Conference With Fed Chairman, Bernanke; Robert Gates Criticized by NATO; Jet Misses Runway at Heathrow Airport
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.</s>HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on Thursday, January 17th. Here's what's on the rundown. The economy, bent out of shape. And, many of us are feeling it. Today, straight talk from the nation's top banker. Can he see around a recession?</s>HARRIS: If baby is sneezing, don't reach for the cold meds -- a new warning for parents, this hour.</s>COLLINS: Stranded on the side of a cliff -- the scramble to save a pet from life on the ledge. In the NEWSROOM. Breaking news this hour to tell you about. A jet missing the runway at one of the world's busiest airports. A British Airways Boeing 777 landed short at London's Heathrow Airport, just over an hour ago. Look at the pictures there -- new video just in at CNN. These pictures coming in from the emergency vehicles that rushed to the scene. Slides were deployed to evacuate the passengers and the crew. Police say there were no serious injuries, no connection to terrorism. The incident has led to major delays, as you might imagine, at Heathrow. Wow. Also this morning, putting more money in your pocket. One way to pump up the economy and rescue the country from possible recession. The Fed chairman weighs in next hour. Stephanie Elam is weighing in right now, live from New York, with what we should be listening for here. Stephanie?</s>STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. You know, before we get to that, we have a little bit of economic breaking news that I want to fill you in on as far as housing stats are concerned. For December, they are down 14 percent and, for all of 2007, a number that hasn't been seen since 27 years. So, a really big shutdown here. We're seeing as far as builders are concerned and, obviously, there's a glut of homes on the market so, builders aren't building anymore homes. That's one thing I wanted to let you know about first, Heidi. Obviously, we can go straight from that and take a look at Bernanke and what's going on today. He will be testifying in front of Congress and he is saying that stimulus is the way to go. He is definitely supporting that idea. Let's take a look at some of the things that he says need to be there. He says, needs to have help for the economy this year and needs to avoid boosting the federal deficit in the long term and also should support economic growth through increasing consumer and business spending. Now, obviously, you've got the Democrats and you've got the Republicans and they have varying plans. So, we need to go ahead and look at Republicans first and say what they are seeing for potential package here. Both sides say tax rebates for individuals is key. Then, the Republicans go on to say investment tax credits are good and the reduction of corporate tax, because that's obviously related to businesses there. They don't want businesses to take too much of a hit for this. Moving on to the Democratic side, tax rebates for individuals again, extend unemployment benefits, and they also want grants to the state and local governments. So, Heidi, as you can see, there's a little bit of overlapping here but, obviously, there's a little bit of gray area that needs to be worked out. Obviously, we'll be keeping our eyes to see if that happens.</s>COLLINS: Yes, no kidding. We are going to be talking a lot about it today and I imagine for many, many days to come, everybody watching the economy closely. Stephanie Elam, "Minding Your Business". Thank you, Stephanie.</s>ELAM: Thanks.</s>HARRIS: OK, a bit more about the possible shape of this stimulus package. Tax cuts for you, tax breaks for businesses -- some of the ideas President Bush may discuss with top lawmakers today. He's holding a conference call to talk about ways to reduce the risk of recession. The president is turning to the economy after his trip to the Middle East. He plans to talk with leaders from both parties. We are watching developments at the White House and, of course, we will keep you posted.</s>COLLINS: Well, just to the north, like Chicago or Philadelphia, you'd say no problem. Chicago is in the north? I don't know about that. Anyway, that snow in the south? Humongous flakes, in fact. Look at that.</s>HARRIS: Come on, come on.</s>COLLINS: Falling from the Carolinas. Winter storm warnings still in effect in North Carolina. Greenville, South Carolina, became white overnight, too. The snow turned to sleet and freezing rain, making for a slushy commute this morning. In the northeast, Georgia Mountains, yes, Georgia Mountains, got up to three inches overnight. Lots of fun at the college house and a lot of kids did get the day off from school -- not mine. Authorities say slick roads -- or yours -- contributed to a wreck, unfortunately, where there had been some people that were killed. Three people, in fact. Dozens of flights out of Atlanta were also cancelled.</s>HARRIS: How about a little north of Atlanta? Let's go to North Carolina. As we mentioned, getting a lot of sleet, slush, snow. Reporter Kenny Beck from affiliate WXII joins us live from Surry County. All right, Kenny give us a view from Surry county.</s>KENNY BECK, WXII REPORTER: Well, Tony, let me ask you a question.</s>HARRIS: Yes.</s>BECK: Of all the episodes of the "Andy Griffith Show" you've ever seen, was it ever snowing in Mayberry?</s>HARRIS: Never, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, never.</s>BECK: There's a reason for that. Because it never ever, ever, never, ever, ever snows in the town upon which the "Andy Griffith Show" is based -- Mt. Erie(ph), North Carolina. This is Surry County or Mt. Erie right now and this is what we're dealing with today. We've seen just about everything except Barney's bullet falling from the sky today. We've seen snow. We've seen slush. We've seen sleet. We've seen freezing rain. Right now, we're a little bit of a lull but, this has really been a fluid day, both literally and figuratively. Of course, the former precipitation stuff falling from the sky, it will be one thing one minute, then one thing the next. Now, interesting statistic coming out of the PTI Airport -- Piedmont Triad Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, about 45 minutes away -- one of the central hubs here of the Piedmont Triad area here in North Carolina. They had only gotten about four inches of snow in the last two years there. Parts of Surry County, North Carolina, where I am right now have gotten up to five inches of snow just today. So, that is why this is such a big deal. I'm from Maryland, originally, so I am used to tromping around in a little bit more than that. I can remember one storm about, oh, maybe 10, 12 years ago, you literally had to, you know --</s>HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes.</s>BECK: ... just to get down your block. But, today, it's one to five inches what we're looking at right now. We are hoping that things will start to taper off and calm down a little bit. Temperature's very cold -- only about 30 degrees right now.</s>HARRIS: Hey, is there enough snow to shut down schools -- essentially, to shut down the towns?</s>BECK: Oh, definitely, yes. I was actually talking to one teacher earlier, we're right by a gas station here right off of the 606. Talking to a teacher and she said, thank God because the kids were absolutely off the walls crazy yesterday. So, she was very, very excited that school was cancelled today. She actually told me this is one of the biggest storms she's seen in about ten years. It was heard others say two, three years. Nonetheless, it's what everybody's talking about today.</s>HARRIS: Good stop. Kenny Beck for us this morning. Kenny, Good to see you. Thank you, doctor.</s>BECK: Thank you.</s>HARRIS: Appreciate it. COLLINS; All right. So we know whose fault all of this is.</s>HARRIS: Whose fault is this?</s>COLLINS: Rob Marciano -- remember him?</s>HARRIS: Yes, big bank Rob. Yes.</s>ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, you know what -- I want to go and call Colorado. He planned out right. We're hoping that he -- no, he's not.</s>HARRIS: David, he's enjoying that stuff. Are you kidding me? What is that?</s>COLLINS: I listened to you and this is what I wore...</s>MARCIANO: Oh goodness.</s>COLLINS: ... On the way to work today. Everybody said, why on earth are you wearing those?</s>MARCIANO: Probably stylish.</s>HARRIS: You're absolutely out of control. Help, doctor, help. Look at the boots. They're stylish.</s>COLLINS: I thought we were going to have, like, real winter.</s>HARRIS: Heidi Collins styling</s>COLLINS: I am talking about the snow...</s>HARRIS: Whoa, whoa, whoa...</s>MARCIANO: I am hoping that those are knock-offs because they look really expensive.</s>COLLINS: This is the look of the intrepid, looking really cold.</s>MARCIANO: Pandemonium last night as snow fell in the ATL. We got only about a half inch on the grassy surfaces. Not a big problem as for the roadways, at least, in most cases. And now, it's all heading into the Carolinas where we've seen upwards of eight inches especially in the mountainous areas. Balsam calling it eight inches. North Carolina, Hendersonville, five inches. Greenville, not really in the mountains, you know, just under three inches there, and in Atlanta, .4 officially at the airport. So, we do have some pockets of freezing air and just above freezing, 33 degrees in Atlanta, but the moisture's gone 33 degrees in Charlotte; 34 degrees in Raleigh; and 35 degrees in Knoxville. Moving the map up, we do expect to see anywhere from one to six inches of snow in this red area, mostly to the north. And, you know, D. C. is included in this advisory -- they might see an inch or two of slushy snow. Live shot for you of Washington, of the White House. Not quite snow. It typically is white. That's not snow on the rooftop there. It will be -- a little bit, looks like precipitation is starting to fall there in D. C. All right. In New York City, you'll see a mix of rain and snow. All snow, from Davenport up to Milwaukee, green bay. Could see two to six inches. Before the game, temperatures are going to plummet. We will have a forecast for the baseball game. The football game is both in Green Bay and Foxboro a little bit later in the program. On another note, on the other side of the country, Santa Ana winds blowing in SoCal, Laguna Peak California, 100 mile-an-hour wind gusts. Malibu Hill, 74 mile-an-hour wind gusts. Luckily, it's colder and it receives a lot of rain. So, we haven't gotten much reports of fire. Had this happened two months ago, we would have what happened two months ago, which would break out the fire gear as opposed to the winter snow boots -- Heidi and Tony?</s>COLLINS: Hey, what was it -- .4 inches at the airport? You know, you got to break out the gear.</s>MARCIANO: You got to use this, you know. Any excuse. Looking good.</s>COLLINS: Thanks, Rob.</s>HARRIS: Wearing those stylish boots is what I say here. Snappy, snappy.</s>COLLINS: Bye-bye, Rob. See you in a bit.</s>HARRIS: Defense Secretary Robert Gates is taking fire from key U. S. allies this morning. They are outraged by his apparent criticism of NATO. We're expecting Gates to speak next hour. Right now, let's talk to CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr. Barbara, great to see you. What is it that the defense secretary has said here that had the allies all riled up?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, the secretary the mild-mannered defense secretary, who's not supposed to be Don Rumsfeld, has really stepped in a hornets' nest with his NATO allies. In an interview with the "Los Angeles Times," Secretary Gates was critical by all accounts of NATO's efforts in Afghanistan to fight the counter-insurgency, the Taliban there. Here's what the secretary said in that "L. A. Times" interview, which was actually conducted several days ago, saying, "I am worried we're deploying military advisers that are not properly trained and I'm worried we have some military forces that don't know how to do counter-insurgency operations." Certainly, an indictment of the NATO forces in southern Afghanistan which, in addition to the U. S., of course, are made up of forces from the U. K., from Canada, and also Dutch forces. Now, this has gotten to be such a curfuffle (ph), if you will, the Dutch Defense Minister yesterday called the U. S. ambassador and said, I want an explanation. What are you guys talking about? The NATO's secretary- general has come to the defense of NATO forces saying that all the countries in the south in his words are doing an excellent job. But make no mistake, Tony, there are some very bad feelings out there right now as a result of what Gates said. A British Member of Parliament who himself is a former infantry officer in certain Northern Ireland calling Gates' comments "bloody outrageous." The secretary will be outed just after 10:00 East Coast time, and you can bet this will be topic number one, Tony.</s>HARRIS: You know what, I have got so many questions. I just -- I don't know where to go with this, but maybe we'll ask them and get some answers when we hear from the defense secretary next hour. Barbara Starr, great to see you Barbara. Thank you.</s>STARR: Sure.</s>HARRIS: Again, next hour, Defense Secretary Gates will hold a media roundtable at the Pentagon, and we will watch it for you. That is scheduled for 10:15 Eastern, 7:15 for our friends in the west.</s>COLLINS: Mission Afghanistan and a sign of the times. New York deploys nearly 1,700 of its state national guardsmen. The deployment comes as the Pentagon boosts troop levels in Afghanistan. More than 2,000 additional marines are being sent to fight a spring offensive that is expected by insurgents. These guardsmen will make their first stop at Fort Bragg for a couple of months. They are going to be learning how to best train Afghan security forces.</s>HARRIS: Chopper down. Earlier this morning, searchers found the bodies of three crew members. Their navy helicopter crashed in a field in south Texas last night a fourth crew member is in critical condition. The military is investigating the cause of that crash.</s>COLLINS: It's sniffle season. So, are cold medicines too risky for your children? Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta with important news ahead.