American Morning
Energy official grilled on oil response
(CNN) – Oil company BP is expected to discuss Tuesday its next attempt to contain the gushing oil in the Gulf of Mexico - a maneuver called a "top kill" that it plans to implement the following day.
All previous attempts by the company to cap the spill have failed, and BP CEO Tony Hayward said the top kill maneuver will have a 60 to 70 percent chance of success when it is put in place as early as Wednesday morning.
Carol Browner, the assistant to the president on energy and climate change, said Tuesday that she is optimistic about the method.
"We want this to work and will do everything in our power to make sure it works," the former Environmental Protection Agency administrator said. "We need the BP technology - they know how to operate the little robots, how to operate the vessels. But we're not relying on them."
Browner said the federal government will have its own experts analyze and evaluate the top kill procedure.
"We want this thing shut down," she said. Read more
FDA to consider drug to boost sex drive in women
(CNN) – It failed as an anti-depressant, but a German pharmaceutical company says a certain drug produced an unexpected side effect – increasing sexual desire in women. Now, a panel of FDA advisers will meet next month to discuss approving the new drug for women who suffer from a low sex drive.
Dr. Ken Rosenberg is a psychiatrist who specializes in addictions and sexual disorders at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He joined us on Tuesday's American Morning to discuss the drug, which is being dubbed the "female Viagra."
The Cost of College: Dream school, nightmare debt
Editor's Note: A new study suggests job prospects for this year's college graduates have improved slightly. That's a little bit of good news for students who now have to pay for that education. This week, our Alina Cho is looking into "The Cost of College." Today, she has the story of one young man who regrets his decision to go to a top-tier university.
(CNN) – For high school salutatorian Ryan Durosky, there was no question that he would go to his dream school, New York University. It's a name-brand school, but it cost him. Now, he's nearly $300,000 in debt, and he's not alone.
To be clear, Ryan does not blame NYU for his college debt, he blames himself for making the choice, and he believes the economic downturn played a role. He certainly did not expect to be laid off, especially so soon after graduation.
NYU tells CNN its advice for prospective students is to "plan ahead." College is an investment and people need to save for it. Also, they say, if you're in default on your student loans you should contact the lender and NYU's career center for help.
Commentary: Cost of college damaging, financially & mentally
Editor's Note: This week, our Alina Cho is looking into "The Cost of College." Today, she has the story of one young man who regrets his decision to go to a top-tier university. For Ryan Durosky, there was no question that he would go to his dream school, New York University. Now, he's nearly $300,000 in debt, and he's not alone. Below is a commentary he wrote for CNN about his experiences.
By Ryan Durosky
Special to CNN
I graduated on the precipice of one of the worst economic collapses in American history. Living in NYC, I was at the center of this maelstrom. Lucky for me, I chose not to work in the financial services industry. Friends (and friends of friends) recently hired by investment banking powerhouses were told to leave and so the layoff rate began to mirror the DOW’s plunging numbers. But I was safe. Far removed from the volatility of the financial markets, I could watch the DOW plunge 700 points in one day and know that I still had a job. I, and countless others didn’t know that these events would have far-reaching effects. Namely, my job wasn’t as safe as I thought it was.
My salary was modest and I had average health and dental insurance. By the summer of 2008, I was struggling to pay down my $1,125/month rent while living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Yes, I had roommates to share the expenses with but there was plenty of rent due to go around. Add to that overdue monthly credit card bills (credit that I needed to get through college), unpaid hospital bills, and...well you get the picture, but I was on my own and that was all that mattered for the time being. College was over, this was ‘reality.’
Motorcyclist faces jail for YouTube video of traffic stop
By Carol Costello, CNN
(CNN) – The American Civil Liberties Union is calling the case surrounding Maryland’s Anthony Graber an "extremely dangerous act of police retaliation." One that could send Graber to prison for five years.
It boils down to this: do you have the right to use your personal camera to record audio and video of someone, in this case a police officer, without his consent? What if he asks you to stop recording him? What if you don't? And, what if you then posted the recording on YouTube?
Last month, a Maryland State Trooper, in plain clothes, and driving an unmarked car, stopped Graber’s motorcycle. Police say he was driving 100 mph and “doing wheelies” on I-95 in Harford County, Maryland.
The trooper approached Graber, gun drawn. After five seconds, the officer identified himself as a police officer and put his gun away. He cited Graber for traffic violations and drove away.
Here’s where the story gets complicated.
Gulf Coast fisheries shut by oil spill
(CNN) – Today is day 36 of the oil spill in the Gulf. Twenty percent of the fisheries in the region have now been shut down. The Commerce Department is freeing up federal help by declaring a fisheries disaster. 150 miles of Gulf coast shoreline are now impacted by the spill. Birds and fish are dying, and jobs are vanishing. And as our Rob Marciano reports, it's getting very difficult for the locals to just sit back and watch what's happening.
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