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American Morning
Fight for Power in Libya Continues; Teachers Take Over Madison; Gas and Oil Prices Surge; Murder Scene Cut from Knox Movie; "Cash-for- Kids" Conviction; U.S. Warship Shadows Hijacked Yacht; Flu Spreads Across U.S.; Being Bilingual Delays Alzheimer's?
Aired February 21, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, a crackdown in Libya. The world's longest ruling dictator is vowing to fight until the last bullet and the last man. His son warning of a bloodbath. The anger in the Arab world now spreading from the Persian Gulf to the Atlantic and you're starting to feel it financially.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Also, there's s no school once again in Madison today. The union says teachers need to go back to work after several days of protests. But the teachers say they're not going anywhere just yet.
CHETRY: Also, the youngest Daytona 500 winner in history. Meet Trevor Bayne. He's going to be joining us live. The rookie taking the checkered flag the day after he turned 20. Also, so many stars ended up in the garage.
HOLMES: Also, how does this sound to you? A floating condo community complete with an 18-hole golf course? It's coming to a port near you. All aboard, ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Good morning. The fight for power in Libya continues. Protests continue, and the protesters say they have seized a major city. Meanwhile, Moammar Gadhafi's (ph) son is warning of a river of blood.
CHETRY: A stalemate in Wisconsin. It continues this morning. A budget crisis has teachers taking on the governor over union benefits with some refusing to go back to work.
HOLMES: Also, four Americans are hostages at sea after their yacht was hijacked by Somali pirates. And now there are reports that a U.S. Navy warship is on their trail on this AMERICAN MORNING.
And hello to you all. Welcome to this AMERICAN MORNING for this Monday, February 21st. I'm T.J. Holmes.
CHETRY: I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're with us.
We begin in Libya where a violent crackdown is taking place. Anti- government protests are now in their seventh day and they've spread to the capital city of Tripoli. Protesters reportedly attacking the headquarters of Libyan state television and setting a government building on fire. The U.S. is expressing grave concern about the violence. Oil giant BP says it plans to pull its staff out of the country. At least 233 people have died during these protests according to human rights watch. CNN is not on the ground in Libya and cannot independently confirm those numbers. Protesters, though, claim to have seized control of Libya's second largest city, Benghazi, and that's been the site of some of the bloodiest clashes.
This is Facebook video from Benghazi appearing to show people cheering in the streets. Moammar Gadhafi (ph) seemingly digging in his heels. In a speech, Gadhafi's (ph) son warns Libyans of a civil war saying the regime will not give up and will fight until the last bullet. The U.S. State Department closely monitoring the situation in Libya. And we will get an update from foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty coming up at 8:00 Eastern.
HOLMES: Meanwhile, we continue to see a crackdown in Iran. Protesters there being beaten reportedly. Opposition Web sites say at least one person has been shot and killed there. Very difficult to get accurate reporting and so difficult to confirm so many reports because Iran has not allowed international journalists in to do their reporting. They've slowed down the Internet, as well. It's just made it very difficult. Security officers have reportedly been there on motorcycles, charging into a rally as you're seeing in some of these pictures. In Tehran, agents put up a steel gate, as well, in front of a home of one of the main opposition leaders. Authorities began rounding up opponents last week in response to the recent unrest there.
CHETRY: And another key hot spot may be cooling a bit. There's dialogue in Bahrain after the crown prince told security forces to go home and to allow the opposition to retake the capital's main square. He told CNN that all political parties in Bahrain would have a seat at the table. He also said he was deeply sorry for the deaths of protesters.
HOLMES: Well, the Joint Chiefs chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen, he's on a week-long trip to the Middle East right now. This trip was planned before the uprisings in the region. And though he's not visiting countries that have seen widespread protests, he does plan to discuss U.S. concerns about the unrest in the region. Admiral Mullen will visit military and civilian leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, as well as Kuwait.
CHETRY: Well, our other big story this morning, the fight between teachers unions and Wisconsin's new Republican governor, and the children caught in the middle for another day now. The state's largest teachers union is telling its members to go back to work today if they don't already have it off for President's Day. But many of them say they're not going anywhere. Thousands packed the state capitol throughout the weekend, upset that the governor wants them to put more into their retirement and more, pay more toward benefits and to also strip them of many of their collective bargaining rights.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KAREN SCHWEDRSKY, PROTESTER: This will cost us an additional $208 to $567 a month for our family, just to have health insurance on an income of $50,000 a year.
GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: And I think right now, frugality is in. People expect us to make tough decisions to make sure we don't pass the buck on to our kids and our grandkids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, several doctors were in the crowd handing out sick notes to any teacher who needed one.
Our Casey Wian is in Madison covering the protest. He's going to be joining us live coming up in the next hour.
HOLMES: Also new this morning, U.S. Navy warship and a helicopter now following an American yacht that was seized by Somali pirates on Friday. Pirates hijacked the yacht near Oman in the Indian Ocean. They're now getting close to the coast of Somalia. The yacht's owners, Jean and Scott Adam were traveling with a sailing group and then they split off only three days before the hijacking. They said they want to take a different route after leaving Mumbai. But again, those two are aboard with two other Americans.
CHETRY: Lawmakers have less than two weeks to hammer out a budget agreement if they want to avoid a government shutdown. Adding to the problems, Congress is off this week so they technically have four days once they get back. Over the weekend, House Republicans passed a short-term resolution that would cut spending by $61 billion. But Senate Democrats say that those cuts have no chance of passing.
HOLMES: Also the Midwest dealing with some ice and snow after a weekend storm. There were hundreds of flights canceled mainly in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. You can see the scene on many roads out there. They're being urged to stay off the roads if you can because they are covered in ice right about now. And as always, we see these types of storms that put that layer of ice and snow on the ground, a lot of accidents being reported.
CHETRY: Oh, yes. And we saw a little bit of snow this morning, as well, on our way in.
HOLMES: Yes.
CHETRY: Rob Marciano's getting a check. Winter is back. It was 60 degrees at some point last week, but we've forgotten all about that.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, we told you to enjoy it, right?
CHETRY: Yes, you did.
MARCIANO: We see it's coming right back and here it is. You have across the Midwest getting a taste of it. Over a foot in some spots, including Minneapolis. But all that rain, snow and freezing rain is heading towards the East Coast.
It's a pretty long system. As a matter of fact, there's pretty much two storms within this. One stretching back towards St. Louis, which is bringing rain to that area and obviously the snow that's rolling into parts of the northeast right now. The rain/snow line right around Philadelphia, you go north of there, the snow starting to pick up there in New York City and up the I-95. Temperatures right around freezing. So winter weather advisory officially for the New York City area. Three to five inches of wet snow expected today. You go further north and west of the city, and we're looking at six to 10 inches. And south towards the Washington, temperatures there are well above freezing. So no snow expected at least with this system that's coming through today.
Over an hour delay is expected across the New York City metro areas for obvious reasons there. Boston and Pittsburgh will see some action, as well. And the temperatures will be still warm to the south, but not so warm to the north there in New York City. Maybe not quite 64 degrees in D.C., but it's going to stay milder further to the south. T.J. and Kiran, back up to you.
HOLMES: All right. We'll take it for now, Rob. We'll talk to you again here soon.
MARCIANO: Sounds good.
CHETRY: A lot of people watching the All-Star Game last night. I don't know if you had a chance to see NASCAR.
HOLMES: I watched the entire race.
CHETRY: You did?
HOLMES: Love it.
CHETRY: The Daytona 500 this weekend, that was a very unusual race. Trevor Bayne, just a day after celebrating his 21st -- 20th birthday, rather, becomes the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500. It was actually just his second career race. The event featured a record 74 lead changes, 22 different leaders, 16 caution flags, and a wild finish with Bayne holding off Carl Edwards by just over a tenth of a second to take the checkered flag. And so how surprised was Trevor Bayne by the outcome. He actually needed directions to victory lane and missed a turn pulling into the winner's circle. Bayne's Ford car though doing a celebratory doughnut (ph) as he savored the $1.5 million prize for his team for winning that great American race. He's going to join us to talk more about this unusual win and just what it's like to be rocketed into fame and into the record books, actually. He's going to be joining us at 7:50 Eastern Time this morning.
HOLMES: Well, also coming up this morning, police are looking into a very bizarre incident now. A bulldozer takes out two homes and nobody's at the controls. We're still trying to figure this one out.
CHETRY: Also, a terrier trapped in a pipe for nearly 19 hours. Not happy about that one. But it was an incredible rescue and it was caught on tape. We'll show you the happy ending.
Eight minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: It's my turn -- my turn to speak.
CHETRY: It's Monday.
HOLMES: Sorry about that. It's just water, though. Eleven minutes past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
CHETRY: Maybe it needs to be coffee.
HOLMES: Of course, it's my turn (ph) now. I wanted to be ready to tell this next story. But listen to this. This is a really, really short flight.
It was supposed to be going from Fort Lauderdale up to Minneapolis, but it only lasted a couple of minutes. The reason being, this Delta flight had to make an emergency landing. Just minutes after it took off, it had to turn right around and land. Let them explain why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably about a minute after takeoff, we heard this loud popping. And I thought it was the landing gear at first, but the plane started shaking a little bit. And then we stopped climbing. So I knew something was wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, something was wrong. That something was a damaged engine and actually pieces of that damaged engine were recovered later near the airport. There were 119 passengers onboard. You could hear there, they were pretty shaken up. But they were put on other flights, no injuries to report there. And, of course, they're looking into this now.
CHETRY: Wow.
Well, this is all that's left of two homes after a bulldozer crashed through them. This happened Saturday night in west Texas. The unmanned bulldozer destroyed one home and damaged the other. Residents say they had to break out of the back window to get inside and turn the bulldozer off. No one was injured but police are saying they have no idea how the bulldozer got started in the first place.
HOLMES: And at last night's NBA All-Star Game, it was a defensive battle. Just a defensive struggle the whole game long. 148-143. What sense does that make? But the game, of course, last night in L.A. And, of course, Kobe Bryant in the house and he was the game's MVP, 37 points for the fourth time he's won the MVP award. That ties him now for the most all time. But check this out, LeBron James still the big star on the losing team, had a triple double. That's only the second time in NBA All-Star Game history that anyone has had a triple double. The other being Michael Jordan. Pretty good company.
CHETRY: Yes, not bad.
Well, A Jack Russell terrier found himself trapped underground in a pipe for nearly 19 hours in Boise, Idaho. You check out the rescue.
Crews had to break ground and cut through the pipe to save Eddie. You hear Eddie. You hear Eddie, just not sounding happy. And then you see Eddie. There he is. He popped out. He was pulled to safety. The owner says the little guy somehow got loose from the backyard and then fell down an irrigation pipe. When he couldn't find Eddie, the owner actually could hear him beneath his feet barking under the pavement. Oh, poor guy. Eddie's doing OK. Wasn't hurt at all. Got very lucky and caused this construction crew a lot of work. But in the end, he's out.
HOLMES: Eddie's OK. All right.
Well, coming up on this AMERICAN MORNING, those uprisings we've been seeing in North Africa and the Middle East, well, they're starting to cost you money. Christine Romans "Minding Your Business," coming up.
CHETRY: Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding invitations are in the mail. And, of course, you knew there was going to be some royal snubs. We'll tell you who didn't get one.
Fourteen minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back. Seventeen minutes past the hour.
Christine Romans is "Minding Your Business" this morning. She joins us now. We've been watching this unrest trickle around the Middle East and it's starting to affect us actually economically, as well.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It will. I mean, what we're talking about here are higher oil prices, which will ultimately mean higher gas prices. But, you know, questioning, yes, they were on the way higher even before this, but you've got crude oil up another dollar in European trading and that is because what we're seeing in Libya.
I wanted to show you quickly why Libya's so important on the - on the energy front. It's the largest proven oil reserves in Africa with 44 billion barrels of crude. The U.S. imports 80,000 barrels a day according to the Energy Information Association. And Libya is a member of OPEC, the oil-producing - the oil-producing cartel in the Middle East.
So this is - you know, this is - this matters - this matters to energy prices, it matters to energy supply, and it matters to what you end up paying. What that could mean is higher gas prices for you. The price right now is back up there above $3. It's $3.17 a gallon for oil, $2.64 is what it was - is what it was a year ago. So you are feeling this already right now. The good news, I guess, is it's still 22 percent below what it was, the record high back in 2008. Gold is also up, silver is up also because of unrest in Libya. Those are safe havens those kinds of metals. Also, people are looking just at this trend of inflation around the world. Nothing happening on the geopolitical front to derail that, in fact, only to make it worse. So you're watching those go up - oil, metals are both higher. And U.S. stocks are closed for the holiday here today so we wouldn't have any stock market trading here today, but we're watching some stock market reaction elsewhere.
Libyan crude, by the way, is light and sweet. That's the best kind of - it tends to be light and sweet. That's the best kind of crude they have. About a third of it goes straight to the Italian market. U.S. about - we get about 5 percent of their crude. Excuse me. So European partners are who will be feeling this most in terms of any kind of supply disruption if there is any.
HOLMES: All right. Hopefully we wouldn't get to that.
ROMANS: Hopefully, it wouldn't get to that. It hasn't so far, right.
HOLMES: You know it's good to see you today (ph) with the markets closed, but good to see you.
ROMANS: You know, it's like a special holiday for me. The markets are closed, but I come to work anyway.
HOLMES: Well, good to have you here, Christine.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
CHETRY: Well, check your inbox - or you're mailbox, rather. The royal wedding invitations are apparently sealed, stamped and sent and they're fit for a queen or at least the prince. They're for Prince William and Kate Middleton's April wedding. Gold embossed with the queen's royal cipher. The wedding ceremony will be at Westminster Abbey, of course, and the invites are going out to nearly 1,900 guests.
HOLMES: I only had 35.
Well, also, people also talk about who is not going to be going to the wedding. Who is not invited? That includes the Duchess of York, Fergie. Sarah Ferguson apparently not invited to this thing.
You may know her marriage to the prince, Prince Andrew ended back in 1996. Still some people thought she might get invited because she was at a time pretty close to Princess Di. Fergie, you may remember, not too long ago was caught - they caught this on tape, as well, as she was trying to sell access to Andrew's to an undercover journalist. So she really fell out as far as being in favor with the royal family. And maybe - I think her daughters are actually going to the wedding.
CHETRY: Yes. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenia are going because they are part of the royal family. It's interesting. You were part of the royal family and now you're not, so technically - HOLMES: She's out.
CHETRY: -- you don't have to be invited.
Well, a former judge convicted in a so-called Kids for Cash scheme. For one mother, his son was sent to a for profit juvenile facility, the verdict comes too late. She says that her teenager's detention led him to commit suicide.
Jason Carroll is following the story.
Also, she is an American student convicted of murder in Italy. And the movie about her story set to air tonight. But there's one scene that will be missing.
Twenty-one minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Twenty-four minutes past the hour. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
And a terrible accident that took place in the Canadian Rockies. Three snowmobilers were killed in an avalanche. It happened on Saturday at Mount Gerald. Eight people on the mountain at the time of the avalanche and one other person suffered minor injuries. They've not released the identities of the snowmobilers killed in that avalanche.
HOLMES: And this is just a heartbreaking story out of Tampa where a teenage bull rider died after she was thrown from a bull during a rodeo and kicked in the chest. This was Friday night. This was just east of Tampa.
Her name is Brooke Ann Coats. Not seeing her here. But she was tossed off the animal. She reportedly stood up. She was able to walk out of the ring, but then collapsed a short time later, rushed to the hospital, died in surgery. And her parents were in the crowd when they saw this accident take place.
CHETRY: Presidents Clinton and George H.W. Bush, two old political rivals turned friends. They'll be honorary co-chairman of the new National Institute for Civil Discourse. It will open today in Tucson at the University of Arizona. Hoping to capture the spirit of civility that many saw displayed in the days after Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot and six others were killed in that rampage.
HOLMES: Well, there'll be a Lifetime movie that airs tonight about Amanda Knox. It's going to tell her story. She is the American student who's convicted of killing her roommate in Italy. Now, she is going through an appeal right now. But the movie stirred up a lot of controversy, and now one scene from that movie is being cut out.
Our Diana Magnay is live for us in Italy today with this story. Diana, hello to you. DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, T.J.
Well, the scene in the movie that was cut out is actually a very gruesome scene showing the actual murder itself. And that after pressure from the lawyers on both sides was cut out of the movie, as you say. But the movie will still be running in the U.S. tonight. It comes at this extremely sensitive time in the process. The appeals trial is still ongoing. They're currently re-examining all of the forensic evidence that the defense has been pushing for because they say it wasn't conclusive enough to find Amanda and her boyfriend guilty of this hideous murder.
Amanda Knox's mother, Edda Mellas, has come out and said she thinks the film is in extremely bad taste. Let's have a listen to what she says.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDDA MELLAS, AMANDA KNOX'S MOTHER: Talk about, you know, ill-timed. It's in the middle of Amanda's appeal. You know, I understand freedom of speech. I find it disconcerting that there's somebody out there who's playing me, that's playing Amanda that's never met us. They know nothing about us. They have not talked to anybody who knows us.
I just - I find that irresponsible. I think if you were doing a movie and you wanted to portray this correctly, you would find out something about these people or talk to people who know them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MAGNAY: And you know, T.J., this movie is really the first time that the defense and prosecution or lawyers for both have been united in that they both say it's extremely distasteful, it's inappropriate. The Kercher family, Meredith Kercher was the girl who was murdered, say they want to put all of this behind them. They don't need a movie to stir up the horror of what happened.
And Amanda Knox's lawyer says it paints her in a very unattractive light it cast as a killer and a woman of very loose morals and that that will be prejudicial to any jury even though it's only being aired in the U.S. - T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Diana Magnay for us in Italy this morning. Thank you so much.
We're getting close to the bottom of the hour here on this AMERICAN MORNING. A couple of things to keep a close eye on, Libya, one of them. Seventh day of protests there now and we have seen a violent crackdown by the government there. Some reports say the second largest city there in Libya is now being taken over by protesters.
Meanwhile, the demonstrators reportedly there say they're not going anywhere until Muammar Gaddafi's reign - his 40 years of reign over. Also reports that BP is starting to pull their staff out of the country. France, as well, evacuating citizens. Britain evaluating whether or not to do the same. And the U.S. has issued a travel warning.
Now the reports out of Libya, which is tough to get some accurate reporting because Libya's not allowing journalists in. But some report - at least one human rights group says 233 people have died so far. Muammar Gaddafi's son gave a speech last night warning of civil war and warns and vows, rather, never to give up.
Again, we do not have a lot of independent confirmation of what's happening on the ground because it's so difficult to get in there and do reporting. Libya not allowing that to happen.
CHETRY: That's right.
Well, no school today in Madison, Wisconsin, yet again. The state's largest union told teachers to go back to work, but they voted against showing up today. Many have the day off anyway because of President's Day. Thousands took over the state capital over the weekend to protest the new Republican governor's plan to make them pay more for their benefits and to essentially take away most of their collective bargaining rights.
The governor says that the state is broke and that he has no choice.
HOLMES: And you may have been hearing a lot about the possibility of a U.S. government shutdown if we run out of money. A concurrent continuing resolution expires at the end of next week. So not a lot of time for these lawmakers to get things done. So what do they do? Take a week off. They're off this week. Yes, there is a break so they'll only have a few days next week to try to get something done over the weekend. Republicans passed a budget that included some $61 billion in cuts. That heads to the Senate where it is going to be met surely with some heavy Democratic opposition.
CHETRY: Well, a former Pennsylvanian judge is now facing the possibility of life in prison for his role in a so-called Cash for Kids bribery scandal.
HOLMES: Now, he was convicted of taking kickbacks for sending juvenile offenders to a private for-profit detention center.
Jason Carroll here with this story for us that stirred some - some heavy emotions.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It's an incredible story.
AMERICAN MORNING first reported on it two years ago when it was alleged two Pennsylvania judges received kickbacks for sending children to juvenile detention, some as young as 10 years old hauled off for minor offenses such as trespassing and fighting on the school bus.
Now, a jury has found Mark Ciavarella and other former judge guilty of racketeering and receiving payment for nearly $1 million. Prosecutors say the payments coming from the builder of a privately-run juvenile detention center where the judges sent many of the children. But for one mother, the verdict is too late. Sandy Fonzo berated Ciavarella on Friday after he was convicted on Friday. Her only child was one of the teens sent to that juvenile detention facility. Fonzo believes it ultimately led to her son committing suicide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Message.
SANDY FONZO, SON SENT AWAY BY JUDGE CIAVARELLA: My kid's not here. He's dead, because of him. He ruined my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) life. I'd like him to go to hell and rot there forever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am, come on.
FONZO: You know what he told everybody in court? They need to be held accountable for their actions. You need to me.
You remember me? Do you remember me? Do you remember my son? An all-star wrestler?
He's gone! He shot himself in the heart. You scumbag!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Well, Ciavarella faces a minimum sentence of 13 years. He is currently free pending sentencing. Fonzo later told CNN she was outraged the former judge was allowed to walk out of the courthouse after the verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FONZO: There is no justice. He'll never receive my sentence. What I have to live with every day of my life without my son.
He left on that beautiful day yesterday to go back with his family. I have nothing anymore, and he still has no -- nothing. It was -- it was all for nothing. It was all for greed and for more and more, and he never had enough, and he took everything from me. And I'll never, never forgive him, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Understandably, a lot of emotion going on there. Ciavarella plans to appeal the decision. He faces a minimum sentence of 13 years in prison. Again, the other judge in the case, Michael Conahan pleaded guilty to racketeering last year and is awaiting sentencing.
You know, the ironic thing about this is Ciavarella was known as "Mr. Zero" tolerance when he was on the bench. That was one of the reputations that he had in terms of dealing with the law. Now, look at what has happened.
HOLMES: That's amazing. He's been required, as well, to pay some money back. That's something as well. So, it's a financial penalty.
But still, he's going to prison, we assume. I mean, you said up to 13 years?
CARROLL: Again, it's under appeal. So, we'll see what happens. But minimum of 13, but could end up looking at life in prison.
HOLMES: Life in prison, all right.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Jason Carroll, thanks.
HOLMES: Jason Carroll, thank you.
Also this morning, there is trouble at sea for four Americans being held hostage after their yacht was hijacked by pirates. We have new developments this morning.
CHETRY: Also, a former Sarah Palin aide painting an unflattering portrait of the former Alaskan governor in his tell-all book. Says -- he at least -- he claims that Sarah Palin violated a campaign laws when she tried to get elected governor in 2006.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Thirty-six minutes past the hour.
Former aide to Sarah Palin is planning a tell-all book. At least the manuscript is out and its author, Frank Bailey, who claims that Sarah Palin broke election laws in 2006 for her governor campaign and was consumed by petty grievances until the moment she resigned. He says that Palin had a dark side, and he writes about her, quote, "compulsion" to attack enemies, deny truth, play victim and employ outright deception. The book is based on thousands of e-mails that Bailey exchanged with Palin.
HOLMES: Well, new this morning, U.S. warships and helicopters now shadowing a hijacked American yacht. This is the S/V Quest that's under the control of Somali pirates now with four Americans held hostage onboard.
David McKenzie is live for us from Nairobi, Kenya.
David, good morning to you.
They're getting closer reportedly to the Somali coast. Why is it so critical that they not make it there?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., good morning to you, too.
Well, the reason they don't want to get close to that coast is if pirates manage to take people who are hostage close to the coast, they might, in fact, take them off that ship and put them on land. And if they get on land, then it's a much more difficult process for anybody to go and rescue them.
Those four Americans you talked about, the owners of that boat, Jean and Scott Adam from southern California are very experienced sailors. They were sailing from India towards the Arabian Peninsula, captured, T.J., just off the coast of Oman on Friday. Very little word coming from them.
But we do know from senior military officials that there is a boat nearby, there is a helicopter, some kind of air surveillance keeping an eye on the hostages and on the situation -- T.J.
HOLMES: Well, what the U.S. is doing to keep an eye on the situation. But what are the options for the U.S. Navy in getting involved in the situation, or intervening in some way?
MCKENZIE: Well, it's a tricky -- it's a tricky scenario. Basically, what most likely you have is these four hostages. You've probably got pirates onboard there with them, or they could have transferred those hostages to a mother ship, a bigger ship that the pirates use in those offshore attacks.
So, the problem is if the Navy goes in, there's obviously a risk of loss of life that has been done before by the French and the American navies, but more often on commercial vessels. You'll remember the Maersk Alabama last year, T.J., when they managed to have the daring rescue in the middle of the night, Navy SEALs went in there.
But in this case, a smaller vessel, more tricky prospect. And so, certainly, they'll have to weigh out the option of attacking or leaving them to go to the Somali shore. We'll remember Paul and Rachel Chandler, the U.K. couple, the couple from England, who spent 388 days in very tough conditions in Somalia, released only recently for ransom. So, very few, easy options available to the U.S. and other navies -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right. David McKenzie for us in Nairobi -- David, we appreciate you as always.
We are 40 minutes past the hour now. Our Rob Marciano is coming up in just a moment. He'll tell us what this week is possibly going to look like. Well, you're looking at that map, you're getting an idea of how we're starting off.
CHETRY: And you can get away from it all -- you can be a snow bird and take your entire home with you, and your neighbor, and your golf course?
Ed Lavandera shows us a giant floating condo community. (INAUDIBLE) right about now.
Thirty-nine minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And good morning, everybody. Good morning, New York City.
Taking a look at Columbus Circle with Central Park in the backdrop there. Woke up to some snow this morning. You see it there on the ground.
But hopefully it won't be piling up, don't think it will be on the roads. But who am I to say, I'm no meteorologist. We'll check in with Rob Marciano here in just a bit.
CHETRY: Yes, we don't care anymore for a few inches, right? I mean, we've been through so much this winter here in New York. No one even mentioned it this morning when they came in. No one even said a word about the snow.
HOLMES: I did.
CHETRY: You did?
HOLMES: Yes.
CHETRY: Well, it's 42 minutes past the hour -- time for a look at our top stories.
Schools in Madison, Wisconsin, called off again today. The state's largest union told teachers to go back to work. But they voted against showing up today. They actually had doctors out in the crowd handing out sick notes. Democrats in Wisconsin Senate left the state to stall that bill on a vote that would force state workers to pay more benefits to surrender their rights to collectively bargain.
HOLMES: Also, anti-government protests continue in Libya. And the government crackdown continues there, as well. The protests which have been mainly centered in the second largest city there Benghazi, now is spilling over to the capital of Tripoli. Some update we're getting this morning that BP said it's going to start pulling some of its employees out of Libya.
Also, Moammar Gadhafi's son in a televised address was warning a civil war. Also, the reports of at least 233 people killed in clashes there.
CHETRY: Gas prices inching higher overnight. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular is now $3.17. That's more than 53 cents higher than this time last year. Analysts say tensions in the Middle East and North Africa are partly to blame for that rise in prices.
HOLMES: Also, they're on alert in the Philippines right now because of Mt. Bulusan. That's a volcano there that's been spewing it. It's done it twice in the past 24 hours and it hasn't done it since 1996. So, some people concerned about what's happening.
It seems that there's little threat to nearby villages. And so far, most people out of the danger zone. But still, officials are warning residents to stay as far away as possible, and may still some steam and ash explosions.
CHETRY: The two girls in Arizona are in the hospital after they were thrown from a jumping castle. High winds actually lifted the castle 100 feet into the air. Both girls, a 9-year-old and 11-year-old, were ejected from the bouncer.
The 11-year-old was thrown to the ground just as the castle went airborne. She is expected to be OK. And the 9-year-old was tossed as it landed on a nearby roof. She suffered serious head injuries.
Authorities say the jumpy castle was installed properly, but the wind was just too strong. Unbelievable.
HOLMES: Yes, we see these things. Those -- what they call them, bounce houses or something?
CHETRY: Yes, the bouncing castles. The kids love them.
HOLMES: I love those things. Amazing. But the wind could pick one of those things up.
CHETRY: Well, 45 minutes past the hour right now. We get a check of the morning's weather headlines.
The wind was a big deal this weekend, right? Doesn't it also destroy the national Christmas tree?
MARCIANO: Yes, big winds in D.C. on Saturday as that cool front came through, and you're right. That big old Douglas fir got snapped in half right at the base. So, they've got to find a new tree to decorate come next Christmas there on the white house lawn. We have a large system. Actually, it's kind of a double system, one kind of moving through the northeast right now, and then, one still back towards the Midwest and this has brought a tremendous amount of snow already to the Midwest.
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, seeing 17 inches of it, Middle and South Dakota 16 inches, and Minneapolis proper seeing 13 inches of snow. So, over a foot there. And they're right now in the top five as far as the snow goes for their season. So, a lot of cities are breaking records or at least getting into historic territory this winter for sure. Boston, a little bit of light snow, but right now, the heaviest snows are in through New York City and is mostly a wet snow.
You saw at least in the city streets. It's having a hard time sticking. Just winter weather advisories are up right now because temperatures are right around the freezing mark, 30, 31, 32 degrees in New York City, just above freezing in Philadelphia, and look at temperatures in the 40s in D.C. So, obviously, there's a little bit of a warm front down there. Three to five inches of snow expected in the New York City area up through parts of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, as well
A little bit farther north and west of the city, you'll see six to 10 inches, maybe in some cases, up to 12 inches of snow. Going to be some travel delays, of course, especially around the New York metropolitan airports, 30 to 60-minute delays in Boston and Pittsburgh as well. Chicago, Minneapolis, still some leftover snow. The system is so wide in its expanse. Thirty to 60-minute delay is expected in Cleveland and Philadelphia and Atlanta, just low clouds in those areas.
Double whammy storm, warm air to the south, so mountain snow out towards the west, and this will -- this system -- the back end of it is going to take its time getting through. So, it'll be kind of drawn out, although, not very intense and that's good news. Here we go. Slowly moving across the northeast today and tonight, and the backside of this, thus, bring in some colder air. So, even though you're well above freezing and close to 50 degrees in Washington, D.C., the backside of this, we'll see temperatures drop close to the freezing mark.
And I think parts of Virginia will see temperatures that will be cold enough to sustain snow. Temperatures today, though, will be well above freezing in D.C., 55, 37 degrees in New York City, 70 in Atlanta. So, we're still warm across much of the south. Spring comes early for folks who live south of the Mason-Dixon. Sixty-two degrees tomorrow for high temperature in Atlanta.
It will be 41 degrees in Chicago and 39 degrees in New York City. So, a little bit of snow, but likely as I mentioned, I mean, considering what you've seen the past season, small potatoes to get three to five inches of wet snow there in New York City. No problem at all.
CHETRY: Exactly. All right. Thanks, Rob.
HOLMES: Thanks, Rob.
It is flu season, if you didn't know it, it's official. Flu is in all 50 states reportedly now, and it's widespread according to doctors in at least 37 states. Some of the statistics for you. About 200,000 Americans are hospitalized every year with the flu, 40,000 die. The CDC encourages flu vaccinations for people over six months old. You should always consult with your doctor.
Good news here is that unlike several years in the past, there is no flu vaccine shortage they say. That plenty of vaccine is available, and it appears to work with the current flu strain that's out there.
CHETRY: All right. Another language could mean another advantage for you, according to a new study. Researchers were on tested learning a second language can delay Alzheimer's disease. Their study focused on 450 Alzheimer's patients who were bilingual. Those who were, were diagnosed four or five years later than patients who spoke only one language.
Being bilingual won't prevent the disease, but it may delay symptoms. Scientists say that the more proficient you are, the better, but then, you don't have to become fluent to see benefits at keeping the brain active is the key.
Top stories just a couple of minutes away, including a California news crew attacked by an angry mob. A female journalist pulled to the ground by her hair and kicked. It was all caught on tape.
HOLMES: Also, coming up this morning, it's a heck of a morning for one young man. The day after his 20th birthday and his second race ever in NASCAR. What does he do? He goes out and wins the Daytona 500. He will be joining us live on this AMERICAN MORNING. We're ten minutes till the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: At seven minutes till the top of the hour here on this AMERICAN MORNING. Good morning to you, Washington, D.C. A live look at the Capitol Dome where the lights are on, but nobody's home. They're actually off this week. They're taking this week off, and then, they have to come back, and they're going to rush to get the people's work done so they can continue funding the government for the rest of this fiscal year.
CHETRY: Yes, they have four days to get on the same page. I'm sure it'll be fine.
HOLMES: Should not be a problem.
Also this morning, some retirees out there, if you don't like the weather, the ones we're talking about now, they can just move, and they don't even have to leave the house to do so.
CHETRY: This is pretty cool. Ed Lavendera shows us plans for a floating condo community. It's a virtual city on the water that may be coming to a port near you. Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVENDERA, (voice-over): When you think of retiring, isn't this what it should look and sound like?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We built this boat you're on now --
LAVENDERA: David Nelson and Bill Town are banking on this modern day show boat to inspire a new generation of river boat lovers.
BILL TOUT, RIVER CITIES: This will be a 600-foot long, 108-foot wide, 5-story tall --
LAVENDERA: The River City Condo will be a floating city with about 180 condominiums, cruising the country's most famous rivers all year long. Why live in one city when you can see a different one every day?
TOUT: The general rules are, once you're down here, some are up there. We never want to see snow and we never want to see hurricane season.
LAVENDERA: The ship is so large, it splits in two to squeeze through tight river spots. A little 18-hole golf course on top, mail delivery, internet, a medical clinic, and a helicopter pad for care flights.
Do you need police officers? Is this place going to get rowdy?
TOUT: No. No.
LAVENDERA: David Nelson has lived our river boat in St. Paul, Minnesota, for 20 years.
Do you think Mark Twain would like this? DAVID NELSON, DEVELOPER, RIVER CITIES CONDOS: Yes, I think this is right up Mark Twain's alley. Yes.
LAVENDERA: He's selling a new way of retiring, but will it catch on? So far, about 24 units have sold. Construction is expected to begin this summer.
NELSON: All you have to do is sit in your living room window and watch the world go by and have fun every day just being at home.
LAVENDERA: And for now, show girls and music aren't included.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Kemah, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Would you do it?
HOLMES: Yes.
CHETRY: You would retire on a boat?
HOLMES: Yes, why not.
CHETRY: I don't know. Because you can't drive away from it. You can't get off of it.
HOLMES: What are you trying to get away from, Kiran, stop running, OK? Stay there and face your problems.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: I mean -- one shot where they show everybody hanging off the balcony, no, thanks, come on.
HOLMES: I mean, it's different, it's fun. You could do it for a little while.
CHETRY: Yes, but if you're in, you're in. Or if you're rich enough to have that and your other place in Key West and another place.
HOLMES: Where did say they floating around, too, though? I mean, where are they going to be going?
CHETRY: Doesn't really matter. I mean, to a community near you.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: There you go. We'll see how that works. A quick break here. Your top stories coming up when we come back on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
