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American Morning
Florida Tornadoes; Coming Home; Post-Christmas Shopping; Tornado's Destruction; The Road to 2007; 'Supreme' Girls
Aired December 26, 2006 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Nature's fury. Tornadoes and power full storms on Christmas Day. More wild weather along the East Coast this morning.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: Travel rush. Thousands heading back to the roads, rails and skies today. We're live with a look at where you might see a slowdown.
O'BRIEN: And ready, set, shop. Gift cards, sales, and holiday returns draw the crowds back to the malls today. Tips for getting a deal and keeping the stress level low on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning to you. Tuesday, December 26th. I'm Miles O'Brien.
CHO: Good morning, everyone. I'm Alina Cho in for Soledad. Thanks for joining us.
O'BRIEN: We begin in Florida were it is clean-up day all across the peninsula after an afternoon filled with wild weather and tornado touchdowns. Damage and injuries reported in Jacksonville, Daytona, Deland (ph) and north of Tampa in San Antonio. CNN's Susan Candiotti is there.
Good morning, Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
Of course, the sun hasn't come up yet, so it's kind of hard to make out the damage. But in this particular golfing community, it's called the Tampa Bay Golf Club, you can kind of make out the blue tarps on some of the roofs at this hour. But here you see what this front yard looks like. That's a leni (ph) that came from -- flying across the street and into the front yard of this particular home. Again, about 100 or so homes damaged in this particular subdivision, but many people are calling what happened here a Christmas Day miracle because no one was seriously injured. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI, (voice over): A chorus of chain saws. Not what you expect to here Christmas morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The wind picked up, and like everybody says, you know, you hear the train coming. And that's exactly what it was.
CANDIOTTI: Columbia County, west of Jacksonville, hit early. Authorities say a likely twister cut a seven-mile path of destruction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was terrible. My wife was looking out the window. All she could see was just white.
CANDIOTTI: Damage expected to run at least $3.5 million, yet no serious injuries. Incredibly for some, a holiday dinner served after all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bird is in the oven. Everything's OK. Everybody's OK. We're going to cook that bird and go in there and enjoy it and thank God we're still alive.
CANDIOTTI: A few hours later, another sever thunderstorm took aim north of Tampa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It hit so fast with power that it was only, I would say, 45 seconds, and it was gone.
CANDIOTTI: Gone, but not easily forgotten. Strong winds peeled off roofs and uprooted trees in Pasco County. Fortunately, police say, no one critically injured.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The roofs are gone from a lot of these houses and they're collapsed. There was cars still in the garage. It's devastating. Just devastating.
CANDIOTTI: In Volusia County, near Daytona Beach, about 50 planes crushed, crumbled, and piled on top of each other at internationally known flight school Embry-Riddle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just like a war zone. I mean Embry- Riddle took a beating. What happened here at the apartment complex and further on up. How we didn't lose any lives, God was smiling on up.
CANDIOTTI: Up to 200 mobile homes also damaged in the area, but no lives lost.
BEN JOHNSON, VOLUSIA COUNTY SHERIFF: I'm amazed, absolutely amazed that we didn't because by all rights we should have a number of fatalities.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Fortunately, in this particular housing development, the electricity is on throughout most of the community. Only the homes that are the most severely damaged do not have power at this hour. And there are police cars that have stayed on duty here all night to make sure there are no vandals in the area. They've also shooed away some of these independent contractors who have already been through the area yesterday trying to get work already.
So, Miles, a lot of cleanup will start again once the sun comes up.
O'BRIEN: A few Grinches in the crowd there, I guess. You've got to watch out for them. Susan Candiotti in San Antonio, Florida. Thank you.
Alina.
CHO: Well, if you're trying to get home today, some good news. You're clear to fly in or out of Denver. That backlog from last week's blizzard is finally straightening out. United Airlines, Denver International's major carrier, brought in more planes and more workers on Christmas Day to get people where they wanted to go. The storm also delayed package, understandably, so mail trucks were out in force on Christmas too.
But Christmas day usually isn't a big flying day. The big push, well that begins today. CNN's Allan Chernoff live at New York's LaGuardia Airport for us this morning.
Allan, good morning. What does it look like there?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Alina.
That push is already well underway. It is early, but it is extremely busy here at the departure terminal at LaGuardia Airport. In fact, I would say it's actually busier today than it was the day before Thanksgiving when we were here last. Busy partly because people are returning from their Christmas holidays, but also many people are actually starting vacations. Lots of people heading off, some from the Caribbean from here, some to all parts of the country. But lots of smiling faces, even though it is very early. And trust me, if you want to catch a flight about now, you've got to get to the airport very early in the morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We here at, what time were we here, 5:30 . . .
CHERNOFF, (voice over): It's not even 5:30.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 4:30, sorry. 4:30. 4:30. Sorry. I didn't sleep. I pulled an all-nigher to get here on time.
CHERNOFF: When's your flight?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Six. I'm pushing it.
CHERNOFF: What time did you have to get here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, two hours before our set. So 4:00. So we woke up about 3:15. So we slept three hours last night.
CHERNOFF: It will be worth it, though, when you're on the beach.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will be. Big parties.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHERNOFF: They'll be getting to those parties probably on time because we don't have many delays at all at this point in the morning. In fact, this has been a very busy season and year for air travel. AAA is estimating that 9 million people will be traveling through the air between Christmas Eve and new year's. That comes out to a million people traveling every single day in the air.
Alina.
CHO: A busy time. CNN's Allan Chernoff at LaGuardia Airport for us.
Allan, thank you.
O'BRIEN: Well, the Brits called the day after Christmas boxing day. It dates back to futile times on the day after Christmas. The nobilities supposedly boxed up the annual stipend (ph) for the surfs (ph). Well these days there is new meaning to the term as shoppers box up what they don't like and head to the malls to get the stuff they really wanted in the first place. CNN's Rusty Dornin in Atlanta for us with more on that.
Good morning, Rusty.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, first of all, this is the first time professionally or personally I have ever been inside a retail store this early the day after Christmas. We are all the people? Well, we're at the Sear's in North Lake near Atlanta. They don't open the doors for another hour. But for those who are going to brave the crowd today, be prepared.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN, (voice over): Combing the malls before Christmas, Arthur Blackman already knows he'll be back the day after.
ARTHUR BLACKMAN, CHRISTMAS SHOPPER: Yes, I'll be out that day. Certainly that entire week more than likely because you will save, you know, a lot on certain item. Things like clothing items and seasonal stuff that you can normally get for a lot less and I can use for next year.
DORNIN: Anyone brave enough to venture out today will likely show up early. For those returning items, Dawson White (ph) of Back Rack's (ph) men's store has some advice -- tags, tags, and more tags.
DAWSON WHITE, BACK RACK: With the merchandise we're going to need the tags, which are attached to it. Our label, of course, you know, is always on the merchandise, so we know what's ours and what not. But that's just the easiest thing about it. You know, the receipt, merchandise and the tags.
DORNIN: Returns might be down ever so slightly this year because more people are buying gift cards, letting that impossible person to shop for buy their own gift. And the number of online shoppers is also rising. Gift cards and Internet shopping are up more than 20 percent this year. How jolly is the season looking overall? Sales are up a mere 5 percent over last year, but that translates into roughly $457 billion. And the National Retail Federation says it's not over yet.
SCOTT KRUGMAN, NATIONAL RETAILERS FEDERATION: The week after Christmas is becoming an incredibly important part of a retail's business. It can account from anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of total holiday sales. Between returns, gift card redemptions and clearance sales, retailers are going to see a lot of store traffic. And any time you're seeing heavy amounts of traffic in the store, that's an opportunity to make some more sales.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN: Now, of course, the biggest sale discounts you're going to see are on Christmas things, trims and things like that. The other things are outer wear. Things like gloves, and socks, and hats, and, of course, coats. Here you've got 50 percent off on a lot of the coats here they've got in Sear's. And so most of the store people are saying that returns, which usually come the day after Christmas, nowadays people tend to wait a couple days because they don't want to brave the crowds. So the people that you see coming into the stores today, for the most part, are going to be the bargain hunters.
Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right, Rusty, you've got free reign of the store now. Go find a bargain.
DORNIN: That's right.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
Alina.
CHO: Happening this morning.
Congestive heart failure killed music legend James Brown. The godfather of soul died Christmas morning in Atlanta at age 73. Brown's agent tells CNN's radio that Brown appears to have had a heart attack brought on by pneumonia.
Trouble already for Brown's widow. Tomi Rae Brown tells "The Augusta Chronicle" she tried to get into the home she shared with James Brown in Beach Island, South Carolina, but the gate was padlocked. She says her late husband's lawyer and accountant ordered her kept out. They refused to comment to "The Chronicle." Mrs. Brown acknowledges she doesn't own a deed to the home, but says she has a legal right to live there. She says she has no money and nowhere else to go. The couple married in 2001 and have a five-year-old son.
And California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will have surgery today in Los Angeles. Seen here -- he fractured, I'm sorry, he fractured his right thigh bone in a skiing accident on Saturday. Doctors say the repair takes about two hours under general anesthesia. California's lieutenant governor will fill in during that time. O'BRIEN: In Iraq this morning, three more U.S. soldiers killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. And the death toll there passes a milestone, 2,977 American service personnel have died in Iraq. Four more than the number of people killed in the 9/11 attacks.
Overnight, rebel forces in Somalia in retreat and forces from neighboring Ethiopia made advances on the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Islamic militants have been fighting for control of Somalia since June. Somalia's internationally backed government called on militants to surrender and promised them amnesty if they stopped opposing the government.
In the Philippines, a horrible Christmas Day fire in a department store claiming two dozen lives. Look at these incredible pictures. A woman waiting to be rescued on the roof. There she -- well, there she is, yes, surrounded by intense smoke. The fire was sparked by some fireworks on sale illegally at the store. People inside could not escape because An exit was locked. Police, so far, unable to find the store owner.
This morning in Indonesia, early warning drills on the two-year anniversary of the tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Today villagers testing evacuations for future emergencies.
In Thailand, survivors and mourners. One of the many services lit candles on the beach where so many died. Many areas still have not recovered from the devastating waves.
CHO: Stay with us. Still to come this morning, the road to 2007. We're taking a closer look at Washington's new agenda for the new year. Everything from Iraq to putting more money in some people's paychecks.
Also, more on those tornadoes that ripped apart some Florida neighborhoods on Christmas Day. And would you believe snow in the forecast again for Denver? Chad has the latest just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: They are cleaning up the damage and thanking their lucky stars no one was killed in a series of powerful storms all across Florida on Christmas Day. Dave McDaniel of our affiliate, WESH, is live now from Deland, Florida, with more.
Dave, good morning.
DAVE MCDANIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. To give people a reference, we are a little bit north of Orlando, a little bit west of Daytona Beach. The storm that rolled through here was extremely wicked. I'm going to step out of the way and show you what we can tell you with the artificial light set up by the sheriff's office. You can see that almost every home in this mobile home park -- and there are four of these all in a line along this highway -- all damaged in some regard. Now in the light of day, from yesterday, we can show you the damage in a lot more detail. Two hundred homes impacted. Some homes destroyed. Some of them turned upside-down, roofing material all over the place, furniture. All kinds of trouble here at this mobile home part. A series of them along the highway.
Two hundred homes, again, affected. Several people actually had to go to shelters overnight. There are still six people in shelters this morning. The Red Cross says they'll keep those shelters open as long as they are need. They're serving hot meals there.
Eight people went to the hospital in all. Thankful only two of those critically. It's amazing that there weren't more people hurt. There was a search and rescue effort for a while because being the holidays they weren't sure who was home, who was away from the property, going to visit relatives, what have you. But they are convinced this morning that they've accounted for everybody. That's the good news.
But so many people are going to be picking up the pieces. And, quite honestly, lot of people are going to be starting over after this Christmas Day storm. They've confirmed that the storm that rolled through here created its own tornado in Daytona Beach.
The National Weather Service plans to be here in the Deland area this morning to try to confirm the same thing. But certainly the people we spoke with, they say they saw it, they know what it was. They said there's no mistaking that the twister as it rolled through full of dirt and debris. As it rolled through here. It only took a few seconds to turn so many lives upside-down.
Reporting live in the Deland area in Florida, this is Dave McDaniel reporting.
O'BRIEN: Dave is with our affiliate WESH. Thank you very much.
Quarter past the hour. Chad Myers at the Weather Center with more on what happened yesterday and, more importantly, what's going to happen today. That wild weather kind of moving up the East Coast, isn't it, Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CHO: President Bush heads to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, today. But there's a lot more than rest and relaxation on his agenda this week. AMERICAN MORNING's Bob Franken live in Washington this morning with a closer look at what the president and the newly empowered Democrats hope to do in the new year.
Hey, Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alina.
Yes, the president is going to be spending quite a bit of his time in Crawford dealing with the tough decisions that have to be made and getting ready for the tough realities here in D.C. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN, (voice over): Right now, Washington is so quiet. It's the holiday lull. But in Iraq, there is no lull. The violence continues as U.S. leaders continue to look for ways out, sooner or later. At Crawford, the president will huddle with his national security team as he tries to devise a new strategy on Iraq while trying to keep the old promise not to leave prematurely.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want our troops to know that while the coming year will bring change, one thing will not change, and that is our nation's support for you and the vital work you do to achieve a victory in Iraq.
FRANKEN: The president is actively considering a so-called surge in military units. Democrats are about to take over control of Congress who were elected in great part because their constituents want troops out of Iraq. They'll need their own ideas because they can no longer simply criticize.
They'll also be anxious to show they can get other things done. New Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues will try to jam through an agenda in the first 100 hours of business in the House that includes a new higher minimum wage -- good chance. Fully implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission -- fat chance. Legislation that would authorize the federal government to negotiate prices with the drug companies for Medicare -- don't hold your breath -- even with all that talk of bipartisan ship.
NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE-ELECT: We've made history, now we have to make progress. And I look forward to working with the president to do just that.
FRANKEN: Meanwhile there's no shortage of presidential candidates. John Edwards is expected to try and maximize attention by announcing his candidacy from hurricane devastated New Orleans in what is generally a slow news week.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: While it's certainly not going to be a slow news week next week as the recent illness of Senator Tim Johnson showed, the Democrats have a very fragile majority, at least in the Senate. But nevertheless, right now, those Democrats are going to have to try to do something in Congress that they haven't done for quite a while, Alina, govern.
CHO: That's right. It will be an interesting 2007, won't it, Bob. All right, CNN's Bob Franken in Washington for us.
Bob, thank you.
O'BRIEN: Back to work on Wall Street today. Some early numbers are in on the holiday shopping season. Ali Velshi, of course, has it for you. And behind the music of "Dreamgirls". One of the original Supremes weighs in on the real life drama that shaped the movie girl group. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Well, that's the scene from the new movie musical "Dreamgirls." Both the movie and the '80s Broadway musical were inspired by the story of Diana Ross and The Supremes. Now one of the original Supremes is weighing in. CNN's Sibila Vargas has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Long before Beyonce, Jennifer and Anika were the big screen dream, Diana, Florence and Mary were the real-life Supremes.
MARY WILSON, "THE SUPREMES": It still ended up being closer to the truth than what I think they eve imagined.
VARGAS: Mary Wilson, who along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the iconic '60s girl group, say that "Dreamgirls," both the 1981 Broadway musical and the new feature film is the story of The Supreme's.
WILSON: Jamie Foxx took a liking to this group, The Dreams, and really changed their lives, make them stars. And the same thing happened to The Supremes, by us going to Mowtown and Barry Gordy, obviously, taking us under his wing and grooming us and, you know, we became superstars.
JAMIE FOXX, "DREAMGIRLS": Deena's going to sing lead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, "DREAMGIRLS": Deena's doing what?
WILSON: It is uncanny because in the movie the manager wanted there to be a crossover effect and the heavier grill and the gospel voice was not what he thought could take them to that point. And in our group, the same thing happened. Florence Ballard was our original lead singer. Barry chose Diana Ross to be the main singer. But the problem was, is that Florence, who had this great voice, was no longer able to sing. It was that that kind of drove her to be extremely unhappy and eventually she was asked to leave the group.
VARGAS: This is where the similarities between The Supremes and The Dreams end. But Broadway and Hollywood did what life sadly could not.
WILSON: Unlike the movie, Florence Ballard actually ended up dying.
VARGAS: Ballard's death isn't the only departure from the film. On screen we leave The Dreams reconciled. Real life has offered the remaining Supremes a different outcome.
WILSON: You know, one day, maybe, hopefully, you know, Diana and I will be able to bridge that gap.
VARGAS: Sibila Vargas, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Can't wait to see that. "Dreamgirls" has been nominated for five Golden Global awards, including best musical or comedy in motion picture.
O'BRIEN: I think that's one to see for sure.
CHO: That's right.
O'BRIEN: Early returns in on the holiday shopping season. Twenty-five minutes past the hour. That means Ali Velshi is here.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good to see both of you.
O'BRIEN: Did you have a good day off?
VELSHI: I did, thank you. And I saw Rusty at a mall, at a store. That's the only reason one should be at a store today is if they have to work there because this is going be a crazy day. In this week after Christmas the only story is retail sales. Now retail sales so far for the season -- this is the all-important holiday shopping season -- are up over last year. A few early estimates suggest that they're not up as much as some expected. But at least 5 or 6 percent higher than they were last year. The hot product this year, as we have discussed many times, electronics, those flat panel televisions, the Wii, if you can get your hands on a Nintendo Wii. Shoes have been doing very well this year and mens things have been doing well.
On the other side, cold weather care . . .
O'BRIEN: Men things. That's a big category.
VELSHI: Yes, you know, stuff for guys.
O'BRIEN: Yes, this is nice.
CHO: What about the stuff for women?
VELSHI: Cold weather -- well, women's apparel has not been doing very well. Jewelry has not been doing as well. But I'm not sure I believe that. So I want to see more about that. And cold weather things, obviously, because it hasn't been all that cold for much of the country. So we're going to check on that.
O'BRIEN: Tell that to Denver right now.
VELSHI: Yes, well I'm sure it's doing -- but you see they, in Denver, they, unlike the rest of the country, they don't throw away all their stuff year after year, they keep it because they think it's going to snow again.
This week on Wall Street, usually a slow week. There are no earnings on Wall Street. What we are going to see is a series of economic reports, regularly scheduled economic reports that might influence the market one way or the other. What we're looking to see if the Dow closes at a record for the year because it's been a record year all year. So we'll talk more about that.
I'm going to talk about cars when I come back.
O'BRIEN: Oh, you know, I always love car.
VELSHI: Yes. Never a bad time to talk about cars.
O'BRIEN: The day after Christmas, is it a busy day on Wall Street?
VELSHI: It's a busy day. Gift cards, returns and shops resetting their stores so that people with the gift cards can come in and buy new goods.
O'BRIEN: All right. OK. Thank you, Ali. Appreciate it.
Top stories are straight ahead, including a new milestone in Iraq. Plus, an unthinkable act at Christmas mass, as Grinch's steal the holiday joy from children who need it most.
And cleanup this morning from those Christmas Day tornadoes across Florida. We'll talk with a survivor who just finished opening presents when the skies opened up right over his house. That's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: A Christmas blitz. Tornadoes tear apart neighborhoods in Florida. More severe weather in the forecast today, and snow in the works for Denver again.
CHO: Planes, trains and automobiles. The post-Christmas travel rush is under way. We're live with tips to keep your trip smooth.
M. O'BRIEN: And how's this for a widow's outrage? James Brown's wife says she has been locked out of the house she shared with her late husband. Doctors releasing the cause of the legendary singer's death as well.
We'll have details for you ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Welcome back. It is Tuesday, December 26th.
I'm Miles O'Brien.
CHO: I'm Alina Cho, in for Soledad this morning. Thanks for joining us.
M. O'BRIEN: Cleanup and damage assessment today from a series of powerful storms in Florida. Tornadoes and heavy rain from Tampa to Jacksonville came crashing in on Christmas Day.
CNN's Susan Candiotti live in San Antonio, Florida -- that's northeast of Tampa -- with some details.
Hello, Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
If you're a movie buff, you'll remember "Caddyshack." That's the name of the street that we're on in this particular subdivision called the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club.
About 100 homes here reported damage. Fortunately, but not fortunately for them, only 15 of them severely damaged.
This is one of them right here. Denny Myer (ph) lives here. He woke up Christmas morning, he said, him and his family. They just got through opening their presents when all of a -- and they had dispersed through the housed -- when all of a sudden a big gust of wind picked him up, he said, and threw him against one part of the house.
Looked outside the window, this palm tree here was flattened. His blue truck that you can kind of see through it had flipped over on to its side. And back over here in the driveway, this white piece of junk is actually the neighbor's patio, their sort of lanai from the side of their house that flipped up and landed right over here.
Again, this is the kind of damage here that they have to deal with as the sun comes up and try to get things repaired. Fortunately, no serious injuries in this neighborhood, no fatalities in this county or in the counties in Florida that suffered tornado damage.
As the sun comes up, naturally we'll be able to show you a bit more. You can kind of make out that -- that garage there, but a lot of the damage here, uprooted trees and damage to rooftops.
You had all kinds of things happening here throughout the state, but to prevent vandalism, particularly in this upscale community, they have police officers who are standing by so that vandals don't come through. And I think we mentioned to you in the last half hour, they also had to shoo away people who came through yesterday already offering to fix things up. Possibly some of these people might have been unlicensed contractors, which you always have to watch out for.
Denny Myer (ph), who lives here, Miles, by the way, he has gone through a tornado before. They used to live in Cincinnati, so he had a generator, and he's using that now because he doesn't have electricity.
Back to you.
M. O'BRIEN: Always good to be prepared.
We're going to talk to Denny Myer (ph) in about 45 minutes, as a matter of fact. Stay tuned for that.
And thank you very much, Susan Candiotti -- Alina.
CHO: Well, if you're trying to get home, some good news. You're clear to fly in or out of Denver today. For now, that is.
The backlog at Denver International from last week's blizzard is clear for now. United Airlines, Denver International's major carrier, brought in more planes and more workers on Christmas to get people where they wanted to go. The storm also delayed packages, so mail trucks made some special Christmas Day deliveries.
But look out for another big snowstorm expected in Denver on Thursday. Chad will have that for us coming up a bit later.
First, CNN's Allan Chernoff live for us at New York's LaGuardia airport for the post-Christmas travel crush this morning.
Allan, already busy, isn't it?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Oh, no question, Alina. It's been packed here for about a couple of hours, as a matter of fact.
There is a flight leaving for Denver, in fact, in about a half hour. So some people trying to find snow.
Of course the skiing around the Northeast virtually nonexistent. You've got to head out to Colorado or Utah if you want to find some snow. But I'm finding that the majority of people are actually leaving today to begin their vacation.
There are some who are coming back from Christmas holidays, and we actually do have one person here who's been traveling for quite some time coming back from her holiday, Dawn McMannama.
Dawn, you're coming back from?
DAWN MCMANNAMA, TRAVELER: Madrid, Spain.
CHERNOFF: Now, how long have you actually been traveling?
MCMANNAMA: About 27 hours.
CHERNOFF: Let's understand that. How is that possible?
MCMANNAMA: The airline we were flying with had technical difficulties, so we could not leave for two and a half hours. When we arrived in New York, we had to wait about 45 minutes before we could even get to a gate.
CHERNOFF: And now you're headed to?
MCMANNAMA: Kansas City.
CHERNOFF: All right. Well, we're certainly wishing you luck on arriving there. I hope you had a good vacation.
MCMANNAMA: Yes. Thank you.
CHERNOFF: OK. And it's going to be a long trip on the way back, but good luck getting home.
MCMANNAMA: Thank you.
CHERNOFF: For most people, though, the delays are actually not all that bad this morning. We have very few delayed flights on the board behind us, so at least for most people beginning their vacation, Alina, it looks like it's going to be clear sailing through the skies.
CHO: All right. Well, that is good news. And by the way, get Dawn some coffee or a pillow, will you? All right.
Allan Chernoff from LaGuardia airport this morning.
Allan, thanks.
M. O'BRIEN: A long journey.
Happening this morning, congestive heart failure killed music legend James Brown. The "Godfather of Soul" died Christmas morning in Atlanta at the age of 73. Brown's agent telling CNN Radio he appears to have had a heart attack brought on by pneumonia.
Brown's widow wants into the home she shared with him in Beach Island, South Carolina. Tomi Rae Brown tells "The Augusta Chronicle" her late husband's lawyer and accountant have locked her out. Mrs. Brown acknowledges she is not on the deed to the home but says she has a legal right to be there.
She says she has no money and nowhere else to go. The couple married in 2001 and they have a 5-year-old son.
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will have surgery today in Los Angeles for a fractured femur. Schwarzenegger broke his leg skiing on Saturday. This is obviously file tape.
Doctors say the repair takes about two hours under general anesthesia. California's lieutenant governor will fill in during that time.
In Georgia, three are dead after a small plane crashed just north of Atlanta. The twin engine Cessna 414 traveling from Palm Beach to Lawrenceville, it crashed on final approach in heavy fog. No survivors.
Near Bakersfield, California, a 9-year-old boy found alive and well after plunging down a 40-foot-deep abandoned mine shaft. He was riding a dirt bike in Randsburg -- maybe a Christmas gift there -- that's when it happened. Quick action by rescue workers got him out, and they say his protective gear probably saved him from serious injuries.
Amazing.
In New York, money for the needy stolen by the greedy. Police are looking for two thieves who stole more than $20,000 collected for needy children from Saint Mel's Roman Catholic Church in Queens. They broke in after Christmas morning, opened a safe, and made off with the dough.
That could be a mortal sin. I don't know.
CHO: Awful.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, it's bad.
CHO: I hope they catch those guys.
Up next, the weather that's affecting the roads and the sky today.
And the bible like you've never heard it before. We'll talk with Blair Underwood about playing Jesus in this surprise best-selling audio book.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
Stay with us.
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SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Did you know that the number one audio book is a story that most of us have heard before? It's the bible. But this particular version is a Christian publisher bringing together a cast of black actors. And it's called "Inspired by the Bible Experience."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLAIR UNDERWOOD, ACTOR, "INSPIRED BY THE BIBLE EXPERIENCE": You brood of vipers. How can you who are evil say anything good?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
S. O'BRIEN: Blair Underwood plays Jesus in the audio version, and he's our guest this morning.
It's nice to see you.
UNDERWOOD: It's nice to see you, Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Talk about a star-studded -- I'm just going to read for you.
UNDERWOOD: Please.
S. O'BRIEN: It's 250 people, but I'll read you the -- Yolanda Adams, Tatyana Ali, James Brown, T.D. Jakes, LeVar Burton, Kim Fields, Kirk Franklin, Hill Harper, Salt of Salt N' Peppa, Monique, Garrett Morris, John Salley -- I mean, on and on and on and on.
UNDERWOOD: Sam Jackson, Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding... S. O'BRIEN: I hadn't gotten to them.
UNDERWOOD: Yes, right.
S. O'BRIEN: I think Greg Mathis, Judge Greg Mathis.
UNDERWOOD: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: A really long list. I read that the creators felt that past audio versions of the bible were kind of a yawn.
UNDERWOOD: What's great about this, it's really cinema for the mind and it's really theater for the mind. It's like a cinematic experience in an audio format, because you have all these different actors to bring it to life.
It's scored like a movie. There's a soundtrack that goes along with it. And the sound effects, if you close your eyes you feel like you're watching and listening and experiencing a movie.
S. O'BRIEN: It's really beautiful. You play Jesus.
UNDERWOOD: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: That means pressure.
UNDERWOOD: Yes. Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: It kind of is. A lot of people have in their own mind, you know, what Jesus sounds like, and maybe even what Jesus looks like. This was an all-black cast.
UNDERWOOD: Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: How nerve-racking was that for you?
UNDERWOOD: Well, just nerve-racking because, you know, regardless of whatever I feel and think, I mean, that name, Jesus, means so many things to so many people. Sometimes to some he's revered and worshipped, to some he's...
S. O'BRIEN: Less so.
UNDERWOOD: ... you know, reviled and less so, yes. And they even hate it in some cycles.
So whatever it is, it strikes a trigger in people, it strikes a chord in people. So to approach that, it's -- daunting is probably a good word to say, and very overwhelming.
S. O'BRIEN: Do you lobby to play Jesus? I mean, how did it work?
UNDERWOOD: You don't lobby to play Jesus.
S. O'BRIEN: Did they assign you... UNDERWOOD: They said, Jesus...
S. O'BRIEN: I'll do it, but only if I'm Jesus.
UNDERWOOD: Oh, yes, that sounds like somebody I know. No. But, you know, I always -- in terms of how he's always been portrayed, I've always seen him -- I wanted to see more of a human side of him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNDERWOOD: Into your hands I commend my spirit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNDERWOOD: I wouldn't even know where to start playing a deity. I mean, if you believe he was that, he just is, if that's your belief. But the human side of him, his human emotions, his joy, his pains, his frustrations, his passion, all of those things I wanted to see. His sense of humor I wanted to see. It was very important to me, actually.
S. O'BRIEN: How do you get through acting out the crucifixion? I mean, was that -- what was that like?
UNDERWOOD: Well, you're a parent, right?
S. O'BRIEN: Many times over.
UNDERWOOD: Yes. Yes.
S. O'BRIEN: Some days frustratingly so, some days lovingly so.
UNDERWOOD: I hear you. I hear you. Yes, I'm a father of three. So everything -- a lot of things I do nowadays are through that prism of fatherhood and as a parent.
So the relationship between Jesus and his heavenly father and that crucifixion specifically, Jesus and his mother at the foot of the cross, I just kind of just keyed into that little child inside that turns to his father and says, "Why have you for saken me in this moment? But if it is your will, then I will do your will." And to his mother at the foot of the cross.
So all of those familial relationships, those human relations, are what I really, really keyed into.
S. O'BRIEN: Would you like to recreate your role of Jesus in some other way?
UNDERWOOD: I think -- you know, where do you go from there? I don't know if I'd like to do it again.
S. O'BRIEN: Blair Underwood, it's so nice to see you. Thanks for coming in to talk to us.
UNDERWOOD: It's great to see you, Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: It's been a pleasure for us.
UNDERWOOD: Thanks.
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M. O'BRIEN: "Inspired By the Bible Experience" is the fastest- selling audio bible ever. Eighty thousand copies were sold in the first month alone -- Alina.
CHO: Wow.
Forty-four minutes after the hour. Chad Myers at the CNN weather center with the traveler's forecast and the cold and flu report.
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M. O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a new milestone overnight in Iraq. The death toll for American service members there now surpassing the number of those who died on 9/11.
And a developing story in Somalia. Ethiopian troops advancing in their fight against Islamic extremists with ties to al Qaeda.
Details ahead.
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CHO: A somber anniversary in Southeast Asia this morning on the two-year anniversary of the tsunami. Villagers in Indonesia tested evacuations. In Thailand, survivors and mourners at one of the many services lit candles on the beach where so many died. Many areas still have not recovered from the devastating waves.
M. O'BRIEN: Here's a look at what CNN correspondents all around the world are covering today.
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ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elise Labott in Jerusalem, where the Israeli government announced plans to ease travel restrictions for Palestinians, removing two dozen roadblocks in the West Bank and increasing the amount of goods passing through Gaza, delivering on a promise Prime Minister Olmert made after his meeting with Palestinian president Abbas to boost his standing against the Hamas-led government. This, amid a flurry of diplomatic activity. Olmert is making plans to travel to Egypt to meet with President Mubarrak as Jordan's King Abdullah renews his offer to mediate between Hamas and Fatah.
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ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Arwa Damon in Baghdad.
Violence this morning claiming 25 Iraqi lives, wounding another 107. The deadliest attack happening in the capital when three car bombs exploding one after another at a busy intersection. At least 16 Iraqis killed in that attack, another 70 wounded.
But the violence here really sparing no one in the northern oil- rich city of Kirkuk. A roadside bomb placed outside of a primary school. Three students, three young children, killed in that attack, at least eight wounded.
And the U.S. military announcing the death of another three of its soldiers, happening also early this morning. Again, due to those deadly roadside bombs.
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ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Aneesh Raman in Tehran.
Iran's parliament is set today to vote on a measure that could suspend Iran's participation with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. If the measure passes, Iran could kick out IAEA inspectors that are here and pursue its nuclear ambitions in secret.
It comes amid already high tensions between Iran and the international community after the U.N. slapped the Islamic republic with sanctions over its continued nuclear defiance. Meantime, Iran says the U.S. faces "unpleasant consequences" after the arrest of four Iranians in Iraq last week. Two of them were diplomats, two other Iranian security officials, all there at the invitation of Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani. Iran says the arrests were "not justified."
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M. O'BRIEN: For more on these or any of our top stories, log on to our Web site, CNN.com.
The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
CHO: And still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, an American automaker loses its steam while an overseas rival puts the pedal to the metal in manufacturing.
And before you hit the road today, stick around for your travel forecast. Chad will be here.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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CHO: Welcome back.
Happening this morning, a major cleanup in central Florida following storms and tornadoes that destroyed more than a dozens homes and flooded streets.
And two dozen people are dead after a Christmas Day fire at a store in the Philippines. That fire was apparently sparked by illegal fireworks that were on sale there. M. O'BRIEN: Toyota keeps growing and growing, and it could soon be number one. It's about five minutes before the hour. Ali Velshi is here "Minding Your Business."
In Detroit they're weakening (ph). Or maybe they've just given up already.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've sort of heard this coming along, but now we saw it. Last week, Toyota issued its forecast for 2007, and when you look at the numbers from Toyota, you look at the numbers from GM, it looks like Toyota will actually take that title this year.
GM has been the number one car maker in the world since 1931, but as you know, 2006 was devastating for the auto industry in the United States. Lots of layoffs at Ford and GM, and as a result of those layoffs about a million fewer cars are going to be built by GM, which brings it down, takes Toyota up.
The Camry just named 2006 "Motor Trend" car of the year. It's the best-selling passenger vehicle in the United States.
The best-selling vehicles of all, are, of course, Ford and Toyota, but their trucks -- the Chevy Silverado is still the number two vehicle. But the number two passenger car in the U.S. is the Toyota Corolla. We know that those Priuses are a big deal.
So, you know, it's a problem.
M. O'BRIEN: What is it? Is it because they have more small cars, or is it because they have better quality, or both?
VELSHI: Well, it's a couple of things. For instance, if you want to buy a Camry, the competitive vehicle to that is a Malibu. But the U.S. companies spent so much money on what they call their legacy costs, those pension and health care costs, that Toyota has about $1,500 on average per car more to either spend or take profit on. So they can upgrade a few things here and there.
The Malibu's a perfectly good car. But the impression is you're getting better value out of a Toyota, and the Japanese car makers have done better with styling. We'll see if that changes, and we'll be at the auto show to find out if we have got some ideas in the U.S. auto business.
M. O'BRIEN: How do the automakers get out from under that, though?
VELSHI: They design cars people want to buy.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. OK.
VELSHI: And we'll see if they do it.
M. O'BRIEN: Ali Velshi.
What you got next?
VELSHI: I'm going to talk about Allstate. It took out a great ad talking about how fantastic they are to folks in the Gulf region. I'm going do a little reality check on that in about a half an hour.
M. O'BRIEN: OK. Thank you, Ali Velshi. See you in a bit.
Some of the top stories of the morning, one of CNN's most popular stories right now.
Get this. It says here that Iran's oil production is dropping on the order of about 10 percent a year, and by 2015 may no longer have any oil to export, which may lend some credence to the whole notion that they need a civilian nuclear power campaign, program that they've been talking about.
CHO: Right.
Georgia's "Augusta Chronicle," the headline there, "Augustan Who Electrified Music World Dies at Age 73." Of course we're talking about James Brown.
You know, he lived in South Carolina later on in life, but he was born and raised in Augusta. There's a James Brown Boulevard. The civic center there is named for him. And funeral arrangements are being handled by a funeral home in Augusta.
M. O'BRIEN: Talk about a favorite son there, for sure.
The "Los Angeles Times" has an interesting piece out. Afghan heroin surging, posing a threat in the U.S. Heroin overdoses on the rise in Los Angeles, up significantly. Up about 75 percent.
The other side of the story to connect the dots is that this heroin production out of Afghanistan is what funds and fuels the resurgent Taliban. So it's a two-edged problem for the U.S.
CHO: And here's the water cooler story of the day, Miles. "USA Today," the headline there, 'No Saving Faces: Masculine Features Can Be Threatening."
Apparently a study is out from the "Journal of Personal Relationships," which says that traditionally masculine features, like exaggerated brows, strong chins, slightly thinner lips -- I think you are sufficiently masculine and yet sort of feminine, too.
M. O'BRIEN: Is that masculine.
CHO: But masculine faces were thought to be...
M. O'BRIEN: Oh, really?
CHO: More masculine faces judged to be more likely to get into fights or cheat on their partners.
M. O'BRIEN: Oh, really? CHO: That's right.
M. O'BRIEN: Those are fighting words right there.
CHO: That's right. While the less masculine versions thought to be better husbands and good with children.
So I say you have slightly feminine features.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm in touch with my inner feminine side.
CHO: That's right.
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