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CNN Live Today

'New You Resolution'; WB, UPN to Cease Operations as of September; FDA May be on Verge of Approving First Over-the-Counter Diet Pill

Aired January 24, 2006 - 11:34   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just want you to know we're watching the store as this unfolds. The is the Senate judiciary Committee. They are making final comments before they make their vote on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. And when that vote happens, we'll show it live to you here on CNN.
Meanwhile, though, let's go ahead and check in with some of our "New You Resolution" participants. We've been following three pairs. They've all resolved to get into better shape in 2006. Today we focus on the Rampollas. They are a military couple who now combat bad eating in a time crunch.

Our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us how the Rampollas are doing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (voice-over): Call them the food police. Emilio, P.D., Lorenzo, Roberto, four keys to Pedro and Denise Rampollas "New You" success.

PEDRO RAMPOLLA, NEW YOU PARTICIPANT: What we're supposed to be eating isn't what the kids want to eat.

GUPTA: Tonight's menu, lasagna with a few twists: ham, chicken, and a low-fat cream sauce, all of which takes time.

DENISE RAMPOLLA, NEW YOU PARTICIPANT: I'm hoping it becomes fun. It's a little tedious, right now to be honest with you.

GUPTA: So how do the kids like the new healthier food?

D. RAMPOLLA: Is it good?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

GUPTA: It's a big step for the Rampollas. Before "New You" fast and healthy were disparate concepts. Now, they're being proactive, planning their meals ahead of time.

P. RAMPOLLA: We could probably look at a whole month in advance and go, "OK, this day, this day, this day."

GUPTA: And Pedro's even offered to help more in the kitchen.

D. RAMPOLLA: You'll cook?

GUPTA: But the Rampollas still need help to fight off a family history of heart disease.

D. RAMPOLLA: How are you?

GUPTA: That's coming from Chef Billy from "Cooking Light" magazine, who traveled to Wyoming with more tips for fending off the fat.

BILLY STRYNKOWKSI, CHEF: Always buy the light. The baked instead of the fried, I guarantee the numbers are totally different on the back.

GUPTA: As for cooking light...

STRYNKOWKSI: We have whole wheat pasta, fresh vegetables, we have chicken that was just lightly sauteed, does not have cheese in this. It's going to be a good alternative.

GUPTA: ... Two weeks in, the Rampollas are fine-tuning their routine. Even more importantly, the toughest critics approve.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really good.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Cute kids. You can follow the Rampollas and the other "New You" resolution participants online. Just click onto CNN.com/newyou and you can see how all six of our folks are doing and get tips for making your own positive changes. And then if you want to see more of Dr. Gupta's reporting, he will be on the Oprah Winfrey show today to talk about bird flu. Tonight we'll have a special hour about the disease on ANDERSON COOPER 360. Tune in for "Killer Flu: A Breath Away" at 11:00 Eastern.

Let's go ahead and check on some breaking business news. The creation of a fifth television network. It means a couplpe of them are going away.

Allan Chernoff is hear to tell us more about that.

Allan, it will be called the "CW?"

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Daryn. And the math is a little complicated here, right? You could say that now we have six, we're taking two away, adding one. So we'll end up with a so-called fifth broadcast television network. This is going to be a 50/50 joint venture between CBS and Warner Brothers entertainment, which is a subsidiary of Time Warner, which is also, of course, the parent of CNN. The plan is to put this broadcast network on the air this fall. The UPN and the WB networks will go off the air, and the affiliates that carry those two networks will now become, in the fall, will become the affiliates for this new network.

That will give them coverage of about half of the country, and they say by the time they do go on the air, they'll have 95 percent of the country covered. They're going to provide 30 hours of programming every week, essentially it looks like they're going to be taking some of the most popular programs from the WB and from UPN.

So a real business move over here, a strategic move, an effort to make a more profitable network for both CBS and also for Warner Brothers.

KAGAN: A couple -- well, one quick question here -- so people have favorite programs, then you pretty much assume they're not going away?

CHERNOFF: A lot of the -- yes, the most favorite programs from both networks, including "Gilmore Girls," "Smallville" and also some wrestling as well, will be on this new network.

KAGAN: I was worried about my wrestling there, you know.

CHERNOFF: I knew you were. That's why I mentioned it, Daryn.

KAGAN: OK, thank you.

Allan Chernoff in New York City. Wrestling stays. Good news.

All right, let's talk about losing some weight, dropping pounds, attracting a lot of people to the world of weight-loss drugs.

Now a popular pill can be available over the counter, but is Alli something you want to take? I'll talk to a dietitian in just a few minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We're standing by. We are getting word that there will be a news conference any moment now in Carlsbad, California. The latest on the plane crash, a small plane coming in from Idaho crashing at the Palomar Airport earlier today, hearing that at least four people died in that plane crash. A crystal-clear day and good weather in southern California. More information coming as that news conference begins, we will go to it live.

First, though, onto Iraq. The trial of ousted leader Saddam Hussein hits another snag. The proceedings were supposed to resume today, but they have been delayed until Sunday. The court says some witnesses were unable to attend today's session. Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark is a member of Saddam Hussein's defense team. He tells CNN that the delay is evidence that the court is dysfunctional and that it's impossible to have a fair trial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAMSEY CLARK, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: The trial's never been on track. He was saying they'll complete the case this year, and they will -- the butcher will get his due justice this year. But look what you've got, it's pure chaos. You had the -- he said the trial would be finished in two months or less. And there's no way that that can happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The postponement comes a day after the appointment of a new chief judge to preside over the trial.

The agonizing wait continues for the family of an American journalist kidnapped in Iraq. Still no word on the fate of Jill Carroll four days after a deadline set by her kidnappers. They threatened to kill Carroll unless the U.S. released all female Iraqi prisoners. Muslim leaders have joined Carroll's family and friends in calling for her release.

There will be no jail time for an army officer convicted in the death of an Iraqi general. A military jury has recommended a reprimand for Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer Jr. He was convicted of negligent homicide for stuffing an Iraqi general head first in a sleeping bag and sitting on his chest. The defense argued that a heart condition caused the general's death, and the commanders had approved the interrogation technique.

After two coal mining tragedies in less than a month, West Virginia lawmakers have passed new mine safety legislation. Among other things, it requires miners to wear a communication and tracking devices so they can be found more quickly if they're trapped underground. It speeds up emergency response, and it mandates the storage of air supplies underground.

Today West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is heading to Capitol Hill to push for action on the federal level. As the new push for safety moves forward, a man who survived the latest mine tragedy in West Virginia is now telling his own harrowing story. Here now, CNN's Chris Huntington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Throughout my years...

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This West Virginia miner is still trying to come to grips with the tragedy in the Aracoma Mine, the fire that he escaped, but that killed his friends, Don Bragg and Elvis Hatfield.

He has asked us not to reveal his identity out of respect for them and their families. Shortly after 5:30 this last Thursday afternoon, his group of 12 miners learned that a conveyor belt had caught fire. They immediately began their escape. But it was more than two miles to the nearest mine exit.

UNIDENTIFIED MINER: We started just smelling -- smelling the fire a little bit. And then we started running into some light smoke. And, at that time, nobody had their apparatuses on. We was all just kind of covering our faces and covering our mouths with our jacket.

HUNTINGTON: Were you scared?

UNIDENTIFIED MINER: Definitely. I faced -- I faced death right now. I really did. I thought -- I didn't think I was coming home to see my family.

HUNTINGTON: But then the smoke turned black and choking, and they had to put on their emergency breathing gear.

UNIDENTIFIED MINER: We was trying to put the apparatus on. And the smoke was so bad that I was -- myself -- and I can vouch that others around me was gagging, gasping for air, suffocating, and throwing up. I was throwing up. And I know a couple -- couple of my buddies was throwing up as well.

HUNTINGTON: This miner dropped his goggles. And he said others did, too. The smoke was so thick, they couldn't even see their miner lights. Moving single file, with each man holding on to the man in front, they felt their way blindly along a coal shaft for nearly the length of a football field, searching for an escape door they believed would lead to fresh air.

UNIDENTIFIED MINER: As we worked our way, you know, to the door, the guy in the back, which was the boss, you know, he assumed that they was 11 miners in front of him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And we're going to go live now to southern California, want to get the latest on this news conference on the plane crash in Carlsbad, California, the northern part of San Diego County. Four people died when this plane crashed earlier today. Let's listen in.

BILL POLICK, SPOKESMAN FOR COUNTY AIRPORTS: Good morning, my name is Bill Polick, P-O-L-I-C-K. I'm spokesman for county airports. With me is Chris Heiser from Carlsbad Fire Department. He is the incident commander this morning. About eight -- excuse me -- about 6:40 this morning, we had a small private jet, apparently a Cessna Citation, land wrong on the runway, went off the west end of the runway, hit a storage area of the street, burst into flames.

We do have fatalities. I can't tell you exactly how many right now. That will be determined when the medical examiner arrives. Currently we have an FAA investigator on-site. We have the NTSB investigator on his way.

The airport is closed and has been since shortly after the incident. The airspace around the airport is also restricted. We expect the airport to open in about an hour to an hour and a half, as soon as we have the appropriate clearances. I will now entertain any questions that you might have for me or for Chris.

QUESTION: Can you tell us about the plane?

POLICK: I can tell you that the aircraft was inbound from the east to Carlsbad Airport. In terms of the number of people on board, the point of the point of origin of the flight, I can't confirm that at this point.

QUESTION: Where were they -- Western Flight? That's the operator involved here?

POLICK: There are several fixed-based operators on the airport that would host a transient aircraft as it was coming in. Western Flight is one of them. I can't confirm whether the plane was going to Western Flight or not. I don't have that information at this time.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) or is it a chartered aircraft?

POLICK: We still have to determine that. We're doing an investigation. Part of that will be with the FAA and the NTSB. At this point, I don't know.

QUESTION: Bill, how many flights come in and out of (inaudible)?

POLICK: Well at this point, all of the flights in and out. We have two commuter airlines at Palomar, United Express and America West Express. And all flights in and out of the airport have been shut down right now.

QUESTION: Can you tell us though if the fatalities were all from the plane or were there (inaudible)?

POLICK: At this point, I can't tell you where the victims were from, whether they're from the aircraft or from the ground. That's another thing that will have to be determined by the medical examiner.

QUESTION: Can you tell us how it was found and whether it might have been hours?

POLICK: I have no knowledge of phone calls like that.

QUESTION: Bill, can you describe that tower and exactly what -- obviously it was storage that it went into, but the power on the runway?

POLICK: OK, there is a navigational aid at the west end, it's called a localizer at the west end of the airport. And that's used for pilots as they're coming in to determine whether they're left or right of the centerline of the runway. And the aircraft came in and landed, as I said, long on runway 2-4 and went through that navigation aid on its way down into the storage area.

QUESTION: Can you tell us whether there was a call from the plane?

POLICK: I don't know at this point. The tower was closed. The air traffic control tower was closed on the airport. It doesn't open till 7:00, this happened about 20 minutes before the tower opened.

The FAA and NTSB will determine what actually caused the accident. I'm sure they'll be looking for flight information to find out how -- what the air ground speed was of the aircraft were when that plane crashed. Twin-engine Cessna. It's a small private jet.

I can't tell you at this time. I can find that out for you.

QUESTION: (inaudible).

POLICK: It's fairly common. Just because a tower explodes doesn't mean that the airport is closed. The airport is staffed during the busiest times of the day but the airport is open 24 hours a day.

I can't confirm that. I don't know at this point.

QUESTION: Bill, as you talked with witnesses or many accounts, what have they said about what they saw when it landed?

POLICK: You know, the best person to talk with is probably Chris, who can tell you what the scene was when he got here. In terms of witnesses, I've only talked to one, and I don't know how credible he is, so.

No. I don't believe there's any damage to the runway. It was just the localizer, which is the navigation aid.

Once again, the investigators will figure out where the point of impact was and what exactly happened.

KAGAN: We've been listening in to a news conference, Carlsbad, California, northern San Diego County. The latest on that plane crash that took place about three hours ago in northern San Diego County. A small private jet, a twin-engine Cessna that was coming in from Idaho crashed. It overshot the runway, and it ran into a storage area. Earlier reports had said that as many as four were killed in that crash, but that official saying they're going to wait for the medical examiner to say exactly how many people were killed in the crash. The NTSB and FAA are on the scene. More on that as it becomes available.

Also we're standing by, the Senate Judiciary Committee today making its final comments before it goes into a vote on Samuel Alito. Will he be the next Supreme Court Justice? We'll look at the vote live when it happens.

Right now, a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And we're watching live pictures from Washington, getting closer to the vote for Samuel Alito in the Senate Judiciary Committee. When that happens, we will go live to Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, let's have your daily dose of health news. The FDA may be on the verge of approving the first over-the-counter diet pill. The FDA advisory panel recommends the agency approve a nonprescription form of the drug Orlistat. It would be sold over the counter as Alli. It's basically is a lower dose of the prescription diet pill known as Xenical. Orlistat works by blocking the absorption of about one- quarter of fat consumed. Critics say taking the drug without a doctor's supervision could pose a risk.

Joining us to talk about this is Cathy Nonas. She is the director of obesity and diabetes at North General Hospital in New York.

Cathy, good morning.

CATHY NONAS, NORTH GENERAL HOSPITAL: Good morning.

KAGAN: Good idea to put this over the counter, do you think?

NONAS: I think it's wonderful actually.

KAGAN: Really?

NONAS: It will be the first time we've had something over the counter where we actually have safety and efficacy data. It's been out since 1999. It was FDA approved for long-term use by a prescription. So we actually know what this medication does, and we know how to handle it, and we know that it's safe, and we know that it's effective.

KAGAN: Well, we know how it works when it's under a doctor's supervision, but what about people who could just abuse it by buying it themselves?

NONAS: Well, it's hard to abuse, actually. It has a very low abuse potential, which is why I think the FDA approved it for -- or at least suggested approval for over-the-counter use. And it really works best with a diet that is very similar to our U.S. dietary guidelines. Lots of vegetables, low-fat, et cetera. And you take this, and as you said, it blocks absorption of about a third of the fat that we eat. Eat a low-fat diet, you have few symptoms.

KAGAN: Well, you know how it works with Americans -- ooh, I don't want to lose 10 pounds, I want to lose 20. So you're taking this pill, why not just take twice as much, or even more than that?

NONAS: Yes. Actually, the weight-loss data doesn't show that there's a great deal of difference, which is why the abuse potential is so low actually.

The biggest problem you would have is if you went out and had a very high-fat meal, you'd feel the effects since it would block a third of all of the fat that you ate. So the higher fat you go, the more symptoms you have.

KAGAN: All right, at end of the day, no complete magic pill. You've got to do the diet-and-exercise thing.

NONAS: There's no magic. You have to come see a registered dietitian.

KAGAN: Cathy, thank you. Cathy Nonas with the latest on what would be called "Alli."

NONAS: Thank you.

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. As soon as the Senate Judiciary Committee is ready to vote on the Samuel Alito nomination, I'll be back with you.

For now, international news is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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