TV Channel 3 Tue Dec 03 19:22:22 2002
That's tew newfos r I'm wendy damonte. I'm john mercer, for mike alger, J.K. Metzker and the entire channel two news team, have a great night. And be sure to join us for channel 2 news at 6:30. You're watching k-t-v-n, reno. The cbs evening news starts right now.
Captioning s
captioning sponsored by the
u.S. Department of education
and cbs
>> roberts: Tonight's headlines: U.S. Gets critical support for war with iraq; a plan to inoculate millions against smallpox attack; saudi government cries foul over terror ties. Also tonight, a commercial airline pilot accused of stalking dozens of female passengers across the country. The final election battle: A nasty senate race between two louisiana women could have critical consequences in washington. And on the healthwatch, dangerous food allergies: The search for a safer peanut.
This is the "cbs evening news
with dan rather."
>> Roberts: Good evening. Dan is on assignment tonight. I'm john roberts. There is growing evidence that even if he were willing saddam hussein may be unable to fully satisfy U.S. Demands to avoid war. President bush and his top advisers made it clear again today: They're skeptical of iraq's seeming cooperation with united nations arms inspectors, and certain saddam is hiding an arsenal of prohibited weapons he denies having. And as david martin reports fr the pentagon tonight, a new war coalition is coming together.
>> Reporter: The noose around saddam hussein tightened another notch today, when turkey said it would allow its bases to be used in a war against iraq.
>> If it comes to that, then of course we will cooperate with the united states, because it is a big ally.
>> Reporter: At the same time, officials tell cbs news, saudi arabia, another key but reluctant ally, has promised to grant over-flight rights to american war planes, and allow the U.S. To use this sophisticated command center at prince sultan air base. It's part of what one military officer called: Designed to pressure saddam into giving up his weapons of mass destruction.
>> If he refuses to disarm, if he tries to deceive his way out of disarmament, this nation, along with other willing nations, will disarm saddam hussein.
>> Reporter: U.S. Officials say saddam is responng to the pressure by taking personal control of all dealings with the u.N. Weapons inspectors, trying to look like he is cooperating without actually giving up any of his weapons. In other words, satisfy the u.N., But defy the u.S. So far, it's working.
>> It's only been a week, and obviously the cooperation seems to be good. But this is not a one-week wonder.
>> Reporter: Simple cooperation with the inspectors is not good enough for the u.S., Which wants proof iraq has gotten rid of all chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons programs.
>> The burden of proof is on the iraqi regime to prove that it is disarming.
>> Reporter: The first chance to prove it will come this weekend, when iraq gives the U.N. An accounting of its weapons programs. U.S. Officials expect it will be hundreds, if not thousands, of pages long, and will require lengthy analysis before anyone can accuse saddam of refusing to come clean. In the meantime, the pentagon will continue its preparations so that it could launch an air campaign within days of getting the order. But it would take much longer to mobilize the tens of thousands of combat troops needed to occupy iraq, not to mention the quarter of a million reservists who would have to be called up. For now it's a war of nerves, and that's one thing saddam has plenty of. David martin, cbs news, the pentagon.
>> Roberts: U.N. Weapons inspectors in baghdad showed some nerve of their own today. They drove right up to one of saddam's sprawling palaces, and demanded to be let in. Cbs news correspondent mark phillips was there.
>> Reporter: The u.N. Tested its "go anywhere, anytime" powers on the most sensitive target imaginle. One group of inspectors headed for the main gate of saddam's vast al-sajoud palace. In a classic pincer move, the other group raced around back to the riverside entrance. The palace guard seemed confused.
>> Okay, don't fight.
>> Reporter: 17 unannounced inspectors, plus a pack of news- hungry journalists, is not in their training manual. After a ten-minute delay, which the U.N. Called "acceptable," the inspectors ban their unprecedented search. Iraqi footage shows them peering into unlit rooms, opening locked cupboard doors, checking saddam's air conditioning, even looking in his fridge. No weapons of mass destruction apparently stored here.
>> It looks like marmalade.
>> Reporter: They entered what looked like a residential area, but saddam wasn't home. He may have been in one of the seven other palaces the U.N. Is interested in, or in any of the more than 50 residences the c.I.A. Says he now has around the country. The U.N. Says it covered every room, evy corner of every building of the compound, all in an hour and a half. But the inspectors wouldn't say what, if anything, they'd found. The brief access allowed to reporters afterward, revealed only the carved marble opulence of the domed entrance hall, and soaring columns framing poems praising saddam. In this first test of access to what amounts to holy ground here, both sides seem to have gotten what they wanted: The u.N. Got in; and the iraqis got to demonstrate that once again, on the face of it, they're playing by the rules. Once, the iraqis rejected palace inspections as a violation of their sovereignty. Today's access was a sign saddam is prepared to sacrifice some sovereignty, in the hope of survival. Mark philips, cbs news, baghdad.
>> Roberts: U.S. Intelligence experts strongly suspect iraq's secret arsenal includes deadly biological agents, including one of the most virulent killers known to man: Smallpox. And as correspondent sharyl attkisson reports, that leaves the president bush with some tough decisions: Which, how many, and when americans should be vaccinated.
>> Reporter: Under a plan that's broader than some wanted, a million americans would get inoculated against smallpox in the first wave. The phased-in approach is being considered by president bush. First in line would be a half million military personnel, and a half million civilian medical workers. Next, as many as ten million emergency health care and rescue workers, who'd be first to respond to a bioterror attack. After that, the vaccine would be available to anyone who wants it, accompanied by stern warnings about the risks. Why is this such an agonizing decision?
>> It's an extremely difficult decision for the president to make, because it involves weighing the risk of a possible terrorist use of smallpox, which is almost impossible to quantify, against the known risks of the vaccine itself, which are substantial.
>> Reporter: Smallpox is highly contagious, hard to contain, and kills a third of its victims. And the vaccine itself is riskier than any on the market. Out of every million people who get the shot, two to three people will die. Nationwide, that could translate to hundreds of deaths, and thousands of life-threatening illnesses caused by the vaccine. All 50 states, plus the three largest cities-- new york, los angeles, and chicago-- are scrambling to meet a monday deadline to submit plans for giving inoculations.
>> The initial people are going to be test subjects, or guinea pigs.
>> Reporter: One front line health care worker says the phased-in approach makes sense.
>> If we vaccinate a half million people, we'll learn something about the logistics of vaccines on that sle, the medical complications.
>> Reporter: Even if you were vaccinated as a child, the protection has likely worn off. So hundreds of millions of people will have to weigh the risks and benefit of gting the shot. What's been a difficult decision for the president, will likely be difficult for the public, too. Sharyl attkisson, cbs news, washington.
>> Roberts: A number of critics, including some prominent members of congress, have accused the government of saudi arabia of a two-faced approach toward to terrorism: Publicly denouncing it, while secretly permitting saudi oil dollars to flow freely to islamic militants. Today, as bill plante reports, the saudis defended themselves.
>> Reporter: Stung by charges that it has failed to stop the flow of money to terrorists, saudi arabia launched a damage- control operation to counter what it called "a campaign of lies." Today, the saudis, who usually prefer a low-key approach, held an unusual public news conference. Foreign policy adviser adel al- jubeir angrily charged that his country has been unfairly maligned.
>> It's a feeding frenzy. It's "let's bash the saudis" time. We are guilty before we say anything. We are guilty as charged. Nobody looks at the evidence.
>> Reporter: This new report lists all the actions the saudis say they have taken since 9/11, announces new financial controls and audit requirements for saudi charities, and creates a new government commission to oversee them. The report also discloses that the saudis have frozen 33 bank accounts worth $5.6 million. Because giving to the poor is a requirement of islam, saudis contribute billions annually to charity, and critics ask why only $5.6 million was questioned.
>> Saudi individuals who give money to islamic charities are incredibly wealthy. Are you telling me that only $5 million has gone astray, gone to the wrong places over the last few years? It just doesn't make sense.
>> Reporter: U.S. Officials say one reason the number is low is that saudis have demanded a frustratingly high standard of proof before putting anyone on a watch list, but today they welcomed the new controls. A former f.B.I. Official says they'll only work if the saudis allow them to work.
>> When it comes to terrorist financing unfortunately, the path, if followed all the way home, will lead to riyadh, and will lead not to the entire government, not to the entire royal family, but to members.
>> Reporter: An administration official says today's unprecedented announcement is a sign that the saudis have finally gotten the message. But the question is, just how far the royal family is really willing to follow the money? John?
>> Roberts: Bill plante at the white house. Bill, thanks. On the cbs marketwatch, securities regulators today fined five wall street brokerages more than $8 million for failing to save their e-mail communications the required two years or more. It was in e-mail that investigators found evidence that some analysts were slanting stock research. Online retailers are doing a booming holiday business. Sales for the monday after thanksgiving were 37% better than last year. Not so good today on the markets. Now three straight losses for the dow blue chips, including a triple-digit loss today. On the cbs weatherwatch, it's two weeks away, but it's already beginning to feel a lot like winter in much of the country. Snow even found its way to the texas panhandle, with up to a half a foot expected. The snow and bitter winds made for a frigid, and sometimes hazardous, commute in the midwest. And parts of the east, already shivering in below-freezing temperatures, are bracing now for a round of snow that could hit tomorrow night. Next on this tuesday edition of the "cbs evening news," federal investigators say an airline pilot used his job to become a stalker.
>> Roberts: It's a bizarre case. A pilot from a well known airline is accused of stalking and threatening women in seral states after getting information about them from passenger lists. A federal magistrate in new mexico has denied a prosecutor's motion to jail an airline pilot charged with stalking women in several states, but he strictly limited the suspect's right to travel.
>> Reporter: In an albuquerque court, 47-year-old southwest airlines pilot jeffrey blackwell is charged with stalking women by phone in new mexico, and other ates, even threatening to kill them.
>> It really scared these women. He had personal information on them that scared them beyond belief.
>> Reporter: Police records accuse blackwell of terrorizing at least 26 women in no less than six states, from pennsylvania to california, between november of last year and last may. Albuquerque police officer martin smith says victims were stalked for nths, and knew one woman's daily routine.
>> Her route to school, where she lived, even personal information that she had a black and white cat.
>> Reporter: In one obscenity- laced call to a pennsylvania woman, an audio transcript reveals blackwell allegedly threatening. Then the caller warns, "I'll come over to your house." Is gaithersburg, maryland sam's club, near blackwell's home, is where police traced his membership number to the purchase of the calling card used in the phone threats. While police say about 90% of the women harassed were southwest airlines passengers, investigators are probing whether the airline's computer system could give the alleged pilot-predator his unsuspecting prey.
>> In all of that data there, they will have access to reservations information, which has names and phone numbers.
>> Reporter: Dallas-based southwest airlines placed blackwell on leave last june, a spokesperson saying he's innocent until proven guilty. But he won't be back in the air soon. His pilots license has been surrendered, and travel restricted to new mexico, where he was indicted, and maryland, where he lives. Bob mcnamara, cbs news, dallas.
>> Roberts: It's a real-life "fantastic voyage" complete with the pictures to prove it. A pill-sized camera is swallowed so doctors can see inside the small intestine, and better diagnose ailments like crohn's disease. A study out today finds the camera is indeed a big improvement over other procedures. That's because the camera can reach the entire small intestine. Coming up on the "cbs evening news": Thought this year's elections were over? Think again. There's one critical race left, and we'll tell you about it next.
>> Roberts: You may have thought that the 2002 elections were over. They are not. There is one u.S. Senate race that will be decided on saturday. Republicans have been pouring millions into this race, to try to unseat the democratic incumbent and add to their slim senate majority, which would give the g.O.P. More power on committees. Mark strassmann has our report.
>> Thank you. Y'all are so fabulous.
>> Reporter: In louisiana, there's something about mary landrieu's senate campaign she never expected. She's in a run-off against a little known opponent who's startled landrieu by pulling dead-even after a bitter campaign.
>> Once again, mary, you're 100% false, and 100% negative.
>> Reporter: Republican suzie terrell, an attorney and louisiana's elections commissioner, was recruited to run by the white house. And terrell's greatest resource is a popular president, stumping for her today in louisiana.
>> You owe it to louisiana to vote for suzie terrell for the u.S. Senate.
>> Reporter: Terrell makes no apologies for her ties to the white house, or the republican stars who have campaigned for her, and against landrieu.
>> If she wants to bring in hillary clinton and ted kennedy to louisiana, that's fine by me.
>> Reporte for landrieu, that would be unthinkable. She can't afford to antagonize this state's many bush supporters, or louisiana could elect its first republican senator in more than a century.
>> Reporter: These two women candidates have fought most bitterly over the abortion issue: A woman's right to choose.
>> They've attacked my faith, my family, and it's really gone over the line.
>> Reporter: A moderate democrat, landrieu often votes with the president, and her courting of his supporters has been risky.
>> Landrieu has tried to get as close as she couldet to the president and still be a democrat. At's been a tightrope for her to walk.
>> Reporter: Should she fall, louisiana's black voters may not be there to catch her. They're one-third of the state's electorate, crucial votes for landrieu. And publicly grumbling, she's ignoring her democratic base.
>> Democrats cannot blame african american voters for not being excited when they vote like, sound like, and campaign like, republicans.
>> Reporter: Landrieu knows that. But she's running out of options, and time. This saturday, louisiana votes. Mark strassmann, cbs news, new orleans.
>> Roberts: An escalating political crisis in venezuela turned violent today. In caracas, strikers and protesters demanding the ouster of leftist president hugo chavez were met by national guard troops. They used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the demonstrations. Strike leaders say the demonstrations will continue. You're watching the "cbs evening news," and up next, a tough nut to crack: What researchers are doing to make people safe from the dangers of peanuts.
>> Roberts: Consider now the peanut, really quite remarkable. It's chock full of proteins, vitamins, minerals, fiber, unsaturated fat, and it can kill you if you're allergic. With all the potential health benefits of peanuts, scientists are trying now to eliminate the health risks. Elizabeth kaledin is on the healthwatch.
>> Reporter: In a small lab on the outskirts of new orleans, the research is sizzling. Soheila maleki, a biochemist, spends her days boiling, roasting, and analyzing D.N.A. From the world's 14,000 varieties of peanut, looking for clues. 14,000 different types of peanuts?
>> 14,000 different kinds of peanuts, yes.
>> Repr:Ter:Mo ang thisng e's yitrng tdio scovers iwhy so many people develop peanut allergies. Roasting is the main culprit.
>> We found that roasting enhances the allergenic properties of peanuts.
>> Reporter: Why is so much attention being paid to a simple food many americans grew up on? The reason is peanuts are everywhere in the food supply today and allergs ieto them are on the rise, plaguing more than 1.5 million americans. Many of them are children, like eight-year-old jayna nelson. At school, jayna eats at an allergy-free table. No oneith peanuts or peanut byproducts is allowed to join her.
>> If there was peanut butter on the table, and she touched the table, she would have a reaction without actually ingesting it.
>> Reporter: Everywhere she goes she carries an emergency medical kit.
>> It's an every day, all day long responsibility.
>> Reporter: The most severe peanut allergies cause anaphylactic shock, which can be deadly. Because of the risks, and rise in cases, dr. Hugh sampson is developing a vaccine to prevent them.
>> We have modified the peanut protein so that we can actually use it to try to desensitize or get rid of the peanut allergy specifically.
>> Reporter: To test it, sampson and his colleagues created peanut allergies in mice, then gave them doses of the new vaccine.
>> This mouse is flat down on his stomach, obviously not feeling well.
>> Reporter: The mouse on the left is having an allergic reaction:
>> He's having trouble breathing. You can see how his nose looks sort of bluish or purplish.
>> Reporter: But the mouse on the right has been given the vaccine, and is fine. Dr. Sampson is hoping to get f.D.A. Approval to test the vaccine in people soon. In the meantime, back in the lab, soheila malecki has also discovered that not all peanuts are created equal.
>> We found a peanut variety that is lacking one of the allergens, completely lacking one of the major allergens, which we're really excited about.
>> Reporter: An allergy-free nut and a peanut vaccine are years away, but both offer hope to children like jayna, who can never let down their guard. Elizabeth kaledin, cbs news, new york.
>> Roberts: And that's the "cbs evening news" for this tuesday. Dan rather will be back again tomorrow. I'm john roberts in new york. Thanks for choosing cbs news. Have a good night.
Captioning sponsored by the
u.S. Department of education
and cbs
captioned by
media access group at wgbh
access.Wgbh.Org at 6:30...<<))
>>Brian hickey: In a matter of seconds a christmas tree can set your whole living room on fire. I'm brian hickey, coming up some tips on how to decorate your home and keep it safe for the holiday.<< ((>>Kerrie cassani, "there's 13-days left until everyone is expected to mail out their holiday cards. I'm kerrie cassani we'll tell you what the post office is doing to make things easier coming up."<<)) ((Christina white,....)) And meteorologist mike alger will join us straight ahead with a look at the forecast for the rest of the week and into the weekend. ((>>Channel 2 news at 6:30 begins right now.<<)) You've heard of fire season in the summer, now how about fire season for your home. With the holidays upon us; trees, lights, and decorations can be a deadly hazard for you and your family. In tonight's channel two news big story some tips on how to keep your tree green and your home safe. Good evening, I'm wendy damonte, and I'm john mercer the holidays are one of the most dangerous times for house fires, according to the reno fire department. While a christmas tree can live in a home with holiday spirit, it can also destroy it in just seconds. Brian hickey is covering our big story from the tree lot on south virginia street, with some tips on keeping your tree green. Brian? First make sure you start with a fresh tree. Then make sure you keep it full of water. If your tree starts to dry out, get rid of it, her's a look why. This is a training fire in carson city. Here a single candle is put too close to a dried out christmas tree. The fire spreads to the lower limbs and then in a matter of seconds the entire tree is engulfed in flames. Seconds more and the living room is on fire. Your tree can be safe, you just have take some precautions. First trim a quarter inch off the bottom to expose fresh wood...This will allow the tree to absorb water, then make sure you keep it full. Second don't put your tree near heaters, fire places, candles, and exits. Before you put your lights on the tree check the wiring and make sure it's not brittle or cut. Periodically check the branches and needles to make sure they are plyable and not brittle. If they are, take it down. ((>>Larry farr/reno fire dept.; Christmas time, what we're actually doing is bringing more fuel load into our home. It's almost like stacking wood in your house.<<)) When the holidays are over take your tree to a tree recycler, don't try to burn it in your fire place...It's been tried before with disastrous results. Covering the big story, brian hickey, channel two news. Mike alger joins us now live from moana nursery for our first look at the forecast. From moana nursery for our first look at the forecast. Mike what's going on out there. ((>>Sorry, closed captioning not available for mike's forecast.<<)) Now is your chance to win some christmas cash from channel 2...Its all part of our christmas cash giveaway promotion...That goes from now through december 20th. The winner is janice patten of sparks. Janice, you have 22 minutes to call us back at 861-4294. The prize...444 dollars in christmas cash. That number again...861-4294. If you still don't have the time or want to brave the cold...You can still geta tree without leaving your house.. Along with just about everything else these days, you can now get your christmas tree online. The oldest mail-order company for christmas trees is the omni tree farm in the blue ridge mountains of north carolina. On-line customers may be people who don't have cars, are too busy to get to a lot, or just don't enjoy the shopping experience. To check it out yourself just log onto our website at k-t-v-n dot com and click on the website of the day and other links icon. (( Wendy )) even without a christmas tree..Many people are getting in the holiday giving spirit by sending out christmas cards and packages... Over the next few weeks...One of the busiest places you can go besides any mall is the post office. That's where kerrie cassani joins us live...Kerrie how are postal employees getting ready? (( Kerrie )) wendy here at the vassar main post office...Things are always busy but during the holiday they get even busier. They'r even opening up one sunday this month to help out...Along with opening up this postal truck to help with small sales like stamps during the holiday mailing frenzy. You've bought your presents, wrapped them and prepared them to mail... You may have rushed through it all but the rush could end at the post office, waiting on line. But the post office is trying to help cut down the wait, adding additional hours to all their local stations starting this saturday. The post master says there are some things you can do to help speed things up like: Always putting a return address on your packages...Making sure you remove batteries from any toys before you send them ((((john bertolina, "this time of year people are busy so we're doing all we can to expand hours to help people out."<<
>>Elsie ganzon, "right now this is early wait until next week or@ the week after. Yes it will be crazy oh yes.<<)) This post office will extend it's hours from 10-to-2 to 9-to-3 starting this saturday... (( Web vo )) to find out all the reno post office station hours you can log on to our website at ktvn dot com. Covering the story live, kerrie cassani, channel two news.// The city of sparks is growing...And quickly.. Final numbers won't be available until the tof t but state demographers estimate that sparks' population grew about five percent last year from about 71-thousand in july 2001 to more than 75-thousand in july 2002. Reno's population grew only about one-half of one percent during that period, while washoe county experienced an increase of about one-point seven percent. More interesting details today on the proposed plans for the mapes site.. In october city council members voted in favor of creating a public plaza on the site. Now they've been given even more specifics of the plans... Two reno architects presented drawings to the city council last night. They included a plan for an amphitheater with a moveable stage that could accommodate an ice skating rink in the winter. It also would feature interactive fountains and a ''water curtain'' that could be used as a projection screen. They're still exploring funding options. The eighty students at the nevada leadership academy will find out if they'll lose their school tonight. Christina white is live at the washoe county school district. Christina... How's the meeting going? Here's a look at the events that have brought the board to this point. This man is behind bars tonight...Washoe county sheriff's deputies say all because of an alert neighbor... We'll tell you what happened coming up on channel 2 news at 6:30. I asked the mathletes of tujunga high to help me with a taste test.a gruesome discovery in a reno storage shed. The owner of the american storage on sutro mad 8*h for mike's captioning not available for mike's forecast.<<)) <