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CNN Saturday Morning News
Adding Cancers To 9/11 Health Fund; Firefighter On Trial For Murder; Focus On Long-Term Unemployment; CNN Hero Mary Cortani; Fighting in Damascus; Vegan Diet; Interview with Cast Members of New 'Dallas'
Aired June 09, 2012 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, this is EARLY START WEEKEND.
There is a federal investigation underway and it's targeting the highest levels of government. The FBI and the Department of Justice now looking into three cases of state secrets possibly leaked to the public. We have new details.
Plus --
DOUG O'NEILL, TRAINER, "I'LL HAVE ANOTHER": But, obviously, he's done so much that it was unanimous between the Reddams and my brother and I and everyone at the barn to retire him. And it is bummer, but, again, far from tragic, but it is very disappointing.
KAYE: A triple crown shocker before any horse even reaches the Belmont starting gate. "I'll Have Another" is out and will never run again. We'll tell you why.
Also --
RICHARD DIENER, UNEMPLOYED SINCE 2010: It's been frustrating. It's been frustrating because I've never had a problem finding work before.
KAYE: Five million. That is the number of Americans who have been out of work for more than six months. We put long-term unemployment in focus this morning. For millions, jobless benefits are running out. We have some tips on how you can get back to work.
Oh, yes. You recognize that song. Bobby is back. Sue Ellen is running for office and J.R. is as conniving as ever. No, we're not talking about the old "Dallas." This is the next generation. And they're still battles over control of South Fork. Wait until you see what the cast told me in our sit-down interview.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: It is Saturday, June 9th. Good morning, everyone. Glad you're with us. I'm Randi Kaye. A lot happening this morning.
But I wanted to first take a moment to sharing the story of a little boy who we can all be pretty darn proud of. I'm sure that you felt that sense of pride when your son hit the game winning homer of his little league game. Or maybe when your granddaughter brought home an "A" on that history test that she had agonized over. It's impossible not to be proud of a child when they go beyond our greatest expectations. So imagine the pride that you would feel if your child, who at just 15, helped save an entire neighborhood from a fire?
J.D. Tennapel ran door to door through his Colorado community warning neighbors that a wildfire was coming. And then picture this. Even as he was being wheeled into an ambulance for severe burns that he suffered during this great rescue effort, he continued to warn the medics to save the little old lady down the street.
Can you imagine this little hero? Well, he certainly made his family proud this morning, and us as well. I'll have much more on the story of this incredible eighth grader coming up.
But we start this morning with a guarantee from Attorney General Eric Holder that his new lead investigators will get to the bottom of the leaked secrets scandal. President Obama says his White House has zero tolerance for leaks and promises that anyone guilty will suffer consequences. Holder appointed two U.S. attorneys to work with the FBI in a pair of ongoing investigations.
In Syria, there are reports of an increase in anti-government activity in the capital Damascus. Free Syrian Forces and the military are battling there, as well as in other cities across the country. A local opposition group says at least 20 were killed in southern Syria and that doctors are being kept away from the wounded.
Federal marshals now offering $5,000 for information on a fugitive murder suspect wanted in Alabama. Deandra Marquis Lee is considered armed and dangerous. He's wanted in connection whip the shooting deaths of 9-year-old twins and their 73-year-old babysitter.
And to New York City now and possible financial help on the way from people sickened by the toxic smoke and fumes from the demolished World Trade Center on 9/11. A new ruling says that some cancers may now be added to the list of sicknesses. Nick Valencia has been looking into this for us this morning.
Nick, good morning to you.
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Randi.
KAYE: So, what kind of cancers are we talking about here?
VALENCIA: We're talking about Lymphoma. We're talking about lung cancer. The thing is, this represents a big about-face in federal health officials. Previously they had ruled that there was no direct link between cancer and the 9/11 attacks. You know, victims that were exposed to that smoldering rubble and toxic ash surrounding the World Trade Center towers after the attacks.
Federal health officials ruling, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which overseeing the 9/11 program, that's a $4.3 billion fund that's eligible for those victims that did developed cancer in the months after 9/11. This really represents a narrative of often forgotten victims in the narrative of 9/11.
KAYE: So, who might now be covered then? Because there are so many who couldn't even take care of themselves?
VALENCIA: That right. And this doesn't just affect first responders or firefighters. This is people anywhere in that area that were subjected to that toxic ash.
KAYE: So even if you lived nearby?
VALENCIA: Even if you lived nearby. The problem now, Randi, though, is trying to proving that and having probable cause for those victims that did develop cancer in the months after 9/11. This now makes it so that you have to prove. But how can you prove if even in the scientific community there's extreme doubt and skepticism about links between the 9/11 attacks and cancer.
KAYE: And if you think about it, too, I mean, how -- I guess a lot of people are probably wondering how long will they have to wait before this mike takes effect? Now, this is just a recommendation, right?
VALENCIA: This is not -- yes. We're not out of the woods just yet.
KAYE: Right.
VALENCIA: This is just a recommendation. This could take weeks, if not months. There are public comments, review, further review needs to be done. There's a lot of road -- a longer road ahead.
KAYE: Yes. Well, at least something's being done to try and help these folks.
Nick Valencia, thank you. We'll check back in with you throughout the morning.
VALENCIA: Thank you, Randi.
There will be no triple crown today. That's because the horse, "I'll Have Another," is injured and will miss today's Belmont Stakes. The problem, a bad tendon. "I'll Have Another's" trainer and owner decided it was in the best interest to keep the horse from running one more race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. PAUL REDDAM, OWNER, "I'LL HAVE ANOTHER": Horseracing is a very tough game in that, you know, horses are very delicate creatures and things can happen to them. And, unfortunately, fate decided today was the day for "I'll Have Another" to end his career.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: So we'll have to wait another year for a possible triple crown. As for "I'll Have Another," he's retired and will be put out to stud. Stud fees for a Kentucky Derby winner can be around $65,000.
Now here's a rundown of some of the stories that we're working on for you this morning. They've been looking for a job for more than six months. And, today, we're putting long-term unemployment in America in focus.
Plus, a man pulls a gun against a neighbor in what he calls an act of self-defense. Now he is on trial for murder. But his name is not George Zimmerman. This case is in Texas. A look at the controversial "Stand Your Ground" law.
Then, love can make you do some pretty crazy things. We all know that. For this woman, that meant stuffing herself in a suitcase. Yes, you do not want to miss the rest of this story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law is under intense scrutiny and stirring up a lot of controversy after George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. The law is now a key part of Zimmerman's defense. Now the U.S. commission on civil rights is expected to examine whether similar laws across the country have a racial bias.
That investigation may include Texas, where a retired firefighter is now on trial for murdering an elementary school teacher. But as you're about to see, the firefighter's own words are telling and even foreshadow his defense in court.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE (voice-over): When Raul Rodriguez showed up at his neighbor's house to complain about noise from a loud party, he was armed. Not just with a gun, but with a flashlight, a cell phone connected to 911 operators, and a video camera.
RAUL RODRIGUEZ (voice-over): That's more than 85 decibels, and I'm 200 feet away.
KAYE: It was May 2010, and the retired firefighter had been calling Harris County Police all night complaining about a rowdy party. Frustrated, he confronts his neighbor, Kelly Danaher, and some of his buddies, on the driveway.
RODRIGUEZ: Why don't y'all turn that down please?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, well, who you are?
RODRIGUEZ: I live over here. Turn it down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, don't go hollering at me, buddy.
KAYE: The video lasts about 20 minutes. Over and over, you hear Rodriguez tell the man to stop or he'll shoot.
RODRIGUEZ: I ain't going nowhere. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, you're going to go somewhere.
RODRIGUEZ: You need to stop right there. Don't come any closer, please. I'm telling you --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't tell us to stop coming no close to you.
RODRIGUEZ: I'm telling you stop. I said stop right now or I will shoot you. Stop! Get back!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back up, Kelly.
RODRIGUEZ: Get back. I'm in fear for my life. You all are drunk.
KELLY DANAHER: I got nothing, dude.
RODRIGUEZ: Get away from me.
KAYE: The men at Danaher's house appear unarmed, but, still, Rodriguez, who has a license to carry a concealed weapon, repeatedly tells the 911 operator he fears for his life.
RODRIGUEZ: It's just me against everybody. I've got a -- I've got -- look, there's about 15 people here. Look, I'm in -- I'm in fear for my life now. I'm in very -- that's why I drew my weapon. I'm in fear for my life. Please help me now. They're going to kill me. Oh, Jesus, they're going to kill me. I mean, I smell liquor.
KAYE: The men shout at Rodriguez and Rodriguez tells police the partygoers want to, quote, "beat me down."
RODRIGUEZ: And so I'm running the video camera right now when I'm talking to you and, I mean, I'm scared to death here.
KAYE: At some point, one of the men seems to hint at getting his own weapon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I go in that house and I come back, don't think I won't be equal to you, baby.
RODRIGUEZ: OK, they're going to escalate this. OK, now he's talking about going in the house and getting something else to shoot me with. I'm going to have to defend myself. I'm going to have to defend myself.
KAYE (on camera): While it may seem a bit odd to bring a gun to resolve a noise complaint, Rodriguez still may be able to defend himself using Texas's version of the "Stand Your Ground" law, known as the castle doctrine. It says a person can use force if that person feels as though his or her life is in danger.
So what happens in the next few moments on that video is key. Rodriguez uses very specific language. Phrases like, "I'm standing my ground," and "my life is in danger."
Listen closely. RODRIGUEZ: It's about to get out of hand, sir. Please, help me. Please, help me, sir. My life is in danger now.
He's about -- he says he's going to go in the house, he's going to come out, he's going to be more than equal than me.
Now I'm standing my ground here. Now these people are going to try to kill me.
KAYE: Then, suddenly, shots fired.
RODRIGUEZ: Look, I'm not losing to these people anymore. I'm just going to just tell them to stay back when they come -- they're drunk. They're swearing.
(MEN LAUGHING)
RODRIGUEZ: God dang it.
KAYE (voice-over): And that's where the video ends. But we know the shooting continued. Three of the partygoers are shot; two survive, but Kelly Danaher, the young father and elementary school teacher hosting the party, is dead.
Raul Rodriguez says he's not guilty of murder and he's hoping this grainy video will prove he acted in self-defense and never planned to kill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And we what to know what you think about this case? What Raul Rodriguez just acting in self-defense or was this murder? Tweet me @RandiKayeCNN and we'll share some of your thoughts on the air later this hour.
Losing unemployment benefits. It's a reality for tens of thousands right now. And it is our focus this morning. We're looking at problems facing the long-term unemployed and solutions that could get you back in the workforce.
And they say love makes you do some pretty crazy things, but how about curling up in a suitcase to visit your boyfriend. Well, it landed this woman in trouble with the law, as you might imagine. We'll tell you why she did it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Ain't that the truth in this economy. Unemployment benefits are ending this month for tens of thousands of people who have been out of work long term. We are focusing this morning on the problem and some possible solutions.
Here are the numbers. Te latest labor report shows 12.7 million Americans unemployed. Of those, more than 5 million have been out of work for at least six months. The average is actually around 40 weeks. Thousands have blown past that 40-week threshold and have exhausted all unemployment benefits, regular and even emergency.
CNN's Sandra Endo introduces us to one of those struggling without benefits.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Home improvements are what Richard Diener does to stay busy since he's been unemployed for two years.
RICHARD DIENER, UNEMPLOYED SINCE 2010: It's been frustrating. It's been frustrating because I've nerve had a problem finding work before.
ENDO: This 53-year-old electrical engineer used to earn around six figures. Now he's forced to think outside the box.
DIENER: You know, like one of the jobs I saw was a teller at the local credit union. It was a part-time job as, like, $12 an hour, but, you know, still it's some income.
ENDO: Diener is like 5 million jobless Americans who have been out of work for more than six months. He was collecting unemployment benefits, but they expired in December. And he's tapping into his savings to make ends meet.
This month, 70,000 more jobless Americans across two dozen states will share Diener's plight when their benefits run out. And all long-term unemployment insurance will eventually be phased out by the end of the year. The new timeline was set by Congress in February when lawmakers passed what they promise will be the last extension of long-term benefits. Congress also cut down the maximum length of time a person can collect unemployment from 99 weeks to 73.
DIENER: It is frightening to realize, you know, that one safety net is being pulled out from under you.
ENDO: The political divide over another extension is deep. Republicans say it's too costly and enables people to stay on unemployment rolls longer. Democrats say it's money that finds its way back into the economy and is the best way to help the unemployed. For now, nothing is on the table to extend benefits past this year.
And the presidential rivals are also duking it out over job creation plans. President Obama says Congress needs to act to help stimulate the economy.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The private sector is going fine. Where we're seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For the president of the United States to stand up and say the private sector is doing fine is an extraordinary miscalculation and misunderstanding by a president who's out of touch.
ENDO: The president later clarified his remarks. OBAMA: The economy's not doing fine. But let me be as clear as I can be. The economy needs to be strengthened. That's why I had a press conference.
ENDO: The big question is, whether Congress will take up the issue before election day.
Sandra Endo, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: You met Richard Diener there in Sandra Endo's piece and he'll join me next hour to talk more about the struggles of finding work and dealing with the loss of unemployment benefits.
It is a different kind of relationship baggage. A woman arrested for trying to get a secret tryst in this big pink roller bag. Yes, she's in trouble.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Good morning, New York City. What a beautiful shot there of New York City. Good morning, everyone. Welcome back.
Here's a check of what's making news cross country.
Plenty of relationships have baggage, right, but not like this. In Oregon, a woman was arrested for trespassing because her boyfriend was sneaking her into his apartment in a big pink rolling suitcase. Kola McGrath was banned from the building after getting into some trouble last year, apparently. But, she says, she doesn't want the arrest to stand in her way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOLA MCGRATH, ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING: I'll do it all over again, or would, but they're already on to me now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Ah, yes, sort of.
To Colorado, where an eighth grade boy rode his all-terrain vehicle through flames to warn his elderly neighbors about a wildfire. The boy suffered second-degree burns, but his dad says that with flames over 100 feet high, the move was heroic but necessary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES TENNAPEL, TEEN'S FATHER: We knew it was going to be bad. I told my son to get on his ATV and head up the road and tell the neighbors all north of the fire, because it was so fast that, you know, you just didn't know who was in distress.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: And from coast to coast, you can get into national parks for free today. It is National Get Outdoors Day. So all 397 national parks are waiving their entrance fees. Some state parks are offering free admission as well.
For many U.S. troops returning home, the emotional aftermath of war can be just as devastating as their experiences in the war zone. In fact, it's estimated that 18 veterans take their own lives every day. This week's CNN Hero is giving veteran whose suffer from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries a way to move forward with the help of man's best friend. Meet Mary Cortani.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I got back from Iraq, I stayed away from large crowds, malls, movies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wouldn't leave the house. Just didn't want to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stayed inside. Windows were blacked out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was really numb. Didn't feel like I had a purpose any more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nightmares constantly. Flashbacks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything to me is still a combat zone.
MARY CORTANI, CNN HERO: Veterans with invisible wounds. We can't see a wheelchair, a prosthetic leg. They appear like you and I, but they're suffering goes so deep it touches the soul.
CJ, what are you doing, buddy?
I learned how to train dogs while I served in the Army and I knew that a dog can add a lot in your life. I realized this is what I was supposed to do.
My name is Mary Cortani. I match veterans with service dogs, train them at a team so that they can navigate life together.
When a veteran trains their own service dog, they have a mission and a purpose again.
Talk to them. Tell them they did good.
Dogs come from shelters, rescue groups. They're taught to create a spaceial (ph) barrier and can alert them when they start to get anxious.
Are you OK? You getting overwhelmed? Focus on Maggie (ph).
The dog is capable of keeping them grounded.
You're focusing on him and he's focusing on everything around you. You start to see them get their confidence back. Communicate differently. They venture out and they're beginning to participate in life again. Being able to help them find that joy back in their life, it's priceless.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Mary was nominated for CNN Heroes from a viewer like you. To nominate someone who's making a difference in your community, visit cnnheroes.com.
Syria's capital city rocked by gunfire and explosions. Now signs of the uprising are just a few hundred feet away from President Bashar al Assad's home. We're going live to Beirut for the latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: It is just about half past the hour. Welcome back, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. Glad you're with us.
The rebel uprising in Syria is now approaching the government's front door. Gunfights and demonstrations are erupting in the capital city of Damascus, long considered to be a stronghold for President Bashar al Assad. Now, shots echo in the streets. CNN's Arwa Damon is live in Beirut, Lebanon, keeping an eye on this for us this morning.
Arwa, you're joining us now by phone. But looking at these pictures that we're seeing coming in from Damascus, does the Assad regime sense trouble?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Certainly, certainly, because it is imperative for the survival of the Assad regime that it maintains control over the capital, over Damascus itself.
We saw some pretty intense clashes erupting in a fair number of neighborhoods. Some of them in the heart of the capital itself.
Now, the capital's suburbs pretty much were the onset of this uprising, have in fact been strongholds for the opposition. But most of the time, they are only able to go out and demonstrate literally for just a minute or two before security forces show up, and that is if they are even able to hit the streets at all.
There have been some occasions where free Syrian army elements have maintained control over the Damascus suburbs for short periods of time, but then the government always goes in with a heavy hand and regains control. But this level of widespread clashes throughout the capital, even in the neighborhoods in the heart of Damascus itself, this is not something that we have seen in the past during this entire uprising. It most certainly is a very interesting development, one that the Assad regime most definitely is going to have to regain control over, because it cannot afford to have these scenes replaying time and time again.
KAYE: And even though this fight has been going on now for 15 months, I mean, I'm not sensing any fatigue among the rebels or among government forces. Are you?
DAMON: You know, in some ways, that is what is just so amazing when it comes to the opposition, that after 15 months they're still able to somehow muster and go out and demonstrate. On the few occasions where I have been able to join them during their demonstrations, I can tell you, Randi, it takes them days, if not weeks, to organize one demonstration.
But when it comes to Damascus, it can last around five minutes before security forces show up, and yet they have been doing it for, as you mentioned there, 15 months. And no, they're not going to give up. And the government also just firming its position as well. Both sides are so determined, so polarized against one another. But also, both sides, Randi, are in it until the very end. To back down for either party at this point in time would be tantamount to suicide for this literally is a fight for their very existence when it comes to the opposition, when it comes to the regime.
Of course, the great concern is that if nothing changes, this becomes a long, drawn-out civil war. A war of attrition that is only going to see more massacres, more bloodshed, and a war in Syria is not going to stay confined to Syria. It most definitely will have a regional spillover effect, and that is of course what everyone is trying to prevent.
KAYE: Yes, that is certainly the big concern. Arwa Damon for us in Beirut, Lebanon, this morning. Arwa, thank you very much.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been front and center calling for action on Syria. She met with special envoy Kofi Annan yesterday to discuss Annan's peace plan. But check out what the American people think of the problem. Only 33 percent of Americans think that the government should intervene. That's a rise over what it was in February, but still not a big number who think the U.S. has any responsibility in Syria.
Joining me now is Mark Katz. He is a professor of government and politics at George Mason University. Professor, good morning to you. Let's talk about Syria here. I mean, we have seen the horrors. So why isn't the United States pushing for military intervention as they have in many areas before?
MARK KATZ, GEORGE MASON UNIV.: I think because the American public and the American government are tired of intervention, that it didn't work out so well in Iraq or Afghanistan, and I think that the U.S. fears that intervention in Syria could be a years' long effort which is going to be inconclusive.
KAYE: When you look at the Syrian situation, though, how is it any different from Libya, where the U.S. partnered with NATO on air strikes?
KATZ: I think that's partly because NATO -- or Libya took much longer than expected, that people don't have a stomach for Syria. I think that people thought that with the NATO air strikes in Libya, that Gadhafi would fold quickly. And then, of course, it dragged on for months and months. And I think the anticipation is that Syria would be much, much more difficult a conflict to get involved in.
KAYE: You have said that the U.S., you believe, is hiding behind Russia and China, which we know both Russia and China are against sanctions being imposed on Syria. What do you mean by the U.S. hiding behind those two?
KATZ: Well, I think that in the past, the U.S. has not waited for Security Council approval. The U.S. has been willing to act outside the Security Council. We did this not only the Bush administration in Iraq, but the Clinton administration in Kosovo, in the former Yugoslavia.
I think the Russians, they know as well enough to know if we're serious, the choice we give them is that either they support us in the Security Council or not, but we're going to go in, and the fact that we are, you know, claiming that Russia and China are blocking action -- well, they know from our past behavior that that's not a real obstacle. So we must not really want to go in.
KAYE: All right. Mark Katz, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very much.
KATZ: Thank you.
KAYE: Well, if you're up with us this morning, we're certainly glad you are. Maybe you're eating your breakfast, looking for ways to live a healthier life. My next guest believes a vegan diet is the answer. Plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you cleaned up your act for the new season?
LINDA GRAY, ACTRESS: Well, let's see. Yes. So far.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: She is back, and just as beautiful. Linda Gray dishes on all the drama for the Dallas Dynasty's return to television.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My one and only bridesmaid had a family emergency and won't be able to make the wedding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. All right. So put down the Egg McMuffin. Stay away from that bacon. Yes, I'm sorry, but you did hear me correctly. It is not so much that they're fattening, it is that those foods contain animal products. And according to my next guest, if you throw out the meat and the dairy and eat vegan, you could cure what ails you, even diabetes. Dr. Daniel Nadeau specializes in diabetes and he is joining me now. Good morning, Doctor. DR. DANIEL NADEAU, PHYSICIAN: Yes, good morning, Randi.
KAYE: So this is a fascinating conversation. I've been looking forward to this. You're well known for your book "The Color Code," but your new book, which isn't even out yet, suggests a vegan diet for your patients. How does this actually work to help control diabetes?
NADEAU: Well, you know, worldwide, both people young and old are developing diabetes at an alarming rate. And a vegan diet can help people turn their lives around. I have seen in my own practice that, you know, real change in diet makes a real difference in terms of diabetes control, helping people control their weight and getting on to a healthy life.
KAYE: You have some very specific tips for a vegan lifestyle, because a lot of people might not know exactly what it includes. But one of the things that you say is to include plenty of healthy plant-based proteins in the diet, from beans, to nuts, seeds, and then you should avoid red meat.
NADEAU: Exactly.
KAYE: And that plant proteins are best. Why are plant proteins actually better than meat?
NADEAU: Well, plants have within them phytonutrients that help to protect the body from the inflammation that people with diabetes suffer from. And so one way of including more plants in your diet is to follow a vegan diet.
One thing that people should not do is eat red meat. It's been shown that even three ounces of red meat per day can significantly increase the risk of developing and worsening of diabetes. So it's a real issue.
KAYE: And -- I'm sorry. Go ahead.
NADEAU: And, also, I think the idea of eating lots of fruits and vegetables, trying to get up to eight to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, try to eat a rainbow of colors every day. That would include, you know, your mother always told you, eat your greens, but also eat your reds, your blues, your oranges and your yellows every day. A whole rainbow of colors.
KAYE: I know you're a big fan of the berries. Why are berries so important? I know they're low in sugar. That's a good thing. Right?
NADEAU: Well, it turns out berries are very potent antioxidants. In fact, of all the fresh foods ever tested, wild blueberries are the highest in terms of their antioxidant benefits. And to start every day with, for example, a blueberry smoothie is just awesome. And you can throw another high-antioxidant foods. Like everything from, like, coconives (ph), to a little spinach in there, sounds a little crazy, but just combining different antioxidants, it turns out that you get the most benefit if the food hasn't actually been cooked in general. If you're eating it fresh and you're getting those antioxidants into your body, it's just a great way to just coat your body and protect yourself from the in cells that you have through the day. And people with diabetes, with their high blood sugars and the oxidative damage that's occurring, they benefit especially from having these brightly colored fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
KAYE: And you also suggest drinking water, coffee, tea, but only using the sweeteners such as Stevia, right, or xylitol? Some people actually --
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: That those sweeteners are not so healthy. So what do you say to those folks?
NADEAU: Well, Stevia is an all-natural product, it's from a little plant in Peru, and also the sugar alcohols are quite healthy, as well, like xylitol, erythritol and so on. Like Truvia is on the market now, that's kind of -- that's Stevia plus erythritol.
I see that as a healthy sweetener and not chemically derived. Xylitol, for example, was derived from the bark of birch trees. And it's a healthy product.
KAYE: Let me ask you this, because a lot of people, for them it might be too extreme to go vegan. So would a vegetarian diet, which isn't as strict as a vegan diet, where you can eat a little bit of fish or maybe even some dairy, would that help too?
NADEAU: You're absolutely right, Randi. I mean, having some fish from time to time or a few times a week is not a bad idea. I do try to get people to stay away from dairy products. I mean, milk to me was designed to make a cow go from 80 pounds to 1,000 pounds during the course of a year, and you concentrate it in the form of cheese. And people who eat a lot of cheese and a diet high in dairy products I find will often have a hard time controlling their weight. So I try to get people to move away -- I say vegan mainly to try to get people to consider the dairy products in their diet, and try to reduce those. It's better for them to be eating plant-derived foods. You know, the things that we mentioned, the berries, and the beans and the legumes and the whole grains, and so on. Even having two or three servings of whole grains per day can reduce the risk of diabetes by about 30 percent.
KAYE: And even if you don't have diabetes, I am going to recommend -- and I'm sure you'll agree with me -- just eating that way, in general. Right? It's healthier? Good for you?
NADEAU: Absolutely, Randi. I think the point is that some people like to say, well, there is a diet for people with diabetes, but I would argue there's really only one diet. There is a healthy diet that all of us should try and follow.
KAYE: All right. Well, I hope folks who are waking up early with us this morning are taking some notes here. Dr. Nadeau, thank you so much. Appreciate having you on the show.
NADEAU: Hey, my pleasure. Thank you so much, Randi.
KAYE: Well, if you follow the explosive rivalries of the Ewing family, then here is some good news. The hit show "Dallas" is back following the old clan and the new generation of scheming Ewings. The cast gave me a sneak peek at the new series. And if you're a fan of the show, I think you'll like what they had to say.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: I am so excited about this. J.R. Ewing, Sue Ellen and Bobby are back. That's right, after 13 seasons and 357 episodes, "Dallas" returns. The original "Dallas," which ran on CBS from 1978 to 1991, remains one of the most popular television series of all time. Now TNT is reviving the series, which follows the original characters and their children. And what about he bitter rivalry, scandals and cliff hangers that made the show so successful? Two of the show's stars, Linda Gray and Josh Henderson, told me what to expect.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: I'm so excited about the series. I have my DVR set, I am all excited about it, for it to start. But I want to ask you, Linda, first, what made you decide to reprise your role?
GRAY: What made me decide?
KAYE: Yes. What brought you back?
GRAY: I love it. We were chosen. That's what Cynthia Cidre, our executive producer, says. She chose and she calls us the big three, and invited us back to play these crazy, wonderful, dysfunctional roles again.
KAYE: Dysfunctional being the key word?
GRAY: Yes. That's it. So who would say no to that, because you know, I loved working with Larry and Patrick, and we knew that we would never get to work together again, because we're too recognizable as those characters. So this was like a yahoo, let's do it. Let's go to Texas and do it again.
KAYE: And, Josh, are you ready to join this dysfunctional family?
JOSH HENDERSON, ACTOR: I'm completely ready. I guess ready as I can be. I don't really know what to expect, except that I feel blessed to be a part of this.
KAYE: So how true to the original series is this going to be?
GRAY: It's -- it's a continuation. And I must give Patrick Duffy the credit, because he says it's year 14, and that's exactly what it feels like. It wasn't a glitch, a bump. It just seamlessly goes from what you saw before to this new generation, to 2012.
KAYE: So tell me about this new generation of Ewing. You play little J.R., as I've seen it called. Are you going to be as ruthless as your father?
HENDERSON: I'm like the sweetest guy you've ever met. It's --
KAYE: I don't know about that.
(CROSSTALK)
HENDERSON: It's kind of weird that John Ross is so --
KAYE: You had a ruthless mother and a ruthless father. So I don't know.
HENDERSON: Yes, how did John Ross turn out to be so nice and caring and respectful?
(CROSSTALK)
HENDERSON: I'd say he's a little chip off the old block. You know? He definitely knows how to do business one way, and that's the J.R. way, and he believes that it's his fate to be an oil man, and hopefully he wants to be even better and one-up J.R. No, I don't even know if he thinks that's possible, but that's his goal. And he's an intense, passionate young man, who has issues from not having the best parenting, and you know, here we are now. Thanks, momma.
KAYE: So tell me about the target audience, because I'm wondering as a fan of the original series, will watching it now make me feel older, or will it bring me back to that time and make me feel young again?
GRAY: As "Dallas" always was and still is, it's about entertaining you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am sick to death of this family devouring itself over money!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRAY: And keeping you engaged with the characters.
KAYE: And the cliffhangers.
GRAY: And the cliffhangers. Because what it is now, it's a continuation. It will blend. It blends beautifully with the older characters and the young characters, and there's not this -- there's nothing that will have you say, to my knowledge, anyway, and we've seen them all, that you won't just sit there and go, nah, it's not like the old days. It will just be like, oh, my God. Did you know this and this? They'll just forget about it and feel that it's just this flawless segue into this new show.
KAYE: Year 14.
GRAY: Yes. Year 14. And that's how it feels. It feels like that to us, the three of us. And it just feels smooth. (END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: So it seems the new "Dallas" will pick up where the old one left off. But will anyone get shot? And is the theme song the same? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Affairs, benders and murders, drama depicted in the '80s series "Dallas" pushed the boundaries of television. Now the show is returning to TNT. Sue Ellen, JR and Bobby are back with a new generation of troublemakers. They talked with me about some of the twists and turns that we can expect in the new season.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Any surprises in the two-hour premiere that's coming up?
GRAY: Oh, the audience--
(CROSSTALK)
GRAY: -- will love it. There are surprises.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have no right to drill on this land.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a Ewing. I have every right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRAY: It engages you. It just brings you right in and just holds you and just shakes you. OK, don't you dare get up. You have to see this show. It's so amazing.
KAYE: This is the one thing I need to know. Is the theme song the same?
GRAY: You bet.
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: As soon as the music starts, you're in.
GRAY: Yes, exactly. And you can't sit still. It is just like, you know, it does, it grabs you.
HENDERSON: We knew some people are probably going to be there to go, let's just see if this is as good as the original. And I understand. I get it, you know? And I know that quickly, I believe that the show really took them back so much and really re-engaged them so quickly that they were able to just enjoy.
KAYE: So is anybody going to get shot this season?
HENDERSON: Well -- it's not who shot John Ross, so--
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: She'll protect you.
HENDERSON: There is all kinds of crazy stuff, and you just have -- I mean, I think that we are going to hopefully go beyond people's expectations. And when it comes to the cliffhanger stuff, I mean, you almost can't even leave during the commercial break, because there's more than one cliffhanger in the show. I mean, it keeps you guessing right from the first episode. You're going to think it's over and it's not. And it is just going to keep twists and turns and it is so layered. So I won't tell you about how things go down, but there's some big stuff happening.
GRAY: Don't you dare.
HENDERSON: I know, I know.
KAYE: I have to ask you, Linda, because a lot of our viewers watched you 20 years ago. And you look fantastic.
GRAY: Thank you.
KAYE: So what have you been doing? What is your secret?
GRAY: I'm a happy person. I have a great family life. And I work out. They're teaching me how to work out even better. I watch these guys in the gym and I'm like, oh, I better step it up a little bit.
HENDERSON: It's funny, we bump into each other in the gym all the time.
GRAY: In the gym.
HENDERSON: Hey, mama.
GRAY: I love it. He calls me mama. Is that the sweetest thing in the world? You know, it's life. It's -- enjoying every minute of life, and the other beauty secret is working. So I'm back working. I love it.
KAYE: Is there anything she taught you even off set that you want to share with us?
HENDERSON: I remember she told me in the beginning, she said, if I can give you any advice, if we ever have a dinner scene and Larry and Patrick are in the scene, just watch out for flying dinner rolls. So anytime we ever are around food -- on-set or off-set -- I was definitely --
GRAY: He was prepared.
HENDERSON: Is that Larry? Is Patrick here? No. The main thing, just like Larry, he said, congratulations on being here with us, and have fun. You know? Enjoy the ride. And as long as you do that, you know, it will come through the work. And it was the best advice, because we all had so much fun, and at the end of the day I'm so proud of the show. It really -- there is an emotional value to the show and I think a nostalgic value for the original fans that hopefully it takes people back, and we just take them for a ride, because the show is definitely--
KAYE: I can't wait for the ride to begin.
HENDERSON: Good.
KAYE: Thank you both.
GRAY: Thank you.
HENDERSON: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: "Dallas" premieres this week on TNT.
Well, we asked, you answered. Viewer feedback, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back.
Earlier in the show, we told you about a controversial stand your ground case out of Texas. A retired firefighter on trial for murdering an elementary school teacher over a noise complaint in the victim's own driveway. And a Texas version of the stand your ground law does allow people to protect themselves outside their homes if they feel their lives are threatened. But Raul Rodriguez was the only one armed and prosecutors say that he used specific buzz words during the confrontation to make sure that he'd have a case.
So, we asked what your thoughts are on this.
And Gabriel tweeted to me, "He definitely went over to his neighbor's house with the intention to harm."
Barbara said, "That guy is a murderer. His life was not in danger. Only in his mind. He used that law as an excuse to shoot someone."
Thanks for starting your morning with us. We've got much more ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING which starts right now.
