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Major Industrial Fire In Texas; Amanda Knox Trial; Today's Rock Star Is Marian Slick; Amanda Knox's Hearing; ER Doctor Testifies in Trial; Alabama Immigration Law
Aired October 03, 2011 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Randi Kaye. We have some breaking news that we want to continue to follow here out of Waxahachie, Texas. There is a chemical manufacturing plant on fire. We want you to look at these pictures coming to us from KTVT. We haven't seen anything like this level of a blaze, a fire, of smoke in quite some time. There is certainly concern for the surrounding areas, including an elementary school in that area.
I want to bring in now Nicole Donald Golden (sic) who is with us. Nicole (sic), can you give me an idea here -- oh, I'm sorry, it's Donald Golden. Can you please give me an idea of what is happening there on the ground?
DONALD GOLDEN, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGER, MAGNABLEND INC.: Well, the only thing we know for sure right now is the building where the fire began looks to be a complete loss. There are several departments responding to the fire, and still attempting to put it out. All of our employees and anybody who was visiting the plant at the time the fire began has been evacuated and accounted for. So, that was obviously our first concern, everybody is out and safe.
KAYE: I want to ask about this Wedgeworth Elementary school which is in that area. So, if everyone is safe, does that mean that the school has been closed or where are the students at this point?
GOLDEN: That I don't know, they're not in visual range. We are next to a college that has been evacuated. As far as the elementary school, I don't know the status but I do know they are upwind from the fire so any of the fumes and smoke are all being directed the opposite direction of the school.
KAYE: Can you help us understand what caused this and how it got so big so fast?
GOLDEN: No, I'm sorry. We don't know that at this time.
KAYE: Can you give me an idea of what type of gases are in the air and how dangerous this might be?
GOLDEN: I'm sorry, could you ask that again?
KAYE: Can you give me an idea of what type of gases might be in the air and how dangerous this might be? Donald? All right. It sounds like we've lost Donald Golden. He's with the environmental health and safety, he's the manager there, and we will try and get him back on the line. In the meantime, you'll continue to look at these pictures now from our affiliate, WFAA, coming in to us from Waxahachie, Texas.
We are focusing here on a chemical manufacturing plant that's been on fire, if you're just joining us. The concern has been certainly for this elementary school in the area. These are -- this is the new video coming to us. You can look there at that thick black smoke. Our Chad Myers was telling us just moments ago that radar is actually picking up this smoke. It's so thick, so heavy, that radar actually thinks it's rain and puts it there on the radar map for our meteorologists to pick up. The question is, are there dangerous gases? We'll continue to check on that. But it is the MagnaBlend chemical manufacturing plant and this is a major industrial fire there in Texas. So, please be sure to stay with us, we'll continue to watch this and hope you will as well along with us.
In the meantime, it has been eight and a half hours since Amanda Knox spoke not only to an Italian court but to the world saying, quote, "I am innocent." And in the next 60 minutes, we could find out if a jury agrees. It is 1:00 p.m. in the east, 10:00 a.m. in the west. I'm Randi Kaye, here's what's happening at this hour.
She has spent nearly four years behind bars in Italy. Now the world is watching a courthouse in Perugia to see if American student Amanda Knox gets to go free. Earlier today, Knox made an emotional plea saying she didn't kill her roommate back in 2007.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMANDA KNOX, DEFENDANT (translator): I haven't murdered. I haven't raped. I haven't stolen. I wasn't there. I wasn't present at the crime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Now her fate lies in the hands of two judges and six jurors. CNN's Matthew Chance joins me now live from Perugia with much more on this. Matthew, do you think her emotional speech there in court made a difference at all?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it might have, Randi, because she spoke in fluent Italian, first of all, which may have cut through a bit better to the jury there and the judges that were listening very intently. She spent four years in prison, so she's managed to perfect that.
But she was also very emotional. I was in the courtroom when she came in, she looked extremely pale, she looked extremely stressed, she didn't look up at any point when she was walking in, not even to her family to acknowledge their presence as they often are in the corner of the courtroom listening to these hearings.
When she stood up, she was clearly very emotional as she addressed the court as well on a number of occasions, it sounded like she was choking on her own tears. The judge at one point said that she could sit down if she wanted to but she didn't. She carried on standing. She composed herself and delivered what must have been the most important -- the biggest speech of her life to that jury and to those judges begging for her freedom, essentially saying that Meredith Kercher was a friend and that she's innocent of killing her.
KAYE: Matthew, we know that she's been sentenced to 26 years. Her former boyfriend has been sentenced to 25 years. Is this an all- or-nothing deal? Because they brought this appeal together, so does this mean that she can't be freed and -- unless he's freed? Is that how this is going to work?
CHANCE: Yes, I think so. They've got this joint appeal which means that the jury and the judges will consider both of them in conjunction, not (ph) to consider them separately. But there are a number of options on the table for the jury and judges. When they make their decision, they could, of course, overturn the convictions against them for the murder of Meredith Kercher, they could uphold those convictions, they could increase the sentences or decrease the sentences. And so, there's a gamut of possibilities being considered tonight as this jury deliberates as to what its decision will be.
KAYE: Could there be a middle ground here? I mean, if the jury, which has two judges on it, if they decide that -- to go with what -- I mean, we know that the prosecutors have said that they want life in prison for her, not even the 26 years now. And the defense, of course, wants her free. Is there a Chance they'll come to some type of an agreement?
CHANCE: Well, I'm not sure there's this kind of bargaining going on behind doors. It's purely in the hands of the jury now and in the hands of the judges. So, it's unlikely the defense and the prosecution are talking at this point about the possible sentencing. We're already well beyond that stage. But it is certainly possible, perhaps even likely, that some kind of face-saving decision will be made that might see Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito released from prison on the basis they've already served a significant amount of time behind bars, that's something that's certainly a possibility. There's also another possibility is they could be let out of jail on the basis there is not enough evidence against them which is one formula in the Italian judicial system that could be applied in this case.
KAYE: Matthew Chance, I know we can get this verdict at any moment now really, so we appreciate your time and certainly keep us posted on when that comes down. Thank you.
And now, we want to return you to that chemical manufacturing plant that's on fire in Waxahachie, Texas. We have with us on the phone Neil White, he is the editor at the "Waxahachie Daily." And as we continue to look at these pictures, Neil, can you give us an idea of what you know about this area and what might be at risk there, what might be in danger?
NEIL WHITE, EDITOR, "WAXAHACHIE DAILY LIGHT" (via telephone): Well, I have my entire staff out on the scene right now. It is a major fire. They've in support from just about every neighboring city who has fire trucks and personnel on the scene. They've just moved back, the fire is growing in intensity. I have lost communication with my staff because they had to relocate and I haven't been able to contact them yet. I do know that they've evacuated Navarro College on Jarnaren (ph) Drive, as well as Wedgeworth Elementary school which is also on the Jarnaren Drive. And then there is Alterra, which is a residential nursing facility. That order has already been given to evacuate the nursing facility as well. Those are all within about a half a mile from the factory.
KAYE: And do you have any idea what might have caused this yet? Are you getting any information from your people there on the ground or when did you first get word of it?
WHITE: A little over an hour ago. We haven't received -- they haven't issued any press announcement yet. What we're waiting for -- the city director of public information to hold a press conference, which I understand is going to be happening here shortly. Waiting on more information as to the cause. At this time, we haven't received any reports of injury but, again, they haven't issued any formal statement, so we're kind of in the dark.
KAYE: I mean, the pictures of this fire coming to us now on screen from KTVT, the flames and the thick smoke which seems to be spreading throughout the area, where are you in relation to where this is happening? Can you see anything from where you are?
WHITE: We can see -- I'm at the paper office, and yes, we can see the smoke from here. We're about five miles away.
KAYE: Have you stepped outside? What does it feel like out there?
WHITE: You can just see the smoke. It's moving up high in the atmosphere, so it's not down low to the ground. But all of my staff is near the -- near in close proximity to the scene and they said it's really intense up there.
KAYE: All right, Neil White with the "Waxahachie Daily." Neil, we appreciate your time and certainly the new information that you gave us about some of the evacuations there in Waxahachie, Texas. Neil, thank you very much.
Coming up, she has been called a she-devil and a witch. Now Amanda Knox hopes to be called innocent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Amanda Knox (translator): I am not what they say I am, perverse, violent. I respect life and people and I haven't done the things that they are suggesting I have done. I haven't murdered, I haven't raped, I haven't stolen. I wasn't there. I wasn't present at the crime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: What the court's decision means for Knox and the Italian justice system when we come back.
But before we head to break, we are starting a little something new. Our "Daily Shout Out" to people not just making a difference but doing it with some style. Today's rock star is 18-year-old Mariah Slick and the entire student body at Azle High School. Mariah, who has down syndrome, was crowned homecoming queen Friday night just outside of Dallas. Mariah and Azle High School for breaking barriers, you are today's rock stars. Mariah Slick.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: As the jury continues to deliberate the fate of Amanda Knox in Perugia, Italy, the American student remains hopeful that her murder conviction will be overturned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROCCO GIRLANDA, ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN (translator): Amanda is good. She's calm. She is praying and singing songs in the chapel. She being allowed to stay there with father sorrow. She is calm, very, very calm. She says unfortunately I have some terrible hours ahead of me because if I to wait, deliberations in these cases are tough but I am still calm.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does she have hope?
GIRLANDA: She is absolutely convinced she will fly home to the U.S. tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Any moment now, Knox could be handed her freedom or possibly a stiffer sentence or life in prison. Joining me now is Nina Burleigh, she's the author of "The Fatal Gift of Beauty: The Trials of Amanda Knox." Nina, nice to have you on the show today. So, do you think that Amanda will go free?
NINA BURLEIGH, AUTHOR, "THE FATAL GIFT OF BEAUTY": I would be pretty surprised if she didn't go free, because there isn't very much evidence that she had anything to do with this crime. But you know, the story's not a 30-second sound bite, that's the problem. It is very complicated and one of the complications is that the Italian judiciary is -- you know, it works in its own way and in its own time and they've done things that have stunned me before in terms of, you know, convicting her the first time around on what seemed to be pretty flimsy evidence.
So I am not going to make a prediction for you. I'm sorry.
KAYE: Would you say that this is -- that this was a bit of a witch hunt by prosecutors? Is that what you found in researching for your book?
BURLEIGH: I did -- you know, there are a number of things that were going on. It was police -- I think police mistakes were made. And the media came in, swooped in and made it very difficult for them to back off. These types of mistakes happen in other countries, including the United States.
But this was -- Perugia is an idiosyncratic kind of town. It's a small town. A mountain town. It's got calls around it. And I think that, you know, it happened on the night after Halloween. The prosecutor there has some theories about satanic cults operating in his community, and maybe they do. But, in this case, he applied that knowledge or those suspicions to a crime scene that was mystifying to him and the world riveted on this young woman's face, this very photogenic female and basically didn't even pay attention to the third guy who's been convicted already and sentenced for the murder and who has never even denied that he was in the room.
KAYE: Right. Nina Burleigh, appreciate your time. We will continue to watch this case along with you. Thank you.
BURLEIGH: You're welcome.
KAYE: Well, as we head to break, a look at three of the most popular stories on CNN. All right. Well, we're having a little trouble there with our scripting, so why don't we just take a break. All right, we'll take a look at some of the three of the most popular stories on cnn.com. Newspulse. First place is the story about Rick Perry and the many headlines that he grabbed other the weekend. Second is the announcement that Seth Rogen tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Lauren Miller. And third is a breakdown of the Amanda Knox saga as anticipation builds for her appeal verdict.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: I want to return you now to that breaking news. Look at this video coming in from WFAA, our affiliate there. These are live pictures of this chemical manufacturing plant that's on fire in Waxahachie, Texas. We spoke with Neil White (ph), who's the editor at "The Waxahachie Daily" there and he told us that a college has been evacuated nearby. And you can see why as you look at this plume of smoke coming to us as well from KTVT. The fire is growing, he said. They've already evacuated Navarro College, as I mentioned, and Wedgeworth Elementary, as well. Also a nursing facility has been given evacuation orders there. This is a major industrial fire that seems to be growing and we will continue to watch it for you and bring you the very latest there from Texas.
Moving on now. Michael Jackson was already clinically dead when he arrived at UCLA Medical Center. That's what an ER doctor who tried to revive the pop star testified in court on Friday. And today we're hearing more from Dr. Richelle Cooper in the Conrad Murray trial. She says Dr. Murray never told her about the Propofol in Jackson's system, something both paramedics who were first on scene at Jackson's home testified to as well. They say Jackson was cold when they arrived. Had had no heartbeat, his eyes open. Still, they say, Dr. Murray said nothing.
Joining me now for "Crime & Consequences," criminal defense attorney Holly Hughes.
Holly, nice to have you on the show. The defense has quite an uphill battle here it seems. I mean how do they begin to even counter the damning testimony that we've seen certainly last week and already a bit today against their client?
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: This is their biggest challenge, Randi, because what they're going to have to argue is that because Dr. Murray administered such a small amount, they're saying he only administered enough to knock him out for 10 minutes, that he didn't think there was any possibility Propofol played a role in the death of this pop star. That's the only place they can go with that. They're going to say, look, it was such a non-issue that he didn't even report it to them. They can't do anything else with that. They are stuck with the facts as they exist already.
KAYE: And something else that came up is that when paramedics were in touch with their base at UCLA, they wanted to declare Michael Jackson dead while he was still in the home in his bedroom, but Dr. Murray wanted him transported. What does that say? What should we take away from that?
HUGHES: Well, if you're the prosecution, what you're going to argue is, Dr. Murray did not want Michael Jackson declared dead on the scene because then it would have been sealed off, Randi. They would have immediately ushered everybody out of the room, had the medical examiner actually come to the scene, do the declaration of death there and nobody would have been able to take things out of that scene, to clean it up, to sterilize it, to hide evidence.
So what the prosecution wants this jury to believe is, hey, the very reason Dr. Murray fought so hard with these paramedics, despite all of the signs, he was cool to the touch, there were no breath sounds, the heart wasn't beating, his eyes were open. Everybody looking at him knew he was deceased. Even his security guard and his head of logistics. Even his personal assistant said he looked dead to us. So you don't need a medical degree to know what's happening here.
KAYE: Right.
HUGHES: But if Dr. Murray can convince them to take that body off the scene, you're also not going to have any death photos of him in his own bed. Because had the body been left there, they would have come in, treated it as a crime scene, it's an unnatural death of a relatively young man. You would have had photographs of Michael in his own home and he wouldn't have been able -- Dr. Murray, meaning -- would not have been able to remove anything from that scene because it would have been sealed off immediately.
KAYE: Right. Just very quickly, we just have about 30 seconds left. I want to ask you about the time line, because two of Dr. Murray's girlfriends are expected to testify this week, one who was on the phone with him when he finally realized that Michael Jackson had stopped breathing. How critical is that time line?
HUGHES: Extremely critical because it shows that he knows Mr. Jackson was already deceased. He's speaking with this girl at about 11:57 a.m. Remember, Randi, that she says at 11:57, there's no more sound from Dr. Murray. She's yelling into the phone. She can't get him back on the phone. But we know 911 wasn't called until 12:20. That's about a 23-minute gap. If you find your patient in distress -- and we can assume that's what happened at 11:57 when he suddenly just abandons that phone call, that's when he knows there's a problem. Why not dial 911 right then and there unless it's obvious to you there's no way anybody's going to be able to help the patient.
KAYE: Right. All right, Holly Hughes, criminal defense attorney.
Holly, thank you. Nice to see you.
Coming up, one of the toughest immigration laws in the country is leaving a mark.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CINDY OROZCO, ALABAMA RESIDENT: People right now, they're not going to school. The kids are not going to school. Why? Because they're scared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Why Alabama's new law has students skipping class.
But first, it was eight years ago today Montecore the tiger attacked Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy. It happened at a show at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Roy was critically injured but never once did he blame the cat. The incident ended the duo's 13-year run at the Mirage. They retired from show business last year. And that's the shame in history.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back.
We're now seeing the impact of Alabama's tough immigration law inside its classrooms. Public schools in the state are now required to check the immigration status of kids when they enroll. It is just a part of the state's new immigration law upheld by a federal judge last week. And an unintended consequence of that law, it is today's "Under Covered" story. We're talking about confusion and fear among immigrant families.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CINDY OROZCO, ALABAMA RESIDENT: The kids are not going to school. Why? Because they're scared. And that is not right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Many Hispanic students are not showing up. Hundreds of absences are being reported in several school districts. Large numbers of families are pulling their kids. Some say they will not be back. But it's important to note public schools are required under federal law to educate students illegal or not. And the immigration status of students in Alabama will only go to the state's education department. State lawmakers say the goal is to simply track how much it costs to educate illegal immigrants.
One of the school districts seeing a lot of no-shows in classes is Huntsville, Alabama. Keith Ward is the district's spokesman and he joins us now.
Keith, thank you for coming on to discuss this.
What is the situation in your district today? I mean are there more Hispanic students absent? Are there any withdrawing even from school?
KEITH WARD, (ph): Well, we have had a few that have withdrawn that we know of. We had approximately 207 Hispanic student absences out of a total Hispanic enrollment of approximately 1,435 on Thursday. That number had decreased to 127 on Friday. And we'll have exact totals for today by the end of the school day.
KAYE: Yes. And as we look at the numbers, I mean when you think about these parents making this very difficult decision to not send their child to school, probably out of fear, has there been any contact with the parents who have chosen to do this?
WARD: Well, our superintendent actually had a message delivered in Spanish that outlined the provisions of the law, how it related to schools. And that was aired on our local cable access channel and posted on YouTube to try to calm some of the fears and explain what the law referred to in regards to the school district.
KAYE: So I know that you and some other administrators feel that the law -- that there is a real misunderstanding about what this is about and how this is going to work. Was there not something before this went into place that maybe would explain to parents so they didn't have to be so fearful and keep their students home?
WARD: Well, I think that fear has probably existed in the Hispanic community since talk of this law.
And there are several aspects that have other departments involved such as law enforcement or license renewal that don't have anything to do with the school district. So we knew that there would be something that would come down soon. We didn't know whether or not that the judge would uphold some or all aspects of the law. So what we have tried to do is reach out to --
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: Keith, were there pamphlets or any type of education material sent out to help these parents understand this in advance?
WARD: They have had counselors and everything that have tried to disseminate that information and reaching out into members of the Hispanic community. And of course, that was one of the purposes of the posting of the video is to be able to give them information, at least from the school's perspective, so that they don't have a fear of bringing their kids to school or enrolling them in school. KAYE: Keith Ward from the Huntsville City schools, Keith, thank you. I hope that we helped to set the record straight if any of those families might be watching. Thank you very much.
Well, immigration is becoming a touchy subject for Rick Perry, opening him up to more criticism from his Republican rivals. But he's not toning it down. It is all "Fair Game" next.
But, first, for political junkies out there, a question. We know Texas allows in-state division for the children of undocumented immigrants, but it is not alone. How many other states allow it? Stick around for the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Before the break, we asked you, how many states like Texas allow in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants? Well, here is the math -- 13 states overall allow it, from California to New York. Rhode Island became the latest to approve it just last week.
Time now to go beyond partisan talking points to the heart of the political debate where all sides are, as we like to say, "Fair Game."
Immigration is a hot-button issue right now for the Republican presidential candidates. Rick Perry has been forced time and time again to defend his decision to allow in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants. He says Texas voters wanted it so he signed it.
Here's what else he had to say about the immigration issue while campaigning in New Hampshire this weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have put legislation in place that is clearly said that Texas is going to do everything in its power to secure the border with Mexico.
That brings us to the real issue here, which is we have for decades had a federal government that has absolutely failed in its constitutional duty to defend our border. I'm a governor. I don't have the pleasure of standing on the stage and criticizing. I have to deal with these issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: A very pointed answer.
Let me bring in my guests now. Democratic strategist Maria Cardona is in Washington, and CNN contributor Will Cain is in New York today with us.
Maria, let me start with you. Will Rick Perry, do you think, be able to defend his position on this in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants, do you think? MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: You know, it is ironic, Randi, because if he were actually running in a general election right now I think this position would favor him, because this is a position that actually the majority of the American people, mainstream voters, independent voters, clearly Democrats, agree with.
But what is interesting is that he's not in a general election. he is right now during the GOP primary process, he's running in a process where it is the right-wing conservative extremists, the Tea Partiers, for whom this position is completely anathema to everything that they believe in.
I think it is going to be very difficult for him to navigate this. I will give him kudos for sticking to his guns, but I think that on the flip side he's doubling down on the enforcement piece of this, which I think is not going to do him any good in the long run.
KAYE: Will, what do you think? I mean, do you think the governor's going to have to change his message here as a result of all this?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I don't know, Randi. No, I mean, Maria's right about one thing. He is running in a Republican primary right now where everyone is trying to give the appearance -- and that's the operative word -- of being very, very tough on illegal immigration.
Now, here's the deal. I think Rick Perry is wrong on this idea of giving in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. You're basically giving a taxpayer subsidy, a taxpayer benefit to citizens -- or not citizens -- to people who have not paid into the tax system.
But that being said, the fact that I disagree with Rick Perry, I'm not going to define him by this issue, because here's the difference between Perry and Santorum and Romney, who are grandstanding against Perry, is that exactly what he said in his clip. He's a governor of a state on the border. He's had to try to figure out ways to deal with this and they haven't.
KAYE: We have a couple of other controversies or controversial topics at least to get through here, this one over the weekend. Perry said that he would be open to sending U.S. troops to Mexico to deal with the drug cartels.
Maria, how is that going to sit with voters, do you think?
CARDONA: That is such a harebrained idea, Randi. And, again, to me what it tells me is that he is doing whatever he needs to do and say to sort of fix the perception that he now has that he's weak on immigration because of the stances that he took on the in-state tuition for undocumented -- for children of undocumented immigrants.
I think it is a harebrained idea. He clearly doesn't understand foreign policy if he thinks that this is a good idea. And again he's kowtowing to his base. He is hoping that GOP voters in the primary process are going to be now listening to him and to see how tough he is on immigration, you know, so that it fixes the perception that he currently has that he is weak on it. I don't think it is going to work, and I think it is going to add to the perception that -- for mainstream voters that he's just not ready for prime time.
KAYE: This one, Will, this one is going to you. I want to ask you about this hunting camp issue coming from, of course, "The Washington Post" article. But it resurfaced over the weekend that Perry and his father had actually leased a camp that had the N-word in its name and was displayed just out front in big letters.
It was painted out front. Now, here's what Perry has said about this. He says: "A number of claims made in this story are incorrect, inconsistent and anonymous. The one consistent fact in the story is that the word on a rock was painted over and obscured many years ago."
Now how will this play? How is he going to get himself out of this one, do you think?
CAIN: I don't know, Randi. Look, here's the deal. There are many legitimate concerns about Rick Perry. Maria just espoused one of them. The sending troops to Mexico thing doesn't show somebody you want to entrust with the power of the federal government. He has connections to crony capitalism and these are criticisms coming from a conservative.
But here's the deal, Randi. This "Washington Post" story is full of anonymous sources and it's full of speculation an Rick Perry is now saying that much of it is not true so it is a he said/she said. And I don't want to perpetuate what sounds like a very, very hard story to verify.
There are plenty of substantive criticisms to have about Rick Perry right now. That issue regarding the hunting camp is not one that feels like there is enough substance behind it for me to chip in on it.
KAYE: All right.
Will Cain --
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: Oh, Maria, OK, you have got five seconds there.
CARDONA: Very quickly, I think what it does though is we do have to find out the facts about this, but it adds to the cumulative effect that he's just not ready for prime time. If this was his first gaffe I would say yes, he would probably navigate himself out of it, but it is not. It is on top of everything else.
KAYE: All right.
(CROSSTALK)
CAIN: The question is should, Maria. It should. Should it contribute?
KAYE: You guys are going to have to call each other. You are going to have to call each other and finish this discussion.
(CROSSTALK)
CARDONA: We will do it on Twitter. We have done it before.
KAYE: Thank you, both. Yes, do it on Twitter. Take it to Twitter.
CARDONA: Exactly. Thanks, Randi.
KAYE: All right. Thank you.
And, of course, if you want to weigh in on Twitter about any of the stories that we're covering, you can find me on Twitter at @RandiKayeCNN.
Well, it's a body blow for butter lovers in Europe -- how one country is making people pay up if they want to eat fat, which is why you are here. Hint: Think Vikings. It is about twice the size of Massachusetts and is considered one of the happiest nations on Earth. Can you guess where we're taking you? We're heading that way in just a couple of minutes to talk about the world's first fat food tax.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: We want to show you some live pictures now, breaking news here at CNN. This is a major industrial fire there in Waxahachie, Texas. A chemical manufacturing plant on fire. There's been concern about Navarro College in the area and Wedgeworth Elementary, also a nursing facility. They have all been evacuated. You can see the smoke for miles there. Apparently, it's just off Highway 287 east of Interstate 35.
We are also watching another live picture along with you. This is a live picture outside the prison where Amanda Knox is waiting to learn her fate. She spoke to the court this morning, along with her former boyfriend, both charged with killing her roommate, Meredith Kercher. She made a statement to the court this morning pleading for her freedom. We will let you know as we continue to watch that live picture there in Perugia, Italy, outside Amanda Knox's prison.
Craving butter or cheese, maybe a little milk or some meat? You're going to want to think twice before you take a bite especially if you are in Denmark. The country now has what is believed to be -- get this -- the world's first fat food tax to fight obesity and heart disease. There is a surcharge on foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fat. That would include fatty foods like butter, milk, cheese, pizza, oils, and meats.
The new tax amounts to nearly $3 for every two pounds of saturated fat. Now, if you're wondering, only about 10 percent of Danes are considered obese compared to a third of adults right here in the U.S. They can roll over and play dead, they can beg, shake and perform all sorts of other tricks. But do dogs actually think before they act? The answer may actually surprise you. A look at canine intelligence next in the assignment.
But, first, the Salahis still milking it. Michaele got up on stage at a Journey concert this weekend with her new beau Neal Schon. He gave her a cheesy serenade for her 46th birthday, something more suited for a teen groupie. And Gossip site TMZ reports Tareq is shopping a new reality show. The title, "Seducing Salahi." Really?
Come on. Face it, guys, your 15 minutes are up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back.
Every day on this show, we will go in-depth on the assignments. It is a chance for us to highlight and dig deeper on something unique. Today it is animal intelligence.
Have you ever wondered what animals think, whether they have the capacity for abstract thought, whether they can learn language to actually communicate, whether they have a sense of self? Well, do us a favor. Grab your puppy at home if you have one and watch this. That's today's "Assignment."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
` KAYE (voice-over): If you've ever wondered what's really going on behind those puppy dog eyes, this may be the guy to tell you.
BRIAN HARE, DIRECTOR, DUKE UNIVERSITY CANINE COGNITION CENTER: Good boy. Good boy.
KAYE: Professor Brian Hare, the director of Duke University's Canine Cognition Center, is one of only a few people in the country who study how dogs think. Professor Hare and his team put pups through a series of games similar to those you might play with young children.
HARE: We don't want to look at cute pet tricks. What we want to know is, what does the dog understand about its world?
KAYE (on camera): For years, researchers didn't even study dogs. They thought they were too domesticated. Brian says that's exactly why dogs do need to be studied. For 15 years, he's been analyzing how dogs think. What surprised him most, he says, is that dogs have figured out how to read human behavior better than any other species, even chimpanzees.
HARE: The way they think about their world is that people are super important, and they can solve almost any problem if they rely on people.
KAYE: How do dogs think compared to children?
HARE: Probably around 12 months, young children start using -- relying on their adult's gestures and they start making gestures themselves. And that's at about the point where it looks like dogs have that -- a sort of a similar level of flexibility.
KAYE (voice-over): Watch this. I just met Tassy, Professor Hare's dog, a few minutes before this test. When we both point to a cup which may hold a treat --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ready, set, point.
KAYE (voice-over): Will she trust me, a stranger, or her owner?
KAYE (on camera): Oh, I'm crushed.
(LAUGHTER)
HARE: That's my boy.
KAYE: How can he --
HARE: That's my boy.
KAYE: Trust you over me?
KAYE (voice-over): Over and over, Tassy chooses her owner's gestures.
HARE: He's grown up with me. We do lots of stuff together. He's never met you before. And so, he says, "Look, if they're both telling me where to go, I'm going to trust the guy that I'm with all the time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: I spoke with Brian Hare just before today's show. And he tells me that they have now received a grant to work with the military helping to train the dogs. The more the military can learn about canine intelligence, the better they can actually use their dogs in the field better. Brian will be helping the military work with dogs that search for explosives like IEDs.
And, by the way, if you want your dog into Brian's study at Duke University, you can just go to my Facebook page, Facebook/RandiKayeCNN, and learn much more about that.
Well, every day on this show, we call out someone who just isn't cutting it these days. And today, sorry, Tiger, it's time. Once hailed as the greatest athlete of all time, Tiger Woods has now fallen not only from grace, but out of the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time in nearly 15 years. Talk about a streak busted.
Tiger sat perched for 778 consecutive weeks inside the top 50, dating back to 1996. To add insult to injury, Woods hasn't won a major tournament in nearly two years. He has been dropped or faced suspension from the likes of Gatorade, AT&T and Gillette, and TAG Heuer, all for some highly publicized infidelity.
Still, don't feel too bad for the golf pro. Forbes says Tiger's brand value only to $55 million from its $82 million one year ago. Even still, today, Tiger Woods it's time for you to face the music.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWS BREAK)
KAYE: In Seattle, a vigil for Amanda Knox -- Knox's hometown supporters gathered to hear her proclaim her innocence half a world away. They now wait and they hope.
One of them, Tom Wright, joins us by phone from Seattle.
Tom, tell us how you felt as your friend Amanda defended herself today in that Italian courtroom.
TOM WRIGHT, FRIEND OF AMANDA KNOX: Hi. Yes, hello, Randi.
We thought that Amanda did a wonderful job speaking. It was courageous and it was eloquent in her defense. And I believe that the court was riveted as well. And we're very hopeful for the outcome, cautiously optimistic and very hopeful.
KAYE: Do you think that her speech, her emotional speech -- and she spoke in fluent Italian -- do you think that would help sway the jury that is going to make a decision about her future?
WRIGHT: Well, one would hope so, but this has been a very long process. The appeal has taken quite a while. This was sort of just the tradition of letting the accused speak as the final speaker.
We thought she did a wonderful job. And now the deliberations have been going on here for about eight hours. And we're hoping for the best.
KAYE: Have you had any communication with her since she's been in prison all these years?
WRIGHT: Yes.
She calls her home for 10 minutes every Saturday. And many of us who are friends of her family and of her gather in the kitchen in her home and we're able to speak with her and pass the phone around for 10 minutes every week. And she's been incarcerated for about four years now for a crime that she didn't commit.
(CROSSTALK)
WRIGHT: So she takes some solace from those phone calls, as do we.
KAYE: Obviously, her loved ones, her family, her friends are all hopeful. Do you get a sense from her that she is hopeful as well about how this is going to go? WRIGHT: Absolutely. She's full of hope. She's also trepidatious, because the results just two years ago of the original conviction were deeply disappointing and somewhat puzzling for everyone. And so we're hoping that this time around that justice is done.
KAYE: All right, Tom Wright, thank you so much. I know this is a tough time for friends and family of Amanda Knox. We appreciate your time today.
WRIGHT: Thank you very much, Randi.
KAYE: And now let's check in with our friend Mark Preston. He's watching all things political for us in Washington.
And I know, Mark, you're trying to keep up with the primary calendar. That's for sure.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: We certainly are, Randi, yes.
Big political news just a few hours ago. South Carolina has decided to hold their presidential primary on January 21. This is significant because that means we are going to see voters in Iowa and in New Hampshire start voting for the presidential nominee in early January.
Now, Republican leaders Randi had hoped that, in fact, they would be able to put this off until February. They thought that would be better for the process. It will allow the candidates more time to talk to the voters. However, when Florida decided late last week to hold their primary on the 31st, it pushed everything back.
So now South Carolina will be on the 21st and then we're going to see Iowa and New Hampshire early in January. We're going to see candidates now campaigning right after Christmas in Iowa to try to get those really influential Iowan votes -- Randi.
KAYE: So what does this mean, Mark, just very quickly, for those who haven't declared yet, somebody like a Chris Christie or somebody who might still jump into the race?
PRESTON: Or Sarah Palin or Rudy Giuliani.
KAYE: Yes.
PRESTON: We have no idea what is going on in any of their minds.
Look, Chris Christie is clearly looking at running. If he were to run or Rudy Giuliani were to run or if Sarah Palin were to run, they would have to get an operation up very quickly. The question is, would they be able to raise the money and would they be able to have the appeal? All of that is really unanswered questions.
So Chris Christie, we expect to make an announcement in the next 24, 48 hours. As for Sarah Palin, who knows? And Rudy Giuliani just continues to flirt with it. If you were to put money on it, I will say this. I don't think any of them are going to run, but who knows.
KAYE: All right. Well, we will be watching the calendar and the clock.
Mark Preston, thank you very much.
And that will do it for me today.
Let's hand it over now to Brooke Baldwin to pick up CNN NEWSROOM from here.
