Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
River Starts to Recede in Minot, N.D.; Bachmann to Announce Bid; Flooding Threatens Nebraska Nuke Plants; Obama to Hold Debt Ceiling Talks; Casey Anthony Trial Resumes
Aired June 27, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: In fact, it looks like it's a perfect time.
AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Christine Romans.
A lot happening overnight. Let's get you caught up.
The rivers no longer rising in Minot, North Dakota, but the damage is done.
Meantime, two nuclear plants in Nebraska are under siege from the swollen Missouri River.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama steps in to keep the debt talks alive.
Good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello.
Today, the president enters negotiations aimed at avoiding a first ever government default.
VELSHI: Good morning, Christine and Carol. I'm Ali Velshi.
More drama in the court as the Casey Anthony trial begins its final week of testimony. We'll see the defendant who is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, but will she take the witness stand -- on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(MUSIC)
ROMANS: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING. It's Monday, June 27th. Kiran is off and Carol joins us this morning.
Good morning, Carol.
VELSHI: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: I know. Nice to be here. Are you exhausted already?
VELSHI: No. I'm wound up. I'm ready to go. It's a busy, busy morning.
ROMANS: Rock and roll. COSTELLO: I've never seen you not wound up.
VELSHI: That's a point.
COSTELLO: I am Carol Costello. Good morning to you.
Out first, I want to tell you about the slow water retreat in Minot, North Dakota. The Souris River finally is beginning to recede after cresting this weekend. The crest was two feet lower than forecast but still shattered a record set in 1881.
As many as 4,000 homes and businesses still underwater, more than 10,000 residents have been displaced by the flooding and now face an uncertain future.
CNN's Jim Spellman is live in Minot, North Dakota.
Jim, bring us up to speed.
JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Carol.
A lot of those people -- those 12,000 almost people that have been displaced, have been coming back here to the edge of the floodwater to take a look into their neighborhoods and it's just terrible news they're finding. Block after block, like this right at the edge of the flood zone, of course, the sun is not up yet here, and even these houses have a few feet of water, and then you just go half a block down and the water almost up to the roofs and it just goes on and on.
Four thousand, like you mentioned, homes and businesses here, under water. And it's just the vastness of it is what really has struck me, Carol. It's just block after block, mile after mile, right through the heart of the city. And as fast as this water came up, it could be at least week before it's up above record flood levels. Longer than that, to fully drain and months at least before people will going to get back into their homes and start rebuilding some sort of life for themselves -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jim Spellman live in Minot, North Dakota, this morning -- thank you.
ROMANS: Meantime, the rising Missouri is threatening two nuclear power plants in Nebraska. A barrier protecting the Fort Calhoun plant near Omaha collapsed yesterday. But federal regulators insist the Fort Calhoun plant, along with the Cooper Nuclear Station, about 100 miles away, they are safe.
CNN's Patrick Oppmann following developments for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm outside the Cooper Nuclear Station where we've been given unprecedented access to this facility where they are encountering a historic problem. The Missouri River is about 10 feet above normal levels. Another three feet and officials say they actually have to stop down in operations here. They don't expect that to happen. There are a number of failsafe mechanisms to allow them to keep power coming into this plant and keep this plant water-tight.
But about 100 miles to the north of here, Fort Calhoun Power Plant, the other nuclear power plant in Nebraska, they're experiencing much more severe flooding. On Sunday, they actually had to go to diesel power to keep cooling that facility. They have stopped down in operations there, but they need to continue to have electricity to keep cooling down the radioactive materials.
Also on Sunday, a worker accidentally ruptured an aqua dam. This is a three-quarter mile inflatable dam. It's filled with water. A worker accidentally ruptured it.
Officials say there's no cause for alarm, but certainly all eyes will be on these facilities and these rising waters as a developing situation unfolds.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI: All right. Patrick, thank you.
Today, President Obama enters negotiations over raising the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling. Right now, there are a little more than five weeks left before the government hits its spending limit.
On yesterday's "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley, it was clear that Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over how best to rein in the deficit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
CANDY CROWLEY, HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Would you vote for a debt ceiling that has attached to it a package that contains only spending cuts?
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: That would be very hard to. What would it accomplish? How much deficit reduction could you achieve? You cannot achieve what you set out to do if you say it's just about cutting. It has to be about increasing the revenue stream as well.
SEN. JIM DEMINT (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: We've got more revenue than we ever have. We're spending more than we ever have. We don't -- we don't have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.
The government is doing things that we can't do well. We're wasting billions of dollars. And we're not going to address that waste and the fraud unless we have to.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
VELSHI: A government default, if we hit our credit limit, could harm the still recovering economy largely because it could spook the global financial markets and cause rating agencies to lower America's AAA credit rating. And that, of course, has an effect of making America's ability to borrow more expensive and more difficult.
ROMANS: Too much debt for consumers and government also slows growth which hurts your numbers further. So, it's a short-term and a long- term problem that's going to take some very careful precision to fix it. Washington is so good at precision, aren't they?
VELSHI: We're going to be right to the wire, right, Carol? We're getting it right to the wire.
COSTELLO: I think we're going right to the wire. But maybe President Obama will make some difference. Who knows? Maybe.
And on to some courtroom drama now, to the riveting courtroom drama, I should say. That is the Casey Anthony trial. The latest cliffhanger -- what caused the judge to abruptly adjourn Saturday's session before the jury even entered the room?
ROMANS: That's right.
Casey Anthony, of course, is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Testimony is set to resume this morning, 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Perhaps the biggest question going forward, will Casey Anthony take the stand in her own defense?
CNN's David Mattingly is live at the courthouse in Orlando, Florida.
What about this recess? People are captivated by what could have caused it.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. So many questions, so much speculation, surrounding this intensely-watched trial and now, this new level of intrigue. What was it that shut this trial down on Saturday?
All the players were in place, there were witnesses out in the hallway, the attorneys were in the courtroom, the judge was at the bench ready to call the jury in, when they all went to the side. And we normally see everyone when they have a discussion to do, they call a side bar right there in the courtroom. But this time, they went behind closed doors to have this discussion and when they emerged, here's what the judge had to say to the surprise courtroom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE BELVIN PERRY, ORANGE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: As both sides conquered that a legal issue has arisen, unrelated to the issue we talked about first thing this morning, dealing with Dr. Furton that would necessitate us recessing for today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: So, the judge not really telling anyone what's going on here afterward as everyone streamed out of court, neither the prosecutors nor defense attorneys would comment on what happened. Only to say that they are not allowed to say what was going on inside that closed-door meeting.
So, today, we're going to start again at 8:30. That's when the judge calls the attorneys back in to discuss any sort of legal issues they might have, maybe we'll find some clue as to what shut down court on Saturday and see if court will, indeed, proceed today as is supposed to with more testimony.
So, again, a new level of intrigue behind this very highly watched, this intensely watched trial.
COSTELLO: OK. David, this is Carol here. Let's speculate because everyone else is, right? Everybody's expecting a plea deal maybe to come of this. Is that what they're doing?
MATTINGLY: Well, there are so many levels of speculation on this. The reason why the court shut down could be something minor that only affects the scheduling of this court, maybe someone they needed to talk to wasn't available on a Saturday. That would have been minor. So, that would only affect the scheduling of this trial, pushing it further into the Fourth of July holiday.
But then it could be something major. It could be a problem with a juror, a problem with one of the attorneys, a problem with one of the witnesses or some of the testimony that we've heard so far. That could affect the outcome of this trial.
Again, so many questions and right now, no true answers.
COSTELLO: So, I guess we'll have to wait until court is in session, very soon, in a couple hours.
ROMANS: The only thing we know for sure, drama.
VELSHI: That's right.
ROMANS: There is drama every day in this trial.
COSTELLO: And the saddest thing, a little girl is dead. It's the most bizarre spectacle.
David Mattingly, many thanks.
Opening statements expected in the trial of an Ohio man accused of killing and dismembering 11 women. Anthony Sowell has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Authorities say they dug up the five remains of those women in Sowell's backyard. Others found rotting inside his home.
The alleged crimes apparently went unnoticed, neighbors thinking the stench was coming from a nearby sausage factory. If convicted, Sowell could get the death penalty.
A manhunt for a murder suspect accused of fighting off guards, breaking out of jail and stealing one of their cars to get away is over this morning. Shaun Bosse was arrested 25 miles away from an Oklahoma jail. Sheriffs say they're trying to figure out how Bosse was able to overpower the guards. He's accused of killing a woman and her two children last year.
VELSHI: OK. The TSA saying it did the right thing, forcing a 95- year-old woman with cancer to take off her adult diaper to be searched.
Now, the woman and her daughter were flying out of Florida two weeks ago. They were going through security when they say the TSA agent felt something suspicious on the woman's leg. Then took her to a private room to be searched. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN WEBER, HER ELDERLY MOM SEARCHED BY TSA (via telephone): And they came out and told me that it had something to do with her depends, that it was wet, and it was firm, and they couldn't check it thoroughly. She would have to remove it.
And I was -- I said I don't have an extra one with me. Normally, this isn't a problem. And she said that she couldn't complete the security check without the depends off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Here's the TSA's response. Quote, "While every person and item must be screened before entering the secure boarding area, TSA works with passengers to resolve security alarms in respectful and sensitive manner. We've reviewed the circumstances involving this screening and determined that our officers acted professionally and according to proper procedure."
I have to tell you, I have had some very positive -- as you know, I'm a commuter as you sometimes are, I met some very positive experiences with the TSA, and then something like this happens. And it makes you wonder whose decision was that. Who thought that was a good idea?
COSTELLO: Was she in a wheelchair, too? I mean, come on!
VELSHI: Does seem a little --
ROMANS: Sometimes the dirt of common sense in the flying experience just is astonishing. Astonishing.
COSTELLO: Although, if something happened, if they did find something on this woman.
VELSHI: Then we'd all be sitting here saying, why didn't they check?
COSTELLO: That's right. Exactly.
VELSHI: Yes, it's a tough gig. Oh well.
ROMANS: All right. New York's historic vote legalizing same-sex marriage, it may set off a ripple effect. Advocates say they'll now focus their attention on Maryland, Rhode Island and Maine. Meanwhile, in New York City, tens of thousands took to the streets yesterday to celebrate the law during the gay pride parade. What amazing timing. New York the sixth and by far the biggest state to legal same-sex marriages. The law, by the way, takes effect July 24th.
VELSHI: And the fact it's the biggest means -- which is why there's so much impetus, because, New York's on its way, where else can we go?
ROMANS: Yes. Many feel like it was opening a gate really for other states who may have had similar very close margins.
COSTELLO: Well, the interesting part about New York is Republicans were on board. So, they convinced Republicans initially against same- sex marriage to jump on board and vote for this issue with help from Wall Street.
VELSHI: That's right.
ROMANS: But right next door, Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, says, no, this won't happen in my state. And why won't it, because the governor would not sign this. I just personally don't agree.
COSTELLO: And in states like Minnesota, they're thinking about adding an amendment to the Constitution, banning same-sex marriage. So --
VELSHI: Which makes this a perfect question of the day for all of you.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
VELSHI: With New York state legalizing same-sex marriage, do you believe other states should follow suit?
COSTELLO: We want to hear from you this morning. So, send us an e- mail, a tweet, tell us on Facebook, or call us. No, don't call us.
VELSHI: Don't call us.
COSTELLO: We'll read your comments throughout the morning.
VELSHI: We'd love to hear from you, just not practical. We can't really take a call.
COSTELLO: We don't have anyone manning the phones, OK?
ROMANS: You can call Carol's cell phone. We'll tweet it out after this.
COSTELLO: I will take your call.
Just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING: Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is set to formally announce her presidential bid today. We'll tell you how she's kicking off her campaign.
VELSHI: Hint, hint. It's where Christine is from.
COSTELLO: Iowa. ROMANS: Right now, wildfires are raging in parts of the U.S. as tens of thousands of acres of land burning. The flames are threatening to take even more land. We're going to check in and see where this is happening and if conditions could get even worse.
VELSHI: Thirteen minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: All right. Back to her Iowa roots, today Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, to officially announce her presidential run. She's expected to be a pretty strong competitor in the GOP playing field and now it's showing in the polls. You know, she told us she considers herself an Iowegian.
VELSHI: That's right. And - and what's - what other kind of Iowegian - Iowens (ph) are there?
ROMANS: I don't know. I guess it is just Iowegians and Iowans.
Anyway, there's the poll. She's right up there with -
VELSHI: (INAUDIBLE)?
ROMANS: - right up there with Mitt Romney.
VELSHI: Twenty-three, 22. She gained the popularity of 22 percent. These are likely caucus-goers.
COSTELLO: That would be a statistical tie.
ROMANS: I would say.
VELSHI: That would be a statistical tie. That's right. Because you can see there, it's plus or minus so many points.
This puts her behind Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Take a look at Herman Cain, the next, he's not even close to them.
Jim Acosta joins us live from Waterloo, Iowa, spending a crazy night there with those hard partying Iowegians. Good morning, Jim.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Good morning, guys.
You know, you mentioned that poll just a few moments ago and I think a lot of Republicans are going to be waking up across the country and saying, wait a minute, Michele Bachmann, is a frontrunner for the GOP nomination, well, she is in Iowa and that is a very important state obviously to be doing well in.
She kicked off the beginnings of her campaign, you could say, last night with a preannouncement announcement here in her hometown of Waterloo where she was born and grew up for a good part of her childhood. And not only does she have Iowa roots, as you mentioned, she has Tea Party street cred. Remember, she started the Tea Party caucus in the House of Representatives last year.
She is very popular among social conservatives and she has started to put together a pretty respectable political organization here in Iowa on the ground. And, obviously, that's what matters in Iowa, boots on the ground and organization, Iowans like to be talked to, they want to be talked to again and again. They don't feel like they know a candidate until they've met you, as they say, three or four times.
So Michele Bachmann is positioned to do very well here and as she told the crowd last night, what she needs in her campaign is more Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: This was such a fine community to be born in, to grow up in, to work in, to be a part of. I'm just thrilled with pride when I think of what Waterloo put into our family and all of us and that's why I wanted to come back tonight. It's not for any other big reason, other than to share my heart with you tonight to say that this is what we need more of. We need more Waterloo. We need more Iowa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Now the big X factor for Michele Bachmann is Sarah Palin. Whether or not the former Governor of Alaska gets into this race, she will be here tomorrow night. A lot of people think that perhaps Palin is trying to steal some of Bachmann's thunder. There is a movie premiere happening in Iowa. You might wonder why Sarah Palin is here for a movie premier. Well, the movie is about her, this film was put together by a conservative filmmaker and so it's going to be interesting to watch to see how all of this develops.
Now, Bachmann responds to some of this pressure that is obviously being put on her campaign by Sarah Palin and it's going to get interesting, guys. It is very, very early, but seeing Michele Bachmann almost out in front in these polls, that is a huge sign that this is going to be a very eventful campaign, guys.
COSTELLO: Oh, come on, Jim. You don't think Sarah Palin is showing up for a movie premiere in Iowa is meant to - isn't meant to upstage Michele Bachmann? Come on.
ACOSTA: I didn't - I didn't say it wasn't. I didn't say it wasn't. I didn't say it was, I didn't say it wasn't. The timing is very curious. You know, she did this to Mitt Romney up in New Hampshire a few weeks ago. As you know -
COSTELLO: Bingo!
ACOSTA: -- she has a knack for doing this. Bingo. Exactly.
ROMANS: Jim Acosta, thanks.
COSTELLO: Jim Acosta, many thanks.
ACOSTA: You win. VELSHI: It takes so much pressure off of the whole business of planning your non-campaign campaign. If you just figure out whether people are making their announcement what they're doing is show up.
COSTELLO: Well, you know, President Obama is going to be in Iowa, too.
VELSHI: For a movie premier?
COSTELLO: No. That would be -
ROMANS: He's going to be at Alcoa. He's going to be at the Alcoa Plant.
VELSHI: (INAUDIBLE) this movie is a surprise.
COSTELLO: President Obama is going to be at the premier of Sarah Palin's movie, that would be funny.
ROMANS: That would be news.
COSTELLO: I'd pay to see that.
VELSHI: Rob Marciano, we know exactly where he is. And he doesn't go chasing anything unless it's bad weather. Rob, what's going on? Any of that to chase today?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. We're very close to Iowa, as a matter of fact. Well, not very close.
But check out some of the video to us from St. Louis, with last night, you know, any time you see thunderstorms over the gateway, look at that. Is that spectacular stuff or what? Of course that thing is all metal, so I'm sure it gets pegged with lightning every once in a while. Had some hail there and some wind as well. And if you could switch this board back or someone switch a board and back to my source and we'll get cooking here.
Nice. So lightning are there. And we've got more in the way of lightning that's going to be happening across the midsection of the country today, from Chicago back through St. Louis. That's where we're going to see some of this action.
We've got a severe thunderstorm watch that's in effect, which includes St. Louis right now and parts of Northern Missouri and in through parts of Illinois as well. Some of these thunderstorms have pretty strong winds with them. So they're going to take down some power lines at times and we had some rough weather yesterday across parts of the Southeast. Delmarva seeing a little bit of thunderstorms. These are rolling out to sea. Still going to be kind of warm and humid across this part of the country and that's we'll keep it right for more thunderstorms.
But look at this. Childress, Texas, 117 degrees. Doesn't include humidity and it's measured in the shade. Is that toasty or what? All-time record for them. Lubbock yesterday, 112, I mean, these are unbelievable numbers that we're seeing here. Certainly been cooking.
If you want to cool off, though, go here. Mammoth Lakes, all right, Mammoth Mountain. They're still skiing there. Yes. You got it. Short sleeves. You can even ski in shorts if you want. Fifty-five feet of snow this year, one of many ski resorts that are staying open right through the fourth of July, guys. If that's not American, I don't know what is. Enjoying a record-breaking snow year.
If you're traveling today, Chicago and St. Louis, they're going to be some issues and maybe some afternoon thunderstorms in Detroit and Atlanta as well.
Guys, get too hot.
VELSHI: But you can find snow anywhere, man. You know you can (ph).
ROMANS: You live vicariously through the snow pictures, don't you?
MARCIANO: Yes. I do. It's been - it's been a frustrating year, as much snow as they've gotten, I've got out there very, very little.
COSTELLO: Poor Rob, oh.
ROMANS: Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: See you, guys.
COSTELLO: A flash mob dancing to Michael Jackson to get their government's attention. Why they broke out - why they broke out the moves to "Thriller."
VELSHI: It's a protest.
COSTELLO: But thorough.
VELSHI: Twenty-three minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Twenty-six minutes after the hour. "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Right now, U.S. stock futures trading slightly higher after the Dow and S&P 500 both closed lower last week. They've been down seven of the past eight weeks.
Well, the next week could decide the outcome of the debt crisis in Greece and the financial future of Europe hangs in the balance. Tens of thousands of Greeks will hit the streets in Athens today protesting some painful tax hikes and pay cuts that the Greek Parliament is debating today.
Citigroup now says its customers lost $2.7 million after the bank's website was hacked and people's credit card information was stolen. The bank, however, does say the customers are not liable for any of those losses. Gas prices are down for the 24th straight day. According to AAA, the national average is now $3.57 a gallon, that's down about 41 cents from the peak back in May. The declines - thanks to a drop in demand and lower oil prices.
The group that claims it hacked Sony and the CIA is apparently calling it quits. The hackers known as LulzSec not giving a reason for why they're stopping the attacks, but in a parting shot they released internal documents from AT&T and other companies.
AMERICAN MORNING will be back right after the break with why President Obama is about to jump into the battle over raising the debt ceiling.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning to you once again. It is 30 minutes past the hour. Time to check our top stories.
Finally, some good news in Minot, North Dakota, where the floodwaters are beginning to recede. That's little comfort, though, to thousands of people who are driven from their homes. Four thousand homes and businesses in Minot are now underwater. The Souris River crested over the weekend, two feet lower than expected, but nearly four feet above an 1881 record.
ROMANS: Testimony set to resume this morning in the Casey Anthony trial. The judge abruptly adjourned this case on Saturday after a dispute between the attorneys. It's expected to be the final week of testimony. Casey Anthony is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. It's not known if Anthony will take the stand in her own defense.
VELSHI: An elderly woman suffering cancer strip searched by the TSA. The 95-year-old forced to remove her adult diaper after agents deemed it suspicious. The TSA sticking by its decision for the search, saying every person and item must be screened before being let through.
COSTELLO: Today is the day. In just a few hours, President Obama sits down at the White House with leaders of both parties. He's trying to broker a deal on raising the nation's debt ceiling that both Republicans and Democrats can live with.
Our Brianna Keilar live at the White House.
Brianna, that's a tall order.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It is a tall order and President Obama getting involved today. He'll be meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this morning. He'll be meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell later today.
And, you know, he met last Wednesday night with House Speaker John Boehner, but largely, almost entirely, he's left these negotiations on the debt ceiling up to Vice President Biden, who for hours and hours in the last several weeks has been meeting with Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate.
But that all fell apart on Thursday morning when the number two Republican in the House, Eric Cantor, pulled out of these talks, saying the Democrats would not take tax increases off the table. Talk to Democrats and they call these closing tax loopholes, but really there appears to be a little bit of an impasse.
And so, now, you have President Obama stepping in, guys.
VELSHI: What are the -- there are some sticking points other than the sort of main points that it's not a spending problem and it's a revenue problem. What are they going to try to work out?
KEILAR: You know, they're eyeing different kinds of spending cuts. Democrats, for instance, want to look more at the defense budget. Republicans are looking more at government programs. Of course, the tax increases, I mentioned, that's what Republicans are calling them, closing tax loopholes is what Democrats would call them, ending oil and ethanol subsidies -- something that you, so far, have Republicans really chasing against. And then also entitlement reform, remember kind of overhauling entitlements, Medicare, Medicaid, that was a part of the Republican plan and so, they're looking for some of that.
But those are really just general. We can't even exactly pinpoint specifically what the major sticking points are because, so far, in these negotiations, both sides have been pretty mum on details.
ROMANS: And there's five weeks to go. I mean, we're trying to sort of get the framework that they'll start negotiating in, there's five weeks to go.
VELSHI: This is sort of the heart of the problem, Brianna. That you got one side saying we're not doing X and the other side saying we're not doing Y, and we haven't gotten down to the specifics in the entire time that we've been thinking about this. So, we'll follow it with you, Brianna.
ROMANS: Thanks, Brianna.
COSTELLO: But I'm sure things will change this morning.
VELSHI: Yes, of course. It will all be different today.
COSTELLO: Brianna, thanks.
VELSHI: All right. This morning, something that is going to change. The International Criminal Court is likely to issue arrest warrants for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and his son. The judges will decide if there's enough evidence for the warrants requested by the court's chief prosecutor. He says the evidence links Gadhafi and his sons to widespread and systemic attacks on civilians as part of their effort to hold on power.
What's unusual here is this usually happens after a war is concluded and they've been able to get evidence from all sorts of people. Here, they say they're ready to do it now. COSTELLO: Yes, lots of things are different about this particular conflict.
On trial from one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century. Surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge facing charges for war crimes, torture and genocide in a U.N.-backed tribunal more than three decades after a bloody revolution in Cambodia. Nearly 2 million people were killed then. The defendants were all among the inner circle of the late dictator Pol Pot in the 1970s.
ROMANS: Back here, a state of emergency in North Carolina. Wildfires there spreading across the state. More than 65,000 acres of land have burned. State officials are now asking for federal funding to help fight those flames. And crews in Alabama still trying to get control of a wildfire that broke out near a camp ground on Saturday. It grew to more than 200 acres in just a few hours.
VELSHI: Police turning fire hoses on soccer fans in Argentina. Check this out. An ugly riot broke out in Buenos Aires. Fans were crying and throwing stuff at the players who were also in tears. It happened after the river plate soccer team played to a 1-1 tie and was demoted to the second division for the first time in its 110-year history.
So, it's not insignificant. This is a big deal. That's kind of like if the Yankees were sent down to the Minors.
The violence spread outside the stadium. Police say at least 55 people were injured.
ROMANS: It's, you know, I always say it's just a game. But then soccer fans say, are you crazy? I say that about hockey and it's just a game and --
VELSHI: They took that very seriously.
ROMANS: It's never just a game for fans.
COSTELLO: It's never just a game -- that's true.
If you want to get someone's attention, this is how you do it. Are you listening, everyone, ant want to protest any government anywhere? This is a "Thriller" flash mob and it took place in the streets of Chile. It was staged by students demanding better education for the government and the government to pay for it.
So, this is what they did. They dressed up like zombies from the Michael Jackson "Thriller" album because they were sort of mimicking the way the educational system trains them to become --
VELSHI: Like zombies.
COSTELLO: -- like zombies. Right.
VELSHI: How do you -- so, I understand these things get transmitted on digital media, but how do you practice for the flash mob?
COSTELLO: I don't know. That's amazing.
VELSHI: Like always, they come out and protest the governments such and such at such and such a place and I showed up. Why would I? I wouldn't.
COSTELLO: Let's organize one and find out.
VELSHI: We'll try a little one with the three of us.
ROMANS: Let's stick with Michael Jackson. The "Thriller" jacket you guys just sold for $1.8 million in auction in California. It was only expected to fetch between, I don't know, a couple hundred thousand to $400,000, but gosh, $1.8 million. The money will go toward a reserve home to Jackson's two tigers.
COSTELLO: What?
VELSHI: That I wasn't expecting.
COSTELLO: Yes.
ROMANS: So, now, the tigers have much more money than they thought they were going to have.
VELSHI: $1.8 million for two tigers?
COSTELLO: What do they need?
ROMANS: A lot of raw meat.
COSTELLO: And really good raw meat, too.
ROMANS: One in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These little details that get you.
VELSHI: OK. I remember the girl next to me in the locker in high school had one of those jackets. People used to wear those.
ROMANS: I know. People who loved Michael Jackson in the heyday. People love him now.
VELSHI: The tiger thing, that I didn't see coming.
COSTELLO: Coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING --
VELSHI: We're going to show you how much tigers can eat.
COSTELLO: And what they eat for $1.8 million.
Anyway, the new American dream home, gone are the days of the McMansion. So, what will a humble abode cost you these days? We will tell you.
ROMANS: Plus, I'm going to tell you about one couple now serving up success after they quit their jobs -- you know, they quit the jobs, they cleaned out their offices, cleaned out their savings to live out their dream.
It's 38 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: New information for you this morning surrounding the tractor trailer involved in Friday's deadly Amtrak accident in Reno, Nevada. The NTSB is launching an investigation after the trucking company and driver. Officials say the company has been flagged for 19 past safety violations.
The truck slammed into an Amtrak passenger train at a railroad crossing sparking a fire. Six passengers died. Two are unaccounted for.
The NTSB says the investigation could take up to a year to complete.
Major layoffs for state workers in Connecticut. Governor Dan Malloy plans to cut 7,500 employees. It comes after the state's largest union turned down a concession deal to avoid layoffs. The agreement would have frozen wages two years and required workers to pay for more benefits. The state must close a $700 million budget gap.
VELSHI: All right. How much do you think your dream home is going to set you back? With all this talk about how real estate prices have come down, I want to show you what a four bedroom, two bathroom house will cost in a number of cities and towns across the United States.
Let's start in Lithonia, Georgia. It's only 20 miles away from Atlanta. And down there, typical for people to live that distance away from the center of the city. This is 2,000 square foot home. It costs $98,000. It's four-bedroom, 2 1/2 baths, 2,000 square feet.
Let's go over to Lancaster, Texas. That is outside of Dallas. It's an area where there is a greater demand for homes.
As we know, there's been a lot of job growth. A lot of growth in general in Texas. Also, a 2,000 square foot home, it has four bedrooms and two baths as well, costs $110,000. That's a good deal.
Let's got to North Dakota, a state that came out of the recession in pretty good shape -- thanks to an oil dominated economy. This two bedroom, two bathroom -- I'm sorry, four bedroom, two bathroom home in Fargo is listed at $175,000.
Let's go over to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It's also becoming a more attractive place to live. There are a whole lot of universities, research institutes around there, and an abundance of high-paying tech jobs.
You can get a house like this -- four bedroom, two bathroom. It's a little bit bigger. It's 3,000 square feet for $369,000.
Now, you're going to pay a premium for a home in Hawaii, that's because land is in such short supply and it's Hawaii. Honolulu is the most expensive metro area for housing in the nation right now. This home here, which is four bedrooms and three bathrooms, 2,131 square feet, is going to run you $995,000.
Let's check Newport Beach, California. The median household income there is well over $100,000. That's double what it is in many parts of the United States. This is a five bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom home -- it is going to set you back a little over $2 million. It's 2,800 square feet -- Christine.
ROMANS: You pay for the beach, whether it's Hawaii or California. You can pay for paradise.
All right. I want to introduce to a couple -- a couple who took a big risk and is succeeding. They quit their office jobs, cleaned out their savings and opened an upscale restaurant. Nine months in and the aptly named Journeymen is booked nearly every night. So far, so good.
Here's how they did it in this morning's "Smart is the New Rich."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS (voice-over): Tse Wei Lim and Diana Kudayarova married and barely 30, never went to cooking school, and never owned a business.
TSE WEI LIM, RESTAURANT OWNER: My parents were horrified about we were doing this, because, you know, she has a PhD and I'm at least a college grad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a waste of education.
LIM: Yes.
ROMANS: But the two wanted a hand's on project they could do together.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The interest rates were very low. That helped. We had good jobs for quite a while before starting that. So, we did have some savings.
ROMANS: They cashed in nearly $200,000, took out a second mortgage and forever foodies taught themselves to cook using friends as taste testers.
It took a year to launch a plan that integrated low-fixed costs. For starters, they found cheap rental space down a back alley.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Keeping it a little bit underground makes it cool.
ROMANS: They did most repairs themselves.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We spent weeks just chipping out all the cracked and chipped paint.
ROMANS: They were frugal with the interior.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went to work here and bought a bunch of chairs. ROMANS: And only offer a limited tasting menu.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That enables us to cut down on food waste quite a bit.
ROMANS: Instead of pricey ads, they blog and tweet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, I added a little column that kind of talks about our cocktails.
ROMANS: The crowd is young and splurging.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ROMANS: The couple has a recoup construction cost, but they have positive cash flow, and they say, never missed a payroll. Still, there's been a learning curve.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We made hiring mistakes. The stuff we open, some of them are still here, but most of them are not.
ROMANS: Constant worries.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most recently, the fact that our AC wasn't up to scratch. Two weeks ago, it was where am I going to get meat from.
ROMANS: And sage words for others who venture into the biz.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be well capitalized, be prepared to kill your babies. You just have to let go of a lot of your ideas.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're trying to stick to our guns while being flexible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI: Be ready to kill your babies, they meant, your ideas.
ROMANS: That conceived notion.
VELSHI: Yes.
ROMANS: No, but you know, we talk so much about what you should be doing and how you should keeping your job and moving up, they quit their jobs. They cleaned out their savings, they tried their dream. So, I feel like it's a reminder that even in this crazy economy, this is still the only place in the world you can try something like that and succeed.
COSTELLO: I admire them.
ROMANS: Me, too. And you know, a car -- actually, a car crashed into the front of the restaurant recently in the last week or so --
VELSHI: Wow. ROMANS: And now, that's their first big hurdle as trying to -- they haven't recouped their construction cost yet. Now, they're moving into the next phase of trying to clean up after that.
COSTELLO: But they had insurance, right?
ROMANS: We'll see how they move forward.
VELSHI: I mean, people just start a business, know that that's how it goes. You struggle for a while, you sometimes fail, but it's a different way of doing it.
ROMANS: And they even know the failure rates of restaurants are higher than other small businesses.
VELSHI: Sure.
ROMANS: But what it says about what you can do in this economy, don't always count yourself down and count your ideas down. I love the people --
VELSHI: Great idea.
ROMANS: Still out there doing it. Still out there dreaming, that's what I love.
VELSHI: All right. Coming up ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, the real life horse whisperer. He inspired a book, in a movie, and now, he is the star of his own life story. We're going to see how he works his magic. (INAUDIBLE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. It is 49 minutes past the hour. Here's a look at the headlines for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): Federal regulators keeping a close eye on two nuclear power plants in Nebraska that are threatened by floodwaters from the Missouri River. A protective barrier around one of the plants collapsed yesterday, but officials say the plant is not in danger.
President Obama set to meet with Senate leaders from both parties today. It's an effort to end the impasse over raising the debt ceiling. Washington has until August 2nd to reach an agreement or risk defaulting on its debt.
Testimony resumes at the Casey Anthony trial in just a couple of hours. We could learn why the judge abruptly canceled Saturday's court session over legal matters. It's expected to be the final week of testimony in the murder case.
The noose may be tightening on Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi. We could learn of the next hour or so whether the international criminal court will issue arrest warrants for Gadhafi accusing him of crimes against the Libyan people.
Minnesota congresswoman, Michele Bachmann, in Iowa today. She's set to formally announce her GOP bid for president in her hometown of Waterloo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (on-camera): You're caught up now on the day's headlines. AMERICAN MORNING is back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Gay marriage is legal in the state of New York starting on July 24th. Governor Cuomo signed the bill into law on Friday night and that leads to our question of the day.
COSTELLO: Yes, because this is pretty significant with New York state legalizing same-sex marriage. Do you believe other states should follow suit? New York is a big state.
VELSHI: Sure.
ROMANS: Right.
COSTELLO: Some people think it's only a matter of time.
ROMANS: So, Randy Eastburn on Facebook said, "I'm sick to death of hearing about it. Maybe once we as Americans and those who represent us solve this issue, we can actually resolve some truly important issues such as war, health care, and debt."
VELSHI: Interesting. I'm not sure where Randy stands on it. He just wants to solve it.
Cynthia writes on Facebook, "No. While I do believe they should have a legal civil union, I don't believe they should be able to get married. That should be reserved between a man and woman."
COSTELLO: And this from Jessica via Facebook. She says, "Absolutely, unequivocally yes. The fact that this is even a question is absurd. Basic human rights should never be debatable."
ROMANS: All right. Keep your comments coming, send us an e-mail, a tweet, tell us on Facebook. We're going to read more of your thoughts a little bit later in the program.
VELSHI: All right. He was the inspiration for the film, "The Horse Whisperer." Now, Buck Brannaman is the subject of an award-winning documentary.
ROMANS: His kinship with horses is the stuff of legends. Buck spends much of the time traveling the country, helping horses. He said horses with people problems.
(LAUGHTER)
ROMANS: CNN's Kareen Wynter -- (WHISPERING).
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Renowned horseman, Buck Brannaman, is on the clues ranch in San Diego, about to work with a troubled mare.
BUCK BRANNAMAN, REAL-LIFE HORSE WHISPERER: One fellow, last time he caught her got kicked, almost broke his leg. So, and she's just bothered. It's not personal.
All right.
WYNTER: He enters the ring with only a rope.
BRANNAMAN: As I move around the corral, we'll start to get a feel for each other.
WYNTER: That feel for horses is legendary. His gift inspired "The Horse Whisperer," the best-selling novel that became a Robert Redford film. The movie was fictionalized, but now, Brannaman's own story is being told in a documentary.
BRANNAMAN: Everything you do with a horse is a dance.
WYNTER: The film shows his ability to understand a horse and its fears. His insight was hard won. It came out of a traumatic boyhood.
BRANNAMAN: My dad had a violent temper. He was a terrifying person.
WYNTER: Buck says he was narrowly broken by a father who subjected him and his brother to brutal beatings.
Take viewers through this personal journey that you had as a child, one that was very difficult.
BRANNAMAN: Having grown up through some pretty dark things in my life, you end up with an empathy for the horses.
WYNTER: Empathy will be needed today, if he's to reach this horse.
BRANNAMAN: It's in their nature when they're troubled to escape.
WYNTER: His approach is gentle. There's no attempt to break the animal. Gradually, trust develops.
BRANNAMAN: There, she kind of worked her mouth a little bit, and she said, I think that might work.
WYNTER: Before long, a breakthrough.
BRANNAMAN: There. Now, she's starting to kind of look me up a little bit here.
WYNTER: The whole process from this to this has taken Buck less than 15 minutes. When you see this horse that was so afraid when you walked in, and she can't leave your side right now.
BRANNAMAN: You never get tired of seeing that. You know, I mean, I think of the thousands and thousands that I've worked with, but you never get tired of that.
WYNTER: Kareen Wynter, CNN, San Diego, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That is amazing.
VELSHI: Yes.
COSTELLO: I had a horse for years, and that horse bit me time and again.
ROMANS: Yes. My horse didn't like me either.
COSTELLO: Maybe it's something --
VELSHI: I didn't have a horse. Maybe, that's why I am the way I am.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: You should have had a horse, Ali, and that horse should have kicked or bit you.
ROMANS: And I've seen you with a cowboy hat, you do look good.
VELSHI: That's true. All hat and no cattle.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: On the street and online, how the homeless are connecting with family and friends and new opportunities on Twitter and on Facebook.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
