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Obama Under Fire On Libya; Traces of Radiation in U.S. West Coast; 7.0 Quake in Myanmar; Celebrities
Aired March 24, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is 10:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 7:00 a.m. in the west. I'm Carol Costello sitting in for Kyra Phillips. We're following two developing stories this morning. On the left, Libya. It is day six of the coalition air strikes. But in Washington, it's President Obama who's under fire. Today he reaches out and fires back.
And we're following Japan's nuclear crisis and the latest fallout. Traces of radiation are now turning up in the western United States. We have the information you need to know.
It is day six of the coalition strikes on Libya. And this morning rebels are still in control of Misrata and its port. The city has been called the business capital of Libya and has seen ferocious fighting. Witnesses say Moammar Gadhafi's snipers are still targeting the city's center. This is the scene from overnight air strikes near Tripoli.
Libyan state TV says its military base went up into flames. Coalition leaders say Gadhafi's military is weakened but it still has the upper hand in the battle for the country.
And the nation's taking part in the alliance are facing some tough questions back home. Critics are demanding how far will the attacks go and how long will they last?
Yet President Obama says the United States has an exit strategy that will take effect this week. Let's hope it's better than his enter strategy. He arrived back at the White House a few hours early yesterday only to find the French doors at the White House locked. He's also getting a chilly reception from capitol hill. The House Speaker complaining of a fuzzy mission. And Democrat Nancy Pelosi sent her own letter offering only cautious support.
Today's presidential calendar mostly empty. That's because the president is working behind the scenes to rally congressional support. Let's head to the White House live now and CNN's Ed Henry.
So Ed, wow. Where do I begin? The president, lawmakers angry over this, voters are confused about what's happening in Libya. So why doesn't the president come out and say something publicly today?
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, he has nothing planned today, as you know. But let's remember that on Saturday when all of this started, he spoke to the American people. He spoke to the world about it. He's had a couple of news conferences since then and answered some of our questions about it. But as you know, there are a lot more unanswered questions in the minds of not just Republicans but some Democrats from the hill as well. And in fact, when you add up the number of questions in Speaker Boehner's letter that you mentioned, there's about 16 different questions about this mission.
So it's clear there are a lot of lawmakers who still feel they haven't gotten enough answers. I think it all mostly boils down to what you're talking about, which is what is the exit strategy? What is the end game? How is the U.S. going to get out? We've heard from the White House it's days, not weeks, for the U.S. to turn this over to allies.
But given the fact that NATO is struggling to figure out how sort of take the ball and run with it, how to deal with the no-fly zone moving forward, there's still a lot of gaps there about whether the U.S. can really safely hand this over and all will be well. The White House pushback is essentially, look, they have these questions, but the president sat down with leaders of both parties here at the White House last Friday before all this began. And if they had these questions, they should have presented it to the president last Friday, Carol.
COSTELLO: So I was just going to ask you, I know he did that, and he publicly told us he was going to do that. He was going to consult with members of Congress. But there are many lawmakers really angry about this. He's trying to shore up congressional support right now. But what if he can't do that? What if Congress goes into absolute revolt? What happens? What could happen?
HENRY: Well, certainly especially if you put your finger on it in terms of a revolt with the democratic side. I mean, look, the Republicans have been after this president on his agenda domestically, foreign policy from practically day one of this administration, obviously. But the fact that Democrats who have carried his water on so many issues are now saying "Well, wait a second. This is sort of a check the box kind of consultation. We really were not fully informed about this entire mission. Maybe there should have been votes on the hill, et cetera."
I think that's his problem right now. What happens if it doesn't get better? He's going to have to do some of that behind-the-scenes work and probably in the days ahead going to have to add some public statements as you suggested to try to not just rally Congress but rally the American public and show that he, in fact, does have a game plan moving forward, Carol.
COSTELLO: Ed Henry live at the White House, many thanks.
In just about 10 minutes, we'll hear from John Avlon from "The Daily Beast." He says the president's handling of the crisis in Libya is being savaged and it's possible that his legacy is now being written. That's just about 10 minutes from now.
Now let's shift from the political to the military. CNN's Nic Robertson is in Tripoli. Nic, the coalition says its strikes have helped the rebels, but Gadhafi's troops still have the upper hand. Is that what you're seeing on the ground there?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's very hard for us to see in Tripoli because the military bases that are being targeted here are not directly immediately involved in the actions at the front which would be Misrata and (INAUDIBLE) further east. But definitely the military bases here are being targeted. And we're hearing from opposition members inside Misrata that Gadhafi's forces have eased off their attack. (INAUDIBLE) saying only one person had died overnight.
Yesterday, the stores were open and a doctor said that there was an effort to restore electricity to the hospital there in the city. Last night government officials here told us they were working to restore electricity and water and communication supplies to Misrata that they claimed had only been damaged in the fighting, and that's why these services weren't available in the city. But it seems in Ashdabya (ph), Gadhafi's forces are still continuing to fight against the rebel forces there.
COSTELLO: And just a question, Nic, because there are experts here saying that Libya's quite different from Egypt in the sense that this is going to - this may turn into an all-out civil war. I'm sure it already is. But if it continues that way and there's no clear leadership to replace Moammar Gadhafi, does that mean that the coalition will have to move to other means? For example, helping arm the rebels, training them? I mean, what will happen?
ROBERTSON: Well, there are a huge number of unanswered questions at the moment. One of them that we can see and that we continue still to hear from government officials but does seem to be apparent on the ground is that the army, while it's taken a pounding, is still far from defeated. What government officials tell us and what we've been able to see to a certain extent and what government officials have been telling us for weeks now is that if Gadhafi feels that the Army is defeated, then he will unleash the tribe, so to speak. And there are tribes in the east of the country, a tribe that his wife is from on the east of Benghazi, for example.
So geographically, there are tribes in the far east that could potentially rise up against the rebels. And there are tribes in the rest of the country that Gadhafi could potentially throw into the front line. And so far these are very heavily armed tribes. Journalists were taken to see a tribe yesterday, one of the largest here, highly represented in the military. In one of their villages, many, many people including many women and young people had weapons there as well.
So really those haven't been thrown into the front line. But one of the questions and challenges that will face the coalition as this situation becomes more complex is some of the civilians that will be caught up in the fight would be pro-Gadhafi civilians. On the far side of the front line, if you will, in the east of the country. And that will also present the coalition with a challenge as the conflict here becomes much harder to read and as it becomes a much broader conflict, particularly when you get to that civilian fighting, civilian phase, pro-Gadhafi, anti-Gadhafi civilians, tribes, call them what you will, this potentially could become very messy, but it's not there yet, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Nic Robertson live in Tripoli, thanks.
In Syria, anti-government protests have turned deadly. 15 people were killed during protests in ending government reforms. The U.S. State Department says it is deeply troubled by these civilian deaths. Syrian state television says the governor of the province where the protest took place has been fired. The director of a human rights group tells CNN Syrian security forces fired live ammunition at unarmed protesters.
Now to the other major story we're following, the Japanese nuclear crisis. And here's what's new this morning. Two workers from the Fukushima plant are in the hospital after radiation exposure. Total of three workers at the plant stepped in some radioactive water. Two of them had radioactive burns on their legs. No word yet on their condition or why the third man was not hospitalized.
Officials say new tests show that Tokyo tap water is again safe for babies. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are also told to drink from the tap. Previous tests raised concerns about radioactive material levels.
And more countries are banning or placing a hold on foods imported from the region, around the damaged plant. Russia joins the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong in imposing those restrictions.
The "USS Ronald Reagan" is just one U.S. Navy ship in the waters off Japan. Crew members have been helping deliver humanitarian aid. But as CNN's Martin Savidge reports there was another critical operation on board the aircraft carrier to keep the crew safe.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Right now every piece of hardware, every aircraft and every piece of machinery used to move that aircraft is on the front of the "USS Ronald Reagan" and you can see a lot of the crew hands. You're wondering maybe why are they all sitting around? Well, we'll show you.
Look what's going on back over here. Water, lots and lots of water. Just being sprayed all over the deck right now in what is probably the biggest cleanup effort you're ever likely to see at sea.
Now, earlier today as part of this effort up at the bow, it got even more incredible to watch. As the crews went to work with the foam, with the brushes, there was music going. The idea here, though, is all about safety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we're doing right now is just like they re-contaminated the ship. SAVIDGE (voice-over): Why all this remarkable effort? Well, you may remember back on the 13th, this aircraft carrier and some of its helicopters passed through the radioactive plume from that damaged nuclear plant, the Fukushima Daiichi Plant. As a result of that, there was some limited exposure to the crew and some of the aircraft and possibly the ship.
(on camera): So this is all designed to clean it, scrub it down, use brushes, use foam, clear every possible surface, then check it with special machines such as Geiger counters while keeping the crew in protective suits. It's extreme measures, but it's always designed to keep the crew safe and to keep the ship operational.
I guess we'll get back to work here. We've got a lot to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Go to it, Marty.
Tiny amounts of radiation from Japan have turned up in the western United States. Air monitors in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Hawaii all detected trace amounts. Health officials insist the amount is so small there's absolutely no health risk. And no need to go out and buy those potassium iodine pills.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GAIL SHIBLEY, OREGON PUBLIC HEALTH DIV.: There continued to be no health concern, no health risk to people in Oregon. I would strongly suggest that people take whatever money they may spend on potassium iodine and send it to a trusted charity to support and provide assistance to the people in Japan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The EPA says in a typical day, Americans get doses of radiation from natural sources like the sun that are about 100,000 times higher than what's being blown over from Japan.
So I know you're still asking this question, how much radiation is there really on the west coast? We will break it down for you. We'll have many experts coming in. That's coming up in the "Newsroom."
Planes coming in for a landing at Reagan National contact air traffic controllers and getting no response. The lone air traffic controller does not respond. The FAA is looking into reports he fell asleep.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The FAA is trying to figure out what in the world happened at Reagan National Airport. Two planes coming in for a landing tried to get ahold of an air traffic controller so they could land their planes. No response. After hearing nothing, one of the pilots contacted a regional air traffic control tower. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The tower is apparently unmanned. We called on the phone and nobody's answering. So that aircraft went in and just says uncontrolled airport.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's interesting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Reports say the lone controller fell asleep. The pilots were forced to land on their own. Keep in mind the planes had passengers aboard. And Reagan National is just two miles from the White House. As you might imagine, that makes air travelers quite nervous.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It scares me a little. I'd like to think that I wouldn't be asleep at the wheel if I was driving. Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's face it, there's too many planes stacked up there to not be paying attention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Transportation secretary Ray Lahood issued a statement saying "It is not acceptable to have just one controller in the tower managing air traffic in this critical airspace. I have also asked FAA administrator Randy Babbitt to study staffing levels at airports across the country.
House Speaker John Boehner is calling the Libyan operation a fuzzy mission. Nancy Pelosi is reserved in her support. Dennis Kucinich is upset and now a political scientist is saying this is exactly how you don't take a country to war. We'll talk more about this with John Avlon. Hello, John.
JOHN AVLON, "THE DAILY BEAST": Hello, Carol.
COSTELLO: So we talked earlier with Larry Sabato. He said this is exactly how you don't take a country to war. Books will be written on this. Do you feel it's that bad on the part of President Obama and the way he sold the war to the public?
AVLON: Well, I think the fog of war also applies to when people project partisan politics on war. But there's no question, President Obama's taken a lot of heat and a lot of questions from both the right and the left about this. And one of the things that's interesting is the fact that so many members of his own party, you know, a lot of the usual suspects from the Bush era are criticizing President Obama for this action enormously. You've got Dennis Kucinich talking impeachment. These are blasts from the past. But he's got a lot of answering to do especially when Congress comes back early next week.
COSTELLO: So what should the president do? I mean, he's meeting behind closed doors today. He's shoring up congressional support. He's meeting with Joe Biden. But what should he do as far as voters are concerned?
AVLON: Well, I think he does need to clearly maybe the case for why the U.S. intervened in Libya in a way that is a little bit clearer and directed toward the domestic audience that he didn't do when this initially because, of course, he was overseas at that time.
I think that's part of what he needs to do. He also needs to do some fence mending and bridge building with members of Congress who are asking "How come the administration seemed to spend more time consulting with international allies than with congressional leaders before taking this action. But at the end of the day, this was a decision by the president to intervene militarily to prevent a greater humanitarian crisis.
There are going to be a lot of folks who are ideologically confused about why this president took this action. Some Democrats saying that this starts looking like Bush's third term. But I think the president can be consistent. He made the point in his Nobel Peace Prize address that he believed that force is justified on - it can be justified on humanitarian grounds. And that's the case he needs to make more clearly to the American people.
COSTELLO: Well, the other thing that I think a lot of Americans are concerned about is the cost of this. I mean, we have estimates that this could cost the United States a billion dollars. I mean, why can't the Arab league pay for it? Why can't Arab countries pay for this? They got on board with this. And isn't that sort of the agreement that George H.W. Bush had in the first gulf war? We paid very little for that.
AVLON: Well, you know, you raised a great point. Obviously at a time of deficits and debt, people are concerned about the costs of going to war. And increasingly, George H.W. Bush's coalition building around the first gulf war. And Bill Clinton's multilateral leadership around Bosnia are becoming the examples of sort of the good war, both how you conduct them and how you pay for them. So I think those questions do need to be answered.
The Obama administration is making the case that it's acting within an international multilateral coalition. So it does make sense to spread some of those costs around eventually. And the Arab League, as you said, did initially call for the imposition of a no-fly zone. And there is every expectation that France and President Sarkozy of France will continue to take the lead after this face of the intervention is complete. But there are a lot of questions. There are a lot of reasonable questions right now the American people have about this intervention. And it's up to the White House and the president to answer them clearly. He's the commander in chief.
COSTELLO: Well, we'll see if he comes out of the White House today or tomorrow. I bet he will.
AVLON: He will.
COSTELLO: John Avlon, many thanks.
You can click over to cnn.com and read John's opinion piece on all this. It's called "Guess who's Really Angry at Barack Obama?"
Suspected jewel thief Lindsay Lohan refuses a plea deal. The latest courtroom drama that just won't end.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: This just into the CNN "Newsroom." An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck Myanmar, that's according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Rob has a little more information for us. Take it away, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, guys. Carol, yes, this thing, we've got two reports. One of it has it pretty far deep by about 150 miles. The other one has it pretty shallow. So right now the USGS will flesh this out. See how far inland it is? I mean, it's 60 miles - it's right on the border there, actually, pretty close to parts of Thailand.
But the most important thing, it's very far away from the Indian Ocean. So this is not going to generate a tsunami. It is large enough, typically 7.0 or higher would be large enough to create a tsunami if it happened underneath the ocean, and more importantly if it was under a thrust fault where you get that movement. So we don't anticipate a tsunami from this.
But a very, very strong quake, no doubt, folks felt it regardless of the depth. The question is, you know, what kind of damage are we getting from this? It is certainly enough to do damage. But how populated this particular area is, I really don't know. But a strong quake nonetheless, not associated with the fault lines in Japan.
COSTELLO: Got you. And I know you'll continue to get information for us. Thank you, Rob.
MARCIANO: You got it.
COSTELLO: Tributes pour in for Elizabeth Taylor. "Showbiz Tonight" anchor A.J. Hammer joins us with a moving moment during an Elton John concert. Show us, A.J..
A.J. HAMMER, HLN "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" HOST: Yes, Carol, it was a touching moment. Elton John took some time during his show in Pittsburgh last night to remember his friend, Elizabeth Taylor. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELTON JOHN, SINGER: Today is a sad day because today I lost a friend and you lost a hero. God bless you, Elizabeth. God knows how we're going to replace you. This is for you and your beautiful memory and for all the people you helped and saved.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That must have been tough for him to get up there and perform last night. Tributes to Elizabeth Taylor are obviously everywhere this morning. She's on the cover of pretty much every newspaper in the country. Some banner headlines are asking if she is the biggest star ever. And I say there's a pretty good chance of that.
And for now the funeral plans for Taylor have been kept private. But a spokesperson for the family told "Showbiz Tonight" that plans for a more public memorial will be announced later.
Moving on now to some other celebrities who are trying to help other people that something obviously Taylor did so well. Justin Bieber and Rihanna are among those joining U2 to record a charity album to help victims of Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Universal Music is recruiting other stars including Lady Gaga for the digital album which could release in just a few days. And funds raised will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.
And one last story I wanted to update you on this morning, Lindsay Lohan has turned down a plea deal, and she is saying she's not guilty of stealing a necklace from a Los Angeles jewelry store. Her attorney released a statement to "Showbiz Tonight." Here's what she's saying.
"Ms. Lohan has maintained her innocence from the moment this case was filed. And she has never wavered. Though many advised her to follow the safe route by taking the deal, the truth is Ms. Lohan is innocent. She has a strong defense. And we are confident that a jury will listen to the evidence fairly and acquit her." So Carol, get ready. More Lindsay Lohan courtroom drama is on the way.
COSTELLO: It's never ending, A.J., it just goes on and on and on.
HAMMER: And on and on.
COSTELLO: Keeps you in that seat, though. A.J. Hammer, many thanks.
HAMMER: Yes, it does.
COSTELLO: If you want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J.'s got it tonight on "Showbiz Tonight" at 5:00 p.m. Eastern and 11:00 p.m. eastern on "HLN."
Don't you know it. We're down to the college basketball sweet 16. Jeff Fischel from HLN Sports is here. So three marquee teams play tonight?
JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS: Three of the biggest names in college basketball - Duke, Connecticut and Florida, they've all won two titles in the last 12 years. So fans are fired up to see them. But we're also keeping an eye on one of the Cinderellas. You know the giant killer, Butler University, last year they made it to the championship game, came oh, so close. And it looks like the Bulldogs have their magic working again.
Their first game last week, Matt Howard scored at the buzzer against old dominion right there to win. And then their next game against Pitt, one of the craziest final few seconds you'll ever see to beat the number one seed. Howard free throw with less than one second left was the difference. Tonight, the Bulldogs face Wisconsin.
Now, the biggest star in the tourney has to be all-American Jimmer Fredette. His BYU Cougars take on Florida tonight. Fans are starting to make Fredette-Romney 2012 signs. Mitt Romney is another BYU grad. A song is even devoted to Fredette and it's huge on YouTube.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
FISCHEL: This song is called "Teach me how to Jimmer." It's huge in Provo, Utah, right now. You know what? Fredette's even inspired a sharpshooter from his hometown in upstate New York. 10- year-old Joseph Girard (ph) is the state free-throw champ. This kid has actually at one point made 51 free throws in a row. Fredette said he hasn't even made that in a row. In fact, Fredette says he never won the state free-throw-shooting title himself. But this kid Joseph Girard (ph) has done it.
COSTELLO: Get that kid a scholarship.
FISCHEL: He's on his way.
COSTELLO: Thanks, Jeff.
FISCHEL: All right, Carol.
COSTELLO: Still ahead, worries about the disaster in Japan sending sales of doomsday bunkers through the roof.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Workers at the crippled Japanese nuclear plant are back there today after an evacuation prompted by billowing smoke. We have these new pictures to show. These are from inside the Fukushima plant. The first pictures we've seen since the earthquake hit two weeks ago. Workers are trying different methods to keep more radiation from seeping into the atmosphere. Two of the plant workers, by the way, were hospitalized after stepping into a pool of radioactive water. A third worker also stepped in the water, but he was not taken to the hospital. We don't have any word on their conditions, but the two in the hospital have radiation burns on their legs.
Now, despite reassurances, some people on the West Coast of the United States are still worried about radiation. So, we want to put this into perspective. In one year, the average amount of radiation you get from an old computer monitor -- not the flat-screen one -- is .01 millisieverts. A roundtrip flight from Los Angeles to New York is triple that. For one chest X-ray, that number of is ten times our computer monitor rate. And here's another reason to quit smoking a pack a day - here's another reason to quit, I should say. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for a year, we actually have to shrink our baseline here because the number goes up to 53 millisieverts. That's how much is in a pack of cigarettes, radiation I'm talking about.
Right now, the current levels of radiation on the West Coast, an average of about .000125 millisieverts. That's too small even to show you.
So, radiation oncologist Paul Song, you heard those numbers. And I'm sure you know all about those numbers. Very minute traces showing up on the West Coast of the United States. Yet people are still worried. Why do you think we can't calm their fears?
DR. PAUL SONG, RADIATION ONCOLOGIST (via Skype): I think, as you mentioned, the numbers don't point anything for us to be alarmed by. I think certainly if you're a worker in the plant, you have to be very concerned about the big doses of radiation. But here in the U.S., the amount of radiation that we're getting exposed to is (AUDIO GAP) really a fraction of with a we can (AUDIO GAP) --
COSTELLO: We don't have enough -- our little Skype signal isn't quite good enough. So, we're going to try to get back -- oh, he's gone for good.
Darn! I really wanted to do this segment because so many people are still so afraid of these traces of radiation that they're showing up on the West Coast. And please believe that they are not dangerous. Hopefully we'll try to work something out.
Let's go to Stephanie Elam now because you actually have reports of these so-called doomsday bunkers. The sales of doomsday bunkers are going through the roof, in part because of these fears.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Partially because of these fears. Partially because of this other bigger fear people have, Carol, that the world's going to end next year. I had no idea that this was a truly big belief out there.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, it is!
ELAM: A lot of people apparently believe this. So because of that, and because you have these massive events that are not manmade that are just out there in nature and happening and they are happening it seems back to back to back, in the collective psyche of people, bunkers to help protect you, make you live throughout -- fallout shelters. They're selling like hotcakes, apparently.
So, the U.S. companies are selling doomsday bunkers, they said that sales are up between 20 percent and 1,000 percent for these. And people are paying anywhere between 10,000 bucks for them to $20 million. The one you see there, that's an average size one, they're saying. We actually called to talk to he have Kevin Thompson, who's the managing member of Northwest Shelter Systems. They say they usually make four a year. They already have orders for 12 so far. And they're slated to make 16 this year. He thinks that 70 percent of the jump in the sale of their bunkers has been because of the doomsday 2012 believers. And he says, you know what? These are not places that people don't go to. They actually use them as multipurpose rooms and maybe as guest quarters, which I don't know how you'd tell somebody, hey --
COSTELLO: A party in a doomsday shelter!
(LAUGHTER)
ELAM: Right. Go downstairs. It's really comfortable. And we'll see you in the morning when you come up. It will be great. You have a good time down there. Maybe they use it as a man cave. Very different ways that I think you would go about that.
But the single-family homes are 1,200 square feet to 4,500 square feet. The multifamily home can be as big as 10,000 feet. But Carol, I have to tell you, the idea of coming out afterwards if there was some massive event and being the only person alive is kind of scary to me. I think I'd rather just - you know --
COSTELLO: Yes, you might end up on the planet of the apes. You never know.
ELAM: Yes, see? That's scary.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about something more sane, shall we? Air fare -- I guess this is insane, too, because air fares are going up.
ELAM: Yes. It is insane. And it's more tangible kind of insane, though, Carol. When you take a look at it. United and Continental, remember, they're coming together. They're operating as two separate airlines, but they are coming together. But they've raised their base round-trip fares by 10 bucks on many of their U.S. domestic routes.
And this is according to the Rick Seaney, CEO of Farecompare.com. He tells us that if this sticks, it would be the seventh hike already this year. There have been eight attempted, one did not go through. We did hear last night that Delta and US Air matched. All of this because they're trying to offset fuel costs. We talk about oil prices and how expensive oil is. We've seen gas prices rising here in the United States. Well, same thing goes for jet fuel. It's been very expensive. So, that's part of the reason why they're doing this.
We'll have to keep our eyes on it to see if it actually sticks. As we get into the summer, that's usually when people travel more and that's when air fares tend to go up. So, don't expect things to look much cheaper. I hate to tell everybody that. But plan for a few extra bucks into your budget there for that.
COSTELLO: Yes, Or drive. Or - that's expensive, too! What am I talking about?
(LAUGHTER)
ELAM: Yes. No, the gas is still expensive.
COSTELLO: Stephanie Elam, many thanks.
Six-year-olds ordered to leave their lunches outside and rinse their mouths out three times a day. Stringent rules to protect a Florida first grader with a life-threatening peanut allergy. Some parents aren't happy. We'll have a live report on the controversy next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's get a look at stories making news "Cross Country" this morning. Check out the flames bursting from this fuel facility at Miami's International Airport. Wow! The blaze ignited just before midnight. It is now under control.
A very tricky rescue early this morning for emergency crews in Fort Worth, Texas. The driver of a tractor trailer ended up dangling off the exit ramp off Interstate 20 for an hour. As crews tried to rescue him, two others in a car were trapped underneath that truck. They were rescued, and we believe they're okay.
And near Pittsburgh, a funnel cloud spotted in nearby Westmoreland County. Here's what's left after the suspected twister tore through the area. The American Red Cross says 20 homes were damaged in Wednesday's storm.
A Florida school is under fire over stringent classroom rules designed to protect a first--grade girl with a life-threatening peanut allergy. Jason Carroll is here with details. And this little girl's allergy is affecting all of her classmates.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, without question. Affecting them one way or another. You know, the school, Carol, says that it is required actually by federal law to provide accommodations for this first grader. But some parents say enough is enough.
They're trying to take away all our rights.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Protesters picketing outside a school in Edgewater, Florida. Their signs showing how a medical problem for one of the school's students has turned into a controversy that has some parents calling for that student's removal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're trying take away all our rights.
CARROLL (voice-over): Protesters picketing outside a school in Edgewater, Florida. Their signs showing how a medical problem for one of the school students has turned into a controversy that has some parents calling for that student's removal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are not attacking the child or the parents.
CARROLL: At issue, rules the school put in place to protect the six-year-old girl who has a life-threatening peanut allergy. "Lunches must be left outside the room. Students must wash their hands before entering the room and after lunch." At one point, students were also required to rinse out their mouths. Parents debating whether the rules infringe on the rights of students and take time away from education.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not fair for one kid that have a set standard that the rest of the kids have to abide by.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's protecting the safety of my child. Everybody has the right to an education. So I don't see what the problem is.
CARROLL: A district administrator says the rules must be enforced because the student's allergy is considered a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act.
More districts could soon face a similar situation. The Centers for Disease Control says food allergies are on the rise. From 1997 to 2007, reports of food allergies increase, almost 20 percent, among children under 18 years old.
DR. SCOTT SICHERER, PROF. OF PEDIATRICS, MT. SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: It's always necessary to have precautions for a young child who has a food allergy. There might be specific procedures that need to be in place to just really ensure that that child doesn't end up eating the food that they're allergic to.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And Carol, one theory as to why there's been an increase in allergies is we're living in a more sanitized society. So, the body isn't attacking as many germs, and as a result, we're becoming more susceptible to having intolerances to certain foods.
As for the school in Florida, the young girl's parents would not speak to us on the matter, and administrators are meeting with those parents who are concerned about the rules to try to reach some sort of an agreement here. We'll have to see what happens.
COSTELLO: It's a tough problem on so many levels because this little girl with the allergy, she must be feeling these protests. And I'm sure the other kids aren't so easy on her. And then the other kids have to go through all these mechanizations (ph) to make sure this one child remains safe. So, if the school has to obey the law, is there anything the school can do? I mean, do the protests matter?
CARROLL: Yes, I mean, you know, at the end of the day, you have to look at it this way. The school does have to obey the law. The little girl in question here does have to be protected. And so you have to really look at are these rules really putting these students out?
I mean, some of the parents here are saying, look, it eats up in terms of education time. But if you look at the extra time it takes to wash hands or rinse out a mouth, I mean, I think some people are arguing it doesn't really take that much time. So, we'll have to see what the administrators can do to try to reach some sort of an agreement with some of these parents who are clearly upset.
COSTELLO: Yes, they are. Jason Carroll, live from New York, many thanks.
Oh, get this. Growing sperm in a lab could be the key to fighting male infertility in cancer patients. We'll tell you about a promising new study.
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COSTELLO: Researchers in the field of sperm production have accomplished a feat long thought to be impossible. And their research is raising hopes in the treatment of male infertility in cancer patients.
Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us from New York to tell us more about this new study. This is a British study, right?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Actually, it's a Japanese study. And it's so interesting, Carol, what they did. They took mice -- or they took more specifically, male mice, and they went into their little -- into their mice testicles. And they cut some tissue from the testes and took the sperm stem cell out of that tissue, put it in a Petri dish, added some other ingredients and voila! They had real-life sperm.
And the thing about stem cells that's so interesting is the stem cells have sort of all the basic ingredients for making the final product. But all they need was the stem cells and some nutrients to keep it going. And they got actual sperm.
COSTELLO: And I know this will be welcome news to many cancer patients, but this is really in the preliminary stages because it's only been tested with mice, right?
COHEN: Right. It's been tested with mice, but what's so exciting is that in the past when they've tried to make sperm, they've made sperm, but then they couldn't get a female mouse pregnant with these manufactured sperm.
But this time, they did. They took the sperm out of the Petri dish, they put it inside a female mouse, and they actually got baby mice. So, as you said, for example, men who have had cancer treatments that have rendered them infertile, this could in the future help them. But boy, they're going to have to do lots and lots of studies before they put that to the test in people because who knows? Maybe you'd get someone with a lot of genetic defects. I mean, who would know? So, it's going to take time to make sure this is really safe to do.
COSTELLO: Understand. Elizabeth Cohen, live in New York, thanks.
In the world of politics, Donald Trump - he's been talking a lot lately about the job President Obama is doing. Yes, the Donald is really thinking about running for the job himself. More on that later.
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COSTELLO: Looks like Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is getting more serious about a presidential run. CNN has learned that the Minnesota Republican will form a presidential exploratory committee and file the paperwork in early June. But we're hearing that she might put that committee together even sooner so she can be part of the early Republican presidential debates. The first debate is in May.
Also on the subject of presidential politics, Donald Trump has a speech planned in Iowa, fueling speculation that he wants to pursue a run for president. The Donald will address the Lincoln Day Dinner on June 10th. The latest CNN/Opinion Research poll shows trump getting double-digit support should he decide to join the Republican race to unseat President Obama.
Now, the very idea of Donald Trump running -- possibly running for president, has comedian Lewis Black in a lather.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEWIS BLACK, COMEDIAN: We've tried every option and flavor. Stupid president, smart president, white president, black president, doesn't work!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So why not try Donald trump? Donald Trump also appeared on "The View," and he jumped into one of the campaign's more silly issues during the appearance. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Are you a birther, Donald?
DONALD TRUMP, HOST, "THE APPRENTICE": Let me just add, I was a really good student at the best school. Like a smart guy. They make these birthers into the worst it is? Why doesn't he show his birth certificate?
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Why should he have to?
TRUMP: Because I have to and everybody else has to.
(END VIDEO CLIP) A lot of people could answer that question. Donald Trump. Well, Donald Trump, a man who's fired a lot of apprentices have a chance for the biggest job in the entire world? Comedian and CNN host Pete Dominick joins us now to talk about Donald Trump's chances for a potential run for president.
But first I want to talk about this birther thing. Now you have three possible Republican candidates for president bringing this up. Michele Bachmann; Mike Huckabee brought it up, you know, questioned where President Obama was born; and now Donald Trump. Is that a perquisite for Republican presidential candidates?
PETE DOMINICK, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, Carol, listen, I don't think any of those people you just mentioned don't think the president's American. Birtherism is clearly rooted in racism. He's one of "the others." And I don't think any of them really believe it. But they're playing to the crazy part of their base.
This Donald Trump -- I men, I think Donald Trump might be on a drug. And I think that drug is called Charlie Sheen, Carol. I mean, yes, we're running huge deficits and maybe Trump would be good as president because he's run some deficits himself. You need both hands to count the amount of times he's filed for bankruptcy and gotten married. And you only need your eyes, Carol, to know he'd be the first president since George Washington to be wearing a wig.
It's all a joke. I think he wants to go to Iowa and open a casino called the Trump Birther. We'll see how that works out.
COSTELLO: Oh, my goodness! Well, you can't dismiss the fact that in this CNN/Opinion Research Poll -- I mean, he's got 10 percent. He's in double digits of people believing that yes, maybe he could possibly be president.
DOMINICK: Yes, I mean, I feel bad for Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty and mainstream GOP candidates for president. But to be honest, Carol, I think we all know there's enough disdain and dislike and disapproval of President Obama. I think Mickey Mouse would probably get a double-digit percentage. Whoever runs on the Republican ticket is probably going to get 60 million votes, that's for sure, whoever it is. And people really don't like President Obama and the job he's done certainly on the right.
So, whoever's polling is going to get a lot of votes. But Donald Trump, I don't think will be the GOP candidate. I think that's pretty safe to say. He's trying to get publicity.
He's trying to promote -- the hypotheticals, though, Carol, as a comedian to think of Trump as president. I mean, he got in a frazzle about his feud with Rosie O'Donnell. How's it going to go with Ahmadinejad? The hypotheticals are endless. I love them as a comedian and political commentator.
COSTELLO: Well, that's a long way off, so we'll see what happens. Pete, thanks so much for joining us.
DOMINICK: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
Next hour in the NEWSROOM with Suzanne Malveaux, coming in for a landing and silence from the tower. The FAA says two planes landed at Reagan National Airport without help. Should you be worried about flying? Suzanne will speak with a commercial pilot.
Plus -- it takes a lot of money to wage a war. Find out how much it's costing for the military operation in Libya.
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COSTELLO: Let's look ahead at stories making news later today. Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in the manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray. He's the doctor accused of giving the late pop singer Michael Jackson a fatal dose of anesthesia.
This morning at 11:30 Eastern, former Bell, California city manager Robert Rizzo and three other city officials will appear in court. They face more than 50 counts of misappropriation of funds and conflict of interest in relation to allegations they took $6.7 million in city funds.
And this afternoon at 3 p.m. Eastern, shuttle Endeavour commander Mark Kelly and his crew hold a news conference to discuss their upcoming mission to the international space station. CNN will provide live coverage of the event. The final mission of Endeavour scheduled to launch April 19th.
And that does it for me. Actually, not quite. I'm going to throw it over to Suzanne for NEWSROOM to continue, but I'll join you in about oh, five minutes or so.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Looking forward to it, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
MALVEAUX: All right. I'll see you.
