American Morning
Morgan Freeman explores science, faith in new TV series
(CNN) – Morgan Freeman has played God in films before, but a new role has him asking – is there a God? And what exactly does that mean? The Academy-Award winning actor is executive producer, host and narrator for a new series on the Science Channel, called "Through the Wormhole." He joined us on Wednesday's American Morning to tell us what inspired the project.
One woman's mission to be plastic-free
(CNN) – Plastic... It's everywhere. And it seems just about everything we buy is wrapped in it. There are growing concerns about the chemicals in some of those plastics getting into our bodies. As our Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us, that made one woman tackle the challenge of living life – without plastic.
Program Note: Could your town, your home and your family be polluted by toxic chemicals? Don't miss the start of Dr. Sanjay Gupta's special investigation, beginning tonight. "Toxic America" starts at 8 p.m. ET, only on CNN.
Women run with the bulls in new era on Wall Street
(CNN) – This week we're taking a special look at how women are making it "in a man's world." For women on Wall Street, it has always been an uphill battle. And the great recession has only made it harder. Our Christine Romans reports for part two of our AM original series, "Making it in a Man's World."
Program Note: Tomorrow on American Morning, the hard hat is hitting the glass ceiling. Fewer than 15 percent of people employed in construction are women. And many of those jobs are behind desks. Our Deb Feyerick visits one woman on the job site who's trying to help America rebuild – at Ground Zero.
Concerns over another BP oil rig in the Gulf
By Bob Ruff and Carol Costello, CNN
(CNN) – Could things get any worse for BP? Maybe. As the oil continues to flow, some are charging that another BP operation in the Gulf is an even bigger disaster in the making.
For six months, Ken Abbott managed BP’s engineering documents for "Atlantis," BP’s deep water platform nearly 200 miles south of New Orleans. He turned into a BP whistle-blower in February 2009 after finding what he says were thousands of Atlantis engineering documents and drawings that were neither complete nor reviewed properly by BP. That, Sawyer now says, was a serious safety violation.
Abbott and his lawyer quickly hired Mike Sawyer, a safety engineer consultant, who examined the BP documents in question. Sawyer tells CNN that oil rig “engineering drawings and specification are the primary means that workers use to ensure that they can operate the platform safely, and can ensure that they can shut it down or at least control any unsafe event.” Atlantis’ engineering documents and drawings, says Sawyer, were so incomplete that he fears another environmental disaster from BP.
Abbott shared his information with Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, who found it so disturbing that he and 18 other lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of the Interior and the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the agency that regulates the oil industry.
"...This platform [Atlantis],” they wrote, “may be operating without crucial engineering documents, which, if absent, would increase the risk of a catastrophic accident..."
Teams race to save wildlife from oil spill
(CNN) – No matter how effective BP's latest attempt to stop the oil may end up being, the spill will continue to threaten the wildlife. Birds, fish, crabs and sea turtles all live and breed in the marshlands. And it's now a race against time to rescue these animals from a ruthless killer. Our Rob Marciano has the report.
Gulf oil spill likened to Iran hostage crisis
(CNN) – BP's handling of the Gulf oil spill has been sharply criticized by members of Congress, officials in the Gulf states and the Obama administration, which announced Tuesday that a criminal investigation of the spill was under way. In addition, federal officials will no longer hold joint news briefings with the company, the administration said.
The criminal investigation is just one example of how tensions between the White House and BP have reached a breaking point. Aides say President Obama is enraged by the failure to stop the oil spill. 44 days into this disaster, critics say this crisis is less like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and more like the Iran hostage crisis. Our Jim Acosta has the report.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
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