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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Snowstorm Buries the Northeast; Crisis in Ukraine: Push for Peace; New ISIS Terror Video Released; Powerball Jackpot at $450 Million
Aired February 10, 2015 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now:
Snow buries the Northeast again, setting new records, closing schools, grounding flights, making it near impossible for drivers to get anywhere. And it's here the thing -- it is not over yet. We'll tell you about the storm that is still to come. That's coming up.
Ending the war in Ukraine. The U.S. and other world leaders pushing for peace, but unable to agree how to get there. So, what comes next? We'll have that as well.
Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman. Christine Romans is off today, about 31 minutes past the hour.
And begin with the state of emergency in Massachusetts. The city of Boston buried beneath two more feet. That's two new feet of snow. This is the third major storm in two weeks. It is shattering snowfall records in the region.
Boston's snow depth registers about 37 inches. That is the deepest ever recorded. The weight of all that snow is tough on roofs, especially this sheet metal plant. Seven workers are trapped inside when the roof collapsed there. They did make it out safely.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suddenly heard a big hissing sound. Knew right away what it was.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was real quiet. And all of a sudden, it was like a hissing sound and like a creaking sound. And all of a sudden, ceiling just started buckling underneath.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The guys I work with just started yelling, you know, get out, get out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The entire city of Boston essentially shutdown today. Subways offline, 48 passengers had to being evacuated when they got stuck on the red line. The problem now: mountains of snow everywhere and really just no place to put it. Everyone has been told to stay indoors.
Miguel Marquez shows us why.
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MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, we're not on your beloved streets of Boston, but we are very, very close. We are in Hull. We can usually see Boston and the airport from here if it weren't such a stormy night. I will don the goggles for a very good reason and show you something.
They had about over 24 inches of snow here in just this snowstorm. This is a drift that we probably would be buried if we stay here much longer doing this for you, John.
I want to show you the front in what looks like our front here. They have worked tirelessly to keep these roads clear. This one area, though, goes on a bit longer. They are not able to do. The Atlantic Ocean on this side, the Quincy Bay on that side. They have tried to keep all of the roads clear.
It is amazing how much snow they can move here in the New England, but it's not enough. Schools have closed. Courts have closed. Government offices have closed. The transportation system completely shutdown because in some cases, the wheels were literally falling off trains.
If they can make it through these next several hours, though, it looks like they will make it. Certainly Boston is used to lots of snow, and this area in general used to a lot of snow. But the forecast, there is another storm ahead. So, it's looking like Boston is not going to get much of a reprieve from Mother Nature -- John.
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BERMAN: That is a brave hardy Miguel Marquez on the streets of Hull.
A dangerous mix of snow and ice triggered a deadly 15-vehicle pile up on the New Jersey highway last night. One person was killed. More than 70 others injured near Cranberry, New Jersey, that's just outside Manhattan. Four tractor-trailers and two box trucks were involved in the wreck. The I-95 corridor turned slick in a hurry with temperatures quickly plunged below freezing.
A snow emergency has been declared in Upstate New York. Another foot of snow and new foot falling in the Albany area. Up to 18 inches reported in the Catskills and southern Adirondacks.
A snow emergency declared in New Hampshire. Up to 15 inches of fresh snow falling there. All parked cars in Manchester have an order to get off the streets, get off the roads or you will be towed. The airport in Manchester is still open.
Now, as bad as it is, it could get worse. There could be more extreme weather on the way for the Northeast.
Let's get to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri for the early look at the forecast.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good Tuesday morning, John.
Yes, after a Monday that brought a daily record, 14.8 inches of snowfall, in fact, it was back in 2013, on the same date, we had the same exact amount. Again, this particular one going in the books as far as heavy snowfall. Notice, it's all beginning to pushing offshore as it begins to move away. We have weather advisories in Baltimore and D.C. for the late morning hours for a wintry mix.
But anything in the way of accumulation is really going to begin minimize here in the afternoon hours is mostly sunny skies and expected to break out in the evening hours there around the Northeast. So, not a bad set up. Just windy and cold, but sunny. But the big story becomes Thursday into Friday, model suggests one storm system goes closer to land. If that's the case, we're seeing significant accumulations possible by Friday, potentially over a foot.
If we have the snowstorms push offshore, the accumulation is far less. The higher amount would again be over a foot in Boston, 4 to 6 inches around New York City by Friday morning.
And, John, get a look at this -- cold air, of course, supports this later in the week. Multiple blast of arctic air, low temperatures in and around Boston and New York could be in the single digits. Highs by Sunday in New York, around 11 degrees, John.
BERMAN: Yikes, nothing is going to melt.
All right. Pedram, thanks so much.
Secretary of State John Kerry, the highest ranking official endorsing sending arms to Ukraine. He shared his feelings with lawmakers on Monday.
But President Obama taking a wait-and-see approach. President Obama met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He agreed to hold off on a decision until Merkel meets Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Let's get more now from senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.
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JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John, President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to show a united front when it comes to dealing with Russian aggression in Ukraine. But the two leaders, they sounded very far apart on that key question of sending arms to the Ukrainian military. President Obama made it clear he may will take his confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to the next level and ship arms to Ukraine to fight those pro- Moscow separatists.
Here's what the president had to say to news conference here at the White House.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What I've asked my team to do is to look at all options. What other means can we put in place to change Mr. Putin's calculus. And the possibility of lethal defensive weapons is one of those options that's being examined. But I have not made a decision about that yet.
ACOSTA: Chancellor Merkel wants the White House to wait at least until Wednesday when she's expected to sit down with Putin to try to hammer out a peace deal, but with Russia already accused of violating past agreements and sanctions having little effect on Putin, the Obama administration is dropping plenty of hints it may move forward with those armed shipments if the talks fail. But in a sign of the internal debate within this administration, the president downplayed the impact of helping Ukraine to defend itself. It's worth nothing the president was asked whether he had a red line for dealing with Vladimir Putin, he offered no red line for when Russia might go too far -- John.
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BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Jim Acosta.
Huge meeting scheduled in Belarus. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany scheduled to meet face-to-face tomorrow. The presidents of all four nations have been communicating for days. The question is, can they reach a deal to end the bloodshed in Eastern Ukraine?
Let's get an update on these proposed talks from Erin McLaughlin live this morning in Moscow.
Good morning, Erin.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
In the words of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, success in these talks is anything but assured. Both sides continue to blame each other. This morning, we heard from the Russian presidential spokesperson who continues to accuse the West of destabilizing the situation in Eastern Ukraine, with talks of sanctions and potential supplies of weapons to the Ukrainian military.
We've also heard from the Russian ministry of defense, saying that it will now allow Ukrainian military inspectors into the Rostov region of Russia, which borders Eastern Ukraine. In an attempt to counter Western accusations that Russia continues to supply military personnel and weapons into the conflict zone. Now, that announcement can also perhaps be seen as a gesture of goodwill ahead of tomorrow's talks in Minsk.
As for the details of those ongoing negotiations, few have been made public. We know there is a talk of a potential demilitarization zone. But as for how far apart this sides are from compromising, well, that very much remains to be seen -- John.
BERMAN: All right. We will wait to see if the meetings even happen. Erin McLaughlin in Moscow, thanks so much.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is determined to move forward with the controversial address before the U.S. Congress next month. The prime minister has been under fire in Israel and in the United States for accepting the invitation from House Speaker John Boehner without the White House official knowledge.
The Israeli prime minister says he cannot let politics to stop him from sounding a warning about a bad nuclear deal with Iran, what he calls a bad nuclear deal with Iran. The president insists diplomacy has to play out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: The prime minister and I have a very real difference around Iran, Iran sanctions. It does not make sense to sour the negotiations a month or two before they are about to be completed. What's the rush?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The president also reiterated he does not plan to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he visits Washington in March.
Time for an early start on your money. Correspondent Cristina Alesci is here with that.
Good morning.
CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
All eyes are on Greece right now and whether the country can come to some sort of agreement with lenders. The worst-case scenario is a Greek default or an exit from the eurozone, entirely are weighing around the world this morning. Asian shares ended the day mixed and European shares are following that lead, looking pretty cautious this morning.
U.S. stock futures aren't moving much just yet. Yesterday, of course, the Dow fell 95 points. Now, John, what happens from here really depends in part on Greece, but also on companies reporting earnings. We will hear from Coca-Cola today before the bell. Of course, that is a very important company when it comes to gauging consumer sentiment and consumer spending. This is one area of the economy that the market is really looking for steam in.
You know, we've seen some jobs growth. Now, we need to see people spending on their wages.
BERMAN: Watching Coke later in the day.
All right. Cristina Alesci, thanks so much.
Same-sex marriage now legal in a new state, but this time, opposing state judges are refusing to back down. There is a serious battle brewing. We will explain, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Happening now: despite getting a legal go-ahead from the U.S. Supreme Court, many Alabama counties have refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Instead, those judges are following the lead of the Alabama chief justice in the defiance of a federal court order. Still, gay couples across Alabama, they are determined to wed.
Let's get more now from CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.
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SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That was an extraordinary scene on Monday in Alabama. This is where same sex couples lined up outside the courthouses to get married. In counties like Birmingham, Montgomery and Huntsville, they were successful. But in other counties, like Mobile, Florence and Pike, they were denied.
Amidst the confusion, marriage equality advocates were reporting that 53 of 67 counties in Alabama were not issuing marriage licenses. At the epicenter of the dispute is Alabama's Chief Justice Roy S. Moore, who ordered the judges to defy the federal court.
Well, the conservative judge, he is no stranger to controversy. Back in 2003, he was removed from his seat for defying a federal order to take down a display of the Ten Commandments at the state's judicial building. Well, voters put him back on the bench in 2012.
Well, his actions on Monday led to confusion and chaos throughout the state, as some judges, they complied with Moore's demand to deny the marriage licenses to gay couples, while other judges gave the green light.
Some in Alabama, they are comparing the political standoff to the historical battle that took place in the state over the federally ordered racial integration. Well, Moore has called for Alabama's governor, Robert Bentley, to punish any judges issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. The governor says he'll do no such thing, that the debate over same sex marriage must be worked out through proper legal channels.
And in April, the U.S. Supreme Court will, indeed, take up the issue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much.
The measles outbreak spreading to three more states and Washington, D.C. The Centers for Disease Control now reports 121 cases of measles in 17 states and the nation's capital. It is very contagious. The largest number of the cases is 88 are in California, where the outbreak began at Disneyland theme parks. Officials say the resurgence of measles is due largely to the growing number of people not having children vaccinated or who are delaying vaccinations.
He was already charged in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. Now, reports say that Jesse Matthews has been charged with first degree murder. A former announcement is expected at a press conference this morning.
Eighteen-year-old Hannah Graham was last seen in September, leaving a Charlottesville bar with Matthew. Her body was found just over a month later. Matthew is currently behind bars for a 2005 rape case. The DNA has linked him to the death of another Virginia Tech student in 2009.
A U.S. Airways flight had to make an emergency landing at Houston last night without its nose gear. You can see the aftermath right now, sparks flew as the plane touched down. The flight did land safely with only one minor injury reported among the 53 passengers and four crew members -- not clear why the landing gear malfunctioned. The NTSB is on the scene now investigating.
ISIS releases a new video of a hostage. This time, his words raise new questions. We are live with the latest, next.
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BERMAN: As soon as today, President Obama could formally ask Congress to authorize the use of military force against ISIS. This comes one day after the release of the latest ISIS propaganda video. It shows hostage John Cantlie, a British journalist, forced once again to report for the terrorist organization. He sounds like time could be running out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN CANTLIE, ISIS HOSTAGE: Hello, I'm John Cantlie. In the last film in the series, we're in a city that has been at the heart of the fighting since summer of 2012.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: As we hear that video and message, still no word on the fate of American hostage Kayla Mueller. The State Department says it is working around the clock to determine whether she is still alive.
New intelligence reveals ISIS is plotting to kidnap more Western and international hostages in countries such as Lebanon and Jordan, that as Iraqi troops prepare to launch a major ground offensive to take back parts of the country that are controlled by ISIS and have been controlled by is for months.
I want to bring in Phil Black live from the Northern Iraqi City of Irbil.
Phil, good morning.
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
Yes, as we tour the battle zones, frontlines of the region, it is increasingly clear, the military and momentum is very much against ISIS. Now, news that Kurdish Peshmerga troops have seized three key military objectives, bridgeheads, north of the city of Mosul. All of this part of the effort to contain ISIS within territory, just surrounding Mosul ahead of a large offensive operation expected some time in the coming months in order to clear that remaining territory and take back that significant city, Mosul, from ISIS control.
Meanwhile, as you say, there is ongoing significant concern about Western journalists still in ISIS custody. That British journalist John Cantlie, has appeared in a number of ISIS videos, seemingly doing what a journalist should do, that is report from ISIS-controlled territory. But, of course, the understanding, the belief, is that he is not doing so of his own free will.
In this latest video, he reports from the area around the Syrian city of Aleppo. He talks about the damage there inflicted by what he says were both Syrian regime and coalition air strikes and talks about a thriving community under ISIS rule. It is ominous because of that statement that you mentioned, distinct. It is the first time he said something like this, that this will be the last in the report on the series. Ominous because of the way in which we know ISIS has treated, murdered, grotesquely dramatically its high value and Western hostages.
And, of course, that is why there is ongoing concern for Kayla Mueller, the 26-year-old American aid worker, who has been a long time ISIS captive, and which ISIS has said recently was killed in an air strikes conducted by the Jordanian military. While there is, of course, great skepticism about that ISIS claim, there has been no further word about her safety -- John.
BERMAN: All right. Phil Black for us in Irbil -- not far from where the coalition is now on the offense against ISIS -- thanks so much, Phil.
The Powerball jackpot, one of the biggest ever. Here is a secret: you are not going to win. I just told you everything you need to know about the lottery, but will give you an early start on your money, next.
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BERMAN: It is time now for an early start on your money. I'm looking over here, but the camera's there. Cristina Alesci is here with that.
Good morning, Cristina.
ALESCI: Good morning.
A sense of calm over the markets this morning. U.S. stock futures are barely moving right now. It's too early to tell if stocks can shake off yesterday's slide. The Dow dropped 95 points, worries about Greece's debt and bailout conditions are dragging down, markets around the world. Investors are weighing the possibility of a Greek default or even worse, an exit from the Eurozone entirely.
John, something tells me you haven't bought your Powerball ticket yet.
BERMAN: Negative.
ALESCI: The skeptic here.
The $450 million jackpot is one of the biggest in history. But, of course, don't get too excited about those huge numbers. Let's get real and talk about your chances. The odds of hitting the jackpot are tiny, one in 175 million. You are more likely to get hit by lightning, get crushed by an asteroid or attacked by a shark.
John, I know that you are not a big believer. And I know that Christine isn't a big believer, but I'm say for $2, why not take your chances?
BERMAN: Give me $1, I just made you a $1 and I made a profit too.
ALESCI: There you go.
BERMAN: EARLY START continues right now.
