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CNN Sunday Morning
The Battle for Libya; Absent Democrats Face Fines; American Missing in Madrid
Aired March 06, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, HOST: Good morning. We're breaking down the battle for Libya. The opposition is defending its gains in the east with reports of intense fighting this hour in the towns of Zawiyah and Ras Lanuf. Moammar Gadhafi forces holds on to Tripoli, but at a high cost for the people living there. We will bring you live reports from our team of correspondents tracking these clashes.
Heart break in a Louisiana town in the strike zone of a tornado. A mother protecting her young child dies, and several buildings are blown over by the winds. The latest cleanup efforts and a look at Sunday's severe weather forecast throughout the south and east.
And this just in. Women do just about everything better than men. Says who? We'll talk to the man who did extensive research to support what we women already know. It's early and we're on it.
From CNN Center this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is March 6th. I'm Randi Kaye, thanks for starting your day with us.
We start in Libya this morning with victory celebrations. This is what the center of the capital city looked like this morning. A sea of green in Tripoli's Green Square. These are all government supporters that came out to celebrate after they were told by state TV that government forces had taken control of several cities, talked to the other opposition control. One of those is Zawiya. There was a different celebration there yesterday that is when we saw opposition forces claiming victory over heavily armed government forces.
Witnesses tell CNN the opposition is still in control, even though the government says otherwise. We're hearing new reports of heavy fighting in the city.
Then there is this out of Benghazi in Eastern Libya. Opposition forces tell CNN they are negotiating with the British government over the release of eight British Special Forces troops. They were apparently detained by rebel fighters. The British defense secretary says he will not confirm their capture.
One of the other disputed cities is Ras Lanuf. We heard a lot from the strategic oil town yesterday when opposition forces said they beat back government fighters. They even say they downed a Libyan air force plane in the process. CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Debris strewn across the desert floor, the remains of a Libyan air force Soviet-made Sukhoi (ph) 24 fighter bomber. The two pilots were killed in the crash. Anti-Gadhafi rebels claim they downed the plane. No one here disputes it. We shot down one of your planes, you dogs, sings this volunteer fighter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing I know right now is it one jet fighter and it was hovering around and we bring it down. We saw big smoke coming from the desert.
WEDEMAN: It went down near an oil refinery town, since late Friday it's been under the control of opposition forces. The first major victory for the rag-tag rebel force in eastern Libya. The fighters are now regrouping, preparing to push even further westward toward the central city of Sirt, hometown of Moammar Gadhafi. His army left Ras Lanuf in a hurry. Leaving behind piles of ammunition, tank and mortar rounds for the taking.
Scavengers now pick through the odds and ends left here. This is the office of the deputy commander here at the Libyan army base here in Ras Lanuf. As you can see the rebels came in here and ransacked the place, but what's interesting is that the last person to leave forgot to turn out the lights.
Flush with success, the fighters are getting cocky. We'll feed this grenade to Gadhafi at the Libyan leader's compound in Tripoli the fighter tells me. It's going in his mouth says his friend. We'll go to Sirt, god willing this one says and then where I ask? Tripoli and there they show us what they'll do.
CNN, Ras Lanuf, Eastern Libya.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: The U.S. government is pointing to the ongoing unrest in Yemen as a reason for a travel ban. They say Americans shouldn't travel to Yemen and citizens already there should consider leaving. Anti government protesters have clashed with security forces in several parts of the country. Part of that travel warning is also because of terrorist activity in the country. Just this morning we're hearing reports that al Qaeda fighters killed four soldiers near the capital of Sana'a.
To Louisiana now, people living in the small south central town of Rayne this morning are cleaning up from a tornado that killed a 21- year-old mother. The cities mayor says the victim; Lawisa Ranger (ph) was killed when a tree fell on her house as she was protecting her daughter. The little girl was not hurt. The tornado with winds as strong as 135 miles an hour left a five-mile path of damage and knocked out power for much of the area. Maxine Trahan is with the Academia Parish's Sheriff's office in the town of about 10,000, 80 miles west of Baton Rouge. She joins us on the phone. Mr. Trahan how badly is the area damaged there? MAXINE TRAHAN, ACADA HIA TORNADO VICTIM (via telephone): A lot of damage. I would say probably a quarter of the city of Rayne has been damaged in the storm as of this morning. Probably 80 percent of the power has been restored to the city. The mayor, planning to make assessments of each home around 7:00 this morning to make a determine as to which families they will allow back in the area. The gas has been turned off because of all of the natural gas leaks from homes being shifted, homes being destroyed. Trees falling on lines. Very quiet here in the city. No -- no occurrences last night. We are in the process of trying to restore service so that the citizens of Rayne can come back to life.
KAYE: As we look at these pictures of some of the damage that we are seeing there, I noticed there is this high school sign that seems to be blown off and lying on the ground. Was there severe damage to the high school there?
TRAHAN: From what I'm understanding there was roof damage to the high school. It is not visible to the eye standing outside the school. From what we understand from officials with the school board there, is some pretty much damage within the school that you can se once you're in the school to the roof.
KAYE: Are you concerned at all about flooding in the area or just the damage from the high winds?
TRAHAN: Damage was from high winds. No flooding in the area. When the tornado came through, the wind and rain was very intense, but no we're not having any water issues here in the city of Rayne.
KAYE: All right. And as you said you expect power to be on, returned power for most of the residents there, you are all right at least 80 percent back you said?
TRAHAN: We are 80 percent back. That is one thing about the administration from the city of Rayne. They are very aggressive. Outside sources have been called in and have been working around the clock to help restore some normalcy to their lives here in the city.
KAYE: All right. Maxine Trahan, thank you so much for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
TRAHAN: Thank you.
KAYE: The budget woes are spreading and lawmakers may pay the price. Fines of $250 a day begin tomorrow for Indiana's Democratic lawmakers who are in hiding. More than 35 Democrats have been boycotting the Indiana statehouse to deny the necessary corm for lawmakers. That is so a vote can't be held on legislation that Democrats would say harm workers' rights. Sound familiar? This is similar to what is going on in neighboring Wisconsin, where lawmakers approved a $100 a day fine for absent Democrats.
Those Wisconsin protesters getting encouragement from a liberal filmmaker. Michael Moore told components of the governor's bill the strip most collective bargaining rights in public workers to keep up the fight. He went so far as to compare the battle in Wisconsin's capital city to Egypt's revolt and said he was glad to be among protesters in Madison.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: This is how we'll get our country back and it's starting right here in Madison. I'm so encouraged by what I've seen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Governor Scott Walker's administration is warning unions that layoffs are possible beginning next month if his budget proposal is not approved.
The man suspected of being the east coast rapist has tried to commit suicide while in custody. Police in New Haven, Connecticut say Aaron Thomas tried to hang himself in his cell yesterday. Thomas was arrested on Friday. Investigators believe he is responsible for as many as 17 sexual assaults in four states, dating back to the 1990s.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ignition, zero and liftoff of the United Launch Alliance "Atlas 5" rocket. Carrying the second OTV mission for the United States air force.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: What did all that mean? What did he say? Well it means the rocket is carrying an unmanned space plane into orbit, the x-37b, also known as the orbital test vehicle OTB. This is small space shuttle like craft and this is the second flight of the experimental x-37b. And the air force is saying much about what the space ship is going to be doing on this mission. Very secretive.
A bit of education here. You know those signs in restaurants explaining the Heimlich maneuver? Well good thing some people pay attention. Take a look at the male diner, you can tell he is choking, clearly choking. He gets up and that is when restaurant worker Matthew McConnell comes over and begins using the Heimlich maneuver. The man he saved called him a hero, but McConnell doesn't think so. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEW MCCONNELL, SERVER: Hero might be a little bit of an exaggeration. I think anybody would have stepped in and did the same thing.
PAUL HARGETTE, SERVED BY HEIMLICH: He's definitely a hero, and if I wasn't a broke college student, we probably would have tipped a lot more than we did.
MCCONNELL: You want to do the Heimlich with enough force to lift them off their feet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: That is a guy who knows what he is doing. Oh and about that tip by the way, McConnell said it was just fine.
Mush will be heard far and wide today as the Iditarod sled dog race gets under way in Alaska today.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From Jamaica, new marshal, and Iditarod 39.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: The ceremonials start yesterday at Acreage. And yes there is a Jamaican sled dog team. A total of 62 teams are taking part this year. Musher's and their dog teams travel over 1,000 miles in the competition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's what we do, you know. A pretty neat feeling when are you out there or even training, and you realize there are very people that can or are doing what are you doing right now. The connection of the dogs is incredible. Watching the dogs develop over the years is amazing and being in the middle of nowhere with your sled dogs is amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: So what do they win? Around $50,000 and a new truck. I think the dogs get some extra Kibble and Bits just as well.
When you think of square dancing, the image that might come to mind looks a little like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Honey do around the corner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Well, over the years, things have changed just a bit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: All the boys' promenade, get her once around you go, run back and swing the one you love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: There is a whole lot more diversity in the world of square dancing than you might think. And Bonnie Schneider is here this morning.
Good morning Bonnie. BONNIE SCHNEIDER, ATM METEOROLOGIST: Good morning Randi. We are tracking severe weather that moved across southwest Louisiana last night. Plus there is a flood threat for much of the country. That, and snow for northern New England. I will have it all coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. We told you about the tornado death and parts of the mid west also experiencing bad weather. This is Marion County in central Ohio that you are looking at right there. Where some homes and schools were flooded. The counties had two inches of rain since Monday. That's a lot of rain. It is 13 minutes past the hour. Bonnie Schneider has our first check of the weather. Good morning, Bonnie.
SCHNEIDER: Good morning, Randi. It is very active out there. We've got flooding and unfortunately we have tracked several tornadoes across the parishes of south west Louisiana last night. One of them was an ef-2 with winds 111 to 135 miles an hour. Such an intense storm. We are tracking these for you on those alerts just to show you where they are.
Here is this southwest Louisiana, there is Lake Charles. Two earlier ef-0 tornadoes didn't cause any deaths but did bring quite a bit of damage not too far from I-10. And then as you head further to the north and east, here is rain, and there is the track of this tornado that worked its way up toward Grand Prairie Highway. You could see some of the damage. A lot of water on the ground and the debris just strewn everywhere. This was an intense tornado unfortunately resulting in one death. A woman died when a tree fell on her home. You can see trees were completely uprooted and a lot of damage.
They will be on the scene today kind of evaluating it a little bit more. I can tell you, that the threat of severe weather for south west Louisiana has subsided. We are still tracking it across much of areas to the east. Let's open up this picture wider, I want to show you the big picture, and you will see that we have a flood threat all the way up into New England. What we're looking at right here is a lot of rain coming through, and also snow melt in the area. And that's going to bring about some threats for severe weather.
We're looking at some snow working its way into Buffalo and Cleveland this will bring about heavy amounts of snow. Winter weather advisories are in effect for tonight into tomorrow. You can see the temperatures are cold enough to support that. It may be almost spring, but it certainly is still very wintry out there.
Randi.
KAYE: All right, Bonnie. I know you are going to want to stick around for this next story. Because it has to do with us ladies. It is a debate that has lasted for centuries which is the better sex? Which one is the better sex men or women? A new book says men just don't stand a chance. Yes, our studio crew is shaking their heads here. Among other things of course, they are all men. Among other things, it claims women are better drivers, better cops, and hedge fund managers. But men are more efficient at some things. So stick around and much more on this, coming up a little later on. We'll let you know how men do.
But first, New Yorkers often get the wrap for the rudest people around. Well four square says not so bad a social app lets its members people leave tips on places to go, places to eat, and places to play. And four square picked the city with the rudest citizens based on how many left tips that contained curse words. Well coming in at number five, Riverside, California, number four, Bloomington, Indiana. Number three, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Where are the top two rudest cities? Well here is a hint; they are nowhere near New York. We're not trying to be rude, but you will have to wait just two minutes to find out the top two.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. Before the break, we started listing the top five cities with the rudest people as picked by the mobile phone app Four Square. Number five, Riverside, California; number four, Bloomington, Indiana; number three, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Coming in at number two, El Paso, Texas. And the city with the rudest people, believe it or not, the award goes to Manchester, England.
By the way just for the record the only New Yorkers on the list from Staten Island they came in at number 17.
All right. This next story generated a whole lot of debate in our newsroom this morning. The battle lines were drawn between the guys and the gals, all because of a new book comparing the sexes. Who is a better driver, a better leader, well, better everything. Alina Cho has the obvious answer.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If we told you that women were better cooks, teachers, nurses, more emotional, more nurturing than men. Probably not a surprise. But this may be better drivers, better competitive eaters, and better beer tasters? It's true according to a new book and there is evidence to back it up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHO (voice over): The battle of the sexes. Who is superior? New research shows the so-called weaker sex is actually stronger.
What do you make of that?
UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: I think that's awesome. Right on! Who wrote it?
CHO: Dan Abrams, legal analyst for ABC News, is the author of "Man Down," the book's premise based on more than 100 gender-based studies. Woman are better cops, gamblers, world leaders, even hedge fund managers. DAN ABRAMS, AUTHOR, "MAN DOWN:" The men tend to swing for the fences. They tend to go for the home run, and women are more methodical, more careful.
CHO: More trustworthy.
We're both newscasters. I have known you for a long time. I can say this without question. That I'm better than you.
ABRAMS: You are. You are a better and if you and I were to both read a similar item of news, studies would show that those words coming out of your mouth would be viewed as more credible.
CHO: And while you're at it men, don't get behind the wheel.
ABRAMS: Men get in more accidents, they get more tickets, they drunk drive more often.
CHO: But don't tell that to a man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are better drivers when you are right next to us and you telling us what to do. But otherwise, no way.
CHO: The evidence says you get in more accidents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, because we drive more.
CHO: Which begs the question. What are you better at?
ABRAMS: The book says almost everything. Men are certainly better athletes.
CHO: Really?
ABRAMS: No.
CHO: Too bad. A scratch. My turn. This is the first time and last time you will ever see me play pool.
ABRAMS: Yes.
CHO: Yes! I believe I've won.
Alina Cho, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Oh, there is so much I could say here. Was there ever really any doubt ever? Of course it's true. What more can we say. And getting back to the driver's thing, if you have a GPS, there is a reason why there's a woman's voice on the GPS, because women are better drivers, just for the record.
All right. It's Sunday, so it's OK to call it divine intervention. Plus, there is a priest involved. A clergyman is trapped when he falls into rising floodwaters. His pleas for help gets some very special attention.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Twenty four minutes past the hour. Now let's get back to the fighting going on in Libya. Another one of those disputed cities is Ras Lanuf. We heard a lot from the strategic oil town yesterday, when opposition forces said that they beat back government fighters. CNN's senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman joins us now on the telephone. Ben good morning. What are you seeing there today? Who seems to be in control at this point?
WEDEMAN (via telephone): Well, we're in Ras Lanuf, and clearly opposition is in control. And in the city of 12 miles to the west of here, they have regrouped. They are hoping that units of the Libyan army that have suspected the opposition are going to join the fight, because they seem to be outdone by the Tripoli forces who are apparently taking a toll among their ranks today.
No reports yet of any air raids in this area, but the opposition fighters are fairly tense, because they feel like they have been stopped in their tracks. Yesterday, we did see that somehow they did manage to bring down a Libyan air force plane in the desert. We saw the wreckage; we saw two bodies of the pilot. It is not clear whether they brought it down with anti-aircraft or anti-aircraft missile it's not altogether clear. But I guess the atmosphere in the town is a big chaste.
Randi.
KAYE: And Ben you spent weeks covering the rebellion in Egypt. How does this feel to you? How different does this feel? Because this doesn't seem to be ending any time soon with both sides digging in and both sides claiming victory.
WEDEMAN: Yes, this is a whole different - I mean in Egypt, it was by and large peaceful protests against the regime. Where we are, this is a war. This is -- there are no protests in this part of the country. It's all very much a rag-tag rebel army going against the bomb's might of the Libyan army. It's hard to say how long this is going to take. The rebel forces were encouraged by the fact that they were able to retake the town of Treja, move to here to Ras Lanuf, a very important town because of the refineries. It's hard to say how and where it will end. It has a bizarre dynamic all it's own that defies logic.
Randi.
KAYE: Are you also seeing the Libyan army, many members still defecting to join the opposition?
WEDEMAN: Yes, we've seen quite a lot of these forces defecting. Every time the rebel forces advance, there are soldiers on the other side who do defect. Not in the massive numbers that we saw in cities like Benghazi that is further eastward up here. They -- you have to keep in mind that they are approaching the city of Sirt which has a lot of army bases and air force bases around it. A strong hold for Moammar Gadhafi. His hometown, so until now, they have really been fighting their way through what is, in fact, friendly territory. Once they get to Sirt, it's a whole different situation potentially a lot of hostile fire could come from there.
Randi.
KAYE: Ben Wedeman for us in Libya this morning. Ben thank you.
He feels the need to apologize for using the "h" word to criticize his fellow Ohio lawmakers. What is the "h" word? This U.S. senator says his peers were acting like Hitler. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. I'm Randi Kaye. It is 31 minutes past the hour. So glad you're with us this morning.
Checking top stories for you now. Starting tomorrow, Indiana's Democratic lawmakers who are absent from work face fines $250 a day. Dozens of Democrats are in Illinois protesting a controversial education and labor bill and denying their Republican counterparts the necessary fine for a vote on it. The fine was adopted by House Republicans.
In Madrid, Spain, the search on for a missing American exchange student. The 22-year-old Austin Bice of San Diego State University was last spotted leaving a Madrid nightclub on February 26th. Yesterday, friends joined Spanish authorities in the search for the business major and his father has now flown in from San Diego as well to help.
And from Havana, Cuba, we're awaiting a verdict in the trial of Allan Gross, an American contractor accused of trying to destabilize the Cuban government by giving illegal satellite equipment to dissidents. The U.S. says he was trying to help a small Jewish community connect to the internet. The prosecution is asking for a 20-year sentence.
The unrest in the Arab world has put American citizens in harm's way. They had to flee in a ferry from Libya. It was a similar story during the most violent days of the Egyptian revolution. CNN's Sandra Endo has more on one family's flight.
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the epicenter of the revolution. Thousands of protesters gathered for days, calling for the resignation of then President Hosni Mubarak.
We spoke to one diplomatic family who lived just three miles from Tahrir Square. They were ordered to evacuate by the U.S. government. They traveled all the way to the United States, where now they say their lives are in limbo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BEVERLY DEMPSEY, DIPLOMATIC EVACUEE: This is our apartment. It's not big, but it's a good size. Here's a picture of me and my mom and I in India, riding an elephant.
ENDO (voice-over): A few cherished mementos are what 10-year-old Beverly Dempsey displays in her temporary apartment in Falls Church, Virginia. She and her father had to evacuate during the uprising in Egypt?
(on camera): What was the process and the journey like?
DEMPSEY: First came the tears, because I had to leave my mother and that was pretty upsetting.
ENDO (voice-over): Her mom had to stay behind for essential work. Even as American diplomatic families got only eight hours' notice to leave. The violence was right at their doorsteps.
DEMPSEY: We saw all of the protesters walking by our house, that was really freaky and once we had a tank roll by, which I was scared.
ENDO: Forced to depart with just a single suitcase per person, the Dempsey's have already been here more than a month.
(on camera): Has it been tough knowing not when are you going to go home? Are you counting the days?
DEMPSEY: I'm trying not to count the days because I'll feel sad and upset.
ENDO (voice-over): But her father, Jim, tries to make their life as normal as possible, even though it's her first time attending an American school. Her friends, her hobbies, are all in Cairo. Many displaced diplomatic families are staying in the same apartment complex, sharing a unique bond.
JIM DEMPSEY, DIPLOMATIC EVACUEE: We all kind of go up and down as to be expected and say, come on, we can do this. Even now, although things have calm down, we still don't know when we are going back.
ENDO: For now, Beverly just clings to the comforts and memories of her distant home.
DEMPSEY: I want to go back really bad, but it doesn't mean I don't want to be here, I just want to be able to say goodbye.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENDO: Many families like the Dempseys are just waiting for official word as to when they can return to their homes in Egypt. But right now, the country is under transition and uncertainty lingers. Randi --
KAYE: Thank you, Sandra. Well, for many, it is the question of the year. What will the bride be wearing? The royal wedding details are out, and one thing I'll tell you right now, the something new will be the dress. Stick around for the borrowed, the old, and the blue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Ohio's Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown is apologizing for some remarks he made on the Senate floor. This week, he was talking about the heated debate over curtailing union rights for public employees in Ohio and elsewhere and brought up the names of Hitler and Stalin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR SHERROD BROWN, (D) OHIO: Government we ever had. You know, one of the first things they did, they went after the trade unions. Hitler didn't want unions, Stalin didn't want unions, Mubarak didn't want independent unions. These autocrats in history don't want independent unions.
So when I see -- when I see an Egypt or if I see - the old Soviet Russia or I see history tells me about Germany, I am not comparing what's happening to the workers in Madison or in Columbus to Hitler and Stalin, but I am saying that history teaches us that unions are a very positive force in society that creates a middle class and it protects our freedom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Senator Brown says he's passionate about fighting for the middle class, but should not have mentioned the hostility of tyrants.
The Senate is set for a showdown over the government shutdown. It's just one of the big political stories we'll be following this week. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser takes a look for us.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning, Randi. Called the first real Iowa counter call in the next race for the White House. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Senator Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania, businessman and radio talk show host Herman Kate and former Louisiana Governor Buddy Romer, all possible Republican presidential candidates.
Tomorrow all of them attend a forum put out by a major social conservative group in Iowa. At the same time, Congressman Rand Paul of Texas who run for the GOP presidential nomination last time around and is thinking of doing it again. He talks to another influential family values organization.
Iowa plays a crucial role in picking presidential nominees as its caucuses kick off the primary and caucus calendar. Back here in Washington, the Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on competing Democratic and Republican plans to fund the federal government through October. If there's agreement by lawmakers by the end of next week, funding runs out and there could be a federal government shutdown. Randi.
KAYE: All brides know there is a long list of wedding traditions and superstitions that come with getting matter. Well, Kate Middleton has most of them covered. We'll tell you how, but his is after all a royal wedding, and the blue bloods make their own rules.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. Publishers of the popular "Mr. Men" books for children are adding royalty to the lineup. A princess will be joining Mr. Happy, Mr. Lazy and the rest of the characters just in time for the royal wedding. She's called "Little Miss Princess." How cute.
She tries to help her other little Miss and Mr. Men friends with their work, but since she isn't used to do anything for herself, because, after all, she's a princess, things don't work out according to plan. This will be the first "Mr. Men" book to be published since 2004.
Something old, something new, borrowed, and blue. It's tradition for brides everywhere including Kate Middleton, but she's also becoming a royal. And the House of Windsor has a set of wedding traditions all its own. Nadia Bilchik is joining us this morning to tell us a little bit about these traditions.
NADIA BILCHIK: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Let's start with the new, which is the dress and it's still who is the designer? Will it be Bruce Oldfield, we just don't know?
But we know it will have to be modest and it will cost in excess of $64,000. Now the something old and blue, of course, the ring. The beautiful sapphire that was Diana's, that you can get copies in China we once mentioned for $2. I did see them on QVC for $36.
KAYE: That sounds like a deal.
BILCHIK: And then the something borrowed is going to be probably, again, speculation, we'll bring you the latest news right here. The tiara, will the Queen of England lend her Kate Middleton her tiara? I have to read some of the titles of the Queen's tiara's because she has many. One is called "The Girls Great Britain," an island tiara and one is called "The Grand Duchess Vladimir" tiara.
KAYE: Can you imagine her closet? I mean, most people, you know, we have shoes lined up. She probably has tiaras lined up.
BILCHIK: Do you know that Princess Diana wore the Spencer family tiara. So what will Kate Middleton wear now? Fergie didn't wear a tiara. She wore flowers, which is apparently what commoners do.
So it will be a real sign of confidence in Kate Middleton if the Queen lends here her tiara. As far as the wedding band goes, a tradition in the family is to have some gold from a welsh mine and have myrtle in the bouquet.
Myrtle being the herb of love and compassion, and then she will take the myrtle at Westminster Abbey and place it in front of a soldier's grave.
KAYE: We don't have these traditions.
BILCHIK: No, we don't.
KAYE: Unless you're a royalty, I guess.
BILCHIK: Now her name. Interestingly enough, she becomes Princess William of Wales. She doesn't become Princess Catherine. She becomes Princess Williams of Wales.
KAYE: Why is that? That's so odd.
BILCHIK: It is, but she will be known by the press as Princess Katherine, which is a name usually only bestowed upon royalty from birth.
KAYE: But officially she takes his name in that way.
BILCHIK: But yes, she will officially be Princess of Wales. The other tradition is usually a couple gets married and moves into the royal residence, but not these two.
They're going to live in his cottage in Wales near the Royal Air Force Base where he works. They say they don't want help. They will be no butlers, but let's face, Randi, there's going to have to be a lot of security just to send off the paparazzi who are going to get and want to get a glimpse of this very glamorous couple.
KAYE: I don't think the queen is going to go for that.
BILCHIK: I know, but it's interesting that they really want to live as normal a life as possible, but is that possible. And that's part of what Williams said to Kate. He said I want you, before we get engaged, I want you to understand what are you getting into. Hence, her nickname Waitey Katie.
KAYE: She did wait. She was very patient.
BILCHIK: She knows what she's getting into.
KAYE: Sure.
BILCHIK: And all of these glorious traditions and we'll be bringing you more on our morning --
KAYE: You know, when you see them together, they are -- you really do feel something. It's very sweet.
BILCHIK: It's a real-life fairy tale and we'll be there on the 29th of April at 6:00 a.m.
KAYE: You will be there.
BILCHIK: I wish I was going to be there.
KAYE: I'll check the guest list.
BILCHIK: I'll be eating cucumber sandwiches and strawberries and cream.
KAYE: All right, I'll be right there with you. Thank, Nadia. We'll see you a little bit later on.
British taxpayers fuming over having to cover security costs for that royal wedding may have an opportunity to make a little of that money back. According to a recent survey, 1-4 Londoners are considering renting out spare rooms or part of their homes. Maybe Nadia might be one of those renters to tourists to those going to be part of the wedding of the century.
It's not just one of your father's square dancing club anymore. It's one of America's original art forms if going to survive those. Some changes though are in order.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE (voice-over): Meet the Hotlanta Squares, one of dozens of gay and lesbian square dancing groups nationwide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Just 10 minutes before the hour. Welcome back. Cross country now for a look at stories making news coast to coast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I figured might as well fill up here, because it's always cheaper than Connecticut, 15, 20 cents sometimes.
KAYE (voice-over): Hitting the road in search of gasoline, low- priced gasoline. That's what drivers in Connecticut are forced to do. Gas prices so high, people are crossing state lines and driving into Rhode Island to fill up.
To Ohio now, where a priest had to be saved. He had fallen into a flooded storm culvert, not far from his local Catholic Church. A man who jumped into help also needed to be rescued it turned out. Fire department and several nearby cities responded to the call and both men, we're happy to tell you, are OK.
And in Georgia, check out this incredible video. That is a pickup truck, slamming into a dry cleaner, careening right toward that assistant working the register. Wow, it missed her by just inches. She was knocked backward, but incredibly she survived with only a broken leg.
And then there is this. From Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, check this video out. Waddle, waddle, waddle. A goose going for a walk, yes, his name is Abe. I don't know how they named the goose Abe, but they did.
For the past few years, he's been joining this dog walker. The guy goes and walks his dogs and the goose joins in. Maybe that's what happens when you feed the birds. I don't know, but he follows him everywhere every time he walks his dogs. I love that story. Just love it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Square dancing. It was once the most popular dance in America, but times do change. Styles change. Dance moves become nostalgic. Still, for some, it is a life-style and they have no intention of letting fade away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE (voice-over): The 72-year-old Ed Jackson has been Square dancing for most of his life. A love he inherited from his mother. A love she took to her grave.
ED JACKSON, MEMBER, CHEROKEE SQUARES: She did love to dance, and she would get along, and died from a heart attack on the Square dance floor. I told my wife, don't let him get out of Square dancing, always has something to do. We've been dancing 32 years now.
KAYE: Twice a month for more than three decades.
JANE JACKSON, MEMBER, CHEROKEE SQUARES: It's food, fun, and fellowship. That's what I like. A lot of good fellowship. We love to be with people.
KAYE: And then there is the exercise.
JACKSON: Got to keep going, keep your joints from stiffening up now and they say a night of Square dancing is the same as walking seven miles.
KAYE: The number of Square dancing enthusiasts has dropped drastically since the art's heyday. There was a time when this annual convention in Macon, Georgia, would have been packed.
RALPH GILL, CHAIRMAN, STATE SQUARE DANCE CONVENTION: In the early '80s, they were running -- about two years ago, we had 2,000. Last year, we had somewhere around 900 and something. And this year, we are maybe 600, 700.
KAYE: Despite the drop off, the protectors of the dance refuse to take a step back.
HAZEL STOVER, MEMBER, CHEROKEE SQUARES: We don't draw in too many young people. But -- and a lot of the middle aged people are busy with their children and stuff. So I'd say we've got some in their 50s. We've got some in the 40s, but most of us are 60 and above.
KAYE: And the young people who do look for country dancing are looking for something like this. Despite the generational challenges, Square dancing continues to diversify.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to do with something gay.
KAYE: Like this gay and lesbian group.
LINDA PATRICK, MEMBER, HOTLANTA SQUARES: This is very different from what we call straight Square dancing, because obviously we don't wear the uniforms. We don't dance with the same person. This is a very flamboyant group. We clap our hands a lot. We make noises. We have fun, laugh.
KAYE: And there are at least two African-American groups in the country. This one formed in Atlanta about 16 years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just love the music. I grew up on country music, but we use country, jazz, and everything. We have a new caller and he has more country, but I grew up on a country music.
My mother was a country music fan, and I would listen to the radio and then I was a P.E. major at one time so I like activity and so I was swimming and walking and Square dancing, that's why I felt like I come to heaven when I came here.
KAYE: And there's one thing most of them have in common.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the good things about the activity is it's a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment for folks. So you can come here, you can dance, not have to worry about breathing in cigarette smoke or having drunk people around.
KAYE: Good, clean fun. It's a life-style that's been associated with Square dancing for decades. A life-style these steppers plan to keep around a long time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Well, this isn't just something that's done in America. There are Square Dancing groups in Germany, Canada, Taiwan, England and Sweden.
They became popular when U.S. troops were stationed there over the years and this year's U.S. National Square Dance Convention, in case you want to attend, will be held in Detroit, Michigan. It is the 60th annual event for the organization.
Airline ticket prices are taking off. Just like the airplanes. Six increases this year already, but don't despair. There are ways to fly around that price hike.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: Welcome back. If you are thinking about flying somewhere for spring break or somewhere in summer, get prepared for sticker shock. Airlines have been bumping up ticket prices six times this year already this year. We asked Rick Seaney, CEO of farecompare.com if there is anything travelers can do to avoid getting burned.
RICK SEANEY, CEO, FARECOMPARE.COM: To be honest, if you are going to be traveling this summer especially with fuel prices are high, it's going to be about getting a better bad deal.
To get a better bad deal this summer, you're going to have to have a little bit of flexibility. So let me give you a couple of tips. The perfect time to shop is Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, exactly 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
KAYE: You can actually get a deal? That really works?
SEANEY: Yes, so what happens is -- typically what happens is an airline, one of them will file a sale late Monday evening, all of the other airlines scramble to match in the morning. The last air fare feed is 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It takes about two hours to hit the reservation system.
That's when the maximum number of cheap seats are in the system. You got to be careful, though because typically these sales are only lasting for about three days. So if you are shopping on Friday or Saturday, you are probably paying too much for your tickets.
KAYE: All right, so that was Tuesday afternoon around 3:00 p.m., right?
SEANEY: That's correct, yes.
KAYE: All right, marking that down. So is it better to buy now as fares seem to be going up, or better to wait and let them come back down? Is there any hope for that?
SEANEY: Yes, so it depends on when you are traveling. If are you traveling for March and April, you need to go ahead and lock in right now. If you are traveling in the summertime, like in June, you need to be waiting at least two or three weeks.
I hate to turn travelers into commodity traders for oil prices, but we saw back in 2007, 2008, a lot of people when oil was at $140, lock in their tickets in the summertime for Christmas travel.
And then oil prices dropped from $140 to $70, and everybody else was getting great deals and they locked in too high. So you're going to be spending way too much money right now for June travel wait about three weeks.
KAYE: What one should do is buy a ticket on a Tuesday afternoon. What else can you tell us? We should be flexible. What about last- minute trips? It's that a good idea?
SEANEY: Yes, you know, there are only a few last-minute deals out there. If you want to leave on a Saturday and come back on a Tuesday, or leave on a Thursday and come back on a Sunday, those are the only last-minute deals inside 14 days before departure that you can get out there.
If can travel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, those are the three cheapest days to fly. Even half your trip if you fly on those days, you'll be able to get half the benefit so that's another great tip.
And if you're shopping for your family of four, there's a great tip that I always tell people -- always shop for one person first, because if there's three cheaper seats and you shop for four people, the reservations systems kicks all four people to the next higher price. So, if you do see a cheaper price for one person, you can split your tickets purchase and get those three of the cheaper seats and one of the more expensive ones.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
KAYE: Good morning.
We're breaking down the battle for Libya. The opposition is defending its gains in the east with reports of intense fighting this hour in the towns of Zawiya and Ras Lanuf. Moammar Gadhafi's forces hold on to Tripoli, but at a high cost for the people living there.
We'll bring you live reports from our team of correspondents who are tracking the clashes.
A mystery in Madrid. An American studying abroad heads to a Spanish nightclub and disappears. We'll have the latest.
A deadly tornado in Louisiana, just the start of a weekend of extreme weather. Today, snow, flood threats, and winds are in the forecast. Find out what you need to know before you hit the road or the airport.
It's early and we're on it. From CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's March 6th. Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. So glad you're with us.
We start in Libya with victory celebrations. This is what the center of the capital city looked like this morning -- a sea of green in Tripoli's Green Square. These are all government supporters who came out to celebrate, apparently, after they were told by state TV that government forces had taken control of several cities thought to be under opposition control. One of those cities is Zawiya.
Witnesses tell CNN the opposition is still in control even though the government is saying otherwise.
We're also hearing new reports of heavy fighting in the city. And then there's this out of Benghazi in eastern Libya. Opposition forces tell CNN they are negotiating with the British government over the release of eight British special forces troops. They were apparently detained by rebel fighters.
And just a few moments ago, Britain's foreign secretary confirmed that here is a small diplomatic team meeting with rebel leaders in the city, but did not offer any specifics about that.
But let's get back to Tripoli where we saw all those celebrations this morning. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in the capital city for us.
And, Nic, good morning to you. Set the scene for us there if you would.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Randi, it began before dawn this morning, gun fire -- heavy gunfire, machine gunfire, tracer rounds in the sky erupting all over the place. We couldn't really tell what was going on.
But by dawn, it was very clear, this was a government celebration. The government telling people on state television, calling us and telling us on the phone that the reason for the gunfire and the reason for the celebration was that the government had taken the town of Zawiya, 40 minutes drive of the west of here, an important city, Misurata, 100 miles to the east of here, another city that have been in rebel hands, and then, Ras Lanuf, a heavily contested oil facility, long way to the east of here.
And that's what we've seen all this morning since then. Traffic in the Green Square, backing up. Cars, people, celebrating, waving green flags, a lot of celebratory gunfire in the air.
But when I stopped to ask people why do you believe the government when it says to you these towns are now in government hands, they say it's true, we believe it, just call, just telephone them and you'll find out all of this is true.
What's slightly surprising about this, obviously, is the fact that this is contrary to the reports we're getting, independent reports in the far east of the country, and sources in Zawiya that say gun fighting and fighting is still going on.
What is interesting, again, on top of that, is that there are some very sort of senior, well-connected people in the government that are telling us these facts. And they themselves were expressing surprise yesterday when they were telling us similar stories on Friday about the fall of some of these towns and they turned out not to be true.
This is very high stakes stuff here. The government is really telling its people it's got great successes. If it turns out not to be true, there's going to be a high level of disappointment here, Randi.
KAYE: Absolutely. And I know, yesterday, there was a lot of very heavy fighting in Zawiya. In fact, some of the people there were calling it a massacre, a slaughter really in the streets of Zawiya. Have you had any updates at all from that area this morning? ROBERTSON: We have one update that says the fighting continues. But, again, I think the fact that we haven't been able to visit there really informs the picture here. We were told on Friday night that on Saturday, we'd be able to Zawiya and see that it was in government hands. Last night, we were being told the same thing again, don't worry, you'll be able to go to Zawiya. We will be able to see it in government hands. Early this morning, we were told by noon today and it's now 2:00 p.m., you'll be able to go.
So, the very fact that the government isn't giving us permission to go and visit these places does tend to tell us very clearly that the government, if it does control them, it doesn't control them very well and it doesn't feel confident enough to allow us to come in. And it probably tells us a lot more than that. That there perhaps really is still fighting going on in these cities right now, Randi.
KAYE: Certainly. But they certainly seem to let our cameras into the Green Square there in Tripoli to see government supporters and celebrations.
All right. Nic Robertson, we'll leave it there. Thank you so much.
Another of those disputed cities is Ras Lanuf. We heard a lot from the strategic oil town yesterday when opposition forces said they'd beat back government fighters. Earlier, I talked with our Ben Wedeman about who seems to be in control of that city.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Clearly, the opposition is in control. In fact, they've advanced to the town of Ben Jawad, which is about 12 miles to the east of here -- or rather to the west of here. But, apparently, hey have run into a fair amount of resistance from the Libyan forces. They're regrouping. They're hoping that units of the Libyan army that have defected to the opposition are going to join the fight because they seem to be outgunned by the Tripoli forces who are apparently taking something of a toll among their ranks today.
No reports of any air raids in this area, but opposition fighters are fairly tense, because they feel like they have been stopped in their tracks.
Yesterday, we did see somehow they did manage to bring down a Libyan air force plane in the desert. We saw the wreckage. We saw two bodies of the pilots. It's not clear whether they brought it down with anti-aircraft or an anti-aircraft missile. It's not all together clear. But like I said, a tense atmosphere in this town at the moment, a bit dense -- Randi.
KAYE: And, Ben, you spent weeks covering the rebellion in Egypt. How does this feel to you? How different does this feel? Because this does not seem to be ending any time soon with both sides digging in and both sides claiming victory. WEDEMAN: Yes, this is a whole different kettle of fish here. In Egypt, it was, by and large, peaceful protests against the regime. What -- where we are, this is -- this is a war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: And back here in the U.S., emergency workers in Rayne, Louisiana, are going door to door this morning to check on homes damaged from a tornado. The storm killed a 21-year-old woman. The city's mayor says the victim, Jalisa Granger, was killed when a tree fell on her house as she was protecting her daughter. The little girl was not hurt.
In the last hour, we asked a spokesman with the sheriff's office about damage to the town of about 10,000.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAXINE TRAHAN, ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE (via telephone): I would say, probably, a quarter of the city of Rayne has been damaged in the storm. As of this morning, probably 80 percent of the power has been restored to the city.
The mayor, Mayor Jim Petitjean, chief of police Carroll Stelly, are planning to make assessments of each home around 7:00 this morning to make a determination as to which families they will allow back in the area.
The gas has been turned off because of all of the natural gas leaks from homes being shifted, homes being destroyed. Trees falling on lines. Very quiet here in the city. No -- no occurrences last night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Fortunately, the threat for severe weather for that area has passed.
The budget woes are spreading, and lawmakers may pay the price. Fines of $250 a day begin tomorrow for Indiana's Democratic lawmakers who are in hiding. More than 35 Democrats have been boycotting the Indiana statehouse to deny the necessary quorum for lawmakers. That's so a vote can't be held on legislation that Democrats say would harm workers' rights.
Sound familiar? This is similar to what's s going on in neighboring Wisconsin, where lawmakers approved a $100 a day fine for absent Democrats.
Those Wisconsin protesters are getting encouragement from a liberal filmmaker. Michael Moore told opponents of the government's bill to strip most collective bargaining rights from public workers to keep up the fight. He went so far as to compare the battle in Wisconsin capital city to Egypt's revolt and said he was glad to be among protesters in Madison.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: This is the way we're going to get our country back and it's starting right here in Madison. I'm so encouraged by what I see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Governor Scott Walker's administration is warning unions that layoffs are possible beginning next month if his budget proposal is not approved.
The man suspected of being the East Coast rapist has tried to commit suicide while in custody. Police in New Haven, Connecticut, say Aaron Thomas tried to hang himself in his cell yesterday. Thomas was arrested Friday. Investigators believe he's responsible for as many as 17 sexual assaults in four states dating back to the 1990s.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Engine ignition, zero, and liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the second OTV mission for the United States Air Force.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: All right. Let me translate all of that for you. It means the rocket is carrying an unmanned space plane into orbit. The X37B, also known as the orbital test vehicle, OTV, is a small space shuttle-like craft. And this is the second flight of the experimental X37B. And the Air Force isn't saying much about what the spaceship is going to be doing on its mission.
A bit of education here -- you know the signs in restaurants explaining the Heimlich maneuver. Well, good thing some people pay attention. Take a look at this. You're about to see this male diner and you could tell -- there he is, he's choking. He gets up, and that's restaurant worker Matthew McConnell comes over and begins the Heimlich maneuver.
The man he saved calls him a hero. But McConnell doesn't think so.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEW MCCONNELL, RESTAURANT WORKER: Hero might be a little bit of an exaggeration. But anybody would have stepped in and did the same thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's definitely a hero. And if I wasn't a broke college student, we probably would have tipped a lot more than we did.
MCCONNELL: And you want to do it with enough force to lift them off their feet.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: That is a guy who knows what he's doing. And about that tip, by the way, McConnell says, well, it was just fine.
Much will be heard far and wide today as the famed Iditarod sled dog race gets under way in Alaska today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Two, one -- go! From Jamaica, Newton Marshal, and Iditarod 39.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: They had a ceremonial start yesterday in Anchorage and yes, as you heard it there, there is a Jamaican sled dog team. I wonder where they train.
A total of 68 teams are taking part this year. The mushers and their dog teams will travel over 1,000 miles in the competition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's what we do. You know, it's a pretty neat feeling when you're out there on the Iditarod or even training and then, you know, you realize that there are very few people that can or are doing what you're doing right now. The connection with your dogs is incredible. Watching these dogs developed over the years is amazing. It's just a neat situation, and also being in the middle of nowhere with your sled dogs feels pretty good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: And if you're wondering what they win? Well, they get around $50,000 and a new truck. And the dogs, well, they probably get a little extra kibble and bits, don't you think?
Bonnie, looked awfully cold there. I don't know about the rest of the country.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I would rather be in the warmer weather for sure. But, you know, we are going to be seeing some warm conditions across the country. Unfortunately, we're still looking at the threat for severe weather in many locations, flooding and snow. It's all straight ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Fierce gun fights in Misrata, Libya, a city under the control of opposition forces. But at this hour, Gadhafi supporters are fighting to take it back. And in the middle of all of this, a witness to the clashes joining us. We do not want to reveal his name to protect his identity, but we do want to speak with him.
Sir, can you tell us what is going there from your vantage point right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via telephone): For the last 50 minutes or so, I've been in the middle of gunfire, a live gunfire, between pro- Gadhafi militias and the opposition. People just taking to the street, it does seem like the fighting is taking place in the city center. It's where what we would describe as the courthouse.
I believe that this is the center of operations for the opposition. And we had reports this morning around 10:00 of three military groups, three pro-Gadhafi military security groups, approaching from three different angles, and I have seen people confirming the report that tanks have been deployed in this attack, six (INAUDIBLE) is the number that have mentioned (INAUDIBLE) into their way into the courthouse.
KAYE: So, as we see these standoffs continue and then we see these gun battles and we see ammunition coming from the Gadhafi regime and the attacks continuing on the opposition forces and rebel forces, what makes you believe that the opposition can actually pull this off and defeat the Gadhafi regime?
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry.
KAYE: Are you OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I've seen -- I can tell you this -- I've seen people with no weapons at all. I've seen people with -- the only weapon being a stick, and other people having, you know, of light machine guns and weaponry, it's no match whatsoever. And the artillery used by the pro-Gadhafi militia.
But what I can simply tell you, it's just the will of the people. People are willing to die for their cause. This is quite evidence -- I mean. I don't know how they do it. They just -- the way they throw themselves at -- you know, into these battles, fearless of bullets and firearms that are being brought against them. It's just amazing.
KAYE: And as we look at the scene there --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just -
KAYE: We can hear some of the cheering and chanting behind you. We also hear some gunfire I believe behind you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, God.
KAYE: How close are you to all of this? Can you sort of set the scene for us where you are and a little bit more about what you are seeing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. It's very difficult to get close to where the actual operation is taking place, the courthouse at the moment. It was, you know, about an hour ago, the fact it was (INAUDIBLE) the exact city center. I'm trying to get closer -- as close as possible once the rebels allow, because it's (INAUDIBLE).
KAYE: Can you give me an idea -- can you give me an idea of the number of opposition forces there in terms of numbers and the rebels? How do they compare to the Gadhafi regime and the military groups that you said we're storming the city?
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm sorry. I have to find a safer way to talk here. I'm sorry. OK.
KAYE: Make sure in a safe place before you commence chatting with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The numbers I see -- the numbers I've seen on the rebel side, we're talking about a few hundred to 1,000 probably where I'm based at the moment, very close to the city -- very close to the court house. By the way, I'm only a block away from the courthouse. I can see two sides of the courthouse, but not the other two sides, the other two.
In terms of the numbers of the Gadhafi militias, I don't have an account. But people are talking about -- talking about a large number of vehicles coming in with troops. My answer would be, you know, a few hundred to 1,000 as well, plus they -- they have six tanks on the ground and a few other heavy weaponry deployed by them as well.
KAYE: All right. Listen, I know that you're speaking to us and you're in the middle of live gunfire. So, we want to let you go. We thank for speaking with us. But we want you to get to a safe place where you're not on a telephone with CNN.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
KAYE: But we do really appreciate you sharing some of that with us and setting the scene for us there in Misrata, Libya. Appreciate your time and please get to a safe place.
Severe weather hits the southeast. We'll tell if you might be affected, when we come back.
(COMEMRCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. It is just about 24 minutes past the hour. Bonnie Schneider is here with a quick check of the weather.
Good morning.
SCHNEIDER: Good morning, Randi.
We're watching for more flooding, unfortunately, for so many states, I want to get right to it. We actually have warnings in place for parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and even a small corner in Georgia. That's where we're watching for some flash flooding. Some reports of that already popping up this morning.
And, unfortunately, the flood threat is widespread, all the way from Missouri, Illinois, back out to New England. New York City, not under a flood advisory. But Boston is. So, it's going to be a wet Sunday out there in many locations. You can see a snowy one too. Heavy rain sweeping across the Carolinas to Virginia. And then on the back side of it, it's all snow. Now, this snow is going to cause some problems for those of you traveling into West Virginia, Virginia, parts of Tennessee and Kentucky because the rain changing to snow as that colder air filters in behind it. So, be prepared for changing conditions on the roadways today across areas of the heartland.
And then in upstate New York, it's all snow. Cities in upstate New York like Syracuse, Oneonta, you'll be seeing a lot of snow. Buffalo, it's snowing right now. And that's all working is way up into northern New England. So, most of Maine will see rain changing over to snow as well. The temperatures are cold enough to support that.
Now, with that all said, this will impact your air travel. We are anticipating quite a few delays out there. So, let's take a look. Wind and rain for the New York City area, the rain will be moving in towards the afternoon hours, we're also looking for delays in Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Here in Atlanta, we're starting off with some clouds and showers, but it will improve as we go through the day. But watch out for some delays. Also delays across the Midwest and out west in San Francisco.
So, wet weather for this weekend in March. Hopefully, as we go through the week, we'll get improvements in the forecast.
KAYE: All right. Thank you, Bonnie. Appreciate it.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
KAYE: And we'll take a quick break right here and we'll come right back in just two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Greg Louganis was perfection on the spring board. He racked up accolades and Olympic medals. But his life since then has been anything but perfect. So, what he's been up to? Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta catches up with the Olympic star.
"SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." starts right now.
