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Will Katrina Become a Hurricane?; Lance Armstrong Fights Back

Aired August 25, 2005 - 14:33   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, right now it's a tropical storm, and it doesn't appear to be in a hurry to go anywhere. But the big question, will Katrina be a hurricane when it hits Southeast Florida, which is expected to happen late today or early tomorrow? Based on what we know, it will be. Katrina comes 13 years after a major hurricane devastated that same area.
CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Andrew went down in history as the most destructive U.S. hurricane on record after blasting its 165 mile per hour winds through South Florida 13 years ago.

Katrina isn't expected to go down in the record books, but it's growth in less than a day from a tropical depression to a storm makes it a growing concern. And it's forecast to become a hurricane in less than two days. Also, the storm is approaching a unique area of the Atlantic, that could turn minimal hurricanes into monsters in a matter of hours.

RICHARD PASCH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: The potential intensity is much higher in this area, significantly, because you have very warm waters. But the atmospheric conditions also need to be just right. So, you kind of -- you've got the fuel there, but you need something to trigger it.

JERAS: Those conditions include light winds. And the winds are light. But it's too early to tell whether Katrina will continue its rapid growth, current models suggest it will keep growing, but more slowly.

Storms that develop quickly near the United States are difficult to predict, and offer less warning before landfall.

Damage from Andrew looked like this from the fierce winds. But the aftermath of Katrina is expected to look more like this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, the threat we're really highlighting is heavy rainfall. This is a slow-moving system. Historically, slow moving systems have dumped tremendous amounts of rain over Florida. We're looking at. We could see amounts as high as 20 inches, locally, in some areas.

(END VIDEOTAPE) JERAS: And Andrew was the first and worst storm of the season in 1992. This year, we're on record pace already with 11 named storms. In fact, Kyra, so far, we've already seen as many storms as we usually see in an average season.

PHILLIPS: All right, Jacqui, stay with me. Because we want to talk more about the latest on Katrina's size and movement.

We want to bring Ed Rappaport at the National Hurricane Center in Miami in here with us, too. Ed, can you tell us what you're looking at now and just the latest information?

ED RAPPAPORT, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: Yes. As an update, the tropical storm continues to approach the southeast coast of Florida. It's centered about 20 miles offshore. And at the present movement of five miles per hour, if we extrapolate forward, we're talking about a landfall say between 8:00 p.m. tonight and midnight. If it slows a little bit, then, of course, that will delay the landfall until the early morning hours.

But as you've been discussing, the biggest issue with this particular storm or hurricane is that it's a rain producer, and one that will likely cause local flooding.

PHILLIPS: Yes, we know what that's like. Now, just tell me. We always look at Jacqui on her board, the titan system. What's right behind you, and can you just give me a little show and tell on exactly what you're looking at there and what you're tracking?

RAPPAPORT: Yes, this is an animation loop of precipitation, as seen from National Weather Service radar. What we're seeing is circulation right in here. This is where the center is located now, just 40 miles or so offshore. It's a large area of precipitation. And because it's moving so slowly to the west, this entire area's going to take a long time to pass through the southern peninsula. So we expect the possibility here of a small area of hurricane force winds along the coast, a larger area of tropical storm force winds. But the entire southern Florida peninsula is at risk from flooding.

JERAS: Hey, Ed, this is Jacqui Jeras. I couldn't help but notice the 1:00 p.m. position estimate and 2:00 p.m. position estimate were exactly the same. Has this stalled out or has it slowed down even further?

RAPPAPORT: It may have slowed just a bit, but we get sort of these stair steps or starts and stops in the forward motion on occasion, just like we get wobbles up and down sometimes. It's not anything that we're particularly concerned about at this point. We've been saying all along it's going to be a slow-moving system. It might stop for a bit and then pick up again. We expect landfall later this evening or in the overnight hours.

JERAS: OK, and how much more strengthening can be expected? Do you feel very confident that this will likely be a category one at landfall? RAPPAPORT: Well, even if it doesn't strengthen much more, it's at the -- towards the upper end of tropical storm strength now, 65 miles per hour. That's maximum sustained winds. Just needs to go ten more miles per hour to be category one, 75 miles per hour. And we think that will happen, but even if it doesn't, we're talking about the upper end of tropical storm conditions. So we will see some risk in the sense of tree limbs and branches could break free. Be careful about flying debris towards windows. We don't want people out driving in those winds. That's dangerous, as well. But the primary risk is going to be the rainfall and flooding.

PHILLIPS: And, Ed, looking at Jacqui's piece, she talked about and Andrew and 13 years ago. What do you think? Could we see things go to those types of extremes this time around? And what did we learn from last time? I mean, 13 years is a lot of time to learn about things, what we need to do physically and also environmentally.

RAPPAPORT: Yes, absolutely. But we don't expect Katrina to be anything like a Hurricane Andrew. We've advanced quite a bit through the National Weather Service and NOA, in research and with the meteorological community. Tracked forecasts have improved greatly over the years, and we're beginning to make headway now in intensity forecasting, as well.

PHILLIPS: Ed Rappaport at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Thanks so much, Ed.

And we're looking for a few good citizen journalists, as well. If you're live in an area impacted by Tropical Storm Katrina, just e- mail us your photos. Even if you can do video on your cell phone there, e-mail that to us. You can do it by logging onto CNN.com/stories. Please include your name, location and your phone number.

ANNOUNCER: CNN, your hurricane headquarters.

PHILLIPS: It's France versus Lance. A French newspaper claims it has proof that Lance Armstrong used a performance-enhancing drug. The seven-time Tour de France winner responds.

Missing music producer. Frantic phone calls. A man clearly in distress. Police search for clues to the fate of this popular producer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Looking at some stories "Now in the News:" The Italian Red Cross has confirmed that it provided life-saving surgery for four Iraqis it presumed to be terrorists and hid them from U.S. forces. Officials say the surgery was part of a deal to secure the release of two Italian aide workers. They also say it was consistent with the Red Cross's policy of helping everyone in need.

A Northwest Airlines flight from Minneapolis made an emergency landing in Billings, Montana, because of hydraulic system problems. Officials say there's no evidence linking the incident to the mechanic strike at Northwest.

Another incident, however, may be linked to the strike. Maryland police are trying to figure out who deflated two tires on a Northwest while it was sitting at Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

Kenya is using tranquilizers, ropes and trucks in an effort to move hundreds of elephants to a new home. The operation is aimed at transferring the animals from an overcrowded reserve along Kenya's Indian Ocean coast to a national park 220 miles inland.

Well, Lance Armstrong is nothing, if not a fighter against cancer, against his racing rivals and against anyone who would accuse him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

A French newspaper this week, leveled new claims against the seven-time Tour de France champ. Now he's fighting back. Yesterday Armstrong criticized the newspaper, saying, "Obviously that is great business for them. Unfortunately, I'm caught in the cross hairs... And at the end of the day, I think that's what it's all about... selling newspaper, and it sells."

CNN's Larry Smith reports the claims against Armstrong go back to his very first Tour de France victory.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: After winning a record seventh consecutive Tour, Lance Armstrong was riding high. He was welcomed back to the United States as a hero, was invited to go riding with the president at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. But Armstrong's retirement was suddenly disrupted by another allegation of doping.

On Tuesday, a French newspaper, "L'Equipe," claimed that during the 1999 Tour, Armstrong tested positive for EPO, an illegal performance-enhancing drug. That was the year Armstrong won the first of his seven consecutive victories.

EPO, which helps an athlete's endurance, has been banned from cycling since 1990, but a urine test for it wasn't certified by the cycling union until the 2001 Tour. The head of France's anti-doping laboratory which developed the test, confirms there are positive samples from '99, but they cannot be matched to a particular rider because the samples were anonymous.

But the French newspaper claims it has been able to connect Armstrong to the positive samples, which prompted Jean-Marie Leblanc, the director of the Tour de France, to say, quote, "These are no longer rumors or insinuations. These are proven scientific facts. Armstrong owes explanations to us and everyone who follows the Tour. We were all fooled."

Armstrong's been accused of doping before. The French media has often implied that Armstrong's dominance in the sport must have been achieved with the help of drugs. Armstrong has vehemently denied such allegations and met the latest claim by releasing a statement on his Web site, saying, quote, "I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs."

Armstrong hopes this latest controversy won't overshadow his legacy of battling back from cancer to become the winningest rider in Tour de France history.

Larry Smith, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Lance Armstrong will speak out on the claims against him tonight on CNN in an exclusive interview. He is Larry's guest on "LARRY KING LIVE," starting at 9:00 Eastern. Bob Costas also going to be there, interviewing. He has a good relationship with Lance Armstrong.

Well a music producer vanishes after a frantic phone call to a friend: Why police think his appearance could be linked to a common Internet scheme. LIVE FROM is on the case, coming up.

Under water: Heavy rains and rising water are wreaking havoc across Europe. An update on the wild weather around the world, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It happened in L.A. and it sounds like a Hollywood script: A music biz producer makes a frantic phone call in the middle of the night, says he's being chased through a creek by people with dogs. Now he's missing and that's not all. The case may be connected to a Nigerian Internet scam and a check for $50,000. Here's CNN's Sibila Vargas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: A panicked cell phone call placed near dawn, a man in distress and then, nothing. Christian Julian Irwin has not been heard from since.

He's a 48-year-old Grammy-nominated music producer who goes by Chris Julian in the music world and was nominated for three Grammies. He's said to have worked with such artists as Queen Latifah, Carly Simon, David Bowie and Vanessa Williams. Authorities tell "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" he has not been heard from since around 3:30 on Sunday when he fled his home and placed a frantic call to a friend.

CAPT RAY PEAVY, L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT: He made a cellphone call to a friend saying, hey, I need help. Basically, I'm in trouble. Caused his friend to get out of bed, drive down to where he told him he was. He said he was at a local gas station within walking distance, basically, from his home.

So his friend got in his car. Drove down to see if he could help him. And when he got there, he wasn't there.

VARGAS: Irwin's last known location was here, in South Topanga Canyon Blvd, a mountainous region located in the northwest part of Los Angeles County. His friend looked around for 15 to 20 minutes after arriving on site. Later, another call.

PEAVY: About 4:30, he got another phone call, again on the cellphone. Saying, I'm being chased. I'm near a stream. There's dogs chasing me. There's -- and all of a sudden, the phone, I think he said something maybe about the money. And the phone went dead. And that was the last he was heard from.

VARGAS: Irwin was said to be involved in a Nigerian Internet scheme, and to have just received a check for $50,000, which authorities say he apparently sent back. Authorities are still checking to see how that fits into the case, but they say something was not right.

PEAVY: He was extremely panicked, it apparently caused the family -- or the and friends to believe that some harm has come to him. He's not been found, not been heard of since.

Our search and rescue team was called out that day, Sunday. Began a search. And looked in a stream and found his glasses, his eye glasses. But, he, himself has not been seen or heard from.

This is something that would cause anyone to believe that foul play may have occurred.

VARGAS: Authorities have put out this missing persons bulletin hoping for anyone to come forward.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, that was CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas reporting from Los Angeles. We'll be sure to follow up on that investigation.

Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in Washington to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour in "THE SITUATION ROOM" -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Kyra. We're following Tropical Storm Katrina with an eye on Miami. Forecasters right now saying it could be a hurricane by 5:00 p.m. Eastern. That would be in two hours. We have reporters up and down the coast. And we will be watching live here in "THE SITUATION ROOM" as the storm closes in.

Plus, war clash in Crawford: "Protest Mom" and President Bush are back. We're taking you to what's known as "Camp Casey." That's coming up.

Also, the New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, he's here in town. He's declared a state of emergency, though, over illegal immigration. But is it realty right solution? I'll ask him some tough questions.

And a little bit later, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." She's getting ready to take off that ankle bracelet then hit primetime. Today she's speaking out. We'll tell you what she has to say.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: OK, Wolf. Thank you.

Well, news around the world next on LIVE FROM. Plus, a chance to influence the life of this baby panda. Find out how you can help choose its name.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in the courtroom this week when Eric Rudolph was sentenced for the Olympic Park bombing. And it made me wonder as I listened to his victims speak, does Eric Rudolph represent the future of domestic terrorism, or does he represent the past? The FBI believes he represented the past. Others are not so sure. And that's the topic of this week tracking terror column.

It may surprise you who the FBI thinks is the No. 1 threat. They say it comes from animal rights and eco-terrorist groups. They point to incident like the burning of SUVs, or when they break into laboratories and free animals and harass scientists. And say there have been 1200 such attacks since 1990.

Groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center that monitor domestic terrorism say that's nonsense. And they say that since Oklahoma City, at least 15 police officers, that's not rest of us, but just 15 police officers alone have been killed by right-wing extremists. So they still believe that people like Eric Rudolph represent not only the past of domestic terrorism, but also the future.

Which do you think should be the No. 1 priority for the FBI? The animal rights and eco-terrorist groups, or the extreme right-wing? The same sort of people that spawned Eric Rudolph and Timothy McVeigh.

We'd like you to log on to CNN.com/Trackingterror, and there you can send us an e-mail.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: News around the world now. Torrential rain and flash flooding, a deadly combination in Romania. In one hard-hit area, officials report that flash floods produced waves some 13 feet high. More than 30 people have been killed in the past 11 days.

Fire fighters in Portugal are getting a helping hand from cooler temperatures in their battle against devastating wild fires. In just the past few weeks, dozens of fires have killed at least 15 people and destroyed forests and farmland.

A powerful typhoon packing winds up to 95 miles an hour disrupted air traffic and oil shipments in Japan. The storm is expected to slam into Tokyo later today or early tomorrow. There are no reports right now of injuries.

Well, there's good news today for fans of the baby panda at Washington's National Zoo. If you have been spending more computer time than you want to, you know, admitting that you were checking out the pictures from the zoo's panda cam.

Well listen to this, now you can use your computer to help choose the 6 week-old panda's name. Here's the five possibilities: Hua Sheng, which means China Washington and magnificent. Sheng Hua, which means Washington China and magnificent, Tai Shan, meaning peaceful mountain, Long Shan meaning dragon mountain, and Qiang Qiang, which translates to strong, powerful. And you can vote on the zoos Web site www.fonz.org through September 30. One voter will a trip for two to Washington for a personal visit with the pandas.

That wraps up this Thursday edition of LIVE FROM. I'll see you tomorrow. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN center in Atlanta. Now the ultimate Wolf Blitzer, live in THE SITUATION ROOM.

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