MORNING-08
investigating ten reports of hoverboard fires in nine different states.>
batteries, which the FAA says can start fires in a plane`s baggage
compartment.>
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS (CBSN): Good morning. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently investigating ten reports of hoverboard fires in nine different states. Many of the hoverboard electric scooters have high watt lithium batteries, which the FAA says can start fires in a plane`s baggage compartment.
(Begin VT)
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Already one of the season`s hottest gifts, it appears hoverboards are continuing to heat up.
WOMAN: Holy cow.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Literally. Cell phone videos like this from earlier in the week claimed to show a hoverboard burning in a Washington State mall. Another rider from Alabama posted this video saying his hoverboard just caught fire.
MAN: The battery just shot out.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Now, this year`s must-have gift is finding its way onto some less popular lists. On Thursday, the nation`s three largest airlines banned the scooters from flights. They`re concerned about the toy`s lithium-ion battery.
DENNY KELLY: They ignite and catch fire very violently.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Aviation consultant Denny Kelly.
DENNY KELLY: The FAA probably would ban lithium batteries from airplanes period if there was wasn`t so much pressure from the airlines not to do that.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Cell phones, tablets and laptops use low wattage lithium-ion batteries, which fall within FAA regulations. But airlines are concerned about the hoverboards battery. In a statement, Delta pointed to the size or power of their lithium-ion batteries and found that the strength of the batteries in hoverboards ".often exceeded government limits for what`s allowed on board an aircraft." One hoverboard manufacturer, Swagway, blames cheap knock-offs for the problem saying they ".don`t come compromise when it comes to using the highest quality parts" and urged customers to ".be aware of fake units that are being sold on the internet." According to Sean Kane, the founder of the Safety Institute, the hugely popular product may eventually be recalled.
SEAN KANE: They`re considered toys, but, in fact, they`re not. So at the end of the day you have a product that doesn`t have to meet any safety requirements and its finding its way through the U.S. market.
(End VT)
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Airlines aren`t the only ones moving away from hoverboards. On Thursday morning, online retailer overstock.com also said it`ll stop selling the popular product due to growing safety concerns.
GAYLE KING: A lot to think about with these hoverboards of all of us the table.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Hoverboards.
GAYLE KING: Oh, hoverboards. You can tell I don`t have one or the three of us. Somebody at the table has one. Clearly, it ain`t me.
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: You rode one around here on the set that day.
GAYLE KING: I remember. Who do you think at this table has a hoverboard?
CHARLIE ROSE: Yeah. That wasn`t hard, Gayle.
GAYLE KING: I know, be careful, Charlie, with your hoverboard.
CHARLIE ROSE: It`s all about balance.
GAYLE KING: Yeah, be very careful.
Vlad, we thank you.
Something you may not know about Los Angeles, there`s a river running through it. Ahead, why a famous architect is trying to return that river to nature.
Plus our friend Bob Schieffer, you know him, you love him, he moderates a different kind of TV debate you could say. That`s coming up next.
But first--good to see Bob--it`s seven forty-seven, time to check your local weather.
(LOCAL WEATHER BREAK)
BOB SCHIEFFER (Face the Football Nation; NFL Network): So let`s switch to another topic of national importance. And that is football.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (Face the Football Nation; NFL Network): How many times have the Vikings lost? Four times.
SENATOR AL FRANKEN: Exactly. Four times. We got to the Super Bowl four times, Bob.
BOB SCHIEFFER: Gentlemen, let`s not turn this into a sports talk radio show.
SENATOR AL FRANKEN: No, it`s too late, okay? He is my friend but he is a loser.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: Maybe you`ll understand the virtues of being a Republican instead of a liberal communist socialist.
BOB SCHIEFFER: Gentleman, if we could--
SENATOR AL FRANKEN: Well--
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: A successful football team is like a successful government--you got to spend money on defense.
SENATOR AL FRANKEN: Over spend on defense, I think we`ve heard that before for my--
GAYLE KING: Bob Schieffer`s heard that many times before. The retired FACE THE NATION host returned to a very familiar role last night. He moderated a pretend debate between Arizona Senator John McCain and Minnesota Senator Al Franken. Before Arizona played Minnesota last night on Thursday night football and Arizona won the game. They`re going to playoffs. But it`s fun to to see them that verbal sparring.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yeah.
GAYLE KING: It took a little personal jabs a couple of times.
KRISTINE JOHNSON: Mm-Hm.
GAYLE KING: Great.
KRISTINE JOHNSON: Bob, still has it.
GAYLE KING: Yes, he does.
KRISTINE JOHNSON: Only on CBS THIS MORNING, the governor vowing to block gun buyers if they`re on the federal watch list. Connecticut`s Dannel Malloy with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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