all coming in. We're hearing that Dallas head coach Bill Parcells may be having a press conference -- a press conference at 2:30 Eastern today.

D'ALESSIO: Exactly, 2:30 Eastern Time. They have not had any comment on this. We attempted to call the Cowboys' P.R. department. They said no comment. Coach Parcells will possibly discuss the situation at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

LEMON: So let's get back to -- we talked about Philadelphia, because that was the biggest, really the biggest controversy surrounding Terrell Owens. What do you think this could be? I know you're not a doctor, but you know, you're on pain medication. Could it just be his problems? Is he sort of disillusioned? Is he liked by the team in Dallas?

D'ALESSIO: It's really. And that's the thing, I mean, yes, he's controversial. And he's had problems with coaches in the past. But his teammates generally like him. They really do.

You listen to the Cowboys, every time they go up and talk to them about Owens, they say, "Look, he's a heck of a receiver. He's going to add a lot to this." And it appeared that he was really back on track just to play football and just stay out of the controversial spotlight.

LEMON: OK, Ray, really quickly. You have your sources. Sources telling you -- you've got sports sources. Anybody telling you anything happening from the team or from behind the scenes?

D'ALESSIO: Again, you don't want to speculate. We don't know. That's why we're so anxious to hear from Owens himself. Reportedly, Drew Rosenhaus, his agent, is going to be there, which is normally the case when T.O.'s around. So let's just wait to see what Terrell Owens has to say about the whole thing.

LEMON: Ray, thank you very much.

D'ALESSIO: OK.

LIN: Which we're going to carry live when it happens.

LEMON: We will carry that live. OK.

LIN: In the meantime, another hot button story we're talking about in today's editorial meeting.

LEMON: Absolutely.

LIN: The whole transfat issue, whether New York is going to be banning restaurants from using it. You know, from dollars to doughnuts, this is really going to start a fight.

So what exactly are those city officials going to do about the transfatty acids? Serious story, coming up.

Also, we want to hear from you. What do you think? Do you think government should police how much transfat you eat? E-mail us your opinions. The address is CNNnewsroom@CNN.com. We're going to read some of your responses on the air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well...

LEMON: And controversy today surrounding one of the NFL's top receivers. There are reports, numerous reports that NFL superstar Terrell Owens may have attempted suicide. We're awaiting a possible press conference from Terrell Owens at his home in metropolitan Dallas.

LIN: That's right. In the meantime, we're expecting a record on the Dow. The Dow started the day within 54 points of its all-time high. So how close is it now?

Cheryl Casone joins us now from the New York Stock Exchange with some answers -- Cheryl.

CHERYL CASONE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hi Carol, Don.

Have either of you ever run a race or like a road race or something like that, or a bike race?

LIN: Yes.

LEMON: Yes.

CASONE: You know how you're the last mile of the race, and you can see the finish line and you're dying...

LEMON You're dying to get there, yes.

CASONE: You know, that's kind of like today is like, really, here at the New York Stock Exchange. The Dow is creeping very close to that record close of 11,723. Earlier today, it inched within 2 points of that level. Right now, the Dow is gaining 34 points, 11,704. We are literally just so close to that record high. We're a little bit further away many from the intraday high. That's different that was 11,750. That was set on the same day in January of 2000.

Meanwhile, the NASDAQ composite is adding a fraction of a percent right now, but nowhere near a record. In fact, guys, the NASDAQ could double and still not set a record. Investors not having much of a reaction to an unexpected jump to August sales of new homes. It was the first increase in five months, but still just a small ray of sunshine, in what has been a very gloomy market, overall for housing.

Except for Don, who's probably shopping for a house in Atlanta and is probably seeing good deals.

LEMON: Well, you know what, seeing a couple good deals but nobody wants to lower the price, so I'm just waiting, I'm sitting -- laying in wait, as they say.

CASONE: You can negotiate, Don, believe me, believe me.

LIN: Well, he's sitting next to a seller and I don't hear any offers.

LEMON: Honestly, I actually saw she has a house for sale. I saw here house, it's very nice. Are you going to come down on the price for me?

LIN: You got to make an offer first.

LEMON: All right.

CASONE: I've got to mediate this one, hold on.

LIN: Don't believe everything you hear in the media, Don, housing market's just fine.

LEMON: She said it, I didn't.

CASONE: Exactly, exactly, guys.

LEMON: So if the housing market is settling so badly, why is the market so strong today? CASONE: Well, you know, my producer and I were actually talking about that this morning. There's actually a direct correlation between those two things. This is a very interesting theory here. As the housing market has slowed down, many investors have pulled their money out of real estate and they've put it into stocks instead.

And the latest annual survey of the National Association of Realtors found that more than a quarter of all home buyers last year bought homes as investments. And then they -- not even a primary or secondary home, just an investment, so when you calculate how much they spent on those investments it comes out to, get this one, $500 billion.

So imagine -- it is incredible, really if you think about all the flipping that's been going on in the housing market over the last few years. So imagine -- it's incredible really, if you think about all the flipping that's been going on, in the housing market over the last few years.

So imagine even some of that money moving from the real estate market into the stock market. And as you can see, that's why stocks have been on the way up over the last year or so.

LEMON: There are pockets, though, that haven't really been affected by this bubble. I mean, there are hot zip codes still out there.

CASONE: Like New York City, for example?

LEMON: Like New York City. And mostly the coastal cities, New York, L.A., Miami.

CASONE: Absolutely. There is some stabilizing going on in those markets. There's a slight cooling trend, but when you look at the markets that have really been growing, like Florida, Arizona, those markets are really seeing a drop. So it's really interesting to watch.

Again, Don, if you need any advice, give me a call here at the New York Stock Exchange.

LEMON: I will.

CASONE: I have all kinds of ideas for you.

LEMON: All right, will do, thank you.

LIN: Drop a few names, Cheryl, along the way? All right, thanks, Cheryl.

You know what, this just came in to the CNN Center. According to the Associated Press, you know, we now know where the 2008 Presidential GOP Convention will take place, the twin cities of Minneapolis St. Paul. You're looking at a live picture of that fine town where they'll be having that convention. What an honor.

LEMON: 2008. Presidential campaign.

LIN: 2008.

LEMON: There you go.

LIN: OK. I the meantime, more on our top story. From the highest high to the lowest low. Reports today that NFL star Terrell Owens has gone from the Super Bowl to a suicide attempt. He is expected to come out to speak about this issue any minute, so you're going to see it live right here on CNN. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: The fat is in the fire in New York City. Transfat, that is. The city Health Department has proposed banning restaurants from cooking with transfats, a common ingredient in everything from doughnuts to french fries to pie crusts.

As CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports, transfats are under fire all across the country and some restaurant operators have already cut down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With a hiss and sizzle, one fast food company is making unexpected health history. Wendy's has removed the majority of the transfats from the oil used to make fries and chicken.

LORI ESTRADA, SR. VICE PRESIDENT, R&D, WENDY'S: This reduction in transfat is part of our ongoing effort to improve the nutritional profile of our food without impacting taste or quality.

GUPTA: So why is this important? Scientists estimate there are over 50,000 premature deaths each year linked to eating transfats. Transfat is bad for your heart because it raises your bad cholesterol and it also lowers what doctors call your good cholesterol.

DR. ROBERT EXCKEL, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION: We know from large numbers of nutrition-based studies over decades now that saturated fats and transfats, both tend to raise the bad cholesterol. And we certainly know that people with higher levels of bad cholesterol appear to have more heart disease and stroke.

So we have no alternative enzymes that we can...

GUPTA: Dr. Exckel says that Americans on average eat about three times as much transfat as recommended. Transfat is on the menu at just about all the fast food giants: Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Arby's, Hardees.

McDonald's tried to lose the transfat. They company announced in 2002 it would reduce transfats, but it hasn't eliminated them, at least not in the United States. In countries like Denmark, where laws severely limit transfat foods, McDonald's fries are transfat-free. And McDonald's issued this statement in response to CNN's questions about transfat. McDonald's "takes the matter of trans-fatty acids seriously, and we continue to work on diligently ways to reduce the TFA levels in our food. Our test procedures in the United States are taking longer than anticipated."

According to McDonald's Web site, a single large serving of fries has eight grams of transfat. That's four times the amount the FDA says the average American should eat in an entire day.

Without federal guidelines, one Chicago politician hopes to force restaurants into trimming the transfats. Alderman Edward Burke introduced a bill which would require all Chicago restaurants with at least $20 million in annual gross sales to eliminate transfat from the menu. It's the first such proposed legislation in the country.

EDWARD BURKE, CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL: Just as taxpayers are paying for people's smoking habits, they're going to be paying for people's eating habits. And there is a role, I think, for government to play in this whole nationwide crisis.

GUPTA: But the Illinois Restaurant Association says a transfat ban is a bad idea.

COLLEEN MCSHANE, ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION: If you want french fries, or if you want, you know, bread that tastes like paper, well, then support Alderman Burke's ordinance. Let the market drive this supply and demand. Government need not come in, regulate restaurants.

GUPTA: Until more consumers realize how unhealthy transfat really is, the debate over how to lower is it likely to continue.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And as you guys know around here, many of you know I came from Chicago. Huge controversy in Chicago, people thinking, you know, the government is trying to legislate what you eat.

LIN: Oh, touchy matter, yes.

LEMON: So I'm sure that may escalate across the country. So all this talk about a ban on transfats got us talking about restaurants, fast food and our own personal habits.

LIN: You bet. And now we want to hear from you. What do you think? Do you think governments should police how much transfat you should eat? After all, what you eat is your choice, right?

LEMON: Yes, we want you to e-mail us your opinions. The address is cn CNNnewsroom@CNN.com. We'll read some of your responses right here on the air.

LIN: In the meantime, dozens of state, scores of E. coli cases. So when will spinach be safe for your salad bowl?

And what other potential trip wires are lurking in the produce aisle? Don't finish your shopping list until you check out the latest in the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: Plus more on our developing story. T.O., a star so bright he's only known by his initials. But late-breaking reports of a dark development. Did Terrell Owens try to kill himself last night? We're expecting to hear from him. We'll bring you his remarks live in the NEWSROOM.

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LEMON: Billions more for military operations. The House of Representatives has approved another $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's part of a record $448 billion Pentagon budget. The Senate is expected to give its approval this week. Iraq alone has been costing about $8 billion a month. That means more money will have to be set aside in the spring.

LIN: And breaking bread amid a bitter beef. The order of business tonight for President Bush. He hosts Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai for dinner. Now, Karzai says terrorists and Taliban are finding safe haven in Pakistan, but Musharraf says his neighbor needs to deal with his own problems. And he ruffled some feathers in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTAN: He is not oblivious. He knows everything. But he's purposely denying -- turning a blind eye like an ostrich. He does not want to tell the world what is a fact for his own personal reasons.

In the governments in Afghanistan, there is a certain community which is feeling alienated. And this community has 50 to 60 percent representation over Afghanistan. And that is his problem. He has to balance out -- he is not being able to do that, and therefore, he is trying to hide that everything is happening from Pakistan.

If you keep going wrong, I have been telling the world since three months, we are delaying, we are getting late. All this I read is what is happening in Afghanistan in all the provinces. This is a movement going on. This is a Pashtun uprising by the people going on. If he doesn't understand this, he will keep going and we are going to lose in Afghanistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Yes, he did say that Karzai is as blind as an ostrich. So can you imagine what's going to happen when all these leaders get together? We are going to have complete coverage of President Bush's meeting with Presidents Musharraf and Karzai at the White House this evening. You can watch "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. LEMON: The hunt for an old enemy takes on new life. Five years after 9/11, are we closer -- any closer to finding Osama bin Laden or at least fencing him in? We'll take you inside the hunt.

LIN: Plus racism, allegations, dog a Virginia senator just as he is struggling to get his campaign back on track. That's ahead in the NEWSROOM. Our Bob Franken is going to join us live.

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LIN: Another crash course in damage control for Virginia Republican Senator George Allen, this time charges he frequently used racial slurs during his college days. And all this comes just six weeks before voters go to the polls.

CNN national correspondent Bob Franken joins us now with the story. Bob, are there facts behind this or is this a lot of rumor mongering because of what he said -- the macaca remark to that campaign worker?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are people who are claiming that they have the facts on this. And that's going to be up to people to decide, whether these are honest people or not. Of course, this has been going on over an extended period of time.

Every time George Allen wants to go on the offensive, he has to play defense and the political jargon, there's an expression that you want to stay on message. Well, the Allen campaign in the last several weeks has definitely been off message.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Senator George Allen was doing his level best to stay out of the limelight. He's got plenty of wounds to lick: the macaca ones, the denying his Jewish ancestry ones and the newest one, the charge from some former football teammates from his days at the University of Virginia in the early '70s.

DR. R. KENDALL SHELTON, FORMER ALLEN TEAMMATE: I feel then, now, that George was a racist.

FRANKEN: Dr. R. Kendall Shelton, who is now a North Carolina radiologist, is one of two who says that Allen used the N-word often. Shelton claimed that Allen beheaded a deer in one incident in rural Virginia and asked where the nearest black house was.

SHELTON: George drove his van to that location, opened a large mailbox, and pushed the severed doe's head into the mailbox.

FRANKEN: This poisonous drum beat has transformed what was supposed to be an easy reelection for Allen. One of his top campaign officials tells CNN this race is competitive now. At their behest, other teammates have stepped forward to vigorously deny Allen was ever racist.

DOUG JONES, FORMER ALLEN TEAMMATE: Absolutely not. In all the time that I've known Senator Allen, I've never heard him use a disparaging word. I've never witnessed him act in a racially insensitive manner to anyone.

FRANKEN: Allen himself denies the charge.

SEN. GEORGE ALLEN (R), VIRGINIA: And it is completely false for them to say that that was part of my vocabulary, then or since then, or now.

FRANKEN: Allen has, for years, been criticized for the Confederate flag he once displayed in his office, but he also sponsored legislation that would officially apologize for slavery.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jim Webb -- Jim, come up here, the next senator.

FRANKEN: As for his opponent, Democrat James Webb, his most notable comment has been a no comment, preferring to appear above the fray between Allen and Allen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And Jim Webb is now saying only that he has never uttered any ethnic or racial slurs. As for George Allen, who is accused of doing so, the new slogan, Carol, for the campaign could easily be no news is good news.

LIN: Yes, really. So what's your political pulse on this campaign? How well do you think he's going to do? Are his constituency coming out and speaking on his behalf? Is there any sort of -- I don't know -- sympathy for his campaign?

Well, you know, this is a campaign oftentimes where you're preaching to the choir. There are two Virginias. There's the more urban one and then there's an awful big rural one. So a real big question is, do these charges help him or hurt him?

LIN: Bob Franken, thank you very much. Be sure to get your daily dose of political news from CNN's new political ticker. Just go to CNN.com/ticker.

LEMON: More on our top story. From the highest high to the lowest low, reports today that NFL star Terrell Owens has gone from the Super Bowl to a suicide attempt. He's expected to come out and speak about that issue any minute now. We'll bring it to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LIN: Plus the high-tech hunt for the world's most wanted man. Satellites, spy planes, sensors, all aimed at giving Osama bin Laden less room to breathe. Details from the Pentagon. Our Barbara Starr joins us straight ahead.

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