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Ambush Kills Five in Baghdad; Vice President Visits United Arab Emirates; Wildfires Across U.S.; Floods in Missouri; Virginia Tech Commencement Weekend; Oprah Winfrey Awarded Doctorate of Humanities Degree

Aired May 12, 2007 - 12:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: A U.S.-led force attacked in Iraq, at least five personnel dead, three others missing. Let's get right to CNN's Nic Robertson in Baghdad.
Nic, what do we understand happened?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, the events took place at about 4:44 in the morning, that was just the pre- dawn hours here. We're told that there were seven soldiers and one Iraqi translator who were out on a patrol. It's not clear exactly what happened. There was an explosion, the explosion was heard by soldiers in a nearby command post. They then tried to call out to the soldiers by radio, they didn't any response at all. An aerial reconnaissance drone was launched into the air, a pilotless vehicle, about 15 later, it was able to see two burning vehicle, a quick reaction force was dispatched to the scene, that arrived there about an hour after the initial attack. And when they got there, they found five bodies.

Now, it's not clear if among those bodies was the Iraqi translator or if they were all soldiers. So at this time, the Army says there are three people missing, two soldiers or possibly three soldiers missing. The Iraqi translator may be among the dead, may be among those missing. The chief spokesman for the U.S. military, here, has said they were they would not stop searching for these soldiers until they have discovered where they are.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, SPOKESMAN, MULTINATL. FORCES IRAQ: At the time of the attack, a nearby unit heard explosions and attempted to establish communications, but without success. At 4:59 a.m., an unmanned aerial vehicle observed two burning vehicle. Coalition forces arrived within an hour, secured the site and immediately initiated a search. The names of the soldiers are being withheld pending final identification and notification of next of kin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: General Caldwell says that search involves helicopter, it involves pilotless reconnaissance vehicle, reconnaissance aircraft flying over the area, it involves aircraft and they're also talking, he said, with responsible people in the area, very likely religious leaders, very likely community leaders, both political community leaders and very likely tribal sheiks to try and determine what happened to these missing soldiers.

The effort of the Army, here, to establish their whereabouts as quickly as possible so that the soldiers cannot be moved too far from the scene of the original incident, but over the moment, very unclear exactly what took place in those early morning hour -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Nic, can you give us an idea of what Mahmoudiya has been like? Is this one of the areas that hadn't been (ph) -- will cleared of insurgency and then the return of insurgency activity, what?

ROBERTSON: It's been a very, very volatile area, it has been known in the recent past as the "triangle of death." It is an area where there is a lot of Sunni insurgency. There's an area where many experts, here, believe that al Qaeda is predominant, is heavily active, it is very close to the western province of al Anbar where, until recently, al Qaeda has been very prevalent and dominant, they've been forced out to a degree by tribes there, so this area has been typically a volatile area of insurgents, of criminal gangs, preying on traffic on the main roads that move north/south in that particular area, but it's just south of Baghdad.

The U.S. military has been making an increased effort recently to secure that area and try to stop insurgents using it as a passageway to get in and out of Baghdad, but clearly at this time, it still remains a very, very troublesome and dangerous area -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right Nic Robertson thanks so much for that update out of Baghdad.

Vice President Dick Cheney is visiting officials in the United Arab Emirates and plans other stops in his week-long Middle East visit. Cheney's trip is aimed at securing more support for U.S. policy in Iraq and countering growing Iranian influence in the region.

Deadly violence in Pakistan, police and intelligence sources report at least 43 people killed in street battles in Karachi, government demonstrators clash with opposition party members and many of those killed are supporters of a chief justice removed from his post by Pakistani President Pervis Musharraf.

Critics accuse the president of playing politics. He has accused the judge of misusing his powers.

Blistering wildfires across parts of this country forcing evacuations and charring hundreds of thousands of acres and in some areas making driving extremely dangerous. We're on the front lines of the battles coast to coast beginning in northern Florida near the Georgia border. Our John Zarrella is in Lake City.

What's the latest -- John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredericka, we have a really a good news/bad news scenario here. The good news is that the humidity is up and the wind is down, which is terrific for firefighters in their efforts to get a handle on this blaze. They've got about four to 500 people working this fire. This is at bugaboo fire, of course, which started in Georgia and moved into Florida.

Here in Florida alone, it's burned 157 square miles, that equates to about 100,000 acres. But again, they're able to build these trenches, these, you know, with their backhoes and move in heavy equipment because of the fact that the fire is not moving right now very fast.

But the bad news is all this smoke and fog you see around me is making driving absolutely miserable. And I have Major Rick Carpenter joining me with Florida highway patrol.

And major Carpenter, give us an idea, right now, what the situation is out there? You got the major arteries, 75 and I-10 right here.

MAJ. RICK CARPENTER, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: Thank you, John. And you put it perfectly, this just turned into a worst case scenario for us and a great one for the fire department. What we've had to do in the Lake City area, Columbia County, is that we've had to shut down two major interstate highways, I-10 from Jacksonville over towards the Tallahassee area and also I-75. We originally started at the Georgia state line but we've moved it a little more into Florida, but we've shut down completely northbound and southbound I-75 in the north end of the county.

We've also had to shut down north end of I-75 and right in the city of Lake City, itself. The smoke and fog with no wind it's just settling and it's not lifting off the roads.

ZARRELLA: What is your advice then? It's a weekend, it's all -- Interstate 75, it's always packed. What's your advice to motorists right now?

CARPENTER: As much as I hate to say this is, John, and this is my state, and I love it, it's my city, but if you can avoid traveling coming through the Lake City area at all today, please do that. You know, it's -- traveling is tough with all the diversion routes we've had to take to get people off the major arteries to avoid crashes, is we're having to adapt to each one of those detours, we're opening a detour, we're and a shutting a detour down because it becomes inundated with smoke.

If you're coming, if you have to travel east coming to Jacksonville, please consider getting off into Tallahassee, to Madison, Monticello area to take, you know, alternate routes to go into Georgia, to work yourself around to Jacksonville. If you're coming out of south Florida and can avoid getting into the Gainesville area. You know, consider taking, you know, an alternate route, go into I-95, go on over to U.S. 27, other major north arteries to get yourself away from the middle of the state, to get away from this problem.

ZARRELLA: Major, thank you very much for taking some time to speak with us.

Well, you heard it, it's a mess here in north Florida as far as the road conditions are concerned. And they have been dealing with a lot of accidents on the highways and people actually pulled over because they can't see at all, disoriented is the way it was put to me. So, while they're getting a handle on this fire, at least right now because of the weather conditions, they're not getting a handle on the traffic situation. So, it's going to be a mess out there and the word to people traveling, avoid, if at all possible, this area of the state of Florida -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: They're going to have to do that. All right, thanks so much, John Zarrella.

Well now, off to the West Coast where thousands of anxious residents are returning to their homes on Catalina Island after a wildfire there burned more than 4,000 acres. Kara Finnstrom is live on Catalina Island and joins us now -- Kara.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a certain calm that's starting to return to Avalon, this historic harbor town. Really the only evidence you can see from this vantage point of the fierce fire that's been raging here is the charring on the hillsides behind me, but just beyond those hills there is -- some of the fire that is continuing to burn. We've got an update from L.A. County Fire Department officials earlier this morning that they have progressed in fighting this fire. Used to be at 35 percent containment, now at 50 percent, but they are continuing to fight this fire and to try and knock out what is remaining of it.

Now over on the west side of the island, we spoke with some residents who tell us that they're dealing with a different situation than we're seeing here in Avalon. They have no electricity at this point, they have no sewer system and they also don't have a cell phone relay system up. So, to communicate, they've been coming here to the pier to call their friends and family to let them know that they're doing OK.

Also, 10 structures have been damaged because of this fire, one of them a private home that completely went up in flames in front of the homeowner. Another, we've learned, is a builder's business and that he has completely lost his business because of the fire.

Ferris are starting to come back. We've seen a couple pull in already this morning and bring back residents. They are allowed to come back now because firefighters say there is no imminent danger to the homes at this point -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Kara, you mentioned at least one business, what about other businesses? Are folks able to, you know, get back into business or how are they faring right now?

FINNSTROM: Well, here in Avalon, it's actually starting to look, you know, like the tourist town it is, a lot of the restaurants are starting to open up, some of the businesses, not as much though, because right now, all you've got on the island are firefighter, the media and the residents returning home. This just a community of about 3,200 people, it swells to 10,000 people on the weekends and during the summer season, so probably not quite enough to entice the business owners to come back quite yet.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kara Finnstrom thanks so much from Catalina Island.

Well, on other front, the Canadian border, a savage fire has been raging for a week now in Northern Minnesota along the Gunflint Trail. Hundreds of people have been evacuated there. Dozens of homes and cabins wiped out. Nearly 50 square miles destroyed. The weather is finally cooperating however, with some of the firefighters out there, but hundreds of homes remain in the fire's path.

So from wildfires to floods in Missouri. The water is still rising, threatening some of the areas along the swollen Grand River. So far no injuries are deaths have been reported after a week of flooding, there. Several levees across the state failed under the stress. And damage assessment will are to wait until next week after the water recedes. Bonnie Schneider is in the Severe Weather Center.

And Bonnie, it seems like we have so many wildfires taking place. And in the stark contrast is the flooding, what is going on?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's really an extreme week in weather. Last week, we had the devastating tornadoes and it went into floods and now wildfires. I want to show you the area on Google Earth where John Zarrella was talking about. We had an official from Columbia County in Florida to talk about the road closures and where you're really just not advised to travel.

Here's I-75 and really, the poor air quality all the way from Georgia travel southward to northern Florida and then as you look towards areas along I-10 if you're traveling west to east, there's Live Oak and Lake City, these areas, unfortunately right now, are facing a very bad situation in terms of air quality.

Earlier this morning, I was telling you about a dense smoke advisory that expired at 10:00. Well, it's been extend now until 2:00 p.m., so we still have a ways to go where we'll be seeing some dangerous situations for those, unfortunately, that are in this area because you can see the smoke, you can smell the smoke and unfortunately you can feel it in your hair and your clothes. It's just you an comfortable situation.

But on a dangerous note, it's especially tough for driving. Visibility is now at zero in some areas and less than a quarter of a mile in other areas, so very dangerous there. The forecast calls for high of 88 to 90 degrees, winds are fairly light out of the northeast at five to 10 miles-per-hour and you may get a couple of peaks of sunshine.

Now we switch gears to California. I want to take you right into Catalina because we've been talking about the wind being beneficial for firefighters and that has to do with the wind direction. The winds may pick up and get a little more intense later on, but with the direction coming in from the west/northwest, that's helping to blow away the fire from Avalon. So 50 percent containment right now, according to our reporter in the field. I think things will improve as we continue to get that wind direction coming in because it's also coming off of a cooler Pacific, that marine flow enhances the moisture in the air. High temperatures for this region will only be about 62 degree, so that's actually cooler today than it was yesterday, so we will see some improvements there in the forecast.

Finally, our last stop is the Midwest, right now, we are not seeing rain across Missouri and Illinois, further to the south, as well. This is good news for the areas that were just soaked with flooding and the levees breaking in Missouri. The only problem is we still have a few rivers -- areas that have to crest today and tomorrow. So, if see flooding, it'll due to runoff, but high temperatures will be warm, it'll be hot and dry and mild for this region over the next couple of days. So things are getting better here, Fredricka.

I want to mention that coming up, we're going to talk about air quality, and what you can do to protect yourself if you live in Georgia, Florida, California, or Minnesota where we have wildfires right now.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, because there are consequences that I think a lot of folks didn't even think about when you hear about all of these wildfires, so we look forward to that.

SCHNEIDER: Definitely.

WHITFIELD: Bonnie, thank you.

Well straight ahead, this Saturday afternoon, pain at the pump. Just how high could gas prices go? Some tips to help you save some money.

And get ready to shell out more for, of all things, stamps. Doesn't it seem like there's a stamp hike every two years or so? Well, how much and when the new price hike does take affect this go- round?

And less than month after the massacre at Virginia Tech, a moving commencement ceremony for the class of 2007, a report from Blacksburg, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It is difficult but they are looking to the future with joy and to the past with pain. Commencement weekend at Virginia Tech, less than a month after the massacre that left 32 students and faculty dead. CNN's Jim Acosta is on the campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: This is no ordinary graduation weekend here on the campus of Virginia tech. While this is a time of celebration for the graduating seniors and their family, those folks are also taking time to mourn the fallen classmates and professors who lost their lives, lives that are looming large over this weekend, here in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Today, the individual departments are handing out diplomas to those graduating seniors and even at those ceremonies, these individual ceremonies, they're taking time to remember the fallen. But last night's event was the big event. That was the main commencement at the big football stadium, here on the campus of Virginia Tech. During that ceremony, the pomp and circumstance was subdued as the university handed out school rings to families of the slain students and then present the pictures of those slain students and professors onto the giant screen inside the football stadium as their names were read one by one.

The main commencement speaker, retired General John Abizaid, and university president, Charles Stager, addressed the crowd of 30,000 people reminding the people there that while they should remember, take time to remember, those students and professors who lost their lives here, they should also remember not to let this tragedy define them.

GEN. JOHN PHILLIP ABIZAID, U.S. ARMY, RETIRED: Your compassion, your steadfastness under pressure, your tremendous support of one another make you a special group. And you make me know our nation is in good hands.

CHARLES STEGER, VIRGINIA TECH PRESIDENT: Revel in the joy of this day. Celebrate your accomplishments. Celebrate all those lives that have touched yours in helping you bring, to come to this point. Reach out and hug these people if you can. And to all of our students here today, those graduating and those who will be returning, I wish I could reach out and hug each one of you. You are the reason I get out of bed in the morning, you're my passion, a focus of my days and most of my nights. You are the future and your achievements will be felt around the globe.

ACOSTA: And because of the tragic events on April 16, security was very tight, it was ramped up for this graduation ceremony. There were long lines as security guards went through bags and kept an eye on the big crowd that was in attendance last night. But in the end, this event went off without a hitch, there was just a little bit of rain, but still plenty of time to remember the fallen here at Virginia Tech.

Jim Acosta, CNN, Blacksburg, Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And commencement exercises of another tenor at Howard University, today. The queen of talk, Oprah Winfrey, among the honorees, she became quite emotional when presented an honorary doctorate of humanities degree just before her inspiring address.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: What a deep honor to be here today for me. I think Dr. Gates said it best, you can receive a lot of awards in your life, but there is nothing better...

(APPLAUSE)

There is nothing better than to be honored by your own. Thank you. Thank you. I'll be calling myself Dr. Winfrey on Monday morning on the "Oprah" show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The talk show host went on to encourage graduates to be true to themselves and to remember to give back.

Rising gas prices got you over a barrel? Well, there are some practical ways to save a few dollars, advice straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

And no discount for you. Sound like the "Soup Nazi?" Wisconsin regularities come down on hard for a gas station for giving some of its customers a price break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So, $3 a gallon used to be a shocking price for gas. Well, now you're seeing it lots. You're seeing lots of threes, in fact, at your corner station. Could fours be next? Most Americans seem to think so. A CNN opinion research poll revealed 79 percent believe it is likely gas prices will hit $4 a gallon this year, 21 percent disagree.

Well, if it's any consolation, $5 still seems improbable to most Americans. Only 28 percent say it's likely gas prices will reach that level this year, 71 percent think it won't. Phew.

Well there are ways to get mileage out of a gallon of gas. CNN consumer reporter Greg Hunter has some advice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GREG HUNTER, CNN CONSUMER REPORTER: Well, I can't give you one tip that'll save you big bucks, but I can give you a lot of little ones that can really add up. First of all, put regular gas in your car, not premium, 90 percent of vehicles only need regular gas. You don't help yourself out buying the premium, you don't help yourself out buying the mid grade if all your car needs is regular gas.

Also, your check engine light, if it's on, you're definitely using more fuel, that's according to AAA.

Another good one is gas up when it's cool. That's because when it's cool, gas is denser, you get more bang for your buck, also slowdown. You can save up to 10 percent, the difference between 55 and 65. and if you're idle more than a minute, turn your engine off, you'll save money. Less than a minute, leave it run. Tire pressure, big, especially if you have an SUV. The bigger the vehicle, the more critical the tire pressure is. You can save as much as 10 percent, especially on that SUV. Also, if have you roof racks, or weight in your trunk, get rid of that and check gaspricewatch.com if you want to get the lowest price, all you have to do is put your zip code and you get the lowest price. Back to you guys in the studio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, well cheaper gas is apparently not OK in Wisconsin. This station, had been giving small discounts to senior citizens and customers who support a youth hockey team. Well the state says those deals violate a Wisconsin law. It requires stations to sell gas for about nine percent over wholesale. The owner said the state threatened to sue if he didn't comply. He now worries that customers will think he's just wanting to make more money.

Well, starting Monday, you'll pay more to send letters and packages through the U.S. mail. Stamps for first class letters increase from 39 to 41 cents. But, if you want to guard even future price hikes, well you can buy forever stamps that they will always be valid and they're at 41 cents per forever stamp. Well, despite the increases, the postmaster general does say that the agency will lose money this year, if that's any comfort to you.

Well, massive wildfires burn from coast to coast. Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM, the latest on efforts to bring the fires under control.

And a mom leaps into action to save her child who was inside a van that rolled into this pond. How it all ended, straight ahead.

And you don't see this too often, a penguin on a warm beach. Well the story behind the video in our next half hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Ambushed in Iraq, attackers strike a U.S.-led force near Mahmoudiyah, and at least five personnel are dead, three now missing. A massive air and ground search is under way in the so- called "triangle of death." The military vows it will never stop looking for its missing troops until their status is determined.

Well, details on the attack from the spokesman for the multi- national forces in Iraq, Major General William Caldwell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, SPOKESMAN, MULTINATL. FORCE IRAQ: This morning, at 4:44 a.m. in Iraq, a coalition force team of eight soldiers, seven Americans and an Iraqi army interpreter, were attacked 12 miles west of Mahmoudiyah. As a result of this attack, five soldiers were killed in action and three are currently missing. At the time of the attack, a nearby unit heard explosions and attempted to establish communications but without success. At 4:59 a.m., an unmanned aerial vehicle observed two burning vehicles. Coalition forces arrived within an hour, secured the site and immediately initiated a search. The names of the soldiers are being withheld, pending final identification and notification of next of kin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: This weekend, on CNN, "Month of Mayhem," a must see from CNN's Special Investigations Unit. It spotlights the CNN international anchor, Michael Holmes and his most recent reporting tour in Iraq. I talked with him about this very dangerous duty.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Michael, you've been to Iraq eight times. At what point do you say to yourself, you know what, I'm pressing my luck with each assignment?

MICHAEL HOLMES, ANCHOR, CNN INTERNATIONAL: Well, I think it was probably the third or fourth time I went there that we pressed our luck too far in a way. We got ambushed, of course, and we had two of our own killed and one wounded just south of Baghdad. And I've been back a few times since then.

But you're right, I mean -- in the back of your mind, you think every time you go back, your odds of something else happening do grow. But you know, as a journalist, I just -- I actually feel lucky that I get to go and see this story up close and get to -- then come back and anchor on CNN International with a better knowledge of what's going on.

And so, I'll go back again, I know I will. You know, my kids don't like it, and you know, my wife doesn't like it very much either, but they understand it and they understand it's important that the story be told.

WHITFIELD: Right, and as you're telling that story, often times when we head to dangerous areas like this, in pursuit of the story, you're thinking about the story, you're thinking about logistically, how you're going to be able to tell this story. It's only when you get back, that you perhaps assess -- wait a minute, what I just did was crazy or where I was was crazy, you know. Do you feel like you -- you know, take that knowledge with you with each assignment, however?

HOLMES: Yes, I think -- yes, I think when I go there, when you're actually there, you're obviously well aware of the risks and stuff's happening every day. I mean, a lot of stuff doesn't even make it to air which is partly what this documentary is about. We're showing a lot of the stuff that doesn't get to air because so much is happening. And you know, you'll hear bombs every day, but when you're there, I don't know, you feel safer than I know my family is looking at it from a distance. But, you know, it's a calculated risk and it is a risk. Safety's a relative term when you're in Baghdad.

WHITFIELD: So, in the piece that we just saw or at least the clip of it, you talk about some of the things that you've noticed have evolved over time, whether it's the sophistication of the IEDs, et cetera. Now what about the point of view of the Iraqis? When you talk with them, have you noticed that their attitude is evolving? Perhaps they are a little bit more reticent to the American presence or they embrace it more? What are you finding out?

HOLMES: No, they're more reticent because they feel that from day one of the invasion, their lives changed for the worse, not the better. And what was promised was not delivered. And you know, these are smart people, most of them. And they hear the president say, Iraq is a base for al Qaeda. And they say, well, they weren't here, al Qaeda wasn't here until you invaded us.

And they say, they hear talk of democracy, and they will say and I have Iraqis say this to me all the time, well, who are our allies in the Middle East, the Saudis, the Kuwaitis, the Jordanians, the Egyptians, these are not Democratic countries with great human rights records themselves. And they say, what is democracy in the Middle East?

Well, in the Palestinian territories, there was a free and fair election but you didn't like who won, so you don't recognize the government.

So, they're very cynical about the U.S. from a political standpoint and their lives, their day-to-day lives are so hard and so fraught with danger. Tell you one thing, just quickly, I made a point every time I met with an Iraqi, which was a lot on this last trip, I got out a lot. I asked whether their kids went to school. And we talk about the good news stuff, the reconstruction and things like that. Well, you know, a lot of them went to a school that was being rebuilt. And I said, well, where are the kids? None of them go to school. I must have spoken to a 100 Iraqis ...

WHITFIELD: Because it's too unsafe to actually transit to school.

HOLMES: Too unsafe. Parents don't want to send their kids to school because of the dangers. I must have spoken to 100 Iraqis who said no, my kids do not go to school. And I spoke to a U.S. army captain who was responsible for reconstruction -- I won't mention where because he would get into trouble, but he said he had $20 million in his pocket that he was authorized to spend in this area, couldn't do it. Couldn't spend the money because it would be blown up the next day.

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy.

HOLMES: It's sad, it's sad. I'd love to be the bearer of better news, but at the moment, it's tough.

General David Petraeus, a smart man, a scholar of counter- insurgency and he's doing some very positive things there. But to me and a lot of other people who've been there a lot, these are great ideas that should have been done a couple of years ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: CNN's special investigations unit, "Month of Mayhem," a side of war reporting rarely seen by the cameras, join Michael Holmes tonight at 8:00 Eastern and again Sunday night, same time, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

A deadly day in Pakistan. Police and intelligence sources report at least 33 people killed in street battles in Karachi. Government demonstrators clash with opposition party members. Many of those killed are supporters of a chief justice removed from his post by Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf. Critics accused the president of playing politics, he has accused the judge of misusing his powers.

Well now, an update in this country and the fires burning in the east, in the west and in the north. Winds are dying down in the southeast today and that should help crews in Florida and Georgia where two giant wildfires have burned more than 330,000 acres. Smoke and haze from the fires have reduced visibility there as well and it's even led to the closing of some of the major highways.

Firefighters are still at work on California's Catalina Island today but they say the threat to the island's main city of Avalon is over. The weather is cooperating right now. It is cool and it's damp and many Avalon residents have returned to their homes now and some of the businesses have even reopened.

And there is a chance of thunderstorms in Minnesota tomorrow. That's encouraging news for crews that have been fighting the Gulf Flint Trail fire for more than a week now. The fire has burned 47 square miles in northern Minnesota and almost as much in Canada. And about 300 people have been evacuated and damage is estimated to be in the millions.

Let's check in again with Bonnie Schneider, where we're going to focus a little bit on some of the health effects that come from these kind of wildfires. People think of purely visibility as a problem and obviously property, but respiratory issues coming to the fold as well?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right. Well you know, smoke has been a major concern, in fact, visibility is at zero in some of these areas. The roads are just not safe to drive through on I-75 or I-10 west to east, and if you're heading towards Georgia, just watch out, and maybe you want to stay inside because of the negative effects that we're seeing on the smoke that's been happening across the area.

Now, let's talk about some of the effects because so much of the country right now is unfortunately dealing with poor air quality. Here's some advice to protect yourself from the smoke. You'll want to make sure that if you have your air conditioner running, the filter is clear and clean and you're not taking in the air from the outside but also you want to keep the particle levels inside and outside your home down.

So, you're not advised to smoke, burn any outdoor yard waste or even light candles, something you wouldn't think of, but it does worsen the air quality a bit. Fireplaces, I don't think you'll be using those with temperatures as warm as they are, but also you don't want to use your vacuum, that's not something you think about. You want to keep a clean home and a clean carpet. The problem is the vacuum lifts all the dust and particles off the carpet and then it circulates in the air, whatever doesn't get sucked up by the vacuum. So, that does inhibit air quality, something to keep in mind.

Now, let's take a look at Florida now and we can talk about the fact that we have a dense smoke advisory that's in effect until 2:00 p.m., so we're still under that right now for northern Florida and southern Georgia. The air quality is so poor. High temperatures will be in the upper 80s to 90 degrees. Winds will be light, and that's what we've been reporting throughout much of the day today, so not much of a change there.

Now, as we slide across to California, I want to talk about Catalina. We've talked about how the wind and the conditions have been favorable for firefighters. That has to do with the wind direction, it's been coming out of the northwest, we've had some fog and overcast skies. And with that northwesterly wind flow coming in off the ocean, it's tapping into some cooler, more moist air, and that's what's making it more beneficial for firefighters. The only problem is the winds might pick up a little bit more this afternoon. So far though, we've had overcast skies, not hot sunshine and those winds, once again coming from the west-northwest, so making for more favorable conditions.

We're also looking for some better weather. As we travel to the midwest, our last stop, looking for flooding in Missouri, it's dry, sunny and hot right now. We'll be looking at temperatures that'll be soaring across the country. It'll be a hot day today and a hot day tomorrow for Mother's Day, temperatures all the way up to 86 in Kansas City -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Bonnie, well, I like that my favorite bit of advice that you've given us on no vacuuming just does happen to fall on Mother's Day weekend.

SCHNEIDER: Perfect.

WHITFIELD: So no housework because the air quality is so bad.

SCHNEIDER: Yes, there's a reason right there.

WHITFIELD: I like it. Thanks a lot, Bonnie.

SCHNEIDER: OK.

WHITFIELD: Well, on this Mother's Day weekend, one mother's story about saving her child, a little girl inside a van that rolled into this pond. You want to hear how it all ended up.

And singer Sheryl Crow has a new reason to celebrate this weekend, this Mother's Day weekend. Details coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURA BEGLEY, TRAVEL + LEISURE: Cruising can be a great vacation experience. Here are some helpful tips, especially if you're a first- time cruiser. Use a travel agent when you're booking a cruise, because they can help steer you to the right ship for your personality type. Start with a shorter, three or four day trip which will give you a feeling for what it's like. For instance, cabins that are mid- ship and on a lower level can help avoid sea sickness, and if you're worried about noise, you might not want to stay near the elevator.

Keep in mind that getting sick on a cruise is a relatively rare event. But to limit the spread of germs, most ships these days have hand sanitizers throughout the ship. Passengers are encouraged to use these, especially when they're entering a dining room. Most ships have doctors and infirmaries on board. So, know where the infirmary is in case you need to use it.

For more information on safety and health guidelines, check out the Web sites run by the Centers for Disease Control and the Cruise Lines International Association.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So get this, investigators are trying to figure out why two small planes collided over suburban Cincinnati. Three people were killed in that collision. Wreckage fell on the streets and into the yards in Sharonville, Ohio. There are no reports of any injuries on the ground but several busy roads had to be closed until crews cleared the debris.

And a man who took advantage of his son's illness to get out of a Kentucky prison is now back where he started. Byron Keith Perkins is in custody in Louisville after his arrest last month in Mexico. Perkins serving time for drug and firearms crimes was released from jail in 2006 so he could be tested as a possible kidney donor for his son. Well instead, he fled to Mexico with his girlfriend. His son, now 17, hopes to become a police officer.

All wet in Indiana. Mom's Honda van, a muddy mess after a swim, you could say. But it's the cargo that really counts. Four-year-old Karen White, now safe and sound today because Jessica White strapped her little girl in her car seat, then started the van, but then she dashed back into the house for something, gone a matter of seconds, she says. Well, that was all it took for the little girl to get unstrapped from her car seat and police think Karen knocked the gear, the little girl, while fiddling with the CD player. The mother spotted the van in the water, well she got out before it went under. That's an amazing story.

Well, singer Sheryl Crow has a new reason to celebrate this Mother's Day weekend. She is now a new mom. Crow announced on her web site that she has adopted a baby boy, born just two weeks ago. Crow has named her son Wyatt Stephen (ph), after both her father and her brother. She says right now, she and her son are simply enjoying some private family time together.

Facing death but blogging hope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm 16, I have cancer. It's -- there's been some sort of cosmic mix-up here, you've got the wrong guy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: It's an incredibly inspirational story, a teenager fighting cancer and inspiring people all around the world. That is straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

SCHNEIDER: I'm CNN Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider with a look at your allergy report for Saturday. As we check across the country, no surprise we're looking for uncomfortable conditions across much of the southeast where we really haven't had rain in quite some time. That includes states like the Carolinas, Georgia and certainly northern Florida where it will be uncomfortable, particularly in northern Florida and southern Georgia where we have the fires burning and we have poor air quality. We actually have dense smoke advisories in effect for Saturday morning.

Now, looking off for the rest of the country, you'll find we're looking at low allergy reports across much of the northern plains, that's a little more comfortable there. The rest of the country, generally reporting moderate conditions coast to coast. That's a look at your allergy report for Saturday.

I'm Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The face of grace in the shadow of death: Miles Levin, a teenager with terminal cancer. Well, he is touching the world through his blog with humor, honesty and the kind of courage that makes him an inspiration to all of us.

CNN's Carol Costello caught up with him.

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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Miles Levin blogs away nearly every day.

MILES LEVIN (voice-over): Frankly, I'm not convinced beyond unconvincing that there is a God. It would make a lot of sense there wouldn't be.

COSTELLO: He doesn't have much time, two years at the most.

LEVIN: What has happened to me is no more than a random DNA transcription error.

COSTELLO: But it's not. Cancer is killing him. He has so little time to make life matter.

LEVIN (on camera): I'm 16, I have cancer. There's been some sort of cosmic mix-up here, you've got the wrong guy.

COSTELLO: Instead of letting cancer get him down, he began to write. His candor, his gentle humor have become a touch stone for thousands around the world who visit him online.

LEVIN: Before cancer, I wasn't really outstanding in any way. A nice guy perhaps, but I didn't have my act together at all. And perhaps never would.

COSTELLO: Of course when he began his blog, he had no idea he would hear from people in Asia and Brazil.

(on camera): I like how he says sorry about my English, and it's perfect.

LEVIN: Yes, it's perfect, yes.

COSTELLO (voice-over): Sam wrote to him, hey, buddy, you're in my thoughts and in my prayers, you're not a marshmallow guy like me, talk to you soon.

Miles's blunt descriptions of what it's like to have cancer, his poetry in space, landed on TV and on the radio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What really scared you was not the dying but to have no impact. My friend, you've had a major impact. Every morning when I start my show, I say make each and every day count, each day is a gift. And certainly nobody knows that better than you, Miles Levin.

COSTELLO: Recently, Miles made a trip to his school, Kranbrook (ph). He'd been absent for months, fighting his cancer, but with his blog, it was as if he were always there. His classmate raised money and began wearing T-shirts with his slogan, "Keep fighting, stop struggling."

ALEX PAVLOFF, CLASSMATE: I value every moment of my life because of what I read on there.

COSTELLO: For Miles' family, especially his mother, his wisdom brings peace and wonder.

NANCY LEVIN, MILES LEVIN'S MOTHER: There are some days, I just don't think I'm going to be able to get up. And there's some days that I find a sense of peace and perfection.

COSTELLO: A perfect child, a perfect life.

(on camera): So, would you say that you've lived a full life then?

LEVIN: Yes, I'm in a place now that -- that a lot of 78-year-old men find themselves and that is looking at their life retrospectively. And it's a different view from here.

COSTELLO (voice-over): His voice has become weak from cancer. But what he has to say is clear and loud and being heard around the world.

LEVIN: I have come to believe God put me on earth to get Stage four Aveolar Rhabdomysarcoma. Why? So that I could show the world how to have Stage four Aveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Or rather how to handle what is close to the worse thing that could possibly happen to me with as much strength and grace as I could manage. I promise to continue to be the best model I can.

COSTELLO: For as long as he can.

Carol Costello, CNN, Detroit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And you have to see this next video to believe it. Talk about confused. How this penguin turned up on a Peruvian beach.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Have you ever felt like this before? Just out of place? Lonely, lost, too hot? Well, that was the feeling of this little penguin, just a little off course, try a lot off course, wandering along an arid beach near the equator in Peru. That's about 3,000 miles from his chilly home in the Straight of Magellan. An injured wing, and (ph) apparently keeping him in dire straits.

Well, handlers are now working on sending him home, but they may have to wait until he's well enough to fly, of course, on a plane that is.

Well, talk about a big bundle of joy, good golly, take a look at this guy. Doctors in Buffalo, New York, thought he'd weigh in at around 11 pounds, well, he ended up tipping the scales at 14 pounds, five ounces. Evan James Dougherty (ph) is already wearing clothes made for a three to six month old babies. Baby Evan was delivered by C-section of course, 10 days before his due date. But he's a happy baby.

WHITFIELD: A look at the top stories in a moment. "IN THE MONEY" is coming up next. Here now is a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks. Coming up on "IN THE MONEY," tips on the toughest thing about owning a stock, knowing when to sell it. And later, see what star investor Warren Buffett can tell you about playing the market. Plus, on this Mother's Day weekend, a tool kit for working moms. All that and more after a quick check of the headlines.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: And now in the news, American troops now on the hunt. They're looking for three missing members of a U.S.-led patrol. The team came under attack early today, west of Mahmoudiya ...

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