Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

High School Band Bus Crashes Into Overturned Semi; Fairfield, New Jersey Residents Return To Flooded Homes Today

Aired October 16, 2005 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All of that and more after this check of the headlines.
The death toll is climbing sharply from last weekend's monster earthquake in south Asia. The Associated Press is now quoting Pakistani officials as raising the death toll estimates to more than 54,000. The head of relief operations says cold and wet weather will likely cause more deaths among the more than 2 million left homeless.

A state of emergency is still in effect in Toledo, Ohio today in the aftermath of a violent rampage that spilled through several blocks. The city is under a curfew for a second night in a row. More than 100 arrests were made Saturday after a white supremacist group's planned march sparked violence.

Forecasters are worried about another round of rough weather for the Gulf Coast. A tropical depression whirling in the Caribbean has all the markings of a tropical storm. If it becomes one it would be named Wilma. It could tie a record set in 1933. That's the last time there were 21 named storms in a single season.

It started as a trip to a state marching band competition. It ended in a deadly accident. Five people were killed today after a charter bus carrying high school students crashed on Interstate 94 in Wisconsin. Officials say the bus apparently crashed into an overturned semi truck.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. DOUG NOTBOHM, WISCONSIN STATE PATROL: For some reason yet to be determined by the investigation, the driver left the traveled portion of the roadway on to the grassy area adjacent to the shoulder. Traveled in that manner for several hundred feet and then attempted to correct the position of his vehicle and jackknifed the semi across the westbound lanes of I-94.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The truck driver survived the crash. Police say investigators are questioning him. Meanwhile, the principal of Chippewa Falls High School says his town is just reeling from the news. Allen Constantini from affiliate KARE is outside the school. And give us a sense right now, what do we know about the school bus driver? ALLEN CONSTANTINI, KARE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that he was 78-years-old. We have his name now, Paul Rasmus. We talked to his grandchildren, two of his grandchildren who said he loved driving a bus. He had been doing it for many, many years. It was his favorite thing to do. He said he would do it for free. Unfortunately he lost his life. He was 78, so there will be questions raised perhaps about his reaction time.

But remember, it was very dark, although quite a bit of moonlight last night, clear and cold. The undercarriage of the truck was black. And of course, you're moving on a very rural highway. I-94 at that point has no lights to speak of. And it's quite possible he didn't see the truck or didn't see it in time.

WHITFIELD: And how long do we believe that bus of the school children mostly had been on the road?

CONSTANTINI: Well, Whitewater, Wisconsin which is where that state band competition you were talking about was held is in the southern part of Wisconsin almost down to the Illinois border. So it's at least two hours, you would think, maybe three on the way back.

The other thing is that the Chippewa Falls marching band was the last band that was competing to perform in this very long program. They weren't scheduled to go on the field till 9:00 last night. And as -- if you've ever been to one, they often go quite late. So, it's likely they didn't get out till after midnight. And actually, they would have made pretty good time to be where they were at 2:00 in the morning.

WHITFIELD: And Allen before I let you go, I understand the school there is prepared to assist people in the community in any way they can, even opening up their doors today, right?

CONSTANTINI: Yes. They've been open pretty much since the accident occurred, at least since people became aware of it. They've had grief counselors present at the school.

Of course, the initial fears were that as many as six high school students had died in this. Now we know that it's four adults and one 11-year-old girl. So not that that's eases the pain for this community, but it's always hard when you lose people just at the beginning of their lives. And the thought there might be six at one type was kind of overwhelming to Chippewa Falls.

WHITFIELD: Allen Constantini from our affiliate KARE, thanks so much.

Well, joining me now on the telephone is Jeffrey Hage. He's a reporter for the "Chippewa Herald" in Chippewa Falls, the students' hometown. And Jeffrey, give me an idea right now how the town is coping with this tragic news.

JEFFREY HAGE, CHIPPEWA HERALD: Well as Allen said, I think there is some relief that the fatalities weren't students. But you know, there's a lot of talk and speculation who at least one of the fatalities is. It's someone connected close to the school band program. So there's a lot of broken hearts.

WHITFIELD: And Jeffrey, you were at the most recent press conference involving officials there looking into exactly what happened.

HAGE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: This semi truck, it had gotten into trouble on its own somehow. It doesn't appear to be weather related, because we're hearing about these very clear conditions. Was this semi truck just sort of abandoned or covering part of I-94, and it was dark and that's why perhaps this bus just didn't see it?

HAGE: Not just covering part, but the semi truck had gone in to one of the ditches. Traveled hundreds of feet. Jackknifed when it came out of the ditch, and wasn't just covering part of the highway but the entire highway. Both lanes. So when the bus came upon it, there was nowhere for the bus to go.

WHITFIELD: Jeffrey Hage with the "Chippewa Herald" in Chippewa Falls, thank you so much.

HAGE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, now to notebooks, names and new details in an investigation focusing on key figures inside the White House. A reporter at the center of the CIA leak probe is speaking out now. Judith Miller details her conversations with vice president Dick Cheney's top aide in today's "New York Times." Meanwhile, the Bush administration is awaiting a special prosecutor's next move.

CNN national correspondent Bob Franken joins us now from the White House -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Fredricka, the administration tries to down play this, but there's little question that people at the top levels are somewhat preoccupied by all this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): The president along with so many others is waiting. Will the man who for so long has accompanied him on his political ride soon have to cope with legal difficulties? Does Karl Rove's fourth appearance before the grand jury Friday portend a high level indictment or not at Rove's level or that of the vice president's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby? Speculation about what might happen is running rampant.

JOSEPH DIGENOVA, FRM. U.S. ATTORNEY: If they are indicted, well then obviously they're going to have to resign from the White House because a sitting president cannot have indicted individuals working on his staff.

FRANKEN: In her long waited article, "New York Times" reporter Judith Mill who spent 85 days in jail writes about speaking to Libby in the days before the public exposure of CIA operative VAlerie Plame. Plame was the wife of harsh administration critic Joseph Wilson. "Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald," she writes, "questioned her closely about Libby."

ROBERT BENNETT, JUDITH MILLER'S ATTORNEY: Mr. Fitzgerald is putting together a big puzzle, and Judy may very well have provide him a piece of the puzzle which is not obvious to me.

FRANKEN: In her article, Miller on the one hand says "Mr. Libby told me that Mr. Wilson's wife may have worked on unconventional weapons at the CIA." But then she goes on to write, "my notes do not show that Mr. Libby identified Mr. Wilson's wife by name."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: The article gives no insight into Mr. Fitzgerald's intentions but the grand jury is scheduled to expire pretty soon. And perhaps before it goes, will make its intentions known.

WHITFIELD: And we already know reportedly, Bob, that Karl Rove, as well as Scooter Libby, have discussed that if indeed they are indicted -- not only did we hear from Digenova saying they would have to be let go, but they actually say reportedly that they would voluntarily step down.

FRANKEN: Well, what we're hearing is a lot of speculation, speculation from people who believe that there would be no choice. We have not actually heard of any conversations between the two, but a lot of people who feel that it would be inevitable that would happen if there were indictments.

WHITFIELD: Bob Franken at the White House, thanks so much.

A prominent defense attorney is now dealing with a crime much closer to home. Police say Daniel Horowitz called 911 last night to report his wife was dead in their home near San Francisco. Investigators are calling her death a homicide. Horowitz was frequently one you'd see as a legal commentator on various news program.

The vote in Iraq: the country's future hangs in the balance. But will all of the nation's citizens have a voice in the government?

Plus, some northeast residents displaced by flooding are coming home today. But what are they returning to? A live report from Fairfield, New Jersey.

And you may know him as Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Smith, but he's also reaching out to Katrina victims. We'll tell you how. You're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Lots of anticipation in Iraq as the ballots continue to be tallied from yesterday's constitutional referendum. Results are expected this week. And while Iraq's foreign minister says it appears the constitution will be approved, a U.N. election official in Baghdad insists there is no way of determining yet which way the vote will go.

Still unknown at this hour, the fate of ten election workers reportedly kidnapped in two towns in western Iraq. Officials say the workers were captured at the start of yesterday's vote. Tribal leaders are said to be mediating between the kidnappers and Iraqi police to secure the workers' release.

There were two deadly bomb attacks on referendum day targeting U.S. troops. U.S. military officials say in the first incident, a roadside bomb killed five U.S. soldiers near the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi. And they say near Fallujah, one marine died after his vehicle was hit by a road-side bomb during combat operations against insurgents.

The daily bombings in Iraq are also targeting civilians. Many of them are middle class men and women who had hoped to be building a new Iraq by now. Instead, they're focused on just one very serious task: staying alive. One Sunni Shia family in Baghdad talks about that brutal reality with CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Amira al-Salami and her family live in one of Baghdad's big apartment blocks. She's a secondary school teacher and her husband, Dr. Monjad al Naeb works at the Ministry of Science and Technology. A middle class family whose high hopes are all but extinguished.

It's bad, bad.

AMANPOUR: The al Naeb family expected America to change Iraq from dictatorship to democracy to bring jobs and opportunity. What they never specked was the violence and mayhem that still rules their lives two-and-a-half years after the war and leaves little room for optimism.

MONJAD AL-NAEB, BAGHDAD RESIDENT: It's very hard to say that because we don't know what will happen tomorrow actually. It's very, very hard to say that. Because every situation now doesn't appear that there is small light in this darkness.

AMANPOUR: It doesn't take long for Amira's pent up tears to start flowing.

I'm crying for Iraq. They destroyed its past and its future, she says. Now those dirty terrorists who come from outside want to destroy it completely.

The frustration and hopelessness of the parents is filtering down to their children, the very generation of educated secular middle class people Iraq's future depends on. 22-year-old Omar studies medical technology at university, but he's worried about finding a job.

OMAR NAEB, STUDENT (through translator): The students who graduated from my college last year are still sitting at home waiting.

AMANPOUR: 20-year-old Muhammed studies mathematics. Like his whole family and many of their friends, he wants to leave Iraq.

MUHAMMED NAEB, STUDENT (through translator): I want to ask you whether you could stay five or ten years here. There is no reason for me to stay. No jobs. Not even electricity or running water.

AMANPOUR: Indeed, two-and-a-half years after the war, basic services remain sporadic. This family's most treasured possession is still their small generator.

M. NAEB: Check the oil is the most important thing.

AMANPOUR: Instead of having fun, going out to play sports, and youthful clubbing, life for these young people is all about curfews, gasoline lines, road blocks and explosions

O. NAEB (through translator): I should live like young men in other countries who spend their nights out, but now I can't. My family starts calling me around 7:3:00 p.m to come home.

AMANPOUR: This family who hoped America would bring them a better future was further shaken when Munjab says he was arrested two years ago by American forces and kept without charge for 50 days before being released. He says they were looking for weapons.

M. NAEB: I don't know why they are punishing the people. What I have done to them? I don't know. Till now, I don't know why.

AMANPOUR: Munjab lodged a complaint with the U.S. military, but he's most afraid of the religious militias and the insurgents.

Amira says she lives in constant fear, hovering at her balcony every day, waiting for her husband to come back from work, her children to return from school.

Before we used to visit our families, attend celebrations, and go to restaurants. We walked about until late. What kind of life are we living now, just eating and drinking? Is this a life? Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: President Bush remains positive about Iraq's future. He says Iraq is becoming a nation that will serve as an example for others who want to live in freedom. And he praised yesterday's referendum. Mr. Bush says the solid voter turnout is a sign the country is making progress toward peace.

But that optimism isn't shared by everyone. The new book "The Future of Iraq: Dictatorship, Democracy or Division," predicts civil war there is very likely. Joining us is one of the authors Liam Anderson. Good to see you, Liam.

LIAM ANDERSON, AUTHOR: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: So even despite the referendum vote, no matter which way it goes, whether it's an overwhelming yes or no for the constitution, you see a very grim future for that country?

ANDERSON: I think it depends how the outcome is achieved. I think the result will be yes. So I think the constitution will pass. Because I think the major community that's going to reject it are the Sunni Arabs. And I don't think they have the numbers necessary to do that.

But I think if the Sunni Arabs vote as a block to reject it and then the Shia and the Kurds vote as a block to approve it, I think all that the process does is it entrenches these communal divisions. And it potentially -- the Sunni Arabs could become totally disillusioned with the political process.

In the end, the constitution itself doesn't offer much to the Sunni Arabs. It's not a document that they can really feel comfortable living under . So I think this process could end up making things worse. And I think it certainly won't end up reducing the violence.

WHITFIELD: Well, even beyond the constitution, there still would have to be an election for any permanent government leaders. That's where you see, in part, some of the problems, the fashional fighting: the Sunnis, the Shiites, the Kurds, all struggling for and trying to get a piece of the pie, some bit of power?

ANDERSON: Well, and here's the problem with the constitution from the perspective of the Sunni Arabs which is that it contains provisions that allow provinces to form autonomous regions. And so the Kurds will inevitably form their autonomous region in the north and at some point in the future, they will control Kirkuk's oil and then the Shia in the south will probably form one or two regions and control all of the southern oil fields.

So in essence, the Sunni Arabs get stuck in the second in a sort of violent miserable mess with no access to resources. So, they're basically being cut out of the game really as a consequence of this constitution is how they will see it, I think.

WHITFIELD: And when you look at the piece we just saw from Christiane Amanpour talking about many of the Iraqis there who don't even see a ray of hope anywhere within the next five years, aside from the kind of factual divisions we just showed in that map, are you seeing any hope beyond today for this country in the short term?

ANDERSON: I think if -- if the Sunni Arab vote is divided, in other words, if a significant portion of the Sunni Arabs actually vote in favor of the constitution, and we won't know that for a couple of days, then I think there's a chance for progress. Because I think what's lacking now is any sort of proportion of the Sunni Arab community that the government can do business with. And I think a divided Sunni Arab vote here, it would be the most positive outcome.

I think it's a negative outcome for the Sunni Arabs, because I think it will lead to a lot of bloodletting among the Sunni Arab community. But I think that's the best hope for the future of Iraq.

WHITFIELD: And we're talking about the immediate future meaning this week. We may learn something more about the referendum. And we also just might begin to witness the planned trial of Saddam Hussein actually taking part this week. In what way do you see this perhaps might help pave the way for a more autonomous country, a more united Iraq?

ANDERSON: The trial of Saddam Hussein?

WHITFIELD: Yes. Might it in any way influence the immediate future of this country?

ANDERSON: Again, this is sort of the event that could cut both ways. I could see this being a sort of moving on. So in other words, you finally end the nightmare of Saddam Hussein.

But at the same time, it's likely to focus attention on intensification of deBaathfication, for example, so that again, what the Sunni Arabs see as a witch hunt against them because the Sunni Arabs were disproportionately represented in the top ranks of the Baath. So, it could cut both ways.

I think there are a sizable portion of the Sunni Arabs who would quite like to see Saddam Hussein come back. So I think his trial and his, probably his execution may well just serve to again, to entrench divisions.

WHITFIELD: Liam Anderson, "The Future of Iraq." Thank you so much for joining us this afternoon.

ANDERSON: Sure. A pleasure.

WHITFIELD: And tonight, "CNN PRESENTS: Progress Report Two," a hard look what's working and what's not in the fight to bring stability to Iraq. That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern followed by "Voices From the Homefront," which examines the reasons Americans are so divided about that war.

In the Caribbean, a new storm brewing that has the potential to become a hurricane -- Hurricane Wilma potentially. We'll tell you the latest.

Plus the need for speed, what does it take to be a NASCAR driver? A lot more than just driving around the block, that's for sure. Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us for a ride. You're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCAIL BREAK)

WHITFIEDL: Dozens of people who were forced to fleet flooding in Fairfield, New Jersey, are coming home and getting their first look at the damage. CNN's Jennifer Westhoven joins us with reaction from stunned homeowners. And Jennifer, how are they coping with what they have found?

JENNIFER WESTHOVEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Thanks, Fredricka. We caught up with some families today, people who were coming back to their homes, even the mayor. A lot of people shaking their heads at the flood. But at the same time, Fairfield is a town that's kind of a repeat offender when it comes to these floods meaning it sees these huge floods every once in awhile. We caught up with one family to see how they were coping.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WESTHOVEN (voice-over): Renata and Robert Wagemann live here on Camp Lane in Fairfield, New Jersey for the beautiful view of the Pasek River behind their home. Now their home looks like it's in the middle of that river after storms dumped even more rain here than Hurricane Rita did on the South. Their son, Peter, grew up in this house and now lives down the street with his wife Peggy. They came over to lend a hand.

PETER WAGEMANN, FAIRFIELD RESIDENT: There's about three-and-a- half feet of water in here.

WAGEMANN: It came down. It came down that much overnight.

I wonder if the lights still work. Hey. Got electricity.

WESTHOVEN: They carried things upstairs before the waters came in. They Wagemanns and their neighbors are used to bailing out their homes because this street floods once a year. Everyone in the neighborhood has flood insurance, but the state would like them to eventually move to higher ground. So it's offered to buy them out.

MAYOR ROCCO PALMIERI, FAIRFIELD, NEW JERSEY: It's not mandatory, so there are quite a number of people who still want to stay here, because as I say, when the water is down, this is a beautiful area to be in.

WESTHOVEN: And Renata and her husband say they will stay in this serene and leafy spot where they've been for almost 40 years.

RENATE WAGEMANN, FAIRFIELD RESIDENT: Did you see our backyard? It's all woods on the other side wildlife. We have a lot of benefits when we're not flooded. So when it's flooded comes as a package.

WESTHOVEN: Now, for Renate that's a beautiful reason why she wants to stay here. For a lot of other people, they say they're staying because it's about the money. They say they can't afford to move to other places in this crowded area of New Jersey. Still though for everyone here, it's going to take about a week before the town and town officials will be moving in to start the cleanup that is because they want to wait for these flood waters to recede a bit before they can come in and get things going. It will take a full two weeks for things to be cleaned up. It will be November before things get back to normal.

Fredericka back to you. WHITFIELD: In it for the long hall. Jennifer Westhoven thanks so much.

Well as the Gulf Coast dries out from Katrina and Rita, more bad weather could be headed its way. Lets go to CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen live in the Weather Center. What's up next Dave?

DAVE HENNEN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right Fredricka. Watching very closely back down into the Caribbean where we have tropical depression number 24. Likely to become tropical storm Wilma. We think that is going to happen later on tonight or during the day tomorrow. The storm still organizing back down here, south of the Cayman Islands at the present time. Not real impressive yet, but the forecast looks pretty good for this to become perhaps even a major hurricane as it heads towards the north over the next couple of days.

Here's the latest statistics we have, winds 35 miles per hour, gusts up to 45 miles per hour. Here's the all important forecast track where we think the storm is going to head, south of Cayman Islands. There are tropical storm warnings, hurricane watches in effect for the Caymans. And as we head through time, notice Thursday and back into Friday, we are looking at the potential for a strong hurricane, 111 miles per hour is the criteria for a category three hurricane. We're going to be very close to that, we think, and then the red the cone of uncertainty, anywhere from Florida all the way through much of the Gulf Coast. You need to keep a close eye on this storm over the next couple of days.

Lets talk about the weather in the northeast, most of the rain has moved out, at least into those flooded areas into parts of New Jersey into New York City. Still some rain left up into far northern sections of New England. But it is very windy these are live wind gusts. Check out some of these numbers, 44 miles per hour at one point in Boston this afternoon, high wind warnings in effect for much of the northeast and that is causing some airport delays. So if you're trying to get somewhere on this Sunday afternoon Fredricka, you'll be slow up in LaGuardia and Boston, delays there over an hour at the present time.

WHITFIELD: Not a good thing at all. All right. Thanks so much, Dave.

Well, is it the end of an industry? Katrina ravaged the Louisiana shore, but did the hurricane take with it the oysters? We'll have a report plus this. A song for Katrina relief. Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Smith wrote it and he joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking our top stories now in the news, federal transportation investigators are taking part in the probe into a deadly accident early today in Wisconsin. Five people were killed when a charter bus crashed into an overturned semi truck on Interstate 94. Thirty people were injury. The bus was carrying high school students returning from a state band competition. Violence in the Middle East. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is claiming responsibility for two shootings in the West Bank. Israeli sources say three Israelis were killed and five were wounded in the violence.

In another incident Israeli troops shot an armed Palestinian near Janine. Israeli media say he is a senior leader of the Islamic Jihad.

Louisiana's lucrative oyster industry feared shelved by Katrina. Many worry the shellfish killed off by the storm or contaminated by the toxic soup pumped from the city of New Orleans. Is it the end of the oyster business? Or might it be perhaps a potential out there? Our Dan Simon goes on hunt with a local oysterman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Louisiana is to oysters as Maine is to lobsters. Now it's feared there could be an oyster shortage, boats destroyed, fishermen displaced and the oysters being killed off by the wrath of Katrina.

How long have you been a fisherman?

GEORGE BARISICH, OYSTERMAN: Since I've been nine years old with my daddy. My daddy is the second generation, I'm third generation.

SIMON: George Barisich took us to the Plackamans Parish usually an oyster hot bed.

BARISICH: Today we're looking for things that determine mortality of the oysters, see how many survived.

SIMON: That's an oyster drudge, and George and his crew are hoping it will be filled up. This is what it would look like in good times.

BARISICH: Drag it along the bottom at a certain angle the teeth kick everything up and as it kicks it up its go in the bag and you dump it periodically on table and whatever's good you put in the sack, whatever's bad you throw overboard.

SIMON: On the first go around, no luck. It appears grass and silt has covered the oysters robbing the creatures of oxygen to survive. And some experts fear as much as 60 percent of Louisiana oysters have been affected in a similar fashion.

BARISICH: If it gets on top of your reef to the extent where it covers the whole oyster, the oyster can't breathe and it's going to die.

SIMON: Nothing comes up the second time either and George is concerned.

BARISICH: Don't look good here.

SIMON: As we go about our search he says nothing will discourage him from doing what he loves. Do you love this business?

BARISICH: I love the business. It's in the blood. When people tell you how can you keep doing this all the adversity, I say when I get cut; a little saltwater comes out before the blood.

SIMON: The third try yields our first oyster. Time for a mini celebration.

BARISICH: We find a couple of live oysters.

SIMON: But that doesn't tell if you they're edible recent a concern because of the possibility of contaminated water. In this situation, there's only one way to find out. George can barely contain himself.

BARISICH: It's been five and a half weeks since I had one of these delights from the sea. I got to get my pure shot of protein.

SIMON: How does it look to you?

BARISICH: It looks great. And it doesn't get any better than this.

SIMON: So we end our day on a high note. Based on this journey, it's clear finding healthy plump oysters are going to be a challenge, just one more the state didn't need. Most of Louisiana's oyster beds are closed down because of health concerns. Some have reopened. The Department of Health and Hospitals is running some test to see if they might be able to open some more. Mean while oysters outside the region have not been affected.

Dan Simon, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Many people have stepped forward to help the victims of Katrina. NBA player and Milwaukee Bucks star Joe Smith has written a rap song, he was so moved by the images of destruction, he says he wanted to offer encouragement in his song, "Keep Your Head Up." Joe Smith joins us now from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Good to see you Joe.

JOE SMITH, NBA PLAYER: How are you doing?

WHITFIELD: All right. Well what inspired this? You like everybody else watch a lot of these images and felt like, gosh, I wish there was something I could do. How is it that your thoughts end up translating into writing some words down for a song?

SMITH: I mean, I just got inspired by the footage I seen every day on CNN and just wanted to do my part. I mean, we did as a team, we did -- we contributed money, but I just wanted to get my point across in a song and that was just my way of getting my point across.

WHITFIELD: Joe, let's take a listen to your tune. How many of y'all know about struggle and pain? Imagine life haunted by wind and rain, (INAUDIBLE) wash away leaving no remains. What would you do overnight if your life was suddenly changed? Things happen for a reason, they say don't question god. But what's the reason for this when life's already hard. Nothing is to (INAUDIBLE) thousands of lives perished; in a time of need it's good to see why people shoulder courage. (INAUDIBLE) Never thought I'd see something like this when my people got to ask to eat, no water, no food, no milk for the kids. What's left to do? In order to survive -- water damage to the roof, government waiting for what we'll never know the truth. Now that we need our troops to save their lives of young and old we've got nowhere to turn helping us at a time that's cold keep your head up, whenever life can be tough, just hold your head up

WHITFIELD: So Joe where did it begin? You saw some of these images. Was there an image in particular that kind of sparked your interest and made you start jotting down some thoughts?

SMITH: I mean, all of them had pretty much the same effect. There was one where it was this man, he was explaining the story of how he lost his family and his wife was just -- he was trying to hold on to his wife and his wife told him just take care of the kids. And that really almost brought me to tears seeing that image. Hearing him explain his story. That's where it all began for me.

WHITFIELD: Here you are living in Milwaukee, miles and miles away from the Gulf Coast. Do you have friends and family there is it that why you felt a particular connection?

SMITH: That's the thing about it. I don't have any friends or family that I know down there. But just the images that I saw every day were enough for me to get down and want to write this song.

WHITFIELD: Just being human. Now, what do you do with this music? You're not doing it for profit. You're not trying to sell it in any way, shape or form. What are you hoping your music will do to help inspire other people to do something to help the victims of Katrina?

SMITH: Pretty much just hoping that everybody, we don't just forget what happened down there and everybody continues to contribute, and try and help all the evacuees out as much as possible. You don't have to give much, just give what you can. I mean, that's just what I'm trying to get -- that's the point I'm trying to get across.

WHITFIELD: You've been encouraging people to donate to the Red Cross. And I understand the Milwaukee Bucks have also donated some $500,000 to try to help out the victims as well, is that right?

SMITH: Yeah, that's right. And everyone on the team had parts in contributing to that, and you know, I'm quite sure we're not the only team that did that. A lot of the teams in the NBA has done that. And you know I'm just asking that everyone continues to contribute and do whatever they can to help.

WHITFIELD: All right. Joe Smith thanks so much for joining us from Milwaukee. I understand if folks want to take a listen to your song some more, they just go to the Bucks Website, right?

SMITH: Exactly. It should be up sometime this week. And everyone, there should be a link for the song once you log on to Bucks.com, you should be able to listen to the song and the words are there, as well.

WHITFIELD: All right Joe Smith, thanks so much. I'm sure a lot of folks in the Gulf region appreciate your efforts, as well.

SMITH: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right have a good Sunday.

Well more CNN LIVE SUNDAY coming up. As we go to break, we're going to let you hear more of Joe Smith's relief song "Keep Your Head Up."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Years after the sex abuse scandal rocked the Roman Catholic Church; there has been no national response or settlement. Each diocese is handling the scandal on its own. In Los Angeles, negotiations between the church and hundreds of alleged victims have now stalled. CNN's Peter Viles explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RITA MIA (ph): My name is Rita Mia (ph). I was abused by seven priests.

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In Los Angeles, still no resolution to the Catholic Church sex scandal alleged victims feel betrayed by long serving Cardinal Roger Mahoney.

MARY GRANT, VICTIMS' RIGHTS ADVOCATE: You knew that the rape of kids was a crime. You kept it secret. You didn't call the police. You moved the predators. You caused more innocent lives to be shattered.

VILES: Mahoney told CNN last year that the church once thought it could cure abusive priests and did not inform authorities but now he says it has a zero tolerance policy for abusive priests. This week, the church released summaries of abuse allegations against more than 200 priests.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we have here is a church that is embarrassed, that is contrite, that is ashamed of what happened in the past, and is committed to reforming it to the extent that it is humanly possible to do so."

VILES: The documents show that priests accused of abuse were sometimes sent into therapy but not reported to authorities.

JAMES BALDRIDGE, ALLEGED SEX ABUSE VICTIM: What they cared about was their image and how can we suppress this and make it go away as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

VILES: Jim Baldridge says he was repeatedly raped as a boy by a priest who died 18 years ago. BALDRIDGE: It's a nightmare for a lot of us and it doesn't just affect the victims. It affects our families; it affects my wife and my children. And the part that really tears me up is I was one of the best Catholics out there. I worshipped the ground the priest walked on.

VILES: The church and neighboring Orange County paid more than $1 million per victim to settle abuse claims based on that math, a Los Angeles settlement would exceed $600 million. But talks between the archdiocese of Los Angeles and 560 alleged victims have stalled. Both sides say the church's insurance companies are refusing to negotiate.

RAYMOND BOUCHER, ATTY. FOR SEX ABUSE VICTIMS: We've been in settlement discussions for about three years now. The insurance companies are clearly the single greatest impediment to resolving these cases. They want to see them drag on as long as they possibly can.

VILES: So both sides say it is now increasingly likely that some of those 560 allege victims will soon have their day in court. Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Aerobic and cardio training? Weight lifting and conditioning? It sounds like preparation for a marathon right? Well it is actually the regimen of many Nascar drivers. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us inside the fast paced sport in his special driven to extremes. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Even if he's not driving, Carl Edwards like to keep his heart racing with a mix of cardio and weights seven days a week.

CARL EDWARDS, NASCAR DRIVER: A place like this, we have 250 laps without stopping. That is intense. You're breathing heavy; your heart is beating the same as a long run or bicycle ride. It's hard-core.

GUPTA: How hard-core? A study found racecar drivers on an oval track like Nascar's sustain heart rates of 120 to 150 beats per minute. About the same level as a serious marathon runner or about the same the same length of time. Research into car racing shows that aerobic and resistance training helps drivers handle the g forces. One of the pioneers of the fitness boom, Edwards teammate and mentor Mark Martin. He began working out seriously in 1988. Martin who wrote the book "Nascar for Dummies" says there are three benefits. Drives suffer fewer injuries because their muscles protect their bones and internal organs. The drivers are better able to handle the intense heat in the car, 120 degrees or hotter because they start with a lower pulse. A strong upper body helps a driver steer better when the car is not handling well. Fitness routines and special diets now abound among Nascar drivers. JEFF GORDON, NASCAR DRIVER: As I get older, I need to do more things to stay in shape.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NASCAR DRIVER: Light weights and a lot of represents so I can have some strength and muscle mass for a crash or impact.

KYLE PETTY, NASCAR DRIVER: I run a marathon in January, planning to run another this winter sometime.

GUPTA: Of course, not all drivers have joined in the fitness craze.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Channel up, channel down, volume up and down. That's about the extent of my routine.

GUPTA: In the long run, Edwards is convinced being fit will have him in victory lane more often jumping for joy.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And don't miss Dr. Sanjay Gupta's special "Nascar Driven to Extremes" that is tonight at 10:00 Eastern.

The show must go on. New Orleans is planning on a Mardi gras next year. Will it have a corporate twist? We will tell you all about that story when CNN LIVE SUNDAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: An overnight high school band trip turns deadly on a central Wisconsin highway. A live report straight ahead.

The quake death toll in Pakistan increases by 40 percent to 54,000 people. With the weather growing worse, CNN reporters are in the region.

And is there new trouble in the Caribbean? Forecasters warn this ominous radar image has the makings of a dangerous hurricane. We'll have a live update from the CNN Weather Center.

Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All that and more after a check of the headlines.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com