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CNN Saturday Morning News
Fiery Crash Turns Reno Air Show Into Horror Show; Iran May Free Jailed Hikers Today; Convicted Killer's Clemency Plea; Life after Combat; Hispanic Political Clout Growing; Google Flight Search; Libyan Opposition Meets Resistance; The Big Cooldown; The Impact of Disasters; Cantaloupe Linked to Listeria; FDA Says Apple Juice is Safe; Security Scare Closes Air Base; Tacoma Teachers Continue Strike; The Workout Kid
Aired September 17, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: We're at the top of the hour from the CNN CENTER. This is your CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.
The screams of horror at an air race in Nevada. A plane slams into spectators. Death and numerous injuries, we have a live report from the scene in just second.
Also, the long nightmare may soon be over for two American hikers jailed in Iran. Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer could be freed today. We'll tell you what their lawyer is saying about their fate.
Also, that apple juice, is there arsenic in it? Yes, it's true for some brands, but we'll tell you why the FDA isn't worried, but Dr. Oz is.
Let's start though, in Nevada where federal investigators are on their way, in particular to Reno. They're trying to pinpoint the cause of a deadly plane crash at an air race. These are the terrifying moments caught on tape.
(VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: At least three people killed, dozens more hurt when that plane slammed into the crowd. It barely missed a grand stand that was packed with spectators. Witnesses say they thought they were going to die and they are now calling the pilot of that plane a hero.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN CISSELL, WITNESS: I think that that pilot, in the last two seconds, pulled up because he saw the bleachers and I would guess he probably saved 200 to 300 other people. And I don't mean any disrespect to the -- to the injured, but I would consider him to be a hero because he was going for the bleachers and he pulled up and did what I think was his best job to hit the tarmac.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, our Dan Simon is there for us in Reno. Dan, good morning again. Have we learned any indication what possibly could have caused this?
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We really don't know at this point. What we know is that the aircraft pitched up and then rolled and then, just went down to the ground. At this point, it's just pure speculation to really hypothesize what may have happened here.
What we know is that investigators are coming to the scenes today to look for clues. But you really have to wonder what may exist. Because it appears that the plane disintegrated on impact. Of course, you had a lot of people with cameras, a lot of people in the stands who could provide some eyewitness statements to investigators, but that will probably be critical.
What we also know, T.J., is that this is a pilot who is very experienced, 74 years old and participated in this air show since 1975. So obviously, he knew what he was doing, not a rookie pilot. But you're not talking about a new airplane either, this World War II vintage plane. So you also may have to wonder whether or not the age of the aircraft may have played a role.
But again, it's just all speculation at this point -- T.J.
HOLMES: Also at this point, I guess its speculation, but it sounds like a lot of people do believe this pilot may -- may have, at that last moments, tried to direct that plane somewhere other than that crowded grand stand.
SIMON: You know, you've heard eyewitnesses say that, you know of course, none of us were there. So -- so we can't really say. I think that will be up to the investigators to determine after looking at the photographic evidence, after looking at the videos to determine if, in fact, that occurred.
But you know, if there is a silver lining in all of this, of course, that would be it. And given the fact you have a very experienced pilot here, perhaps that was the case but -- but I think it's too early to say definitively whether or not that -- that, in fact, happened -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Dan Simon in Reno. Thank you this morning.
And we're just about four minutes past the hour now.
Another major story we are monitoring and it is unfolding right now in Iran. That is where two American hikers who have been jailed in Tehran the past two years could be freed within hours.
Let me tell you what we know right now. A lawyer for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer say he's very hopeful and I quote, "very hopeful" that the men might be released today.
A bail has been posted for each of them. The defense attorney says a judge needs to now sign the bail documents before the release procedure can begin. Fattal and Bauer were detained in 2009 after apparently straying across the Iraqi border into Iran. An Iranian court convicted them of spying; they insist they were just hiking. Let's turn to Libya now. Anti-Gadhafi forces are launching a new offensive in the ousted Libyan leader's hometown. At least 100 cars rolled into Sirte today, a day after fighters pulled back following fierce resistance.
Opposition forces say seven of the fighters were killed, 31 others wounded and the military base was seized in yesterday's fighting. The opposition also thinks one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons may have been coordinating the resistance.
And with a scheduled execution date just days away, calls are growing for the state of Georgia to grant clemency to a convicted cop killer.
That's hundreds of people you're seeing here and hearing, it turned out in Atlanta yesterday in a rally to support Troy Davis. He was convicted of killing Savannah police officer, Mark MacPhail back in 1989.
Supporters say his conviction was based on flimsy evidence and some witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony. Davis is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection Wednesday. The clemency hearing is Monday, the victim's family and the prosecutor still maintain that Davis committed the murder.
I talked to MacPhail's mother just a bit ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNELIESE MACPHAIL, MOTHER OF MARK MACPHAIL: It has been hell. Because I want black -- I would like to have some peace. I would like to have this situation over with. We are the victims and those people that recanted, why did they wait 17 years before they recanted? They should have done it, if they felt that way, earlier.
Not when this final -- final time is coming out. I do not believe that. If they think they would have been coached, I think they have been -- they've been coached by the wrong people.
HOLMES: Justice only comes for you and closure --
(CROSSTALK)
MACPHAIL: To say things that --
HOLMES: -- justice and closure only comes for you when Troy Davis is finally executed?
MACPHAIL: I will never have closure --
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: Yes.
MACPHAIL: -- because that -- that can't be. But I may have some peace, which I hope for. (END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, the Georgia Pardons and Parole Board has denied clemency to Davis once before.
And we're at seven minutes past the hour now. And from combat to career, how one vet overcomes the joblessness facing troops when they return home.
Also, Democrats and Republicans both fighting for the 2012 Hispanic vote. We'll explain why this vote is so crucial this time around. Stay with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well it's about ten minutes past the hour now on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
And the job market tough as you know, for a lot of people. But for troops returning from combat, could you imagine? That job market is even harder. Adjusting to society, and coping with post war demons and looking for work are big challenges. CNN's Barbara Starr has the story of one vet turning his life around with a business idea.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm a city girl. You've got to tell me what all of this stuff is.
MIKE HANES, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: So there's -- there's all kinds of vegetables growing over here. Right here is curly dock, it's a kind of sour. It's -- you can cut this raw in a salad. You can cook it.
STARR (voice-over): After serving in a Marine Corps Reconnaissance Unit in Iraq, Mike Hanes returned home in 2004 plagued with such severe combat stress he couldn't work. He found himself homeless.
HANES: When I came back, I really had an extremely difficult time transitioning and I just could not interact or associate with society at all.
STARR: Then Mike came to this farm just outside San Diego. Here, fellow Marine Colin Archipley and his wife teach farming to combat veterans looking for new careers. It's much-needed help. The jobless rate for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans is 11.5 percent in today's already fragile job market, and Mike was vulnerable, says Colin.
COLIN ARCHIPLEY, FOUNDER, ARCHIE'S ACRES: It was frequently that he'd give us a call and say, I don't think I'm going to make it today. And we kind of coerce him and get him up here.
STARR: Now Mike is turning everything around. At the farm's kitchen table, a new life is mapped out.
HANES: I've got find out if they sell it in big, big huge containers, you know?
DWIGHT DETTER, ARMY VETERAN/WHOLE FOODS BUYER: Right. All right, so what I'll do is I'll call my main distributor.
STARR: Mike is going into production with his own hot sauce called "Dane". Whole Food's buyer Dwight Detter is trying to get it on his market shelves this fall. An Army veteran, Dwight felt an instant connection.
DETTER: Here is a person I want to get involved in this, and it kind of fit in with what I do for work, but gave me new opportunities to -- to help him develop his label, his brand.
STARR: Mike says he's learned to seek support, but for combat vets, getting any job can be tough.
HANES: It's hard to find the support for these veterans coming back because there's so much involved with turning -- turning that off, you know, the "on" switch that's been triggered when you're in combat.
STARR: And perhaps something switched on for Dwight, thinking about whether helping a young vet get ahead makes him feel like he's still serving.
DETTER: That's funny. I haven't even thought of that in that way. Yes, maybe so. Maybe it's a -- that it's a rewarding feeling that I didn't get when I was doing it at the time. Interesting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is here with me now. Just how bad is this jobs market for these men and women coming back from war?
STARR: Well, T.J., the jobless rate in the country is what over nine percent in some places.
HOLMES: Yes.
STARR: But for veterans, it's over 11.5 percent.
HOLMES: Yes.
STARR: And in some parts of the country, especially in the rural areas, it's even worse than that. These guys and young ladies are coming back from the war finding it very tough to find good paying jobs in the country -- T.J.
HOLMES: Are they getting help?
STARR: Well, you know, the President's new jobs bill does call for some tax credits for employers, up to about $9,500 in tax credits for hiring veterans. We are seeing some companies do some targeted hiring programs, trying to find veterans that will come to work. But a lot of the troops tell us that what they mainly find, if they don't go back to school, they mainly find minimum wage jobs. You know think of it this way.
HOLMES: Yes.
STARR: A lot of these young troops have been out there, you know, carrying a weapon, walking patrols for years. It's not great jobs training for when they come home --
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: Yes.
STARR: -- and they say that's what they need -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Barbara Starr, thank you so much, good to see you.
STARR: Sure.
HOLMES: And thank you for highlighting this issue.
And to our viewers, we're at 13 minutes past the hour now.
We'll turn back to politics and what both Democrats and Republicans are going to be doing this campaign season. They're going to be courting the Hispanic vote. We'll explain why it's so important.
Stay with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: About 17 minutes past the hour now.
Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country. It could be a decisive factor in next year's elections. CNN's Rafael Romo explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice- over): New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg habla espanol.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK CITY: My Spanish skills -- (INAUDIBLE) --
ROMO: Or at least he tries.
President Barack Obama greeted supporters in Spanish on a trip to Puerto Rico earlier this year.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Buenas tardes.
ROMO: And some Republican presidential candidates seem to be courting Hispanics.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hispanics, as you know, have been hit terribly hard, disproportionately hard, with an unemployment rate that is substantially higher than the national figures.
ROMO: Experts say appealing to the fastest growing ethnic group in the country is crucial the year before presidential elections.
MARK LOPEZ, HISPANIC PEW CENTER: Latinos have played a growing and important role in the nation's presidential elections over the last few election cycles. There are now more than 21 million Hispanics who are eligible to vote and Latinos reside in some key states.
ROMO: In the 2008 election in Colorado, Latinos represented 13 percent of all voters, 14 percent in Nevada, 15 percent in Florida, and a whopping 38 percent in New Mexico, all considered swing states.
LOPEZ: So even the participation rate among Hispanics in presidential elections has been growing.
ROMO: In 2008, 9.5 million Latino voters went to the polls out of 12 million registered. The leader of an organization that tracks Latino voting trends says he's expecting a dramatic increase next year.
(on camera): Can we make an estimation about how many Latino voters we're going to have in 2012?
JUAN ANDRADE, U.S. HISPANIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: We will have probably -- we estimate at least 12 million to 13 million registered to vote in the next presidential election. It could be even higher.
ROMO: In 2004, former President George W. Bush won more than 40 percent of the Latino votes. Four years later, 67 percent of Hispanic voters went for Barack Obama. Experts say anybody getting that kind of support from Latinos next year, whether Democrat or Republican, has a good chance of winning the presidency.
ANDRADE: The Latino vote can prove decisive. We have demonstrated the ability to swing critical states again like we did in 2008.
ROMO: And that's exactly why Democrats and Republicans are going after the country's largest minority group.
Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Google is now launching a new service to help you find flights that fit your budget. After the break, we'll show you how this works and, of course, how it stacks up against, you know, Orbitz and those others that you use.
Stay with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: 22 minutes past the hour now.
They have some issues over at Netflix right now. Until recently, it was the hottest success story in the entertainment business. Now this movie delivery company projected a large increase in subscribers but instead what happened? They're expecting to lose some 600,000 subscribers by the end of the month after a controversial price increase. So all of this scared away investors. And now Netflix has lost about 26 percent of its value just in the past two days.
Also a checking account at Citibank is going to cost you a little more in December. Citibank will add a $10 a month fee; that's up from $8 a month. The company is following an industry trend here. A lot of banks are trying to make up revenue from a lot of new government regulations. But Citibank customers, you can get your fee, that $10 a month fee, waived by keeping a combined balance of at least $1,500 in a checking and savings account. Or using at least one direct deposit and one online bill pay per month. Citi says still it's not going to be charging people to use a debit card.
And Google -- listen to what they're up to now. Launching a new service to help you find flights that fit your budget. Earlier, I talked to our digital lifestyle expert, Mario Armstrong about the new service, asked him if it was fair to say that this will put Google in direct competition with the Expedias and the Orbitz of the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIO ARMSTRONG, CNN DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: Not only is it fair to say that, T.J. It's even beyond that because there was a deal that was done where Google made a purchase of a company that keeps travel database information and many of the competitors us the same database for their information of flights. And they were even blocked at some point.
The Justice Department had to look at this and say, "Is this OK, or will this give Google a competitive advantage? Ultimately, they let Google go ahead and buy the travel software company's database.
So yes this is a direct shot at Travelocity, Kayak and others.
HOLMES: Mario, tell me how it compares, though. Does it do pretty much the same thing that the others do? Are you getting a couple of advantages or maybe even disadvantages with new Google?
ARMSTRONG: Yes. Well, good point. First off, the advantages are a little bit simpler interface. I really like how easy and clean it is to use. You can see it right there. Very simple to use. You can type in an easy search, you can just say I want to fly from Philadelphia to Atlanta. Or I want to fly from LA to New York. And then it will pull up all the different flights that match that search criteria. But a limitation is right now only can you get economy flights and you can't get anything international, no first class, no business class or anything like that. Over time, that will change. But I think Kayak is probably still my favorite site to use.
HOLMES: OK. But still the fear and the competition is not even maybe that it works well, but just that the name Google is --
ARMSTRONG: Yes.
HOLMES: -- people think, search and they think I'm going to Google. What if people start thinking search for travel and think Google?
ARMSTRONG: Yes. And this is also going to be a problem for other big dogs, not even just the start-ups. You have a lot of start- up companies, small sites that are doing great things for travel to find you great deals or great locations, but then even like Microsoft, they have their Bing search engine and they have flight travel deals on their site was as well.
So you're right, I think the word Google -- you know, some people are worried about this because it's like, how much can we just do through one search engine and how much do we want that search engine to know about us? And then others are saying, well this is good for the industry. Anything that can help us find a cheaper flight, I'm for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Have you heard the controversy this morning that was stirred up by Dr. Oz? Yes, Doc Oz, the popular TV doctor. What did he do? Well, he claims that the apple juice that may be in your refrigerator right now, it has arsenic in it and it could be harmful to you.
My interview with Dr. Oz, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're coming up on the bottom of the hour now, one of the stories making headlines is this long, agonizing wait we're told could soon be over for two American hikers in jail in Iran. A lawyer for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer says he is, quote, "very hopeful" that the men will be freed from the notorious Evin Prison maybe sometime today. If they are released, they'll likely be flown to Oman.
That is where CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom is joining me right now. Mohammed, we both know, we have been down this road before. We thought a release was imminent and then nothing. Is there any reason to believe this time is actually different?
MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., this process keeps getting more complicated, it seems, as we're speaking to the lawyer or the attorneys today. A lawyer for the hikers today in Tehran tells us that he's been told that one judge at court in Iran in Tehran has actually signed off on the document saying that the bail has been posted and that another judge has not yet.
And that until the second judge signs off on these documents saying that he is aware that bail has been posted for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, that they cannot be released.
Now at this point, we don't yet know if there's a possibility they could still be released today or if it looks like it would be more likely tomorrow, but yes, they have been down this road before.
As will all things concerning the judiciary in this region of the world. It gets very complicated when you're dealing with judges in this region, the bureaucracy, the procedures.
And it seems like the lawyers for these two hikers is dealing with that today and having difficulty trying to confirm if they will be released and when that precisely will be. T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Mohammed Jamjoom for us with the update. Thank you.
We're at the bottom of the hour now. Moammar Gadhafi forces are putting up stiff resistance to maintain control of the ousted Libyan leader's hometown. At least 100 cars rolled into Sirte today as opposition fighters renewed their offensive following Friday's retreat amid fierce street fighting. The revolutionaries are also trying to win two other Gadhafi strongholds.
Time is running out. The options might be out of those, as well. Supporters of convicted cop killer Troy Davis are setting up their calls for clemency. Hundred of marchers turned out in Atlanta for a rally in support of Davis yesterday.
He's convicted of killing Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail in 1989. Supporters though his conviction was based on flimsy evidence. Some witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony.
Davis is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection in just four days, that's on Wednesday. He does have a clemency hearing set for Monday.
And a story we have been following this morning, just this horrific scene and tragedy at an air race in Nevada.
At least three people killed, dozens more hurt when that plane slammed into the crowd, barely missed a grand stand that was packed with spectators. Witnesses say they thought they were going to die. I talked to one witness this morning who was watching as the pilot Jimmy Leeward's plane went by and just before that crash.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUS MCCREA, CRASH WITNESS (via telephone): Mr. Leeward had just run past me and I was thinking how beautiful the aircraft sounded. I watched him go down range. I looked because there was something uncharacteristic, the wing waggled and then departed from the organized flight into the vertical.
I knew something was wrong. I thought hopefully it was not too serious, but then it obviously became obvious that it was extremely serious. And people were crying out in the desert. There were women crying. This is just a tragic event all around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Federal investigators are on their way to Reno to try to determine why that plane went down.
The high cost of natural disasters, you might not live in a flood zone. You may not have been hit by a tornado or hurricane, but it could still cost you. We'll explain. It's 33 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: It's 36 minutes past the hour. Let's say good morning once again to Alexandra Steel with us this week. This thing behind me, I didn't notice. It was going to be severe. Do we have any today?
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: No. It should say, can't you smell that cool, crisp small air and the pumpkin spice coffee? We need a picture of the apple.
You need to put that behind me. It is time for apple picking, right? You certainly can feel it. It's actually the last full weekend of summer. The equinox coming up next Friday, but really, very cool air beginning to set the stage.
So I think June 1st, it was a heat wave for the months and then September 1st, you've really seen the dissipation. Here's a look, below normal temperatures, especially here in the mid-Atlantic and also in the upper Midwest from Duluth to Manchester, Vermont, and New Hampshire, a pretty chilly start.
Yesterday was kind of pinnacle of the cold though. Today, we've seen temperatures kind of rebound in the morning and they certainly will in the afternoon so beautiful sunny afternoon. Cool and crisp, cooler than it's been for many. It's really quite pleasant. A few caveats in that forecast.
A few severe storms here, Oklahoma and even through Texas. We just really need the rain, so not out of the question for an isolated downpour. But with this clockwise flow around this area of high pressure, this is kind of that cool Canadian Air coming down.
We have an on shore flow. That means is really awful beach weather for maybe Norfolk, Virginia to Duck and Coral in the outer banks. Onshore flow, even rip currents potential and some coastal flooding, so maybe you're trying to squeeze in that last beach weekend, it won't be a nice one there.
In terms of the high temperatures today, we're in the 70s believe or not in the southeast. Places like Atlanta, Georgia, 70s yesterday, low 70s, 80 degrees today. But the balance of this summer, we had 90 plus degree days, tying a record and kind of emblematic of what we saw here on the south east, just incredibly brutal summer.
Cooling down in the 60s only in the northeast, 70 in Washington, D.C. Washington south, that's kind of where the clouds and the showers are right along the coast. Upper Midwest, 65 today in Minneapolis and pretty comfortable although we will see some clouds and showers in the Pacific Northwest.
If you are traveling today, maybe a few delays in New York, Atlanta, Denver, maybe some low clouds this morning in San Francisco. T.J., back to you.
HOLMES: Great stuff. Alexandra Steele, always good to have you here with us. Thanks so much.
STEELE: Thank you.
HOLMES: We're 38 minutes past the hour now. Vice President Joe Biden has gotten a firsthand look at some of that flood damage in the northeast. Took a tour of some of the hardest hit areas in Pennsylvania, parts of that state and New York saw record flooding from remnants of Tropical Storm Lee earlier this month.
The 2011 has been a record year for natural disasters, damage, clean up cost in the billions. Even if you live in a part of the country that didn't get hit, you may still be paying. Let's talk to our financial analyst, Clyde Anderson and he explained why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: Insurance companies are in the business to protect you, but also make money. The more money they pay out, they have to replenish the pot and they have to stay in business. And so they're going to raise some of the rates and to cover themselves.
HOLMES: OK, how big are the rate increases we could be talking about?
ANDERSON: We're seeing increases from 10 percent to 20 percent that they've already put in with some of the state insurance agencies to go ahead - or authorities to go ahead and have these increases take effect.
HOLMES: OK, people will remember the south with the tornados. They'll remember the east coast with the hurricanes. But are those mainly the areas we'll see these increases or are we talking about all across the country?
ANDERSON: It really depends. I mean, right now, that's where we're going to see the increases beginning. You're going to see some in Texas, in Georgia. These are the areas that have already, in Alabama that have already kind of file to go ahead and increase the rate. So we could see that spread. HOLMES: OK, will we even know it? I mean, I didn't get hit by a disaster, but if I'm not paying close attention, will I even know?
ANDERSON: You could miss it if you're not paying close attention. And this is one of things everybody doesn't really pay attention especially your insurance, pay it in advance, or if it's tied to your mortgage.
So you what you have to do is know and look at the mail that you're getting, read it. Call the insurance company and just say what's my rate right now? They're going to send the information to you in the mail, but sometimes we miss it.
HOLMES: Can you compare - we see some of those commercials. But can you get a good deal on insurance now? Are they all doing about the same rates or --
ANDERSON: You can still get a good deal. Because again, there are a lot of factors that go into your insurance so just because they're raising rates, you may have some other things that could lower your rates.
You may have some things that maybe you don't have in your home anymore that you don't have to have insured. So there sometimes, you can have a decrease in the actual rate that you're paying.
So shop around and see. Call them at least once on every other year. Call them and see what my rate is and see if I qualify for any discounts. Sometimes you qualify for discounts maybe by the school you went to or some other organizations or affiliation that you may have. They have discounts.
HOLMES: Last thing here, is there any regulation or any law that keeps them from doing this? Because the last thing somebody wants, they just got hit by a big tornado, on top of all this, now they have to deal with a rate increase. Is there anything to keep them from doing this?
ANDERSON: They have to do it within a certain guideline so that's why they have to - with the state insurance authorities. And so they're going to cement that, but as long as they submit that and get it approved, it's OK to do that. So you just have to watch out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right, it's 41 minutes past the hour now. Dr. Oz, the popular TV doctor, he has sparked some fears and some controversy this week with claims about arsenic in that apple juice that's in your refrigerator. He tries to explain himself to me. Stick around for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Still about a quarter to the top of the hour. At first, it was suspected. Now it has been confirmed. Health officials say lab test of identified cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in Colorado as the source of a deadly Listeria outbreak.
The farm has voluntarily recalled all its melon shipped to 17 states, two deaths and 22 infections in seven states have been linked to this outbreak.
We should bring your attention to something else here, but we do not want to scare you. This is about possible poison in your apple juice. Let me explain, though. On his daily talk show, Dr. Oz raised a question about arsenic in apple juice. Look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MAHMET OZ, HOST, "THE DR. OZ SHOW": It should be one of the most wholesome drinks for you and your kids, apple juice. But we have discovered that apple juice contains arsenic. Yes, arsenic.
We've launched an extensive investigation, tested dozes of samples from three different cities across America. We sent them to an independent lab for sophisticated state of the art testing. Now our results are in. Some of the best known brands in America have arsenic in their apple juice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: OK. That is scary. You might have one of those brands in your refrigerator. It's scary, but is it true? Short answer is yes, but the short answer isn't the whole answer.
The Food and Drug Administration has tried to set this record straight. In a statement responding to Dr. Oz's claims and here's their statement, quote, "Organic arsenic is essentially harmless. It passes through the body quickly. Inorganic arsenic is the type found in pesticides and consuming it at high levels or over long periods can cause concern.
The testing Dr. Oz did was for total arsenic. The agency's own tests found lower total arsenic from one of the same juice batches the show's lab tested." It goes on to say there is no evidence of any public health risk from drinking these juices and the FDA has been testing them for years.
All right, but the doctor is still defending his story, something that I found out when I sat down with Dr. Oz this week.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OZ: I think folks have a right to know that there's arsenic in our apple juice. The amount that is appropriate we need to talk about. I have had open invitation, I'll say it again, the FDA, apple juices industry, their trade groups.
They're all welcome on my show, I will have this conversation. But what I don't want to do is have the American public confused about inorganic or organic arsenic.
HOLMES: But is organic -- is there not a difference between organic and inorganic, but the organic is not the stuff we should be worried about?
OZ: Organic arsenic our body copes as well, but inorganic stuff is the stuff we worry about. I am absolutely on base with that. The question I need to find out, and I asked them this information a couple of weeks ago and I was told to fill out a public information act to get it.
I have been trying. We reran because we kept were told the arsenic levels aren't what they say they were. One of our Washington affiliates sent that on their own. We weren't involved with it, 30 more samples from that area. They found the exact same thing we found. Ten out of 30 had elevated levels of arsenic in their samples.
HOLMES: Now, the other part of the FDA that's coming after you and I should hope some of those letters that they written to you guys. They're saying part of the argument is that the stuff you're testing and the arsenic level you come back with, we don't know which it is. So if it's just an arsenic level that's high, that could be organic arsenic. So which is it that your test did check out?
OZ: We're looking at both and we have shared our methodology and the laboratory information. It's all on our site. We have given it to the FDA. We have given it to the apple juice industry. Please, I just want to have the conversation. What I don't want to have is folks decide on their own. It's too complicated for me to figure out because it's not.
American apples don't have arsenic on them? Please someone tell me why we banned arsenic on our apples and we're still taking apples from other countries into this nation. And if someone ought to at least be looking at the border once in a while to figure out if what we're getting is really what it's supposed to be because they different.
Some companies do not have arsenic in their apple juice, others do. There has to be some methodology to figure this out. When we entered this, it was a morass. I would get some clarity. I'm not about consistent, T.J. I'm all about clarity. I want to figure out what's going on.
HOLMES: Should people be worried about the apple juice they're drinking right now as we wrap this might be scaring the heck out of folks right now.
OZ: I think folks have a right to know. I think we have not identified any child getting sick acutely from arsenic poisoning. But I don't think it's very important for us to recognize that if there are going to be issues, it will happen over long periods of time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: You heard him say it. It's important to repeat, not a single case out there of any arsenic poisoning based on apple juice. Fredricka Whitfield, always good to see you. Good morning.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, good morning. HOLMES: You really fired some people up this week.
WHITFIELD: There are a lot of folks who are very fired up because they hear apple juice. They remember back in the early 80s when there were discussions about pesticides and apples and the apple industry took a very big hit.
Now we're talking about arsenic, inorganic, organic. We're going to talk about it a little bit more. We have a doctor in the house at 3:00 Eastern Time. He's going to talk about it and talk about the distinctive differences between organic and inorganic. And would he drink that apple juice, should you?
HOLMES: You know, some people -- we shouldn't have to deal with organic, inorganic. That's why people are upset with Dr. Oz. You started a scare. People hear arsenic and apple juice. You're not trying to break down organic and inorganic. What are you talking about?
WHITFIELD: You hear those words associated with one another and it's alarming. So our Dr. Bill will be along, another doctor who's going to talk about whether he's alarmed or not. I'll give you a big hint. He's not that alarmed. He's going to try and allay some fears.
HOLMES: Good.
WHITFIELD: OK, and then our legal guys, they are always fun. They always educate us. They are going to tackle some interesting cases today including the case of a man packs a weapon to work. Workplace has a clear written policy, no weapons at work.
However, something takes place. Robbers come in or alleged robbers come in and try to steal, as you see there in that video, a tape from the store. Well, that employee pulls out his weapon, alleged robbers, as you see, get out of there. No one is hurt. Then guess what happens?
HOLMES: No way.
WHITFIELD: That employee loses his job because there is a written policy, no weapons at work, even though he may have saved the day there. We'll talk about. He's suing for his job back. He wants some restitution here.
HOLMES: What do you do there? It worked out there. What if it didn't and a customer was shot.
WHITFIELD: That's what the employer is saying. What if it didn't work out? We have a clear-cut policy. They are going to tackle that one and see what potentially could happen. I don't know, could you identify when you left home, when you left high school, left college, did you even think for a second to go back home?
HOLMES: To go back and live.
WHITFIELD: Yes, with your parents. HOLMES: Lord no. What are you talking about?
WHITFIELD: Well, it happens. These are hard times. In a lot of cases, you know, kids are not able to find that job. They are getting laid off. They're one of the many millions laid off.
HOLMES: That's different.
WHITFIELD: They are moving back home. In our financial fix today, Karen Lee will be along with some advice for parents as well as young people about trying to make sure parents and kids don't go broke because they become the boomerang.
HOLMES: More of that is happening. We've done stories about that these kids are getting out of school. No jobs. But a lot of them are staying in school. I've talked to so many going to graduate school, law school.
WHITFIELD: Right and so that debt goes up, too. You've heard Karen talk about that. Well, now a lot of folks are going back home. That incurs big expenses for parents. In many cases, the parents may be on fixed income, too. Maybe they have lost a job. So Karen Lee is going to be along with some answers for you.
HOLMES: Good to see you, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you.
HOLMES: We'll see you again here in about 7 minutes and 28 seconds.
WHITFIELD: A lot going on.
HOLMES: Fredricka coming up in just a moment. Stay with us with that. Also, if your kids are sitting around the house playing video games, go get them. Get them in front of the TV. You see those kids? I want you to see what he's doing.
WHITFIELD: That could be my kid. He does like a one-armed push- up. I'm like what?
HOLMES: Wow, who are you raising over there?
WHITFIELD: I was surprised. His push-ups are better than mine.
HOLMES: We'll introduce you to the workout kid. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, as we get close to the top of the hour, check some stories making headlines cross country. It does look like the lockdown in the military base in Tucson was just a false alarm, the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
It was on lockdown for hours after reports circulated that an armed gunman was seen entering one of the buildings. Police Air Force securities searched and never found the man or a weapon.
Also teachers strike in Tacoma, Washington has canceled school on Monday. That would be the fifth day of the walkout. Teachers are defying a judge's order to return to the classroom. As a result the teachers union could face fines. The 28,000 kids in Tacoma wait for classes to resume.
Look at this, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, convenience store clerk turned into crime fighter when an armed man tried robbing the place on Thursday, but you see there on the counter, the robber sat his gun down.
So what did she do, she pushed it over to the ground and went after the guy, wrestled him to the ground. He ran off, did not get any money. Police are now looking for him. Again, this worked out. Not sure if her families and friends would recommend that. But it worked out that time.
As we get close to the end of the hour, I want to introduce to C.J. Senter, a 10-year-old kid. He's doing all he can to fight childhood obesity. But look at what he's doing.
He now has a successful workout DVD marketed to kids. He's got another one coming out. Earlier I talked to the workout kid, as he's known, and asked why a 10-year-old would want to make a workout tape.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CJ SENTER, "THE WORKOUT KID": The reason I thought it was important because I want to stay fit and healthy and I want other kids to stay fit and healthy. I wanted to make a work out DVD so kids can get healthy.
HOLMES: Do you see a lot of your friends, people in school and growing up, do you see them sitting around the house a lot, not getting outside and getting active, eating bad food and quite frankly, getting big.
SENTER: I see a lot of kids doing that. That's why I want to make a workout DVD so they can get on their feet and have fun.
HOLMES: Now what happen to kids just going outside and playing? Kids don't do that anymore?
SENTER: No, they just like stay house all day, play video games and watch TV.
HOLMES: Now that's shame. Now a little about your background, you're a pretty good athlete. You're a football player. But to take this route, in football you go through workouts, you're running all the time. But how has this added another element to your workout or even your conditioning for football?
SENTER: Well, I try to put the time I have to do. I do my workouts. I go to football practice. It's kind of hard and easy at the same time. HOLMES: How long have you been doing this, the workout tapes? How long have you been doing it?
SENTER: For like four or five months.
HOLMES: Four or five months, this is new. This is your first workout tapes. We have some video of one of the workout tapes. We want people to see what we're talking about. There's one. You're putting kids through workouts. What age is this for? What age kids are you making this for?
SENTER: It's for any age, like five and 12 and teens, for a family.
HOLMES: Is it for adults?
SENTER: Yes.
HOLMES: Adults can do it, too. All right, I want you to show me a couple of things. I know you have some favorite moves like you to do. About to get serious here. All right, T.J., don't embarrass me. I'm a grown man. You're 10 years old. Show me a little something. One of your favorite moves here.
SENTER: OK, the first move is called the fighter. Put your hands in front of your face like a boxer, punch left and right.
HOLMES: OK. That's easy enough, right? That's easy. OK, all right. Give me another one.
SENTER: The second move is called the power jack.
HOLMES: Power jack.
SENTER: Power jack, you're going to put your hands and feet together. You're going to do a little jump, put some bend to your knees, bend elbows and put fist to chest. Jump up and put it together.
HOLMES: OK. I'm with you so far so good. What else have you got? Give me something a little harder. Not that hard, a little harder.
SENTER: Last move is the shredder.
HOLMES: Shredder, all right.
SENTER: The shredder because it's three moves. Down, up, jump.
HOLMES: OK. Down, up, then jump. All right, I'm losing my microphone here I'm working out so hard. OK, I can handle that one.
All right, so for folks who are interested, the kids, what would be your message to them? Like I said, a lot of adults always talking about childhood obesity. But the message coming from a 10-year old, what is your message to them? SENTER: My message to them would be to go outside, exercise, and get fit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: I love it.
HOLMES: I would have done more but the equipment and the suit, microphone and all.
WHITFIELD: It hindered you. I understand.
HOLMES: It did. It did.
WHITFIELD: C.J. had the upper hand over T.J.
HOLMES: He did.
WHITFIELD: It's wrong, wrong. You're the host of this show.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Getting shown up by a 10-year-old kid.
WHITFIELD: I love it. He's fit and has a great way of conveying the message.
HOLMES: And a great message.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: Get outside.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Get out there and start moving. I love it.
HOLMES: I'm going to get to moving now.
WHITFIELD: You get out and move now. You can do the rest of that routine outside. Enjoy the cool, fresh air.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: Good to see you. I'll be looking for you and your legal guys.
WHITFIELD: That's right. They're coming up in about 20 minutes from now.
