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Tropical Storm Arlene Moving In; Children Injured in Florida Collision; Military Opens Investigation Into Two Iraq Deaths

Aired June 10, 2005 - 11:30   ET

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

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


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Florida authorities say as many as two dozen children have been injured in a collision between a bus and a tractor -trailer. You see it right there. Five of the children were sent to a trauma center with serious injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol says some of the injured were ejected from the bus.
Also, an accident involving an 18-wheeler believed to be carrying explosives has shut down a Texas highway interchange. The tractor- trailer was traveling northbound on I-35 in San Antonio when it rolled over this morning. No injuries are reported, but homes and businesses in area are being evacuated.

President Bush is meeting with South Korean Roh Moo-Hyun at the White House this hour. The two are expected to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Now, yesterday, a North Korean official bragged that his country is building more bombs and might have developed long-range missile capability.

Arlene may be eying the Gulf Coast, but after last year, much of Florida is anxious over the start of this year's hurricane season. CNN's John Zarrella is in Haulover Beach, Florida, near Miami, where one death is already blamed on the stormy weather. John, what happened?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, it's certainly not a good start to the hurricane season. A week and a half in and already the first named storm. We're on Haulover Beach which is northern Miami-Dade County and you can see behind me the surf is just rolling in here. The lifeguards trying to keep people out of the water, but there are some surfers going in. The rip currents are terrible. The beaches are closed to swimmers, but that did not stop four people from going into the water down on South Beach, South Miami Beach.

One woman got caught in the undertow in that rip current. Another woman went in to try to save her. Both of them got caught out there. By the time fire rescue was able to get to them, they pulled both of them out. The woman who had gone in the water first, her lungs filled with water. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. In fact, the rip currents were so bad that the fire rescue team swimmers that went in to get them out had themselves to be pulled out of the water by the Coast Guard.

So it is not a good situation here on the East Coast of Florida, even though the storm is over on the Gulf Coast, on the Gulf side of the state. A lot of steady wind and rain. A little bit of sunshine trying to peek out in between the clouds and the squalls that keep blowing over here. But a steady wind, steady rain.

And it has been raining, literally, here in south Florida since the end of May. So there is a flood watch here. Certainly, the potential for flooding, particularly on the West Coast of Florida where, for instance, in Ft. Myers in the first week of June, they had more than nine inches of rain, which is more than they usually get for the entire month of June. And with this added to the totals, some definite concerns in south Florida, particularly the West Coast, that there could be some flooding as Arlene continues to spin up towards the Florida panhandle.

And, of course, folks up in the Florida panhandle still recovering from Ivan, which hit last September. Lots of blue roofs, blue tarps still on roofs up there and debris. So it's going to be a tough situation all up and down the Gulf Coast as Arlene moves closer -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, Arlene is not what they need. John Zarrella, thank you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Now to a developing story in Florida where a bus carrying more than two dozen children and a tractor-trailer collided this morning. Authorities say several children have been injured, some of them critically, in this accident, which happened in Boca Raton.

I want to go now on the phone now with a Captain Don DeLucia from Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue. Captain, tell us about the injuries so far. What do you know?

CAPT. DON DELUCIA, PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE: So far, everyone has been transported from the scene. It looks like there was a total of 29 on this bus. It's a shuttle bus type size -- type of size of bus. And it totaled -- had four adults and the rest were children. It was a group of children that were apparently on their way to a -- they're part of a summer camp and they were on their way to an entertainment facility here in Boca Raton, Florida.

We have a total of five trauma alerts, which means they had life- threatening or severe injuries. The rest of the students or kids were transported to local hospital, both by another bus and area ambulances. So we had a lot of injuries. And it was quite a tragic accident.

NGUYEN: So, now, about the freeway there, is everything open now, or is it going to be a while before things get back to normal there?

DELUCIA: The southbound traffic has been opened up at the ramp. Now, just north of the southbound side ramp, the traffic, of course, is still shut down because that's where the accident occurred and they're still shut down, because that's where the accident occurred and they're still doing their investigation. The northbound side of the turnpike has been opened. So traffic's flowing a little bit better, but it's still not back to normal.

NGUYEN: And Captain, very quickly, do you have any idea what caused this accident?

DELUCIA: At this point, highway patrol is still investigating. We're not sure. The semi is into the passenger side of the bus. So we don't know whether the bus turned in front of the truck or exactly what the circumstances are. That's what they're trying to determine right now. I understand they're interviewing the driver of the semi as we speak.

NGUYEN: All right. Captain Tom DeLucia with Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue. And again, that accident involving 29 children on a school bus. We'll keep you up to date with that.

So far, it is a 22 hour wait in the Michael Jackson trial. We will show you who else is waiting outside the courthouse.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in to CNN, the U.S. military is opening a criminal investigation into the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in Iraq. We want to get the latest on this.

Let's go to Barbara Starr right now.

Barbara, what do you know?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, a very unusual case now developing. It was Tuesday when the military said two U.S. soldiers were killed by an indirect fire attack at their base in Tikrit, Iraq. An indirect fire attack would be Iraqi mortar or rocket fire from insurgents.

But now, today, the military says the blast pattern from that attack on Tuesday is inconsistent with that type of insurgent attack, and the U.S. military has taken the extraordinary step. They are opening a criminal investigation into the death of these two U.S. soldiers on their base in Tikrit on Tuesday.

Military sources telling CNN that based on the evidence that they have found at the scene in Tikrit, they are opening this criminal investigation. They are now trying to determine exactly what type of weapon was used, whether the attack was deliberate or accidental. All of those options are on the table.

But clearly, they say they have reason to believe criminal activity of some sort might have been involved, because now they have opened a criminal investigation into the deaths of these two soldiers -- Betty.

NGUYEN: So, Barbara, let me get this straight, they're saying that it wasn't a result of the insurgents, that this was perhaps someone within the U.S. military?

STARR: Well, they don't know at this point. But what they have determined now is that it was not insurgent activity, because that would be a combat activity. They have now opened a criminal investigation. They looked at the blast pattern, they collected evidence from the scene and have come to the conclusion that there is sufficient reason to open a criminal investigation. No one is in custody. No one is being detained yet, but the blast pattern of the weapon that was detonated at the scene, and the evidence they have collected now has led them to conclude it was not an indirect fire attack by insurgents.

One other thing, these two soldiers were killed inside a building. Whatever weapon detonated, they were inside a building. They were inside the fence line at their base. And now the military says it most likely was not an insurgent attack. Again, the evidence that they have collected, which they are not speaking about publicly, leading them to say that they have opened a criminal investigation into the deaths of these two soldiers. They are looking at all the options about what might have happened here -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you.

There's much more to come. Obviously, a very busy day on this Friday. Stay with CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Day six of jury deliberations is about to begin in the Michael Jackson trial. The panel has met for 22 hours without reaching a verdict.

Now some residents of Santa Maria will probably be glad when the Jackson spectacle is over. The trial has brought mobs of people to the central California city, but it has also added cash to the city's coffers. And joining us to talk about the impact is Ryan Miller, editor of "The Santa Maria Sun." We want to thank you for being with us.

As we mentioned, business has to be booming with these some 2,000 journalists, not to mention the mobs of just fans who have been camped out there since this trial began. How much business is this bringing to the city?

RYAN MILLER, EDITOR, "SANTA MARIA SUN": It's bringing a lot of business. Just everywhere you go, you see people going to coffee shops. There's one that opened right behind the courthouse, and they've just watched their business grow incredibly. New places opened up. There's a sushi place right down the street that opened up about three months ago, and we go there now, and it's just paced, and I ask people, do you think it's going to be this packed all the time? And they say, well, as soon as everyone leaves, it will probably go back to normal. So very noticeable here in town.

NGUYEN: Back to normal, is something you haven't seen a lot of lately.

NGUYEN: But let's stay on the money trail just for a second, because with all this money coming in, what is the town going to do with the profit?

MILLER: You know what, I really don't know. They're probably going to use it -- actually...

NGUYEN: There was some talk of buying books and making sure others benefit from this, but apparently you don't have the information on that.

MILLER: I do not.

NGUYEN: There are a lot of people who are, though, as you say, benefiting from this. This is a town of just, what, 89,000 people. What kind of town is Santa Maria?

MILLER: It's a really close-knit town. It's a very community- oriented town with lots of history and tradition. We are growing very rapidly. We're going to be bigger than Santa Barbara, which is in the same county as us, by end of this year. So it's a really attractive place for people to move, although it's not as expensive as San Luis Abisco (ph) in the north and Santa Barbara in the south. So a lot of people are moving here, but it's still retaining kind of a bit of a country feel. We just had our rodeo last week, which is a big annual event. There's the annual beer-growing contest. A lot of tradition here, so it's a lot of fun.

NGUYEN: A beer-growing contest. Boy, things get wild and crazy out there, I'll tell you. And I imagine, you know, with this money coming in, you see some folks out there driving some new cars because of all the profits that are coming in.

But Santa Maria, let's talk about the media spotlight. While people are benefiting, folks who live there are definitely economically benefiting, what do they think, though, about this whole media spotlight?

MILLER: Well, a lot of people in Santa Maria don't like it very much. It's not they don't like it; they're just kid of getting tired of it. My wife works right behind the courthouse, and she said, she's just looking forward to getting her parking spot back because of all the cars and everything going on here.

A lot of the people in the city of Santa Maria when you mention the trial or Michael Jackson, they kind of just roll their eyes. I think a lot of people here are just ready for it to be over.

NGUYEN: Well, are they also ready to hear how this turns out? I mean, are they, at least, on the edge of their seats, wanting to know what the verdict is going to be?

MILLER: Yes, I've got to admit that, even people who have been kind of trying to kind of go, oh, yes, Michael Jackson. Everyone is kind of -- goes, oh, I don't follow that. But do you think the verdict's going to come out today? Do you think he's guilty? A lot of people, I think, feign a little more disinterest than they actually have. I think a lot of people are still on the edge of their seats here in town, so. NGUYEN: How has this trial changed the city in your eyes? Has it changed the city? Or are people still the same?

MILLER: I think it's changed it a little bit. I think it's given Santa Maria a lot more visibility. I think a lot of times before this, people didn't even know where Santa Maria was. I heard a report saying that it was just slightly north of Los Angeles, when we're quite a ways away. I think, at the very least, it's put Santa Maria on the map, in terms of people knowing where it is and that it exists. And then, hopefully, we'll be able to let people know about all the other stuff going on here in town, you know, not just be the place that the Michael Jackson was.

NGUYEN: Or where the beer-growing contest is.

OK, quickly, yes or no answer, once this is gone, the trial is over, will you miss the media spotlight?

MILLER: Me, no.

NGUYEN: All right. That's all we needed. Ryan Miller, thank you for your time, editor of "The Santa Maria Sun."

Well, the business of bright teeth has become big business. But are those addicted to having a bright smile headed for trouble? That's in our "Daily Dose" segment, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, thousands of people have discovered how easy it is to rejuvenate their smile, thanks to a host of new teeth whitening products. But too much of a good thing can be bad for your mouth.

CNN's senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has our report and today's "Daily Dose."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meet Jessica Neff. She calls herself a teeth whitening junkie.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whiter teeth after just three days. Full results in seven.

GUPTA: Sure, they promise sparkling white smiles, but for a growing number of consumers, teeth whitening has become an obsession.

JESSICA NEFF, TEETH WHITENING ENTHUSIAST: I've tried tray and gel systems over the counter. I've tried the tray and gel systems in office. I've done the Rembrandt gel and toothpaste. I've done the Crest white strips. I've just tried the new Oral B white strips and the paint on brush that you use.

GUPTA (on camera): But here's the thing. 99 percent of Americans still simply brush their teeth. But there's no denying that these teeth whitening treatments, once administered only by dentists, have been transformed now by all these relatively easy to use products into a safe and effective beauty regimen for millions of Americans.

(voice-over): In fact, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Americans spent more than $336 million in teeth whitening products just last year. But abusing these products can cause gum irritation and oversensitivity, symptoms that Jessica has experienced in the past.

DR. JONATHAN LEVINE, AESTHETIC DENTIST: The manufacturer says use it for two weeks, morning and night, twice a day, or ten days every day. That doesn't mean doubling up on it and use it for three months. You're breaking down the structural integrity of the tooth.

GUPTA: Ironically, excessive bleaching can turn pearly whites into an unnatural translucent blue. So what is the safest way to whiten at home? The experts say it's important to know the strength of those bleaching agents.

So we consulted Dr. Peter Vanstrom, an aesthetic dentist, who told us it's safest to stick with hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 6 percent or lower. But knowing the concentration of a product at the drug store isn't easy.

DR. PETER VANSTROM, AESTHETIC DENTIST: One of the frustrations in the over-the-counter market is we don't have labeled on any of these exactly what the concentration is.

GUPTA: Which is part of the reason why the American Dental Association only gives the seal of acceptance to four at home bleaching products, all gel and tray systems, all available only from dentists.

VANSTROM: That is the probably the safest means of whitening your teeth. It just takes longer.

GUPTA: These products are considered safer, but are much more expensive, ranging from $200 to $500, making their over the counter versions much more attractive. The safest bet, if you're going to use teeth whiteners from the drug store, follow their instructions, especially length and frequency of use, don't buy off the Internet and talk to your dentist beforehand.

As far as Jessica goes, she's still obsessed with white teeth, but she does check with her dentist regularly and together, they keep that smile sparkling.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And CNN has contacted the makers of most of the products mentioned here. Those who responded say their products are safe when used as directed. To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address is CNN.com/health.

NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Daryn Kagan today. International news is up next. You'll want to stay tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY," with Jim Clancy and Zain Verjee, right after a quick break.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired June 10, 2005 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Florida authorities say as many as two dozen children have been injured in a collision between a bus and a tractor -trailer. You see it right there. Five of the children were sent to a trauma center with serious injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol says some of the injured were ejected from the bus.
Also, an accident involving an 18-wheeler believed to be carrying explosives has shut down a Texas highway interchange. The tractor- trailer was traveling northbound on I-35 in San Antonio when it rolled over this morning. No injuries are reported, but homes and businesses in area are being evacuated.

President Bush is meeting with South Korean Roh Moo-Hyun at the White House this hour. The two are expected to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Now, yesterday, a North Korean official bragged that his country is building more bombs and might have developed long-range missile capability.

Arlene may be eying the Gulf Coast, but after last year, much of Florida is anxious over the start of this year's hurricane season. CNN's John Zarrella is in Haulover Beach, Florida, near Miami, where one death is already blamed on the stormy weather. John, what happened?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, it's certainly not a good start to the hurricane season. A week and a half in and already the first named storm. We're on Haulover Beach which is northern Miami-Dade County and you can see behind me the surf is just rolling in here. The lifeguards trying to keep people out of the water, but there are some surfers going in. The rip currents are terrible. The beaches are closed to swimmers, but that did not stop four people from going into the water down on South Beach, South Miami Beach.

One woman got caught in the undertow in that rip current. Another woman went in to try to save her. Both of them got caught out there. By the time fire rescue was able to get to them, they pulled both of them out. The woman who had gone in the water first, her lungs filled with water. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. In fact, the rip currents were so bad that the fire rescue team swimmers that went in to get them out had themselves to be pulled out of the water by the Coast Guard.

So it is not a good situation here on the East Coast of Florida, even though the storm is over on the Gulf Coast, on the Gulf side of the state. A lot of steady wind and rain. A little bit of sunshine trying to peek out in between the clouds and the squalls that keep blowing over here. But a steady wind, steady rain.

And it has been raining, literally, here in south Florida since the end of May. So there is a flood watch here. Certainly, the potential for flooding, particularly on the West Coast of Florida where, for instance, in Ft. Myers in the first week of June, they had more than nine inches of rain, which is more than they usually get for the entire month of June. And with this added to the totals, some definite concerns in south Florida, particularly the West Coast, that there could be some flooding as Arlene continues to spin up towards the Florida panhandle.

And, of course, folks up in the Florida panhandle still recovering from Ivan, which hit last September. Lots of blue roofs, blue tarps still on roofs up there and debris. So it's going to be a tough situation all up and down the Gulf Coast as Arlene moves closer -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, Arlene is not what they need. John Zarrella, thank you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Now to a developing story in Florida where a bus carrying more than two dozen children and a tractor-trailer collided this morning. Authorities say several children have been injured, some of them critically, in this accident, which happened in Boca Raton.

I want to go now on the phone now with a Captain Don DeLucia from Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue. Captain, tell us about the injuries so far. What do you know?

CAPT. DON DELUCIA, PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE: So far, everyone has been transported from the scene. It looks like there was a total of 29 on this bus. It's a shuttle bus type size -- type of size of bus. And it totaled -- had four adults and the rest were children. It was a group of children that were apparently on their way to a -- they're part of a summer camp and they were on their way to an entertainment facility here in Boca Raton, Florida.

We have a total of five trauma alerts, which means they had life- threatening or severe injuries. The rest of the students or kids were transported to local hospital, both by another bus and area ambulances. So we had a lot of injuries. And it was quite a tragic accident.

NGUYEN: So, now, about the freeway there, is everything open now, or is it going to be a while before things get back to normal there?

DELUCIA: The southbound traffic has been opened up at the ramp. Now, just north of the southbound side ramp, the traffic, of course, is still shut down because that's where the accident occurred and they're still shut down, because that's where the accident occurred and they're still doing their investigation. The northbound side of the turnpike has been opened. So traffic's flowing a little bit better, but it's still not back to normal.

NGUYEN: And Captain, very quickly, do you have any idea what caused this accident?

DELUCIA: At this point, highway patrol is still investigating. We're not sure. The semi is into the passenger side of the bus. So we don't know whether the bus turned in front of the truck or exactly what the circumstances are. That's what they're trying to determine right now. I understand they're interviewing the driver of the semi as we speak.

NGUYEN: All right. Captain Tom DeLucia with Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue. And again, that accident involving 29 children on a school bus. We'll keep you up to date with that.

So far, it is a 22 hour wait in the Michael Jackson trial. We will show you who else is waiting outside the courthouse.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in to CNN, the U.S. military is opening a criminal investigation into the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in Iraq. We want to get the latest on this.

Let's go to Barbara Starr right now.

Barbara, what do you know?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, a very unusual case now developing. It was Tuesday when the military said two U.S. soldiers were killed by an indirect fire attack at their base in Tikrit, Iraq. An indirect fire attack would be Iraqi mortar or rocket fire from insurgents.

But now, today, the military says the blast pattern from that attack on Tuesday is inconsistent with that type of insurgent attack, and the U.S. military has taken the extraordinary step. They are opening a criminal investigation into the death of these two U.S. soldiers on their base in Tikrit on Tuesday.

Military sources telling CNN that based on the evidence that they have found at the scene in Tikrit, they are opening this criminal investigation. They are now trying to determine exactly what type of weapon was used, whether the attack was deliberate or accidental. All of those options are on the table.

But clearly, they say they have reason to believe criminal activity of some sort might have been involved, because now they have opened a criminal investigation into the deaths of these two soldiers -- Betty.

NGUYEN: So, Barbara, let me get this straight, they're saying that it wasn't a result of the insurgents, that this was perhaps someone within the U.S. military?

STARR: Well, they don't know at this point. But what they have determined now is that it was not insurgent activity, because that would be a combat activity. They have now opened a criminal investigation. They looked at the blast pattern, they collected evidence from the scene and have come to the conclusion that there is sufficient reason to open a criminal investigation. No one is in custody. No one is being detained yet, but the blast pattern of the weapon that was detonated at the scene, and the evidence they have collected now has led them to conclude it was not an indirect fire attack by insurgents.

One other thing, these two soldiers were killed inside a building. Whatever weapon detonated, they were inside a building. They were inside the fence line at their base. And now the military says it most likely was not an insurgent attack. Again, the evidence that they have collected, which they are not speaking about publicly, leading them to say that they have opened a criminal investigation into the deaths of these two soldiers. They are looking at all the options about what might have happened here -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you.

There's much more to come. Obviously, a very busy day on this Friday. Stay with CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Day six of jury deliberations is about to begin in the Michael Jackson trial. The panel has met for 22 hours without reaching a verdict.

Now some residents of Santa Maria will probably be glad when the Jackson spectacle is over. The trial has brought mobs of people to the central California city, but it has also added cash to the city's coffers. And joining us to talk about the impact is Ryan Miller, editor of "The Santa Maria Sun." We want to thank you for being with us.

As we mentioned, business has to be booming with these some 2,000 journalists, not to mention the mobs of just fans who have been camped out there since this trial began. How much business is this bringing to the city?

RYAN MILLER, EDITOR, "SANTA MARIA SUN": It's bringing a lot of business. Just everywhere you go, you see people going to coffee shops. There's one that opened right behind the courthouse, and they've just watched their business grow incredibly. New places opened up. There's a sushi place right down the street that opened up about three months ago, and we go there now, and it's just paced, and I ask people, do you think it's going to be this packed all the time? And they say, well, as soon as everyone leaves, it will probably go back to normal. So very noticeable here in town.

NGUYEN: Back to normal, is something you haven't seen a lot of lately.

NGUYEN: But let's stay on the money trail just for a second, because with all this money coming in, what is the town going to do with the profit?

MILLER: You know what, I really don't know. They're probably going to use it -- actually...

NGUYEN: There was some talk of buying books and making sure others benefit from this, but apparently you don't have the information on that.

MILLER: I do not.

NGUYEN: There are a lot of people who are, though, as you say, benefiting from this. This is a town of just, what, 89,000 people. What kind of town is Santa Maria?

MILLER: It's a really close-knit town. It's a very community- oriented town with lots of history and tradition. We are growing very rapidly. We're going to be bigger than Santa Barbara, which is in the same county as us, by end of this year. So it's a really attractive place for people to move, although it's not as expensive as San Luis Abisco (ph) in the north and Santa Barbara in the south. So a lot of people are moving here, but it's still retaining kind of a bit of a country feel. We just had our rodeo last week, which is a big annual event. There's the annual beer-growing contest. A lot of tradition here, so it's a lot of fun.

NGUYEN: A beer-growing contest. Boy, things get wild and crazy out there, I'll tell you. And I imagine, you know, with this money coming in, you see some folks out there driving some new cars because of all the profits that are coming in.

But Santa Maria, let's talk about the media spotlight. While people are benefiting, folks who live there are definitely economically benefiting, what do they think, though, about this whole media spotlight?

MILLER: Well, a lot of people in Santa Maria don't like it very much. It's not they don't like it; they're just kid of getting tired of it. My wife works right behind the courthouse, and she said, she's just looking forward to getting her parking spot back because of all the cars and everything going on here.

A lot of the people in the city of Santa Maria when you mention the trial or Michael Jackson, they kind of just roll their eyes. I think a lot of people here are just ready for it to be over.

NGUYEN: Well, are they also ready to hear how this turns out? I mean, are they, at least, on the edge of their seats, wanting to know what the verdict is going to be?

MILLER: Yes, I've got to admit that, even people who have been kind of trying to kind of go, oh, yes, Michael Jackson. Everyone is kind of -- goes, oh, I don't follow that. But do you think the verdict's going to come out today? Do you think he's guilty? A lot of people, I think, feign a little more disinterest than they actually have. I think a lot of people are still on the edge of their seats here in town, so. NGUYEN: How has this trial changed the city in your eyes? Has it changed the city? Or are people still the same?

MILLER: I think it's changed it a little bit. I think it's given Santa Maria a lot more visibility. I think a lot of times before this, people didn't even know where Santa Maria was. I heard a report saying that it was just slightly north of Los Angeles, when we're quite a ways away. I think, at the very least, it's put Santa Maria on the map, in terms of people knowing where it is and that it exists. And then, hopefully, we'll be able to let people know about all the other stuff going on here in town, you know, not just be the place that the Michael Jackson was.

NGUYEN: Or where the beer-growing contest is.

OK, quickly, yes or no answer, once this is gone, the trial is over, will you miss the media spotlight?

MILLER: Me, no.

NGUYEN: All right. That's all we needed. Ryan Miller, thank you for your time, editor of "The Santa Maria Sun."

Well, the business of bright teeth has become big business. But are those addicted to having a bright smile headed for trouble? That's in our "Daily Dose" segment, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, thousands of people have discovered how easy it is to rejuvenate their smile, thanks to a host of new teeth whitening products. But too much of a good thing can be bad for your mouth.

CNN's senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has our report and today's "Daily Dose."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meet Jessica Neff. She calls herself a teeth whitening junkie.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whiter teeth after just three days. Full results in seven.

GUPTA: Sure, they promise sparkling white smiles, but for a growing number of consumers, teeth whitening has become an obsession.

JESSICA NEFF, TEETH WHITENING ENTHUSIAST: I've tried tray and gel systems over the counter. I've tried the tray and gel systems in office. I've done the Rembrandt gel and toothpaste. I've done the Crest white strips. I've just tried the new Oral B white strips and the paint on brush that you use.

GUPTA (on camera): But here's the thing. 99 percent of Americans still simply brush their teeth. But there's no denying that these teeth whitening treatments, once administered only by dentists, have been transformed now by all these relatively easy to use products into a safe and effective beauty regimen for millions of Americans.

(voice-over): In fact, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Americans spent more than $336 million in teeth whitening products just last year. But abusing these products can cause gum irritation and oversensitivity, symptoms that Jessica has experienced in the past.

DR. JONATHAN LEVINE, AESTHETIC DENTIST: The manufacturer says use it for two weeks, morning and night, twice a day, or ten days every day. That doesn't mean doubling up on it and use it for three months. You're breaking down the structural integrity of the tooth.

GUPTA: Ironically, excessive bleaching can turn pearly whites into an unnatural translucent blue. So what is the safest way to whiten at home? The experts say it's important to know the strength of those bleaching agents.

So we consulted Dr. Peter Vanstrom, an aesthetic dentist, who told us it's safest to stick with hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 6 percent or lower. But knowing the concentration of a product at the drug store isn't easy.

DR. PETER VANSTROM, AESTHETIC DENTIST: One of the frustrations in the over-the-counter market is we don't have labeled on any of these exactly what the concentration is.

GUPTA: Which is part of the reason why the American Dental Association only gives the seal of acceptance to four at home bleaching products, all gel and tray systems, all available only from dentists.

VANSTROM: That is the probably the safest means of whitening your teeth. It just takes longer.

GUPTA: These products are considered safer, but are much more expensive, ranging from $200 to $500, making their over the counter versions much more attractive. The safest bet, if you're going to use teeth whiteners from the drug store, follow their instructions, especially length and frequency of use, don't buy off the Internet and talk to your dentist beforehand.

As far as Jessica goes, she's still obsessed with white teeth, but she does check with her dentist regularly and together, they keep that smile sparkling.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And CNN has contacted the makers of most of the products mentioned here. Those who responded say their products are safe when used as directed. To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address is CNN.com/health.

NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Daryn Kagan today. International news is up next. You'll want to stay tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY," with Jim Clancy and Zain Verjee, right after a quick break.

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