Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Deadly Explosion in Cairo; Battling the Economic Crisis; Abu Ghraib Prison Reopens; Pregnant Woman Killed in Pennsylvania; Tough Times on Rodeo Drive

Aired February 22, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: To get the nation's deficit down, a global new deal, G-20 leaders on what the world needs now.

And why this stuff is selling to the highest bidder. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. It is Sunday, February 22nd, I am Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin with a developing story, a deadly explosion in Cairo, Egypt. Details are still coming in. The blast occurred outside Cairo's Al Hussein mosque. The Egyptian interior ministry says at least four people are dead, including two foreigners. Several other people were wounded and at least two suspects have been taken into custody, as you see the latest images coming in. The mosque is popular with tourists. Security officials say a second unexploded bomb was found nearby. Stay with CNN for new details as they develop.

From big spender to budget cutter. In less than a week, just days after approving hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus spending, President Obama is working to cut the deficit in half. CNN's Kate Bolduan is at the White House. So Kate, it sounds certainly like a tall order. How in the world does the president plan to do this?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A tall order, you are absolutely right, Fredricka. Well, by a combination of cutting back on spending and raising taxes, a formula that the administration will argue is necessary to get the economy in the long-term back on track. But the details of how they want this to happen may not sit well with some Republicans.

This is what we know so far. President Obama wants to cut the deficit in half by the end of his term. That means reducing $1.3 trillion in deficit to $533 billion by 2013. How? Well, in part at least by spending less in the war on Iraq, letting the Bush tax cuts expire and that is a tax cut for people making more than $250,000 a year and also streamlining government. According to one White House official, that is cutting programs that they think just don't work. Listen here to President Obama during his weekly address.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will release a budget that is sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting and lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don't and restoring fiscal discipline. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: That seems to not be sitting so well with some Republicans at least so far. The top Republican in the Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell told John King on CNN's "State of the Union" this morning by taxing businesses, increasing the taxes on businesses in the middle of a deep recession, he says that's not going to work. It's going to hurt and in his words, not a smart move. Fredricka, we will learn a little more when the budget is expected to be unveiled on Thursday.

WHITFIELD: OK, that Thursday, a whole lot of other things are to transpire this week for the president. He has a very busy schedule, doesn't he?

BOLDUAN: Very busy week, a busy week last week, a busy week coming up. Monday, he is going to be talking to, meeting with governors, Democrats and Republicans from across the country. That same day, he'll be hosting what they're calling a fiscal responsibility summit, bringing together a bipartisan group of lawmakers, as well as economists, people from the business and labor sector to talk about just what we've been mentioning, how to control the deficit.

And also Tuesday a big day, he will be speaking before a joint session of Congress, and then as I mentioned unveiling the budget, the 2010 budget on Thursday, which we will all be watching for, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Kate Bolduan at the White House, appreciate it.

And more now on what's going to take place on Tuesday. Just a reminder, President Obama, talking about the economy in his address before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Of course, we will carrying that live beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern. "Anderson Cooper 360" follows with the best political team on television after that live broadcast. And at midnight Eastern, a special edition of "Larry King Live."

All right, federal stimulus spending is in the spotlight at this weekend's meeting of the National Governors Association. The recovery plan will provide billions of dollars in aid to the states. Democratic governors are talking up the plan, but some Republicans say that they will reject at least some of the money. Democrat Deval Patrick and Haley Barbour hashed it out on today's with CNN's "State of the Union" with John King.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. DEVAL PATRICK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Through this stimulus bill, but not just through this stimulus bill. Got to put people back to work. And there are a whole host of ways to do that that we know and the president knows. The government doesn't create jobs, businesses do. And so we need to be investing in all the ways the stimulus businesses enables us and others in order to get people back to work. GOV. HALEY BARBOUR (R), MISSISSIPPI: If we were to take the unemployment insurance reform package that they have, it would cause us to raise taxes on employment when the money runs out and the money will run out in a couple of years and then we will have to raise the unemployment insurance tax which is literally a tax on more employment. I mean, we want more jobs. You don't get more jobs by putting an extra tax on creating jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And we'll hear more from this morning's talk shows at the bottom of the hour.

Meantime, European leaders are calling for sweeping reform of world financial markets as a means of taming the global economic crisis. They met today in Berlin and CNN'S Frederik Pleitgen is there. Frederik?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Yes, the European leaders today met in a summit that's a preparation for the G- 20 summit, which is going to be happening on April 2nd in London and which of course President Obama is going to be attending.

Now one of the things that the European leaders said is that when they go to the summit on April 2nd, they want to be able to present President Obama with one single European position on how to reform international financial markets. And that is what they laid out today. That includes massive regulation of hedge funds, more regulation of international financial markets as a whole, and also more regulation of rating agencies.

They said that the bottom line is this, they want every financial institution that has, that can have any kind of systemic influence on international financial markets to be regulated. They also said they want to keep going and fight protectionism, and also want to get tougher on tax savings and they said they believe that is something that the new U.S. administration could warm up to, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Frederik Pleitgen, thanks so much for the update from Berlin, appreciate it.

All right, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on her way home after an Asia trip taking her to Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. She told reporters Washington and Beijing will continue to talk frankly about human rights issues. That includes Tibet and freedom of expression. Clinton says that cannot interfere with the work on the global economic crisis, climate change and security.

Meantime, a coal mine explosion in northern China has killed at least 74 miners. The state-run news agency says more than 100 have been hospitalized. China's mines are the most dangerous in the world. About 3,200 miners died in coal mine accidents last year alone.

A 5th grader, a .20 gauge shotgun, a pregnant woman shot and killed. Police in Pennsylvania reveal more details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Do you know what your carbon footprint is? We will explain how a little credit can actually help you and help the environment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHIFIELD: Illinois Senator Roland Burris can't escape the spotlight. The "Associated Press" reports that Burris met with federal investigators yesterday as part of the corruption investigation of former Governor Rod Blagojevich. You recall, Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat. Well he was impeached and removed from office. Burris sparked a new firestorm earlier this morning when he revealed that he had spoken to Blagojevich advisers asking him for fundraising help. Well this after Burris had testified to an Illinois House committee that he hadn't had any contact with Blagojevich staffers.

And this very disturbing story coming out of Pennsylvania, a shooting. Police say that a 5th grader allegedly jealous of his father's pregnant fiancee, shot her in the back of the head before boarding a school bus. The 11-year-old has been charged as an adult in her death. Marc Willis with CNN affiliate WPXI has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARC WILLIS, WPXI CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): with lights off and sirens silent, a caravan of emergency vehicles leaves the scene of a homicide in Lawrence County as family members tried to comfort one another and come to grips with their loss.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't know anyone in the whole world who would want to kill a 26-year-old beautiful daughter like mine and take a child. I don't know who would be crazy enough or nutty enough to do want to do something like that, got to be sick.

WILLIS: Friday morning around 10, police were called to the 1100 block of Wampum Galalie Road (ph) in New Beaver Borough, Lawrence County. Inside, they found 26-year-old Kenzie Houk, in a bedroom, dead from a gunshot wound. A mother of two, Kenzie was pregnant with her third child. In fact, Houk's 4-year-old daughter was the one who alerted a man in the area trimming trees that something was wrong with her mother.

STEVE CABLE, CALLED POLICE: We had a little girl come to the door and say that her mommy had passed away and we're trying to call 911.

WILLIS: It's been a difficult day for friends and family members who know and love Kenzie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think what hurts me the worst is I can't remember the last time I really told her I loved her and that will hurt me for the rest of my life.

WILLIS: Who in two weeks was expected to bring a new life into the world. Kenzie Houk's other two children are staying with their grandparents. The coroner will perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause and manner of death. Reporting from Wampum, Lawrence County, Marc Willis, Channel 11 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now the boy is charged with criminal homicide and homicide of an unborn child, is now in county jail. Investigators say he used what is known as a youth model .20 gauge shotgun in that shooting.

All right, well it was a murder that made headlines around the world, eight years ago. Well now police may be closing in on the man suspected of killing Chandra Levy. Levy's mother says there could finally be justice for her daughter. Our Don Lemon brings us up to date.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The case of the congressman and the missing intern.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): It was a case that shocked the nation in 2001. Twenty-four-year-old Chandra Levy, graduate student at the University of Southern California and a federal government intern who disappeared in Washington on May 1st of that year. Levy's remains were found a year later in Washington's Rock Creek Park.

Now, eight years after the trail seemed to have gone cold, a potential break in the case. A source close to the investigation confirms that the suspect in the Chandra Levy case is Ingmar Guandique. He is a laborer from El Salvador who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for two assaults in Rock Creek Park that same year. Guandique has denied any involvement in her death. For Chandra Levy's parents, who have been told an arrest is imminent, it is a glimmer of hope in the search for justice.

SUSAN LEVY, LEVY'S MOHER: It is pretty hard not having your child with you. I mean, you want justice, you want the person incarcerated and you want justice.

ROBERT LEVY, LEVY'S FATHER: In prison. Or put away.

LEMON: Much of the media attention on the case was because of Levy's involvement with then U.S. Congressman Gary Condit. Condit, a 7-yerm Democrat, was then having an affair with Levy, who was from his California district. Police never named Condit a suspect, but he was defeated in his 2002 re-election campaign. Condit now lives in Arizona.

In a statement he says "he is grateful that the Levy family is getting the answers they deserve." He went on to say, "it is unfortunate that an insatiable appetite for sensationalism blocked so many from searching for the real answers for so long. I had always hoped to have the opportunity to tell my side of the story, but too many were not prepared to listen. Now I plan to do so."

For the Levys, one chapter might be closing, but the sorrow lingers.

S. LEVY: It is painful, no matter what, your child is dead and gone.

R. LEVY: Until we get over there and see them again.

S. levy: And it is painful, but we are glad that the police and people are doing something and investigating and making a difference so that somebody is not on the street to do it again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: A law enforcement official who spoke to investigators said that big break came in part from DNA evidence that linked Guandique to the crime.

All right, a day of national mourning in Australia for those killed in series of massive wildfires. This as officials warn more fires could hit the same area in coming days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, to the war in Afghanistan now. Officials say a raid by NATO troops in the southern part of the country killed six suspected militants. Elsewhere, Afghan officials say an air strike on a minivan killed eight militants. A Taliban spokesman says no militants were actually killed, only civilians.

Well, it was the sight of shameful abuses committed by Saddam Hussein's regime and then, by the American forces, who toppled the dictator. Now Abu Ghraib prison has reopened with fresh paint and a new name. CNN's Arwa Damon goes behind the walls to see how much has really changed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is now called Baghdad Central Prison, but it as Iraq's infamous Abu Ghraib prison. Under Saddam Hussein, tens of thousands of Iraqis were thrown behind bars here. There were horrific stories of abuse, torture, executions without trial. In 2004, it was again thrown into the international spotlight, but this time, because of atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers.

(voice-over): Disturbing images of Iraqi detainees in degrading positions as Americans pose next to them smiling, emerged and caused outrage. In 2006, the U.S. handed the facility over to the Iraqis who revamped it and just reopened it.

(on camera): This tour is going on, it's being very carefully orchestrated by the ministry of justice. But inside here, we've got the room, the gym.

(voice-over): Complete with weight and wall decor.

(on camera): A new water fountain, freshly planted garden, these rooms all transformed, renovated. The Iraqi government really going to great lengths to try to change the image that this facility has.

(voice-over): The Abu Ghraib prison is a special case. This official, the only one we were able to talk to on camera, tells us. He says that in people's minds, whether it is before or after 2003, all of the inhumane acts that took place inside are what stand out. They just want to change the image to make it into a place of justice.

Human rights organizations here say abuse and torture are routine in Iraq's detention facilities, but that is not the picture we are being shown here.

(on camera): In Saddam Hussein's time, a wing like this used to hold around 1,000 prisoners. Now it's ready for 160. Each of these cells used to hold between 30 and 50 people. Now it has a capacity for eight.

(voice-over): We are told, but not shown however that a few hundred prisoners are here already, and the revamped part of the facility could hold up to 3,000, critical to help deal with overcrowding at Iraq's other facilities and the potential security threat.

(on camera): OK, so this is where the prisoners and the families actually get to see each other. The prisoners behind this cage-like structure, the families on this side. And this newly built playground for the children, again, part of this whole effort of trying to create a different atmosphere.

(voice-over): Changing Abu Ghraib's infamous reputation may take more than fresh paint and fake flowers. Arwa Damon, CNN, Abu Ghraib, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And this touching memorial service for the victims of the Australian wildfires. Mourners gathered to pay tribute with music and song -- 209 people were killed across southeastern Australia in the past month alone. But mourners realize that might not be the final tally. Fire crews are still searching through the rubble for those accounted for. And with another heat wave forecast for next week, forecasters are bracing for the possibility of more fires.

All right, parts of the Northeast could see significant amounts of snow today. You are looking at a tower cam from Manchester, New Hampshire, kind of tough to make out there, but all snow and ice is all you're seeing. They are expecting from three to six inches of snow today, adding to what we are seeing. Reynolds Wolf has been keeping an eye on all of it in the CNN Weather Center.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, well it is known as the hot address, 90210. But these days, Beverly Hills is a little bit more down and out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Cutting the massive federal deficit in half, an administration official says that is exactly what President Obama intends to do by the end of his first term. The official says the president will do it by streamlining government, spending less in Iraq, and letting tax breaks expire for people who make more than $250,000 a year. President Obama is expected to unveil the plan this Thursday. The president's plan isn't sitting well with some Republicans however. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gave his reaction on CNN's "State of the Union" with John King.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Let's start with that basic premise. The Democrats have the votes in the House, but they need some Republicans in the Senate as we learned in the stimulus battle. Will that fly, and do you think it's the right approach given the state of the economy?

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MINORITY LEADER: Well, I don't think raising taxes is a great idea, and when our good friends on the other side of the aisle say raising the taxes on the wealthy, what they are really talking about is small business. A vast majority of American small businesses pay taxes as individual taxpayers. So we have got to ask ourselves whether increasing capital gains taxes, dividend taxes and taxes on small businesses is a great thing to do in the middle of a deep recession. I think most of my members will think that that's not a smart move.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The president's economic stimulus plan also generated a lot of buzz on the morning talk shows. CNN's John King asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger what he thinks of the deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KING: The Obama administration says with this new national stimulus plan, you will get a lot of money in California, it believes this plan will create 400,000 jobs in the state of California.

We try to ask everybody in a position of power to be accountable. Do you believe that number? Is 400,000 the right barometer to see if this plan is a success in California?

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Well, you know that you never know exactly. I mean, you can only estimate. Like, for instance, with infrastructure, we know that every billion dollars that you spend in building roads or classrooms or any kind of infrastructure, it creates 18,000 to 25,000 new jobs.

So I think that it could create this kind of amount of jobs and we welcome this economic stimulus package. I think it's terrific, it will help us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Federal stimulus spending is the hot topic at this weekend's meeting of the National Governors Association as well. The recovery plan will provide billions of dollars in aide to the states, but most governors say they are still being forced to cut budgets to make ends meet. Some Republicans say they will reject some of the stimulus money, because they fear it could come with strings attached.

And this reminder, President Obama talks about the economy in an address before a joint session of Congress. That's Tuesday night, 9 p.m. Eastern, we'll bring that to you live. "Anderson Cooper 360" follows with the best political team on television and then at midnight Eastern, a special edition of "Larry King Live."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBIN HAYDEN, CNN I-REPORTER: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do not agree with the stimulus that Congress is currently considering. I don't see where it is going to benefit me directly and I believe my personal feeling is that the citizens deserve a bailout. It is our money. It is our money that financed Wall Street and said it was to help Main Street. Well to me, the only way to help Main Street is to give us the money. Give us all of the money. That's how you help Main Street. That is how you are going to help stimulate this economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Some pretty strong thoughts from our i- Reporters about the stimulus package. And who should actually get that money? In a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, 60 percent of Americans actually support the economic stimulus bill, 53 percent think it will improve the economy, but 67 percent say it won't help them personally.

Once thought of us a place immune to the recession and you might call it Beverly Hills 9021-ouch! The Bentleys and the Lamborghinis still cruise on Rodeo Drive. But, many of their owners apparently are looking to pawn their prized possessions. Kara Finnstrom explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a discreet office, beyond bulletproof glass, a collateral lender, more commonly known as a pawnshop broker.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This would probably be like $800 to $100,000.

FINNSTROM: Does business with highbrow clientele.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can tell you these for $350.

FINNSTROM: This is Beverly Hills.

JORDAN TABACH-BANK, PAWN SHOP OWNER: There is no stealing to the amount we can loan.

FINNSTROM: Since the 1930s, the Tabach-Bank family has offered socialites, business people and celebrities loans for precious jewels and artwork, but current owner Jordan Tabach-Bank says business has changed.

TABACH-BANK: Our loans are higher than they've ever been before. Doctors, lawyers, accountants. I recently had a hedge fund officer in here getting a loan on his collection of diamonds.

FINNSTROM: Extreme wealth often cushions cities during recessions. But right now in the streets around Rodeo Drive, empty store fronts, deep discounts. Long-time store owner Parvan Unadi (ph) slashed these shoe price tags from $1,800 to $245.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And still I could not sell it.

FINNSTROM: And how much did you pay for it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I paid over $800.

FINNSTROM: So you are taking a loss?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FINNSTROM: Fewer sales means fewer tax dollars for the city. City officials expect tax revenues to drop some $24 million over the next 16 months. And they say as far as they can tell, that's the greatest blow to the city's budget in Beverly Hills history. But another long-time store owner says while business is slow, he is optimistic and not making drastic changes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would be very easy for us to go into panic mode, but we haven't done that.

FINNSTROM: And UCLA economist Jerry Nickelsburg says by measures like home foreclosures, the downturn hasn't been as bleak in 90210 as in other zip codes. Still in one crucial way, the recession is striking indiscriminately.

JERRY NICKELSBURG, UCLA ECONOMIST: The collapse in consumption in September continuing until today is based on a fear, based on an uncertainly about the future. Everybody across the board has been pulling back and putting money into the mattress and not spending.

FINNSTROM: UCLA's Anderson Economic Forecast predicts consumer confidence may start improving this summer. That would be good news for Tabach-Bank, who says while loans are up.

TABACH-BANK: People really need us because the banks are not providing credit to anyone.

FINNSTROM: Sales, even his relative bargains, are down.

TABACH-BANK: This is a very hot watch right now. It retails for over $19,000. We are selling it for $10,000 off of retail. FINNSTROM: That's Beverly Hills. Kara Finnstrom for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow. More on the drastic lengths now you would say for this guy, a Seattle man accused of sinking his own boat because of the financial strain of actually maintaining it. Authorities say 50- year-old Brian Lewis told his insurance company that the cabin cruiser sank accidentally. But when officials found suspicious damage, including a two-inch hole cut in the bottom of the boat, Lewis reportedly confessed. Investigators say he told them he was overwhelmed with repair costs. Lewis is charged with now felony insurance fraud.

All right, Massachusetts drivers are fuming over a plan to raise prices at the pump. Governor Deval Patrick is proposing a 19 cent increase in a state gas tax. The hike would bring the tax to more than 42 cents, the highest in the nation. Patrick says it is a way to avoid increases in tolls while fixing the state's transportation system.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK: The average driver would pay the equivalent of about one large cup of coffee a week, less than $8 a month.

RALPH COLLAZO, DRIVER: I don't feel we should all pay a higher gas tax especially on this side of the state, because they use the benefits of what is going on with the big dig down there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, they probably could add the tolls back on to this end of the Mass Pike.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK, the proposed tax hike must be approved by state lawmakers.

All right. Carbon footprint, that is the term used to describe how much carbon a business or family or individual is responsible for releasing into the atmosphere. So now, you can apparently pay money to ease your conscience and perhaps help the environment with something called carbon credits.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANTJE KINGMA, STORE OWNER: It was a question of, you know, you make a mess and you clean it up.

WHITFIELD (voice-over): That simple principle inspired store owner Antje Kingma to partner with 17 of her neighbors to create what is being billed as the nation's first carbon neutral zone. Kingma owns Eco Bella, an Atlanta shop that sells organic products and promotes the green lifestyle. She is passionate about the environment. KINGMA: If you are going to call yourself a green business, it is not just about having fair trade product and organic product, but I think you need to take ate step further.

WHITFIELD: She paid a company called Verus Carbon Neutral Partnership to calculate just how much her small business contributes to the worldwide carbon emissions problem. And she rallied other shop owners to join in. Then, she paid another fee, in her case, $87, for what Verus calls a carbon offset, $87 to be carbon neutral? How does that work? Well, first, a carbon broker adds up your electric bills, gas mileage and water usage to determine your carbon footprint.

ERIC TAUB, VERUS CARBON NEUTRAL PARTNERSHIP: In the case of all businesses, there is a certain amount that they have to offset, so what we help do is to say to them, how much of a footprint you have and where you can offset it.

WHITFIELD: Eric Taub's business, Verus, exchanges cash for carbon credit on the Chicago Climate Exchange, CCX, founded by Taub's father-in-law. The CCS is like the New York Stock Exchange, but instead of buying shares of a company, your money goes into an earth- friendly venture. Then projects that decrease carbon pollution get funding and can say they are green. The big question is, does this really count?

ROBY GREENWALD, EMORY UNIVERSITY: If you don't change your personal behavior, but you start paying somebody else to change their behavior, whether or not that is actually going to decrease your carbon footprint.

WHITFIELD: Nevertheless, the merchants in Atlanta's carbon neutral zone hope their carbon neutral lifestyle will spread.

KINGMA: We really want to look more broader at environmental responsibility and responsible living and business practices.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. So what did their money actually buy? Sustainable forest land in middle and South Georgia and support for animal welfare causes.

All right. So who is going to walk away with gold tonight? We will take a peek at the front-runners, but first, here is some Oscar trivia for you. Who is the youngest actress to actually win an Oscar? We will have the answer in a minute.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID KRONMILLER, CNN I-REPORTER: Best animated film "Wall-e," mainly because -- not just because Pixar does wonderful animation, but because the story was I think something more in line with what is going on with the country and the world right now. Certainly, had a level of depth to it. In the first 40 minutes, there was no dialogue. I think it has to be "Wall-e." ROSS TURK, CNN I-REPORTER: For best picture, everybody says it's going to be "Slumdog millionaire." And I happen to think they are wrong. I think it is going to be "Milk." Milk does a body good. I think "Milk" is going to take it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: An update on this developing story. A deadly explosion taking place in Cairo, Egypt. Details are still coming in, but this is what we have for you right now. The blast occurred outside Cairo's Al Hussain mosque. At least 19 people may have been impacted by this. There are conflicting reports on who might have been killed. Some reports indicate that as many as four people were actually killed. And in all there are 19 casualties. This took place at the height of rush hour at the time at about 6:00 p.m. there. Two suspects apparently have been taken into custody. The mosque is very popular with tourists and security officials say a second unexploded bomb actually was found nearby. Stick with CNN for details as they develop and we are able to bring you these latest images as well.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. I know you know the answer to this trivia question that we gave you. Who was the youngest actress to ever win an Academy Award? Ba-boom! Boom, Tatum O'Neal right there, who was just 10 when she won the best supporting actress award for "Paper Moon" way back in 1974.

All right, so Hollywood is gearing up for an epic face-off. The slums of India against some heavyweights and a couple of comeback kids. By the end of the evening, we will know who is taking home the Oscars. Our Brooke Anderson previews tonight's Academy Awards.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Will "Slumdog Millionaire" win the jackpot at the Oscars or does "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" have the weekend sewn up its leading 13 nominations?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How old are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Seven, but I look a lot older.

ANDERSON: The two critical favorites square off against "Frost/Nixon," "The Reader" and "Milk" for best motion picture, but momentum seems to favor "Slumdog" as well as its nominated director, Danny Boyle.

DANNY BOYLE, DIRECTOR: When you start a film, there is always what I call the bathroom moment where you stand in your bathroom alone in front of the mirror and you say, this is the one. But it never is of course normally. ANDERSON: In the best actress category, "Rachel Getting Married's" Anne Hathaway with "Changeling's" Angelina Jolie and "Frozen River's" Melissa Leo.

MERYL STREEP, ACTRESS: He's 12-years-old. What could be private?

ANDERSON: But the smart money is on either Meryl Streep for her work as the cantankerous nun in "Doubt" or Kate Winslet, who played a woman with a secret Nazi past in "The Reader." Some have even dubbed Winslet the new Meryl Streep.

KATE WINSLET, ACTRESS: To be mentioned in the same breath as Meryl Streep, somebody who I have admired since I was a child.

ANDERSON: Despite strong performances by Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor," Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" and Brad Pitt in "Benjamin Button," talk for best actor has centered on Sean Penn as gay rights activist Harvey Milk in "Milk" and Mickey Rourke, as a down and out competitor who stages a comeback in "The Wrestler." It is a scenario Rourke knows all too well.

MICKEY ROURKE, ACTOR: I was out of the game for so many years and that was all about having people trust me again after raising hell for 15 years.

ANDERSON: And while best supporting actress is a wide open for Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Taraji Henson or Marissa Tomei, best supporting actor seems to already belong to the late Heath Ledger for his haunting turn as "The Joker" in "The Dark Knight."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He would have been the favorite if he had still been alive. I think everybody in the Kodak Theatre will be astonished if he doesn't win.

HEATH LEADER, ACTOR: We are tonight's entertainment.

ANDERSON: Brooke Anderson, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: CNN is of course on the red carpet tonight for you with all of the glitz, the glamour and the drama, and of course, we will be checking out what everybody is wearing. So don't forget "Gold Rush" starting at 7 p.m. Eastern this evening, CNN.

All right, before the awards tonight, be sure to check out CNN.com for all things Oscar. Click on the link that says Oscars and vote for your favorite nominees. There are also some clips from the nominated movies on the site for you the watch.

All right, 50 years of inspiration. I talk with the artistic director of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater about its very rich history.

(CMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary and while so many arts organizations are struggling in this economy, what is Alvin Ailey's secret? The company's artistic director Judith Jamison shines some light.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDITH JAMISON, ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER: Alvin's mantra was excellence, you know, integrity. They were celebrating the African- American culture and experience in the modern dance tradition of our country. So as cultural ambassadors for our country, we have declared that this year by the house, and as cultural ambassadors we have been spreading that word for 50 years now. It started out --

WHITFIELD: It is incredible how it resonated.

JAMISON: It started out a long time ago with seven dancers. You know, I've got 31 of the most extraordinary dancers. I work with extraordinary people who understand what the gift is and how important it is. Our culture is, and how universal the things that he had to say about the human being in all of us, the nature of being kind to each other, the nature of being human is said in dance, you know.

WHITFIELD: And it really underlines the importance of performing arts. Does it break your heart though when you year that there are dance companies, performing arts companies that are going under, because the endowments are not coming in, the contributions, ticket sales are down?

JAMISON: Yes, it does disturb me, but what does enlightens the heart, what makes me feel really good, is that some of the companies are having problems now , their works are in our repertoire. So they are not dying. They're being spread around the world as we tour in Turkey, in Romania, where we just came from, and the 26 cities that we're hitting to finish out a 50-city tour we're doing in honor of our 50th anniversary. And I work with such marvelous people. I've got to mention one person's name, Mazus Zamichay (ph), you know him. He's my associate artistic director, been with the company for 38 years and it's his birthday today, so I have to give him a shout out. And then look at this, did I not design a Barbie doll? It's the first Mattel doll that has ever been designed for a modern dance company. Beautiful, beautiful.

WHITFIELD: So you have expanded in so many ways, I mean, you go to the performance. Who cannot walk away? I mean, while you are sitting there watching these beautiful bodies.

JAMISON: We hope you're engaged.

WHITFIELD: Who doesn't leave there and feel so inspired and think for a second, can I do that? Is there potential for me to do that?

JAMISON: Yes, if you train. If you dance like these dancers dance, they've been training. This is their lives. They are giving you their souls on the stage. They are dancing from the inside out. They are giving you something that says something about you. That is why you leave the theater feeling changed, because they are dancing about what you are feeling inside.

WHITFIELD: And it really is so moving. Now people too, when they feel they need that Alvin Ailey fix in between performances, a beautiful book "Ailey Ascending."

AILEY: Yes, a portrait in motion. Andrew Eckles (ph) designed this book. He followed us for two years, gorgeous, backstage, everywhere. He followed us. He is an extraordinary choreographer. He's made all of our post cards for "Hallmark" cards are sitting right there. That's all Andrew Eckles (ph). I designed the doll, the Barbie doll, go get that doll. OK?

(CROSSTALK)

JAMISON: And then this bag which has my picture on it, from '76.

WHITFIELD: Because what for 15 years, you were dancing?

JAMISON: I danced 15 years with the company, yes. And I've been directing for almost 20. And on the other side is the great founder Alvin Ailey.

WHITFIELD: Do you ever miss dancing or do you always feel it is always still in you?

JAMISON: I don't miss dancing. Look at this.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Well, you -- well, do you miss being on?

JAMISON: Absolutely not. It hurts, OK? It hurts. What is happening is that my treasure, my life is looking at my wonderful 31 dancers who carry the flame high, they carry his torch high. That is me, yeah. That is me with a lot of beautiful dancers. Sylvia Waters (ph) who is the director of Ailey II is there. This is old.

WHITFIELD: This must be so fantastic to feel your legacy just has such incredible staying power.

JAMISON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And a lot of times, it is people, that, you know, they depart from, you know, their legacy, and they look at it from outside looking in, but you are still in it.

JAMISON: This is --

WHITFIELD: Your imprint is in Alvin Ailey all of the time.

JAMISON: But you know what he did, he let us be individuals. He let us use our unique selves. He said the most beautiful thing on that stage is you. And he meant you. He was interested in the human being and then the technical person that could do all of the wonderful things that you see Clifton Brown (ph) doing here. And Renee Robinson (ph) who has been with the company. You know Renee (ph) for 27 years. Well, what keeps her going? She renews herself every day. She reinvents herself every day, and she encourages the younger dancers have only been there a minute. And we all get together to remember the past, present and our future and celebrate the legacy.

WHITFIELD: And really quick before we go, you had the honor of perhaps it was the White House's honor of being in the presidential suite there at the Kennedy Center, and how incredible, it was not just performing for the president which you all do all of the time, but the president and the first lady actually came backstage.

JAMISON: and they met every single dancer and every one of the crew of the Kennedy Center and my crew, and how gracious is that? Oh, all hail to the chief.

WHITFIELD: Judith Jamison, thanks so much.

JAMISON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate it. Always great to see you. Your energy is just so contagious. I just love being in your aura.

JAMISON: Well, you bring it out.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Judith Jamison there, the artistic director of Alvin Ailey. And like she said, they are dotting the map, 50 cities on this tour, in their 50th anniversary.

All right, truck loads of treasures auctioned off, all from one seller?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you had a million dollars and you just bought and bought and bought, sure, this could be one person's stuff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, there is a mystery behind this bargain hunt.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Bargain hunters turned out in droves at an Indianapolis auction. Well they came to bid on three semi truck loads of furniture, rugs, antiques and more. All from one mysterious person whose fortunes took a dramatic turn for the worse. Kris Kirschner of affiliate WTHR has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRIS KIRSCHNER, WTHR CORRESPONDENT: Faster than they can set a price, merchandise is moving. Anything unusual?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of it. It's very eclectic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cashmere rug, still got the label on it.

KIRSCHNER: From rugs to dishes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got all of this I think for like a dollar or two dollars.

KIRSCHNER: Hundreds hope to get their hands on a warehouse full of bargains.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was actually $45, probably retails around $800.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have china cabinets, tables, lots of stuff.

KIRSCHNER: Unique stuff and a lot of it for sale to the highest bidder. But whose stuff is it anyway?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know something to do with a lottery winner.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was a lottery winner, and I truly do not know what happened.

KIRSCHNER: According to those running the auction everything belonged to a Hoosier lottery winner forced to sell it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, have you seen how many bedroom sets there are?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no way it could have been one woman.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ten?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you had one million dollars and you bought and bought and bought, sure, this could be one person's stuff.

KIRSCHNER: More than the story behind it, it is the unusual collection in this auction that has people curious like this high- backed chair with elephants carved into the arm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No comment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have a lot of Asian stuff here, you have some of your fine porcelain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am looking at roosters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just the table. Just the table.

KIRSCHNER: In an instant, one person's treasure is a bounty for the masses. A reversal of fortune that turned out to be their lucky day. Kris Kirschner, Channel 13, Eyewitness News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow, that's some auction. All right, 4 p.m. hour straight ahead. Why politics may be the key to taking home a gold statue at this year's Academy Award. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "Your Money" starts right now.