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Ford to Switch Sync Service; Opening Bell on Wall Street; Ukraine Delays Forming New Government; Acetaminophen Study; Cleveland Kidnapping Victims Honored; Victims Suing over Indiana Deck Collapse; Capturing the World's Most Wanted Drug Lord; Seth Meyers Makes "Late Night" Debut
Aired February 25, 2014 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Has been a thorn in McConnell's side, both at home and in Washington, with Ted Cruz's maneuvers causing problems, like shutting down the government for 16 days.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MINORITY LEADER: We've had some differences over tactics, but all is well that ends well.
MCPIKE: Even though Bevin (ph) and Grimes may be troubled, they've been warned, McConnell has a reputation as a ruthless campaigner.
Erin McPike, CNN, Louisville, Kentucky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I guess I'll thank you again, Erin McPike, reporting live from Louisville. Sorry about that, Erin. Thanks so much.
Opening bell on Wall Street just about the ring. Investors are digesting a mixed report on housing. Prices posting their strongest gains in eight years in 2013. But one analyst saying the strongest part of the recovery is over and shares of the struggling tech company, Blackberry, could get a bump this morning as rumors swirl that it is in talks with Ford to power the company's in-car entertainment system called Sync. Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us more.
Good morning.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
You may be taken aback a little bit considering how much Blackberry has struggled lately. It's probably the last company that you'd think Ford would actually turn to for help, but it looks like it's doing just that. You see, at the moment it's Microsoft that powers Ford's Sync entertainment system in its cars. It lets drivers make hands free phone call, you can read texts, play music, make dinner -- just kidding. But the automaker reportedly is planning to give Microsoft the boot and instead have Blackberry operate the Sync system. Sources say that using Blackberry's QNX technology will wind up being cheaper and improve speed and flexibility of Sync.
Other automakers are also using it, like Audi and BMW. But lots of Ford drivers, they've been complaining about how this technology has been malfunctioning in their cars, that the system frequently freezes and crashes. So it looks like it's trying to fix that, at least Ford is trying to fix it behind the scenes and it's looking to Blackberry as its sort of white knight.
We just heard the opening bell ring. Stocks right now are kind of flat but in the green. New numbers on home prices came in this morning showing a jump. That could be factored into the trading today, along with consumer confidence coming out in about a half hour from now. The expectation is that confidence ticked up just slightly this month. And even if stocks make little itty bit of gains today, the S&P 500, Carol, could be looking at a record high.
Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Alison Kosik reporting live from the New York Stock Exchange, thank you.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, political instability in a power vacuum in Ukraine as authorities hunt for ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. Phil Black is in Kiev.
Good morning.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Carol.
Still a big crowd here in Independence Square. Politicians scrambling to form a government and Yanukovych still a fugitive. I'll have more in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The acting Ukrainian president has put off selecting an interim government until Thursday, prolonging Ukraine's instability. But opposition leader and former boxing champ, Vitali Klitschko, has indicated he will run for president when elections are held on May 25th. Months of political unrest culminated in bloody clashes last week that left more than 80 people dead and authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Ukraine's ousted president related to those deaths in the protest. But his location remains unknown after he fled the region this weekend. Phil Black is in Kiev to tell us more.
Hi, Phil.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol, that's right, so far no sign of the former president, Viktor Yanukovych. Here in Kiev this morning, one of his former aides was shot in the leg. We don't know who did it or why, but we're told that Yanukovych wasn't with him. The last reported sighting of Yanukovych was that he was on the road south to the region known as the Crimia (ph), which is a heavily Russian influence region, not least because the Russian government has a lease on a very big naval facility there. It is the home of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Back here in Kiev, the focus is on forming an interim government and then getting money, desperately needed international money to fill the gap, a cash injection, so that this economy can be reformed and modernized. They're talking about needing as much as $35 billion over the next two years. The United States has said it's willing to be a part of that effort, Carol.
COSTELLO: I understand the Ukraine's parliament wants to prosecute the former president. How might that work?
BLACK: Well, Ukraine's parliament has issued an arrest warrant for the former president because it says it is carrying out an investigation to what it says was mass murder on the streets of this city just last week. That was when Ukrainian security forces opened fire on protestors killing dozens. The death toll from that is now up above 80. Today, Ukraine's parliament has also said the International Criminal Court should investigate. That's a strange move because Ukraine, at the moment, is not a signature to the Rome Convention, which is the International - Rome Statute, I should say, which is the International Convention which recognizes the criminal - International Criminal Court, gives it jurisdiction. So far the International Court says it doesn't have jurisdiction here.
It is possible that Ukraine could sign up and it is possible the International Criminal Court could investigate, but that would take time. Yet, either way, I think that if Yanukovych is caught, there will be strong pressure here in Ukraine for many people to have him put on trial here in his own country.
Carol.
COSTELLO: Phil Black reporting live from Kiev. Thanks so much.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, new concerns about pregnant women taking too much acetaminophen. A study suggests it could raise risks for their kids.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Want to take you out to Washington for just a minute because look at this beautiful - well, it's not so beautiful anymore, right, because the snow is coming down a little bit too hard. Thirty-four degrees in Washington right now. Let's go to Capitol Hill and show people this picture. Wow. So another polar vortex that's moved into the northeast. But it's not going to stick around for very long. In fact, by this weekend, everything will be back to normal. And as I've been saying for the past couple of days, spring is just around the corner. But be careful out there.
A new medical study is raising questions about the popular painkiller acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and many other over- the-counter pain pills. Pregnant women have long been told it's safe to use acetaminophen because it won't hurt the babies they're carrying. But this new study suggests that women who take acetaminophen for longer periods and later in their pregnancies raise the risk of their children getting ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more for you.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, this could potentially be a pretty big deal in terms of talking about acetaminophen, pregnancy in overall ADHD. And for a few different reasons. One is that, you know, a lot of women take Tylenol during pregnancy. In this particular study of over 60,000 women, more than half the women did take Tylenol. Number two is, women are already told, don't take ibuprofen, don't take aspirin, those could cause other problems with the unborn baby. And finally, you know, this idea that a fever in and of itself could be problematic for the pregnancy. You want to treat it with something. You can see why this is potentially a big deal.
This particular study, what they found is that women who took the most Tylenol, were taking it at least a day a week for 20 weeks, seemed to have the greatest risk, increased risk, of having a child subsequently diagnosed with an ADHD like thing (ph). So they found that the risk nearly doubled in that particular group of women. The risk did go down with the less Tylenol that women took. But the risk is there. And that's what they found here again in this study that showed this association.
Now, I will point out that there are a couple of things that they hyposized. Could acetaminophen somehow disrupt the hormones in the developing baby that led to a problem with the way that the brain was developing? We don't know for sure what's causing this. These are all just guesses. But this is what the researchers are sort of concerned about. They call it a potential endocrine disrupter.
Bottom line I think for a lot of women out there who say OK so what am to do here? The real answer is that you want to try to minimize Tylenol use. You still don't want to have a fever. So you've got to treat the fevers. But you want to minimize Tylenol use. So for things besides fevers, the muscles aches and pains of pregnancy you may want to find other strategies, non-medication strategies to try and treat those.
I know it's not what a lot of women out there who are pregnant want to hear. But -- but again, I think this is an important study to pay attention to. Keep in mind and be more judicious when it comes to acetaminophen use. Carol back to you.
COSTELLO: Thanks Sanjay.
The three Cleveland women who were kidnapped and held captive for over a decade received honors from the Ohio Governor Monday night. Michelle Knight, Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry all on hand, all together to receive the Governor's Annual Courage Award.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), OHIO: Three extraordinary women who despite having the worst of the world thrown at them rose above it. Emerged as victors not as victims.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Oh. There they are. I wanted you to see a picture of them up close. They look fantastic, don't they? And they're doing very, very well. So congratulations to all of them.
Next all new in the next hour of NEWSROOM, how would you like to go to Taco Bell for breakfast soon? That's right. Taco Bell is adding some new options to its menu. McDonalds is also making some changes to its menu to try to keep up. Let the breakfast wars begin. That's all new in the next hour of NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking our "Top Stories" at 50 minutes past the hour, police have arrested New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton on gun charges. The arrest comes just hours after the Knicks lost a home game to Dallas. Felton was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Police say he had a firearm and a loaded ammunition magazine.
A deck collapse caught on security camera video two dozen people were hurt and are now suing the clubhouse deck builder and a homeowners association in Indiana.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERRY DEVARY: Police are shocked and I said "How could this happen?"
JEREMY WILT, WIFE & DAUGHTER WERE ON DECK: Some people call this a freak accident. You know a meteorite hitting your house would be a freak accident this was going to fall one day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The Deck collapse happened during a Christmas party given by a woman for her extended family. The deck building company says it's shielded from the lawsuit because the deck is more than 10 years old.
If you get into a fender bender in Las Vegas don't expect police to show up. Police say they don't have the time, starting Monday, police say they will only respond to injury accidents. Police say they've spent an average 250 hours a week investigating non-injury accidents. Las Vegas is not the first city to change its policy like this.
The world's most wanted drug lord is spending his fourth day behind bars after more than a decade on the run. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was captured over the weekend in a predawn raid in a Mexican resort town. Nick Parker takes us to the big size condo where he was finally captured.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK PARKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The Miramar Condominium perhaps now Mexico's most infamous building where Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman was finally tracked down. Right now there's only a solitary police car here for security but the front desk is not letting in the media. (voice over): It's a modest ocean front property built about a decade ago an unusual choice for a man with an estimated fortune of a $1 billion.
AIDA BELTRAN, MARIMAR RESIDENT: North Americana.
PARKER: It's mostly North American who live here says resident Aida Beltran. It's a quiet family place. It's never had any problems.
Neighbors say they heard helicopters overhead on Saturday morning and two of them landed right here on this wasteland just behind where Guzman was staying. And from there as you can see, it was just a short distance for the Mexican marines to cover, to make their way across this ground and enter the condo development where Chapo Guzman was staying on a fourth floor bedroom, Room 401.
Antonio Perez, works in a nearby hotel.
"On Saturday morning between 5:00 and 6:00, the marines closed the area about a half a kilometer around the Miramar," he says. "I saw two people get into helicopters with clothes over their heads. And they took off. That's all I saw."
U.S. tourists at the coastal resort were enjoying the spectacle around the Miramar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will certainly be a time that we won't forget easily. Yes, we've heard about Mr. Guzman for a lot of years up north because of his occupation. Yes, it's been a real boost to a road trip to have been here while this was going on.
PARKER: Mazatlan is also known as the "Pearl of the Pacific" for its long sandy beaches and colonial town. The city had just been enjoying a boost to its tourism industry after violence in the surrounding area of Sinaloa and hit a number of U.S. tourists. Many here are hoping the aftermath of El Chapo's arrest will not derail that recovery.
Nick Parker, CNN, Mazatlan, Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Still to come, "Saturday Night Live" (inaudible) Seth Meyers makes his debut with host of late night and Joe Biden makes a big announcement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SETH MEYERS, TALK SHOW HOST: You have been very open about talking about 2016 and considering what you are going to do. Where are you in your thought process? What are you taking into account?
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, you know, I was planning on making a major announcement tonight but I decided --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We'll let you hear more next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Seth Meyers made his big debut as the host of "Late Night" on Monday. Joe Biden, not normally known for holding his tongue decided to keep his plans for 2016 under wraps for just a while longer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEYERS: You've been very open about talking about 2016 and considering what you are going to do. Where are you in your thought process? What are you taking into account?
BIDEN: You know, I was planning on making a major announcement tonight but I decided, tonight's your night.
MEYERS: Thank you.
BIDEN: So I hope you will invite me back.
MEYERS: Yes, absolutely.
And Amy, your 2016 plans?
AMY POEHLER, COMEDIAN: Oh, I'm going to run for president.
MEYERS: OK great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I would vote for her. Meyers didn't let the vice president off the hook though when it came to his comments about LaGuardia being, quote, a third world country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEYERS: You recently -- I live in New York, we're New Yorkers. You recently called the LaGuardia Airport -- I don't want to call you out on this but you recently referred to it as a third world airport.
BIDEN: When were invited to your show --
MEYERS: Yes.
BIDEN: -- The Secret Service said, you know, Mr. Vice President, you can't land in LaGuardia.
MEYERS: LaGuardia also said you can't land there. We're backed up.
BIDEN: New York is probably the greatest city in the world. And it really deserves one of the greatest airports in the world. I don't think anybody disagrees with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Biden also talked about what it is really like, you know, what's really going on in this year's State of the Union address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEYERS: -- state of the union. Just killing it at the state of the union -- this is just -- look at you.
So many -- so many finger guns. If there was an NRA for finger guns, you would be the President.
Now when you are there and you're pointing and smiling -- are you actually pointing and smiling at people? Or are you just going to do?
BIDEN: The President sent a big-time guy like me. I walk the Senate over to the House, when they announce us, we go in. And as we're walking over a senior senator said, "Look Joe. I know, you and Barack are friends but don't stand up on every dam thing he says." And I said, "All right". I counted 17 times this particular senator stood up in front of the President. So I went like this, talk about a suck- up. This guy was out there telling me don't stand up, and, boom, first guy up.
COSTELLO: No word on the identity of that senior senator.
The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.
