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CNN Live Today

Severe Weather Conditions Persist in Texas; 12 Elementary School Boys Allegedly Sexually Assault Girl on School Playground

Aired May 10, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It was a moment. Thank you for sharing. You guys have a great day in New York City.
Alright, we're going to start with what is a disturbing story out of St.Louis. A dozen grade school boys accused of sexual assault during recess. A live report is just ahead that.

But first, all eyes on the sky this morning from the southern Plains to the Ohio valley. Conditions right for explosive weather. North Texas already knows the power of the storm system.

Three people are dead after tornadoes blasted their way across a couple of towns north Of Dallas. As we're looking at live pictures from Westminster, Texas, more twisters reported in the Texas Panhandle, and southern Oklahoma. The small town of Anna Texas was also hit.

Our meteorologist, Rob Marciano is there on the scene.

Rob, you can give us a firsthand account and the look at the devastation. Hello.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Daryn. The sun is coming up this morning revealing the debris and damage, which these tornadoes left behind last night. Came through around 10:30 p.m., across North Texas in this community 30 miles north of Dallas. If you know how big the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex is, that means it's just about five, ten miles, really, away from some of the larger suburbs.

Behind me, people are now beginning to pick up unfortunately. This was a well-structured home. This was not a trailer or mobile home by any means. It had 2 x 4 studded walls and it's completely destroyed. The only thing really that didn't move is this cast iron tub, really. Everything else has been completely moved off the foundation.

As you mentioned, three dead here, one elderly couple. We're told they were in their home. And one teenager, we're told that loss of life happened and the roadway in their car.

At least six homes completely destroyed, or damaged, as we free up here, Daryn, and take a close look around, we'll be able to see more of that.

We did talk to one person across the street, Jerri Tishmack. Her parents live across the street. She was watching television last night, saw the storm on TV, called her folks to tell them to take cover. Their home this morning completely wiped out. This is what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JERRI TISHMACK: Immediately, I guess they just went down to the safest place they could find. When he was at the front door, he went back to the couch in the living room and I guess they both just fell down immediately, a pretty solid coffee table and the couch is what helped.

The roof pretty much blew away instead of collapsing, so that helped, too.

FEMALE CORRESPONDENT: How long are you here?

TISHMACK: Ten minutes. As soon as we got here, then they had the roads shut down for power lines. We got here in time or wouldn't have been able to get directly here, get them and take them home with us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: Certainly there are more stories of survival like that as we start to pan through the community. As mentioned, it could have been a lot worse. If this thing came in on board five or ten miles south from here, in one of those very highly populated suburbs of north Dallas, we would have seen a lot more damage and destruction, Daryn, and likely a lot more loss of life. So I hope to get that bit of optimism out of this story.

But another story where weather does some damage and we have seen loss of life. And I'm sure as the Weather Center and the meteorologists back at CNN in Atlanta are telling you, it's not over today. The storm has been moving off to the East.

Now that's the latest from Collin County, Texas, Daryn. Back to you.

KAGAN: We going to check with Chad in a just a moment about what's in store for today. But, Rob, any word on the ground there about how much warning there was?

MARCIANO: I know last night when we got into Dallas, there was ample warning on television. The National Weather Service put out a Doppler indicated tornado warning. Then shortly after that, spotters reported it on the ground. It was all over the media outlets here.

As I mentioned, that woman saw the tornado warning on TV and was able to give her parents, over the phone, ample warning so they could take cover and survive the storm.

As Chad or anybody else in the CNN Weather Team will tell you, unfortunately, for tornadoes at best, 10, 15, maybe 20 minute's of warning is all you get. If you don't have your weather radio on or television on, there's really no way to know its coming. - Daryn. KAGAN: All right. Rob Marciano in Texas. You mentioned Chad. Let's go ahead and check in with him.

Chad, the energy that made up this storm hasn't dissipated, it's just moved on to a different part of the country?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right. Right. And then another batch of energy will come in behind it and actually make storms in places that had storms yesterday. Probably not where Rob is, but we even have one tornado warning right here.

And the problem with the storms today, Daryn, is that they may very well be going 60 miles per hour. This one here for northern Sunflower County in Mississippi, for the city of Drew, this thing is moving east at 60 miles per hour.

I'll zoom's in to the storm there. There's the red county right there. The storm itself, into Drew and actually charging east of Drew into Le Fleur.

So as the storms develop, if they're moving 60 miles per hour, one, you can't drive faster than that in most spots because the roads won't be straight enough. You don't want to drive away from it. Just get away from the whole thing. Get inside your house and stay there. Make sure you have that radio on, as Rob was talking about.

This is going to be a rough day. We do have warnings and watches already. As the day goes on, we have 34 degrees in Denver and almost 80 already in Houston. You do the math. That's 35, 45, some places, almost 50 degrees difference between the cold side and the warm side of the storm.

That cold front, that cold air, pushing the warm air up into the sky, and then you get those bubbling thunderstorms. Those bubbling thunderstorms are going to start to twist today. That twist is going to create the tornadoes.

About seven tornadoes yesterday, plus or minus, because sometimes the tornado actually reported as two separate storms. One guy looking from the north, one from the south. And that gets reported as two tornadoes. But it may only, in fact, be one. The weather services has to go out there and determine that.

The airports will about mess today. The are already. Thirty in Atlanta, an hour now in Boston, 30 minute in New York City and the same at La Guardia. So it's going to be a slow day for a lot of folks. Make sure you keep the radio and TV on. We'll keep you advice.

KAGAN: Indeed. Chad, thank you. We'll be check back with you, of course. You should keep watching CNN throughout the day. We'll continue to keep you updated on this developing weather story. CNN is your severe weather network. On to St. Louis, now. Recess, it's a familiar scene on an elementary school playground. What authorities say happened on one St. Louis playground is absolutely shocking.

A dozen boys, some as young as 6 years old, are accused of sexually assaulting a classmate.

CNN's Jonathan Fried is live now from the scene.

Jonathan how did this even come to light?

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, this happened on Friday Afternoon after lunch during a recess period at the school here. Its Columbia Elementary School in north St. Louis, just about ten minutes or so from downtown.

And what happened was a group of 12-year-old -- 12 boys allegedly were huddled around a girl.

We talking to the superintendent of schools, Daryn, and he told us a couple of teachers, who were in the school yard to supervise, were standing only 15 feet away. That's 1-5 feet, and didn't see this was going on. It took another child to come over and get the attention of the teachers, and that's how this came to light.

KAGAN: And what's the status of the kids right now?

FREED: Well, the victim is said to be okay physically. We were -- this is a very delicate subject, Daryn, and we talking to the superintendent, trying to determine exactly what state she's in and what happened.

He said that -- I'll choose my words delicately. He said the extent of what happened on Friday was limited to touching. And that the girl is said to be physically OK, but their concern for her, Daryn, is, of course, her emotional state of mind right now. -- Daryn?

KAGAN: Absolutely. Jonathan Freed in St. Louis. Jonathan, thank you. Now, I want to show you new video from Capitol Hill, a continuation of the visitation we saw taking place yesterday.

On the left, there you have General Michael Hayden. He is the nominee to take over the CIA. President Bush's nominee. You also have Dick Durbin.

The general's been making rounds on Capitol Hill between Democrats and Republicans. A mixed reception on both sides of the aisle. Surprising places of support - well, that would be the end of our new pictures - some surprising areas of criticism as well.\

Confirmation hearings, by the Way, for General Hayden could begin as early as next Tuesday.

An internet sex sting from the setup to the takedown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will be locked up shortly.

Get out of the car. Get out of the car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Off-line and under arrest, the TV crew follows the police sting. You'll see the video here on "LIVE TODAY."

Are you tired of rising gas prices? Check this out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH KRUBS: We've probably got about $700, $800 worth of gas for right around about a quarter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: A driver's dream and a big, Whoops, for an Indiana gas station. Bargain, ahead on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And now a little something to bring a smile to investors and some middle income families. Tax breaks. The house - as you look at these pictures - is expected to pass a five-year $70 billion measure later today. Under the bill 15 million families would escape the Alternative Minimum Tax. Capital gains and divided tax cuts would get another two years of life. The Senate could pass the measure by the end of the week.

And that would clear by way for the way for the President's signature.

$2.50 a gallon, $3 a gallon; we've been shelling out serious cash to fill up our gas tanks. Some folks in Indiana paid just two pennies to fill up their gas tanks. Well, it was good while it lasted.

Report Julie Pursley of our affiliate WRTV, has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRUBS: I proceeded in filling up my truck with 26 gallons of fuel for about seven cents.

JULIE PURSLEY, REPORTER, WRTV: Kenneth Krubs says the price on the pump was .002 for a gallon of regular unleaded when he bought gas at this Plainfield Shell overnight. That's less than a penny a gallon. Much different than the price posted on the sign.

Krubs said it was such a good deal, he came back for more. KRUBS: Getting every vehicle and my friends' gas tanks and boat everything fills it up. Well, let's put it this way, we probably got about $700, $800 worth of gas for right around about a quarter.

PURSLEY: The shell employee working at the time says he realized there was problem with another customer pointed out the discrepancy. Then the pumps were bagged and put out of service.

Shell management says it was a computer problem and would not comment on how much money was lost.

The Indiana Grocery and Convenience Stores Association says there's not much the gas station can do if it was the company's fault. Many consumers 6 News talked to agreed.

JIM SNEDDON, DRIVER: I think it was their mistake and that's business.

UNIDENTIFIED DRIVER: The profits that Exxon, Mobile and all of them are making at this point in the billions of dollars, a few hundred dollars that the public got from them, I don't think that's a big thing.

PURSLEY: We asked drivers what they would have done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I probably would have walked down and told them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to say I'd that I'd be honest with all these horrible gas prices, that's tough.

KAGAN: That would have been fun.

Well, a little ditty landed a Georgia girl in big trouble.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETH ANNE COX, SUSPENDED STUDENT: It goes, on top of Old Smoky all covered in blood I shot my poor teacher with a 44 slug. I went to her funeral. I went to her grave - but he didn't hear that part.

KAGAN: Well, the teacher did hear enough. That rendition of "On Top of Old Smoky" got 16-year-old Beth Anne Cox suspended for a week. The high school junior says she hummed the song to a friend. Her teacher said she sung it out in class and looked right at him when she did it. The teen says she wasn't threatening anyone. She's at the school on a transfer and may not be allowed to come back next year.

We want to you be aware - that we are aware that there is some severe weather out there. And we're looking shots from Texas.

A line of deadly storms hit Collin County, Texas, late last night. A swathe cutting through the community north of Dallas.

Three people confirmed dead, and Rob Marciano is on the scene now. The energy that makes up that weather system moved elsewhere into Texas and Oklahoma. We have our severe weather team, Chad Myers, Rob Marciano, keeping an eye on that.

We'll have information as it becomes available and comes into us here at CNN.

Meanwhile, we're talking germs. And we've got such a clean lovely lady, Ms. Gerri Willis to do that.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FIANCE EDITOR : You bet. Hey there, Daryn, good to see you.

While weather can make you sick, where you work can even make you more sick. Guess what, we've got tips on what to do if your job is making you ill. That's up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: So let's talk. Is your job making you sick? I don't mean like you know, not sick in the head but really sick. It could actual do that. It could be related to the plant of your work space and get this. Experts say your desk might be dirtier than a toilet seat. Incredible.

Our personal finance editor, Gerri Willis, offers top five tips for waltzing back against a sick office.

Good morning.

WILLIS: Hey, good morning, Daryn, good to see you.

So the germiest profession, what do you think it is?

KAGAN: Well, I have the cheat sheet, so I shouldn't play along. But I was not surprised.

WILLIS: You weren't surprised that teachers have the dirtiest desks. Ten times more bacteria on their desks than any other profession. Got to till if you're a teacher, working as an accountant, big problems. We found out television producers also have very germy --

KAGAN: Really?

WILLIS: You bet.

WILLIS: No news yet on TV news anchors, though, Daryn. We'll keep an eye on that.

KAGAN: Pristine, let me just say that.

OK. Let's get to this comparison between a desk and a toilet seat?

WILLIS: Not pretty. Your desk has 400 times more germs than a toilet seat. Start at your desk with cleaning the phone. It has more bacteria per square inch than anything else. Use disinfectant stripe cleans it off. Then concentrate on the keyboard computer. It's a mess. And germs like the fax, copy machines buttons. Those are terrible. And the first four elevators buttons. Did you ever think of that? That's a great place to pick up a cold or flu? KAGAN: I actually do. I am a button pusher with my Knuckle.

WILLIS: Are you really.

KAGAN: Yes, I am.

WILLIS: That's smart.

KAGAN: OK. That's my tip of the day.

Let's move on.

The plants.

The plants aren't helping you out.

WILLIS: That right. You think you want plants. Maybe make your desk look a little better. I'm telling you, this is a culprit.

KAGAN: OK. It looks so lovely.

WILLIS: Yes, it does. It has mold, in all likelihood, if you're watering it too frequently, have dead leave, collects mold spores, makes you ill. You've got to get rid of it. Or make sure you keep it well pruned, which I have to say, somebody here at CNN does do to this plant. It's well pruned. Don't put much water in it.

KAGAN: So it's a nice plant for people that run around the building. What's the problem with the lamp?

WILLIS: You may not realize this but fluorescent lights flicker and can cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue. Sometimes you're not aware that the light is flickering. What can you do, though, is bring in a lamp using incandescent light. Turn off your TV, computer screen -- I know it's hard -- throughout the day. So you're not constantly looking at the flickering light, because it makes your eyes hurt.

KAGAN: And then, what about the air? We work in these giant boxes. There's no windows open. What are we breathing?

WILLIS: You don't want to know. Air quality is one of the biggest causes of employee illnesses, 20 percent to 30 percent of buildings have substandard air. No kidding. I know this is distressing. The culprit, your air Conditioning unit at the building. It could be clogged with mold.

In fact, one of the investigators told us as many as 80 percent of the samples he sees has mold. There are no federal standards for indoor air quality. If you think your workplace is making you sick, you got to talk to your employer, your boss. You can also contact the Occupational safety and health Administration. You remember OSHA. The number, 800-321-osha or Logon to osha.gov.

And, Daryn, we're starting a new thing.

KAGAN: Our viewers love you, you love our viewers. We're going to try to get everybody together.

WILLIS: Right.

KAGAN: Tell us how this is going to work.

WILLIS: We want to you send and e-mail to fivetips@cnn.com. What do you want us to give you tips on? What are the topics you're interested in what are you concerned about, worried about? We want to help. Send an e-mail, we'll respond on-air.

KAGAN: If we haven't dropped dead from working in dirty buildings.

WILLIS: That's true.

KAGAN: If we're around, we're here for you.

WILLIS: We give you ideas for cleaning up your workspace. I cleaned my phone.

KAGAN: Just today, since you learned the tips or as a regular thing you do?

WILLIS: I didn't realize it was as bad as it was, so, yes, now it's part of my usual routine kind of cleaning.

KAGAN: Very good. I will try to get to that as well. I'll report back.

WILLIS: OK.

KAGAN: Thank you, Gerri.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Still ahead, date denied. High school students banned from their senior prom. "CNN LIVE TODAY" tells you why they're missing the big dance. And they make their home there. It's here now, but still has ties to Iran.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm American, proud to be American, but I have Iranian relationship, too.

KAGAN: Iran's president stirs things up goon get reaction from Iranian exiles ahead on "CNN live today."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Severe weather in the middle part of the country. One of our top stories today. These are not live pictures but Aerial pictures we've seen this morning from Westminster, Texas. At least three people killed, and there were some reports that there was rescue operations going on, trying to get trapped people out of rubble. A number of homes destroyed. An area north of Dallas, Texas and the storm moved on, and other weather is in the news today. Let's check in with Chad Myers on that. - Chad.

MYERS: Kind of a convoluted situation right now.

KAGAN: How's that?

MYERS: Because the whole system from yesterday is still disintegrating. It will disintegrate to nothing, and later on this afternoon, the sun come back out, where the clouds part and then will heat back up again and start this whole process all over again.

Also what we call in between storms. There's still a little severe weather left but not like it was. Here's the problem, 38 in Denver, it's 48 degrees warmer in Houston. Houston is always hot, yes, not when Denver is 41 degrees colder.

The cold air trying to mix with the warm air never does a good job when you get the cold air pushing up the warm air you get thunderstorm. Already, severe thunderstorm watch boxes this morning. We had a tornado there for northern Sunflower County moving into -- that whole area, severe now. Not a lot of spin with the storms. That's good that the spin went away, from about, oh, Montgomery just to the north and to your east and a very large cell heading into Southeastern Alabama in the next little bit.

If your near Arkadelphia or Hope, Arkansas, here's another big line of severe weather headed to you for this afternoon. Actually, headed to you for the next 15 minutes or so.

Part of the warm/cold problem, here comes the cold air. Warm air is in this wedged zone, kind of a triangle, from the Gulf of Mexico to southern Texas Louisiana, on up to about Paducah and back out towards Atlanta. That's the wedge where the severe weather will be the strongest.

There will be severe weather around the periphery of that, but that's where we really have to watch out for today. The storms roll to the east through Atlanta. Even be though there's going to be rain in Atlanta in the next hour, that's part of the dying part. The next round of showers will pop up again tonight. That would be the gaining strength part by tomorrow the stronger storms and severe weather move offshore. -- Daryn?

KAGAN: All right, Chad, thank you.

Diplomatic options. That's what it's all about as United Nations tries to figure out its next move in the nuclear stand off with Iran. The U.S. launched a resolution that could lead to sanctions. That's if Iran doesn't end its Uranium enrichment program.

But the five permanent members of the security council can't agree on the wording there. So now, Britain, France and Germany are coming up with a package of incentives to get Iran to fall in line. If that doesn't work, sanctions would be back on the table.

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