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Off-Campus Road Rage May Have Led to Student Shooting in Las Vegas; Malibu Wildfire; President Bush's New Iraq Plan

Aired January 09, 2007 - 10:59   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: A suspect still on the loose after a shooting at a high school outside of Las Vegas.
We want to go directly to Lieutenant Ken Young of the Clark County School Police for the very latest on the situation.

Lieutenant Young, what can you tell us?

LT. KEN YOUNG, CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL POLICE: Hello?

COLLINS: Yes, can you hear me, Lieutenant Young?

YOUNG: I can hear you, yes.

COLLINS: Tell us what you know so far.

YOUNG: Approximately 6:40 in the morning, results of a possible road rage situation. Two students were injured. At this point we don't have a let of detailed information.

This is non-school-related, non-gang-related. Apparently this (INAUDIBLE) something on the street. Two students were transported, non-life-threatening injuries at this time.

COLLINS: OK. So let me make sure I understand. This happened somewhere out on the road on the way to school, but did involve students at Western High School.

YOUNG: Right. An individual followed them to the school after maybe an altercation on the street itself.

COLLINS: And so was that individual also a student?

YOUNG: No. At this point, no indications it's a student. Possibly an early adult.

COLLINS: OK. And so that suspect is still on the loose?

YOUNG: Yes, at this time.

COLLINS: What is being done to track him or her down?

YOUNG: We're (INAUDIBLE) more information, and hopefully we'll be able to get some more concrete information as we (INAUDIBLE) investigation.

COLLINS: Is the school open at this time?

YOUNG: Yes.

COLLINS: We've been hearing from our affiliates there that it is.

YOUNG: School's back to normal. We are in the parking lot area. So school is back to normal. Students are back in class.

No other students were in any danger at that time. It was prior to school starting.

COLLINS: OK. Well, unfortunately, we're having a little bit of trouble hearing you, Lieutenant Young. So I appreciate what you have given us.

Going to recap it quickly for people at home.

Two students injured. The suspect still on the loose. Not a student at the school. This was the result of some type of road rage that happened prior to getting into the parking lot of Western High School.

It happened at about 6:40 this morning as school was about to begin. Not gang-related, according to police there. And school is open right now. Minor injuries for those two students that were injured.

Again, we will follow it for you. If anything else should happen, we will let you know.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A fierce follow storm ripping the Pacific Hamlet of Malibu. The star-studded community devastated. Now the investigation and the possibility of the raging fire along the beach was not an accident.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is in Malibu, and she joins us live.

Thelma, good morning to you.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

Well, you can see this home right behind me. It is still smoldering after that devastating fire that began yesterday.

Firefighters were in here just a few minutes ago trying to put out the hot spots. This is after a fire that started at 5:00 last night.

It happened in a baseball diamond that is nearby here in Malibu. Officials today are trying to determine exactly what caused this blaze. Arson investigators are calling it suspicious. They are out here, combing through some of the rubble, trying to determine exactly how this started.

Four beachfront homes were completely destroyed. Four others were damaged.

There were wind gusts yesterday, 55 miles an hour, completely devastating the brush. Very dry brush on the hillside. The flames raced down the hill toward the beach, destroying four mansions in just 20 minutes.

Neighbors who were out here yesterday called the scene an inferno.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is very frightening. And you're kind of numb, you know. It's like no other feeling.

It's very scary to think you might lose your home. And I've never seen it that close. I've been in Malibu a long time and I've never seen it like that close or that frightening.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUTIERREZ: Now, you can take a look right here. What you're looking at is really the remnants of a garage. There's a 10-foot drop from the area where we're standing, and down below us you can see what is left of a Jeep in this area.

Again, this fire came through, completely destroying these four homes, and seriously damaging four others in just 20 minutes. That is how hot, how furious this fire was -- Tony.

HARRIS: Man. Thelma, any injuries?

GUTIERREZ: Just one person injured, a woman who was treated for smoke inhalation. We're told that she's in good condition.

There were pets in the home that were able to be rescued. One dog was injured as well. But thankfully, that was it. Everything -- the firefighters say that they are very grateful they were all -- most of the people were able to get out just fine.

HARRIS: Oh, boy. Given the intensity of the fire you describe, it's amazing there were no more injuries. Thankfully so.

Thelma Gutierrez for us.

Thelma, thank you.

COLLINS: Our nation at war, our president geared for battle. President Bush today preparing for tomorrow night's primetime address. Democrats are already vowing a challenge.

CNN White House Correspondent Elaine Quijano joining us now live.

Elaine, I know that there have been a lot of meetings that the president has been holding as of late. How's he doing in his efforts to win the hearts and minds of Congress?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you, Heidi.

Even as Democrats really continue voicing their opposition to the idea of increasing the number of troops in Iraq, some of the president's fellow Republicans are openly expressing their skepticism about the president's plans to send some 20,000 additional forces in order to quell the violence in Iraq.

Now, President Bush once again today meeting with lawmakers. Yesterday he met with Republican senators, trying to build support for his ideas. And one GOP senator, Gordon Smith, who sharply criticized the president's Iraq policy last month, expressed doubt that 20,000 more troops would be enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. GORDON SMITH (R), OREGON: It would not be right for the Congress to cut off funding for bullets when their commander in chief orders them to remain in harm's way. And this is the crux of the question that Congress and the executive are going to wrestle with.

I'm not for the surge. I'm not for cutting off funding. I believe that would be dishonorable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And Senator Gordon Smith there yesterday after meeting with President Bush, warning against the Democratic-led Congress using the power of the purse to oppose the president.

Now, a senior Bush administration official insists that adding more troops would not be a strategy in and of itself. This official saying that it would simply be part of a broader political and economic strategy. And as we know, sources familiar with the president's deliberations have told CNN that that will include a jobs program, as well as a focus on reconstruction efforts.

Meantime, President Bush does continue his outreach to lawmakers today. One day, of course, Heidi, before he is said to unveil his new plan in a primetime address to the nation -- Heidi.

COLLINS: What more can you tell us though about this speech for tomorrow night? What more is he planning beyond that?

QUIJANO: Well, certainly there have been concerns expressed about the willingness and ability of Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister's government, to handle the challenges being dealt that government with respect to sectarian violence. And you can expect the president to talk about perhaps accountability, talking about benchmarks.

You can also expect the president to talk about having confidence in Nuri al-Maliki's ability to deal with those challenges. But at the same time, of course, nearly four years into the Iraq war, the president understands full well that this is an unpopular war, that Americans' patience is running out, certainly as the U.S. death toll continues to climb. The Bush administration knows it is going to be a very difficult sell. And on that point, the president, on Thursday, after the speech, one of the first moves he'll be making is to travel to Ft. Benning, Georgia. He'll talk to troops there. And you can expect, Heidi, to see administration officials out there talking up the president's ideas for what the White House is calling the way forward -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Right.

Elaine Quijano, live from the White House this morning.

Elaine, thank you.

And Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy making a speech on the subject of Iraq. That will happen at the National Press Club at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. We will bring you portions of that speech live in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: A stark reminder of the instability in Iraq. U.S. military jets and helicopters swoop in to a raging gun battle in central Baghdad. About a thousand U.S. and Iraqi forces locked in a fierce firefight with insurgents.

CNN's Ryan Chilcote is about a half-mile away, and he joins us with the very latest.

And first off, Ryan, has the violence ended, has it subsided?

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has quieted down quite a bit on Haifa Street. Just a couple hours ago it quieted down, although you can still hear those Apache attack helicopters above me.

This was some of the fiercest fighting we have seen in the Iraqi capitol in months, an enormous gun battle that broke out just before dawn. Several hundred U.S. and Iraqi troops on one side, fighting an untold -- an unknown number of insurgents made up, the U.S. military says, of members of al Qaeda in Iraq and Ba'athists insurgents.

The U.S. military, a couple hours after it began, called in close air support. We saw Apache attack helicopters hovering over the Iraqi capital. And very usually, we saw fixed-wing attack aircraft brought in. An unusual sight in the skies over Baghdad, even with the high level of violence here, F-18s in the skies over the Iraqi capital.

The fighting went on for 10 hours right in the heart of Baghdad, in this area known as Haifa Street. A known stronghold for the insurgents. The defense ministry says before the fighting ended, the U.S. and Iraqi troops had killed some 50 insurgents. The Defense Ministry also telling us that they detained about two dozen more -- Tony.

HARRIS: And Ryan, do we know how, why, even when this battle began?

CHILCOTE: Tony, it began on Saturday. A group of Iraqi troops went in to the Haifa Street area to recover 27 bodies, those bullet- riddled bodies that are dumped on the streets of Baghdad we hear so much about.

They had gone in there to recover those bodies when they came under fire from insurgents. They brought in more Iraqi troops, they held their ground for a couple of days.

Yesterday evening, they called in U.S. troops to support them. They arrived just before dawn. They brought in the helicopters and the fixed-wing aircraft that only the U.S. military can provide here. And that's how this gun battle got under way -- Tony.

HARRIS: Ryan Chilcote for us in Baghdad.

Ryan, thank you.

The president's plan for Iraq, the view from a coalition diplomat who lived and worked there. His strong words of caution in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Taking aim at al Qaeda in Somalia. Words of U.S. air strikes, details ahead in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: The changing face of adoptions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The regulations will limit some families that, I believe, would make good parents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: New rules set limit options for Americans wanting to adopt orphans overseas. That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: President Bush behind closed doors. He is hammering out final details of his new plan for Iraq. Sources tell us he wants to send at least 20,000 more U.S. troops to the region, even before he unveils the details in his primetime address. And Democrats are vowing to challenge that surge.

CNN will have extensive primetime coverage tomorrow beginning before and after the president's address to the nation. Join us tomorrow, 7:00 Eastern.

Among the skeptical audience for that speech tomorrow, our next guest. Rory Stewart is a former coalition diplomat. His book, "Prince of the Marshes," chronicles his 11 months as deputy governor of two impoverished Iraqi regions. And he joins us from London.

Rory, great to talk to you again.

I know that you're aware of the debate ongoing here in Washington and the fact that the president, in all likelihood, will call for a surge of 20,000 more troops in either a big bang, all at once, or in a phased-in approach tied to benchmarks for the Iraqi government.

What do you think of either proposal?

RORY STEWART, AUTHOR, "PRINCE OF THE MARSHES": I'm afraid, with respect, this is a very big mistake. After nearly four years in Iraq, it's time we were more realistic about two things.

One of them is the limits to our own capacities. The other is the limits to the capacities of the Iraqi government. The problems in Iraq are much too serious and much too fundamental to be solved just by bringing in another 20,000 troops.

HARRIS: So let's take that apart, then. Talk to us about what you think are the limits of our own capacity.

STEWART: Well, of course, as you know and as we've seen in Kosovo and Afghanistan and East Timor, all over the world, we are not experts on these countries. We tend to be on relatively short tours.

There are many institutional problems which I as a diplomat am aware of that extend also to the military and the development (INAUDIBLE). We don't want to be colonial powers for very good reasons. And therefore, in many ways, our hands are tied behind our backs before we even hit the ground.

And I think over the last four years in Iraq, we've seen those limitations again and again. But the second fundamental problem is that Iraq itself needs to reform itself as a nation. And that isn't something that foreigners are really in a position to make Iraq do.

HARRIS: But it doesn't appear that it is something that Iraqis are capable of doing. Someone needs to do something here. So who moves first?

STEWART: I would put my faith in the Iraqis. In the end, it's their country. In many ways, our presence is impeding them from finding resolutions. Not deliberately, but accidentally. The very fact of our presence is deterring Iraqis from sorting their issues out.

HARRIS: How so?

STEWART: And I think we should now recognize we should withdrawal.

Three ways. Firstly, the fact that we've there encourages the Iraqis to sit back and let coalition troops take a lot of the pain and a lot of the fighting.

Secondly, Shia politicians very reluctant to find understandings with their Sunni opponents because they rely on us to bail them out if something goes wrong.

And finally, we rule out a whole series of compromises and concessions which the Iraqi politicians have proposed over the last three years. HARRIS: Has Nuri al-Maliki, in your view -- and perhaps you've already answered this -- done all that he could? Maybe that's the way to approach it, all that he could, all that he's capable of, bringing about reconciliation in his -- in his government and in his country?

STEWART: I think he's in a very difficult position. Obviously he's a flawed man. He's not a perfect man. But he's in a very difficult position, because he's discredited through his association with us.

Many people, not just the Sunni, but the Shia as well, will oppose any government so long as it's seen as a puppet government to the coalition. So I would like to give him a chance to see what he can do following our withdrawal.

HARRIS: How do you propose that withdrawal? We've heard a couple of different scenarios. One is that you withdraw to the edges of the major cities and that you withdraw to the borders of the country. And that that is where you place your forces, and that you, in essence, are able to respond to great outrages in the city but that you move back to the fringes and let the Iraqis handle it themselves.

That's one proposal. What do you think of that? And if that isn't acceptable to you, what would be something that you would think would stand a chance of working?

STEWART: I think that's a proposal, it's a good one for a first stage. Many Iraqis I know, even in the south, have been demanding that since the beginning of 2004.

Iraqis are extremely uncomfortable having coalition forces in their cities. If we're worried about a terrorist threat, that's something we can answer with Special Forces operations from bases. So I certainly think that's an important first stage. But eventually, we need to get out of the country entirely.

HARRIS: Do you believe that we are in any way capable of separating the sides to keep them from fighting one another? And is that something we should be asking coalition forces to do?

STEWART: I think the answer to both those questions is no. We shouldn't be asking them to do it. And no, we're not capable of doing it.

Why? Because the fundamental fuels of this go to the roots of Iraqi nationhood and how Iraq is coming together after the fall of Saddam. We don't have the kind of information, we don't have the expertise, we don't have the commitment, and we don't have the resources to spend the next 25 years trying to resolve a civil war between Shia and Sunni.

HARRIS: Those -- Rory, those who disagree with you suggest that if the United States withdraws, the civil war will literally explode and that what will happen then is that the neighbors will become involved and then that will grow into a greater, a bigger, larger regional conflict. STEWART: People who are saying that seem to me to be just delaying the problem. We all acknowledge that we will be leaving Iraq, whether in two years' time, four years' time, six years' time.

My question to them is, what is to be gained by staying another four or six years? What single indicator of improvement can you point to over the last three and a half years which gives you confidence that another 20,000 troops or another couple of years is going to sort that country out? I don't see those things.

HARRIS: Rory Stewart is a former coalition diplomat. His book -- we'll show it to you once again -- "Prince of the Marshes" chronicles his 11 months as deputy governor of two of Iraq's impoverished regions.

Rory, thanks for your time.

STEWART: Thank you very much.

COLLINS: More news coming into the CNN NEWSROOM as it happens.

Betty Nguyen is standing by in our NEWSROOM to tell us more about a warehouse fire in Chicago -- Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, you have to take a look at these pictures. We're bringing them in from Chicago, as you mentioned.

This is the Back of the Yards neighborhood. And as soon as we can get those up, you can see what I'm talking about.

Just smoke into the air. This is a shot from the ground. We're seeing firefighters really trying to get a handle on this fire.

It's a warehouse fire. We don't know exactly what type of a warehouse or the name of it at this point. But look at this.

This thing is obviously fully engulfed. You have got fire trucks on all sides.

I even saw just a few minutes ago firefighters on the roof. And I don't know if it's the building itself or maybe a building next door. But they are trying to fight this thing from all angles. There you see the flames just burning so brightly there.

This was reported as a two-alarm fire. I don't know if that's increased at this point. But again, this is in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

It's a very industrial area. It also has working class neighborhoods near there, too. But as we see in this wide shot, you can see some of the other warehouses nearby.

And we've been watching this for a few minutes. And as you can see, firefighters still just working as they can to try to get a handle on this fire. But there are a lot of different warehouses in this area. And it doesn't appear that anyone else is being evacuated at this point. I don't see lots of cars leaving from some of the nearby warehouses. But there are numerous trucks on scene.

You can see the firefighters there working from above and on ground, just trying to get a handle on this fire. Lots of smoke in the air. It's still burning very brightly.

It's something that you don't see every day, you don't want to see every day. Hopefully there's nothing in there that will cause any kind of explosives or nauseous fumes.

But we're going to continue to watch this for you and bring you the latest -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. Very good. Betty Nguyen, thanks.

HARRIS: Next, if you want to avoid Alzheimer's, you won't want to miss Dr. Sanjay Gupta's report, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: If your iPod rings, answer it. Techies chirping about an iPod phone. Steve Jobs expected to make the call today.

Macworld coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's get you back to Betty now in the NEWSROOM for an update on this smoky Chicago warehouse fire.

Betty, what do you know?

NGUYEN: Yes, smoky is a bit of an understatement there, Tony. Look at these pictures, really remarkable from this fire in Chicago.

It's in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Here's what we're learning about it.

This is the Rosebud Container Corporation. And this fire looks like it -- you know, fully engulfed right here. They're trying to get a handle of it.

It's been burning for two hours now, Tony. Firefighters got the call around 8:30 local time there in Chicago.

Now, here's how it started, according to the assistant director for the fire department there.

The fire started when some workers were using a propane space heater inside. That came in contact with some cardboard boxes. You can see why the flames are so bright there.

This is considered an accidental fire. Everyone inside the warehouse was able to get out safely. Now, a hazmat team is on hand because, as I mentioned just a little bit earlier, we don't know what kind of chemicals might be inside. And they want to make sure that the water runoff is not contaminated.

But this video here of all the flames and the smoke billowing into the air, I do want to tell you, Tony, one firefight was injured, reported to be injured. Don't know exactly the extent of those injures. But he was taken to Mercy Hospital. Five ambulances are on the scene just in case.

Again, this started as a two-alarm warehouse fire. And according to the fire department there in Chicago, it was because a space heater came too close to some cardboard boxes. And you see the results right there, Tony, a large fire that has numerous emergency crews on hand just to try to get a handle on it.

HARRIS: Boy, and look at those pictures. All right. Betty, thanks. Appreciate it.

COLLINS: A new study suggesting folic acid may help prevent Alzheimer's Disease. But before you rush out to buy supplements, our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, puts things in perspective for our "Daily Dose."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, over the next few decades, we may see an explosion in the number of Alzheimer's cases, quadrupling, perhaps, over the next few decades. Pretty remarkable, and no surprise, then, that researchers and scientists all over are really trying to figure out the best ways to try and treat or prevent this disease from ever occurring in the first place.

Billions of dollars being spent here. And you may need to look no further than your medicine cabinet or your refrigerator. Really interesting study, an early study, preliminary only, coming out of Columbia, looking at about a thousand people, average age of 75. They followed them for six years, and what they found was interesting.

Those who had the lowest amounts of folic acid or folate in their diet had the highest risk of Alzheimer's. And those with the highest amount of folic acid or folate had the lowest risk of Alzheimer's.

Now, the folic acid was given by diets and by supplements both. What they concluded was that there might be a compound in the blood known as homocysteine. Pay attention to that one, because you're going to hear a lot about it.

It seems to be linked to heart disease and stroke, and possibly Alzheimer's as well now. What they propose is that folic acid, or folate, tends to clear that homocysteine a lot more quickly than some other substances. And that could lead to the reduced risk.

Again, we're talking about not very much folic acid, 200 micrograms a day. Interestingly, only about a third of us here in this country get that amount. We need 200 micrograms. You can take it in a pill form.

Some of the foods that have the highest concentrations include spinach, about a cup of spinach; three ounces of liver; dried beans or peas; oranges; bananas; sunflower seeds; and also breakfast cereals. A lot of them are fortified with folic acid.

Pay attention to that. If you're a pregnant woman. You need more folic acid if you are, about 400 micrograms.

Now it is possible to take too much folic acid. You want to take about 200 micrograms only. If you're taking too much it could actually mask deficiencies of other B vitamins, and a small study showed it could actually increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. There's going to be a lot more coming out about folic acid and its relationship to Alzheimer's. Make sure you're getting enough. There's a lot of good reasons to do so.

Back to you.

COLLINS: To get your daily dose of health news online, log on to our Web site. You will find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address, CNN.com/health.

Start the clock. That's what House Democrats plan to do today. Their goal, pass six major bills in the first 100 hours of action.

CNN's Brianna Keilar is on Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Six bills in six days. First up, adopting recommendations made by the 9/11 commission 2 1/2 years ago.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), HOUSE SPEAKER: We promised the families affected by 9/11 that we would do everything in our power to protect the American people, to fight terrorism and to give comfort to those families.

KEILAR: Among them, funding for improved communications systems so that state, local and federal emergency responders can all talk to each other. Also, improvements in aviation security, required screening of all cargo on passenger planes, and better inspection of U.S.-bound cargo containers at some foreign ports.

Tomorrow, the House will vote to raise the minimum wage. President Bush says he'd support that if it's offset by tax breaks for businesses. Friday they'll vote to lower prescription drug prices. And next week, they'll push to cut interest rates on student loans and end subsidies for big oil.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Brianna Keilar joins us. Brianna, why no legislation on Iraq during this so-called first 100 hours. KEILAR: Well, Tony, Democrats are definitely unified on their opposition to any increase in troops in Iraq. But they're fractured on deciding exactly how far to go to prevent that. For instance, House speaker Nancy Pelosi has hinted at using the power of the purse to prevent it. But even House Majority leader Steny Hoyer hasn't endorsed that idea.

Political analysts saying what Democrats are trying to do with what they're calling the first 100 hours of legislation is to create this unified front to show people they're working hard and that they're accomplishing more than their Republican predecessors, and really delving into the Iraq issue isn't going to give that message of unity to Americans as they would like to -- Tony.

HARRIS: People would like to see some action, Brianna, on some big ticket items. We mentioned Iraq. What about Social Security? What about health care?

KEILAR: No, that's exactly right. These are two issues that Democrats are not undertaking at this point. Obviously something that Americans care very much about. And you may notice some of the issues Democrats have put on their agenda are issues with broad popular appeal.

But again, that issue of unity, Social Security and health care, observers saying these are complicated issues, they could possibly show some dissonance among Democrats if they delve into these issues, and again, that's not something that the Democrats, it's not a message they want to send.

HARRIS: CNN's Brianna Keilar. Brianna, thank you.

I'm Dan Simon at the MacWorld Convention in downtown San Francisco, where Apple's CEO Steve Jobs is set to release new products. Might we be seeing an iPhone? That coming ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: If you like new gadgets, keep an eye on today's MacWorld Expo. The new tune on iPod, it could be the sound of a phone ringing.

Dan Simon is outside the expo in San Francisco now with more on what's expected.

Hey, Dan, everybody's pretty excited about this.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You wouldn't even believe the lines around the corner earlier this morning. People waited overnight to get inside this event. So much secrecy surrounding what Mr. Jobs, Steve Jobs, is going to release today.

We're hearing about an iPhone. "The Wall Street Journal" says it's a go. This would be part cell phone, part iPod, and that Cingular apparently would provide the service. The question, will it be unveiled today? We're waiting to see if that's going to happen. The other thing we're hearing about is the ITV. This is something that Steve Jobs previewed in the fall. This would enable people to take the content from iTunes, the TV shows, the movies they download, and be able to wirelessly transfer that content to their television, so you're not going to be burdened by your computer monitor. You'll actually be able to watch that content on your beautiful, brand new plasma television perhaps.

And, again, people just waiting in line for many hours to get inside. As much as they want to see the new gadgets and devices, Heidi, they also want to hear from their leader, Steve Jobs.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he puts on such a keynote speech that it's mesmerizing. It's two hours of just, wow!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMON: Yes, we're waiting to see what's going to be released, Heidi.

The other thing we're hearing about is perhaps the iPod itself will get a makeover. A lot of people want a bigger screen so they can watch videos on the iPod. So we're hearing that perhaps Apple is going to release a larger version of the video iPod.

But all the buzz is surrounding this so-called iPhone, again, part cell phone, part iPod. There was a similar device released in 2005. That was a flop. That was called the Rokr -- R-O-K-R. It only allowed users to put 100 songs on the cell phone. And you had to download the content to your computer, then transfer it to the cell phone. Well, those things would be lifted. You would be able to download the music directly to your phone. The question is, will it be unveiled today? "The Wall Street Journal" says perhaps. We're waiting to see if that's going to happen.

Back to you.

COLLINS: Wow. I just really didn't know that Steve Jobs had such an incredible following like this. It's fascinating to watch. Also, though, I think everybody is kind of wondering, Dan, when these products will be seen in stores. When can we actually buy them?

SIMON: Well, that's a good question. You know, sometimes when they announce new product releases, the products show up in stores within days. Other times it takes months. We're not quite sure because, after all, we don't know what specifically they're going to release. But we'll find out shortly. This is going to get started here in about 20 minutes. And Steve Jobs is going to be talking for about two hours, which is longer than usual. So stay tuned.

COLLINS: All right, are you going to get a belt buckle like that one guy? Did you see the belt buckle we had that said "Thanks, Steve?" It was in neon.

SIMON: I liked his hat, his hat said Mac Geek. Don't know if you saw that.

COLLINS: All right. Well you better in there. 20 minutes away. Thanks, so much Dan Simon reporting on all the activity with MacWorld today from San Francisco.

HARRIS: And you know what Heidi and Chad, I'm all for this -- you know why? Because look, if you've got a little screen on there, you can watch your favorite television shows. Theoretically, you'll watch the NEWSROOM.

And we've got this little gizmo. It's the size of the i-Pod. And then can you find us 24/7 by going to the website and downloading the podcast right there from i-Tunes right? Right there, so we have to be all for this.

COLLINS: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: But I still own a Walkman and I own a Watchman. So, that little TV screen you used to take when you used to work a local TV, so you could see yourself, it's about that big in black and white.

COLLINS: It was like a spy watch.

MYERS: It's probably the same price as a whole i-Pod. You know what, I need a developing story banner at the bottom of my thing.

HARRIS: That's right, that's right.

MYERS: The flurry of '07.

COLLINS: I love it. Bring it out.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: Whatever it was, the media, as you well know, was all over it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That odor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This foul odor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A suspicious odor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This strange odor, whatever it may be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The gas or whatever it might be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The gases if they are gases. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whatever it is.

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: The smell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: I love that. Sniffing out the stink in Gotham. That's coming up next in the NEWSROOM. Live picture now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: It's a Manhattan mystery. But the nose knows a stink.

HARRIS: Absolutely.

COLLINS: When it smells one.

HARRIS: Yes.

COLLINS: New York still hasn't figured out, neither have we, the pedigree of Monday's pungent aroma.

HARRIS: And I want to know.

COLLINS: So we sent our Jeanne Moos to sniff out the story.

HARRIS: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Was it comes from above ground? Was it coming from below? While utility workers took their readings, those with a nose for news struggled to name what their nostrils detected.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That odor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This foul odor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A suspicious odor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This strange odor or whatever it may be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The gas or whatever it might be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The gases, if they are gases...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whatever it is.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK CITY: The smell.

MOOS: You could divide folks into two camps, the dids and the did-nots.

(on camera): Ladies, did you smell the smell this morning?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What smell?

MOOS: Did you happen to smell the smell this morning?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did earlier on. Yes.

MOOS (voice-over): Some smelled it outdoors, some smelled it in the subway. Some smelled it at home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It came into the window, the breeze. Definitely had a gas smell.

MOOS: So did our very own lobby here at the Time Warner building. Management announced over the PA system that air intakes were being shut off, while over at the offices of "Mad" magazine...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One guy had a sinus headache, and we were all teasing him that he was going to be the first one to die.

MOOS: But where did the smell come from?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not me.

MOOS: There was plenty of finger pointing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Blame it on New Jersey, sure.

MOOS: Not so fast. The Web site Gawker's headline read, "Midtown Smelling Worse Than Usual." Though some out-of-towners thought this was just the way New York normally smells.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sure, it's a big city smell.

MOOS: Even after the smell seems to have dissipated...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm smelling it right now.

MOOS (on camera): Now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. If you're standing where I'm standing...

MOOS: Now, let me come over.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can smell it. You smell like perfume. You're blocking my way.

MOOS (voice-over): The whole smell event reminded folks of the last time, more than a year ago, that there was a lingering odor over Manhattan. The odor of maple syrup. As if...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody was making a big stack of pancakes.

MOOS (on camera): Cake?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it smelled like cake. It would be like somebody was baking. MOOS: But this time, the smell was far less pleasant, like gas from a stove.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He had chili. That's what I thought it was. It was a fine chili with refried beans.

MOOS (on camera): I think we have the answer.

(voice-over): The low-brow humor came even at the expense of his honor, the mayor, who urged New Yorkers to open windows and ventilate...

BLOOMBERG: Until this gas passes....

MOOS: And for that, Mayor Bloomberg earned this Drudge Report headline, "We Are Waiting for the Gas to Pass."

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: It just gets better and better. You know what, I am absolutely convinced now that I smell it.

COLLINS: Yes.

HARRIS: Wait a minute. It's almost lunch time. Maybe it's the cafe downstairs.

COLLINS: Don't.

HARRIS: Oh, man. All right.

COLLINS: Save yourself.

HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" coming up, top of the hour. Hala Gorani standing by with a preview. Hala good to see you.

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Good to see you two, you're making enemies at the CNN cafeteria there, Tony. All right ...

COLLINS: Not me.

GORANI: Not you. All right.

Well, we have a lot coming up at the top of the hour on YOUR WORLD TODAY.

The latest military offensive on the streets of the Iraqi capital in Baghdad, an intense firefight. We have our reporters there on the ground in the Iraqi capital, to bring us the latest.

Also coming up, we're going to be talking about the, when you see there Senator Ted Kennedy, about talk there on the U.S. Capitol, of perhaps not being as willing on the Democratic side to fund any troop surge. We'll be going live to our congressional correspondent Dana Bash.

Also, expensive homes in Malibu. Malibu going up in flames with brush fires in that part of the country. We will have a live report as well.

That and the latest from around the globe. YOUR WORLD TODAY at the top of the hour. Join Jim Clancy and myself. Back to you guys.

COLLINS: All right Hala, meet you in the cafeteria for lunch.

HARRIS: Oh man, I'm in trouble. All right, Hala, thank you.

Still to come, the changing face of adoptions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The regulations will limit some families that I believe would make good parents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: New rules could limit options for Americans wanting to adopt orphans overseas. That story, next in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: China changes the rules on adoption. New restrictions on prospective parents. Will it mean fewer good homes for Chinese orphans?

CNN's John Vause has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No one knows for certain just how many Chinese kids don't have a family, but 23 of them live here in the New Day Foster Home, on the outskirts of Beijing. And all of these children have special needs.

Doug Bush from Alabama is one of the American volunteers who run the home.

DOUG BUSH, NEW DAY FOSTER HOME: These children are -- are being adopted, for the most part, by families in America.

VAUSE: It's been like that since New Day opened six years ago. Kids stay here, on average, 18 months. In fact, for childless couples across the United States, China has been a blessing. But, by May, the open door to Chinese kids may be closing a little, with the communist government imposing tough new criteria for hopeful parents. They must not be morbidly obese, must not have any facial deformities, and must not take antidepressants.

They need to have a net worth of $80,000 or more, and need to married couples, age between 30 and 50 -- so, no more singles allowed. BUSH: The regulations will limit some families that I believe would make good -- good parents. But I do understand the reason for them.

VAUSE: China says, the new rules are meant to find the best parents for their homeless children. And with anecdotal evidence suggesting the number of orphans is decreasing, the authorities here can afford to be choosy.

KATE WEDGWOOD, CHINA PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SAVE THE CHILDREN: They're more stringent than, say, Vietnam or Guatemala, but less stringent than South Korea. And I think it's very normal for countries to have certain restrictions.

VAUSE (on camera): According to the U.S. State Department, last year, almost 7,000 Chinese kids found new homes in the United States, the most number of adoptions from any one country. And the main reason for that, this system is centrally controlled. And that means it's relatively efficient. It's predictable. And everyone knows the rules.

(voice-over): And, when those rules change, it may mean that a family somewhere will miss out on giving one of these kids a new home and a new life.

John Vause, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: The U.S. strikes suspected Al Qaeda operatives in Somalia. More details coming in to the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Hello.

If you could only hear what tony was saying.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: He loves redheads.

COLLINS: It was nice.

HARRIS: No, no.

COLLINS: Kyra Phillips joining us now to take us through what will be happening in the NEWSROOM p.m., starting at 1:00.

PHILLIPS: We are waiting to hear what the president's plans are for Iraq, not the senior senator from Massachusetts, that's for sure. Today at 1:00, Senator Ted Kennedy is offering a prebuttal to voice his strong opposition to boosting troop levels. We're going to take that live and talk about it.

Also this, Al Qaeda is in the crosshairs, as the U.S. launches tactical airstrikes in southern Somalia. Is this the next hotspot in the war on terror? And can you guess the number-one requested document from the National Archives? It's not a dry-cleaning bill for the one Monica Lewinsky or Abe Lincoln theater ticket. It is this photo.

Remember this photo?

HARRIS: Any moment now.

PHILLIPS: There we go.

COLLINS: I thought this was a joke.

PHILLIPS: Oh no, I am dead serious.

Later in the NEWSROOM, we're going to talk with the man who actually orchestrated this landmark secret meeting between a president and the King. Do not miss it. It is the most requested thing in the National Archives. You're going to hear how it all went down, how Elvis just showed up at the White House, and said, I want to see the president, talked about being a drug czar. Oh, it's quite a story.

COLLINS: All right, can't wait to see it.

All right, Kyra Phillips, thanks for that, coming up at 1:00.

Meanwhile, CNN NEWSROOM continues as we said one hour from now.

HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next. Have a great day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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