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Kentucky Clerk Back to Work; Eleven Candidates in Main GOP Debate; California Wildfires Turn Deadly; Flash Flooding: 8 Dead, 5 Missing in Small Community; California Wildfires: 700 Homes Lost, Thousands More at Risk; North Korea: Ready to Use Nukes "Any Time." Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired September 15, 2015 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[09:00:00] CUOMO: The Aurora Police are investigating the threat, changing procedures. There have been several ambush attacks on officers nationwide. We cover them. I mean, officers often get hurt and killed in the line of duty. But this seems to be with specific intent.

PEREIRA: Right.

CAMEROTA: The people are stepping up. That's so great to see.

PEREIRA: Thanks for that.

CAMEROTA: All right. Time now for "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello.

Good morning, Carol.

PEREIRA: Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much. Have a great day.

NEWSROOM starts now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, two days to a GOP showdown.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I'm a deal maker. I'll make great deals for this country. Ben can't do it.

DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's ridiculous to think that the only thing that I can do is neurosurgery.

COSTELLO: But that's not the only clash we're expecting.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: This is it. The stage where all the magic is going to happen.

COSTELLO: Can't anyone topple Donald Trump?

Also, a state of emergency, as California wildfires rage out of control, overtaking whole towns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'm all right. Yes, everything is OK.

COSTELLO: Thousands of people forced to flee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess we're just lucky it's not our home.

COSTELLO: And this is all that's left behind.

Plus, it's back to work for that Kentucky clerk, Kim Davis.

KIM DAVIS, ROWAN COUNTY CLERK: For me, this would be an act of disobedience to my god.

COSTELLO: We're live in Rowan County. Let's talk. Live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

A show of defiance and a refusal to back down. Moments ago the embattled Kentucky clerk who spent six days in jail for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses because of her faith returned to work. Holding back tears, Kim Davis told the media she will not authorize licenses on her first day back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIS: I don't want to have this conflict. I don't want to be in the spotlight. And I certainly don't want to be a whipping post. I am no hero. I'm just a person who's been transformed by the grace of God, who wants to work, be with my family. I just want to serve my neighbors quietly, without violating my conscience. And so this morning, I am forced to fashion a remedy that reconciles my conscience with Judge Benning's orders.

Effective immediately, and until an accommodation is provided by those with the authority to provide it, any marriage license issued by my office will not be issued or authorized by me. I want the whole world to know, be no mistake about it, that if my deputy clerks, who do not have my authorization or the authority, they don't have my authority to issue any license whatsoever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: However, Davis says she will not stand in the way of her deputies, as long as the marriage documents do not include her name.

Joining me now to discuss all of this, criminal defense attorney Paige Pate and CNN's Martin Savidge. He's in Moorhead, Kentucky, following the latest developments.

So, Martin, I hear some protesters behind you. Set the stage for us.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Carol. Well, as you saw, you had the statement that came, that was about 15 minutes before the doors opened here at the county clerk's office. And you heard, once again, it was a Kim Davis, speaking sometimes very emotionally, and clearly also from the heart, saying that her faith is going to dominate over her job. And that she cannot issue licenses, marriage licenses, to same-sex couples, that goes in defiance to what she believes.

The people right now gathered are people who believe just like she does, and they're very much in her corner and supporting her. But you also pointed out that that statement had a very interesting kind of loophole. And essentially, it is that she is not going to interfere with her deputies issuing the licenses. And remember, the whole time while she was in jail, five days, those licenses were being issued by her deputies.

So it implies that you've got this kind of truce that's been called. She'll stay in the office, she'll show up on the job, but she won't interfere, as the judge said she should not, but the licenses that are issued, she says, don't have any authority. The governor has already come out in Kentucky and said, no, they have every authority, whether her name is on them or not. So that's the way it's broken down right now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: OK.

(LAUGHTER)

So does this mean she will not go back to jail? And I pose that question to you, Paige Pate.

PAIGE PATE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don't think she's going to go to jail as long as the office continues to issue licenses. If she does not interfere and lets her deputy clerk do this, then I don't see that she's in violation of any court order. I think the key point is that licenses get issued and that's happening now, or at least we expect it to happen. And no matter what she writes on the license or her personal view about whether it's appropriate or whether it's even valid, I think, as long as those licenses get issued, the governor is willing to stand behind them. I think we're OK and she will not go to jail.

[09:05:04] COSTELLO: All right. Paige Pate and Martin Savidge, thanks to you both. I appreciate it.

Kim Davis might have just rocked the 2016 race. Same-sex marriage is just one topic expected to come up in two days at the CNN GOP debate. Candidates rubbing their knuckles and sharpening their elbows as the stage that will serve as the candidate's boxing ring is coming together. You see it there. Eleven Republicans will jockey for the spotlight in CNN's main event. With Donald Trump surging and many other candidates languishing.

Moderator, Jake Tapper, is predicting a testy atmosphere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: This is it. The stage where all the magic is going to happen on Wednesday night at the Ronald Reagan Museum and Library. You can see and hear workers getting the stage ready. Normally, this floor doesn't even exist here. We're all getting prepared for what could be a momentous evening in presidential politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Athena Jones joins us live from the site of the debate, the Reagan Presidential Library, in Simi Valley, California. Good morning.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. We're all counting down to the big night, two days away from here in Simi Valley. Meanwhile, a new national poll out today shows that Donald Trump is still in the lead, and he's posting his biggest numbers yet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRUMP: Winning in Iowa, winning in New Hampshire, winning every place.

CROWD: Let's go Trump. Let's go Trump.

JONES (voice-over): Donald Trump's lead, reaching new heights above the still-crowded GOP field. This morning, a new "Washington Post"- ABC News poll shows Trump with 33 percent. His highest number so far. Trump's closest competitor, Ben Carson, coming in 13 points behind.

TRUMP: People don't have energy. I don't think Ben has the energy.

JONES: Collectively, the two Washington outsiders hold more than 50 percent of the potential vote, both making their case on the Sunday shows.

TRUMP: I'll make great deals for this country. Ben can't do that.

CARSON: I have plenty of energy. It's ridiculous to think that the only thing that I can do is neurosurgery.

JONES: And Carly Fiorina hitting Trump. The back-and-forth heating up with the CNN GOP debate just two days away.

CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald trump is an entertainer. And I think I am a leader. And what I do is talk to the American people about the issues they care about.

JONES: A new CNN-ORC poll revealing that issues like gun control, abortion and illegal immigration are more important to voters this election season than in 2012.

TRUMP: They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime.

JONES: Should he win the nomination, Trump's push to deport undocumented immigrations could come back to bite him in the general election, if he can't clinch the Latino vote.

The latest MSNBC-Telemundo-Marist poll says immigration is the second most important issue in deciding their vote. 70 percent of Latinos viewing Trump negatively.

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I've spoken to the shining city all my political life. Teaming with people of all kinds, living in harmony and peace.

JONES: This, as a pro-immigration reform group is now up with a new ad, hitting Republicans for their rhetoric on immigration.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I said we should end birthright citizenship.

JONES: The head of the Republican National Committee warning the contenders about their tone.

REINCE PRIEBUS, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Each candidate is going to be accountable for their own words and own mouth, and so they should proceed with caution.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JONES: Proceed with caution. Interesting words of warning from the RNC chief there.

And guys, the stage is set. The podiums are up. The candidates are getting ready, and we're all looking forward to Wednesday night -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I am, too. Athena Jones, thanks so much. Athena Jones reporting live for us this morning.

Be sure to tune in Wednesday night for CNN's Republican debate. The main event with the top 11 candidates begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. And before that, we have the undercards, Pataki, Santorum, Jindal and Graham. They face off in the first round that starts at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Two massive wildfires in California have now turned deadly. The blazes, just 100 miles east and west of Sacramento, exploded in size over the weekend, giving thousands of people little time to flee their homes. Authorities say at least one person died in the flames. Charred cars, homes and businesses, hundreds of them turned to ash, images of the fire's aftermath make California look like a war zone.

More than 5,000 firefighters are on the lines, trying to save more towns from this same fate. Combined, the two blazes have more than 115,000 acres up in flames right now.

CNN's Dan Simon live on the scene with more for you. Good morning, Dan.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Well, we are in Middletown, California. This is one of the worst wildfires we have seen in recent memories. Half of this town is said to be lost. You can see this neighborhood, it's just in total ruins.

[09:10:02] You've got lots of twisted metal. And, you know, just Look back there. I mean, you really get a sense in terms of how hot this fire was. You've got 400 homes that have gone up in flames with this Valley Fire. And you got so many firefighters on the line, but really, there's so much they can -- only so much they can do, Carol, because this is what is called a fuel-driven fire.

This is what a four-year drought in California looks like. And they've warned us about this, they said it could happen, and here it is. You have a lot of people who have evacuated. Some people have gone to the Napa County fairgrounds, and that's where we caught up with one resident. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELISSA CARCHOLA, FEARS HOUSE BURNED DOWN: When I saw the flames in the back of the hill, I figured it was far away and we had nothing to worry about. Within 15 minutes, we were evacuating our home. I don't think there is anything left. There was a propane company right across the street from us, Amerigas. Not sure if they had anything in those tanks, but I'm sure that if they blew, our house is gone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMON: Well, many thousands of residents have evacuated, and a lot of people just like that woman, wondering what's going on with their homes. They really don't know. It's going to take a lot of time to sort of sort things out.

At this point, Carol, this fire is zero percent contained. The good news is the fire is not spreading as rapidly as it once was. So hopefully firefighters will begin to being making a dent on this fire. But a lot of work to do and a lot of people displaced, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Dan Simon reporting live from northern California. Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, record numbers of refugees flow into Europe as the migrant crisis worsens. And once again tragedy strikes on the sea. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:17:12] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

COSTELLO: I want to take you now to Houston where a school bus has been involved in some sort of a collision. These are pictures from affiliate KTRK. It's hard to tell exactly what happened but this was a school bus that was carrying high school students. We believe one person has died. We don't know if that person is a student or the bus driver or what. We're still trying to gather information.

This is taking place in southeast Houston at 610 South Loop eastbound. That is a feeder at Telephone Road. And again, once we get more information we'll pass it along, but apparently the school bus flipped over on that road, and it appears the bus came off the freeway.

And you can see visible damage to a guard rail there. You see it there? And as I said, one person reportedly has died in this accident. When we get more information, of course, we'll pass it along to you.

Deadly fires and flooding on two western fronts this morning in California. Windy conditions will worsen and that will worsen the wildfires, roaring through the worst drought in 500 years. Terrifying video of a driver making a mad dash of a burning mountain near Middletown.

At least 700 homes lost, thousands more at risk. One death has reported. We'll have a live report just ahead.

But first, we want to take you to the Utah/Arizona border where flash flooding has claimed at least eight lives. Back-to0back storms hit a small community of Mormon fundamentalists once led by the imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs. These women and children were lucky notable to be swept away by the raging waters there.

Kyung Lah joins us now live from Colorado City, Arizona, with more.

Good morning, Kyung.

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. I'm about a mile downstream from where those children and that mother were swept away in those sudden flash floods. What you are seeing other my right shoulder is some heavily machinery. It is still a recovery search operation. This has been going on for hours as we've been here. These crews trying to move some of this muck aside hoping to find some sort of news about the missing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the front yard.

LAH (voice-over): Dramatic video this morning, showing a massive and deadly flash flood ripping through a small town on the Arizona/Utah border.

You can hear the screams from shocked residents stunned by the rushing water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's happening right now.

LAH: Heavy rain falling in the mountains above the canyon town earlier in the day caused the river to rise rapidly, catching onlookers off guard.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whoa. It's starting to slide.

LAH: Watch this video of rescue crews racing to save a family from a car, moments from being swept away.

[09:20:01] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're getting everybody out.

LAH: Children pulled quickly from the car windows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) the half of the dam.

LAH: The flood so strong, trees uprooted by the current pile up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's pretty powerful.

LAH: A search is still under way for several people. After two vehicles carrying a total of 16, parked to watch the flood, were swept away by the intense rush of water. At least eight have been found dead. All of the victims, mothers and small children. The youngest just 4 years old.

KEVIN BARLOW, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF: There's still active floodwaters and very dangerous, very treacherous. The banks are caving off. A more significant flood than we've had for quite some time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAH: And the weather forecast is not improving. We just saw a very serious rainstorm pass through here. The rain is expected to continue throughout the day.

And to give you an idea, Carol, of the power of these flash floods and how suddenly they can change, just 30 minutes before these families were swept away by the flash floods, it was sunny. And they thought they were safe where they were -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Kyung Lah, reporting live this morning. Thank you.

Now, let's go live to CNN's Dan Simon, who's covering the unrelenting wildfires in Northern California.

Hi, Dan.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, we are here in Middletown and I have to tell you, it's pretty frigid here this morning. Hopefully that will help firefighters. At this point, the fire is 10 percent contained.

But, you know, we've been continuing to drive through the neighborhoods and lo and behold, we've found another neighborhood that is basically flattened. At this point, the images are all too familiar. You have the twisted metal, the burned out vehicles, and all of these destroyed homes. It's just an endless scene.

And we're hearing now that nearly 600 homes have gone up in flames in the Middletown community, this Valley Fire. And if you look at that number alone, I can't think of a wildfire that has been this severe in California in a number of years. In fact, it's probably one of the worst we've seen along the West Coast for quite some time.

Carol, we're also getting more details about the one confirmed fatality. This is a heartbreaking situation. A 72-year-old woman, she had multiple sclerosis, disabled, couldn't leave the house, she has a caregiver who was concerned about her. She wasn't there at the time, the caregiver. She called 911, but by the time authorities got to the house, the house was fully involved in flames and this woman died.

You still have some more people who are unaccounted for. So, unfortunately, that death toll is just probably going to go up -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Dan Simon, reporting live from Middletown, California.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM: Rich guys rule. Trump's millions put him at the top of the presidential race while Romney's riches killed his campaign. We'll examine why, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:27:14] COSTELLO: Ready to use nuclear weapons against the United States at any time. That is the latest threat coming out of North Korea. The communist country now warning the world it is in the process of strengthening its nuclear arsenal in quality and quantity. According to a North Korean official the country's main nuclear complex which includes a uranium enrichment plant is now operating normally. This brazen threat is coming as North Korea says it's preparing for the launch of a new satellite.

So, let's bring in CNN's Kathy Novak. She is in the capital of Seoul in South Korea, to tell us more.

Hi, Kathy.

KATHY NOVAK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, North Korea has long been promising that it would restart this key nuclear facility. And now, as you say, it says it is up and running. All part it says of developing nuclear weapons so it can protect itself against what it calls U.S. hostility and it is launching its own threat today, through its state news agency, KCNA.

Here's what it had to say. It says, "If the U.S. and other hostile forces persistently seek their reckless hostile policy towards the DPRK," that's North Korea, "and behave mischievously, the DPRK is fully ready to cope with them with nuclear weapons at any time."

Now, when we talk about this key nuclear facility, analysts have been studying satellite imagery and some are questioning whether it is really as operational as the North Korea is saying.

But earlier this year, we had the head of U.S. national intelligence, James Clapper, is saying that North Korea was following through on its plans to restart and expand the facility there. And at the same time, as you mentioned, North Korea says it is in the final stages of developing a new satellite.

Now, when we talk about satellite launches, that is often widely interpreted as a veiled test of the ballistic missile technology. That's the technology North Korea would need to deliver these nuclear weapons that it says it is still developing. Now, I sat down with the U.S. ambassador to South Korea. Mark Lipper, to get his take and to here about how the U.S. is preparing for any threat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK LIPPERT, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA: We've moved over time, a good deal missile defense capability to the region, ground based interceptor to Alaska, surface combatants to the Western Pacific, a THAAD battery in Guam, and other radar in Japan, in order to be ready and vigilant for anything the North Koreans may or may not do.

NOVAK: North Korea does say that satellite launch would be for peaceful purpose. Do you believe it is anything but a veiled test of ballistic missile technology?

LIPPERT: Well, past practices shown that the North has consistently violated United Nations Security Council resolutions, international norms and conducted ballistic missile launches that have brought widespread condemnation from the international community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)