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Bush, Obama to Meet Monday; Auto Industry Bailouts Will be on Agenda; Forces in Afghanistan Try Humanitarian Tactics to Win Over Locals; Hurricane Paloma Causes Severe Damage in Cuba; Vanishing Bee Colonies Being Investigated; Dying Boy Has Unselfish Wishes
Aired November 09, 2008 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Now, a quick update of our top stories. The frustration is growing in Haiti more than two days after a school collapsed that killed at least 84 people. Rescue crews continue to search the rubble for survivors, but some family members say they aren't working quickly enough.
And an accident in the Sea of Japan killed more than 20 people on a Russian submarine. Russia says the victims were suffocated by Freon gas after the fire extinguishing system was turned on accidentally.
A big day on tap at the White House tomorrow. President Bush and President-elect Obama are expected to have a serious talk while their wives tour the residence.
Our Kathleen Koch has a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A hope you will join Laura and me in congratulating President-elect Obama.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A magnanimous president Bush is ready to welcome his successor. President-elect Barack Obama is optimistic that spirit will carry over to their first meeting in the Oval Office.
BARACK OBAMA, (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: I'm not going to anticipate problems. I'm going to go in there with a spirit of bipartisanship and a sense that both the president and various leaders in Congress all recognize the severity of the situation right now and want to get stuff done.
Reporter1: The head of the Obama transition team says it's a long list.
JOHN PODESTA, CO-CHAIR, OBAMA TRANSITION TEAM: That they need to cover a broad range of issues from national security affairs, where we are on homeland security, but I think they will also want to spend a good deal of time on where things stand on the economy.
Reporter1: Discussing items like a second stimulus package, says Podesta, as well as help for the auto industry.
While Obama has sought advice from other presidents, the White House press secretary predicts Mr. Bush will exercise restraint.
DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I don't think that president Bush will be presumptuous in trying to talk to Barack Obama about how he makes decisions or how Barack Obama should make decisions. I think that the president probably will share how he's made decisions and some of the things that he feels are important.
Reporter1: And President Bush's chief of staff says he will also look beyond the criticism Democrats leveled at him on the campaign trail.
JOSH BOLTON, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: He understands what the politics is about. He understands it's a rough and tumble game. And he doesn't let it interfere with his personal relationships or his judgment about what's best for the country. So I know that the president Bush that I know will be gracious and dignified in dealing with President-elect Obama.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Reporter1: Now, as to actually what happens though when that Oval Office door does close on Monday afternoon, we'll only know if Mr. Bush or Obama decide to share afterwards. That's because they're going to be meeting alone. At the same time Laura Bush will be giving Michelle Obama a tour of her family's future home. The girls will not be attending this trip -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK. And how long will all of this take place?
KOCH: We've done some investigating. Aides tell us that the meeting which begins at 2:20 p.m. is scheduled to last an hour. But there's no hard stop time. If you'll remember, Bill Clinton and President Bush in 2000 met for more than two hours. So while, Fredricka, this meeting certainly could last well in the afternoon.
WHITFIELD: Gosh, yeah. An hour doesn't seem like much time at all.
KOCH: Not much time considering all they have to discuss.
WHITFIELD: Literally or figuratively.
KOCH: That's true.
WHITFIELD: OK. Thanks so much. Appreciate it, Kathleen.
Reporter1: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, one of the main topics on tomorrow's agenda, a possible government bailout for the auto industry. And we've been asking you about what you think should happen.
Our Josh Levs is looking at your e-mail responses.
And are there a lot?
JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORERSPONDENT: There's a ton. There are so many of them. We're just piecing through these. Here is what I did, I took a bunch of them and threw them on this Word doc. Let's zoom right in.
People are impassioned about this. "Auto industry bailout, are you crazy? First the banks, now the autos, next the airlines, finally we'll be bailing out the casinos in Vegas." "For five years, auto companies have been failing when times are OK so, of course, they're failing now." That's from David Capece.
Let's scroll down a little bit, see what we can get to next. "Yes, I think the government should bail out or make a bridge loan to the big three as I believe it would be a disaster of epic proportion to let them go under." That's from Rob Wasserman.
Let's see what we've got here. "Yes, the auto industry should be bailed out. If not, the effects will ripple through our economy. The industry needs to look at their products though. They need to be better built to compete. Also, the SUVs, do they really cost $50,000 to $60,000 to make. If they lower prices they will sell again and they will still make a profit."
We've got time for a couple more. Let's look at what we've got here. "I don't believe it's important to bail out the auto industry. This country is already in debt."
Let's end with this. "Why not have our government initiate rebates for those who choose to buy American-made automobiles."
That's an interesting idea, Fred. "On top of that, why not have our government create tax credits for taxpayers who choose to purchase American-made automobiles. We could include higher rebates and credits for vehicles that are more energy efficient." That's from Mary in Lady Lake, Florida.
I'll tell you, we've gotten dozens of these. We couldn't get through them all. They're really interesting and as you can see, very impassioned -- Fred?
WHITFIELD: Absolutely. And it really does seem very varied. Everyone is coming from a different point of view, but does it seem like there is still that common denominator?
LEVS: You know what? That's one thing that really struck me here. Usually when we ask a question, you will see 80 percent one side with a few on the other side. I try to be mathematical and represent them here. Everything I just saw -- I managed to read about 50 of them. It was split. It was seriously split right down the middle. This is part of what the challenge is that the politicians are facing.
WHITFIELD: In terms of a bailout?
LEVS: Do you do this, do you not do this at a time when you can see the positives and the negatives. Americans, at least according to our emails, are quite split on this.
WHITFIELD: Wow. All right, thanks so much.
LEVS: Thanks, Fred. WHITFIELD: We'll see what happens in the next few weeks or maybe even months, right?
LEVS: All right. Thanks so much, Josh, appreciate it.
WHITFIELD: Rahm Emanuel today brushing aside criticism that he'll be a hyper-partisan chief of staff. Emanuel says his new boss, President-elect Barack Obama, is very clear about the need for bipartisanship. Emanuel has a reputation as a tough political fighter. He's credited with helping Democrats take control of the House in 2006.
And guess what? It's still not clear if Missouri went red or blue on Election Day. Right now John McCain has an edge, but about 7,000 provisional ballots have yet to be counted. Each one has to be reviewed to make sure the voter was properly registered.
Here is a warning for online shoppers. Be very skeptical of any tickets to the inauguration appearing for sale. An events spokeswoman says anyone claiming to have tickets available right now, they're not telling the truth. The spokesperson says that 240,000 free tickets are locked away and will not be available until days before the event. So Obama's inauguration, just in case you don't know by now, you need to mark your calendar, January 20th.
Check out our political ticker for all the latest news. Just logon to cnnpolitics.com, your source for all things political.
A new push for Middle East peace. U.S., U.N., European, and Russian mediators meet in Egypt. They report substantial progress, but Israeli and Palestinian officials say there probably will not be an agreement by the end of the year. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice points to uncertainty over Israel's government. Israel has electionism -- or elections rather -- sorry, typo -- in February. It's not clear if the new leaders will want to carry on with the current process. That would be elections.
More U.S. and NATO troops have died in Afghanistan this year than in any year since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. NATO commanders are trying new tactics against the Taliban insurgency, including humanitarian commissions.
CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr reports now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIER: About two-thirds of the people that come to us are women and children.
BARBARA STARR, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We are riding with Task Force Phoenix, not into combat, but on a mission of help to offer medical aid in a remote village. Security is paramount. Insurgents have been here on a campaign of intimidation.
U.S. And afghan troops hope the medicine and aid will help convince the village to reject insurgents and support the afghan government. The U.S. soldiers have put the Afghan troops in charge. All of this is part of the strategy now, make Afghans trust in their government. But the U.S. soldiers tell us the reality in these villages is much grimmer than Washington realizes.
This man and his grandson wait patiently as the soldiers begin to set up a field health clinic. Today Task Force Phoenix will do what it can.
LT. COLONEL DUNKLE, U.S. ARMY: This village does have a medical clinic, which is behind me. Unfortunately, they have no medicines.
Reporter3: After the village elder gives the OK, the women begin to appear. They keep to themselves.
This lady tells us she's in pain. She wants to say thank you for the medicine.
As always in war, it is the children who tug at the soldiers' hearts. Some of them just need more food.
UNIDENTIFIED U.S. SOLDIER: This child looks healthy but is very underweight and it sounds like he's had some feeding problems.
Reporter3: Outside we find Lieutenant Steven Proferio with 11-year- old Esmotula (ph), who wants to see the doc. His father is dead. He does not tell us where his mother is.
LT. STEVEN PROFERIO, U.S. SOLDIER: Well, it seems he has a fracture of the forearm and also the elbow.
Reporter3: He tells the soldiers he fell down. The lieutenant believes the boy was likely beaten.
(on camera): When you see a little boy like this who is in pain and who has come to soldiers for help --
PROFERIO: Oh, it breaks your heart.
Reporter3 (voice-over): The troops here say providing medical care to these Afghans is some of the most important work that they do. But as one young soldier told me, they also worry they're just treading water.
(on camera): And they're looking to the new president-elect to provide a clear strategy, clear goals, and a way ahead.
Barbara Starr, CNN, Noah (ph), Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Unraveling a mystery that threatens the entire food supply. Billions of bees have vanished. The impact goes far beyond honey.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: They're dealing with a soggy mess in central Cuba. Paloma roared ashore last night as a category 4 hurricane. It's been downgraded to a tropical depression. But hundreds of homes were damaged. No reports of injuries or deaths however.
Our Morgan Neill explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MORGAN NEILL, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: The storm made landfall on the southern coast of Santa Cruz (ph) where we have heard reports of flooding, storm surge, some waves crashing as high as three meters into the air. Nevertheless, authorities were prepared for this. They evacuated, according to the government, more than 13,000 people in that little town.
Here in Camoway (ph), where I'm standing, the government says nearly 100,000 people were evacuated. The vast majority of those, what they call self-evacuees, that is people who made their way to the homes of neighbors or family members who live in concrete, solid structures, places where they don't have to worry about the roofs being blown off their homes.
Now, in preparation for this hurricane, Cuban authorities not only evacuated thousands of people, they also took steps to safeguard material resources. Why is that important? Because in the space of just over two months, Cuba has seen three major hurricanes. And particularly Hurricane Ike did massive damage to Cuban agriculture. So they're trying their best to protect what crops they have been able to raise in the meantime from the damages of Hurricane Paloma.
Now, here in the central city of Camoway (ph), the lights are out throughout the town. Taking a brief look at the streets, everyone inside their homes trying to stay safe from this storm. But just how damaging has Hurricane Paloma been? We'll have to wait for the sun to come up to get a real good look at the damages.
Morgan Neill, CNN, Camoway (ph), Cuba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And, of course, we'll continue to look at the situation there in Cuba throughout the "NEWSROOM" this evening. Don Lemon is on board here. He's got a preview of other things on tap as well.
DON LEMON, CNN NEWS CORRSPONDENT: You know, it's been a very interesting, I should say, year and a half or especially the last week. As you know, I went back to Chicago this week and I spent a whole lot of time talking to people in Chicago. The interesting thing, Fredricka, is when I was a local anchor and reporter there, these people were local figures, no national prominence for most of them, and were just sort of making their way up through the ranks. And now as I go back, they're going to be part of -- many of them part of a presidential administration. So it was very interesting.
So these people I had reported on, including members of his new staff, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Penny Pritzger (ph) and John Rogers, some of these people who are going to be on his transition team and the co- chair of his transition team as well.
I sat down with them and spoke candidly about the Senator who is now president-elect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw him running down the stairs of the airplane recently so he could hurry up and see his wife and kids.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is a good story. When we were traveling the last weekend before Election Day, we were -- Senator Obama and I were in Las Vegas, and we flew to Iowa -- to Ohio for the day. And when we flew into Ohio, we were sitting on the tarmac waiting for Michelle and the girls to arrive and he was busy reading the up in and then he was on his Blackberry and he didn't notice they had arrived. I said, Barack, look out the window. He looked out the window. There was Malia and Sasha playing out on the tarmac and the look on his face when he saw those two girls, he just lit up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Yes, so you won't get stories like that anywhere else, because obviously, as I said working there, they knew me as a local reporter, and they're proud of me.
WHITFIELD: It's an intimate circle, too.
LEMON: It's an intimate circle, but I reported on them and was objective about the reporting. But the interesting thing is that I was their local anchor. So they were used to getting their news from me in their living rooms every day. And now that I'm on CNN they say we're so proud to see you come in and talk to us about that.
WHITFIELD: That's sweet.
LEMON: Yes, so I got some really inside information with a number of people who helped him along the way, including his mentor, who is president of the Illinois senate, Valerie Jarrett, who is now co-share of his transition team; Rahm Emanuel, who was a funny guy, has a big personality, and talked to him. He's the new chief of staff. So we talked to them about some pretty candid things and close and personal about Barack Obama, the man and the politician. That will be tonight at 6:00 and 11:00 on CNN.
WHITFIELD: Look forward to that. And I wonder if, you know, if Valerie Jarrett ever talked a little bit about her role potentially, not just as, you know, continued confidant, because she knows the family well and her relationship with Michelle started well before Barack Obama's, but, you know, there's talk that maybe she might take that U.S. Senate seat if he decides to appoint her.
LEMON: Are you trying to spill the information that I found out about today?
WHITFIELD: I'm just trying to give a little bit into -- oh, you learned a little bit more?
LEMON: Yes, I have a nugget about that, about her potentially taking over for his seat. There are a number of people who are up for -- being considered by the governor. Jesse Jackson Jr is one of them. Valerie Jarrett, we're hearing something about that. And we'll tell you. And also Tammy Duckworth, she's an Iraq war vet and she is also disabled. A number of people, Imo Jones (ph), who we speak to in the piece as well is up for that as president of the Illinois Senate. So we'll see. I'll give you the information.
WHITFIELD: We'll look forward to that. You're helping us to get to know a lot of them on a national scale because we all have to get used to them now, right?
LEMON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: These are new names to a lot of America.
All right, thanks so much.
LEMON: Thanks, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Don Lemon coming up at 6:00 and 11:00. Get it right this time. Thanks so much, Don. Appreciate it.
Here's a question for you, what's causing the bees to vanish? This past winter America's bee keepers lost one-third of their colonies and it's affecting your dinner table in ways you may not have known.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: These honeybees are helping to solve a mystery that affects $14 billion worth of crops each year in the U.S. a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder, CCD. Worker bees suddenly leave their hives never to return. It's affected billions of bees across America.
Scientists say that without bee poll nation, even our hamburger might be at risk.
KEITH DELAPLANE, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA: Beef cattle that feed on forage plants, those forage plants are bee pollinated. Similarly, you don't have dairy products, so there goes the cheese. You don't have tomatoes because they have to be bee pollinated as well. You don't have ketchup.
WHITFIELD: Dr. Keith Delaplane and his colleagues at the University of Georgia are investigating the possible causes of CCD, including how chemicals used inside the hives might be affecting bees.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are looking at colony production, honey production. We're testing them also for forging ability, the ability to find their way home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw their foraging in the control colonies without the chemicals. WHITFIELD: Commercial beekeepers truck bees across the country, pollinating major crops such as almonds and apples. They have seen devastating losses due to CCD.
DELAPLANE: One of the suspected causes of CCD, is the intense ways that we manage honey bees. They are put on pallets. They are loaded with fork lifts. Loaded onto trucks and moved overnight.
WHITFIELD: Dr. Delaplane is working with beekeepers to reduce the risks to their hives.
DELAPLANE: One of the things the beekeepers can do to try to minimize their reliance on chemical to control bee parasites. And simple things, such as using a screen floor instead of a solid wood floor on the bottom of the hive, can slow down mite population growth.
WHITFIELD: The good news for bees is that more people are taking notice of their plight.
At this community garden near Atlanta, there is growing interest in classes for backyard beekeepers. Those hobby beekeepers, who have been less effected by CCD, could be the key to preserving the honey bee population.
Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: He is 11 years old, and may only have days left to live.
BRENDEN FOSTER, DYING BOY: I had a great time. And until my time has come, I'm going to keep having a good time.
WHITFIELD: What a mature little boy. His body is weak but his resolve is strong. A remarkable boy's dying wish.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A heart-wrenching story out of Washington State. A little boy is losing his battle with leukemia. But he is showing the world his unselfish nature with a dying wish to help others.
Elisa Jaffe with CNN affiliate KOMO has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELISA JAFFE, KOMO REPORTER: Brenden Foster is only 11 years old. But his time to die has come.
FOSTER: I should be gone, in a week or so.
JAFFE: He was the kid who ran the fastest, climbed the highest, and dreamed of becoming a Marine photographer. Leukemia killed all that, but not his dying wish for others.
WENDY FOSTER, BRENDEN'S MOTHER: He has always thought about the dying wish to help others. He has never complained about having to go through this, ever.
JAFFE: In the last days of his life, it's this homeless camp that captured his heart.
FOSTER: Well, I was getting back from one of my appointments and I saw this big thing in the middle full of homeless people. And then I thought I should just get them something.
JAFFE: Brenden is too ill to leave his bed and feed the homeless. He walked into an emergency room last December and hasn't walked since.
But tonight, a group is gathering and making sandwiches to carry out Brenden's wish.
JENNIFER MORRISON, VOLUNTEER: We are making 200 sandwiches, half ham and cheese, and half peanut butter and jelly. He said he didn't want to do just all peanut butter and jelly, because what if somebody was allergic.
FOSTER: They are probably starving, so give them a chance.
JAFFE: Brenden is now surrounded by love, and urges all of us to follow our dreams.
FOSTER: (Inaudible).
JAFFE: He has relapsed for last time. There's no more chemo, no more transfusions, just comfort medications.
WENDY FOSTER: I find great peace in knowing we have had our time together and that we will see each other again.
JAFFE: His next wish, become an angel to accomplish his, even more in heaven than he did on earth.
FOSTER: I had a great time. And my time has come, going to keep having a good time.
JAFFE: Don't cry for Brenden. He doesn't want leukemia to get any more tears.
Elisa Jaffe, KOMO4 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Brenden is already an angel.
I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll see you here again next weekend. Don Lemon is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Fredricka Whitfield and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
What's bad for General Motors is bad for the USA. That's what the top Democrats in Congress are saying right now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid want Detroit's big three automakers included in the government's financial bailout. They say tens of thousands of jobs are at stake.
CNN's Brooke Baldwin reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the White House Monday, the first meeting between the president-elect and the president. At the top of the agenda: the economy. According to one member of Barack Obama's transition team, among the questions: how to heal the ailing automotive industry.
JOHN PODESTA, OBAMA TRANSITION CO-CHAIR: The president-elect has said that we need to do more to try to stabilize the industry as we begin to come up with a program, so that they become stable companies once again. They're the backbone of the many American manufacturing industry.
BALDWIN: Friday: Two of the big three posted third quarter losses in the billions. Saturday: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent a letter to the treasury secretary asking Henry Paulson to consider a quick cash infusion for car companies. They suggest the money could come from the $700 billion bank bailout, an idea Secretary Paulson previously opposed.
The letter read, "Congress granted you broad discretion to purchase or make commitments to purchase financial instruments you determine necessary to restore financial market stability. A healthy automobile manufacturing sector is essential to the restoration of financial market stability, the overall health of our economy, and the livelihood of the automobile sector's workforce."
PETER MORICI, UNIV. OF MARYLAND ECONOMIST: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have been some of the worst run companies in America. That's why they're in the fix that they're in.
BALDWIN: Economist Peter Morici contends a bailout is more like a handout. He says Detroit's big three have hemorrhaged billions through the years. So, sending these car companies quick cash, Morici says, conveys a terrible message to the rest of the country's private sector.
MORICI: That you can pay your workers too much, you can have sloppy management, and you can be slow to the market with new products and the government will bail you out. It simply makes no sense to send that kind of message to the private sector in America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Now, today a Treasury Department spokesperson did respond to Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid's letter saying, quote, "We continue to work on a strategy that most effectively deploys the remaining TARP funds to strengthen the financial system and get lending going again." TARP, by the way, is an acronym for Troubled Asset Relief Program. And, Fredricka, as you saw a couple of days ago, President-elect Barack Obama already pledging his support behind the ailing automotive industry. The question now is: when will that support come and when it does, will it be too late?
WHITFIELD: All right. Brooke Baldwin in New York -- thanks so much. Appreciate it.
BALDWIN: Sure.
WHITFIELD: All right. We want to know what you think about all of this. Should the auto industry be bailed out? E-mail us your answer at Weekends@CNN.com. We'll read some of your responses at the bottom of the hour.
President-elect Barack Obama is winding down a family weekend in Chicago. Tomorrow, he gets the grand tour of the White House and meets with President Bush.
Let's turn to our Jessica Yellin in Chicago on how the weekend went and how they're preparing for tomorrow.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.
Well, Barack Obama has continued to ruminate and mull with his transition team, I'm told, about the decisions he's making. First, focused really on those cabinet picks and on his beginning team. All of that is taking place even as we speak, with people receiving forms to fill out to get security clearance -- folks who have been asked to join his team doing that as we speak.
Barack Obama, meantime, has had more of a quiet weekend. He spent last night on a date with Mrs. Obama. They went to a fancy Italian restaurant here in town and then dined together for about three hours. We got some shots of him as he was leaving with his wife, but that's about it. We have not seen much of him.
He went to the gym this morning, and we're told he did what it seems every Chicagoan is doing today, which is watching this big football game -- I think I'm not supposed to mention it now because the Bears lost, so don't mention that around here.
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: Barack Obama then heads off to Washington, D.C., tomorrow, as you know, for this meeting with President Bush. We're advised that after that meeting he's going to return here to Chicago, and we do not expect any cabinet announcements this week from the Obama Team. They could come as early as next week, but this week is a week for working and planning -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right. Thanks so much. Jessica Yellin -- appreciate it -- in Chicago, even though we were just seeing a live shot of the White House as well.
All right. Our transition to power coverage does continue. At the bottom of the hour a live report from Washington. Our Kathleen Koch looks at what's on tap for the rest of the week, maybe even month, as it pertains to Barack Obama and his transition.
All right. So many of you have weighed in on what Obama's election symbolizes, and today add one more voice -- Louis Farrakhan. Earlier in the race for the White House, the Nation of Islam minister publicly backed Barack Obama's bid, but Obama rejected and actually denounced support from the controversial leader. Well, today, in a speech in Chicago via the Web, Farrakhan says what happened last week energized the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, NATION OF ISLAM VIDEO)
MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN, NATION OF ISLAM: I believe President-elect Obama is going to have to get everyone involved because the job of helping him is not just with his cabinet or Congress. The job of helping this nation out of its condition is a responsibility that everyone has something to do about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Farrakhan says he stayed quiet about his support the past few months out of fears that it would actually hurt the Obama campaign.
All right. Let's take a look at some weather, pretty severe weather after a wet and dangerous night in Cuba. Paloma has weakened in a tropical depression. It was Hurricane Paloma. It roared ashore as a category four. Hundreds of homes were destroyed near Camaguey, a major communications tower was actually knocked down, disrupting phone and electrical service. Despite the damage, no storm-related deaths are reported. Great news there.
We check in with Jacqui Jeras in the weather center for a little bit more on the weather picture.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Fredricka. You know, you think about November, you don't always think about hurricanes, but good reminder that hurricane season doesn't end until November 30th, and sometimes, we can even get them outside of season. The good news with this one is that it's really fizzling out pretty significantly.
Now, it's been over Cuba. You can see a little convection trying to burst up here across the Bahamas, but overall, we're looking at maximum winds 35 miles per hour, minimal additional rainfall is expected, and it's really going to die out as much cooler and drier air begins to move in across Cuba over the next couple of days.
Now, back here at home, we've got a little action to talk about. Throughout the rest of the day, you know, the nation's midsection is beautiful, clear, and cool, but we're watching the southwest and the northeast for some action here. We're going to start you out across the Great Lakes, and we've got some cold air blowing over the warmer lake water and some lake-effect snows kicking in across Western Michigan. The pink indicating that rain/snow mix. Detroit looking at some light rain showers at times, and we think it could be real heavy off of lakes Erie and Ontario, we could see as much as maybe a three to eight inches of snowfall overall. Also coming in off Lake Michigan into the lower parts here looking at four to eight inches, and that's really kicking up tonight and throughout the day tomorrow.
And, you know, November, it's November. November and December are really the biggest months where we see those heavy accumulations of lake-effect snow banding.
In the southwest today, you can kind of see that little swirl here on the radar picture. That's our area of low pressure moving across the southwest bringing in generally light rain showers. Some isolated thunderstorms here across Arizona, but we can really feel today is the wind. It is kicking with this low as high pressure tries to build in back behind it.
So we have wind advisories in Southern California across about the southern half of Arizona, and we've got some warnings here out in the county areas, of course, into the mountainous regions where winds could be gusting beyond 60 miles per hour. So, really use a lot of caution if you have to travel at all today.
As we head into tomorrow, that low makes its way into the nation's midsection. It will start to tap into some warmth and some moisture here from the Gulf of Mexico, and that's going to interact with that cooler, drier air. So, severe weather may be occurring here tomorrow afternoon, say, from Oklahoma City down through Dallas/Fort Worth, even into Houston, over towards Corpus Christi. Large hail, damaging winds, and even some isolated tornadoes, and that storm eventually will make its way across the southeast and should bring some rain maybe mid to late next week which is just be great.
You know, Fredricka, it's been beautiful. It's been dry. It's been cool. But, man, you know, we really need some rain in the southeast (INAUDIBLE).
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: I'm sure it will come. Let's hope so. All right, Jacqui, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
All right. Tragedy aboard a Russian nuclear submarine. What happened?
And, men of cloth in an all-out brawl: The smackdown at a holy site.
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WHITFIELD: More than two days after that deadly school collapse in Haiti, rescue crews are still searching through the wreckage. Police are questioning now the school's owners. Some say shoddy construction caused the disaster.
Eighty-four people are confirmed dead. At least 150 people are hurt, and many more are still missing.
A U.S. disaster assistance response team is helping with the increasingly desperate search for survivors, and as the rescue drags on, families are growing increasingly frustrated and angry.
CNN's David Mattingly is in Petionville, Haiti with more on this.
Who is there to help, David?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, this is a tragedy no matter how you try to slice it or put a perspective on it, but those predictions that there may have been 100 or 200 people still trapped inside do not appear to be holding up. Some new information today based on investigation authorities have been doing, they now believe there might have been maybe 250 people inside that building total at the time that it came down. So, you take out the 150 who were injured and the 80-plus who are now confirmed dead, the number of people who might still be trapped in that building is far, far less than what they originally feared.
But that being said, there's still a great deal of work here to do. Rescue teams have pulled back somewhat. They are trying to figure out what to do next. They feel like they may have to pull out some of these huge slabs of concrete or cement before they can actually get access to some of these areas and start any sort of search and rescue inside the building in a truly meaningful and productive way.
Earlier today, we want to a hospital to visit some of the young victims who were able to get out of that wreckage. Every one of them has terrible story to tell. They're mending from broken bones, head injuries, broken arms, broken legs, broken ribs. A lot of them saying that -- talking about how they were able to escape with the help of others or some of them were maybe able to get out on their own only to walk out with the guilt of having to leave classmates behind, and perhaps even, sometimes a sibling behind inside that wreckage -- a great deal of pain going around.
Looking at the wreckage right now (AUDIO BREAK) the search and rescue operations going on, man perched at the top. He looks like he's trying to secure some of that cement that has been leaning out over the edge (AUDIO BREAK) rescuers below. You see how delicate this is. All of that could go at any time. In fact, earlier, just about an hour ago, we watched as several cement block-sized chunks of that building fell right where that man is now standing.
Fredricka, one other thing I want to show you, just walk over here with me. On the hillside just across from where the school collapsed, you can see thousands of people. They're standing on rooftops, they're standing on balconies. All of them have been standing there watching all day long, watching as the slow progress if you want to call it that, the progress that's being made here, all of them waiting and hoping to see what might happen next -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Oh, God. This is so terribly tragic on so many levels. Thank you so much David Mattingly. Appreciate it. That live update outside of Port-au-Prince. Well, a deadly accident took place on a Russian nuclear sub. More than 20 people there are killed. It happened in the Sea of Japan, not far from the Russian port city of Vladivostok.
CNN's Matthew Chance reports.
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MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The latest Russian submarine to be cursed with fatalities on board, now heading back to its icy port in Russia's far east. The vessel is an Akula-class nuclear-powered submarine like this one. It's a new one and was being tested in the Sea of Japan when Russian officials say the incident took place.
IGOR DYGALO, RUSSIAN NAVY SPOKESMAN (through translator): As a result of unsanctioned activation of the firefighting system in the first and second sections, over 20 people died and 21 were injured. Among those who perished were workers of the shipyard and seamen.
CHANCE: It seems the deaths were concentrated in the nose of the submarine and caused by the release of Freon gas, which puts out fires by removing oxygen from the air. The victims would have suffocated.
Russian officials say the submarine's nuclear reactor was unaffected. The Kremlin has ordered an inquiry into possible negligence.
SERGEI MARKIN, RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY (through translator): A criminal case was opened under the Article 352 of the criminal code on the relation of the rules of navigation and use of navy ships that unintentionally led to the death of human beings and other grave consequences.
CHANCE: This is the worst day for the Russian navy since the loss of the cursed submarine in 2000. All 118 people on board were killed back then when it sank in the Bering Sea. Russia's military has been plagued by crumbling infrastructure and corruption since the collapse of the Soviet Union. This latest submarine tragedy is another stark reminder.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.
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WHITFIELD: It was the story of a lifetime for a Canadian journalist, but Melissa Fung wasn't reporting it, she was actually living it. The Canadian TV correspondent was freed this weekend after a month as a hostage in Afghanistan. Her kidnappers kept her in a cave.
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MELISSA FUNG, FREED CANADIAN JOURNALIST: They dug a small hole. There was a wall here --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.
FUNG: A wall like this, and the hole was here, and then there was a little tunnel that led to the cave.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
FUNG: The cave was very, very small.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe, could you have turned (ph) in that cave?
FUNG: Barely. And I'm short.
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WHITFIELD: Well, it's not clear exactly why Fung was kidnapped. Officials say no ransom was paid for her release. The Afghan Intelligence Agency says it has arrested three suspects and they're looking for three others.
Men of God and fists of fury at a holy site in Jerusalem today.
Israeli police arrested two monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after an argument got out of hand. The Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks were brawling over who should be in a church procession.
Tuesday marks Veterans Day and there will be remembrances across America, many of them at cemeteries. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 125 cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico. They include Calverton National Cemetery in New York. For one caretaker there it's a labor of love.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Section 27.
WILLIAM MCNAUGHTON, CALVERTON CEMETERY CARETAKER: We are taking the last two bodies (ph). These came from two chapels. And now we'll bring them out to the line for the final burial.
Most of us are veterans that work here. This is our way of saying thank you.
When people come up to me, they know I work here. I say how nice it is out here, that's what makes it a lot easier and, you know, a sense of pride that these guys, these 100 employees here take care of everybody.
My name is William McNaughton. I work at Calverton Cemetery as a cemetery caretaker.
My primary duty is to bring these people, bring veterans and their family out to the line and help lower once we get out on the line.
Why do I work here? It's because right over here. My son is in section 67: Staff Sergeant James Dennis McNaughton, 306th Infantry Battalion, out of Uniondale, New York. He was the first NYPD cop killed in Iraq. This is my way of being close, if you want to say.
I see him in the morning when I come here. I touch his headstone when I leave, touch his headstone. I don't feel right if I don't.
People also ask: how do I work here? But this is my way of dealing with it. I should be laying there, not him, but that's what I see here. These people, young men and women, they went that extra step. To me that's service.
I think my older brother said it the best. I'm in his backyard now. He grew up in my backyard, now I'm in his backyard, and I'm in all of these veterans' backyards. I'm here to take care of them. Make sure nothing happens.
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WHITFIELD: Well, veterans and their families are sharing their stories with us just like that one. You can read all about them at CNN.com/specials. Just click on the Veterans.in.focus tab.
And be sure to join Heidi Collins from the CNN NEWSROOM, Tuesday morning but instead of live from Atlanta, live from the deck of the USS Intrepid, the famous aircraft carrier is being rededicated as a museum in New York after a two-year restoration. Coverage begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
High drama during a police standoff: A three-year-old child caught in the middle of it.
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WHITFIELD: All right. News from across America now.
In Florida, the search resumes for Caylee Anthony who was two when she disappeared. More than 1,000 volunteers turned out this weekend to look for any signs of the little girl. Caylee was last seen in June, but her mother didn't report her missing until July. Casey Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder.
Well, take a look a this video from Scottsdale, Arizona. Police say they shot and wounded this man, you're about to see right there, as he held his young daughter over his head. They say they were forced into action when he threatened to throw the three-year-old. The child is fine. The father is in the hospital facing charges. Family members say he suffered a psychological breakdown.
California is seeing some of the largest protests against Proposition Eight since the same-sex marriage ban apparently passed Tuesday. The voters -- the votes, rather, are still being processed. Meantime, thousands of protesters marched in Los Angeles this weekend. Police in San Diego say as many as 10,000 rallied there yesterday.
The Obamas head to the White House tomorrow. The agenda for the talks between the president and the president-elect, well, among them they'll be --
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WHITFIELD: Wi-Fi is getting onboard -- airlines that is. Richelle Carey has the latest on how you can stay connected after takeoff.
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RICHELLE CAREY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You may soon be able to logon in flight.
CHRIS MCGINNIS, EXPEDIA.COM: Airlines are starting to roll out new Wi-Fi services, which means that passengers with laptops or PDAs will be able to access the Internet on flight and also have access to their e-mail. Signals from the onboard system are transmitted to a network towers on the ground. So, the connection is almost seamless.
CAREY: And with a click and a fee of about $10 to $13, you'll be surfing the Web in no time, but not without restrictions.
MCGINNIS: Airlines are going to be able to deny access to certain sites like Skype or Vonage. They're also mulling the idea of restricting access to adult entertainment sites.
CAREY: If using the service, McGinnis says, to buckle up with privacy.
MCGINNIS: I would suggest getting something called a 3M Privacy Filter. Now, this prevents peopling from viewing it from the side.
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