Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Severe Weather Hits Northeast; Make or Break for Attorney General Gonzales; Hybrid Toyota Prius Doesn't Pass Georgia Emissions Test

Aired April 15, 2007 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A weather nightmare unfolding this hour up and down the East Coast. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, you are in the NEWSROOM.
Severe winter-like storms are making life miserable for millions. A flood watch is in effect for parts of Washington D.C. due to heavy rain in the nation's capitol. Boston too can expect continued heavy rains, powerful winds and possible flooding. Not ideal conditions for tomorrow's scheduled Boston Marathon.

And airlines have canceled hundreds of flights in the New York area. Tomorrow's schedules are also expected to be affected. Meanwhile, our Jim Acosta is also battling the wind gusts there with the rain. He is on Long Island, which may be among the coastal areas hit the hardest. Officials say that the storm could produce the worst flooding in more than a decade and winds in some places are reported at 45 miles per hour.

Let's check in first with Jacqui Jeras.

(WEATHER REPORT)

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: So we're going to move on over here to our air travel expert, Rally Caparas. And you've been tracking things through the airways. What's going on at this hour?

RALLY CAPARAS, FLIGHTEXPLORER.COM: Thanks, Jacqui. Well, what's going on is a whole lot of volume. It doesn't seem it should be this many airplanes in the skies over such a turbulent area.

This is flightexplorer.com and the purple area you see is where the winds are gusting up to 60 miles-per-hour now. The ice blue area around the periphery of that, it's more like 40 to 50. The dark blue, 20 to 30. And then below 20, up around Boston Logan.

Why are there major delays at Boston Logan, where they've already canceled about 150 flights today? Because there's weather there also, low ceilings, reduced visibility. The volume into Boston, all of the white airplanes you see, it's not that heavy. The delays aren't going to be so bad.

But they will get worse as this purple, blue and ice blue field moves over to the top of Boston. You can expect to see these delays build to about three and four hours for Boston Logan arrivals and departures.

A little further south, underneath all of the yellow airplanes that are headed to and from the New York City metro, JFK, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia, nothing but purple. Lots of wind. They reduced the arrival flight handling capacity into all three locations as a result of that wind.

They have seen now for about the last seven or eight hours, about a five-hour arrival delay into those locations. They have canceled now 550 flights that were headed to or through those major hubs. And it's only going to get worse before it gets better. Looks like they have at least two to three more hours of the purple field.

Further south at Philadelphia International, down here where the red airplanes are going to or from, the volume is not as bad. They are on the edge of the purple area. However, you're still seeing four and five hour delays, there. They too have canceled about 150 flights so far this evening.

My advice, if you are flying over the next two to three days, if you have flexibility, change it. Go to the airlines immediately, contact them, find out what your options are. They will do it at no cost. Fredricka, I'll be back in about 30 minutes with the latest on these conditions.

WHITFIELD: All right, and it's so much easier if you do it early than wait at the last minute. That's for sure.

CAPARAS: Exactly.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Rally.

As I mentioned earlier, CNN's Jim Acosta is on Long Island, where he is really feeling the storm. He joins us live right now. How are the conditions, Jim?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Fredricka, I have to be careful because right behind me, the foam from the Atlantic Ocean is washing up behind me.

We can see nothing but sand behind me for two football fields about an hour ago. Just in that amount of time, the water has come in right up to this point where I'm standing here, just very close to the Boardwalk and the Beach Pavilion here out here on Jones Beach on Long Island.

We are seeing conditions worsen as the hours go by. Winds are being clocked at 40 to 50 miles-per-hour at nearby JFK Airport. And this is part of the problem that we are seeing right now. This tidal surge, the storm surge is going to be creeping up over the next few hours. They are expecting a storm surge as high as three to five feet.

That will be happening as high tide is occurring this evening. If you add to all of that the fact that we are going to be seeing a rainfall amounts in the four to six inch neighborhood, also those winds that I mentioned, could be over 30 miles an hour across the New York tri-state area.

Despite all of those conditions, we are seeing some weather watchers out here on the beach. We ran into one young man earlier today. He was out here for a good reason.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: I understand you have a special interest in being out here today?

DON FLORENCE, COLLEGE STUDENT: Yes, I do. I'm actually enrolled in an oceanology course with professor Glen Williams, at Nassau Community College. We have been covering tidal patterns and storm patterns, and, you know, I want to see -- I figured firsthand, you know. I come down here today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: But people really should be taking caution. This is not the kind of weather you want to be out in, whether you have homework or not. And that is why officials in tri-state area, the New York metropolitan area are urging residents in those low-lying flood- prone areas to take a look at what we are seeing right now.

Just look at this foam and this water coming in off the ocean here on Jones Beach. And realize that this storm surge is real, that it is happening as high tide is occurring this evening, and you add to that the rainfall and the winds that we mentioned earlier, it's going to be a nasty nor'easter this evening.

And if you just listen to what the forecasters are saying, potentially the worst nor'easter in 15 years. So people need to take care, take caution. Be careful out there - Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: So Jim, when we talk about the storm surge between three and five feet, how much of a threat is this to a lot of the buildings and structures right there along the coastline?

ACOSTA: Well, along the coast -- where we are standing right now, we are OK. We are in a state park so it's not a problem. But in those low-lying neighborhoods we are hearing about some neighborhoods in coastal New Jersey on the Jersey Shore where people are being asked to evacuate their homes, protect life and property is one of those catch phrases that we hear during these types of storms.

So if you live in those types of areas, and you know that because you -- you bought this home, you purchased this property, you know you live in one of those areas, those folks need to get to higher ground, get out of those areas right now while they still can.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jim Acosta, thanks so much there on Long island. Not far from Jim Acosta, a whole lot of folks who were stuck in the airports, from Kennedy Airport to LaGuardia, one of our own, CNN radio correspondent Steve Kastenbaum is stuck along with number of on other people there at LaGuardia Airport. He's on the phone with us now so describe the scene for me, Steve. What's it look like?

STEVE KASTENBAUM, CNN RADIO CORRESPONDENT (on phone): Well Fredricka, airport officials tell me over 400 flights have been canceled at the three area airports here in New York. Many, many more have been delayed. That means thousands of people are camped out here at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark waiting for an opportunity to board a plane and move on to their destinations across the country.

The runways are open, and some flights are taking off, but the delays are extensive. A lot of the folks here are facing the fact that they won't be able to leave New York City until tomorrow at the earliest. All around the airport you see folks scoping out those comfortable cushioned seats. They've got their luggage in front of them, using it to prop up their feet. Many of them pulled their coats over their faces and just taking the opportunity to catch up on some sleep.

I spoke to several people who are at least 15 hours behind schedule. They think they're going to get out of here sometime tonight, but the harsh reality is with all those canceled flights it's looking more like tomorrow, maybe even Tuesday before some of the folks are able to fly on to their destinations.

WHITFIELD: That is a drag. So Steve, what about you? What are you going to do?

KASTENBAUM: I'm going to sit here and wait it out, and keep telling you what's going on. It's all in all, pretty much a calm scene. We're really not seeing any folks here complaining. They realize it's it's the weather. They had a lot of advance warning here.

Many people have told me they signed up for the e-mail notifications that are available here and you can get text alerts now from a lot of the airlines that will give you up to the date -- up to the minute information on your flight.

So many of the folks knew they weren't going to get out today but they decided to come down here anyway and see if there was anyway they could get reschedules onto another flight. So, all in all, they're pretty much calm and resolved to the fact that, you know, they'll get out of here eventually, once the weather clears but so far, we have had three and a half inches fall here at LaGuardia Airport. Before it's all said and done, they expect it to be around six inches. So it's looking really bad on the tarmac.

WHITFIELD: It sounds bad. Steve Kastenbaum, thanks so much. We wish you well, but we appreciate you dialing in to give us an idea of what's taking place there at LaGuardia.

Of course, in a moment we will get back to the bad weather. Can't get away from it really because later on in this week, there will be a storm of another sorts but in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales explains to Congress his role in the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. He has written up his testimony and we've read it. You want to get an advance look at that when we come back.

And later, 60 years ago today, a revolution, and his name, Jackie Robinson.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Some pretty severe weather is impacting much of the Atlantic Seaboard today. Hundreds of flights in and out of the northeast have been canceled, but it's not just the nor'easter making a mess of things.

A tornado tore through this mobile home community in central Florida where a high wind advisory and tornado watch is still in effect. Luckily, no deaths or injuries have been reported there. Meantime, high winds are expected to whip much of New England tonight and possibly tomorrow.

But it's more than the threat of flooding that worries coastal residents in the northeast where winter storm watches and warnings dot the map. CNN's Jacqui Jeras is monitoring the situation and will join us later with the latest developments on the storm.

Meantime, in West Virginia, the problem has been constant rain, resulting in this, a lot of high water. You are looking at a rescue attempt right here, where dozens of people have been rescued from their home because of the high water. Fire and rescue teams have used boats to get them out. Meantime, two people have been reportedly injured in Wyoming County, one of five counties that's dealing with this kind of high water. And in nearby Logan County, two people are right now unaccounted for.

We'll check in right now out of New Jersey with Michelle Seavers, from News 12 New Jersey. She's joining us live now from the town of Sea Bright, where clearly rain and wind is a problem. But what is the biggest threat there?

MICHELLE SEAVERS, NEWS 12 CORRSEPONDENT: Well, it seems that the rain has actually started to die down, but do not let that fool you.

We are in for a very long, rough night because coastal flooding is the main concern out here. Here in Sea Bright, big winds are barreling down on the beach as you can see, and there are storm watchers who are braving the beach to come out and see Mother Nature. It is quite a spectacle. They were expecting much worse from this storm, what they are saying, but emergency responders and office of emergency management here in Sea Bright telling us, do not underestimate anything because there is a new moon overhead.

They were normally expecting high tide, and in combination with this nor'easter, they're dealing with a big mess here, expecting a lot of flooding. We have a nearby river that is also expected to deal with maybe two extra feet tonight. So, flooded streets. And right now, half of Sea Bright is actually without power. As of this weren't enough, they had a transformer fire earlier today. So half the residents here are in the dark as we head into the evening.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So, power outages, that's one problem. Michelle, I understand that the acting governor, Richard Codey mentioned not long ago they are also dealing with having to close a number of roads because of high water and threats just like that.

SEAVERS: Oh, yeah, at last check, there were about 16 partial and full road closures all around New Jersey. The word from top emergency officials is if you don't have to leave your home today, don't. It is a mess out here. And if you live in a flood-prone area, have a backup plan. It might be good now to make -- put that plan into action. Go to higher ground, go to family that does not live water front because, as this night goes on, unfortunately, we are expecting a lot of dangerous flooding out here.

WHITFIELD: All right. Michelle Seavers of News 12 New Jersey. Thanks so much.

Well, turning to a different kind of storm now, this one in Washington, D.C. The question, can embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales save his job? That's the backdrop for the attorney general's date with the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. The panel is investigating whether the firings of eight federal prosecutors was business or politics as usual, and if Gonzales' fingerprints are on the pink slips. Today Mr. Gonzales wrote an op/ed piece in a Washington newspaper previewing what he will say before the Senate committee. CNN's Kathleen Koch has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his just- released opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales spends much of his time backtracking.

ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I was not involved in any discussions about what was going on. That's basically what I knew as the attorney general.

KOCH: Gonzales says he misspoke on March 13th, calling that statement imprecise and overbroad. He says his then chief of staff Kyle Sampson periodically updated him on the review but that quote, "to my knowledge I did not make decisions about who should or should not be asked to resign."

That was decided, he says, by a consensus of senior Justice Department officials. But in previous testimony, Sampson said Gonzales played a larger role than he has so far admitted. Gonzales says Sampson did mention two possible replacements for outgoing U.S. attorneys though he doesn't remember when.

And the attorney general denies any wrongdoing, saying, "I know that I did not and would not ask for resignation of any individual in order to interfere with or influence a particular prosecution for partisan political gain. I also have no basis to believe that anyone involved in this process sought the removal of U.S. attorney for an improper reason."

Some senators on the committee are demanding more concrete explanations for the many discrepancies in the case.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY), JUDICARY CMTE: His opening statement doesn't move us one tiddle forward in terms of finding out what happened.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), JUDICIARY CMTE: He's got a steep hill to find and he's got to be successful in my opinion only if he deals with the facts.

KOCH: Senators also have questions about White House involvement in the firings. The Vice President Dick Cheney had little to say on the matter.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This took place inside the Justice Department, the one who needs to answer to that and lay out on the record the specifics of what transpired is the attorney general and he'll do so.

KOCH: Washington insiders believe the Tuesday hearing is make or break for the attorney general.

KEN RUDIN, POLITICAL EDITOR, NPR: Obviously his career is on the line, his future is on the line.

KOCH: Former Gonzales chief of staff Kyle Sampson was interviewed Sunday on Capitol Hill by congressional staffers.

(on camera): Senators say if they are not happy with the answers they get from Sampson and Gonzales, they could hold a second hearing. They say they haven't given up on pushing for testimony from White House officials like Karl Rove. Kathleen Koch, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So for more now on Attorney General Gonzales's showdown with the Senate panel or what's expected to be later on this week, we are joined by CNN's political editor Mark Preston live from our Washington, D.C. bureau. Good to see you, Mark.

So, how significant do you believe this is that Gonzales would write in the "Washington Post" kind of setting the stage just a couple days prior to his scheduled testimony?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, there's no question that he's trying to get out in front of it. We knew the testimony was going to be released at some point today, and there's no question that Gonzales wanted to try to get out in front, try to explain his situation, try to blunt any criticism that we're going to hear from Democrats on Tuesday, and belief me, there's going to be quite a bit of criticism and a lot of probing questions.

WHITFIELD: Trying to potentially even sway committee members but realistically they are just waiting to hear what he will say or not say on Tuesday.

PRESTON: Yeah, no question. Really, the real fireworks will be the questioning part, when Democrats on the committee are allowed to ask him direct questions. Mr. Gonzales, how much did you really know? Mr. Gonzales, did you use e-mail accounts from the Republican National Committee to try to hide what you were doing? Mr. Gonzales, were members of Congress or Karl Rove involved with any of these firings or dismissals? That's where I think we'll really see the fireworks.

WHITFIELD: His mantra is he keeps saying, "I did nothing wrong. Nothing wrong was done by my office." Might he have to define what is "wrong"?

PRESTON: Well, I mean, look, it is a president's prerogative to hire U.S. attorneys. There's no question about that. I think basically what's going on right now within the White House is saying how did this happen? How did we let this unravel? How did we lose control of this situation? The president has the right to hire and fire U.S. attorneys. However, the way this was done and the way that it looked, how politicized it was, it's not a good thing right now for the White House.

WHITFIELD: Right, so it is the prerogative of the White House to hire and fire that kind of position. But a lot is on the line for the White House, so their interest in what Gonzales says, you know -- I would think would be very pointed, very specific.

So, I wonder how much the White House might be involved in helping to craft what he says and what he doesn't say.

PRESTON: Well, you know, a couple things, Fred, is that Mr. Gonzales for several weeks now has been practicing what his testimony is going to be. What was interesting to note this morning is Vice President Cheney's comments where he really did try to put the ball in Mr. Gonzales's court, trying to at least...

WHITFIELD: ... Oh, distancing themselves.

PRESTON: Exactly, no question. Look, you have a White House right now that is executing a war that is very unpopular with the American public, you have the president with approval ratings in the thirties. This is another distraction they really, really don't need at this point.

WHITFIELD: At the same time, you hear others argue that this is a lame duck White House, right now. So what does it really matter as to why they would respond to public pressure at this point?

PRESTON: Well, for two reasons. I mean, there are still two years in left in the president's term. He still thinks he can get a lot done. There are elections in 2008. Democrats control Congress, Republicans want to get it back. Having a lame duck president who is not powerful not going to be helpful. And quite frankly, for Mr. Bush, it's about his legacy. This is not a good mark in his legacy at this point.

WHITFIELD: All right, Mark Preston, thanks so much.

PRESTON: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, doctors say New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine remains in critical condition after undergoing a medical procedure today to remove fluid that had collected outside his left lung. Meanwhile, police have found the 20-year-old driver who supposedly triggered the crash that left Corzine seriously injured. The driver apparently didn't realize what happened and will not be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. But police add they are still investigating.

The hybrid Toyota Prius has arrived, it's clean and green, right? Then why won't the state of Georgia give it a passing grade on its emission test? That's coming up next.

And take a look at Rick Sanchez and his team getting ready for what's next in the NWESROOM, beginning at 7:00 Eastern and then again at 10:00 Eastern. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So, this next story goes under the heading of "ironic." The Prius, touted as the smartest of a new generation of eco-friendly vehicles has flunked the emissions tests in Georgia. More from investigative reporter Jim Strickland of CNN affiliate WSB in Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICH HARRELSON, PRIUS OWNER: And this is my 2004 Toyota Prius.

JIM STRICKLAND, WSB CORRESPONDENT: Do you like this car?

HARRELSON: I love it.

STRICKLAND: What's not to love? Rich Harrelson gets 50 miles per gallon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When this car idles, it shuts off.

STRICKLAND: The Prius hybrid's unique mix of gas and battery power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the engine turning off and on?

STRICKLAND: Is a befuddlement to the state's emission system. It's the first year for the '04 Prius to get tested. One of the highest mileage cars on the road and one of the cleanest running can't pass the Georgia emissions test no matter how many times you try. Chuck McClellan of Midtown Emissions tried it with this 2004 Prius.

CHUCK MCCLELLAN, MIDTOWN EMISSIONS: What usually happens is the engine turns off, I lose RPM, so I can't complete the test.

STRICKLAND: None of this is news to the state.

HEATHER ABRAMS, GA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: The 2004 Toyota Prius has an issue with communicating with the analyzers. They still have to get their emissions tested out. That's a requirement under the law.

STRICKLAND: Heather Abrams is Georgia's top air pollution watchdog. She says 800 plus emissions stations got word right on their computer screens, test the Prius anyway.

ABRAMS: They will actually run an aborted test on these vehicles to get them into the system, which is what's required under the law, and then they can get a waiver so they can still get their tag.

STRICKLAND: The cynic in me says the state just wants their $25. Even though they know these tests are not going to be legal.

ABRAMS: That would be great if the state got the $25. We only get 95 cents off each test.

STRICKLAND: Rich Harrelson? He's not so keen on paying for a sure failure either.

HARRELSON: I don't think it's right that I have to pay $25 if their system can't even accommodate my car.

STRICKLAND: Harrelson's got another beef.

HARRELSON: I called the clean air people, was told by them that I had to get a failed certificate at the emissions station where I would go, take that to one of these five waiver centers, which are only open Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 4:30. So I'm having to do a lot of extra legwork, that someone who owns a conventional car is not having to do.

MCCLELLAN: They say no good deed goes unpunished. I guess this is one of those deals.

STRICKLAND: Abrams says a Prius owner only needs to call the office. If they have the code number on the aborted test, the state will communicate with the tag office to get the waiver through.

ABRAMS: We don't want the consumer to have to go any further than necessary to get their tag.

STRICKLAND: Abrams is also resending the message about how to deal with the Prius. Harrelson says he shouldn't have to deal with emissions at all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why just exempt the Prius in general.

STRICKLAND: Shouldn't hybrid cars be exempted from this test in general to encourage their ownership?

ABRAMS: Not at this point. We haven't come to that conclusion and we're -- you know it's something that we look at on an ongoing basis but we're not at that point yet.

STRICKLAND: EPD hopes to update the system to accommodate the Prius hybrid for the 2005 model year.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, that was Jim Strickland of CNN affiliate WSB reporting from Atlanta.

Meantime, the big problem affecting millions of people, the Nor'easter, already bearing down on so many coastal communities. Our Jacqui Jeras is in the weather center to help update us on all things going right and wrong in weather. Meantime, to the right of your screen, Rally Caparas is also taking a look at the impact that this weather is having on your air travels.

But first, according to the CDC, 17 percent of children in the U.S. are overweight and the number is growing rapidly. But one company is offering kids a new way to experience a healthy snack.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): It's fruit with a twist, or actually a fizz.

GALEN KAUFMAN, FOUNDER & CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER: Fizzy Fruit is the world's first sparkling fruit. It's not a juice or a beverage, it's actually fruit. And we just add a little fizz and fun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This carbonated fruit snack was created with kids in mind. It has the zing of a soft drink without the added sugar and preservatives. The fruit is taken through a special process that adds carbonation into the water content that is naturally found in fruit, without altering its nutritional value.

KAUFMAN: Fizzy Fruit is a great alternative to candies and other low nutritive foods so we're hoping that children kind of rediscover fresh fruit this way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grapes, apples and pineapples are some of the fruits that are available. And with other fruit and vegetables being tested, the company hopes to encourage more healthy eating.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Fizzy Fruit has also partnered with schools across the country to encourage kids to eat more fruit. And we will be right back

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Battered and bruised, a powerful and dangerous storm wallops the east coast with strong winds and torrential rain. In New York, hundreds of flights are canceled and coastal flooding is a real concern there. And this is the aftermath in South Carolina, coming up right there, suspected tornado touched down there today, killing one person who was fleeing the storm.

Welcome back to the NEWSROOM, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. New England will get the worst of the storm tonight and tomorrow, a sobering fact for residents and especially for runners scheduled to be in the Boston marathon that is set for tomorrow still. These are the pictures from last year's race. But the weather this year will be very different. Heavy rain, strong winds and temperatures in the 40s, and that's why marathon officials are urging runners to dress in loose layers and cover their heads and extremities to fend off hypothermia.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Jacqui and I were talking about the mess in Boston particularly, since a lot of flights are canceled, a lot of those runners may not be able to make it there in time for that scheduled Boston marathon. Rally Caparas is of flightexplorer.com, keeping a track of the weather or I should say air travel-related delays because of the weather.

ROLLY CAPARAS, FLIGHTEXPLORER.COM: Fredricka, you bring up a good point. I bet you about a third or so of the field isn't going to make it to Boston for that race tomorrow because conditions are just not going to allow for them to do so in air travel. Let's take a look at flightexplorer.com now and I'm showing you on this particular graphic, all of the airplanes that are headed to or from the New York City metropolitan airports, JFK, La Guardia, and Newark Liberty. And I can tell you that they've already canceled 550 flights combined to or through those major hubs today. They are seeing five and six-hour arrival delays. Average delays, what they are advertising is average delays, 508 minutes, so you can kind of guess how bad these things really are. If we go a little bit further to the north, Boston's Logan Airport, the wind where the green area is, that's only about a 20 knot gust. Well why so many cancellations, 150 of those cancellations so far today. Because if we put the other radar weather over the top of it, you see low clouds, reduced visibility, gusting winds, it's caused them to reduce the flight handling capacity at that major hub. Expect delays to be three to four hours long if you're headed to or through Boston Logan tonight. So there is hope if you are sitting in an airport wondering when am I going to get to Logan, you should be able to get there tonight. However, I wouldn't expect that you'll get to the New York City metro.

Philadelphia suffering from similar conditions, the purple areas where you're seeing 45 to 50 knot gusts in certain areas. The potential is there for a very, very rocky ride. Please, keep your seatbelts fastened, it's for your own safety. And of course, it's going to feel more like a roller coaster ride than it does an airplane ride. One hundred and fifty flights already cancelled at Philly, three and four hour arrival delays are average right now. If you're flying any time between now and the next two to three days, I advise you to contact your airlines immediately, go online, see what their policy is going to be. I bet you you'll be able to change it at no cost. That's what most of them are doing right now. I'll be back in about two hours with the latest on these conditions. Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much Rally.

Coming up in a moment we're going to take a reprieve from the nor'easter and we're going to talk about a baseball pioneer. Today, hundreds of baseball players took to the fields to honor this man, Jackie Robinson. The first African-American to play major league baseball.

And then --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Coming up on "LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK," CBS cancels Don Imus' radio show. How much hypocrisy is there in the Imus outrage and controversy?

And prosecutors drop sexual assault charges against three former Duke Lacrosse players. Is it time to reform our criminal justice system? We'll examine those issues and much more, coming up on "LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, it's about 15 minutes before the top of the hour and here's what's happening right now.

Bomb attacks claim the lives of 47 civilians and Iraqi soldiers in Iraq today. Most of them in the capital city of Baghdad.

In Russia, police clashed with demonstrators on the streets of St. Petersburg. Thousands of anti-Kremlin protestors are challenging the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And in Mexico, a fiery bus collision killed 23 people near the Texas border. The bus hit a tractor-trailer yesterday. The truck's gas tank exploded, engulfing both vehicles in flames.

And nearly a century after it sank we're getting more details now about the passengers on the titanic. A handwritten passenger list of those who were on board the ship in -- or rather who were to board the ship in England on its maiden voyage has now been released. It gives the names, ages and professions of many of those who died when the ship sank in 1912.

An Italian animal rights group wants the pope to change his vestments. It's asking Pope Benedict to give up his red velvet cape and one of his papal hats, both are fur-trimmed. The Vatican has yet to offer a public response to their appeal.

How about this, even after Don Imus was suspended, then fired for his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team, well one California radio station will reportedly air reruns of the shock jock's shows in protest. NBC's "Saturday Night Live" also put Imus on the air last night, sort of.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just because they were generous enough to accept my apology that does not absolve me from the responsibility that having made this truly distasteful and awful joke, stupid, just stupid. I -- I'm an idiot. I'm wrong. If I could, I would like to add that throughout this sordid and awful mess, many of the friends who' appeared on my radio show to promote their books and further their careers have not exactly risen to my defense. These people know who they are and they are fat bastards.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: I think he got the voice down there, hmm?

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, but I want to know where they got that silly hat.

WHITFIELD: Well --

SANCHEZ: They could have done better than that. Imus has never worn a hat that looked that cheesy. He may have all kinds of faults but it's not with the hats.

WHITFIELD: We'll have to check the archives for that. Rick Sanchez here to, I guess, carry the baton -- there you go, just one more look there. Carry the baton into the NEWSROOM for the 7:00 and 10:00 p.m.

SANCHEZ: Boy this weather system, oh my goodness.

WHITFIELD: Yeah it's bad.

SANCHEZ: And they're talking about high tide as we're going on the air tonight so we're going to be bringing you the story from the standpoint of what some of the flooding could do to devastate those areas. Yeah, we're talking about parts of New Jersey, where people are used to going to Cape May, where some people sometimes at this time of the year would already start getting ready to actually go swimming. Not now, that's for sure. But it's not just the immediate effect, it's also what the lingering effect of this is going to be. That's why we're going to have Rally here, Rally Caparas throughout the course of the evening, to bring us up to date on even if you're not in the northeast, but you want to fly or travel to the northeast --

WHITFIELD: The ripple effect.

SANCHEZ: What's the ripple effect, exactly.

WHITFIELD: It's a travel nightmare for sure.

SANCHEZ: Then tonight at 10:00, you know, the far left would call him a hero. The far right would call him -- well, not a hero. For lack of a word that I would not use on TV, there he is, Dennis Kucinich, Ohio's own Dennis Kucinich. He has a lot to say and certainly he has some street credit when it comes to -- at least among Democrats when it comes to the Iraq war. Because he is the only one of the presidential candidates who truly has said from the very beginning I'm against the Iraq war, voted against it in 2002. And now he has an argument with some of his Democratic colleagues for the way they're pushing the Iraq war, now that they're in power. So that's what we're going to be talking about, that and other things.

WHITFIELD: Ok, we'll be watching. Of course.

SANCHEZ: Maybe even Imus.

WHITFIELD: That's just a little taste.

SANCHEZ: Do you think I should ask him about Imus?

WHITFIELD: Oh, I'm sure he'll give you something.

SANCHEZ: Since we've asked everybody else.

WHITFIELD: Might as well.

SANCHEZ: Is there anybody left who hasn't commented on this?

WHITFIELD: I think not. All right thanks a lot.

SANCHEZ: We'll have it for you. Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, today is indeed a special day in baseball history. In fact, in history, period. We profile Jackie Robinson straight ahead. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It was exactly 60 years ago that the first African- American major league baseball player took to field. Today, hundreds of pro players will wear Jackie Robinson's number 42 on their uniforms to honor him. But even as tribute is paid to Robinson, a troubling trend is emerging in baseball, as Peter Viles reports, the number of black players is declining.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two, three.

CROWD: Jackie Robinson!

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He broke baseball's color barrier 60 years ago, in 1947, Jackie Robinson and baseball set an example for all of America.

JONATAN EIG, AUTHOR, "OPENING DAY": You have to remember that Brown versus board of education, Rosa Parks, didn't come until much later. Martin Luther King was just 16 years old and hadn't even decided yet on a major for college.

VILES: In tribute, major leaguers across the country wore Robinson's number 42. In St. Louis, every Cardinal and every Brewer wore 42. So too in L.A. where Dodger Luis Gonzales was looking forward to the tribute.

LUIS GONZALEZ, LOS ANGELES DODGERS: It's going to be a special day for his family and for all of baseball, just to give a man special recognition for really paving the way for a lot of minorities to get to where they're at today.

VILES: But many fear Robinson's legacy is fading away. The Dodgers, for example, have only two African-Americans on their roster.

MARLON ANDERSON, LOS ANGELES DODGERS: Now the numbers are down so much to where young black kids they don't have black ball players to look at or in the area it's so few -- everybody talks about it, nobody has the answer for it.

VILES: A generation ago, blacks made up 27 percent of big league rosters. This season, it's only 8 percent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He would not like it at all, he would not appreciate it.

SHARON ROBINSON, J ACKIE ROBINSON'S DAUGHTER: He'd be appalled. He'd be sitting in the commissioner's office. He'd be writing columns. You know, like all of us, we're concerned about it.

VILES: Baseball has been trying to reconnect with black youngsters for years, but those efforts are not showing up on major league rosters.

JOHN SCHEURHOLZ, GM, ATLANTA BRAVES: For whatever reason our game is not as appealing, as exciting, as attractive to the African- American player.

VILES: But it is increasingly attractive to players outside America. The Dodgers field players from the Dominican Republic, Japan, Taiwan and Panama, all of them honoring Jackie Robinson Sunday. Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK" is coming up at the top of the hour. But first we have a special celebration going on at CNN this week. You don't want to miss it. Larry King is celebrating his 50th year in broadcasting. Over the decades he has spoken with just about everyone, including a historic interview with the former leaders of the Middle East.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING: The three-way interview with Hussein, Arafat and Rabin was historic. Here were the three major leaders in the Middle East, coming together on one television show, split screen, triple, live. Mr. Prime Minister, do you favor the United States staying involved?

VITZHAK RABIN, PRIME MINISTER: Allow me first to compliment you to bring the three of us together. I believe that the future of the region depends on the kind of cooperation between King Hussein, Chairman Arafat and Israel to bring about a new Middle East.

KING: Here are these three individuals, all now gone, all of whom have an impact on what the world would have to do and say about a region. That was a night you never forget.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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