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CNN Live Sunday

Minimal Delays for Holiday Travelers; Asking for Delay in Hussein Case; Controversial Abortion Case Goes to Supreme Court; Hurricane Katrina Victims React to Promises for Help; Alleviating Travel Stress; Electronic Gadgets Top Holiday Wish Lists

Aired November 27, 2005 - 16:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: On a day when millions of travelers hit the road, a bus overturns in California. Right now, at least two people are dead, many more seriously injured. This hour we'll talk to a spokeswoman for Greyhound bus lines.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz live at New York's LaGuardia Airport, where we're entering the final rush of the long holiday weekend. I'll have the story on how things are going in just a few minutes.

HARRIS: And rebuilding New Orleans, will the people who need the most help the most get it? Or, have they already lost hope?

Hello, and welcome everyone to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Tony Harris, thank you for joining us.

Now in the news, reports out of Iran say four Western aid workers have been kidnapped, two are said to be Canadian, one British. And there are reports that the fourth missing worker may be an American. The U.S. and British embassies in Baghdad are investigating.

The trial of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein resumes tomorrow. The proceedings are restarting after a five-week recess. His trial is taking place in a heavily guarded courtroom in Baghdad's heavily- fortified Green Zone. CNN's special coverage begins at 6:00 a.m. Eastern on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Intensive search and rescue operations are underway in southern Iran today. A major earthquake flattened several villages, killing at least 10 people. Dozens of others were injured.

First this hour, the mad rush on this Thanksgiving weekend turns deadly. Authorities are on the scene of a Greyhound bus crash in Southern California. A bus carrying 44 people overturned on a highway in Santa Maria, then rolled down an embankment, and slammed into a tree. Two passengers were killed, all of the others were injured, seven seriously. Some had to be cut from the wreckage with the jaws of life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The accident is still under investigation. It appears the bus was the only vehicle involved. Because it's still under investigation, we're still gathering any physical evidence and we have yet -- we're still taking statements from passengers, any possible witnesses that there may have been. And so we're still putting that together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Greyhound spokeswoman Kim Plaskett joins me on the phone from the company's headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Kim, thanks for your time.

KIM PLASKETT, GREYHOUND LINES SPOKESWOMAN (on phone): Good afternoon, Tony.

HARRIS: Kim, have you received an assessment of the situation of the crash scene, of the site itself, and from officials on the ground? What can you tell us?

PLASKETT: Right now, I can tell you that the cause of the accident has not yet been determined. It would be too early as to speculate the cause. However, we are fully cooperating with the California Highway Patrol's investigation of this tragic accident. Right now our first priority is taking care of our passengers. We have established a friends and family hotline to call. Its number is 1-800-972-4583.

HARRIS: Can you give me that number again, Kim?

PLASKETT: Sure, it's 1-800-972-4583.

HARRIS: OK, we'll put together a graphic as quickly as we can and we'll put that number up. Tell us about this trip. Where did it begin, at what time? When did you receive word of the accident?

PLASKETT: The schedule number is 6742. It originated in Los Angeles, final destination was San Francisco. It was on the leg of its journey between Santa Barbara and Santa Maria when the accident occurred, a little after 7:00 this morning local time.

HARRIS: OK, Kim, we understand that a driver was injured. Do you have any idea of that driver's condition, he or she?

PLASKETT: That's not information we have at this time, no.

HARRIS: OK, so you weren't able at this point to get any kind of a statement, certainly you haven't. But do you know whether or not anyone at Greyhound has been able to make contact with the driver?

PLASKETT: Well, we have Greyhound personnel on the scene to take care of our employees, as well as any customers, and that would include at the hospitals.

HARRIS: And were you able to get -- what's the procedure when something like this happens? Do you send additional buses up to the area to take care of folks who weren't seriously injured, and can continue with their trip?

PLASKETT: We dispatched three release buses to the scene, as well as to hospitals. So, as soon as passengers are treated and released, they can get on to their destination.

HARRIS: OK, so Kim, let's give that number again for information for folks who have loved ones who were on this bus on this trip. What is that number again for more information from Greyhound?

PLASKETT: Our friends and family hotline is 1-800-972-4583.

HARRIS: Kim Plaskett is a spokesperson for Greyhound and she's joining us from the company's headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Kim, thanks for your time.

HARRIS: Well, some words of wisdom for millions of other travelers today. Be cautious, be patient. Highways and airports all across the country are jam-packed with holiday travelers. Add weather into that mix and some people are in for a long ride home.

CNN meteorological Brad Huffines is monitoring the weather situation. Look at the screens there, he is live in our Weather Center.

(WEATHER REPORT)

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Lots of delays, and the airport delays are now beginning. In fact, the current delays: Atlanta, about an hour and a half ground delay.

In Chicago at Midway, we have a ground stop presently. And also another delay at Chicago O'Hare, 15-minute delay. Houston Hobby, a 45-minute delay. And Tony, these will only start to cascade as the afternoon progresses. And of course, we'll be here watching it for you and have another update coming up later this hour.

HARRIS: OK, Brad, appreciate it, thank you.

This is one of the busiest days at the nation's airports. And New York's LaGuardia is no exception.

CNN's Susan Lisovicz joins us with a look. And Susan, we saw a list there from Brad of some of the delays at some of the airports. How about where you are?

LISOVICZ: I am happy to contradict everything Brad just said was happening in Chicago and Atlanta. Here's the news, Tony. There's no lines. There's no tempers, there's no problems, there's not even reports of lost baggage that I'm hearing right now.

In fact, port authority says here at LaGuardia Airport, only minor delays, 15 minutes or less on all arrivals and departures. At New York's other two major airports, Newark and Kennedy, no significant delays.

Every passenger we talked to today said that they followed the airport pleas to arrive early and they told us they were surprised at what they didn't see.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I came here two hours early because I think it was -- I thought it was going to be a crowd, but it's not crowded. It's simple.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Better than we thought.

LISOVICZ: You sound surprised.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we thought it would be a big hassle, but so far it's been pretty easy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LISOVICZ: And of course we have to say that one of the reasons why things are going so smoothly right now is that because the weather has been terrific here in New York, we've had mild temperatures, no precipitation.

And in fact, even very, very light winds. AAA tells me that that has been the case for most of the nation this Thanksgiving weekend. And that's why you're not seeing any delays, at least not right now.

But this is really the beginning of the rush. We'll report back to you on the hour, Tony? Back to you.

HARRIS: OK, Susan, I appreciate it, thank you, Susan.

A crackdown on insurgents in Ramadi, Iraq. U.S. Marines say Operation Tigers has netted a number of weapons caches with high explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and bulletproof vests. Coalition and Iraqi troops also detained several suspected insurjents. Operation Tigers is intended to stabiliza a volatile Ramadi region, ahead of parliamentary elections December 15th.

An Iraqi politician who's hoping to gain power in those elections is making some shocking accusations about Iraq's new government. Former interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is quoted in the "Observer" newspaper as saying, "Iraqi officials are torturing and killing citizens, just like Saddam Hussein did." Allawi accuses the interior ministry of being behind it all. Iraq's national security advisor disputed those claims today on "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer, insisting Iraqi security forces know better.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOWAFFAK AL-RUBAIE, IRAQI NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: In our curriculum for training these people, we have a very strict human rights standards. And we teach them these new -- which is totally new for Iraq -- this observation of human rights.

And I believe the violation of human rights in some of these corners of this huge country is the exception to the rule.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Saddam Hussein's trial will resume tomorrow, but if his lawyers have their way, those proceedings won't last long. The defense team is planning to ask for another delay, the second since the trial began last month.

Reporting from Baghdad, here's CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Yes for Islam, execute Saddam, they chant. Angry and outspoken, these supporters of fire-brand Shia cleric Moqdata al-Sadr are the only demonstrators who've taken to the streets, ahead of Saddam's trial Monday.

We ask to speed up the trial, he says, to see Saddam executed. Across town, Hussein's lawyer Khamees al-Ubaidi is working to avoid exactly that. When the trial restarts after a five-week break, he plans to call for another three-month delay, because of attacks on defense lawyers and problems with the court.

KHAMEES AL-UBAIDI, SADDAM HUSSEIN DEFENSE LAWYER (through translator): Documents we've asked for in the October 19th session have not been supplied to us so far, and the incidents that happened during the postponement period have directly hindered our work.

ROBERTSON: Al-Ubaidi is also counting on help from former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who arrives in Baghdad less than 24 hours ahead of the trial.

RAMSEY CLARK, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: My plan is to go to the court in Baghdad Monday morning, representing the defense counsel in this particular situation, who are threatened with death.

ROBERTSON: Since Hussein first appeared in the dock almost five weeks ago, two defense lawyers have been shot dead, and one wounded in targeted assassinations.

Defense lawyers have since been offered official protection. Hussein's lawyer has been told to expect three or four days of court proceedings. And to hear from the first witnesses in the case that accuses the former president and seven regime allies of brutally retaliating to a 1982 assassination attempt. Despite the dangers, al- Ubaidi says he has no choice but to attend.

AL-UBAIDI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Our client's interests is more important than anything else, and even if there is risk, we will attend. It is better that the court assigning another lawyer who might not be good at defending this case.

ROBERTSON (on camera): Hussein's defense lawyers say they plan to meet with Ramsey Clark either late Sunday, or early Monday. They want him to join their defense team as a lawyer inside the court. If that fails, they say, "they'll take him on as an advisor." Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HARRIS: And for extensive live coverage of Saddam Hussein's trial, tune in tomorrow morning to a new expanded version of CNN'S "AMERICAN MORNING." Host Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien will now kick off the day an hour earlier at 6:00 a.m. in the East, 3:00 a.m. in the West, and we invite you to join them.

Rebuilding New Orleans. Will victims who need the most help get it? We'll talk to someone who is part of the planning effort and had first-hand experience dealing with Hurricane Katrina's wrath.

LINDSEY ARENT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Lindsey Arent live at the Supreme Court, where two controversial abortion cases are set to be heard this week. We'll have details coming up, back to you, Tony.

HARRIS: And we have a gift idea for the person who has everything. The best part, it's on sale. All ahead this hour on CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: It is a law in a small state that has never been enforced, but it is the focus of what will surely be one of the most highly-watched abortion cases before the Supreme Court. New Hampshire's parental notification law goes to the high court this week.

CNN's Lindsey Arent joins us now live outside the Supreme Court. And Lindsey, that might be an understatement, highly watched?

ARENT: Yes, this is the first time that the Supreme Court will hear some very controversial abortion cases in the last five years. And what you have here are arguments over whether or not minors will have to notify parents within 48 hours of deciding that they want to get an abortion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENT (voice-over): When Amanda found herself faced with an unplanned pregnancy at age 14, she decided an abortion was the best course of action. A minor at the time, she was surprised to find there were legal obstacles in her way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My gut instinct told me it wasn't right that I had to seek out permission in order to have an abortion. And that there was all these people around me persuading me not to, or to have the abortion, that no one was asking me, what do you want?

ARENT: This week, the Supreme Corut will hear its first major abortion cases in five years. One closely watched case deals with the 2003 New Hampshire law requiring written notification to parents, 48 hours before a minor has an abortion. The only exception is for life- threatening circumstances. A federal appeals court ruled the law was unconstitutional.

KAREN PEARL, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Who facing a medical emergency wants their doctor to have to decide between taking care of the medical emergency or leaving the emergency room, going to find a judge to get permission to give the care to their patient.

JAY SEKULOW, AMERICAN CENTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE: So you're not even talking about parental consent here, it's just notice. In a high school, a student can't have an aspirin without getting a parental slip. So the idea that they can have an abortion procedure without telling the parents its about to happen, just seems to be outrageous.

ARENT: A recent CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll shows 69 percent of Americans support parental consent for abortion. But 61 percent oppose a constitutional amendment to ban abortion. The case comes at an unusual time for the Supreme Court, with a new chief justice in place, the pending vacancy of the court's swing vote on abortion, and the possibility of Judge Sam Alito's rise to the bench.

SEKULOW: I think this is a major shift potential for the Supreme Court of the United States, and I think we'll have significant implications for the court's development on these closely-divided cases.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENT: The unstated variable here is if Justice Sandra Day O'Connor leaves the court before this case is decided, then her likely replacement, Judge Sam Alito, won't get to vote on this case either, since he wasn't there for arguments. If there's a four-to-four tie, then the entire case might have to be reargued, Tony.

HARRIS: Wow. OK, CNN's Lindsey Arent for us, outside of the Supreme Court building in Washington. Lindsey, thank you.

In Iran today, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits the country's southern tip, cutting off communication. The latest on that story, straight ahead.

Plus, are New Orleans residents losing faith in the government rebuilding process? Their words ahead on CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Breaking news, a new picture is in to CNN right now. We are continuing, as you know, to keep an eye on the traffic situation on the ground and in the air, as people try to get back home after the long Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend.

These are pictures just in to CNN from our affiliate, KSAZ in Phoenix, Arizona. This is the scene of a bad accident, as the camera on the chopper moves around to give us a better view of the situation.

A bad accident there in Phoenix, this is at I-17, ironically called the carefree highway. Here's what we know. The driver of a van heading north apparently lost control of the van and rolled it.

And this is where the story gets a little disturbing. Ejecting, ejecting several people from the van. And those bodies ending up in the median. Officers say at least two people, two people died at the scene and several others were seriously injured. Again, the driver of the van in question here was heading north and lost control, rolled the van. And that ejected several people, those folks ending up in the median.

At least two people died at the scene. Southbound traffic -- you can see the picture of the van there, just a mess. Southbound traffic is being diverted there as police work that scene. Once again, this is at I-17, ironically called the carefree highway.

These pictures courtesy of our affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona, KSAZ. And we understand it is going to be at least two-to-three hours before those southbound lanes can be reopened. We will continue to monitor the situation and bring you additional information as we get it.

HARRIS: Rescue teams are searching for survivors in southern Iran after a major earthquake. At least 10 people were killed in the magnitude 6.1 quake. Dozens were injured, many in the five villages damanged on the island of Qeshm.

Some 120,000 people live on the island. Most of their homes are made of mud and brick, hardly the kind of construction that is earthquake proof.

In China they believe, the worst is over. Yesterday a 5.5 magnitutde quake struck, killing 17 people. Nearly 400 others were injured as the tremblor flattened villages.

Seismologists reported one big after shock measuring 4.4. Residents reported several smaller ones. Hundreds of homes and buildings were destroyed. Thousands more were damaged. Many villagers have been warned not to stay indoors until damaged buildings can be reinforred.

Many of you wil go back to work tomorrow. Here are some stories you may hear around the water cooler in the office.

A statue of a Virgin Mary in Sacramento, California, is attracting a lot of attention because it appears to cry blood. The statue is at a Vietnamese church and was first noticed weeping, about a week ago.

Looking for a stocking stuffer for the person who has everything? How about a grave site? Nice. A cemetary in Greenwood, South Carolina, has a holiday sale offering space, at half price.

And the era of the jukebox appear to be over. The iPod is emerging as the music provider of choice in bars and restaurants. Even wedding planners are turning to iPods instead of live deejays for the receptions.

Feeling frustration in New Orleans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our area still isn't open, you know, to come in, to clean up, to do whatever we need to do. And you know, people are just disheartened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Are Katrina victims starting to give up on getting help from the federal government? Plus, where is Louisiana in helping victims get back on their feet? We'll talk to a New Orleans native who is involved in the rebuilding process when CNN LIVE SUNDAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Tomorrow marks nine weeks since Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast. But thousands are still unable to return to their homes. The slow recovery has made many people lose faith in the federal government and its promise to help. CNN's Ed Lavendera has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVENDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The graffiti on the walls says it all. Vote for someone who cares. A statement that captures a growing sense of abandonment Gulf Coast residents are feeling.

TRACY FLORES, NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT: You can look around you. There are no people. No children playing. No lights, no water, things that you need.

LAVENDERA: Tracy Flores has only been allowed back to her Lower 9th ward home once since Katrina struck. When she found out a neighbor's house had been torn down without permission, she lost trust in the government. And joined a campaign to stop the bulldozers.

FLORES: Our area still isn't open. You know, to come in to clean up to do whatever we need to do. And you know, people are disheartened.

LAVENDERA: The pace of rebuilding is so slow, people wonder if the job will ever end or in some places ever begin. Streets still look like dump sites. There are few places to live. Power and water are still out in many areas. Despite $62 billion in federal aid being promised for the region, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stevens has lost faith in the federal government's ability to help.

SHERIFF JACK STEVENS, ST. BERNARD PARISH, LOUISANA: It is like when you're growing up and you think your parents love you. And you think that if you ever get in trouble or you get hurt or fall down; they'll be there to help you get your life started again. Been a patriot my whole life. That's how I always felt about the federal government.

LAVENDERA: He says the region is trying to stand up but the helping hand is missing. Anger and frustration runs all along the Gulf Coast but here in New Orleans it cuts a little deeper. They like to say this was a city struck by two disasters, one they can blame Mother Nature for, and the second they say was manmade. John Biguenet says poorly designed levees crippled the city. Now he thinks little is being done to make the levees bigger and stronger. Without that, he argues, people and businesses won't come back.

JOHN BIGUENET, NEW ORLEANS NOVELIST: The government itself after making glorious promises about how they would rebuild this place better than before, the president stood in front of our cathedral and promised us that this would all be taken care of, months later, nothing has happened.

LAVENDERA: Biguenet is a New Orleans novelist who has been writing about his experiences here for the "New York Times." This was an entire wall of books. Here is the city his family has lived in since the 19th century in danger of disappearing.

BIGUENET: Now that we need their help, they're dithering just the way they did when people were in the Superdome and on rooftops. Basically doing nothing at all.

LAVENDERA: John Biguenet hopes the rest of the country will hear these calls for help and understand that hundreds of thousands of people are still left in the dark. And a lot of help is still need to make it shine again.

Ed Lavendera, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Well maybe help is on the way. The Louisiana Recovery Authority is busy planning and coordinating efforts to rejuvenate the state. CNN contributor Donna Brazile will have a key role in this process, she was named one of the authorities directors by Louisana Governor Kathleen Blanco. I spoke with her earlier today.

Well how important ultimately is the passage of the House bill H.R. 4100 in creating the Louisiana recovery corporation? How important is that passage in terms of getting Louisiana back on its feet again?

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: That's a very important bill. The reason why is this will allow the city and the state to begin to rebuild the property to make it suitable so people can return home, especially those citizens who are unable to afford to rebuild their houses. Look, our homes sat in dirty water for weeks. It was marinaded in some of the worst, you know, muck that you've ever smelled in your life.

HARRIS: Yeah.

BRAZILE: So this bill I think will give us a running started on getting our homes rebuilt and eventually, if we can have a combination of funds to help restore the levee system and perhaps elevated to a category five and we can give small business the loans they need to revive our local economy, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will be back up and running in no time.

HARRIS: In practical terms though, Donna, let's take, for example, I'm displaced. I lost everything. I lost my home. I'm now living in Atlanta. You know, I still owe a mortgage on that home in New Orleans. I don't have a job. There's no way to pay. How will this corporation help me?

BRAZILE: Look, I think this will send a message to the mortgage companies to help them perhaps put the mortgage on the back burner, not -- look, you still owe your mortgage. You don't want to foreclosure on your property. But instead of your 30-year mortgage ending at a date certain, perhaps they could tack that three-or four months to the end of your mortgage and give you an opportunity to get back on your feet and start paying back in the system not in one lump sum but perhaps at the end of the mortgage process and not right now.

That is a crucial issue. As you know, you know, these mortgage companies gave homeowners three months of, you know, of I don't know what they call it, but they gave them three months moratorium before they had to pay their mortgage. From practical experience and also from my family, they're struggling now to keep up with payments so they don't have to put all of this money out at the beginning of December. They don't have it.

HARRIS: Yes Donna, how about this, how about the corporation, I don't know, through bonds, through a federal grant, why not buy my home, assume that mortgage, pay me out. And then maybe what you do is you sort of repackage all of these homes and make those available to developers?

BRAZILE: There are some plans locally in New Orleans to allow that to occur. Look, I'm concerned that the homeowners and those who are even long-time renters will not have the first right of refusal to go back and to assess their properties. Many people still have not returned. I know that sounds strange. It's been three months. They don't have the means to go back home.

Look when FEMA and others evacuated many of these Americans, they took them to far places. They just don't have bus fare or fare to get back to the city. So we need to give them an opportunity to get home, take a look at their property and make their own assessment and decide what they want to do. I know the city and state are both looking into ways to buy up these properties, repackage them to the people so they can have the first right of refusal.

HARRIS: How many people do you expect will eventually come back?

BRAZILE: You know there are some estimates that only half the population will return. I know every New Orleanian, every Gulf Coast resident love their homes, and they want to return. But circumstances will prevent many of them from returning. Some of them have kids, they are now moving on with their lives. I know personally my brother is now in Columbia, South Carolina. When I asked him if he was ready to go back, he said no. He went back to close down his property. But there's no way he can afford to rent in South Carolina and rebuild in Louisiana. It's just not possible.

HARRIS: Donna, finally, what will the lower ninth ward look like in five years? BRAZILE: Well, I hope we're able to rebuild some of the homes and perhaps elevate it. You know, after the big storm in Galveston in the 1900s, they elevated Galveston and rebuilt that particular city. Let's elevate the Ninth Ward. Let's build it right. And let's redevelop it in a way that people can go back.

HARRIS: Donna good to see you as always.

BRAZILE: Thank you.

HARRIS: Have a great holiday.

BRAZILE: Thank you.

HARRIS: And tomorrow on "AMERICAN MORNING," we'll catch up with the outspoken General Russel Honore he will talk candidly about Hurricane Katrina three months later and training troops in Iraq. And don't forget "AMERICAN MORNING" starts a new time tomorrow morning. Watch Miles O'Brien, Soledad O'Brien beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern.

A programming note for us this evening, we want to give you an update on the situation in California. We understand that the sheriff's department in Santa Barbara County will be holding a news conference at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 3:00 p.m. Local Time in California to give us the latest information on that Greyhound bus crash that killed two people and injured at least 11 others, seven of those seriously. So we'll get the latest information from the sheriff's department in Santa Barbara County at 6:00 p.m. Eastern this evening.

Still ahead, we're keeping you updated all day on whether that could affect your travel plans. Brad.

HUFFINES: A current tornado warning still Tony in Gary County and Riley County Kansas, as well as Montgomery County, Yale County and Scott County Arkansas that is right here along this heavy line of storms. We'll give you an update on that line as well as what it looks like around the rest the country and the current airport delays coming in next. Tony.

HARRIS: OK Brad, and next -- when you fly, the next time, we want you to fly smarter. Tips on how you can get to where you need to go on time. That's coming up when CNN LIVE SUNDAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: From north to south, east to west, let's divide up the screen there for you. Millions of holiday travelers are making the trek home. The highways are jammed packed and you have to be careful. Some nasty weather could make the ride home a long one. CNN meteorologist Brad Huffines joins us now from the Weather Center with the very latest. Hi Brad.

HUFFINES: Hi Tony. Especially be careful if you're planning to drive across the Plains, especially through Kansas, through Nebraska, through Missouri because of active tornado watches in effect here. If you're driving, you can sometimes if not ever see tornadoes in rain wrapped storms. That's what's happening here across parts of Kansas. Notice all the counties in red, these are active tornado warnings. Newest tornado warnings in southeast Kansas northwestern La Bet County and Niosha County that is right down here northwest of Springfield. Those thunderstorms continue to move to the northeast at around 45 miles an hour. This is quite a storm system building up across the Plains. As that storm still spreads severe weather, expect scattered showers and rain delays up and down I-95 with temperatures today in the 50s. Cool but at least it's liquid moisture across the east.

Meanwhile, you move toward Chicago, rain already starting to slow things down. Severe weather east of this front and just a plain blizzard from northwest Kansas up through the Dakotas. In the intermountain west, the weather looks OK. Scattered snow showers but very strong winds just howling all the way down across the Plains. How much snow you ask? Look at this snowfall total map across the Plains from Denver to Omaha to Minneapolis, international falls especially this bulls eye in southwest Minnesota, anywhere from a foot to a foot and a half of snow in the next 24-36 hours.

Now don't worry we are also seeing airport delays for those of you sitting in the airport waiting to get out. Atlanta ground delay for an hour and a half. Chicago Midway, 1 hour and 15 is the current delay because of traffic, and some weather in other airports, Chicago at O'Hare, an hour 15 delay and Houston Hobby, 45 minutes of ground delays. That's just starting as all the airplanes start piling up at one airport, Tony that affects all airplanes at others.

HARRIS: That is so true. Brad thank you.

The mad travel rush is just as in inevitable as turkey and stuffing at Thanksgiving. What can you do to alleviate some of the stress that comes with the ride home? Here with answers Terry Trippler, he is an airline expert with Cheapseats.com. He joins us from Minneapolis. Terry good to see.

TERRY TRIPPLER, CHEAPSEATS.COM: Good to see you, Tony.

HARRIS: Well Terry you're not going to sit here and tell me that more people are traveling this holiday weekend as opposed to last year at this time. You're not going to tell me more people are traveling and lying and paying more for their seats, are you?

TRIPPLER: That's my story, Tony. I'm sticking to it. It looks like it's a record. This year, surprising everybody, but Americans just refuse to stay home. And they're traveling this year in, mass.

HARRIS: Well Terry what do you attribute this to?

TRIPPLER: Well, I think a couple of things Tony. I think Number one is, the $4 a gallon gas really scared some people. A lot of people were saying hey we're not going to drive to Seattle. We're going to fly. That put a lot of people on planes. I think the people just decided they don't get much vacation. They're going to take what they wan to do. Americans again just won't stay home.

HARRIS: Cheaper to get plane tickets than to fill up the Navigator.

TRIPPLER: Yes I think it is, Tony. It all depends. The $4 gallon gas never hit. People thought that's what would happen. But airfares are roughly, leisure fares roughly $40 higher than they were a year ago. That did not deter people at all. They have taken to the skies in record numbers. Airlines are back and packed. An example today, I checked Seattle, Los Angeles, 19 nonstop flights. There's one seat available.

HARRIS: Are you kidding me? OK, so what you're describing is a situation where there are a lot of folks who are traveling stand by, and that can get a little dicey. Give us some tips if you are flying stand by. I guess the first tip is being patient.

TRIPPLER: Absolutely. You've got to get to the airport early. I mean, a minimum of at least two hours. Once you get the bags checked, get to security, clear security, find your gate and be at the gate ready to board no later than 30 minutes prior to departure. As you can see, with these full flights, if you miss your flight there's not another seat coming along. The airlines would like to put you on another flight. There's probably not another with a seat on it. Now you have delays like you were describing before. Some people are going to be at the airports for a long time.

HARRIS: Wow, OK Terry let's leave it there. Terry Trippler, Cheapseats.com. Terry good to see you as always.

TRIPPLER: Good to see you Tony. Have a good one.

HARRIS: Happy holidays to you.

And still ahead need that perfect gift for your favorite techie? The best technology gifts out this holiday season. We'll show them to you that is coming up next.

HUFFINES: Looking at your latest cold and flu report from the Centers for Disease Control. We still have mostly just spotty activity across the country, jut sporadic in the states you see in green, California, New Mexico up through Utah and Idaho as well as North Dakota. Then some spotty activity as well Texas down toward Louisiana as well as Florida. North Carolina and into parts of the northeast from Pennsylvania to New York. Including portions of Maryland as well as Michigan and Connecticut as well as Rhode Island. Watching this spread throughout the season, we're watching for you here on CNN. CNN SUNDAY continues after this.

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HARRIS: Without a doubt, the hottest item this holiday is the brand new Xbox 360. It came out Tuesday amid high demand and short supply. That is a recipe for a buying frenzy. It seems the best place to find a Xbox 360 these days is eBay. You see a lot of people who waited hours to buy the new system in stores are reselling them online. But it will cost you. Expect to pay a premium of two or three times the $400 list price. Ouch. Electronic gadgets are topping many holiday wish lists. What are the other big sellers? Our technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg talks to the experts.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: Some high tech holiday gift ideas for you. All of them will fit in your stocking as long as you take them out of the box first. And joining us now, a man who always thinks outside the box Brian Cooley from Cnet. Brian quite a range of products here, some many people aren't familiar with. A lot of people know the iPod.

BRIAN COOLEY, CNET EDITOR AT LARGE: No kidding the iPod is a super hot gift. What if someone on your list who already has one? How about this gadget? This is from Belkin it is called the Tune Stage. It doesn't really tell what you it does by looking at it. So it takes an explanation. This allows to you play your IPod wirelessly over your home stereo. There's no wire from the IPod to your stereo receiver, which is a nice thing. What they do is they have a blue tooth transmitter here, this little devise which plugs into an Ipod and makes it wireless. Sends that to the base unit which puts it through your home stereo.

SIEBERG: No need to have a wi-fi network set up in your house?

COOLEY: No, this is simplier, it is blue tooth. Now wi-fi requires some (INAUDIBLE) blue tooth it is kind of brain dead simple. This works more readily. The only draw back is the hottest new IPod the Nano doesn't work with this because it has the wrong connector. So there is one caveat. But for the minis and the big IPods, this will work great about $180.

SIEBERG: All right. The next product we are going to talk about it doesn't look all that amazing. But what it does is pretty impressive. Speaking of sending content everywhere.

COOLEY: Yes, this is called the Sling Box and this is a gadget that takes all the media on your home media system and sends it to any web browser that you want to use to log into this thing. It's a location changing device. All your gear plugs into the back on these various connectors. There are no buttons here at all. It's like a web server that sends your media out to the web.

SIEBERG: All right. Everybody knows remote control, but it's nice to have them all in one, a universal remote. This one from Logitech, nice display on the front of this one.

COOLEY: Yes, this is a very nice one, a full color LCD display. It has the full power function, but what's great about harmony remotes, is that they let you program them on the web, you go to a web site that they operate, you enter all your equipment and how it's connected. They figure out the programming and download it into the device using a USB cable. That's the break through for what these guys do. This is a fairly expensive remote it is $240 or so. For the person who has a real nice home theater, this is a real nice upgrade.

SIEBERG: All right. For the wireless theme going here. Lets move onto the headphones. Nice looking headphones but they do a bit more than just look nice. COOLEY: Most headphones are left and right. These guys are 5.1 surround, they replicate the complete home theater system without all the speakers and the wires all over the living room. So this is a lazy man's way of getting surround sound. They have a transmitter that connects to your home theater and they beam the signal wirelessly through the headphones and you get all that home theater effect. There are around $400. But if you are a person who loves home theater, doesn't want to have all the speakers and you like wearing headphones, this could be a great choice.

SIEBERG: Some stuff for audio files and video files. Brian Cooley thanks so much.

HARRIS: Still ahead, intelligent design. Does it stand up to the theory of evolution? That's coming up in our next hour as CNN LIVE SUNDAY rolls on.

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HARRIS: A Greyhound bus carnies off a California highway. Everyone aboard was hurt. Two people died. We'll have a live report from the scene.

LISCOVICZ: I'm Susan Lisovicz live at New York's LaGuardia Airport where flyers tonight are giving thanks at the close of this long holiday weekend. I'll explain why in just a few moments.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm very, very confident that intelligent design will continue to become more and more credible.

HARRIS: Plus the battle over what your children should learn in science class. Does intelligent design deserve equal time with evolution?

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