Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Wintry Woes in Minnesota; Woman Killed in Dog Attack; A Father's Legacy

Aired November 29, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We're out of time. Let's get right to Tony Harris. He's filling in for Daryn this morning. Don't forget to join us tomorrow morning, 6 a.m. Eastern.
Hey, Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I'll be there. All right, you guys have a great day.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Thank you, Tony.

HARRIS: Severe weather making its way east, bringing with it heavy rain and snow. There's good news this morning for some parts of the country. Others, though, are just now getting hit. This is not something you want to happen when temperatures are hovering at the freezing mark. Drivers trapped in their cars when a freeway becomes a river. Extensive weather coverage over the next two hours on CNN LIVE TODAY.

But first, here's what's happening "Now in the News."

President Bush is again calling for a crackdown on illegal immigration and for more visas for foreign guest workers. Today he's in El Paso to tour the boarder after a similar stop in Tucson yesterday. Immigration reform is a key issue in Texas and Arizona and is dividing lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Mr. Bush's proposal would allow undocumented immigrants to get three-year work visas.

There will be a holiday campaigning in Canada. The government lost a no-confidence vote in the house of commons last night. A January election date could be firmed up today. Prime Minister Paul Martins' liberal party has been dogged by a corruption scandal. He was cleared of any wrongdoing. But opposition parties have been trying for months to bring down the government and force a new election.

Pope Benedict says gays should not be allowed in the priesthood and anyone with gay tendencies should get over them first. This was the pope's first major ruling since beginning his reign. The issue has divided leadership in the catholic church. Some in the church say the long-awaited document risks alienating good men who would be able to honor a celibacy vow.

And we're getting our first look at Tai Shan. Hang on over there. The 4 1/2-month-old panda cub from the national zoo in Washington is getting star treatment this morning. The cub was the size of a stick of butter when he was born and now weighs 21 pounds.

And good morning, everyone, from the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'm Tony Harris. Daryn Kagan has the day off.

It is a major storm in which the misery can be measured in degrees. Blizzard like conditions in the northern plains, tornadoes in the south, and now it is plowing eastward. CNN Severe Weather Expert Chad Myers is in the weather center with the latest.

Good morning, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Well, the storm that Chad was talking about is losing its grip. In Western Minnesota, major highways are reopening this morning but caution is still the watch word as the storm barrels eastward. Reporter Tim Holden of CNN's Minneapolis affiliate KMSP has the latest from that part of the state.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM HOLDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The winter weather that started out in the western part of Minnesota has made its way here to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. We're just southwest of Minneapolis about 10 or 15 miles in Edina. Right behind me is Freeway 494. It brings (ph) with 694 all the way around the twin cities. Traffic moving along not too bad at this hour. People finally giving themselves plenty of space. We have had plenty of accidents on the freeway and highway system here all over the twin cities metro area this morning. No serious, no major crashes to speak of.

But one of the big problems at this point is that we had temperatures in the 50s. Yesterday we had rain for just about the entire day. That continued on into the early hours of this morning and then the snow starts. So went from temperatures in the 50s, now we're down into the lower 20s and that has created some problems on the road making things very slippery. You can see just right down here, not a lot of snow here in the twin cities. Maybe an inch. The wind is blowing it around, but just enough of crust that has formed that when cars are not slowing down, making things a little bit difficult.

Now the Minnesota Department of Transportation has had their plow trucks out all night plowing the roads, salting and sanding the standard fare as far as taking care of the roads here in the upper Midwest. But they've also been putting down a de-icing and anti-icing brine trying to get that down on the roads before the snow came, trying to keep that layer from forming. So so far this morning, no major problems here in the twin cities metro area, but people trying to slow down and it's going to be a very long day.

Some spots in the twin cities, traffic is backed up down to a standstill in some of the areas. Most people we've been talking with this morning just hoping that the day goes on and that they've brought enough patient with them on their way to work.

In Minneapolis, Tom Holden, now back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Well, the skies are clearing in the upper plains and so are many of the roads. Just a couple of hours ago, snowbound lanes of Interstate 70 reopened. From Denver to the Kansas state line, some 350 miles of I-70 had been closed yesterday and Sunday after wicked winds pushed a mere four inches of snow into snow drifts measuring some six feet deep. The higher elevations of the Sierra could see a foot or more of snow. While trucks and cars were outfitting their tires and chains, skiers were strapping on the boards. Ski resorts have complained about an unusually dry autumn and a slow start to their season.

Near downtown Chicago, the problems were man made. Just after midnight this morning, a water main broke and unleashed flood waters on the northbound lanes of Interstate 90-94. Some areas were swallowed by four feet of water but crews were able to shut off the flow and reopen the expressway just before this morning's rush hour.

And if you're away from your television set, the latest weather and travel updates are as close as your computer. Just point your mouse to cnn.com and visit the sections on your left or type in cnn.com/weather or cnn.com/travel.

In Iraq, the U.S. military says two American soldiers were killed today. Both died when their patrol struck a roadside bomb north of Baghdad. Both soldiers belonged to Task Force Baghdad. Their deaths bring the U.S. military casualty toll to 2,111 troops since the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

There's been another apparent kidnaping in Iraq. This time a German woman and her driver. Chancellor Angela Merkel announced today that the two went missing on Friday. Still no word on four western aid workers abducted over the weekend. An American, two Canadians and a Brit disappeared Saturday in Baghdad. The group Christian Peacemaker Teams says on its Web site that all four are affiliated with it. The British foreign office in London identifies the British citizen as Norman Kember. No names yet on the other three.

Meanwhile, President Bush is again making his case for stay the course in Iraq. Monday, while campaigning for Arizona Senator John Kyl, the president said U.S. soldiers will stay in Iraq until the task at hand is complete.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going succeed in Iraq. We're going to succeed in Iraq because our vision and the vision of those in Iraq who believe in democracy is positive and hopeful, as opposed to the vision of the suiciders and killers of the innocent. We're going succeed in Iraq because we've got a plan that will help the Iraqis not only develop a democracy, but a security force.

Listen, the Iraqis want to defend themselves. They want to be capable of fighting off an enemy and our job is to make sure they are capable. We will stay until the job is done, not a day longer. We will get the job done in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: President Bush's approval rating hovers near an all-time low as many Americans express concerns about the war in Iraq.

One world leader who openly questioned the U.S. justification for war with Iraq was then French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin. Now as France's prime minister, Mr. De Villepin says he would prefer an Iraq exit strategy with more international considerations taken into account. He discussed that in an exclusive interview with CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN, FRENCH PRIME MINISTER: We knew since the beginning that it was very easy to go to war, but very difficult to get out of Iraq because of the fragility of the country, because of the sensitivity of the situation in this region. So now we have to face the situation as it is, and it is the responsibility of all the international community to have the process and to make sure that we go forward all together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And you can see Christiane Amanpour's full interview with Prime Minister De Villepin today at noon Eastern on YOUR WORLD TODAY.

Toughening up the U.S.-Mexican board. Many people say it needs to be done, but how and what about illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and those caught crossing the border. What should happen to them? Debating the boarder ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

A show of force. How police in one U.S. city plan to send would- be terrorists a message, don't mess with their community. But in doing so, are the rights of the innocent threatened?

And this. Attacked by a pack of dog, the good Samaritan who nearly lost his life trying to save a woman from a vicious dog attack.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: In news about your security now. Miami police are launching a new program aimed at thwarting potential terrorists. A program dubbed Miami Shield will include random high-profile security operations. Plain clothes and uniformed police will ride buses and trains and conduct public awareness campaigns in buildings. Appearing on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING, Miami Police Chief John Timoney denied a report that police will be demanding that people to show IDs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF JOHN TIMONEY, MIAMI POLICE: Nowhere in America, whether it's terrorism or ordinary crime, without probable cause can you demand identification. That's not part of the program whatsoever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Timoney says there's no specific credible threat of an imminent terror attack in Miami, but he says the city has been mentioned in intelligence reports as a potential target.

Be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. And remember, you can catch AMERICAN MORNING with Miles and Soledad O'Brien at its new time 6:00 a.m. Eastern every week day here on CNN.

Here's what's on the docket today in our look at legal briefs.

This is day two of sentencing for Joseph Smith in Florida. Live pictures right now from Sarasota. Smith was convicted of raping and murdering 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. Relatives of Smith and Carlie testified yesterday. Jurors will decide whether to recommend life in prison or the death penalty.

A federal hearing is scheduled this hour in Virginia in the so- called cell phone bank robberies. Candice Martinez is accused of robbing four Washington area bank while chatting on a cell phone. Her boyfriend is accused of driving the getaway car.

And jury selection begins today in Houston in the first federal trial over the painkiller Vioxx. The case involves a man who died a month after he began taking Vioxx for back pain. Vioxx was pulled after a study showed it increased heart attack and stroke risk if taken for 18 months or more.

A 76-year-old woman brutally attacked and killed in the front yard of her rural Texas home. A good Samaritan was also viciously assaulted. Authorities caught the attackers, but apparently the case will be dropped without charges filed. The reason? There are no laws in Texas that apply to dog maulings. CNN's Ed Lavandera has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out of here. They're right here by the truck. Watch out for 'em. They're over here.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): The voice you hear is Weldon Smith's wife calling 911 as he fights off six dogs biting into his leg. You can hear on the call that it takes a gun to put an end to the attack.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right here . . . get him.

LAVANDERA: Smith and his wife had stopped along this quiet central Texas road when they saw the body of 76-year-old Lillian Stiles covered in blood. Her clothes ripped to shred. Authorities say the pack of dogs, a mixed breed, part pit bull part rotweiler, had just mauled her to death. When Smith got out of his car, the dogs came after him. WELDON SMITH, DOG ATTACK SURVIVOR: Like a pack of wolves. You know, like coordinating on a kill. That's what they were doing. They were coordinating on a kill. And I just felt extremely lucky to get out from that with my life.

LAVANDERA: Then Stiles husband came out with a gun and killed one of the dogs. Now he's traumatized by the brutal way his wife of 55 years was killed.

JACK STILES, WIFE KILLED IN DOG ATTACK: Had she not been in my yard, I would have not even recognized her.

LAVANDERA: Weldon Smith is lucky to be alive. These are the wounds the dogs inflicted. The painful scars. Six bites on his right leg.

Investigators say the dog owner is cooperating, but at this point it's doubtful criminal charges will be filed. If the dogs weren't properly vaccinated, investigators say they could charge a misdemeanor crime for that, but that's equal to a traffic ticket.

That's one reason Weldon Smith is angry.

SMITH: It's so unnecessary. To me, having a pit bull around is worse than having a loaded gun laying around because you've got to pick that gun up and make it go off. That pit bull can go off at any time.

LAVANDERA: All the dogs have now been euthanized, little consolation to Lillian Stiles' husband who can only imagine the horror of his wife's final moments.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Milam County, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Wow.

Fans try to disrupt sporting events all the time for no legitimate reason. But this guys says his excuse was a valid one. The permanent mark he planned to leave on this field. That story coming up.

Also, a young father, a model for teenage parents, shot and killed. Last night, friends, family and his young daughter said a tearful good-bye.

And you've probably seen this video by now. Vigilantes destroying a liquor store. Well, police have seen this video too. What they're saying about the suspects when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

But first, a check of the big board about an hour -- coming up on an hour into the trading day. The Dow up 52 points at 10,943. More CNN LIVE TODAY after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: We've become used to seeing fans run on to the playing fields during games. Here's a different take on that practice. A man ran on to the field at Sunday's Philadelphia Eagles game holding a plastic bag of fine powder streaming from it. The man dropped to his knees. You'll see it in a second here. There he is. He made the sign of the cross and did a belly flop on the 30 yard line. He offered no resistance as security guards took him away. The man told police he was spreading the ashes of his mother, a longtime Eagles fan who died before the teams Super Bowl appearance last January.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER NOTEBOOM, SPREAD MOTHER'S ASHES: I know that the last handful of ashes I had are laying on that field and they'll never be taken away and she'll always be part of Lincoln Financial Field and the Eagles. I just felt it was right to do it on the field and suffer the consequences.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Wow. Christopher Noteboom was charged with defiant trespassing. As one police inspector said, we have a zero tolerance for people who run on to the field and dump an unknown substance in a stadium full of people. I guess you can understand that position.

More now on another story out of Philadelphia that we first told you about last week. Friends and family of Terrell Pough gathered yesterday to remember the father who was gunned down in the prime of his life. Though still in his teens, loved ones say Pough set an example for the adults all around him. Reporter Denise James of CNN affiliate WPVI has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DENISE JAMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Losing 18-year-old Terrell Pough has been painful. He touched many lives by the way he lived.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) one day (INAUDIBLE) gone. It's crazy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We all should take his advice and try to live our lives a little bit better than what we're doing.

JAMES: Testimony at Terrell's memorial painted a picture of a young man with purpose, pride, discipline and love. He was featured in "People" magazine this summer as an extraordinary teen father. Terrell worked long hours, studied carpentry in school and had full custody of his two-year-old daughter Diamond, his shining jewel and first love.

DIAMOND POUGH, TERRELL POUGH'S DAUGHTER: I love you, daddy.

JAMES: While perhaps too young to grasp what's happened, some believe when you're old enough to love, you're old enough to grieve, so she's being cushioned with stories of her father's affection. T'LIA MCCOY, TERRELL POUGH'S SISTER: I'm pretty sure that my brother didn't realize that Thursday would be the last morning that he would see his daughter. So I'm asking all of you today to make each day count.

JAMES: A number of speakers challenged friends and relatives to try to let Terrell's life inspire a peace movement, challenge them to try and create the kind of world he was working to provide for his daughter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A world to where she is not threatened just because she is on the streets of our neighborhood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like so many times we're caught up trying to be somebody we're not and, you know, trying to play the tough guy role. And I wish I would have given more hugs instead of handshakes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He inspired me, right, because now I have a child on the way and now I know that I should be a father like he was.

JAMES: Terrell's killer has not been caught. For now, two trust funds have been set up to care for Diamond in her doting father's absence.

In North Philadelphia, Denise James, Channel 6 Action News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: If you'd like to contribute, you can send a check or money order to the Diamond Houston Fund at the address here on your screen. Be sure to designate whether you want the money to go to Diamond's everyday expenses or start a trust fund for when she turns 18. And in case you don't have a pencil, we'll show you this address a little later in the program.

Our next story is about the call of duty answered by a New York police officer. Listen to this story. A 35-year-old Dillon Stewart was shot during a car chase of a suspect wanted in an earlier shooting of another police officer. Stewart was wearing a protective vest but the police commissioner says the bullet missed that plating by a mere quarter inch. The bullet lodged in Stewart's heart, but he didn't abandon the chase. He kept on the gunman's trail until he got out of his car and collapsed. He died later at the hospital. A suspect was captured after an extensive manhunt.

More trouble for an Oakland liquor store hit by vandals last week. You'll remember the surveillance video showing a dozen man clad in suits trashing the store. Well police have identified six suspects in this case. They have none in the possible arson of the same business, nor the abduction of its owner. He was discovered unharmed but flames gutted his store early yesterday morning. Police don't know if the incidents are related, but they do say initial speculation that the vandals were affiliated with the nation of Islam was incorrect. And still to come, securing our nation's borders. It's a hot topic that's often debated on both sidings of the aisle. We dig deeper into immigration and American security ahead this hour.

Plus, if you're allergic to peanuts, you know just how serious that can be. Ahead, the sad story of a young girl and a fatal kiss.

And later, a group of kids from California got our Anderson Cooper back into the classroom. We understand it was all for a good cause. LIVE TODAY will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL 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