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EARLY START
Claim: No Ebola Protocols at Texas Hospital; ISIS Advances in Iraq; At Least 45 Arrested in Hong Kong
Aired October 15, 2014 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Startling accusations against the Dallas hospital where a man died of Ebola. And a nurse is fighting for her life. A nurses union saying there were no protocols as the CDC admits things should have been done differently. So, what's going on?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight: protesters and police clash in Hong Kong. Officers in riot gear using pepper spray to try to clear a major thoroughfare there. We have a live report.
BERMAN: Battling ISIS. Bombs going off in Baghdad as the terrorists make advances in a neighboring province. Just how dire is the situation surrounding Iraq's capital.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, October 15th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.
BERMAN: And there are stunning accusations this morning against a Dallas hospital that treated Liberian man who died of Ebola last week. A national nurses union is claiming that guidelines were constantly changing at Texas Health Presbyterian and, quote, "There were no protocols for Ebola treatment." The union cited nurses in the hospital who it would name to protect them from possible retaliation. The hospital released a statement last night saying, we have numerous measures in place to provide a safe, working environment, including mandatory annual training in a 24/7 hot line and other mechanisms to allow for anonymous reporting.
ROMANS: The CDC responded to the nurses claims with a statement, saying it is, quote, "committed to their safety."
Earlier Tuesday, CDC Director Thomas Frieden admitted the federal health officials did not do all they should have to prevent Ebola from spreading from Thomas Eric Duncan to the Texas Health Presbyterian nurse who cared for him. Frieden promised Tuesday to put a team of Ebola experts on the ground within hours anywhere after a diagnosis anywhere in the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: You know, I thought often about it -- I wish we had put a team like this on the ground the day the first patient was diagnosed. That might have prevented this infection.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The infected nurse herself, Nina Pham, doing better this morning with an upgrade in her condition, thankfully.
CNN's Victor Blackwell is in Dallas for us, with more on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, an optimistic update.
Good morning, John and Christine.
Nina Pham has been upgraded from stable to good condition. And we received that news on the same day that the hospital released a statement from Pham herself. I want to read part of it to you here. She writes, or rather says, "I'm doing well and want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers. I'm blessed by the support of family and friends, and I'm blessed to be cared for by the best team of doctors and nurses in the world here at Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas."
Yesterday, we also heard from the director of the CDC, Dr. Tom Frieden, that state and federal officials are now monitoring 76 health care workers who treated Thomas Eric Duncan, who was treated at this hospital, for 11 days before he died of Ebola, to see if they had any of the symptoms that would possibly lead them to also testing positive.
We drove about 35 miles west from Dallas to Fort Worth to speak with Father Jim Khoi. He leads the congregation at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. The Pham family has been part of that group -- that congregation for more than a decade. He says that Pham and her mother have been in close contact during this entire ordeal.
How are the two communicating, mother and daughter, right now?
REV. JIM KHOI, OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH: They can talk via Skype and phone, so they know for sure what happens with one another. And I think Nina and her mom doing well and feel comfortable with the (INAUDIBLE).
BLACKWELL: And CDC detectives still have not determined exactly when Pham contracted the disease, when she had that exposure. But we know her friends and family, especially Father Khoi, they are waiting to find out exactly when she's coming home -- John, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Very interesting. Our thanks to Victor for that.
We do have some other major news this morning, President Obama is acknowledging the recent gains by ISIS in Iraq and Syria. In a meeting with military leaders with 22 countries in a collation against the Islamic militants, the president said there will be no quick fixes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is going to be a long-term campaign. There are not quick fixes involved. We're still at early stages. As with the military effort, there will be days of progress and there are going to be periods of setback.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: In Baghdad on Tuesday, two ISIS car bombings killed a member of the Iraqi parliament and dozens of others. That as security sources tell CNN ISIS fighters in western Iraq are surrounding one of the country's largest air bases preparing to attack.
Our senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman is live in Baghdad with the latest.
Good morning, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
Well, this is one of those not so good days for the U.S. effort against ISIS in Iraq. Yesterday, of course, there was that major car bombing in Kadhimiya in Baghdad which left a member of the Iraqi parliament, Ahmad al-Khafaji, dead and more than 21 others dead killed as well.
And this is really part of this daily series of car bomb suicide bombings that occur in the Iraqi capital and keep this place very much on edge.
Very much on the brink, however, is the province of Anbar, where according to police and area sources, the Ein al-Assad air base, which is one of the largest in Iraq, has been surrounded by is, that coming just one day after another camp nearby was also overrun by ISIS. Apparently, ISIS was yet again able to get its hands on some very good and expensive American equipment and ammunition.
Now, we're told as far as the situation in his air base Ein al-Assad goes, that this is an open desert area, so it's not so easy for ISIS to operate, but nonetheless there's no way for the Iraqi army to get there, to relieve this base to send in supplies, so the situation not good -- John.
BERMAN: Of course, yes, no way of knowing if the Iraqi army would be even capable of doing it even if they could get there.
Ben Wedeman on the situation in Iraq -- thanks so much, Ben.
ROMANS: All right. Violence erupting overnight in Hong Kong, as pro- democracy protesters tried to retake a major road outside government headquarters encircling police. Officers pushing back with pepper spray arresting dozens. Police officials meanwhile are promising to investigate six officers who were captured on a video by a local TV station taking a democracy protester behind a building to kick him during the street clearing operation.
International correspondent Manisha Tank is in Hong Kong live with the very latest for us this morning -- Manisha.
MANISHA TANK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, hi.
Yes, there were those clashes overnight in the early hours of the morning. They've been trying to stage a sit-in protest, on public streets, how do you do it? You have to have barricaded either end of your street. And that's what Hong Kong has been subjected to over the last few weeks.
It meant that traffic has been seized up, and police have been complaining about, the government has been complaining about it, warning these demonstrators they have begun to push them back. That's exactly what they tried to do by dismantling those barricades. But 45 people were arrested. This was for unlawfully erecting barricades and also obstructing police business.
ROMANS: What can you tell us about that video of police beating a protesters, Manisha? This is causing a lot of concerns among pro- democracy advocates. And, in fact, until now, it had been pretty peaceful on both sides?
TANK: Yes, it had been. Apart from the use of tear gas about two weeks ago, it had been very peaceful. We've seen the police push right back. They're really just protecting the chief executive's office.
What we saw in that video six plainclothes policemen allegedly beating a demonstrator in the darken corner. This was all picked up by a local TV station. This has gone online. It's in the Internet, more and more people are beginning to watch the video.
The police have responded. They say that they will conduct an inquiry and it will impartial. The government, of course, is also reiterating that police statement. But, yes, there are many pro-democracy groups which are outraged by this. And, in particular, even Amnesty International has raised a question over it, so that it wants to see justice against those six police officers.
ROMANS: Justice against those officers.
Manisha Tank for us this morning in Hong Kong -- thank you.
BERMAN: Federal prosecutors, I should say, have added 17 new charges that could bring the death penalty to Ahmad Abu Khattala, the alleged mastermind in the 2012 attack on the U.S. consul in Benghazi, in Libya. The new grand jury indictment includes multiple counts of murder. The previous indictment only charged him with providing materiel support to terrorists. The Libyan militant has been held since his capture by U.S. Special Forces in June. Four Americans, you'll remember, including Ambassador Chris Stevens died in that attack on that compound in Benghazi.
ROMANS: The Pentagon says it has completed an investigation to the circumstances surrounding the Taliban capture of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan. Military officials are now reviewing the results. Several soldiers who served with Bergdahl claimed he deserted their army unit. Bergdahl was released in May after five years in captivity in a controversial swap for five Taliban prisoners.
BERMAN: St. Louis police say test results on a teenager showed gunshot residue on his clothing and hands suggesting that 18-year-old Vonderrit Myers was armed and may have fired on the officer before he was killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those findings are without question revealed with gunshot residue on the shooting hand and his belt line where the officer said he produced a gun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The shooting sparked outrage and protest in the street. Myers family has claimed publicly that he did not have a gun when he was killed.
ROMANS: After what appeared to be a 180 on the church's position on homosexuality and divorce, the Vatican backtracking. The report said that gays and lesbians have, quote, "gifts to offer" and that same sex couples can have precious support to each other, give precious to each other. But after criticisms from conservative Catholics, Vatican statement says the report is a working document and not the final word from Rome.
BERMAN: All right. Do you want to talk baseball for a second here?
ROMANS: Do I have a choice?
BERMAN: No.
The Kansas City Royals they cannot lose. They're one win away from going to the World Series for the first time in 29 years. The Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1 for a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series to a close game.
The Royals have not lost in the postseason. They are 7-0. The Royals can finish off the Orioles, game four this afternoon in Kansas City -- America behind you.
Meanwhile -- and the people in Baltimore hate my guts right now.
In the National League, the Giants beat the Cardinals, 5-4. Check out how it happened, though. It was a walk-you off bunt/error. So, the ball going into right field. Brandon Carper scoring on the misthrow. So, he walked-off wild throw/error win for the Giants. They lead the series two games to one. Game four is tonight in San Francisco.
ROMANS: Your enthusiasm for baseball and your ability to consume so much of it always impresses me. It really does.
BERMAN: It's so much information. The series are great.
ROMANS: What I care about is money.
Time for an EARLY START on your money. U.S. stocks barely moving so far this morning a pause of what have been recent steep losses. Yesterday, the Dow down fourth day in a row. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ, they managed some small gains.
Stocks still have not had that direction that investors are waiting for, a 10 percent drop. But they've been trying to, trying to -- I guess, you know, one day after another trying to get there.
European stocks lower this morning. New data shows stalling growth in Europe.
And slowing global demands sending oil prices plunging. Look at this. Oil prices posted the biggest one-day drop in two years. Crude oil, $89 a barrel right now, down from $107 back in the summer. That means your gas prices are falling. The average gas price per gallon has fallen 40 cents. Experts say it's going to keep going.
BERMAN: That could be bad for the big growing energy sector in the United States, North Dakota, Texas.
ROMANS: It could be. But do not rain on my parade. That means 40 centers less a gallon.
BERMAN: It's good for me.
ROMANS: Good for you.
All right. Thirteen minutes after the hour.
Let's get an early look at the weather now. Chad Myers in for Indra Petersons -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.
Warm and moist across parts of the Northeast today. Muggy conditions, drizzle in some spots. Heavy rain all the way down across D.C., Philadelphia, it could be a slow drive along I-95 today.
So, the humidity stays in, the rain showers come in later today. So, light rain this morning but the heavier stuff comes in New York City late this afternoon. It could be some thunderstorms, same story.
The farther you are in the west and south for D.C., you'll get the rain earlier. Philadelphia the same time as New York City; 66 though, the high in Atlanta.
Storms tomorrow will not move. They're going to stay in the exact same spots. Connecticut, Vermont, upstate New York, all the way to New England. That heavy rain shower, we could see a couple inches of rainfall, probably not enough for big flash flooding but certainly a possibility, especially when it's still dark outside. You can't see the big puddles as you splash them with in your car. Sixty-two, the high tomorrow in Chicago, 73 in Kansas City and 87 in Dallas.
Enjoy your day, guys.
ROMANS: All right. We will. Thanks, Chad.
All right. Oscar Pistorius closer to learning his fate this morning. We're going live to the courtroom where a judge is handing down his sentence.
BERMAN: And Democrats pulling ad money for their candidate in one key Senate race. Are they conceding Kentucky to Mitch McConnell and the GOP?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Oscar Pistorius back in court this morning for the third day of his sentencing hearing. Prosecutors have claimed the athlete delivered a large sum of cash to Reeva Steenkamp's family after he killed her, but it was rejected as, quote, "blood money."
CNN's Diana Magnay following the hearing and has the very latest live from Pretoria.
Good morning.
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.
Well, actually, it was a witness for the defense who revealed that Oscar Pistorius had been paying a monthly sum of 6,000 rands. That's about $600 to the Steenkamp family for the last 18 months, so ever since the killing of Reeva Steenkamp took place. That was only when that revelation was made in court.
Even the prosecutor Gerrie Nel seemed surprised, after the adjournment announced that they would pay all the money back and they didn't want blood money. And the civil lawsuit they have launched against Pistorius for emotional trauma and loss of income because Reeva apparently bolstered the parents' income. That they would drop that lawsuit, too.
And, you can see, this is the front page in the South African papers today, and it certainly doesn't look very good on the Steenkamp family, especially in the last few weeks they've been making quite a tidy sum from media interviews -- Christine.
ROMANS: He was paying them money every month because Reeva Steenkamp was helping to support her parents when she was alive and he was continuing that? I don't understand why he was giving them money?
MAGNAY: Well, he had offered to give them money. I mean, we don't know his motives. He wanted to keep it confidential according to the defense witness yesterday he was testifying, and they had accepted that money every month for 18 months. And it was done in a quiet fashion. And it seemed as though the state prosecutor didn't even know about it.
Then is transpired at the end of the process quite recently, Pistorius had offered them another lump sum. Incidentally, Pistorius has very little money himself now because he's had to cover his legal fees, and that they had refused that sum.
When this came out in court yesterday, there was sort of a hurried state from their defense attorney on the civil lawsuit who announced they would pay it all back. They didn't need it any more. And they would drop the lawsuit, Christine.
ROMANS: What an interesting turn in what is already been a very fascinating trial, and now, it's sentencing phase.
Diana Magnay, thank you for that.
BERMAN: All right. Nineteen minutes after the hour.
In Kentucky, the Democratic National Committee are in the campaign committee from the Senate is falling its TV ad money out of the Senate race in Kentucky. This means the Democratic candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes pretty much on her own as she tries to unseat the Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Officials with her campaign says there's plenty of money in the war chest. They say they got.
National Democrats though focusing their efforts and their cash on defending incumbents in states such as Colorado, Louisiana and New Hampshire.
ROMANS: All right. Two park rangers stabbed in the middle of Boston in a wild attack. Details on this very bizarre incident and how suspect was caught, next.
BERMAN: I want you to listen to this. Facebook and Apple now willing to pay --
ROMANS: This is crazy.
BERMAN: -- now willing to pay women employees to freeze their eggs.
ROMANS: It says so much about tech, women in the workplace, everything.
BERMAN: All that, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight, a 34-year-old homeless man taken into custody for allegedly stabbing two park rangers on Boston Common. The attacks took place at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. Witnesses followed the suspect identified as Bodio Hutchinson and led officers to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM EVANS, BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER: The officers responded quickly. And through their efforts and the efforts of the public, public was very instrumental. They helped follow the individual that was involved in this incident. Our officers were able to apprehend the suspect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Witnesses apparently watched Hutchinson throw a knife into a lagoon at Boston Public Garden, right across the street from the Commons. Officers were able to recover the weapons. Both park rangers are expected to recover.
ROMANS: A federal appeals court giving Texas the green light to apply its restrictive voter ID law in the November election. The three temporarily reinstated that measure in which a lower court said it was unconstitutional. They said it was too late to change the rules for this election.
The Justice Department claims the voter ID law is an attempt by Texas suppress minority turnout.
BERMAN: Some new eyebrow-raising at the vice president, Joe Biden. You see him there.
The vice president apparently referred to himself as, quote, "the only white boy on the east side of Wilmington." He said that in a closed- door meeting with black clergy members in South Carolina. That is according to a person in the room who spoke to CNN. No comment from the vice president's office.
ROMANS: A surprising new perk for women who work for Facebook and Apple. The Silicon Valley giants paying for their female employees to freeze their eggs. Facebook is already covering the procedure. Apple will start in January.
It is believed the two firms are the first to offer this kind of benefit. The cost of freezing eggs is $10,000 a round, plus an additional $500 a year for storage. But --
BERMAN: The why here is interesting.
ROMANS: But what's interesting to me is if they are helping with IVF later on, when women are later in their 30s, this is cheaper than paying for the IVF.
BERMAN: Look, when you talk about women in the workforce, you know, and retaining labor, this is helping you keep women around for a longer period.
ROMANS: And I should say, use frozen eggs in IVF sometime. But my point is, I think it's costly for them in the short term.
BERMAN: Fascinating. A lot going on there for sure.
All right. Twenty-six minutes after the hour.
We do have a lot of news to cover including nurses speaking out against a hospital in Texas where a nurse became infected with Ebola. Did the hospital have the proper guidelines in place? A lot of very angry people this morning.
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