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CNN Saturday Morning News

Kicked Off Plane For Being Muslim; Slow-Moving Natural Disaster; Race for the Cure; Five Things You Should Be Getting For Free

Aired May 07, 2011 - 07:00   ET

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


T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And top of the hour here now. Good morning to you all.

Two Muslim men kicked off a flight from Memphis last night. They say it happened because other passengers were uncomfortable with them. We'll tell you what the airline is saying today.

Plus, we're helping you save some money this morning. You might want to grab a pen. There are five things that you're actually paying for right now that you should be getting for free.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is your CNN SATURDAY MORNING for May 7th. I'm T.J. Holmes.

We do need to start, though, this hour with this natural disaster -- a slow-moving natural disaster that's affecting many parts of this country right now. You hear about flash flood watches and warnings that come. This is a little different here. This is a slow rise of water. We've seen evacuations ordered in many communities along the Mississippi River. Flooding has forced people out of their homes in a number of states including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas.

Take a look, though, at the affected states and the affected areas. Yes, the Mississippi River cuts right through the country from north to south.

We highlight it there, Caruthersville, Missouri, with the red dot. We highlight that because that is one spot where the Coast Guard is closely monitoring traffic on the river. They're afraid that the wake from the ships passing through could make the flooding even worse.

So, they essentially closed the river, that part of it yesterday, with the Coast Guard now saying they've reopened the area for now, but still, only ship being allowed to go through at a time.

Now, this is a slow-moving natural disaster and these folks in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, know it's coming. They know they are next. They are trying to do the best they can to prepare for it. The Mississippi River won't crest there for at least two more weeks.

It's amazing to hear that as I bring in Alexandra Steele, meteorologist joining me here this weekend.

It's amazing to hear that you've got two weeks to prepare for a disaster. That's all they can do. Who knows how much that will help?

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, you know, you talk about closing kind of the shipping lanes --

HOLMES: Yes.

STEELE: -- closing down in essence the Mississippi River, talk about an economic disaster for many as well. So, on so many fronts, right, a myriad of reaches, the tentacles of this thing, it really is a disaster. You talked about it.

You know, flooding is actually the number one weather-related killer here in the U.S. So, certainly, we're seeing it and really have historic proportions.

I think it kind of all came to light when you heard the word Cairo, Illinois, right? Right here, and that's at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Ohio. And we saw that crest at 59 feet -- record-breaking flood stage, breaking an old record from 1937. And now, that wall of water is heading downstream, and that's what happens. It's the Mississippi. This is where the Ohio is and this is lower Mississippi Valley.

So, all of this showing where the flooding is there delineated in green. And we talked about what's happening downstream. And, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you have yet to crest but you will. You'll crest at 47.5 feet, May 23rd.

So, T.J. talked about it. It's unbelievable having one to two weeks to prepare, but you do. And that is the good news.

But it will be sooner than that in places, like Memphis. So, Memphis certainly impacted on so many fronts and so many places and the inundation of businesses and communities that are surrounded by water, expected in just four days, cresting at 48 feet. Major is 46 feet. And this, too, will break a record from 1937.

So, certainly, decades and decades and this is historic. No question about it -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Alexandra Steele, good to have you here with us on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We'll check in with you plenty throughout the morning.

We do want to head back to Memphis. Alexandra has been talking about this morning. That's really the focal this morning, and for the next several days as they're watching these floodwaters rise, and a lot of people are finding evacuation notices posted on their doors.

Now, there are not a lot of mandatory evacuations. These are suggestions. But still, they tell you: don't wait, evacuate. There's a reason they tell you that. Those are wise words right now. But not everybody is heeding that warning. Our David Mattingly is there with the latest on how the city is trying to cope with this ever rising water.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J., as the flood makes a slow relentless rise into Memphis, people here are in a nervous guessing game: should I stay or should I go?

(voice-over): Four days from its projected peak and the Mighty Mississippi is not done with Memphis by a long shot. A few houses already in the water, the owners apparently heeding evacuation warnings. But neighbors on a little higher ground are still not so sure.

KYLE CRESON, RESIDENT: It's 45 now. It's supposed to come to 48. If it goes over 48, we'll probably have to move.

MATTINGLY (on camera): How much faith do you have in those predictions?

CRESON: Goodness, I don't know.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): All along the banks, water pushes into areas that haven't seen flooding in generations. Anything that isn't protected by a levee is in danger of being covered by relentless waters.

But some of the worst damage so far is nowhere near the river front.

(on camera): With water and Mississippi continuing to rise, the water in tributaries and other rivers around Memphis have nowhere to go. The result is what you see here -- widespread flooding and disruption miles away from the Mississippi.

(voice-over): And as you look at all this damage, city officials say don't get the wrong idea. The city itself with all its tourism and nightlife is high and dry and expected to stay that way.

MAYOR A.C. WHARTON, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: I do want to make one thing clear. As you know, tourism, entertainment, is a big part of our economy. I want everybody to know that downtown is still open. Everything that's been planned will go on.

MATTINGLY: Nevertheless, engineers keep a watchful eye on a decade's old levee system that has never been tested like this before. Volunteers fill sandbags hoping they will not be needed and road crews shore up escape routes just in case of any last-minute evacuations.

David Mattingly, CNN, Memphis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: All right. We are watching that one slow-moving natural disaster. There's another natural disaster that took place last week, a historic outbreak of tornadoes. The South is still trying to deal with the cleanup from that. And we'll be dealing with that for quite some time.

Reynolds Wolf has been there for the past two weekends. He's there for us once again.

Reynolds, people still -- that's going to be a long, long time. But, I don't know. In a week's time, what have you seen different there?

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, we've seen differently -- a few more people smiling. A few things -- definitely things cleaning up, especially here in Tuscaloosa and parts of Alabama. But, obviously, some things, you'll never be able to fix. And we were talking about hundreds of lives lost, houses that no longer exist, a lot of personal possessions that are gone. But, again, those are just things.

What they can fix, a lot of that is being repaired in place like this. The Red Cross disaster relief center here in Tuscaloosa.

And this morning, while we're here, T.J., we're cooking with the doctor. To be more specific, this guy, it's Dr. Barry Burgess. Dr. Burgess is a dentist. Today, he's working this kitchen giving himself -- giving us a bit of a sample of his hard work, volunteering.

You're from the area, aren't you?

BARRY BURGESS, VOLUNTEER: Yes, sir. We live in Tuscaloosa and have for some time. Our practice is here in Tuscaloosa also.

WOLF: Take us back to the day the tornado, what you went through, what your family went through?

BURGESS: Well, I had an appointment at DCH and gone home. My family was in Huntsville for a field trip with my daughters. And they wound up being in a tornado shelter all day. But when I heard the sirens, our lights flickered at home and TV went out. I went upstairs to see what was happening and saw the tornado coming across behind (INAUDIBLE) and just -- I really thought it was animated. I didn't think it was real.

WOLF: This affected not only your community, affected your practice also. A couple of your patients also, I believe.

BURGESS: We noticed when the list came out of those that were deceased that a couple of your young patients, children, passed away during the storm.

WOLF: Unbelievable. And I -- and part of the way the community has been helping, has been coping with this is by giving to others. And you certainly have been giving your time.

What kind of day are you going to have today working at this location? BURGESS: Well, it's really rewarding. We did the same thing last weekend. And, you know, seeing the folks get something to eat. You know, a warm breakfast is really nice.

It's rewarding for us just that we can do something. I think a lot of people are frustrated. You can't do a lot, but I feel like if you do something for one person, it really means -- it makes a difference.

WOLF: Thank you so much for your time. Again, usually fixing smiles. Today, he's going to be making some smiles.

All right. T.J., let's kick it back to you.

HOLMES: All right, Reynolds, we appreciate you. Good to check in. We'll be talking to you plenty throughout the morning here as well.

Keep our viewers a look at other stories you need to know about this morning.

The U.S. military is targeting a radical cleric in Yemen who some say could be a successor to Osama bin laden. An official telling CNN that a drone fired a missile into an area where Anwar al-Awlaki is known to spend time. He was not killed, though, in that attack.

Al-Awlaki was born in the U.S., accused of recruiting the so- called underwear bomber who's trying to blow up a plane in Detroit in 2009.

And legendary golfer Seve Ballesteros has died. You're seeing him here. He was just 64 years old. Doctors had found a cancerous brain tumor back in 2008 which led to his death this morning, early this morning.

His career accomplishments include three British Open championships, two Masters titles. And, in fact, Ballesteros was the first European to ever win the green jacket at Augusta. And his success paved the way for other European golfers to break into the American golf landscape.

Well, stay with us. There are some popular restaurants out there where you probably often go. And you probably pay for your meal as you should. But you should be getting it for free. I'll tell you about that just ahead.

But, first, something cooking right here in Atlanta, Georgia, as we speak. Thousands of people are gathering this morning for a Race for the Cure. We will take you there live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Lovely shot of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, here on this Saturday morning. Just about 15 minutes after 7:00.

And they are getting ready here in Atlanta, thousands of people getting ready, to Race for the Cure. People have been going and going for years and years, and they are not going to stop until they find a cure for breast cancer. It's the Race for the Cure 5k run and walk.

Our Bonnie Schneider is down there, all decked out in pink CNN hat this morning.

Bonnie, good morning to you. Set the scene for us. Tell us what we're going to see here shortly.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, T.J.

Fourteen participants are expected here in Atlanta for the Race for the Cure. And it's not just here in Atlanta. This race happens around the world -- 1.6 million people participate worldwide across four continents. And this is actually one of the larger races here in Atlanta as we get started for 2011. A larger race will be happening soon in Washington D.C.

But it's really about all the women that are here. There are many survivors and also it's a coed race so men will be participating, as well as at least 700 children in today's race.

And joining me now is Wilma O'Kelley.

Wilma, thanks so much for joining us here this morning.

Wilma is a breast cancer survivor.

You were first diagnosed in 2008. Can you tell me about that journey?

WILMA O'KELLEY, BATTLING BREAST CANCER: Sure. It started on a March morning feeling a bump in my left breast, and then that turned out to be a pretty sizable breast lump and then I had to have chemo to actually have it reduced before they had -- to have it surgically removed, which is the mastectomy, it's a double mastectomy. And soon after that, I had to have radiation just to make sure that we could get all of the bad cells in that area.

SCHNEIDER: And that was -- and that year, you're actually was the first time you participated in Race for the Cure. And you had so much support with family and friends. I know you have three children.

Can you talk about the first Race for the Cure that you did?

O'KELLEY: It was unbelievable. It was unbelievable to come and feel the energy. I had just lost all of my hair and to be here wearing pink and putting on our hats and 50 of my closest friends decided to participate and be here for me and banners and walking around. I think that we all got so much out of that day. We just knew there was hope and that's what we became about.

SCHNEIDER: You look great. I know that it's been very difficult for you. A lot of women might be watching and one in eight will be diagnosed with breast cancer. What is the message that you'd like to get out to them? O'KELLEY: If you are currently struggling or having to battle this disease, there's so much that's out there for you, if you catch it early. You can definitely walk away and say, I'm a survivor and actually mean it and not have this come back to you. But if this does happen, which is where I am right now, there's a recurrence, there are the things that they are working on right now.

And this race helps get the funds going for future scientists to figure out exactly how we're going to get these three different cells which they're telling us are breast cancer cells reduced and eradicated, you know? So, that's what the hope is for me. But there's so much hope.

So, all of us that are here, we have to give hope to all of the women that may possibly be just starting this process and if they are not starting it, we need to make them aware that (INAUDIBLE) constantly on. They should have a month with all of their friends get together and maybe do their lump examinations because that's going to bring it to the forefront.

SCHNEIDER: Thank you so much, Wilma. And Wilma is actually going to be doing do a run/walk combination with her family or children. Thank you so much for joining us.

O'KELLEY: Thank you.

SCHNEIDER: And pretty inspirational story. And one of 14,000 people that are participating. You can see that people are wearing race numbers. The ones in the pink numbers are survivors, T.J. And we're expecting to talk to more of them this morning right here at Race for the Cure in Atlanta.

HOLMES: All right. Bonnie Schneider, thank you for that. And please thank her as well for sharing her story with us this morning. Always important to get out. Our Bonnie Schneider, thanks so much.

Well, at 18 minutes past the hour now.

Just ahead: there are five things that you are paying for right now that you should be getting for free. In three minutes, I will tell you what those five things are.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. I'm here with our financial analyst and friend of our show here, Clyde Anderson. People like free stuff.

CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: Yes.

HOLMES: All right? You give all kinds of financial advice.

ANDERSON: Yes.

HOLMES: This is good advice to get stuff for free.

ANDERSON: Yes, especially right now in this economy, people are looking for free things.

HOLMES: OK.

ANDERSON: There are things out there that you can get for free. You just have to know where to look.

HOLMES: We're talking about simple things -- things that people are paying for right now that they should not be.

Let's start at the top here.

ANDERSON: First one.

HOLMES: Got my attention. Shipping.

ANDERSON: Shipping, free shipping. It's a Web site called FreeShipping.com.

HOLMES: OK.

ANDERSON: Where really, a lot of the sites when you buy things online, there are codes out there. I'm not sure if you ever used any of these promo codes. There are promo codes and a lot of sites offer them. And they're just a simple code that you plug in at the end of your purchase. You'll see a line a lot of times where it will say code or coupon code.

HOLMES: OK.

ANDERSON: You put that in there and you can get free shipping for your purchase online.

HOLMES: So, we go to FreeShipping.com and that gives us --

ANDERSON: It will tell you all the department stores, all the stores online, that offer these codes. You got the code right there and then you get free shipping.

HOLMES: All right. That's a good one. Off to a good start.

What's number two here we got on the list here?

ANDERSON: All right. Number two, now you know calling information, 411. You know, on your cell phone, it cost you about $1 sometimes $1.50.

HOLMES: People still use that?

ANDERSON: They still use it, you know?

HOLMES: All right.

ANDERSON: And so, what they have, and Google has an app where you can actually go in to M.Google.com. You can do that, it's voice- activated. Just name the business and what you're looking for and location and city you're looking for and it will give it to you. All you have to do is speak it, that's all you have to do on your smartphone. Go to M.Google.com. And then it will give you that information.

HOLMES: OK. That's another good one here.

ANDERSON: Yes. And if you have a smartphone, you can text -- text the name of the business that you're looking for and location to a number right there shown on the screen. And then you get the information as well.

(CROSSTALK)

HOLMES: And you get it for free. No charge. It won't show up on my cell phone bill, Clyde.

ANDERSON: It won't show up on your cell phone bill. A lot of times, we get caught up in that and pay that money we don't have to.

HOLMES: Let's move quickly to number three here.

ANDERSON: Free checking and this is big.

HOLMES: People don't know they are paying for checking.

ANDERSON: A lot of times they don't. They become so accustomed to paying what they pay every month. You know, and checking can cost up to $8.95 sometimes depending on who you're banking with. A lot of times, they charge for those paper statements that a lot of people don't even read anyway.

And so, you can eliminate those for one sense, but also if you go to credit unions a lot of time, they don't give you those checking fees.

HOLMES: So, this is one you just need to check into. You don't even know you're probably paying for that.

ANDERSON: You are probably paying it and you can eliminate that expense.

HOLMES: OK. I got to get to these last two quickly. Number four here on the list.

ANDERSON: Number four on the list -- now, we're talking about other things that you can pay for that you can get for free.

HOLMES: All right. We got going through the first three.

Put up this fourth one here for me, guys. And, again, we're going to do food last. And that's the one a lot of people are certainly interested in. You only --

ANDERSON: This is airline. Airlines is the next one. Baggage, you know you're paying about $25 per bags a lot of times and that's going and coming, you're paying $25. A lot of times, if you upgrade to elite status, you don't have to pay that. You know, the silver, platinum, the gold and a lot of times, you do that without accumulating 25,000 miles. You just have to check into it and a lot of times, they offer different promos as well as codes that you can use to upgrade your status as well.

HOLMES: Let's go to the last one. People want to eat for free.

ANDERSON: Food.

HOLMES: Food.

ANDERSON: Yes.

HOLMES: OK. This one got me.

ANDERSON: And this is it. People with kids, you know, and people are saying they're not going out right now because of the recession. You can go in -- your kids can eat free at a lot of restaurants. IHOP is one.

HOLMES: You're talking about kids, though, now.

ANDERSON: Kids eat free.

HOLMES: I can't walk in and get --

ANDERSON: No, you can't walk in and get your meal. It's kids. So, this is benefitting the people with kids. If they got kids, they can go in and eat free.

A lot of times, IHOP, one adult, the kid eats free. So, you got three kids and have three kids that eat free, you know, in these different restaurants. They will show you the schedule on different days and different restaurants that offer this opportunity for kids to eat free.

A lot of times, they'll say, you know, six and under or three and under sometimes. You really got to be careful. You know, 3 year olds don't really that much, so you got to look at the restaurant and call ahead and make sure you know.

HOLMES: And the list I'm seeing here, I'll put this out for a lot of you guys going through this kind of quickly, but a lot of these are restaurants. That just -- I mean, these are popular restaurants.

ANDERSON: Popular restaurants, but it's a great promo, brings in customers.

HOLMES: Clyde, good stuff. Good to see you as always. Thank you so much. Clyde saving you money this morning. Get free stuff. Don't be paying for that.

All right. Here, we're getting close to the bottom of the hour here now. A story that got a lot of people's attention this morning: two Muslim men kicked off a flight last night and they say it's because other people were uncomfortable with them. Details about what the airline is saying, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, some stories making headlines right now.

People are keeping a close eye on this rising water levels in river towns up and down the Midwest as well as the south. Communities are dealing with what could be record flooding. Evacuation orders issued in some places. Parts of major interstates have been closed. And gambling boats along the Mississippi have been shut down as we watch this slow-moving natural disaster make its way down the Mississippi.

Also, Atlantic Southeast Airlines is apologizing for removal of two Muslim men on a flight from Memphis to Charlotte yesterday. Both men say they were taken of the flight because other passengers were uncomfortable with them. Both men were wearing traditional Muslim garb. They were headed to a conference, ironically, on prejudice against Muslims.

Well, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' life was hanging in the balance and took an extraordinary effort to save her. And now, the paramedics and doctors who worked so hard to save her share exclusive and remarkable details with our Sanjay Gupta.