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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Dies; Documents Released Regarding Bridge Closing Scandal in New Jersey; Colorado Employees May Still be Terminated for Legal Marijuana Use; Alex Rodriguez Suspended for One Season; Consumer Electronics Show Features New Technology

Aired January 11, 2014 - 14:30   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the top stories we're following in the CNN Newsroom. We're on top of breaking news, a minor win for baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez. An arbitrator reduced his suspension to 162 games. Major League Baseball recently suspended Rodriguez for 211 games for allegedly violating its anti-doping policy. But neither the player nor the league seems to be thrilled with the decision. Jason Carroll is following this breaking story for us from New York.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, absolutely. We're now getting a statement in from Major League Baseball. They're weighing in on this, basically saying "While we believe the original 211 game suspension was appropriate, we respect the decision rendered by the panel and will focus on our continuing efforts on eliminating performance enhancing substances from our game."

And also, Fredricka, since we last spoke, the Yankees sent us a statement as well, saying "The New York Yankees respect Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program. The arbitration process as well as the decision released today by the arbitration panel."

Obviously Rodriguez's team, Rodriguez's camp, not pleased with this decision at all, but it wasn't a decision that was not unexpected for them. They've been telling me all along they knew the 211 game suspension, they didn't believe that would be thrown out, Fredricka. But what they were hoping for was perhaps maybe a 50-game suspension, 65-game suspension, perhaps. There would have been no admission of any guilt because Alex Rodriguez has never failed a drug test. He says he has never taking performance enhancing drugs. But if they had been given 50 or 65-game suspension, that is something they could have lived with and moved on.

That did not happen. They got a 162-game suspense, which effectively puts him out for a year, no spring training, no baseball for a year. For a 38-year-old player like Alex Rodriguez that is not something you want to hear. As you can imagine, a lot of people, a lot of play fans weighing in about this, but the players especially.

And just a few days ago, Fredricka, we spoke to Frank Thomas, former Chicago White Sox who was just inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. He weighed in on this calling it a sad day for baseball, a sad day for Alex Rodriguez.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: You've one of those players also known as clean, played the game clean. What are your thoughts about everything that's going on with the Alex Rodriguez?

FRANK THOMAS, ELECTED TO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME: I said for many years. Things spiraled out of control in the late the 1990s, 2000 era. It's sad because Alex was such a great talent. I can't speak for what he's done, but on a day like today I want to keep it all positive. And I just hope baseball does what's right. As for him, personally I can't say anything. I basically haven't competed against him in such a long time. I know the type player he was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So, Alex Rodriguez and his team will take their fight to the federal level. Again, they're going to ask a judge for a federal injunction to allow Rodriguez to keep playing baseball while he keeps legally trying to fight to clear his name. As you know, during the whole arbitration process, which started in, what, in August, once that decision was initially handed down, Rodriguez was allowed to keep playing. He wants to keep playing once again while he takes his fight to the federal level.

Something that's interesting, Fredricka, we got also from the Major League Baseball's Player Association. This is the union basically that represents all the players, players like Alex Rodriguez. One part of their statement reads, quote, "We recognize that a final and binding decision has been reached." Well, I think there's no argument from anyone that a decision has been reached, but from the Rodriguez camp, it is by no means final and they will continue to fight.

WHITFIELD: So I wonder, Jason, would we ever get an explanation from the arbitration panel that would explain how they see a difference between the 211-game suspension versus the 162-game suspension, when we're talking, you know, about a whole year you wouldn't play with 211, just barely over a whole year you wouldn't play? What would be the explanation, the difference?

CARROLL: I think what we might end up seeing here eventually is some sort of explanation in terms of how Fred Horowitz, he is the arbitrator, baseball's chief negotiator who oversaw this entire arbitration process, I think what we will end up seeing is some sort of explanation as to why he ended up shaving the 211-game suspension down to 162.

There are a lot of different variables here. Perhaps he saw some of what Alex Rodriguez' camp had been alleging, that some of the tactics used and information they received was not on the up and up, perhaps. That would be pure speculation at this point. But I think what we will end up seeing, Fredricka, is some more explanation in terms of how Horowitz reached his decision.

WHITFIELD: You read this coming from the Major League Baseball Players' Association, even from the Yankees. I want to read or share much more of Alex Rodriguez' statement saying, quote, "The number of games sadly comes as no surprise as the deck has been stacked against me from day one. I have been clear that I did not use performance enhancing substances as alleged in the notice of discipline or violate the basic agreement or the joint drug agreement in any manner, and in order to prove it, I will take this fight to federal court. I will continue to work hard to get back on the field, and help the Yankees achieve the ultimate goal of winning another championship."

So I know, Jason, you summarized a bit of what he was saying. We wanted to give the full content. Thank you so much, Jason Carroll, for your reporting as well.

Now to West Virginia, where 300,000 people don't have access to clean tap water, two days after a chemical used to wash coal leaked in to the water supply. More than 1,000 people have called in to a local poison center complaining of possible symptoms from that leak. Those symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, rashes, and sore throats. Right now it's unclear if their symptoms were caused by exposure to the tainted water.

Meantime, huge tractor trailers loaded with bottled water have begun arriving for people who are unable to cook, bathe or drink their tab water and we've just learned that ban may stay in place now for several days to not consume the tap water. Alina Machado has more.

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, this is a very difficult situation here. Just about the only thing people can use their running for to flush points. Restaurants closed, most businesses are also closed, and there's also uncertainly about how long this situation will linger.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now it's utter chaos. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see people just grabbing every ice bag they can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. It's about gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's hard. I got to use bottled water.

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is growing outrage and a concern in West Virginia where at least 300,000 people are without usable running water thanks to a chemical leak at Freedom Industries.

GARY SOUTHERN, PRESIDENT, FREEDOM INDUSTRIES: We are very, very sorry for the disruptions.

MACHADO: Gary Southern, the president of the chemical company, offered few details during his first press conference more than 24 hours after the leak was discovered.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So can you give us an exact timeline as to how this all happened? MACHADO: Southern says his employees found the leak Thursday morning. The chemical is typically used to clean coal and can be harmful if ingested. State officials say they were alerted to the problem when residents of the county reported a foul smell similar to licorice in the air. The leak was traced to one of freedom industry's 35,000 gallon storage tanks along the Elk River, about a mile from the water plant.

GOV. EARL RAY TOMBLIN, WEST VIRGINIA: We're doing water tests on an hourly basis and the chemical level is declining but we're just not sure exactly how long it's going to take until it's acceptable to lift the do not drink ban.

MACHADO: The warning has rattled those who live in the nine counties, where a state of emergency has been declared.

MAYOR DANNY JONES, CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA: It's a disaster. And it's caused us -- it's caused us more problems than you can ever imagine. Not only can we not wash dishes, we can't wash our hands after we go to the bathroom. You can't wash your clothes and you can't drink the tap water, you can't cook with the tap water.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACHADO: FEMA has sent several truckloads of water to the area to help. And, by the way, the U.S. attorney has announced they are investigating, and that even if this was a negligent act, there could still be a criminal violation. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Alina, thank you so much.

Investigators released more than 2,000 documents connected to the New Jersey bridge scandal, and they indicate Governor Chris Christie tried to stem other officials' anger and stonewall the media about a hastily crafted plan to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge. Those closures in September caused massive traffic jams on the nation's busiest bridge and e-mails shows that Christie's aides did it to punish the Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie for reelection. Despite an apology from Christie, several residents file a lawsuit, and federal and state investigations are also underway. Now Republican Party leaders are worried and conservatives are blasting Christie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN SPICER, RNC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: I think it says that he is fallible, that mistakes will happen on his watch, that people will do things that he didn't. But he will be a man of action and a leader that will take things seriously, take immediate action and correct them, and be forthcoming with what happened and try to get all the facts out there.

GLENN BECK, CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: Conservatives need to run from Chris Christie. Run from Chris Christie. This, again, is the quintessential example of why I'm against him. RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: The point of the story is that he will, Christie, he -- payback. You don't give him what he wants, he'll pay you back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And the White House is now backing the attorney general's decision to recognize same-sex marriages in Utah even if the state won't do the same. Eric Holder says those couples will enjoy the same federal benefits as any other couple. That decision coming two days after Utah announced it would not recognize those marriages while appealing the case, but the president is on Holder's side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president welcomes the attorney general's determination that the federal government for purposes of federal law will recognize the same-sex marriages that were lawfully performed in Utah before a stay was issued. For more, I would point to you what the attorney general said, and to the Department of Justice. But the president welcomes that determination by the A.G.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A federal appeals court could hear oral arguments on the case as soon as March. That ruling could affect all six states in the court's jurisdiction.

Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon died today after eight years in a coma. He was 85. Israeli president Shimon Peres said he will remember his friend lovingly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI PRESIDENT: He knew no fear. He took difficult decisions and implemented them courageously. He was admired at home and respected abroad. Ariel was a great family man and considered Israel as his extended family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed deep sorrow over his passing and said, quote, "The state of Israel bows its head on the passing of former prime minister Ariel Sharon. Ariel Sharon played a central role for the struggle for the security of the state of Israel over all its years."

Back in this country, no baseball for A-Rod this year. But what does it mean for the Yankees? Will they still owe the slugger $61 million left on his deal?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, we continue to follow breaking news. The suspension of baseball great Alex Rodriguez has been reduced to 162 games. An arbitrator making that decision today reducing the 211-game ban handed down by Major League Baseball.

So I want to bring in Mike Wise in D.C. He's a sports talk show host and a columnist for the "Washington Post." Good to see you again, Mike. This reduction in the suspension, what does it mean, really, because he still won't be able to play for a year and he wouldn't have been able to play for a year and some change if it were 211-game suspension? So what's the difference? What's the arbitrator trying to say here, the panel?

MIKE WISE, SPORTS COLUMNIST, "WASHINGTON POST": Essentially, all they're saying is we didn't think his crimes against the game related to PED use were worth 211 games of his money. We're just going to give him a full Major League Baseball season, which is as long as you could imagine. Steve Howell, a seven-time drug offender back in the day, was, had his lifetime suspension overturned I think 119 days. but this -- 162 games and the postseason, we could be looking at the end of Alex Rodriguez, Fredricka, as player in this game.

WHITFIELD: He's 38 years old. The idea that he would sit out for a year or even it were a year and change and be able to get back and be at the top of his game, in your view, is that just a long shot?

WISE: I just don't -- it's almost like -- if there were any recent precedent, I would say it were Barry Bonds. And when Barry Bonds went through the Balco trial in which he was eventually convicted of obstruction, they never got him on the actual drug use, but he was said to have failed a test back in the early 2000s. Barry Bonds was essentially a pariah in baseball. As great as he was and much as he could still hit, nobody would touch him after that. And I don't see Alex Rodriguez with the Yankees. I don't see him -- maybe playing for some minor league team that wanted to sell tickets.

WHITFIELD: Mike, back to the PEDs and Alex Rodriguez. No positive drug testing. No real proof, then, that he did, in fact, use performance-enhancing drugs. However, this panel is still saying that it does believe that he did use PEDs and that's the justification for the 162-game suspension.

WISE: I mean, I look at it as this -- there were 14 total clients linked to the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Miami that essentially Bud Selig paid to talk to and give evidence on A-Rod and others. And 13 of those players accepted their suspensions without going to an arbitration. A lot of people, a lot of those players think A-Rod got off easy only because he was allowed to compete after he, in fact, was suspended, because he ruled. So do I think he more money than them? Yes. Do I think he had more to lose? Yes. I also think he's guilty.

And I'm not saying that you have to cheat to get the cheats now, but I am saying, they would not have -- the arbitration panel would not have given him a full major league season if they didn't have fairly concrete evidence that he was linked to this clinic.

WHITFIELD: And despite the suspension, he's still guaranteed $61 million, which is, on his remaining three years of that contract, right? WISE: That's correct. Now, there are morality clauses that baseball and the New York Yankees can void, and I'm sure if they could get out from underneath any of that money they would seek any legal process they could to do so.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right, Mike Wise in Washington, thanks so much.

WISE: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Good to talk to you.

WISE: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right, the president of France threatening a magazine. Why is he so upset, and how does an actress factor in to all of this?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A popular French magazine is taking heat after an article alleging the country's president was having an affair with a well- known actress. The article in the French version of "Closer" magazine said President Francois Hollande was secretly involved with an actress Julie Gayet. Hollande was elected president in 2012 and lives with his partner, Valerie Trierweiler.

He condemned the article as an invasion of privacy and is reportedly considering now legal action. "Closer's" director said the piece would be taken down. Parisians seem to be siding with the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's a revolting magazine. I don't think it's interesting at all. It's Francois Hollande's private life. I think life is life. I think it's an uninteresting issue and I think there are many more important issues in France than this one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he's a person like any other and he has the right to a private life like anyone else. Anyway, we don't know if it's a rumor or not. I think it's quite pointless.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I find this quite low, frankly. It's not interesting. He can react the way he wants. It's his private life. But honestly, it's completely pointless.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: "Closer" is the same magazine that published topless photos of Duchess Katherine last year. Following that incident a French court ordered the publication to hand over the photos to the royal family and pay a fine.

All right, back in this country, in San Diego, an hour-long high-speed chase ended in a flurry of gunfire. The driver was injured and taken to the hospital. His has not been identified and his condition is not known. Officials say the suspect's vehicle matched the description of a vehicle involved in a shooting earlier this week. The chase started when the car ran a stop sign and refused to pull over.

A police chase in Oregon takes a surprising turn when the suspect hops out of her car and then jumps over a bridge. Cops say they tried to pull Rebecca Humphrey over for a minor traffic violation, but then after she sped up, they realized the car was stolen. Oh, my gosh. You just saw her jump over. Rescue crews were able to get Humphreys out of the water alive with only minor injuries.

All right, so many new gadgets, so little time. Which ones are getting the most attention at the Consumer Electronics Show?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Technology must-haves, they're giving you a glimpse into the future. I'm talking about 20,000 new gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show. Brett Larson with TechBytes.com got a look. He's joining us now with the top three favorites, Brett. So one of your favorites is something everyone seems to be talking about, new televisions. When does it come out?

BRETT LARSON, HOST, TECHBYTES.COM: Yes. The ultra-high definition TV, everybody just got HDTVs. Now we need to have ultra HDTVs.

WHITFIELD: What does that mean? I jump in the TV screen? Go ahead.

LARSON: Exactly. It does actually kind of look like a window to the future, literally. The thing, what they're doing now with thighs ultra HDs, giving a curve to them. Some are curved, some just flat. These curved ultra HD TVs, the thinking behind that is it makes the experience more immersive when you're looking at the picture. It feels like it's wrapping around you a little bit more. Of course, the TV needs to be 100 inches to feel like it's wrapped around you.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Oh, boy. Go ahead.

LARSON: The interesting thing, though, with the ultra HDTV is the networks haven't all quite caught up to being hd. For us to just expect them to jump ahead to ultra HD, that's still five or six years down the road, I think, at best.

WHITFIELD: I bet they have really big price tags on them, huh?

LARSON: They do. Over the holidays we saw a couple nameless brands going for under $2,500. I anticipate these to be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.

WHITFIELD: You are kidding me. That is some couch potato that has to have that.

LARSON: That's a very ultra high definition couch potato if you have one of those TVs.

WHITFIELD: Cool stuff. Then you have something else on your list.

LARSON: This is cool. I have one here with me. It's called phone soap. It was a kick-starter project from two cousins, and what it is, you open it up. You can see here. That's a UV light. Put your phone in here, you have the charger for it. Keep it up. Four minutes later it kills all the bacteria on the surface of your cellphone. Very important.

WHITFIELD: For a germ-a-phobe near you.

LARSON: Exactly, because our cellphones are totally disgusting. I don't want to get too far into the details about how dirty the surface of our cellphones are. But great idea, and only $50. So this year was their first year at the Consumer Electronics Show, so it was nice to see a good idea with some humble beginnings.

WHITFIELD: A clean, good idea, we like that.

LARSON: Yes, definitely.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brett, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed Las Vegas.

LARSON: Thank you, Fredricka, for having me.

WHITFIELD: All right.

Hello, again, everyone. I am Fredricka Whitfield. We have much more straight ahead in the Newsroom. We're getting a restart right now.

No safe tap water, but plenty of health complaints. A West Virginia poison center is inundated with calls after a chemical taints the water supply. Details are just moments away.